A percutaneously insertable, needle-sized retractor and system for grasping and retracting tissue in a cavity of a patient. The system comprises a needle-sized trocar sheath having an outside diameter in a range from 10 to 22 gauge, a pointed distal end stylet insertable into the trocar sheath, and a tissue-grasping retractor also insertable through the trocar sheath. The stylet is inserted through the trocar sheath with the pointed distal end extending therefrom. The trocar sheath and stylet are then inserted through a patient's skin and subtending tissue and organs into a desired cavity. When the trocar sheath is inserted, the stylet is removed and the tissue grasping retractor inserted through the sheath and into the cavity. A retaining cap at the proximal end of the sheath fixedly positions the retractor with respect to the trocar sheath while a retention flange positioned around the outside surface of the sheath fixedly positions the sheath with respect to the patient. Thus, the tissue grasping retractor and system grasps and retracts tissue during a minimally invasive procedure with minimal trauma to the patient.

Minimally invasive endoscopic surgery is performed using two or more trocar sheaths for gaining access to a cavity of a patient. These trocar sheaths provide access to the surgical site for various medical instruments such as forceps, scissors, and scopes. The advantages of endoscopic surgery over traditional, open surgery include decreased trauma for the patient, smaller wounds and less scarring, faster healing and recovery time, and decreased risk of infection.
A problem presented by endoscopic surgical procedures is that a surgeon has no direct visualization of the surgical site. Instead, visualization of the surgical site is by a video camera and monitor. The surgeon uses medical devices inserted through access sheaths to manipulate tissue adjacent the surgical site for lifting tissue out of the line of sight. A solution to this problem is the use of an additional access sheath for inserting forceps or a grasper to the surgical site for retracting tissue. A limitation of using these sheaths, however, is that the trocar sheaths normally range in size from 3 to 10 mm and leave deep, cylindrical wounds where a significant bulk of tissue is removed. As a result, surgeons tend to use as few access sheaths as possible.
In endoscopic surgical procedures, the surgeon does not directly manipulate tissue as in traditional, open surgery. To perform the task of moving tissue aside and away from the surgical site, the surgeon or surgical assistants must insert forceps or a grasper through an access sheath, grasp the desired tissue, move the tissue aside, and then manually maintain the position of the grasper and tissue for the duration of a surgical procedure. A problem with manually stabilizing medical devices such as a grasper is that the surgeon or surgical assistants lack control over the grasper and tissue due to muscle fatigue or inadvertent movement over the duration of the procedure. Another problem with the use of these known medical devices for repositioning tissue is that one or both hands of each surgeon or surgical assistant are occupied. When the surgeon or surgical assistant must release a device prematurely to perform a more urgent task, as often happens during surgery, the tissue returns to its original position. As a result, the surgeon's line of sight or access to the surgical site is obstructed, and operative time is extended.

Percutaneously insertable, needle-sized tissue retractor and system


A power supply for a microwave oven comprises a high-voltage transducer for receiving an AC voltage from a first coil and generating a high-voltage in a second coil; a high-voltage fuse having a first end connected to the second coil, and a grounded second end; a high-voltage diode for absorbing a surge-voltage grounded in parallel to the high-voltage condenser; and a magnetron connected to an output port of the high-voltage condenser, for radiating microwaves. The high-voltage fuse comprises an insulating member; a first fuse holder disposed in the insulating member; a second fuse holder having an annular ground ring opposed to the first fuse holder; a fuse body located between the first and second fuse holders; a lead wire electrically connected to the first fuse holder at one end thereof; and a fuse connection element joined to the other end of the lead wire.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a power supply unit for a microwave oven and a high-voltage fuse used therein.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In general, a microwave oven is used to heat food in a heating chamber by sending microwaves generated in a magnetron controlled by a micro-computer. FIG. 1 shows a conventional power supply unit for a microwave oven.
Referring to FIG. 1, the conventional power supply unit includes a high-voltage transducer 10 which receives an AC voltage from a first coil T1 and generates a high voltage of 2000 V in a second coil T2, a high-voltage fuse 20 which is connected to an output port of the high-voltage transducer 10 and prevents an excessively large current, a high-voltage condenser HC which is connected to a port of the high-voltage fuse 20 and charges and discharges a high-voltage current, a grounded high-voltage diode HD which is connected in parallel to the high-voltage condenser HC and absorbs a surge voltage, and a magnetron M which is connected to an output port of the high-voltage condenser HC and radiates microwaves.
In the power supply unit for a microwave oven, in case a short is generated in one of the high-voltage transducer 10, the high-voltage diode HD, the high-voltage condenser HC, and the magnetron M, an excessively large current is generated in the second coil T2 of the high-voltage transducer 10. Then, a fusible member of the high-voltage fuse 20 which is connected to the second coil T2 of the high-voltage transducer 10 and the high-voltage condenser HC is fused by the current, thereby stopping the current flow and preventing the high-voltage transducer 10 from being damaged.
Considering that the operational voltage of the magnetron M is 4 KV, a high-voltage fuse of 5 KV is used in the power supply unit for a microwave oven, and FIG. 2 shows the high-voltage fuse 20 used in the power supply unit.
Referring to FIG. 2, the high-voltage fuse 20 used in the power supply unit includes a pair of cylindrical insulating members 22a and 22b which are engaged with each other, a pair of fuse holders 23a and 23b which are disposed in the insulating members 22a and 22b respectively, a fuse body 20' located between the fuse holders 23a and 23b, and a pair of lead wires 27a and 27b which are electrically connected to ends of the fuse holders 23a and 23b respectively, and a pair of fuse connecting elements 26a and 26b which are press-welded to ends of the lead wires 27a and 27b.
The fuse body 20' includes a conductive fusible member 24 which is inserted into a vacuumed glass tube 21 and a resilient member 25 which is connected to one end of the fusible member. In case the fusible member 24 is broken, the resilient member 25 retracts so that the distance between the broken surfaces of the fusible member 24 are separated by more than a predetermined distance, e.g., 15.5 mm when the operational voltage of the magnetron M is 4 KV.
The cylindrical insulating members 22a and 22b of the high-voltage fuse 20 have lengths sufficient to prevent transmission of the operational voltage of the magnetron M between the conductive portion of the fuse body 20' and the body of the microwave oven. In case the operational voltage of the magnetron M is 4 KV, the cylindrical insulating members 22a and 22b have lengths which can cover the lead wires 27a and 27b by at least 15.5 mm from uncoated portions of the lead wires 27a and 27b.
However, according to the above-mentioned power supply unit for a microwave oven and the high-voltage fuse, since the cylindrical insulating members 22a and 22b have lengths which can cover the lead wires 27a and 27b by at least 15.5 mm from the uncoated portions of the lead wires 27a and 27b, the total length of the assembled insulating members 22a and 22b is the sum of the length of the fuse body 20' plus the lengths of the uncoated portions of the lead wires plus at least 31 mm, so much assembling space is needed when the microwave is mounted.
Further, according to the above-mentioned power supply unit and high-voltage fuse, as shown in FIG. 1, the high-voltage fuse 20 is mounted between a high-voltage end of the second coil T2 of the high-voltage transducer 10 and the high-voltage condenser HC, so both ends of the high-voltage fuse 20 should remain at least 2 KV respectively. Further, two separate insulating members 22a and 22b are needed in the high-voltage fuse 20, so the fuse is long and the manufacturing processes of the high-voltage fuse 20 is complicated.

Power supply unit for a microwave oven and a high-voltage fuse used therein


A modular lavatory monument assembly configured to be positioned in the interior of an aircraft. The modular lavatory monument assembly includes first, second, third and fourth walls that cooperate to form an outer shell that defines a lavatory interior. The fourth wall includes an alcove extending outwardly therefrom. The assembly also includes a sink module positioned in the alcove, a mirror module positioned above the sink module in the alcove, and a door positioned on one of the second or third walls.

Commercial aircraft, such as the Airbus A320 or Boeing 737, are typically constructed from modular components, the size, weight and construction of which are dictated by many considerations, including fuselage dimensions, aesthetic and safety. Many of these requirements are imposed by law or regulation. Aircraft components, such as overhead stowage compartments, seats, lavatories, galleys, lighting systems, etc. are all required to function within strictly confined spaces.
Manufacturers of aircraft are constantly refining interior aircraft designs to achieve more comfort and utility for passengers and crew within carrier-imposed restraints on cost, weight, maintenance down-time, and safety. Commercial passenger aircraft generally include lavatories for use by passengers and crew.
A conventional lavatory has a rectangular footprint, a toilet, and a sink. It usually also has four composite panel walls that may be molded to fit the curvature of the plane, and a ceiling with built in lighting. The lavatory monument is secured to the aircraft via various tie-rods and brackets, and is designed to independently conform to FAA loading standards. Lavatories have been a standard monument on commercial aircraft for decades. Lavatory monuments are typically constructed as a unit and then installed in an aircraft. After use, the conventional lavatory monument is then removed as a unit from the aircraft and replaced.


