A chemical composition for use in the papermaking process to produce a paper having enhanced characteristics of brightness, opaqueness, and sizing is provided. The process using the composition to make the paper and the paper made therefrom are also provided by the present invention. The composition is made by combining an amphoteric softener such as a salt of an amphoteric stearic acid derivative, a cationic softener base, such as the mono- and distearamides of aminoethylethanolamine, an acid, such as acetic acid, a surfactant, such as POE (15) tallow amine, carbamide, and water. In another embodiment, a saccharide may be employed instead of the amphoteric stearic acid derivative, surfactant and carbamide. To speed the production of the composition, a viscosity controlling agent, such as sodium chloride or sodium acetate, may be added thereto. The composition is added to pulp slurry during the papermaking process, and a paper made therefrom exhibits excellent qualities of brightness, opaqueness, water repellency, and dispersibility.

The quality of paper is often judged by its brightness, opacity, and sizing (or water repellency). Paper producers have long sought to improve these vital characteristics so that an enhanced paper may be obtained.
These three desired characteristics have been obtained in the past by supplying the slurry or furnish with additives prior to the slurry entering the papermaking machine. Various additives are well known in the art. For example, titanium dioxide powder is known to be an excellent whitener. Titanium dioxide, however, is among the most expensive materials that may be added to the slurry. Thus, despite the effectiveness of such material as a brightener, its use is limited and satisfactory replacements have been needed.
Kaolin clay has also been used as a filler in paper to improve brightness in the ultimate product. Generally, the kaolin clay is calcined and then suspended in an aqueous solution prior to being added to the furnish. The clay must be continuously agitated prior to entering the slurry or the solid particles begin to form sediment at the bottoms of the clay holding tanks. Although kaolin clay provides brightness, as well as opacity to the finished paper product, the relative difficulty of adding it to the slurry results in a less than excellent additive.
Furthermore, when clay is added to the slurry, the slurry becomes thicker, thus resulting in a slurry having a higher coefficient of friction. The papermaking process using a kaolin-containing slurry therein increases the processing time relative to the time required for processing a pulp slurry not containing kaolin. Moreover, because the kaolin particles are solids and never completely dissolve in the aqueous solutions, the clay tends to clog or foul the mesh of the wire or fabric on the Fourdrinier or other papermaking machine, thereby resulting in a large amount of down time for cleaning the wire or fabric of the machine. Such kaolin-containing products are described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,014,836 to Proctor, Jr. and U.S. Pat. No. 4,826,536 to Raythatha et al.
Hydrated aluminum silicate has also been employed as a clay substitute in the papermaking process. It has properties similar to kaolin clay and, thus, results in the same disadvantages when used to make paper.
Many compositions have been added to the slurry in an attempt to size the paper, i.e., add body to the paper and render the paper water repellent or waterproof. Most known sizes, such as those disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,142,986 to Arnold, Jr. and U.S. Pat. No. 3,096,232 to Chapman, employ a type of wax. For example, Arnold, Jr. discloses that an emulsion of wax in a solution of deacetylated chitin, paraffin waxes, Japan wax, carnauba wax, higher aliphatic alcohols, or synthetic waxes may be employed as the waterproofing agent in a sizing composition. A softening agent such as aliphatic alcohols containing 12 to 20 carbons is also present in the composition of Arnold, Jr. Chapman discloses the use of paraffin waxes or water-insoluble derivatives of resins for producing aqueous wax emulsions with cationic modified starches.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,772,967 to Padbury shows a paper sized by adding thereto a salt of a high molecular weight composition prepared by reacting a dialkanolamine or trialkanolamine with a long chain fatty acid. The salt is diluted with water to form a dispersion containing a 5% concentration of sizing agent before being applied to the cellulosic fibers. Apparently, such a dilution of strength was necessary heretofore because until the present invention, preparation of the stearamides which would allow the composition to remain pourable at concentrations greater than 5% was unknown. Without the ability to remain in an emulsion and, hence, be poured, concentrations of stearamides approaching those disclosed herein have not been possible for use on pulp fibers. An important feature disclosed by the patent is that the salts are cationic and are, therefore, adsorbed by the anionic cellulosic fibers.
Numerous sizing agents are known. Generally, the known sizes are cationic materials, particularly those used to size fabrics for the textile industry. Although the sizes' cationic nature increases their absorption by the fibers to which they are applied, their cationic nature generally prevents them from being used to the full extent possible in connection with a brightener and opacifying agent. It is well known in the art that although cationic materials often increase sizing, they reduce the brightness of the material to which they are applied. Although this is not generally a problem in the textile industry where sizing is important but opaqueness and brightness may be sacrificed, the use of cationic sizes in the paper industry reduces the quality of the paper made therefrom. Because the addition of cationic sizing agents to paper generally reduces the brightness thereof, cationic sizes have not been heretofore preferred as a size for paper, and in particular, as a size for paper made from recycled pulp which often lacks the inherent brightness of paper made from virgin pulp.
Although the prior art shows agents for sizing paper and agents for increasing the brightness and opaqueness of paper, the particular features of the present invention are absent from prior art. The prior art is generally deficient in affording a composition for use in a papermaking process that has the ability to provide sizing to paper without reducing brightness or opacity. Furthermore, the prior art brighteners and opacifying agents fail to allow continuous running of papermaking machines due to the fouling tendencies of the forming fabrics. The present invention, however, overcomes the shortcomings of the prior art in that a composition is disclosed herein for simultaneously increasing the brightness, opacity, and sizing of paper made from a slurry containing the composition.

Papermarking composition, process using same, and paper produced therefrom


A single panel communication card whose principal function is social expression. The card comprises a card body having a front face, a back face, and no fold; multi-color graphic images of social expression imprinted on the front and back faces; and an exposed surface upon which identifying indicia may be applied. The exposed surface is divided into predetermined regions of specified light reflectance and fluorescence requirements. All colors and images used within these regions are designed to meet the appropriate light reflectance and fluorescence requirements. This enables the exposed surface to be read by light sensitive postal equipment; even when bright and dark colors are present. Prior to mailing the card, the sender signs his/her name, then applies the address and proper postage.

In the United States alone, the number of social expression cards sent annually averages 28 cards per man, woman, and child. At an estimated cost of $1.50 per card with present postage of 29.cent. per card, the yearly expenditures could top $50 per person. For a family of four, the costs could exceed $200 per year. Increased card costs and postage rates would take this number even higher. Consequently, people have become more selective about who they send cards to; particularly at holiday times, when the expense is most apparent. Although there are many choices when selecting social expression cards such as greeting cards, there are few choices when it comes to their costs.
A major cost in card production is paper. Greeting cards have two or more panels, each additional panel requiring more paper and another score line. Envelope costs can also be staggering; as they often require more paper than the cards themselves. These combined costs are all passed onto the consumer, manifesting themselves in the following disadvantages:
(a) The cumulative costs for greeting cards and postage can be expensive over a year's time. PA1 (b) Trees used to make paper are limited resources. The further reduction of these resources cause paper prices to soar. When one considers that most cards and envelopes are ultimately discarded, their cumulative wastes is alarming. Although much paper is recycled, it is an expensive process; particularly for resources used unnecessarily in the first place. PA1 (c) The discarded paper that is not recycled adds to the mountains of environmental wastes. PA1 (d) The sender is required to write a letter. Although some post cards bear a greeting, their principal function is correspondence. Therefore what is gained in cost savings is lost in effort. PA1 (e) Inherently, the use of a post card compromises the convenience and eloquence of the pre-printed verses that appear on social expression cards. Consequently, the quality of the message is limited to the writing skills of the sender. What is gained in cost savings is lost in convenience and often quality. PA1 (f) Inherently, post cards are more time consuming to prepare. Imagine writing 28 different post cards for Christmas, personalizing each one. What is gained in cost savings is lost in time. PA1 (g) Due to their white porous background for writing, post cards have an unfinished look. What is gained in cost savings is lost in appearance. PA1 (h) Use of intense colors on mail pieces has resulted in rejection by automated postal equipment. PA1 (i) Limited use of color on mail pieces has hindered artistic appeal. PA1 (a) to provide a card at a low cost to consumers; PA1 (b) to provide a card that minimizes materials, thereby preserving resources; PA1 (c) to provide a card that minimizes materials, thereby reducing wastes and helping the environment; PA1 (d) to provide a card whose graphic images serve as the principal means of communication between the sender and the recipient; PA1 (e) to provide a card which the sender selects based upon the images that best express his own sentiments; PA1 (f) to provide a card with short steps of operation; PA1 (g) to provide a card with a finished look on both sides; PA1 (h) to provide a card comprising multi-color images without impeding the function of light sensitive equipment; PA1 (i) to provide a card with a colorful and appealing appearance.
Heretofore, an alternative for consumers has been the personal post card. Webster's Dictionary defines a post card as a "card prepared for correspondence on one section or side, and address on the other." Webster's defines correspondence as "communication by letter."
For over one hundred years, inventors have varied the graphics, structure, and operation of the post card. However, since its inception, correspondence, the principal function of the post card, has remained unchanged. In United Kingdom patent 24,120 to Attinger (1899), he discloses writing sheets and cards upon which messages can be written. In U.S. Pat. No. 3,986,283 to Pelaez (1976), he describes a novelty post card with a space for the "usual message".
U.S. Pat. No. 4,070,778 to Mahler (1978), he discloses a combination greeting card and post card with standard indicia for the written message. In U.S. Pat. No. 4,997,126 to Hartfeil (1989), he describes a post card for sending confidential messages. Every embodiment of the personal post card heretofore known includes indicia or space for the written message.
Though post cards are cost and paper savers, they are inadequate substitutes for social expression cards. The consumers who attempt to use them in this capacity are faced with further disadvantages:
Consumers want a social expression card that saves these varied costs to themselves and the environment. What they seek is a communication card that prior art heretofore known has not provided.
The ideal would be a beautiful and colorful single panel card that requires no envelope, and can be mailed at the first class card rate of 19.cent.. In this crowded field, one wonders why prior art has not provided such a card.
In addition to non-recognition of the problem, there is one major obstacle to the creation of such a card: Color. Prior art teaches away from the use of bright or dark colors on the address side of personal mailing cards, and mail pieces in general. The U.S. Postal Service states that only light colored cards and envelopes should be used. It further warns against the use of brilliant colors due to the scanner's inability to read them.
It is not that brilliant colors have never been used on mailing pieces, it is that they have not been used effectively. For years greeting card companies have used bright red envelopes with their Christmas cards, only to have them rejected by automated equipment. Therefore hundreds of millions of Christmas cards have had to be sorted by hand; a postal worker's nightmare. This practice is being amended, as companies are starting to use pastel colored envelopes with their holiday cards. Colors have also been attempted on post cards, with insufficient results. In U.S. Pat. No. 4,938,414 to Lippert (1990), he discloses a post card for hidden messages, wherein colored inks can be used on the address side. However, his use of color is confined to a rectangle in the upper left corner; reserved for a small photo, advertisement, or message. This is deemed an unsatisfactory solution to the color problem, given its obvious limitations.
The ineffective use of color has resulted in further disadvantages:

