An apparatus and method for consolidating partially used rolls of conventional, private bathroom-sized rolls of toilet tissue as a cost saving measure for reuse in furnishing "new" rolls to overnight guests in the hotel/motel industry is disclosed. The apparatus includes a housing, supply and take-up reels mounted on the housing and having vertically extending spindles which are bounded at the top by removable disk-shaped horizontally oriented cover plates and coaxially bounded at the bottom by disk-shaped horizontally oriented base plates. The cover plates are weighted to ensure positive gripping of the rolls. The take-up reel is motor driven and is automatically stopped when the roll has reached a predetermined full-sized roll diameter.

Toilet tissue is customarily produced and sold in rolls comprising transversely perforated, elongated strips of paper wound on disposable, hollow, cylindrical cardboard tubes, adapted and sized for mounting in standard holders to enable convenient dispensing of one or more of the serially-related sheets by tearing at the perforations. Conventional toilet tissue rolls provided for private bathroom use in overnight guest accommodations in the hotel/motel industry, are of standard 4.5.times.4.4 inch roll size.
It is desirable when providing bathroom facilities associated with temporary lodgings to furnish guests with "new," i.e., full, rolls of toilet tissue, at least at the start of their stay. Partially used rolls, i.e., rolls partially depleted by prior guests, are discarded as trash. Such practice, however, results in considerable waste and needless expense. For example, a hotel having 600-700 rooms might well discard 16,000 to 20,000 partially used rolls per year, many of which may yet have 80% to 90% of the original tissue still left on the roll.

Method and apparatus for consolidating partially used toilet tissue rolls


A method and an apparatus for simulating the operation of a pressured air source or sink such as a compressor or a turbine for a vehicle internal combustion engine calculates momentum sources at interfaces in the compressor or the turbine. A model stores steady state values of mass flux and enthalpy change related to rotational speed, inlet pressure and temperature and outlet pressure. The simulation can be an input to an engine control module for controlling the operation of the vehicle engine connected with the compressor or turbine.

The present invention relates generally to an apparatus and a method for simulating turbine and compressor performance and, in particular, to such use in engine modeling and control.
One-dimensional Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) codes are used to calculate fluid flow in many types of internal combustion engines. These codes use a gas dynamic model for predicting the gas flows in an engine. The approach is described in John B. Heywood, "Internal Combustion Engine Fundamentals", pp. 756-762. In these CFD codes, compressor and turbine performance maps are typically used to impose a steady state mass flow rate.
Various examples of modeling and uses of look up tables for control are provided in the following documents:
The U.S. Pat. No. 5,526,266 discloses a method for diagnosing an engine using a computer based boost pressure model that compares actual measured boost pressure values from a turbocharger with modeled boost pressure values.
The U.S. Pat. No. 5,753,805 discloses a method for determining pneumatic states in an internal combustion engine system that utilizes look up tables in determining pressure and temperature density corrections for mass flow calculations.
The U.S. Pat. No. 5,915,917 discloses a compressor stall and surge control using airflow asymmetry measurement. Asymmetry function is measured by static pressure sensors or total pressure sensors located along the circumference of the compressor inlet, which provides pressure signals to a signal processor.
The U.S. Pat. No. 6,098,010 discloses a method and apparatus for predicting and stabilizing compressor stall that utilizes axial velocity measurements as a function of time to predict stall.
The U.S. Pat. No. 6,178,749 discloses a method of reducing turbo lag in diesel engines having exhaust gas recirculation that generates a turbocharger control signal based on actual and modeled intake manifold absolute pressure and mass airflow values.
The U.S. Pat. No. 6,298,718 discloses a turbocharger compressor diagnostic system wherein sensor data is verified with a "rationality test" and then compared to a compressor operation map to determine if the compressor is in surge or choke.
The U.S. Pat. No. 6,510,691 discloses a method for regulating or controlling a supercharged internal combustion engine having a turbocharger with variable turbine geometry that utilizes upper and lower ranges based on different operating states to determine the required adjustments for the variable geometry of the turbocharger.
The published U.S. Patent Application No. 2003/0101723 discloses a method for controlling a charge pressure in an internal combustion engine with an exhaust gas turbocharger that calculates a manipulated variable by comparing the power or torque or a compressor with a power or torque loss occurring in transmission from a turbine to the compressor and then utilizes the manipulated variable to set the charge pressure output of the compressor.
The published U.S. Patent Application No. 2003/0106541 discloses a control system for an internal combustion engine boosted with an electronically controlled compressor that utilizes lookup tables or factors that are combined to generate low and high idle speed factors for the compressor.
The published U.S. Patent Application No. 2003/0216856 discloses diagnostic systems for turbocharged engines that utilize inputs from a plurality of sensors provided to an engine control module to determine performance of the turbocharger based on predicted versus actual value in comparison to stored compressor and turbine maps.
The published U.S. Patent Application No. 2005/0131620 discloses a control system that utilizes a predictive model, a control algorithm, and a steady state map having look-up tables for controlling boost and exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) valve operation of a diesel engine.
The U.S. Pat. No. 3,738,102 discloses a fuel control for turbine type power plant having variable area geometry that controls the turbine by determining a "APIP" value and the U.S. Pat. No. 5,381,775 discloses a system for controlling an internal combustion engine that includes a controller receiving a signal from a summation point that is in communication with a characteristics map and a simulation.

Apparatus and method for compressor and turbine performance simulation


A method and apparatus for automatically scrolling the contents of a window using a remote pointing device. A cursor having vertical and horizontal indicators is displayed in a window where the contents of the window extends beyond the viewable area of the window. The cursor is movable in a selected direction by manipulating the remote control pointing device such that when moved to a boundary of the window, the contents of the window are automatically scrolled in the selected direction. Operation of the remote pointing device after displaying the contents of the window causes the cursor to jump to the next opened window in the viewable area.

Windows are used in computer systems to provide a user with access to the contents or information stored therein. When the computer contains more information then can be displayed at one time, the window displays only a subset of the information. Scrolling the contents of the window is necessary to allow the user to view the remaining information. Thus, scrolling is the process of moving a displayed image vertically (i.e., in the Y-plane) or horizontally (i.e., the X-plane) in a manner such that new data appears at one edge, as existing data disappears at the opposite edge.
Scrolling beyond a screen' boundary refers to the movement of a mouse cursor to an edge of the display area of a window using a pointing device. When the mouse cursor is at the edge of the display area of the window, conventional systems provide a slider control to allow a user to scroll the contents of a window at some speed to display more information to the user. One problem that occurs when scrolling beyond a screen boundary is the need to select a scrolling direction. This may cause the desired information to flash by and disappear from view before the user can stop the scrolling due to the requirement to keep the cursor on the scroll direction indicator. The user must then reverse the direction of the scrolling which often require multiple manipulations of the directional indicators to arrange the information in the view area.
One prior art technique for insuring a known amount of information will be displayed beyond the screen boundary is the use of Page Down (PgDn) and Page Up (PgUp) keys. Manipulating either key causes one page of information to be scrolled in the selected direction. Scrolling one page at a time frequently causes the user to lose a reference point to the information being displayed, since a completely new page of information is presented to the user. One technique for solving this problem is to scroll the information one line at a time. This allows the user to see the reference point as the information is scrolled. However, scrolling the information one line at a time requires significant time when the user wants to progress rapidly through the information.
Recently, an impressive leap in personal-computer design and component-bundling occurred with the introduction of products capable of delivering computing, online access, and television through a users' television set. This technological advance allows a user, via a wireless keyboard or wireless remote control, to scroll virtually unlimited information on a television screen. Users positioned up to 15-20 feet from the television screen can simultaneously watch TV and have online access, with the ability to scroll the online information in a separate window in the comforts of an easy chair. The slider controls used to control scrolling in computers are more difficult to used when operated by remote control. The increased distance from the television screen, makes selection of the slider controls used for scrolling difficult and cumbersome, due to the need for greater and more refined motor skills. This makes it especially difficult for older individuals and children.
Consequently, it would be desirable to provide a technique for easily scrolling information displayed in a window beyond a boundary of the window. It is also desirable to provide a procedure for navigating through multiple open windows in a display area or frames which frequently appear in web pages.

Method and apparatus for automatic scrolling by remote control

International Business Machines Corporation


A flyback active clamping power converter is disclosed. The flyback active clamping power converter comprises an input inductor, a down-bridge switch, an up-bridge switch, a first energy-storing capacitor, a clamping capacitor, a resonant inductor, a magnetizing inductor, a transformer, an output diode and an output capacitor. When a resonant frequency generated by the resonant inductor and the clamping capacitor in the flyback active clamping power converter is substantially equal to a switching frequency, the output diode is able to perform a zero current switching in the whole load range.

