Orthodontic appliances such as orthodontic brackets are provided with bases that are shaped to correspond to the profiles of the specific teeth to which they are to be attached. The shapes of the bases facilitate the visual placement of the appliances on the teeth of patients by visually signaling to the practitioner the positioning of the appliance with the base thereof centered on the facial side of the tooth. This invention further facilitates the positioning of an archwire support of the appliance at a position on a tooth that is offset from the facial axis or from the center of the face of the tooth by manufacture of the appliance with the support offset from the center of the tooth-shaped pad. Preferably, the appliance base is a scaled reduction of the profile of the tooth, viewed from its facial side. The base is preferably scaled differently in the vertical and horizontal directions, with the shape of the base being reduced from that of the tooth profile by a greater amount vertically than horizontally. The tooth-shaped bases further facilitate identification of the specific tooth for which the appliance is intended.

When bonding orthodontic appliances, a major tenet to be considered by the orthodontist is the location of the appliance in the mouth of the patient. In the case of bonded orthodontic brackets, this location is the position and orientation of each of the brackets on one of the teeth of the patient.
Most of the preadjusted appliances that are currently employed for maxillary application are designed to be located at the facial axes of the maxillary teeth of the patient. The facial axis, or FA point of a tooth illustrated as Point FA in FIG. 1A, is defined as dead center vertically on the clinical facial surface of a fully erupted crown and at the height of contour mesiodistally of the mid-developmental lobe of the tooth, for example, right maxillary central 20. This definition is based on the criteria that the plane of the archwire will pass through the point FA. Furthermore, appliances should be aligned angularly in the FA plane, which is the plane tangent to surface of the tooth at the FA point, at a line angle represented by line LA in FIG. 1A. This angle LA generally coincides with the line along the height of the contour of the tooth's mid-developmental lobe 21. So angularly aligned, the appliance will better deliver the appropriate final angular position or tip of the tooth. These criteria are referred to as the concept of morphological centering and angular alignment. This concept is quite often implemented visually by the orthodontist or other clinician who places the appliance on the tooth by making a visual determination of the location of the point FA and the orientation of the line LA. The visual implementation of this concept can be rendered difficult for the orthodontist by varying degrees of eruption that leaves an unerupted portion 22 of a tooth 20a, as illustrated in FIG. 1B, by virtue of chipped or worn incisal tooth edges 23 of a tooth 20b, as illustrated in FIG. 1C, or by virtue of the existence of other aberrations of the typical tooth profile. Teeth for mandibular application are also often visually placed in accordance with mandibular placement criteria.
While the concept of morphological centering and angular alignment is familiar to orthodontists, the clinical difficulty of achieving its placement goals is well known. Several approaches have been developed to alleviate this problem but all have drawbacks. The most common approach has been to use measuring instruments to position the appliances at fixed vertical heights. These heights typically represent something akin to the average distance from the incisal edge of a tooth to the FA point of the tooth, and are usually expressed in millimeters. The awkwardness of this approach is that teeth come in various sizes, which precludes placement of the appliance at the proportional center of the tooth in all but the truly average patient. Additionally, due to the highly probably presence of a malocclusion and to the lack of access because of the tooth's position in the mouth (e.g. as with posterior segments or crowding) there is often insufficient space to use these instruments effectively.
When the appliances are not placed at the design location, adverse effects occur with respect to the final positioning of the teeth. First, if the appliance such as an upper right central bracket 24 is placed incorrectly in the vertical plane, the faciolingual inclination of the tooth is effected, producing an inclination error 25 as illustrated in FIG. 1D. Secondly, at the same time, the apparent thickness of the appliance is effected, resulting in a labial-lingual offset error 26 from the desired placement of a tooth on the dental arch.
Another approach to this problem is that known as "indirect bonding." This approach involves positioning of the appliances on a model or cast of the patient and then using a transfer mechanism or tray to transfer the positioned appliances to corresponding positions on the teeth of the patient. The indirect bonding approach has its detracting features. For instance, often the tray does not seat fully, causing simultaneous incorrect placement of a multitude of individual appliances. Other problems include appliance adhesive failure and excessive "flash." Further, brackets are typically, although not always, placed by eye on the model, which offers little improvement over direct placement on most patients. These difficulties have been sufficient to severely limit the use of the indirect bonding technique.
An understanding of why the centering and aligning of appliances has been so clinically troublesome can be obtained by examining the morphology of the appliances and the dentition. Teeth, as most anatomical entities, have a generally flowing shape which does not lend itself to description or visualization using geometric determinants, as can be seen from the profile of a typical upper right cuspid 40 in FIG. 1E. Appliances such as brackets and their bonding pads, on the other hand, are typically generated from orthogonal geometric designs that lend themselves to ease of appliance manufacture, as can be seen from a typical upper right cuspid bracket 42. Further complicating this situation with respect to vertical placement is the varying torque or inclination angle of the archwire slot relative to the base of the appliance. This occurs whether an angle of a slot is cut in a bracket support, i.e. "torque in the face", or an angle is formed in the mounting surface of a bracket, e.g., "torque in the base". Because of this angle, the true plane of the archwire, which should intersect the FA point, is difficult for the orthodontist to visualize. Thus, positioning of the appliance, such as with the illustrated high torque upper right central bracket 24a, using either the bracket body or the facial view of the slot, will yield the positioning of the bracket on a tooth, such as tooth 20, with the archwire plane AWP intersecting the tooth 20 at a point displaced from the point FA, by an amount 28, as illustrated in FIG. 1F. Such a view afforded the clinician when placing the appliances often incorrectly influences the positioning. For the clinician to attempt to minimize this problem by viewing directly into the slot of the appliance during placement is at least awkward and not always possible clinically.
Additionally, when placing the appliance mesiodistally, the geometric appearance of the bracket and bonding pad can also be misleading, as seen when the rhomboid geometry of some individual appliances is compared to the dental anatomy. For example, FIG. 1G illustrates the difference between the shapes of orthogonal upper right cuspid bracket 42 and the anatomical shape of the upper right cuspid 40 with the bracket 42 correctly placed on mid-developmental lobe 41 that is not coincident with the mesiodistal center of the tooth. Further, when a clinician uses the bracket body portion of an appliance as the primary landmark, parallax is also a complicating circumstance that gives the clinician an incorrect apparent view of appliance position, as illustrated in FIG. 1H.
Notwithstanding the problems and disadvantages stated above, the concept of visual positioning of orthodontic appliances on the teeth of patients remains a technique that clinicians must use. Therefore, there remains a need for a solution to the problems of the prior art and for greater accuracy and reliability in visual appliance positioning.

Visual positioning orthodontic appliance and method


A maximum value Yimax and a minimum value Yimin of input pixel data Ri, Gi, Bi for each pixel are determined. A saturation adjustment value X is determined using a function g(Yimax, Yimin), white pixel data Wo is determined using a function f(Yimin), and these are used to determine output pixel data Ro, Go, Bo. Even the saturation represented by RGB three-color data is high, conversion to RGBW four-color data with improved brightness can be made, without changing the hue.

There have been known image display devices (such as liquid crystal displays, projectors, or organic EL displays) which can display images using four colors, including red (R), green (G), and blue (B), and in addition, white (W). In the present specification, such display devices will be called RGBW-type display devices. The three colors of red, green and blue are obtained by having white light pass through color filters of red, green and blue, respectively. The light is attenuated when passing through the color filters, making it difficult to raise the luminance of the image display device. For white, no color filter is needed (it is only necessary to provide a transparent filter), and attenuation due to the color filter does not occur. As a result, RGBW-type display devices are advantageous in that they can realize a higher luminance, compared with image display devices using only the three colors of red, green and blue.
In addition, RGBW-type display devices, such as liquid crystal display devices can achieve the same level of luminance as image display devices using only three colors of red, green and blue, by use of a lower backlight illuminance. Accordingly, the power consumption can be reduced.
The input pixel data supplied to a display device usually consist of data of three colors of red, green and blue. Therefore, in an RGBW-type display device, the three-color data of red, green and blue need to be converted to four color data of red, green, blue and white, before display. If this conversion is not properly made, for instance, white may be mixed in all the display colors, resulting in whitish images, and the color display may differ from what is intended by the input pixel data.
Patent Reference 1 and Non-patent Reference 1 disclose schemes for converting three-color data of red, green and blue to four-color data of red, green, blue and white, by which the brightness is improved without changing the hue and saturation.

