An apparatus of a computing system, a computer-readable medium, a method and a system. The apparatus comprises processing circuitry including a core, and a communication controller coupled to the core to communicate with a memory of the computing system, wherein the memory is to define a leak zone corresponding to a plurality of memory addresses including data therein, the leak zone having an identifier; and the processing circuitry is to: decode instructions including a starting leak barrier, an ending leak barrier, and a sequence of code between the starting and ending leak barriers, the sequence of code including the identifier for the leak zone, the identifier to indicate the sequence of code is to be executed only on the data within the leak zone; and execute the sequence of code only on the data within the leak zone based on the leak barriers and on the identifier.

Memory information leaks in computing system, such as, for example, in a Virtual Machine Monitor (VMM) or Hypervisor, or such as in a Central Processing Unit (CPU), may be caused by at least two issues: (1) the first involves an allocation-without-deallocation issue: where allocations within the memory are not de-allocated even after execution of code on data stored therein; allocations without de-allocations essentially keep certain addresses within the memory still in use without such addresses being necessary, thus affecting the performance of a computing system; and (2) the second involves impermissible access, or access to parts of the memory, such as to pages and associated addresses within the memory, by instructions that do not have permission for such access; impermissible access may be brought about for example by way of reminiscent data (e.g. data that has not been properly and/or totally deleted), by way of a type confusion vulnerability (where an object associated with a first type of data is treated as being associated with a second type of data, in which case a data of the second type may be impermissibly accessed by an object of the first type of data). Improvements are needed that address the above issues, and especially with respect to the issue of impermissible access.

Apparatus, system and method to define memory information leak zones in a computing system


Audio to be recorded in a photographic film camera in association with individual exposed frames is first digitized and stored in a temporary storage memory in the camera allowing playback through a speaker mounted in the camera to permit playback review and editing, as needed. When the film is advanced in the camera to the next exposure frame, the digital audio signal is recorded on a magnetic layer formed on the film. At the photofinisher, the digital audio signal is read and converted to suitable encodement format, such as bar code or binary coded blister marks which are impressed on the photoprint for subsequent playback.

Systems for providing audio recording and playback in association with individual photographic still prints are known in the art. Examples of such systems are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,439,598; 4,270,853; 4,270,854 and 4,905,029. In the '598 patent, a belt driven recording needle inscribes audio information in spiral grooves on the back layer of a multi-laminate slide film. This requires special film and film processing that would allow for removal of the recording film laminate and its attachment to the slide frame for playback by needle-based playback apparatus. In the '854 patent, sound is recorded on an instant print by placing the print, after it has been ejected, into an auxiliary slot in the camera and then proceeding to record the audio on a magnetic strip on the print border. With this system, audio can only be recorded after the picture has been captured and only on an instant print. Also, the only way disclosed for playback is with the camera. The '853 patent discloses a similar apparatus for an instant print camera for recording audio on a magnetic strip in the margin of the instant print paper within a film pack. The '029 patent discloses a microphone and tape recording mechanism to record sound in the camera which is then recorded onto a separate magnetic strip by means of separate recording/playback apparatus. The strip may then be adhesively applied to the photoprint or to the album page adjacent the print and the sound reproduced by means of a special playback apparatus with a reciprocating playback head which is placed against the strip. This arrangement requires a separate tape recording mechanism in the camera.
Additionally, there are three known commercially available systems for combining sound with still photographs. One is the "Talking Picture Frame" sold by Talking Pictures, Inc. which utilizes a special picture frame having a voice recording IC to record the sound in RAM chips in the frame. When the frame is lifted, a microswitch activates the IC to playback the recorded sound.
Another system is the "Mini Box Comm" sold by FotoFonics, Inc. which utilizes a separate record/playback box to record sound on an adhesively backed strip adhered to the photoprint. The print is inserted into the box for recording and playback and the print is in motion during both modes of operation.
The third system is the Mavica electronic camera sold by Sony Corporation which is an electronic camera as opposed to a photographic film camera. Images are acquired by electronic sensors for recording on 2.5" floppy disc memories for subsequent readout by electronic visual display means. Sound is recorded on the floppy disc for subsequent playback along with the recorded image.
A problem with the photographic film systems described above is that the magnetic strips, if kept integral with the prints, are limited to use with instant print cameras. In the case of the system described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,905,029, the sound is recorded on separate strips that may become lost or not easily associated with the prints when they are returned from the photofinisher. In the case of the picture frame the sound is recorded after the print is returned from the photofinisher thus losing the benefit of sound recorded at the time the picture is taken.
Accordingly, there is a need for a simple and compact sound recording system usable with negative or positive film that allows for sound recording at the time of picture taking and that does not become separated from the photographic image.
Another object of the invention is to record the sound with the picture in such a manner as to permanently retain the recorded sound with the film image such that a photofinisher can automatically impress the recorded sound on the photoprint produced by the photofinisher.
It is another object of the invention to provide a sound recording system for still pictures that is not limited to use with instant print cameras.
It is yet another object of the invention to provide a still picture sound recording system that enables the camera user to edit the recorded sound before it is recorded on the image film and sent to the photofinisher.
It is still another object of the invention to provide a still picture recording system that allows the photofinisher to impress the recorded sound on the photoprint in a manner that enables the sound to be played back by compact playback apparatus while the print remains stationary and without the use of bulky reciprocating magnet read head apparatus.

Photographic film still camera system with audio recording


A plier-like device for gripping and turning closure caps of jars and bottles has two pivotably interengaged levers that control a compliant inelastic strap forming a loop forwardly of the device. The size of the loop is adjusted to the size of the cap by a spool located in one of the levers and upon which excess length of the strap can be spirally wound. Undesired rotation of the spool is prevented by a ratchet mechanism.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to rotatable closure removal devices and more particularly concerns an adjustable strap device adapted to embrace and rotate threaded closure caps of bottles and jars.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Numerous bottle and jar cap removing devices have been disclosed in the prior art. Various jaw-type and strap-type tools have been employed to remove threadably engaged caps which are tightly fitted to containers. It is desirable that the tool be capable of operation with one hand, easily and untiringly. In such manner of use, widely separated cap-engaging members are brought together to interact with threaded parts of various sizes, leaving the operator's other hand free to grasp the articles on which the threaded parts are affixed. Many earlier disclosed household tools for removing threaded caps are comprised of a multitude of moving parts and are not amenable to low cost manufacture, simple operation, or easy cleanup in the kitchen environment.
For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,822,614 to Kovacevic discloses a tool having opposed jaws and a lever-actuated mechanism for drawing the jaws together to fit against threaded parts of various sizes. The lever-actuated mechanism comprises a pivotally mounted lever and force-transmitting means movable over an arcuate path in substantially parallel relation to a sliding member formed with a series of rachet teeth. This device has a complex mechanism comprised of many moving parts and is susceptible to contamination with food substances.
Other jar cap removing devices have been disclosed which utilize a compliant strap or band to engage the threaded cap. Typical limitations in these devices have been adjustability, gripping strength, and simplicity of use. A device of this type is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,964,115 to Platek. This device includes a base having an arcuate serrated member for engaging a portion of a jar cap. A flexible friction-type member such as a strap or the like is adjustably arranged with the base and a spring biased handle. Operation of the handle, as by squeezing, tightens the strap around the cap, whereupon a gripping action is provided by the strap and the arcuate serrated member so that an operator-exerted torquing or twisting action can rotate the cap. This device is capable of producing only a limited amount of gripping force upon the cap.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,056,383 to Halpin discloses a device having a handle provided at one extremity with a unitary cap-gripping member consisting of a generally circular spring-like band having a free extremity. The diameter of the band can accordingly be varied somewhat to accommodate slightly differing cap sizes. The inner surface of the band is provided with projections to grip the cap. This device is only adaptable to caps which vary little in size. Furthermore, the device is capable of exerting only a small amount of gripping force.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a device adapted to grip a threaded closure cap and provide sufficient manually applied torque to loosen or tighten the cap.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a gripping device of the aforesaid nature which may be easily employed with one hand.
It is a further object of this invention to provide a gripping device of the aforesaid nature which may be easily adjusted to fit a wide range of bottle and jar cap sizes and shapes.
It is yet another object of this invention to provide a gripping device of the aforesaid nature having few moving parts and not susceptible to malfunction by foreign substances.
It is still another object of this invention to provide a gripping device of the aforesaid nature which is durable and amenable to low cost manufacture.
These and other beneficial objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description.