Single panel communication card and its color method


The GMR read head includes a GMR read sensor and a longitudinal bias (LB) stack in a read region, and the GMR read sensor, the LB stack and a first conductor layer in two overlay regions. In its fabrication process, the GMR read sensor, the LB stack and the first conductor layer are sequentially deposited on a bottom gap layer. A monolayer photoresist is deposited, exposed and developed in order to open a read trench region for the definition of a read width, and RIE is then applied to remove the first conductor layer in the read trench region. After liftoff of the monolayer photoresist, bilayer photoresists are deposited, exposed and developed in order to mask the read and overlay regions, and a second conductor layer is deposited in two unmasked side regions. As a result, side reading is eliminated and a read width is sharply defined by RIE.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to read head portions of magnetic heads for hard disk drives, and more particularly to read heads having a reactive ion etch (RIE) defined read width.
2. Description of the Prior Art
One well known way to improve the performance of hard disk drives is to increase the areal data storage density of the magnetic hard disk. This can be accomplished by reducing a written data track width, such that more tracks per inch can be written on the disk. To read data from a disk with the reduced track width, it is also necessary to develop a sufficiently narrow read head having a narrow read width, such that unwanted magnetic field interference from adjacent data tracks is substantially eliminated.
The standard prior art read head includes a plurality of thin films that are deposited and fabricated to produce a giant magnetoresistance (GMR) read head, as is known to those skilled in the art. In a commonly used GMR read head, as shown in FIG. 3 and described in detail herebelow, a GMR read sensor is located in a read region, while a longitudinal bias (LB) stack and a conductor are located in each of two side regions. The GMR read sensor typically comprises Al2O3/NiCrFe/NiFe seed layers, an antiferromagnetic PtMn transverse pinning layer, a ferromagnetic CoFe keeper layer, a nonmagnetic Ru spacer layer, a ferromagnetic CoFe reference layer, a nonmagnetic CuO spacer layer, a ferromagnetic CoFe sense layer, and nonmagnetic Cu/Ta cap layers. The LB stack used for hard-magnetic stabilization of the GMR read sensor typically comprises a nonmagnetic Cr film and a hard-magnetic CoPtCr film. Alternatively, the LB stack used for antiferromagnetic stabilization of the GMR sensor may typically comprise a ferromagnetic CoFe film and an antiferromagnetic Ir—Mn film. The conductor typically comprises nonmagnetic Ta/Rh/Ta films.
In the typical fabrication process of the prior art GMR read head, the GMR read sensor is deposited, and bilayer photoresists are then applied and exposed to mask the GMR read sensor in a read region for defining a read sensor width. The unmasked GMR sensor in side regions is removed by ion milling. The LB stack is then deposited at the sensor edges in the unmasked side regions, and the bilayer photoresists are subsequently removed. Due to shadowing effects of the bilayer photoresists it is difficult to achieve a designed read width, and sensor instability often results. This is because both the GMR read sensor and the LB stack are tapered and abutted with each other at the sensor edge, and due to the shadowing effects, the boundary between the read region and the side regions is ambiguous, so that the designed read width cannot easily be attained.
In the present invention, the read width is defined by RE before the bilayer photoresist is applied. As a result, the read width is accurately defined and improved device performance results.

Method for fabricating a GMR read head portion of a magnetic head

Hitachi Global Storage Technologies Netherlands, B.V.


A dinnerware article, such as a dish or plate, bearing a raised likeness of a creature connoting obesity. The article also bears a graphical diet reminder, instructing the user regarding healthful amounts and/or types of foods for his/her consumption.

Novelty dinnerware takes many forms, and is commonly produced for the amusement of children, and sometimes adults. Frequently such dinnerware is designed purely for entertainment purposes, and may include images of cartoon characters or other graphics attractive to children. Less common are dinnerware items that have some novelty aspect designed with a serious message and with an adult consumer in mind, or with the intention of instructing a child (or adult) in some serious pursuit.
One of the greatest problems confronting modern society in economically successful countries is obesity. Obesity brings with it the increased potential for serious conditions such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and musculoskeletal problems such as lower back pain. In addition, a high-fat diet has been correlated to increased risk of colon cancer, while the consumption of a high-fiber diet is associated with lower risk of this and other medical conditions. One widely read report indicates that there are as many people on the planet who can be considered overweight and/or obese, as there are people who suffer from malnutrition. Another report indicates that in the United States, 55 percent of adults are overweight by international standards, and 23 percent of American adults are considered obese.
Thus, although attempted weight loss is a common behavior, regardless of age, gender, or ethnicity, and weight loss goals are substantial, obesity remains a major public health problem in the United States. There remains a need for effective ways of encouraging proper eating behavior.

Dinnerware with attached figure and diet reminder


In a carrier tape for supplying an electronic part to an electronic part mounting apparatus for taking out the electronic part from a tape feeder to mount to a board, a tail side connecting portion having a cutout portion is provided to a tail side of the carrier tape mounted to the tape feeder, a front side connecting portion having a chipped portion is provided to a head side of the carrier tape to be used newly, respectively, and in tape splicing operation when a reel is interchanged, the cutout portion is fitted to the chipped portion and adhesive tapes are pasted thereon from two upper and lower faces thereof. Thereby, the tail side connecting portion and the head side connecting portion can be positioned in a longitudinal direction, a width direction and a thickness direction of the tape and held to each other and can efficiently be connected without using an exclusive connecting jig.

The present invention relates to an electronic part supplying tape for holding electronic parts on a tape-like member at a constant pitch and supplying the electronic parts and a method of connecting an electronic part supplying tape.
In an electronic part mounting apparatus, according to a method of supplying an electronic part to a transfer head, there is provided an electronic part supplying tape (hereinafter, simply abbreviated as "carrier tape") holding a number of electronic parts on a tape-like member. In the method, the carrier tape is supplied in a state of being wound around a supply reel, the carrier tape is extracted from the supply reel mounted on a tape feeder and fed pitch by pitch in synchronism with timings of mounting the electronic parts to thereby successively supply the electronic parts to a pickup position of the transfer head. Further, when shortage of part is brought about in the tape feeder in the mounting operation, a reel replacing operation for replacing the supply reel to a new one is carried out.
In a conventional art, when the reel is replaced, the operation is carried out in a state of removing a whole of a tape feeder main body from the mounting apparatus after stopping the mounting apparatus. However, in recent years, a method of connecting the carrier tape per se has been adopted, when the reel is replaced, in order to save wasteful time and man-hour caused by attaching and detaching the tape feeder by stopping the mounting apparatus at each time of bringing about shortage of part.
In the tape connecting operation, end portions of two new and old carrier tapes are aligned, and thereafter connected to each other by an adhesive tape or the like. In general, an exclusive connecting jig for carrying out the connecting operation is frequently used (for example, disclosed in JP-A-2000-289708 <Japanese Patent Application Publication Number: 2000-289708>). Further, in some cases, the connecting jig is not needed for connecting the end portions of the two carrier tapes (for example, disclosed in JP-A-10-101178 <Japanese Patent Application Publication Number: Hei10-101178>).
However, according to the above connecting jig (disclosed on JP-A-2000-289708), an operation of accurately matching alignment of the two carrier tapes and pitches of feed holes based on an outer shape or the feed hole of the carrier tape should be carried out, and the exclusive connecting jig is needed for each kind of the tape. Therefore, time and labor are required for carrying out the connecting operation. Particularly, when a number of kinds of tapes are mixedly used, complexity of using the connecting jigs according to the kinds for the respective tapes is unavoidable. Further, with regard to operational accuracy, depending on skill of an operator, proper jointing with accurate matching of the pitch or the alignment is not carried out, and there is a case of bringing about machine trouble in which tape feeding of the carrier tape after connection is not normally carried out.
Further, according to a method of connecting carrier tapes by fitting embossed portion for containing parts to each other as shown in JP-A-10-101178, the tapes can be jointed only in a case in which the embossed portion is of a specific shape, and this method is not applicable to a normal case in which a number of kinds of carrier tapes are used. In this way, according to the carrier tapes of the conventional arts, there poses a problem that it is difficult to efficiently carry out tape connecting operation, when the reels are replaced in accordance with shortage of part.

