A solid-state imaging device is provided and includes: a semiconductor substrate; a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements arranged in a two-dimensional array, each of the photoelectric conversion elements accumulating a signal charge in accordance with a received amount of light; a charge transfer path that transfers the signal charge read out from the photoelectric conversion elements; two branch transfer paths, each receiving the signal charge transferred through the charge transfer path and transferring the signal charge to an output end of the solid-state imaging device; a charge branching part in a connecting portion between the charge transfer path and the two branch transfer paths, the charge branching part distributing the signal charge toward one of the two branch transfer paths, and a unit that treats signals corresponding to branching residual charges in the charge branching part so that the signals are distributed in a checkerboard pattern on a reproduced image.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a solid-state imaging device of CCD (charge coupled device) type in which a charge transfer path (transfer register) is branched into parallel two paths at an output end, a driving method therefor and an imaging apparatus, and more particularly to a two-branch output type solid-state imaging device suitable for improving the quality of a captured image, a driving method therefor and an imaging apparatus.
2. Description of Related Art
Recent solid-state imaging devices of CCD type have shown an increase in the number of pixels along with the progress in the semiconductor micro-fabrication technology, and have reached a level of containing several million pixels. It is therefore required to increase the transfer drive frequency for a horizontal transfer path for reading out signals, thus leading to a drawback that a voltage signal output from an output amplifier is distorted in waveform.
Therefore developed is a technology of branching an output end of the horizontal transfer path in parallel manner, performing the transfer in the horizontal transfer path with a high-frequency signal, and, in a distributing part (branching part), distributing signal charges, transferred in succession through the horizontal transfer path, to successively distribute to the branched transfer paths, thereby reducing a drive frequency of the branched transfer paths lower than the drive frequency of the horizontal transfer path (for example see JP-A-5-308575, Japanese Patent No. 2949861 and Japanese Patent No. 2624138).
A technology in JP-A-5-308575 describes a construction of branching the output end of the horizontal transfer path into three, and distributing and outputting an R (red-color) signal charge, a G (green-color) signal charge and a B (blue-color) signal charge respectively the branched transfer paths, whereby the drive frequency of the branched transfer paths is made ⅓ of the drive frequency of the horizontal transfer path.
However, in a solid-state imaging device containing several million pixels or higher and capable of capturing a high-definition image for example of high-vision quality, the horizontal transfer path has to be driven with a considerably high frequency, so that it is difficult, in the distributing part, to clearly distribute the signal charges into three ways while maintaining a high transfer efficiency (namely without a residual charge in charge transfer).
Technologies in Japanese Patent No. 2949861 and Japanese Patent No. 2624138 propose a solid-state imaging device of two-branch output type. Such two-branch output type has advantages, in comparison with the three-branched output type, of an easier distribution of the signal charges at the distributing part and a drive frequency for the horizontal transfer path only as high as twice of the drive frequency for the branched transfer paths.
However, Japanese Patent No. 2949861 and Japanese Patent No. 2624138 do not describe transfer of signal charges of a color image. In such two-branch output type solid-state imaging device, the branching part distributes signal charges for example of red and blue colors to a branched path and a signal charge of green color to the other branched path. Therefore, in the case that a residual charge is generated in the branching part, a branching residual charge, generated in a previous stage and corresponding for example to red color, is mixed in a signal charge, to be branched in a next stage and corresponding to green color, thereby deteriorating the quality of the captured image.
A two-branch output type solid-state imaging device has an advantage of elevating a data rate in a horizontal transfer path as a drive frequency after branching can be reduced to ½, but is associated with a drawback that the image quality of a captured image is deteriorated when a residual charge is generated in branching the signal charge.

Two-branch outputting solid-state imaging device, driving method for the same and imaging apparatus


A method for oxidation of a pendant methyl moiety on an aromatic ring to the pendant aldehyde moiety is presented. The reaction employs laccase and the diammonium salt of 2,2'-azinobis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid), and is carried out in the presence of oxygen.

Procedures in organic syntheses frequently employ a step in which a alkyl moiety that is pendent on an aromatic ring is oxidized. Typically, the alkyl moiety is oxidized to the corresponding carboxylic acid moiety or alcohol moiety. However, when the alkyl moiety is methyl, attempts at selective oxidation to convert the methyl moiety into something other than the corresponding carboxylic acid moiety or hydroxymethyl moiety have been extremely difficult.
For instance, it is well known to those skilled in the art that the methyl moiety in toluene can be selectively oxidized in order to convert the toluene into benzaldehyde using a lengthy 2-step procedure that requires formation of an intermediate. First, the methyl moiety is chlorinated with heat (i.e., chlorine gas is bubbled into boiling toluene) to form benzal chloride as the intermediate. This first step is followed by hydrolysis at an elevated temperature to remove the 2 chlorines from the dichloromethyl moiety and result in the formation of HCl and benzaldehyde. See, Morrison and Boyd, Organic Chemistry, 2d Ed., p. 386 and p. 619 (1966).
Additionally, as reported by Mijs et al. in Organic Synthesis by Oxidation with Metal Compounds (1986), transition metal oxidants have been used to attack the pendent methyl moiety in toluene. Nevertheless, the reaction is difficult to stop at the benzaldehyde stage and readily produces a high yield of benzoic acid.
To stop the benzaldehyde from further oxidizing to the corresponding benzoic acid, two main procedures are employed instead of the transition metal oxidant treatment.
In the first procedure, benzeneseleninic acid is employed to achieve selective oxidation of toluene to benzaldehyde, as reported by Barton et al. in "Preparation of Aldehydes and Ketones by Oxidation of Benzylic Hydrocarbons with Benzeneseleninic Anhydride", Vol. 35, Tetrahedron Letters, pp. 3331-3334 (1979). However, not only are yields poor, but also reaction times are long.
The second procedure employs glacial acetic acid or acetic anhydride to trap p-nitrobenzaldehyde as p-nitrobenzylidene diacetate, and then, the trapped intermediate is converted to p-nitrobenzaldehyde using chromic acid and chromyl acetate as oxidants (the procedure is substantially similar for the o-isomer), as reported by Nishimura, in Vol. 4, Organic Synthesis, pp. 713-715 (1963).
As is well known, aromatic aldehydes and substituted aromatic aldehydes are commercially important. For instance, benzaldehyde is used in the manufacture of dyes, in perfumery, and as a solvent, and nitrobenzaldehyde (a substituted benzaldehyde) is useful as a reagent for isopropyl alcohol and acetone.
Thus, it is desirable to find a way, unlike the above-described procedures, to achieve selective oxidation of toluene (or other aromatics having a pendent methyl moiety) into benzaldehyde (or other respective corresponding aromatics having a pendent aldehyde moiety) not only that can be carried out relatively quickly under relatively mild conditions but also that can achieve high yields of the resultant aldehyde.

Selective enzymatic oxidation of aromatic methyl groups to aldehydes by oxygen in the presence of a laccase-mediator catalyst


A schematic patch panel includes an enlargement of a customer's floor plan that is dry mounted to a piece of 1/4 foamcore board or located on a plate, preferably by printing. The board is mounted in a frame that can be configured with a clear, locking cover for security purposes. The entire assembly is mounted on the customer's wall by brackets. At each of the computer wall outlet locations depicted on the dry mounted floor plan, a double-sided RJ-45 panel jack is inserted through the floor plan. These panel jacks snap into the floor plan, requiring no other means of fastening. Any wall outlet depicted on the schematic patch panel is activated by connecting a telephone-type extension cable between the network central controller and that wall outlet icon. By this transfer, a different unshielded twisted pair cable connection line is activated and the individualized identifiers and other information particular to a certain terminal are also transferred.

Network patch panels have been used sparingly for years as a method of distributing network connections from a central point to branch locations throughout a building. Available patch panels are non-intuitive, in that they contain a series of up to 24 jacks per bank, assembled horizontally, with no reference as to the actual location (neither wall jack nor room) of the connected jack. (See FIG. 1).
Generally, only larger companies had the financial and technical resources available to use patch panel technology to take advantage of centrally administered network connections. Central administration of network connections allows cost and time effective monitoring of network activities, central point activation/deactivation of network users and eliminates the possibility of a user unplugging their computer from the network cabling and deactivating all users connected further down the line.
Typically, a company may wire their building for computer locations far exceeding their current staffing and/or computer systems resources in anticipation of future growth or with the knowledge that systems will be moved frequently from one location to another. It is not uncommon to have upwards of 250 wired jack locations throughout a company, yet have only 50 computer systems that will be connected to the network. Because typical network support hardware is configured in multiples of 10 to 12 users, the company with 250 wired locations but only 50 computers will purchase 5 network hubs (50 computers, divided by 10 ports per hub). Should any of the users need to be moved to another wired location within the building, it is more cost effective to "repatch" that user on the patch panel, than to purchase an additional hub at $1500 to $2000.
Expensive coaxial cable has typically been necessary to make network connections. The added expense of making a central-point to user location cable drop connection for every user, as opposed to a point-to-point, chain type of wiring plan, usually prohibited the use of network patch panels.
With the development of network components that can use inexpensive, Unshielded Twisted Pair (UTP) cable (telephone-type wiring) the Central Point To User wiring scheme has become a cost-effective reality. According to LAN Times, 10Base T is the fastest growing cable scheme in use today. "Anyone contemplating cabling with coaxial cable instead of UTP using 10Base T technology is asking for trouble. 10Base T is easier to install, easier to maintain and offers superior management capabilities."
Freestanding computers are being networked together at an exponential rate, as companies realize the benefit of sharing the resources and information they currently have. The cabling scheme of choice is Unshielded Twisted Pair, because it is inexpensive, widely available and easy to install.


