A device for signalling remotely the state of a device able to assume a plurality of discrete states comprises a circuit for producing inside a screened enclosure a direct current voltage free of interference. The screened enclosure contains a first circuit for producing from the direct current voltage electrical pulses whose duration is proportional to the value of an inductance which can assume distinct values according to the various states of the device. A second circuit converts the electrical pulses into optical pulses and an optical fiber transmits the pulses out of the enclosure to a processor.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention concerns a device for signalling the position of a mobile member.
The invention finds an application in electrical engineering and this specification uses an illustrative example which is not of a limiting nature, of course.
The example concerns the signalling of the position of the contacts of an electrical switch such as a circuit-breaker. It is essential for the operator of an electrical plant incorporating devices such as circuit-breakers to be certain of the open or closed condition of the contacts of each circuit-breaker; this information, usually available at each circuit-breaker, is centralized at a control and monitoring station; it is essential that any failure of the signalling link connecting each of the devices to said station be reported immediately, failing which the signal received at the station may give reason to believe that a device is in a given state whereas it is in fact in the opposite state: any such error can have unfortunate consequences for the operating authority.
For the same reasons it is essential that the device which performs the signalling should, as far as possible, indicate that it is faulty itself or that its power supply has failed. This self-monitoring makes it possible to increase significantly the availability of the self-monitored part of the device.
Of course, the problem is not limited to sensing the position of circuit-breaker contacts; in electrical plant the state of pressure-switches, the oil pressure in hydraulic control circuits, oil levels, etc may all need to be signalled by means of a signalling contact.
Approximately 30% of serious failures of electrical plants are due to a bad signal contact; this indicates the magnitude of the problem.
An object of the invention is therefore to provide a device for signalling the state of a device by sensing this state and transmitting corresponding information, which guarantees error-free operation in respect of the sensed state, and which signals immediately its own failure and failure of the signalling link.
Another object of the invention is to provide a device which is insensitive to external influences such as electrical or magnetic fields and common mode interference when links without galvanic isolation are employed.
It is well known that the use of opto-electronic devices, fiber optics and screening provide a solution to the last-mentioned requirement. The next problem is that of the consumption of the device; another object of the invention is therefore to provide a device requiring for its operation no more energy than that which is available from a photovoltaic cell.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The U.S. Pat. No. 4,626,621 describes a circuit for determining the position of an object comprising two LR circuits driven by a squarewave signal from a pulse generator. One of the LR circuits includes a fixed inductor. The other includes an inductor whose value varies with the position of the object. Voltages are established in the circuits from a time t1 according to different exponential laws in the two circuits and the respective times t2 and t3 to establish a voltage of given value Vo in each of the two circuits is measured. The ratio (t3-t1)/(t2-t1) provides a value representing the position concerned.
A circuit of this kind is complex because it comprises two LR circuits, two operational amplifiers, two counters, etc and it is unable to detect its own failure.
One object of the invention is to provide a circuit comprising the minimum of components and, as already mentioned, capable of signalling its own failure.

Device for signalling the position of a mobile member


A masonry veneer support assembly for mounting masonry veneer to supporting wall structure has a shelf angle, and first and second shelf angle mounting brackets. Each shelf angle mounting bracket has an upwardly extending back that mounts to the supporting wall structure, and a web extending forwardly away from the wall structure. The web has first and second shelf angle mounting seats formed therein. The first shelf angle mounting seat is upwardly spaced from the second shelf angle mounting seat. Hangers in the form of two-part separable brackets are provided to permit masonry veneer to be mounted underneath the shelf angle, thereby concealing it from view.

In former times, brick stone, or other masonry walls were load bearing structures. In contemporary building structures bricks, or other masonry elements, or other visible finished surface elements, are rarely load-bearing and tend more often to be employed as surface cladding on the exterior face of load-bearing structure.
When mounting face brick or stone veneer on the face of a wall structure, it is common to support the first row of bricks, or stone, or veneer on a steel support. In the art, the steel support for the masonry veneer may be termed in a "shelf angle". The "shelf angle" extends outward from the wall structure, and runs along, or has a major dimension extending in, a direction that is generally horizontal and cross-wise to the wall. The steel support is mounted to the load-bearing wall, or load-bearing framing, before brick-laying commences. The steel support may be welded to a steel anchoring system embedded in the wall. Alternatively, the steel support may be carried in spaced-apart brackets that have themselves been mounted to the load bearing wall structure.
In an era of energy conservation, the shelf angle is carried on brackets that stand outwardly from the load bearing structure, outside the vapor barrier and external sheathing (if any), so that the back of the shelf angle is spaced away from the structure. This is intended to leave spacing for insulation to be placed between the external sheathing of the building walls and the back of the shelf angle. Furthermore, in view of the tendency for condensation to form on the outer face of the insulation, it is also now customary to leave an air gap between the insulation and the back of the masonry veneer.
In earlier construction, either when the masonry was load-bearing or when the masonry was placed directly against the sheathing of the building envelope, either there was access to both sides of the masonry as it was laid, or the backing structure abutted the masonry. In either case, the mason could remove excess mortar at the time of brick laying and jointing, or the backing structure formed a barrier to mortar migration. By contrast, in a contemporary a masonry veneer wall, the air gap does not provide room to remove excess mortar with a trowel or provide space to use a jointer afterward. There is a tendency for excess mortar in the inside to fall between the masonry veneer and the insulation. The mortar that falls downward may block weep holes in the brick or may otherwise obstruct drainage passageways. Further, when a shelf angle is used, moisture trapped by fallen mortar on the shelf angle may tend to cause rusting. If the rust leaks, it may then stain the wall.
Shelf angles are used in a variety of contexts in building masonry veneer walls. Where the masonry veneer wall is tall, it is required to use shelf angles as a break in the wall if the wall is over a given height, such as 30 feet. In other circumstances, the shelf angle is used as the datum at the bottom edge of the commencement of the veneer cladding. In still other circumstances a shelf angle is used to establish the upper sill of a window or a door.
For one reason or another, a masonry veneer installation may employ a shelf angle at one height, but may also employ a second shelf angle at another, fairly close height. For example a long shelf angle may be used at or near the level of a floor slab, while another shelf angle may be used to establish a sill height for a door or window below that floor. Alternatively, one style of masonry veneer may be used at and above one shelf angle, while another style may be used above the other, as in circumstances where a change in brickwork pattern is intended by the architect to achieve a desired visual or textural effect. In such an instance, there is a need for shelf angles to be mounted in relatively close proximity.
In some instances, it is desirable to conceal the underside of the shelf angle be mounting a course of bricks below the shelf angle. To that end, the present inventor has considered ways of mounting masonry veneer underneath the shelf angle.
Further still, it may be desired to produce a textured or tiered masonry arrangement. In such an arrangement, the masonry may be above or below the shelf angle, and above or below the anchoring load transfer interface to supporting structure. Furthermore, there may be circumstances when the supporting structure, be it concrete or steel framing, extends outwardly from adjacent structure in a cantilever or overhang. In any of these cases, it may be desired for the masonry facing of the structure to be visible, while the support structure is hidden. This may include arrangements in which the masonry is applied underneath the supporting brackets. In other circumstances, the masonry veneer facing may be applied where there is an overhanging corner.
In all of these circumstances, supporting structure and shelf angles of configurations beyond those suitable merely for a planar, flat, featureless wall may be desired. The inventor addresses a variety of such situations in the embodiments shown and described herein.

Support bracket hanger assembly and method


A method of fabricating a contact above a source or drain region of an integrated circuit includes depositing a first liner conformally in a bottom and along a sidewall of a trench formed above the source or drain region, depositing a second liner conformally over the first liner, and stripping the first liner and the second liner from a portion of the sidewall from an opening of the trench to a height above the bottom of the trench. The method also includes depositing a third liner conformally over the second liner on the bottom and to the height above the bottom of the trench and on the portion of the sidewall, and depositing a metal fill to fill the trench.