The invention includes: multiple bit lines b1 to b5 arranged in parallel to each other at a first line pitch; multiple word lines w1 to w4 arranged in parallel to each other at a second line pitch greater than the first line pitch and intersecting with bit lines b1 to b5; and multiple capacitors. Respective center positions 4 of the multiple capacitors lie above the bit lines and are displaced by given distance C from the intersection of the bit line and the word line in a direction of arranging the word lines.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a semiconductor device and a method for manufacturing the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
Due to progress in semiconductor technology, particularly in fine processing technology, the downsizing and increased capacitance of transistors and memory cells have rapidly advanced. For example, a device (hereinafter referred to a "vertical transistor") has been proposed which includes a transistor or memory cell using the side wall of a columnar semiconductor formed on a substrate. In the vertical transistor, the length direction of a gate of the transistor or memory cell agrees with the height direction thereof, so there is no occurrence of short-channel effects. Further, when elements are stacked in the height direction, high density can be implemented without increasing the area; thus it is use of the vertical transistor as an approach for implementing cost reduction and increased capacitance of a semiconductor device can be expected. Further, the vertical transistor has excellent features such that it is relatively easy to form an element of a partial depletion type structure or a perfect depletion type structure and such that a high-speed device or an element that consumes of lower power consumption can be formed using a field concentration effect. It has also been proposed that a DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory) with a memory cell having a unit memory cell size of 4 F2 (F being a design rule) be constructed using such a vertical transistor. In the 4 F2 type memory cell, a cross-point type layout is typically used in which a vertical transistor is arranged at the intersection of a word line and a bit line (refer to Japanese patent application Laid-Open Nos. 2007-329480 and 2002-026279).
Japanese patent application Laid-Open No. 2003-209187 discloses a layout in which bit lines are bent 30 degrees for each cell by utilizing a vertical transistor. In the layout in which bit lines are bent for each cell, patterning by lithography is extremely difficult to implement, compared to a layout in which bit lines are linear. Consequently, both the word line and bit line are preferably linear.
Meanwhile, electrical charges held in a DRAM capacitor disappear in the course of nature due to leak current. When electrical charges totally disappear, the data held in the capacitor cannot be retrieved. Thus, before electrical charges totally disappear, there is a need to rewrite electrical charges. Consequently, as the quantity of electrical charges capable of being accumulated in the capacitor increases, the number of rewrite times becomes smaller, allowing reduction of power consumption of DRAM. Accordingly, the capacitor capacitance of DRAM is preferably greater.
FIG. 1 is a plan view schematically illustrating arrangement of a word line, bit line and capacitor in a related art cross-point type memory cell. Referring to FIG. 1, circular capacitor 3 is arranged at the intersection of word line 1 and bit line 2. Word line 1 is patterned so that the line pitch equivalent to the sum of the width and the interval is Wa. Bit line 2 is patterned so that the line pitch equivalent to the sum of the width and the interval is Ba. Word line 1 is regularly arranged in a Y direction at a line pitch of Wa. Bit line 2 is regularly arranged in an X direction at a line pitch of Ba. When F denotes a minimum processing size (design rule) in manufacturing, word line pitch Wa and bit line pitch Ba are expressed as follows.Word line pitch Wa=2×F Bit line pitch Ba=2×F
That is, the word lines and bit lines are arranged so that the line pitches thereof are equal to each other.
In the case of a circular capacitor such as a cylinder type or pillar type capacitor, when the diameter (inside diameter) of the capacitor is R and the height thereof is H, capacitor capacitance C′ is proportional to the product of the diameter and the height (C′=R×H). Referring to FIG. 1, when the space between the adjacent capacitors is S, capacitor diameter R is equal to 2×F−S(R=2×F−S). As device miniaturization progresses, the minimum processing size (F) becomes smaller, so the capacitor diameter (R) also becomes smaller and the capacitor capacitance decreases. Consequently, the number of times of refresh operations (rewrite operations) increases, so the power consumption of DRAM becomes greater.

Semiconductor device having efficient capacitor arrangement


A video game console composed of a console having an inclined table top and a set of length adjustable legs connected with the console. The console includes covered compartments for holding video game cartridges, a covered central processing unit compartment, and recessed hand controller receptacles. The console includes a hingably connected table top panel which allows the user access to the interior of the console for the purposes of connecting the hand controllers to respective recessed hand controller receptacles and for effecting wiring adjustments. It is preferred to provide auxiliary hand controller openings in a front panel of the console. It is further preferred to include a bank of switches on the front panel of the console for a user to conveniently select which of the hand controllers is presently operative. Preferably, the wiring running exterior of the console is reelably regulated by each being wound, respectively, on a spring loaded recoil reel. Preferably, the console is constructed of a light weight, durable and structurally strong plastic material.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to video game units, particularly video game units used in home environments, and more particularly to a console specifically configured to facilitate playing video games via a video game unit.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Video game units have become extremely popular. These units generally include a central processing unit in which any one of a various number of game cartridges is inserted thereinto and via which television signals are generated for display in the form of audio and video at an adjacent television. These units further include one or more hand controllers which are connected with the central processing unit for a user to control play of the selected video game.
While the enjoyment of video games is well known, the enjoyment thereof is somewhat reduced by the limitation that the hand controllers are free to move about. This limitation arises because the video game units sold for home use are configured as stand alone systems, yet the hand controller is most effectively utilized if it is anchored to some immovable object, as is the case in coin-operated commercial video game units. Further, there is the associated problem of convenient storage of the game cartridges, storage of the central processing unit and its connected hand controllers, as well as neat placement of the associated wiring.
Accordingly, what remains needed in the art is a console which effects to provide convenient storage for game cartridges, the central processing unit, convenient placement of the hand controllers and neat concealment of the associated wiring, and which further provides an anchorage for at least some of the connected hand controllers.


A thermal power boiler includes a furnace having a rear wall. A flue gas channel connected to the furnace includes a vertical back pass arranged on the rear wall side of the furnace. An ash hopper in the lower portion of the back pass has (i) a front wall, (ii) a rear wall, and (iii) two sidewalls. A pre-heater preheats combustion air and is provided with an inlet channel for flue gas connected to the preheater. The inlet channel has vertical portions, with an upper portion being attached to the lower portion of the back pass near the ash hopper. The inlet channel includes two adjacent channel portions connected to opposite sides of the back pass. One of the two portions is directly connected to the front wall of the ash hopper, and the other is directly connected to the rear wall of the ash hopper.

Pre-heating of the combustion air by means of the heat of the flue gas is one of the standard methods to improve the capacity of a thermal power boiler. The pre-heaters for preheating combustion air can be divided into recuperative and regenerative pre-heaters. In the recuperative pre-heaters, heat is conducted through heat surfaces directly from the flue gas to the combustion air, whereas in the regenerative pre-heaters, the flue gas first heats storage mass, usually a metal or a ceramic battery, which, in the second stage, emits heat to the combustion air.
The regenerative pre-heaters are common especially in the large thermal power boilers due to their relatively small size. In the so-called rotary plane pre-heaters that are most commonly used, the heat storage mass rotates slowly, usually, 3-5 rpm in such a way that it is alternately in contact with the flue gas flow and the combustion air. In the pre-heaters for combustion air with a stationary plane, the storage mass remains still, but the connecting conduits for flue gas and combustion air comprise a rotary member, by means of which, the gases are guided to flow alternately through different sectors of the storage mass.
For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,915,340 discloses a regenerative pre-heater for combustion air with a four-sector rotary plane, in which the flue gas flows through one flow sector, and primary air and first and second secondary air through the three other flow sectors. The rotary axis of the regenerative pre-heater for combustion air can be either horizontal or vertical, but, especially, pre-heaters with a vertical rotary axis are discussed below. The present invention is especially related to pre-heaters for combustion air, in which the flue gas flows through a pre-heater downwards and the combustion air upwards, respectively.
According to the prior art, the furnace, back pass and pre-heater for combustion air of a thermal power boiler are located one after another in the direction of the normal of the rear wall or side wall of the furnace, as disclosed, for example, in FIG. 2 of U.S. Pat. No. 5,915,340. The back pass refers, in this connection, to a vertical portion of the first flue gas channel, which usually comprises heat exchangers, such as superheaters, reheaters and pre-heaters for feed water.
In the lower part of the back pass, there is usually a turn channel, from the farthest edge of which, with respect to the furnace, the flue gas channel extends towards the pre-heater for combustion air. There is actually, at the bottom of the turn channel, an ash hopper collecting flue gas particles. Usually, the flue gas channel comprises, after the turn channel, first, a horizontal or inclined channel portion, which is directed away from the furnace, and then, a vertical channel portion, which leads to the upper portion of the pre-heater for combustion air.
When the furnace of a large thermal power boiler, back pass and pre-heater for combustion air are arranged conventionally one after another, the channels connecting them to each other can become long, whereby the design and assembly thereof among the other equipment and parts related to the furnace is complicated. Each portion and bend of the flue gas channel requires space, which could otherwise be used for locating other parts, for example, fuel treatment equipment.
In order to have different flow sectors of the pre-heater for combustion air wide enough to keep the pressure losses reasonable, the diameter of a regenerative pre-heater for combustion air to be arranged in a large thermal power boiler can be very large. It is also known that the flue gas channel of a large thermal power boiler is divided into two portions, which lead into two adjacent pre-heaters for combustion air, whereby the size of an individual pre-heater remains reasonable and the assembly thereof is relatively easy.
As the flue gas is usually guided from a pre-heater for combustion air further to the cleaning apparatuses for flue gas, for example, to a dust separator, it is natural to arrange the pre-heater in such a way that the inlet and outlet connections for the flue gas are in the portion of the pre-heater that is the farthest from the furnace. Thereby, the inlet and outlet connections for the combustion air are on the furnace side of the pre-heater, respectively. In the regenerative pre-heaters for combustion air with a rotary plane, the inlet and outlet connections for flue gas are, naturally, in the same portion of the pre-heater as the flow sector for flue gas, and the inlet and outlet connections for combustion air are in the same portion of the pre-heater as the flow sector for combustion air, respectively. In the regenerative pre-heaters with a stationary plane, the inlet and outlet connections for combustion air and flue gas are stationary, but the flow sectors for combustion air and flue gas rotate with the rotary members of the respective connecting conduits.
FIG. 1 of U.S. Pat. No. 7,438,876 discloses a conventional embodiment in accordance with the prior art, in which a regenerative pre-heater for combustion air with a rotary plane is arranged outwards from the furnace with respect to the back pass and the flow sector of combustion air in the pre-heater is in the furnace side of the pre-heater. A problem with such an arrangement is that the channel for combustion air must be bent in the next stage underneath the back pass, which, in practice, usually leads into a complicated channel structure. FIG. 9 of U.S. Pat. No. 7,438,876 discloses another possible alternative in which the flow sector of the pre-heater for combustion air is arranged away from the furnace. This arrangement is advantageous when there is a second, recuperative pre-heater for combustion air arranged above the regenerative pre-heater for combustion air, and connected in series therewith, through which pre-heater, the combustion air is guided to the side of the furnace.