An automotive laminated glass includes a thermoplastic interlayer film, a curved first glass sheet, and a curved second glass sheet. The thermoplastic interlayer film is disposed between the first and second glass sheets. The first glass sheet is a 0.7- to 3-mm thick non-chemically strengthened glass sheet including a convex-side first main surface and a concave-side second main surface facing the thermoplastic interlayer film. The second glass sheet is an ion-exchanged, 0.3- to 1.5-mm thick chemically strengthened glass sheet including a convex-side third main surface facing the thermoplastic interlayer film and a concave-side fourth main surface. The second glass sheet is thinner than the first glass sheet. The convex-side third main surface has a compressive stress layer thicker than that on the concave-side fourth main surface, and the second glass sheet is adjusted to fit the curvature of the first glass sheet.

Every year, the automotive industry faces an increasing demand for more efficient consumption of energy such as gasoline or electricity, and weight reduction of components for use in automobiles have been demanded. While thicker glass sheets have higher rigidity, use of ultrathin glass sheets have been newly examined, because weight reduction of windows consisting of glass sheets has been examined. Patent Literatures 1 and 2 each disclose a laminated glass including an external glass sheet and an internal glass sheet. The laminated glass is obtained by laminating an external glass sheet and an ultrathin flat glass sheet with a thermoplastic interlayer film therebetween while the ultrathin flat glass sheet is adjusted to conform to a curved shape of the external glass sheet. In light of weight reduction of an automotive laminated glass, Patent Literature 3 discloses a technique for solving a problem associated with different behaviors of two glass sheets having different thicknesses which occurs when these glass sheets are simultaneously curved.
This technique uses two glass sheets having different compositions to solve the problem. Patent Literature 4 discloses an automotive laminated glass in which an internal glass sheet is chemically strengthened glass, and its thickness and value of compressive stress are defined. Further, Patent Literature 5 discloses an automotive laminated glass in which internal and external glass sheets are chemically strengthened aluminosilicate glass.

Automotive laminated glass, and production method therefor


A clock information transmitting device coupled to a digital processing circuit which receives a transmission signal and generates a coded transmission signal includes a PLL circuit for generating a first signal and a sampling clock signal, both being synchronized with a synchronizing signal in the transmission signal. The sampling clock signal is used in the digital processing circuit. A clock information generating part counts pulses of a transmission clock signal and generates clock information indicating a number of pulses of a transmission clock signal in response to one of the synchronizing signal and the first signal generated by the PLL circuit. A multiplexer outputs a multiplexed signal including the clock information and the coded transmission signal to a transmission path.

(1) Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to a synchronous communication system, such as a video transmission system. More specifically, the present invention is concerned with a device which transmits clock information about a clock signal used for sampling a video signal on the transmitter side, and a device which derives the clock signal from the clock information received via a transmission path in order to reproduce the video signal on the receiver side.
(2) Description of the Prior Art
In a synchronous communication system, it is necessary to transmit a clock signal used on the transmitter side to the receiver side in order to reproduce a video signal transmitted from the transmitter side. Conventionally, a synchronous method based on a stuffing technique is used for transmitting, to the receiver side, the clock signal used on the transmitter side. Another method is known, in which clock information is inserted into data transmitted to the receiver side. The present invention is concerned with the latter type.
FIG. 1A is a block diagram of a conventional clock information transmitting device. A horizontal synchronizing signal H is separated, by a synchronizing signal separator, from an input video signal which is generated by a video signal processing circuit (not shown) and is to be transmitted to the receiver side. The separated horizontal synchronizing signal H is input to a PLL (Phase-Locked Loop) circuit 5. As shown in FIG. 1A, the PLL circuit 5 is composed of a phase comparator (PC) 1, a lowpass filter (LPF) 2, a voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO) 3, and a frequency divider 4. The phase comparator 1 has a first input terminal receiving the horizontal synchronizing signal H, and an output signal of the frequency divider 4. The output signal of the frequency divider 4 has a frequency equal to [1/(455.times.2)] times that of an output signal (sampling clock signal) of the voltage-controlled oscillator 3. The frequency of the sampling clock signal of the voltage-controlled oscillator 3 is four times the frequency f.sub.SC (=3.58 MHz) of a color sub-carrier signal (4f.sub.SC =4.times.3.58 MHz) according to the NTSC standard. Thus, the output signal from the frequency divider 4 has a frequency equal to that of the horizontal synchronizing signal H (15.75 kHz).
The phase comparator 1 obtains the phase difference between the horizontal synchronizing signal H and the output signal of the frequency divider 4, and outputs a voltage signal corresponding to this phase difference to the voltage-controlled oscillator 3 via the lowpass filter 2. The oscillation frequency of the voltage-controlled oscillator 3 is based on the voltage signal from the lowpass filter 2. The sampling clock signal generated by the voltage-controlled oscillator 3 is output not only to the frequency divider 4 but also to one of two input terminals of a counter 8. The other input terminal of the counter 8 receives an output signal of a frequency divider 7, which frequency-divides a transmission clock signal f.sub.L generated by a clock generator 6. The transmission clock signal generated by the clock generator 6 has a frequency f.sub.L equal to 32.064 MHz.
The counter 8 counts the number of pulses contained in the sampling clock signal (4f.sub.SC) which are obtained during an interval between two consecutive pulses of the clock signal from the frequency divider 7. In FIG. 1A, the number of pulses obtained during the period is labeled as .DELTA.S.sub.S. The counter value .DELTA.S.sub.S in the counter 8 is output to a multiplexer (MUX) 9, which also receives a coded video signal via a digital processing circuit (not shown for the sake of simplicity). The multiplexer 9 inputs the counter value .DELTA.S.sub.S into control (auxiliary) bits in a frame format of a multiplexed signal, which is output to a transmission path in synchronism with the transmission clock signal.
FIG. 1B is a block diagram of a clock information receiving device, which is composed of a demultiplexer (DMUX) 21, a PLL circuit 28 and a frequency divider 29. The multiplexed signal is received by the demultiplexer 21, which separates the control bits from the multiplexed signal. The counter value .DELTA.S.sub.S indicated by the control bits is output to the PLL circuit 28. The coded video signal from the demultiplexer 21 is output to a digital processing circuit (not shown for the sake of simplicity). The transmission clock signal f.sub.L from the demultiplexer 21 is input to the frequency divider 29, which frequency-divides the transmission clock signal f.sub.L. A clock signal output by the frequency divider 29 has a frequency equal to that of the clock signal output by the frequency divider 7 shown in FIG. 1A.
The PLL circuit 28 is composed of a phase comparator (PC) 22, an adder 23, a flip-flop (FF) 24, a digital-to-analog (D/A) converter 25, a voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO) 26, and a counter 27. The counter value .DELTA.S.sub.S from the demultiplexer 21 is input to the phase comparator 22, which compares the counter value .DELTA.S.sub.S with a counter value .DELTA.S.sub.R in the counter 27, which counts the number of pulses contained in the output signal of the voltage-controlled oscillator 26 during an interval between two consecutive pulses of the clock signal from the frequency divider 29. The phase comparator 22 obtains the phase difference between the counter value .DELTA.S.sub.S and the counter value .DELTA.S.sub.R, and outputs a voltage signal corresponding to the phase difference to an integration circuit composed of the adder 23 and the flip-flop 24. When the voltage signal output by the phase comparator 22 is 0 V, the flip-flop 24 generates 0 V. When the voltage signal output by the phase comparator 22 is a level other than 0 V, the flip-flop 24 generates an integrated value in digital form. The output signal of the flip-flop 24 is converted into an analog signal by the D/A converter 25. The output signal of the D/A converter 25 adjusts the frequency of the oscillation signal generated by the voltage-controlled oscillator 26.
In the above-mentioned manner, the sampling clock signal is adjusted on the receiver side so that the counter value .DELTA.S.sub.R obtained on the receiver side always becomes equal to the counter value .DELTA.S.sub.S on the transmitter side. Hence, the sampling clock signal obtained on the receiver side always has the same frequency as that obtained on the transmitter side.
The conventional transmission system, however, has a disadvantage in that the PLL circuit 28 on the receiver side needs the D/A converter 25, hence making it very difficult to produce a compact clock information receiving device.

Clock information transmitting device and clock information receiving device


A high-quality polyacetal copolymer produced by a simple process and in an economical manner. The method includes supplying a raw material including trioxane or the like to a reaction device; obtaining a reaction mixture by carrying out a polymerization reaction of the raw material in the state where the rotating shafts are inclined by 1 to 6° upwards with respect to the horizontal direction H from the introduction opening towards a polyacetal copolymer recovery portion; vaporizing and separating an unreacted monomer from the reaction mixture using a vaporization and separation portion; re-supplying the unreacted monomer to the reaction device; and recovering the polyacetal copolymer from the reaction using a polyacetal copolymer recovery portion.

