A diagnostic tool and method are provided that can determine the communication protocol being used by diagnostic systems in a vehicle. The tool can automatically communicate with onboard computer of the diagnostic system in a first communication protocol and if unsuccessful, then can communicate with the diagnostic system in a second communication protocol. The tool can also determine the Baud rate of the communication protocol being used by the onboard computer.

Modern vehicles typically have one or more diagnostic systems, generally having separate computer control modules to control various functions of the vehicle. Some examples include powertrain control module (PCM), engine control module (ECM), a transmission control module (TCM), Anti-locking brake system (ABS), and an air bag control module. The vehicle diagnostic systems often have self-diagnostic capability to detect and alert the driver of problems the vehicle may be encountering. When a problem is found, a diagnostic trouble code or DTC, is set within the computer's memory. DTCs are as general or as specific as the manufacturer desires.
To retrieve and decipher DTCs, an auto repair technician needs a diagnostic tool. The diagnostic tool must, therefore, be connected to the vehicle's computer bus system to access and retrieve the DTCs. Scan tools are testing devices that interface with vehicle diagnostic systems to retrieve information from the various control modules. The scan tools are equipped to communicate in various communication protocols such as Controller Area Network (CAN), J1850 VPM and PWM, ISO 9141, Keyword 2000 and others. These communications protocols may be specific to the various automobile manufacturers. The scan tool will help the technician to diagnose and repair the vehicle based on the information the tool retrieves from it.
In some instances, manufacturers configure their onboard computers with proprietary protocols where a specialized diagnostic tool is required to communicate with that vehicle. Also, within a manufacturer's fleet of vehicles, certain models may use one communication protocol, while other models may use another communication protocol. Even within a given vehicle, modules may use different communication protocols. This further complicates matters and requires diagnostic tools capable of communicating with various modules and models. One such example is Volvo, who uses different protocols for different models and modules.
Accordingly, it is desirable to provide a method and apparatus that allows a diagnostic tool to successfully communicate with a Volvo vehicle, regardless of the protocol the particular Volvo model uses.

Automatically identifying volvo communication protocols method and apparatus


A combination dispenser and personal care tool device is in the form of a rigid container for a bathroom item. A retainer or holder is mounted to the container which receives a personal care tool. In a preferred practice of the invention the container is a toothpaste dispenser and the personal care tool is a toothbrush. In a further aspect of the invention the dispenser includes indicia for indicating the contents level in the dispenser.

There is often limited space in the bathroom, particularly on the counter/sink top. Clutter frequently results from including various personal care types of containers, such as toothpaste dispensers, mouthwash bottles, cups, glasses, hand cream/soap dispensers, shaving cream cans, tissue dispensers, soap dishes and even decorative items such as flower vases. In addition to such containers the bathroom area frequently includes tools or instruments which are used for applying or otherwise treating various parts of the user's body such as toothbrushes, razors, soap, nail files, combs, cotton swabs and other personal care tools.
It would also be desirable if a bathroom type dispenser, such as a toothpaste dispenser, could be provided with some manner of readily indicating when the contents of the dispenser have been completely used or is almost completely used to alert the user that it is time to replace the dispenser.

Combination toothpaste dispenser and toothbrush holder


The use, for the manufacture of paper coating colors, of a copolymer water-soluble in a neutral or alkaline medium as an agent for simultaneously adjusting the water retention of the coating colors and the Brookfield viscosity of the said coating colors; a water-retention agent comprising the copolymer; and coating colors and the coated paper and cardboard thus obtained.

It is known that, in the techniques of coating sheets of paper, cardboard or the like, there is deposited on the support surface or surfaces a coating composition which can contain one or more mineral fillers, one or more binders and various additives.
Amongst these additives are water-retention agents, not to be confused with agents for the retention of fines or filler on the wire during the manufacture of the paper.
A composition for coating paper generally consists of a filler, which can be one or more pigments, one or more polymer binders and various additives such as in particular a lubricant such as a calcium stearate, a wax or a fatty acid ester, and possibly antifoaming agents and the like, well-known to persons skilled in the art.
After deposition on the support, the coating color has a natural tendency to transfer into the support all or part of the water and the water-soluble parts which it contains. It is necessary to control excessively rapid migration, which would impair the physical and optical characteristics of the coating.
It is therefore sought to retain the water in the coating composition or coating color. Thus this water retention must be controlled, in order to prevent changes in the rheology of the unused coating color recycled in the coating process.
Use is habitually made, as a water-retention agent, of natural or synthetic agents such as carboxymethylcellulose (CMC), starch, polyvinyl alcohols (PVAs) or certain latexes or emulsions of polymers with a high carboxyl content or polycarboxylates, for example of the polyacrylate type. Such substances are described, for example, in the patent EP 0 509 878.
A particular class of retention agent is known as alkali swellable polymers, and is described in the aforementioned patent, and as prior art in U.S. Pat. No. 4,780,500, which describes water-retention agents consisting mainly of acrylic acid monomer and secondarily itaconic acid monomer, with a molecular weight of 100,000 to 800,000.
It is also known that known products of the PVA or CMC type have limited use because of the high viscosities which they develop in the coating colors in parallel to their efficacy with respect to water-retention.
Thus such additives pose the following problems:                the need for compatibility with the other ingredients in the coating color, such as the pigments such as carbonates, kaolin and the like, or binders such as latexes of the SBR type (styrene-butadiene-rubber latex), and other ingredients well know to persons skilled in the art;        increase in the viscosity up to values which are not optimal for the preparation and use of the coating color;        risk of affecting machinability;        risk of affecting the properties of the coating color or properties of the manufactured coated paper, such as a good gloss;        coating splashes;        the formation of dribbles during the deposition which may go as far as the presence of scratches on the coated paper, also referred to as the phenomenon of "bleading".
The problem posed by the current inadequacies of the technology in this regard is therefore managing to reconcile often contradictory requirements, such as in particular the need for excellent water-retention in the coating color, which, according to current knowledge, can be obtained only by the addition of additives increasing the viscosity of the coating color but which may pose problems of machinability and also problems because, by hypothesis, the viscosity of the coating color becomes too high compared with the optimum value which would be desirable.
The invention relates in particular to agents aimed at obtaining the above properties.
It has been sought in the prior art to resolve this problem in various ways, particularly in the following documents, which can be classified in several categories.
It has notably been sought in the prior art to produce agents consisting of non water-soluble copolymers, such as for example in the German patent document DD 231 819, which concerns to binders adapted to coating colors and which procure effects which are unfavourable to the rheological properties.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,474,919 also describes non water-soluble agents of the latex type containing styrene and for example acrylic acid.
Likewise, the patent FR 2 675 165 relates to a composition for the coating of paper with an alkaline pH comprising a mixture of two insoluble latexes with special granulometries, these granulometries forming the essential teachings of this patent, and a mineral pigment, also clearly specified, aimed at improving water retention and machinability, with a "suitable" viscosity. It should be noted that the granulometry is also the main teaching of the patent FR 2 740 456.
Likewise, the document JP 58-054096 is known, which describes agents which, according to the proportions of their components, are latexes.
The patent JP-56101996 can also be cited, which, relating to a mixture of a styrene and maleic acid semi-ester copolymer and a terpolymer of styrene, acrylic acid and acrylic ester, says nothing about the simultaneous control of the viscosity and water retention of the coating color.
The same analysis applies to the patent JP-56101995.
Likewise, the patent DD 151 463 describes a viscosity regulating latex which is of the conventional binder type and relates only to the improvement in the viscosity and not the water retention.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,650,458 also describes compositions based on mixtures of styrene polymer and possibly acrylic acid, butyl-benzyl phthalate, butadiene-styrene latex, and a styrene and acrylic acid copolymer. This document relates only to the water retention and the quality of the final paper.
Equally, the patent JP-55018423 describes an acrylic acid copolymer and other monomers such as styrene in order to produce a simple dispersant which improves only the flow characteristics of the coating color.
Thus styrene and (meth)acrylic monomers are naturally monomers known in general terms in the field of coating colors for paper, and also in many other fields such as dispersants, agents for paint, etc.
As can be seen from a reading of the above analysis, the prior art does not particularly direct persons skilled in the art towards a choice of comonomers for resolving the problems the solution of which the invention relates to.
On the contrary, the prior art shows that many comonomers are used for different or very specific purposes, such as the viscosity properties, or water retention, or as dispersants, or as conventional binders, or co-binders etc, and for preparing both water-soluble and insoluble copolymers.