Electronic part supplying tape and electronic part supplying tape connecting method


A handheld, portable cutting board assembly includes a cutting board and a frame configured to support the cutting board within a top portion thereof such that a major surface of the cutting board is exposed for use as a cutting surface. The frame also is further configured to receive and retain the cutting board within a bottom portion thereof for storage.

Cutting boards for use in cutting and preparing various food items are generally known. Further, cutting board assemblies including various components that aid in the cutting and preparation process are also known. Examples of available cutting board assemblies include those disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,904,271 to Collins, et al. and U.S. Pat. No. 6,651,970 to Scott.
Collins et al. discloses a cutting board assembly including a cutting board surface having a pair of legs supporting the surface, a container for holding food that has been cut or prepared and a container for disposing of waste produced during the cutting. The containers are separate components that may be detachably connected to the cutting board surface when it is being used. However, there is no accommodation for storing the containers integrally with the cutting surface when it is not in use.
Collins et al. also discloses that the container for holding food that has been cut or prepared includes hash marks for measuring purposes. The hash marks begin near a base of the container and extend up a wall of the container such that food volume may be measured based on the depth of the food in the container. This method of measuring volume may be well suited for liquid or granular food items that have a tendency to level out in a container due to gravity. However, cut food items, which are typically more bulky, solid foods, such as onions, peppers, celery, and the like, do not share the tendency to level out along the base of a container. In contrast, such food items tend to stack in mounds. Accordingly, the "bottom-up" volume measuring method of Collins et al. is not ideal for the typical type of food items that are cut using a cutting board.
Scott discloses a cutting board assembly with multiple interchangeable cutting surfaces. The available surfaces include a perforated cutting surface, a cutting surface including a door hinged to the surface and a cold cutting surface. Both the perforated surface and the surface with the door provide access to a holding container under the cutting surface. For the perforated surface, the holding container provides a receptacle for juices or other fluids associated with the food being cut. For the surface with the hinged door, the holding container provides many uses. Examples include holding waste from the food being cut and holding the food that has been cut until it is used. The holding container slides into a base of the cutting board assembly and may be stored therein when the cutting board assembly is not in use. Unfortunately, in order to access the holding container, the hinged door of the surface must be lifted thereby reducing the surface area available for cutting.
A cutting board assembly addressing the shortcomings of available cutting board assemblies would be desirable. For instance, a cutting board assembly providing a cutting surface free from obstruction in addition to containers for holding cut food that may be stored within the cutting board assembly when it is not in use would be advantageous. Further, a cutting board assembly providing a means for measuring the volume of cut food that is better suited to bulky, solid foods would be advantageous.
Such benefits are provided by the cutting board assembly disclosed, for example, in Casale U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2007/0108685, which is incorporated herein by reference. The present invention claimed herein relates to yet a further improvement in the cutting board assembly of the Casale reference (hereinafter the "Casale Cutting Board Assembly").

Cutting board assembly having cutting board storage recess


In a remote unit of a wireless communication system, the speed of acquisition, or reacquisition, of a pilot signal by a search engine is increased. PN space is divided into segments and a coarse search of each segment is performed using a set of “fast” search parameters. A set of peak signal strengths, along with their corresponding PN offsets, is saved for each segment of PN space. Following the search of all segments of PN space, the peak signal strengths which were saved during the coarse acquisition are evaluated. Coarse acquisition search results are used by the remote unit to determine fine search window parameters for subsequent searches performed by the remote unit search engine. The fine search parameters concentrate searching efforts on portions of PN space most likely to contain a viable base station pilot signal.

