A method of driving a small electromechanical element, which includes: an elastic portion accumulating an elastic energy by being deformed elastically; a movable portion supported by the elastic portion; and a drive source exerting a physical acting force to maintain the movable portion, is provided. The movable portion is displaced to one normal position, an elastic energy is accumulated to the elastic portion, thereafter, the movable portion is maintained at one normal position by a physical acting force. Further, by releasing the elastic energy by stopping the physical acting force, the movable portion is displaced to other normal position while accumulating again an elastic energy having a polarity reverse to that of the preceding elastic energy and is maintained at other normal position. Thereby, the movable portion is displaced only by the elastic energy accumulated to the elastic portion without depending on the physical acting force from outside.

In recent years, by rapid progress of an MEMS technology (Micro-Electro Mechanical systems), a development of a small mechanical element for electrically displacing or moving a small mechanical element of μm order has intensively been carried out. As the small electromechanical element, there is, for example, a digital micromirror device (DMD) for deflecting light by inclining a micromirror, an optical switch for switching an optical path or the like. DMD has a wide use in a field of an optical information processing such as a projecting display, a video monitor, a graphic monitor, a television set and electrophotography printing and so on. Further, an optical switch is expected to be applied to optical communication, optical interconnection (signal connecting technology by light such as an intercoupling network in parallel computers), an optical information processing (information processing by optical operation) and the like.
With regard to a method of driving a small electromechanical element array of DMD or the like of a background art, there is a description of JP-A-10-48543 shown below. The driving method of the background art will be explained in reference to FIG. 23 through FIG. 25. FIG. 23 is a constitution view of two elements of a small electromechanical element array. A semiconductor board 1 is formed with a driving circuit, not illustrated, at inside thereof, and a surface portion of the semiconductor board 1 is formed with movable mirrors 2, 3.
The respective movable mirrors 2, 3 are supported above hollow spaces by hinges 6 hung between stays 4, 5 erected on the surface of the semiconductor board 1, and made to be pivotable in a left and right direction by constituting centers of pivot by the hinge 6. The hinge 6 is integrally formed with electrode films 7, 8 in the left and right direction interposing the hinge 6, and the surface of the semiconductor board 1 is formed with fixed electrode films 9, 10 at positions opposed to the electrode films 7, 8.
When a bias voltage Vb=24 V is applied as a control voltage to the hinge 6 (electrode films 6, 7) of the movable mirror 2 and an address voltage Va=0 V is applied to the fixed electrode 9 and an address voltage Va2=5 V is applied to the fixed electrode film 10 respectively as element displacing signals, a voltage difference between the electrode films 7, 9 becomes DV=24 V, a voltage difference between the electrode films 8, 10 becomes DV=19 V, by a difference between an electrostatic force between the electrode films 7, 9 and an electrostatic force between the electrode films 8, 10, the movable mirror 3 is inclined in a direction of bringing the electrode films 8, 10 into contact with each other. The illustrated state shows a state of inclining the movable mirror by −10°.
Similarly, when the bias voltage Vb=24 V is applied to the hinge 6 (electrode films 7, 8) of the movable mirror 2, and an address voltage Va1=0 V is applied to the fixed electrode film 9, and an address voltage Va2=5 V is applied to the fixed electrode film 10, a voltage difference between the electrode films 7, 9 becoems DV=19 V, a voltage difference between the electrode films 8, 9 becomes DV=24 V, and by a difference between an electrostatic force between the electrode films 7, 9 and an electrostatic force between electrode films 8, 10, the movable mirror 3 is inclined in a direction of bringing the electrode films 7, 9 into contact with each other. The illustrated state shows a state of inclining the movable mirror 3 by +10°.
When incident light is irradiated to the movable mirrors 2, 3, directions of reflected light differs in accordance with inclinations of the movable mirrors 2, 3, and by controlling the inclinations of the movable mirrors 2, 3, the directions of the reflected light can be controlled to be ON/OFF. However, it is difficult to operate a plurality of mirrors in the same direction or a reverse direction independently and simultaneously and therefore, in the background art, the movable mirror is controlled to be driven by carrying out a complicated voltage control. The control will be explained in reference to FIG. 24, FIG. 25.
A topmost stage of FIG. 24 shows the inclined movable mirror 2. When the movable mirror 2 inclined to a left side is changed to a following state, there are two ways in the "following state". That is, there are a case of inclining to an opposed side (right side) and a case of inclining to the same side (left side) (case of maintaining an inclined state). To which state the movable mirror 2 is changed depends on image data formed when the small electromechanical element array is used as an image forming apparatus.
Drawings on the left side of FIG. 24 surrounded by a frame at a lower stage show a case of displacing the movable mirror 2 to the opposed side (Crossover transition) and drawings on the right side show a case of maintaining a state of inclining the movable mirror 2 as it is (Stay transition). The address voltages Va1, Va2 applied to the fixed electrode films 9, 10 of the respective movable mirrors 2, 3 are controlled for the respective movable mirrors 2, 3, and the bias voltage Vb is commonly applied to all of the movable mirrors.
When the state of inclining the movable mirror is transited to the following state, the bias voltage Vb is changed as shown by FIG. 25. When a time period from starting to change the movable mirror to finishing to change the movable mirror is divided into zones, Za, Zb, Zc, Zd, Ze, first, at zone Za, the bias voltage is constituted by Vb=24 V, at zone Zb, Vb=−26 V. At next zone in Zc, Vb=7.5 V, at zone Zd, the bias voltage is returned to Vb=24 V, and at zone Ze, the bias voltage is maintained at Vb=24 V.
At zone Za, the address voltages Va1, Va2 are rewritten to 0 V or 5 V. In changing the movable mirror to the following state, when the movable mirror is intended to incline by making the electrode films 7, 8 integrally moved with the movable mirror proximate to the fixed electrode film 9, the voltage Va1 applied to the fixed electrode films 9 is set to 5 V and the voltage Va2 applied to the electore film 10 on the opposed side is set to 0 V. Further, when the movable mirror is intended to incline by making the electrode films 7, 8 proximate to the fixed electrode film 10, the voltage Va2 applied to the fixed electrode film 10 is set to 5 V and the voltage Va1 applied to the electrode film 9 on the opposed side is set to 0 V. Therefore, the address voltages Va1, Va2 are also referred to as element displacing signals.
When the applied voltage is controlled in this way, as shown by the left side (crossover side) of FIG. 24, at zone Zb, the bias voltage becomes Vb=−26 V, the voltage difference becomes DV=33.5 V between the electrode films 8, 10, and the voltage difference becomes DV=26 V between the electrode films 7, 9. Thereby, the movable mirror 2 is applied with an electrostatic force of inclining the movable mirror 2 further to the left side, and the electrode film 8 is further pressed to the fixed electrode film 10 in a state of being brought into contact with the fixed electrode film 10 and elastically deformed. Further, although the state is described as "contact" for convenience of explanation, actually, a gap is maintained between the two electrode films, and the electrode films are not electrically shortcircuited. The same is as follows.
When the bias voltage becomes Vb=7.5 V at next zone Zc, the voltage applied to the fixed electrode film 9 is set to Va1=7.5 V. Thereby, the voltage difference between the electrode films 7, 9 becomes DV=0, and the voltage difference between the electrode films 8, 10 becomes DV=7.5 V. Thereby, the electrostatic force is generated between the electrode films 8, 10, the electrode film 7 is separated from the electrode film 9 by adding a repulsive force by elastically deforming the electrode film 7 at zone Zb to the electrostatic force, and the movable mirror 2 starts rotating in the clockwise direction.
When the bias voltage becomes Vb=24 V at next zone Zd, the voltage difference between the electrode films 7, 9 becomes DV=16.5 V, the voltage difference between the electrode films 8, 10 becomes DV=24 V, the electrostatic force operated between the electrode films 8, 10 is further intensified, and the movable mirror 2 is rotated further in the clockwise direction.
At final zone Ze, the electrode film 7 of the movable mirror 2 collides with the address electrode film 10. At this occasion, the voltage applied to the address electrode film 9 is set to Va1=5 V. The movable mirror 2 is vibrated as shown by a Crossover curve of FIG. 25, and gradually attenuated to be brought into a stable state to thereby finish operation of being inclined to the opposed side.
When the movable mirror 2 is brought into a state of the right side (stay side) of FIG. 24, as shown by an upper stage on the right side in the frame of FIG. 24, the voltage applied to the fixed electrode film 9 is set to Va1=0 V (zone Za). At next zone of Zb, when the bias voltage becomes Vb=−26 V, the voltage applied to the fixed electrode film 10 on the opposed side is set to Va2=7.5 V, and at next zone Zc, the bias voltage becomes Vb=7.5 V.
At this occasion, as shown by a dotted line circle mark CH in FIG. 25, the electrode film 7 is temporarily separated from the electrode film 9, when the bias voltage becomes Vb=24 V at zone Zd, the electrode film 7 is brought into contact with the electrode film 9 again, thereafter, at zone Ze, the voltage applied to the electrode film 10 is set to Va2=5 V, and a state of inclining the movable mirror 2 is maintained in a state of being inclined to the left side. At this occasion, the movable mirror 2 is vibrated as shown by a Stay curve (one-dotted chain line curve) of FIG. 25 by bringing the electrode film 7 and the electrode film 9 into contact with each other, gradually attenuated to be brought into a stable state.
Meanwhile, according to the driving method of JP-A-10-48543, the movable mirror is displaced by operating an external force of the electrostatic force or the like thereto while finely controlling the bias voltage and the address voltages and therefore, the driving circuit and the driving method become complicated. Further, the bias voltage and the address voltages are continued to be applied over an entire time period of a transition time period and a time period of maintaining a displaced state of the movable mirror and therefore, not only power consumption is increased but also a burden on the driving circuit is considerable. Further, vibration is generated at the movable mirror in a final transition time period and therefore, an awaiting time period needs to be provided until the vibration is attenuated and stabilized. In a case in which operation of the movable mirror becomes unstable when the movable mirror is shifted to next operation (displacing operation) during the awaiting time period and therefore, operation at a high speed cycle is restricted.