Until now, as a production method for a polyacetal copolymer, a cationic copolymerization with trioxane as a main monomer, and a cyclic ether and/or cyclic formal having at least one carbon-carbon bond as a comonomer has been known. As the cationic active catalyst used for these copolymerizations, a Lewis acid, in particular halides of boron, tin, titanium, phosphorous, arsenic, and antimony, for example boron trifluoride, tin tetrachloride, titanium tetrachloride, phosphorous pentachloride, phosphorous pentafluoride, arsenic pentafluoride, and antimony pentafluoride, and their complex compounds or salts; protonic acids, for example perchloro acids; esters of protonic acids, in particular esters of perchloro acids and lower aliphatic alcohols, for example perchloro acid-tertiary butyl ester; anhydrides of protonic acids, especially mixed anhydrides of perchloro acids and lower aliphatic carboxylic acids, for example acetyl perchlorate, or trimethyloxoniumhexafluorophosphate, triphenyl-methylhexafluoroacetate, acetyltetrafluoroborate, acetylhexafluorophosphate, and acetylhexafluoroarsenate, and the like have been proposed. Among these, boron trifluoride or coordination compounds of boron trifluoride and organic compounds, for example ethers, are the most common as polymerization catalysts with trioxane as the main monomer, and are widely used industrially.
However, with commonly used polymerization catalysts such as boron trifluoride type compounds, in the later phase of polymerization the polymerization speed suddenly decreases, and it is nearly impossible to obtain polymer conversion ratio of near 100% in a short time, and a very long time is required, which is inefficient, and moreover, in the later phase of polymerization, decomposition of the generated polymer by the catalyst becomes relatively dominant, which not only causes a reduction in molecular weight, but also has the effect of degrading the qualities such as heat resistance and the like. Further, if the amount of the polymerization catalyst is increased, overall the polymerization speed is enhanced, and the polymer conversion ratio is also increased, but the quality of the generated rough polymer degrades more and more, and in a later step a complex stabilization treatment is required, whereby the production operation overall is by no means a preferable method.
Accordingly, the technique of adding a solution comprising a catalyst deactivation agent at a stage where the polymer conversion ratio is relatively low to stop the polymerization, then washing, recovering and purifying and reusing the remaining unreacted monomers, is widely practiced.
Further, there have been various proposals for improving the polymerization apparatus and the method of supplying the catalyst, in addition to increasing the polymer conversion ratio. For example, a technique of increasing the polymer conversion ratio for a device by inclining the polymerization device 1 to 10° (Patent Document 1), a technique of providing a weir at the discharging port of the polymerization apparatus (Patent Document 2), as well as a technique of mixing the catalyst with the comonomer in advance, and supplying this to the trioxane (Patent Documents 3 and 4) have been proposed. These techniques are all effective for increasing the polymer conversion ratio for the case of using a boron trifluoride type polymerization catalyst.
Further, a method has also been proposed to deactivate the rough polymer in the later stage of the polymerization by using a high activity, non-volatile polymerization catalyst, to directly recover the unreacted monomer without carrying out washing, and reuse the same (Patent Document 5). In this technique, it is possible to carry out recovery of the monomers directly from the rough polymer before deactivation, which was difficult with the boron trifluoride system commonly used in the prior art, and moreover, secondary reactions at a stage where a high conversion ratio has been achieved do not readily occur compared to a boron trifluoride type polymerization catalyst, whereby it is possible to obtain a rough polymer which is excellent in thermal stability with little unreacted monomers by extremely simple steps.
Patent Document 1: Japanese Examined Patent Application Publication No. H05-008725
Patent Document 2: PCT International Publication No. WO1996/013534
Patent Document 3: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application, Publication No. H11-255854
Patent Document 4: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application, Publication No. H11-124422
Patent Document 5: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application, Publication No. H09-278852

Method for producing polyacetal copolymer


A solenoid spool valve includes a spool valve, a spring, and an electromagnetic actuator. The spool valve has a generally cylindrical sleeve provided with a fluid input port and a fluid output port and a spool supported in the sleeve for axial displacement to switch between said input and output ports. The spring abuts a first working face of said spool to energize said spool in a first axial direction. The electromagnetic actuator provides an axial drive force to a second working face of said spool in a second axial direction that is substantially opposite to said first axial direction. The first and second working faces are disposed axially inside of both axial end portions of a bearing, respectively, for slidably supporting said spool in said sleeve.

A solenoid spool valve includes a spool valve, a spring, and an electromagnetic actuator. The spool valve has a generally cylindrical sleeve provided with input and output ports, and a spool supported axially slidably within the sleeve to switch between the input and output ports. The spring serves as an energizer that abuts against one end face of the spool to push the spool back toward the electromagnetic actuator. The electromagnetic actuator is a linear actuator that applies a driving axial force to the other end face of the spool to push the spool axially toward one side against the energizing force exerted by the spring (e.g., see Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2001-108135).
An inclination or misalignment of the spring may cause a diagonal force on the spool. Likewise, an inclination or misalignment of a pressure-applying member (e.g., a shaft or a member for transferring a force produced on the plunger of the electromagnetic actuator to the spool) may also cause a diagonal force on the spool. Here, the sleeve includes bearings for slidably supporting the spool. The bearing has a clearance between the spool and the sleeve for allowing the spool to slide.
The inclination of the spool is restricted at both of the axial end portions of the bearing (at the outermost ends of all the bearings supporting the spool). However, the conventional spool valve was configured such that portions (working faces) subjected to the forces of the spring and the electromagnetic actuator were disposed outside the both axial end portions of the bearing. Thus, the points of effort force (the working faces) stayed outside the fulcrums (the outer end portions of the bearing). In this arrangement, an inclination or misalignment of the spring or the pressure-applying member would cause a radial load (a force pushing the bearing) imposed by the spool on the bearing to increase based on the principle of lever.
On the other hand, many examples exist in which part of the spool protrudes excessively from the axial end portion of the bearing. The spool having an excessively protruded portion from the axial end of the bearing would cause a heavy radial load on the bearing due to the weight of the protruded portion. The heavy radial load imposed by the spool on the bearing causes part of the bearing and part of the spool to rub hard against each other resulting in an increase in friction, thereby impeding smooth movement of the spool.
Furthermore, the working faces acted upon by the forces of the spring and the electromagnetic actuator stayed axially outside the bearing, thereby causing an increase in entire length of the spool valve.


A six degree of freedom servo driven robot having a seventh axis servo motor for rotating servo driven nut runners affixed to swing arms about a radius. The robot offering flexibility within high production manufacturing and automotive assembly processes by realizing translational movement of servo driven nut runners about seven degrees of translation for fastening component parts of a work product within a work envelope.

Varieties of high production manufacturing and automotive assembly processes, particularly automotive industry fastening applications, currently use a fixed mount gang-head configuration or group mounting of nut runners to assemble component parts. These systems lack flexibility as robots are only able to adjust the position of the nut runners in the fixed position gang configuration collectively, but not individually. Because the nut runners within the gang head are fixed and often spaced closely to each other, these systems typically are limited to servicing one model style and do not adjust quickly or easily to variations in the fastening locations for the component parts. In addition, the limited spacing between the nut runners nearly precludes these systems from allowing individual nut runners within the configuration to compensate for pitch changes required to service various models and fastening locations. Using a fixed position gang head configuration of nut runners ultimately limits the systems versatility by requiring more changeover thereby increasing retooling and build costs for the assembled parts.
What is needed is a flexible fastening system capable of automatically adjusting to changing needs within automotive and manufacturing fastening applications. Further, a six degree of freedom servo-driven parallel link robot with a seventh axis servo motor drives a gear box having arms rotatable about the seventh axis to vary the pitch of the nut runners for fastening component parts. The robot's flexibility allows for quick adaption to changes in model styles and fastening locations.


A parallel flow heat exchanger has perforated webs within its tubes. The tubes are parallel to each other and extend between headers. Each tube has webs located within it which define flow passages. The webs are perforated along the length to communicate refrigerant flow in one passage with that of refrigerant flow in other passages. The flow tubes are extruded integrally. The perforations are formed by air jets mounted in the extrusion die cores.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates in general to air conditioners for use on motor vehicles, and in particular to a type having parallel flat tubes, the tubes having internal webs which are perforated to enhance heat transfer.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Parallel flow condensers are becoming more commonly used with air conditioning systems of motor vehicles. In a parallel flow condenser, two headers are spaced apart from each other, one of the headers having an inlet for vapor, and the other having an outlet for condensate. Flat parallel tubes extend between the headers. One or more baffles or partitions locate in the headers for o directing refrigerant flow through the parallel tubes between the headers. Fins are positioned between the parallel flow tubes to enhance heat transfer as air moves across.
The parallel tubes have webs within them, defining separate flow passages extending along the length of the tube. The webs may be extruded with the walls of the tube. In another technique, the web is inserted into the tube and brazed in place. The flow passages are quite small, and the pressures within the flow passages can be fairly high.
The heat exchange is not uniform across the tube from the front or leading edge to the back or trailing edge. Air moving across the tube strikes the front edge first and is warmed a it proceeds to the trailing edge of each tube. Consequently, more heat exchange can take place in the flow passages near the front edge than near the back edge.

Parallel flow condenser with perforated webs


An automated provisioning system provisions computing resources for shared services in a resource-on-demand system. A number of virtual machines needed for a virtual machine production pool for a period of time to satisfy the computing demand for the shared services is determined from a policy. Also, a number of unassigned virtual machines needed for a virtual machine buffer pool is determined from the policy. Servers and virtual machines are automatically provisioned for the virtual machine production pool and the virtual machine buffer pool based on the determined number of virtual machines needed for the virtual machine production pool, the determined number of unassigned virtual machines needed for the virtual machine buffer pool, and a changing computing demand of the shared services during the period of time.