An image decoding apparatus has a video data decoder for receiving and decoding encoded video data to acquire a plurality of reconstructed images; a subsidiary data decoder for receiving and decoding subsidiary data to acquire subsidiary motion information; and a resolution enhancer for generating motion vectors representing time-space correspondences between the plurality of reconstructed images, based on the subsidiary motion information acquired by the subsidiary data decoder, and for generating a high-resolution image with a spatial resolution higher than that of the plurality of reconstructed images, using the generated motion vectors and the plurality of reconstructed images acquired by the video data decoder.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to image decoding apparatus, image decoding program, image decoding method, image encoding apparatus, image encoding program, and image encoding method.
2. Related Background Art
A well-known technology is a super resolution technique (the term "super resolution" will be referred to hereinafter as SR) of generating a high-resolution image (the term "high resolution" will be referred to hereinafter as HR) from a plurality of low-resolution images (the term "low resolution" will be referred to hereinafter as LR) reconstructed through decoding of encoded video data (e.g., "C. A. Segall et al., "High-Resolution Images from Low-Resolution Compressed Video," IEEE Signal Processing Magazine, May 2003, pp. 37-48," which will be referred to hereinafter as "Non-patent Document 1").
The SR technique permits us to generate an HR image from a plurality of LR images by modeling relations between a plurality of LR images and one HR image and statistically processing known information and estimated information. FIG. 1 shows a model between LR images and an HR image. This model assumes that original LR images 104 of multiple frames (L frames) are generated from an original HR image 101. In this assumption, motion models 201-1, 201-2, . . . , 201-L are applied to the original HR image 101 to generate the original LR images 104-1, 104-2, . . . , 104-L. On this occasion, a sampling process is performed on the HR image using sampling model 202 based on low-pass filtering and down-sampling to generate the original LR images 104-1, 104-2, . . . , 104-L. Assuming that quantization noises 103-1, 103-2, . . . , 103-L represent differences between reconstructed LR images 102-1, 102-2, . . . , 102-L generated through decoding of encoded video data, and the original LR images 104-1, 104-2, . . . , 104-L, the relationship between the original HR image f_k(x,z) of frame k, where 1≦x≦2M and 1≦z≦2N, and the reconstructed LR image y_l(m,n) of frame l, where 1≦m≦M and 1≦n≦N can be modeled by Eq. 1 below.y—l=AHC(d—lk)×f—k+e—l  (Eq. 1)In this equation, l represents an integer from 1 to L, C(d_lk) a matrix of a motion model between HR images of frame k and frame l, AH a matrix of a sampling model (where H indicates a 4MN×4MN matrix representing a filtering process of HR image and A an MN×4MN down-sampling matrix), and e_l the quantization noise of the reconstructed LR image of frame l.
In this manner, a certain reconstructed LR image generated from encoded video data and an HR image can be modeled by the motion model indicating the time-space correspondence between the LR and HR images, and the signal model of noise generated in the process of degradation from HR image to LR image. Therefore, an HR image can be generated from a plurality of reconstructed LR images by defining a cost function to evaluate estimates of the motion model and signal model by statistical means and by solving a nonlinear optimization process. Solutions to be obtained in this optimization process are motion information (SR motion information) representing a time-space correspondence between LR and HR images for each of the plurality of LR images, and the HR image.
One of methods of the optimization process is, for example, the coordinate-descent method ("H. He, and L. P. Kondi, "MAP Based Resolution Enhancement of Video Sequences Using a Huber-Markov Random Field Image Prior Model," Proc. of IEEE International Conference on Image Processing Vol. II, (Spain), September 2003, pp. 933-936," which will be referred to hereinafter as "Non-patent Document 2"). In this method, first, a virtual HR image (a provisional HR image in the optimization using iterations) is generated by interpolation from a reconstructed LR image. While the HR image is not changed, motion information representing time-space correspondences between the virtual HR image and a plurality of LR images is then determined by use of the cost function. Next, while the motion information thus determined is not changed, the virtual HR image is updated by use of the cost function. Furthermore, while the virtual HR image is not changed, the motion information is updated. This process is iterated before convergence is reached to a solution.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Image encoding and decoding apparatus, program and method


This invention relates to methods and compositions for the treatment of apoptotic cell-death. In particular the invention relates to Akt molecules and their use in inhibiting apoptotic cell-death in cardiomyocytes, skeletal myocytes and/or vascular endothelial cells. In view of these discoveries, Akt molecules can be used to inhibit apoptotic cell-death of any of the foregoing cells, and in particular, to treat conditions (e.g., myocardial infarction) that result in increased apoptotic cell-death of cardiomyocytes, skeletal myocytes and/or vascular endothelial cells.

Programmed cell-death (also known as apoptosis) is a form of cell-death defined by morphological and biochemical characteristics. Apoptosis is a characteristic of the normal developmental process as well as a response of cells to stress or other environmental insults. Apoptosis is characterized by membrane blebbing and retention of its integrity, cellular and cytoplasmic shrinkage, chromosome fragmentation and condensation, and endonuclease activation resulting in the characteristic 180 bp DNA ladder. During this process, the nuclear lamins are cleaved inducing their disassembly. Apoptosis does not induce an inflammatory response because cells form apoptotic bodies which are phagocytozed by neighboring cells. A number of stresses can induce apoptosis in vitro and in vivo. The administration of glucocorticoids, reduction of hormone and/or growth factor levels, chemotherapy (toxic agents), mechanical injury and DNA damage can all result in apoptosis. Apoptosis is also induced by aberrant cell cycle activity, and it can be triggered in cells that express the Fas receptor with crosslinking antibodies or the natural Fas ligand. High frequencies of apoptotic cell-death are associated in a diverse array of pathological disorders.
Akt (c-Akt) is a proto-oncogene encoding a serine-threonine kinase (Testa, J. R. and Bellacosa, A., Leukemia Res., 1997, 21:1027-1031). It is the cellular homolog of the viral oncoprotein v-Akt, and is related to protein kinase-C (PKC) within the catalytic domain. However, c-Akt differs from the PKC family members by the presence of a pleckstrin homology (PH) domain at its N-terminus that is involved in the regulation of the activity of the enzyme by growth factors and intracellular signaling molecules. Various extracellular stimuli reportedly activate Akt through the phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI 3-kinase) pathway (Datta, K. et al., J. Biol. Chem., 1996, 271:30835-30839; Franke, T. F., et al., Cell, 1995, 81:727-736; King, W. G. et al., Mol. Cell. Biol., 1997, 17:4406-4418). The lipid products of the PI 3-kinase reaction may activate Akt either by binding to the Akt pleckstrin homology domain (Franke, T. F. et al., 1997, Cell, 88:435:437), or by activating a protein kinase that phosphorylates Akt (Kohn, A. D., et al., J. Biol. Chem., 1996, 271:21920-21926; Stokoe et al., Science, 1997, 277:567-570). Activation of Akt reportedly inhibits apoptosis induced by growth factor withdrawal or irradiation in neural cells, fibroblasts, and lymphocytes (Franke, T. F., et al., Science, 1997, 275:665-668; Hemmings, Science, 1997, 275:628-630). Recently, it has been reported that Akt phosphorylates the pro-apoptotic protein Bad leading to Bad inactivation and cell survival (Datta, K., et al., Cell, 1997, 91:231-241; Peso, L., et al., Science, 1997, 278:687-689).