Method of driving small electromechanical element and small electromechanical element array


Compositions and methods of use of borinic acid complexes, especially hydroxyquinoline, imidazole and picolinic acid derivatives, as anti-viral agents as well as therapeutic agents for the treatment of diseases caused by viruses are described.

2.1 Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the field of anti-viral borinic acid ester compounds and uses thereof as well as preparing and using these compounds, and pharmaceutical compositions thereof.
2.2 The Related Art
One hallmark of the modem era of medicine has been the decline in morbidity and mortality associated with bacterial and fungal infections. However, similar successes against various viral infections have not been matched.
Viruses are implicated in a variety of animal and human disease. Numerous approaches have been proposed to combat these pathogens which include, but are not limited to, herpesviruses 1 and 2 (HSV-1 and HSV-2), influenza viruses A, B and C (orthomyxoviruses), parainfluenza viruses 1-4, syncytial virus, Epstein Barr virus, rhinoviruses, human immunodeficiency viruses (HIV), polioviruses, coxsackie viruses, echoviruses, rubella virus, varicella-zoster virus, neurodermatrophic virus, variola virus, cytomegalovirus, hepatitis A, B and C viruses, papoviruses, rabies virus, yellow fever virus, dengue virus, West Nile virus and severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) virus. Table 1 illustrates various viruses and their associated human diseases.
One approach in the development of anti-viral compounds has been to identify compounds which interfere with the normal viral metabolism and replication in infected host cells. During the screening of new borinic ester compounds, we have found that certain of these compounds show anti-viral activity in cell culture assay systems.
TABLE 1Virus CategoryPertinent Human DiseasesRNA VirusesPicornaviridaePolioHuman hepatitis AHuman rhinovirusTogavindae andRubella (German measles)FlaviviridaeYellow feverCoronavindaeHuman respiratory coronavirus (HCY)Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SAM)RhabdovindaeLyssavirus - RabiesParamyxoviridaeParamyxovirus - MumpsMorbillvirus - MeaslesPneumovirus - Respiratory syncytial virusOrthomyxoviridaeInfluenzaBunyaviridaeBunyavirus - Bunyamwera (BUN)Hantavirus - Hantaan (HTN)Nairevirus - Crimean-Congo hemorrhagicfever (CCHF)Phlebovinis- Sandfly fever (SFN)Uukuvirus - Uukuniemi (UUK)Rift Valley Fever- (RVFN)ArenaviridaeJunin - Argentine hemorrhagic feverMachupo - Bolivian hemorrhagic feverLassa - Lassa feverLCM- aseptic lymphocyctic chodomeningitisReoviridaeRotovirusReovirusOrbivirusRetroviridaeHuman immunodeficiency virus 1 (HIV-1)Human immunodeficiency virus 2 (HIV-2)Simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV)DNA VirusesPapovaviridaePediatric viruses that reside in kidneyAdenoviridaeHuman respiratory distress and somedeep-seated eye infectionsPaivoviddaeHuman gastrointestinal distress(Norwalk Virus)HerpesviridaeHerpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1)Herpes simplex virus 2 (HSV-2)Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV)Variceila zoster virus (VZV)Epstein-Sam virus (EBV)Human herpes virus 6 (HHV6)PoxyiridaeOrthopoxyirus is sub-genus for smallpoxHepadnaviddaeHepatitis B virus (HBV)Hepatitis C virus (HCY)
Many existing compounds currently in use for treating viral diseases are subject to resistance mechanisms, are expensive to make, do not adequately treat patients or have adverse side effects. Therefore, there is a continuing need for new compounds which act to kill viruses, to inhibit viral replication or to block the pathogenic action of viruses.
Thus, there continues to be a need in the medical arts for novel, more effective, anti-viral compounds, especially for treating infections that are either intrinsically poorly responsive or resistant to currently available therapies.

Anti-viral uses of borinic acid complexes


A state display information transmission system uses a chatbot. According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, in a user terminal and a counterpart terminal, in which a SNS service, an instant message service, etc. operates, even when the user terminal does not respond within a preconfigured response time, a chatbot transmits proper emoticon information, etc. to the counterpart terminal, so that a user can continuously make smooth and proper communication with a counterpart.

A conventional intelligent conversation robot is a chat robot that means a software agent capable of communicating with a person, and is called a chatterbot, a chatbot, a chatterbox, a conversation agent, or the like.
The intelligent conversation robot does not make a chat between a user and a user but makes a chat between a user and a chat agent, namely between a user and the intelligent conversation robot. Generally, the conversation robot stores expected question/answer pairs in a database by pattern matching in advance to answer a question of a user.
However, since most chat robots are able to answer only when the pattern is exactly matched with an input sentence (question), a large amount of dialogue examples are required, and thus a lot of cost is required to construct a dialogue example database (DB).
In addition, since the existing chat robots do not consider a dialogue context, a chat is performed to give a fixed answer to each question, regardless of past information.
Meanwhile, the use of SNS (Social Network Services/Sites), which an online service that builds a network of people who share a particular interest or activity, and instant message services allowing users to send and receive a text, a photo or a file by installing the same program on PCs and smartphones is exploding.
Also, in addition to text, the use of emoticons or the like for displaying the user's own emotions, status, etc. as images is also becoming active.
However, as the use of SNS, instant messages or the like explosively increases, among users who use SNS service, instant message service or the like, if one party does not confirm or response to a message sent from the other party timely, mutual misunderstandings are accumulating and human relationships are being damaged.
Accordingly, there is a need to develop a chatbot that may appropriately respond to various situations by using emoticons or the like, when one party fails to confirm or response to a message of the other party timely.
Meanwhile, as the prior art related to the above, there are Korean Patent No. 10-1544213, entitled 'Method of using mobile terminal and effect emoticon', Korean Unexamined Patent Publication No. 10-2017-0017289, entitled 'Electronic device and method for transmitting and receiving content', Korean Unexamined Patent Publication No. 10-2016-0043557, entitled 'Smart device providing expanded services', and the like.

State display information transmission system using chatbot


A method of removing features from a cast workpiece includes generating a nominal toolpath for machining the cast workpiece. The cast workpiece is mounted onto a platform of a computer numeric control machine. The cast workpiece is inspected with a probe to generate probe data. Features to be removed are identified based upon the probe data generated during the inspection. Any expected features of the cast workpiece that are missing from the cast workpiece are identified. A transformation matrix is applied to the nominal toolpath with a controller of the computer numeric control machine, wherein the transformation matrix is based upon the probe data. Alignment of the cast workpiece is adjusted relative to the computer numeric control machine based on the transformation matrix with the computer numeric control machine. Features are removed from the cast workpiece that were identified during inspection.

The present disclosure generally relates to manufacturing. In particular, the present disclosure relates to manufacturing involving autonomous adaptive machining of cast parts.
Gas turbine engine airfoils are often manufactured from castings tending to benefit from final machining for mating to attachments and adjacent surfaces. The investment casing process of super alloys, both in randomly orientated and directionally solidified single crystal methods, employs a variety of support, gating, and printout features enabling desirable design elements of the part. However, the addition of support, gating, and printout features tends to result in surface irregularities benefiting from removal, thereby tending to increase cycle time, manual-touch labor, and environmental health and safety challenges.
Additionally, removal of these features after production of the rough casting tends to induce part-to-part dimensional inconsistencies. These dimensional inconsistencies are exacerbated by conventional manual methods of removal such as, for example, belt grinding and other hand working. Furthermore, traditional hard-coded robotic or Computer Numerical Control ("CNC") methods of removal are unsuited to feature removal operations due to the inherent part-to-part variance in the rough castings resulting from the processes mentioned above.

Method of manufacture using autonomous adaptive machining


A probe of a scanning probe microscope having a sharp tip and an increased electric characteristic by fabricating a planar type of field effect transistor and manufacturing a conductive carbon nanotube on the planar type field effect transistor. To achieve this, the present invention provides a method for fabricating a probe having a field effect transistor channel structure including fabricating a field effect transistor, making preparations for growing a carbon nanotube at a top portion of a gate electrode of the field effect transistor, and generating the carbon nanotube at the top portion of the gate electrode of the field effect transistor.