Distributed computing services, utility-based data centers, and other types of resource-on-demand systems are becoming increasingly popular as a highly scalable means for utilizing computer resources to meet the computing demands of users.
Managing these resource-on-demand systems, including provisioning resources to satisfy user demand, is a difficult task that requires a significant amount of time and labor. Resource-on-demand systems typically pre-allocate and pre-install servers and storage resources for customer applications. In order to meet predetermined quality of service (QoS) requirements, however, servers are typically over-provisioned and under utilized.
Provisioning resources is an even more difficult task if the resources are being provisioned for shared services, where user demand may be less predictable. For example, a virtual desktop system is a type of shared services environment that provides remote desktop sessions for users. A remote desktop session includes a "desktop" with service elements hosted remotely from the user. The service elements may include processing, memory and storage as well as the software, including an operating system and applications, hosted remotely from the user. For example, the service elements may be located in a datacenter remote from the user or another environment where large amounts of computing resources can be physically maintained. The display and user input devices for interacting with the remote desktop are located with the user away from the computing resources, and the users and computing resources are connected using a network. For example, users may use thin clients to interact with their remote desktops. "Thin client" is a device that provides an interaction capability of a user with a desktop system. A thin client includes a small computer with peripherals such as monitor, keyboard, mouse and other interfaces. The thin client runs software that allows displaying and interacting with the actual desktop which runs remotely on a computer (or in a virtual machine on a computer) in a shared services environment. The desktop is connected to the thin client via a network connection through which the desktop's content is presented on the thin client's monitor, and through which a user's interactions are mediated back to the desktop such as mouse or keyboard interactions.
Allocating resources for remote desktops is difficult because of varying user requirements with respect to number and type of applications, processing power and amount of memory allocated to their desktops, graphics requirements etc. One allocation solution includes assigning a server to each desktop. However, if a server is assigned to each desktop, multiple users cannot share the same server, which limits efficiency. Furthermore, even if an allocation decision is made for assigning resources to run a desktop, many actions still need to be performed before the resources are actually able to provide the remote desktop. For example, it may take over an hour to load the applications and data for the virtual machine on the server and then start the virtual machine, assuming a virtual machine environment is already running on the server. Furthermore, in addition to starting virtual machines, file systems for each desktop may need to be created. When a large number of virtual machines are needed, for example, for a business with thousands of users, the creation of virtual machines becomes a daunting, time consuming task on a daily basis.
Also, starting virtual machines is a CPU-intensive task. As virtual machines are often created on servers that are currently hosting other virtual machines that may be in use, starting a new virtual machine may be delayed because of limited CPU availability on the server, which may result in a serious bottleneck.
All the actions that need to be performed for running and managing virtual machines and servers may result in a delay for providing desktops to users. This delay may be unacceptable for users that need desktops to perform their daily business activities.

Automated provisioning of virtual machines for a virtual machine buffer pool and production pool

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.


A fluid-actuated workholding apparatus that includes a base member that has a longitudinally extending slot and a fixed jaw attached thereto. The apparatus further includes first and second movable jaw members that are operably supported on the base member for movement towards and away from the fixed jaw member along the longitudinally extending slot. A clamping assembly is operably supported within the longitudinally extending slot and serves to define a fluid receiving cavity for receiving a pressurized fluid therein. The clamping assembly communicates with the first and second movable jaw members such that when a predetermined amount of pressurized fluid is admitted to the receiving cavity, the first and second movable jaw members are caused to move away from the fixed jaw member. The clamping assembly also includes means for biasing the first and second movable jaw members towards the fixed jaw member when the pressurized fluid is removed from the receiving cavity to enable a first workpiece to be clamped between the first movable jaw member and the fixed jaw member under a compressive force and a second workpiece to be clamped between the second movable jaw member and the fixed jaw member under the same compressive force.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention concerns an actuation device for clamping of workpieces, in particular, to a machine tool, for example, as by actuation of a chuck, there being an axially movable actuation member provided to actuate the chuck, and in which, moreover, the actuation device has an externally closed receiving space, which is filled with a volume-compressible pressurized medium, preferably silicone oil, and a movement of the actuation member is associated with a change in volume of the receiving space. Such an actuation device is known, for example, from the not previously published German Patent Application P 43 39 439. The content of this patent application is herewith included fully, including for purposes of incorporating features of this older application into claims of the present patent application.
2. Description of the Invention Background
Workholding apparatuses are used to support an object to be machined (a "workpiece") or a number of workpieces in precise orientations relative to a machine tool such as, for example, a milling machine. Such apparatuses may comprise vises that are attached to a table known as a "grid plate" that is attached or supported relative to the milling machine.
Single station vises and dual station vises are known in the art. Both of those types of workholders can be manually actuated or actuated by, for example, electric, hydraulic or pneumatic means. Manually operated vise-like workholders typically employ a fixed jaw and screw that has one or more movable clamping jaws operably attached thereto for movement relative to the fixed jaw. As the screw is rotated, the movable jaw(s) serve to clamp the workpiece(s) between the movable jaw(s) and the fixed jaw.
While such manually operated vises are well suited for supporting various types and numbers of workpieces, they are generally difficult to automate because a rotary force must be applied to the vise screw in a precise manner to ensure that proper clamping forces are repeatedly generated. Also, the magnitude of such clamping forces are dependent upon the operator either utilizing a torque wrench or similar tool to apply the requisite amount of torque or the vise is simply adjusted by "feel".
In an effort to address such problems associated with manually operated vises, hydraulically actuated vises have been developed. Such vises may also be of a single or dual station design and are generally operated by the application of hydraulic fluid under pressure to the vise. The clamping forces generated by such vises can be adjusted by varying the pressure of the hydraulic fluid which causes the jaws to clamp the workpiece(s). However, when power is accidentally lost to the hydraulic systems supplying the pressurized fluid to the vise, the jaws may be free to open which can result in the unintentional release of the workpiece(s) from the vise. Therefore, there is a need for a hydraulically actuated workholding vise that will remain in a clamped position when power is lost or discontinued.


An X-ray computed tomography scanner that performs helical scanning based on a designated scanning range and collects X-ray projection data, comprising a determination unit which determines an X-ray irradiation range necessary for reconstructing an image within the scanning range, and a display unit which displays an image formed by superimposing the X-ray irradiation range on a scanogram.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an X-ray computed tomography scanner for performing helical scanning.
2. Description of the Related Art
A function of setting a scanning range using a scanogram (X-ray transmission image) is known as one of functions of an X-ray computed tomography scanner (referred to as an X-ray CT scanner hereinafter) (see, for example, Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI Publication No. 9-164135). This function is performed to set a range designated freely by a user on a scanogram as a scanning range. Using this function, the user can determine a scanning range visually and simply.
The scanning range set by the above function is a range within which an image should be captured by image reconstruction. In helical scanning, in order to capture an image in a certain position, the image needs to be interpolated by data before and after the position. Data is therefore collected from a range that is larger than the scanning range described above. In other words, the range of application of X-rays to a subject becomes larger than the above scanning range.
It is feared that a user who does not understand the above characteristic of the helical scanning will set a scanning range without considering that X-rays are applied outside a designated range.


The stainless steel sheet useful as a substrate for non-single crystalline semiconductor solar cells has minute ripples with undulations along a rolling direction, and its surface roughness is controlled in the range of R.sub.z 0.3-1.4 .mu.m and R.sub.max 0.5-1.7 .mu.m. It is manufactured by finish cold rolling a stainless steel strip with a reduction ratio of at least 20% at a rolling speed of at least 400 m/min. using work rolls polished with abrasives of gage #100-#400 at a final pass, annealing the rolled strip in an open-air atmosphere and then electrolytically pickling the annealed strip in a nitric acid solution. Since minute ripples with undulations are formed on the surface of the stainless steel sheet, an energy conversion efficiency is increased by acceleration of scattering and multiple reflection of incident light rays projected into a non-single crystalline semiconductor layer.

The present invention relates to a stainless steel sheet and a substrate on which a non-single crystalline semiconductor for solar cells is deposited and a resulting solar cell. The present invention is also concerned with a manufacturing method thereof.
A glass sheet, a stainless steel sheet or the like has been used as a substrate for a non-single crystalline semiconductor solar cell. The non-crystalline semiconductor shall be continuously deposited as a homogeneous layer of 1 .mu.m or thinner. In this regard, when a stainless steel sheet is used as such a substrate, it shall be finished to smoothly finished state.
However, an excessively smoothened surface returns incident light ray with specular reflection. The specular reflection means ineffective outgoing of incident light rays and puts limitation on increase of an energy conversion efficiency.
The energy conversion efficiency of a non-single crystalline semiconductor solar cell is increased by scattering and multiple reflection as well as by specular reflection of the incident light ray at the interface between the semiconductor and the substrate. The scattering and multiple reflection of the incident light ray is accelerated by changing a surface of the substrate to minutely rugged state. Such a rugged surface may be obtained by electrolytic etching, mechanical polishing, Ni plating etc. For instance, a Ni plating layer formed on a stainless steel sheet is conditioned to proper surface roughness, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication Nos. 5-13389 and 5-64870.
When a steel sheet used as a substrate is conditioned to rugged state by electrolytic etching, inclusions in the steel sheet are preferentially dissolved or dislodged so as to form numerous irregular pits. Due to the irregular pits, the treated surface becomes to uneven rugged state. Besides, the surface of the substrates is contaminated by adhesion of carbonaceous smuts.
In the case of mechanical polishing, a surface profile of a polished substrate is strongly affected and varied by a particle size of used abrasives, mixing ratio, pressure, etc., so that it is difficult to finish a substrate to uniformly rugged surface state. When excessively fine abrasives are used for polishing, dents on the substrate are easily filled with the abrasives, and the substrate can not be finished to properly rugged state. In this regard, it is not preferable to use too fine abrasives. Besides, the mechanical polishing makes a rugged surface so sharp to cause cracking or destruction of a semiconductor layer deposited thereon, resulting in a short circuit or malfunction of a solar cell.
In a Ni plating method for making a rugged surface, a stainless steel sheet is coated with a Ni layer at an adhesion amount of 4-50 g/m.sup.2 per single surface, for instance. In this case, a particle size of Ni grains at the surface of the Ni layer shall be controlled within a range of 0.01-1.5 .mu.m, and surface roughness shall be controlled within a range of R.sub.max 0.01-0.6 .mu.m. If the surface roughness exceeds R.sub.max 0.6 .mu.m, the surface profile of the substrate is too much complicated. Due to the complicated profile together with inclusion of electrolytically deposited grains, a non-single crystalline semiconductor layer uniform in thickness can not be continuously deposited on the Ni layer. On the other hand, if the surface roughness is less than R.sub.max 0.01 .mu.m, the effect of the Ni layer on an energy conversion efficiency is inferior.