Signal conversion apparatus and method, and program and recording medium


A TDM (Time Division Multiplexing)-based mobile communication system that switches a service type according to QoS (Quality of Service). The mobile communication system includes a base transceiver system (BTS) and a mobile station (MS) connected to the BTS. The BTS monitors whether a first service provided from the BTS to the MS is satisfied according to whether at least as much data as a predetermined transmission amount is transmitted to the MS. If the first service is dissatisfied, the BTS switches a service to a second service lower in QoS than the first service so that as much data as a transmission amount smaller than the predetermined transmission amount is transmitted to the MS.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a mobile communication system, and in particular, to a method for switching a service type according to QoS (Quality of Service) in a mobile communication system supporting time division multiplexing (TDM) for a shared link.
2. Description of the Related Art
A 3rd generation mobile communication system includes CDMA2000 (Code Division Multiple Access 2000), WCDMA/UMTS (Wideband CDMA/Universal Mobile Telecommunications System), GPRS (General Packet Radio System), and CDMA2000 1xEV-DO (Evolution Data Only) mobile communication systems. Unlike a typical 2nd generation mobile communication system that supports only a voice service or a low-speed data service, the 3rd generation mobile communication system supports the voice service, a high-speed packet data service, and a moving picture communication service. The mobile communication system includes a base station controller (BSC), a base transceiver system (BTS), and a mobile station (MS). The BSC is connected to the BTS by wire, and the BTS is connected to the MS through a radio channel, for communication.
In the mobile communication system, when the BSC communicates with a specified MS among a plurality of MSs through its lower BTS, the BSC sequentially transmits transmission data packets to the BTS to which the specified MS belongs. The BTS then buffers (or stores) the received data packets in its buffer, and sequentially transmits the buffered data packets to the specified MS for a time period where a radio resource is available. A technique for sharing one radio resource, or one transmission channel, by a plurality of MSs is called "time division multiplexing (TDM)."
In a mobile communication system transmitting data packets by the TDM, an operation of determining a time period for which the data packets are transmitted to MS is called "scheduling," and radio resources of the BTS are properly assigned to a plurality of MSs by the scheduling. A scheduler for the scheduling operation exists in the BTS, and the MS periodically reports the quality of a BTS signal received over a radio channel to the scheduler. The scheduler selects a particular MS, to which it will transmit data, every scheduling period, considering quality information of radio channels received from a plurality of MSs and absence/presence of data to be transmitted to each MS.
Meanwhile, a data service in the conventional mobile communication system is based on the so-called "best effort service." That is, a condition of a data service provided to a particular mobile subscriber (or MS) is determined simply based on a radio channel quality of the subscriber and availability of a radio resource with which each BTS services subscribers. Therefore, an improved mobile communication system provides differential services according to a QoS (Quality of Service) class, and guarantees a required data rate for an MS subscriber.
A radio channel quality of an MS is constantly varied according to various factors such as movement of the MS and fading. Thus, if a radio environment becomes very poor, it is not possible to support a required data rate for the MS at the start of a service. However, even in this case, the mobile communication system attempts to continuously guarantee the required data rate, thereby wasting radio resources that are assignable to other MSs.

Service switching method based on QoS in a mobile communication system


A wall hanged audio arrangement, which is adapted for mounting on a wall surface to communicatively connect with a video device, includes an artistic casing having a front artistic surface, a rear wall installing surface, a side peripheral surface, and an operation cavity defining therewithin, a wall mounting device for mounting the rear wall installing surface of the artistic casing on the wall surface, and an audio device, which is received in the operation cavity, including an audio unit and an audio outlet which is provided on the side peripheral surface of the artistic casing and electrically connected to the audio unit for communicating with the video device. Therefore, the wall hanged audio arrangement forms as an artistic work to hang on the wall surface.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to an Audio-Video (AV) system, and more particularly to a wall hanged audio arrangement which is compact in size, and is capable of being conveniently mounted onto a supporting surface, such as a wall, in an atheistically sound manner.
2. Description of Related Arts
Conventional AV systems, such as a Digital Video Disc (DVD) system, can be found in almost every family and even in workplaces, though their components, such as the loud speakers, are usually bulky in size. Nowadays, it seems that AV system is one of the essential ingredients in people's lives. A wide range of AV accessories, such as stands, wall-mounting supports, hangers, AV boxes and different kinds of furniture are accordingly rapidly developed and widely utilized by many people to hold or support their AV systems in particular situations.
However, all these existing holding or supporting accessories for AV systems are bulky either. When one is trying to relax and enjoy his/her favorite movie with his/her most favorite AV system, he/she may suddenly discover that in the vicinity of the, say, video display, such as a television, there exist parts of the accessories or even the AV system itself which are atheistically unsound (because they are not intended to be displayed) to block or at best interfere with the vision of the user of the AV system. Then, what is originally a good time is inevitably ruined by such kinds of 'external factors'. In worse, the vision or audibility of the user of the AV system may be severely blocked to an unacceptable degree so as to discourage him/her from utilizing the AV system, even though the AV system per se is perfect.
Nowadays, technology is advancing at a dramatic speed and most of the AV systems have been slimmed up with enhanced performance. Conventional holding or supporting accessories for AV systems are then changed to meet the corresponding needs of the more modern AV systems. For example, the conventional holding or supporting accessories may be reduced in size, reduced in thickness, or reduced in materials used to meet the fashion.
While these AV accessories are kept in pace, they are after all inevitable. No matter how fast such AV accessories are developed, they are nevertheless required to keep the corresponding AV systems to operate properly in a various surrounding circumstances. When one trying to buy an AV system, his/her first consideration, apart from the quality of the AV system, would be how the system could be supported and connected in a secure manner yet not to deteriorate their aesthetical features. Very often, these two considerations form a good deal of pressing and conflicting problems for the user of the AV system. It is obvious that the more bulky and the more numbers of supporting components presence in the accessory, the more secure the AV system can be supported. Unfortunately, the more bulky and the more numbers of supporting components presence in the accessory, the more likely that the AV system is deteriorated in terms of its audio and visual quality because of the possible blocking and interference of the accessory by which the AV system is supported.
It should be fairly accurate to suppose that the above requirement of the AV accessories is due to a general desire of people to improve and enhance their living environment, especially their home. In relation to this, indoor artistic objects, such as furniture with special design, sculpture, painting, drawings and plants, may be found in a house, a flat, an office, an apartment, or even an industrial factory. These kinds of artistic objects could provide a more relaxing atmosphere which promotes good emotion and mental fitness. However, especially for those living in a big city, it may be that it is difficult to have a position for placing furniture with special design, a sculpture or a painting simply because they are luxury in an environment where space is the most expensive. Or, it may be that for particular premises, due to an assigned function for that premises, such as business activities, it is simply unrealistic for such relaxing artistic objects to be placed inside the premises.


An apparatus and method reduce out-of-band frequency components of an amplified, multichannel RF signal able to have at least two frequency bandwidth limited signal channels, each channel having a respective carrier frequency which is not known in advance. The channels can, for example, be dedicated to CDMA signals. Each channel of the amplified RF signal has both in-band frequency components and out-of-band frequency components. The apparatus and method feature a network for amplifying an input signal for producing the amplified RF signal, the network having adjustable electrical characteristics, and a control system connected to the network for locating a frequency within the bandwidth of one of the channels of the amplified RF signal and for detecting energy in the out-of-band frequency components for the one located channel for producing control signals relating to the energy in that one channel. As a result of adjusting the electrical characteristics of the network, the energy in the out-of-band frequency components for that channel, and all other channels of interest, can be reduced.