(a) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a probe of a scanning probe microscope. More particularly, the present invention relates to a probe of a scanning probe microscope having a field-effect transistor and a carbon nanotube, and a fabrication method thereof.
(b) Description of the Related Art
With the advent of nano-techniques, one of the most frequently used devices utilizing the techniques is the scanning probe microscope (SPM.)
The SPM includes devices for measuring various physical quantities by using a micro probe with a scanning function.
The SPM has a probe with a very sharp tip, a scanner for scanning the probe on a sample, and a control and information processing system for controlling the probe and the scanner and receiving and processing signals.
The SPM has been developed in various forms, and the operational principles of the microprobe are varied according to the physical quantities to be measured. One example of the SPM is a scanning tunneling microscope (STM) that uses a current flowing as a result of a voltage difference between a tip and a sample.
Other examples of the SPM include an atomic force microscope (AFM) that uses atomic power readings between the tip and the sample, a scanning near-field optical microscope (SNOM) that uses wavelengths of visual rays between the tip and the sample, and an electrostatic force microscope (EFM) that uses the electrostatic force between the tip and the sample.
The above-noted SPMs are used to measure general surface properties, and they are also applied to fabrication of new devices. The representative thereof is the future high density data storage system.
As usable quantities of information have been greatly increased, the capacity of information storage devices for storing information has also substantially increased. The most commonly used of the information storage devices is a magnetic information device, that is, a hard disk drive (HDD), and the capacity per unit area of the HDD has been constantly increased through various technical developments.
However, the increase of the above-mentioned capacity is reported to be restricted sooner or later because of superparamagnetic limits.
In order to overcome the superparamagnetic limits, studies on SPM-based the future high density data storage systems, that is, nano-storage devices, have actively progressed. The nano-storage devices vary characteristics of small parts of a medium to store and read information by using a fine probe, thereby enabling atomic-level information storage.
For the purpose of fabricating the future high density data storage systems, studies of the use of various types of SPMs and various information storage media have been researched. Among them, a method of using ferroelectrics as storage media has been repeatedly studied since the first issue by Franke in 1994, because the method has merits of convenient reproduction and usage, quick switching time, and high recording density.
However, the method for performing a reading process, such as the EFM method, is very slow and further requires a lock-in amplifier as shown in FIG. 1, so it is inappropriate for the future high density data storage system that requires a smaller size and high-speed scanning performance.
Therefore, it is essential for the future data storage system to eliminate the above-noted problems in the case of fabricating the probes for precisely measuring external fine electrical signals.
As to prior art for solving the drawbacks, Korean Patent Publication No. 2001-0045981 and Korean Patent Publication No. 2003-0087371 are disclosed.
The inventions use field-effect transistors (FETs) as probes which measure changes of the current flowing between a source S and a drain D when the channel of a gate G is varied because of an external electrical stimulus, in a like manner of general FETs.
That is, electrical characteristics such as surface charges can be measured by measuring the variation of the current between the source S and the drain D since the current is carried by electrical stimuli such as external charges.
However, as shown in FIG. 2, the probe of the invention No. 2001-0045981 has a planar shape and hence it is difficult to fabricate it as an array. In addition, in order to measure fine structures, the sharpness of the tip needs to be of a level of several tens of nanometers, but it is not easy to make the tip satisfy the above-noted level in the above-described structures.
In addition, the invention No. 2003-0087371 has improved upon the planer problem of the invention No. 2001-0045981, but it has a problem of leakage currents and deterioration of the FET characteristic since the FET has a curved form as shown in FIG. 3. Further, since the invention No. 2003-0087371 reduces slope portions more than the end portion of the tip in the case of reducing the size of the tip as shown in FIG. 4, an effect of increasing the distance between the end portion of the tip and the channel is generated (refer to L1 and L2), and hence, reduction of the tip size is restricted.
The above information disclosed in this Background section is only for enhancement of understanding of the background of the invention and therefore it may contain information that does not form the prior art that is already known in this country to a person of ordinary skill in the art.

Method of fabricating a probe having a field effect transistor channel structure


An automatic tensioner having a load cell for detecting and controlling a power transmission belt tension. The tensioner comprises a lead screw driven by an electric motor for setting a lever arm/pulley position and thereby a belt load. The tensioner also comprises a load cell engaged with a tensioner lead screw for detecting a belt load. The tensioner motor is controlled loop using a load cell signal. The controller compares a detected belt load from the load cell with a predetermined belt load value to identify a desired belt load and thereby set a tensioner lever arm position corresponding to said desired belt load. The tensioner may also be controlled by an engine operating condition.

Vehicle engines include among other things, accessories which are driven by the engine. Accessories may include a power steering pump, an air conditioning compressor, alternator and so on. Each of these accessories has a pulley which is connected by a belt or belts to an engine crankshaft. The accessories are driven by the belt or belts as the crankshaft rotates.
In order to operate efficiently it is necessary for the belt to be placed under a certain amount of preload or tension. This may be accomplished using known methods. A moveable shaft on one of the accessories may be mechanically adjusted to tension a belt. Another method includes use of a belt tensioner.
A belt tensioner comprises a spring imparting a force upon a lever arm. The lever arm typically comprises a pulley journalled thereto. The pulley is in contact with a belt. A biasing member such as a spring in the tensioner is used to impart and maintain a belt load. The belt load is a function of the geometry of the tensioner as well as the spring rate of the tensioner spring.
Actuators have been used to control a tensioner position, and thereby a belt tension. For example they are used to adjust a phase difference between a driver and driven pulley. The control signal is derived from the relative rotational phase of a driver pulley as compared to a driven pulley.
Representative of the art is U.S. Pat. No. 5,733,214 (1998) to Shiki et al. which discloses a system for adjusting the tension of an endless transmitting belt in an internal combustion engine comprising a control system for adjusting a tension to be applied from a tensioner to an endless belt based upon a phase angle between a driver and a driven pulley.
What is needed is an automatic tensioner controlled by a belt load detected by a load cell. What is needed is an automatic tensioner responsive to an engine operating condition to control a belt tension. The present invention meets these needs.


A rail assembly for a frame of a vehicle includes a rail defining a cavity. The cavity extends along an axis for receiving an energy absorbing member of a bumper assembly. A brace is fixed to the rail and includes a side wall extending along the axis in the cavity. The brace includes an end wall extending from the side wall in the cavity transversely to the axis adjacent to the energy absorbing member in the cavity. The rail defines a hole and the brace defines a hole aligned with the hole of the rail for receiving a fastener to engage the energy absorbing member.

An end structure of a vehicle includes a cross vehicle structure, e.g., a front bumper assembly or a rear bumper assembly, connected to a frame of the vehicle. In particular, the frame of the vehicle includes rails and cross-members extending between the rails, and the bumper assembly may be connected to the rails. The bumper assembly may include a bumper beam and a fascia covering the bumper beam. The bumper beam is relatively rigid, e.g., formed of metal, and may be engaged by an object during a collision with the object. The fascia is relatively pliable and provides an aesthetic exterior appearance.
Crash cans may connect the bumper beam to the rails. The crash cans may be directly connected to the rails. For example, the crash can and the rail may present flanges that abut each other and are fixed to each other with fasteners, e.g., threaded bolts. The crash cans are designed to crumple. The collapse of the crash can absorb energy upon impact of the bumper beam with an object during a collision. For example, during a collision, the crash can may collapse to about 70-80% of a pre-collision length.
The crush cans are designed to separate the bumper beam from a back panel of the body that extends between the frame and the bumper beam. The back panel is deformable relative to the bumper beam, e.g., is sheet metal, such that contact between the bumper beam and the back panel damages the back panel. In such situations, the back panel must be repaired or replaced, which is costly and negatively affects the performance rating of the vehicle during a low speed damageability (LSD) test. The LSD test is a standardized test event measuring the amount of damage to a vehicle during a low speed impact.
For aesthetic purposes, some vehicles are designed with tight packaging constraints in the bumper assembly, e.g., low profile bumper assemblies. However, these tight packaging constraints reduce the amount of space for crash cans.
As such, there remains an opportunity to develop an improved end structure to have satisfactory performance as the bumper beam approaches the rail and back panel, and to have satisfactory performance during LDS tests.


A mobile phone. The mobile phone comprises a radio frequency transceiver, memory, processor, and browser application stored in the memory. When executed by the processor, the browser application establishes persistent connection with a content site, downloads a page from the content site by radio frequency transceiver, wherein the web page comprises content and at least one of a style sheet and a script code, presents the page based at least in part on the style sheet and the script code, caches the style sheet and the script code, receives a notification from the content site that one of the style sheet or the script code has been updated, downloads at least one of the updated style sheet or the updated script code based on the notification, and presents the page based at least in part on the at least one of the updated style sheet or the updated script code.

Network capable electronic devices are becoming increasingly prevalent in our daily lives. Additionally, more and more electronic devices that did not have network capabilities are getting network capable. With the rapid development and popularization of network capable electronic devices, a wide variety of web pages and web applications on the network capable electronic devices are growing more complex while getting more functionalities, and new web pages and web applications are developed and brought into use all the time. Web pages and web applications cache presentation related components to save latency and reduce network traffic. Some web pages and web applications cache more substantive content. When web pages or web applications at the server side update more often than the caching period at the client side, problems might occur. The web page or web application might only work partially, or completely not work. Users at the client side will have to refresh the web page or web application manually in order for the web page or web application to work properly, which may entail user interaction and/or introduce service interruption. The behavior of unnecessary user interaction or service interruption in the web pages and web applications and their impact on the user experience may have implications for user satisfaction with the network application provider and/or the network service provider.


The system includes a mobile apparatus that moves after receiving an input of a path. The system has a path-setting unit for setting the path of a mobile apparatus according to the inputted path, a measuring unit for measuring an environment in which the mobile apparatus exists, an extracting unit for extracting an object existence region in the environment according to the values measured by the measuring unit, a judging unit that judges the validity of the path according to (1) the path set by the path setting unit and (2) the object existence region extracted by the extracting unit, a position determining unit that determines a target position to which the mobile apparatus is to move by selecting it from the portions of the path judged as valid, and a movement controller for controlling the mobile apparatus to move to the target position.