Stainless steel sheet and a substrate for a solar cell and manufacturing method thereof


A method for using a retain block in application code executing on a virtual machine includes identifying an instruction in application code, the instruction pertaining to an object, determining the instruction is part of a retain block, prior to executing the instruction, determining whether the instruction is to cause the object to be modified, and when the instruction is to cause the object to be modified, storing data indicating a first state of the object in a retain block store and causing the first state of the object to be modified using a second state. Also, the method includes in response to an error occurring during an execution of the instruction, returning the object from the second state to the first state using the stored data.

A JAVA virtual machine is a process virtual machine that can execute JAVA bytecode. The JVM has a system to handle errors called Exceptions. Exceptions can detect errors and react to situations where errors are detected. However, Exceptions do not allow for an application, and specifically objects in the application, to return to a state before the error occurred.

Using an object retain block in a virtual machine


A device for manipulating a hollow shaft configured to create a pivot link between a first element and a second element. The manipulation device comprises a cylindrical body having a diameter variable by radial contraction or radial expansion of the cylindrical body, a module for controlling the diameter of the cylindrical body configured so that the diameter of the cylindrical body has alternatively at least a first diameter suitable for the cylindrical body to be displaced in the hollow shaft and a second diameter suitable for the cylindrical body to be blocked in the hollow shaft. The cylindrical body comprises an end configured to protrude from the hollow shaft when the cylindrical body is blocked in the hollow shaft. The manipulation device allows the alignment of the orifices due to the end configuration of the cylindrical body.

The present invention relates to a device for manipulating a hollow shaft. The hollow shaft is intended to create a pivot link between a first element and a second element through the engagement of the hollow shaft in an orifice of the first element and an orifice of the second element.
The manipulation of a shaft making it possible to create a pivot link between two elements can pose a problem when the access to the orifices allowing the shaft to be engaged is limited. Indeed, when this access is limited, it can be difficult to check whether the orifices of the two elements are aligned to be able to engage the shaft in the orifices.
An aircraft engine is linked to a wing of the aircraft by a pylon. The assembly of the pylon with the engine is done through pivot links. Now, the access making it possible to produce these pivot links is very limited, which sometimes prevents the alignment of the orifices from being checked before the shafts are engaged in the orifices.

Device for manipulating a hollow shaft intended to create a pivot link between a first element and a second element


A system (10) for determining an expected time of arrival of a vehicle (40) equipped with a mobile unit (42) includes a dispatch (20) remotely located from the vehicle (40). The dispatch (20) generates destination information for the vehicle (40), the destination information specifying at least one destination. The mobile unit (42) includes a mobile communications device (90) to receive the destination information for the vehicle (40) generated by the dispatch (20). The mobile unit (42) also includes a positioning receiver (80) to determine a vehicle position. In response to the destination information received from the dispatch (20) and the vehicle position, the mobile unit (42) determines the expected time of arrival of the vehicle.

Mobile communications technology has enjoyed substantial growth over the past decade. Many cars, trucks, airplanes, boats, and other vehicles are equipped with devices that allow convenient and reliable mobile communications using a network of satellite-based or land-based transceivers. Advances in this technology have also led to widespread use of hand-held, portable mobile communications devices.
Many customers of mobile communications systems desire an accurate determination of their expected time of arrival at a particular destination, and perhaps reporting of this time to a remote location. For example, a cellular telephone in a vehicle or carried by a person offers a convenient communication link to report expected time of arrival information. One method to determine an expected time of arrival uses the average travel time from a point of origin to a destination. This approach, however, may not be suitable for particular applications that require more accuracy and more frequent updates of an expected time of arrival.
Furthermore, transportation systems would benefit from a dispatching function that monitors and directs the travel route and expected time of arrival of its carriers. For example, dispatchers of long-haul or local vehicles desire a system that allows access to expected time of arrival information to make routing and dispatching decisions.

Method and apparatus for determining expected time of arrival


A method for monitoring the oleophilic fluid to aqueous fluid ratio of a drilling fluid includes selecting a sample of the drilling fluid that has been recirculated, measuring the NMR response of the sample of the drilling fluid and determining the oleophilic fluid to aqueous fluid ratio of the drilling fluid based at least in part on the NMR response.

Provided are systems and methods for monitoring the oleophilic to aqueous phase fluid ratio of drilling fluids. More particularly, systems and methods may be provided for a nuclear magnetic resonance analysis method for measuring the oleophilic to aqueous phase fluid ratio of drilling fluids and/or shifts in the oleophilic to aqueous phase fluid ratio of drilling fluids that have been circulated in a wellbore
During the drilling of a wellbore into a subterranean formation, a drilling fluid, also referred to as a drilling mud, may be continuously circulated from the surface down to the bottom of the wellbore being drilled and back to the surface again. The drilling fluid serves several functions, one of them being to transport wellbore cuttings up to the surface where they are separated from the drilling fluid. Another function of the drilling fluid is to provide hydrostatic pressure on the walls of the drilled wellbore so as to prevent wellbore collapse and the resulting influx of gas or liquid from the formations being drilled. For these and other reasons, it can be important to precisely know the characteristics and chemical composition of the drilling fluid.
Determining oleophilic to aqueous phase fluid ratio of a drilling fluid may be beneficial to an efficient drilling operation. The oleophilic to aqueous phase fluid ratio allows operators of a drilling operation to determine the fluid rheology, the impact the drilling fluid may have on the formation, the salinity of the drilling fluid, density, filtration characteristics or requirements, etc. For example, a fluid that is too viscous may reduce drilling efficiency; conversely a fluid that is not viscous enough may leach out to the formation and lost. A correctly formulated and maintained drilling fluid composition may be beneficial to maintain the filter cake and to ensure that drill solids, such as drill cuttings, make it to the surface.
Typically, oleophilic to aqueous phase fluid ratio has been measured using a technique called a retort. A retort uses a distillation unit to heat and then distill the oleophilic phase and aqueous phase. The volume fraction of each is then compared to the original known volume used during formulation of the drilling fluid in order to measure the changes to the drilling fluid during use. This process can take an hour or more and is not automated. Further, the lag in providing feedback makes modeling the downhole environment more difficult and less precise. As such, the retort process is slower to perform and also provides measurements that lag relative to operational performance. This in turn may lead to delayed correction of the drilling fluid and a reduction in the overall efficiency of the operation. Further, retort analysis with some salts, e.g., nitrates and formates, may be dangerous and potentially cause an explosion, thus precluding the use of retort analysis in these specific formulations.

Determining the oleophilic to aqueous phase fluid ratio for drilling fluids


A method for detecting a Norwalk-Like Virus (NLV) in a biological sample, comprising the steps of: obtaining a biological sample suspected of containing a NLV; contacting the biological sample with at least one human histo-blood group antigen to allow formation of a complex of the NLV with the antigen; and detecting the antigen-NLV complex. The antigen-NLV complex can be detected by contacting the NLV-antigen complex with a NLV antibody that binds at an epitope of the NLV, and detecting the NLV antibody. The invention also includes a method for identifying compounds, and the compounds, that can inhibit the binding between a Norwalk-Like Virus (NLV) and a histo-blood group antigen. The method includes the steps of contacting the NLV target with a compound; subsequently contacting the NLV with a standard compound that is known to be bound at a determinant binding site of the NLV; and determining whether the binding of the standard compound is decreased in the presence of the test compound, the decrease in binding being an indication that the test compound inhibits the binding activity of the NLV with the standard compound. In preferred embodiments, the standard compound is a histo-blood group antigen.