The present invention relates to integrated circuits, and more specifically, to a recessed metal liner contact with copper fill.
A metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistor (MOSFET) is a transistor used for switching electronic signals. Generally, the MOSFET includes a source, a drain, and a metal oxide gate electrode. The metal gate is electrically insulated from the main semiconductor n-channel or p-channel by a thin layer of insulating material such as, for example, silicon dioxide or a high dielectric constant (high-k) dielectric, which makes the input resistance of the MOSFET relatively high. The gate voltage controls whether the path from drain to source is an open circuit ("off") or a resistive path ("on").
N-type field effect transistors (NFET) and p-type field effect transistors (PFET) are two types of complementary MOSFETs. The NFET uses electrons as the current carriers and with n-doped source and drain junctions. The PFET uses holes as the current carriers and with p-doped source and drain junctions. Complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) general refers to complementary and symmetrical pairs of p-type and n-type MOSFETs for logic functions. A FinFET is a type of MOSFET. The FinFET is a double-gate or multiple-gate MOSFET device that mitigates the effects of short channels and reduces drain-induced barrier lowering. The "fin" refers to the narrow channel between source and drain regions. A thin dielectric layer on either side of the fin separates the fin channel from the gate.
In integrated circuits (ICs) such as those using complemental metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) technology, for example, pitch scaling is done to reduce device dimensions. Traditionally, source and drain contacts result from a contact metal (e.g., tungsten (W)) being used to fill in a trench formed above the source and drain regions. The fill metal is separated from the spacer that is used to form the trench by a liner. In current ICs, these liners have not been scaled along with the contacts. As a result, the volume of contact metal has been reduced according to the reduced contact size.

Recessed metal liner contact with copper fill

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION


Compositions and methods for the detection and treatment of ADHD are provided.

Several publications and patent documents are cited through the specification in order to describe the state of the art to which this invention pertains. Each of these citations is incorporated herein by reference as though set forth in full.
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is the most prevalent neurobiological disorder among children, with an incidence of 6-7% that has remained stable for decades. ADHD is highly heritable, and genetic factors may account for 75%-90% of etiology. Drug treatment is not always effective, particularly in severe cases.
Studies have evaluated genetic polymorphisms or mutations that could be risk factors for developing ADHD. A large-scale, genome-wide study compared data on copy number variations (CNVs) in approximately 3,500 attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) cases to data from approximately 13,000 controls and found that CNVs in genes coding for metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluR proteins or GRM genes) as well as CNVs in genes coding for proteins that interact with mGluRs occur significantly more frequently in ADHD cases compared to controls. (See WO 2012/027491 and U.S. 2013/0203814; Elia et al., Nature Genetics, 44(1): 78-84 (2012).) Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is the most prevalent neurobiological disorder among children, affecting 2-10% of school age children worldwide1,2.
ADHD is characterized by clinically significant and developmentally inappropriate levels of inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity; and may present with predominantly inattentive or hyperactive symptoms or, more commonly, with a combination of both 2 ADHD symptoms are associated with poor academic performance, school failure, risk for substance abuse and negative consequences for family and peer relations 3 and the disease persist into adulthood in up to 60% of the cases2,4,5.
Twin studies show that ADHD has a heritability of 70-80% in both children and adults, which places it as the most heritable psychiatric disorder (reviewed in6,7,8). However, despite this high heritability, the underlying genetic determinants are still largely unknown. Until recently no genome-wide association studies (GWAS) or meta-analyses had unraveled any single locus surpassing the genome-wide level of significance11,12,13,14,15, 16,17,18. This year, the Psychiatrics Genomic Consortium (PGC) has made available on their website (http://www.med.unc.edu/pgc/) the results from the largest meta-analysis performed to date in ADHD involving 20,000 cases and 35,000 controls of European ancestry and report the identification of the first twelve loci reaching genome-wide significance.
As often seen in many complex diseases, the search for genetic factors in ADHD has focused on individuals of European ancestry, and no GWAS has been published to date involving African American (AA) subjects despite potentially higher prevalence and severity of ADHD in children of AA decent (http://adhd.psych.ac.cn/gwasStudies.do), (http://www.med.unc.edu/pgc/).
There is no cure for ADHD, but the symptoms can be managed by combinations of behavior therapy and medications. Stimulants are often misused and abused by qualifying and non-qualifying patients alike. Hence, additional ADHD medications are needed. In addition, given the genetic heterogeneity of ADHD patients, tailoring certain medication regimens to patients based on their underlying genetic profile should also improve ADHD treatment.
Contemporary and emerging treatment paradigms are ideally based on precision medicine, that is, identifying appropriate patients based on biomarkers, including genotype, with a goal of optimizing therapy while minimizing adverse events. The invention described herein addresses this need.

Association of genetic variations to diagnose and treat attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)


An inverter type AC generator includes an inverter circuit converting a DC output into AC output of a predetermined frequency and supplying the AC output to a load via a load line in order to improve the quality of an AC output waveform at least in parallel operations. The inverter AC generator includes a zero-crossing detection circuit for detecting a timing of zero-crossings of an AC output voltage waveform on the output line. A controller generates a drive signal in synchronization with the timing of the detected zero-crossings, when a predetermined number of zero-crossings have been detected, and drives the inverter to perform a synchronized operation process.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an AC generator provided with an inverter. More particularly, the invention relates to an inverter type AC generator that converts a DC output from a DC power source generating unit, which can generate DC power from any energy other than electricity, into an AC output of a certain frequency and is capable of supplying the AC output to a load via an output line.
2. Description of the Related Art
Japanese Publication No. JP-A-S62-77833 illustrates a conventional AC coupling system, in which an electric power converter converts DC power from a DC power source into AC power, which can be connected to an electric power system via a switch. The AC coupling system is designed to allow a synchronization detection circuit to detect an AC voltage of the electric power system and to compare the phase of such AC voltage with a phase of a coupling-point detected voltage on the AC converter side. If both voltage phases match, the AC coupling system is designed to output an operation signal to the switch via a switch operation circuit, thereby turning the switch on. The electric power converter is designed to be driven in synchronization with an AC voltage of the electric power system via a PLL circuit having a phase reference signal and a voltage control circuit.
However, the AC/DC electric power converter described above only controls the voltage phase on its side to match the voltage phase of the electric power system. When both AC output frequencies, including cycles, are mismatched, a high-quality AC output waveform cannot be provided. In addition, since the electric power converter starts the automatic control of the voltage phase at the time the switch is turned on, the phases may not match at an instant when the automatic control starts. In such a case, overcurrent flows-in toward the electric power converter as cross-current via a connecting portion with the electric power system. This may generate an arc in the connecting portion, as well as lead to deficiencies due to heat breakage or deterioration over time.

Inverter type AC generator with a zero-crossing detection circuit used to provide a synchronized operation and method of operating the same

Yamaha Motor Power Products Kabushiki Kaisha


A refrigerator having an air-cleaner is provided. The refrigerator includes a main body with a predetermined storage space defined therein, and an air-cleaner including a case fixed to the main body and having at least an inlet and outlet, a decor panel that linearly reciprocates to selectively open and close the outlet, a filter device that filters air sucked through the inlet, a blower that sucks air through the inlet and discharges the air filtered in the filter device through the outlet, and an anion generator that generates anions which are discharged along with the air through the outlet. The air-cleaner is securely mounted to the upper surface of the refrigerator.