A sliding bearing which is suitable for and durable in the use under high load of sliding in rocking motion, and the structure of bearing is not complicated so as to facilitate the manufacturing. The alloy used for making the bearing is composed of iron-based sintered alloy having quenched structure, and the bearing surface is provided with inclined grooves of an inclination angle of 10 to 40° relative to the direction perpendicular to the sliding direction and a width of 2 to 8 mm and the area of inclined grooves is 50% or less of the total inner bearing surface and an imaginary line perpendicular to the sliding direction crosses both the inclined groove and the bearing surface at any position of the inner surface of bearing. When the bearing is used, at least the inclined grooves are impregnated with a lubricant.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to sliding bearings that are used for large-sized apparatus such as construction machinery, in which shafts and bearing members are applied with large force of sliding of rocking motion under high surface pressure.
2. Prior Art
The conventional sliding bearing in a relatively large-sized cylindrical shape has been manufactured through powder metallurgy owing to its advantages in production cost and yield. The relatively large-sized sliding bearings used for construction machinery are composed of porous iron sintered alloy of quenched structure containing dispersion of soft copper particles and they are subjected to high surface-pressure with receiving rocking motion at a low speed. (Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. H10-246230). The fine pores of sintered alloy are impregnated with high viscosity lubricating oil, grease or wax or their mixture suitable for the applied surface pressure, or the lubricant is further mixed with a solid lubricant and/or an extreme pressure additive.
As a measure to improve the durability of sliding bearing for construction machinery, it has been proposed that a plurality of parallel rows of ridges of 2 to 12.5 μm in height are formed in the inner circumferential surface along the direction of axis and the area of fine pore openings in the inner surface is reduced by compacting the inner surface portion, thereby improving the durability by supplying sliding portion with lubricant oil with retaining it within the rows of ridges. (Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2003-222133). Furthermore, it is proposed that X-shaped oil grooves are formed in the inner surface in order to prevent the bearing surface from abnormal abrasion by facilitating the supply of lubricant to the sliding surface. (Japanese Utility Model Publication No. H8-2494).
The bearing which is composed of a porous iron sintered alloy of quenched structure containing dispersion of soft copper particles and is impregnated with lubricant such as wax, surpasses in wear resistance to a certain extent. However, bearings having more excellent wear resistance are demanded in the field of relevant industry. If oil grooves are formed in inner surface, lubricant oil can be supplied easily to sliding surface to improve the wear resistance, however, when the depth of grooves (height of ridges) is only several micrometers, the rows of ridges are liable to be worn off and the supply of lubricant becomes worse. In the case of the formation of X-shaped grooves, the manufacturing of bearings is somewhat difficult because the grooves must be formed through cutting process.


Disclose are a reaction container and a vacuum heat treatment apparatus. A method of preparing a reaction container comprises preparing a graphite mixture by mixing first and second graphite powders having particle sizes different from each other, preparing a graphite molded body by pressing the graphite mixture, and processing the graphite molded body. The density of the graphite molded body is in a range of 1.8 g/cm3 to 2.1 g/cm3. A method of preparing a reaction container comprises preparing a graphite molded body by pressing graphite powders, and processing the graphite molded body to prepare the reaction container. A carbon source is impregnated into the graphite molded body or the reaction container, and density of the reaction container is in a range of 1.8 g/cm3 to 2.1 g/cm3.

A vacuum heat treatment apparatus, which heat-treats a source material put in a crucible to form a desirable material, performs the heat treatment in a vacuum state to prevent surrounding contamination. According to the vacuum heat treatment apparatus, an adiabatic member is placed in a chamber maintained in the vacuum state, and a heater is placed in the adiabatic member, thereby heating the source material.
However, the material (reaction product), which is produced in the middle of the reaction due to the reaction between the crucible and the source material, may stick to the inner wall of the crucible. Since the reaction product is different from the material of the crucible, the thermal stress is applied to the crucible due to the thermal expansion coefficient difference between the above heterogeneous materials. In the worst case, the crucible may be broken due to the thermal stress in the middle of the reaction. Therefore, the cost for the replacement of the crucible is excessively increased, so that the productivity may be lowered.
According to the related art, a buffer part is provided in the reaction container so that the reaction product is prevented from being deposited on the inner part of the crucible. Accordingly, the crucible can be prevented from being cracked and damaged due to the thermal expansion difference between the deposited reactant or the deposited product and the crucible.
In addition, according to the related art, the shape of the reaction container is modified, thereby preventing the crucible from being broken and cracked due to the deposition of the reaction product into the crucible. In other words, the thermal expansion difference between the crucible and the reaction product can be compensated by modifying the shape of the reaction container.
However, even though the above scheme is employed, if the reaction product is excessively deposited into the crucible, the crucible may be cracked and broken. In other words, since the thermal expansion coefficient between the heterogeneous materials of the reaction product and the crucible is significantly made, the above schemes have the limitation in preventing the stress applied to the crucible due to the thermal expansion coefficient between the heterogeneous materials.
Therefore, there are required a scheme capable of preventing the crucible from being cracked or broken due to the stress resulting from the thermal expansion difference between the reaction product and the crucible without the modification of the shape or the structure of the crucible.

Reaction container and vacuum heat treatment apparatus having the same


A fuel injector for an internal combustion engine, particularly of inwards or outwards opening needle injector type, includes an injector body, e.g., forming a nozzle ending in an injection office, a mechanism for closing off the injection orifice of the injector body, the closing-off mechanism including a vibrating pintle ending in a head for closing off the injection orifice, a return mechanism returning the closing-off to the position in which they close off the injection orifice, and a mechanism for setting the pintle and/or the nozzle into cyclic longitudinal vibration so as to open and close the injection orifice alternately. The fuel injector includes a selectively activatable mechanism immobilizing the pintle with respect to the body.

The present invention relates to a fuel injector for an internal combustion engine, in particular a diesel engine, intended in particular to be used in a motor vehicle.
A conventional internal combustion engine comprises at least one cylinder in which a piston slides between two maximum positions. The piston defines with the cylinder and a cylinder head a combustion chamber. In such an internal combustion engine, the purpose of an injector is to supply finely atomized fuel to the combustion chamber of the internal combustion engine.
From the patent FR 2,801,346 on behalf of the applicant, there is known, for example, an injection device for an internal combustion engine comprising a fuel injector 10 such as illustrated in FIG. 6.
This injector 10 comprises a body 12 including a transducer 14 which can generate vibrations in a longitudinal mode at ultrasonic frequencies. The transducer 14 terminates in the lower portion in a nozzle 16 in which the vibrations coming from the transducer 14 are amplified.
The assembly of the transducer 14 has a first inner cavity 18. The first inner cavity 18 is intended to be filled with pressurized fuel. To do this, the first cavity 18 is connected to a fuel supply hole 20 which can be connected to a pressurized fuel supply circuit (not illustrated). The first cavity 18 emerges at the lower end 22 of the nozzle 16, also called the stem of the injector, through an injection hole.
The injector 10 also includes a pin 24, or needle, lying mainly along the axis y-y′. The pin 24 is installed such that it can move axially inside the nozzle 16. The lower end of the needle 24 has a valve head 26 lying outside the nozzle 16. This valve head 26 is designed to come into contact with the inner surface of the nozzle 16 defining the injection hole of the nozzle 16 so as to close the fuel injection hole.
The other end of the pin is provided with a weight 28 connected elastically by a spring 30 to the body 12 of the injector 10. The system 32 composed of the weight 28 and the spring 30 is installed in a second cavity 34 formed in the rear portion of the body 12 of the injector 10.
The pin 24 and spring 30 assembly, which is elastic, exerts an appropriate elastic return force pressing the valve head 26 of the pin 24 on the area of the nozzle 16 surrounding the injection hole. The applied preloading provides on the one hand the sealing of the injection hole made at the end of the nozzle 16 when the injector 10 is supplied with fuel at a given pressure and on the other hand the adjustment for any wear in the area of contact of the valve head 26 of the pin 24 with the nozzle 16.
The weight 28 is fixed, for example, by screwing to the pin 24 so as to create a mechanical impedance break at the interface between the pin 24 and the weight 28.
The value of the weight 28 and the stiffness of the spring 30 are selected to form a system having a very long response time compared with the excitation times of the transducer 14.
The transducer 14 includes an area composed of a stack 36 of active piezoelectric or magnetostrictive components, which, respectively due to the application of an electric or magnetic field, change in thickness.
This stack 36 is clamped between two other elements 37a, 37b composed of an elastic material. The connection between the active components is provided by preloading means such as a nut 38. The stack of several active components adds together the changes in thickness generated by each of the active components, the change in thickness resulting from the total movement of the stack of the active components remaining below the limit of elastic deformation of the preloading means.
Due to the application of an electric voltage to the active piezoelectric elements, these elements deform and produce an elastic deformation which is transmitted to the lower end of the nozzle 16.
Preferably, the assembly 40 composed of the transducer 14 and the nozzle 16 is dimensioned to resonate at the excitation frequency of the active components to amplify the longitudinal movements right to the lower end 22 of the nozzle 16. The pin 24, initially closing the injection hole by means of its valve head 26, deforms due to the pulse which is supplied to it when the nozzle 16 starts to oscillate. This deformation spreads elastically along the whole length of the pin 24 and is reflected at the interface 42 between the pin 24 and the weight 28.
The characteristic responses of the pin 24 on the one hand and the nozzle 16 on the other hand make the end of the pin 24 and the opening oscillate with phase and amplitude variation. This variation results in the opening of an annular slit between the pin 24 and the end 22 of the nozzle 16, the width of the slit depending on the phase difference and the relative difference in amplitude between the oscillation of the end 22 of the nozzle 16 and the oscillation of the valve head 26 of the pin 24.
The minimum opening time of the injector 10 is of the same order as the excitation period applied to the transducer, which excitation can take place at several tens of kilohertz, typically 50 kHz, which authorizes a minimum opening time of the order of 20 μs. This makes it possible to deliver quantities of fuel of the order of one microliter during a small period of time.
The body 12 of the injector 10 is intended to be fixed to the upper end of the cylinder head of the engine by means which are not illustrated.
Although the injector 10 has indirect means of setting the pin in longitudinal vibration, also known are injectors comprising direct means of setting the pin in cyclic vibration. In particular, an injector is known comprising a stack of piezoelectric ceramics or a magnetostrictive bar mounted directly in the body of the pin and which excites the pin so as to produce elastic deformations of the pin.
In the two types of excitation, direct or indirect, of the pin of the injector, the pin is embedded at one end in a weight. The function of this weight is to create an impedance break so that the deformation waves being propagated in the pin are reflected at the boundary between the pin and the weight.
Moreover, while the injector 10 is of the outward-opening valve type, injectors of the inward-opening valve type are also known. In the case of an injector of the inward-opening valve type, the pin is pressed, at rest, on the inner face of the lower end of the nozzle due to the action of a spring. The spring is mounted in the second cavity. The closing of the injection hole is thus obtained. When the body of the injector is excited, the pin is set in longitudinal vibration. The end of the pin then oscillates between its position for closing the injection hole and a position for opening this injection hole.
It should be noted that, depending on the type of the injector, the spring exerts, on the pin, either a tensile force (in the case of an injector of the outward-opening valve type) or a compressive force (in the case of an injector of the inward-opening valve type).
However, the dimensions of the injector are fixed by the space available on the engine and in the immediate area around the engine. Thus, the volume of the injector being fixed, the space occupied by the weight+spring system providing a large enough impedance break and a satisfactory sealing force at the injection hole may correspond to a spring with a stiffness such that the weight+spring system has a resonance frequency lying in the excitation range fixed by the vibrations of the engine. An excitation of the weight+spring assembly at its resonance frequency causes the injector to open randomly.
A known solution to this problem consists in adding damping means to the weight+spring system. However, this solution only partially solves the problem of the resonance of the weight+spring system, such an arrangement only reducing the amplitude of the oscillations of the weight+spring system excited at its resonance frequency.
It is also known to fix, to the body of the injector, the weight in which the needle is embedded. However, such a solution has the disadvantage that, because of the heating of the injector and therefore the expansion of the body of the injector and the needle, uncontrolled axial forces occur in the needle. These axial forces disturb the cyclic deformation of the needle and therefore the injection by the injector.