This invention relates generally to amplification systems and more particularly to methods and apparatus for reducing distortion in amplifiers used in such systems.
As is known in the art, amplifiers have a wide variety of applications. Amplifiers can be biased to operate in one of a number of so-called Classes. When biased to operate in Class A, the amplifier provides a linear relationship between input voltage and output voltage. While operation in Class A has a wide range of applications, when higher power output and efficiency are required or desired, the amplifier is sometimes biased to operate in Class A/B. When biased to operate in Class A/B, however, the Class A/B amplifier power transfer curve 10 is less linear than for Class A amplifiers, illustrated in FIG. 1 by trace 14. To increase efficiency, communication systems often operate amplifiers in the non-linear region 12. This practice, however, does introduce amplitude and phase distortion components into the output signal produced by the amplifier.
As is also known in the art, most communication systems have FCC allocated frequency bandwidths 18 (that is, in-band frequencies) centered about a carrier frequency 20 as shown in FIG. 2A. For example, a CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access) communication system signal has a predefined bandwidth of 1.25 MHz. Different CDMA communication channels are allocated different bands of the frequency spectrum. Amplifiers are used in such systems, and are frequently biased to operate in Class A/B. Referring to FIG. 2B, signal processing such as amplification by an amplifier operating in the non-linear region 12 (FIG. 1) can produce distortion frequency xe2x80x9cshouldersxe2x80x9d 22a-22b outside a signal""s allocated bandwidth 18. (These are called out-of-band frequencies.) These distortion frequency components 22a-22b can interfere with bandwidths allocated to other communication signals. Thus, the FCC imposes strict limitations on out-of-band frequency components.
Many techniques exist to reduce out-of-band distortion. One such technique is shown in FIG. 3 where a predistortion unit 24 is fed by a signal 25 to be amplified. The predistortion unit 24 has a power transfer characteristic 24a (FIG. 1) and compensates for distortion introduced by subsequent amplification in Class A/B amplifier 26. More particularly, the predistortion unit 24 transforms electrical characteristics (for example, gain and phase) of the input signal such that subsequent amplification provides linear amplification to the phase and frequency characteristics of the input signal. The predistortion unit 24 is configured with a priori measurements of the non-linear characteristics of the Class A/B amplifier. Unfortunately, the amplifier characteristics (amplification curve 10 with region 12 of FIG. 1) change over time and temperature making effective predistortion more difficult. For example, as the temperature of the amplifier increases, its non-linear region 12 may become more or less linear, requiring a compensating change in the transform performed by a predistortion unit 24. Some adaptive predistortion systems use look-up tables to alter predistorter characteristics based on environmental factors such as temperature. These look-up tables include predetermined predistorter control settings for use in predetermined situations. However, environmental factors alone do not determine the alterations in an amplifier""s characteristics. Thus, over time, amplifier characteristics vary unpredictably due to aging of amplifier components.
Another approach to reduce amplifier distortion is to use feedforward compensation, as shown in FIG. 4. Here, a feedforward network 31 is included for reducing out-of-band distortion. The feedforward network 31 includes a differencing network or combiner 30, a main amplifier 33 operating as a Class A/B amplifier, an error amplifier 32, delay circuits 28 and 28a, and a combiner 29. The differencing network 30 produces an output signal representative of the difference between a portion of the signal fed to the amplifier 33 operated Class A/B and the signal fed to the amplifier 33 prior to such amplification. The frequency components in the differencing network 30 output signal are, therefore, the out-of-band frequency components 22a-22b introduced by amplifier 33. Amplifying and inverting the output produced by the differencing network 30, by error amplifier 32, produces an out-of-band correcting signal. More particularly, the combiner 29 combines the correcting signal produced by differencing network 30 and amplifier 32, with the delayed signal output of amplifier 31 thus reducing the energy in the out-of-band frequencies 22a-22b (FIG. 2B) of the signal output by amplifier 33. Feedforward network 31 includes delay line 28 to compensate for the delay in error amplifier 32. It should be noted that minute differences in timing between these elements can impair the effectiveness of a feedforward system. While a manufacturer can carefully match components prior to shipment, as feedforward components age, the correcting signal and processed signal can become mistimed if not properly compensated.
The invention relates to an apparatus and method for reducing out-of-band frequency components of an amplified, multichannel RF signal able to have at least two frequency bandwidth limited signal channels, each channel having a carrier frequency which is not known in advance. Each channel of the amplified RF signal has both in-band frequency components and out-of-band frequency components. The apparatus features a network for amplifying an input signal for producing the RF signal, the network having adjustable electrical characteristics, and a control system connected to the network for locating a frequency within the bandwidth of one of the channels of the RF signal and for detecting energy in the out-of-band frequency components in the one located channel for producing a control signal related to the energy in the out-of-band frequency components of that one channel. The control signal is coupled to the network to adjust the electrical characteristics of the network to reduce the energy in the out-of-band frequencies of all the channels.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the network has a predistorter having adjustable characteristics controlled by the control signal. In another aspect, the network can include a power amplifier having adjustable characteristics controlled by the control signal. In this instance, at least one adjustable characteristic is a bias point parameter of the amplifier. The network, in other aspects, can include a feed forward network and the signal can be, for example, a multichannel CDMA signal, having well known characteristics.
The method of the invention features locating an in-band frequency component of one of the channel signals having out-of-band frequency components of the RF signal, detecting energy at frequencies which are at a predetermined offset from the located in-band frequency component, and adjusting network electrical characteristics to reduce the out-of-band frequency energy of the located channel. Thereby, out-of-band frequency components of the other out-of-band channel signals are reduced.
In particular aspects, the method features measuring the energy at a first frequency, measuring the energy at a second frequency, and determining whether the energy measured at the second frequency exceeds the energy measured at the first frequency by more than a selected threshold. In particular aspects, the method heterodynes the multichannel signal having out-of-band frequencies to baseband.
In one particular aspect of the invention, the apparatus includes a predistorter connected to receive an amplified, multichannel input signal and having its output coupled to a power amplifier. The predistorter has a nonlinear output signal versus input signal transfer level characteristic which can be selectably adjusted in accordance with an out-of-band feedback control signal provided by a feedback loop. The result is a substantially linear amplifier output versus input signal transfer characteristic across the multiple channels. The feedback loop, in this embodiment, features a control signal connected to the power amplifier output for locating the carrier frequency of one of the channel signals of the input signal and for producing a feedback control signal related to the energy in the distortion frequency components outside the bandwidth at that located channel signal. The feedback control signal is coupled to the predistorter for adjusting the electrical characteristics of the predistorter to reduce the energy in the out-of-band frequency components of the located channel in the power amplifier output. As a result, the out-of-band frequency components of each other channel of the input signal are reduced.
The method and apparatus thus advantageously reduce distortion in a multichannel amplified RF signal, for example, where a Class A/B RF amplifier is used for efficiency and high power output.

Multichannel amplification system using mask detection


Boosted cytidine analogue reverse transcriptase inhibitor antiretroviral compound is a new therapeutic anti HIV option, in combination with another drug such as a NRTI or a protease inhibitor. It's heightened and sustained antiretroviral potency is due to the increased intracellular level of 3TC triphosphate, the active form of 3TC. This effect is obtained by combining 3TC, in usual doses, with a reduced dose of ddC, in the same pharmaceutical formulation. The product could be administered twice or even once daily, which is convenient, and does not increase the pill burden for the patient. The reduced ddC dosage prevents the occurrence of ddC related side effects. Other cytidine derivatives (racemic or negative enantiomers) could have the same effects as ddC and could probably be combined with 3TC, and have the same effect. On the other hand, low dose ddC may also increase the intracellular levels of other cytidine derivatives as it does for 3TC. Boosted cytidine analogue reverse transcriptase inhibitor antiretroviral compound could also be formulated in combination with another drug such as another NRTI (e.g. abacavir) or any protease inhibitor in the same capsule or tablet. This approach offers a dual anti-HIV therapy that is as efficacious as the routine triple therapy. In this way the HIV treatment cost could be significantly reduced which is imperative for resource-poor settings. This new formulation is convenient and well tolerated with no additional toxicity than that of the combining drug (NRTI or protease inhibitor) and 3TC. Moreover, this will enable a larger number of patients to benefit from the already known 3TC effects. It will also increase the 3TC effects in those organs or HIV sanctuaries with usually reduced 3TC concentrations or activity. It could be indicated in both the initial as well as in salvage HIV therapy. It could also be used for therapy optimization or simplification. Moreover, in combination with another NRTI such as abacavir, or even alone, it could be beneficial for reducing the HIV harm in resource-poor settings.