The present invention relates to autonomous mobile robots.
A technique for autonomous mobile a robot is proposed in which an user previously draws a path of the robot on a PC screen not to collide with obstacles (see, Myers G., Julia L. Cheyera, and Gherbi S., "Multimodal User Interface for Mobile Robots," Eleventh Annual Symposium on User Interface Software and Technology, 1998). In addition, there is another technique in which the user previously draws a brief path of the robot on a PC screen and sets on the PC screen the markers of intersections, T-shaped cross points and so on existing in the actual environment (see, Kazumi Oikawa, Takeshi Tsuchiya, "A Method of Off-Line Teaching for Corridor Environment with Freehand Maps," Vol. 17, No. 5, pp. 100-109, the Journal of the Robotics Society of Japan, 1999).

Obstacle avoidance system for a user guided mobile robot


An organizing and installation device for Icicle lights has a hanging assembly. The device includes a hanging unit having a plurality of rods which are arranged vertically and approximately in parallel; wherein at a top of each rod is connected with an upper wire; and a lower end of each rod is connected with a lower wire. Each rod is installed with a plurality of clips or other fastening devices. A plurality of upper support clips are arranged on the upper wire; and a lower stabilizing clip has a connecting wire to connect the lower clip to the lower wire or rod. The upper and lower wires are made of flexible materials for easy installation around the corner and easy folding away storage. The upper support clip has two clamping tongues and a wire organizing space; and the space has a flexible notch to receive and release electrical and upper wire. The clips or other fastening devices on rod are elastic C-rings, adhesive tapes, velcro, flexible string or snap-on clips.

The present invention relates to a decorative lighting, and in particular to Icicle lights, wherein the lights and a hanging unit are well defined so that they will not intertwine disorderly or even be blown onto the roof or gutter by strong winds. More specifically, this invention relates to a device used for organizing, installing, displaying, and storing the Icicle lights.
Icicle lights are popular in some festivals, such as Christmas and New Year to present beautiful decorations. They are usually installed outside during winter, the strong winds often cause these lights to intertwine or flip-up onto the roof. They are not able to hang straight. After the season, they are difficult to be stored in a neat and organized manner.

Organizing and installation device for icicle lights


A language listening and speaking teaching system and method that utilize a random tests function to provide full-scale and various language training subjects and enable a learner to set up the listening and speaking training process according to his/her preference and create a more well-chosen shadowing learning process. Moreover, it assists a learner by enhancing and deepening the listening and speaking training content through an instant paraphrase and definition function, following completion of the shadowing learning process.

With the coming of the age of globalization, there are more and more opportunities for people throughout the world to communicate. Therefore, an increasing number of people are eager to learn foreign languages. It is very important for people to catch on to what others say as well as to be understood by others during conversations in a foreign language. Hence, it is crucial to enhance a learner's listening and speaking abilities with present foreign language teaching systems.
With the listening skill, a learner focuses on listening comprehension, i.e. clearly listening to others and negotiating meaning. Therefore, language training on listening comprehension requires one to find as much opportunity as possible to in listen to people talking in a foreign language, so that one is able to become familiar with tones, speeds and intonation of the foreign language. Consequently, one is capable of enhancing his/her language "listening" ability through clearly appreciating people talking in a foreign language.
With the speaking skill, a learner focuses on pronunciation of a foreign language by way of constant vocal imitation practices that enable one to speak accurately and correctly and to be understood. Similarly, to develop speaking ability, one repeatedly imitates and practices tones, speeds and intonation of the foreign language.
Excepting for basic listening and speaking learning skills of a foreign language, it is important that we do not limit ourselves to some sorts of subjects or aspects in learning a foreign language, as this does not prepare learners to utilize the language in real-life situations. Therefore, we have to learn a foreign language with full-scale subjects. Only through repeatedly training in all kinds of subjects can learners practically master a foreign language. This enables us to deepen our learning, have advanced comprehension of the content, and master a foreign language through repeatedly listening to and speaking the language.
Conventional language training on listening and speaking hardly enables learners to have actual opportunities to keep in practice, excepting for one-to-one teaching with a teacher and a learner. However, even on one-to-one teaching, a learner spends too much time with constant and repetitive practices. This is ineffective and may make a learner fear being embarrassed, which reduces the teaching effect. Therefore, language listening and speaking teaching via computer technology has become a trend in learning a foreign language, and there are many similar learning products on the market. However, those learning products generally achieve the training objectives of listening and speaking by established spoon-feed training ways, i.e., providing given tests in sequence through several simple word prompts in combination with monotone sound. Such tedious learning methods reduce a learner's willingness to learn, and limit the learning subjects, which further frustrates a learner.

Language listening and speaking training system and method with random test, appropriate shadowing and instant paraphrase functions


This invention provides a composition suitable for use in a reaction zone where aniline is reacted with nitrobenzene to obtain intermediates of 4-aminodiphenylamine comprising a solid support having interior channels with base material employed in the reaction loaded into the channels. The cross-sectional dimensions of the channels are such as to provide a restricted transition state with regard to the reaction and to improve the selectivity of the reaction in favor of the intermediates. The invention also provides a method for loading the base material in the solid support. The invention further provides a process for carrying out the above reaction using the above composition.

This invention relates to a support loaded with a base material, its method of manufacture and a process in which it is used for making 4-aminodiphenylamine (4-ADPA), an important intermediate in the production of substituted paraphenylenediamine (PPD) antidegradants for polymers, especially rubber.
It is known to prepare 4-ADPA by way of a nucleophilic aromatic substitution mechanism, wherein an aniline derivative replaces halide. This method involves preparation of a 4-ADPA intermediate, namely 4-nitrodiphenylamine (4-NDPA) followed by reduction of the nitro moiety. The 4-NDPA is prepared by reacting p-chloronitrobenzene with an aniline derivative, such as formanilide or an alkali metal salt thereof, in the presence of an acid acceptor or neutralizing agent, such as potassium carbonate, and, optionally, utilizing a catalyst. See, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,187,248; 4,683,332; 4,155,936; 4,670,595; 4,122,118; 4,614,817; 4,209,463; 4,196,146; 4,187,249; 4,140,716. This method is disadvantageous in that the halide that is displaced is corrosive to the reactors and appears in the waste stream and must therefore be disposed of at considerable expense. Furthermore, use of an aniline derivative such as formanilide, and use of p-chloro-nitrobenzene, requires additional manufacturing equipment and capabilities to produce such starting materials from aniline and nitrobenzene, respectively.
It is also known to prepare 4-ADPA from the head-to-tail coupling of aniline. See, for example, G.B. 1,440,767 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,760,186. This method is disadvantageous in that the yield of 4-ADPA is not acceptable for a commercial process. It is also known to decarboxylate a urethane to produce 4-NDPA. See U.S. Pat. No. 3,847,990. However, such method is not commercially practical in terms of cost and yield.
It is known to prepare 4-ADPA by hydrogenating p-nitrosodiphenylhydroxylamine which can be prepared by catalytic dimerization of nitrosobenzene utilizing, as a reducing agent, aliphatic compounds, benzene, naphthalene or ethylenically unsaturated compounds. See for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,178,315 and 4,404,401. It is also known to prepare p-nitrosodiphenylamine from diphenylamine and an alkyl nitrate in the presence of excess hydrogen chloride. See, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,518,803 and 4,479,008.
It is also known to produce 4-nitrosodiphenylamine by reacting acetanilide and nitrobenzene in DMSO in the presence of sodium hydroxide and potassium carbonate at 80xc2x0 C. for 5 hours. See Ayyangar et al., Tetrahedron Letters, Vol. 31, No. 22, pp. 3217-3220 (1990). However, the yield of 4-nitrosodiphenylamine is low and is therefore not commercially practical. Furthermore, such method requires utilization of an aniline derivative, namely, acetanilide, and therefore increases the cost of the starting materials.
The production of 4-nitrosodiphenylamine in very low yield, by reacting aniline with nitrobenzene has long been known to the art. See Wohl, Chemische Berichte, 36, p. 4135 (1903) and Chemische Berichte, 34, p. 2442 (1901).
It is also known to prepare 4-ADPA by the successive steps of a) reacting aniline with nitrobenzene in the presence of a base, under controlled conditions to produce a mixture containing the salts of 4-nitrodiphenylamine and of 4-nitrosodiphenylamine and then b) hydrogenating the salts. U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,117,063 and 5,453,541 disclose such a process.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,420,354, shows another process for the preparation of p-aminodiphenylamine by contacting nitrobenzene with hydrogen and aniline in the presence of a hydrogenation catalyst, a hydrogenation inhibitor and an acid catalyst. While this latter process is described as a one-step process, selectivity to the desired product is relatively low.
The process of the present invention produces an intermediate of 4-ADPA or 4-ADPA directly in a novel manner employing a zeolite support loaded with a base material.
In one embodiment, the invention comprises a composition suitable for use in a reaction zone where aniline is reacted with nitrobenzene to obtain intermediates of 4-aminodiphenylamine. The composition comprises a solid support having interior channels with base material employed in the reaction loaded into the channels. The cross-sectional dimensions of the channels are such as to provide a restricted transition state with regard to the reaction and to improve the selectivity of the reaction in favor of the intermediates.
In another embodiment, where the above solid support is a zeolite, the invention comprises a method of making the above composition comprising:
(a) ion exchanging zeolite with base material by contacting the zeolite with an aqueous solution of the base material;
(b) drying the zeolite recovered from step (a);
(c) adding additional base material in aqueous solution to the dried zeolite from step (b) to obtain zeolite slurry; and
(d) recovering zeolite from the zeolite slurry having the desired loading of base material.
In a further embodiment, this invention provides a process for preparing an intermediate of 4-ADPA by reacting aniline with nitrobenzene in a reaction zone containing a solid upport loaded with a base material. The solid support has interior channels with base material employed in the reaction loaded into the channels. The cross-sectional dimensions of the channels are such as to provide a restricted transition state with regard to the reaction and to improve the selectivity of the reaction in favor of the intermediate.
In still another embodiment, the present invention is a one-step process for preparing 4-aminodiphenylamine (4-ADPA) comprising charging nitrobenzene into a reaction zone under hydrogen pressure and in the presence of a base material loaded on a solid support and a hydrogenation catalyst. The solid support has interior channels with base material employed in the reaction loaded into the channels. The cross-sectional dimensions of the channels are such as to provide a restricted transition state with regard to the reaction and to improve the selectivity of the reaction in favor of 4-ADPA.
An yet another embodiment, the invention is a process for the hydrogenation of nitrobenzene to 4-aminodiphenylamine (4-ADPA) comprising:
a) preparing a reaction zone by supplying a strong organic base loaded on a solid support and a hydrogenation catalyst, the solid support having interior channels with base material employed in the reaction loaded into the channels; the cross-sectional dimensions of the channels are such as to provide a restricted transition state with regard to the reaction and to improve the selectivity of the reaction in favor of 4-ADPA;
(b) applying a flow of hydrogen at a pressure sufficient to force the conversion of nitrobenzene to 4-ADPA intermediates and to further hydrogenate the intermediates to 4-ADPA;
(c) charging to the reaction zone an amount of aniline and nitrobenzene such that the molar ratio of aniline to nitrobenzene in the reaction zone is not greater than about 5.0, and that the molar ratio of nitrobenzene to the strong organic base is not greater than about 18.0; and
(d) conducting the hydrogenation reaction for the conversion of nitrobenzene to 4-ADPA as a one-step process.
Other embodiments of the present invention encompass further details relating to the composition of loaded solid support, methods of making the loaded support and conditions and process details concerning the use of the loaded support, all of which are hereinafter disclosed in the following discussion of each of those facets of the invention.