Fuel injector for an internal combustion engine


A differential charge pump circuit has two current paths and generates a differential current in accordance with currents inputted to the two current paths. The two current paths have a pair of current sources respectively and form a differential pair. The differential charge pump circuit has controlling means for detecting an output potential difference between the two current paths and controlling current values of the current sources in accordance with the output potential difference.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an differential charge pump circuit, and more particularly, to an differential charge pump circuit with a current drive property of not depending on the output potential difference.
2. Background Art
Conventional differential charge pump circuits are structured as shown in FIG. 7. That is, along with connecting a first current path 1 including current sources 11 and 12 and a second current path 2 including current sources 21 and 22 between a power source VDD and a ground GND, a differential pair 3 is formed; and a DOWN signal circuit 5 and an UP signal circuit 7, which are connected to a constant current source 4, are connected to a positive node 6 of the first current path 1 and to a negative node 8 of the second current path 2 respectively.
In a structure as mentioned above, the UP/DOWN signals are converted to current signals and passed on to the differential pair 3; by extracting the current from the two current paths 1 and 2, the current which flows through one of the two current paths is changed relatively to the other current path and a differential current is generated; and conversion from voltage signals to current signals is carried out. In the case where the electric potentials of the positive node 6 of the first current path and the electric potential of the negative node 8 of the second current path are not equal during operation, the drain voltages of the transistor (graphic representation not given) which comprise the current sources 11 and 12 become different from each other, and an imbalance between the currents of the current sources 11 and 12, which are the opposite current sources in the first and second current paths 1 and 2, occurs.
The imbalance in the current is caused by the dependence of the current characteristics of the saturated area of the MOS transistor on the drain current. The relation between the drain current ID of the transistor, the gate voltage VGS, the drain voltage VDS, and the threshold voltage VTH may be explained by the undermentioned equation (for example, refer to David Johns & Ken Martin, "Analog Integrated Circuit Design", published 1997 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.):ID=KO(VGS−VTH)2[1+λ(VDS−(VGS−VTH))]
That is, since the drain current value has the characteristic of depending on the drain voltage, to explain referring to FIG. 8 which shows the detailed structure of each of the current sources in FIG. 7, in the case where there is a difference between the electric potentials of the output nodes 6 and 8 of the differential pair 3, the current values of the current sources 11 and 12, and the current sources 12 and 22, which are the opposite current sources in the first and second current paths 1 and 2, become respectively different. In the drawing, the broad arrows indicate that the current is large; and the thin arrows indicate that the current is small.
If the electric potential of the positive node 6 is higher than the electric potential of the negative node 8, between the NMOS current sources 12 and 22, current flows more through the first current path 1 of the positive node 6 (to which the positive node 6 belongs).
In this drawing, the constant-current property is improved by forming the two MOS transistors of both the PMOS side and the NMOS side in a cascode configuration; however, actually, a certain amount of electric potential difference remains between the nodes X and Y, and between the nodes Z and W. In the case where the cascode configuration is not employed, it may be considered that the electric potential differences would become even larger.
On the other hand, as for the PMOS current sources 11 and 21, since the electric potential difference between the drain and the source is larger in the second current path 2 of the negative node 8 (to which the negative node 8 belongs) than in the first current path 1, current flows more in the current source of the second current path 2. Accordingly, taking both the NMOS and the PMOS into consideration, more current flows through the positive node 6 towards the GND (i.e., the NMOS current source 12 carries more current), and more current flows through the negative node 8 towards the VDD (i.e., the PMOS current source 21 carries more current). As a result of this, in the case where there is a difference in the output potentials of the differential pair 3, the charge pump characteristics depend largely on the electric potential difference.
As a result of this, for example, in a case where the above-mentioned differential charge pump circuit is applied to a charge pump circuit of a PLL circuit, the phase comparison characteristic changes according to the output potential difference of the charge pump circuit.
Generally, the phase comparator of a PLL circuit transmits a pulse signal according to the phase difference between the reference clock (or the data) and the feedback clock to the charge pump circuit; and the charge pump circuit outputs a current value according to the pulse signal thereof. Ideally, the phase difference and the current amount flowing through the charge pump circuit should correspond one-to-one regardless of the output potential of the charge pump circuit.
FIG. 9 is a graph showing the result from circuit-simulating the phase comparison characteristic of the PLL circuit when the output potential difference of the differential charge pump circuit is varied. The horizontal axis represents the phase difference between the reference clock (or the data) and the feedback clock expressed by time; and the vertical axis shows the average value of the current flowing through the charge pump circuit in each of the phases. When the average current of the charge pump circuit is zero, the PLL circuit becomes locked. Accordingly, the phase difference at that time shows the phase error (i.e., the offset of the reference clock (or the data) and of the feedback clock) when the PLL circuit is locked.
Since the current value of the constant current source of the conventional differential charge pump circuit differs depending on the output potential difference of the charge pump as mentioned above, the phase error at a locked time when the output potential difference of the charge pump circuit is varied changes according to the output potential difference of the charge pump circuit. In the simulation shown in FIG. 9, at the variation of ±0.1 V of the output potential difference (electric potential of positive node minus electric potential of negative node), the phase error change is about 5 ps.
Since the conventional differential charge pump circuit is structured as mentioned above, the precision of the phase adjustment of the PLL circuit deteriorates due to the phase error change shown in the simulation in FIG. 9, and this creates a great problem in the high-speed interface DLL (Delay-Locked-Loop: phase adjustment loop) circuit, or a CDR (Clock and Data Recovery) circuit, which necessitate high-precision phase adjustment.


A method, computer program, and computer system are disclosed for indexing database table rows. A first set of one or more columns of the database table is chosen. A second set of one or more columns of the database table is chosen. An index record is generated for each unique result of applying a second function to a value corresponding to the second set for the database table rows. In each index record, only a single copy of each unique result of applying a first function to a value corresponding to the first set for the database table rows having the result of applying the second function to a value corresponding to the second set for that index record is included. The first set is not identical to the second set. At least two rows of the database table rows have the same result of applying the second function to a value corresponding to the second set and have the same result of applying the first function to the value corresponding to the first set.

Database systems typically include tables, each of which includes rows, which are frequently divided into fields (or columns). Through queries, database users often request information stored in a table based on those rows having one or more particular values in a particular field. Data structures that assist in identifying or locating the rows that match the query requirements can decrease the time and system resources necessary to generate the correct query response.