The Norwalk-Like Viruses (NLV), now are called Noroviruses, are small round viruses within the calicivirus family and are important viral pathogens that cause acute gastroenteritis, the second most common illness in the United States. Norwalk disease is a mild to moderate illness that develops 1-2 days after infection by person-to-person transmission, surface contamination, or by contaminated food or water and the illness lasts for 24-60 hours. Symptoms include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain and upon occasion headache and low fever. Severe illness requiring hospitalization is most unusual. Particularly large epidemic outbreaks of illness have occurred following consumption of contaminated water or uncooked food such as salad and ham, and shellfish including clams, cockles, and oysters.
NLVs are morphologically similar but genetically and antigenically diverse viruses. Genetically, NLVs belong to one of two genera, the "Norwalk-like viruses" (NLVs) and the "Sapporo-like viruses" of human caliciviruses, a subset of Caliciviridae. The NLV genus can be divided into three genogroups (I, II, and III). Each genogroup can be further divided into genetic clusters; at least 15 genetic clusters of NLVs have been identified (see Capsid protein diversity among the Norwalk-like viruses, Virus Genes 2000; 20:227-36, incorporated herein by reference.) NLVs encode a single capsid protein that self-assembles into virus-like particles (VLPs) when the recombinant capsid protein is expressed in baculovirus-infected insect cells (see Expression, self-assembly, and antigenicity of the Norwalk virus capsid protein, Jiang at al., Journal of Virology, 66:6527-32 (1992), incorporated herein by reference). These VLPs are morphologically and immunologically indistinguishable from the authentic viruses found in human feces.
Since the molecular cloning of NLVs and the subsequent development of new diagnostic assays, NLVs have been recognized as the most important cause of non-bacterial epidemics of acute gastroenteritis in both developed and developing countries, affecting individuals of all ages. Over 90% of non-bacterial gastroenteritis outbreaks in the US are found to be associated with NLVs. The percentage of individuals in developing countries who have antibodies against NLVs at an early age is very high (as it is with poliovirus and other viruses transmitted by fecal contamination of water and foods). In the US the percentage increases gradually with age, reaching 50% in people over 18 years of age. The antibody prevalence to NLVs is estimated to be higher based on the data using new diagnostic methods than previously reports using old methods. Immunity, however, is not permanent and reinfection can occur.
Before molecular cloning of NV in 1990, several methods were developed for diagnosis of Norwalk virus that included immune electron microscopy and other immunologic methods such as radio immunoassays (RIAs) or enzyme linked immunoabsorbent assays (ELISAs). Because most of these methods use reagents from infected humans that are of limited source, they are not widely used. Since the molecular cloning of NLVs, several methods have been developed for diagnosis of NLVs, including reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) for detection of the viral RNA and recombinant enzyme immune assay for detection of viral antigens and antibody against viral antigens. Due to the wide genetic and antigenic diversity of NLVs, these methods encountered problems of low detection sensitivity and specificity.
Although the Norwalk Virus was discovered in 1972, knowledge about the virus has remained limited because it has failed to grow in cell cultures and no suitable animal models have been found for virus cultivation. Human stool samples obtained from outbreaks and from human volunteer studies, therefore, are the only source of the virus. Still the concentration of the virus in stool is usually so low that virus detection with routine electron microscopy is not possible. Although limited studies on human volunteers showed that antibody response to NV challenge was protective against subsequent infection, other studies found that pre-existing antibodies against NV were not protective. Even more puzzling has been that some individuals with high levels of antibody against NV were more susceptible to the virus than individuals who did not have the antibody, and that 20-30% of individuals who did not have antibody against NV could not be infected by challenge with NV.
The most commonly encountered blood groups are ABO (ABH) and Lewis. (See Hematology Basic Principles and Practice, R. Hoffman, editor; Churchill Livingstone NY, N.Y., pub. 1995). The biosynthetic pathways used in forming antigens in the ABH, Lewis, P, and I blood group systems are interrelated. These oligosaccharide antigens may exist free in solution. In addition, they can be covalently attached to lipid molecules (ceramide) to form glycosphingolipids, or to polypeptides to form mucins, integral membrane glycoproteins, or soluble glycoproteins. The lycosidic linkages (i.e., the bonds between monosaccharides) are specifically catalyzed by glycosyltransferases. Some glycosyltransferases, found in all individuals, form framework structures. Other glycosyltransferases are allelically inherited and specify the synthesis of variable structures. Because of their variable inheritance and expression, the latter may form blood group antigens. As described below, antigens in the ABH, Lewis, P, and I blood group systems are synthesized on common precursor framework molecules. Competition between genetically inherited blood group-specific glycosyltransferases results in a rich mixture of antigenic molecules. In addition, a single oligosaccharide may contain several different blood group specificities. The absence of particular blood group antigens in certain individuals may result in specific antibody production after antigenic stimulation.
Although the ABH antigens are typically described as blood group antigens because of their presence on red cells, they are also found on other tissues, and may be more appropriately termed histo-blood group antigens. In blood, they exist in both a cellular form on platelets and a soluble form as blood group active glycosphingolipids coupled to plasma lipoproteins. They exist as membrane antigens on such diverse cells as vascular endothelial cells and intestinal, cervical, urothelial, pulmonary and mammary epithelial cells. Soluble forms are also found in various secretions and excretions, such as saliva, milk, urine, and feces. In some tissues, their appearance is developmentally regulated. Despite their wide distribution, genetic inheritance, developmental regulation, and importance in transfusion and transplantation, their normal physiological function, if any, remains a mystery.
To appreciate the structure and antigenicity of ABH antigens and their relationship to other blood group systems fully, it is necessary to understand the underlying biochemistry.
Early studies indicated that anti-A, anti-B, and anti-H antibodies specifically recognize epitopes composed of terminal trisaccharides or disaccharides. From these results it is possible to conclude that the A, B, and H antigens are not directly encoded by the corresponding genes, but rather the genes code for particular glycosyltransferases, commonly called the A, B, and H transferases, or equivalently, the A, B, and H enzymes. The H enzyme is a fucosyltranferase that specifically adds fucose in an (α-1→2) linkage to a terminal galactose. The A or B enzymes then add N-acetylgalactosamine or galactose, respectively, in an (α-1→3) linkage to the same terminal galactose. However, the substrate for the A or B enzymes is a terminal H antigen; these enzymes do not transfer the appropriate sugar to galactose in the absence of the (α-1→2)-linked fucose. Similarly, the H enzyme does not function if this galactose is substituted with a different sugar.
The finding that the A and B genes code for glycosyltransferases explains some results obtained from classic genetic analysis of family pedigrees. In particular, the A and B genes are inherited in a strict mendelian fashion and are dominant compared to O, but the A and B genes are co-dominant with each other. That is, an individual with the genotype AO (or BO) is phenotypically A (or B), an individual of genotype OO is phenotypically group O. Since the A and B enzymes both use the H antigen as substrate, even the presence of only approximately 50% of these enzymes in and AO (or BO) heterozygote is sufficient to convert the red cells to the corresponding A (or B) phenotype. Similarly, if both the A and B enzymes are present, they each convert approximately 50% of the available H antigen substrate, yielding red cells expressing both antigens A and B.
The ABH antigens are found not only on cells but also in secretions, particularly saliva and plasma. The ability to secrete ABH is genetically inherited: approximately 80% of whites are secretors and 20% are nonsecretors. This trait is inherited as a single locus gene (FUT2) in simple mendelian fashion. The secretor gene (Se) is dominant; nonsecretor (se) is recessive. The terminal carbohydrate sequences of the ABH antigens in saliva and plasma are identical to those on red cells. At least one copy of the Se gene is found in approximately 80% of the population and leads to the expression of ABH antigens in secretions. By contrast, the traditional H locus is a structural gene called FUT1. This gene is active in virtually all individuals, with rare defective mutation such as the "Bombay" blood type, and leads to the formation of ABH antigens on red blood cells and other tissues.
The two Lewis blood group antigens Lea (Lewis a) and Leb (Lewis b) were discovered in the 1940s. Virtually all individuals fall into one of three different Lewis types Le(a+b−), Le(a−b+), and Le(a−b−). A type of Le(a+b+) is seen among Asian populations. These molecules are not intrinsic red blood cell antigens; they are synthesized in another tissue (probably the intestinal epithelium), circulate in plasma attached to lipoproteins, and then passively transfer onto red cells. Biochemical studies have demonstrated that these are carbohydrate antigens on glycosphingolipids. They are structurally similar to the type ABH antigens found on plasma glycosphingolipids that likewise transfer onto red blood cells. The Lewis gene codes for an enzyme, an (α-1→4) fucosyltransferase, and thus behaves in a dominant fashion. The transfer of fucose to a type 1 precursor by the Lewis enzyme results in the formation of the Lea antigen; the addition of (α-1→4) linked fucose to the H type 1 structure leads to the formation of the Leb antigen. Thus the Leb antigen is formed through the cooperation of two glycosyltransferases encoded by two genes, one gene for the Lewis system (Le) and one from the ABH system (Se) or, equivalently, H type 1 at a different, unlinked locus, demonstrating the connections of the ABH, Secretor, and Lewis systems. Since the secretor enzyme converts virtually all type 1 precursor into H type 1, whether or not the Lewis enzyme is present, Lewis-positive secretors have virtually no Lea antigen, and their red blood cells type as Le(a−b+). By contrast Lewis-positive nonsecretors have Le(a+b−) red blood cells.
Histo-blood group antigens have been linked to infection by several bacterial and viral pathogens. This suggests that the histo-blood group antigens are a recognition target for pathogens and may facilitate entry into a cell that expresses or forms a receptor-ligand bond with the antigens. While the exact nature of such an interaction is unknown, close association of a pathogen that would occur with antigen binding may play a role in anchoring the pathogen to the cell as an initial step in the infection process. Interactions of some parasites and bacteria with human cells have been shown to depend on the presence of certain blood group antigens. For example, P. vivax malarial parasites only enter human red blood cells when the Fy6 Duffy blood group protein is present on the cells. Certain E. coli will only attach to the epithelial cells of the urinary tract if P or Dr blood group antigens are present in the epithelial cells. The P antigen is also the red blood cell receptor for Parvovirus B19. Leb antigen has recently been found to be the receptor for H. pylori in the gastric tissue. The high frequency blood group antigen known as AnWj, is the red blood cell receptor for H. influenzae. Since the relevance of ABH blood group antigens as parasitic/bacterial/viral receptors and their association with immunologically important proteins is now well established, the prime biologic role for ABH blood group antigens may well be independent and unrelated to the erythrocyte.
A recent study has shown that a relationship may exist between a person's ABO histo-blood group type and the risk of an infection and symptomatic disease after clinical challenge by the Norwalk Virus (NV). (See Norwalk Virus Infection and Disease is Associated with ABO-Histo-Blood Group Type, The Journal of Infectious Diseases, 185:1335-7 (2002), incorporated herein by reference). The study shows that persons of blood type O were significantly more likely to become infected with the NV, while persons of blood type B and AB had a decreased risk of infection, and that blood type B persons did not develop symptomatic illnesses despite being challenged with the NV.
Despite the advances made in recognizing that human histo-blood type may affect the risk of infection by the Norwalk Virus, there has been no explanation of the specific binding mechanism used by NLVs to infect human epithelium cells in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, and no explanation of the specific binding relationships between NLVs, including the NV, and the human histo-blood group antigens. Furthermore, there has not been shown an effective means to treat a NLV infection and/or its illness.
Therefore, the need has remained to understand: the specific mechanism for NLV infection within the GI tract, the specific binding properties of the prototype NV with the ABO blood antigens and the Le blood antigens, the specific binding properties of the other NLVs with the human histo-blood phenotypes and their respective blood antigens, and the compounds and compositions that are effective to inhibit binding between NLVs and blood antigens, to prevent or treat an infection by a NLV and/or the resulting illness.