A wireless communication system may comprise multiple remote units and multiple base stations. FIG. 1 exemplifies an embodiment of a terrestrial wireless communication system with three remote units 10A, 10B and 10C and two base stations 12. In FIG. 1, the three remote units are shown as a mobile telephone unit installed in a car 10A, a portable computer remote 10B, and a fixed location unit 10C such as might be found in a wireless local loop or meter reading system. Remote units may be any type of communication unit such as, for example, hand-held personal communication system units, portable data units such as a personal data assistant, or fixed location data units such as meter reading equipment. FIG. 1 shows a forward link 14 from the base station 12 to the remote units 10 and a reverse link 16 from the remote units 10 to the base stations 12.
Communication between remote units and base stations, over the wireless channel, can be accomplished using one of a variety of multiple access techniques which facilitate a large number of users in a limited frequency spectrum. These multiple access techniques include time division multiple access (TDMA), frequency division multiple access (FDMA), and code division multiple access (CDMA). An industry standard for CDMA is set forth in the TIA/EIA Interim Standard entitled "Mobile Station-Base Station Compatibility Standard for Dual-Mode Wideband Spread Spectrum Cellular System", TIA/EIA/IS-95, and its progeny (collectively referred to here as IS-95), the contents of which are incorporated by reference herein in their entirety. Additional information concerning a CDMA communication system is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,901,307, entitled SPREAD SPECTRUM MULTIPLE ACCESS COMMUNICATION SYSTEM USING SATELLITE OR TERRESTRIAL REPEATERS, (the '307 patent) assigned to the assignee of the present invention and incorporated in its entirety herein by reference.
In the '307 patent, a multiple access technique is disclosed where a large number of mobile telephone system users, each having a transceiver, communicate through base stations using CDMA spread spectrum communication signals. The CDMA modulation techniques disclosed in the '307 patent offer many advantages over other modulation techniques used in wireless communication systems such as TDMA and FDMA. For example, CDMA permits the frequency spectrum to be reused multiple times, thereby permitting an increase in system user capacity. Additionally, use of CDMA techniques permits the special problems of the terrestrial channel to be overcome by mitigation of the adverse effects of multipath, e.g. fading, while also exploiting the advantages thereof.
In a wireless communication system, a signal may travel several distinct propagation paths as it propagates between base stations and remote units. The multipath signal generated by the characteristics of the wireless channel presents a challenge to the communication system. One characteristic of a multipath channel is the time spread introduced in a signal that is transmitted through the channel. For example, if an ideal impulse is transmitted over a multipath channel, the received signal appears as a stream of pulses. Another characteristic of the multipath channel is that each path through the channel may cause a different attenuation factor. For example, if an ideal impulse is transmitted over a multipath channel, each pulse of the received stream of pulses generally has a different signal strength than other received pulses. Yet another characteristic of the multipath channel is that each path through the channel may cause a different phase on the signal. For example, if an ideal impulse is transmitted over a multipath channel, each pulse of the received stream of pulses generally has a different phase than other received pulses.
In the wireless channel, the multipath is created by reflection of the signal from obstacles in the environment such as, for example, buildings, trees, cars, and people. Accordingly, the wireless channel is generally a time varying multipath channel due to the relative motion of the structures that create the multipath. For example, if an ideal impulse is transmitted over the time varying multipath channel, the received stream of pulses changes in time delay, attenuation, and phase as a function of the time that the ideal impulse is transmitted.
The multipath characteristics of a channel can affect the signal received by the remote unit and result in, among other things, fading of the signal. Fading is the result of the phasing characteristics of the multipath channel. A fade occurs when multipath vectors add destructively, yielding a received signal that is smaller in amplitude than either individual vector. For example if a sine wave is transmitted through a multipath channel having two paths where the first path has an attenuation factor of X dB, a time delay of δ with a phase shift of Θ radians, and the second path has an attenuation factor of X dB, a time delay of δ with a phase shift of Θ+π radians, no signal is received at the output of the channel because the two signals, being equal amplitude and opposite phase, cancel each other. Thus, fading may have a severe negative effect on the performance of a wireless communication system.
A CDMA communication system is optimized for operation in a multipath environment. For example, the forward link and reverse link signals are modulated with a high frequency pseudonoise (PN) sequence. The PN modulation allows the many different multipath instances of the same signal to be separately received through the use of a "rake" receiver design. In a rake receiver, each element within a set of demodulation elements can be assigned to an individual multipath instance of a signal. The demodulated outputs of the demodulation elements are then combined to generate a combined signal. Thus, all of the multipath signal instances must fade together before the combined signal experiences a deep fade.
In a communication system based on the industry standard for CDMA,IS-95, each of the multiple base stations transmits a pilot signal having a common PN sequence. Each base station transmits the pilot signal offset in time from neighboring base stations so that the signals can be distinguished from one another at the remote unit. At any given time, the remote unit may receive a variety of pilot signals from multiple base stations. Using a copy of the PN sequence produced by a local PN generator, the entire PN space can be searched by the remote unit. Using the search results, the controller distinguishes pilot signals from multiple base stations based on the time offset.
In the remote unit, a controller is used to assign demodulation elements to the available multipath signal instances. A search engine is used to provide data to the controller concerning the multipath components of the received signal. The search engine measures the arrival time and amplitude of the multipath components of a pilot signal transmitted by the base stations. The effect of the multipath environment on the pilot signal and the data signal transmitted by a common base station is very similar because the signals travel through the same channel at the same time. Therefore, determining the multipath environment's effect on the pilot signal allows the controller to assign demodulation elements to the data channel multipath signal instances.
The search engine determines the multipath components of the pilot signals of base stations in the proximity of the remote unit by searching through a sequence of potential PN offsets and measuring the energy of the pilot signal received at each of the potential PN offsets. The controller evaluates the energy associated with a potential offset, and, if it exceeds a threshold, assigns a signal demodulation element to that offset. A method and apparatus of demodulation element assignment based on searcher energy levels is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,490,165 entitled DEMODULATION ELEMENT ASSIGNMENT IN A SYSTEM CAPABLE OF RECEIVING MULTIPLE SIGNALS (the '165 patent), assigned to the assignee of the present invention.
FIG. 2 shows an exemplifying set of multipath signal instances of a single pilot signal from a base station arriving at a remote unit. The vertical axis represents the power received in decibels (dB). The horizontal axis represents the delay in the arrival time of a signal instance due to multipath delays. The axis (not shown) going into the page represents a segment of time. Each signal spike in the common plane of the page has arrived at the remote unit at a common time but has been transmitted by the base station at a different time. Each signal spike 22-27 has traveled a different path and therefore exhibits a different time delay, a different amplitude, and a different phase response. The six different signal spikes represented by spikes 22-27 are representative of a severe multipath environment. A typical urban environment produces fewer usable paths. The noise floor of the system is represented by the peaks and dips having lower energy levels. The task of the search engine is to identify the delay, as measured by the horizontal axis, and amplitude, as measured by the vertical axis, of signal spikes 22-27 for potential demodulation element assignment.
Note, as shown in FIG. 2, each of the multipath peaks varies in amplitude as a function of time as shown by the uneven ridge of each multipath peak. In the limited time shown, there are no major changes in the multipath peaks. Over a more extended time range, multipath peaks disappear and new paths are created as time progresses. Multipath peaks are likely to merge together or blur into a wide peak over time.
Typically, the operation of the search engine is overseen by a controller. The controller commands the search engine to step through a set of offsets, called a search window, that is likely to contain one or more multipath signal peaks suitable for assignment to a demodulation element. For each offset, the search engine reports the energy it found offset back to the controller. Demodulation elements may then be assigned by the controller to the paths identified by the search engine (i.e. the timing reference of their PN generators is aligned with the timing of the identified path). Once a demodulation element has locked onto the signal, it then tracks that path on its own without controller supervision, until the path fades away or until the demodulation element is assigned to another path by the controller.
As noted above, each base station in a given geographical area is assigned a sequence offset of a common PN pilot sequence. For example, according to IS-95, a PN sequence having 215 chips and repeating every 26.66 milliseconds (ms) is transmitted by each base station in the system at one of 512 PN sequence offsets as a pilot signal. According to IS-95 operation, the base stations continually transmit the pilot signal which can be used by the remote unit to identify the base station as well as other functions, such as for example, determining the multipath environment the remote unit is operating in and synchronization of remote unit timing to the base station timing.
During initial power on, or any other situation when the remote unit has lost a pilot signal such as when performing a hard hand-off to a different operating frequency, the remote unit evaluates all possible PN offsets of the pilot PN sequence. Typically, a search engine measures the pilot signal strength at all possible PN offsets, proceeding at a measurement rate that produces an accurate measure of the pilot signal present at the corresponding offset. Proceeding in this manner, the search engine determines the PN offset of base stations which are geographically near the remote unit. Searching each PN offset in this manner can take anywhere from hundreds of milliseconds to a few seconds depending on the channel conditions during acquisition. This amount of time for the remote unit to reacquire a pilot signal is detrimental to the remote unit operation, and may be annoying to the user of the remote unit.
FIG. 3 shows an extended portion of PN space on the horizontal axis. The groups of peaks 30, 32 and 34 represent transmissions from three different base stations. As shown, the signal from each base station signal experiences a different multipath environment. Also, each base station has a different PN offset from the PN reference 36. Thus, the controller may select a set of PN offsets corresponding to search windows for any of the identified base stations. This allows the remote unit to simultaneously demodulate signals from multiple base stations by assigning demodulation elements appropriately.
One purpose of the search engine, as described above, is to aid in maintaining the wireless link between the remote unit and a base station. Because the wireless channel is constantly changing, multi-path searching must be performed on a virtually continuous basis, otherwise the wireless link may be lost due to, for example, fading. If the wireless link is lost, communications between the remote unit and the base station are terminated and the remote unit performs a search of the entire PN space to reacquire an appropriate base station. Searching the entire PN space consumes an excessive amount of time.
Therefore, there is a need in the art for a method of and apparatus to minimize the amount of time required for a remote unit, in a wireless communication system, to acquire or reacquire a pilot signal.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Fast acquisition of a pilot signal in a wireless communication device


A coherent demodulating device is characterized by a demodulating circuit and a carrier recovering circuit produced entirely in digital form. Two quadrature demodulation carrier waves produced by a local oscillator are mixed with a demodulation carrier signal modulated by symbols to produce analog signals. The analog signals are digitized by sampling at symbol reception frequency into incoming digital signals. A digital phase shifter phase shifts the incoming signals by a demodulation phase derived by a phase loop digital processing circuit as from error signal pulses supplied by a comparing circuit receiving outgoing digital signals from the phase shifter. The compensation for the phase and frequency differences between the demodulation and modulation carrier waves is carried out a posteriori in digital form by phase shifting the incoming signals.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a coherent demodulating device and more especially means for recovering a carrier wave in the modulated signal that the demodulating device receives.
The demodulating device is included in a receiver of a digital transmission system, e.g. for digital communications between microwave relay stations and/or by satellite.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In a transmitter of a transmission system, a data digital signal modulates a radio carrier. The modulation employed can be a multi-phase modulation or a multi-amplitude modulation. Multi-phase modulation is a phase modulation with N states or symbols, where N is an integer equal to a power of 2; e.g. when N is equal to 4, 8 or 16, the phase modulation is designated by the abbreviation 4-PM, 8-PM, or 16-PM. The multi-amplitude modulation is known under the initials QAM, meaning "quadrature amplitude modulation" and combines two quadrature carriers modulated respectively, e.g. to 2, 4 or 8 amplitude states or levels; thus a multi-amplitude modulation offers, e.g. 4, 16 or 64 states or symbols corresponding to the initials 4-QAM, 16-QAM, 64-QAM.
Thus whatever the modulation employed, this makes use of a modulation by two component signals, derived from the digital signal to be modulated, modulating two phase quadrature waves derived from the same carrier wave. The carrier frequency is greater than the transmission frequency of the symbols, also referred to as clock frequency 1/T, T being the clock period. The modulated digital signal is generally transposed to the transmission frequency in the transmitter of the transmission system. In the receiver, frequency-transposing and preamplifying means receive the transmitted signal and apply the intermediate-frequency multi-symbol modulated signal to the demodulating device.
The two parameters necessary to restore the digital signal transmitted by a transmitter are the phase and frequency of the carrier wave.
The known carrier recovering circuits use phase servoing techniques. These circuits are obtained in the shape of an analog phase locked loop (PLL) including a phase comparator, a filter and a voltage-controlled oscillator. The drawbacks involved in these embodiments are numerous. From the point of view of performances, the compensation for a frequency difference between the demodulation carrier wave frequency supplied by the voltage-controlled oscillator and the frequency of the modulation carrier wave in the transmitter is only accomplished as counterpart to a phase error proportional to the frequency difference between the carrier waves and inversely proportional to the loop gain. As the phase error has quite considerable consequences on the performances of the transmission system, it should be limited to low values, typically a few tenths of a degree, which requires increasing the loop gain. It is however impossible to increase this gain arbitrarily, on grounds of loop stability.
Another consequence induced by this phase error is the limitation of the acquisition frequential range to frequency values compatible with an acceptable static phase error.
From the point of view of the use of such a phase loop, exacting adjustements are necessary in order to obtain the required performances. Moreover a modification to one of the loop parameters or transmission system parameters, such as modulation speed, requires a complete redefinition of the whole loop.