A system for producing and displaying spatially-multiplexed images of three-dimensional imagery for use in stereoscopic viewing thereof substantially free of visual-channel cross-talk and stereoscopic asymmetric distortion. The system includes a display device for displaying micropolarized spatially-multiplexed images using a phase-retarding micropolarization structure. The micropolarization structure has phase-retarding characteristics which introduce phase-retardation error to light associated with the micropolarized spatially-multiplexed image at a particular wavelengths in the visible band, and create visual-channel cross-talk. The system also includes a viewing device for viewing the micropolarized spatially-multiplexed images using a phase-retarding polarizer having phase-retarding characteristics which substantially eliminate the phase-retardation error introduced by micropolarization structure during image display, and thus the visual-channel cross-talk and stereoscopic asymmetric distortion.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for producing and displaying spatially-multiplexed composite images of three-dimensional imagery for use in stereoscopic viewing thereof substantially free of visual-channel cross-talk, stereoscopic asymmetric distortion, and color-intensity distortion.
2. Brief Description of the Prior Art
The use of stereoscopic imaging in modern times has gained increasing popularity. The reason for this trend in technological innovation is quite clear. At birth, each human being is endowed with the power of stereoscopic vision, and it is this power alone that enables human beings to view the world and all its inhabitants in three dimensions with full depth perception.
Presently, there exist a number of known techniques for recording and displaying stereoscopic images of three dimensional (3-D) objects and scenery, whether of real or synthetic nature. In the art of stereoscopic video imaging, in particular, two principally different techniques are presently being used to record and display stereoscopic images. The first technique is commonly referred to as "time-multiplexed" or field-sequential" stereo video, whereas the second technique is commonly referred to as "spatially multiplexed" stereo video.
In general, each of these stereo-imaging techniques involve image recording (i.e. generation) and image display processes. During the image generation process, left and right perspective images (or sequences of perspective images) of 3-D scenery are produced and subsequently recorded on a suitable recording medium. Preferably, the recorded left and right perspective images are produced (e.g. recorded, synthesized or otherwise captured) as if actually viewed with the inter-pupil distance of a human observer, or a stereoscopic camera with a desired viewing perspective. Then, during the image display process, the visible light associated with the left and right perspective images is visually presented to the left and right eyes of viewers, respectively, while minimizing the amount of visible light from the left and right perspective images that impinge upon the right and left eyes of the viewer, respectively. Failure to satisfy this condition during the display process results in the production of "visual-channel cross-talk," a phenomena which degrades 3-D depth perception and causes unbearable eye and brain fatigue during viewing. Inasmuch as the left and right perspective images of the 3-D scenery are viewed substantially by the left and right eyes of the viewer, respectively, a stereoscopic image of the 3-D scenery is perceived, complete with full spatial and depth information of the actual 3-D scenery, whether of real or synthetic nature.
The differences between the two above-described techniques reside primarily in the manner in which left and right perspective images are "channeled" to the left and right eyes of the viewer in order to preserve stereoscopy. These techniques will be briefly described below.
In 3-D video display systems based upon "time-multiplexing" principles, the left and right perspective images of 3-D scenery are displayed to viewers during different display periods (i.e. left and right perspective image display periods). To ensure that only left perspective images of the 3-D scenery are presented to the left eyes of viewers, the right eye of each viewer is not allowed to view the pixels of the left perspective image during the left perspective image display period.
Similarly, to ensure that only right perspective images of the 3-D scenery are presented to the right eyes of viewers, the left eye of each viewer is not allowed to view the pixels of the right perspective image during the right perspective image display period. In the contemporary period, this perspective image "blocking" or selective viewing process is achieved using a pair of liquid crystal light valves(LCLV) as the lenses in special eye wear (e.g. goggles ) worn by each viewer using a 3-D image viewing system based on such principles. Typically, a controller is required in order to drive the left LCLV lens during each left perspective image display period, and drive the right LCLV lens during each right perspective image display period.
In 3-D video display systems based upon "spatial-multiplexing" principles, left and right perspective images of 3-D scenery are spatially filtered using complementary filtering functions and thereafter the spatially-filtered perspectives images are combined during the image generation process to produce a composite spatially multiplexed image (SMI). Then during the image display process, the visible light associated with the left and right perspective image components of the composite image are simultaneously displayed, but with spatially different "polarizations" imparted thereto using a micropolarization panel of the type described in Applicant's U.S. Pat. No. 5,327,285, and copending application Ser. No. 08/126,077, both incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. To ensure that only left perspective images of the 3-D scenery are presented to the left eyes of viewers, the right eye of each viewer must not be allowed to view the pixels of left perspective images. Similarly, to ensure that only the right perspective images of the 3-D scenery are presented to the right eyes of viewers, the left eye of each viewer must not be allowed to view the pixels of right perspective images. Typically, this perspective image "blocking" or selective viewing process is achieved using a pair of inexpensive, spatially different polarizing lenses mounted in eye wear (e.g. spectacles) worn by each viewer using the 3-D video display system based on such principles of operation.
While each of these above-described 3-D image display techniques may be used to display 3-D color or gray-scale images, systems based on such techniques are not without shortcomings and drawbacks.
In particular, 3-D image display systems based upon "time-multiplexing" principles are notoriously plagued by "image flicker" problems. While 3-D video display systems based upon "spatial-multiplexing"principles are inherently free from the "image flicker" problem associated with time-multiplexed 3-D display systems, spatial-multiplexing 3-D display systems require the use of carefully constructed "micropolarization panels" mounted onto display surfaces (e.g. flat LCD panels, LCD projectors, etc.) from which the polarized light of spatially-multiplexed images emanates towards the eyes of the viewers.
While U.S. Pat. No. 5,327,285 and application Ser. No. 08/126,077 teach how to make and use SMI display systems capable of stereoscopic viewing of 3-D objects with image quality and resolution, Applicant hereof has discovered that when using phase-retarding micropolarization panels (i.e. micro-retardation arrays) as taught therein, a small yet significant amount of visual-channel cross-talk is inherently produced during the stereoscopic viewing process. The source of such visual channel cross-talk has been traced to the phase-retarding pattern(s) embodied within the micropolarization panel of such SMI display system. The phase retardation required to achieve either the P1 or P2 polarization state at each pixel location along the micropolarization panel is a strong function of wavelength of the illuminating backlight which, for example, in color LCD panels, varies significantly over each pixel location due to the RGB subpixel filters employed therein. Thus, when using phase-retarding micropolarization panels in prior art SMI display systems, it has been impossible to impart only a P2 polarization state to light rays emanating from left image pixels displayed along the LCD panel, and only a P1 polarization state to light rays emanating from right perspective image pixels displayed therealong. As a result, visual channel cross-talk introduced by the less than ideal phase characteristics of phase-retarding micropolarization panels results in the viewing (i.e. perception) of "double-images" slightly shifted in space, rather than spatially cohering as a unified stereoscopic image providing full 3-D depth sensation in the human vision system of the viewer.
In addition to visual-channel cross-talk, such SMI display systems also suffer from "asymmetric distortion" created during stereoscopic viewing of polarized SMIs produced from phase-retarding micropolarization panels mounted upon the display surface of SMI display structures. The cause of this asymmetric distortion is related to the fact that only one eye of a viewer of a displayed SMI perceives through passive polarizing eyeglasses ,a perspective image whose color has been distorted by virtue of the wavelength-dependent phase retardation which the spectral components of the perspective image undergo while passing through the micropolarization panel.
Moreover, the chromatic distortion of SMIs caused by the wavelength-dependent phase-retardation errors introduced by the imperfect retardation characteristics associated with such micropolarization panels degrades the color fidelity of 3-D imagery perceived by viewers using such stereoscopic display systems.
Collectively, the visual channel cross-talk, asymmetric distortion and chromatic distortion associated with prior art phase-retarding micropolarization display panels inherently degrades the degree of stereo separation achievable between the polarization-encoded visual channels of such stereoscopic display systems, and thus the overall stereoscopic viewing experience achievable therewith.
Thus, there is a great need in the art for an improved system and method for stereoscopic viewing 3-D objects represented in either grey-scaled or color spatially-multiplexed images, while avoiding the shortcomings and drawbacks of prior art apparatus and methodologies.

Phase-retardation based system for stereoscopic viewing micropolarized spatially-multiplexed images substantially free of visual-channel cross-talk and asymmetric image distortion


The invention relates to the use of a roller or a rubber blanket with a covering made of elastomeric material with an outer surface for indirect or direct transfer of a damping solution and/or a printing agent to a print carrier of a printing press. In order to enable a virtually optimum printing result, even in the presence of changing process conditions, and to display improved back-transfer properties with unchanging properties over the service life, it is proposed that a roller/rubber blanket be used which has an outer surface that constitutes an elastomeric surface coating of the covering and contains, or completely consists of, a fluoroelastomer, particularly an elastomeric fluorinated rubber. The fluorinated rubber can, in particular, be a tetrafluoroethylene-hexafluoropropylene-vinylidene fluoride copolymer.