A refrigerator is an electric appliance for keeping foods fresh for a long time by refrigerating or freezing them. Herein, the present invention will be described in connection to a side-by-side type refrigerator in which a freezing chamber and a refrigerating chamber are formed side by side.
FIG. 1 shows a refrigerator having an air-cleaner according to a prior art.
As shown in the figure, an air-cleaner 100 is detachably mounted on an upper surface of a refrigerator 10. The air-cleaner 100 comprises a case 110, filter units 120, a blower 130, and an anion generator 140. The case 110 is provided with inlets I and an outlet O through which air comes in and out. The filter units 120 serve to filter the air sucked through the inlets I. The blower 130 serves to suck the air through the inlets I and discharge the air filtered in the filter units 120 through the outlet O. The anion generator 140 generates anions to be discharged along with the air through the outlet O.
The case 110 includes a blower case 112 and filter cases 116. The blower case 112 is formed in a flat hexahedral shape with open both ends. The filter cases 116 are in communication with the both ends of the blower case 112. The outlet O is formed in a front surface of the blower case 112. The blower 130 and the anion generator 140 are provided in the blower case 112.
In addition, a pair of guide grooves 110a and 110b are formed in a bottom surface of the blower case 112. A pair of guide rails 10a and 10b, which are provided on the upper surface of the refrigerator 10, are inserted into the guide grooves 110a and 110b.
In the meantime, the inlets I are formed in outer ends of the filter cases 116. The filter units 120 are detachably mounted in the filter cases 116. The filter cases 116 are mounted to be movable from side to side in a state where they are fitted into the blower case 112. A pair of support portions 116a are formed on a bottom surface of each of the filter cases 116. The support portions 116a are supported on the upper surface of the refrigerator 10 so that the filter cases can be flush with the blower case 112.
In addition, a suction grille G is mounted in the inlet I. The suction grille G is provided with a filtering net that serves to filter out foreign materials from the air sucked through the inlets I. A filter mount opening 116h and guide ribs 116L are formed in a front surface and on a floor surface of each of the filter cases 116, respectively. The filter mount opening 116h and the guide ribs 116L are for the purpose of mounting and dismounting the filter unit 120.
The filter unit 120 includes a filter drawer 126, an antibiotic filter 122, a dust collection filter 123, and a deodorizing filter 124. The filter drawer 126 is formed in a substantially hexahedral shape with an open upper face. The filter drawer 126 is mounted in the filter case 116 through the filter mount opening 116h.
Although not shown, the filter case 116 and/or the filter drawer 126 are provided with fasteners. The fasteners serve to prevent the filter drawer 126 from being detached from the filter case 116 inadvertently.
The filter drawer 126 is guided by the guide ribs 116L. In addition, a plurality of guide portions 128a are provided in the filter drawer 126. The guide portions 128a serve to secure the filters 122, 123, and 124.
The antibiotic filter 122, the dust collection filter 123, and the deodorizing filter 124 are provided in the filter drawer 126 in this order from its inner end. The antibiotic filter 122, the dust collection filter 123, and the deodorizing filter 124 serve to remove various kinds of bacteria, dust and odor in air.
The blower 130 comprises a blowing fan (not shown), a fan housing 132, and a driving motor (not shown). An axial flow fan, which sucks air in an axial direction and discharges the sucked air in a radial direction, is used as the blowing fan. The blowing fan is installed in the fan housing 132. The driving motor serves to drive the blowing fan. The fan housing 132 is fastened with screws (not shown) to bosses provided on a floor surface of the blower case 112. When the driving motor drives the blowing fan, air is sucked through a lower portion of the fan housing 132 and discharged forward.
In addition, an air guide 134 is provided in the blower case 112. The air guide 134 guides air sucked by the blower 130 through the inlets I to be discharged through the outlet O. The interior of the blower case 112 is divided by the air guide 134 into a suction channel a and a discharge channel b.
In the meantime, the anion generator 140 is installed at a side of the discharge channel b adjacent to the blower 130. Anions generated in the anion generator 140 are discharged through the outlet Q together with the air blown by the blower 130.
A display 152 is provided at a side of the front surface of the blower case 112. The display 152 serves to display an operational state of the air-cleaner 100 to the outside. In addition, an operating unit 154 is provided at the side of the front surface of the blower case 112 adjacent to the display 152. The operating unit 154 receives a variety of signals for operating the air-cleaner 100.
However, the refrigerator having the air-cleaner according to the prior art has the following problems.
In the prior art, by inserting the guide rails 10a and 10b formed on the upper surface of the main body of the refrigerator 10 into the guide grooves 110a and 110b formed on the bottom surface of the case 110, respectively, the air-cleaner 100 is mounted on the refrigerator. However, there is provided no additional means for preventing the guide rails 10a and 10b from moving in a fore and aft direction in a state where the guide rails 10a and 10b are inserted in the guide grooves 110a and 110b. Thus, due to user s carelessness, the air-cleaner 100 may be inadvertently moved when it is installed.
A plurality of louvers are provided for opening and closing the outlet O and controlling the direction of the air discharged through the outlet O. Therefore, the configurations for pivoting the louvers are required as many as the number of the louvers. Accordingly, there are disadvantages in that the number of parts constructing the article is increased and the man-hour needed for the works is also increased.
In addition, while being connected to each other, the louvers pivot together. Thus, if any one of the louvers abnormally operates, the outlet O is not opened and the air-cleaner 100 cannot operate. That is, there is a problem in that the operational reliability of the air-cleaner 100 is deteriorated.
As described above, the filter drawer 126 is shaped as a hexahedron of which the upper and both side faces are opened, so that the filters 122, 123 and 124 can be mounted or dismounted through the opened faces and the air passing through the filters 122, 123 and 124 can flow through the opened faces. Thus, the filter drawer 126 itself or the filters 122, 123 and 124 may be damaged due to external forces exerted through both side faces of the filter drawer 126.
In order to overcome the foregoing problem, there may be provided support ribs for connecting both ends of the front and rear surfaces of the filter drawer 126. However, when such a filter drawer 126 is provided with the support ribs, there is a disadvantage in that a core is needed in addition to two molds in order to injection mold the filter drawer 126.
In addition, the fan housing 132 is fastened with screws to the bosses provided on the bottom surface of the blower case 112. Therefore, vibration generated when the blowing fan installed in the fan housing 132 operates is transmitted to the air-cleaner 100 and the refrigerator through the fan housing 132 and the bosses. Thus, due to the vibration generated when the air-cleaner operates, noise may occur indoors. In addition, due to the vibration, there are problems in that parts of the refrigerator or the air-cleaner 100 may be damaged or the fastened portions thereof are released, and thus, the durability of the article is deteriorated.
In addition, the direction of the discharged air is controlled by allowing the louvers connected to each other to pivot together. Thus, there is a disadvantage in that various directions of the discharged air cannot be embodied according to the use environment.


A device for guiding and supporting a stent delivery catheter and other catheters is disclosed. The device may comprise a tubular guiding member and an elongated positioning member extending in a proximal direction beyond the tubular guiding member for advancing and retracting the tubular guiding member in distal and proximal directions. A distal portion of the elongate positioning member may be coupled to the proximal portion of the tubular guide. In embodiments, the device includes a ribbon having a distal portion and a proximal portion. In embodiments, the distal portion of the ribbon extends distally into the tubular guiding member and the proximal portion of the ribbon overlays an inner surface of the elongate positioning member. Methods for making medical devices and portions of medical devices (e.g., intravascular catheters, catheter shafts, and tubular guiding members) are also provided. Example methods may include providing a first ribbon comprising one or more thermoplastic materials and a piece of shrink tubing defining a shrink tube lumen and forming a first assembly by positioning the first ribbon inside the shrink tube lumen and urging the first ribbon to assume a tubular shape in which the first ribbon defines a ribbon lumen. A second assembly may be formed by loading an inner tubular member over a mandrel and forming or placing a support structure over an outer surface of the inner tubular member. A third assembly may be formed by inserting the second assembly into the ribbon lumen defined by the first ribbon of the first assembly. The third assembly may be heated to a process temperature.

The blood pumping action of the heart muscle is critical to sustaining the life of a patient. In order for the heart to function properly the tissues of the heart muscle must be continuously supplied and re-supplied with oxygen. To receive an adequate supply of oxygen, the heart muscle must be well perfused with blood. In a healthy heart, blood perfusion is accomplished with a system of arteries and capillaries. In some cases, however a build-up of plaque may occur inside an artery. These plaque deposits limit blood flow to the portions of the heart that are supplied by the artery. When these deposits build up in the arteries of the heart, this condition is sometimes referred to as coronary artery disease (CAD). CAD may be treated using relatively non-invasive techniques such as percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) and percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA). These therapeutic techniques typically involve the use of guidewires, balloon catheters, and stents. In these procedures, the balloon catheter is advanced over the guidewire such that the balloon is positioned within a restriction in a diseased vessel. The balloon is then inflated and the restriction in the vessel is opened. To prevent subsequent closure of the vessel or restenosis, a physician may implant a stent. The stent is implanted through the use of a stent delivery system including a stent delivery catheter and a stent.

Systems, methods and apparatus for guiding and supporting catheters and methods of manufacture


Disclosed is a process for producing an N-alkylimidazole which comprises reacting an imidazole with an N-alkylating agent in an organic solvent in the presence of alkali particles having a specific surface area of 0.6 M.sup.2 /g or larger.

N-Alkylimidazoles such as, e.g., 2-alkyl-4-halo-1-(4-halobenzyl)-5-formylimidazoles are useful as raw materials for medicines such as diuretics and hypotensive drugs. In J. Org. Chem., 59, 6391-6394 (1994) is disclosed a method in which 2-n-butyl-4-chloro-5-formylimidazole is reacted with 4-bromobenzyl bromide together with powdery potassium carbonate at -10.degree. C. in N,N-dimethylacetamide to benzylate the imidazole.
However, powdery potassium carbonate has drawbacks in that it is apt to fly off during handling and is highly hygroscopic, although the yield of the target compound in the above method is as high as 93%. Hence, the above method is not always advantageous when practiced on an industrial scale.