(a) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method for improving the antiretroviral activity of a cytidine analogue reverse transcriptase inhibitor; a boosted cytidine analogue reverse transcriptase inhibitor antiretroviral compound; an antiretroviral oral formulation to inhibit viral replication in HIV infected patients comprising efficient amounts of two different cytidine analogue reverse transcriptase inhibitors of different dosages in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier to produce boosted cytidine analogue reverse transcriptase inhibitor antiretroviral compound in a patient cell; a method for the therapy of HIV infected patients comprising orally administrating the oral formulation.
(b) Description of Prior Art
An estimated 38.6 million people worldwide were living with HIV in 2005 according to the World Health Organization (WHO) (UNAIDS/WHO, 2006 Report on the Global AIDS epidemic. UNAIDS-Geneva, Switzerland, 2006.). Approximately 4.1 million persons acquired the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and 2.8 million individuals died in 2005 (UNAIDS/WHO, 2006.).
According to WHO, new simplified and less expensive approaches suitable for resource-poor settings are of greatest need.
Since the introduction of combination antiretroviral therapy, especially with the introduction of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), HIV-related morbidity and mortality diminished significantly. However, in spite of progress and huge efforts, the HIV epidemic continues to expend (UNAIDS/WHO, 2006.). Moreover, HAART also led to the emergence, at an increasing rate, of adverse effects, metabolic abnormalities, body changes as well as drug resistance.
In order to offset these problems, new drugs, new drug combinations or approaches are continuously evaluated.
Antiretroviral regimens usually contain 2 nucleoside analogue reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTI) plus a protease inhibitor (PI) or a non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI). Examples of NRTI are AZT (azidothymidine, zidovudine), d4T (stavudine), 3TC (lamivudine), ddC (zalcitabine), ddI (didanosine), abacavir (ziagen), FTC (emtricitabine). The approved NNRTI are: nevirapine, delavirdine, efavirenz. Among the protease inhibitors are saquinavir, indinavir, ritonavir, nelfinavir, lopinavir, atazanavir, amprenavir and tipranavir.
One of the most extensively utilized antiretroviral drugs being the backbone of most regimens is 3TC (2′ deoxy-3′-thiacytidine or lamivudine). In addition to its excellent safety profile, this drug has beneficial virologic effects even in the presence of a mutation at the position 184 (M184V) of HIV reverse transcriptase conferring high-level resistance to 3TC (Diallo K, Götte M, and Wainberg M A. Molecular impact of the M184V mutation in human immunodeficiency virus type 1 reverse transcriptase. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2003, 47: 3377-3383). This beneficial antiretroviral activity could be augmented by increasing the intracellular concentration of 3TC active form.
As for other NRTIs, 3TC requires intracellular metabolism to its active form 5′-triphosphate (3TC-TP) as seen in FIG. 2. This will compete with the natural endogenous nucleoside for the incorporation into nascent proviral DNA and will lead to DNA chain termination and consequently inhibition of HIV replication. The antiretroviral activity of 3TC (as that of the other NRTIs) is directly correlated with the intracellular 3TC-TP concentration. Both extracellular and intracellular factors affect this activation (phosphorylation to triphosphate). In vitro studies showed that, at an extracellular concentration of 10 μM of 3TC, there is clear evidence of saturation of 3TC-TP formation; in other words higher extracellular 3TC concentrations which may be obtained with higher 3TC doses do not necessarily increase the level of the active intracellular form, the 3TC-TP (Gray N M, Marr C L P, Penn C R, Cameron J M, and Bethell R C. The intracellular phosphorylation of (2′, 3′)-2-deoxy-3′-thiacytidine (3TC) and the incorporation of 3TC 5′-monophosphate into DNA by HIV-1 reverse transcriptase and human DNA polymerase γ. Biochem Pharmacol 1995, 50: 1043-1051). This fact was also confirmed in clinical studies in which an increased dose of 3TC (300 mg instead of 150 mg) did not significantly increased the 3TC-TP levels and did not result in a better clinical, virologic or immunologic effect (Eron J J, Benoit S L, Jemsek J, et al. Treatment with lamivudine, zidovudine, or both in HIV-positive patients with 200 to 500 CD4+ cells per cubic millimeter. N Engl J Med 1995, 333: 1661-1669.).
As the activation pathways for 3TC and of another NRTI, ddC (2′-3′-dideoxycytidine), are similar (as seen in FIG. 2 ), it is conceivable that concomitant administration of these drugs will influence each other's activation.
Initial in vitro data (with huge, non-physiologic doses of ddC) showed a negative interaction between 3TC and ddC (Veal G J, Hoggard P G, Barry M G, Khoo S, Back D J. Interaction between lamivudine (3TC) and other nucleoside analogues for intracellular phosphorylation. AIDS 1996, 10: 546-548). Therefore, the concurrent use of ddC (daily doses of 2.25 mg) and 3TC are currently contraindicated because of their reciprocal inhibition of activities (ddC competes with the 3TC's activation and vice versa).
In conclusion, so far, no valid approach to increase intracellular 3TC-TP and, hence, its antiretroviral activity, was reported. It is imperative and timely to find a new therapeutic approach able to increase intracellular levels of 3TC-TP without increasing the drug-related toxicities, especially in patients harboring an HIV strain with reduced 3TC susceptibility or with a suboptimal control of HIV infection.

Zalcitabine (ddC) boosted lamivudine (3TC) compositions for antiretroviral therapy


A crash energy absorber is provided at a front portion of a carbody of a railcar and configured to crush by a load from a front side to absorb crash energy. The crash energy absorber includes: a main absorbing portion extending in a front-rear direction; and a pair of sub absorbing portions respectively provided at upper and lower sides of the main absorbing portion. Each of the pair of sub absorbing portions is formed integrally with the main absorbing portion via breakable portions each extending in the front-rear direction.

Conventionally known is an energy absorbing member attached to a front portion of an underframe of a carbody of a railcar and configured to absorb crash energy when an obstacle crashes with the energy absorbing member (see Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application Publication No. 2002-286066, for example). Such an energy absorbing member is typically formed by a hollow columnar member and provided such that an axial direction thereof coincides with a carbody front-rear direction. With this, when the obstacle crashes with the energy absorbing member, the plastic deformation of the energy absorbing member in the axial direction occurs such that the energy absorbing member becomes an accordion shape. Thus, the energy absorbing member absorbs the crash energy to reduce the impact transmitted to the carbody.


Methods, software, and apparatus for customizing a component for use with an application builder tool are disclosed. A method for customizing a component which has at least one associated property with an associated data type involves obtaining the component, obtaining an editor that is arranged to modify the property, and adding the editor to a customizer that is associated with said component. Then, the property is modified using the editor. In one embodiment, the method further includes configuring the component by implementing the modified property. In another embodiment, the component is an instance of an associated component class, and obtaining the component involves obtaining the component class and creating the instance of the component class. In such an embodiment, each property associated with the component is identified.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates generally to methods and apparatus for use in application builder tools, and more particularly, to methods and apparatus for use in editing properties associated with software components.
2. Background
As computer usage becomes increasingly widespread, the desire for custom computer applications which are specific to the needs of a particular user is also increasing. The use of visual builder tools, or application builder tools, enables computer applications to be readily created. Builder tools generally include standard sets of software modules, or "building blocks," which can be interlinked to create custom-built applications.
Many visual based applications builder tools, as for example Visual Basic, available from Microsoft, Inc. of Redmond, Wash., have a graphical user interface which includes a "toolbox", a "form window", and a "property sheet". A toolbox typically contains icons which represent different classes of components, or software modules. Alternatively, the toolbox may contain text which represents different classes of components. It should be appreciated that many different classes of components may exist. By way of example, different classes can include complex components, e.g., database viewers, and simple components, e.g., buttons. A form window is a display window in which an application may be composed. A component selected from the toolbox may be "dropped", or otherwise placed, within the form window. Placing a component refers to placing an icon, or a screen representation of the component, within the form window. A property sheet displays properties relating to the selected component. The properties can include, but are not limited to, information relating to the size, color, and name of the selected component.
Application builder tools often enable a user to create new data types and, hence, new properties, which correspond to components, as is well-known to those skilled in the art. By way of example, a user can define a data type relating to color, and associate a "color" property to a component which previously had no color. In other words, a user can add color to a component by appropriately defining a data type which relates to color. The ability to create new properties furthers the ability to customize components and, therefore, software applications, to meet the particular needs of a user.
In general, a property sheet displays a set of properties which can be modified to customize, or configure, a given component. Hence, a user can select and modify different properties in the property sheet, or "customizer," in order to customize a component. Editors are often provided for each property that can be modified. As such, the property sheet typically provides an editor for each property which can be updated, or otherwise altered. The editors generally facilitate the editing of properties through the use of graphical user interfaces.
Conventional application builder tools typically provide a fixed set of editors for properties which are associated with a property sheet. While interfacing with fixed sets of editors through the use of property sheets has been shown to be successful in enabling custom applications to be created, the use of fixed sets of editors can be limiting. While many application builder tools enable new data types to be created, the application builder tools do not enable editors associated with the new data types to be instantiated into property sheets. The inability to add new editors to property sheets prohibits any newly created data type and, as a result, any newly created property associated with a component, from being readily modified. That is, the new properties cannot be edited using a property sheet, and instead must be modified at the level of software at which the associated new data type was created. As a result, the customization of components and applications is basically restricted to the ability to modify only the fixed properties associated with a software component, while the modification of any new properties cannot be accomplished through the use of a property sheet. Modifying properties without the benefit of interfaces associated with a property sheet is generally inefficient and time-consuming.
Therefore, what is desired is a method and an apparatus which enables newly created properties for software components to be readily associated with a customizer, e.g., a property sheet. Specifically, what is desired is a method and an apparatus for creating editors for new properties which can be associated with, e.g., instantiated into, customizers to facilitate and enhance the customization of a component.