Rollers or rubber blankets of this kind for printing presses are used in offset printing, for example. In this context, the printing agent, e.g. a customary printing ink, is transferred from a reservoir, via an inking unit to a printing plate, to which the respective image is applied, generally by a photomechanical process. The printing areas of the printing plate accept the ink, such that the image to be printed can be transferred to a rubber blanket that is likewise mounted on a cylinder. The printing ink is transferred from the rubber blanket to the respective print carrier, i.e. the material to be printed, such as a paper web, a film, or some other object. At the same time, the printing plate is wetted with a damping solution, which is supplied from a reservoir by a damping unit. The damping solution covers the non-printing areas of the printing plate, such that they do not accept ink, thereby producing the print image. The damping solution is usually water, which can contain alcohols or other additives. In this context, the damping unit and the inking unit each consist of a plurality of rollers, where, in some cases, rollers with an elastomeric covering work against rollers with a metallic, ceramic or plastic surface in order to homogenize the printing agent and the damping solution in the gap between the rollers (nip), prepare them in a uniform layer and ultimately apply them to the printing plate and the rubber blanket.
The rollers with an elastomeric covering have to satisfy a host of requirements, particularly demonstrating defined mechanical properties, such as hardness, wettability with the printing agent or the damping solution, mechanical and chemical resistance, abrasion resistance, good cleanability and the like.
Moreover, particular problems are posed by defined transfer of ink and damping solution from the respective ink and damping solution reservoir, via the respective inking and damping unit to the impression cylinder. For example, it has become apparent that there is occasionally no defined transfer of damping solution and/or printing agent to the impression cylinder, and thus ultimately to the blanket cylinder, this being referred to as "overemulsification" of the ink/damping solution emulsion, i.e. too much damping solution, particularly water, is incorporated into the printing agent. The consequence of this is that, on both the impression cylinder and the rubber blanket, the areas covered with ink and the areas covered with damping solution are ultimately not accurately separated from each other, and thus that unsharp contours, streaks, or other such phenomena impairing the print quality, occur on the printed print carrier, e.g. a paper web. This "overemulsification" is partly attributed to fluctuating process conditions during the printing process, also including climate or temperature fluctuations in the print unit, for example, although these are difficult to determine and reproduce in terms of their process parameters. There is consequently a need to improve the print quality and enable a printing result that remains very constant over time.
Furthermore, known rollers variously display disadvantages in terms of their back-transfer properties, i.e. the printing agent is not optimally transferred to the next roller in the nip, but carried back on the roller. This ultimately leads to undesirable distribution of the ink and can also result in undesirable transfer of ink into the damping unit. Moreover, in the event of a color change, some of the original ink can be taken up by the roller or the rubber blanket and transferred to the subsequent print unit, this possibly leading to undesirable color deviations. These problems have likewise not yet been satisfactorily resolved. An additional aim is to further improve the back-transfer properties of the rollers.
Moreover, starting from rollers with auxiliaries, such as fluorinated polyolefins, incorporated in the elastomeric roller covering, it is desirable to further improve the long-term stability of the roller, and thus the service life of the printing press and the maintenance effort involved.
Furthermore, consideration must be given to the fact that rollers and rubber blankets with an elastomeric covering are subject to wear in printing presses, this leading to a change in the surface properties of the roller or the rubber blanket, e.g. to a roughness that changes in the course of long periods of time, and changing wetting properties in relation to the printing agent and the damping solution. As a result, it becomes necessary to replace the roller covering and fit the roller core with a new covering at certain intervals. This leads to machine downtimes and is also cost-intensive, since the covering has to be removed entirely and a complete, new roller covering built up.
The object of the invention is therefore to provide a damping solution and/or printing agent transfer device in the form of a roller or a rubber blanket for printing presses that solves the problems described above, particularly enables a virtually optimum printing result over long periods of time, even in the event of changing process conditions, such as climate or temperature fluctuations, particularly also in terms of color quality in multicolor printing, that demonstrates excellent back-transfer properties, displays a substantially longer service life with unchanged properties, particularly as regards hardness and wettability with damping solution and/or printing agent, and that permits simple restoration in the event of wear induced by operation.

Humid media transfer device and/or printing media transfer device of printing machines


The invention relates to a high-quality semiconductor light emitting device which suppresses current concentration. The semiconductor light emitting device includes an n-type semiconductor layer, an active layer and a p-type semiconductor layer sequentially formed on a substrate. The semiconductor light emitting device further includes a p-electrode formed on the p-type semiconductor layer and an n-electrode formed on a surface of a mesa-etched portion of the n-type semiconductor layer. A trench is formed in the n-type semiconductor layer to prevent current concentration. The trench is extended from an upper surface of the mesa-etched portion of the n-type semiconductor layer or from a bottom surface of the substrate into the n-type semiconductor layer at a predetermined depth.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a semiconductor light emitting device, and more particularly, to a semiconductor light emitting device having superior current spreading and operation voltage characteristics, and improved reliability.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recently, light emitting devices such as light emitting diodes (LEDs) using group III-V nitride semiconductors (simply, nitride semiconductors) are widely adopted as light sources to obtain blue or green wavelength ranges of light. The nitride semiconductor is a compound semiconductor having a composition expressed by a formula, InxAlyGa(1-x-y)N, where 0≦x≦1, 0≦y≦1 and 0≦x+y≦1. The nitride semiconductor light emitting device typically includes n-type and p-type nitride semiconductor layers grown on a sapphire substrate. Since the sapphire substrate is an insulator, the p- and n-electrodes are disposed on the same side of the substrate (lateral structure). In such a lateral structure of nitride semiconductor light emitting device, there is a problem of current being concentrated at a specific area of the n-type nitride semiconductor layer which is a boundary between a mesa-etched portion and a remaining portion, adjacent to the n-electrode.
FIG. 1 is a sectional view illustrating a conventional nitride semiconductor light emitting device. Referring to FIG. 1, the light emitting device 50 includes an n-type GaN-based semiconductor layer 13, an active layer 15 and a p-type GaN-based semiconductor layer 17 sequentially formed on a sapphire substrate 11. A p-electrode (p-metal) 20 is disposed on the p-type GaN-based semiconductor layer 17, and an n-electrode (n-metal) 30 is disposed on a portion of an upper surface of the n-type GaN-based semiconductor layer 13 exposed by mesa-etching. To form such a mesa structure, mesa etching is conducted in thousands of Å of depth M until the n-type semiconductor layer 13 is exposed.
When operating voltage is applied to the p- and n-electrodes 20 and 30 disposed laterally from each other, current flows through a p-n junction of GaN-based semiconductor and thereby light emission takes place in the active layer. Supposing that the path of the current running on the light emitting device 50 is divided into A, B and C as shown in FIG. 1, relatively greater current flows through and concentrated in path A. The reason for this is that path A has smaller resistance than path B or path C. That is, in path A, the distance of the current passing through the p-electrode of smaller resistance is relatively long whereas the distance of the current passing through the nitride semiconductor layer of greater resistance is relatively short. Resultantly, the current tends to be concentrated in path A of smaller resistance.
As described above, if the current is concentrated in a particular path (path A in which the current passes through the nitride semiconductor layer in the shortest distance), the active layer is not entirely and uniformly utilized. This results in an increase in the operation voltage and a decrease in the luminance. In addition, if the current is concentrated in a particular portion, much heat is generated at that particular portion and the Electrostatic Discharge (ESD) characteristics of the device are degraded. This consequently degrades the reliability of the device. Having the lateral structure in which the two electrodes are disposed on the same side of the substrate, light emitting devices made of not only the nitride semiconductor (GaN-based) but also other types of compound semiconductor (e.g., AlGaAs-based or AlGaInP-based semiconductors) can be adversely affected by such current concentration.

Semiconductor light emitting device with improved current spreading structure


The present application discloses a pharmaceutical preparation comprising a de-epoxidized epothilone derivative, and especially relates to a preparation formulation of a compound with reduced allergens and toxicity; and also relates to the use thereof in the treatment of tumours, especially the use thereof in the treatment of solid tumours that are resistant to and fail to respond to other conventional chemotherapeutic agents, as well as the use thereof in the treatment of cancers alone or in combination with other tumour drugs or auxiliary drugs.

There are more than 14 million newly diagnosed cancer patients every year in the world, and cancer has become a common and frequently-occurring disease that is very harmful to humans. Since an early diagnosis and treatment of cancer has not yet reached a satisfactory level, most cancers will still relapse or metastasize to the whole body after a surgery or radiotherapy, and the cancer patients need to receive systemic treatment. At present, the main means for systemic therapy, especially for the treatment of patients with an advanced cancer, are still based on chemical drugs. For patients with an advanced breast cancer who have received treatments with high dosages of anthracycline ring antibiotics and taxanes, in addition to the approved capecitabine and gemcitabine, there are few drug options available for treatment. Furthermore, the effectiveness of gemcitabine used as a second- or third-line drug is unclear. Other drugs include vinorelbine, bevacizumab+paclitaxel, cisplatin, carboplatin, etoposide, vinblastine, and fluorouracil injections that are rarely used, however, there is little evidence indicating the drugs producing significant effects. Therefore, the development of safe and effective small molecule anticancer drugs is still a cancer treatment method and approach actively sought by multiple countries.
Epothilone A (EpoA) and epothilone B (EpoB) are novel compounds of 16-membered macrolide derived from polyketone, which are originally isolated from the soil bacterium Sorangium cellulosum strain So ce90. The structural formula is shown below. They are the epothilone firstly isolated, synthesized and confirmed (Hofle et al., 1996, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. Engl. 35 (13/14): 1567-1569; Gerth et al., 1996. J. Antibiotics 49(6): 560-563). Polyketone compounds exist in nature in a variety of organisms and are synthesized by polyketone synthase PKS.
Epothilone has enormous potential for the treatment of cancers. Although not structurally similar, the action mechanism of epothilone is very similar to that of the chemotherapy drug paclitaxel, which induces tubulin polymerization and stabilizes microtubule assembly. These compounds exhibit potent cell killing power against different cancer cell lines. In particular, they have shown attractive effects on tumor cell lines with multidrug resistance (MDR), especially against taxanes-resistant tumor cell lines (Altmann et al., 2000. Biochem. Biophys. Acta. 1470(3): M79-91; Bollag et al., Cancer Res. 55(11): 2325-2333).
Although the epothilone compounds have significant therapeutic properties, it is still somewhat difficult for the skilled person to use them in pharmaceutical formulations and clinical applications due to certain properties. The compounds represented by Formula I in the present application can be safely formulated and can also be administered by injection. Many anticancer drugs have a toxicity-related effect, and due to toxicity, many effective anticancer drugs are limited to be used. Therefore, those skilled in the art are working on reducing or avoiding toxicity related to the anticancer drugs by appropriate formulation, administration or dosage to obtain an effective anticancer drug for clinical use.