Akt compositions for enhancing survival of cells

Caritas St. Elizabeth's Medical Center of Boston, Inc.


A gate driver and a display device having the same are disclosed. In one aspect, the gate driver includes a plurality of stages configured to respectively output a plurality of gate output signals. An N-th stage includes a first input circuit configured to boost a first input signal to a first signal and transmit the first input signal to a first node. A second input circuit is configured to boost the first input signal to a second signal and transmit the fifth clock signal and a first direct current (DC) voltage to a second node. A stabilizing circuit is configured to boost a second input signal to a third signal, boost a second node signal to a fourth signal, and stabilize a first node signal. An initializing circuit is configured to initialize voltages at the first and second nodes and the first to fourth signals.

Field
The described technology generally relates to gate drivers for driving gate lines of a display panel, and display devices having the same.
Description of the Related Technology
Generally, a display device includes a display panel and a display panel driver. The display panel includes a plurality of gate lines, a plurality of data lines, and a plurality of pixels. The display panel driver includes a controller, a gate driver and a data driver. The display panel and the display panel driver can be commonly formed on an oxide substrate.

Gate driver and display device having the same


A dairy product of firm consistency having a homogeneous structure and comprising a plurality of adjacent cells, each cell having a core comprising a milk protein, an inner shell around the core and comprising milk fat and on outer shell around the inner shell and comprising gelatin enriched with at least one component of a milk product.

A dairy product of that kind is described in EP 0 805 629 B 1. It has been found however that the previously known processes do not promote to the desired extent the deployment of the gelatine which has a substantial influence on taste, consistency and separation of the end product.

Dairy product of firm consistency having a homogeneous structure and comprising a plurality of adjacent cells


Structured data on a device is synchronized with structured data on a host if the device and the host have a matching refresh anchor. Structured data on the device is additively synchronized with structured data on the host if the device and the host have different refresh anchors. Additive synchronization combines structured data from the device with structured data on the host without deleting structured data from the device or the host.

Handheld computer devices typically allow a user to synchronize data between the handheld computer device and another computer, such as a user's desktop computer. This type of synchronization allows both computers to maintain the same set of information, such as the same calendar, thereby allowing the user to view his/her calendar on either the desktop computer or the handheld computer device. The synchronization is typically performed by coupling together the host computer with a handheld computer through a mechanical and electrical connection provided by a dock, though synchronization can also be performed wirelessly (e.g., over-the-air (OTA) synchronization). However, synchronization between more than two computers (e.g., multiple desktop computers and a handheld computer device) presents added challenges.
Two synchronizing computers might exchange one or more identifiers after a successful synchronization in order to save the synchronization state between the two computers. During future synchronizations, the synchronization states of the two computers can be compared. This comparison facilitates faster synchronization as well as data integrity during synchronization. However, existing synchronization techniques are insufficient for synchronizing data between a handheld computer device and multiple desktop computers (e.g., a home computer and a work computer). More specifically, existing synchronization techniques can be the source of data loss and other synchronization errors when more than two computers are involved.
Furthermore, various synchronization applications allow a user to apply filters during synchronization. For example, a user may set a filter that causes only work-related contact information to be synchronized between a handheld computer device and a desktop computer at work. However, in a scenario where a handheld computer device is synchronized with two different computers (e.g., a home computer and a work computer), differing filter settings on the different computers can be a further source of data loss and other synchronization errors.


A parts feeder has a vortex chamber with a wall disposed generally symmetrically about an axis and into which bulk parts are fed. A vortex generator disposed at a narrow end of the chamber generates a spiral vortex that rises up the wall. Parts entrained in the vortex are separated and oriented by the vortex. Properly oriented parts are successively able to pass through an outlet port to exit the vortex chamber; thus continuously feeding parts. An opening extends through the vortex generator. Defective parts, oversize parts, and parts which are tangled or held together may readily be removed from the vortex chamber through the opening.

Devices are known which take parts such as springs or O-rings, and the like, and separate or untangle and orient the parts in a predetermined manner, facilitating use of the parts in subsequent manufacturing operations.
The patent publication DE102008054106 describes a pneumatic parts feeder comprising a cylinder in which a vortex is induced by tangentially aligned air inlets near the lower end of the cylinder and a helical rib provided on the cylindrical wall. The vortex entrains the parts, which are thereby singularised and rise up the helical rib toward an outlet near the top of the cylinder.
The publication DE4442337 describes a pneumatic parts feeder comprising a conical bowl in which a vortex is induced by a tangentially directed air jet provided at the top of the bowl. An aperture is provided at the narrowest, lowermost section of the bowl through which parts to be fed are injected by a piston. The vortex entrains the parts, which are thereby singularised and rise up the wall of the bowl toward a tangentially aligned discharge outlet near the top of the bowl. Only the parts having a specified orientation are able to pass through the discharge outlet.
These machines have a simple, low-cost construction providing cost effectiveness and reliability, however there is a need for improvements in this technology which retain its advantages while addressing some of the operational drawbacks that have been identified. These operational drawbacks include the relatively high air flow rate required to entrain the products, and the flexibility of operation, particularly the ability to readily reconfigure the machine to feed different parts. In addition, it has been found that oversize parts, or parts which are defective (e.g. broken or deformed) or bound together (e.g. tangled), degrade machine performance and are difficult to remove. It is an object of the present invention to overcome or substantially ameliorate the above disadvantages or, more generally, to provide an improved pneumatic parts feeder.


An electrical connection device includes a first connector and a second connector. The first connector includes an insulative body and a plurality of first terminals provided to the insulative body, the insulative body has an insertion groove, a first insertion opening which is communicated with the insertion groove and toward a first direction, a second insertion opening which is communicated with the insertion groove and toward a second direction and a stopping block which is positioned between the first insertion opening and the second insertion opening, the stopping block has a first stopping face which faces the first direction and a second stopping face which faces the second direction. The second connector includes an insulative housing and a plurality of second terminals provided to the insulative housing, the insulative housing has a mating portion and a contacting surface, when the second connector is mated with the first connector along the first direction, the mating portion is inserted into the insertion groove from the first insertion opening, and the contacting surface is stopped by the first stopping face of the stopping block, when the second connector is mated with the first connector along the second direction, the mating portion is inserted into the insertion groove from the second insertion opening, and the contacting surface is stopped by the second stopping face of the stopping block.

Chinese utility model patent application issuance publication No. CN202454786U discloses an electrical connector, the electrical connector allows a mating connector to mate therewith along a first direction or a second direction. However, the electrical connector and the mating connector essentially have only one mating mode, that is to say, whether the mating connector is mated with the electrical connector along the first direction or along the second direction, the mating connector always is positioned at the same orientation relative to the electrical connector. Because the electrical connector and the mating connector have only one mating mode, the electrical connector does not have a positioning structure which can provide a positioning function in two mating modes or a locking structure which can provide a locking function in the two mating modes.
In addition, when the mating connector and the electrical connector are mated with each other, a terminal protruding point of a clipping terminal of the electrical connector will contact a sheet-shaped terminal of the mating connector, the terminal protruding point generally is formed by a stamping manner, therefore a depressed hollow shape is generally formed on the other side surface opposite to a protruding surface where the terminal protruding point is present, such a terminal protruding point is easily collapsed due to hits and in turn is damaged, so this type of the electrical connector cannot be subjected to high times of plug. However, in order to overcome the deficiency that such a terminal is easily damaged, there is another terminal in which a clipping terminal does not have a terminal protruding point, but the clipping terminal is provided with a first guiding portion and a second guiding portion thereon, the first guiding portion and the second guiding portion are respectively positioned in a first direction and a second direction and are used to guide sheet-shaped terminal to enter, however, the clipping terminal generally has a smaller volume, therefore, that clipping terminal is formed with the first guiding portion and the second guiding portion thereon which are perpendicular to each other not only is time-consuming and laborious but also increases the manufacturing cost.

Electrical connection device and terminal


A lottery scratch off device is provided including a housing. A scratch assembly is situated within the housing and includes at least one roller and brush associated therewith. A motor is connected to the scratch assembly for rotating the roller and brush upon the receipt of power. Finally, a switch is mounted on the housing for effecting the selective supply of power to the motor.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to lottery scratch off apparatuses and more particularly pertains to a new lottery ticket scratch off device for conveniently removing latex or the like from a lottery ticket.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The use of lottery scratch off apparatuses is known in the prior art. More specifically, lottery scratch off apparatuses heretofore devised and utilized are known to consist basically of familiar, expected and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art which have been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements.
Known prior art lottery scratch off apparatuses include U.S. Pat. No. 4,765,842; U.S. Pat. No. 5,402,549; U.S. Pat. No. 5,253,383; U.S. Pat. No. 5,419,004; U.S. Pat. No. 5,355,543; and U.S. Pat. Des. No. 338,755.
In these respects, the lottery ticket scratch off device according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in so doing provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of conveniently removing latex or the like from a lottery ticket.


A locking bag includes an envelope with a single opening defined between a pair of side wall edges. A pair of plastic zipper portions are disposed on opposite sides of the single pair of side wall edges. A zipper closure clip is slidably attached to the single pair of side wall edges at one corner of the opening of the bag. The zipper closure clip is adapted to clamp the two portions of the plastic zipper together when the zipper closure clip is slid along the opening of the bag. The two plastic zipper portions include suitable means to make the closing of the opening permanent. In one embodiment, the zipper closure is removable from the bag after the bag is permanently closed.

Lockable bags having zipper closures have become popular for a wide variety of applications, such as for permanently retaining forensic evidence and for permanently retaining hazardous medical wastes.
A very popular bag of this type has a plastic zipper. Typically, such bags are entirely made of plastic, but this is not necessary. One such locking bag having a plastic zipper is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,851,071, the entirety of which is incorporated herein by this reference.
Also popular today are re-openable plastic, zippered bags having a zipper closure clip adapted to both zip and unzip the bag.
It would be desirable to incorporate a zipper closure clip into a locking bag with a plastic zipper, wherein the zipper closure clip is not capable of unlocking the plastic zipper.

Lockable bag with plastic zipper closure and zipper closure clip


A method and apparatus are described for controlling the combustion in a gas turbine. The method includes measuring, with one or two calorimeters, the temperature, calorific value and relative density of a gaseous fuel in order to determine the Wobbe index, comparing the Wobbe index value measured with a predefined Wobbe index value for the gaseous fuel and regulating the temperature of the gaseous fuel with at least one heat exchanger in order to reach the predefined Wobbe index value. The method may also include using a second gaseous fuel, having a different Wobbe index from the gaseous fuel, or a fuel obtained by mixing the gaseous fuel and the second gaseous fuel, according to arbitrary proportions and variable with time.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for controlling the combustion in a gas turbine and, more specifically, a method and apparatus for controlling the combustion in the presence of gaseous fuels having significantly different Wobbe indexes and variable with time.
2. Description of the Related Art
The use of gas turbines, normally consisting of a multiphase compressor, in which the air sucked from the outside is compressed, a combustion chamber, in which the combustion takes place of gaseous fuel added to the compressed air, and a turbine or expander, in which the gases coming from the combustion chamber are expanded, is known for the production of electric energy. The turbine is then capable of generating mechanical energy which can be exploited for activating operating machines or for feeding electric generators.
There are various types of gases or gaseous mixtures which can be used as fuel in a gas turbine. The calorific value and consequently the energy which each gas or gaseous mixture is capable of developing inside a same combustion chamber can therefore vary considerably. The temperature of the gas, or gaseous mixture, used as fuel is also capable of significantly influencing the performances of a gas turbine.
The use of a parameter called "Wobbe index" is known for measuring the heat which is produced by a gas, or mixture of gases, when it is burnt at a constant supply pressure. It is equivalent to the ratio between the upper calorific value (or lower) of the gas and the square root of the relative density of the gas, measured with respect to the air, on the basis of the following formula:
      I    w    =      PC                            T          G                *                  G          s                    wherein:IW=Wobbe index;PC=calorific value (upper or lower) of the gas;TG=temperature of the gas;GS=relative density (or specific gravity) of the gas.
The heat produced by a gas is therefore directly proportional to the Wobbe index, as well as to the area of the nozzle of the turbine from which the gas used as fuel exits. The Wobbe index is consequently an important parameter for determining the interexchangeability of different gases which can be used as fuels in a certain gas turbine.
Most low-emission gas turbines are currently configured for operating with gaseous fuels having small differences in terms of Wobbe index. The use of different fuels, i.e. having high variations in the Wobbe index, in the same turbine can in fact lead to irregular combustion processes which can cause malfunctioning of the turbine itself, reduction in the operative cycle of the components of the combustion system and possible interruptions in the generation of energy.

Method and apparatus for controlling the combustion in a gas turbine


An antenna device capable of being applied to a portable radio terminal and showing a good antenna characteristic regardless of the direction, and a portable radio terminal provided with the antenna device. The antenna device applied to a portable radio terminal whose housing length is equal to or more than λ/4 with respect to the wavelength λ of transmission-reception signals comprises an antenna element disposed on one end of the housing in the longitudinal direction in which at least one point of one end is connected to a signal wiring pattern on a substrate and the other end is an open end, and a parasitic element disposed on the same side of the housing as the antenna element in which one point of one end is connected to a ground wiring on the substrate and the other end is an open end, wherein the open end of the antenna element and the open end of the parasitic element are approximated to each other and capacity coupled.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an antenna device incorporated in a small-sized radio terminal, especially to an antenna device showing a good reception characteristic for high-frequency radio signals regardless of direction and a portable radio terminal provided with the antenna.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In recent years, a portable radio terminal typified by a mobile phone often uses radio signals in a high-frequency band. For instance, the frequency used in the third generation mobile phone goes beyond 2 GHz (gigahertz), and has a tendency to shift to the higher frequencies.
While a portable radio terminal is getting smaller and smaller, it has limitations for further miniaturization thereof from the operational point of view. Accordingly, as the higher frequencies are used, the length of a housing of a portable radio terminal often becomes beyond more than half of the wavelength λ, being λ/2.
As the length of the housing becomes longer with respect to the frequency, the radiation characteristic changes because of the current of the housing. Therefore, as represented by a half wave dipole antenna, it is not possible to have the uniform field emission pattern characteristic in a horizontal surface, and an abrupt drop (null point) appears in the horizontal surface.
In the case where the frequency is around 1 GHz, the wavelength is about 30 centimeter. Accordingly, when the electrical length including that of an antenna is equal to or less than λ/2, that is, when the length of the housing is equal to or less than 7.5 centimeter, and the electrical length of the antenna is equal to or less than λ/4, its field emission pattern characteristic becomes similar to that of the half wave dipole antenna. Thus, it is possible to have a relatively uniform field emission pattern characteristic in the horizontal surface.
However, in the case where the frequency is around 2 GHz, the wavelength is about 15 centimeter. Accordingly, even when the length of the housing of a radio terminal is around 10 centimeter, the electrical length including that of an antenna is about the same as or more than the wavelength. Thus, the field emission pattern characteristic does not become uniform because of the current of the housing, and an abrupt drop (null point) arises in the horizontal surface.
There has been the problem that it is not possible for a portable radio terminal to stably receive radio signals if the housing thereof has such a field emission characteristic and the reception characteristic changes depending on the direction of the terminal.
As a prior art document concerning an antenna of a portable radio terminal, Japanese utility model patent application laid-open No. 62-161410 discloses an antenna for a radio terminal, in which a platy radiating element is disposed parallel to the surface of a metallic housing of a radio terminal, one end of the platy radiating element is connected to the housing of the radio terminal and immobilized, a feeder cable is connected to a designated position on the platy radiating element, and a rod-shaped parasitic element is placed on the housing of the radio terminal.
This prior art realizes an antenna of a small size and also broadband characteristic by resonating the reverse F-shaped antenna of the platy radiating element and the rod-shaped parasitic element with each different resonance frequency.
Further, Japanese patent application laid-open No. 2004-56319 discloses a null-less antenna intended to fill in a null.
In the first prior art, while the radio terminal shows a good radiation characteristic in two frequency bands, the generation of a null has not been conceived. Therefore, when the art is applied to an antenna in a portable radio terminal, radio signals cannot be transmitted and received between a radio terminal and another radio terminal or a base station depending on the aspect of the radio terminal.
Also, the second prior art is so-called antenna array having a plurality of antennas, and therefore, it is difficult to apply the art to a portable radio terminal being required to be made smaller and lighter.
As above, it has not been provided an antenna device capable of being applied to a portable radio terminal and also showing a good radiation characteristic regardless of the direction of the terminal.

Antenna device and portable radio terminal


A method allowing centralized call control data management and improved maintenance efficiency of call control data for a plurality of call agents distributed in the packet-based network is disclosed. Each of the call agents is set to be a client of a server, which stores master call control data required in respective ones of the call agents and manages the master call control data. Each of the call agents stores a copy of corresponding master call control data so that the call agents perform network-wide call control.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to techniques for network-wide call control, and in particular to a management system and method for a plurality of call agents distributed in a packet-based network (PBN).
2. Description of the Related Art
In conventional multimedia techniques implemented in an existing packet-based network, plural call agents are distributed in the packet-based network and perform the network-wide call control based on call control data installed therein.
However, the call control data is individually set and installed in respective ones of the plural call agents. Accordingly, the efficiency of maintenance is reduced because the management of each call agent is not taken into consideration in the conventional techniques.
There has been disclosed a network management device allowing management of call control information transferred from an ISDN terminal via a packet-based network (see Japanese Patent Application Unexamined Publication No 8-8903).
However, call control data is changed due to data addition or deletion, or when restarting a call agent. In such a case, it is necessary to set the call control data stored in the call agent equal to that stored in the management device. The conventional network management device provides no means for data matching, data maintenance, or data checking procedure.

Centralized management technique of call control data


A protection circuit including a low-leakage electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection circuit and at least one bracing circuit, the at least one bracing circuit including an RC input stage connected between a pad and ground, a driver transistor configured to drive a plurality of components of the at least one bracing circuit, a series transistor on an input line configured to act as a high impedance element during an ESD event, and a mini-clamp configured to short the input line to ground to protect a circuit to be protected during an ESD event.

State of the art ESD protection for low voltage circuits (typically 5V and lower) may include a capacitively triggered railclamp in combination with ESD diodes. While the railclamp remains a workhorse for contemporary ESD circuits, drawbacks include a significant stand-by leakage. In integrated circuits (ICs) designed for low-leakage applications, high leakage is unacceptable. With advancing silicon technology this problem tends to get worse as gate lengths decrease. Moving to smaller dimensions, stand-by leakage for CMOS components such as NMOS transistors increases.
One alternative to using a railclamp for ESD protection is to use a grounded gate NMOS transistor (GGNMOS transistor), or a Low Trigger Voltage Silicon Controlled Rectifier (LVTSCR), as ESD protection devices. Both devices have a much smaller device width compared to a railclamp and therefore have a far lower stand-by leakage current. GGNMOS transistor and LVTSCR's, however, have a drawback of their own. As they sink the ESD PAD input current, they operate at a higher clamp voltage than railclamps. This increased clamp voltage during an ESD pulse puts a higher voltage stress on a circuit being protected. The increased voltage stress that comes with using a GGNMOS transistor is enough to risk damaging the circuit being protected.


In a dental handpiece with an elastically arranged reception part (8) for a tool, compressed air from angled exit nozzles (9) can be applied to a sleeve (7) allocated to the reception part (8) with radial play. The circulating movement of the sleeve (7) is converted into a vibration of the reception part (8). The plane of vibration lies essentially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the reception part (8).

The invention relates to a dental handpiece with a workhead, in which rotation of an element to which compressed air can be applied is converted into vibration of an elastically housed reception part for a dental tool. The plane of vibration of the reception part lies essentially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the reception part.
Such a handpiece is known from FIG. 6 of AT 404 550 B. Incoming compressed air acts on an unbalanced turbine rotor which is housed rotatably on the reception part of the tool so that rotating unbalance generates the desired vibrations of the tool (file, brush, polishing tool, etc). Rotary shafts achieve up to 300,000 revolutions per minute and very high stresses inevitably occur in the roller bearings thereof.
The object of the invention is to create a dental handpiece of the type mentioned above, in which no roller bearings are necessary.
This is achieved according to the invention by having a vibration-generating element be formed by a sleeve allocated to the reception part with radial play, towards which sleeve angled outlet nozzles for compressed air are directed. The compressed air which strikes the wall of the sleeve at an angle effects a circular rolling movement of the sleeve, and thus generates the rotating unbalance which brings the reception part and the tool clamped in the reception part to natural oscillations.
In a first version, the angled outlet nozzles are provided inside the sleeve in the reception part. The compressed air is supplied to the outlet nozzles from an axially-distanced inlet chamber via an annular channel extending axially in the reception part, or via several axis-parallel channels.
In a further version, the angled outlet nozzles are provided outside the sleeve in an annular element connected to the reception part which surrounds the sleeve with radial play. As the annular element is connected to the reception part, the radial play between the sleeve and the annular element can be smaller than the radial play between the sleeve and the reception part itself, so that the sleeve circles against the internal wall of the annular element and the vibrations are transferred to the reception part via the annular element. The compressed air is supplied in this version via an annular channel which runs between the annular element and an external sleeve.
To act on the vibration-generating sleeve from the outside, the outlet nozzles can also, for example, be provided at an annular element arranged in the housing of the workhead.
For an elastic bearing of the reception part, a first elastic element in the front area of the reception part and a second elastic element in the rear area are preferably provided. The second elastic element preferably seals off the inlet chamber for the compressed air from the exit chamber. The sleeve is preferably arranged behind the second elastic element at the end of the reception part.
The invention is described in more detail in the following by means of the figures of the accompanying drawings without being limited to them.


The distance A between opposite end nozzles 4e and 4e on the nozzle plate 4 is set smaller than the distance B between opposite end link channels 3e and 3e in the actuator. The difference between the distances A and B is determined dependent on the difference between the thermal expansion coefficients of the actuator and of the nozzle plate. After being heated, the nozzles will be properly located in correspondence with the ink channels. During the heating step, the nozzle plate is placed on the actuator via an adhesive. Then, the heater block is placed on the nozzle plate to heat the adhesive via the nozzle plate and to press the nozzle plate from upwardly. Accordingly, the temperature of the adhesive rapidly increases, whereby gas is completely discharged from the adhesive before the adhesive is completely hardened.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method of attaching a nozzle plate to an actuator for an ink jet print head. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method of attaching the nozzle plate to the actuator through thermally hardening adhesive provided between the nozzle plate and the actuator.
2. Description of Related Art
In order to produce an ink jet print head, an actuator and a nozzle plate are first produced. The actuator is formed with a plurality of ink channels. The ink channels are arranged with a uniform interval. The nozzle plate is formed with a plurality of nozzles. The number of the nozzles on the nozzle plate is the same as that of the ink channels. The nozzles are formed to be arranged with an interval equal to that of the ink channels. The intervals are measured under a room temperature when the channels and the nozzles are produced.
The nozzle plate is then attached onto the actuator in a manner described below with reference to FIG. 1.
First, the nozzle plate 4 is placed on the actuator 2 with epoxy resin provided therebetween so that each nozzle is precisely located on a corresponding ink channel.
Then, the nozzle plate 4 and the actuator 2 are mounted in a jig 50 shown in FIG. 1. In the jig 50, the nozzle plate 4 and the actuator 2 are sandwiched between a holding plate 41 and a base block 42. A silicone rubber sheet 30 is provided between the actuator 2 and the base block 42. The holding plate 41 and the base block 42 press the nozzle plate 4 against the actuator 2 when a screw 43 is tightened.
The jig 50 is then mounted in a heating device such as an oven (not shown). The jig 50 is heated at about 150.degree. C. for 30 minutes. Accordingly, while being applied with pressure, the nozzle plate 4 and the actuator 2 are heated at about 150.degree. C. for 30 minutes. As a result, the epoxy resin is thermally hardened, thereby firmly attaching the nozzle plate 4 to the actuator 2.
It is noted that thus applying heat leads thermal expansion of the nozzle plate 4 and the actuator 2. However, the thermal expansion coefficient of the nozzle plate 4 is different from that of the actuator 2. This is because the nozzle plate 4 is generally made of polyimide resin, while the actuator 2 is made of piezoelectric ceramic. Therefore, after the heating process, the positions of the nozzles on the nozzle plate 4 are shifted from the positions of the ink channels in the actuator 2. The nozzles fail to be positioned precisely corresponding to the ink channels. Accordingly, when the thus produced assembly of the nozzle plate 4 and the actuator 2 is employed in a print head, the assembly attains poor ink ejection, and therefore degrades printing quality.
Additionally, during the heating process, the jig 50 is heated in the oven together with the nozzle plate 4 and the actuator 2. Because the nozzle plate 4, the actuator 2, and the jig 50 have large thermal capacities, the temperatures thereof increase gradually. As the temperatures of the actuator 2 and the nozzle plate 4 increase, the epoxy resin starts being hardened and discharging gas. However, when the temperature increases at a low rate, the gas is discharged slowly from the epoxy resin. As a result, when the epoxy resin is hardened completely, the gas is still remained in the epoxy resin. The gas thus trapped in the hardened epoxy resin forms air bubbles. If the air bubble is located on a surface of the hardened epoxy resin contacting the nozzle plate 4 or the actuator 2, a space is formed between the epoxy resin and the nozzle plate 4 or the actuator 2. Thus produced space weakens attachment between the nozzle plate 4 and the actuator 2. Also, when the nozzle plate 4 is wiped for maintenance during printing, the nozzle plate 4 will possibly drop from the actuator 2.

Method of attaching nozzle plate to ink jet actuator


A signal processing circuit includes a chopper amplifier that has a differential amplifier circuit that amplifies differential input signals Vsp(t) and Vsm(t), and an adder circuit that generates an addition signal Vfil(t) by addition of the chopper output signal Vsub(t) that the chopper amplifier generates. Differential signals inputted into the differential amplifier circuit are interchanged for every first phase period and second phase period, and the adder circuit generates the addition signal by addition of the chopper output signal in the first phase period and in the second phase period.

The present invention relates to a signal processing circuit and a semiconductor device including the signal processing circuit, for example, a semiconductor device including a chopper amplifier.
It is difficult for an amplifier or a comparator to secure accuracies of amplification of an input signal and comparison because of an offset voltage arising from a mismatch of its input part device.
Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2008-219404 discloses an amplifier circuit including a chopper amplifier and an averaging circuit. The averaging circuit samples an output voltage of the chopper amplifier at multiple sampling times, and generates an average voltage of the output voltages at the sampling times.
Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2011-135225 discloses an adder circuit that adds an output voltage of a chopper amplifier and a hold voltage of a first sample and hold circuit between a first timing at which positive/negative of the offset voltage that is superimposed on the output voltage of the chopper amplifier and a second timing at which the first sample and hold circuit performs sampling and holding.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,292,095 discloses an amplifier circuit including a chopper amplifier and a switched capacitor. The amplifier circuit removes an offset voltage whose positive/negative polarities invert at a predetermined period by chopping using a switched capacitor technology.

Signal processing circuit, resolver digital converter, and multipath nested mirror amplifier


System and methods for preventing an operating-system scheduler in a computer system from crashing as a result of an uncleared periodic interrupt are disclosed. A periodic interrupt is generated using a real-time clock (RTC) residing on a chipset. A flag indicating a periodic interrupt is entered into a status register associated with the RTC in firmware residing on the CMOS chip, if the status register indicates no periodic interrupt has been pending. An interrupt handler associated with the RTC attempts to handle the periodic interrupt, if pending. If the periodic interrupt is pending after a preset interval of time elapses, a basic-input-output system (BIOS) residing on a memory unit coupled to the chipset generates a system-management interrupt (SMI). If the periodic interrupt is pending after the preset interval of time elapses, a firmware SMI handler residing on the memory unit clears the pending periodic interrupts from the status register. A scheduler timer associated with the operating system is updated.

As the value and use of information continues to increase, individuals and businesses seek additional ways to process and store information. One option available to these users is an information handling system. An information handling system generally processes, compiles, stores, and/or communicates information or data for business, personal, or other purposes thereby allowing users to take advantage of the value of the information. Because technology and information handling needs and requirements vary between different users or applications, information handling systems may vary with respect to the type of information handled; the methods for handling the information; the methods for processing, storing or communicating the information; the amount of information processed, stored, or communicated; and the speed and efficiency with which the information is processed, stored, or communicated. The variations in information handling systems allow for information handling systems to be general or configured for a specific user or specific use such as financial transaction processing, airline reservations, enterprise data storage, or global communications. In addition, information handling systems may include or comprise a variety of hardware and software components that may be configured to process, store, and communicate information and may include one or more computer systems, data storage systems, and networking systems.
Information handling systems including computer systems often incorporate real-time clocks to keep track of the current time even if the computer system is not powered on. These real-time clocks operate on batteries that are disconnected from the power supply used to operate the information handling system. Real-time clocks (RTCs) are often located on the motherboard, in Complementary Metal-Oxide Semiconductor (CMOS) integrated circuit chips such as the Southbridge, along with a few registers to program the RTC chip and a small amount of local memory. The registers can typically be divided into three groups: clock/calendar registers, status registers, and CMOS configuration data registers.
The RTC chip can be directly accessed through input/output (I/O) ports by software running on a computer system trying to manage events that need to be calibrated to real time. For example, certain operating systems, including the Microsoft Windows operating system, rely on interrupts generated by the RTC chip to maintain a computer system's system clock and to aid in scheduling tasks among system resources with a scheduler. In particular, the scheduler software component of an operating system will rely on interrupts generated by the RTC chip to function. An RTC chip will typically have an interrupt pin connected to a dedicated Interrupt Request (IRQ) input line, the IRQ8 line, on a Advanced Programmable Interrupt Controller (APIC), which prioritizes and feeds interrupts to the processor(s) of a computer system. The RTC chip can be used to generate periodic interrupts, as well as to generate interrupts at specific times and after each clock update. For periodic interrupts in particular, an operating system may be designed to be interrupted at a short regular interval. For example, certain operating systems are designed to be interrupted approximately every 15.625 milliseconds. In such a situation, the RTC chip will interrupt the processor via the IRQ8 line to the APIC approximately every 15.625 milliseconds. The IRQ8 interrupt will be serviced by a RTC interrupt handler or interrupt service routine in the operating system. The RTC interrupt handler (or operating system interrupt service routine) will execute the code necessary to manage the interrupt and clear all interrupt flags from one of the status registers for the RTC, RTC Status Register C. Clearing these interrupt flags allows future RTC periodic interrupts to take place: the RTC chip will not generate future RTC periodic interrupts unless RTC Status Register C has been read.
Again, one example of software that relies on interrupts generated by the RTC chip is an operating system scheduler. An operating system scheduler ideally is responsible for assigning priority levels to the various processes the operating system is trying to manage and for balancing processor loads in multi-processor computer systems. The health of the entire information system depends on the proper operation of the operating system scheduler. In multi-processor systems, an operating system typically provides a way to ensure that when one processor accesses an indexed I/O pair, such as CMOS 70h/71h, the I/O operation is not interrupted by other processors. The operating system spin-lock protected kernel I/O access service routine provides one way to protect against interruption. If a CMOS driver bypasses the kernel's spin-lock protected I/O call to directly access the CMOS register, however, the CMOS driver could interfere with the operating system's handling of RTC interrupts. That is, if the CMOS driver bypasses the kernel's spin-lock protected I/O call while the operating system is reading RTC Status Register C, the operating system might inadvertently read the wrong CMOS register instead. As a result, Status Register C would be left unread, and the RTC could not generate future RTC periodic interrupts. Because the operating system scheduler relies on the periodic RTC interrupts to function, the operating system will fail, bringing the computer system to a halt.
Another problem may arise because of the ability for user software to access the RTC registers: the user software may alter the registries and corrupt them. Corruption of the RTC registers can lead to system failures as well. For both of these problems, the most vulnerable RTC registers are at the Status Register A and Status Register C, also referred to as index offsets 0Ah and 0Ch. Status Register A and Status Register C directly affect the operation of the RTC chip.
One way to recover from these problems is for the operating system to use a "watchdog timer" inside its RTC interrupt handler. This watchdog timer is reset to a preset value just before an interrupt exits the RTC interrupt handler. If an RTC interrupt does not happen while the watchdog timer is running, an RTC watchdog timeout interrupt handler will check the RTC status registers and take any necessary corrective actions to restart the RTC periodic interrupts. This approach suffers from the drawbacks: it requires a dedicated hardware watchdog timer, and CMOS drivers can still interfere with operating system's handling of RTC interrupts even if this dedicated hardware watchdog timer is present.

System and method for preventing an operating-system scheduler crash


A speech detection system is provided with multiple speech detector sub-systems. The speech detection sub-systems employ distinct statistical methods for determining whether speech is present in an electronic communication signal received at an output terminal. For example, a first speech detection sub-system employs moving average peak signal filter, a second speech detection sub-system employing a moving average noise filter, and a third speech detection sub-system employs a variance filter. Signals from each of the filters are compared with respective threshold values, and the threshold values are provided to speech determination logic for making an aggregate speech detection decision. The speech detection system is useful for telephonic automatic gain control.

Automatic gain control (AGC) circuits are used within communication systems, such as telephonic communication systems, in order to maintain transmitted speech signals at comfortably audible levels. In order to maintain a specified average or peak level of speech signals, while minimizing noise content, automatic gain control circuits use a speech detector for discriminating between speech and noise signals. Typically, a speech detector evaluates a single statistical property of the transmitted signal, compares the statistical property value with a predetermined reference and provides a logical output signal indicating the presence or absence of speech in the transmitted signal. The AGC circuit responds to the logical output signal by adjusting the applied gain depending on whether a logical output signal indicates the presence of speech.
One problem with traditional speech detectors is that reliance upon a single statistical determination renders such speech detectors vulnerable to making false determinations when evaluating noise to noise signals that possess the requisite statistical property at a level sufficient to indicate speech detection. Another problem is that the production of a single logical output obscures the degree of confidence with which the presence of speech was determined by the speech detector. It would be desirable to provide a speech detector that utilizes more than a single statistical criterion in order to determine the presence of speech in a transmitted telephone signal. It would further be desirable to provide a speech detector that produces a detection signal from which the degree of confidence in the determination can be taken into account in adjusting the gain.