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure is related to a power converter, and in particular, to a flyback active clamping power converter making a diode in a secondary side perform Zero Current Switching (ZCS), preferably a single-ended primary inductance converter.
2. Description of Related Art
With the advancement of technology and the rapid development of portable electronic products, more and more attention has been paid to the performance of switching converters and each of their applications. In recent years, due to major advances in the power electronics technology and the development of nanotechnology, a growing tendency of electronic devices has been towards being slim and light, energy saving, and cost-reducing, so its internal power converter design also needs to trend to be slim and light, energy saving, power increasing, and cost-reducing. A power supply is generally required for most of electric appliances, to convert an input power source from batteries or AC power grids into an output power source with specific ratings. As technology advances, it has become routine for power supplies to operate more efficiently or have higher conversion efficiency. As known in the art, the conversion efficiency of a power supply is defined as the ratio of the output power from the output power source to the input power from the input power source.
A power conversion system receives an input DC or AC power and converts the input DC or AC power to a DC or AC output power, and the DC or AC output power usually presents a voltage different from the input power. Control of the output power may respond to the output voltage or the output current. A boost converter (also known as step-up converter) is a power converter in which the output voltage is greater than the input voltage. The boost converter includes at least a first electrically controlled switch (for example, a transistor), at least a first energy-storing element (for example, an electric coil) and a switched mode power for an add-on (for example, a diode or a second electrically controlled switch). Generally, the electrically controlled switches and the diodes are configured between the coil and the output end, wherein the current alternately charges the coil, in response to a turning-off operation of the first electrically controlled switch, and the current is transmitted to a load, in response to a turning-on operation of the first electrically controlled switch. When the current is transmitted to the load, the current is flowing through the diode or the second electrically controlled switch. A buck converter (also known as a step-down converter) is a power converter in which the input voltage is greater than the output voltage. The buck converter includes at least a third electrically controlled switch (for example, a transistor), at least a second energy-storing element (for example, an electric coil) and a switched mode power source for an add-on (for example, a diode or a fourth electrically controlled switch). Generally, the electrically controlled switches and the diodes are configured between the input power source and the coil, wherein the current alternately draws and charges the electric coil via a load, in response to a turning-off operation of the third electrically controlled switch, and the electric coil continuously releases energy to the load, in response to a turning-on operation of the third electrically controlled switch. When the coil releases energy to the load, the diode or the fourth electrically controlled switch is connected to the coil in series. A flyback converter is a power converter in which the output voltage can be greater or less than the input voltage. The flyback converter is a switched mode power which includes at least an electrically controlled switch; an energy-storing element which includes at least a coil (especially a transformer), whereby a voltage ratio is increased with an additional advantage of isolation; and at least an add-on (for example, a diode and/or an additional electrically controlled switch). Generally, a primary coil of the transformer is connected between the electrically controlled switch and the input voltage, and a secondary coil of the transformer is connected between the add-on and the output voltage. As used herein, the above-mentioned power converters are used for explanation of some topologies, but are not limited thereto.
In the low-power applications, the flyback converter is a widely used power circuit, but the flyback converter has the disadvantages of input current pulse sufferring from electromagnetic interference (EMI) and voltage spikes caused by leakage inductance. Therefore, in the prior art, the single-ended primary inductor converter has been used to reduce the disadvantage of electromagnetic interference. However, the traditional active clamping single-ended primary inductor converter (SEPIC) has a higher spike voltage in the diode in the secondary side, thus the efficiency cannot be greatly improved.


A trigger arrangement for an infusion device is disclosed, the trigger arrangement being configured to trigger a bolus injection of the infusion device and including: a body having an outside surface, a haptic structure arranged on the outside surface or integrated into the outside surface, wherein the haptic structure includes a first end section and a second end section and wherein the haptic structure includes a haptic track extending from the first end section to the second end section, a touch sensitive sensor arrangement extending along the haptic track and configured to detect a sliding motion of an object along the haptic track.

Drug delivery devices for setting and dispensing a single or multiple doses of a liquid medicament are known in the art. When configured as an injection device or as an infusion device they have a similar purpose as that of an ordinary syringe.
Injection devices, such as pen-type injectors, or infusion devices, such as patch pumps have to meet a number of user-specific requirements. For instance, a patient suffering chronic diseases, such like diabetes, may be physically infirm and may also have impaired vision. Suitable injection devices especially intended for home medication therefore need to be robust in construction and should be easy to use. Furthermore, manipulation and general handling of the device and its components should be intelligible and easily understandable.
Moreover, a dose setting as well as a dose dispensing procedure must be easy to operate and has to be unambiguous.

Trigger arrangement for an infusion device


For transporting sealed insulating glass panes having glass plates (1,1') of different sizes, a conveying device is provided having hook-like carrying elements (23) with pressure jaws (4) and supports (3) for the smaller glass plate (1) and pressure jaws (25) and supports (26), attached to separate conveyor chains (14') and (27), for the larger glass plate (1') projecting beyond the smaller glass plate (1). The conveyor chain (27) with the supports (26) is adjustable with respect to its height so that the pressure jaws (4) and (25) engage, independently of the overhang of the larger glass plate (1'), in all cases in the zone of a spacer frame between the glass plates (1,1').

A device for conveying insulating glass panes has been known from Austrian Patent 384,596 or German Patent 3,038,425 and from German Patent 4,029,669. These conventional devices have proven themselves suitable for transporting insulating glass panes in the zone of sealing machines, particularly for the transport of insulating glass panes during and after sealing.
Besides insulating glass panes wherein the glass plates are of equal size so that the outer rims of the glass plates lie in joint planes which are perpendicular to the flat extension of the insulating glass pane, there are also insulating glass panes wherein the glass plates are of differing size. Thus, there are insulating glass panes wherein one of the glass plates protrudes at least along one rim of the insulating glass pane beyond the other glass plate. In this case, the spacer frame is arranged so that it follows substantially the contour of the smaller glass plate. Such insulating glass panes (also called "staggered elements") cannot be transported by means of the conventional devices. For this reason, such insulating glass panes have thus far been sealed manually while in a horizontal position because the transporting of insulating glass panes fashioned as staggered elements is impossible, or not easily possible, with the known vertical conveyors during and after the sealing step.

Device for conveying insulating glass panes


The present invention relates to a method for locating a wireless terminal device in a cellular network in response to a location request, wherein a quality information is added to the location request in order to define a requested quality of service. Based on the quality of service, a suitable place or network element for determining the location is selected. Thereby, a load sharing model can be provided such that the calculation capacity can be distributed and the signaling load reduced.

Location systems utilize one or more positioning mechanisms in order to determine the location of a terminal device, such as a mobile station, a user equipment or any other kind of radio terminal. Positioning a target terminal device involves signal measurements and a location estimate computation based on the measured signals. In general, a location or position estimate provides the geographic location of a mobile station and/or a valid mobile equipment, expressed in latitude and longitude data. The location estimate can be represented in a predetermined universal format.
Positioning mechanisms for location systems (LCS) in a GSM (Global System for Mobile communication) cellular system may be based on an uplink time of arrival (TOA) mechanism, Observed Time Difference (OTD) mechanisms (e.g. OTDOA or Enhanced OTD (E-OTD)), a Global Positioning System (GPS) assisted mechanism, cell identity (CI) based mechanisms, HLR (Home Location Register) or VLR (Visitor Location Register) queries, or any combination thereof. As a fall-back procedure, a Timing Advance (TA) parameter can be used to assist all above positioning mechanisms, except HLR/VLR based positioning. The TA value is usually known for the serving base transceiver station (BTS) to obtain TA values in case the concerned mobile station is in an idle mode. A special call not noticed by the user or subscriber of the mobile station is set up by using a paging procedure, e.g. not actually a call, and the cell identity (CI) of the serving cell and the TA is returned in response to this call.
In GSM, according to the uplink TOA positioning method, the time of arrival (TOA) of a known signal sent from the mobile station and received at three or more measuring units is measured. The known signal is an access burst generated by having the mobile station perform an asynchronous handover. The method requires an additional measurement unit hardware, i.e. a location measurement unit (LMU), in the network at the geographical vicinity of the mobile station to be positioned to accurately measure the TOA of the bursts. Since the geographical coordinates of the measurement units are known, the position of the mobile station can be calculated at a central location center via hyperbolic triangulation.
Furthermore, the E-OTD method is based on measurements in the mobile station of the enhanced observed time difference of arrival of bursts of nearby pairs of BTSs. To obtain an accurate triangulation, E-OTD measurements are needed for at least three distinct pairs of geographically dispersed BTSs. Based on the measured E-OTD values, the location of the mobile station can be calculated either in the network or in the mobile station itself, if all the needed information is available in the mobile station.
The GPS method refers to any of several variants that make use of GPS signals or additional signals derived from the GPS signals in order to calculate the position of the mobile station.
The location system is logically implemented in a cellular network through the addition of a network node, the Mobile Location Center (MLC). In particular, a Gate-way Mobile Location Center (GMLC) is provided, which is the first node which an external client accesses in the cellular network. The GMLC requests routing information from the Home Location Register (HLR), performs registration authorization and sends positioning request to and receives final location estimates from the network. Furthermore, a Serving Mobile Location Center (SMLC) is provided which manages the overall coordination and scheduling of resources required to perform positioning or location of a mobile or wireless terminal device. It also calculates the final location estimate and accuracy. In one cellular network, there may be more than one SMLC and GMLC.
A so-called NSS based SMLC supports positioning of a target mobile station via signaling to the visited Mobile Switching Center (MSC), while a so-called BSS based SMLC supports positioning via signaling to the Base Station Controller (BSC) serving the target mobile station. Both types of SMLC may support an interface to enable access to information owned by another SMLC.
The SMLC controls a number of LMUs for the purpose of obtaining radio interface measurements to locate or help locate mobile station subscribers in the area that it serves. The signaling between an NSS based SMLC and an LMU is transferred via the MSC serving the LMU, while the signaling between a BSS based SMLC and an LMU is transferred via the BSC that serves or controls the LMU.
The SMLC and GMLC functionality may be combined in the same physical node, combined in existing physical nodes, or reside in different nodes of the cellular network.
A more detailed description of the known location systems is disclosed in the GSM specification 03.71.
Document EP 0 905 992 A1 discloses a position location procedure where location requests are delivered to mobile terminals. A decision unit at the mobile terminals is arranged to measure the quality level of received radio signals and to switch to a special position location function when the measured quality level falls below a set level. Thereby, the position location procedure depends on the receiving quality of the radio signals and a high probability of success can be achieved
In the above conventional location systems, each location request generates a considerable amount of load to signaling, location calculation and measurement functions of the network. Therefore, enough signaling capacity and centralized calculation and/or measurement capacity has to be provided in the network for LCS purposes. However, current LCS architectures are no longer able to cope with the desired amount of location requests per second as defined by operator requirements.

Quality based location method and system


A backup system is comprised of a main storage for storing original data and a plurality of local storages for distributing and storing the data. An encoding unit of the main storage server generates, after dividing the original data, a plurality of encoded data that is equal to or more than the dividing number by use of a code of which redundancy is variable. A distribution processing unit distributes the plurality of encoded data to the plurality of local storages, and causes the data to be stored therein. A restoring unit retrieves the encoded data corresponding to at least the division number of the original data from the local storages, and restores the original data. A redundancy control unit varies the redundancy in the encoding unit such that, the higher the importance of the data, the larger the redundancy. Furthermore, a distribution processing unit determines the distribution number such that the higher the reliability of the local storages, the more the number.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a backup system, method, and program for backing up data in preparation for a disaster or accident by distributing and allocating the data to a plurality of local storages, and, particularly relates to a backup system, method, and program for increasing tolerance against failure by redundantly encoding data which is to be distributed to local storages.
2. Description of the Related Arts
Conventionally, in order to protect data in a storage such as a magnetic disk device from failure, unexpected accidents, etc., RAID (Redundant Arrays of Independent Disks) is provided as a generally used technique. Although the levels of RAID include RAID 0 to RAID 6 in accordance with its use, typical ones used as techniques for enhancing safety of data are RAID 1, RAID 5, and RAID 6. RAID 1 is generally realized by use of two disks. This is the simplest method in which failure tolerance of the disks is enhanced by writing the same data to two disks, and called mirroring.
FIG. 1 is a distributed storage system to which RAID 1 is applied. In FIG. 1, to a main storage 100 connected via a network 102 are local storages 104-1 to 104-3 which function as distributed storages. In RAID 1, all the local storages 104-1 to 104-3 have data 106 that is same as the main storage 100, i.e., copy data 106-1 to 106-3 which is same as the data 106 of the main storage device 100; and when the data 106 of the main storage 100 is lost, data is transferred from any one of the local storages 104-1 to 104-3 so as to restore the lost data 106. RAID 5 is a method in which data is recorded in a manner that it is distributed to a plurality of disks, wherein, upon writing, a redundant code called parity obtained by addition of data is generated and written at the same time. Accordingly, even if any one of the disks fails, the original complete data can be restored from the data and parity information of the disks other than that.
FIG. 2 shows distributed storages to which RAID 5 is applied. The data of the main storage 100 is divided into data 108 and 110, and parity 112 is generated; and these are distributed to and stored in the local storages 104-1 to 104-3. In this case, for example, even if the data 110 is lost due to failure or the like of the local storage 104-2, the lost data 110 can be restored from the data 108 and the parity 112 of the local storage devices 104-1 and 104-3. RAID 6 is an extended version of RAID 5, wherein two pieces of parity are generated which is one in RAID 5. Accordingly, even if two disks fail at the same time, the original data can be restored in this method. Although there are several methods for obtaining the second parity, the Read Solomon code is generally employed.
FIG. 3 shows distributed storages to which RAID 6 is applied. The data of the main storage 100 is divided into data 108 and 110, and parity 112 and 114 is generated; and they are distributed to and stored in local storages 104-1 to 104-4. In this case, for example, even if data of two of the local storages 104-1 to 104-4 is lost due to failure or the like, the lost data can be restored from the data and/or parity of the two units of them which are normal. Moreover, as a conventional control method of a distributed storage system, when data is to be saved to a plurality of storages, it is made to be redundant in a doubled manner, thereby enabling restoration of data even when failure occurs in the storages
In addition, as a data storage method utilizing a wide-area distributed storage system, security of data is improved by distributing and storing data to and in a plurality of storages, and, at the same time, optimum setting of the storages is selected in consideration of physical distances between the storages, thereby improving line efficiency and safety of the data in a disaster.
However, when back up is performed by the mirroring method of RAID 1 with respect to such conventional plurality of local storages which are geographically distributed, the copy of the original data is generated in each local; therefore, there is a problem that, although failure tolerance is high, the utilization efficiency of the storages is extremely bad. Moreover, although the utilization efficiency of the storages is high in RAID 5 compared with RAID 1, a restorable case is merely when one local storage fails, and restoration is impossible when two or more units thereof fail at the same time. Furthermore, RAID 6 has problems that the utilization efficiency is lower than RAID 5 by an amount corresponding to one disk since two pieces of parity are generated, and the calculation amount is large since the Read Solomon code is used for obtaining the second parity. On the other hand, the method of Patent Document 1 is a method in which double redundancy is performed when data is to be saved to a plurality of storages, thereby enabling restoration of the data even if failure occurs in the storage and speeding up read-out; however, when two or more storages fail at the same time, the data cannot be recovered. The method of Patent Document 2 is a method in which security of data is improved by distributing and storing the data to and in a plurality of storages; however, it has a problem that the utilization efficiency of the storages is bad since the data amount stored in each storage is the same.


Methods are provided for the replication and amplification of RNA sequences by thermoactive DNA polymerases. In a preferred embodiment, high temperature reverse transcription is coupled to nucleic acid amplification in a one tube, one enzyme procedure using a thermostable DNA polymerase. Methods for eliminating carry over contamination of amplifications due to prior reverse transcription reactions are also provided.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the field of molecular biology and provides improved methods for the replication and amplification of ribonucleic acid (RNA) sequences. In a preferred embodiment, the invention provides a method for synthesizing a complementary DNA copy from an RNA template with a thermoactive DNA polymerase. In another aspect, the invention provides methods for coupling reverse transcription of an RNA template and amplification of the resultant DNA using a thermostable DNA polymerase. In a preferred embodiment RNA is reverse transcribed and amplified in a homogeneous, one tube, one enzyme reaction. Methods for sterilization of reverse transcription and reverse transcription/amplification reactions are also provided.
2. Description of Related Art
The term "reverse transcriptase" describes a class of polymerases characterized as RNA-dependent DNA polymerases. All known reverse transcriptases require a primer to synthesize a DNA transcript from an RNA template. Historically, reverse transcriptase has been used primarily to transcribe mRNA into cDNA which can then be cloned into a vector for further manipulation.
Avian myoblastosis virus (AMV) reverse transcriptase was the first widely used RNA-dependent DNA polymerase (Verma, 1977, Biochem. Biophys. Acta 473:1).
The enzyme has 5'-3' RNA-directed DNA polymerase activity, 5'-3' DNA-directed DNA polymerase activity, and RNase H activity. RNase H is a processive 5' and 3' ribonuclease specific for the RNA strand of RNA-DNA hybrids (Perbal, 1984, A Practical Guide to Molecular Cloning, Wiley & Sons New York). Errors in transcription cannot be corrected by reverse transcriptase because known viral reverse transcriptases lack the 3'.fwdarw.5' exonuclease activity necessary for proofreading (Saunders and Saunders, 1987, Microbial Genetics Applied to Biotechnology, Croom Helm, London). A detailed study of the activity of AMV reverse transcriptase and its associated RNase H activity has been presented by Berger et al., 1983, Biochemistry 22:2365-2372.
Berger et al. found that the rate limiting step in the reverse transcription of RNA was initiation by the enzyme, rather than the sequential polymerization of additional nucleotides. To overcome this limitation, use of a stoichiometric, rather than catalytic, quantity of reverse transcriptase is frequently recommended (Buell et al., 1978, J. Biol. Chem. 253:2471-2482; Wickens et al., 1978 22:2483-2495; Yoo et. al., 1982, Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. USA 80:1194-1198; and Okayama and Berg, 1982, Mol. Cell. Biol. 2:161-170). However, when stoichiometric amounts of reverse transcriptase are used, the low level of RNase H activity is significant and may be responsible for fragmented cDNAs and limited cDNA yields (Kotewicz et al., 1988, Nuc. Acid. Res. 16:265-277). Christopher et al., 1980, Eur. J. Biochem., 111:4190-4231, and Michelson et al., 1983, Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. USA 80:472-476, have suggested that including an RNase inhibitor in cDNA reactions could alleviate this problem.
DNA polymerases isolated from mesophilic microorganisms such as E. coli. have been extensively researched (see, for example, Bessman et al., 1957, J. Biol. Chem. 233:171-177 and Buttin and Kornberg, 1966, J. Biol. Chem. 241:5419-5427). E. coil DNA polymerase I (Pol I) is useful for a number of applications including: nick-translation reactions, DNA sequencing, in vitro mutagenesis, second strand cDNA synthesis, polymerase chain reactions (PCR), and blunt end formation for linker ligation (Maniatis et al., 1982, Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y.).
Several laboratories have shown that some DNA polymerases are capable of in vitrol reverse transcription of RNA (Karkas, 1973, Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. USA 70:3834-3838; Gulati et al., 1974, Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. USA 71:1035-1039; and Wittig and Wittig, 1978, Nuc. Acid Res. 5:1165-1178). Gulati et al. found that E. coli Pol I could be used to transcribe Q.beta. viral RNA using oligo(dT).sub.10 as a primer. Wittig and Wittig have shown that E. coli Pol I can be used to reverse transcribe tRNA that has been enzymatically elongated with oligo(dA). However, as Gulati et al. demonstrated, the amount of enzyme required and the small size of the cDNA product suggests that the reverse transcriptase activity of E. coli Pol I has little practical value.
The use of thermostable enzymes to amplify existing nucleic acid sequences in amounts that are large compared to the amount initially present was described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,683,195 and 4,683,202, which describe the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) processes. These patents are incorporated herein by reference. Primers, template, nucleoside triphosphates, the appropriate buffer and reaction conditions, and a polymerase are used in the PCR process, which involves denaturation of target DNA, hybridization of primers, and synthesis of complementary strands. The extension product of each primer becomes a template for the production of the desired nucleic acid sequence. These patents disclose that, if the polymerase employed is a thermostable enzyme, then polymerase need not be added after every denaturation step, because heat will not destroy the polymerase activity.
Thermostable DNA polymerases are not permanently inactivated even when heated to 9320 -95.degree. C. for brief periods of time, as, for example, in the practice of DNA amplification by PCR. In contrast, at this elevated temperature E. coli DNA Pol I and previously described reverse transcriptases are inactivated.
The thermostable DNA polymerase from Thermus aquaticus (Taq) has been cloned, expressed, and purified from recombinant cells as described in Lawyer et al., 1989, J. Biol. Chem. 264:6427-6437, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,889,818 and copending Ser. No. 143,441, filed Jan. 12, 1988, which are incorporated herein by reference. Crude preparations of a DNA polymerase activity isolated from T. aquaticus have been described by others (Chien et al., 1976, J. Bacteriol. 127:1550-1557, and Kaledin et al., 1980, Biokymiya 45:644-651).
The thermostable DNA polymerase from Thermus thermophilus (Tth) has also been purified and is described in commonly assigned, copending Ser. No. 455,967, filed Dec. 12, 1989, which is incorporated herein by reference. The '967 patent application also describes that the gene encoding Tth DNA polymerase enzyme from Thermus thermophilus has been identified and cloned. Recombinant Tth provides an alternative means preparing the thermostable enzyme. Crude preparations of DNA polymerase activity isolated from T. thermophilus have been described by Ruttiman et al., 1985, Eur. J. Biochem, 149:41-46. The thermostable DNA polymerase from Thermotoga maritima has been identified and cloned and is described in copending Ser. No. 567,244, filed Aug. 13, 1990, now abandoned, and incorporated herein by reference.
PCR requires a nucleic acid template and appropriate primers for amplification. The DNA to be amplified may be synthetic or genomic, contained in a plasmid, or contained in a heterogenous sample. If the nucleotide sequence to be amplified is RNA, the nucleic acid molecule is first treated with reverse transcriptase in the presence of a primer to provide a cDNA template for amplification. Prior to the present invention, amplification of RNA necessitated a reverse transcription step with, e.g., a non-thermostable reverse transcriptase such as Molony Murine Leukemia Virus Reverse Transcriptase (MoMuLV RT) or AMV-RT, followed by treatment of the resulting single-stranded cDNA with a DNA polymerase. The amplification of RNA could be greedy simplified by the availability of a method for reverse transcribing RNA and amplifying DNA with a single enzyme.
Taq polymerase has been reported to inefficiently synthesize cDNA using Mg.sup.+2 as the divalent metal ion (Jones and Foulkes, 1989, Nuc. Acids. Res. 176:8387-8388). Tse and Forget, 1990, Gene 88:293-296; and Shaffer et al., 1990, Anal. Biochem. 190:292-296, have described methods for amplifying RNA using Taq polymerase and Mg.sup.+2 ion. However, the methods are inefficient and insensitive. For example, Tse and Forget demonstrate that 4 .mu.g of total RNA is required to generate sufficient PCR product for ethidium bromide-stained gel visualization, using an abundantly expressed mRNA target.
The present invention addresses this need and provides high temperature cDNA synthesis by thermoactive DNA polymerases. The present invention provides improved methods for a one enzyme, one tube, coupled reverse transcription/amplification assay using a thermostable DNA polymerase. The need to open the reaction vessel and adjust reaction components between the two steps is eliminated. The methods offer enhanced sensitivity, simplicity, and specificity over current methods.

Reverse transcription with thermostable DNA polymerase-high temperature reverse transcription


A radiation protective vest includes a back panel with flaps at opposite lower sides and a pair of front panels, each panel containing radiation shielding material. Each front panel has an inner straight edge and a flap at a lower outer side. The front and back panels are connected to form the vest. A first strap is attached to one front panel and a second strap is attached to the other front panel. The second strap is threaded in a first sleeve attached to the inside of the back panel and the first strap is threaded in a second sleeve attached to the inside of the back panel. A fastener is provided on the free ends straps. When the vest is worn, the flaps of the front panels press against a user's waist and the back panel flaps overlap the front panels.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to radiation protective garments and, more particularly, to a radiation protective vest with overlapping panels for sizing adjustability and straps for weight distribution of weight from the shoulders to the waist and lower back.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Radiation protective garments for use by technicians and others exposed to radiation are known. Typically, radiation protective garments are cumbersome and provide limited weight distribution from the shoulders to waist of a user. Due to the amount of lead utilized in prior art radiation protective garments, such garments are relatively heavy, difficult to put on and uncomfortable to wear. U.S. Pat. No. 5,274,851 shows a radiation protective garment having a wide resilient support member that is attached to the back panel of the garment. Two front panels that are secured to the back panel are secured to one another by means of a full zipper. In this type of radiation protective garment, the use cannot control the transfer of weight from the shoulders to the back. Furthermore, such a garment has limited adjustability for sizing on the sides under the arms of the user and somewhat difficult to put on. U.S. Pat. No. 4,441,025 discloses a radiation protective garment with a full front panel and shoulder straps that crisscross at the user's back and transfer some of the weight from the user's shoulders. However, a significant portion of the weight of the garment is carried by the user's shoulders. A need has arisen for a radiation protective garment in the form of a radiation protective vest that can be easily put on by the user, is relatively light weight and provides a wide range of sizing adjustability.


A schedule optimizing algorithm improves scheduling quality, reducing a schedules cycle time and requiring only marginal increase in computer execution time. Lower quality computerized scheduling programs are substantially improved through the additional steps of sequential left time shifting and right time shifting of respective chronologically sorted completion time and starting time task listings.

It is well recognized that the construction of any building, machine or equipment, generally referred to as a project, requires the collective performance of a number of individual operations or tasks for successful completion. Resources are required, as example, personnel, trained to accomplish the task, capital equipment and other resources, supplies and component parts, which need to be procured or built. Each task requires a finite time, determined by past experience, for completion. And precedence must be followed, in that some tasks typically must be completed before other tasks in the project may begin.
Prudence requires planning and, particularly, formulation of a schedule that defines the who, when, where and the how that is necessary for completion of the project in an orderly and efficient manner. In earlier eras, the foreman or manufacturing engineer, possessed the experience, training and intellect to arrange the tasks required by the project in mind and specify which persons were to carry out the tasks, the resources and supplies required, and other necessary details. That person could also provide a reasonable estimate of the time of completion as allowed prediction of a delivery date.
As modern factory projects attained greater complexity, schedules required better definition and were more scientifically defined by persons, often now referred to as industrial engineers. With essentially pen, ink and calculator, such persons were able to search through the requirements and present the paper documents defining the tasks and the resources associated with them and to arrange the order of tasks for completion, creating time-lines of individual tasks and chronological order of the tasks commencement and completion, namely produce a project schedule. As projects became more complex still, those scheduling techniques often proved inefficient and, while less than perfect, necessarily sufficed until the advent of automated calculating machinery, such as the modern digital computer and the now familiar scheduling programs carried out by the computer.
In the modern competitive industrial world, however, all resources and personnel are held to a minimum and must be allocated. Little excess personnel or equipment is available to a manufacturer. Excess resources are expensive to maintain and, if carried idle by the manufacturer for too long, results ultimately in financial collapse attributed to inefficiency. Thus, the usefulness of a schedule as a useful industrial tool and the benefit of efficient scheduling to industrial craft is well understood.
In this endeavor the modern digital computer, more specifically, a programmed general purpose digital computer, plays an important role as a scheduler to expedite production of an acceptable schedule definition more quickly and efficiently than could be accomplished by human intellect alone. The computer is governed by a program, called software, and makes the necessary steps, called algorithms, set forth by the program. And those programs of interest here are those that deal with scheduling, hereinafter referred to as scheduling programs. In and of itself the digital computer is an instrument or tool for specifying not only the steps of the desired schedule, but also carries out the steps or method for attaining and defining those steps.
One known scheduling program used in the industry is called COMPASS, which is written in the well known ADA computer language or source code, as variously termed, and is used principally with workstation computers using the Unix operating system. A more recently introduced scheduling program is Microsoft Project which is written for operation on personal type computers, such as the Intel 486 and 586 processor based personal IBM type computers with Windows operating systems.
Scheduling is a difficult art. Mathematically the scheduling process is categorized as N.P.-Hard. This means that in order to determine an optimum schedule, one that accomplishes the project with available resources in a minimum amount of time to project completion, and which can be mathematically proven to be the optimum schedule, requires an unduly large amount of searching operations by the computer. That in turn requires computer time in such large amounts as to render those kinds of computerized scheduling programs impractical for industrial use.
To construct a modern aircraft involves many thousands of individual tasks, a vast number of technicians and assemblers, and a large amount of resources. To prepare a schedule for such a project would likely overwhelm the genius of any person working with pen, paper and calculator and would require an inordinate amount of time for one person or even a group of people to schedule to complete with minimal errors. One should not expect that the definition of a schedule to construct an aircraft should require preparation time that exceeds the construction time of an aircraft, disregarding the realism which necessitates redefining the schedule when tasks are not completed on time as originally planned, as for example due to acts of force majeure, such as electrical failure or flood.
As a consequence the scheduling programs implemented for industry are referred to as "Heuristic" in nature. That is, the algorithm that forms the essence of the scheduling program is based on a skilled person's intuition. Based on experience such programs are known to function to produce a good schedule, and/or improve an existing schedule. The logic as to why, the mathematical proof, however, is absent. The present invention is also heuristic in nature and the new algorithms presented are also based on intuition.
The duration between the start of the first scheduled project and the finish of the last scheduled task in a multiple task project is one measure of schedule "quality", often referred to as span time or cycle time. Another is the time required for the time to complete the process of formulating a schedule, that is, for the computer to execute the algorithms and process the entered task data to generate and display the schedule, often referred to as the "execution time".
Even Heuristic based scheduling programs are not created equal and vary widely in quality. Most computer assisted programs for producing good schedules suffer one of two basic flaws. Either they use simple methods that work quickly, but produce schedules with inferior "cycle time", or that use methods that produce schedules with good cycle time, but require excessive amounts of computer execution time. In short, the schedules produced takes too much time for project completion or the program takes too much time to formulate the schedule.
Some of these scheduling programs, such as one attributed to Gil Syswerda, provide an improved schedule, each time the program is run, continuing until a point of diminishing return is reached at which addotional improvement to the schedule is miniscule and does not justify further investment of computer execution time. The algorithm produces incremental improvement. The present algorithm is of like kind, producing incremental improvement each time the algorithm is applied to the most recently produced schedule.
An object of the present invention is to provide an improved scheduling method and apparatus and to improve upon existing scheduling methods and apparatus.
Another object of the invention is to provide an algorithm that may be added to existing scheduling programs for improving the quality of the formulated schedules.
An additional object of my invention is to provide an efficient method for defining a high quality schedule.
Still another object of the invention is to produce schedules for projects comprised of multiple tasks having minimal cycle time with only marginal increase in computer execution time.
And an ancillary object of the invention is to provide a novel scheduling algorithm that enhances existing scheduling programs.


A valve opening-closing timing control device includes a solenoid valve having a solenoid mechanism provided with a spool having an oil path groove formed in an outer face thereof, and a sleeve for housing the spool to reciprocate and slide. A wall surface of the sleeve has a first port communicating with a first hydraulic oil supply section, a second port communicating with a second hydraulic oil supply section, and a third port communicating with the side of a hydraulic oil supply source. The spool is driven and set to a first position for supplying hydraulic oil from the hydraulic oil supply source to the first port, a second position for supplying the hydraulic oil from the hydraulic oil supply source to the second port, and a third position outside an area between the first and second positions to prevent supply of hydraulic oil from the first and second ports.

An example of the conventional solenoid valve and valve opening-closing timing control device is shown in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 10-159519 (PTL 1).
The above conventional art relates to a valve opening-closing timing control device for changing and controlling the opening/closing timing for an intake or exhaust valve provided in a cylinder during operation of an internal combustion engine. Such a device includes a driving rotary element synchronously rotatable with a crankshaft, a driven rotary element disposed coaxially with and relatively rotatable with the driving rotary element to be rotatable in unison with a camshaft for opening and closing the intake or exhaust valve, and a lock element for engaging the driving rotary element with the driven rotary element to be rotatable in unison. The lock element can be released by hydraulic oil supplied to an advanced angle chamber or a retarded angle chamber formed between the driving rotary element and the driven rotary element when the internal combustion engine is started.
According to the conventional art, a pressure-discharging passage is provided for discharging pressure of one of the advanced angle chamber and the retarded angle chamber to which hydraulic pressure is applied first in order to prevent air mixed in oil from erroneously releasing the lock element before the hydraulic pressure starts to work sufficiently when the internal combustion engine is started.
As a result, even if air is mixed in oil before the hydraulic pressure starts to work sufficiently when the internal combustion engine is started, for example, the air is discharged through the pressure-discharging passage, thereby to avoid erroneous operation of the lock element for reliably preventing a vane from colliding with a wall of the advanced angle chamber or the retarded angle chamber and producing striking sound. Thus, according to the conventional arrangement, the pressure-discharging passage is provided in a side surface of the lock element for releasing the air. The pressure-discharging passage has a size for allowing only air to pass through the hydraulic chamber to the outside.

Solenoid valve and valve opening-closing timing control device


Method of preparing a biological sample appropriate for use in a subsequent in vitro nucleic acid amplification reaction. The method involves a rapid, transient exposure to alkaline conditions which can be achieved by mixing an alkaline solution with a pH-buffered solution that includes a detergent and the biological sample to be tested for the presence of particular nucleic acid species using in vitro amplification. The invented method advantageously can improve detection of some target nucleic acids without substantially compromising detectability of others. The method is particularly useful for simultaneously preparing RNA and DNA templates that can be used in multiplex amplification reactions.

In vitro nucleic acid amplification techniques are now commonly used for synthesizing, and perhaps detecting vanishingly small quantities of a nucleic acid target. These techniques conventionally employ one or more oligonucleotide primers and a nucleic acid-polymerizing enzyme to synthesize copies of one or both strands of a nucleic acid template. Many different methods have been used for preparing biological samples in advance of the amplification procedure.
Multiplexed assays, which are capable of amplifying any of a plurality of different nucleic acid targets from a test sample in a single reaction, present special design challenges. For example, the targets amplifiable in a multiplex assay may be RNA targets, DNA targets, or even a combination of RNA and DNA targets. One challenge arises from the fact that RNA and DNA nucleic acids exhibit different chemical stabilities. Another challenge arises from a common desire to detect, with maximum sensitivity, any of a variety of related subtypes of a single target species. Even when subtype-specific primers are used in the reactions, it can be difficult to achieve substantially similar detection sensitivity for different subtypes of a single type of organism.
Accordingly, there is a need for a general technique which can enhance detectability of particular targets in nucleic acid amplification reactions. There is a further need for enhancing detectability of one or more targets in multiplex amplification reactions without substantially sacrificing detectability of other targets in the same reaction. The present invention addresses these needs.
Indeed, the invention disclosed herein provides a convenient method for preparing biological samples to be tested for the presence of nucleic acid targets using in vitro nucleic acid amplification. This method advantageously provides reliable results with a variety of nucleic acid-containing biological samples, while dramatically improving detectability of certain nucleic acid targets.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Method of isolating nucleic acids from a biological sample


Spatial frequency swept interference (SFSI) illumination and imaging methods and devices that interfere two collimated coherent beams to generate an interference pattern of a plurality of illuminating sheets with sweeping spatial frequency.

In biomedicine, 3D fluorescence imaging with high lateral and axial resolution inside extended biological samples is desired. Conventional spatial sampling techniques such as epi-fluorescence, point scanning and sheet microscopy face inherent limiting trade-offs between spatial resolution, field-of-view, photodamage, and recording speed.
FIG. 1A is schematic drawing of epi-fluorescence illumination used in a conventional epi-fluorescence microscope. Conventional epi-fluorescence microscopy suffers from poor axial resolution (i.e. resolution in z-direction), and out-of-focus fluorescence.
Conventional selective plane illumination microscopy (SPIM) scans a thin sheet of laser light across a sample as shown in FIG. 1B. Due to the laws of diffraction and Gaussian beam propagation, conventional SPIM is limited by a tradeoff between sheet thickness (which affects axial resolution of the sample in the z-direction) and lateral extent (which affects lateral field of view: FOVx) as described by the graph shown in FIG. 1C. Moreover, SPIM suffers from prominent image artifacts such as striping and shadowing. Some examples of conventional SPIM can be found in Siedentopf, H. and Zsigmondy, R., "Über Sichtbarmachung and Gröβenbestimmung ultramikoskopischer Teilchen, mit besonderer Anwendung auf Goldrubingläser," Annalen der Physik 315, pp. 1-39 (1902), Huisken, J., Swoger, J., del Bene, F., Wittbrodt, J. and Stelzer, E. H. K., "Optical sectioning deep inside live embryos by selective plane illumination microscopy," Science 305, pp. 1007-1009 (2004), Dodt, H.-U. et al., "Ultramicroscopy: three-dimensional visualization of neuronal networks in the whole mouse brain," Nat Meth 4, pp. 331-336 (2007), Keller, P. J., Schmidt, A. D., Wittbrodt, J. and Stelzer, E. H. K., "Reconstruction of zebrafish early embryonic development by scanned light sheet microscopy," Science 322, pp. 1065-1069 (2008), Huisken, J. and Stainier, D. Y. R., "Selective plane illumination microscopy techniques in developmental biology," Development 136, pp. 1963-1975 (2009), Mertz, J., "Optical sectioning microscopy with planar or structured illumination," Nat Meth 8, 811-819 (2011), Palero, J., Santos, S. I. C. O., Artigas, D. and Loza-Alvarez, P. A, "Simple scanless two photon fluorescence microscope using selective plane illumination," Opt Express 18, pp. 8491-8498 (2010), Truong, T. V., Supatto, W., Koos, D. S., Choi, J. M. and Fraser, S. E., "Deep and fast live imaging with two-photon scanned light-sheet microscopy," Nat Meth 8, pp. 757-760 (2011), Huisken, J. and Stainier, D. Y. R., "Even fluorescence excitation by multidirectional selective plane illumination microscopy (mSPIM)," Opt Lett 32, pp. 2608-2610 (2007), Krzic, U., Gunther, S., Saunders, T. E., Streichan, S. J. and Hufnagel, L., "Multiview light-sheet microscope for rapid in toto imaging," Nat Meth (2012), Tomer, R., Khairy, K., Amat, F. and Keller, P. J., "Quantitative high-speed imaging of entire developing embryos with simultaneous multiview light-sheet microscopy," Nat Meth (2012), which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.
With imaging techniques that use non-diffracting self-healing Bessel beams, much of the optical power resides in side lobes of the beam, which can result in excitation of unwanted out-of-focus photons. These side lobes present an inherent trade-off of photodamage (e.g., photobleaching) that may result from this unwanted excitation, which in turn limits the useful extent of the Bessel beam illumination. Bessel beam based sheet microscopy has thus far only been demonstrated for short sheet lengths of a few tens of μm, resulting in small fields-of-view unless images are tiled at the expense of increased sample illumination and recording time. Some examples of conventional Bessel beam imaging can be found in Herman, R. M. and Wiggins, T. A., "Production and uses of diffractionless beams," JOSA A 8, pp. 932-942 (1991), Fahrbach, F. O. and Rohrbach, A., "Propagation stability of self-reconstructing Bessel beams enables contrast-enhanced imaging in thick media," Nat Commun 3, p. 632 (2012), Fahrbach, F. O., Simon, P. and Rohrbach, A., "Microscopy with self-reconstructing beams," Nature Photonics 4, pp. 780-785 (2010), Planchon, T. A. et al., "Rapid three-dimensional isotropic imaging of living cells using Bessel beam plane illumination," Nat Meth 8, pp. 417-423 (2011), Gao, L. et al., "Noninvasive imaging beyond the diffraction limit of 3D dynamics in thickly fluorescent specimens," Cell 151, pp. 1370-1385 (2012), which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.
Conventional standing-wave fluorescence imaging (SWFI) can provide wide-field fluorescence imaging by interfering two laser beams and generating a high frequency standing wave patterns as discussed in Bailey, B., Farkas, D. L., Taylor, D. L. and Lanni, F., "Enhancement of axial resolution in fluorescence microscopy by standing-wave excitation," Nature 366, pp. 44-48 (1993), which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. However, due to ambiguity along the axial dimension, SWFI is only suitable for very thin samples with sub-μm features and not suitable for thick biological tissues.

Spatial frequency swept interference illumination


A highly integrated gain cell-type semiconductor memory is provided. A first insulator, a read bit line, a second insulator, a third insulator, a first semiconductor film, first conductive layers, and the like are formed. A projecting insulator is formed thereover. Then, second semiconductor films and a second gate insulating film are formed to cover the projecting insulator. After that, a conductive film is formed and subjected to anisotropic etching, so that write word lines are formed on side surfaces of the projecting insulator. A third contact plug for connection to a write bit line is formed over a top of the projecting insulator. With such a structure, the area of the memory cell can be 4F2 at a minimum.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a semiconductor memory device.
2. Description of the Related Art
A dynamic random access memory (1Tr-DRAM) including one capacitor and one transistor (referred to as a cell transistor) has been widely used as a typical semiconductor memory device. However, there is a requirement that the capacitance of the capacitor is not changed even when a circuit is miniaturized, and thus formation of the capacitor is becoming a major hurdle.
Under such a circumstance, a gain cell including two transistors and one capacitor (e.g., see Patent Document 1) has attracted attention as a potential solution for the problem of the conventional 1Tr-DRAM for the following reason. The capacitance of the capacitor in the 1Tr-DRAM is determined by the ratio of the capacitance of the capacitor to the parasitic capacitance of a bit line. In contrast, the capacitance of the capacitor in the gain cell is determined by the ratio of the capacitance of the capacitor to the gate capacitance of a read transistor; therefore, there arises no problem even when the capacitance of the capacitor can be reduced as the size of the transistor is reduced for miniaturization.
A circuit of the gain cell will be briefly described with reference to FIG. 1. FIG. 1 illustrates four memory cells. Among the memory cells, a memory cell including a write transistor WTr_1_1 will be described. This memory cell includes a read transistor RTr_1_1 and a capacitor in addition to the write transistor WTr_1_1.
A source of the write transistor WTr_1_1, a gate of the read transistor RTr_1_1, and one terminal of the capacitor are connected to each other, thereby forming a memory node. Further, the other terminal of the capacitor is connected to a read word line RWL_1, a gate of the write transistor WTr_1_1 is connected to a write word line WWL_1, a drain of the write transistor WTr_1_1 is connected to a write bit line WBL_1, a drain of the read transistor RTr_1_1 is connected to a read bit line RBL_1, and a source of the read transistor RTr_1_1 is connected to a common wiring CL.
Such memory cells are arranged in matrix and connected by write word lines WWL, write bit lines WBL, read word lines RWL, read bit lines RBL, common wirings CL, and the like.

Semiconductor memory device and method of manufacturing semiconductor memory device

Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.


The present invention provides an optical access network system that allows the transmission of packets irrespective of the packet length and which is also capable of adapting to cases where another user temporarily requires a large capacity bandwidth. This system performs two-way optical communications using a code division multiplexing system via an optical fiber channel and a star coupler between an optical line terminal and first and second optical network units. The optical line terminal comprises a bandwidth control section and a bandwidth allocation section and the bandwidth control section has signal converter pairs installed therein in a number equal to the number of optical network units. Further, the optical network units each comprise first and second bandwidth control sections and first and second bandwidth allocation sections. The bandwidth control sections each have one set of signal converter pairs installed therein. The bandwidth control sections of the optical line terminal and the optical network units each have a signal converter pair that is constituted by one set of a variable serial to parallel conversion unit and a variable parallel to serial conversion unit each having a variable bandwidth management function.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an optical access network system whereby a provider and a subscriber communicate by means of a code division multiplexing (CDM) system in a passive optical network (PON).
2. Description of Related Art
Optical access network systems that are constituted by connecting a provider (also called a 'center' hereinafter) and a plurality of subscribers (also called 'users' hereinafter) via a PON have attracted attention. In the following description, a provider-side device is also referred to as the optical line terminal (OLT) and a subscriber-side device is also known as the optical network unit (ONU).
A PON is a network in which a single optical fiber channel is split into a plurality of optical fiber channels by connecting a star coupler which is a passive element midway along the optical fiber channel and a plurality of optical terminal devices are connected in a star shape with the star coupler at the center thereof. By adopting a PON for a network that joins a center and its users, an optical fiber channel between the center and the star coupler can be shared by a plurality of users, whereby equipment costs can be suppressed.
For efficient usage of communication resources in a PON system, a best effort service is the norm. However, in order to simultaneously execute speech (call) services, video services, data communication services and so forth as the application services which are provided in the PON system, it is necessary to secure a bandwidth with minimal restrictions for speech and video communications and so forth. Furthermore, in a PON network that is constructed in an enterprise, it is necessary to update a database and temporarily large-capacity communications are required. Thus, in order to always guarantee efficient communications in correspondence with the status in which the PON network is used, rational bandwidth control and management of the bandwidth used are sometimes required.
Therefore, a time slot allocation control device that permits efficient bandwidth control as a result of the optical line terminal allocating time slots to the respective optical network units in accordance with the standby information amount during the operation of each of the optical network units or the increase in the standby information amount has been disclosed (See Japanese Application Laid Open No. H10-107755, for example). With the time slot allocation control device, the optical line terminal first issues a request to all the optical network units to send individual management slots in one or more time slots while the respective optical network units report the standby information amount of the optical network units to the optical line terminal at the point where the transmission of the individual management slots is requested by the optical line terminal.
The optical line terminal allocates the time slot for the next frame based on the standby information amount reported by the respective optical network units. The capacity allocated to each of the optical network units is determined as being proportional to the standby information amount, for example. Alternatively, the capacity allocated to each of the optical network units is determined using a method such as that of performing correction to allocate the lowest capacity, allocating the excess in the allocated value, and uniform distribution by the terminals to which a capacity equal to or more than the lowest capacity has been allocated.
The above device affords simple control and also billing processing in accordance with the capacity allocated to each of the optical network units.
In addition, a dynamic time slot allocation system that performs time slot allocation efficiently in accordance with changes in the transmission amount has been disclosed (See Japanese Patent publication No. 3490583, for example). This dynamic time slot allocation system is a system in which a plurality of optical network units and one optical line terminal are connected by a PON. A poling system is adopted for this system. The poling system is a system in which the optical line terminal does not make sequential transmission requests to the optical network units or it is hard for the optical line terminal to make such transmission requests. The optical line terminal is able to transmit data to the respective optical network units at any time but the respective optical network units are able to transmit data to the optical line terminal only given confirmation of a request to do so.
That is, in a dynamic time slot allocation system, the optical network units comprise means for issuing a poling request to the optical line terminal and the optical line terminal comprises means for identifying the poling requests sent by the optical network units and allocating a time slot in accordance with the poling standby information amount to a spare domain of lowest guarantee poling. As a result, the whole system, in which a plurality of optical network units and one optical line terminal device are connected via a PON, is constituted to allow the allocation of time slots to be performed efficiently and dynamically.
As mentioned earlier, this dynamic time slot allocation system is a system that is capable of guaranteeing each optical network unit the lowest bandwidth and of controlling the bandwidth dynamically by opening the required bandwidth for the respective optical network units on the basis of information on the spare bandwidth and so forth. That is, this system can be said to be a system that is devised in order to be able to efficiently utilize the communication resources.
In order to be able to adapt to packets of a variety of packet lengths, the time slot allocation control device must perform control to separate or combine packets. Further, a division signal for the separation of packets must be subjected to delay control. However, it is difficult for the time slot allocation control device to be able to execute control in order to perform this separation or synthesis and to execute division signal delay control.
Furthermore, with respect to the method executed by the dynamic time slot allocation system, a situation where it is not possible to adapt to a case where another user temporarily requires a large capacity bandwidth in the circumstance that a specified user always uses a large capacity bandwidth arises.

Code division multiplexing optical access network system


A one-armed handling device having a single pick-up member designed to secure a metal sheet coplanar to a pick-up plane through the aforementioned pick-up member; which member is supported on a head so as to turn about two perpendicular axes by virtue of a first element designed to turn about a first axis perpendicular to the pick-up plane, and to which the pick-up member is secured directly, and a second element designed to turn about a second axis parallel with the pick-up plane and supporting the first element; the aforementioned head, in turn, being designed to travel along three cartesian axes, by means of an arm, with no variation in the position of the second axis (FIG. 1).

The present invention relates to a robotized, numerical control handling device, especilly suitable for handling different-sized metal sheets for bending. In particular, the present invention relates to a handling device suitable for use as an integral part of an automated sheet metal bending press system, and to the bending system as a whole.
All known handling devices present a physical structure poorly suited to handling metal sheets varying considerably in size. The reason for this is that they usually comprise a single extendable rotary arm to which is fitted a frame having a number of pick-up devices, usually magnetic (magnets) or pneumatic (suckers). Handling devices of the aforementioned type present a number of drawbacks; performance is limited by the said frame; the device itself is highly cumbersome; and the pick-up member must be changed for handling different-sized sheets.

Robotized handling device and sheet metal bending system featuring the same


An information collecting apparatus comprises a reception-only communication unit and a two-way communication unit. The information collecting apparatus extracts an address to be accessed by the two-way communication unit from data received by the reception-only communication unit and fetches a file stored at the address. The information collecting utilizes the two-way communication unit. An information transmitting apparatus transmits data, having standards including a dummy area to transmit the data, after the address of the file accessed by the two-way communication system independent of the transmitting system is described in the dummy area.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an information collecting apparatus comprising a receiving information processing apparatus and collecting information through two-way communication, and an information transmitting apparatus transmitting information to an information processing apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
Reductions in the size and weight of computers through downsizing have been particularly rapid and distinctive in recent years. A computer having the power and capability of a previously-designed large-scale computer has been reduced enough in size and weight to be carried with only one hand. This reduction in size and weight has occurred through introduction of liquid crystal into the display, increased integration density of arithmetic and memory elements, and higher capacity of the battery.
Moreover, the use of radio telephone systems as communication systems has become more widespread, enabling easier communication through a mobile telephone apparatus.
In addition, the INTERNET, which is accepted as an international network of computer communication, is now propagating explosively, also enabling quicker and easier access to information.
In a modern, information-oriented society, attention is devoted to a portable-type of information apparatus referred to us an Internet viewer. The Internet viewer is small enough to be carried with only one hand, and is a display terminal which displays on a display information received through a communication unit connecting the Internet Viewer to the INTERNET. By simplifying the functions of an ordinary personal computer, the Internet viewer is also intended to be light-weight and have a low price.
As explained above, effort has been made to a provide a low-price terminal for the use with the INTERNET. However, communication costs remain high. Using an example of the cost of communication in Japan, when a portable type telephone set is used as the communication unit, approximately .Yen.100 must be paid for a communication time lasting three minutes. Even when the personal handy-phone system (herein after referred to as PHS, in which service was started in 1995) is used, approximately .Yen.10 is required for a communication time lasting one minute.
Therefore, communication costs may be assumed to increase extraordinarily when retrieving various pieces of information using an Internet viewer.
Moreover, the INTERNET is also well appreciated as a mass-medium which is an alternative to or complementary to existing broadcast media or newspapers. In communicating over the INTERNET, the information sending party opens its home page for the convenience of allowing the information receiving party (such as a user having a terminal like the Internet viewer) to read information therefrom. When a mass-medium transmits information for services, it is preferable that such information is available to as large a number of users as is possible. But if users attempt to access the same home page, the increase in traffic is a problem. When traffic increases, users are placed in a queue, making information access more difficult and removing an advantage of using the INTERNET. Moreover, if users are forced to feel inconvenienced, the mass-medium itself prevents appears to prevent comfortable use of the INTERNET. Therefore, it is undesirable for the information transmitting party to bring about such a result.

Information collecting apparatus, receiving information processing apparatus and information transmitting apparatus


In a method of the invention an emission wave (F(2P-1)) which is to be positioned within the spectrum relative to an external wave (F(2P-2)B) is modulated. Said external wave is mixed with one of the side waves that results from said modulation (F(2P-1)A) and the emission wave is positioned in response to variations in the frequency of a beat signal (F(2P-2)BE) that results from said mixing. The invention applies in particular to implementing an optical fiber communications network.

In more general terms, known frequency positioning apparatus includes various items that are common, as to their functions specified below, with apparatus of the present invention, namely:
an emitter for emitting an emission wave at a controlled emission frequency; and
emission position servo-control means including a positioning mixer that performs wave mixing to form a positioning beat signal and that controls said emitter in response to variations in the frequency at a defined spectrum distance position said emission frequency at a defined spectrum distance from a defined support frequency.
It will be understood that the word "wave" as used above is equally applicable to a wave that is propagating freely, to a wave that is guided, or to a signal that is propagating along a transmission line, and that the nature of said wave or signal may be electromagnetic, acoustic, etc. . . . .
Such apparatus is included in each terminal of a known communications network described in European patent document EP-A-0 381 102 (F.degree.16761). In such a terminal, a fraction of a locally generated optical emission wave is transmitted to one input of a positioning mixer whose other input receives other waves coming from other terminals, with the frequency of one of said other waves constituting said support frequency.
An object of the present invention is to improve relative positioning of a frequency.
Another object is to facilitate implementing a frequency-multiplexed communications network in which frequencies that are adjacent in a succession of emission frequencies are to be separated by a frequency increment, and in which said frequency increment must be large in order to enable messages to be transmitted at high data rates.

Method and apparatus for relative positioning of a frequency, in particular an optical frequency


A recording liquid is disclosed comprising an aqueous medium and at least one dye selected from the dyes of which free acid form is represented by the following formula (I): ##STR1##

A so-called ink jet recording method of performing recording by splashing liquid drops of a recording liquid containing a water-soluble dye such as a direct dye and an acidic dye, through fine jetting orifices are being used in practice.
The recording liquid is required to be fixed rapidly on a recording sheet commonly used for general office works, such as PPC (plain paper copier) for electrophotographic sheet and fanfold paper (continuous form for computers or the like), to provide a printed matter having good printing appearance grade, namely, a clearly outlined printed letter free of blurring, and to have excellent stability during storage as a recording liquid. Accordingly, the solvent which can be used is extremely limited.
On the other hand, the dye for use in the recording liquid is required to have a sufficiently high solubility in the above-described limited solvents, to be stable during a long-term storage as a recording liquid, to provide a printed image having a high density and to have excellent water resistance and light fastness. These requirements are, however, difficult to satisfy all at the same time.
To overcome the difficulties, various proposals have been presented (for example, see JP-A-61-101574 (the term "JP-A" as used herein means an "unexamined published Japanese patent application"), JP-A-61-101576, JP-A-61-195176, JP-A-61-62562, JP-A-61-247771, JP-A-62-156168, JP-A-62-246974, JP-A-63-63765, JP-A-63-295685, JP-A-1-123866, JP-A-1-240584, JP-A-2-16171, JP-A-3-122171, JP-A-3-203970, JP-A-4-153272). However, the requirements on the market have not yet been fully satisfied.
JP-A-4-279671 and PCT International Publication WO 94/16021 teach that a dye having a structure such that two molecules of a specific monoazo-base dye having a triazinyl group are connected through a divalent organic bond group can be used for the ink jet recording.
However, in the former publication, the divalent organic bond group as a linking group does not play an important role and only linking groups such as (substituted) phenylenediamine are described as the example thereof. These linking groups have a planar structure and when a dye having such a linking group is used, the recorded image is inferior in the coloring property and a sufficiently high color density is not achieved.
Further, the group has a conjugated system and when this group is present, a deep color tone is presented and a deeply blue-tinted color results. Furthermore, the group (the group represented by Z and corresponding to the group represented by x.sub.1 or X.sub.2 in the present invention) bonded to the triazinyl group is preferably a group of which N atom is directly bonded to the triazinyl group, such as NHC.sub.2 H.sub.4 OH and morpholino group, and in the Examples, only dyes having such a structure are used. This type of dye also has a tendency to decrease in the saturation of the image color.
In the latter publication, the divalent organic bond group as a linking group is a (substituted) phenylenediamine group or a substituted piperazine group. Of these divalent organic bond groups, the (substituted) phenylenediamine group is not preferred because of the reasons described above. Further, when substituted piperazine is used as the divalent organic bond group, the dye is deficient in the light fastness and the water resistance as specifically verified later in Comparative Example 2.
JP-A-8-218021 teaches that a dye having a structure such that two molecules of a specific monoazo-base dye having a triazinyl group are connected through a divalent organic bond group can be used for the ink jet recording. However, the structure of the linking group differs from that of the present invention and the dye is low in the reliability and fails to provide the light fastness and color tone of a satisfactory level.


