The use of a doped optical fiber amplifier enables the transmission of multi-channel AM-VSB television signals. An Erbium doped fiber amplifier is disclosed. The amplifier is also useful for reducing second order distortion products produced in an amplitude modulated subcarrier optical communication system. The amplifier may be used in a tree and branch structure optical fiber television network.

The present invention relates to fiber optic communication systems, and more particularly to apparatus for transmitting amplitude modulated vestigial-sideband ("AM-VSB") television signals over an optical fiber television system.
Cable television systems currently distribute television program signals via coaxial cable, typically arranged in tree and branch networks. Coaxial cable distribution systems require a large number of high bandwidth electrical amplifiers. For example, 40 or so amplifiers may be required between the cable system headend and an individual subscriber's home.
The use of a television signal comprising amplitude modulated vestigial--sideband video subcarriers is preferred in the distribution of cable television signals due to the compatibility of that format with NTSC television standards and the ability to provide an increased number of channels within a given bandwidth. An undesirable characteristic of AM-VSB transmission, however, is that it requires a much higher carrier-to-noise ratio (CNR) than other techniques, such as frequency modulation or digital transmission of video signals. Generally, a CNR of at least 40 dB is necessary to provide clear reception of AM-VSB television signals.
The replacement of coaxial cable with optical fiber transmission lines in television distribution systems has become a high priority. Production single mode fiber can support virtually unlimited bandwidth and has low attenuation. Accordingly, a fiber optic distribution system or a fiber-coax cable hybrid would provide substantially increased performance at a competitive cost as compared to prior art coaxial cable systems.
One problem in implementing an optical fiber distribution system, particularly for AM-VSB signals, is that the lasers used to transmit the television signal information inherently introduce distortion, most notably as a result of second and third order harmonics produced by the nonlinearities of the laser.
Amplification of optical signals within a fiber optic network has also been a problem in the attempt to distribute AM-VSB television signals. As noted above, amplifiers are required between a cable system headend and a subscriber's home in order to provide signals to the subscriber at an acceptable power level. Semiconductor optical amplifiers of the type typically used in fiber optic systems produce high levels of distortion products that are not compatible with multi-channel AM-VSB video signals. This is due to the short lifetime of the carrier excited state within the semiconductor optical amplifier. The recombination time of such an amplifier operating near 1.3 .mu.m or 1.5 .mu.m is about 1.2 nanoseconds, which is short compared to the period of a typical AM-VSB subcarrier operating in the cable television band of about 55.25 MHz-1 GHz.
The dependence of second order distortion on carrier lifetime in a semiconductor optical amplifier is discussed in A.A.M. Saleh, et al., "Nonlinear Distortion Due to Optical Amplifiers in Subcarrier-Multiplexed Lightwave Communications Systems" Electronics Letters, Vol 25, No 1, pp 79-80, 1989. As noted in that article, second order nonlinear distortion is a significant problem in proposed lightwave cable television home distribution systems, where the use of semiconductor amplifiers to overcome inevitable distribution losses can potentially degrade system performance appreciably.
The difficulties presented in transmitting multi-channel AM-VSB television signals over fiber optic distribution systems have led others to propose the use of frequency modulation ("FM") instead of the more desirable AM-VSB format. See, e.g., R. Olshansky, et al., "Microwave-Multiplexed Wideband Lightwave Systems Using Optical Amplifiers for Subscriber Distribution", Electronics Letters, Vol. 24, No. 15, pp. 922-923, 1988; R. Olshansky, et al,. "Subcarrier Multiplexed Passive Optical Network for Low-Cost Video Distribution", presented at OFC 1989; and W. I. Way, et al., "Carrier-to-Noise Ratio Performance of a Ninety-Channel FM Video Optical System Employing Subcarrier Multiplexing and Two Cascaded Traveling-Wave Laser Amplifiers", presented at OFC 1989. Another proposal has been to convert AM-VSB signals to a digital format for transmission. Digital transmission of AM-VSB television signals over an optical communication link is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,183,054 to Patisaul, et al., entitled "Digital, Frequency-Translated, Plural-Channel, Vestigial Sideband Television Communication System".
It would be advantageous to provide an apparatus and method for transmitting AM-VSB television signals over a fiber optic distribution system in analog form. It would be further advantageous to provide a means for reducing second order distortion in an amplitude modulated subcarrier optical communication system. The present invention provides such advantages.

Optical fiber tree and branch network for AM signal distribution


A method and arrangement are provided for reducing the amount of condensed moisture inside an enclosure which encloses at least one piece of electrical equipment which is configured to receive electric power from outside the enclosure in a first electrical magnitude range (0 . . . maxinput) and to feed electric power to outside the enclosure in a second electrical magnitude range (minoutput . . . maxoutput). Electric power received on at least one portion (a, b, c) of the first electrical magnitude range (0 . . . maxinput) being outside the second electrical magnitude range (minoutput . . . maxoutput) is utilized for heating the condensed moisture for exhaustion thereof.

Enclosures for storing electrical equipment are designed to protect the equipment from exposure to outdoor conditions. The enclosures provide protection against rain, low and high temperatures as well as impacts. In outdoor use, enclosures for enclosing electrical equipment are exposed to cyclic temperature changes between day and night. While such enclosures are designed to be waterproof, this cyclic heat load causes moisture to accumulate in the inner surfaces of the enclosure. When the temperature outside the enclosure, such as an electrical cabinet, is sufficiently much lower than the temperature within the enclosure, then there is a risk of condensation on the inner surfaces of the enclosure. Condensation will ultimately result in water to drop down onto the electrical equipment installed in the enclosure and therefore drop the maximum voltage of or damage the electrical equipment.
This issue is especially pertinent in applications where the electrical equipment inside the enclosure is switched on occasionally or cyclically. A particular example of this is a solar inverter in a photovoltaic (PV) system including a number of solar panels or modules, which operates cyclically for natural reasons. In daytime, the PV system is in operation converting solar energy from the sun for use by a utility grid. When the sun sets or when the solar panels are not able to generate enough power, the inverter is switched off completely. Further reasons for switching off the inverter include saving energy, maintenance and outages in the power grid. The cyclic operation of the inverter causes problems relating to the temperature and humidity inside the enclosure, wherein during cold periods of the diurnal rhythm, temperature inside the enclosure provides for a window of opportunity for moisture to condensate to inside the enclosure.
The condensation phenomenon may be solved by providing the enclosure with an auxiliary heater, such as a resistance thermal element, whose purpose is to maintain the inner temperature above outside temperature such that no moisture may condensate on the inner surfaces of the enclosure. However, this approach has the drawback of wasting energy, reducing the lifetime of electrical components and exposing the equipment inside to a constant heat stress which may take some components outside specification, for example, outside appropriate operating temperature range.
Another solution would be to condense the moisture with an air dryer or a Peltier element for turning the moisture into a running liquid which may be lead out of the enclosure through outlets. In outdoor use, however, such an opening in the enclosure would in the course of time accumulate undesirable growth, such as algae etc. More specifically, the outlet valve of such an arrangement would be vulnerable to the impurities of the condensed liquid. The problem of an open system is emphasized in remote locations, such as deserts and jungles. Should the problem of an open system be solved by waterproofing the enclosure, one would encounter the original problem of condensed moisture inside the hermetically closed enclosure.

Method and arrangement for reducing the amount of condensed moisture inside an enclosure for electrical equipment


A method and apparatus for detecting the state of wear of the tire tread with accuracy and durability are provided. Acceleration of the inner surface of the tire tread is detected by an acceleration sensor installed in an inner liner region of the tire. From a thus detected time-series waveform of acceleration, an acceleration waveform in the leading edge region including a leading peak which occurs when the block engages with the road surface or an acceleration waveform in the trailing edge region including a trailing peak which occurs when the block disengages from the road surface is extracted. A frequency band value Pf is calculated which is the magnitude of acceleration in a predetermined frequency region of a frequency spectrum obtained through a frequency analysis of the extracted acceleration waveform. And the degree of tire wear is determined by comparing the frequency band value Pf with a preset threshold K(v).

Generally tire wear causes significant changes in tire performance, a drop in draining performance on wet road surfaces being among them, depending of the degree of wear. Therefore, it is important to detect the condition of tires coming in contact with the road surface, especially, the degree of wear, if the safety of vehicular operation is to be enhanced. If tire wear further advances, there will be greater risks of tire burst.
A method for estimating the amount of tire wear, as shown in FIGS. 8A to 8C, proposes the use of a tire-mounted unit 50 comprising a resistance means 51, which has a plurality of resistors 51a, each being a conductive rubber member, and a resistive element 51b connected in parallel with the resistors 51a, a sensor 53, which is provided with a DC power supply 52 connected in series with the resistance means 51, and a transmitter 55, which transmits detection signals of the sensor 53 through an antenna 54. The tire-mounted unit 50 is embedded in a block 61 of a tire tread 60, and the amount of wear of the tire tread 60 is estimated by detecting the resistance value of the resistance means 51 which changes with the wear of the block 60. (Refer to Patent Document 1, for example).    Patent Document 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2005-28950

Method and apparatus for detecting wear of tire


A regenerable filter system includes a flow path along which a stream of fluid flows between an inlet and an outlet. A first filtering unit is located in the flow path. The first filter unit includes first and second regenerable filter beds, wherein each bed has a first adsorbent for removing a first contaminant from the fluid stream. A first valve is located between the inlet and the first and second filter beds for selectively directing the fluid stream through one of the first and the second filter beds. The other of the first and second filter beds is removed from the flow path. A second filtering unit is located in the flow path between the first filtering unit and the outlet. The second filtering unit includes third and fourth regenerable filter beds for removing a second contaminant from the stream of fluid. A second valve is located between the first filtering unit and the third and fourth filter beds for selectively directing the stream of fluid through one of the third and fourth filter beds, wherein the other of the third and fourth filter beds is removed from the flow path. A controller operates the first valve such that the stream of fluid is directed through one of the first and second filter beds. The second valve is so operated that the stream of fluid is directed through one of the third and fourth filter beds. The first and second filter beds are cycled independent of one another.

It is known that microporous adsorbents can be used to remove a contaminant from gas and liquids. However, adsorbents such as activated carbon become saturated with the contaminant and must be replaced by fresh adsorbents to maintain the desired performance of the filtration system. This can be costly and can be labor intensive in view of the environment in which filtering systems are often utilized. Furthermore, constantly replacing the adsorbent material can lead to human error wherein the adsorbent is still in service after its useful life.
In order to overcome the problems associated with changing out filters once the adsorbent becomes saturated, systems have been designed which utilize adsorbents that can be regenerated and reused. In general terms, there are two types of regenerable systems. The first is a pressure swing adsorption system and the other is a thermal (temperature) swing adsorption system. These systems allow a filter bed with an adsorbent material to be used over and over. In operation, a fluid is introduced into a filter bed wherein the adsorbent material removes a contaminant from the fluid. The filter bed includes sufficient amount of the adsorbent material to continue to remove the contaminant from the fluid stream for a designated period of time. At that point, the adsorbent material is at least partially saturated with the contaminant from the contaminated fluid stream. In order to remove the contaminant from the adsorbent material, a regeneration process is performed on the filter bed. As stated above, this can include pressure swing regeneration or temperature swing regeneration. However, during the regeneration process, the filter bed cannot be used to filter the contaminant from the fluid stream. Therefore, a second filter bed is usually provided, such that the second bed is in use when the first one is being regenerated and vice versa.
Temperature swing regeneration utilizes heat to remove the contaminant from the adsorbent material to allow the adsorbent material to be reused. There are many industries which utilize thermal or temperature swing adsorption processes. These applications include solvent recovery, air drying and removing contaminants such as CO2 and H2O from air prior to cryogenic separation. While temperature swing adsorption is an effective way to maintain the filters in a filter system, it can be expensive due to the high energy costs associated with producing the heat necessary to regenerate the filters.
Pressure swing adsorption (PSA) utilizes a pressurized regeneration gas that is introduced to the filter beds in a direction reverse to the flow of the higher pressure feed gas containing the contaminants. By passing low pressure gas in this reverse direction, the contaminants are removed from the adsorbent(s) so that the adsorbent(s) can be reused. As with the thermal swing adsorption system discussed above, the PSA system can also be expensive to operate due to the power consumption associated with pressurizing the feed gas, which typically necessitates a compressor and/or access to an industrial process which utilizes compressed gas. The items may not be conveniently available for certain applications. In addition, the purge gas requirements for PSA systems increase significantly as the adsorption isotherm for the given contaminants becomes more favorable. But favorable adsorption isotherms are needed to achieve high product purity with a reasonable volume of adsorbent. Therefore, achieving high purity product gas using PSA typically requires many beds and complicated cycles.
As is stated above, while use of a regenerable adsorbent can overcome some of the problems associated with replaceable adsorbents, the regeneration process necessitates the filter bed being at least partially pulled offline for the regeneration process. As a result, while the filter bed is being regenerated, the filtering system cannot process contaminated gas. This necessitates the system being shut down during the regeneration process. In order to overcome this problem, multiple filter beds have been utilized to allow one filter bed to be online and removing contaminants from the contaminated gas while the other filter bed is in a regeneration stage. While this overcomes the problems associated with shutting down the filter system for regeneration, it doesn't overcome the high energy requirements of the system. The energy requirements of the system is even a greater problem when the system is designed to remove more than one contaminant from the gas and/or when it is utilized at a remove location.
Accordingly, it has been considered desirable to develop a new and improved regenerable filter system which overcomes the foregoing difficulties and others and provides more advantageous results.


A socket connector (100) includes an insulative housing (1), a number of contacts received in the insulative housing, a stiffener (2) attaching to periphery of the insulative housing, a load plate (3) pivotally mounted to one side of the stiffener, a load lever (4) pivotally mounted on the opposite side of the stiffener relative to the load plate, and a sheath piece (5) attached to the operating part of the load lever. The load lever includes a fixing part (41), an actuating part (42) perpendicular to the fixing part, and an operating part (43) formed at the distal end of the actuating part. The load plate is capable of moving towards the insulative housing between an original, open position and a final, closed position.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to an Land Grid Array (LGA) socket connector, and more particularly to an LGA socket connector with an improved load lever which is anti-slippery.
2. Description of Related Arts
TW Pat. No. M331235 issued on Apr. 21, 2008 and having the same assignee as the present patent application discloses a traditional LGA socket connector. The LGA socket connector comprises an insulative housing, a plurality of contacts received in the insulative housing, a stiffener attaching to periphery of the insulative housing, a load plate pivotally mounted to one side of the stiffener, and a load lever pivotally mounted on the opposite side of the stiffener. The load plate is arranged at an original, open position when the socket connector is not in use. A CPU (Central Processing Unit) is put onto the insulative housing and a user rotates the load lever to actuate the load plate to move towards the insulative housing, and therefore, the CPU is received between the insulative housing and the load plate for electrically connection with the contacts. When the CPU is assembled, the load plate is at a final, closed, and secured position with respect to the insulative housing. Usually, the load lever is L-shaped and has a fixing part, an actuating part perpendicular to the fixing part and an operating part formed at the distal end of the actuating part and commonly shaping as a "U" figure. The load lever is commonly made of a metallic shaft and the operating part is rather slippery, and therefore, is not friendly operated by the user.
Hence, a socket connector having a friendly using load lever is desired to overcome the aforementioned disadvantage of the prior art.

Land grid array socket connector with anti-slippery load lever structure


The present invention relates to a technique for displaying the contents of a file on a display of a computer. Upon receiving an enlargement instruction for performing an enlarged display of a file, a computer detects whether an object included in the file is to be included in an enlarged display range of the file. When it is detected that the object is not to be included in the enlarged display range, the enlarged display range is automatically changed, whereby a user can understand which part of the file the enlarged display range corresponds to without performing a complicated operation.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a technique for displaying an object included in a file, for example, image data, text data, or graphic data, on a display.
2. Description of the Related Art
Personal computers can typically display an object included in a file, for example, image data, text data, or graphic data, on their displays in accordance with a file browser installed therein in advance. When a user inputs an enlargement instruction using a pointing device or a keyboard of a personal computer, the enlarged display of a file is performed on a display.
At that time, when there is space between objects included in a file, only the blank part is sometimes displayed as shown in FIG. 12. Therefore, a user cannot understand which part of the entire file the enlarged and displayed blank part that the user is browsing corresponds to. For the user's understanding, the user is required to input an enlargement reinstruction by performing a complicated operation, for example, moving an enlarged display range by scrolling a screen vertically or horizontally, or reducing a scaling factor, so that any one object of the entire file can be shown in the enlarged display range.

File content display device, file content display method, and computer program therefore


To appropriately perform communication even in a case where a transmission timing/transmission period for retransmission control information is flexibly controlled (is variable), an aspect of a user terminal according to the present invention includes a transmitting section that transmits retransmission control information for DL transmission and a control section that controls transmission of the retransmission control information at certain timings reported from a base station. A time window is configured for the retransmission control information, the control section controls transmission of the retransmission control information, based on the certain timings and the time window configured for the retransmission control information, and at least one of the certain timings is included within a range of the time window.

In the UMTS (Universal Mobile Telecommunications System) network, the specifications of Long Term Evolution (LTE) have been drafted for the purpose of further increasing high speed data rates, providing lower latency and so on (see Non-Patent Literature 1). For the purpose of further increasing bandwidth and speed compared to LTE, a successor system of LTE (also referred to as, for example, LTE-A (LTE-Advanced), FRA (Future Radio Access), 4G, 5G, 5G+ (plus), NR (New RAT), LTE Rel. 14, Rel. 15 (or later versions), and so on) is under study.
In the existing LTE systems (for example, LTE Rel. 13 or earlier versions), communication of a downlink (DL) and/or an uplink (UL) is performed by using a transmission time interval (TTI) (also referred to as a subframe and so on) of 1 ms. The TTI of 1 ms is a transmission time unit of one channel-coded data packet, and is a processing unit of scheduling, link adaptation, retransmission control (HARQ-ACK (Hybrid Automatic Repeat reQuest-Acknowledge)), and so on. The TTI of 1 ms includes two slots.
In the existing LTE systems, a reference value for transmission timings is assumed to be fixed at 4 ms taking into account, for example, a signal processing time at a user terminal and/or a radio base station, and on this assumption, control is performed on transmission timings for retransmission control information (also referred to as, for example, ACK/NACK, A/N, HARQ-ACK, and so on) for a DL shared channel (for example, a PDSCH (Physical Downlink Shared Channel), hereinafter referred to as a PDSCH).
For example, FDD for the existing LTE systems, in a case where the PDSCH (or DL data) is received in subframe #n, an A/N for the PDSCH is transmitted (fed back) in subframe #n+4 on the assumption that the processing time or the like for the PDSCH at the user terminal is 4 ms. In TDD, in a case where the PDSCH is received in DL subframe #n, the A/N for the PDSCH is transmitted in a UL subframe after subframe #n+4 according to UL/DL configurations and so on, on the assumption that, for example, the processing time for the PDSCH at the user terminal is 4 ms.
In the existing LTE systems, the user terminal uses a UL data channel (for example, a PUSCH (Physical Uplink Shared Channel) and/or UL control channel (for example, a PUCCH (Physical Uplink Control Channel) to transmit uplink control information (USI) including A/Ns and so on.

User terminal, base station and radio communication method


A water dispersion for inkjet printing which contains polymer particles containing a colorant. The polymer constituting the polymer particles is produced by the copolymerization of a monomer mixture in the presence of a-methylstyrene dimer. The water dispersion for inkjet printing and a water-based ink for inkjet printing containing the water dispersion exhibit excellent jetting properties and a high optical density.

In inkjet printings, droplets of ink are directly projected onto a recording medium from very fine nozzles and allowed to adhere to the recording medium, to form printed images. The inkjet printings have been rapidly spread because of their various advantages such as easiness of full colorization, low costs, capability of using ordinary paper as the recording medium, non-contact with printed images, etc. Among the printing methods, in view of enhancing the lightfastness and the water resistance of printed images, an inkjet printing method utilizing an ink containing a pigment as the colorant has now come to dominate. For example, WO 00/39226 discloses a water-based ink containing a pigment-containing vinyl polymer.
JP 11-269418A discloses the use of a block copolymer for water-based inkjet inks, which block copolymer is produced by the reaction of a macromer prepared from a monomer in the presence of a specific chain transfer agent and another monomer.
However, water-based inks having a better jetting stability and forming printed images with a high optical density, particularly on ordinary papers have been demanded. Such a demand progressively increases particularly in the thermal inkjet printings.


A reinforced composite deck post comprises an elongate, hollow, extruded plastic shell, with the plastic shell being rectangular in cross-section. The plastic shell has an upper end and a lower end and has a notch formed therein adjacent the lower end for receiving a wood joist of a wood deck. The reinforced composite deck post also includes an elongate metal stiffening member positioned within the plastic shell and rigidly secured thereto generally adjacent the upper end of the plastic shell. Upper and lower shim means are positioned within the plastic shell adjacent the metal stiffening member for securing the metal stiffening member to the plastic shell.

Outdoor decks are extremely popular in residential home construction. Homes and apartments, as well as a variety of other buildings, often incorporate exterior decks into their design. Additionally, decks are commonly added onto existing structures and landscapes. These decks provide convenient spaces for a variety of outdoor activities, including cookouts, dining and sunbathing, as well as other leisure activities. Moreover, decks typically are provided with a railing or perimeter fence to keep people from falling over the edge of the deck.
Wood products traditionally have been the primary source of materials for use in decking construction. However, wood products are becoming increasingly scarce due to the harvesting of trees at ever faster rates and the rather limited rate at which timber resources can be replenished. Also, environmental concerns and regulations directed to conservation or preservation of forests tend to restrict the availability of wood products. With the diminishing availability of timber resources, wood products are becoming increasingly expensive. There is, therefore, a substantial need for long-lasting substitute construction materials that can lessen the need to harvest timber resources.
One potential approach to addressing the above need is to provide substitute decking products made of plastic, rather than wood. However, because the deck products must be capable of sustaining certain loads, the replacement products need to be stable and rigid. The material should also be capable of economical manufacture, and be relatively inexpensive. It also needs to be easily installed and used in the field.
A variety of plastic building products are known. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,045,603 describes a three-layer synthetic construction material made from recycled waste thermoplastic synthetic resin material and cellulose fiber aggregate. This material includes face surfaces consisting essentially of re-hardened fused and rolled thermoplastic synthetic resin material bits, and an intervening core material consisting essentially of a compressed non-homogenous mixture of cellulose aggregate material bits and re-hardened fused thermoplastic synthetic resin material bits.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,764,245 describes an apparatus for producing a light structural board of thermoplastic resin.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,253,458 describes a simulated log made from a cast polyvinlychloride (PVC) pipe, selectively filled with a hard cast foam or bead type foam. This patent further describes that the cast PVC pipe is first manufactured and then subsequently filled with the foam filler.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,617,697 of Erwin (also the current Applicant) describes a composite deck post for use with a wood joist of wood deck which includes an elongate, hollow, extruded plastic shell in which an elongate tubular metal stiffening member is positioned therewithin and is rigidly secured thereto using a metal fastener that extends through the plastic shell and the stiffening member. While this arrangement serves as an excellent replacement for traditional lumber products, in many situations it may be desirable to eliminate the use of the metal fastener extending through the plastic shell to secure the metal stiffening member therewithin.
Accordingly, it can be seen there is a need yet in the art for replacement decking components as a replacement for traditional wood products, which provide a strong finished product at minimal cost, which are weather resistant and which can be produced and installed easily. It is to the provision of such decking components that the present invention is primarily directed.


A scanning probe microscope has a probe tip for undergoing a scanning operation to scan a sample surface in X- and Y-directions parallel to the sample surface and for undergoing movement in a Z-direction vertical to the sample surface. A vibration unit vibrates the probe tip at a vibration frequency that resonates with of forcedly vibrates the probe tip. An observation unit collects observational data from the sample surface when the probe tip is in proximity or contact with the sample surface. A detection unit detects a variation in the state of vibration of the probe tip when the probe tip is in proximity or contact with the sample surface during a scanning operation. A control controls scanning of the probe tip in the X- and Y-directions and movement of the probe tip in the Z-direction, and controls scanning of the probe tip in a direction parallel to the sample surface after the observational data is collected from the sample surface and until the probe tip reached a next observation position in the X- and Y-direction. During a scanning operation, the control unit controls the probe tip to move in the Z-direction away from the sample surface only when the detection unit detects a variation in the state of vibration of the probe tip.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a scanning probe microscope and scanning method capable of obtaining information about the surface characteristics such as the surface topography of a sample by scanning a probe tip over a sample surface while vibrating the tip.
2. Description of the Related Art
As is well known in the art, scanning probe microscopes such as atomic force microscopes and scanning tunneling microscopes are known as instruments for measuring a sample such as an electronic material in a microscopic region and imaging the surface topography of the sample or measuring information about surface characteristics. Various kinds of instruments are offered as this type of scanning probe microscope. One known instrument is an ultra-low force atomic force microscope (AFM) for detecting the surface topography of a sample by scanning a probe tip parallel to a surface of the sample while vibrating the tip vertical to the surface (for example, see Patent Reference 1).
This ultra-low force AFM is equipped with a probe mounted at the front end of a lever arm. This probe can be scanned parallel to a sample surface. Furthermore, the tip of the probe can be vibrated at or near its resonant frequency.
In this ultra-low force AFM, when the surface topography of the sample is measured, scanning is performed while repeatedly tapping the sample surface by the probe vibrated as described above. Consequently, the vibration amplitude of the tip of the probe varies according to the topography (i.e., roughness) of the tapped sample surface. The ultra-low force AFM measures the surface topography of the sample by measuring the variations in the vibration amplitude.
The vibration amplitude of the probe tip is set to a sufficiently large value (e.g., 100 to 200 nm) to prevent the tip from adhering to the sample surface, for the following reason.
Under atmospheric conditions, a thin liquid layer, i.e., an adhesive water layer, exists on the surface of a substance due to moisture in the air. That is, as shown in FIG. 10, an adhesive water layer is also present on the sample surface. Therefore, when the probe tip is brought into proximity or contact with the sample, the amplitude gradually decreases while drawing a smooth curve as indicated by C1 in FIG. 11 by the effects of the force exerted between the tip and sample such as Van der Waals force. On the other hand, when the probe tip is moved away from the sample, the tip is captured by the surface tension of the adhesive water layer and pulled. Consequently, the tip draws an irregular curve C2 different from the curve C1. For this reason, it has been difficult to separate the probe tip from the adhesive water layer with small amplitudes. The probe tip is vibrated at large amplitudes as mentioned previously to solve this problem.
Furthermore, it is known that when a sample of deep topography is measured by the ultra-low force AFM, it is necessary to set the vibration amplitude large (more than 100 nm) as mentioned previously such that the tip can easily trace the topography (for example, see Non-Patent Reference 1).
In addition, where the topography of the sample has a steep incline, if the force with which the incline is tapped increases, slip produced on the incline increases (for example, see Non-Patent Reference 2). Also, lateral force undergoing from the incline increases bending of the probe and cantilever (lever arm).
In another known scanning probe microscope, when the probe tip is scanned parallel to a sample surface, the tip is kept at a distance sufficiently greater than the distance necessary for measurement of a physical property of the sample from the sample surface (for example, see Patent Reference 2).
This scanning probe microscope is equipped with a Z piezoelectric element for moving the probe vertical to the sample surface, the probe being capable of being scanned parallel to the sample surface. The Z piezoelectric element is elongated or shrunk by applying a voltage to it. Thus, the distance (or height) between the probe and sample surface can be adjusted. Usually, the Z piezoelectric element is shrunk when the tip is in a position sufficiently remote from the sample surface as mentioned previously. This position is set as the initial state.
In this scanning probe microscope, in a case where the surface topography of the sample is measured, the probe tip is scanned. When the tip reaches a measuring point, the scan is stopped and, at the same time, a voltage is applied to the Z piezoelectric element. Consequently, the Z piezoelectric element elongates to move the probe tip toward the sample surface. When the tip comes in close proximity to the sample surface and enters a tunnel area, a tunneling current flows between the probe tip and the sample. The microscope measures the current. After the measurement, the voltage applied to the Z piezoelectric element is set to 0 V. The Z piezoelectric element then shrinks back to its initial state. That is, the tip is in a position sufficiently more distant from the sample surface than a position giving the distance necessary for the measurement. After returning to this initial position, the tip is scanned again. Then, the microscope repeats the process described so far. The scanning probe microscope measures the surface topography of the sample by measuring the tunneling current at each measuring position.
Patent Reference 1: Japanese Patent Number 2732771 (paragraph numbers 0015-0037; FIGS. 1-11)
Patent Reference 2: Japanese Patent Number 2936545 (page 2, left column, from 16th line from below to page 2, right column, 5th line from above)
Non-Patent Reference 1: B. Anczykowski, et al., How to measure energy dissipation in dynamic mode atomic force microscopy, Appl. Surf. Sci., 140 (1990), 376 (page 379, lines 16-Z26) Non-Patent Reference 2: T. Morimoto et al., Atomic Force Microscopy for High Aspect Ratio Structure Metrology, Jpn. J. Appl. Phys., Vol. 41 (2002) 4238 (page 4240, left column, lines 9-17 and FIG. 8)
In the ultra-low force AFM described in the above-cited Patent Reference 1, scanning is performed at large amplitude while tapping the sample surface repeatedly such that the probe is not captured in the adhesive water layer on the sample surface. At this time, however, as described also in Non-Patent Reference 1, the dissipation energy produced by tapping the sample surface by means of the probe is in proportion to the squares of the vibration amplitude. Therefore, if the vibration amplitude is increased, there is the danger that a collision occurs between the probe and sample, producing a damage.
Furthermore, as described also in Non-Patent Reference 2, if the force with which the incline is tapped is increased, slip occurring on the incline increases. In addition, bending of the probe and cantilever due to lateral force undergoing from the incline increases. Therefore, it has been difficult to accurately measure the topography of a steep incline.
To eliminate this problem, if the vibration amplitude of the probe is reduced,the probe adheres to the sample surface. That is, the probe is captured in the adhesive water layer. This produces the problem that measurements cannot be made precisely.
Furthermore, if the scan rate is increased, the probe cannot follow the topography of the sample surface and thus it is difficult to make measurements precisely. Consequently, limitations are imposed on the scan rate. This deteriorates the throughput. In addition, it takes a long time to make measurements. Especially, where the scanned area is increased, the measuring time is increased.
Additionally, where the servo gain that is used as a parameter in controlling the distance between the probe and sample is increased, hunting oscillation occurs, making it difficult to perform precise measurements.
In the scanning probe microscope described in the above-cited Patent Reference 2, when the probe tip is scanned, the voltage applied to the Z piezoelectric element is set to 0 V. Scanning is performed after the tip has been returned to its initial position, i.e., the tip is placed sufficiently remotely from the sample surface. Therefore, the tip must move long distances in reciprocating between the tip and the sample surface. Hence, it takes long times to make movements. Therefore, it takes a long time to perform measurements. This produces the disadvantage that the throughput is deteriorated. Especially, since the probe tip is so set that it always returns to the same position (initial position) regardless of the topography of the sample surface, it may take a longer time according to the topography of the sample surface. In consequence, it also takes a longer time to perform measurements, and the throughput is deteriorated.

Scanning probe microscope and scanning method


The present invention relates to a pressure-sensitive adhesive sheet for processing a semiconductor wafer or semiconductor substrate, which includes a base material and a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer which is polymerizable and curable by an energy ray, the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer being disposed on a surface of the base material, in which the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer includes a base polymer, a multifunctional acrylate-based oligomer which has an energy-ray polymerizable carbon-carbon double bond and has a molecular weight of 1000 to 2500, and a multifunctional acrylate-based compound which has an energy-ray polymerizable carbon-carbon double bond and has a molecular weight of 200 to 700. The pressure-sensitive adhesive sheet of the invention is excellent in follow-up properties to a minute unevenness with a depth of about 0.4 to 40 μm such as a mark printed by laser irradiation, exhibits sufficient adhesive force, and can be released without the generation of adhesive residue after the purpose of adhesion has been achieved.

In the production of semiconductor wafers or semiconductor substrates, as pressure-sensitive adhesive sheets used for being adhered on semiconductor wafers or substrates, performing processing such as dicing and expanding, and then, picking up and simultaneously mounting the semiconductor wafers or semiconductor substrates, there have hitherto been proposed pressure-sensitive adhesive sheets including a base material having provided thereon a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer having the property of polymerizing by irradiation of ultraviolet rays or the like. In such pressure-sensitive adhesive sheets, the pressure-sensitive adhesive layers are allowed to undergo a polymerization curing reaction by irradiation of ultraviolet rays or the like after the purpose of adhesion has been achieved, thereby reducing adhesive force of the pressure-sensitive adhesive layers to be able to pick up the semiconductor wafers or semiconductor substrates. Specifically, for example, JP-A-6-49420 proposes a pressure-sensitive adhesive sheet for processing a semiconductor wafer, which includes a base material having transparency to ultraviolet rays and/or radiations and a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer that undergoes a polymerization curing reaction by ultraviolet rays and/or radiations, in which the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer includes a base polymer, a multifunctional urethane acrylate-based oligomer having a molecular weight of 15000 to 50000, a polyester-based plasticizer and a photopolymerization initiator, and the content of the polyester plasticizer is 1 to 50 parts by weight with respect to 100 parts by weight of the base polymer. Further, JP-A-62-153376 proposes a pressure-sensitive adhesive sheet including a base material having applied thereon a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer containing an adhesive and a radiation polymerizable compound, in which a multifunctional urethane acrylate oligomer having a molecular weight of about 3000 to 10000 is used as the radiation polymerizable compound.
Recently, however, there have increased wafers having marks with a depth of about 5 to 10 μm that are printed on surfaces thereof by laser irradiation. Further, also in semiconductor substrates, there have increased those having rough surfaces of about 0.4 to 15 μm on sealing resin surfaces acting as surfaces to which pressure-sensitive adhesive tapes are to be adhered, or substrates having marks with a depth of 25 to 40 μm that are printed in the same manner as with the wafers. In processing of such semiconductor wafers or semiconductor substrates having an extremely minute unevenness on their surfaces, the conventional pressure-sensitive adhesive sheets are not sufficient to follow up the unevenness on the surfaces to which the sheets are to be adhered, so that sufficient adhesive force cannot be obtained. As a result, when the wafers or substrates are cut, chips fly off to cause the occurrence of the defect of substantially decreasing the yield. Further, the chips that have flied off collide with a cutting blade to cause the occurrence of the defect of damaging the blade. Furthermore, the sheets are insufficient to follow up the unevenness, so that air bubbles are involved in depressed portions to cause the occurrence of poor curing of pressure-sensitive adhesive layers, and when the wafers or substrates are picked up after irradiation of radiations, there occurs the defect that residues of adhesives are partially observed.
Patent Document 1: JP-A-6-49420
Patent Document 2: JP-A-62-153376

Pressure-sensitive adhesive sheet for processing semiconductor wafer or semiconductor substrate


The present invention provides a fan motor capable of achieving both an improvement in a self cooling function of the fan motor and a reduction in fan noise, and of preventing the occurrence of heat damage, problems, and the like caused by external radiation heat and by self-heating, fan noise, and deterioration in fan performance and in fan efficiency. The fan motor (1) includes: a shroud (2); a motor (3) secured to and supported at the shroud (2); an axial-flow fan (4) connected to a rotation shaft part of the motor (3); and a heat shield panel (5) mounted at the rear side of the motor (3) with a gap being provided therebetween, in which the heat shield panel (5) has a spatula-shaped air guiding part (52) projecting outward in a radial direction at least one location on an outer circumference portion; and the air guiding part (52) has a width gradually reducing toward an outer side and a fan-rotational-direction leading edge part (53) having an arc shape.

In a vehicle having an air conditioner, a radiator which cools coolant for the engine and a condenser for the air conditioner may be combined and installed in the engine compartment located behind a front grill of the vehicle. In the radiator and the condenser, a fan motor obtained by combining a fan and a motor is included to let cooling air flow. The fan motor generally includes a plastic shroud which has an opening for letting air in and a motor holding part supported by a plurality of support struts at a center portion of the opening; a compact motor which is secured to and supported at the motor holding part of the shroud; and a plastic axial-flow fan which has a hub part connected to a rotation shaft part of the motor and which has a plurality of fan blades on the outer circumference of the hub part.
Since all parts of the fan motor, including the motor, are usually installed in a high-temperature environment in the engine compartment, they may be thermally affected by the engine, serving as a heat source, and have an abnormally high temperature. This may cause deterioration in the motor properties, a reduction in life, or the like, and lead to looseness of bolts in a motor securing part and to thermal deformation or melting of a motor supporting part, when the shroud for supporting the motor is made of plastic. Therefore, countermeasures have conventionally been employed, such as improving the heat resistance of the motor itself, using a metal shroud, adding a metal heat-shield panel at the rear of the motor to shield the motor from radiation heat from the engine side, and providing a spatula-shaped air guiding panel projecting into an air flow passage to let in cooling air in the vicinity of the motor for forced-cooling (see Patent Document 1, for example).    Patent Document 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application, Publication No. 2007-40200


A hydraulic rotary side-swing elevator includes an elevator body, a side swing mechanism and a rotating mechanism. Rotatable shafts are arranged on left and right sides of the elevator body. An inner hinge and an outer hinge are respectively provided on the two rotatable shafts. An inner hinge driving structure includes an inner hinge opening and closing cylinder and an opening and closing cylinder fixing seat. An outer hinge driving structure includes an outer hinge locking cylinder and a locking cylinder fixing seat. The opening and closing cylinder fixing seat and the locking cylinder fixing seat are arranged on a rear side wall of the elevator body. A cylinder barrel part of the inner hinge opening and closing cylinder is hinged on the opening and closing cylinder fixing seat, and a piston part of the inner hinge opening and closing cylinder is hinged to the inner hinge.

Most of the mechanical elevators on the market are manually operated, which have high work intensity, low work efficiency and potential safety hazards. In addition, in oilfield drilling and workover sites, it is hard to observe the state of the elevator with the naked eyes when the elevator is at a high altitude, and thus the operator cannot well and truly know the state of the elevator.

HUANGSHAN HUANENG PETROCHEMICAL MACHINERY CO., LTD.


A resist composition, includes: (B) a polymer having a group capable of decomposing under an action of an acid and having a weight average molecular weight of 1,000 to 5,000, of which solubility in an alkali developer increases under an action of an acid; and (Z) a compound containing a sulfonium cation having a structure represented by formula (Z-1):

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a resist composition suitable for use in the ultramicrolithography process such as production of VLSI or high-capacity microchip or in other photofabrication processes. More specifically, the present invention relates to a photoresist capable of forming a high-resolution pattern by using electron beam, X-ray, EUV light or the like, that is, a resist composition suitably usable for ultrafine processing of a semiconductor device using electron beam, X-ray or EUV light, and a pattern forming method using the resist composition.
2. Description of the Related Art
In the process of producing a semiconductor device such as IC and LSI, fine processing by lithography using a photoresist composition has been conventionally performed. With recent increase in the integration degree of an integrated circuit, formation of an ultrafine pattern in the sub-micron or quarter-micron region is being required. To cope with this requirement, the exposure wavelength also tends to become shorter, for example, from g line to i line or further to KrF excimer laser light.
At present, other than the excimer laser light, development of lithography using electron beam, X ray or EUV light is proceeding. Above all, the lithography using EUV light as a light source is positioned as a next-generation or next-next-generation promising pattern formation technique, and studies thereon are being aggressively made. The performances required of the resist used are high sensitivity, high resolution and good line edge roughness. However, these performances are in a trade-off relationship and it is important how to satisfy these performances at the same time. The line edge roughness as used herein means that the edge at the interface between the resist pattern and the substrate irregularly fluctuates in the direction perpendicular to the line direction due to the resist property and when the pattern is viewed from right above, the edge gives an uneven appearance. This unevenness is transferred by the etching step using the resist as a mask and causes deterioration of electric property and in turn decrease in the yield. Particularly, in an ultrafine region of 0.25 μm or less, the line edge roughness is an extremely important problem to be solved. Such a problem is also important in the lithography using X-ray or electron beam.
In addition to the requirement above, when a light source such as electron beam, X-ray and EUV is used, since the exposure is performed in vacuum, a low boiling point compound such as solvent or a resist material decomposed due to high energy is vaporized to contaminate the exposure apparatus, and this outgas is also an important problem. In recent years, various studies on the reduction of outgas are proceeding and various attempts are being made, for example, a topcoat layer is provided to suppress the volatilization of a low molecular compound (see, for example, JP-A-2003-183227 (the term "JP-A" as used herein means an "unexamined published Japanese patent application")) or a radical trap agent capable of suppressing the decomposition of a polymer is added (see, for example, JP-A-10-120610). The reduction of outgas is required also of an acid generator.
As for the resist suitable for the lithography process using electron beam, X-ray or EUV light, a chemical amplification-type resist utilizing an acid catalytic reaction is mainly used from the standpoint of elevating the sensitivity and in conventional resists, there has been studied a chemical amplification-type resist composition mainly comprising an acid generator and a phenolic polymer which is insoluble or sparingly soluble in an aqueous alkali solution but becomes soluble in an aqueous alkali solution under the action of an acid. However, the conventional photoresist using a polymer compound for the substrate has a problem that the molecular shape of the polymer compound is reflected on the pattern profile or line edge roughness.
On the other hand, in the light of fine pattern formation and low line edge roughness, a low molecular material is recently attracting attention. In particular, a molecular resist using a simple molecule as the binder has been proposed, and there have been disclosed resist compositions using, for example, a phenol-based compound derivative having a specific structure (see, for example, Patent JP-A-2003-183227 and JP-A-10-120610), a calixarene having a specific structure (see, for example, JP-A-10-120610 and JP-A-11-322656), a calixresorcinarene (see, for example, JP-A-11-322656 and JP-A-2003-321423), or a phenol-based dendrimer with the mother nucleus being a calixresorcinarene (see, for example, JP-A-10-310545).
In JP-A-2003-149800, regarding a resist containing a polystyrene-based resin having a general molecular weight, a specific sulfonium salt is studied with an attempt to improve the pattern profile and edge roughness as well as the sensitivity and resolution.
However, it is pointed out that when such a molecular material is merely used, significant pattern collapse occurs in the ultrafine region. An effective measure for solving this problem has not yet been found out.
Also, the suppression of outgas, which is regarded as a particularly important performance required in the lithography using electron beam or EUV, is not yet sufficiently studied at present.

Resist composition and pattern forming method using the same

Abstract: wherein Y1 to Y13 each independently represents a hydrogen atom or a substituent, and adjacent members of Y1 to Y13 may combine with each other to form a ring; and Z represents a single bond or a divalent linking group.


A stepping motor includes a rotor including a cylindrical permanent magnet, ring-shaped first and second yoke units that are arranged so as to be mutually stacked along an axis of the rotor, electrical connection members of resin material that include external connection terminals and are respectively secured to the first and second yoke units, and a pair of lid members. Each of the first and second yoke units includes a ring-shaped air-core coil, an outer yoke that accommodates therein the air-core coil and includes magnetic pole teeth arranged at fixed intervals in a circumferential direction of the air-core coil, and an inner yoke that includes a plurality of magnetic pole teeth arranged at fixed intervals in a circumferential direction of the air-core coil, and is combined with the outer yoke. Winding ends of the air-core coil are electrically connected to the external connection terminals.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a stepping motor used as a drive source for a lens drive and the like such as focus and zoom in a digital camera, a camera-fitted mobile telephone, and the like, and an electronic apparatus that includes the stepping motor.
Priority is claimed on Chinese Patent Application No. 200510108180.6, filed Oct. 9, 2005, the content of which is incorporated herein by reference.
2. Description of Related Art
Stepping motors have excellent compatibility with digital control systems, and are recently being frequently used as drive sources for a lens drive and the like such as focus and zoom in electronic apparatuses such as digital cameras and camera-fitted mobile telephones. Use of crow-pole type stepping motors is particularly frequent, since their manufacturing cost can easily be reduced and they are simple to control.
Various types of crow-pole stepping motor have been provided, such as, for example, a two-phase PM type stepping motor that includes two stators (A-phase stator and B-phase stator) incorporated in a cup-shaped housing (e.g., Japanese Unexamined Patent Application, First Publications Nos. 2004-289961 and 2001-78419) and a two-phase PM type stepping motor that does not use a housing (e.g., Japanese Unexamined Patent Application, First Publication No. H03-112356).
As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, for example, a two-phase PM type stepping motor 30 using a housing includes a rotor 32 consisting of a cylindrical permanent magnet 31 that is multipole magnetized in a circumferential direction R, an A-phase stator 33 and a B-phase stator 34 that are arranged so as to be mutually stacked along an axis L when disposed around the perimeter of the rotor 32, a housing 35 which the A-phase stator 33 and the B-phase stator 34 are accommodated inside of, and a bracket 36 that rotatably supports the rotor 32 after sealing the housing 35 with a lid.
The A-phase stator 33 and the B-phase stator 34 have identical configurations, including an exciting coil 42 formed by winding a coil winding 41 around the outer periphery of a ring-shaped bobbin 40 of resin material, and a pair of yokes 43 that enclose the exciting coil 42 from both sides along the direction of the axis L. A plurality of pole teeth 44 are formed in each of the pair of yokes 43, which enclose the bobbin 40 from both sides while being guided by a guide groove 40a formed in an inner peripheral face of the bobbin 40. At this time, the pole teeth 44 of the pair of yokes 43 are combined with the bobbin with their pitches deviate so that they sequentially arranged in a noncontacting state in the circumferential direction R.
An inner peripheral face of the housing 35 contacts the outer periphery of the pair of yokes 43. Ends of the coil winding 41 wound around the exciting coil 42 are connected to external connectors 40b of the bobbin 40, enabling them to be electrically connected to an external component (not shown), such as a circuit component. Incidentally, the external connectors 40b of the bobbin 40 are exposed to the outside via a notch (not shown) formed in the housing 35.
The conventional crow-pole type stepping motor 30 using the housing 35 in this manner forms the exciting coil 42 by winding the coil winding 41 around the ring-shaped bobbin 40, and can also be electrically connected to the outside by using the bobbin 40.
In contrast, a two-phase PM type stepping motor that does not use a housing includes one yoke unit having an inner yoke and a cup-shaped outer yoke; these yokes are arranged so as to surround the periphery of an exciting coil.
As regards the formation of an exciting coil by winding a coil winding around the outer periphery of a bobbin, this stepping motor is the same as the stepping motor using the housing described above.
However, in the conventional stepping motors described in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application, First Publications Nos. 2004-289961 and 2001-78418 mentioned above, the following problems remain.
Since the exciting coil 42 is formed by winding the coil winding 41 around the bobbin 40 of resin material, the space occupied by the bobbin 40 inside the cross-sectional accommodation space of the exciting coil 42 enclosed by the yokes 43 is magnetically wasteful.
The space occupied by the bobbin 40 is particularly problematic in a small-sized stepping motor whose external diameter is ø6 mm or less, and makes it difficult to secure a large coil volume. This leads to deterioration in the torque characteristic.

Bobbin-less stepping motor and electronic apparatus


The present invention relates to an assembly for mounting a plow, such as a snow plow, to a vehicle. The assembly has a linear support member extending from and attached to the front of the vehicle. The linear support member is pivotable with respect to the central longitudinal axis of the vehicle and has the plow attached to it at its remote end. The assembly further includes devices connected to the linear support member for offsetting the plow from the central longitudinal axis of the vehicle so that the plow is positioned in front of the tire path of and ahead of the direction of travel of the vehicle. The offsetting devices preferably comprise two pairs of piston-cylinder units. A first pair is mounted at one end to the front of the vehicle and at a second end to the linear support member. The second pair is connected at one end to the plow and at a second end to the linear support member. The assembly further includes a control device for positioning the plow at a desired angular orientation with respect to the central longitudinal axis of the vehicle.

The present invention relates to a snow plow assembly suitable for use with a wheeled vehicle such as a truck or an automobile.
Many different types of snow plows are known in the prior art. Conventional plows include a blade and a frame for coupling the blade to the front of the vehicle. More sophisticated plows also include means for adjusting the angular orientation of the plow blade relative to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle for elevating the plow blade relative to the road surface to permit the vehicle to be driven from one location to another.
More sophisticated plows also include means for adjusting the angular orientation of the plow blade relative to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle so as to push the snow left or right as the vehicle traverses the surface being cleared of snow. U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,439,939 to Blau; 5,018,284 to Mikami; 5,193,296 to Reilley; and 5,638,618 to Niemela et al. are illustrative of the various types of snow plows known in the prior art.
One of the deficiencies of prior art snow plows is that when turning, the paths of the snow plow and the tires are different. FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate a vehicle 10 have a prior art arrangement for mounting a snow plow 12 to the front of the vehicle. The mounting arrangement includes a V-shaped support member 16 mounted to the front of the vehicle and pivotally mounted to the rear of the snow plow 12. The arrangement further includes two piston-cylinder units 18 and 20, each pivotally mounted to and extending between the snow plow 12 and the V-shaped member 16. As can be seen in FIG. 1, the tires 14 do not follow the plow path when turning. As a result, the snow is not effectively cleared from both the surface and the front of the vehicle. Yet another problem with the prior art designs is that the snow plows have a limited range of motion with respect to the center line of the vehicle.
It is the aim of the present invention to overcome these deficiencies.


An image processing method of making luminance correction on the basis of a luminance histogram showing luminance level distribution of image data expressing an image by a numerical value. A luminance average value, a luminance standard deviation, and a peak distance in the luminance histogram are obtained. A distribution discrimination value which can discriminate whether the luminance level distribution is deviated on the low/high luminance side in the histogram is compared with the peak distance. A halftone presence/absence discrimination value which can discriminate whether the luminance distribution is not deviated in the halftone in the luminance histogram is compared with the standard deviation. A backlight image is discriminated by the comparison results. An exposing state of an image other than a backlight image is discriminated by using an exposing state discrimination value. The proper luminance correction is made in accordance with the exposing state.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to an image processing method and an image processing apparatus for making luminance correction on the basis of a histogram showing luminance of image data.
2. Related Background Art
Image data obtained by photographing an object by a digital camera, image data in which an image on a film of a silver salt photograph obtained by photographing an object is digitized by a film scanner, or the like is constructed by a plurality of pixels. Each pixel can be shown by, for example, a level of a luminance signal of 256 gradations in a range from 0 to 255. In the image data comprising the pixels, distribution of the luminance signal level is shown in the diagrams.
FIGS. 20 and 21 are luminance histograms of image data in which the luminance distribution is deviated to a low luminance side and a whole image is too dark. FIGS. 22 and 23 are luminance histograms of image data in which the luminance distribution is deviated to a high luminance side and a whole image is too bright. The image data of such luminance histograms causes a problem in which since the whole image is too dark or too bright, it is difficult to distinguish details of the object.
FIG. 24 shows a luminance histogram of image data in which although luminance is distributed as a whole, an intermediate area is small and which is obtained by photographing an object in a backlight situation or by photographing it at night by using a flash. The image data of such a luminance histogram causes a problem in which color expression is poor.
To solve the above problems, an image processing method is disclosed in JP-A-2000-134467. According to a conventional image processing method, an exposing state of image data is discriminated on the basis of the number of peak areas of a luminance histogram of the image data, an average value of luminance in the peak areas, or the like. For example, when there is one peak position and the average value of the luminance is larger than a predetermined reference value, it is determined to be over-exposure. When there are a plurality of peaks, the luminance average value is within a range of the predetermined reference value, and a difference between a highlight level and a shadow level is equal to or larger than a reference value, it is determined to be proper exposure. In other cases, it is determined to be the image data obtained, for example, by strobo-photographing an object in a backlight situation or at night. The image data is corrected in accordance with a result of each discrimination.
For example, when photographing a scenery in which the background is the sky, an object is a monochromatic building whose object is darker than the background, and its area ratio is equal to about ½, a histogram which is obtained when the exposure upon photographing is an under-exposure is as shown in FIG. 26 in which peak areas of luminance distribution exist at two positions on the low luminance side. A histogram which is obtained when the exposure upon photographing is an over-exposure is as shown in FIG. 27 in which peak areas of luminance distribution exist at two positions on the high luminance side.
According to the conventional image processing method, when there are a plurality of peak areas, it is determined to be the backlight or standard exposure. Therefore, luminance of the image of the under-exposure in which the peak areas exist at two positions or the image of the over-exposure in which the peak areas exist at two positions cannot be accurately corrected.

Image processing method and image processing apparatus for making luminance correction


A modular electrical connector assembly to which an electrical telecommunication cable is connectable for communicating electrical signals between the connector assembly and cable. The connector assembly includes an electrically nonconductive body and a crosstalk energy emitting electrical interference source on the body and/or on or proximate the connector assembly. Electrically conductive first and second leads on the body define an electrical signal circuit for carrying electrical signals communicatable with the cable. The first lead is located more closely proximate to the interference source than is the second lead such that a greater amount of crosstalk energy from the interference source is electromagnetically impressed on the first lead than on the second lead to thereby define a difference in crosstalk energy on the first and second leads. A parasitic sized RF chip capacitor connects the interference source to the second lead for transferring crosstalk energy therethrough in an amount sufficient to substantially equalize crosstalk energy on the first and second leads and thereby reduce crosstalk-induced interference in the electrical signal circuit. In this manner and existing Category 3 connector assembly (10 Mbs) is transformed into a Category 5 connector assembly (100 Mbs) for use with signal transmission by optical fiber to buildings and the like.

The capabilities of electronic telecommunication networks have expanded dramatically in recent years. The recent advances in telecommunication network technology are due in part to the increasing use of fiber optics as a data transmission medium in such networks. This has enabled transmission of data throughout the network at higher data rates--i.e. the product of the quantity and velocity of data carried through the network--than had heretofore been possible. Data rates of 100 Megabits per second (100 Mbs/sec) are now readily achievable whereas, before the advent of fiber optic transmission lines, data rates of 10 Mbs/sec were more typical. As a result, networks may utilize more advanced peripherals--such for example as the keyboard and video screen of a computer terminal, or a telephone--and other data processing devices which are more versatile and respond to or communicate a user's instructions at greater speeds.
Accordingly, it is desirable to use fiber optics as the data transmission medium in telecommunication networks to the greatest extent possible. One advantageous application of fiber optic telecommunication cable is the routing of signals or information between buildings--such for example as office buildings, retail establishments, warehouses, laboratories, manufacturing facilities and private homes--in which peripherals or other data processing devices are situated for data transmission between the data processing devices in the various buildings.
Fiber optic telecommunication cable normally cannot be connected directly to peripherals or other data processing devices unable to receive, process or output the optical signals carried by the fiber optics. The peripherals and other data processing devices usually receive and emit electrical signals via an electrical telecommunication cable. Thus, at least one converter--referred to herein as a "photo transceiver"--for transforming or converting an optical signal to an electrical signal, and vice versa, is usually provided at each junction between a fiber optic telecommunication cable and an electrical telecommunication cable which is, in turn, connected to at least one peripheral or other data processing device.
It is often preferable for the fiber optic cable to extend to a wiring closet in the building for connection to a photo transceiver situated therein. Branches defined by respective electrical telecommunication cables extend from the photo transceiver to the one or more peripherals or other data processing devices located in the building. A plurality of peripherals or other data processing devices may therefore use the same photo transceiver, thus limiting the required number of such transceivers which are typically expensive.
If a building has previously been wired with electrical telecommunication cable for peripherals or other data processing devices, such existing cable is preferably connected to a photo transceiver in a wiring closet within the building for connection to a fiber optic cable. The fiber optic cable may thus be connected to the peripherals or other data processing devices without having to install new electrical cable in, and to possibly remove the existing cable from, the building. Such an installation, whether or not in conjunction with the removal of existing cable, is normally a substantial undertaking since communications cables are typically routed through walls, floors, and ceilings and the like.
Whether or not previously installed, the electrical telecommunication cable routed throughout a building will ordinarily require electrical connectors to connect one end of the electrical cable to a respective peripheral or other data processing device and the opposite end of the cable to the photo transceiver. A conventional modular electrical connector may have a jack assembly including a printed circuit wiring board or substrate and is ordinarily mounted on an interior wall surface of the building. An electrical telecommunication cable may be fixedly connected to the jack assembly and extend into the interior of the wall, eventually terminating at another jack assembly to which the cable is also fixedly connected. The second jack assembly is typically mounted on another interior wall surface proximate the photo transceiver.
The jack assembly proximate the photo transceiver may receive a matching plug connected, in turn, to the transceiver. The other jack assembly may receive a matching plug connected to a peripheral or other data processing device which is thereby connected, via the electrical telecommunication cable and the electrical connectors, to the photo transceiver.
Unfortunately, undistorted data transmission through such electrical cables has proven difficult because of crosstalk produced within the electrical connectors. Such distortion is caused by electromagnetic fields that are created by current flow through the conductors within the connector and which cause electromagnetic coupling between the conductors. This electromagnetic coupling is amplified by the higher data rates made possible by the fiber optics--as for example 100 Mbs/sec--at which such crosstalk becomes unacceptable.
The crosstalk produced in conventional modular jack assemblies may be mitigated by lowering the data transfer rate therethrough. Such a procedure, however, diminishes or sacrifices major benefits--as for example the use of advanced peripherals and other data processing devices--made possible by the use of fiber optics. It is therefore desirable to maintain the increased data rate.
It is also desirable to limit or minimize changes to the structure of existing modular connector assemblies so as to allow continued use of the existing manufacturing capacity for the unchanged parts or components. It is further desirable for those components of the connector assemblies which physically interface or mate with other components of the telecommunication network--as, for example, the matching plugs that are connected to the peripherals and other data processing devices--to not be altered so that no changes to such other components of the network will be necessary.

Low-crosstalk modular electrical connector assembly


Pneumatic rubber tire with a rubber tread composition of styrene/butadiene copolymer rubber derived from solution polymerization, cis 1,4-polyisoprene natural rubber and cis 1,4-polybutadiene rubber with a required carbon black.

Pneumatic rubber tires are conventionally prepared with a rubber tread. Such tread is often composed of a blend of various rubbers.
In one aspect, truck tires, which are normally expected to be capable of carrying relatively large vehicular loads, tend to generate a greater integral temperature than comparable passenger vehicle-type tires. Accordingly, it is desired to provide truck tires which generate less heat under an operational load since higher tire running temperatures tend to prematurely age the tire rubber and, thus, shorten the effective life of the tire.
In another aspect, it is desired to provide a rubber tire tread, suitable for use on various truck vehicles, which generate less heat under operational conditions, yet also have good treadwear and wet traction (skid resistance).
It is recognized that tires have been prepared having treads based on various rubber blends of two or more rubbers, such as, for example, from two or more of styrene/butadiene copolymers (SBR), cis 1,4-polyisoprene including natural rubber, cis 1,4-polybutadiene and styrene/isoprene/butadiene terpolymers.
Tires have been taught, for example, which have a tread composed of natural rubber, a tread composed of a dual blend of SBR and cis 1,4-polybutadiene; of natural rubber and SBR (see The Vanderbilt Rubber Handbook, 13th Edition (1990) pp 603 and 604) and treads composed of tri-blends such as SBR (40-60 phr) with 30-35 percent styrene, cis 1,4-polyisoprene (20-30 phr) and cis 1,4-polybutadiene (20-30 phr).
It is to be appreciated that truck tires are often composed of natural rubber or a blend of rubbers which requires the presence of natural rubber. The natural rubber presence is usually desired to add heat durability for the tire tread.
It is recognized that various carbon blacks have been used for the reinforcement of rubber in rubber treads for truck tires which are based on natural rubber. However, for such applications, it is believed that carbon blacks characterized by having dibutylphthalate numbers of less than 130, usually less than 120, and with an ASTM series designation of N200 or above (see The Vanderbilt Rubber Handbook, Rubber Handbook, 1978 edition, pp. 414-418 for carbon black descriptions) are suitable.


A stationary device for transporting charged toner. The device is constructed from alternate conductive and insulative layers, with all layers having a central hole to form a tube when laminated. The conductive layers, numbered modulo n, are connected to a number n of phased clocks so that appropriately charged toner will proceed down the length of the tube.

Apparatus for transporting a dry toner powder cloud in a xerographic printer which uses a tube having walls composed of a grid of phased voltage elements to transport the charged powder particles.
Some xerographic printers use dry toner particles which can be transported from a sump to a target location, such as a charged photoreceptor, by the use of a stationary insulative substrate having a series of imbedded conductive elements in its surface to form a grid. A voltage is applied to the- toner, and phased voltages are applied to the conductive elements, resulting in a toner cloud being transported along the stationary grid. Such a device is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,717,986 and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/613,018, which are incorporated by reference herein.
Most of the toner is reliably carried in this way, but the cloud is subject to local air turbulence, and to a weakened or variable voltage at the edge of the grid, resulting in toner loss or non-uniform transport speed. The edge effect can be minimized by increasing the width of the grid, but at the cost of increasing size and space requirements. A more compact and reliable form would be useful.
An improvement would be to build a laminated structure of alternating layers of insulation and conductors to form a phased array of conductive elements. A hole could then be bored through the laminations to form a tube, through which the toner could be transported. The tube could be of any length and diameter. This arrangement would have several advantages:
Manufacturing costs would be reduced. The diameter of the tube could be reduced to a fraction of an inch without any loss of toner and with no edge problems. Also, the resultant tube could be bent after manufacture to conform to any space/angle requirements that may exist in the printer.
In the alternative, the holes could be formed in the conducting and insulating layers before they are laminated. In this case the internal space could be any shape such as an elongated slot, so that the toner would be ejected at the end of the tube in the form of a sheet instead of a cylinder.

Stationary toner delivery device with clock pulses


A digital signal processor receives samples of a first digital signal which is to be decimated and samples of a second digital signal which is to be interpolated. A digital signal processing engine performs a decimation function on samples of the first digital signal and an interpolation function on samples of the second digital signal on a time-shared basis. The digital signal processor has a first dual memory space for storing the samples of the first digital signal and a second dual memory space for storing the samples of the second digital signal. Outputs retrieved from a dual memory space are pre-added and applied to a multiplication and accumulation stage which operates on the pre-added outputs and a filter coefficient of a digital filter.

Analog-to-digital converters (ADCs) and digital-to-analog converters (DACs) are increasingly being based on a sigma-delta (ΣΔ) architecture.
FIG. 1 illustrates a generalized architecture as used in a sigma delta analog-to-digital converter (ADC). An analog sigma-delta modulator 11 receives an analog input signal 10 and generates a high rate, low bitwidth, digital signal 12. This signal is applied to a digital decimation stage 13 which converts the signal to a low rate, high bitwidth, digital signal 14. The sigma-delta modulator 11 can be a single bit or multi-bit modulator.
FIG. 2 illustrates a generalized architecture as used in a sigma-delta digital-to-analog converter (DAC). A digital interpolation stage 21 receives an input digital signal 20 having a low rate and high bitwidth. The interpolation stage 21 generates a signal 22 having a high rate and high bitwidth by interpolating, i.e. calculating new samples to fit between the samples of the incoming digital signal. The interpolated signal 22 is applied to a digital sigma-delta modulator 23. The signal 24 output by the modulator 23 has a high rate and low bitwidth. Signal 24 is applied to a digital-to-analog conversion stage 25 which includes low pass filtering (not shown) to provide a smoothed analog output signal 26.
Conventionally interpolation (for sigma-delta DACs) and decimation (for sigma-delta ADCs) are each executed in different stages: one hardware structure for high conversion rate (typically 8 or 16), and one or more DSP controlled digital Finite Impulse Response (FIR) filters for high quality but a lower conversion rate (typically conversion rate of 2 on each filter). Optimised interpolation and decimation FIR processes are conventionally performed by separate DSP engines, each engine being optimised for one of the processes, since many of the optimisations seem incompatible between processes. Often, in digital signal processing applications such as audio codecs, there is a requirement for both an ADC and a DAC. Providing two separate, optimised, DSP engines for the decimation and interpolation processes incurs the penalties of requiring increased die space on an integrated circuit, increased cost and increased power requirements.
Accordingly, the present invention seeks to more efficiently provide a decimation and an interpolation function.

Digital signal processor optimized for interpolation and decimation


The present invention relates to the NTE proteins and nucleic acids encoding the NTE proteins. The present invention further provides assays for the detection of NTE polymorphisms and mutations associated with disease states, as well as methods of screening for ligands and modulators of NTE proteins.

Motor neuron disorders include amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, autosomal recessive spastic paraplegia, hereditary spastic paraplegia, primary lateral sclerosis, progressive pseudobulbar palsy, progressive muscular atrophy, progressive bulbar palsy, and postpolio syndrome. Symptoms characteristic for a specific type of motor neuron disorder vary according to the part of the nervous system most affected. Median age of onset for developing a motor neuron disorder is 55 years, with a higher incidence in males. 5% of motor neuron cases are familial with autosomal dominant inheritance.
Clinical aspects of motor neuron disorders involve debilitating symptoms resulting commonly in death. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, for example, involves muscular weakness, atrophy and signs of anterior horn cell dysfunction. The site of onset is random, and progression is asymmetric. Cramps are common and may precede weakness. Visible muscle twitches (fasciculations), spasticity, hyperactive deep tendon reflexes, extensor plantar reflexes, and signs of corticospinal tract involvement soon follow. Dysarthria and dysphagia are due to involvement of brain stem nuclei and pathways. Sensory systems, voluntary eye movements, and urinary sphincters are spared. Rarely, a patient survives 30 years, while 50% die within three years of onset, 20% live for 5 years, and 10% live 10 years.
Autosomal hereditary spastic paraplegia, for example, involves an age of onset varying from childhood to old age. Pathologic findings include degeneration of the descending corticospinal tracts and fasciculus gracilis, despite the absence of sensory findings. Anterior horn cell dropout has been reported. The disorder may occur with other neurologic abnormalities, including spinocerebellar and ocular symptoms (Ferguson-Critchley syndrome), extrapyramidal symptoms, optic atrophy, retinal degeneration (Kjellin syndrome), mental retardation or dementia, and polyneuropathy. The etiology of these syndromes is unknown. Symptoms and signs include progressive gait difficulties, hyperreflexia, clonus, and Babinski's sign. Sensory and sphincteric functions are usually spared. Arms may also be affected.
Motor neuron disorder diagnostic features include onset during middle or late adult life and progressive, generalized motor involvement without sensory abnormalities. Nerve conduction velocities are normal until late in the disease. Electromyography is the most useful test, showing fibrillations, positive waves, fasciculations, and giant motor units, even in unaffected limbs.
There is no specific treatment for motor neuron disorders. Physical therapy may help maintain muscle function. Patients with pharyngeal weakness are fed with extreme care and require a gastrostomy. Baclofen is used to reduce spasticity. Quinine or phenytoin is used to decrease cramps. A strongly anticholinergic drug, such as amitriptyline, is used to decrease saliva production. Surgery to improve swallowing has limited success in patients with progressive bulbar palsy.
Improved therapies aimed at decreasing motor neuron disorder symptoms are needed. Preventive strategies aimed at preventing the onset of motor neuron disorders are also needed. In addition, improved methods of identifying individuals at risk for developing motor neuron disorders are needed.

Compositions and methods for detecting and treating motor neuron disorders

The Regents of the University of Michigan


An image forming device includes a housing; a sheet tray; an image-forming unit; a conveying unit; and a switching mechanism. The sheet tray is detachably housed in the housing. The image-forming unit is configured to form an image on a sheet conveyed from the sheet tray. The conveying unit includes a first roller and a second roller configured to nip and convey the sheet on which the image is formed by the image-forming unit to the image-forming unit. The switching mechanism is disposed between the sheet tray and the conveying unit and configured to bring the first roller and the second roller to be in peripheral contact with each other in conjunction with a loading operation of the sheet tray into the housing and separate the first roller and the second roller in conjunction with an unloading operation of the sheet tray from the housing.

One image forming device known in the art has a housing, a sheet tray, an image-forming unit and a conveying unit (Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2012-96858, for example). In this conventional image forming device, the sheet tray is detachably housed in the housing and accommodates sheets. The image-forming unit is disposed in the housing and forms an image on a sheet that is conveyed from the sheet tray. The conveying unit is disposed in the housing and conveys the sheet on which the image has been formed by the image-forming unit again to the image-forming unit. More specifically, the conveying unit includes a first roller and a second roller. The first roller and the second roller convey the sheet on which the image has been formed by the image-forming unit by interposing it therebetween.
With this conventional image forming device, when a sheet gets jammed in the conveying unit, the sheet tray is detached from the housing, allowing a user to easily put his/her hand into the conveying unit to remove the sheet jammed in the conveying unit.

Image forming device having conveying unit


An alloy having a large band gap range is used in a multijunction solar cell to enhance utilization of the solar energy spectrum. In one embodiment, the alloy is In1−xGaxN having an energy bandgap range of approximately 0.7 eV to 3.4 eV, providing a good match to the solar energy spectrum. Multiple junctions having different bandgaps are stacked to form a solar cell. Each junction may have different bandgaps (realized by varying the alloy composition), and therefore be responsive to different parts of the spectrum. The junctions are stacked in such a manner that some bands of light pass through upper junctions to lower junctions that are responsive to such bands.

Current solar cells based on single semiconductor material have an intrinsic efficiency limit of approximately 31%. A primary reason for this limit is that no one material has been found that can perfectly match the broad ranges of solar radiation, which has a usable energy in the photon range of approximately 0.4 to 4 eV. Light with energy below the bandgap of the semiconductor will not be absorbed and converted to electrical power. Light with energy above the bandgap will be absorbed, but electron-hole pairs that are created quickly lose their excess energy above the bandgap in the form of heat. Thus, this energy is not available for conversion to electrical power.
Higher efficiencies were thought to be achievable by using stacks of semiconductor with different band gaps, forming a series of solar cells. The concept is that the higher gap materials convert higher energy photons, allowing lower energy photons to pass down to lower gap materials in the stack. Stacks of two semiconductors, GaInP/GaAs and three semiconductors GaInP/GaAs/Ge have been developed over the last decade, and have the highest efficiency of any solar cell. Because of the lack of appropriate semiconductor materials, attempts to make solar cell stacks with more junctions have actually resulted in lower efficiencies.
Currently most efficient tandem cells use fixed gap combinations, 1.85/1.43 eV for two junction cells and 1.85/1.43/0.7 eV for the three junction cells. The cells take advantage of the relatively good lattice match of Ga0.5In0.5P, GaAs and Ge. However the cells based on these fixed energy gap combinations do not take full advantage of the solar spectrum. There is a need for a solar cell that converts more of the light spectrum into electrical power.

The Regents of the University of California


A roller skate shoe has cavities, closing members and roller assemblies. A sole of the shoe is formed with the cavities. Two sides of each cavity are formed with notched slots. The closing member is accommodated in the cavity. The closing member has a closing side for closing the cavity, and is formed with two cut edges corresponding to the notched slots. The roller assembly mounted on the closing member includes a roller base, a roller body mounted in the roller base, and two control assemblies respectively mounted to two sides of the roller base corresponding to the cut edges and the notched slots. The roller assembly is separated from the cavity using the control assembly so that the closing member may be detached from the roller and reversed to close the cavity to prevent foreign objects from entering the cavity.

(1) Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a shoe, and more particularly to a roller skate shoe with a roller assembly.
(2) Description of the Prior Art
A shoe, in which a roller assembly is installed, can slide and is loved by the juvenile. The roller assembly of the roller skate shoe is also modified, as shown in FIG. 5. A roller mechanism 50 is disposed on a heel portion of a shoe pad 41 of a shoe body 40. The roller mechanism 50 is controlled by a pushbutton 52 so that a roller body 51 of the roller mechanism 50 can be shifted up and down. The pushbutton 52 projects over the heel portion of the shoe pad 41, and an external force pushes the pushbutton 52 to control the roller body 51 to protrude out or retract into the sole.
The roller body 51 of FIG. 5, which may be retracted into the sole, has the feature of multiple uses. However, the roller mechanism 50 is mounted in the heel space of the shoe pad 41, and a gap for preventing the interference between the roller body 51 and the circumference has to be kept. Thus, even if the roller body 51 is controlled to retract into the sole, the dust or foreign objects may enter a cavity 42 for accommodating the roller body 51 when the user walks, and the sole cannot be easily cleaned.
In addition, the pushbutton 52 projects out of the heel portion of the shoe pad 41 and tends to be touched by the foreign objects or stepped by others who are walking, thereby causing the roller body 51 to loss the sliding ability improperly and instantaneously.
In addition, the structure of the roller mechanism 50 is complicated and cannot be disassembled in a timesaving manner. Thus, the shoe cannot be easily cleaned, the cleanness of the shoe cannot be easily kept, and the dust on the surface of the roller body 51 also influences the rolling smoothness of the roller skate shoe.