Coherent demodulating device with carrier wave recovering digital circuit


The present invention presents a flexible method for source-based message routing in a network node, particularly also suitable for flexible load distribution of the traffic via a number of link sets terminating directly at an adjacent first network element. The method uses data structures which are often already available in existing systems or are simple to set up, of providing a number of link sets between two signaling points. A two-stage routing process is initiated based on the setting up of a message node, which supports a number of logical networks or signaling point codes. In the first stage a logical network is selected, in which the message is to be routed further. In the second stage the message is routed in the selected network.

In communication networks in which the Common Channel Signaling System 7 CCS7, also referred to as SS7, standardized by the International Telecommunication Union ITU, is used in accordance with ITU-T recommendations Q.700 and later for the transmission of messages, communication between two signaling points SP, i.e. nodes and/or end points of the communication network, via connections, which in this context are referred to as signaling links or SS7 links. A node is also referred to as a signaling transfer point STP, while an end point is also referred to as a signaling end point SEP.
As disclosed in ITU-T Q.700ff, it is possible in SS7 communication networks to combine signaling links in what are known as signaling link sets. Each signaling link set comprises at least one signaling link but a maximum of 16 signaling links.
The architecture of the SS7 is also disclosed in ITU-T Q.700ff. A distinction is made between different protocol levels. Levels 1–3 form the message transfer part MTP. A number of level 4 protocols are defined in the SS7 and are referred to here as user parts UP. Examples of such are the telephone user part IUP, the ISDN user part ISUP or the signaling connection control part SCCP. Messages from these user parts are transmitted securely by the MTP.
In known SS7 implementations until now messages have been routed not in a source-related manner but purely in a destination-related manner. However it can be advantageous to route messages to one destination from different sources via different routes. This could for example be done to avoid specific message routes or to comply with business or security-related agreements. A further case for applying source-based message routing occurs when a number of link sets are provided between two nodes, for example between a signaling transfer point STP and a home location register HLR, due to a high level of expected load.
A number of link sets can be provided between two signaling points to increase the maximum number of links and therefore the transmission capacity between these two signaling points (a link set can have a maximum of 16 links). In such a case the traffic from the STP to the HLR is to be distributed to the individual link sets in a source-based manner in order to distribute the load. A further problem can then arise if the link sets, of which there are more than one, between the signaling points are implemented according to the standard. As, according to the ITU standard, only one link set can be provided in an MTP network between two signaling points, the link sets, of which there are more than one, must in this case be associated in at least one of the signaling points, advantageously in the STP, with different logical message transfer part MTP networks. The further problem then arises of how a message, which was received in one network, can be forwarded via a link set in a different network.
Similarly messages can only be forwarded by the MTP in an STP in the network in which they were received. The following techniques are also known:
Screening functions, for example according to ITU-T Q.705, allow differentiation so that for example messages from a specific source or from a specific link set may not be routed to specific destinations. This function can be linked to a charge function. Both sources and link sets as well as destinations can then be combined in groups, which are processed in the same way. This method however only allows a yes/no decision and usually all messages (except for the outgoing link set/DPC screening removed from Q.705 due to problems with route planning), which are subject to the screening function, are each routed to one destination in an identical manner.
A further known method involves not allowing or only to some extent allowing alternative routes to specific destinations for traffic not originating in the particular node, known as foreign traffic. The procedure here is such that, if a higher priority alternative route to a destination is not authorized for foreign traffic, lower priority routes to the same destination are not authorized either. This results in the significant restriction that higher or highest priority routes are used regardless of source, and route priority, if permitted, is identical.
A method is also disclosed in EP 1 130 930, with which link sets are divided into groups and with which the routes to a destination permitted for a message depend on the association of the source, i.e. the link sets, at which the message was received, with a group. This also results in the restriction that higher or highest priority routes are used regardless of source, and route priority, if permitted, is identical.
A check is also known, which ensures that messages from one link set are not forwarded again via the same link set (avoiding what are known as ping-pong loops). However this only serves to prevent errors, not to route in a source-based manner. WO99/55098 and WO00/11883 also disclose how messages can cross MTP network boundaries in a node via physical or virtual tunnels. They also disclose how certain screening functions can be achieved with these methods. However they do as little to achieve a solution to source-based routing as the screening functions. The problem of crossing network boundaries is however resolved. However the two solutions have the following disadvantages:                All the messages arriving in a network are forwarded via the same networks or the same other network, so source-based routing can only be achieved to a very limited extent.        The physical tunnels according to WO99/55098 also have the disadvantage that they use physical resources, by connecting two logical networks via one physical link set. In addition to the disadvantageous use of resources, the traffic between the two networks is also restricted with regard to volume as a result.        The virtual tunnels also have the disadvantage that setting them up fully according to standards—particularly for MTP network management—can be very expensive for existing implementations.
It is also possible to define routing tables based on source or based on the link set of incoming messages. This method is the most flexible but it requires a great deal of storage capacity for the routing tables and very complex and time-consuming network management, partly because a large number of routing tables have to be changed after events which require routing table changes. The implementation of such a function, particularly in existing systems, is also expensive and complicated. Nor does it result in the crossing of network boundaries.
Finally a development of the above method is known, which, unlike the ITU standard, provides a number of logical addresses in a node in a logical network, said addresses being known here as signaling point codes SPC, from each of which separate link sets can lead to a specific adjacent node and in which incoming messages can be routes in a source-based manner. This method may resolve all the problems listed but it is extremely uneconomical with regard to use of resources and set-up costs. This is particularly true of existing systems.

Method and device for routing messages in SS7 networks


The invention provides for a junction diode including a heavily doped first region having a first conductivity type, a second lightly doped or intrinsic region having a second conductivity type, and a third heavily doped region having a second conductivity type. The junction diode comprises more than one semiconductor or semiconductor alloy. In preferred embodiments, the lightly doped or intrinsic region has a higher proportion of germanium than on or the other or both of the heavily doped regions. In preferred embodiments, the junction diode is vertically oriented, and the top region has a higher proportion of silicon than the other regions.

The invention relates to a junction diode comprising different semiconductor materials or semiconductor alloys in different parts of the diode.
Some devices, as in Herner et al., U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/326,470, "An Improved Method for Making High Density Nonvolatile Memory," filed Dec. 19, 2002, hereinafter the '470 application, which is hereby incorporated by reference, employ a vertically oriented semiconductor junction diode. Dopant types and levels are varied throughout the diode, but the entire diode is formed of a single semiconductor or semiconductor alloy.
The present application pursues other ways to vary composition of a junction diode to improve device performance.

Junction diode comprising varying semiconductor compositions


A method of producing molded articles is provided. Raw materials that have been reduced in size are mixed together, are prepared with at least one binder, are pressed into molds, and are hardened.

The present invention relates to a method of producing molded articles or moldings.
A number of methods are known for producing molded articles and finished parts. One possibility for classifying these methods is by the raw material that is used as well as the structure and properties thereof. In the context of the present invention, raw material means a material from which very different molded articles can be produced. Depending upon the respective method and method steps and the raw materials utilized, the molded articles that are produced have different characteristics.
The known methods for producing molded articles are extremely energy and cost intensive, not only with regard to the procedural techniques that are used but also with regard to the raw materials that are utilized. As a consequence of the extremely difficult handling of the methods and of the raw materials utilized, a directed influencing of the technological characteristics of the manufactured molded article is possible only to a limited extent.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a method of producing molded articles with which, by selection of the raw materials or raw material compositions that are utilized, as well as by method steps that are adapted to one another and are also coordinated to the appropriate raw materials, a directed influence can be undertaken upon the technological characteristics of the molded article, so that the molded articles can be produced with the desired technological characteristics at low energy consumption and low cost.


A system and method for controlling an engine or machine at a remote unit from a central office, which may be a fixed location, contemplates a transmit/receive interface connected to the computer or microprocessor of the engine or machine controller. This interface is integrated with a communications module that is configured to establish communications with a World Wide Web server on the Internet. A similar system is established at the location of the central office connected to a computer controlled by a fleet owner/operator, for example. The fleet owner can upload machine control data or machine control application software to an intermediate digital file storage maintained by the Web server via the Internet. This data or application software can be accessed and downloaded at any time by the remote operator without any direct interface or communication with the central office. The remote machine controller includes a data entry device that allows the remote operator to issue commands to the Web server to upload or download information, input password or security information for access to the data in intermediate file storage, or leave messages for the central office. The transmit/receive interface at the remote unit includes means for receiving the downloaded information, determining whether the information is application data or application software, and updating the machine controller accordingly. In this manner, either specific data can be downloaded to modify the performance of the controlled machine, or entirely new application software or modified application software can be downloaded directly to the machine controller.