The Nippon Synthetic Chemical Industry Co., Ltd.


In a plasma processing method and apparatus for monitoring an operating status of a plasma processing apparatus and/or a processing status of an object being processed, emission spectra emitted from a plasma is obtained as optical data when the plasma process is performed on the object. Quantitative data of each emission source is obtained from the obtained optical data by using reference data in a database storing therein emission spectra of a plurality of emission source as the reference data. The operating status of the plasma processing apparatus and/or the processing status of the object being processed is estimated based on changes in the quantitative data of each emission source.

A conventional plasma processing apparatus for performing a plasma process such as an etching process on an object, e.g., a semiconductor wafer, to be processed, detects intensities of lights emitted from a plasma generated during the etching process, thereby monitoring an operating status of the apparatus or a processing status of the processed object. For example, there is disclosed a technique for monitoring the processing status of the object being processed, e.g., an end point detection of etching (see, e.g., Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. H5-29276).
Such technique monitors emission intensities of activated species of process gas and reaction product emitted during a plasma process, to thereby detect the end point of the etching based on a ratio of the luminous intensities of two wavelengths. In other words, when the etching is completed due to the depletion of objects to be etched, the amount of activated species of process gas that contributes to the reaction starts increasing, and so does the emission intensity of the activated species of process gas. In contrast, since the amount of reaction products is comparatively reduced, the emission intensity thereof is also decreased. Based thereon, changes in the ratio of the emission intensity of process gas to that of reaction product are detected, thereby enabling an accurate end point detection of the etching.
Recently, as semiconductor devices becomes more compact, holes formed in a semiconductor wafer, for example, are also required to have a smaller opening ratio. However, monitoring the changes in the emission intensities of only two wavelengths of the activated species of process gas and the reaction products as described above is not sufficient to improve the accuracy of detecting the processing status, e.g., the end point detection of the etching.
Further, in case a noise is mixed in a sensor for detecting changes in the emission intensities of wavelengths in plasma, it is difficult to accurately detect the end point of the etching and estimate whether or not the plasma is stable in a processing chamber of the plasma processing apparatus, thereby deteriorating the accuracy of estimating a processing status of an object being processed or an operating status of a semiconductor manufacturing apparatus.


A semiconductor device includes a first channel, a second channel, a first strained gate electrode including a first lattice-mismatched layer for applying a first stress to the first channel, and a second strained gate electrode including a second lattice-mismatched layer for applying a second stress to the second channel.

1. Field
Embodiments of the present invention relate to a transistor including a stressed channel, a method for fabricating the same, and an electronic device including the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
An electronic device is realized using a plurality of transistors. As transistors are scaled down, ways of improving the performance of transistors become increasingly important. For example, one way of improving transistor performance is to increase a driving current so that the transistor can perform high-speed operations.

Transistor including a stressed channel, a method for fabricating the same, and an electronic device including the same


Disclosed is a recording apparatus for recording a plurality of audio-visual contents stored in a HD to a writable DVD. A drive controller copies at least one of the contents stored in the HD to the DVD. If the available capacity of the DVD left after the copying falls short to copy a remaining content, the remaining content is re-encoded prior to being recorded in the DVD. The bit rate to be allocated to the remaining content upon re-encoding is calculated from the available capacity of the DVD and the reproduction time of the remaining content to be re-encoded.

(1) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a recording apparatus, such as a hybrid type recorder, that performs a dual function as a DVD recorder for a DVD (Digital Versatile Disc) and an HD recorder for an HD (hard disk), as well as to a recording program and a recording method. More particularly, the present invention relates to an improvement in a technique for making a backup copy of a content recorded in one recording medium in another recording medium.
(2) Description of the Related Art
Manufacturers of DVD recorders and HD recorders are now competing fiercely to develop better products to capture the market for replacements of home use VCRs. DVDs and HDs respectively have their merits and demerits, and it is difficult to decide which are superior to which. For this reason, the consumer electronics manufacturers have started to commercially introduce hybrid type recorders that perform a dual-function as a DVD recorder and a HD recorder.
Internally equipped with a large-capacity HD of, e.g., 80 gigabytes, such a hybrid type recorder is capable of temporarily storing contents equivalent to half a day or whole day broadcasting. The user is then selectively copies, from the HD to a DVD, contents that are worth saving permanently out of a number of temporarily stored contents. With the full use of this copy function from the HD to a DVD, a number of contents stored in the HD are easily organized.
However, there is a problem as follows. That is, due to the difference between an HD and a DVD in storage capacity, there may be a case where contents can not be copied into a DVD in the combination that the user desires. To be more specific, consideration is give to an example in which a user desires to copy three of the contents stored in the HD into one DVD. In such a case, the hybrid type recorder starts to copy the contents one by one after confirming that the capacity of the DVD remaining available is sufficient to record the content. Here, it is possible that, after storing the first two contents, the available capacity is slightly short for recording the third content, and the recording apparatus informs the user that the DVD is full. In this case, the third content can not be recorded unless the user has another DVD available at hand. In addition, even if the user does have another DVD, the third content ends up being recorded on a separate DVD from the first and the second contents. This is especially undesirable when the three contents are three serials that together complete one drama. Un like when they are stored in the HD, the three contents are separately recorded on more than one DVDs. Thus, the three contents are no longer treated as one set of data although they all belong to one serialized drama, which may be frustrating for the user.

Recording apparatus, recording program, and recording method

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


A package for a semiconductor substrate capable of being fabricated with a desirable heat radiation capability. The package includes a laminate metal substrate consisting of a metal plate, an insulator provided on the metal plate, and copper foil provided on the insulator. The metal plate is patterned to form heat spreaders/ground planes and a plurality of solitary land patterns electrically insulated from each other. The copper foil forms wings and an island pattern. The wirings and island pattern are respectively electrically connected to the land patterns and heat spreaders/ground planes by via holes and heat radiation via holes. When the island pattern is provided with ground potential, the heat spreaders/ground planes are also provided with ground potential. At the same time, the heat spreaders/ground planes efficiently release heat output from the rear of an LSI (Large Scaled Integrated Circuit) to the outside of the package.

The present invention relates to package for a semiconductor device and, more particularly, to a package for a semiconductor device and including a metal substrate.
A package for a semiconductor device called BGA packages are taught in, e.g., Japanese Patent Application No. 7-127395 (Proir Art 1 hereinafter), "ELECTRONIC NEWS", Monday Mar. 6, 1995 (Prior Art 2 hereinafter), and "OVER MOLDED PAD ARRAY CARRIER (OMPACK)", presented by Jim Sloan et al at The FIRST VLSI PACKAGING WORKSHOP, Nov.-Dec., 1992 (Prior Art 3 hereinafter). However, Prior Arts 1-3 each has some problems left unsolved, as follows.
Prior Art 1 lowers productivity because it removes an insulator and copper foil over a broad area for mounting an LSI (Large Scale Integrated Circuit). Specifically, via holes and a cavity each have a large size which lowers process stability, i.e., etching accuracy. In addition, because the LSI is directly mounted to a copper plate wia a mounting material, a stress occurs between the LSI and the copper plate due to a difference in thermal expansion.
Prior Art 2 positions a silicon chip on the same side as solder bumps. Therefore, an area for forming the solder bumps is available only around the silicon chip, obstructing a multipin arrangement. Prior Art 2 also causes a stress to occur between the silicon chip and a copper plate.
Prior Art 3 includes a heat radiation path extending from the surface of a silicon chip to solder bumps via a front copper foil wiring pattern, metal plating on the walls of heat radiation via holes, and a rear copper foil wiring pattern. However, the heat radiation path is so long, resistance to heat required of the package cannot be reduced beyond a certain limit. Moreover, a substrate is formed of glass epoxy which is extremely low in thermal conductivity and makes it extremely difficult to noticeably reduce resistance to heat.
Technologies relating to the present invention are also taught in, e.g., Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 61-288495.


Mechanisms are provided for the sharing of graphics adapter resources among multiple partitions in a virtual machine environment. A first mechanism allows for the sharing of graphics adapter resources so that one partition, a video service partition, containing a graphics proxy process, can use this graphics proxy process to offer graphics adapter resources to another partition, a video client partition. The graphics proxy process controls access time by any given partition to the graphics adapter resources. In one aspect, it uses a time bank to control access time, and the time bank controls how long a virtual graphics adapter offered to the video client partition can access the graphics adapter resources. A second mechanism synchronizes virtual memory in the video client partition to virtual memory in the video service partition. A third mechanism allows for multiple video client partition overlays using a pixel-shader-based virtual overlay mechanism.