Method, composition and kit for antigenic binding of norwalk-like viruses


Multi-mode communication devices capable of multiple wireless and/or wired network communication modes can be configured to communicate for backend services (e.g. Web Services, database, events) via a network gateway to operate in response to available modes. For example, for some activities, the devices are configured to communicate in any available mode while for other activities (e.g. high bandwidth communications), they are restricted to certain mode(s). Component applications for execution by the devices can specify message delivery properties to indicate the mode(s) to be used. The network gateway comprises at least one communication subsystem for communicating with the multi-mode device in accordance with selectable modes of communication; a message processor for processing messages for sending to the multi-mode communication device; and a mode selector for selecting a mode for sending a particular message in response to delivery mode properties received from the multi-mode communication device.

Due to the proliferation of wireless networks, there are a continually increasing number of wireless devices in use today. These devices include mobile telephones, personal digital assistance (PDAs) with wireless communication capabilities, two-way pagers and the like. Concurrently with the increase of available wireless devices, software applications running on such devices have increased their utility. For example, the wireless device may include an application that retrieves a weather report for a list of desired cities or an application that allows a user to shop for groceries.
Such software applications take advantage of the ability to transmit data of the wireless network in order to provide timely and useful services to users, often in addition to voice communication. However, due to a plethora of different types of devices and modes of wireless communication, the restricted resources of some devices and/or communication modes, and the complexity of delivering large amounts of data to the devices, developing software applications remains a difficult and time-consuming task.
With the advent of multi-mode devices (for example, devices that combine wireless local area networks (e.g. technologies under the Wi-Fi or WiMAX brands) and wireless wide area networks (e.g. cellular technologies like GSM/GPRS/EDGE) applications can have the ability to offer different usage models depending on the mode of wireless operation selected. There are two problems application developers may wish to consider when developing applications for multi-mode devices that they would not consider for single-mode devices: (i) application behaviour may need to be constant regardless of the mode of wireless operation and (ii) application behaviour may be tailored based on the current mode of operation. It is suggested that the first problem may be addressed by lower-level interfaces and therefore be transparent at the application layer. Therefore what is desired is a solution to assist developers of wireless applications to define applications for multi-mode operation that tailors behaviour in response to the current mode of operation.
Systems and methods have been created for developing component-based applications for executing on a computing device, often a wireless communication device. More details regarding component application can be found in Patent Cooperation Treaty Application Numbers PCT/CA2003/001976 entitled, "System and Method for Building and Execution of Platform-Neutral Generic Services Client Applications" and published as WO2004059938; PCT/CA2003/001980 entitled, "System and Method of Building Wireless Component Applications" and published as WO2004059957; and PCT/CA2003/001981 entitled, "System and Method of Creating and Communicating with Component Based Wireless Applications" and published as WO2004059939, each of which is assigned to the owner of the present application and herein incorporated by reference.
Generally speaking, an integrated development environment (IDE) is provided to assist developers to efficiently develop such component-based applications. Thus, it is further desired to provide a solution to assist developers of wireless applications to define applications for multi-mode operation that takes advantage of existing programming tools.
Multi-mode devices communicate through network servers for services. It is desired to provide a communication network server that can communicate in multiple modes with such devices.

Server for communicating with multi-mode devices using multi-mode applications


A hard shell cover hunting blind for a boat that may be left on while transporting the boat to the water. The shell has an open back that allows full visibility when moving. A camouflage covering is secured to a hoop in the back that can be quickly dropped down. Two large clamshell doors are placed in the front. The shell has a sliding door that opens up the sides of the blind. This provides easy access into and out of the boat as well as for placing decoys, etc. In addition, there is a curved top that is mounted on slides. This top can be pulled to either side to provide a full 360° filed of vision and a large shooting port. No tools are needed to operate the system of doors or to remove and install the clamshell front pieces.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to hunting blinds and particularly to hunting blinds that form a boat cover.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Hunting blinds have been used for years to aid hunters in concealing themselves from the prey. Blinds are often built on land for hunting both land-based animals and for hunting birds, such as ducks. Often these blinds are made of local materials to blend in with the surroundings. Although these blinds are quite useful, if a hunter or group of hunters must access the blind by boat, it seems inconvenient to have to use the boat to get to the site and then establish a blind on shore. A better way would be to use the boat itself for the blind. To that end, several devices have been patented in which a boat is used as a hunting blind.
Examples of these devices are found in the following U.S. Pat. No. 2,889,839 to Sheridan Jr. discloses a duck blind for boats This blind is a tent-like structure that is made of a canvas type material. Portholes are provided for viewing and the side walls can open for firing. Although this device can work, it is best assembled in the field, rather then being transported in place. It uses flaps and straps that may be cumbersome to open quickly under certain conditions. U.S. Pat. No. 4,070,722 teaches a blind that has a hard superstructure. The superstructure covers most of the entire boat. The blind has a raised center portion with view ports. It also has a number of hatches that are used to access the blind and to permit shooting. This device is also useful. However, it is limited in use because of the small view ports. Moreover, hunters have access for firing through ports that are not large. Finally, the front of the boat is covered except for a small port in front. This reduces visibility when operating the boat. The driver must stand up through one of the ports to really see clearly. Even then, the view is obscured by the blind. U.S. Pat. No. 4,106,145 teaches a large boat cover that is used as a blind. The cover has a metal frame and is covered with a canvas type material. The cover does not completely enclose the hunter; portion in the front is open for viewing. When the hunter is ready to shoot, the cover is partially retracted and the hunter is free to shoot. The problem with this design is that it is limited for use to one hunter. Moreover, the hunter's view and firing range is limited to one direction. U.S. Pat. No. 4,300,253 discloses another type of tent blind that can be easily assembled in the field. It has a framework over which, pieces of canvas like material are placed. The tent has side walls that can be dropped quickly as needed. The problem with is design is that the side walls can fall into the boat or into the water. Although the ability to get out of the way is an asset, once they are down, they may become wet or otherwise difficult to handle. U.S. Pat. No. 4,593,641 teaches a universal frame for a boat blind. This frame is collapsible and can be set up quickly. The frame is covered by a camouflage tarp that has openings for viewing and shooting. U.S. Pat. No. 4,671,203 teaches another tent-like blind for boats. In this design, a frame having multiple sections is used. The sections are covered with different panels of material that can be used as covers and as door. Camouflage windows are also provided for viewing. Finally, elastic strips are provided to allow brush to be used to further camouflage the blind. The branches and leaves are inserted in the elastic bands as desired. Although this design is versatile, it is complex and not quickly assembled. Moreover, there are many fittings and zippers that can become worn and damaged after use, which require a lot of maintenance. U.S. Pat. No. 5,615,633 teaches a blind for boats that has a hard shell. A number of elastic bands are placed about the shell for attaching branches and other items for camouflage. The top center of the shell is open with an elevated top. Hatches are provided for entry and exit and user view through the top opening. U.S. Pat. No. 6,129,034 teaches a boat cover that can be used as a blind that uses a number of curved ribs that are spaces apart along the gunwales of the boat. A soft canvas-like cover is then placed over the frame. Other examples of blinds are found in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,260,505, 4,979,456, 5,458,079, D392,244, 5,887,539, and 3,698,409.
Although there are many designs for boat hunting blinds, they suffer from the same problems: the soft tent style designs typically must be assembled in the field. The hard-sided models tend to provide limited visibility while operating the boat and are also cramped and low. Moreover, all of the designs do not provide adequate opening for shooting and other movements.


A method of generating energetic electromagnetic radiation comprises, during each of a plurality of separated radiation intervals, injecting laser radiation of a given wavelength into an optical cavity that is characterized by a round-trip transit time (RTTT) for radiation of that given wavelength. At least some radiation intervals are defined by one or more optical macropulses, at least one optical macropulse gives rise to an associated circulating optical micropulse that is coherently reinforced by subsequent optical micropulses in the optical macropulse and the electric field amplitude of the circulating optical micropulse at any given position in the cavity reaches a maximum value during the radiation interval.