The present invention relates generally to remote machine control systems utilizing embedded or on-board computers or microprocessors for controlling various aspects of the machine""s performance and activity. More specifically, the invention concerns a system and method for modifying the operating data and functions of the embedded computer by remote communications access. The present invention has particular applicability to remote vehicles, such as long haul trucks and off-road vehicles, and to the control modules embedded within those vehicles for controlling on-board machines, such as the vehicle engine.
Remote monitoring of the operation and location of vehicles has been widely implemented by owners and operators of vehicle fleets. This remote monitoring function has been utilized in a wide range of applications, such as long haul trucks, off-road construction vehicles, and even mobile generator sets. In all of these applications, an internal combustion engine is controlled by an embedded or on-board computer or microprocessor, referred to as an engine control module (ECM). The typical ECM contains a series of application software programs stored in memory that are executed to control and monitor various functions and activities for the engine and/or vehicle. For example, for a long-haul truck, the ECM will control fuel delivery to the engine cylinders as well as the ignition timing. The same functions can be performed by an ECM utilized within an off-road construction vehicle or a generator set to monitor and control the engine performance.
Moreover, in other varied applications, a machine controller is utilized to control and monitor the function and operation of other powered machinery. For instance, in a long haul refrigerator truck, the refrigeration unit can also be controlled by an on-board microprocessor or computer. Similarly, modern electronically controlled vehicle transmissions include a microprocessor that can control the transmission shift points according to stored application programs.
In all of these cases, the vehicle or machine that is being controlled by the embedded computer is typically at a remote location from the central office of the fleet""s owner/operator. Nevertheless, the fleet operator has a continuing interest in not only monitoring the performance and activity of the fleet vehicles or machines, but also in controlling their operation. One example of this form of remote control is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,619,412, owned by the Assignee of the present invention. In the ""412 patent, engine idle time is remotely controlled by signals transmitted over an RF link or satellite using an on-board radio-telephone. In general terms, the system of the ""412 patent allows a fleet operator to have real-time access to the ECM of the vehicle to change engine idle parameters. The system shown in this patent is essentially interactive, requiring immediate interface between the vehicle operator at the remote location and the fleet owner at the central office or fixed central office.
The remote control system shown in the ""412 patent has given the fleet owner/operator a greater degree of control over the vehicles in the fleet. One drawback of this system, however, is that it requires some direct or real-time communication between the vehicle operator and the fleet owner, which requires coordination between the two parties. In some instances, the vehicle operator may require a change or upgrade to certain ECM routines at a time when the central office is unavailable to effect the transfer of information. Another limitation of the systems of the prior art, such as that shown in the ""412 patent, is that direct communication with each vehicle in the fleet is required. In many cases, the fleet of vehicles is numerous, which greatly complicates the logistics of making fleet-wide changes to the engine control modules.
Consequently, there is a need for a system and method that permits a greater degree of flexibility in uploading and downloading information to and from an ECM or machine controller. This need extends beyond the interests of a vehicle fleet owner to virtually any remotely operating machinery that is controlled by an associated microprocessor or computer based controller.
In order to address this need, the present invention contemplates a system and method for controlling an engine or machine at a remote location from a central office, which may be a fixed location. The system contemplates a transmission/reception interface connected to a computer or microprocessor of the particular controller. This interface is integrated with a communications module that is configured to establish communications with a World Wide Web server over the Internet. The invention further contemplates a similar system at the location of a base site, or central office, connected to a computer controlled by a fleet owner/operator, for instance.
In accordance with one aspect of the invention, the central office can download machine control data or machine control application software to a memory maintained by the Web server via the Internet. This data can be downloaded at any time by the fleet owner without any interface with the remote vehicle/machine operator. A file storage protocol can be implemented utilizing passwords and differing levels of security to ensure that the information is accessed only by certified remote operators.
In a further feature of the invention, the remote operator can access the stored information by connecting to the Web server via the Internet. This connection can be established at any time by the remote vehicle/machine operator. Preferably, the remote machine controller includes a data entry device that allows the remote operator to issue commands to the Web server to upload or download information, input password or security information for access to the data, or leave messages for the fleet owner/operator. In preferred embodiments, the fleet operator or central office can maintain a web page that can be accessed by the remote operator. The web page can include links that allow the remote operator to access desired information for download, for example.
The invention contemplates that the transmit/reception interface provides means for receiving the downloaded information, determining whether the information is application data or application software, and updating the machine controller accordingly. In this manner, either specific data can be downloaded to modify the performance of the controlled machine, or entirely new or modified application software can be downloaded directly to the machine controller.
One benefit of the system and method of the present invention is that direct communication between the fleet owner/operator and the remote vehicle/machine operator is not required. A further benefit is that the remote operator can access essential ECM or machine controller information at any time and at any location.
It is one object of the present invention to provide a system and method for controlling a remote machine or vehicle that provides a high degree of flexibility in its use. Another object is achieved by features of the inventive system and method that allow intermediate storage of both application data and application software for eventual downloading and use by the remote operator.
Other objects and benefits of the present invention can be readily discerned from the following written description and accompanying figures.

System and method for transmission of application software to an embedded vehicle computer


A radiating oscillator apparatus for micro- and millimeter waves includes paired fan-shaped conductor patches disposed with their pointed portions in proximity and their arcuate portions on opposite sides, at least one high-frequency transistor disposed between and connected to the fan-shaped conductor patches, a conductor planar surface disposed under and parallel to the fan-shaped conductor patches at an interval of between one-fifteenth and one-fifth the generated wavelength therefrom, and a pair of direct current power supplies connected to the fan-shaped conductor patches separately with a common ground potential.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a radiating oscillator apparatus for micro- and millimeter waves that integrates electromagnetic wave radiation antenna and high-frequency wave oscillation capabilities, is usable in high-efficiency microwave submillimeter-region telecommunication apparatus and radiometry technologies, and incorporates spatial power combining for high-power output.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Conventional radio equipment, including widely-used radio communication apparatuses and different types of radiometry equipment such as radar systems and radiometers, is configured by combining antenna apparatus technologies and transmitter/receiver technologies related mainly to high-frequency circuitry. Antenna apparatus technologies for efficiently radiating electromagnetic waves and receiving electromagnetic wave signals according the intended purpose and high-frequency circuit technologies for the transmitters and receivers that handle signal processing and control have long constituted mutually independent fields of technology. They meet only in the need to match the antenna input and circuit output impedances.
The telecommunications equipment technology sector is seeing sweeping changes. Recent advances in semiconductor device technology have led to the development of technologies enabling amplifier, oscillator, multiplier, mixing and other high-frequency circuit element functions to be achieved by integrated planar circuits. These high-frequency integrated circuit technologies are widely looked to as providing next-generation radio communication apparatus technologies for achieving apparatuses whose integrated planar circuitry makes them simultaneously compact, light, highly performable, highly reliable and inexpensive. As such, they can be expected to obviate the conventional system of configuring apparatuses by interconnecting waveguide and coaxial circuit components. This evolving technology environment is creating a need for the development of new micro- and millimeter wave technologies that can integrate the antenna with the IC. The progress in high-frequency circuit semiconductor device technology has generated demand for a broad range of technologies. Among these are technologies that can provide the new device functions needed to configure micro- and millimeter wave mobile communications systems. Also needed are technologies for providing radiometry control systems with new capabilities, such as high-performance antenna beam shaping techniques and micro- and millimeter wave imaging techniques.
As frequency rises in the micro- to millimeter wave region, dielectric loss and conductor loss at the conductor surface increase to pose a major problem in terms of transmission line loss. Regarding antenna gain enhancement by arraying a planar antenna, this means both heavy feeder loss and a large drop in system total performance and efficiency owing to the connection through the long transmission line in the micro- and millimeter wave radio apparatus. Development of a new technology for integrating the antenna and the high-frequency planar circuit is therefore much needed. For this, however, numerous difficult technical problems will have to be solved.
In the simplest configuration, with the active circuit and the antenna circuit disposed adjacently on the same plane, it is difficult with high-frequency coupling to realize the desired apparatus performance by the antenna pattern, oscillator frequency, discrepancy of noise characteristics and the like. While rigorous consideration of spatial intercoupling methods is required in such cases, these are generally complex and, except in special cases, usually difficult to solve by electromagnetic field analysis.
As is clear from the foregoing, realization of transmitter technologies enabling efficient high-frequency generation and output as well as impartation of objective-matched directionality for radiation in the required direction requires development of a new method for functionally integrating the oscillator circuit and the antenna with high efficiency. Insufficient level of the high-frequency signal intended for transmission to a desired location has conventionally been coped with by either increasing the output of the signal source or increasing the antenna gain.
Provided that a signal source can be easily obtained that has sufficiently high output to compensate for the drop in radiation efficiency caused by the feeder loss, a multi-element antenna array with a sharp antenna characteristic can be assembled. In fact, however, millimeter wave semiconductor devices are fabricated using ultrafine processing technologies to provide the fine geometry needed to secure high-frequency characteristics. Since the power that individual devices can handle therefore falls sharply with increasing frequency, the finding of ways to achieve adequate output in the millimeter wave region is an important topic of technical research.
Securing sufficiently large high-frequency output in the micro- and millimeter wave regions requires the establishment of a technology for efficiently generating high-frequency output from individual devices. It also requires development of a new power combining technology for efficiently synthesizing the high-frequency outputs obtained from individual devices. One promising technology for power combining in the millimeter wave region, where transmission line loss is a particular problem, is the quasi-optical spatial phase synthesis method.
York et al. have reported a technique for spatial power combining by integrating planar patches serving as both a resonator and an antenna with an amplifier device and extracting high-frequency power as spatial output (R. A. York and R. C. Compton, "Quasi-Optical Power Combining Using Mutually Synchronized Oscillator Arrays", IEEE Trans. on Microwave Theory and Tech., Vol. MTT-39, pp. 1000-1009, 1991). They report on use of a two-terminal device (a Gunn diode) and a three-terminal device.
Matsui, one of the inventors of this invention, and coworkers have reported an effective method that combines antenna capability enabling efficient radiation of electromagnetic waves into space and resonator capability for configuring an oscillator integrated with a negative resistance amplifier circuit (U.S. Pat. No. 5,450,040). This method uses a Fabry-Perot resonator composed of spherical mirrors. The portion that couples with space forms a partially transparent, high-reflectance mirror surface and the other reflecting mirror surface is provided with a portion that couples with a negative resistance amplifier circuit and constitutes part of the conductor reflecting mirror surface thereof. By making this coupling relatively strong compared with that on the side coupled with space, high-frequency energy is accumulated inside the quasi-optical resonator to obtain a function as an antenna that leaks out the interior electromagnetic field of Gaussian distribution formed about the optical axis during steady state. As a result, use as a low sidelobe beam output oscillator apparatus is possible.
This beam output oscillator apparatus using a Gaussian beam resonator provides a number of outstanding features. One of these is a degree of freedom in determining the balance between high-frequency spectral purity and high-frequency output efficiency, which can be adjusted by selecting the combination between the coupling state of the resonator/antenna with space and the strength of the coupling between the resonator and the amplifier device. Another is the possibility of constituting the resonator portion of quartz, which has a low temperature coefficient and small loss, to obtain a high Q value that ensures simultaneous realization of high spectral purity and frequency stability and thus enables extraction of a good quality beam.
On the other hand, the Gaussian beam resonator is limited in application owing to its aperture of several wavelengths. Moreover, it is by nature a high-Q resonator and, as such, is not appropriate for use in wideband frequency modulation, multifrequency sharing and other such applications. Further, although suitable for overlaying with a planar circuit, a resonator shaped like a plano-convex lens with a spherical mirror on one side is relatively high in cost and a new solution is required from the aspect of cost reduction.
The technologies described in the foregoing have been unable to provide an oscillator apparatus capable of simultaneously achieving high frequency output with high efficiency and wideband characteristics from microwave to the still higher frequency millimeter wave region, high gain through array layout, and enhanced freedom of response to the need for higher output.
The present invention was accomplished in the light of the foregoing circumstances and has as an object to provide an oscillator apparatus for micro- and millimeter waves that constitutes an oscillator by integrating a resonator of planar structure and an amplifier device, simultaneously provides the resonator with the additional capability of a radiator for radiating electromagnetic waves into space, and enables high-frequency output to be extracted into space at high efficiency.
Another object of the invention is to provide an oscillator apparatus for micro- and millimeter waves suitable for implementing high-efficiency power combining.