De-epoxidized epothilone derivative preparation, preparation of same and use thereof in the treatment of tumor


A method for image processing is disclosed. The method includes: obtaining an image associated with a check; obtaining target strings associated with a payor of the check and based on a user input; obtaining extracted strings by applying multiple optical character recognition (OCR) processes with different segmentation modes to the image; identifying, using an expandable and sliding window (ESW), matches between the plurality of target strings and the plurality of extracted strings; and selecting a winning match from the plurality of matches.

An optical character recognition (OCR) process is executed upon an image to extract strings (i.e., text characters) from the image. An OCR process may operate in one of multiple segmentation modes. Different segmentation modes correspond to different presumptions regarding the textural structure of the image. For example, one segmentation mode may presume the image is a single column of text, while a different segmentation mode may presume the image has multiple columns of text.
OCR is frequently performed on images of paper checks. However, these images likely contains noise, distortions, and/or other OCR uncertainties. Moreover, a check does not possess a regular text structure that is consistent across all checks. Accordingly, no single segmentation mode is guaranteed to produce the most accurate results (i.e., the most accurate extracted strings) especially for unconstrained images containing information besides just the check. Regardless, it is still common to perform OCR on images of checks.


A bonnet or hood which is pivotable to open and closed conditions over a vehicle frame. A fastening portion fastenable to the vehicle frame, on which the bonnet is pivotable. A bent leaf spring rotatably connected between the fastening portion and the bonnet and urging the bonnet open. A slotted guide for controlling the extent of the opening of the bonnet. Elastic bushings at the various connections.

The invention refers to a device and a method for suspending an engine bonnet or hood with respect to a vehicle frame.
State of the Art
There are at present two types of heavy-duty truck bodies, namely the so-called cab-over-engine type, with the engine mostly arranged beneath a cab which is tiltable forwards, and the so called normal-bonneted or normal hood type, with the cab fastened to the frame and the engine mostly arranged in front of the cab in an engine compartment which is covered by an engine bonnet or hood. The bonnet of this latter type is often tiltable forwards about a transverse tilt spindle which is situated as far forward as possible in the vehicle and at the lower front edge of the bonnet. The bonnet is locked by a lock located at the rear edge of the bonnet. This lock is opened in the same manner as on passenger cars by means of an operating handle in the driver's compartment.
The bonnet or hood of a heavy-duty truck is large and heavy. It may weigh about 100 kg. It is therefore often connected to the frame by a spring with the object of making it easier to open. These springs are often in the form of pneumatic springs, coil springs, or the like.
The presence of these springs results in further torque being required at the time of fitting, since they have to be fastened in after the bonnet has been fitted to the frame, which usually takes place in the later stages of final assembly. By then, most components have already been fitted, which makes it difficult to reach the fastening points.
The presence of these springs also means that more components have to be accommodated in the engine compartment. The springs often occupy a large amount of space because they have to act in or close to a tangential direction with respect to the tilt spindle and be positioned relatively far away from the spindle with the object of being able to provide sufficient assistance to bonnet opening. Otherwise, the springs would have to be dimensioned larger in order to provide the same power assistance. This is a clear disadvantage because of the great difficulty in packing a large number of components into the engine compartment.
In such known arrangements, it is also advantageous to use some form of tilt stop device to prevent the bonnet from being tilted too far forwards, which might lead to damage to the bonnet or to other adjacent components, and to prevent its falling back from the open position, which might cause serious injuries, e.g. during servicing or other kinds of attention. Such a tilt stop device increases the above mentioned assembly and space shortage problems.

Device and method for suspending a tiltable engine bonnet with respect to a vehicle frame


Provided are a test pattern generating circuit which generates test patterns having various types and lengths and a semiconductor memory device which performs a test operation using the test pattern generating circuit. The test pattern generating circuit includes a plurality of register blocks which receive test signals input from an external tester through an input/output pad and load the test signals into the resister blocks in synchronization with a low-frequency clock signal; a register block control unit which controls the activation of the register blocks; and an output unit which is connected to the register blocks and outputs the signals loaded into the register blocks as test patterns in synchronization with a high-frequency clock signal.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a test pattern generating circuit and a semiconductor memory device incorporating same. More particularly, the invention relates to a test pattern generating circuit providing a variety of test patterns facilitating more precise testing and a semiconductor memory device incorporating same.
2. Description of the Related Art
As the operating speed of semiconductor memory devices increases generally, the frequency of system clocks operating within such devices also increases. Further data processing techniques designed to transmit a greater number of data bits per unit time at a defined clock frequency are also becoming more commonly used in semiconductor memory devices. These techniques include, as examples, double data rate (DDR), quad data rate (QDR) and octal data rate (ODR) approaches to data processing. Unfortunately, it is now common for test equipment used to check the operation of semiconductor memory devices following fabrication to actually run at a slower speed than the data transmission speed of the devices. As a result, the practical capabilities of conventional test equipment relative to contemporary high-speed semiconductor memory devices is rather restricted.
One complicating factor in the testing of high-speed semiconductor memory devices using relatively low-speed test equipment is the fact that actual data transmission is faster than the frequency of system clock within these devices. That is, test equipment must provide test patterns to a semiconductor memory device being tested at a rate 2 to 8 times (or even 16 times) faster than the device system clock due to the use of such techniques as DDR, QDR and ODR. Much of the available test equipment is simply unable to provide test patterns at this rate.
Examples of test patterns being generated for a high-speed semiconductor memory device using conventional low-speed test equipment will now be described with reference to the attached drawings.
Figures (FIGS.) 1 and 2 are tables showing examples of test patterns generated by conventional test equipment. FIG. 1 shows an example when the test equipment runs at a clock speed of 200 megahertz (MHz), but data input/output speeds for a semiconductor memory device being tested is 800 MHz.
The test patterns provided to a memory array of the semiconductor memory device are generated using an externally provided test signal. For example, a first test pattern having 2 bits per clock cycle of the 200 MHz system clock is input, and a second test pattern having 8 bits per clock cycle of the operation clock is generated in response to the first test signal.
The generated test pattern is loaded into a register and transmitted through an input/output pin of the semiconductor memory device. For example, the test pattern '00001111' is transmitted to the memory array through input/output pin DQ0. Then, the test pattern is shifted by one bit, and the test pattern '10000111' is transmitted to the memory array through input/output pin DQ1. Similarly, the test pattern '00011110' is transmitted to the memory array through input/output pin DQ7.
FIG. 2 is a table showing another example of test patterns generated by conventional test equipment. Referring to FIG. 2, a test signal having 2 bits per cycle of the 200 MHz operation clock is provided, and an 8-bit test pattern is generated in response to the test signal. For example, if a 2-bit test pattern is formed of 'Early=0'/'Late=1', an 8-bit pattern '01010101' is formed by repeating the 2-bit pattern, and the generated test pattern is transmitted to the memory unit. Similarly, if the 2-bit test pattern is formed of 'Early=1'/'Late=1', an 8-bit pattern '11111111' is formed.
In view of the foregoing exemplary accommodations, precise testing can not be performed due to the small range of possible test patterns capable of being transmitted to the memory array. All possible test patterns generated by the conventional test equipment correspond to test signals having a fixed identical pattern length. Such a range of possible test patterns is insufficient to fully test contemporary and emerging semiconductor memory devices.

Test pattern generating circuit and semiconductor memory device having the same


The present application disclosed a method for preparing a sterile transgenic fish, comprising constructing antisense RNA expression vector of salmon-type gonadotropin-releasing hormone, introducing the recombinant DNA fragment into carp oosperm by microinjection, and screening the sterile transgenic fish by Polymerase Chain Reaction and radioimmunoassay, wherein the expression vector comprising a promoter of carp beta actin (β-actin) gene, a complementary DNA fragment of antisense salmon-type gonadotropin-releasing hormone (sGnRH) gene from carp with 323 bp as a target gene comprising sGnRH decapeptide, the coding region of gonadotropin-releasing hormone associated peptide and 3′ non-coding sequence, and 3′ flanking sequence of grass carp growth hormone gene as a stop sequence. The method of the present invention is easy and convenient for operation which provides a basis for providing a technical platform of general applicability for solving the hereditary and ecological safety problems of transgenic fishes.