Method and apparatus for editing a software component


A monolithic integrated circuit (IC), and method of manufacturing same, that includes all RF front end or transceiver elements for a portable communication device, including a power amplifier (PA), a matching, coupling and filtering network, and an antenna switch to couple the conditioned PA signal to an antenna. An output signal sensor senses at least a voltage amplitude of the signal switched by the antenna switch, and signals a PA control circuit to limit PA output power in response to excessive values of sensed output. Preferred fabrication techniques include stacking multiple FETs to form switching devices. An iClass PA architecture is described that dissipatively terminates unwanted harmonics of the PA output signal. A preferred embodiment of the RF transceiver IC includes two distinct PA circuits, two distinct receive signal amplifier circuits, and a four-way antenna switch to selectably couple a single antenna connection to any one of the four circuits.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates broadly to integrated electronic circuits, and more specifically to RF transceiver circuitry.
2. Related Art
Wireless communications devices, especially handheld devices, are undergoing sustained development. Perhaps more than any other factor, the extreme popularity of cellular mobile telephones has motivated improvements in efficiency, speed, size and cost-effectiveness for RF transmission circuits in handheld devices. Enhancing the efficiency of such circuits is highly desirable so that the size of the required batteries may be reduced, while their life is extended. Cost-effectiveness is clearly always desirable for consumer products, particularly when such products require periodic replacement to stay abreast of changes in the technology. The steady advance of functionality in cellular telephones, combined with consumer preferences for light and small devices, puts a premium on reducing the volume required for RF transmission circuits. Additionally, transmitters must meet stringent emission limits, which have been established in order to facilitate high communication density at minimal power levels.
Most wireless communication units, such as cellular telephones, comprise at least one RF transceiver. A communication device, such as a cellular telephone, may comprise a multiplicity of RF (radio frequency) front end circuits, which are of primary interest herein. RF front end circuits (or subcircuits) typically include an RF transmit signal amplifier, a Power Amplifier (PA), a matching and filtering section, an antenna switch, and may include a received signal amplifier. A complete transceiver generally also includes a low-noise amplifier for the received signal. Of these circuits, the PA subcircuit is typically the most power-consuming portion of such transmitters, and, also typically, is the source of the most significant unintended or "spurious" emissions. In order to extend battery life, to meet stringent spurious emissions standards, and to minimize the cost of these high-volume consumer items, there is a need to improve the speed and efficiency, while reducing spurious emissions and manufacturing costs, for such PA subcircuits. Due to their need to handle high power, the PA and antenna switch subcircuits consume the most integrated circuit area. Manufacturing costs for integrated circuits are strongly dependent on the amount of device area required for each circuit. Consequently, substantial reductions in the area required for the various RF transceiver subsections will generally lead to commensurate reductions in manufacturing costs for transceiver circuits.
A range of PA topologies have been developed, each having different advantages. For example, PAs of class A, B, C, D, E and F are well known in the art. The primary amplifying devices in PAs of classes A–C are designed to operate in an "active" region of their operating range, thus intentionally conducting current while voltage is present across the device.
PAs of classes D, E and F attempt to reduce the power loss caused by such linear operation by employing amplifier devices as switches that minimize operation in active regions, rather than as linear amplifiers. However, the pulse-type outputs from such amplifiers generally require extensive filtering in order to establish a narrow-band sinusoidal output, as is typically required. While normal operation of PAs in classes D–F does not intentionally cause drive element devices to conduct while voltage is present across the devices, even switched devices consume real power due to current flowing while voltage is present during finite switching periods. Moreover, compared to drive devices in analog PAs operating at the same transmission center frequency, drive devices in class D–F switching circuits must often operate at much higher frequencies. The higher frequency signals include significant energy at undesired frequencies, and such undesired signal energies not only consume circuit power, but also require filtering to meet emission limits.
Integration of devices is generally desirable in order to improve various features of the resulting product, such as operating frequency and reliability, and may also reduce overall manufacturing costs, as well as likely reducing the volume occupied by the circuits. Field Effect Transistors (FETs) are extremely popular for both linear amplification and switching purposes in integrated circuits. However, integrated circuit (IC) FETs have a limited capability to withstand voltage between any two nodes, including gate-source, gate-drain, and drain-source node pairs. Such voltage withstand limitations may particularly impair the usefulness of IC FETs in high power switching circuits, in which inductive voltages may greatly exceed the supply voltage. As a particular example, the transmission output power capability of an RF PA is highly dependent upon the amplitude of the output voltage. One of the difficulties with existing PA technologies is that many otherwise desirably high-speed devices are fabricated using processes that tend to yield FETs having relatively low breakdown voltages. It is very desirable to solve this problem ant thereby provide a wider voltage range while retaining other desirable integrated device features. Such a solution enables integration on monolithic integrated circuits of power and control features that previously required separate processing, such as PA features and RF switch features. Integration of interacting circuits that were previously discrete will enhance yield and predictability, due to the process matching that is inherent in monolithic integration.
Methods and circuits are described herein that facilitate the fabrication of all of the transceiver RF circuits of a dual-band transceiver onto a single integrated circuit, thereby solving the problems and gaining the benefits noted above. Many of the benefits are achieved by integrating even the front-end portions of transceivers that do not necessarily include dual-band operation. One or more alternatives are described for each of numerous subcircuits (or corresponding methods), and a fully integrated RF front end, or an integrated RF transceiver, may be fabricated by using any compatible one of such alternatives for each section of the transceiver. Moreover, several of the subcircuits (or corresponding methods) that permit an integrated RF transceiver to be realized are also useful in other contexts, often independently of other RF transceiver subcircuits. Thus, various subcombinations of features described herein constitute useful inventions in their own right. Combined, various aspects of these subcombinations together achieve an integrated dual-band RF transceiver having all of the benefits noted above. Particularly notable among the independently useful subcircuits are stacked-FET RF switches and particular PA circuit topologies. Finally, the integration of certain RF transceiver subsections permits efficiencies in manufacturing without compromising safety and reliability of the final product.


A method and apparatus for notifying a user device coupled to an integrated services hub (ISH) that a remote device has terminated communication with the user device. A network interface within the ISH receives a disconnect message from the remote device and routes the disconnect message to a CPU. The CPU determines which user device had been in communication with the remote device and sends a call termination notification signal to a user device interface coupled to the appropriate user device. The termination notification signal comprises temporarily placing the user device interface in a disabled state for a predetermined amount of time. After sending the call termination notification signal, the CPU detects whether the user device is still in an off-hook status. If the user device is off hook, the CPU sends another call termination notification signal by again temporarily placing the user device interface in a disabled state.

Traditionally, telephony communications within the United States were handled by the public switched telecommunications network (PSTN). The PSTN can be characterized as a network designed for voice communications, primarily on a circuit-switched basis, with full interconnection among individual networks. The PSTN network is largely analog at the local loop level, digital at the backbone level, and generally provisioned on a wireline, rather than a wireless, basis. The PSTN includes switches that route communications between end users. Circuit switches are the devices that establish connectivity between circuits through an internal switching matrix. Circuit switches set connections between circuits through the establishment of a talk path or transmission path. The connection and the associated bandwidth are provided temporarily, continuously, and exclusively for the duration of the session, or call. While developed to support voice communications, circuit switches can support any form of information transfer (e.g., data and video communications).
In a traditional PSTN environment, circuit switches include central office (CO) exchanges, tandem exchanges, access tandem exchanges, and international gateway facilities. Central offices, also known as exchanges, provide local access services to end users via local loop connections within a relatively small area of geography known as an exchange area. In other words, the CO provides the ability for a subscriber within that neighborhood to connect to another subscriber within that neighborhood. Central offices, also known as end offices, reside at the terminal ends of the network. In other words, COs are the first point of entry into the PSTN and the last point of exit. They are also known as class 5 offices, the lowest class in the switching hierarchy. A class 5 telephone switch communicates with an analog telephone using the analog telephony signals in the well-known analog format. The class 5 telephone switch provides power to the telephone; detects off-hook status of the telephone and provides a dial tone in response; detects dual-tone multi-frequency signals from the caller and initiates a call in the network; plays a ringback tone to the caller when the far-end telephone is ringing; plays a busy tone to the caller when the far-end telephone is busy; provides ring current to the telephone on incoming calls; and provides traditional telephone services such as call waiting, call forwarding, caller ID, etc.
In an effort to increase the amount and speed of information transmitted across networks, the telecommunications industry is shifting toward broadband packet networks which are designed to carry a variety of services such as voice, data, and video. For example, asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) networks have been developed to provide broadband transport and switching capability between local area networks (LANs) and wide area networks (WANs). The Sprint ION network is a broadband network that is capable of delivering a variety of services such as voice, data, and video to an end user at a residential or business location. The Sprint ION network has a wide area IP/ATM or ATM backbone that is connected to a plurality of local loops via multiplexors. Each local loop carries ATM over ADSL (asymmetric digital subscriber line) traffic to a plurality of integrated service hubs (ISHs), which may be at either residential or business locations.
An ISH is a hardware component that links business or residential user devices such as telephones and computers to the broadband, wide area network through a plurality of user interfaces and at least one network interface. A suitable ISH is described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,272,553 entitled "Multi-Services Communications Device," issued on Aug. 7, 2001, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. The network interface typically is a broadband network interface such as ADSL, T1, or HDSL-2. Examples of user interfaces include telephone interfaces such as plain old telephone system (POTS) ports (also referred to as jacks) for connecting telephones, fax machines, modems, and the like to the ISH; computer interfaces such as ethernet ports for connecting computers and local area networks to the ISH; and video ports such as RCA jacks for connecting video players, recorders, monitors, and the like to the ISH.
In providing telephony services over a broadband network, the ISH communicates with a service manager. This connection between the ISH and the network element is typically an ATM connection, which is much different from the traditional analog line to the local switch. ATM connections usually do not support analog telephony signals, such as off-hook, dial tone, and busy signals. Therefore, the ISH must provide many of the telephony functions traditionally provided by the telephone provider central office such as detect off-hook conditions, on-hook connections, and digits as well as provide the telephones with dial tone, ring voltage (sometimes referred to as ring current), ringback, and busy signals. The terms off-hook and off-hook condition as used herein are generic terms meaning that a user device (whether telephone, facsimile machine, modem, etc.) connected to a telephone line is attempting to access and use the line. Another of the traditional telephony functions that it would be useful for the ISH to provide is the capability of notifying a user device that a remote device has terminated its communication with the user device.