In a typical virtual machine environment, multiple virtual machines or "partitions" run on top of virtualizing software. This software, in turn, runs on top of hardware. The virtualizing software exposes the hardware in such a fashion that allows for a plurality of partitions, each with its own operating system (OS), to run on the hardware. The hardware is thus virtualized for the partitions by the virtualizing software.
Individual partitions are able to run disparate OSes, such as Windows, Linux, Solaris, MacOS and so on. These OSes can be isolated from each other such that if one OS in a partition crashes it will not affect other OSes in other partitions. Additionally, allowing multiple OSes to run on a single piece of hardware but in different partitions makes it easy to run different versions of software developed for different versions or types of OSes.
With regard to graphics programs running in various partitions, graphics resources for such programs should be sharable between the various partitions. Graphics resources include surfaces, textures, vertex buffers, index buffers, etc., that are used to render scenes. Applications need to create, load, copy, and use such resources. For example, textures are a powerful tool in creating realism in computer-generated 3-D images. Early computer-generated 3-D images, although generally advanced for their time, tended to have a shiny plastic look. They lacked the types of markings, such as scuffs, cracks, fingerprints, and smudges, that give 3-D objects realistic visual complexity. Some programs support an extensive texturing feature set, providing developers with easy access to advanced texturing techniques.
As another example, vertex buffers, which may be represented by some interface, are memory buffers that contain vertex data. Vertex buffers can contain any vertex type, transformed or untransformed, lit or unlit, that can be rendered through the use of the rendering methods. The vertices can be processed in a vertex buffer to perform operations such as transformation, lighting, or generating clipping flags. The flexibility of vertex buffers make them ideal staging points for reusing transformed geometry. Of course, textures and vertex buffers are merely two examples of graphics resources. As mentioned, surfaces, index buffers, and other graphics resources are contemplated herein, as those of ordinary skill in the art would readily recognize. An important problem lies in making sure that various partitions in a virtual machine environment have the appropriate access to such graphics resources.

Resource management for virtualization of graphics adapters


The invention concerns fractions from echinoderms of the class Holothuroidea (sea cucumber) that can be used directly as active therapeutic agents or as raw materials in producing biologically active derivatives thereof. The fractions can be used alone or in combination and are derived from a) the epithelial layer, free of muscle and collagenous tissues, b) the isolated flower, or c) the whole body wall substantially free muscle, viscera and flower. The invention also concerns processes for obtaining these fractions that involve the use of thermal/mechanical and/or enzymatic means.

Pharmaceutical companies are expanding efforts to screen and assay biologically active compounds from natural sources. The term that has been applied to this discovery process is "bio-prospecting." When bio-prospecting is successful in finding and identifying promising compounds, efforts are then made to determine and perfect the process by which the compound is produced in its active form. Useful processes develop from these bio-prospecting discoveries, as well as useful compositions of matter and methods of using the same.
The sea cucumbers constitute the taxonomic Class Holothuroidea, Phylum Echinodermata. They possess an elongated body comprising a thick, leathery body wall of epithelial and collagenous layers surrounding the internal organs or viscera, an anterior mouth surrounded by numerous retractile tentacles (herein referred to as the "flower"), and a posterior portion comprising cloaca and anus. Muscle bands are found along the length of the interior surface of the body wall.
Sea cucumbers are a well-known Chinese delicacy harvested from many areas of the world and are a valuable trading resource in Chinese-speaking countries. There are a number of patent applications by Chinese groups relating to sea cucumbers as nutritional supplements (e.g., Chinese application CN 1065019) and patents or applications from Japanese groups relating to various carbohydrate moieties from sea cucumber as anticoagulants (JP 94070085 B2; WO 9008784) and as active components for treating AIDS (WO 9202231; WO 9009181). Historically, sea cucumbers for the worldwide market have been harvested, boiled with the muscles intact, and then salted and dried over an open flame. Salting and drying are the traditional methods of obtaining a product that is safe for storage and transportation. Nutritional supplements have been prepared by finely dividing these salted and fire-dried sea cucumber body walls for use in encapsulated products.
Sea cucumber tissue has been found to contain numerous compounds having potential as biologically active agents in medical and veterinary applications. These include sulfated polysaccharides (e.g. fucosylated chondroitin sulfate, Viera & Mourao, JBC, vol. 263, pp. 18176-83 (1988)) sterol glycosides, saponins (e.g., frondogenin and its glycosides, Findlay et al., J. Natural Products, vol. 47, pp. 320-324 (1984)), lactones (e.g., triterpenoid lactones, their acetates and glycosides, Findlay et al., supra), peptides, protamines, glycogens, saccharides (e.g. fucose, galactosamine, glucuronic acid, quinovose, xylose or O-methylglucose, Findlay et al., supra), polysaccharides (e.g., polyfucose sulfate, WO 9202231) and various amorphous compounds rich in saccharide moieties (Findlay et al., supra).
Given the lack in the art of refined methods for purifying active fractions from sea cucumber tissues, the biological properties of sea cucumber tissues have been poorly characterized and poorly understood, and their potential as sources of biologically active agents has been little-investigated.

Process for obtaining medically active fractions from sea cucumbers


Siliconimides, which contain cross-linkable, functional groups, having the general formula ##STR1## in which the Q residues contain the functional groups.

Polyimides are plastics with many technical uses. Various methods are known for producing polyimides, particularly where the preparation takes place in a two-stage polycondensation reaction of a tetracarboxylic acid dianhydride with a diamine in solution. In the first stage, a polyamido carboxylic acid is obtained, which in the second stage is transformed thermally--at temperatures up to 400.degree. C.--or chemically--with dehydrating agents--under dehydration into the polyimide. According to this method, both purely carbonorganic polyimides as well as siliconimides can be produced. U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,325,450, 3,847,867 and 4,558,110, for example, describe the preparation of siliconimides from organic anhydrides and amino functional silicones. The preparation of siliconimides from anhydride-functional silicones and organic dismines is known from the German Published Patent Application 38 03 088, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,404,350 and 4,794,153.
Another way to produce polyimides is by reacting isocyanates with carboxylic acid anhydrides while separating carbon dioxide (see, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,021,412). Lewis acids and tertiary amines catalyze this reaction, but the admixture of small quantities of alcohol or water is also believed to have an advantageous effect (see German Published Patent Application 19 58 900 as well as Polym. Prepr., vol. 9 (1968), pp. 1581 to 1586).
German Published Patent Application 37 01 249 discloses a method for producing alkoxy- and aryloxy-substituted aromatic polyimides, in which in an initial reaction aromatic diisocyanates blocked with 1,3-imidazole are produced. They are subsequently made to react in a dipolar, aprotic solvent, suitably in the presence of a catalyst, with aromatic tetracarboxylic acid dianhydrides. The high-molecular, purely carbon-organic polyimides prepared in solution in this manner, which do not exhibit any cross-linkable functions, can be processed in the solution, or rather are plastically deformable in the melt.


An image forming apparatus includes an image forming body, a locking unit blocking movement of at least one movable object of the image forming body, and a control unit controlling a locking state of the locking unit and a releasing state of the locking unit. The locking unit includes a latching member provided on one of the at least one movable object and provided with a latching depression, a supporting member provided on the image forming body, and a locking member movably supported by the supporting member so as to be insertable into and removable from the latching depression of the latching member.

