A force sensor converts a force into capacitance and makes it possible to generate a plurality of outputs with different output characteristics, force detection system, and a digital force detection program for it. The force sensor 20 has a displacement unit 24 for generating a displacement when a force is applied; a single or a plurality of first sensor units (36, 36A, 36B, 36C, and 36D) for generating a first output C1 from said displacement of the displacement unit; and a second sensor unit 44, which is annexed to the first sensor unit, for generating a second output C2 from the displacement of said displacement unit. The force detection system enhances the output accuracy by means of the first and second outputs of such a force sensor. The force detection program is used in the force detection system for executing the output process.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a force sensor that converts forces to electrical information such as capacitance and the like, in particular, to a force sensor, a force detection system and a force detection program used for conversion of manual inputs and the like into electrical signals.
2. Description of Related Art
The sensor for converting a force to capacitance is typically used for a bathroom scale and the like. This type of force sensor typically has an operation input unit constituted as a button type or a stick type to serve as a man-machine interface and is used, for example, as a stick type input device of a notebook type personal computer.
FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 show the outline of a general force sensor of the prior art, wherein FIG. 1(A) shows its plan view, FIG. 1(B) shows its IB-IB cross section, FIG. 1(C) shows its detection electrode, FIG. 2(A) shows its plan view, FIG. 2(B) shows its IIB-IIB cross section, and FIG. 2(C) shows its detection electrode. A force sensor 2 has a structure 6 consisting of insulators such as silicon rubber and conductors provided on a substrate 4, as well as an electrode 8 on the ceiling of the structure 6 and a detection electrode 10 facing the electrode 8 on the side of the substrate 4. If the electrode is made of the conductor of the structure 6, it is not necessary to provide the electrode 8 independently. The difference here is that the device shown in FIG. 1 has a structure 6 formed as a beam supported on both ends and a circular detection electrode 10, while the device shown in FIG. 2 has a structure 6 formed as a cantilever beam and a rectangular detection electrode 10.
The description of such a force sensor 2 can be tried using the force sensor 2 shown in FIG. 1 as an example, wherein a force "f" applied on the structure 6 causes the structure 6 to deform as shown in FIG. 3(A), which in turn reduces the electrode distance "d" and eventually causes the electrode 8 to contact the detection electrode 10 as shown in FIG. 3(B), increasing the capacitance between the electrodes "C." The relation between the input (force "f") of the structure 6 and the output (capacitance "C") varies in a smooth curve as shown in FIG. 4. COffset is the capacitance between the electrodes in the condition shown in FIG. 1(B), i.e., the offset output when the electrode distance "d" has not changed, and this offset output indicates that the capacitance does not change with the force "f" unless the force "f" does not exceed the elasticity limit of the structure 6, i.e., it represents the zero point output. This offset output depends on the elasticity, restoring capability, permanent strain, etc., of the structure 6. The same input/output relation exists for the force sensor 2 shown in FIG. 2.
A sensor that provides the change of capacitance C as an output relative to the force "f" applied is disclosed by JP-A-6-314163.
A capacitance type sensor disclosed in said document has a substantial displacement of the input part, and is constituted with two substantial substrates provided in parallel positions to allow them to move in parallel to each other, where electrodes are provided on their opposing surfaces respectively and positioned at 90° angles to each other.
The reliability of the input-output relation is critical in case of such a force sensor, in particular, the stability of said zero point output (offset output) is extremely important. Therefore, it is necessary for the output to be zero or present a specific offset value and the value is constant when it is not operated. In other words, the reliability of the detection device will be lost if the output varies or the offset value varies when it is not operated, making it impossible to determine the zero point.
For example, a pointing device using a force sensor may cause such a problem that a minute output signal causes to move the pointer when the zero point or the offset value changes when there is no operation. For example, a case has been reported that a pointer started to move by merely receiving air from an air conditioner unit entirely unrelated to the user's intention.
The input/output relation of the force sensor requires that there is a certain relation between input and output, it is extremely difficult to distinguish the output drift due to the environmental change and the output change due to a minute input when a minute force is to be detected under a condition where there are output drift due to changes in environmental factors such as temperature. Trying to stabilize the output against changes in environmental factors such as temperature tends to be expensive.
Certain variances are typically expected for a force sensor's zero point output (offset output), which varies with each force sensor, so that it is meaningless to try to set the output value uniformly. Therefore, what is commonly done is to store the value when the power source voltage is turned on as the zero point value forcibly in a memory or to store the zero point value (offset voltage value, etc.) in an involatile memory at the time of adjustment prior to the factory shipment for each force sensor. A problem with forcibly storing the value when the power is turned on as the zero point value is that a value different from the true value can be recorded as the zero value in such a case as when the operator's finger is touching the unit by mistake. A problem with the use of an involatile memory device for storing the zero point value at the time of a factory shipment is that it means an additional cost. In any case, the zero point value at the time of storage can be affected by changes of environmental factors such as temperature and humidity, so that it is impossible to follow such zero point fluctuations.
Although it is effective in saving power in a system using a force sensor to avoid powering the unit when there is no input to the power sensor, it makes it impossible to identify if there is an input or not unless the detection unit is powered. In order to avoid such an inconvenience, it is a common practice to power the unit intermittently.
Let us describe the method of zero point setting of the force sensor (FIG. 1 or FIG. 2) referring to FIG. 5. In FIG. 5(A), five inputs f1, f2, f3, f4, and f5 are entered within a short spun of time, wherein the size relation between the inputs f1 through f5 is f2>f1>f3≈f4≈f5, i.e., f2 has the highest level, while f1 and f2 have the longest time span, and f3, f4 and f5 are minute inputs of minute time spans. Moreover, it is assumed that minute inputs are entered after a gigantic input.
For such inputs f1 through f5, a force sensor 2 generates outputs C11, C12, C13, C14 and C15 in correspondence with the inputs as shown in FIG. 5(B), i.e., showing changes of capacitance in correspondence with the input, a minute output is generated in the b1 section after the output C11 for the first input f1 despite the fact that there is no input. This is the residual output. Moreover, a large residual output is generated in the b2 section immediately after the output C12 due to the input f2. Since the outputs C13 through C15 are overlapping on said residual output and the inputs are smaller after b3, it is understandable that the residual output reduces with time.
These residual outputs are dependant on the restoration capability of the structure 6 that receives pressures. Elastomer such as rubber used for the structure 6 has a property not to restore to its original shape after a deformation. The restoration property can be improved to a degree with a proper selection of material to reduce residual outputs but cannot eliminate them completely. When strong input changes occur and their time intervals are shorter, it is difficult to eliminate residual outputs.
A method of eliminating such residual outputs has been proposed in which a dead zone region for not allowing the residual outputs to be responded is set up near the zero point and forcing the output range of the dead zone region to be assigned to the zero point as shown in FIG. 5(C). FIG. 5(D) shows the outputs C110, C120, C130, C140, (C150) that have levels lowered as a result of compensations due to the dead zone region setup. When such a dead zone region is set up, it eliminates the problem of residual outputs but it affects the input/output relation at the same time. In a comparison between the output (B) where the dead zone region is not set up, and the output (D) where the dead zone region is set up, the delay time td will be generated between the input and the output, thus deteriorating the time-related response. Moreover, the minute output C15 can become buried into the dead zone level and may not generate any output ("d" section), thus deteriorating the level-related response. The forced zero point setup according to the dead zone region setup may deteriorate the detection sensitivity and the input relation and affect the reliability of the force sensor.
There is no mention of such a problem and no disclosure or suggestion is made as a means of solution for it in the above-mentioned prior art document.