The present invention relates generally to the production of x-rays and other energetic electromagnetic radiation (short wavelengths), and more specifically to techniques for interacting relativistic electrons with electromagnetic radiation having relatively long wavelengths to generate electromagnetic short-wavelength radiation.
The unique ability of electron beam-based sources of electromagnetic radiation employing undulators to generate intense, near monochromatic, forward peaked beams of radiation have made undulators critical components of advanced light sources such as second and third-generation synchrotron radiation sources and free-electron lasers. There are therefore many references to undulator technology and the use of undulators in the literature, beginning with Motz' pioneering description of the concept and first demonstration at Stanford (Motz 1951) to the many published descriptions of the concept and its implementation in connection with the development of the free-electron laser (Madey 1971) and the second generation synchrotron radiation sources at Brookhaven National Laboratory (Decker 1996), Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory (Robinson 1991), the Stanford Linear Accelerator Center (Hettel 2002) and Argonne National Laboratory (Galayda 1995).
Almost all such systems constructed to date employ undulators constructed as a linear array of dipole magnets designed to create a static, transverse, spatially periodic magnetic field in which the magnetic component of the Lorentz force ev×B imposes both a periodic transverse acceleration and a periodic transverse velocity on the motion of the electrons moving through the field. Typical magnet periods range from somewhat less than a cm to the order of 10 cm depending on the wavelength of radiation desired and the energy of the electron beams available for use in the system. To maximize the radiated power while limiting emission at the harmonics, these systems are typically operated at normalized vector potentials an of order between 0.1 and 1.0. Typical undulator lengths range from 1 to 10 meters as required to achieve the desired spectral bandwidth. As an example, an undulator operating at with an232 0.2 designed to produce x-rays of 10 angstroms wavelength with a spectral bandwidth of 1% at an electron energy of 3.0 GeV and an electron beam with minimal angular divergence would have a period of 5.7 cm and a length of 3 meters.
The extended length of the undulators used for such systems, together with the size, cost and complexity of the accelerator systems needed to generate the high energy, high power electron beams required for operation, have made such light sources both physically large and expensive. As examples, the X-ray light sources at Brookhaven, Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory, Stanford, and Argonne have, respectively, diameters of 54, 63. 75, and 350 meters with construction costs ranging from $160 million to $500 million.
A related physical phenomenon, inverse Compton scattering, has also been investigated as a means for production of short wavelength electromagnetic radiation in synchrotron radiation sources (Ruth 1998, Ruth 2000, and Harteman 2004) and free-electron lasers (Elias 1979). The inverse-Compton mechanism combines two basic physical effects, Compton scattering in which an incident electromagnetic wave is scattered by a single electron, and the Doppler shift, in which the radiation emitted by moving charges is upshifted in frequency along the direction of motion.
However, the concept of Compton scattering as described in the literature (Heitler 1960) is applicable only when the mechanism can be described as the scattering of single photons, and is no longer valid when the electric and magnetic fields of the incident electromagnetic wave are strong enough to induce transverse velocities approaching the speed of light, e.g., when their normalized vector potential approaches unity. Given this restriction to low field amplitudes and the dependence of the radiated power on the square of the field amplitude, electron beam-based inverse-Compton light sources have simply not proven competitive with undulator-based light sources to date.

High efficiency monochromatic X-ray source using an optical undulator


A method and apparatus for projection exposure applied to photolithography in the field of production of semiconductor devices. An illuminating light which has passed through a silt having an opening width is swept relative to a photomask for projecting a pattern of the photomask on a wafer using a projection optical system. As the illuminating light is swept a distance equal to the opening width of the slit in a direction along the x-axis, the imaging plane is oscillated by one period a distance equal to 2 .mu.m. Specifically, during the time the photomask is moved by the above distance in the direction along the axis x, with the illuminating unit and the projection optical system remaining fixed, the wafer is moved in the x-axis direction in synchronism with the photomask 4 at the same time as the wafer is oscillated by one period with an amplitude 2 .mu.m in the direction along the z-axis. The FLEX method may be applied to the projection exposure of the step-and-scan system such that enlargement of the exposure area and the depth of focus may be achieved simultaneously. Thus, in the process for manufacturing a semiconductor device which is miniaturized in size, the photolithographic process can be improved in reliability.

The present invention relates to a method for projection exposure applied to photolithography in the field of semiconductor manufacturing. More particularly, it relates to a method in which projection exposure to light of the step-and-scan system is performed while assuring a sufficient depth of focus.
In the field of production of semiconductor devices, 16 MDRAMs in accordance with the design rule of a half-micron (0.5 .mu.m) have already begun to be mass-produced, whereas, as the laboratory work, researches into processing for a sub-half-micron size (up to 0.35 .mu.m) required for the 64 MDRAM of the next generation and for a quarter-micron size (0.25 .mu.m) required for the 256 MDRAM of the next-to-next generation are proceeding. The key technology for the progress in such micro-size processing is photolithography. Past progress in the technology owes much to reduction of the exposing wavelength and high numerical aperture (NA) of a contracting projection lens in a contracting projection exposure device (stepper). The reduction in wavelength and the high NA impose non-meritorious conditions in increasing the depth of focus (DOF) since the DOF is proportional to the exposing wavelength .lambda. and inversely proportional to the square of the numerical aperture NA.
On the other hand, the surface step difference of a semiconductor wafer, as an object to be exposed to light, tends to be increased year by year in keeping with high integration density of the semiconductor integrated circuit. The reason is that, under the current tendency towards three-dimensional device structure, contraction in the three-dimensional direction is not so significant as that in the two-dimensional direction due to necessity in maintaining the performance and reliability of the integrated circuit. If a photoresist material is coated on the surface of a semiconductor wafer having such significant step difference, larger surface step difference or variations in the film thickness are produced on the photoresist layer. On the other hand, the imaging surface cannot be perfectly smooth due to the presence of distortions in the imaging surface, while the substrate surface is slightly tilted from a surface which is perfectly normal to the optical axis of the projection optical system. These factors render difficult the uniform light exposure of the entire wafer in the sole imaging plane.
For overcoming the above problems, several techniques have been proposed in which artifices are used in the methods for exploiting the light exposure device for achieving high contrast and high resolution while maintaining the NA in the projection optical system at a pre-set level and also maintaining the DOF at a practical level.
One of these techniques is the focus latitude enhancement exposure (FLEX) method. This technique resides in carrying out light exposure a plurality of times at the same light exposure position via the same photomask as the imaging surface is shifted for maintaining optical image contrast for an effectively long distance along the optical axis, as disclosed in JP Patent Kokai Publication JP-A-58-17446 (1983). With this technique, at least one of the photomask, wafer and the projection optical system is subjected to wobbling of small amplitudes along the optical axis for shifting the imaging surface. There is also disclosed in e.g., JP Patent Kokai Publication JP-A-63-64037 (1988) a method for shifting the imaging surface by shifting these components stepwise or continuously for each light exposure.
It is up to the device for projection exposure to light to deal with a variety of requirements in addition to the requirement for increasing the DOF. For example, it is required that the device for projection exposure enlarge an area exposed to light by one light exposure operation, that is an exposed area, for handling an increase in chip size brought about by further increases in the integration of semiconductor integrated circuits.
With the conventional step-and-repeat systems for light exposure, in which an exposure area comprising a single chip is exposed at a single time to light and the exposed area is shifted in succession on the substrate, it is necessary to increase the diameter of the projection lens for increasing the exposure area. However, it is extremely difficult, both technically and economically cost, to produce a large-diameter lens free of aberrations.
Thus it has been envisaged to combat the above problem by carrying out light exposure while scanning a beam spot of the illuminating light without exposing a sole exposure area at a time. This system, termed a step-and-scan system, effects light exposure of the wafer with a beam spot from a light source which has passed through a slit and which has a spot area smaller than the area of the photomask. In practice, the photomask and the wafer are moved in the in-plane direction in synchronism with each other while the illuminating optical system and the projection optical system remain stationary.
If this step-and-scan system is applied, the exposure area may be enlarged without the necessity of increasing the diameter of the projection lens.
Meanwhile, the above-described step-and-scan system, while coping with the increases chip size, cannot sufficiently cope with the requirement of increasing the depth of focus (DOF).


A keystroke determination method and a device thereof are applicable to a keyboard input device. The keystroke determination device performs the keystroke determination method including the following steps. A triggering signal corresponding to both a first circuit node and a second circuit node of the keyboard input device is received. Whether a first key definition of the first circuit node represents a null key is determined. When the first key definition of the first circuit node represents the null key, a signal specifying a second key definition of the second circuit node is outputted.

For input devices, the keyboard is now the most widespread in use. In order to reduce manufacture costs and to simplify product design, the membrane keyboard spent lower cost and including a matrix circuit board gradually replaces the mechanical keyboard spent higher cost.
Generally, a situation associated with ghost keys may occur in the membrane keyboard using a matrix circuit board. Assume that the matrix circuit board includes two x-axis circuits, i.e. an upper x-axis circuit and a lower x-axis circuit, and two y-axis circuits crossing the two x-axis circuits, i.e. an upper y-axis circuit and a lower y-axis circuit, to form a square. Four nodes of the square respectively correspond to an upper left key, a lower left key, an upper right key and a lower right key sorted clockwise. When the upper left key, the lower left key and the upper right key are pressed simultaneously, the lower right key will be regarded as being pressed. Herein, four signals respectively specifying these keys are generated even though the upper right key is not pressed actually. This is called a ghost key phenomenon in the art.
Two solutions for avoiding the ghost key phenomenon have been used so far. One is to use firmware. The other one is to dispose a diode at each node to detect whether any ghost key occurs. However, using firmware may make the input of all keys failed to result in the word leakage when the ghost key phenomenon occurs, and disposing diodes may increase manufacturing costs. Therefore, it is necessary to have other solutions for avoiding the ghost key phenomenon.

Keystroke determination method and device thereof