1. Field of the Invention
An aspect of the present invention relates to an image forming apparatus and an image reading apparatus. More specifically, an aspect of the present invention relates to an image forming apparatus and an image reading apparatus in which movable objects (for example, an image reading unit, an opening/closing member, a recording material cassette, and the like) are locked so as not to move when a product is shipped, and a locking structure is automatically released when the product is unpacked and used for the first time by a user.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, apparatuses such as a digital photocopier, a facsimile machine, a printer, and a multifunction device having an image reading section, an image forming section, and an automatic document conveyer are known.
The image reading section is a device for reading image information of supplied documents, and the image forming section is a device for printing images on recording materials based on the image information read by the image reading section. The automatic document conveyer is a device for supplying documents one sheet at a time to a reading position of the image reading section, and ejecting documents to a document ejection tray after the documents have been read.
FIG. 1 shows a configuration of a conventional image forming apparatus disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 10-293431 published on Nov. 4, 1998, and FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a configuration of an image reading section of the image forming apparatus in FIG. 1.
Referring to FIG. 1, an image forming apparatus includes an image reading section 1s for reading images of documents S and B, and an image forming section 1p for forming images on recording materials based on the image information read by the image reading section 1s.
A pressing panel 1 is installed on a frame 2 with hinges 1h to rotate through a certain angular range about a hinge axis 1g.
Referring to FIG. 2, a document stacking tray 1c is provided on the top of the pressing panel 1 in order to stack documents S. A document ejecting conveyer 5 is provided at the upper portion of the pressing panel 1. The document ejecting conveyer 5 includes a preliminary conveyance roller 1d and a preliminary conveyance pressing panel 5a for conveying the documents S from the document stacking tray 1c, and a separating pad 5b and a separating roller 1e for separating the documents S that are conveyed by the preliminary conveyance roller 1d and the preliminary conveyance pressing panel 5a into individual sheets. In addition, the document ejecting conveyer 5 includes a document feed roller if and a paper feed roller 5c for feeding the documents S to a reading unit 6, with the paper feed roller 5c being pressed against the document feed roller if by a pressing panel spring (not shown).
A contact image sensor 4 is installed at a curved portion of a conveyance path, and a document pressing roller 5d for pressing and conveying the documents on the conveyance path is installed opposite the contact image sensor 4. The document pressing roller 5d is elastically pressed by a press spring 5i in the direction of the conveyance path, and if a document S enters the reading unit 6, the document S is pressed by the document pressing roller 5d and conveyed while being in contact with a document base glass 2a.
The image reading section 1s described above can operate in either a flat-bed mode in which a stationary document is read, or a sheet-through mode in which a moving document is read.
In the flat-bed reading mode, a document B is placed on the document base glass 2a, and when the pressing plate 1 is rotated about the hinge axis 1g, the document B is pressed against the document base glass 2a. Then, the contact image sensor 4 moves in the direction of the arrow A, and reads an image of the document B placed on the document base glass 2a.
In the sheet-through reading mode, the contact image sensor 4 stands still at the position of the reading unit 6 and reads an image of a moving document S. The documents S placed on the document stacking tray 1c are first conveyed by the preliminary conveyance roller 1d and the preliminary conveyance pressing panel 5a, and are then separated into individual sheets by the separating roller 1e that is in contact with the separating pad 5b. Thereafter, the documents S are conveyed to the reading unit 6 by the paper feed roller 5c against which the document feed roller If is pressed by the pressing panel spring.
At the reading unit 6, the documents S are conveyed while being in contact with a surface of the document pressing roller 5d, and images of the documents S are read by the contact image sensor 4. The document pressing roller 5d is elastically pressed in the direction of the conveyance path by the press spring 5i, and prevents the documents S from floating on the document base glass 2a.
FIG. 3 shows an example of an image forming apparatus with a locking device 20 that holds an image reading sensor, such as the contact image sensor 4 described above, so that it does not move.
The image forming apparatus in FIGS. 1-2 described above uses a locking device 20 as shown in FIG. 3 to hold the contact image sensor 4 so that it does not move when the image forming apparatus is shipped.
Accordingly, a user can use the image reading section 1s only after the locking device 20 is released. If the locking device 20 is not released due to a user's mistake, the image reading section 1s cannot be used properly, and if serious problems occur as a result, service must be called for.
Conventionally, only a locking device 20 for locking an image reading sensor is provided. However, an image forming apparatus includes several easily movable parts, such as the pressing panel 1 and an opening/closing member for opening/closing the image forming section 1p described above, a recording material cassette for supplying recording materials on which images are printed based on the image information read by the contact image sensor 4, and the like. Therefore, in order to prevent the easily movable parts described above from moving when the image forming apparatus is shipped, packing materials must be carefully selected, and special fixing materials must be additionally attached to fix the easily movable parts in place to prevent them from moving.

Image forming apparatus and image reading apparatus with locking unit for locking movable object


A portion between a front end of an air guide plates, which forms an air duct portion, and the front exterior member of the vehicle is sealed by a seal portion. Therefore, hot air leaking from inside of an engine room, is positively prevented from being drawn into the air duct portion after it flows around the front end of the air guide plate.

1. [Field of the Invention]
This invention relates to a structure of a front portion of a vehicle body.
2. [Description of the Related Art]
There is known a conventional front portion structure of a vehicle body (as disclosed in JP-A-2001-213352 and JP-A-2001-080371) in which a picture frame-like air duct portion is provided on a front side of a radiator core support member, and cooling air (outside air) can be fed to a heat exchanger of a condenser or a radiator portion through the air duct portion.
The air duct portion is made of a relatively hard synthetic resin, and therefore it is difficult to reduce a gap between the air duct portion and a front exterior member (such as a bumper fascia and a radiator grille), provided on the front side of this air duct portion, to zero.
Therefore, there is a possibility that hot air, leaking from the inside of an engine room through a gap in each of headlamp holding portions of the radiator core support member, flows around each of opposite side portions of the air duct portion, and then is drawn into the air duct portion through a gap between a front end of the side portion and the front exterior member, and again flows into the heat exchanger, so that the cooling efficiency thereof is lowered.

Structure of front portion of vehicle body


An operation control system for a small-sized vehicle is capable of reducing an electric power consumption of a battery used for a power steering apparatus. The operation control system includes a main switch configured to turn on/off an engine, and a power switch function configured to turn on/off an electric motor-driven power steering apparatus supplying an assisting steering force to a steering shaft.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to, for example, a small-sized vehicle such as a saddle type three-wheel vehicle or four-wheel vehicle used for farming, an ATV (All Terrain Vehicle) for sportive traveling off road, a golf cart, and other small-sized vehicles. More specifically, the present invention relates to a small-sized vehicle having a power steering apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
Generally, a small-sized vehicle used for traveling off-road has the following structure. Front and rear wheels each having a balloon tire with low pressure and wide diameter are disposed at front and rear portions of a vehicle body frame, and an engine unit is mounted between the front and rear wheels. Further, a steering shaft is arranged between the left and right front wheels, and a wheel-type steering handle or a bar-type steering handle is attached to the upper end of the steering shaft. A small-sized vehicle of this kind can travel off-road at will by turning the steering handle from side to side.
In recent years, some users expect further operational improvements when maneuvering the small-sized vehicle so as to reduce a load on operating the steering handle.
Accordingly, an electric motor-driven power steering apparatus which is connected to a steering shaft to thereby supply the steering shaft with an assisting steering force from the electric motor has been suggested.
In the case of the electric motor-driven type, a relatively large battery capacity is required. In order to reduce the weight of a vehicle having the electric motor-driven power steering apparatus, electric power consumption is required to be reduced, such that the battery capacity can be reduced.

Operation control system for small-sized vehicle


A method for purifying N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone (NVP) is disclosed. The method comprises crystallizing NVP in the presence of added water to produce purified NVP crystals and a mother liquor, and then isolating the purified crystals. In a preferred method, 0.5 to 4 wt. % of water based on the amount of NVP to be purified is added, and the NVP crystals are washed with additional pure NVP, preferably NVP crystal melt, to give crystals having a purity greater than 99.99%. The method provides a fast, effective way to generate and isolate pure NVP in a single-stage crystallization.