Radiating oscillator apparatus for micro-and millimeter waves

Communications Research Laboratory, Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications


A computing environment or system is disclosed for use by a homeowner for real-time, on-line scheduling of a visit by technician or repairman to diagnose and, if authorized by the user, repair a home appliance such as a refrigerator or washing machine. The system is desirably accessible over the Internet by a customer using a Web browser wherein an interactive screen prompts the user and suggests product information and a nature of the problem. The system desirably obtains and provides to the user a schedule of available appointments for a manufacturer's factory service based on the product and customer information and location of the product. Where factory service is not available in the locality of the user, the system obtains and provides one or more local manufacturer authorized service providers. After selection of a service provider by the user, available appointments are provided. The user selects and confirms one of the appointments. Thereafter, the service provider is notified, for example, automatically by e-mail or facsimile, by the system and is requested to confirm the appointment with the user.

The present invention generally relates to scheduling of service providers, and more particularly, to an on-line method, system, and program product for enabling a homeowner to schedule a service call for repair of a home appliance.
When, an appliance such as, for example, a refrigerator, a washer, a dryer, a dishwasher, etc. requires repair, a homeowner typically telephones a local appliance repair service and schedules a service call. Thereafter, a technician visits the homeowner at the scheduled time to diagnose a problem with the appliance and, if authorized by the homeowner, to repair the appliance.
Typically, the person answering the telephone call for the appliance repair service is often unable to aid the user in identifying the problem with the appliance, unable to provide on estimate for repair of the appliance, and/or unable to determine whether the appliance is covered by a warranty.
There is a need for a real-time, on-line method and system for enabling a homeowner to schedule a service call for repair of an appliance such as a refrigerator, a washer, a dryer, a dishwasher, etc.

Method, system, and program product for on-line service call scheduling


A tool housing case includes a main body case, for holding a power tool, for example, and an accessory case, for holding a power tool accessory, for example, which accessory case is connectable to the main body case on a handle side of the main body case near a main body case handle. The accessory case has an opening that can be selectively closed by a cover element. A space is provided between the handle and the accessory case for receiving a user's hand when the handle is gripped, and when a user's hand is not gripping the handle, this space allows access to the accessory case.

Generally speaking, tool housing cases may comprise a tool storage part configured to store a power tool, and a lid having a bit storage part configured to store bits. An example of such a tool housing case is disclosed in EP publication no. 2 338 650 A2. Such cases are generally configured so that they can be carried by hand. Furthermore, in addition to bits, a power tool may require specialized chucking and unchucking tools, such as wrenches and chuck keys that are used when chucking or unchucking bits. It is therefore desirable to configure those specialized tools so they can be readily carried together with the power tool. The abovementioned bits, specialized detachable tools, wrenches, keys and other structures or devices that may be used with a power tool are generally referred to herein as "power tool accessories."


In order to provide a charged particle beam apparatus capable of stably detecting secondary particles and electromagnetic waves even for a non-conductive sample under high vacuum environment and enabling excellent observation and analysis, the charged particle beam apparatus includes a charged particle gun (12), scanning deflectors (17 and 18) configured to scan a charged particle beam (20) emitted from the charged particle gun (12) onto a sample (21), detectors (40 and 41) configured to detect a scanning control voltage input from an outside into the scanning deflectors, an arithmetic unit (42) configured to calculate, based on the detected scanning control voltage, irradiation pixel coordinates for the charged particle beam; and an irradiation controller (45) configured to control irradiation of the sample with the charged particle beam according to the irradiation pixel coordinates.

A scanning electron microscope (SEM), which is one of charged particle beam apparatuses, converges electrons emitted from an electron source by using an electron lens to a thin electron beam and scans the thin electron beam over a sample by using a magnetic field or an electric field generated by a scanning deflector. Charged particles (secondary electrons or reflected electrons) generated from a sample by irradiation with an electron beam are detected by an electron detector and converted into image data in synchronization with scanning of the electron beam, and thus a scanned image is obtained.
By irradiation with an electron beam, electromagnetic waves (X-rays or light) are emitted from the sample as well as the above-stated charged particles. Particularly, performing analysis of the composition of a sample by mounting an energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry (EDX) apparatus on an SEM and detecting characteristic X-rays is being established as one of applications of the SEM (for example, PTL 1) as well as an observation of a sample shape.


In an internal combustion engine, an SOx trap catalyst (11) able to trap SOx contained in exhaust gas is arranged in an engine exhaust passage upstream of an NOx storing catalyst (12). When whether the SOx trap catalyst (11) has deteriorated should be judged, the SOx trap catalyst (11) is raised in temperature in the state with the air-fuel ratio of the exhaust gas flowing into the SOx trap catalyst (11) maintained lean. At this time, the concentration of NOx released from the SOx trap catalyst (11) is detected by the NOx concentration sensor (24). When the NOx concentration is a set value or less, the catalyst is judged to have deteriorated.