Methods and systems are provided for providing history support in a stateless Web-based application. These methods and systems allow a browser to interface with one or multiple data frames via a common history frame that facilitates providing navigation history support and facilitates rendering data to the browser user interface. By utilizing the common history frame, the methods and systems of the present invention provide navigation history capabilities in a stateless Web-based application.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to Web browser history support, and more particularly to a method for providing history support in a stateless Web client environment.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, most Web browsers have a history support capability. The history support capability allows a user to navigate backward or forward to the location of a document, a file, or any other Internet resource, etc. that the user has previously visited. The Web browser provides history support by registering an Internet address of the Internet resource, called a Uniform Resource Locator (URL), and its associated content in the browser's "History Register" each time the user visits the resource. The "History Register" is typically implemented as a cache directory that contains a copy of the resource content so that when the user selects the "Back" or "Forward" button from the browser menu, no significant reloading of data needs to occur to re-display the content of the resource.
In some Web-based client systems, however, the browser's user interface is implemented using a stateless scripting language, e.g. Javascript, etc. These systems can provide a Javascript-based user interface in an attempt to minimize the client-server bandwidth utilization by supporting the capability to download dynamic content (e.g. folder lists, message lists, and message content) from a server to the client browser as Javascript objects. The Javascript objects are then transformed by a client-based Javascript program and output as Hyper Text Markup Language (HTML) code that can be rendered by the browser. Thus, every user action within the browser's user interface is handled by a Javascript engine which invokes a Javascript call that ultimately leads to the loading of content data from the server to the browser user interface. However, the Javascript engine is itself stateless—i.e. the entry point of the Javascript engine is an event that is triggered by a user selection and the exit point is the return of a handler function that was invoked by the Javascript engine to handle the user-triggered event. Because, the Javscript engine does not register prior events and the URL is embedded in the Javascript function call and therefore hidden from the browser, it is impossible to navigate backward or forward to the previously visited pages because the sequence of events is lost as a result of their being handled by the stateless Javascript engine. For example, in a stateless Web-based e-mail system, if a user selects the "Inbox" hyperlink, selects a message A from the inbox folder, selects the "Send" hyperlink, and selects a message B from the send folder, the user cannot then select the "Back" button from the browser menu bar to go back to the "Send" folder or to message A because the navigation sequence is lost.
In view of the forgoing, there is a need for an approach for providing history support that enhances usability and scalability in a stateless Web-based client system.

History support for stateless Javascript Web client


A flux probe (100) for measuring the rotor flux of an electric generator (10). The probe (100) is affixed to a probe carrier (102) and held within a stator coil slot (62) by affixing the carrier (102) to two opposing grooves (104) formed in sidewalls (81) of the slot (62). One or more stator coils (18) are also disposed in the slot (62) and retained therein by a wedge (74) and corresponding spring (72) that applies an radially outwardly directed force to the coils (18). In one embodiment the probe carrier (102) is affixed to a radially inwardly directed face (82) of the wedge (74).

As shown in FIG. 1, a conventional electric generator 10 comprises a generally cylindrical rotor 12 carrying axial field or rotor windings (also referred to as rotor turns) 13 about the circumference thereof. Current flow through the field windings 13 generates a magnetic field within a stationary armature or stator 14. One end 15 of the rotor 12 is drivingly coupled to a steam or gas-driven turbine (not shown in FIG. 1) for supplying rotational energy to turn the rotor 12 and causing rotation of the magnetic field produced thereby. According to known dynamoelectric principles, the rotating magnetic field of the rotor 12 induces current flow in stator windings 18 (only one stator winding 18 is illustrated in FIG. 1) of the stator 14. An end 16 of the rotor 12 is coupled to an exciter (not shown) for supplying direct current to the rotor windings 13 to produce the aforementioned magnetic field.
The stator 14 has a generally cylindrical shape and an annular traverse cross section defining a longitudinal bore extending there through for accepting the rotor 12, which thereby extends substantially the longitudinal length of the stator 14. The stator 14 comprises a core 17 further comprising a plurality of thin, generally annular high-permeability laminations disposed in side-by-side orientation. Each lamination comprises an insulative coating such that two adjacent laminations are electrically insulated to reduce eddy current flow within the core 17. The alternating current generated in the stator windings 18 by action of the rotating magnetic field of the rotor 12 is conducted to main generator leads 19 for supplying the generated current to an external electrical load. The stator windings 18 are connected through end turns 20. A gap 21 formed between the rotor 12 and the stator 14 typically measures between about one and two inches.
The rotor 12 and the stator 14, and other generator components not directly relevant to the present invention, are enclosed within a frame 23.
FIG. 2 illustrates rotor axial leads 54 through which the direct current generated by the exciter is coupled to the rotor windings 13. A conventional two-pole rotor comprises eight to eighteen axial slots each carrying a plurality of mutually insulated conductive bars that are symmetrically oriented along the rotor circumference. For example, one rotor design comprises fourteen slots such that one rotor pole comprises seven slots. The conductive bars comprising a pole are interconnected by end turns, i.e., arcuate winding segments located at a rotor end for connecting the axially disposed conductive bars. The end turns are physically restrained by retaining rings 56.
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the stator 14, illustrating a face 60 of one lamination of the stator core 17 and circumferential stator slots 62 defined by inwardly-directed circumferential teeth 64 extending axially along the stator 14. The stator windings 18 are disposed within the slots 62 between two adjacent teeth 64. Bolt/nut combinations 66, or similar fasteners, extend axially through and secure the laminations to form the stator core 17.
As illustrated more clearly in the partial view of FIG. 4, the stator core 17 comprises a plurality of stacked laminations 67. Two adjacent stator teeth 64 (only one is shown in FIG. 4) formed in the laminations 67 define stator slots 62 for receiving the stator windings 18. Typically, two stator windings 18 are disposed within each slot 62. The two stator windings 18 are retained within the slot 62 by a shim 70, a ripple spring 72 and a wedge 74 having opposed beveled edges 76 for engaging correspondingly shaped grooves 80 in sidewalls 81 of the teeth 64. The ripple spring 72 is compressed between the wedge 74 and the shim 70 to apply a radially outwardly directed force retaining the two stator windings 18 in place within the slot 62.
It is known that a shorted rotor winding turn reduces the magnetic flux and modifies the power dissipation profile of the rotor windings. Such changes in power dissipation can produce non-uniform heating of the rotor windings, resulting in thermally induced rotor distortion and vibration that can damage the rotor and other generator components. The vibrations may also excite the natural resonant frequencies of generator components, including the pad on which the generator is mounted. Pad vibration can lead to severe damage to the generator.
The primary cause of a short circuit is the breakdown of insulation separating the conductor bars or end turns of the rotor, by wearing of the rotor winding insulation or slot cell insulation that separates the rotor windings. The short circuits may occur only when the rotor is at rest or only when the rotor windings and end turns are subjected to centrifugal forces caused by rotation. The former type of short circuit can be detected by known static tests, while the latter can be detected only while the rotor is turning at or near its operational speed.
The considerable economic value of a generator and the high cost of replacing generated power during a generator service outage encourages an owner to continue operating the generator so long as operation is safe and will not likely damage the generator. A single shorted rotor turn can generally be tolerated, although it may be necessary for the operator to add balance weights to compensate the vibration levels under different operating conditions. If the vibrations cannot be eliminated by rotor balancing it may be necessary to shut down the generator and remove the rotor to determine the location of each short and repair the affected rotor winding. Also, if the rotor windings develop several shorts the short circuit current can flow through the rotor body. The rotor body may be damaged by this current flow and will thus require a substantial repair effort.
One technique for locating rotor short circuits uses a stator-mounted flux probe for measuring the rotor magnetic field flux, from which, using known techniques, the operator can determine the existence and location of rotor winding shorts. According to this prior art process, installation of the flux probe requires removal of the rotor to access the stator and mount the probe thereto. In one embodiment, the probe is bonded and pinned, using dowel pins for example, to a radially inwardly directed face 82 of the stator wedge 74 of FIG. 4. The rotor is then replaced and the generator returned to service. Once operational again, probe signals indicative of the rotor's magnetic field are analyzed to determine the location of the short circuit. Such a prior art probe installation process is an expensive and time consuming undertaking for the generator operator, requiring a shut down duration of several days. The cost of the shutdown, with respect to both the process for installing the probe and the cost for replacement power can be considerable. Once the location of the short is determined, the generator is again shutdown, the rotor removed and the necessary rotor repairs performed.


An LED with a semiconductor light emitting element that emits a blue or a blue-violet light, and a fluorescent material that absorbs some or all of the light emitted from the element and emits a fluorescent light of a wavelength different from the absorbed light. The fluorescent material is a mixed fluorescent material obtained by mixing a first fluorescent material that emits a blue-green or a green light, a second fluorescent material that has a peak emission wavelength longer than that of the first fluorescent material and emits a green or a yellow-green light, a third fluorescent material that has a 1 peak emission wavelength longer than that of the second fluorescent material and emits a yellow-green, a yellow or a yellow-red light, and a fourth fluorescent material that has a peak emission wavelength longer than that of the third fluorescent material and emits a yellow-red or a red light.