Zeolite support loaded with a base material for use in the coupling of aniline and nitrobenzene


A lead-acid battery separator comprised of a porous membrane substrate having a front surface and a back surface and said front surface having a plurality of ribs. To enhance the substrate's stiffness, one or more coatings of a stiffening material may be adhered to the ribs on the substrate's surface.

A battery is an electrochemical device comprising an anode, a cathode, a separator sandwiched between the anode and cathode, and an electrolyte wetting the separator and in ionic communication between the anode and the cathode. Various chemistries in which the electrochemical potential between various materials is used to generate electricity have been studied and commercially implemented. See, in general: Besenhard, J. O., Ed., Handbook of Battery Materials, Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH, Weinheim, Germany, 1999; and Linden, D., Ed., Handbook of Batteries, Second Edition, McGraw Hill Inc., New York, N.Y., 199, both of which are incorporated herein by reference.
A battery separator is used to separate the battery's positive and negative electrodes, and is typically microporous to allow the through passage of ions from the positive and negative electrodes. In lead/acid storage batteries, either automotive or industrial batteries, the battery separator is typically a microporous polyethylene separator having a back web and a plurality of ribs standing on the back web. See: Besenhard, J. O., Editor, Handbook of Battery Materials, Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH, Weinheim, Germany (1999), Chapter 9, pp. 245-292. The separators for automotive batteries are typically made in continuous lengths and rolled, subsequently folded, and sealed along its edges to form pouches that receive the electrodes for the batteries. The separators for industrial (traction) batteries are typically cut to a size about the same as an electrode plate.
The use of porous membrane substrates as separators within lead-acid batteries is known in the prior art. Generally separators are passive and do not directly participate in the electrochemical processes of electricity storage. Separators maintain a physical distance between the positive and negative electrodes in lead-acid batteries. Separators also permit an ionic current with as little hindrance as possible. The unhindered ionic charge transfer requires many open pores of the smallest possible diameter to prevent electronic bridging by deposition of metallic particles (i.e. lead) floating in the electrolyte.
Separators generally have a uniform thickness and a uniform pore distribution. The pore distribution ensures an overall uniform current density during operation, achieving a uniform charging and discharging of the electrodes and maximum battery efficiency. As manufacturers seek to lower production costs, separators have been made thinner, resulting in the separator becoming more flexible. The increase in flexibility may result in battery failures due to internal flexing as a battery is assembled, especially along the folding edges of a pocket separator. The increased flexibility may also cause failure due to internal or external vibrations causing the separator to deform. Lead-acid battery separators generally incorporate ribs running in the MD direction to stiffen the separator. Lead-acid battery separators may also incorporate ribs in the CMD direction. However, the ribs often provide inadequate stiffness to the separator in the MD direction, the CMD direction, or a combination thereof. Hence, a need exists for a lead-acid battery separator with enhanced stiffness.

Lead-acid battery separator having enhanced stiffness


An image taking system of the invention has a transmitter and an image taking apparatus. The transmitter is disposed near a subject and transmits subject information of the subject. The image taking apparatus has a receiver capable of receiving the subject information transmitted from the transmitter and stores in memory the subject information received by the receiver in association with image data representing a subject image obtained by image taking through an image taking lens. The transmitter transmits the subject information in a predetermined direction. The receiver is capable of receiving the subject information within a predetermined range around an optical axis of the image taking lens.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image taking system including a transmitter and an image taking apparatus. More particularly, the transmitter is disposed near a subject and transmits subject information regarding the subject, and the image taking apparatus has a receiving unit capable of receiving the subject information and stores the subject information in a memory in association with image data representing a subject image obtained through image taking operation.
2. Description of the Related Art
Amid the recent trend for high-capacity memory and storage media, it has become difficult for a user to promptly obtain a desired subject image from subject images taken by an image taking apparatus such as a digital camera and stored in memory and storage media.
Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2001-228528, for example, proposes a technique to enable prompt extraction of a desired image.
More particularly, this technique attaches data on date and Global Positioning System (GPS) to image data representing a subject image and extracts a desired data based on the attached data.
When shooting a moving subject, for example, a person on a roller coaster, shutter speed needs to be adjusted in order to obtain a clear image of the subject. Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 1995-13225, for example, discloses an image taking system including a transmitter that is disposed near a subject and transmits image taking information and an image taking apparatus that has a receiver capable of receiving the subject information, so that shooting is performed in accordance with the received image taking information.
Accordingly, it can be contrived that a transmitter is adapted to transmit subject information that is a profile of a subject as well as image taking information, and an image taking apparatus with a receiver is adapted to store image data representing a subject image shot based on the received image taking information in association with the received subject information.
However, in the case where subjects are positioned closely one another, for example, monkeys in a zoo, transmitters naturally are to be closely disposed. Accordingly, an image taking apparatus may attach wrong subject information to the image data representing a shot subject.
It can be contrived to add a GPS receiver and a direction finder to an image taking apparatus, and cause a transmitter to transmit information of a position and a direction of the image taking apparatus as well as shooting information and subject information. Based on transmitted positional and directional information of the image taking apparatus that matches those detected by the image taking apparatus itself, the image taking apparatus can attach the subject information to image data representing the shot subject image.
However, even with the above contrivance, a subject image may not reportedly match subject information attached thereto, making it hard to obtain a desired subject image.


In an airbag module cover, at least one pair of tear lines is provided on a double-wall portion (an inner side wall and an outer side wall). The tear line provided on the inner side wall is formed as a slit. The tear line provided on the outer side wall is formed as a groove. Therefore, strength of the double-wall portion is reduced to tear the tear lines unfailingly and torn module cover can be opened unfailingly as a deployment door by an inflating airbag.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an airbag module cover.
2. Description of the Related Art
Generally, an airbag module has an airbag module cover as an outer shell. In a normal condition (inactive condition), the airbag module cover contains the airbag components such as a folded airbag, an inflator, and so on within its annular wall. In an airbag deployment condition (operating condition), the airbag module cover receives a pressure load from an inflating airbag and is torn along tear lines provided on a back surface of the cover. Then, the torn cover can open as deployment doors and the airbag inflates out from the deployment doors. The airbag module cover mostly has a double-wall structure due to a requisition of an appearance design. An outer wall(s) is provided outside the above-mentioned annular wall in order to provide a better appearance. The airbag module cover, which has overlapped tear lines respectively provided on the double-wall structure, is disclosed (Laid-open Japanese Patent Application No. H5[1993]-262194). The tear lines are formed as grooves having thin-thickness in the above-mentioned airbag module cover.


This invention is to a process and system for controlling solids distribution in a gas-solids reactor. Solids distribution is controlled by controlling electrical charges between solid particles flowing between conductive surfaces within a gas-solids reactor. The electrical charges are controlled by conventional means such as by grounding the opposing conductive surfaces, or by applying a voltage to one of the opposing conductive surfaces.