N-Vinyl-2-pyrrolidone (NVP) is a monomer used for making crosslinked or uncrosslinked polyvinylpyrrolidones, vinyl pyrrolidone-vinyl ester copolymers, and other valuable polymers. The polymers are used in beverage clarification, hair care, pharmaceutical tablet binding, and other industrial applications.
NVP is commonly purified by fractional distillation to remove unreacted starting materials and side-products. For a recent example, see U.S. Pat. No. 6,436,243. It can also be purified by treatment with an acidic ion-exchange resin (see U.S. Pat. No. 5,039,817). Fractional distillation provides "industrial grade" NVP that is 98–99.5% pure, but this purity level can be inadequate for beverage clarification, cosmetics, and pharmaceutical uses. In particular, industrial grade NVP often contains traces of close-boiling impurities such as 2-pyrrolidone (2-Py), N-ethylpyrrolidone (NEP), and gamma-butyrolactone (GBL).
Multi-stage, melt crystallization is used to upgrade industrial grade NVP to "pharmaceutical grade" NVP, which is more than 99.9% pure, and often more than 99.99% pure. The process is costly, requires expensive equipment, and is time-consuming. In a melt crystallization process, NVP is cooled below 14° C. (its nominal freezing point) to promote crystallization. As crystals form, they are separated from the mother liquor. The process is repeated to achieve a desired purity level. Unfortunately, because the NVP is usually quite pure already, the temperature must be controlled with great care to prevent the entire mass from rapidly solidifying or to prevent already-crystallized NVP from melting back into the mother liquor. Separating and handling crystals that are at a temperature only slightly below their melting point is difficult, as the crystals tend to melt quickly with even a slight temperature increase or disturbance.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,329,021 describes a melt crystallization process in which NVP is cooled 1° C. to 5° C. below its freezing point to induce crystal formation, the crystals are separated from the remaining mother liquor and are liquified, and the purified liquid is subjected to one or more additional crystallization stages. This process suffers from the need for careful temperature control, rapid freezing of supercooled liquid to a solid mass, and rapid melting of isolated crystals. Thus, there is a premium on the ability to control temperature accurately and precisely. The tight temperature window makes it difficult to separate the crystals from the mother liquor, thus reducing the efficacy of the crystallization step.
In another approach, crystallizer surfaces are covered with a seed layer of crystallized NVP to induce crystallization of the impure NVP liquid (see U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,710,284 and 5,755,975). This method reduces the reliance on supercooling but otherwise suffers from most of the drawbacks noted above.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,703,511 teaches to improve the crystallization process by adding a side-purification routine. Mother liquor from the first crystallization stage is distilled or is subjected to an extractive workup to remove impurities. The purified mother liquor is then returned to the crystallizer. An ideal crystallization method for NVP would sidestep supplemental purification schemes.
The industry would benefit from better ways to purify NVP. In particular, an improved way of crystallizing industrial grade NVP to produce pharmaceutical grade NVP is needed. Preferably, the method would overcome the need for expensive equipment, precise temperature control, multiple crystallizations, or seeding techniques. An ideal method would provide NVP crystals that can be easily isolated from the mother liquor and can be handled or transferred without rapid remelting.
Recently, we found that adding water to NVP depresses both the melting and freezing points of the NVP/water mixture, but it does so differentially. This interesting observation prompted us to devise conditions under which NVP can be effectively and efficiently purified by crystallization.

Method for crystallizing N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone


A lens holder holds a plurality of lenses aligned in a direction of an optical axis. This lens holder is at least partially assembled from subunits divided on a plane that includes the optical axis. In a connecting shell that connects a first shell and a second shell and holds an optical element for bending an optical path, an optical path of only one subunit is effectively used. The connecting shell includes a first connecting structure for connecting to the first shell and second connecting structures for connecting to the second shell, the second connecting structures being disposed at two symmetrical positions around the first optical axis.

The present invention relates to a holder for a lens system that is suited to an image display device that magnifies and projects, onto a screen, an image displayed on a light modulator, such as a liquid crystal display device, a DMD, or the like, to a lens unit in which such lens system is incorporated, and to an image display device having such lens unit.
A lens unit used in a camera, projector, or the like is produced by holding a lens system composed of a plurality of lenses in a cylindrical holder which is then incorporated in an apparatus. Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2002-40308 discloses a lens apparatus constructed by holding a plurality of lenses in lens holding cylinders with the lenses sandwiched between contact surfaces of the lens holding cylinders and pressing rings.
To hold a plurality of lenses at predetermined positions, the above lens apparatus needs to have a large number of lens holding cylinders and a large number of pressing rings. This means, not only a large number of components but also a considerable time are required for assembling.
Also known is a rear-projection-type projector (hereinafter simply "rear projector") that uses a projection lens to project projecting light from a light modulator (a light valve or an image forming device), which forms an image by modulating light according to an image signal, onto a screen from the rear surface of the screen.
As a rear projector, a projector that uses a lens unit to magnify and project an image formed by a light modulating device such as a liquid crystal display (LCD) device or a DMD (digital mirror device) onto a screen from behind the screen is also known. Such rear projectors can produce a large image in spite of being slim in depth, and therefore are being subjected to much attention as next generation image display apparatuses. To display a high-resolution image on a par with a conventional high-resolution television using a rear projector, a lens unit with high optical performance that includes a high aberration-correcting performance and limited fluctuation in focal distance due to temperature is required.
In such a lens unit, there are many lenses to be held by lens holders and there are rising demands on the lens holders used to hold the lenses at predetermined positions. On the other hand, to mass produce rear projectors at low cost as domestic appliances, it is necessary to manufacture lens units with a large number of lenses at low cost and in a short time while maintaining high performance.
Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. H06-138386 discloses a projector where a prism or mirror that bends the optical path is disposed midway in a lens group that composes a lens system to change the optical path.


A module, comprising: a door disposed on a front face of the module; a tray is accessible through the door, the tray including a slot to accept a memory module, wherein the memory module includes a plurality of slots for memory devices and wherein the tray is extendable from a recessed position within the module to a position extended from the module, to allow insertion of the memory module in the tray; and an interface to connect the memory module to a host.

Computing devices may utilize pools of memory. A memory pool may include a large amount of physical memory. In some cases, the memory pool may be accessed through multiple switch hops (as in, the memory may be connected to the computing device through multiple switches) from the computing device that may use the memory pool, thus introducing latency. In another case, creating a memory pool in different types of computing devices may not be possible due to thermal constraints. Additionally, the computing device may have limited physical space.

Hewlett Packard Enterprise Development LP


An apparatus for generating a rotational movement of a shaft with a first device for generating a rotational movement, driving a first drive path, and a second device for generating a rotational movement, driving a second drive path, at least one rotatable planet pinion being arranged on the shaft and the first drive path engaging with the planet pinion via an inner toothed wheel work of a ring gear and the second drive path engaging with the planet pinion via an outer toothed wheel work of a sun wheel.

Conventional mechanical and electromechanical systems sometimes utilize rotational movement in association with drive path configurations. For example, European Patent No. EP 0 913 600 A1 discloses a system that sets a shaft in a rotational movement via several drive paths. The use of several drive paths driven independently of each other serves in this case essentially to create a redundancy of the overall drive system in order that, if one drive path fails, the shaft can continue to be rotated by the other remaining drive paths. Such so-called "redundant drives" have been implemented in association with increased safety requirements, such as in aircraft construction or the like. The disadvantage of conventional redundant drives is that as a rule such devices require a relatively large amount of space and possess a relatively high number of mobile parts.
In order to remove this disadvantage, it is already known to use planet pinion drives according to the preamble. Such drives are depicted, for example, in British Patent GB 610746 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,898,582. With such drives it is provided that when one drive path fails the other drive path remaining in each case can "take over" the rotation of the shaft. The remaining drive path can be started immediately after the other drive path has failed, without a coupling or the like having to be changed for this purpose. In both the named documents it is however still provided that only one of the two drive paths is operating while the other is at rest.
One conventional method of operation is disclosed in DE 20 012 242 U1. Here the torque is essentially transmitted by the second drive path to the shaft, while the first drive path is used merely to compensate for and correct an error in the speed or torque of the other drive path. The main load is thus permanently borne by the second drive path, while the first drive path is connected for correction purposes only when needed, but must then work at very different speeds. The disadvantage of the method of operation disclosed in DE 20 012 242 U1 is that the individual drive paths are loaded at very varying forces and also non-uniformly, which leads to a clear reduction of their life. However, this is precisely what is not desirable in the case of drives in which redundancy plays an important part.

System for generating a rotational movement of a shaft


A stun grenade includes a housing having at least a portion that is not opaque; a light output section disposed in the housing, the light output section comprising a pyrotechnic material; a fuze coupled to the housing, the fuze including a time delay column inserted into the housing; and a noise output section comprising a lower portion of the time delay column and a pyrotechnic material disposed in the lower portion of the time delay column. The light output section and the noise output section are initiated at different times.