In 1984, the researchers in Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences firstly developed the study concerning directive breeding in fishes by gene engineering in the world, and established an intact theory model for transgenic fishes and a perfect technique system for experiment (Zhu, Z., Li, G., He, L. and Chen, S. (1985)). Novel gene transfer into the fertilized eggs of goldfish (Carassius auratus L. 1758). Journal of Applied Ichthyology 1: 31–34. 2, Zhu, Z., Xu, K., Xie, Y, Li, G. and He, L. (1989). A model of transgenic fish. Scientia Sinica B (2): 147–155). On this basis, the study concerning the rapid growth of carp transformed with the "all-fish" growth hormone gene acquired important development. The test of large-scale breeding showed that the average weight of the offspring population of transgenic carp was 42% higher than that of the offspring population of the control fish, and that the available efficiency of bait increased 18.5% and that moreover comprehensively economic benefit of pond culture increased 125.7%. Meanwhile, the study concerning rapid growth of transgenic rainbow trout, Atlantic salmon and java tilapia and like in Europe and America also acquired important development, and the large-scale breeding tests thereof were also performed. However, hitherto, the commercial example of transgenic fishes has not been reported.
Indeed, as a directive-improved organism by genetic methods, the biological safety of transgenic fishes is concerned generally throughout the society. The biological safety of transgenic fishes comprises consumable safety of transgenic fish as food and genetic safety for releasing and ecological safety. Now, the study concerning transgenic fishes utilizes the gene component originated from fishes even themselves which eliminates the hidden danger of safety of transgenic fishes as food. Moreover, the test results for detecting the food safety of carps transformed with "all-fish" gene also showed that it is not remarkable influence for the growth, development and reproduction of the mouse after taking transgenic fishes (Zhang, F., Wang, Y., Hu, W., Cui, Z., Zhu, Z., Yang, J. and Peng, R. (2000) Physiological and pathological analysis of the mice fed with "all-fish" gene transferred Yellow River carp. High Technology Letters 10: 17–19). The establishment of high efficiency breeding model and the study results of food safety provide a basis for allowing the transgenic fishes commercial. Therefore, there is a need to solve the hereditary and ecological safety problems as well as the controlling technique thereof in the study of transgenic fishes, which is also a prerequisite for achieving the industrialization of transgenic fishes. The hereditary and ecological safety problems of transgenic fishes comprise two aspects generally: first, the Genebank contamination of natural species resources resulting from the possible crossing between transgenic fishes and wild species and close relative species; and second, the population structure of the ecosystem in the water would be destroyed which results in an irreversible influence if transgenic fishes form dominant population. However, on the one hand, the genetic shift of transformed genes by sexual mating can be controlled by preparing the sterile transgenic fishes, and on the other hand, the formation of dominant population of transgenic fishes escaping into the natural water system which further results in unadvantageous influence for the ecosystem in the water can be prevented by preparing the sterile transgenic fishes. Thereby, the hereditary and ecological safety of transgenic fishes can be solved by controlling the reproduction of transgenic fishes.
Now, the breeding for sterile transgenic fish utilizes triploid strategy, that is to say, crossing diploid transgenic fish with tetraploid fish to obtain sterile triploid transgenic fish (Zhu Z and Zeng Z, open a door for transgenic fish to market, Biotechnology Information, 2000, 1: 1–6). However, it is very difficult to obtain tetraploid. The allotetraploid crucian-carp obtained by Chinese researchers without chemical or physical treatment is only tetraploid fish with stable hereditary characters in the world that can reproduce by itself (Liu S, Liu Y, Zhou G et al, The formation of tetraploid stocks of red crucian carp×common carp hybrids as an effect of interspecific hybridization. Aquaculture, 2001, 192(2–4): 171–186). Therefore, the use triploid strategy for breeding sterile transgenic fishes is restricted to a great extent, and said strategy is only a specific example for solving the hereditary and ecological safety of transgenic fish and thereby does not possess generality.

Method for preparing a sterile transgenic carp


The present invention relates to a three-dimensional plastic sheet that forms an array of convex lenses having a plurality of semispherical convex lenses arranged horizontally and vertically on the surface thereof, such that a three-dimensional image can be vividly seen even at every positions irrespective of the position or direction of the plastic sheet, while greatly minimizing the generation of moire patterns caused by the interference of different color dots. The three-dimensional plastic sheet includes: a convex lens layer formed of a transparent synthetic resin and having an array of identical semi-spherical convex lenses formed on the top surface thereof; a transparent plate disposed at the bottom surface of the convex lens layer and formed of a synthetic resin plate having a thickness corresponding to a focal distance of each convex lens; a non-focal distance printed layer disposed on the top surface of the transparent plate by means of offset printing for providing a real picture screen thereon; and a focal distance printed layer disposed on the bottom surface of the transparent plate by means of the offset printing for providing a three-dimensional screen thereon through four-color dot printing computed and image-segmented by a computer graphic process.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a three-dimensional plastic sheet that can be produced in great quantities by means of offset printing, and more particularly, to a three-dimensional plastic sheet that has an array of identical semispherical convex lenses formed on the top surface thereof, such that a three-dimensional image can be vividly seen even at every positions irrespective of the position or direction of the plastic sheet, while greatly minimizing the generation of moire patterns caused by the interference of different color dots.
2. Background of the Related Art
Generally, a three-dimensional plastic sheet is formed of a lenticular screen that has an array of semi-cylindrical lenses each having a pitch of about 0.5 mm formed on the top surface of the sheet. In case of a three-dimensional photographic printing, the images of an object seen by left and right eyes are each printed on a sheet of lenticular screen, thereby obtaining a three-dimensional image where the object looks like floating in the space or going away into the space when seen through the two eyes.
In this case, the lenticular screen that has the plurality of semi-cylindrical lenses serially arranged on the top surface of the plastic sheet gives the three-dimensional effect just to the left and right sides with respect to the length direction of each lens, but does not give any three-dimensional effect to the upper and lower sides thereof, such that there is a defect in that the viewing angle for the three-dimensional image is limited.
On the other hand, a conventional three-dimensional plastic sheet is formed in such a fashion that a printed surface seen through a lens layer having an array of lenses formed thereon is recognized thus to observe a designed three-dimensional image, wherein the printed surface is processed by means of general offset printing, for production in great quantities. At this time, there occurs a problem that since the conventional plastic sheet does not have any high resolution due to the embossing effect of the lenses seen through the lens layer, the printed screen cannot be vivid and clear.
On a general offset printing screen, moreover, numerous dots constituting the printed screen are refracted on the lens layer to cause the generation of moire patterns or dizzy illusion due to the interference of the dots, such that more vivid three-dimensional screen cannot be provided.
With the conventional three-dimensional plastic sheet processed by means of the offset printing, therefore, a simple pattern of three-dimensional image should be displayed through one-color printing, which makes it difficult to display a three-dimensional effect through four-primary color printing or special effects (for example, two-way transformation, motion, and morph effects) in a lenticular technique.
In some cases, of course, there has been presented a three-dimensional method using IP (integral photography) technique as introduced by M. G. Lippmann in France, 1908, which is not practical in use because of requiring a high precision of machining technique and a high resolution of photography technique.


An image forming apparatus in which a first substrate provided with an electron-emitting device and an image displaying member which electrons emitted from the electron-emitting device irradiate are arranged to be opposed is provided with a deflecting means deflecting the electrons emitted from the electron-emitting device and a trapping unit trapping an inert gas ionized by the electrons. Thereby, the damages of the electron-emitting device by the inert gas are prevented, and the life of an image display apparatus is aimed to be elongated.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus displaying an image by radiating an electron beam emitted from an electron source to a phosphor film which is an image display member to make the phosphor of the phosphor film emit light.
2. Related Background Art
Conventionally, in an apparatus radiating an electron beam emitted from an electron source to a phosphor film which is an image display member to make the phosphor of the phosphor film emit light for displaying an image, it is necessary to maintain the inside of a vacuum chamber which involves the electron source and the image display member therein to be a high vacuum. The reason is that, in the case where a gas is generated in the vacuum chamber to raise the pressure therein, the rise of the pressure exerts a harmful influence on the electron source to reduce the electron emission quantity thereof, which makes it impossible to display a bright image, though the degree of the influence changes with the kind of the gas. Furthermore, in that case, there is the possibility that an electric discharge occurs in the inside to destroy the apparatus.
Generally, the vacuum chamber of an image display apparatus is formed by combining glass members and adhering joining portions with frit or the like. The maintenance of a pressure after the joining has been once completed is performed by a getter material installed in the vacuum chamber.
A tabular image forming apparatus generally has a narrow interval between a substrate on which electron sources are provided and the other substrate on which an image display unit is provided. Moreover, because supporting members for holding the vacuum chamber and the like are provided, the flow of gas is hindered, and the tabular image forming apparatus is in a state of being bad in conductance.
In order to solve the problem, a configuration in which a getter material was arranged in an image display region to absorb active gases among the generated gases was considered (see, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H04-12436).
Moreover, in order to exhaust inert gases which were unable to be exhausted by the getter material, a configuration in which an ion pump was externally attached to the main body of a vacuum chamber of a thin plane display apparatus was also proposed (see, for example, Japanese Application Patent Laid-Open No. H05-121012).
Moreover, a configuration in which an electron source for ionizing an inert gas was provided out of the image display region in the panel, which place was called as a sacrifice region, and was used as an ion pump built in the panel was proposed (see, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,107,745).
Furthermore, in a general CRT, a cathode is arranged at a position which ions ionized by electron beams do not irradiate.
However, by the conventional technique disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H04-12436, the gases exhausted by the getter material are active gases, and inert gases such as Ar and He are hardly exhausted. Moreover, because, for example, Ar is heavy in weight among the inert gasses, there is a problem such that, in the case where Ar is accelerated by a strong electric field after ionization, the electron sources are damaged seriously.
Moreover, by the conventional technique disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H05-121012, there is some possibility that the external ion pump cannot deal with a rise of a local pressure of the inert gas in the tabular image display apparatus having deteriorated conductance. Moreover, because beams are deflected by the magnetic field used in the ion pump, some countermeasure such as magnetic shielding is necessary. Thus, the conventional technique also has a problem of a high cost.
Moreover, in the conventional technique disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,107,745, because the electron source is provided out of the image display region, the tabular image display apparatus is influenced by the conductance, and there is some possibility that the tabular image display apparatus cannot deal with a local pressure rise. Moreover, because the arrangement of the ion pump is only out of the image region, and because the electron source for the ionization of the inert gas itself has a configuration having the possibility of being deteriorated, there is some possibility that a sufficient exhaust velocity and a sufficient total exhaust quantity cannot be obtained.
Moreover, it is difficult to apply the general CRT technique to a tabular image display apparatus.