Disclosed is a scoliosis brace having an angle adjustment unit and a plurality of support units connected to one another so that the relative position can be changed to support different parts of a human body. The body is pressurized according to the relative position of respective support units so that the spinal column is corrected precisely.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a scoliosis brace having an angle adjustment unit, and more particularly to a scoliosis brace adapted to freely adjust the correction angle according to the curvature of the spinal column of a scoliosis patient so that the patient can be treated efficiently.
2. Description of the Prior Art
As generally known in the art, scoliosis is derived from Greek skolios meaning crooked, and refers to a medical condition in which a person's spinal column is curved from side to side. A healthy person's spinal column constitutes a straight line together with the head and legs when viewed from the front or back. However, some people's spinal column has a lateral curve for various reasons. Scoliosis includes functional scoliosis, which results from bad postures or trauma but involves no structural change of the spinal column, and structural scoliosis, which involves a structural change of the spinal column. In many cases, little is known about the cause of the structural scoliosis, which tends to worsen gradually and may even degrade the function of the heart or lungs.
Treatment of scoliosis includes brace-based treatment, which is usually selected when the angle of curvature is 20-40°, and surgical treatment. Braces for scoliosis include a Milwaukee brace, which extends up to the neck, a thoracolumbo brace, which extends below the armpits, etc.
Such conventional braces for treating scoliosis include a support unit for protecting the patient's waist and a retaining unit for retaining the support unit on the waist. The support unit defines an inwardly curved surface, which is maintained by a number of reinforcement straps embedded in the support unit. The retaining unit has an auxiliary band, to which Velcro is attached.
When such a scoliosis brace is worn, the reinforcement straps embedded in the support unit accurately supports the lumbar vertebrae, and the Velcro of the retaining unit firmly retains the brace to apply pressure to the lumbar vertebra at a predetermined angle.
However, the conventional scoliosis brace has a problem in that, since each scoliosis patient has a different curvature of the spinal column, the degree of improvement that can be expected when the brace having a fixed correction angle is worn is limited. Furthermore, it requires a large amount of money, time, and effort to provide a brace having a correction angle customized to each patient.

Scoliosis brace having angle adjustment unit


A close-talk detector detects a near-end user's speech signal, while an adaptive ANC process is running, and in response helps prevent the filter coefficients of an adaptive filter of the ANC process from being corrupted, thereby reducing the risk of the adaptive filters diverge. Upon detecting speech using a vibration sensor signal and one or more microphone signals, the detector asserts a signal that slows down, or even freezes or halts, the adaptation of the adaptive filter. The signal may be de-asserted when no more speech is being detected, thereby allowing the adaptive ANC process to resume its normal rate adaptation of the filter. The detector may continuously operate in this manner during the call, as the user talks and then pauses and then resumes talking. Other embodiments are also described.

It is often desirable to use personal listening devices when listening to music and other audio material, or when participating in a telephone call, in order to not disturb others that are nearby. When a compact profile is desired, users often elect to use in-ear earphones or headphones, sometimes referred to as earbuds. To provide a form of passive barrier against ambient noise, earphones are often designed to form some level of acoustic seal with the ear of the wearer. In the case of earbuds, silicone or foam tips of different sizes can be used to improve the fit within the ear and also improve passive noise isolation.
With certain types of earphones, such as loose fitting earbuds, as well telephone handsets, there is significant acoustic leakage between the atmosphere or ambient environment and the user's ear canal, past the external surfaces of the earphone or handset housing and into the ear. This acoustic leakage could be due to the loose fitting nature of the earbud housing, which promotes comfort for the user. However, the additional acoustic leakage does not allow for enough passive attenuation of the ambient noise at the user's eardrum. The resulting poor passive acoustic attenuation can lead to lower quality user experience of the desired user audio content, either due to low signal-to-noise ratio or speech intelligibility especially in environments with high ambient or background noise levels. In such a case, an ANC mechanism may be effective to reduce the background noise and thereby improve the user's experience.
ANC is a technique that aims to "cancel" unwanted noise, by introducing an additional, electronically controlled sound field referred to as anti-noise. The anti-noise is electronically designed so as to have the proper pressure amplitude and phase that destructively interferes with the unwanted noise or disturbance. An error sensor (typically an acoustic error microphone) is provided in the earphone housing to detect the so-called residual or error noise. The output of the error microphone is used by a control system to adjust how the anti-noise is produced, so as to reduce the ambient noise that is being heard by the wearer of the earphone. In some cases, there is also a reference microphone that is positioned some distance away from the error microphone, and whose signal is used by certain ANC algorithms. The ANC controller operates while the user is, for example, listening to a digital music file that is stored in a local audio source device, or while the user is conducting a conversation with a far-end user of a communications network in an audio or video phone call, or during another audio application that may be running in the audio source device. The ANC controller implements digital signal processing operations upon the microphone signals so as to produce an anti-noise signal, where the anti-noise signal is then converted into sound by the speaker driver system.

Close-talk detector for personal listening device with adaptive active noise control


A piezoelectric thin film resonator includes: a piezoelectric thin film; a laminated structure which includes a first metal electrode film and a second metal electrode film that interpose at least a part of the piezoelectric thin film, and which is formed on a substrate; and an acoustic insulating layer which is formed on the substrate at a position corresponding to the laminated structure, wherein the first metal electrode film is formed on the substrate and the second metal electrode film is formed on the first metal electrode film while sandwiching the piezoelectric thin film, and a protection film laminated on the second metal electrode film is provided so as to cover the second metal electrode film.

A piezoelectric thin film bulk acoustic wave resonator generally includes a piezoelectric thin film deposited by a thin film forming apparatus, and a resonator unit composed of a first metal electrode film and a second metal electrode film, which are located above and below while sandwiching at least a part of the piezoelectric thin film. The first metal electrode film functions as a lower electrode, and the second metal electrode film functions as an upper electrode. The piezoelectric thin film is polarized in the thickness direction. An alternating electric field generated by alternating voltage that is applied between the lower electrode and the upper electrode causes stretching of the piezoelectric thin film in the thickness direction, namely an acoustic wave by piezoelectric/anti-piezoelectric effects.
There exist acoustic insulating layers above and below the resonator composed of the piezoelectric thin film, the lower electrode, and the upper electrode. The piezoelectric thin film bulk acoustic wave resonator suitable for a high frequency filter is classified based on methods by which a bulk acoustic wave is sealed inside the piezoelectric thin film, and FBAR (Film Bulk Acoustic wave Resonator) and SMR (Solidly Mounted Resonator) are well known. An interface between a solid body and gaseous matter (or, vacuum) functions as an effective acoustic insulating layer, and therefore areas above and below the resonator are in a gaseous state (or, vacuum state) in FBAR. An area above the upper electrode is in a gaseous state (or, vacuum state), and a Bragg reflector is mounted below the lower electrode in SMR.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,496,085 B2 discloses the device configuration of SMR and a process flow thereof. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2005-303573 proposes a resonator structure in which AlN is formed only on a lower electrode and no bump is formed on an upper electrode due to AlN high orientation. Further, US 2005/0248232 A1 describes an improvement of AlN orientation by sequential deposition of a lower electrode and a piezoelectric film, and an electromechanical coupling coefficient. The above US 2005/0248232 A1 describes that flatness and cleaning properties immediately after deposition are not maintained on a surface of the lower electrode due to adsorption of impurities in conventional piezoelectric film manufacturing process ([0008]).
Further, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-200843 discloses a manufacturing method which aims at reducing a cost in such a manner that a support film is made of AlN, and a sacrificial layer for forming an oscillation space, the support film, a lower electrode film, a piezoelectric thin film, and an upper electrode film are sequentially deposited in the same apparatus.
Further, "Comparison of Micromachined FBAR Band Pass Filters with Different. Structural Geometry" (Park et al, 2003 IEEE MTT-S Digest, pp. 2005-2008) discloses the device configuration of FBAR and a process flow thereof.
On the other hand, a thin film tuning-fork-shape distorting oscillator is composed of, as similar to the piezoelectric thin film bulk acoustic wave resonator, a piezoelectric thin film deposited by a thin film forming apparatus, and a first metal electrode film and a second metal electrode film which are located above and below while sandwiching a part of the piezoelectric thin film, and is a distorting oscillator in which the piezoelectric thin film is patterned in a tuning-fork shape.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,083,740 B2 discloses the resonance device configuration of a thin film tuning-fork-shape distorting oscillator and a manufacturing method thereof.

Piezoelectric thin film resonator, piezoelectric thin film resonator filter and manufacturing method thereof