Chemical reactors can very in design over quite a wide range, depending upon the chemical process in which the reactors are to be used. In certain systems, both reactants and catalyst materials are flowed through the reactor to form the desired chemical products. The products are separated from the catalyst materials, and generally the catalyst materials are regenerated and reused in the reaction process.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,525,925 discloses a fluidized catalytic cracking process in which catalyst particles are flowed with oil feed through a reactor conduit. The resulting products are separated from the catalyst and the catalyst is regenerated through a concentric tube arrangement. Following regeneration, the catalyst is reused to contact additional oil feed.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,200,534 discloses a circulating fluidized bed reactor with a reaction space of an axially annular cross section. The reaction space is surrounded by a second reaction space, which acts as a catalyst regenerator, and which also has an axially annular cross section. The design is considered to make it possible to enable large equipment construction having a small height-to-diameter ratio.
In some cases, conveying particles through tubes such as reaction tubes can cause the particles to become electrically charged. Conveying of charged particles through reactor tubes may be responsible for segregated particle flow, a problem which has been observed in gas-solids or circulating fluidized bed reactors. A problem with segregated flow is that radial distribution of the flowing solid particles can also induce radial non-uniformities in the gas and solid velocity profiles. See, Qi and Farag, "Lateral Motion and Its Effect on Particle Concentration Distribution in the Riser of CFB," AIChE Symposium Series, No. 29, Vol. 89 (1998), p. 73–80, and Malcus and Pugsley, "A hydrodynamic model for high and low-density CFB riser," 6th Int. Conf. Circ. Fluid. Beds (1999) Poster Session. These types of non-uniformities can negatively impact a desirable plug flow pattern of solids through a gas solids or circulating fluidized bed reactor. Accordingly, it would be desirable to control solids flow or provide a gas-solids reactor system which more closely operates at plug flow like characteristics.

Controlling solids flow in a gas-solids reactor


A multi-processor unit includes a first domain for processing data according to first configuration information and having multiple first domain processors each connected to communication apparatus and each performing a different function of the first processing. The first domain processors include a first domain control processor for controlling the first processing of the first domain. The multi-processor unit also includes a second domain for second processing of the first processed data depending on a second domain configuration and having multiple second domain processors each connected to the communication apparatus and each performing a different function of the second processing. The second domain processors include a second domain control processor for controlling the second processing of the second domain. The multi-processor unit also including a global control processor connected to the communication means for providing the first domain configuration information and the second domain configuration information through the communication means for configuring the first and second domains.

A program control mechanism is required in any multi-processor system. Multi-processor signal processing systems that process signals on a sample-by-sample basis often use a data flow driven process control. In data flow driven control the operation of individual processors is triggered by the arrival of data samples from an upstream processor. If multiple samples are required for processing in data flow driven control a mechanism such as a scoreboard is used to determine when all the required data has arrived.
Multi-processor systems where the processors access shared memory blocks are usually controlled by a central controller that implements a complex arbitration scheme. The central controller determines which processors can access a particular memory block depending on priorities and in order to avoid memory conflicts. A processor requests access to required memory blocks and access is granted depending on what other blocks the process has requested access to as well as the memory blocks that other processors have requested access to.
In digital television broadcasting channel decoders for some transmission standards may be implemented using simple data flow control. In the U.S., the standard for terrestrial transmission is trellis coded 8-level Vestigial Side-band (8-VSB) modulation prescribed by the Advanced Television Systems Committee (ATSC) and cable transmission will probably use the same standard. Using this standard, a multi-processing channel decoders can be provided in which only a few samples are required for processing in any processor and control can be data driven. TDA8961 from Philips Semiconductors, MCT 2100 from Motorola, NXT2000 from NXTWave Communications are examples of 8-VSB channel decoders.
There are other digital television broadcasting standards where channel decoding algorithms are organized as a cascade of repetitive arithmetic operations on data in large memory blocks. In Europe, the Digital Video Broadcasting (DVB) group prescribes three different standards DVB-S, DVB-C and DVB-T for satellite, cable and terrestrial broadcasting respectively. The modulation scheme used in Europe for these DVB standards is Coded Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM). For terrestrial broadcasting, Japan has adapted Bandwidth Segmented Transmission (BST) Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) which is similar to COFDM. OFDM requires block based processing in channel decoding, in which processors share access to the same memory blocks, so that, arbitration of memory access is required. VLSI's VES9600 and LSI Logic's L64780 are examples of DVB-T channel decoders.
Those skilled in the art are directed to U.S. Pat. No. 5,685,005 to Garde which discloses a multi-processor system with arbitration control of shared memory access.
The above citations are hereby incorporated herein in whole by reference.

Control architecture for a high-throughput multi-processor channel decoding system


Provided is a sputtering target for a magnetic recording film. The sputtering target has a peak intensity ratio (IG/ID) of a G-band to a D-band of 5.0 or more in Raman scattering spectrometry. It is an object of the present invention to produce a magnetic thin film having a granular structure without using a high cost co-sputtering apparatus and to provide a sputtering target, in particular, an Fe—Pt-based sputtering target for a magnetic recording film, where carbon particles are dispersed in the target. Since carbon is a material which is not susceptible to being sintered and is susceptible to form aggregates, a conventional carbon-containing sputtering target has the problem that detachment of carbon lumps occurs during sputtering to result in generation of a large number of particles on the film. The present invention also addresses the problem of providing a high density sputtering target that can overcome the disadvantages.

The present invention relates to a sputtering target, in particular, a carbon (C) particle-dispersed Fe—Pt-based sputtering target, for producing thermally assisted magnetic recording media.
In the field of magnetic recording represented by hard disk drives, ferromagnetic metal-based materials, i.e., Co, Fe, or Ni-based materials, are used as materials of magnetic thin films in magnetic recording media. For example, in the magnetic thin film of a hard disk employing a longitudinal magnetic recording system, a Co—Cr-based or Co—Cr—Pt-based ferromagnetic alloy mainly composed of Co has been used.
In magnetic thin films of hard disks employing a perpendicular magnetic recording system, which has been recently applied to practical use, composite materials each composed of a Co—Cr—Pt-based ferromagnetic alloy mainly composed of Co and nonmagnetic inorganic particles are widely used. In many cases, the magnetic thin film is produced by sputtering a sputtering target made of the above-mentioned materials with a DC magnetron sputtering apparatus because of its high productivity.
Incidentally, the recording density of a hard disk is rapidly increasing year by year, and it is predicted that the areal recording density will reach 1 Tbit/in2 in the future, whereas the current areal recording density is 600 Gbit/in2. In order to achieve a recording density of 1 Tbit/in2, the recording bit size must be reduced to nm or less. In such a case, occurrence of a problem of superparamagnetization due to thermal fluctuation is predicted. The magnetic recording medium materials currently used, e.g., Co—Cr-based alloys having enhanced crystal magnetic anisotropy by containing Pt therein, are predicted to be insufficient for preventing the problem, and magnetic particles that behave as a stable ferromagnetic material in a size of 10 nm or less need to have higher crystal magnetic anisotropy.
Based on the above-described circumstances, an Fe—Pt phase having a L10 structure has attracted attention as a material for ultra-high density recording media. The Fe—Pt phase having a L10 structure has not only high crystal magnetic anisotropy but also excellent corrosion resistance and oxidation resistance and is therefore expected as a material that is suitable to be applied to magnetic recording media.
In order to use the Fe—Pt phase as a material for an ultra-high density recording medium, it is necessary to develop a technology of dispersing Fe—Pt magnetic particles regulated in the same direction with a density as high as possible in a magnetically isolated state.
Accordingly, a magnetic thin film having a granular structure in which Fe—Pt magnetic particles having a L10 structure are isolated from one another by a nonmagnetic material such as an oxide or carbon has been proposed as a magnetic film for a magnetic recording medium of the next-generation hard disk employing a thermally assisted magnetic recording system.
The granular magnetic thin film has a structure in which the magnetic particles are magnetically isolated from one another by means of the intervention of a nonmagnetic material.
Magnetic recording media including magnetic thin films having a granular structure are described in literatures such as Patent Literatures 1 to 5.
Among the granular magnetic thin films including an Fe—Pt phase having the L10 structure, a magnetic thin film containing 10% to 50% by volume of carbon as a nonmagnetic material has particularly attracted attention from its high magnetic characteristics. Such a granular magnetic thin film is known to be produced by simultaneously sputtering an Fe target, a Pt target, and a C target or simultaneously sputtering an Fe—Pt alloy target and a C target. In order to simultaneously sputtering these sputtering targets, however, an expensive co-sputtering apparatus is necessary.
In general, sputtering of a sputtering target containing a nonmagnetic material in a form of an alloy with a sputtering apparatus has problems of causing unintended detachment of the nonmagnetic material during the sputtering or generation of particles (dust adhered to a substrate) due to abnormal discharge occurring from holes present in the sputtering target. In order to solve these problems, it is necessary to enhance the adhesion between the nonmagnetic material and the base alloy and to increase the density of the sputtering target. In general, the sputtering target material containing a nonmagnetic material in a form of an alloy is produced by a powder sintering method. However, in the case of an Fe—Pt alloy containing a large amount of C, since C is a material which is not susceptible to be sintered, preparation of a sintered compact having a high density is difficult.
As described above, a Co—Cr—Pt alloy has been widely used as the magnetic phase of a perpendicular magnetic recording layer until now. However, an increase in the recording density needs a reduction of the Co alloy size per bit and also causes a problem of superparamagnetization due to thermal fluctuation. Accordingly, Fe—Pt having a high crystal magnetic anisotropy is attracting attention.
Furthermore, in general, a magnetic recording layer is composed of a magnetic phase of, for example, Fe—Pt and a nonmagnetic phase isolating the magnetic phase, and carbon is known to be effective as a nonmagnetic phase.
However, carbon is a material which C is a material which is not susceptible to be sintered and is susceptible to form aggregates and therefore has problems of readily causing detachment of carbon lumps occurs during sputtering to result in generation of a large number of particles on the film after sputtering.
Accordingly, though improvement of magnetic recording layers has been tried by introducing carbon into a target, the problems in sputtering of the target has not been solved yet.
In addition, formation of a carbon film is proposed. For example, Patent Literature 6 describes:
a magnetic disk including an amorphous hydrogenated carbon layer having one wave peak (A) at a position of 1545 cm−1 or less and another wave peak (B) at a position of 1320 to 1360 cm−1 and having an area ratio (B/A) of these waves at the half-value widths of the peaks in 0.3 to 0.7, and a method of producing the magnetic disk.
Patent Literature 7 describes a method of evaluating a carbon film including a step of evaluating the film quality of the carbon film based on the ratio ID/IG of the intensity ID of a band D (disorder) having a peak at about 1350 to 1450 cm−1 to the intensity IG of a band G (graphite) having a peak at about 1550 to 1650 cm−1 in a surface-enhanced Raman spectrum and a step of confirming whether the ID/ID is in the range of 0.1 to 0.5, and a method of producing a magnetic recording medium.
The methods described in Patent Literatures 6 and 7 are, however, merely evaluation of carbon films and do not directly relate to the influence of carbon on a sputtering target when a large amount of carbon is present in the magnetic metal that is a main constituent material of the target for forming a magnetic recording film, the behavior of carbon in the step of producing the target, and the influence on formation of a film by sputtering using the target. Thus, these methods are not technologies in which these influence and behavior are sufficiently revealed.
Patent Literatures 8 and 9 describe evaluation of a SiC- or C-based thin film of a magnetic recording medium by a Raman spectrum and do not directly relate to the influence of carbon on a sputtering target when a large amount of carbon is present in the magnetic metal that is a main constituent material of the target for forming a magnetic recording film, the behavior of carbon in the step of producing the target, and the influence on formation of a film by sputtering using the target. Thus, these methods are not technologies in which these influence and behavior are sufficiently revealed.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Sputtering target for magnetic recording film