White LEDs that combine a LED element that emits light having a short wavelength such as a blue light or an ultraviolet light and a fluorescent material that is excited by absorbing some or all of the light emitted from the LED element and then emits a fluorescent light of a longer wavelength such as a yellow fluorescent light are already known. For example, white LEDs composed of a compound semiconductor blue LED element and a cerium-activated yttrium-aluminum-garnet fluorescent material that absorbs blue light and then emits a yellow fluorescent light that is a complementary color to blue are disclosed in Japanese Patent (Granted) Publication No. 2,900,928, Japanese Patent (Granted) Publication No. 2,927,279, and K. Bando, K. Sakano, Y. Noguchi and Y. Shimizu, "Development of High-bright and Pure-white LED Lamps," J. Light & Vis. Env. Vol. 22, No. 1 (1998), pp. 2 to 5.
Adding a red fluorescent material to compensate for the lack of a red component is also a known technique, and Japanese Unexamined Patent Application, First Publication No. 2003-321675 discloses a technique in which a red fluorescent material such as (Sr1−x−y−zBaxCay)2Si5N8:Euz2+, SrS:Eu, CaS:Eu or (CaxSr1−x)S:Eu2+ is added to a white LED composed of a blue LED element and a cerium-activated yttrium-aluminum-garnet fluorescent material. Similar techniques are also disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application, First Publication No. 2003-321675 and M. Yamada, T. Naitou, K. Izuno, H. Tamaki, Y. Murazaki, M. Kameshima and T. Mukai, "Red-Enhanced White-Light-Emitting Diode Using a New Red Phosphor" Jpn. J. Appl. Phys. Vol. 42 (2003) pp. L20 to L23.
As another example of a known technique that uses a blue LED element, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application, First Publication No. Hei 10-163535 discloses a technique for realizing a white LED using a blue LED element, a fluorescent material that is excited by blue light and emits a green light, and a fluorescent material that is excited by blue light and emits a red light. Furthermore, a white LED that uses SrGa2S4:Eu2+, which is a fluorescent material that is excited by blue light and emits a green light, and SrS:Eu2+, which is a fluorescent material that is excited by blue light and emits a red light, is disclosed in Paul S. Martin, "Performance, Thermal, Cost & Reliability challenges for Solid State Lighting," OIDA Conference, May 30, 2002.
Moreover, as an example of a known technique that uses an ultraviolet LED element, Published Japanese Translation No. 2000-509912 of PCT discloses a technique for realizing a white light having a high color rendering characteristic by using a combination of an ultraviolet LED element, a fluorescent material that is excited by ultraviolet light and emits a blue light, a fluorescent material that is excited by ultraviolet light and emits a green light, and a fluorescent material that is excited by ultraviolet light and emits a red light.
On the other hand, recently, there has been extensive research on oxynitride fluorescent materials and nitride fluorescent materials, and for example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application, First Publication No. 2002-363554 discloses a europium (Eu)-activated calcium (Ca) solid solution α-SiAlON fluorescent material. This fluorescent material is excited by blue light and emits a yellow light, and can therefore be used favorably as a wavelength conversion material for a white LED. This fluorescent material is described in detail in R. J. Xie, N. Hirosaki, K. Sakuma, Y. Yamamoto, M. Mitomo, "Eu2+-doped Ca-α SiAlON: A yellow phosphor for white light-emitting diodes," Appl. Phys. Lett., Vol. 84, pp. 5404 to 5406 (2004). A low color temperature white LED lamp that uses this fluorescent material and exhibits excellent chromaticity stability upon temperature variation is disclosed in K. Sakuma, K. Omichi, N. Kimura, M. Ohashi, D. Tanaka, N. Hirosaki, Y. Yamamoto, R.-J. Xie, T. Suchiro, "Warm-white light-emitting diode with yellowish orange SiAlON ceramic phosphor," Opt. Lett. Vol. 29, pp. 2001 to 2003 (2004).
Conventionally, fluorescent materials have been predominantly oxides or sulfides, and have required further improvement in terms of their durability and their properties under high-temperature environments. In recent years, development efforts have been focused on developing oxynitride fluorescent materials and nitride fluorescent materials that exhibit superior long-term reliability and high-temperature properties. Moreover, although extensive research is also being conducted into solid-state illumination devices that use a combination of a semiconductor light emitting element and a fluorescent material, oxynitride fluorescent materials or sulfide fluorescent materials are the primary materials being researched. However, even if these conventional fluorescent materials are combined appropriately, and a white LED is then fabricated using a combination of these fluorescent materials and a blue LED element, achieving a white LED having a high color rendering characteristic has proven difficult.
On the other hand, although a white LED using an ultraviolet LED element such as that disclosed in Published Japanese Translation No. 2000-509912 of PCT is capable of realizing a superior color rendering characteristic, a significant problem arises in that the ultraviolet light from the light emitting diode element tends to cause degradation of the sealing resin and the package. This is a major problem in terms of the long-term reliability of the device.
Moreover, other problems include possible external leakage of ultraviolet light that has not undergone wavelength conversion, and the fact that the light emission efficiency of an ultraviolet LED element is lower than that of a blue LED element.

Light emitting device and illumination device

National Institute for Materials Science


A tongue depressor includes a blade including a tongue contact portion, a flavor coating secured to the tongue contact portion, a stylized handle portion, and a structure for detaching the stylized handle portion from the tongue contact portion. The blade is preferably elongate and formed as a single piece of stiff and resilient material. The stylized handle portion includes an image, and preferably has a forward surface and the image is formed in the forward surface of the handle portion. The blade preferably has an edge with edge irregularities and the image extends to the blade edge so that the edge irregularities form part of the image. The image is alternatively printed on a sticker affixed to the handle portion. The image is still alternatively printed directly onto the handle portion. The image may be that of a person, and is optionally one of a variety of images constituting a collection. The flavor coating is preferably an edible food material. The structure for detaching may be a stress riser groove following a segmented path across the blade, forming a multifaceted edge upon blade breakage along the stress riser groove.

1. Field of the Invention:
The present invention relates generally to the field of medical and dental equipment. More specifically the present invention relates to a tongue depressor intended primarily for children, and having a flavor-coated tongue contact portion and a stylized handle portion which is detachable.
The construction of this tongue depressor makes oral examination enjoyable for children in at least two ways, so that they willingly cooperate with the examination. First the flavor-coating of the tongue contact portion makes placement of the depressor against the taste buds of the tongue pleasant so that children welcome its use, and the sweetness relaxes the pharyngeal muscles and thereby reduces the possibility of gagging. The tongue contact portion can also become a candy coated stick for consumption and continued enjoyment after the examination is completed. Second the stylized handle portion becomes an entertaining keepsake and toy, prolonging the enjoyed experience of the child so that he or she remembers it the next time an examination is needed. A method is provided including the step of breaking off the handle portion along a stress riser groove.
2. Description of the Prior Art:
There have long been various types of tongue depressors for bearing downwardly against the upper surface of a patient tongue to hold the tongue out of the way for viewing of the mouth and throat during oral examination. Modern tongue depressors are typically wooden or plastic slats, although other designs are known.
Kiro, U.S. Pat. No. 5,634,885, issued on Jun. 3, 1997, discloses a tongue depressor with a lollipop holder. Rather than placing a candy confection directly onto the tongue depressor, the stem of a lollipop is inserted into holder and fits into a longitudinal channel or slot in the depressor where it is removably secured in place. In another embodiment the holder is omitted and a slot or longitudinal bore is provided in the depressor for receiving a lollipop stem. A problem with Kiro is that molding or cutting a separate holder in addition to the depressor, or manufacturing a depressor with an axial bore for receiving a lollipop stem, makes the depressor relative costly to produce. Another problem is that the depressor is designed to become a toy for children, and the cost of the depressor may make giving it away impractical. Still another problem is that the medical examiner is forced to use whatever shape or size of lollipop candy portion is available to depress the tongue, since the lollipop candy portion appears to be the active portion of the depressor.
Edinger, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 3,349,764, issued on Oct. 31, 1967, teaches a self-illuminating tongue depressor with a detachable tongue blade. Edinger, et al., includes a hollow handle containing a rechargeable battery, a switch and a power circuit, and having a rod projecting forwardly therefrom with a light bulb mounted at the rod distal end. The light bulb is connected to the battery through the power circuit and is operated with the switch. An elongate and transparent plastic tongue contact portion having a longitudinal interior bore which removably receives the rod and bulb until the bulb is positioned within the remote end of the contact portion. The contact portion is then releasibly clipped to the handle portion. When examination is concluded, the contact portion is removed from the handle and discarded. A problem with Edinger, et al., is that it does not ease the concerns of children about placement of a foreign object into their mouths. Indeed, the mechanized appearance could make Edinger, et al. more intimidating than an ordinary tongue depressor. Another problem with Edinger, et al., is that it is complex and expensive to manufacture.
Leach, U.S. Pat. No. 2,425,945, issued on Aug. 19, 1947 reveals a confection-tongue depressor. Leach includes a wooden slat body member having a hole or a notch at its distal end into which a candy substance is secured, to make oral examination more pleasant for children. A problem with Leach is that no provision is made beyond the candy itself for making the depressor appealing to children.
Kravitz, U.S. Pat. No. 3,324,840, issued on Jun. 13, 1967, discloses a combination tongue depressor and swab. Kravitz includes a flat tongue blade and a cotton swab mounted at an end of an elongated swab rod. The swab rod is removably secured to a face of the tongue blade with two spaced apart brackets wrapping laterally around the tongue blade and rod, and can be slid longitudinally relative to the blade to cause the swab to protrude. The problems of Edinger, et al. are again presented.
It is thus an object of the present invention to provide a tongue depressor which makes oral examination a pleasant experience for children which they remember at the next examination so that they readily cooperate.
It is another object of the present invention to provide such a tongue depressor which is formed or molded as a single piece, with candy or other sweet substance affixed to the depressor member, and which has no need for provision of an internal chamber, so that unit cost is minimized.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide such a tongue depressor which is an elongate blade with a decorative handle portion and a candy-coated tongue contact portion, and which has a lateral stress riser between the handle portion and the tongue contact portion so that the decorative handle portion can be easily and cleanly broken away and retained by the child as a toy, and the used tongue contact portion discarded.
It is finally an object of the present invention to provide such a tongue depressor with a handle portion configured or marked in any of numerous and varied decorative configurations to be appealing to children as a collectible item.

Tongue depressor for children and method


The present invention concerns the field of food preservation and more specifically compositions comprising xanthohumol for use as an anti-microbial agent in the preservation of food in combination with another antimicrobial agent. In particular, the present invention provides the use of compositions comprising xanthohumol and a further antimicrobial agent, as an anti-microbial composition against lactic acid bacteria. Such compositions and food products comprising such compositions are also encompassed by the invention.

Food products and beverages are vulnerable to growth of spoilage micro-organisms, which most often limits the shelf-life of these products and poses a threat for health issues to consumers. Indeed microbial food spoilage, and thus consumer safety, is a major concern in the food industry with regard to e.g. processing and storing of fresh meat, poultry, fish, processed meat, cooked meat, cured meat, cured fish, bakery products, cakes, ready-to-eat meals, (cooking) sauces, deli salads, pastry, preprocessed food or liquid food. Microbial growth shortens shelf-life of these products, and preventing contamination and spoilage is a highly demanding task during production, storage and distribution of said products.
In meat and prepared foods one of the type of spoilage bacteria which causes concern are lactic acid bacteria (Lactobacillales, LAB), i.e. members of the Lactobacillus family of bacteria. Modern food production processes nowadays include modified-atmosphere packaging using increased carbon dioxide levels to inhibit growth of micro-organisms. Unfortunately, lactic acid bacteria are not susceptible to carbon dioxide. Furthermore, members of the order of the lactobacillales, such as Lactobacillus oligofermentans and Leuconostoc gasicomitatum, are cold-tolerant lactic acid bacteria. This severely limits the usefulness of for example cold-chain storage of fresh products such as meat.
Another class of micro-organisms that often causes food spoilage are molds. Although some molds are an essential part of certain food products, the growth of molds often results in strong off-flavors and a deterioration of the appearance of a food product, rendering it unsuitable for human consumption. Moreover, some molds have the ability to produce toxic metabolites, known as mycotoxins, which are associated with a wide range of human diseases, from gastroenteric conditions to cancer.
In attempts to adequately prevent food from spoilage, various methods and (artificial) preservatives are used in food industry to prevent microbial contamination or to inhibit the microbial growth. However, these preservatives are often synthetic in nature, e.g. nitrites, benzoates, potassium sorbate, etc. Moreover, off-flavor that several preservatives can impart to the food products and the health concerns accompanied by the use of these compounds in food largely decreases their usefulness. Consumers are also becoming increasingly critical towards the source of preservatives and are less willing to consume food products wherein non-natural preservatives have been used.
Hence, a need remains for antimicrobial agents, which are efficient in preventing or inhibiting the growth of lactic acid bacteria and molds, which impart less or no off-flavor and which antimicrobial agents have been derived from natural sources.

Anti-microbial agent comprising xanthohumol and the use thereof in food products


An electronic apparatus which operates a technological aid and effectively electronically assists in the play of games of chance as, for example, that game of chance known as "Pull-Tab." The apparatus is generally played by a single player and is designed to dispense a ticket containing indicia thereon. A large number of tickets are in the apparatus and the player actuates the apparatus and obtains a dispensed ticket. The apparatus is primarily designed for entertainment purposes only. The tickets installed in each of the apparatus are randomly selected from a larger group of these tickets and the balance of these tickets are located in other like apparatus. If the indicia which appears on the ticket constitutes winning or scoring indicia, the player obtains a reward as, for example, a pay-off in money. Only a limited number of the tickets contain any winning or scoring indicia. All tickets are pre-printed and may be dispensed from a bin containing pre-cut tickets or severed from a strip in the form of a roll. The apparatus comprises a display means which displays each of the indicia on a ticket. The display is operated in a manner so that the indicia are effectively sequentially displayed horizontally. The tickets are constructed so that a cover strip can be pulled from one side to the other to sequentially display the indicia on the ticket.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates in general to certain new and useful improvements in electronic technological aids which assist in a method of playing a game of chance and, more particularly, to an apparatus which is capable of dispensing tickets containing indicia and displaying on a monitor indicia corresponding to that contained on the dispensed ticket and to the tickets used therewith.
2. Brief Description of Related Art
With the recent advances in electronic circuitry, there have been many attempts to automate games and particularly, games of gambling which were heretofore played with little or no electronic game operation. These attempts to automate games have become even more pronounced in view of the recent advances in miniature microprocessor technology.
One of the games, for example, which was previously played without any type of electronic interaction was the game of poker. This necessarily involved a dealer and a plurality of players utilizing playing cards. Recently, however, the game of poker has been automated and can literally be played by actuating selected combinations of push buttons on an electronic gaming device which may or may not include a display screen. Other prior art games which involve playing cards, e.g. the game of Keno, have also been automated so as to enable playing on an electronic game apparatus of this type. These prior art electronic gaming apparatus effectively allow for the play of a game which is facsimile of the real game, that is, it attempts to correspond generally to the real game. The prior art gaming apparatus are true gaming apparatus in which the simulation of the game can only be played on the apparatus, which is in distinction of the present invention which serves as a technical aid and the game can be played independently of the apparatus.
In the conventional game of Pull-Tab, frequently played in gaming establishments, a large number of cards, or similar substrates, are located in a box or other open container. Each of the cards are printed with some type of indicia which may be a number, a symbol or the like and only a limited number of the cards in this box or other container have a winning indicia. Each of the indicia are covered by a removable cover sheet having a tab thereon and hence, the cards are referred to as "Pull Tabs."
Upon appropriate payment by a player, a clerk will remove one of the cards from the container and provide the same to a player. Since the indicia are covered by the removable cover sheet, and since the card with winning indicia are randomly located within the container, neither the dealer nor the player know if the player is receiving a card with a winning indicia until such time as the tab is engaged and the cover sheet is removed.
In Class II gaming a certain limited scope of gaming activity is permitted. In Class III gaming activities, games of chance are based on random electronically generated results as, for example, in the game of Keno, poker, or in the play of slot machines. These games are only available in a limited number of jurisdictions in the United States. Except for teachings in U.S. Patents of the applicant herein, and upon which this present application is based, there is presently no prior art gaming device which is capable of effectively assisting in the play of a known "Class II" game. This is particularly true when the game is operated under certain conditions, e.g. along with another specific gaming activity.
This apparatus of the present invention assists in the play of the game so that the game can be played with enhanced entertainment and appeal. In effect, the apparatus enables the game to be played so that it can present the entertainment and enjoyment and enhanced appeal of a Class III game, but where the apparatus is only enabling the play of a Class II game. In this respect, the apparatus allows for the play of a game in such manner that it is perceived of as a so-called "Class III" game, but nevertheless remains within and strictly conforms to those standards required for a Class II game. A gaming apparatus which could operate on the basis of a Class II gaming activity, as described above, but which generates responses similar to, a Class III gaming apparatus, is highly desirable.
The present invention relies on an innovation which electronically assists in the play of the game as, for example, in a game of Pull Tab utilizing technology and which thereby allows operators of these games to effectively compete with Class III. This is also true for other games of Pull Tab which utilize selection of randomly arranged tickets having indicia thereon. As indicated previously, the apparatus of this invention only operates as an electronic assist. In other words, the game of the invention can be played on the apparatus or it can be played independently of the apparatus, in much the same manner. The invention only enhances the actual play of the game.
The present invention is also applicable to the automating of various other types of games, including games of playing cards, as hereinafter described, and is particularly adaptable to games which have a plurality of tickets or substrates bearing indicia thereon in the nature of playing cards or the cards used in a game of chance.

Electronic apparatus and method of assisting in the play of a game and tickets used therewith


A photoreceptor amplifier circuit comprises a differential amplifier circuit, which includes a differential transistor pair constituted of two transistors and active loads corresponding to said differential transistor pair, said differential amplifier circuit outputting a voltage according to an output current of a photoreceptor. The photoreceptor amplifier circuit further comprises a correcting current generation circuit for generating a correcting current based on a current difference between said two transistors and supplying the correcting current to said differential amplifier circuit.

An optical disk device for carrying out reproduction and recording of an optical disk includes an optical pickup for irradiating an optical disk with laser light for reproduction/recording, or receiving reflection light from the optical disk. The optical pickup includes a photoreceptor and a photoreceptor amplifier circuit. The photoreceptor converts the received reflection light or monitored laser light emitted from a laser light source into an electric signal, and the photoreceptor amplifier circuit amplifies this converted electric signal. Further, to take its advantage of easily realizing a small-sized optical pickup, a recent optical pickup often uses an IC in which a photoreceptor and a photoreceptor amplifier circuit are integrated in a single chip.
FIG. 8 illustrates a conventional photoreceptor amplifier circuit including a differential amplifier circuit. In this photoreceptor amplifier circuit, first, light received by a photodiode PD21 is converted into a photocurrent, and is further converted into a voltage in an inversion amplifier circuit (current-voltage conversion circuit) in which a differential amplifier circuit is connected to a feedback resistor R22, thereby generating an output voltage Vo proportional to the photocurrent. The differential amplifier circuit in the photoreceptor amplifier circuit includes transistors Q21 through Q25, and constant current generators CS21 and CS22.
The NPN-type transistors Q21 and Q22 are provided as a pair of differential transistors. The PNP-type transistor Q23 and Q24 constitute a current mirror circuit, and supply a collector current to the transistors Q21 and Q22, respectively. An input voltage Vin, as a reference voltage, is supplied to the base (non-inversion input terminal of a differential amplifier circuit) of the transistor Q21 via an input resistor R21. The photocurrent of the photodiode PD21 is supplied from the emitter of the transistor 25 via the resistor R22. Further, the constant current generator CS21 supplies a constant current so that the sum of the emitter currents of the transistors Q21 and Q22 becomes a constant value. The NPN-type transistor Q25 serving as an output transistor forms an emitter follower circuit, and outputs an output voltage Vo from a collector of the transistor Q24. The constant current generator CS22 supplies a constant current to the transistor Q25.
The following explains an offset voltage of this differential amplifier circuit. Note that, in the following explanation, all NPN transistors have a common characteristic, and all transistors have a common characteristic. Thus, variation between the transistors is not taken into account.
In the differential amplifier circuit shown in FIG. 8, the output current Vo is found as follows when no voltage is inputted.Vo=Vin−(Ibn1×Rf)−Vben1+Vben2+(Ibn2×Rf)=Vin −(Rf×Icn1/hFEn)−VT×ln(Icn1/Is)+VT×ln(Icn2/Is)+(Rf×Icn2/hFEn)=Vin+((Icn2−Icn1)×Rf/hFEn)+VT×ln(Icn2/Icn1)  (1)
The parameters in the above figure are detailed below.                hFEn: rate of current amplification of NPN transistor        VT: thermoelectromotive force expressed as kT/q(k=Boltzmann's constant, T=absolute temperature, q=electronic charge)        Ibn1: base current of transistor Q21        Ibn2: base current of transistor Q22        Vben1: voltage between base-emitter of transistor Q21        Vben2: voltage between base-emitter of transistor Q22        Icn1: collector current of transistor Q21        Icn2: collector current of transistor Q22        Icp1: collector current of transistor Q23        Icp2: collector current of transistor Q24        Ibp1: base current of transistor Q23        Ibp2: base current of transistor Q24        Ibp3: base current of transistor Q25        Is: reverse saturation current of transistor (a constant depending on the structure etc. of the transistor)        Rf: resistance values of resistors R21 and R22
Accordingly, the voltage difference between the output voltage Vo and the reference voltage Vin, that is the offset voltage Voff, is denoted as follows.Voff=Vo−Vin=((Icn2−Icn1)×Rf/hFEn)+VT×ln(Icn2/Icn1)  (2)
This equation reveals that the offset voltage is caused by the difference between Icn1 and Icn2. On the contrary, when Icn1=Icn2, Voff becomes 0 and the offset voltage is not generated.
FIG. 9 illustrates another conventional photoreceptor amplifier circuit.
This photoreceptor amplifier circuit has the same structure as that of the circuit of FIG. 8, but additionally includes a NPN-type transistor Q26, a PNP-type transistor Q27, and constant current generators CS23 and CS24. Further, the transistor Q26 and the constant current generator CS23 are serially connected between the power supply voltage Vcc and the ground line. The transistor Q27 and the constant current generator CS24 are serially connected in the same manner. The base of the transistor Q26 is connected to the collector of the transistor Q23, and the base of the transistor Q27 is connected to the collector of the transistor Q24.
In this circuit shown in FIG. 9, Icn1 becomes identical to Icn2 by compensating the value of Ibp1+Ibp2, that is the base current of active load, so that the sum of those becomes Ibp3 (Ibp3=Ibp1+Ibp2); and also compensating Ibp3, the base current of output circuit, using a correcting current Ibn4 (Ibn4=Ibn3). As a result, Icn1 becomes equal to Icn2, thus obtaining Voff=0. Here, considering the Early effect of the transistors Q21 and Q22 constituting a differential pair, the condition Vben1=Vben2 cannot be obtained only by correction of base currents of the active load and the output circuit even when Icn1=Icn2. More specifically, when the collector—emitter voltages of the transistors Q21 and Q22 are respectively expressed as Vben1 and Vben2, they are found as follows.Vben1=VT×ln(Icn1/(Is×(1+(Vcen1/VA)))Vben2=VT×ln(Icn2/(Is×(1+(Vcen2/VA)))
Accordingly, the offset voltage Voff is found as follows.Voff=Vo−Vin=((Icn2−Icn1)×Rf/hFEn)+VT×ln((Icn2×(1+(Vcen1/VA)))/(Icn1×(1×(Vcen2/VA))))  (3)
When Icn1=Icn2 in Formula (3), the offset voltage Voff is expressed as follows.Voff=VT×ln((VA+Vcen1)/(VA+Vcen2))  (4)
However, in Formula (4), the condition Vcen1=Vcen2 must be met to obtain an offset voltage=0.
Here, the following explains the relation between the Early effect and the offset voltage. First, the following relation is found based on the first line of FIG. (1).Voff=Vo−Vin=((Icn2−Icn1)×Rf/hFEn)+(Vben2−Vben1))  (A)
Meanwhile, Vben differs depending on whether the Early effect of transistor is taken into account. Vben in consideration of the Early effect and that ignoring the Early effect are respectively found as (B) and (C) below. This theory is applied also to Vben2.Vben1=VT×ln(Icn1/Is)  (B)Vben1=VT×ln(Icn1/(Is×(1+(Vcen1/VA)))  (C)
Formula (2) is obtained by applying Formula (B) to Formula (A), and Formula (3) is obtained by applying Formula (C) to Formula (A).
When the Early effect is not taken into account, Voff=0 in the circuit of FIG. 9. On the other hand, when the Early effect is taken into account, offset voltage is generated as shown in Formulas (1) through (3).
Since the photoreceptor amplifier circuit of FIG. 9 cannot satisfy the condition Vcen1=Vcen2, the photoreceptor amplifier circuit of FIG. 10, which satisfies Vcen1=Vcen2, has conventionally been used.
The photoreceptor amplifier circuit of FIG. 10 further includes NPN-type transistors Q28 and Q29 and a bias power source E, in addition to the structure of the photoreceptor amplifier circuit of FIG. 9. The transistor Q28 is connected between the transistors Q21 and Q23, and the transistor Q29 is connected between the transistors Q22 and Q24. The bias power source E is connected between the power source line and the respective bases of the transistors Q28 and Q29, and generates a bias voltage VB.
In this photoreceptor amplifier circuit, because of the transistors Q28 and Q29, the collector voltages VA of the transistors Q21 and Q22 both satisfy VA=Vcc−VB−Vben, thereby obtaining Voff=0.
Note that, Document 1 (FIG. 1) and Document 2 listed below are prior art documents disclosing circuits with a similar function to that of the circuit of FIG. 9, though their structures are not identical to FIG. 9. Document 1 discloses a differential amplifier circuit in which correction of base current and output operation are performed by a single common transistor. Document 2 discloses a circuit in which transistors constituting the current mirror circuit and the output transistor are all NPN-type transistors, and the correction of base current is performed by a single NPN-type transistor.
Further, Documents 3 through 7 listed below are prior art documents disclosing circuits with a similar function to that of the circuit of FIG. 10, though their structures are not identical to FIG. 10. These documents each teaches a similar differential pair to the differential pair constituted of the transistors Q21 and Q22, which is arranged so that the pair of circuits have an equal collector voltage.
Document 1: Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application Tokukai 2000-114888/2000 (published on Apr. 21, 2000)
Document 2: Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application Tokukaihei 08-130421/1996 (published on May 21, 1996)
Document 3: Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application Tokukaihei 05-14075/1993 (published on Jan. 22, 1993)
Document 4: Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application Tokukaihei 08-70221/1996 (published on Mar. 12, 1996)
Document 5: Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application Tokukaihei 04-127703/1992 (published on Apr. 28, 1992) (corresponding U.S. Pat. No. 5,144,169A1)
Document 6: Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application Tokukaihei 04-119005/1992 (published on Apr. 20, 1992)
Document 7: Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application Tokukaihei 04-129306/1992 (published on Apr. 30, 1992)
The front monitor element of an optical pickup is a laser intensity monitoring element which outputs a monitor voltage according to the intensity of received laser beam. The laser driver controls a driving current for the laser light source based on the monitor voltage fed back from the front monitor element so that the laser light source emits a laser beam at a predetermined intensity.
With the higher recording speed in recent years, the laser power for recording is increasing. However, there is a limit for output voltage of the front monitor element; for example, a monitor with a power source voltage=5V and a reference voltage=2.5V outputs a voltage less than 2.5V. Accordingly, when the amount of incident light increases due to an increase of laser power, the value of output voltage does not increase according to the intensity of incident light unless the sensitivity of the front monitor element is decreased. On the other hand, the laser power for reproduction is not required to be increased as much as the recording power, and therefore the decrease in sensitivity of front monitor element in accordance with the recording laser power results in a decrease in output signal for reproduction. Therefore, in order to, particularly upon reproduction, to output a voltage precisely reflecting the laser power, it is necessary to decrease the offset voltage and the offset voltage temperature characteristics.
In view of this, the differential amplifier circuit of FIG. 10 is arranged so that Icn1 is equal to Icn2 by meeting the condition: Ibp3=Ibp1+Ibp2, Ibp4=Ibn3, and also Vcen1 is equal to Vcen2 by addition of the transistors Q28 and Q29, thereby obtaining Voff=0. However, this photoreceptor amplifier circuit stops moving when the input voltage Vin exceeds VA+Vben1, and Vcen1 becomes 0. That is, in this photoreceptor amplifier circuit, the range of input voltage for starting operation is limited because of the presence of the transistors Q28 and Q29, resulting in incapability of processing a large signal.