An internal combustion engine providing in the engine exhaust passage an NOx storing catalyst storing NOx contained in exhaust gas when the air-fuel ratio of the inflowing exhaust gas is lean and releasing the stored NOx when the air-fuel ratio of the inflowing exhaust gas is the stoichiometric air-fuel ratio or rich is known. In this internal combustion engine, the NOx produced when burning fuel under a lean air-fuel ratio is stored in the NOx storing catalyst. On the other hand, when the NOx storage ability of the NOx storing catalyst becomes close to being saturated, the air-fuel ratio of the exhaust gas is temporarily made rich and thereby NOx is released from the NOx storing catalyst and reduced.
However, fuel and lubrication oil contain sulfur, therefore the exhaust gas contains SOx. This SOx is stored together with NOx in the NOx storing catalyst. However, this SOx is not released from the NOx storing catalyst by just making the air-fuel ratio of the exhaust gas rich. Therefore, the amount of SOx stored in the NOx storing catalyst gradually increases. As a result, the NOx amount which can be stored ends up gradually decreasing.
Therefore, an internal combustion engine providing an SOx absorbent in the engine exhaust passage upstream of the NOx storing catalyst for preventing SOx from being sent to the NOx storing catalyst is known (see Japanese Patent Publication (A) No. 2000-145436). In this internal combustion engine, the SOx included in the exhaust gas is absorbed in the SOx absorbent, therefore SOx can be prevented from flowing into the NOx storing catalyst. As a result, it is possible to prevent storage of SOx from causing a drop in the NOx storage ability.
However, when using this SOx absorbent, if the SOx absorption ability of the SOx absorbent ends up becoming saturated, the SOx ends up flowing into the NOx storing catalyst. However, with this SOx absorbent, if raising the temperature of the SOx absorbent and making the air-fuel ratio of the exhaust gas flowing into the SOx absorbent rich, the SOx absorbent can be made to release the absorbed SOx and therefore the SOx absorbent can be restored. However, if making the SOx absorbent release SOx in this way, the released SOx ends up being stored in the NOx storing catalyst. Therefore, this internal combustion engine is provided with a bypass passage for bypassing the NOx storing catalyst. When making the SOx absorbent release the SOx, the released SOx is made to be exhausted through the bypass passage into the atmosphere.
As explained above, with the above-mentioned SOx absorbent, it is possible to raise the temperature of the SOx absorbent and make the air-fuel ratio of the exhaust gas flowing into the SOx absorbent rich so as to make the NOx absorbent release the SOx. However, in this case, the SOx is released from the SOx absorbent only at bit at a time. Therefore, to make the SOx absorbent release all of the absorbed SOx, the air-fuel ratio has to be made rich for a long period of time. Therefore, there is the problem that a large amount of fuel or reducing agent becomes necessary. Further, the SOx released from the SOx absorbent is exhausted into the atmosphere, so this is also not preferable.
When using an SOx absorbent in this way, if an SOx release control is not performed, the SOx absorption ability ends up being limited. Therefore, when using an SOx absorbent, an SOx release control must be performed. However, so long as performing an SOx release control, that is, making the SOx absorbent release SOx, the above-mentioned problem arises.

Exhaust purification apparatus of compression ignition type internal combustion engine


The present disclosure provides a polyester toner resin comprising a natural phenol used in manufacturing a toner for imaging devices.

With an increased focus on environment and health, there is an interest and/or a need to find suitable reagent replacements for petroleum derived compounds and reagents, which may be of limited availability, or hazardous to make or to use. There is a need for alternative bio-based reagents for making toner resins which are non-toxic and environmentally friendly.


An apparatus and method for flexible configuring of optical fibers to illuminate digital projectors. The optical fibers are attached to various positions of a configurable back plane assembly and a condensing assembly condenses the light beams prior to launch into the projector. Horizontal and vertical launch symmetries are maintained for any number of optical fibers between 1 and 9.

Laser light sources may be coupled into digital projection systems using various components such as optical fibers, lenses, diffusers, and mixing rods. It is challenging to maintain brightness and color uniformity when different numbers of laser light sources are used in different projection systems. For example, a high-output projection system may require 5 green lasers and a low-output projection system may require 2 green lasers. Conventional optical designs require different launch assemblies designed for each case to maintain uniformity.


A device for preventing logging of computer on-screen keyboard has a pointer device and tandem device. The pointer device comprises a first transmission interface to connect the host computer, and an encryption module to encrypt and transfer data of the pointer device to the first transmission interface. This data contains pointer coordinates. A pointer data module is used to obtain, convert and save the coordinate data of the pointer device. A push-button data module is used to obtain, convert and save the push-button data of the existing pointer device. A physical interface module is used to obtain coordinates of the pointer device and original data of key events. The original data is converted into coordinates or push-button data of the pointer device by the pointer and push-button data modules. Then the encryption module decides if it is necessary to transfer the coordinate or push-button data in the form of encryption.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a data protection technology for computer devices (e.g. mouse, optical pen, touchpad and touch screen, etc.), and more particularly to an innovative one which is designed to prevent the input data of computer pointing devices from being obtained by on-screen logging software.
2. Description of Related an Including Information Disclosed Under 37 CFR 1.97 and 37 CFR 1.98.
Computer products are utilized in such a manner that on-screen keyboard is often used to input accounts and passwords in addition to data input via a physical keyboard. Yet, existing on-screen logging software enables logging of the computer screen to obtain data input by on-screen keyboard, leading to leakage of important secrets of the users.
In view of prevailing computer-related encryption technologies and products, though anti-logging encryption products and file encryption software have been launched, the current encryption products cannot yet solve the aforementioned problem of logging against on-screen keyboard, so the users important secrets are still exposed to possible leakage due to imperfect anti-logging functions. For example, the prior art is provided with a virtual keyboard activated during login to the system server. Each of the key is composed of 16 images, which are presented by quick screening, allowing to watch every keyed word using the visual reaction with retentive power. The keying positions will be updated upon clicking. So, only fragmentary images could be acquired by the logging procedure when capturing the screen by clicking the keys. However, since the keying positions are often changed, such an on-screen anti-logging method makes it difficult and time-consuming for identification by the users. Moreover, such a virtual keyboard system is applied in a limited range since it must be provided by the system operators. Furthermore, such on-screen anti-logging method may also be exposed to hackers by virtue of an improved on-screen logging means. Another CAPTCHA dynamic text code system allows the users to select the pass graph and the capturing rule for the lower dynamic words. Such anti-logging technology could avoid the attack from keyboard logging and asterisk password removal, but when the on-screen capturing procedures have taken multiple login pictures, the pass graphs and capturing rule could also be composed by the hackers.
Thus, to overcome the aforementioned problems of the prior art, it would be an advancement if the art to provide an improved structure that can significantly improve the efficacy.
Therefore, the inventor has provided the present invention of practicability after deliberate design and evaluation based on years of experience in the production, development and design of related products.

Device for preventing logging of computer on-screen keyboard


Antenna elements are arranged in line on a surface of a substrate at specific intervals along a longitudinal direction of the substrate. A phase-inverting distributor is formed on the surface of the substrate in an area located between two antenna elements which are closest to and located on both sides of a vertical centerline, or a reference line, of the substrate. A primary feeder line formed along the longitudinal direction of the substrate extends from the phase-inverting distributor on both left and right sides thereof. The individual antenna elements are connected to the primary feeder line by secondary feeder lines having predetermined impedances. The secondary feeder lines are connected to the respective antenna elements on sides thereof which are perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the substrate and face the reference line on which the phase-inverting distributor is located.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an array antenna on which a plurality of antenna elements for radiating radio waves are arranged generally in line, forming a linear array.
2. Description of the Related Art
There exist various kinds of conventionally known array antennas employing a configuration in which a plurality of antenna elements are formed on a substrate and the individual antenna elements are connected to secondary feeder lines which are arranged parallel to one another.
FIG. 6 is a plan view generally showing the configuration of a conventional array antenna on which a plurality of antenna elements are arranged generally in line. This kind of conventional array antenna is shown in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 1999-312909, in which antenna elements are arranged side by side as shown in FIG. 6.
Referring to FIG. 6, the array antenna includes a substrate 1 having a rectangular shape in plan view, multiple antenna elements 2a–2i formed on a surface of the substrate 1, secondary feeder lines 3a–3i connected respectively to the antenna elements 2a–2i, a primary feeder line 4 connected to the individual secondary feeder lines 3a–3i, and an outgoing line 5 of which one end is connected to the primary feeder line 4 and the other end is connected to an external circuit (not shown). The substrate 1 is made of a dielectric material while the antenna elements 2a–2i, the secondary feeder lines 3a–3i, the primary feeder line 4 and the outgoing line 5 are made of a patterned conductor layer formed on the surface of the substrate 1.
More specifically, the antenna elements 2a–2i are arranged on the substrate 1 generally in line along a longitudinal (horizontal as illustrated in FIG. 6) axis of the substrate 1 at specified equal intervals with long sides of the successive antenna elements 2a–2i placed side by side. The secondary feeder lines 3a–3i are connected to the respective antenna elements 2a–2i on the sides thereof (right sides as illustrated in FIG. 6) which are perpendicular to and face one direction along the longitudinal axis of the substrate 1. This arrangement is used to ensure that the antenna elements 2a–2i produce electric fields in the same direction and the individual secondary feeder lines 3a–3i have a specific impedance. The interval between the successive antenna elements 2a–2i is normally made equal to an integer multiple of the wavelength of radio waves such that the radio waves emitted from the antenna elements 2a–2i are synchronized in phase and radiation pattern of the array antenna is optimized.
In the aforementioned configuration, all of the antenna elements 2a–2i are arranged at regular intervals, whereby the array antenna radiates a high-intensity radio wave in a specified direction.
As shown in FIG. 6, the substrate 1 has an overall length Lpwb and the array antenna has a substantial antenna length Lant. In the aforementioned conventional array antenna, the secondary feeder lines 3a–3i are connected to the antenna elements 2a–2i on the sides thereof facing the same direction along the longitudinal axis of the substrate 1. It is therefore impossible to form antenna elements all the way from the proximity of one end of the substrate 1 to the proximity of the other end of the substrate 1 along the longitudinal axis thereof. As a result, the substantial antenna length Lant is shorter than the overall length Lpwb of the substrate 1, making it impossible to form the array antenna on the substrate 1 in an efficient fashion.