A valve comprises a valve body delimiting a passage for exhaust gases, a flap arranged in the valve body, and a drive shaft configured to drive the flap, and which is integrally secured to the flap. At least one guide bearing is configured to guide the drive shaft of the flap in rotation in relation to the valve body, and is connected to the valve body. The valve also includes an actuator and a transmission comprising an adapter rigidly attached directly to the drive shaft of the flap. The transmission is arranged in order to transmit a motor torque between the actuator and the adapter. The adapter has a contact surface that is in sealed contact with a complementary surface provided on the guide bearing.

Such valves are currently installed in the exhaust systems of high-end vehicles. Auto-manufacturers make little or no use of them in exhaust line systems for entry-level vehicles because of their cost.
In the near future, it is likely that the standards for noise emission levels for exhaust line systems will be made more stringent. This could force auto manufacturers to integrate pilot operated valves, even in entry-level vehicles.


A method and apparatus for efficiently caching streaming and non-streaming data is described herein. Software, such as a compiler, identifies last use streaming instructions/operations that are the last instruction/operation to access streaming data for a number of instructions or an amount of time. As a result of performing an access to a cache line for a last use instruction/operation, the cache line is updated to a streaming data no longer needed (SDN) state. When control logic is to determine a cache line to be replaced, a modified Least Recently Used (LRU) algorithm is biased to select SDN state lines first to replace no longer needed streaming data.

Typically, cache memory includes memory between a shared system memory and execution units of a processor to hold information in a closer proximity to the execution units of the processor. In addition, cache is typically smaller in size than a shared main system memory, which allows for more expensive faster memory, such as Static Random Access Memory (SRAM). Both the proximity to the execution units and the speed allow for caches to provide faster access to data and instructions. Caches are often identified based on their proximity from execution units of a processor. For example, a first-level (L1) cache may be close to execution units residing on the same physical processor. Due to the proximity and placement, first level cache is often the smallest and quickest cache. A computer system may also hold higher-level or further out caches, such as a second level cache, which may also reside on the processor but be placed between the first level cache and main memory, and a third level cache, which may be placed on the processor or elsewhere in the computer system, such as at a controller hub, between the second level cache and main memory.
As the graphics and media applications become more prevalent, the strain on processors to access data/instructions quickly to ensure a user experience is not interrupted becomes increasingly important. However, streaming data, i.e. data that is accessed a limited number of times, associated with graphic intensive media applications is provided to a processor in a similar manner, i.e. through a cache hierarchy. Yet, frequent replacement of non-streaming data in a cache with streaming data potentially results in adverse performance impacts on non-streaming applications, because some of the non-streaming data will be used in the future, while the cache instead holds streaming data that is not going to be used in the near future (if ever) and is therefore much less valuable to hold in the cache

Mechanism for effectively caching streaming and non-streaming data patterns


A fluid mixture separation membrane element (10) includes elongated hollow pressure-resistant nonpermeable transport arteries (12) and a plurality of flexible hollow fibers (14) of semipermeable material having internal flow channels (20). The hollow tubular transport arteries (12) have exteriors (18) and interior flow passages (16). Each hollow fiber (14) has spaced opposite end portions (22, 24) and an elongated tubular portion (26) extending between and interconnecting the opposite end portions (22, 24). The opposite end portions (22, 24) of each hollow fiber (14) are attached by either an adhesive (28) or another suitable mechanism to the tubular transport artery or arteries (12) so as to provide flow communication between the internal flow channels (20) of the hollow fibers (14) and one of the interior flow passages (16) or the exteriors (18) of the hollow transport arteries (12). The flexible hollow membrane fibers (14) have thin walls, small diameters and short lengths such that they can provide a densely-packed extended surface area for enhanced separation of a raw fluid mixture into permeate and retentate portions without creation of such backpressure as would result in reduction of the forces driving the separation process. The hollow fibers (14) can be arranged in various forms, such as individual hollow fibers, bundles of hollow fibers, knitted or wefted textiles, and fiber carpets or rugs. The fiber membrane elements (10) are fabricated by using various types of rotating, winding, and swinging methods.

A membrane material is a semi-permeable physical barrier having the property of differentiation between the rates of transport of different components of a fluid mixture. The selective transport of components of the fluid mixture at different rates is generated by the gradients of driving forces, such as pressure, partial pressure and temperature. Selective transport basically results in the dividing of the raw fluid mixture into retentate and permeate portions. The retentate portion is enriched with slowly permeable components of the raw mixture, whereas the permeate portion is enriched with components of the raw mixture which migrate faster.
The membrane separation process is typically carried out in a module fabricated from elements of the membrane material. The module typically has a feed inlet leading to a first flow passage on one side of the membrane material of the elements, a retentate outlet leading from the first flow passage, and a permeate outlet leading from a second flow passage on an opposite side of the membrane material of the elements across which the fluid separation process occurs. The fractions of raw mixture leaving the retentate and permeate outlets of the membrane module are the products of the separation process occurring therein as a result of the supply at a higher pressure through the feed inlet of the module of an input stream of the raw fluid mixture to be separated.
The efficiency of the fluid separation process is determined by the properties of the input stream of raw mixture and of the membrane material and its structure. Generally, the fluid separation process exhibits a complex physiochemical mechanism. The productivity of the membrane module increases as the surface area of the membrane material packed in the membrane module increases. Separation efficiency of the module depends inversely on the thickness of the membrane material.
High packing density of membrane surface area inside of the module is realized most frequently by providing the elements of membrane material as hollow fibers of substantial length arranged parallel to one another. The most logical way to increase the packing density of the membrane surface area in the module is to decrease the diameter of the hollow fibers. However, decreasing the diameter of long fibers increases the problem of backpressure due to the resistance of their internal channels to the inflow of the raw mixture and the outflow of the product streams.
The existence of backpressure is a significant limitation on the productivity of current membrane modules containing elements having long hollow fibers with small diameters. In experiments conducted by the inventor herein with fiber membrane elements made of polymethylpentene hollow fibers having an internal diameter of 14 micrometers and a wall thickness of 10 micrometers, it was found that only a small extent of the fiber membrane length, about 5 centimeters, is effective in the separation process. The efficiency of separation drops further with use of thinner capillaries or with highly permeable capillaries with asymmetric wall structures.
Therefore, current membrane modules employing elements with long hollow fibers having small diameters operate at a level of productivity too low for them to be viable commercial products for meeting current uses. Thus, a need remains for improvements in the design of fiber membrane elements which will provide modules capable of operating at acceptable levels of separation productivity and of techniques for fabricating such membrane elements on a cost-effective basis.