Image forming apparatus with reduced loss of electron source caused by the inert gas


A nucleic acid-bondable magnetic carrier of the present invention is a magnetic silica particle comprising a superparamagnetic metal oxide, wherein the magnetic silica particle has a specific surface of about 100 to about 800 m2/g.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a nucleic acid-bondable magnetic carrier containing a magnetic-responsible particle, utilized for extracting or purifying a nucleic acid from a biological material containing the nucleic acid, or for purifying an amplified product of a nucleic acid. The present invention also relates to a method for isolating a nucleic acid from a nucleic acid-containing biological material utilizing the magnetic carrier and a magnetic field, and a kit for utilizing the method.
2. Description of the Related Art
In conventional methods for isolating a nucleic acid using a nucleic acid-bondable magnetic carrier, it is known to utilize a magnetic-responsible particle having a superparamagnetic iron oxide core covered with a polymeric silane layer to which a biocompatible molecule (for example, a nucleic acid) is covalently bonded (Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 60-1564).
A method for determining a ligate concentration including the following steps is also known: (1) using a magnetic-responsible particle containing superparamagnetic iron oxide covered with a polymeric silane layer to which a biocompatible molecule is capable of being bonded; (2) reacting a sample solution containing a ligate, a known amount of a labeled ligate, and the magnetic-responsible particle to which a ligate-specific ligand is bonded, so as to form a ligand-ligate complex on the magnetic-responsible particle; (3) magnetically separating the magnetic-responsible particle from the reaction solution; (4) measuring the labeled ligate which is bonded to the magnetic-responsible particle or free labeled ligate in the reaction solution; and (5) applying the measurement of the label ligate to the standard curve so as to obtain the ligate concentration. This method is described in Japanese Patent Publication No. 7-6986.
In the above-mentioned Methods, in order to bond the nucleic acid to the magnetic-responsible particle, it is necessary to form a silane layer to which a biocompatible molecule (for example, a nucleic acid) is covalently bonded.
Furthermore, an analyzing method and apparatus are known utilizing a sequence of a nucleic acid which is bonded to a material sensitive to the magnetic field (WO86/05815). The method utilizes a magnetic or magnetizable particle covered with a material which is capable of being bonding to a single strand nucleic acid so as to separate and detect the single strand nucleic acid. More specifically, the surface of the magnetic particle is covered with nitrocellulose, which is a type of cellulose derivative, and nitrocellulose is specifically bonded to a single strand DNA or RNA. The single strand DNA or RNA collected by the method is utilized for sequencing.
In the method, it is necessary to specifically bond the single strand DNA or RNA to the magnetic carrier.
It is also known to utilize a poly-cationic substrate for purifying, separating and hybridizing a nucleic acid, especially for purifying and separating a nucleic acid containing contaminants (Japanese Laid-Open National Publication No. 1-502319). In the method, a sample solution containing contaminants is contacted with the poly-cationic solid support (magnetic-responsible particle) so as to non-covalently bond the nucleic acid to the support without excessively bonding contaminants contained in the sample solution to the support. The support to which the nucleic acid has been bonded is then separated from the solution. Examples of the support include metal oxide, glass and polyamide. Examples of the poly-cationic magnetic-responsible particle include a magnetic microsphere (typically, a magnetic amine microsphere). The bond between the nucleic acid and the support is considered to be based on an ionic bond between the magnetic amine microsphere having a positive charge and a sugar phosphate principal chain in the nucleic acid having a negative charge.
Furthermore, it is also known a method for isolating a substance of interest in biological material utilizing a magnetic particle consisting of a polymeric inner core particle and a magnetic-responsible metal oxide/polymer coating uniformly covering the core particle (Japanese Laid-Open National Patent Publication No. 2-501753). The method includes the steps of reacting the magnetic particle with a biological material so as to form a complex consisting of the magnetic particle and a substance from the biological material; separating the complex from the biological material; and removing the magnetic particle from the complex so as to obtain the substance.
In the method, a polymer such as polystyrene is used as an inner core particle, and metal oxide and a polymer such as polystyrene uniformly cover the inner core particle.
A superparamagnetic particle with a plurality of separated oligonucleotide sequences having monodispersibility (less than 5% of particle diameter distribution), and a method for producing a magnetic particle which covalently bonds or adsorbs the oligonucleotides to functional groups (for example, biotinyl groups) or molecules on the surface thereof is known. It is also known to utilize a particle to which oligonucleotide is covalently bonded or adsorbed as a probe of a nucleic acid (WO90/06045).
The object of the method is to specifically form covalently bonds or adsorb a probe of a nucleic acid utilized for hybridization to the particle. Therefore, the above-mentioned particle is not a carrier which non-specifically immobilizes (i.e., bonds or adsorbs) a large amount of nucleic acids.
As described above, in the methods utilizing a silane or polymeric layer on the surface of the magnetic particle carrier, a nucleic acid is, for example, covalently bonded to the silane or polymeric layer on the carrier surface. Such methods require providing functional groups on the carrier (magnetic particle) surface. Accordingly, while such methods are advantageous to the separation or the quantitation of nucleic acids utilizing the specific adsorption thereof, they are not suitable for a solid phase carrier which non-specifically adsorbs a large amount of nucleic acids so as to produce a high yield.
In the case of utilizing a surface-coated magnetic particle as a solid phase carrier for isolating a nucleic acid, a large particle (for example, having a diameter of more than 20 μm) is capable of responding to a weak magnetic field or a small magnetic field variation; however, it tends to rapidly precipitate and have insufficient dispersibility. Therefore, it is difficult for such a large particle to adsorb and immobilize a small nucleic acid such as plasmid DNA in the reaction which requires homogeneity such as a solid phase adsorption. Furthermore, a large particle has a smaller specific surface per weight than that of a small particle. As a result, a large particle is only capable of bonding a small amount of biological material thereto.
A small particle (for example, having a diameter of less than 0.1 μm) has outstanding specific surface and dispersibility; however, it has insufficient settling properties. Therefore, when the small particle is used in a separation utilizing the magnetic field, a larger and more expensive magnet having a larger magnetic charge is required, and it takes a longer time to separate the particle utilizing magnetic field.
Regarding a method utilizing a silica particle for purifying a nucleic acid, a column separation essentially utilizing high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) apparatus has been conventionally used. A desired nucleic acid is adsorbed to the silica carrier surface by passing a synthesized nucleic acid or an amplified product through the column. An impurity can be washed away by flowing a washing buffer. The desired nucleic acid can be collected by flowing a buffer. The method has an advantage in that the column comprising silica carriers can be used repeatedly. However, the isolation of a nucleic acid from whole blood (which is a biological material) cannot be conducted because the column clogs. As a result, the method has disadvantages in that only a small amount of a nucleic acid can be collected. In addition, the apparatus utilized for the method is very expensive.
A method for separating a nucleic acid from a biological material (for example, whole blood, urine) utilizing a silica particle as a solid phase carrier is also known (Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2-289596 and Japanese Patent Publication No. 7-13077).
However, in such a method that utilizes a silica particle as a carrier, complicated procedures are required (for example, centrifugation must be conducted many times). In addition, after adding the sample solution to the particle, the method requires a mixing operation by vigorously stirring with a vortex mixer in order to sufficiently mix the sample solution and the particle. Because of the vigorous stirring, a nucleic acid contained in the sample tends to be degraded, and as a result, a long-chain nucleic acid can hardly be separated.
As described above, there are various problems related to non-specifically immobilizing a large amount of nucleic acids.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Nucleic acid-bondable magnetic carrier and method for isolating nucleic acid using the same