The invention relates in general to stun grenades and in particular to flash-bang type stun grenades.
To shock and distract an adversary during a forced entry, the adversary can be shocked by creating a loud noise and a bright flash. Currently there are "flash-bang" stun grenades on the market that accomplish this through a pyrotechnic (energetic) means. The pyrotechnic approach to creating the "flash-bang" has limitations because the pyrotechnic mix is an integral combination of the flash and bang mixes. An advantage would be gained if each feature were to be independent of the other. Additionally, the current pyrotechnic design technology is limited in its ability to prevent the combustion of adjacent materials as the stun grenade is initiated. The violent reaction of the energetics is difficult to control using known designs.
It is an object of the invention to provide a flash-bang stun grenade having separate flash and bang sections.
One aspect of the invention is a stun grenade comprising a housing having at least a portion that is not opaque; a light output section disposed in the housing, the light output section comprising a pyrotechnic material; a fuze coupled to the housing, the fuze including a time delay column inserted into the housing; and a noise output section comprising a lower portion of the time delay column and a pyrotechnic material disposed in the lower portion of the time delay column.
The grenade may further comprise a protective cover disposed around at least the noise output section.
In one embodiment, the light output section may comprise a second housing having at least a portion that is not opaque, the second housing being disposed in an upper portion of the housing, the time delay column being inserted through the second housing, and the time delay column including a port that opens into the second housing.
In a second embodiment, the housing may comprise upper and lower portions, the upper portion housing the noise output section and the lower portion housing the light output section.
The second embodiment may further comprise a firing pin disposed adjacent a bottom of the time delay column and a primer charge disposed adjacent the firing pin, the primer charge communicating with the light output section.
Another aspect of the invention is a method of using a stun grenade comprising igniting a light output section at a first time; and igniting a noise output section at a second time that is different than the first time.
The invention will be better understood, and further objects, features, and advantages thereof will become more apparent from the following description of the preferred embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army


The invention is a mechanism for selectively fixing the angular relationship of two pivotaly related structural members in finite steps using a manually actuated, cam-activated gear lock. This provides an adjustable and selectively lockable angular relationship. Fixed and moveable cylindrical cams and a concentric face gear/clutch are used. In one application, the mechanism is incorporated into a four bar linkage.

A common problem for designers is the provision of an adjustable, rotational-relationship between two structural members. It can be especially important that this relationship between two structural elements be selectively adjustable and that the structure provides the ability to lock and unlock any selected angle at will. Various solutions are seen. The foot rests used in the seats of commercial aircraft are a typical application as is a means to adjust the rotational position of an arm relative to a frame from which it is fixed. Some examples of mechanisms from the prior art follow:
Geyer, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,699,698, teaches a logarithmic cam mounted on a shaft offset to permit unlocking.
Erickson, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,482,417, provides a self locking mechanism uses a shaft mounted cam with the cam surfaces on the periphery of a centrally opened cylinder.
Barnes, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,530,999, teaches an axial locking device with locking balls wherein slider teeth push against rotor teeth which are spring loaded.
Thumm, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,202,227, shows a mechanism in which an axial face of a driving ring has cam surfaces engageable with cam surfaces on a moveable locking ring which has gear teeth mating with teeth on a flange.
All of the above are serviceable solutions to the basic problem. All, however, lack the simplicity which is one object of the instant invention. Other objects of this invention are provision of a positive lock against torque applied to the members while maintaining a low unlocking force suitable to manual operation, and a relatively low cost to fabricate.


A method is provided for sending at least a first data signal and a second data signal, the data being divided into data blocks of fixed size including a header field of predetermined size, the data signals being sent to at least one data processing device adapted to apply a cyclic autocorrelation function with parameter k enabling the first and second data signals to be identified. The value of the parameter k is a function of a ratio between the size of the data blocks and the predetermined size of the header field. The method includes modifying the size of the header field of the data blocks before sending the first data signal, the value of the parameter k and the size of the data blocks remaining unchanged. A method is also provided for processing signals sent in accordance with the sending method.

In the remainder of the present document, a set of emitting/receiving devices in such a network or system share the same transmission channel to communicate with one another. These devices are divided into two groups: a first group constituting a central point and a second group consisting of users. In such systems, all emitting/receiving devices of the central point receive data signals sent by all user emitting/receiving devices and vice-versa, even if those signals are not intended for them. To identify the various data signals received by a emitting/receiving device it is necessary to separate them, for example in order to determine the response of the transmission channel set up between first and second emitting/receiving devices. The response of the channel is a function representing the attenuation of the channel, for example. Access networks and local area networks are examples of such networks.
In a system such as that described above, in the downlink direction, the emitting/receiving device of a given end user receives all data signals sent by one or more emitting/receiving devices of a central node even if only one of those data signals is in fact intended for it. Similarly, in the uplink direction, a emitting/receiving device at the central node receives all data signals sent by one or more of the end user emitting/receiving devices.
A consequence of this is that the data signal received by the emitting/receiving device of an end user contains not only the data signal intended for them but also data signals sent in the same direction by other emitting/receiving devices of the central node, attenuated to a greater or lesser degree, but nevertheless perceptible, according to whether communication between the various emitting/receiving devices is by wire or wireless, e.g. radio communication. These unwanted data signals cause interference that disrupts reception of the data signal intended for the emitting/receiving device.
To correct the effects of such interference, it is necessary to know the response of the various channels of the system in the frequency or time domain.
However, it is difficult to obtain this data, especially when installing a new link or eliminating an existing link or when reinitializing the system. This difficulty stems from the fact that each emitting/receiving device at the central node and each end user emitting/receiving device receives a plurality of data signals.
It is then difficult to know the frequency response of the new link, for example, because it is impossible to identify the data signal conveyed by the new link among the plurality of data signals received.
The paper entitled "Blind Channel Identification and Equalization in OFDM-Based Multiantenna Systems", Bölcskei et al., IEEE Transactions on Signal Processing Vol. 50, No. 1, Jan. 2002, describes a method of separating data signals conveyed by the various links constituting the system. Such a method is executed in two stages: in a first stage in a emitting/receiving device acting as sender and in a second stage in a emitting/receiving device acting as receiver. This method is a blind identification method.
To separate the received data signals and thereby identify the various links constituting the system, the method described in the above paper modifies the cyclostationary periodicity of the data signals conveyed by the links of the system.
Such a blind identification method applies a precoding algorithm to the data to be sent the function of which is to modify the cyclostationary periodicity of the data signals. The precoding sequences applied to the data to be sent are different for each data signal. Thus after sending it each data signal has its own cyclostationary periodicity.
The various data signals are separated in the emitting/receiving device acting as receiver by applying a cyclic autocorrelation function. Such a function is a second order statistical function that when applied to one or more data signals causes source effects to occur that are linked to the cyclostationary periodicity of the data signals to which it is applied. By modifying the cyclostationary periodicity of the data signals, the occurrence of these source effects is controlled and it becomes possible to separate the various data signals received by a emitting/receiving device.
Although enabling efficient separation of the various data signals received, such a blind identification method has the drawback of being costly to implement.
This method requires the use of means for generating precoding sequences to be applied to the various data signals. Generating these precoding sequences requires a greater computation power and a greater storage capacity, a consequence of which is modification of the structure of the emitting/receiving devices acting as senders of the data signals. Moreover, such a method introduces a modification of the structure of the data linked to the application of the precoding sequences to the data. This modification of the structure of the data also leads to modification of the emitting/receiving device acting as receiver, which must be capable of decoding the received data in order to use it.
All these modifications lead to an increase in the cost of the equipment installed in the telecommunications network. There is therefore a need for a solution that separates the various data signals received by the same emitting/receiving device in order to correct effects linked to the phenomenon of interference and does not lead to any increase in the cost of the network equipment.

Method of separating sources in a multisource system


An electric power retail management apparatus according to an embodiment includes a power generation source selection unit. The power generation source selection unit selects, as a power generation source for supplying electric power corresponding to an amount of electric power supplied to each of electric power consumers, one or more power generation sources of which one or more types are selected by each of the electric power consumers from among a plurality of power generation sources for each electric power consumer on the basis of an amount of electric power supplied from the power generation sources.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an electric power retail management apparatus and an electric power retail management method.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, electric power companies have exclusively supplied electric power to electric power consumers. However, electric power retailers are enabled to enter such an electric power supply market following revision of the Electricity Business Act. The electric power retailers needs to adjust a power supply amount so that supply and demand are balanced when electric power for retail that is purchased from an electric power generating company is supplied to each of a plurality of electric power consumers who has made a contract. However, unexpected demand variation may occur in some cases.
Accordingly, an electric power retail system has been developed for adjusting demand and supply to cope with unexpected demand variation on the day in question and securing electric power required for supply to an electric power consumer (for example, refer to Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2002-123578).
However, with the conventional system described above, the electric power consumer can designate only a required amount of electric power, and needs corresponding to a preference of the electric power consumer cannot be reflected.

Electric power retail management apparatus and electric power retail management method