Photoreceptor amplifier circuit and optical pickup


Method and product for increasing the awareness of one""s self and for assessment and increasing decisiveness in conflict resolution in order to assist individuals who are conflicted by an intimate relationship. The method utilizes a plurality of individual statements which are each associated with one of four(4) different cells. The cells are positioned from lower to higher self awareness and decisiveness with conflict resolution being enhanced with statements falling within the cells of higher self awareness and decisiveness. Upon reviewing the individual statements and positioning such statements in appropriate locations on a template, the user becomes aware of his degree of decidedness and the quality of his decision and his level of awareness.

This invention relates to a decision making technique and, more particularly, to a decision making technique specifically designed for assisting individuals who are conflicted in an intimate relationship to resolve such conflicts in a satisfactory manner within one""s self. This invention also relates to computer and interactive use of the method according to the invention.
It is often the case that conflicts arise within individuals and cause stress to such individuals. Presumably, allowing an individual to resolve such conflicts in a satisfactory manner will reduce the stress on the individual and allow the individual to continue life in a more stable mind set thus contributing to the well being, happiness or satisfaction of the individual.
Conflicts arise in relationships over which the individual has no personal control. First, there may be conflicts due to the perception by an individual of his perception by others. Such conflicts are clearly not within the control of the individual and therefor are not resolvable by that individual. However, if the individual can recognize that such conflicts are not within the individual""s control, it will presumably assist the individual to attach less importance to such uncontrollable conflicts. Second, there may be conflicts which are quite within the control of the individual. If the individual recognizes that such conflicts, known as intra psychic conflicts, are within the control of the individual, the individual can proceed to resolve these controllable conflicts and spend the necessary time in doing so since the time used will be spent in a productive manner.
In addition to recognizing that intra psychic conflicts may be resolved by the individual because they are within the control of the individual, conflicts are present that the individual may think have been resolved but which have been resolved for incorrect reasons. The supposition present is that the individual may have resolved those conflicts by dependence on the actions of others which are not controllable by the individual. It would be beneficial if the individual could recognize that he has made decisions and that the decisions made have not resolved the conflict appropriately.
The theory of conflict resolution using the Two Chair Technique was disclosed by the inventor in her Ph. D. thesis entitled The Gestalt Two-Chair Technique: How It Relates to Theory, the University of British Columbia, 1995. That conflict resolution, however, did not teach or contemplate the ability to put the theory into practise by way of concrete and specific steps that could be taken by either joint individuals, namely a mentor and the conflicted individual. Nor did it contemplate that an individual could participate on a private and personal basis without the presence of a mentor or professional.
One problem with therapeutic counselling is embarrassment by the conflicted individual. Regardless of whether or not the mentor or professional is known to the individual or not, the conflicted individual is often reluctant to discuss private or personal lifestyle details with the mentor. Privacy is a key requirement to avoid embarrassment and the perception of individuals may be that such privacy is not forthcoming when a third party is involved, even if the third party is not known to the individual. A further problem relates to the availability of professional help for the individual. It may be that professional assistance is too expensive or is otherwise unavailable.
According to one aspect of the invention, there is disclosed a product for assessing and resolving intra psychic conflict and increasing self-awareness in an individual arising from an intimate relationship with another party comprising a plurality of individual statements, each of said statements falling within a predetermined cell, each respective statement being associated with said predetermined cell by one of four (4) criteria, the first one of said four(4) criteria being a lack of awareness of one""s self and a state of indecision, the second one of said four(4) criteria being an awareness of ones""s self and a state of indecision, the third one of said four(4) criteria being lack of awareness of one""s self and a state of decidedness and the fourth one of said four(4) criteria being an awareness of one""s self and a state of decidedness.
According to a further aspect of the invention, there is provided a method for assessment and resolutiion of intra psychic conflict and increasing self-awareness within a first individual arising from an intimate relationship with a second individual, said method comprising providing said first individual with a plurality of individual statements, each of said statements being associated with one of a plurality of four(4) cells, said first one of said four(4) cells requiring a statement constructed to reveal a lack of awareness of one""s self and a state of indecision, said second one of said four(4) cells requiring a statement constructed to reveal an awareness of ones""s self and a state of indecision, said third one of said four(4) cells requiring a statement constructed to reveal a lack of awareness of one""s self and a state of decidedness and said fourth one of said four(4) cells requiring a statement constructed to reveal an awareness of one""s self and a state of decidedness.

Therapeutic method for conflict resolution and product for using same


When starting a screw-type air compressor in sub-zero conditions, current spikes are mitigated by detecting an over-current condition and/or a below-threshold temperature, and a warm-up routine is initiated in which compressor motor speed is ramped in a sawtooth fashion between two speeds that are substantially lower than a nominal operating speed of the compressor motor. In this manner, the internal components of the compressor are warmed prior to fully starting the compressor, which mitigates current spikes, reduces blown fuses, and extends the life of the compressor motor and other compressor components.

The present application finds particular application in controlling screw-type compressors for commercial hybrid vehicles. However, it will be appreciated that the described technique may also find application in other compressor systems, other vehicular systems, or other control systems.
In conventional screw-type compressors, a pair of helical screws or rotors is employed to compress a gas, such as air. Oil-filled screw compressors employ a lubricant that fills the space between the rotors. The lubricant provides a hydraulic seal and transfers mechanical energy between the screws. Air enters at a suction side and moves through the threads as the screws rotate. In this manner, the rotors force the air through the compressor until it exits at the end of the screws.
Trying to drive a liquid-cooled screw compressor under worst case conditions (e.g., less than −5° F., cold startup, no coolant flow into compressor) presents a challenge to the motor controller. Excessive phase and RMS currents can occur, and conventional control strategies are not able to mitigate the over-current conditions or bring the compressor up to working temperature and speed in order to charge the air tanks without blowing fuses, etc.
The present innovation relates to systems and methods that overcome the above-referenced problems and others.

Current control via speed control for driving screw compressor under cold conditions


A docking system for securing a wheelchair into a vehicle in which a docking shoe is firmly attached to either the frame of the wheelchair or to the floor of the vehicle, or both. A firm anchor device, which may be a second docking shoe, is firmly attached to the other of the floor and wheelchair. A docking arm is mounted vertically in the anchor device and the wheelchair is positioned in the vehicle so that the docking shoe and the anchor device are vertically aligned one above the other so that the docking arm can be slidably and releasably locked into the docking shoe. Preferably, the docking shoe includes an electrically operated, spring loaded, release mechanism, and may also include a slide mechanism to allow limited forward and rearward movement of the wheelchair while under restraint.

The welfare and safety of persons being transported in wheelchairs, three wheeled scooters, power bases and the like is of ever increasing concern and many jurisdictions have enacted stringent safety requirements for devices to secure the wheelchair into the transport vehicle and the occupant into the wheelchair. Numerous structures, most of which are reasonably effective, have been suggested in the prior art, but they frequently require the attachment of a plurality of straps or the like to one or more anchor points in the vehicle. After attachment the straps have to be tightened either by the wheelchair occupant or by an attendant. Frequently, the wheelchair occupant has neither the physical strength nor the manual dexterity to manipulate the necessary straps and the like. This means that the attendant, or vehicle driver must spend several minutes securing each wheelchair in his/her charge into the vehicle. There have been some attempts to provide self attachment devices in the past and attention is directed to U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,690,364 and 6,474,916 in which a locking mechanism is secured either beneath or to the rear of a wheelchair and releasably locked to a post similarly mounted, either under or behind the wheelchair, on the floor of the vehicle. While reasonably effective in certain circumstances, problems of automatic unlocking and twisting or rotation of the wheelchair about the vertical post still remain. Thus there is a need for an automatic wheelchair tie-down system that can, if desired, be operated automatically by the attendant from a central location, or that can be operated manually by either the wheelchair occupant or by the attendant. It will also be appreciated that some wheelchair occupants may also be the driver of the vehicle, usually provided that the vehicle is equipped with hand controls.


A hydrogen storage apparatus that includes multiple gas storage tanks that each house a storing/adsorbing material and through the interior of which a fluid travels is provided. The gas storage apparatus 10 includes roughly cylindrical gas storage tanks 20 that house hydrogen-storing alloy. The multiple gas storage tanks 20 are disposed longitudinally parallel to each other in an ordered fashion such that roughly triangular prism-shaped empty spaces are formed between multiple adjacent hydrogen storage tanks 20. Coolant paths through which coolant flows are formed in these roughly triangular prism-shaped empty spaces. These coolant paths are thermally connected to the hydrogen-storing alloy in the gas storage tanks 20 via constituent members of the gas storage tanks 20 and via heat transfer plates 28 disposed on the gas storage tanks 20.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a gas storage apparatus that includes gas tanks for storage of gas.
2. Description of the Related Art
Various types of gas tanks for storage of gas have been proposed. One known method for storing gas involves the occlusion or adsorption of gas in a prescribed storing/adsorbing material. For example, a hydrogen storage tank that stores hydrogen gas using a hydrogen-storing material stored inside the tank is known. In addition, a hydrogen storage tank is known wherein a heat transfer medium channel is disposed on the outer circumference of the tank and a thermal conduction material that transfers heat between the heat transfer medium inside the heat transfer medium channel and the hydrogen-storing material is disposed inside the tank.
In a gas storage apparatus equipped with a gas storage tank, the number of gas storage tanks may be increased in order to increase gas storage capacity. When the number of gas storage tanks is increased, thereby realizing a gas storage apparatus incorporating multiple gas storage tanks, there is a risk that the arrangement of the pipes used to circulate the coolant or other fluid will become complex. However, sufficient attention has not been paid to the specific design of the arrangement of the pipes used to circulate coolant or other fluid in a gas storage apparatus incorporating multiple gas storage tanks.