Calling party control for an integrated service hub


An electromyography (EMG) device according to an aspect of the present disclosure includes a main circuit board having opposing first and second faces. A plurality of first connectors of a first type are provided on the first face, and a plurality of input contacts are provided on the second face. An EMG circuit is provided on the main circuit board. The EMG circuit is configured to utilize the input contacts as inputs to obtain an EMG input signal, and process the EMG input signal to provide an EMG output signal that is based on, but different from, the EMG input signal. For each of the input contacts, there is no conductive path directly between the input contact and any of the first connectors.

This application relates to electromyography (EMG), and more particularly to an apparatus and method for obtaining and processing EMO signals from action potential voltages.
Electromyography (EMG) refers to evaluating electrical activity produced by skeletal muscles of subjects, such as humans and animals. In particular, EMG measures action potential voltages that neurologically activate muscles. The action potential voltages can be measured from surface electrodes, or intramuscular electrodes that are inserted into a subject's muscle. EMG can be used for therapeutic uses, such as for physical therapy or rehabilitation. EMO has also been used for entertainment, for controlling a video game or other electronic device, for example.


The present invention provides a flash memory device and a method of forming the same. The method includes: forming an isolation layer and a plurality of gate lines on a semiconductor substrate; forming a source/drain region by ion-implanting impurities into the semiconductor substrate using the gate lines as a mask; forming a side oxide layer on sidewalls and surfaces of the gate lines; forming a side nitride layer on the side oxide layer; forming an insulation layer on the semiconductor substrate and the side nitride layer; forming a photosensitive layer pattern on the insulation layer; exposing the source region between the gate lines by etching the insulation layer using the photosensitive layer pattern as a mask; forming a polysilicon layer on the exposed source region and the insulation layer; and forming a source line by etching the polysilicon layer.

(a) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a flash memory device and a method of manufacturing the same.
(b) Description of the Related Art
Generally, a flash memory is devised to combine advantages of both EPROM (erasable programmable read only memory) and EEPROM (electrically erasable PROM), which provides a device enabling electrical data programming and erasing with a low manufacturing cost due to a simple manufacturing process and small chip size. Such a flash memory device is composed of a floating gate, a control gate, and a silicon substrate including an isolation layer, a tunnel oxide, and an insulation layer. In addition, program and erase operations are electrically performed.
Such a flash memory device includes a common source line for connecting a source of each cell. Such a common source is formed by performing an ion-implantation through a SAS (Self Aligned Source) process.
More particularly, the SAS process is performed by the following procedures. Firstly, a gate electrode is formed in a stacking structure including a field oxide layer and an isolation layer, and then a source region of a cell is opened by using an additional SAS mask. Subsequently, the field oxide layer and the isolation layer are removed by an anisotropic etching process so as to form a common source line.
Since a common source line in a flash memory cell using such a SAS process may be formed along a profile of a trench, and contact resistance of a source per cell may be significantly increased. The reason for the significant increase of resistance of the common source line is that since junction resistance is formed along a surface of a trench region, the actual surface resistance extends along the trench profile and the resistivity of the sidewall in the trench increases. That is, in performing the ion-implantation, since a relatively small amount of impurity is ion-implanted on sidewalls of the trench region, resistance of the common source line is significantly increased.
In addition, if an isolation layer is not completely removed, resistance of the common source line may be significantly increased because impurities may be non-uniformly implanted into the trench region.
The above information disclosed in this Background section is only for enhancement of understanding of the background of the invention and therefore it may contain information that does not form the prior art that is already known in this country to a person of ordinary skill in the art.

Flash memory device and a method of manufacturing the same


A memory cell for storing 1-bit data is formed by using at least two memory elements in the OTP type nonvolatile memory using a memory element that have two states and can transit only in one direction. In the OTP type nonvolatile memory using a memory element that has two states of an H state (a first state) and an L (a second state) state (hereinafter simply referred to as H and L) and can electrically transit only in one direction from L to H, a memory cell for storing 1-bit data is formed by using two or more memory elements.

Memories are briefly categorized into volatile memories such as an SRAM (Static Random Access Memory) and a DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory) and nonvolatile memories such as an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory) and a flash EEPROM. A volatile memory has a disadvantage in that data is lost once the power source is turned OFF. On the other hand, a nonvolatile memory in which data is not lost even when the power source is turned OFF, is used for a program for running a system and the like.
In recent years, a nonvolatile memory used for an IC card is attracting attentions. A magnetic card that is presently used can be easily reprogrammed in data, which means it is low in security. Accordingly, an IC card is expected to be used as a medium substituting a magnetic card and to be applied to electronic money or resident cards. In particular, its function regarding the security of data is emphasized in order to avoid forgery and abuse.
Nonvolatile memories using semiconductors are categorized into a rewritable type using a memory element of a floating gate structure, a ferroelectric element, or a memory element that exhibits magneto resistance and phase change, and a non-rewritable type such as a mask ROM. Besides, there is another rewritable type which can be written only once, using a memory element of a floating gate structure and a memory element that exhibits phase change (hereinafter also referred to as an OTP (One-Time Programmable)) (see Patent Document 1).
[Patent Document 1]
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-51196

Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.


A display substrate for a display device includes: a substrate which includes a light blocking region defining a plurality of pixel areas disposed in a matrix, each pixel area having a length extending in a second direction, and a width extending in a first direction; a color filter overlapping a portion of the each pixel area of the plurality of pixel areas; and an alignment layer disposed on the color filter. the color filter includes a first edge parallel to the second direction, and a second edge forming a predetermined angle with the first edge. The second edge is substantially parallel to an alignment direction of the alignment layer.

(a) Field
The invention relates to a display substrate, and a display device including the same.
(b) Description of the Related Art
In general, a display device includes a display panel, and a backlight supplying light to the display panel. The display panel includes a first substrate and a second substrate facing each other, and a light amount controlling layer such as a liquid crystal layer interposed between the two substrates. The display panel transmits the light provided from the backlight thereby displaying an image.
Without the backlight as the light source, a transparent display device displaying an image by using an external light source such as natural light and fluorescent light has been developed. When using a full-cover color filter covering an entire pixel area through which light passes in the transparent display device, transmittance of the light of the transparent display device is deteriorated.
Accordingly, in the transparent display device, the transmittance of the light may be increased by using a partial-cover color filter which partially covers the pixel area.
However, when forming the color filter on a portion of the pixel area, an area of the color filter disposed in each pixel area may not be uniform such that differences may be generated in transmittance and color reproducibility of each pixel area. Also, when forming the color filter on the portion of the pixel area, the color filter may cause a step or height difference based on the color filter, and an alignment force of an alignment layer may be deteriorated at a boundary of the color filter by the step. When the alignment force is deteriorated, light leakage may be undesirably generated. By this light leakage, a contrast ratio of the display device may be deteriorated, and a quality of the display may be deteriorated.