Force sensor, force detection system and force detection program


A PLL circuit includes first and second charge pump circuits controlling an output voltage according to an output signal of a phase comparator, a first filter filtering out predetermined frequency component included in a signal generated according to current output from the first charge pump circuit, and outputting the signal as a first voltage signal, a second filter inputting a current output from the second charge pump circuit and outputting a predetermined constant voltage as a second voltage signal, a voltage control unit outputting a third voltage signal according to a comparison result between the first voltage signal output from the first filter and a reference voltage signal, and a voltage controlled oscillator that has a first low gain property, a second low gain property, and a high gain property, and is controlled by the first to third voltage signals to generate an oscillating frequency.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a PLL circuit, and particularly to a PLL circuit provided with a voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) having a low gain input and a high gain input.
2. Description of Related Art
In recent years, a PLL (Phase Locked Loop) circuit is often used as an oscillator circuit mounted on a semiconductor device. A PLL circuit controls an oscillating frequency of an output signal so that phases of a reference signal and the output signal synchronize.
FIG. 12 is a block diagram illustrating a PLL circuit disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,680,632. In FIG. 12, a PLL circuit 100 includes dividers 102 and 112, a phase comparator 104, a charge pump circuit 106, a low pass filter 108, a control circuit 130 provided with buffers 114 and 116, and a voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) 110.
The phase comparator 104 compares a signal obtained by dividing a frequency of a reference signal (REF) by the divider 102 with a signal obtained by dividing a frequency of an output signal (CLK) of the PLL circuit 100 by the divider 112, and then outputs a signal for controlling the charge pump circuit 106. The charge pump circuit 106 outputs a current controlled to be in an inflow direction or an outflow direction according to the output signal of the phase comparator 104. The low pass filter 108 inputs the signal from the charge pump circuit, and removes high frequency noise included in the signal. The signal with removed high frequency noise is output to a low gain input of the voltage controlled oscillator 110. The signal with removed high frequency noise is output to a high gain input of the voltage controlled oscillator 110 via the control circuit 130 which is provided with the buffer 114 and the filter 116.
The buffer 114 compares an output of the low pass filter 108 with a MID_VCO signal, and controls so that the output of the low pass filter 108 is to be the same as the MID_VCO signal. The voltage controlled oscillator 110 of the PLL circuit 100 can operate simultaneously in low gain mode and high gain mode.
FIG. 14 is a block diagram illustrating a PLL circuit disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2008-48320. As illustrated in FIG. 14, the PLL circuit includes dividers 210, 211, and 221, a phase comparator 212, a first charge pump circuit 213, an integrating filter 214, a first voltage-current converting circuit 215, a second charge pump circuit 216, a ripple filter 217, a second voltage-current converting circuit 218, a reference voltage generation circuit 219, and a current controlled oscillator 220.
The PLL circuit illustrated in FIG. 14 divides a frequency of a reference signal Fin by the divider 210. Further, the output signal Fout is divided with the divider 211. Then, a phase of an output signal of the divider 210 is compared with that of the divider 211 by the phase comparator 212. Then, the phase comparator 212 generates a voltage-up signal UP and a voltage-down signal DN based on the phase difference therebetween. The first charge pump circuit 213 and the second charge pump circuit 216 output a current based on a difference between the pulse width of the voltage-up signal UP and the pulse width of the voltage-down signal DN.
The current output from the first charge pump circuit 213 is converted into voltage by a capacitor C1 of the integrating filter 214. At this time, the integrating filter 214 removes a high frequency noise generated by the operation of the first charge pump circuit 213.
On the other hand, the current output from the second charge pump circuit 216 is converted into voltage via the ripple filter 217. The ripple filter 217 reduces ripple noise. Then, the voltage with reduced level of the ripple noise is input to the second voltage-current converting circuit 218. The second voltage-current converting circuit 218 compares the reference voltage generated in the reference voltage generation circuit 219 with the voltage input via the ripple filter 217. Then, the second voltage-current converting circuit 218 outputs a current according to the comparison result of the two voltages.
The output of the first voltage-current converting circuit 215 and the output of the second voltage-current converting circuit 218 are connected to each other, and then input to the current controlled oscillator 220. That is, the current input to the current controlled oscillator 220 is the addition of the output current of the first voltage-current converting circuit 215 and the output current of the voltage-current converting circuit 218. The current controlled oscillator 220 controls the oscillation frequency of the output signal based on the current generated according to such voltage. Then, the divider 221 divides the frequency of the output signal of the current controlled oscillator 220 to generate the output signal Fout. Further, the output Fout is fed back, and the phases of the output signal Fout and the reference signal Fin are compared. Then the phase of the output signal Fout is synchronized with the phase of the reference signal Fin.
Therefore, the PLL circuit illustrated in FIG. 14 can operate the ripple filter 217 and the integrating filter 214 with different currents. Thus, the current supplied to the integrating filter 214 can be smaller than the current supplied to the ripple filter 217. Moreover, the capacitance value of the capacitor C1 of the integrating filter can be reduced based on the ratio α between the current supplied to the integrating filter 214 and the ripple filter 217.


A baby activity center comprising a foldable mat and a pair of bendable wings connected to the foldable mat. Each bendable wing has an opening. An arch is further coupled to the foldable mat and is positionable in an upright position and a recumbent position. While in the upright position, the arch is engaged with the openings in the pair of bendable wings. While in the recumbent position, the arch is disengaged from the openings in the pair of bendable wings. The baby activity center transforms to a gym configuration where the foldable mat is expanded and the arch is positioned in the upright position across the foldable mat. The baby activity center further transforms to a transport configuration where the foldable mat is folded and the arch is positioned in the recumbent position between the folded mat.

Baby activity centers such as play mats and gyms provide a safe, comfortable, and sanitary environment for a baby to play on. Available in different shapes, sizes, and configurations, baby play mats and gyms typically provide a padded area large enough for a baby to lie and possibly roll on. Various toys and sensory-stimulating accessories may be further placed overhead via an arch or canopy to provide stimulation and entertainment to the baby. Baby play mats and gyms help promote physical, sensory, and cognitive development in a baby, for example, by encouraging the use of different motor skills (e.g., grasping, reaching, hand-eye coordination, etc.).
However, due to the size of conventional play mats and gyms, it is often cumbersome and inconvenient for parents to bring along a play mat or gym while traveling. This is even more apparent with play gyms that have a canopy or overhead arches. Such play mats and gyms also take up valuable floor area in homes with limited space. Thus, there is a need for a baby activity center that can be easily transported and stored when not in use. There is a further need for a baby activity center that transforms into different configurations to provide multiple modes of use.

Transformable baby activity center with arch


A novel stock roll support assembly and loading method for a cushioning conversion machine that produces dunnage product from sheet stock material supplied as a roll provides for easier loading of the stock roll onto a roll support at the upstream end of the cushioning conversion machine in certain situations, such as where the machine is located against a wall or over (or under) a conveyor, etc. The stock roll support assembly is connected to a main frame of the machine for rotatably supporting a roll of sheet stock material. The stock roll support assembly includes a stock roll support mounted to the main frame for swinging movement between an operating position and a loading position. In the operating position, the stock roll support is operative to support the stock roll adjacent the main frame, and in the loading position, the stock roll support is swung away from the main frame to facilitate loading of a stock roll thereon.

In the process of shipping an item from one location to another, a protective packaging material is typically placed in a shipping case, or box, to fill any voids and/or to cushion the item during the shipping process. Some conventional protective packaging materials are plastic foam peanuts and plastic bubble pack. While these conventional plastic materials seem to perform adequately as cushioning products, they are not without disadvantages. Perhaps the most serious drawback of plastic bubble wrap and/or plastic foam peanuts is their effect on our environment. Quite simply, these plastic packaging materials are not biodegradable and thus they cannot avoid further multiplying our planet's already critical waste disposal problems. The non-biodegradability of these packaging materials has become increasingly important in light of many industries adopting more progressive policies in terms of environmental responsibility.
The foregoing and other disadvantages of conventional plastic packaging materials have made paper protective packaging material a very popular alternative. Paper is biodegradable, recyclable and composed of a renewable resource, making it an environmentally responsible choice for conscientious industries.
While paper in sheet form could possibly be used as a protective packaging material, it is usually preferable to convert sheets of paper into a pad-like or other dunnage product. This conversion may be accomplished by a cushioning conversion machine, such as that disclosed in commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 4,968,291. The therein disclosed cushioning conversion machine converts sheet stock material, such as paper in multi-ply form, into a pad-like dunnage product having longitudinally extending pillow-like portions that are connected together along a stitched central portion of he product. The stock material generally consists of three superimposed webs or layers of biodegradable, recyclable and reusable thirty-pound Kraft paper. A thirty-inch wide roll of this paper, which is approximately 450 feet long, will weigh about 35 pounds and will provide cushioning equal to approximately four fifteen cubic foot bags of plastic foam peanuts while at the same time requiring less than one-thirtieth the storage space.
The multi-ply roll of sheet stock material is mounted, for example, on an axle or a spindle that passes through the core of the stock roll with its ends projecting therebeyond for cradled receipt in respective laterally spaced apart mounts of a roll support member. The mounts may be provided, for example, directly on the frame of the cushioning conversion machine as shown in the '291 patent or on a mobile cart as shown in commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 4,650,456.
The stock rolls presently used in cushioning conversion machines of the foregoing type have a 3 inch (7.62 cm) cardboard core tube around which multiple plies of the sheet material are tightly wrapped. A common practice has been to insert into each end of the core tube a disposable plastic plug that accommodates a difference between the inner diameter of the core tube and the outer diameter of the axle or spindle used to support the stock roll at the upstream end of the cushioning conversion machine. The plastic plugs in use today have concentric cylindrical outer and inner walls that are interconnected by an axially inner annular wall and radial ribs that extend radially between the radially inner and outer walls. The radially outer wall is sized for close fitted insertion into the core tube of the stock roll and there is provided at the axially outer end thereof a radially projecting annular flange which functions to engage the end of the core tube to prevent over-insertion of the plug into the core tube. The radially inner cylindrical wall has an inner diameter closely corresponding to the outer diameter of the spindle for smooth rotation of the plug about the spindle.
The stock roll would typically be loaded by positioning the stock roll on the floor or on a stand near the cushioning conversion machine. The spindle would then be inserted into the center hole in the plug at one end of the roll, through the core tube and then through the center hole in the plug at the opposite end of the roll. The stock roll could then be raised by grasping and lifting the ends of the spindle that project from opposite ends of the stock roll. The loading operation is completed by lowering the projecting ends of the spindle onto the laterally spaced apart mounts that have recesses for cradled receipt and retention of the spindle.
In certain packaging situations, circumstances may require the cushioning conversion machine to be placed against a wall, or over or under a conveyor or packaging table. In such situations it may be difficult or even impossible to load the stock roll on the machine. When a machine is placed against a wall, there may be insufficient room for the spindle to extend beyond the mounts or it may be difficult for an individual to fit between the machine and wall to lift one end of the stock roll onto the machine. Similarly, where a machine is disposed above or below a conveyor or a packaging table, the table or the conveyor may prevent a person from standing at the stock supply end of the machine to load the stock roll thereon. The stock rolls are generally light enough for one person to lift, but generally heavy enough to be cumbersome for lifting while reaching across a conveyor or table. To avoid reaching, two people are needed to lift the stock roll. Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide an improved system for facilitating the loading of a stock roll in those situations where conventional loading practices can not be performed easily, if at all.