Speech detection system employing multiple determinants


A method for measuring a frequency translation device under test by using a vector network analyzer and a reference frequency translation device that includes measuring the network characteristics of the reference frequency translation device by using the vector network analyzer, measuring the network characteristics of a circuit including the reference frequency translation device and the frequency translation device under test by using the vector network where the reference frequency translation device has an operation complementary to the frequency translation device under test, and removing the network characteristics of the reference frequency translation device from the measured network characteristics of the circuit.

One important structural element in communication equipment or communication systems is a frequency translation device. A frequency translation device translates the frequency of some signal to another frequency as in a mixer or a sampler. If the network characteristics of a frequency translation device can be accurately measured, the communication equipment or communication system can be optimized. Until now, several methods for measuring the network characteristics of a frequency translation device have been proposed. These methods measure the network characteristics of a frequency translation device by using a vector network analyzer. Some methods require S21=S12 to be satisfied in the network characteristics of the frequency translation device, which is the device under test (see Unexamined Japanese Patent Publication No. 2002-57530 (pages 2-3, FIG. 1). Other methods require a special structure for the vector network analyzer (see Unexamined Japanese Patent Publication No. 2002-202, 331 (pages 3-4, FIG. 1, FIG. 2). The special structure is a structure for measuring in the state with different source and receiver frequencies.
In the past few years, balanced input/balanced output frequency translation devices have become widely used. The network characteristics of a balanced input/balanced output frequency translation device can be measured by connecting a balun. However, in this measurement method, the network characteristics of the balun are included in the network characteristics of the frequency translation device. In addition, this measurement method cannot perform measurements related to the in-phase signal component.
The present invention is to provide a method for measuring the network characteristics of all frequency translation devices by using an ordinary vector network analyzer. In addition, the present invention will provide a method for accurately measuring the network characteristics of a balanced input/balanced output frequency translation device.

Method of measuring frequency translation device


Disclosed are a composition for controlling the crystallization rate of a polyolefin-based resin, the composition comprising (A) an amide-based compound which is a substituted or unsubstituted cyclohexylamide of 1,2,3-propanetricarboxylic acid or 1,2,3,4-butanetetracarboxylic acid and (B) a fatty acid metal salt, wherein the component (A):component (B) weight ratio is from 100:0 to 30:70; a method for controlling the crystallization rate of a polyolefin-based resin, comprising incorporating the composition into the polyolefin-based resin to obtain a polyolefin-based resin composition and molding the resin composition; molded products obtained by the method; and the like.

Due to their excellent moldability, mechanical characteristics, electrical properties, etc., polyolefin-based resins are used in various fields as materials for film molding (i.e., molding for production of films), sheet molding (i.e., molding for production of sheets), blow molding, injection molding, etc. Although physical properties are generally excellent, such polyolefin-based resins have the problem of having low transparency, crystallizability and rigidity.
There have heretofore been proposals to use amide-based compounds, etc. as a nucleating agent so as to solve these problems (Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 1994-192496, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 1995-242610, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 1995-278374, and Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 1996-100088). When polyolefin-based resin compositions containing such amide-based compounds are molded, molded products with excellent transparency and mechanical strength can be obtained.
However, in order to obtain molded products with such outstanding characteristics in commercial production, the molding conditions need to be optimized according to the molding method to be adopted.
The molding methods include injection molding, extrusion molding, sheet molding, film molding, blow molding, etc. Molded product manufacturers must appropriately determine the molding conditions (injection or extrusion rate, injection pressure, resin temperature, mold temperature, chill roll temperature, shape of molds, etc.) of the molding machine according to the molding method, so as to optimize the processing conditions.
However, optimization of such molding conditions takes much time since many variables need to be determined, and the determination thereof is complicated. When such molding conditions are not determined correctly, the following problems may occur: white spots originating from non-dispersed nucleating agents may appear in the molded products, the transparency of the molded products may be inferior, the mechanical strength of the molded products may be weak, etc.
It is also known that certain nucleating agents elevate the crystallization temperature of polyolefin-based resins to some extent, and the molding cycle time can be shortened by using such nucleating agent. However, the use of such nucleating agent merely results in a crystallization temperature peculiar to the use of such nucleating agent, and the crystallization temperature cannot be controlled. Therefore, the use of such nucleating agent currently does not greatly contribute toward facilitating and expediting the setting of molding conditions or diversification and flexibility of the processing conditions.

Method and composition for control of crystallization rate of polyolefin resin, resin composition and resin molding


A packing box includes four walls, a bottom support, a cover and plates. The walls, the bottom support and the cover cooperatively define a space for accommodating items to be packed therein. The bottom support is formed with the walls for supporting the items packed in the space. The cover is configured for closing the packing box. The plates are disposed in the space and are formed by folding a cardboard extension from one or more of the walls. The plates separate the space into compartments.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a packing structure, and particularly to a packing box for accommodating several components therein.
2. Description of Related Art
Electronic devices generally comprise several attachments which are packaged within a box together with the electronic device. If the electronic device, as well as the attachments, is placed into the box without any partitions, they may become disordered. For dividing the box into several compartments to hold different components of the electronic device, a perforated cushion is employed. However, the cushion and the box are manufactured separately, which is time-consuming.
What is needed, therefore, is a integrally partitioned box able to receive different components.


A method for estimating one or more parameters of a ultra wideband signal and a receiver system for receiving ultra wideband signals is provided. The method for estimating one or more parameters of a signal in an ultra wide band system including estimating the parameter(s) for a first signal element in a received signal then removing this signal element from the signal to obtain a modified signal. The parameter(s) for a number of further signal elements are then estimated and these elements are removed from the modified signal to form a refined signal. The parameter(s) for the first signal element are re-estimated to re-define the first signal element based on the refined signal minus the signal element having the greatest amplitude. The parameter(s) for the signal element having the greatest amplitude are re-estimated to re-define this signal element. The steps are repeated to generate a refined estimate of the parameter(s) for the first signal element. There is also disclosed a receiver for performing the above steps.

The present application relates to a method for estimating one or more parameters of a signal in an ultra wideband system, and a receiver for receiving ultra wideband signals. In particular, the methods and receivers according to one or more preferred embodiments may have particular application in delay and amplitude estimation in pulse based ultra wideband (UWB) systems, such as positioning systems.
In positioning systems, a pulse based ultra wideband (UWB) signal may be used to estimate the distance of the transmitter from the receiver by estimating signal arrival time at the receiver. Such a signal may also be used to estimate the direction of arrival (DOA) of a signal at the receiver, by comparing the signal amplitudes received by two directional antennae which have been placed in a fixed geometrical relationship to one another. A conventional method for estimating the signal arrival time is by measuring the amplitude of the received signal and the time at which it exceeds a threshold value is taken as the signal arrival time. The maximum amplitude value of the received signal is taken to be the strength of the signal.
The above conventional method is satisfactory in a free space condition, that is one in which there are no reflections. However, in a system where there are multiple reflections in the signal path, the reflection signals will overlap with the direct path signal and this will affect the timing and the amplitude values determined by the above conventional method. The received signal will be the sum of the direct-path and multipath signals.
To increase the signal to noise ratio (SNR), the cross-correlation between the received signal and a local stored pulse template may be calculated. Based on the cross-correlation function, the signal arrival time and amplitude may be estimated. This is equivalent to a matched filter. Unfortunately, cross-correlation cannot solve the multipath problem described above.
In the publication by Jian Li, and Renbiao Wu entitled "An efficient algorithm for time delay estimation" and published in IEEE Transaction on Signal Processing. Vol. 46. No. 8, August 1998, for the multipath delay mixed signal, a frequency domain time delay estimation approach was presented. The approach was formulated as a nonlinear least squares (NLS) fitting problem and solved by the Weighted Fourier transform and RELAXation (hereinafter referred to as WRELAX) technique, where it was shown that the delay estimation for every multipath element of the mixed signal may approach Cramer-Rao bound (CRB) and hence is optimal.
The WRELAX technique was also disclosed in the publication by Renbiao Wu, Jian Li, Zheng-shi Liu, entitled "Super resolution time delay estimation via MODE_WRELAX." Published in IEEE Transaction Aerospace and Electronic Systems, Vol. 35, No. 1, January 1999, to achieve super resolution time-delay estimation.
When the dimensions of the signals (that is the number of multipath copies of the transmitted signal) are known, the WRELAX technique described in the publication by Jian Li, and Renbiao Wu entitled "An efficient algorithm for time delay estimation" and published in IEEE Transaction on Signal Processing. Vol. 46. No. 8, August 1998 performs satisfactorily. However, it becomes very time consuming when the number of multipaths is large, due to the multi-level iterations of the WRELAX technique, which makes operation in real-time difficult and complex.
Thus there is a need for an apparatus and method for calculating the amplitude and time of arrival of a signal from a multipath signal.

Method for estimating one or more parameters of a ultra wideband signal and a receiver system for receiving ultra wideband signals