Fiber membrane elements and modules and methods of fabrication for fluid separation


A plasma display apparatus is provided that includes a front substrate, a plurality of first and second electrodes formed on the front substrate, a rear substrate that is faced with the front substrate, a plurality of third electrodes formed on the rear substrate, and a discharge cell that is disposed where the first, and second electrodes intersect with the third electrode, wherein at least one of the plurality of the first and second electrodes is formed with one layer, wherein a thickness of at least one of the plurality of the first and second electrodes ranges from 3 μm to 7 μm. By removing the transparent electrode consisting of ITO, the manufacturing cost of the plasma display panel may be reduced. Further, by forming projecting electrodes protruded to the opposite direction of the center of the discharge cell or in the direction of the center of the discharge cell from the sustain electrode line or the scan electrode, the firing voltage may be lowered, and the discharge diffusion efficiency in the discharge cell increased.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates, in general, to a plasma display apparatus and, more particularly, to a panel equipped in a plasma display apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
As to the plasma display panel, the barrier rib formed between the front substrate and the rear substrate forms one unit cell. Inside of each cell, a main discharge gas such as Ne, He, or Ne+He mixed gas and an inactive gas containing a small amount of xenon is filled. When a discharge is generated by a high frequency voltage, the inactive gas generates the Vacuum Ultraviolet rays, and stimulates the phosphor formed between the barrier ribs to display an image. Such plasma display panel can be implemented with a thin and light configuration, therefore, it is highlighted as future display device.
FIG. 1 is a drawing showing the structure of a plasma display panel of the related art. Referring to FIG. 1, as to a plasma display apparatus, a front panel 100 and a rear panel 110 is disposed in parallel with a constant distance. On the front panel 100, a plurality of sustain electrode pairs are disposed on a front substrate 101 where an image is displayed, when the sustain electrode pair is comprised of a scan electrode 102 and a sustain electrode 103. On the rear panel 100 which is a backside, a plurality of address electrodes intersecting with the plurality of sustain electrode pairs are disposed on a rear substrate 111.
The front panel 100 is comprises of a scan electrode 102 including a transparent electrode 102a, 103a and a bus electrode 102b, 103b, and a sustain electrode 103 while the scan electrode 102 and the sustain electrode 103 form a pair and a transparent electrode 102a, 103a is made of a transparent Indium Tin Oxide ITO. The scan electrode 102 and the sustain electrode 103 are covered with a front dielectric layer 104. The protective layer 105 is formed on the front dielectric layer 104.
The rear panel 110 includes a barrier rib 112 for partitioning off a discharge cell. A plurality of address electrodes 113 are arranged in parallel with the barrier rib 112. On the address electrode 113, Red R, Green G, and Blue B phosphors 114 are coated. A rear dielectric layer 115 is formed between the address electrode 113 and the phosphors 114.
In the meantime, the transparent electrodes 102a, 103a comprising the scan electrode 102 or the sustain electrode 103 is made of ITO which is expensive. Transparent electrode 102a, 103a causes the raising of the manufacturing cost of the plasma display panel. Therefore, manufacturing the plasma display panel which can obtain the sufficient color matching function and the driving characteristic for a user while decreasing the manufacturing cost is requested in recent days.


An air-fuel mixture control device 12 controlling a combustible air-fuel mixture to be supplied to a combustion chamber 19 of an engine 11. This device 12 is constructed of an injector 35 used for fuel supply, a fuel pump, a fuel filter, a fuel pressure regulator, and an electronic control unit (ECU) 64, which are united as an assembly with respect to a throttle body 26 including an intake passage 24 and a throttle valve 25. A memory incorporated in the ECU 64 stores a correction value with respect to the fuel injection quantity dispersion preliminarily experimentally determined on an assembly-by-assembly basis. The ECU 64 corrects the fuel injection quantity based on the correction value stored in the memory to control the fuel injection quantity.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an air-fuel mixture control device of an engine to be used for vehicles such as motorcycles, and more particularly to an air-fuel mixture control device for controlling a mixture of fuel and air to be supplied to a combustion chamber of an engine.
2. Description of Related Art
Heretofore, there is a case where a fuel injection device is used as, for example, an air-fuel mixture control device to be used in a motorcycle. One of such the devices is provided with a throttle body including an intake passage, a fuel injection valve for injecting fuel into the intake passage, a fuel pump for supplying under pressure the fuel to the fuel injection valve, a pressure regulator for regulating the pressure of fuel to be supplied to the fuel injection valve, a fuel filter for removing foreign materials from the fuel to be supplied, and an electronic control unit for controlling the quantity of fuel to be injected from the fuel injection valve.
In the above device, generally, the throttle body, the fuel injection valve, the fuel pump, the pressure regulator, the fuel filter, the electronic control unit, and other components are mounted separately in respective corresponding positions in a vehicle. In particular, the fuel pump and the pressure regulator are normally incorporated in a fuel tank. On the other hand, the components used for fuel supply (fuel-system component), such as the throttle body, the fuel injection valve, the fuel pump, the pressure regulator, and the fuel filter, individually include somewhat dispersion in fuel flow quantity. Thus, each engine would include the cumulative dispersion in fuel flow quantity due to assembly of the fuel-system components. This causes the generation of dispersion in air-fuel ratio among engines. To reduce the dispersion in air-fuel ratio, each fuel-system component needs machining with high accuracy.
However, the increase of machining accuracy could not fully compensate malfunctions caused by the flow quantity dispersion in the fuel-system components. Hence, there is a conventional case where, for example, during a manufacturing process of an engine, a test run of an engine after completely assembled is made by putting the engine on a lapping table and then applying a predetermined load to the engine. At this time, a fuel injection quantity and output of the engine are measured, and the fuel injection quantity and the engine output are regulated to predetermined set values.
Japanese Patent Unexamined Publication No. 10-159622 discloses an engine output automatic adjusting device related to the above test run. With this automatic adjusting device, an engine in which the fuel injection quantity is controlled by an electronic control unit is test-run under a predetermined condition. The engine output during the test run is detected by a torque sensor. A deviation of a detected value from a target value is then calculated. The calculated deviation is stored in advance in a nonvolatile memory in the electronic control unit. In subsequent operations, a fuel injection quantity is controlled on the basis of the deviation value. To be more specific, during engine operation, a fuel injection quantity is calculated based on values of an engine rotational speed, a throttle opening degree, and others, and then the calculated value is corrected based on the above deviation value. The control of engine fuel injection quantity is executed based on the above correction value of a fuel injection quantity so that the dispersion in the fuel injection quantity is reduced according to the characteristics of each individual engine.
In the conventional device disclosed in the above publication, the fuel injection quantity is corrected based on the engine output torque, which results in total correction of plural factors such as the individual dispersion in flow quantity in the fuel-system components, the dispersion in engine friction, and others. As a result, the conformity of the air-fuel ratio to a request air-fuel ratio would be insufficient, causing a possibility of deterioration in the emission of the engine.
Furthermore, the conventional device conducts the test run for test with respect to an engine assembly, which causes an increase in size of testing equipment.
The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances and has an object to overcome the above problems and to provide an air-fuel mixture control device of an engine, capable of reducing the influence of dispersion in fuel flow quantity in each of a fuel injection valve and fuel supplying devices, on an air-fuel mixture, and thereby improving the conformity of an engine air-fuel ratio.
Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objects and advantages of the invention may be realized and attained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims.
To achieve the purpose of the invention, there is provided an air-fuel mixture control device for controlling a mixture of air and fuel to be supplied to a combustion chamber of an engine, the device including: a throttle body including an intake passage communicated to the combustion chamber and a throttle valve provided in the intake passage; a fuel injection valve for injecting the fuel into the intake passage; a fuel supplying device for supplying the fuel under pressure to the fuel injection valve; and an electronic control unit for controlling an injection quantity of the fuel to be injected from the fuel injection valve; wherein the throttle body, the fuel injection valve, the fuel supplying device, and the electronic control unit are united, forming an assembly.
According to the above structure of the invention, the throttle body, fuel injection valve, fuel supplying device, and electronic control unit are united as an assembly, so that the air flow rate characteristics related to the air to be allowed to flow in the intake passage through the throttle valve and the fuel injection quantity characteristics related to the fuel to be injected into the intake passage through the fuel supplying device and the fuel injection valve are determined in each assembly, or air-fuel mixture control device, which differ from assembly to assembly. Accordingly, in each individual assembly, the fuel injection quantity into the intake passage is regulated and the air flow rate in the intake passage is also regulated. This makes it possible to control the characteristics of an air-fuel mixture to be produced in the intake passage in each assembly, separately from an engine body.
The test on the dispersion related to the fuel injection quantity in each assembly is conducted, so that a correction value determined based on the dispersion can be stored in the memory. At the control of the fuel injection quantity, the electronic control unit refers to the correction value stored in the memory. Consequently, the dispersion in the fuel injection quantity in each assembly can be corrected on an individual basis. Thus, the characteristics of an air-fuel mixture can be standardized.
The air-fuel mixture control device may further include a memory for storing a correction value to be used for correcting dispersion in the fuel injection quantity, the memory being provided in the electronic control unit.
Preferably, the fuel supplying device includes a fuel filter and a pressure regulator which are integrally combined by caulking.
Preferably, the fuel supplying device further includes a fuel pump, and the combined fuel filter and pressure regulator are arranged perpendicularly to the fuel pump.
Preferably, an intake condition detector for detecting an intake condition in the intake passage is provided in the united assembly.
Preferably, the electronic control unit controls the fuel injection quantity based on at least the intake condition detected by the detector.
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an air-fuel mixture control system for controlling a mixture of air and fuel to be supplied to a combustion chamber of an engine, the system including: a throttle body including an intake passage communicated to the combustion chamber and a throttle valve provided in the intake passage; a fuel injection valve for injecting the fuel into the intake passage; a fuel supplying device for supplying the fuel under pressure to the fuel injection valve; and an electronic control unit for controlling an injection quantity of the fuel to be injected from the fuel injection valve, the throttle body, the fuel injection valve, the fuel supplying device, and the electronic control unit being united, forming an assembly; a memory for storing a correction value with respect to dispersion related to the fuel injection quantity determined by a preliminary test on an assembly-by-assembly basis, the memory being provided in the electronic control unit; and the electronic control unit being operated to correct the fuel injection quantity based on the correction value stored in the memory for control of the fuel injection quantity.
In the above air-fuel control system, preferably, the preliminary test includes controlling the fuel injection valve to inject the fuel by a predetermined request injection quantity under a predetermined injection signal, then measuring an actual injection quantity of the fuel injected from the fuel injection valve, and determining a deviation of the measured value with respect to the request injection quantity as the dispersion in the injection quantity.

Air-fuel mixture control device of engine