Display substrate and display device including the same


Apparatus of the present invention comprises a control unit controlling comparison of identifying information input by a user with identifying information stored in a storage medium, which also stores authentication information for applications corresponding to the stored identifying information. The apparatus also comprises a set unit setting, as input information for authentication system of one of the applications, the authentication information the storage medium sends to the set unit responsive to a result of the comparison.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to user authentication for allowing use of apparatus, systems and services.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, improvement in the maintenance of networks and lower hardware prices, such as for personal computers and communication apparatuses, have established an environment in which any person can easily transmit or receive electronic mail (hereinafter referred to as E-mail) through the Internet or to read WWW (World Wide Web) information in various places such as houses, companies and outdoor areas.
More particularly, in any company, there is an attempt to quickly and effectively process jobs through an intranet and an extranet by implementing a client/server type job system utilizing networks, in addition to existing host centralized job systems, which mainly consist of a main frame.
As explained above, currently it is possible for anyone to utilize various kinds of electronic systems in houses and companies. However, in these systems, a user is requested, at the time of using a service of a system, to input a characteristic ID and a password so that the system can perform an authentication process for determining whether or not the user has the qualification to receive the service by referencing the characteristic ID and password information input by the user.
Moreover, even an operating system (OS) of a personal computer performs the authentication process utilizing the ID and password to restrict the user or to change settings for various environments.
As explained above, the user must prepare and remember multiple sets of ID and password corresponding to each system to utilize various systems, applications, services, including WWW pages and/or sites (hereinafter, collectively referred to as an application) in houses, outdoor areas and companies.
When a small number of applications are used, the user is capable of memorizing the ID and password, but when the user utilizes a plurality of applications, the user may forget the ID and password.
To avoid the event, in which the user cannot utilize the application because the user has forgotten the ID and password, many users have generally introduced an operation mode which requires the user to write the ID and password on a note pad, including a digital note pad, for the authentication process.
In addition, companies have generally introduced an operation mode in which magnetic cards in which an employee number information is recorded and distributed to employees and the authentication process is executed using such magnetic cards.
As an example of another related art, there is a Japanese Published Unexamined Patent Application No. HEI 7-64911, in which reliability is reinforced and sufficient authentication is assured.
This reference discloses a system having a host computer and a plurality of terminals connected thereto, whereby an IC card or a magnetic card is designed to store a plurality of personal authentication data (identifying information, password, handwriting and finger print or the like). Each terminal is provided with a keyboard and tablet, a magnetic card reader and an IC card reader for inputting the plurality of personal authentication data. Selected personal authentication data are input for the purpose of comparison or authentication.
As explained above, the operation mode in which the ID and password written on the note pad are input during the authentication process creates a problem in that contents of the note pad may be read by another person and the ID and password may be leaked such that the application can be used illegally or by unauthorized users.
Moreover, while the authentication process utilizing the magnetic card has the benefit that manipulation by the user can be done easily because it is only required for the card reader to read the magnetic card, the authentication process may be done even when a person other than the true card holder causes the card reader to read the magnetic card. As a result, security level is rather low and illegal access to the system cannot be prevented.
In addition, the reference HEI 7-64911 provides higher security by utilizing a plurality of personal authentication data, improving security for one application. However, the authentication process disclosed in HEI 7-64911 does not improve the security for more than one application and does not simplify the authentication manipulation by the users.

User authentication apparatus, method of user authentication, and storage medium therefor


A method and apparatus for detecting NO.sub.x by chemiluminescence. The apparatus includes a sample gas line having an inlet port for receiving a sample gas, a NO.sub.x converter connected to the sample gas line, a N.sub.2 diluting gas line connected to the sample gas line upstream from the NO.sub.x converter, a bypass exhaust lie connected to the sample gas line, and a chemiluminescence analyzer connected to the NO.sub.x converter. The sample gas, which contains a NO.sub.x component, is introduced to the sample gas line through an inlet portion. The sample gas is diluted with nitrogen gas from the nitrogen diluting gas line, and the NO.sub.x component in the sample gas is converted to NO by the NO.sub.x converter. The chemiluminescence analyzer detects the NO.sub.x component.

In the chemiluminescence analyzer for measuring exhaust gas from automobiles, dilution is carried out to lower the concentration of CO.sub.2 or H.sub.2 O in the sample gas in a reactor to reduce quenching action caused by these gases.
For the diluting gas, O.sub.2 gas, which is the source gas of the ozone generator, is used, and a mixing point a of the diluting gas is installed, for example, at the downstream side of a NO.sub.x converter c in a sample gas line b, as shown in FIG. 2. In FIG. 2, letter d denotes a sample gas inlet; e, a filter; f, an atmospheric chemiluminescence analyzer; g, a deozonizer (ozone decomposer); h, a flow sensor; i, a sample gas outlet; j, an O.sub.2 gas inlet; k, a diluting gas line; and l, an ozonizer (ozone generator).
As described above, if the diluting gas mixing point a is installed at a location downstream of the NO.sub.x converter c, by-products generated by a same specific component (e.g., high boiling-point hydrocarbons) in the exhaust gas may deposit in the sample gas line b between the mixing point a and the NO.sub.x converter c and clog the piping after the components pass the NO.sub.x converter c.

Gas analyzer and method for detecting NO.sub.x


A a three-dimensional graphic processing apparatus wherein when a basic figure is subjected to Gouraud shading, an error, which occurs when the calculated value of a horizontal scan start point is rounded to an integer value for raster display, is found, and a luminance value and a depth value obtained by horizontal coordinate linear interpolation, can be corrected on the basis of the found error.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a three-dimensional graphic processing apparatus for performing shading on a three-dimensional figure expressed by a plurality of polygons, and in particularly to a three-dimensional graphic processing apparatus having means for correcting a quantization error caused by rounding real values into integer values for display.
2. Description of the Related Art
In the field of conventional three-dimensional graphic processing, a Gouraud shading method is most common as an algorithm for carrying out three-dimensional display with shading. In the Gouraud shading method, a there-dimensional figure to be described is expressed by a polygon (e.g. a very small triangle). The values of three-dimensional coordinates and luminance of all points within the polygon are obtained by linear interpolation on the basis of data relating to the three-dimensional coordinates and luminance at the apices of the polygon. Thus, the figure is provided with smooth shading.
The Gouraud shading is described in detail in the following documents:
1) "COMPUTER GRAPHICS", J. D. Foley, A. Vandam, translated by Imamiya, Japan Computer Association, P. P. 587-596,
2) NIKKEI ELECTRONICS, 1986, vol. 4.7 (No. 392), P. P. 171-194, and
3) Japanese Patent Application No. 61-227980 (a senior application by the same applicant as the present application).
The Gouraud shading will now be described in brief.
Suppose that the polygon is a small triangle as shown in FIG. 1. The values in the three-dimensional coordinates (X-axis, Y-axis, Z-axis) and the value of luminance I at the apices of the triangle are represented by A (X1, Y1, Z1, I1), B (X2, Y2, Z2, I2), C (X3, Y3, Z3, I3). First, the inclination of the values X1, Z1 and I1 on the left side AB and the inclination of the value X2 on the right side AC are obtained.
The inclination .DELTA.X1 of value X1, the inclination .DELTA.Z1 of value Z1, the inclination .DELTA.I1 of value I1 and the inclination .DELTA.X2 of value X2 are given by the following equations: ##EQU1##
Since the figure is a triangle, the inclination .DELTA.Ia of value I and the inclination .DELTA.Za of value Z on a horizontal line (parallel to the Y-axis) have constant values, and are given by ##EQU2##
The inclinations .DELTA.X1, .DELTA.Z1 and .DELTA.I1 on the left side AB are added to the X-axis coordinate X2, Y-axis coordinate Y2, and Z-axis coordinate Z2 at the apex B, thereby finding the coordinates values (Xs, Zs and Is) at the horizontal scan start point. Then, the inclination .DELTA.X2 on the right side AC is added to the X-axis coordinate X2 of the apex B, thereby obtaining the coordinate value Xe at the horizontal scan end point. The inclinations .DELTA.Ia and .DELTA.Za on the horizontal line are added to Is and Zs over the line from Xs to Xe, thus finding values I and Z at each point.
In this manner, the figure is entirely scanned horizontally. All arithmetic operations for the scan are performed in the three-dimensional graphic processing apparatus on the basis of real numbers with a given precision (e.g. double precision). Thus, the coordinates values Xs, Zs and Is on the left side, the coordinate value Xe on the right side, and the inclinations are all represented by real numbers.
Although the arithmetic operations are performed in the three-dimensional graphic processing apparatus on the basis of real values, a final three-dimensional figure is obtained by quantizing and rounding the real values to integer values at an integer-number of lattice points (pixel points) on the display screen of a display (normally, a raster display). Accordingly, as is shown in FIG. 2, a displacement (round-off error) .DELTA.x occurs between a real point and a lattice point for shading. Thus, the luminance I and depth Z at each point for shading have round-off errors .DELTA.x.multidot..DELTA.Ia and .DELTA.x.multidot..DELTA.Za.
When the X-coordinate value Xs at the start point on the left side of the triangle is obtained, 0.5 is added to the initial value (e.g. X2 at point B) for rounding. Finally, a decimal fraction of the initial value is omitted and the value is rounded to an integer value. Then, as is shown in FIG. 3, the real edge of the figure and the internally calculated edge point for rounding are parallel with an error of 0.5. In this case, .DELTA.x<0.5. If the values .DELTA.Ia and .DELTA.Za are very large, the error of each point increases. In the boundary of two figures, a single point may have different calculated values, and the boundary may be displayed in a zigzag fashion.
As has been described above, in the conventional three-dimensional graphic processing apparatus, the arithmetic operations are performed on the basis of real numbers, but the real numbers are rounded for the shading process. Thus, a displacement appears between the real edge of a figure and the point for shading, and an error occurs in calculation results relating to the boundary of two figures. As a result, the boundary is displayed discontinuously.

Three-dimensional graphic processing apparatus


A thermosetting transparent coating material, its preparation and use. The coating includes (meth)acrylate (co)polymer having a number-average molecular weight of from 1,000 to 6,000 daltons, a glass transition temperature of −15 to +70° C., and a hydroxyl number of from 80 to 200 mg KOH/g; polyester having a number-average molecular weight of from 800 to 6,000 daltons, a hydroxyl number of from 80 to 200 mg KOH/g and an acid number of from 1 to 50 mg KOH/g, comprising, based on the polyester, from 30 to 70% by weight of cycloaliphatic structural units; a blocked polyisocyanate in which the blocked polyisocyanate groups are attached to flexibilizing structural units which, as part of a three-dimensional network, lower its glass transition temperature; and blocked polyisocyanate in which the blocked polyisocyanate groups are attached to hardening structural units which, as part of a three-dimensional network, raise its glass transition temperature.