Cushioning conversion machine with swing-mounted stock roll support and method


A biocompatible graft co-polymer adduct including a polymeric carrier, a protective chain linked to the polymeric carrier, a reporter group linked to the carrier or to the carrier and the protective chain, and a reversibly linked Pt(II) compound. The invention also relates to a method of treating a disease in a patient, particularly cancer, by administering to the patient a therapeutically effective amount of the adduct, and may include scanning the patient using an imaging technique which can provide a visible image of the distribution of the adduct.

Accurate detection of abnormalities in a patient's body is an essential prerequisite for diagnosing and adequately treating disease. Visualization methods, e.g., magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), are becoming more important for such accurate detection. MRI is non-invasive and requires no exposure of humans to potentially harmful radiation. In MRI, tissues of different origin, such as normal and deviated, e.g., cancerous, tissues, may be differentiated on the basis of differences in relaxation times T1, the spin-lattice or longitudinal relaxation time, or T2, the spin-spin or transverse relaxation time. Because of these differences, differential signal intensity is produced which gives various degrees of contrast in MR images. The greater the difference in T1 or T2, the more pronounced the contrast. However, in many cases diseased or deviated tissue is isointensive, i.e., the diseased or deviated tissue has the same signal intensity as normal tissue, and is therefore not distinguishable from normal tissue without the use of special contrast agents.
Where MR imaging techniques employed to elucidate blood perfusion defects are based on the differentiation of flowing blood from stationary surrounding tissues, e.g., MR angiography (MRA). Three dimensional angiographic techniques, e.g., "Time of Flight" (TOF) and "Phase Contrast" (PC) techniques, provide detailed images of intracranial vessels. However, traditional MRA, i.e., Time of Flight MRA, is dependent on flow velocity and flow shape and thus high-quality angiography of peripheral vessels with high flow resistance is generally impossible due to an effect known as vessel saturation. To overcome this problem, contrast agents have been used to selectively lower the relaxation times of blood.
Gadolinium (III) diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid (Gd-DTPA) dimeglumine is a widely used contrast agent which is relatively small (MW 538) and extravasates on the first pass through the capillaries. However, the use of Gd-DTPA for MR angiography in all organs except the brain is limited, since the blood half-life of Gd-DTPA is less than 20 minutes, and the biological life in man of GD-DTPA is about 90 minutes. The extravasation results in a rapid decrease in vessel/muscle signal ratio, which makes the accurate detection of abnormalities and disease difficult. Moreover, Gd-DTPA dimeglumine, which is used in clinical practice, is immunogenic, which does not favor its repetitious administration to the same patient.
Similar problems occur with the use of ferrioxamine-B as a contrast agent. In addition, ferrioxamine-B causes a precipitous drop in blood pressure after its intravenous administration.
MRI contrast agents created using natural and synthetic macromolecules offer the advantage of high molecular relaxivity due to the multiple chelating groups coupled to a single polymer backbone. These groups can chelate paramagnetic cations, e.g., in Gd-DTPA-poly-l-lysine, or produce high relaxivity due to the presence of iron oxide, e.g., in iron-containing colloids. However, iron oxide-based colloids have their own ligand-independent specific site of accumulation in the body, e.g., the liver, spleen, and lymphoid tissues.
Chelating groups may be attached to a variety of natural polymers, e.g., proteins and polysaccharides, and synthetic polymers. Chemical attachment, e.g., by conjugation, of DTPA to bovine serum albumin will result in a macromolecular contrast agent, which is suitable for some applications, e.g., NMR-angiography, but because of the efficient recognition of modified albumin by macrophages, and albumin-receptors on endothelial cells this contrast agent has a short blood half-life. It is also immunogenic and toxic to reticuloendothelial system organs. Therefore, use for MR imaging is limited.
One way to diminish the antigenicity of albumin is to mask it with natural and synthetic polymers, e.g., spacer arms, by covalent attachment, but this leaves few reactive groups in the protein globule which are needed for binding the chelates and paramagnetic cations. Therefore, the use of such complexes in MR imaging is limited.
Synthetic polymers of 1-amino acids, such as poly-l-lysine (PL), are an alternative to modified natural proteins as backbones for contrast agents. PL modified with DTPA can be used as a radionuclide carrier for antibody-mediated targeting in nuclear medicine. Poly-l-lysine-DTPA, i.e., poly-l-lysine with DTPA groups bonded to epsilon-amino groups of lysine residues has been suggested as a Gd complexone, i.e., a compound which forms a complex with Gd, for use in MR angiography. It is also known that the toxicity of DTPA-poly-l-lysine is lower than that of DTPA-albumin. However, DTPA-moieties on DTPA-polylysine are recognized by liver Kupffer cells and some kidneys cells, presumably glomerulonephral phagocytes, which cause elevated and relatively rapid removal of the contrast agent from the blood. For example, 90% of the intravenously injected agent, e.g., poly-l-lysine-DTPA(Gd) (MW 48.7 kD), is removed from circulation in 1 hour (t.sub.1/2 =0.134 h) and accumulated in the kidneys, liver, and bone. Moreover, synthesis of DTPA-poly-l -lysine can be carried out with a cross-linking reagent, e.g., cyclic anhydride of DTPA. As a result, it is difficult to avoid the formation of cross-linked products of relatively high molecular weight and the preparation obtained is heterogeneous.
Nitrogen-containing polymers, e.g., polethyleneimine, have been modified with monofunctional derivatives of acetic acid to form a molecule where the backbone nitrogens and acetic acid residues are involved in complex formation with trivalent cations. However, because of extensive undesirable accumulation in the liver, paramagnetic complexes of polyethyleneiminoacetic acid are not widely used in MRI.
Polymeric contrast agents, e.g., starburst dendrimers, constitute a separate family of macromolecules with limited potential value as contrast agents. This family of agents has not been shown to be biocompatible and thus its value for in vivo imaging is limited.
Various polysaccharide-based chelating agents have been previously described; however, their activation complement which has been shown to be a feature of polysaccharides, preclude their extensive use in MR imaging.

Graft co-polymer adducts of platinum (II) compounds


A single pole multiple-throw switch for switching an RF signal to one of a plurality of outputs includes coupling the signal to a throw junction, said junction having connected thereto a plurality of switch legs, each leg includes a high voltage shunt diode spaced one quarter-wavelength from the throw junction; each diode mounted at its cathode end to a capacitor and adapted to receive a bias; wherein a controller applies a first DC bias to a selected one of the diodes to cause the selected diode to operate in reverse bias mode, such that the selected diode mounted on the corresponding capacitor provides a low insertion loss to pass the RF signal from the transmission line through the selected leg and to one of the outputs; and applies a second DC bias to the other diodes to cause the other diodes to operate in forward bias mode such that the other diodes mounted onto the corresponding capacitor provides a high insertion loss for blocking the RF signal to the remaining outputs.

Airborne radar systems have an ongoing requirement to switch high radio frequency ("RF") signals. The prior art provides switches that are often contained in large packages and do not allow design flexibility insofar as electronic switch control. In fact, presently there exists a lack of commercially available high peak, high average power single pole, single or multi-throw switches capable of handling 10-25 kilowatt ("kW") for use in electronic applications generally and more particularly airborne radar/electronic warfare applications. Furthermore, the prior art does not offer an Ultra High Frequency ("UHF") switch in the same package as its digitally controlled circuits. Finally, the prior art offers no acceptable product that takes into account the multiple requirements of low insertion loss, high off-arm isolation, and low-risk switch bias/control injection to support operation exceeding 10 kW operation.
Therefore, a switch is needed that is small, low cost, highly reliable, and has high current capacity providing high power handling capability and low impedance to interconnect RF subsystems.

High power UHF single-pole multi-throw switch


A propulsion system for a watercraft includes an engine. An air intake device delivers air to a combustion chamber. A throttle valve regulates an amount of the air. A control device sets the throttle valve to a desired position. A remote controller provides the control device with the desired position. The engine can include an auxiliary intake device that delivers supplemental air to the combustion chamber. A control valve normally shuts the supplemental air from the combustion chamber. The control device determines whether an abnormal condition occurs in setting the throttle valve to the desired position. The control device determines whether the amount of the air is insufficient. The control device controls the control valve to allow the supplemental air to move to the combustion chamber when the control device determines that the abnormal condition occurs and the amount of the air is insufficient.

1. Field of the Invention
The present application generally relates to a watercraft propulsion system and a control method of the system. The present application more particularly relates to a watercraft propulsion system that has an engine and a control method to control at least an operation of the engine.
2. Description of Related Art
Relatively small size watercraft can be powered by one or more outboard motors. The outboard motor normally has a propulsion device such as, for example, a propeller and an engine to power the propulsion device. The outboard motor can incorporate an air intake device that delivers air to the engine. The intake device can be provided with a throttle valve to regulate an amount of the air. The throttle valve moves between a closed position and an open position of the intake device. Normally, when the degree to which the throttle valve is opened increases, the air amount increases and the engine speed of the engine increases.
The engine, the propulsion device and the intake device, which incorporates the throttle valve, together are parts of a propulsion system of the watercraft. The propulsion system can include a control device that controls the opening degree or a position of the throttle valve. In some arrangements, the propulsion system can further include an operating unit such as, for example, a remote controller that is operated by the operator to provide a desired position of the throttle valve to the control device. Also, the propulsion system can include a valve actuator that is coupled with the throttle valve. The control device controls the valve actuator to move the throttle valve to the desired position provided by the operating unit.
The propulsion device normally is selectively operable in either forward, reverse or neutral mode. The propulsion device propels the watercraft forwardly when operating in the forward mode and propels the watercraft backwardly when operating in the reverse mode. The propulsion device does not propel the watercraft when operating in the neutral mode.
The outboard motor incorporates a changeover mechanism to change the propulsion device among the forward, reverse and neutral modes. The changeover mechanism generally is formed with a transmission that has forward and reverse bevel gears, a clutch device and a shift actuator. The shift actuator shifts the clutch device to engage the forward or reverse bevel gear such that the propulsion device operates in either the forward, reverse, or neutral mode. The operating unit can be used to provide the control device with the forward, reverse, or neutral mode of the propulsion device. In other words, the propulsion device can be set in the desired mode by the control device and the operating unit.
The control device can be connected to the valve actuator, the shift actuator and operating unit through a network and communicate with them through the network. The network is, for example, a controller area network (CAN); a particular type of local area network (LAN).
The watercraft propulsion system described above is conventional. For example, the U.S. Pat. No. 6,273,771 discloses such a propulsion system.

Watercraft propulsion system and control method of the system


There is disclosed a liquid delivery apparatus comprising a pressure chamber accommodating a liquid and communicated with an opening, and a piezoelectric actuator plate which is disposed to close the pressure chamber and is deflected to deliver the liquid accommodated in the pressure chamber through the opening. The actuator plate has a laminated structure including: a piezoelectric layer which is deformable at least in a planar direction thereof by an application of an electric field to the piezoelectric layer; and a planar diaphragm laminated at one of opposite surfaces thereof to the piezoelectric layer, the one surface comprising a fixed portion which is fixed to the piezoelectric layer, and a non-fixed portion which is not fixed to the piezoelectric layer and is provided over a central part of the pressure chamber.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a liquid delivery apparatus, and particularly to a liquid delivery apparatus driven by a piezoelectric element.
2. Discussion of Related Art
As a kind of liquid delivery apparatus, there is conventionally known an ejecting apparatus where a plurality of pressure chambers each accommodating a liquid is closed by, for example, a diaphragm which is bonded to and locally deflected by a plurality of piezoelectric elements so as to eject a droplet of the liquid from corresponding nozzles. For instance, such an apparatus is disclosed in JP-A-11-300971, which teaches a head of unimorph type where a recess is formed at an area in a diaphragm so as to oppose to a corresponding one of upper electrodes, so as to increase an amount of displacement of the diaphragm.
The conventional liquid delivery apparatus is so constructed that an area of a piezoelectric element which corresponds to a position of the corresponding pressure chamber and is to be deflected has a laminated structure which is obtained by superposing the piezoelectric element on a diaphragm and bonding the piezoelectric element and diaphragm to each other. Thus, the piezoelectric element and the diaphragm are integrally deformed when the piezoelectric element is driven. According to this arrangement where the piezoelectric element and diaphragm deform integrally at the area corresponding to the pressure chamber, the deformation of the piezoelectric element is restricted by the presence of the diaphragm, leading to an insufficient deformation of the piezoelectric element and accordingly a limited displacement of the diaphragm.


A method for fabricating a tape substrate includes forming, on an insulating film, a copper foil pattern having a connecting area; coating a solder resist on the formed copper foil pattern, at a region other than the connecting area; plating a barrier layer on the copper foil pattern at the connecting area after the coating of the solder resist; and plating tin on the plated barrier layer plated, thereby forming a tin layer on the barrier layer. Another method for fabricating a tape substrate includes forming, on an insulating film, a copper foil pattern having a connecting area; plating a barrier layer over the formed copper foil pattern; plating tin over the barrier layer after the plating of the barrier layer, thereby forming a tin layer over the barrier layer; and coating a solder resist on the tin layer at a region other than the connecting area, after the formation of the tin layer.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a tape substrate and a method for plating the tape substrate, and more particularly to a tape substrate and a fabricating method thereof, in which tin is plated on a pattern portion of the tape substrate where an electronic element is to be mounted, without formation of pores or whiskers.
2. Description of the Related Art
Generally, tape substrates are mainly applicable to foldable electronic appliances such as an LCD panel, a portable phone, or a notebook computer. In pace with miniaturization and lightness of such electronic appliances, various substrates have been developed. For example, a tape automated bonding (TAB) substrate, a tape ball grid array (TBGA) substrate, an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) substrate, and a chip on film (COF) substrate have been developed.
FIG. 1 is a sectional view illustrating a conventional tape substrate. This tape substrate is fabricated by bonding a copper foil, about 20 μm thick, using bonding material 12, to an upper surface of an insulating film 10 made of a material such as polyimide or polyether sulphon, coating photoresist over an upper surface of the copper foil, and then exposing the photoresist to light by use of a mask having a pattern corresponding to a desired wiring pattern, thereby transferring the wiring pattern onto the photoresist.
After the transfer of the pattern, the copper foil is subjected to an etching process, so that it is patterned to have a desired pattern. Thereafter, the photoresist is removed. Thus, a copper foil pattern 20 is completely formed.
A solder resist 30 is coated on the tape substrate formed with the copper foil pattern 20, at a region other than a connecting area, so that the surface portion of the tape substrate corresponding to the connecting area is maintained in an exposed state. Thereafter, tin is plated on the exposed surface portion of the tape substrate to form a tin layer 27 adapted to prevent oxidation from occurring at the connecting area while enabling an electronic element to be mounted on the tape substrate at the connecting area.
The plated tin layer 27 exhibits a superior flexibility, while being less toxic to the human body. The tin layer 27 also exhibits a superior solderability because its melting point is low. The tin layer 27 can also be inexpensively formed, thereby reducing the fabricating cost of the tape substrate. Furthermore, it is possible to form the tin layer 27 to have a uniform thickness of 1 μm or less. The tin plating solution adapted to form the tin layer 27 can be easily handled. In addition, the tin layer 27 exhibits a high bonding strength to bumps made of gold. By virtue of such advantages, the application of such a plated tin layer is being widened.
In accordance with the above mentioned tape substrate and fabricating method thereof, however, an electroless thin plating solution may penetrate between the edge of the solder resist 30 and the copper foil pattern 20 during a process of plating thin on the tape substrate. As a result, a local cell is formed between the copper foil and the electroless tin plating solution, so that copper may be eluted from the copper foil pattern, thereby causing voids C to be formed at the copper foil pattern. Where such a void C has a large size, open-circuit fault may be generated at the copper foil pattern 20.
Due to the void C, a bending stress is generated at the tape substrate, so that the tape substrate may be deformed. In severe cases, the tape substrate may be bent, thereby causing its copper foil pattern to be damaged.
Typically, stress may be generated at the interface between the copper foil pattern and the tin layer plated thereon, due to the hetero structures of those layers. For this reason, needle-shaped precipitates called "whiskers" may grow for several days or even several years. Such whiskers may short-circuit adjacent pattern portions of the copper foil pattern, thereby causing circuit damage. However, there is no method capable of effectively suppressing such whiskers.
A heat treatment or alloying method has often been used to suppress formation of whiskers. However, the heat treatment method requires a lengthened process time, thereby causing a degradation in productivity. Furthermore, the tape substrate may be degraded under a certain heating condition, so that it may have a poor quality. As the tin layer 27 is heated, the tin component thereof is coupled with the copper element of the copper foil pattern, thereby forming a tin-copper alloy layer 23. In order to obtain a desired thickness of a pure tin layer portion in the tin layer 27, it is necessary to perform the tin plating process for a prolonged period of time. There is also a problem in that the tin-cooper alloy layer 23 has an excessively large thickness.
Where the above alloying is carried out to suppress formation of whiskers, there is a degradation in electrical characteristics and solderability. As a result, the mounting strength for electronic elements is weakened. Thus, this method cannot basically provide a solution to the above mentioned problems.

Tape substrate and method for fabricating the same


The present invention is directed to a system for digital displaying images of various colors and appearances of an article and the use thereof. The invention is particularly directed to a system for displaying images for selecting one or more matching formulas to match color and appearance of an article. The invention is even further directed to a system for displaying images for selecting one or more matching formulas to match color and appearance of a target coating of a vehicle.

Surface coatings such as monocoat, clearcoat/colorcoat, and tricoat are favored for the protection and decoration of substrates such as vehicle bodies. The surface coatings can utilize one or more pigments or effect pigments to impart the desired color or appearance, such as solid, metallic, pearlescent effect, gloss, or distinctness of image, to the vehicle bodies. Metallic flakes, such as aluminum flakes are commonly used to produce coatings having flake appearances such as texture, sparkle, glint and glitter as well as the enhancement of depth perception in the coatings imparted by the flakes.
Repair of such coatings that have been damaged, e.g., in a collision or stone chipping or scratches, has been difficult in that a vehicle repair body shop or a refinisher may have to go to great lengths to repeatedly try out and to locate a best aftermarket refinish coating composition that matches the color and appearance of the vehicle's original coating, also known as original equipment manufacturing (OEM) coating. While each coating composition used in a vehicle's original coating is manufactured to a given color standard, so that, in theory, all vehicles painted with a given coating composition should appear the same color and appearance, due to a host of different variables, such as changing atmospheric conditions and use of different application techniques, the appearance of a given coating composition may actually vary from plant to plant and over different times of any year. Consequently, vehicles manufactured at one plant may appear a different color than vehicles painted with the same coating composition at another plant. A number of refinish matching coating compositions must therefore be developed for each OEM coating composition. Presently there is no quick, easy and inexpensive way to determine which aftermarket matching refinish coating composition is the best match in color and appearance for a particular OEM coating.
Various color matching techniques have been developed in the past to aid the selection of the correct matching coating composition to refinish a vehicle, but all suffer from certain significant limitations. For instance, visual tools such as refinish color chips have been used on many occasions to find a suitable match for the vehicle that needs refinishing. However, visual color matching is time-consuming, cumbersome and subject to many errors as a result of poor lighting conditions, operator variances, or variation to the original standard by the paint manufacturer. Another system involves the use of vehicle data, such as its make, model year and manufacturer's paint code. The paint code is used to identify all the different aftermarket refinish matching coating compositions and corresponding coating formulas created for that paint code. Additional information further defining the matching coatings resulted from the matching coating compositions is associated to each formula which helps the refinisher define which is the best match for the vehicle of that make and model year in question. Such information is gathered from a number of sources and resides in either electronic or printed formats. Accessing such a bank of information is very time-consuming and does not always lead to the correct coating match.
A further system commonly employed involves the use of a computer controlled colorimeter or spectrophotometer which measures the color values of an undamaged area of the coating on the vehicle and compares these color values stored in a database that contains color data for various refinish matching coatings and corresponding matching formulas. From that comparison, the computer locates one or more preliminary matching formulas for the vehicle's original coating color and appearance within an acceptable tolerance. An example of such method was disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,145,656. Said method, however, requires measured color values and cannot identify matching formulas based on vehicle identification information.
An even further development is to use both the measured color values and vehicle identifying information to locate potential preliminary matching formulas from a refinish matching coating database. One example of such system was disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,522,977. In such system, sample coatings resulting from each of the preliminary matching formulas are prepared and test sprayed. Color match is then visually determined. In most cases, the preliminary matching formulas need to be adjusted manually and repeatedly by trial and error until a match is achieved.
Thus, a continuing need still exists for a method and a system to select one or more matching formulas to match color and appearance of an article, and particularly, for matching the coating of a vehicle that needs refinishing, with minimum requirement for repeated testing, manual adjustment and trial.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

System for color match and digital color display


Systems (50) and methods are disclosed for detecting defects (DEF1-DEF5) in a ceramic filter body (10) having a honeycomb structure (12) that defined multiple channels (20). Plugs (30) are used to seal select channel ends (22, 24). The methods include using a first light source unit (52) and a first detector unit (62) operably arranged at respective first and second ends (16, 18) of the honeycomb structure so as to be capable of being in optical communication. Light beams (LB) are transmitted from the first light source unit to the first detector unit through multiple channels. Defects in a given plug allow a detectable portion (LBD) of the corresponding light beam to be detected. Multiple detector elements (64) are used to detect the detectable light beam portion to provide location and intensity variation information, which helps deduce the precise location and nature of the defect. Light source units (52, 52′) at opposite ends (16, 18) and detector units (62, 62′) at opposite ends (18, 16) form a “double-ended” system that allows for the simultaneous measurement of defect at both ceramic filter body ends. Systems and methods for measuring defects (DEF4, DEF5) for unplugged ceramic filter bodies are also disclosed.

Ceramic bodies having internal honeycomb structures defined by porous walls have several uses, e.g., as solid particulate filter bodies and as stationary heat exchangers. Such uses require selected channels of the structure to be sealed or plugged by manifolding and the like at one or both of the respective ends thereof.
In the operation of a ceramic plugged filter, a contaminated fluid or gas is brought under pressure to an inlet face and enters the ceramic filter body via those channels with open ends at the inlet face. Because these channels are sealed at the opposite (outlet) face, the contaminated fluid is forced through the thin porous walls into adjoining channels. The solid particulate contaminant in the fluid, which is too large to pass through the porous openings in the walls, is left behind, and a cleansed fluid exits the filter through the outlet channels.
Sealing the channels involves inserting a plugging material into the open ends of select channel channels, and subsequently drying the plugged filter. Previous methods for forming a plugged honeycombed structure include forming an extruded ceramic-based green honeycomb structure, drying the structure in an oven, plugging the open ends of select channels, and firing the resultant plugged honeycomb structure.
The plugging methods can potentially lead to defects in the plugs, which cause filter leaks. The channels of the honeycomb structure can also be obstructed within the ceramic filter body itself due to the collapse of a channel wall, or if excess material remains in the channels. It is therefore important in the filter manufacturing process to be able to quickly and efficiently inspect the ceramic filter bodies for defects that could ultimately cause leaks in the subsequently formed filter.

Systems and methods for detecting defects in ceramic filter bodies


The invention relates to an axle/suspension system that includes a composite beam and separately pultruded axle connection and bushing end brackets. The composite beam has an internal support with vertical stitching to minimize delamination, which is lightweight and maintains rigidity of the beam while still maintaining flexibility. The beam includes a pair of ends. The axle connection bracket is connected to one end of the beam and captures the axle. The bushing end bracket is connected to the other end of the beam and is connected to a hanger of the heavy-duty vehicle.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the art of axle/suspension systems for vehicles. More particularly, the invention relates to the art of trailing or leading arm air-ride axle/suspension systems for heavy-duty vehicles, such as tractor-trailers or semi-trailers, which cushion the ride and stabilize the vehicle during operation. Still more particularly, the invention relates to an axle/suspension system that includes a composite beam and a pair of separately pultruded brackets. The composite beam has an internal support with vertical stitching to minimize delamination, which is lightweight and maintains rigidity of the beam while still maintaining flexibility.
2. Background Art
Heavy-duty vehicles that transport freight, such as tractor-trailers or semi-trailers and straight trucks, typically include leading or trailing arm air-ride suspension assemblies that connect the axles of the vehicle to the frame of the vehicle. These air-ride suspension assemblies use air springs to cushion the ride of the vehicle. In some heavy-duty vehicles, the suspension assemblies are connected directly to the primary frame of the vehicle. In other heavy-duty vehicles, the primary frame of the vehicle supports a subframe, and the suspension assemblies connect directly to the subframe. For those heavy-duty vehicles that support a subframe, the subframe can be non-movable or movable, the latter being commonly referred to as a slider box, slider subframe, slider undercarriage, or secondary slider frame. For the purpose of convenience and clarity, reference herein will be made to a slider box, with the understanding that such reference is by way of example, and that the present invention applies to heavy-duty vehicle primary frames, movable subframes and non-movable subframes.
In the heavy-duty vehicle art, one or more axle/suspension systems usually are suspended from a single slider box. It is understood that a slider box outfitted with usually two axle/suspension systems typically is referred to as a slider tandem, and for purposes of convenience and clarity, will hereinafter be referred to as a slider tandem. Of course, a slider box may also be outfitted with a single axle/suspension system, or three or more axle/suspension systems. By way of example, reference herein shall be made to a slider tandem having a pair of axle/suspension systems mounted thereon, with the understanding that such reference also applies to a slider outfitted with one, three or more axle/suspension systems. The slider tandem in turn is mounted on the underside of the trailer primary frame, and is movable longitudinally therealong to provide a means for variable load distribution and vehicular maneuverability.
More specifically, the amount of cargo that a trailer may carry is governed by local, state and/or national road and bridge laws, and is dependent on proper load distribution. The basic principle behind most road and bridge laws is to limit the maximum load that a vehicle may carry as well as limit the maximum load that can be supported by individual axles. A trailer having a slider tandem gains an advantage with respect to laws governing maximum axle loads. More particularly, proper placement of the slider tandem varies individual axle loads or redistributes the trailer load so that it is within legal limits.
A slider box or other subframe typically includes a pair of longitudinally-extending, parallel, transversely-spaced elongated main members. A plurality of longitudinally-spaced parallel cross members extend transversely between and are attached to the main members. Pairs of transversely-spaced hangers are mounted on and depend from the main members and selected ones of the cross members. An axle/suspension system typically includes a pair of transversely-spaced trailing arm beams, each of which is pivotally connected at its front end to a respective one of the hangers. Each trailing arm beam also is welded or otherwise rigidly attached at its rear end to a transversely-extending axle of the axle/suspension system. The wheels of the vehicle are rotatably mounted, as known in the art, to opposing ends of the axle. The axle/suspension system further conventionally includes a pair of air springs, which each extend between and are mounted on the rear end of a respective one of the beams and a respective one of the main members, and a pair of shock absorbers, which each extend between and are mounted on a respective one of the beams and a respective one of the main members. It should be noted that, while the hangers are sometimes considered to be part of the vehicle frame once they are connected to the frame members, they are typically engineered as part of the axle/suspension system.
The axle/suspension system of the heavy-duty vehicle also acts to cushion the ride and stabilize the vehicle. More particularly, as the vehicle is traveling over-the-road, its wheels encounter road conditions that impart various forces, loads and/or stresses, collectively referred to herein as forces, to the respective axle on which the wheels are mounted, and in turn, to the suspension assemblies that are connected to and support the axle. In order to minimize the detrimental effect of these forces on the vehicle as it is operating, the axle/suspension system is designed to absorb at least some of them.
These forces include vertical forces caused by vertical movement of the wheels as they encounter certain road conditions, fore-aft forces caused by acceleration and deceleration of the vehicle, and side-load and roll forces associated with transverse vehicle movement, such as turning of the vehicle and lane-change maneuvers. In order to address such disparate forces, axle/suspension systems have differing structural requirements. More particularly, it is desirable for an axle/suspension to minimize the amount of sway experienced by the vehicle and thus provide what is known in the art as roll stability. However, it is also desirable for an axle/suspension system to be relatively flexible to assist in cushioning the vehicle from vertical impacts and to provide compliance so that the components of the axle/suspension system resist failure.
In the past, prior art beams were formed of a rigid, heavy material such as steel and was connected to a hanger with a compliant bushing. The rigid, heavy material undesirably led to increased weight to an axle/suspension system that undesirably increased operating costs.
In order to decrease weight, prior art composite beams were developed for axle/suspension systems. Prior art composite beams desirably reduced weight to the axle/suspension system but included some other disadvantages. First, some prior art composite beams can delaminate over time, which is the separation of the composite layers. Delamination is undesirable because it compromises the structural integrity of the beam. As a result, it is desirable for a suspension assembly for an axle/suspension system having composite beams to minimize possible delamination of the beam.
In addition, prior art composite beams often employ expensive manufacturing processes, such as vacuum injection molding and reaction injection molding, and other techniques known in the art. Such prior art processes make composite beams undesirably expensive to employ. As a result, it is desirable for each composite beam of an axle/suspension system, including a bushing end housing and axle connection housing, to be manufactured through a cost-effective process.
Therefore, a need exists in the art for an improved axle/suspension system which balances the rigidity of the composite beam to minimize the sway experienced by the vehicle, with flexibility to assist in cushioning the vehicle from vertical forces. Further, it is desirable to minimize the potential likelihood of delamination of the composite beam which can possibly occur over time in composites. In addition, it is desirable to manufacture a composite beam, including a bushing end housing and an axle connection housing, via a cost-effective process. The heavy-duty vehicle axle/suspension system with composite beam of the present invention satisfies these needs, as will be described in detail below.

Heavy-duty vehicle axle/suspension system with composite beam


Provided are a service transmission method and apparatus. The method comprises: a first mobile station acquiring N resource allocation parameter sets from a network device; the first mobile station sending first indication information to the network device, wherein the first indication information is used to indicate service information about a first service needing to be transmitted by the first mobile station; the first mobile station receiving second indication information sent by the network device, wherein the second indication information is used to indicate a first target resource; and the first mobile station determining, from the N resource allocation parameter sets, a first resource allocation parameter set adapted to the service information about the first service, and the first mobile station transmitting, according to the first resource allocation parameter set, the first service using the first target resource. Accordingly, different requirements of different services for semi-persistent scheduling can be coped with flexibly and rapidly.

Along with development of a communication technology, multiple scheduling manners have been provided, for example, dynamic scheduling, persistent scheduling and Semi-Static Scheduling (SPS).
SPS may also be referred to as semi-persistent scheduling, that is, resources are allocated to users according to a certain period, so that resource allocation in the period is not required to be indicated by scheduling signaling. Compared with dynamic scheduling, such a scheduling manner is relatively poorer in flexibility but relatively lower in control signaling overhead, and thus is suitable for services with an unobvious burst characteristic and a guaranteed rate requirement, for example, the Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) service or the Voice over Long Term Evolution (VoLTE) service.
Along with popularization and development of the communication technology, more and more SPS-based services may be provided for users, and thus there may be the condition that different services have different SPS requirements.
Howe to flexibly and rapidly deal with different requirements of different services on SPS becomes a problem urgent to be solved in the industry.

Service transmission method and apparatus

GUANGDONG OPPO MOBILE TELECOMMUNICATIONS CORP., LTD.


Wafer inspection systems and methods are provided. One inspection system includes a module measurement cell coupled to a host inspection system by a wafer handler. The module measurement cell is configured to inspect a wafer using one or more modes prior to inspection of the wafer by the host inspection system. The one or more modes include backside inspection, edge inspection, frontside macro defect inspection, or a combination thereof. Another inspection system includes two or more low resolution electronic sensors arranged at multiple viewing angles. The sensors are configured to detect light returned from a wafer substantially simultaneously. A method for analyzing inspection data includes selecting a template corresponding to a support device that contacts a backside of a wafer prior to inspection of the backside of the wafer. The method also includes subtracting data representing the template from inspection data generated by inspection of the backside of the wafer.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to inspection systems and methods. Certain embodiments relate to wafer inspection systems and methods for analyzing inspection data.
2. Description of the Related Art
Fabricating semiconductor devices such as logic and memory devices typically includes processing a specimen such as a semiconductor wafer using a number of semiconductor fabrication processes to form various features and multiple levels of the semiconductor devices. For example, lithography is a semiconductor fabrication process that typically involves transferring a pattern to a resist arranged on a semiconductor wafer. Additional examples of semiconductor fabrication processes include, but are not limited to, chemical-mechanical polishing, etch, deposition, and ion implantation. Multiple semiconductor devices may be fabricated in an arrangement on a semiconductor wafer and then separated into individual semiconductor devices.
During each semiconductor fabrication process, defects such as particulate contamination and pattern defects may be introduced into semiconductor devices. Such defects may be found either randomly on a specimen surface or may be repeated within each device formed on a specimen. For example, random defects may be caused by events such as an unexpected increase in particulate contamination in a manufacturing environment and an unexpected increase in contamination in process chemicals used in fabrication of a semiconductor device. Defects may also be formed in a systematic fashion over time and due to individual process marginalities and interactions of multiple processes. Defects caused by individual process marginalities or by interactions between multiple processes may result in defects such as a film thickness variation or a lateral dimension variation due to dose variation. Such defects may, in turn, result in additional defects in a semiconductor device formed on the specimen such as bridging between two conductive structures thereby forming a short between the structures. Defects repeated within each semiconductor device formed on an entire specimen may, for example, be systematically caused by contamination or defects found on a reticle, or a mask. Contamination or defects on a reticle may be transferred along with a device pattern to a resist during a lithography process.
As the dimensions of advanced semiconductor devices continue to shrink, the presence of defects in the semiconductor devices limits the successful fabrication, or yield, of a semiconductor device. For example, a reticle defect reproduced in a resist patterned during lithography may cause an open circuit or a short circuit in a semiconductor device formed in subsequent processing. Because fabrication of a semiconductor device includes many complex process steps, the adverse effects of defects on total yield may increase exponentially if an error that is caused by a defect is propagated throughout an entire manufacturing process or operation over time.

Wafer inspection systems and methods for analyzing inspection data


A coin discriminating method includes steps of irradiating a surface of a coin with light, photoelectrically detecting light reflected by the surface of the coin, producing detected pattern data of the surface of the coin, binarizing corresponding reference pattern data so that “1” is assigned to pixel data having a signal intensity level equal to or higher than a predetermined signal intensity level and “0” is assigned to pixel data having a signal intensity level lower than the predetermined signal intensity level to produce reference bright portion pattern data consisting of “1” pixel data and reference dark portion pattern data consisting of “0” pixel data, extracting bright portion pattern data consisting of pixels corresponding to pixels included in the reference bright portion pattern data and dark portion pattern data consisting of pixels corresponding to pixels included in the reference dark portion pattern data from the detected pattern data, and discriminating whether or not the surface of the coin is damaged to higher than the predetermined level by comparing the difference between the bright portion data signal intensity average value and dark portion data signal intensity average value with a threshold value of coins of a corresponding denomination.

The present invention relates to a coin discriminating method and apparatus and, in particular, to a coin discriminating method and apparatus for reliably discriminating whether or not coins are acceptable, the denominations of coins and whether or not coins are damaged to higher than a predetermined level by optically detecting coin surface patterns while preventing the apparatus from becoming large.

Coin discriminating method and apparatus


Pipelined converter systems include a plurality of converter stages in which some stages generate and pass a residue signal to a succeeding stage for further conversion. The generation of the residue signal can inject spurious charges into a reference source that is used in the generation. The spurious charges reduce the accuracy of the residue signal and the accuracy of the system. Residue generator embodiments are thereby formed to provide reduction charges to the reference source that are arranged to oppose and reduce the spurious charges. This reduction of spurious charges significantly enhances system accuracy and linearity.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to pipelined converter systems.
2. Description of the Related Art
Pipelined analog-to-digital converter systems are capable of achieving impressive resolution and signal-to-noise performance at extremely high sample rates (e.g., 150 megasamples per second). Accordingly, they are useful in a wide range of demanding converter applications (e.g., charge-coupled device imaging, ultrasonic medical imaging, base station processing, digital receivers, digital video, cable modems, digital subscriber line systems, and Ethernet systems).
The speed of a pipelined system is realized by processing an analog input signal through a series of converter stages. Each stage provides a respective digital code and, except for the last stage, each also forms an analog residue signal which is passed to a succeeding stage for further conversion. The respective digital code is typically used to apply a selected one of a set of reference signals to switched-capacitor circuits to thereby generate the residue signal. Because the accuracy of the pipelined system is degraded by any error in the residue signals, their accurate generation is critical to the system.

Residue generators for reduction of charge injection in pipelined converter systems


A method for collecting multi-energy CT data is provided. A method of reconstruction from multi-energy CT scan is further provided, in which data collection is performed on the first-class object at voltage values of m sampling points of the first-class voltage varied periodically, to obtain n sets of multi-energy first-class scan data {yi}; and a data collection is performed on a double-cylinder correction phantom at the voltage values of m sampling points to obtain combination coefficients, and thus obtaining corresponding combination coefficients Cifirstand Cisecondcorresponding to the case that the first-class scan data is collected in the ith projection angle at the first-class voltage; and the image vectors Xfirst and Xsecond are obtained by calculating a minimum value of the difference between the first-class scan data {yi} and the combination projection data CifirstPi*Xfirst+CisecondPi*Xsecond.

Presently, CT scan is widely used in the field of medicine. Different tissue structures in a CT image can be discriminated by the different attenuations of x-rays with different energies in a material.
At present, generally there are two methods for collecting dual energy data. In one method, dual energy is achieved by rapidly switching tube voltages from projection to projection, thereby obtaining data for distinctive energies in an alternate way in respective projection directions during one scan. In the other method, a dual-source technology is applied, in which each of the tubes emits rays with a distinctive energy to obtain data for two different energies during one scan.
For one material, such as water or bone, x-ray beams with two different energies have different attenuations, and thus the pixel values of the obtained CT images are also different, by which two components can be discriminated in the image. For example, a CT image reconstruction may be performed from data obtained in a scan conducted at two different energies, resulting in two images I1 and I2. The proportions of water and bone at each point of the image may be simply calculated from the following two equations:Water=Coeff1*I1+Coeff2*I2Bone=Coeff3*I1+Coeff4*I2If the combination coefficients Coeff1, Coeff2, Coeff3, Coeff4 are known, the proportions of water and bone can be easily calculated according to the images I1 and I2 respectively corresponding to two different beam energies. Generally, those coefficients are obtained by scanning a simple object for correction in advance and applying certain correction algorithms.
However, the process of obtaining the dual-energy data has a high hardware requirement. For example, in one of the two methods for collecting data described above, it is required to switch the tube voltages among different projections quickly, and in the other method it is required to provide two tubes.

Method of reconstruction from multi-energy CT scan and device thereof

SHENYANG NEUSOFT MEDICAL SYSTEMS CO., LTD.


An Fe-based amorphous alloy having a compositional formula in atomic percent represented by Fe.sub.100-a-b-c-d-e-f Al.sub.a Ga.sub.b P.sub.c C.sub.d B.sub.e Si.sub.f, wherein a to f satisfy 4.ltoreq.a.ltoreq.6, 1.ltoreq.b.ltoreq.3, 9.ltoreq.c.ltoreq.12, 5.ltoreq.d.ltoreq.7, 3.ltoreq.e.ltoreq.5 and 0.25.ltoreq.f.ltoreq.4. The Fe-based amorphous alloy is an amorphous magnetic material having an excellent amorphous phase-forming ability, and can easily form an amorphous material having a thickness of 1.5 mm or above by a mold casting method realizing a cooling speed of about 10.sup.3 K/s. Also, because the amorphous alloy has a supercooled liquid region of 50 K or larger, by applying a working method utilizing a super cooled state, amorphous magnetic materials of various form can be prepared.

It is well known that amorphous alloys of various form such as a ribbon, a fine wire, a powder or particle, etc. may be obtained by quenching the alloy in a molten state. Also, hitherto, many amorphous alloys have been identified in Fe-based alloys, Co-based alloys, Ti-based alloys, Zr-based alloys and Al-based alloys. Among these an Fe-based amorphous alloy has excellent soft magnetic characteristics, high strength and good thermal stability. Therefore, Fe-based amorphous alloys have been applied in various industrial fields for use as a transformer material, etc., and have been used to develop new magnetic materials.
However, because a conventional amorphous alloy does not have a sufficient amorphous phase-forming ability and requires a high quenching rate, the use of such a conventional Fe-based amorphous alloy is limited to forming a ribbon having a thickness of 60 .mu.m or lower, a fine wire having a diameter of 150 .mu.m or lower, or a powder having a particle size of 100 .mu.m or lower. As a result, the industrial use thereof has been limited.
On the other hand, JP-A-5-245597 and JP-A-5-253656 (the term "JP-A" as used herein means an "unexamined published Japanese patent application") propose casting method using a mold (hereinafter referred to as a mold casting method), and disclose a method of obtaining a casting of an Fe-based amorphous alloy. However, in the case of using conventional Fe--Si--B based alloys and Fe--P--C based alloys, a thick bulk-form amorphous material is not obtained. This limitation hinders the development of new applications for Fe-based amorphous alloys.
In view of the above, Fe-based alloys having an excellent amorphous phase-forming ability have recently been investigated, and an alloy having the compositional formula Fe.sub.72 Al.sub.5 Ga.sub.2 P.sub.11 C.sub.6 B.sub.4 which exhibits a wide supercooled liquid region of 50 K or larger has been found as described in Material Transactions, JIM, Vol. 36, No. 9, 1180-1183 (1995). This alloy has an excellent amorphous phase-forming ability as well as excellent soft magnetic characteristics and excellent thermal stability, and was therefore expected to provide a functional amorphous alloy bulk material.
However, the present inventors found that when a casting having a thickness of 1.5 mm or above of the foregoing Fe.sub.72 Al.sub.5 Ga.sub.2 P.sub.11 C.sub.6 B.sub.4 alloy is produced by the mold casting method disclosed in JP-A-5-245597, the amorphous phase-forming ability is insufficient and a casting material having an amorphous single phase is not obtained.
Accordingly, the development of an Fe-based amorphous alloy having a superior amorphous phase-forming ability which can be produced in a bulk-form having a thickness of 1.5 mm or above has been desired. Also, in order not to reduce its workability, the amorphous alloy should have a wide supercooled liquid region of 50 K or larger in addition to an excellent amorphous phase-forming ability. From this view point, the development of an Fe-based amorphous alloy having an amorphous phase-forming ability that is superior to that of the Fe.sub.72 Al.sub.5 Ga.sub.2 P.sub.11 C.sub.6 B.sub.4 alloy and a wide supercooled liquid region has been desired.


An embodiment of the present invention is a switching power supply that includes a full-wave bridge rectifier to rectify incoming AC line voltage, a transformer having a primary winding and two secondary windings and a switched mode power supply chip that includes an integrated high voltage power MOSFET with a low voltage tap in the drift region. The MOSFET controls power switching of the primary winding of the transformer and has a high voltage present during initial power-up. This high voltage is dropped across the JFET part of the MOSFET and supplies a safe operating area protection circuit with a low voltage signal that will shut-off the MOSFET if the current passing through the MOSFET produces a voltage drop at the tap that exceeds a predetermined maximum.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to semiconductor transistors and specifically to protecting power MOSFETs from exceeding their safe operating areas.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Switched mode power supplies, almost by definition, use a high-voltage, high-current MOSFET to switch current on and off in the primary winding of an output transformer. To protect the MOSFET, and to indirectly measure the load on the output transformer, a sense resistor is typically placed between the source of the MOSFET and ground. This practice may appear contradictory in view of the fact that semiconductor process engineers expend much effort into producing such transistors with very low values of drain on resistance (R.sub.DON). A voltage develops across the sense resistor that is proportional to the current, and this sense voltage can then be used by a comparator to turn off the MOSFET when the current exceeds a preset limit and to control output power levels with a closed-loop feedback servo.
A conventional way of implementing a current limiting circuit is illustrated in FIG. 1. A prior art power supply 10 includes an output transformer 12 with a primary winding 14, and a switched mode power supply chip 16 that comprises a pulse width modulation (PWM) circuit 18, a high-voltage MOSFET 20, a sense resistor 22 and a current-limit comparator 24. An over-current condition causes a voltage drop across resistor 22 to exceed a predetermined threshold voltage (Vth) at comparator 24. The output voltage of comparator 24 will cause a flip-flop 26 to reset, thus lowering the Q-output and turning off MOSFET 20 and interrupting the current flow through primary winding 14.
Resistor 22 preferably has a value equal to a fraction of a ohm. Unfortunately, precision, low value resistors are difficult to fabricate in integrated circuits. The value of resistor 22 adds to the R.sub.on of MOSFET 20. With resistor 22 at a low value of resistance, the voltage developed across it will be proportionately small, and the comparator threshold voltage Vth is susceptible to being buried or confused with ground noise. Noise immunity figures therefore suffer. Any current limit value must be set at some margin below the device destruction current level (I.sub.DSS) of MOSFET 20 to assure that MOSFET 20 does not go into saturation before such destructive current is reached. Otherwise, voltages across a saturated MOSFET 20 can reach levels that exceed the device safe operating area. Therefore, the current limit is conventionally set well below the I.sub.DSS value, in order to allow for process variations of I.sub.DSS and comparator threshold tolerances. Consequently, device maximum operating currents are artificially limited and larger, more expensive MOSFETs must be used in compensation.
A part of the source area of MOSFET 20 may be used as a sense FET to indirectly sense the total current. In FIG. 2, a prior art power supply 30 includes an output transformer 32 with a primary winding 34, and a switched mode power supply chip 36 that comprises a pulse width modulation (PWM) circuit 38, a high-voltage MOSFET 40, a sense resistor 42 and a current-limit comparator 44. An over-current condition causes a voltage drop across resistor 42 to exceed a predetermined threshold voltage (Vth) at comparator 44. The output of comparator 44 will cause a flip-flop 46 to reset, thus lowering the Q-output and turning off MOSFET 40 and interrupting the current flow through primary winding 34. The technique of using two sources in MOSFET 40 can overcome many of the disadvantages mentioned in connection with power supply 10. Resistor 42 can be larger in value than resistor 22 and a higher threshold voltage Vth can be used in power supply 30 without sacrificing performance. However, the ratio of the sense current to total current in MOSFET 40 is only accurate when the on-drain voltage is large compared to the voltage Vth. In actual practice, the drain voltage is usually designed to be low to keep losses to a minimum. Therefore, a much larger margin is needed for the current limit to guarantee that MOSFET 40 will not be destroyed before the protection circuit operates. Consequently, device maximum operating currents are even more artificially limited and still larger, more expensive MOSFETs must be used in compensation for power supply 30.
In FIG. 3, a prior art power supply 50 includes an output transformer 52 with a primary winding 54, and a switched mode power supply chip 56 that comprises a pulse width modulation (PWM) circuit 58, a high-voltage MOSFET 60, a current-limit comparator 62 and an AND-gate 64. The voltage on the drain of MOSFET 60 can be sampled during the periods MOSFET 60 is on to sense an over current condition. AND-gate 64 will only allow comparator 62 to switch off MOSFET 60 if the comparison at the inputs of comparitor 62 is being made when the gate of MOSFET 60 is high. The drain on resistance (R.sub.DON) of MOSFET 60 is equivalent to using a sense resistor. It is possible with this circuit configuration to detect when MOSFET 60 is going into saturation, thus making it possible to protect it from safe operating area failure. Power supply 50 is relatively insensitive to process variations of I.sub.DSS for MOSFET 60 and in threshold voltage Vth. Operation closer to the maximum current capability of MOSFET 60 is possible because smaller safety margins are possible. Unfortunately, the drain of MOSFET 60 is a high voltage pin and that makes it very difficult to design a circuit for comparator 62 that can withstand the voltage when MOSFET 60 is off. This is particularly true from a monolithic chip implementation. Even if the obstacles are overcome, the implementation of such a high voltage circuit to sense drain voltage requires an excessive amount of chip area.

Power MOSFET safe operating area current limiting device


A method of producing polycarbonate-based polymer microparticles including forming an emulsion in a system in which a polycarbonate-based polymer (A), a polymer (B) different from the polycarbonate-based polymer (A) and an organic solvent (C) are dissolved and mixed together and which causes phase separation into two phases of a solution phase having the polycarbonate-based polymer (A) as its main component and a solution phase having the polymer (B) different from the polycarbonate-based polymer (a) as its main component, and contacting a poor solvent for the polycarbonate-based polymer (A) with the emulsion at a temperature of 80° C. or higher to thereby precipitate microparticles of the polycarbonate-based polymer (A).

Differently from polymer molded products such as films, fibers, injection molded products and extrusion molded products, polymer microparticles are used for modification and improvement of various materials by utilizing their large specific surface area and their spherical shape. Their major uses include modifiers for cosmetics, additives for toners, additives for paints, additives for molded products and light diffusing agents for films (JP-A-2010-8757 and JP-A-2005-220035).
Typical examples of such versatile polymer microparticles include acrylic polymer particles and polystyrene polymer particles which can be produced by a generally known method such as emulsification polymerization and suspension polymerization, and which are used for the above-described various applications.
On the other hand, polycarbonates are known as a polymer having high heat resistance, high refraction index and high weather resistance compared to acrylic polymers and poly-styrenes, and are used for a wide variety of applications in resin moldings. However, there are only few publications that disclose how to form polycarbonate into a microparticle shape, and the major method to obtain powder-like products was the crushing method (JP-A-2011-26471).
On the other hand, as a known method of producing polymer microparticles, a method using emulsion is disclosed in WO 2009/142231 A1. However, although attempts to produce polycarbonate-based polymer microparticles were being made, the obtained particles had an uneven surface and did not have acceptable properties such as particle flowability which is required for cosmetics and the like (WO '231).
Further, a method is disclosed in which polycarbonate is melted in silicone oil, mixed by homogenizer, and thereafter cooled to produce polycarbonate particles. However, the polycarbonate particles obtained by that method contain not only a small proportion of spherical smooth-surface microparticles but also a huge proportion of fiber-like polycarbonates, and it was difficult to isolate microparticles from them. In other words, it was not possible to obtain polycarbonate-based polymer microparticles having acceptable properties such as flowability by using that method (JP-A-2001-213970).
It could therefore be helpful to provide a method of producing polycarbonate-based polymer microparticles, particularly real spherical polycarbonate-based polymer microparticles having a smooth particle surface and being suitable for cosmetics, films having a function of diffusing light and the like.

Method of producing polycarbonate-based polymer microparticles comprising contacting an emulsion with a poor solvent, and polycarbonate-based polymer microparticles


A combination brush and hairspray system for allowing a user to simultaneously brush and apply hairspray to their hair with only one hand. The inventive device includes a head supporting a plurality of bristles, a handle attached to the head, a chamber within the handle, a pump within the head or handle fluidly connected to the chamber, a plurality of delivery tubes fluidly connected to the pump opposite of the chamber, and a corresponding plurality of nozzles positioned within the head facing the bristles fluidly connected to the delivery tubes. The user fills the chamber with a fluid such as hairspray, gel, water or conditioner, and then brushes their hair. While brushing their hair, the user manipulates the pump so as to draw the fluid from the chamber and into the delivery tubes where the fluid is emitted through the plurality of nozzles into the user's hair. The user may also utilize a conventional hairdryer while applying the fluid to achieve the desired texture of the hair normally unattainable by conventional devices and methods.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to hairbrush devices and more specifically it relates to a combination brush and hairspray system for allowing a user to simultaneously brush and apply hairspray to their hair with only one hand.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Conventional hairbrush devices have been utilized for years. Conventional hairbrushes typically have a handle, a head and a plurality of bristles extending from the head. The user manipulates the handle so as to engage the bristles with the user's hair. Most users will blow-dry their hair simultaneously while brushing so as to style their hair.
The problem with conventional hairbrushes is that the user must disengage the hairdryer from their hand to be able to grasp a separate hairspray container before applying hairspray to their hair. This can be cumbersome and can be dangerous if the hairdryer is dropped within water while attempting to hurriedly grasp the hairspray container. Further, the hairspray container generally creates a mist of hairspray which is likely to engage the user's eyes. Additionally, the user is unable to utilize the hairdryer simultaneously while applying the hairspray.
Examples of hairbrush devices include U.S. Pat. No. 4,254,738 to Stanley; U.S. Pat. No. 3,973,853 to Myers; U.S. Design Pat. No. 270,427 to Henington; U.S. Pat. No. 4,557,619 to DeVincentis which are all illustrative of such prior art.
Stanley (U.S. Pat. No. 4,254,738) discloses a pet brush which has an L-shaped case with a partially hollow interior for housing a container of grooming solution and a brush attached thereto. The container typically has a spray attachment which sprays the grooming solution into a chamber which evenly distributes the solution across the full bristle patter of the brush.
Henington (U.S. Design Pat. No. 270,427) discloses a combination hairbrush and pump sprayer. Henington teaches a brush having a handle and a head, a pump spray nozzle attached to the head with a tube extending into the brush to engage a reservoir within the handle and head.
While these devices may be suitable for the particular purpose to which they address, they are not as suitable for allowing a user to simultaneously brush and apply hairspray to their hair with only one hand.
In these respects, the combination brush and hairspray system according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in so doing provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of allowing a user to simultaneously brush and apply hairspray to their hair with only one hand.


A multiple movement exercising machine is powered by an electric drive motor which is used to effect movement of various exercising components. The drive motor drives a shaft on which a plurality of pulleys are rotationally mounted. A selector arrangement is used to connect a selected one of the pulleys within the shaft so that the pulley rotates with the shaft and drives an exercising component linked to that pulley by a belt. One end of the machine is preferably pivotable relative to the remainder of the machine about a vertical pivot axis. The extent of pivotal movement is preferably selectably variable.

This invention relates to an exercise machine of the type which can be used passively, that is, the machine is powered to perform a range of movements and enables a user to sit or lie on the machine in order to exercise whilst the machine is performing those movements.
Passive exercising machines of this type are used extensively by invalids and others requiring physiotherapy or like treatment. Others use this type of machine to improve muscle tone. The machines are particularly useful for the treatment of persons suffering from spinal cord damage to provide exercise for muscles which would otherwise not be worked. Many institutions which provide this type of exercise facility for patients have a range of machines, each of which is able to perform a single exercise. The invalid will then need to be moved from one machine to another in order to have a range of muscles worked. This is inconvenient where the invalid is unable to walk since each time he has to be helped off one machine and onto another. Also, having a range of machines like this requires substantial floor space which many institutions simply do not have.
At least some prior art machines do not adequately assist the user to exercise certain muscles, particularly hip and leg muscles. Also, many prior art machines are noisy in operation on account of the type of mechanism which operates the exercising feature on the machine. Most prior art machines are not capable of performing more than a limited number of exercises without having to be re-adjusted or re-set.