A semiconductor device has at least one semiconductor element, at least one radiator plate thermally connected with said semiconductor element, and a molded resin covering and sealing said semiconductor device and said radiator, wherein an outer main surface of the radiator plate and at least a part of the side surface adjoining the outer main surface are exposed from the molded resin.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a semiconductor device formed by sealing at least a semiconductor element thermally connected to a radiator plate with a molded resin, a method of fabricating the semiconductor device and an apparatus for fabricating the semiconductor device, or in particular to a semiconductor device formed by sealing at least a semiconductor element sandwiched between a pair of radiator plates with a molded resin, a method of fabricating the semiconductor device and an apparatus for fabricating the semiconductor device.
2. Description of the Related Art
FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing a sectional structure of an ordinary resin molded semiconductor device.
Generally, in the semiconductor of this type, as shown in FIG. 7, the two surfaces of a semiconductor element 10 are sandwiched by radiator plates 20, 30 and the resulting assembly is sealed with a molded resin 80 so as to expose the radiation surfaces 20a, 30a of the radiator plates 20, 30. In other words, the parts of the semiconductor device other than the radiation surfaces 20a, 30a of the radiator plates 20, 30 are sealed with the molded resin 80.
The heat generated from the active semiconductor element 10 is transmitted to the upper and lower radiator plates 20, 30 and radiated out of the semiconductor device from the radiation surfaces 20a, 30a of the radiator plates 20, 30.
The radiation surfaces 20a, 30a of the radiator plates 20, 30 are the widest surfaces of the radiator plates 20, 30, i.e. the outer main surfaces 20a, 30a of the pair of the radiator plates 20, 30 sandwiching semiconductor element 10.
In the semiconductor device shown in FIG. 7, the semiconductor element 10 is sandwiched between the pair of the radiator plates 20, 30 through a heat sink block 40 and conductive bonding materials 51 to 53 of such a material as solder or a conductive adhesive.
In the molded resin 80, at least a lead frame 60 is arranged around the semiconductor element 10, which is electrically connected to each lead frame 60 through a wire 70.
This semiconductor device can be fabricated by molding the semiconductor element 10 with the radiator plates 20, 30 according to the transfer molding process using a resin-sealing die.
FIG. 8 is a sectional view schematically showing the conventional ordinary molding method using the die 200 for the semiconductor device. As shown in FIG. 8a, a cavity 200a is formed in the die 200 by joining an upper die 201 and a lower die 202 each other.
First, the semiconductor element 10 is sandwiched by a pair of the radiator plates 20, 30 and connected to a lead frame 60 through a wire 70. Then, the resulting assembly is set in the cavity 200a of the die 200 and a resin is injected and filled in the die 200, which is thus sealed by the molded resin 80.
In this molding method using resin, as shown in FIG. 8a, the tolerance of the work thickness generally requires a clearance K to be formed between the upper die 201 and the radiation surface 30a.
At the time of molding, resin flows into the clearance K. As a result, as shown in FIG. 8b, the radiation surface 30a of the upper radiator plate 30 of the completed semiconductor device is covered with the mold resin 80.
In other words, a resin burr can be easily formed on the radiation surface 30a of the radiator plate 30. This is the same on the radiation surface 20a of the lower radiator plate 20. Once the resin burr occurs, the radiation efficiency of the radiation surfaces 20a, 30a is undesirably reduced.
In a conventional method which has been proposed to prevent from forming the resin burr on the radiator plates 20, 30, a heat-resistant, a flexible material is inserted between the die and the radiation surfaces to fill the clearance and prevents the intrusion of the mold resin (Japanese Patent No. 3350444).
Also, a method has been proposed to prevent the intrusion of the mold resin onto the radiation surfaces by bonding the radiation surfaces of the radiator plates to the die and thus eliminating the clearance (Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 10-223669).
Furthermore, with the semiconductor device having such a configuration that at least a semiconductor element is sandwiched by a pair of radiator plates and heat is radiated from the two surfaces of the semiconductor element, the radiation surface of one radiator plate is likely to be tilted relative to the radiation surface of the other radiator plate. Therefore, it is difficult to hold the two radiation surfaces parallel to each other.
A semiconductor device including a semiconductor element sandwiched by a pair of radiator plates and sealed by the molded resin, has normally a cooling structure in which a cooling member is arranged in contact with each radiation surface of the radiator plate pair so as to sandwich the semiconductor device.
The radiation surfaces are cooled with the cooling members to speed up the heat radiation from the radiation surfaces.
In this case, however, a poor parallelism between the radiation surfaces of the radiator plates would lead to a gap and an insufficient contact between each radiation surface and the corresponding cooling member, thereby often deteriorating the heat radiation efficiency.
The deterioration of the parallelism between the radiation surfaces is conspicuous in many cases where a plurality of semiconductor elements are sandwiched between a pair of radiator plates. This is due to the often irregular thickness of the semiconductor elements which makes it difficult to maintain the parallelism between the radiation surfaces.
The present inventors have tried to secure a satisfactory parallelism between the radiation surfaces of the radiator plates by cutting or grinding the radiation surfaces and thus adjusting the parallelism between the radiation surfaces after sealing the device with the molded resin.
In the conventional semiconductor device, as shown in FIG. 7, the side surfaces of the radiator plates 20, 30 are sealed with the molded resin although the radiation surfaces 20a, 30a of the radiator plates 20, 30 are exposed from the mold resin 80.
When the radiation surfaces 20a, 30a are cut or ground with a machining member such as a cutting tool or a grinding stone, therefore, the risk of the machining member cutting the very hard molded resin 80 together with the radiator plates 20, 30 results in a very great consumption of the machining member. Thus, the life of the machining member is considerably shortened and the cost of machining the radiation surfaces becomes higher.
The radiation surfaces may be machined by shot blasting without using any machining member such as the cutting tool or the grinding stone. The shot blasting is not undesirable, however, because of the need of the cleaning and drying processes after machining and a higher cost of materials such as abrasives.
The aforementioned problem of the great consumption and the shorter life of the machining member for cutting or grinding the radiation surfaces is not limited to the semiconductor device in which the two surfaces of the semiconductor element are sandwiched by a pair of radiator plates and the assembly is sealed with the molded resin while exposing the heat radiation surface of each radiator plate.
In other words, the problem of the machining member described above is shared by all the semiconductor devices in which the semiconductor element is thermally connected with the radiator plates and the resulting assembly is sealed with the molded resin so as to expose the radiation surfaces of the radiator plates.

Semiconductor device, method and apparatus for fabricating the same


In a parts mounting apparatus, suction nozzles are mounted on a rotating carrier driven by a motor. With rotation of the rotating carrier, parts are sucked by the nozzles at a feed station and carried to a mounting station where the parts such as electronic parts are mounted on substrates, for example. A counter counts output pulses from an encoder mounted in the motor driving the rotating carrier. A microcomputer determines the rotational speed and rotational position of the rotating carrier from the count value of the counter. Based on the result of the determination, the microcomputer calculates a timing for delivering a signal for switching the nozzles between two different pneumatic states.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a parts mounting apparatus wherein electronic or other parts are mounted on other parts or members such as circuit substrates by mounting heads provided on a rotating carrier, and more particularly, to such a parts mounting apparatus wherein each of the mounting heads is provided with part sucking and mounting nozzles each switched between negative and positive pressure states for sucking the part and releasing and thereby mounting the same.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The assignees of the present application have jointly developed a parts mounting apparatus of the above-described type in which the parts mounting work can be performed at a high speed by continuous rotation of a rotating drum or carrier, and applied for patent on the invention on Mar. 26, 1991 in Japan. This Japanese application was published under the publication number of 3-274800. This developed apparatus comprises a rotating carrier driven by a motor, a feed station provided along a periphery of the rotating carrier for feeding parts to be mounted, a mounting station where other parts or members on which the parts fed at the feed station are to be mounted are disposed, and a plurality of mounting heads provided on the peripheral side of the rotating carrier and each having a plurality of suction nozzles sucking a part. Each mounting head alternately repeatedly performs picking up or sucking the parts at the feed station and placing or mounting them on the members at the mounting station with rotation of the rotating carrier. In this case, each mounting head performs a rotative movement about an axis extending radially with respect to the rotating carrier in synchronism with the same. This rotative movement of each mounting head is referred to as "cycloid movement." The above-mentioned sucking and mounting of the parts are performed at bottom dead points of the cycloid movement of each mounting head, at which points the mounting head is substantially stationary for about 4 milliseconds. That is, each of the sucking and the mounting of the parts needs to be performed in a short time period of about 4 milliseconds for which the mounting head is maintained at the bottom dead point of the cycloid movement.
Each suction nozzle is provided with a switching valve for switching the nozzle between positive and negative pressure states when the part is sucked and mounted. An encoder is provided for detecting a rotational position of the rotating carrier. A switching timing of each switching valve is based on outputs of the encoder.
An electromagnetic valve is used as the above-described switching valve. Several milliseconds or several ten milliseconds are required for a response time period of the switching valve which is a time period from the start of the switching to its completion. Accordingly, in the prior art, the switching of the valve is started based on the output of the encoder when the nozzle of the mounting head reaches a predetermined position before the bottom dead point, and the switching is completed when the nozzle reaches the bottom dead point.
If the above-described switching timing of the valve is shifted for some reason or other, the part is thrown out of the nozzle before or after it reaches the bottom dead point. Thus, the shift in the switching timing of the switching valve reduces accuracy in the mounting of the parts on the substrates. Experiments made by the inventors show that the shift of the mounting nozzle needs to be confined to a range of .+-.2 milliseconds.
However, the rotational speed of the rotating carrier of the above-described parts mounting apparatus slightly changes depending upon the size of the load. Furthermore, a case is considered where the rotational speed of the rotating carrier is positively adjusted. In such a case, when the switching valve is controlled based on the rotational position of the rotating carrier, the shift in the timings of sucking and the mounting of the parts sometimes exceeds the range of .+-.2 milliseconds.


An optical waveguide comprises a core, an inner cladding laterally surrounding the core, and an outer cladding laterally surrounding the inner cladding, wherein the core, inner cladding, and outer cladding have a depressed well configuration. The waveguide operates in three or more wavelength bands, wherein a first wavelength band is centered at about 1300 nm, and wherein a second wavelength band is centered at about 1625 nm. The waveguide has bend losses that are less than or equal to 1.0 dB/turn when measured on a 5 mm radius bend at 1625 nm and bend losses that are less than or equal to 1.5 dB/turn when measured on a 5 mm radius bend at 1650 nm.

Optical fibers form some of the main lines through which telecommunications data is connected all over the world. An optical fiber typically includes a core region surrounded concentrically by a cladding. Some fiber designs, known as "double cladding" designs, surround the core region with an inner cladding, which is in turn surrounded by an outer cladding. The outer cladding likewise is surrounded by an external medium.
The parameters in such double cladding waveguide designs usually are:
Dependent Parameters
                MFD operational mode field diameter        λ operational wavelength        λc second mode cutoff wavelengthIndependent Parameters        rco core radius generated from a single effective (refractive index) step approximation of the core region        ric inner cladding radius        W inner cladding width (ric−rco) generated from a single effective step approximation of the inner cladding region        roc outer cladding radius        nco core refractive index generated from a single effective step approximation of the core region        nic inner cladding refractive index generated from a single step approximation of the inner cladding region        noc outer cladding refractive index        next external medium refractive index        +Δ=(nco−noc)/noc         −Δ=(nic−noc)/noc         ΔTot=|(+Δ)|+|(−Δ)|
Early large-scale commercial systems were designed to operate at an operational wavelength λ of about 1300 nm, a region of relatively low optical absorption loss and very low chromatic dispersion for silica fibers. In addition, intrinsic optical absorption losses in silica fibers were known to be even lower at 1550 nm.
Fiber suppliers began making telecommunications optical fibers that could operate at either 1300 nm or 1550 nm, such as Corning SMF-28™ single mode fiber. This fiber has a typical core diameter of 8.2 micrometers and a MFD of about 9–10 microns in the window from 1300 nm to 1550 nm. This fiber is known as a "matched clad" design with an effective step index core having a (normalized or relative) core refractive index above the outer cladding (+Δ=(nco−noc)/noc) of about 0.0035.
Early fiber optic telecommunication systems involved "long haul" applications from one telephone company central office to another. Long haul telecommunications fibers are typically kept relatively straight in large multi-fiber cables, and are thus protected from bending losses of light due to exceeding the critical bend radius of the fiber design (typically in the range of 25 mm to 12.5 mm).
A recent trend had been to extend fiber optics outward from the central offices, providing "fiber to the campus" and "fiber to the desktop" in commercial buildings, and "fiber to the neighborhood" and eventually "fiber to the home" in residential areas, sometimes referred to as "Fiber-To-The-X," or "FTTX." One conventional example for premises applications is the Volition™ VF-45 fiber optic connector and premise "wiring" system, manufactured by 3M Company, of St. Paul, Minn., as shown in several patents, including U.S. Pat. No. 5,757,997.
To minimize optical losses in connectors such as these, the optical fibers are designed to operate at the same wavelength and have approximately the same mode field diameter (MFD) at that wavelength. For such connectors, it is not practical to adjust the MFD of the two fiber ends (for duplex applications) by high temperature diffusion of core dopants, as can be done when fusion splicing two optical fibers for long haul cables (see, e.g., EP 1094346 A1).
As a light signal travels in an optical fiber the signal is attenuated, due to both material effects and waveguide effects. Waveguide effects include two categories of optical bending loss, microbending and macrobending losses. Macrobending loss occurs when a length of fiber is bent into a curve such that some light is radiated out of the core into the cladding of the fiber and lost. Microbending losses result from concentrated pressure or stresses exerted on the surface of the fiber. Microbending loss occurs when the fiber is exposed to localized pressures and stress points as, for example, if the fiber is pressed against a rough textured surface (such as sandpaper). When the outer surface of the fiber is pressed against the raised points, a coating that is too hard may transfer these stresses to the core, causing scattering losses. Microbend losses are usually negligible for short lengths of fiber.
Such stresses may be reduced by providing a relatively soft, low-modulus inner coating on the surface of the glass fiber. However, usually such coatings are removed from the fiber end in order to accurately align a single mode fiber with another fiber in a connector. The stripped fiber ends are then susceptible to breakage from abrasion and moisture.
A solution to this problem is a fiber having a glass core, glass cladding, polymer cladding construction (referred to herein as a "GGP" fiber), as described in U.S. Pat. No. RE 36,146, which is hereby incorporated by reference. The RE 36,146 patent describes several polymer coatings and other coating materials that can be used in manufacturing GGP fibers. Other polymer coatings and/or coating materials are described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,895,156; U.S. Pat. No. 6,587,628; U.S. Pat. No. 5,644,670; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,269,210 (all of which are hereby incorporated by reference).
These polymer coatings typically have a Shore D hardness of about 55 or more, or a Young's Modulus of from 50 kg/mm2 to 250 kg/mm2 at room temperature, and these coatings can adhere tightly to the outermost glass surface of the optical fiber. They are exemplarily applied to an optical fiber such that their outer surface is sufficiently concentric with the core of the optical fiber that when a GGP fiber is placed in a typical fiber optic mechanical connector and optically connected to a second fiber, the optical loss is not significantly greater than for a similar connection using an uncoated fiber having the same outer diameter as the GGP optical fiber.
In addition, the glass portion of the GGP fiber can be smaller than the standard 125 micrometer outside diameter, and an adherent, very concentric, and relatively hard polymer layer (coating) is added to bring the fiber diameter up to the standard 125 micrometer diameter while maintaining concentricity for connectorization. The construction is cabled within a low-modulus coating to minimize microbending losses, but when the low modulus coating is stripped off for connectorization the outer glass surface of the fiber is not exposed or damaged.
Among the optical fiber applications with the most severe bending loss requirements have been the fiber optic guided missile (FOG-M) and tethered weapons applications for the military. Designs for fibers used in tethered weapon applications have concentrated on keeping the light signals very tightly confined in the fiber core, by designing fibers with small MFD (˜4–7 micrometers at 1550 nm). Some designs include a depressed refractive index well around the core (so called "W" fibers) that provide for a broader range of operating wavelengths. The high matched clad index design may also provide reasonable bend tolerance if designed to operate at a single wavelength. Examples of depressed well, small MFD fibers are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,838,643 and 5,032,001.
Although these fibers provide low bend loss, their small MFDs make them unsuitable for connectorization to the low cost, large (>8.0 microns) MFD telecom fibers. Multi-wavelength versions of these fibers have the smallest MFDs and therefore the largest MFD mismatches and associated connector losses making them impractical for premise applications. These fibers can only be fusion spliced or thermally treated to eliminate the MFD mismatch, which are not practical procedures for the multiple plug-in/disconnect applications.
In general, fiber designs with smaller MFDs have a higher numerical aperture (NA) at a given wavelength, since both parameters indicate a more tightly confined optical mode, which will be less affected by macrobending or other external influences. The relationship between MFD, macrobending loss, and second mode cutoff wavelength is discussed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,608,832 and 5,278,931, and references therein. Further discussion of the relationship between MFD, macrobending loss, and second mode cutoff wavelength is discussed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,895,156 (incorporated by reference herein in its entirety).

Triple-band bend tolerant optical waveguide


A phase detector provides a digital output having a linear relationship to the phase difference between a reference signal and an applied input signal. The phase detector counts the number of cycles of the reference signal within a time interval determined by the difference in arrival times of corresponding amplitude transitions of the reference signal and the input signal. A digital output representing the number of counted cycles is produced. A dither generator adds random time variation to the time interval over which the reference signal cycles are counted to introduce a corresponding random variation in the digital output.

Digital signal processing (DSP) is used in a variety of digital systems to achieve high performance at low manufacturing costs. The benefits of DSP can be extended to systems incorporating phase detectors, such as receivers and measurement systems, that receive and phase compare analog signals, but effective use of DSP in these systems depends on first obtaining a digital representation of the compared phase. However, finite quantization steps in any digital representation of the analog phase difference introduce nonlinearities similar to those inherent in analog-to-digital converters (ADCs) used to digitize the amplitudes of analog signals. Amplitude dithering, a known linearization technique for ADCs, is based on adding noise to the amplitude of the applied analog signal. Sufficient random amplitude variation is introduced by the added noise to overcome nonlinearities caused by the quantization steps. However, amplitude dithering is ineffective at linearizing phase detectors which respond to the relative phases of applied analog signals. Accordingly, there is a need for a phase detector that produces a digital output having a linear relationship to the phase difference between the applied analog signals.

Digital phase detector device ultilizing dither generator