The present invention relates to a new thermosetting transparent coating material. The present invention also relates to a new process for preparing a thermosetting transparent coating material. The present invention additionally relates to the use of the new thermosetting transparent coating material for producing coatings by the coil coating process.
Modern automobiles, especially top-class automobiles, have multicoat color and/or effect paint systems. These systems, as is known, comprise an electrocoat, a surfacer coat, antistonechip primer coat or functional coat, a color and/or effect basecoat, and a clearcoat. The multicoat paint systems are produced by means of what are termed wet-on-wet techniques, in which a clearcoat film is applied to a dried but not yet cured basecoat film and then at least basecoat film and clearcoat film are conjointly thermally cured. This process may also include the production of the electrocoat and of the surfacer, antistonechip primer or functional coat.
The multicoat color and/or effect paint systems are required to have what has been termed automobile quality. According to European Patent EP 0 352 298 B1, page 15, line 42, to page 17, line 14 this means that the multicoat paint systems in question score highly for
(1) gloss,
(2) distinctiveness of image (DOI, i.e., of the reflected image),
(3) hiding power and uniformity thereof,
(4) dry film thickness uniformity,
(5) gasoline resistance,
(6) solvent resistance,
(7) acid resistance,
(8) hardness,
(9) abrasion resistance,
(10) scratch resistance,
(11) impact strength,
(12) intercoat and substrate adhesion, and
(13) weathering and UV stability.
Other important technological properties include
(14) high resistance to condensation,
(15) absence of any propensity toward blushing, and
(16) high stability toward tree resin and bird droppings.
The clearcoats in particular are marked by such essential technological properties as
(1) gloss,
(2) distinctiveness of image (DOI, i.e, of the reflected image),
(5) gasoline resistance,
(6) solvent resistance,
(7) acid resistance,
(8) hardness,
(9) abrasion resistance,
(10) scratch resistance,
(13) weathering and UV stability,
(14) high resistance to condensation,
(15) resistance to blushing and
(16) stability toward tree resin and bird droppings.
The quality of the clearcoats is therefore subject to particularly stringent requirements.
However, particular requirements are also imposed on the technological properties of the clearcoat materials from which these clearcoats are produced. To start with they must provide the clearcoats in the requisite quality without problems and with outstanding reproducibility, and they must be preparable in a simple and outstandingly reproducible way.
The production of multicoat paint systems by the process described above is carried out on the line at the automaker's plant and involves a high level of complexity in terms of environmental considerations, process engineering, and apparatus, representing a significant portion of the production costs.
The automobile industry is therefore at pains to replace bodywork components, such as hood, trunk or doors, by components which are already painted in the vehicle color.
A most essential requirement for such a process, however, is that corresponding coated coils can be produced by means of the coil coating process and, in the painted state, can be brought into the desired form by means of shaping techniques, in particular by deep drawing, by the automaker or by the manufacturer of exterior mounted components.
Coil coating is the term used for a special form of roller coating (Römpp Lexikon Lacke und Druckfarben, Georg Thieme Verlag, Stuttgart, New York, 1998, page 617, "Roller Coating") and also, occasionally, the spray coating and flow coating of metal strips ("coils") with liquid coating materials. It is a continuous process, e.g. all operations such as cleaning, pretreatment, painting, and curing, etc., are conducted in one operation in one installation. Schematically, the steps involved in coil coating are as follows: The cleaning and degreasing of the coil are followed by a multistage chemical pretreatment with subsequent passivation, rinsing, and drying. Cooling is followed by the application of the liquid coating material to one or two sides using two or three rolls, usually by the reverse roller coating technique. After a very short evaporation time, the applied coat is thermally cured at temperatures from 180 to 260° C. for from 20 to 60 s. For the production of a multicoat paint system, application and curing are repeated. The speeds of coil coating lines are up to 250 m/min (Römpp Lexikon Lacke und Druckfarben, Georg Thieme Verlag, Stuttgart, New York, 1998, page 55, "Coil Coating").
The reason why attempts to transfer this inherently advantageous process to the automobile sector have so far essentially failed is that the clearcoat materials employed to date do not have the required automobile quality, even before deformation. In particular it is not possible to reproduce the shades and optical effects the automobile industry requires and the requisite gloss and overall appearance, since the coated coils have roller textures which are visible with the naked eye.
In coil coating processes, moreover, it is common to use clearcoat materials based on polyester binders and melamine resin crosslinking agents. Their good wetting and good leveling give these clearcoat materials good processing properties. Although the coatings produced from them are very flexible and lend themselves very well to deformation, they fail to meet the required automobile quality in terms of chemical resistance and weathering stability.
Clearcoat materials based on (meth)acrylate (co)polymer binders and blocked polyisocyanate crosslinking agents do usually give clearcoats of high automobile quality, particularly as regards gloss, hardness, and chemical resistance. Optimum leveling of the clearcoat materials and optimum weathering stability and distinctiveness of image can be achieved only by means of additives. The clearcoat materials cannot be used in the coil coating process owing to the relatively low flexibility of the clearcoats.
In order to utilize the advantages of the clearcoat materials based on (meth)acrylate (co)polymers and blocked polyisocyanates, and those of the clearcoats produced from them, in the coil coating process as well, German patent application DE 100 59 853 A 1 proposes a clearcoat material comprising    (1) 10 to 70% by weight of a nonaqueous solution of an acrylate-based polymer having a hydroxyl number of between 100 and 250,    (2) 10 to 70% by weight of a nonaqueous solution of a fluorine-modified polymer having a glass transition temperature of between 20 and 40° C., and    (3) 20 to 60% by weight of at least one blocked aliphatic or cycloaliphatic polyisocyanate, andthe weight ratio of components (1) to components (2) being not more than 1 and the sum of components (1), (2), and (3) being 100%, based on the binder content.
This known coating material does give transparent coatings which are of automobile quality in terms of gloss, hardness, flexibility, and chemical resistance. Owing to the comparatively poor wetting and the comparatively poor leveling, however, the known coating material does not have good processing properties. The coatings produced from them have the substantial disadvantage of including considerable amounts of fluorine compounds. Fluorine, however, is known to cause considerable problems in the recycling of old cars, especially when the bodywork is made of aluminum. Moreover, the coatings are difficult to overcoat, which causes considerable problems for automotive refinish. And, not least, the fluorine compounds are comparatively expensive, thus making the coating material and the coatings produced therefrom less attractive from an economic standpoint.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a new thermosetting transparent coating material which no longer has the disadvantages of the prior art but is instead free from organic fluorine compounds, so that the coated substrates produced from it, especially the aluminum-based automobile bodies, can be recycled without problems. The new thermosetting transparent coating material ought also to have particularly good wetting and particularly good leveling and therefore to have particularly good processing properties. In addition it should be able to be prepared using comparatively inexpensive constituents, so that it is advantageous from the standpoint not only of technology but also of economics.
The new thermosetting transparent coating material should be simple to prepare and lend itself advantageously to use in the coil coating process, to give transparent, in particular clear, coatings on coils, possessing the automobile quality, particularly in respect of gloss, surface smoothness, distinctiveness of image, hardness, weathering stability, and chemical resistance.
The new transparent, in particular clear, coatings ought also to have very good overcoatability, so that they can be refinished to very good effect.
After their processing by shaping, the precoated coils ought to continue to have the automobile quality, so that the coated shaped parts, as exterior mounted components, can be installed in correspondingly coated, larger units, especially correspondingly coated automobile bodies, without deleterious manifestation of a visual difference, particularly in the region of edges which abut one another.

Thermally hardening, transparent coating substance, method for the production thereof and its use


Actuator apparatus and related methods for use with vehicle locks are disclosed. A disclosed locking system for a vehicle includes a movable component of the vehicle and a lock operatively coupled to the movable component. The locking system also includes an actuator assembly. The actuator assembly includes a housing coupled to a vehicle body, an actuator supported by the housing, and a linkage mechanism connecting the actuator to the lock. The locking system also includes an input device supported by the housing. Activation of the input device causes the actuator to change a state of the lock.

Vehicles typically employ locking systems to facilitate control of movable vehicle components such as, gates, doors, etc. These locking systems may include a controllable lock (e.g., a gate lock, a door lock, etc.) operatively coupled to such a movable component of a vehicle. The lock is configured to temporally prevent movement of the component or lock the component in place until a user interacts with the locking system. Such locking systems improve vehicle safety by allowing a user to selectively secure and unsecure movable components of a vehicle.

TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC.