An apparatus for elastic hysteretic palpatory training includes a wire or a computer controlled actuator having a plunger that at least partially elastically resists the application of a palpatory force. In use of the apparatus, an increasing palpatory force is applied to an end of the wire transverse to its axis or an end of the plunger of the actuator in a first direction. In response to the applied palpatory force, the wire or the plunger elastically resist displacement from a first position to a second position. The palpatory force is then withdrawn whereupon the elasticity of wire or the elasticity emulated by the plunger causes it to return toward the first position. The applied palpatory force versus displacement is detected in response to applying and withdrawing the palpatory force to the wire or the plunger.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to palpation as practiced in all fields of medicine by any class of practitioner including lay practitioners. It also relates to the human ability to sense through touch elastic and hysteretic behavior in living or dead organic material (tissue) and inorganic material.
2. Description of Related Art
Palpation is an integral component of a thorough medical examination. Physicians or medical practitioners are able to assess the body and make a diagnosis based on palpatory skill. Palpatory findings also guide hands-on treatment of the body for therapeutic purposes. Until now, the science behind the art of palpation has been poorly understood.
Health care providers who practice manual manipulative medicine, for example, claim to have abilities to detect and treat subtle dysfunctions of the neuromusculoskeletal system. Palpation is often the most important factor, if not the only factor, guiding diagnosis and treatment.
Of particular interest is the assessment of motion quality in terms of tissue response. This is more than a degree of range of motion. Tissue response is how the body reacts to energy transfer. It is the result of a given force supplied, maintained and withdrawn. Terms such as ease of motion and stiffness have been used to describe this dimension of palpatory diagnosis.
Studies have been conducted and reported to define and quantify elasticity, stiffness and motion quality of the human body. These studies, however, have not been able to correlate the mechanical and clinical concepts of elasticity, stiffness and motion quality. Palpation involves practitioner assessment of elasticity, stiffness and motion quality and the hysteretic effect that such tissue presents to the practitioner.
Other studies attempting to measure elasticity, stiffness and motion quality have been unsuccessful because they could not establish a correct measurement parameter for palpation. More specifically, these studies used a palpatory model and found a high degree of inter-practitioner correlation. However, palpatory techniques learned on this model did not translate to palpation of human tissue, and thus showed poor inter-practitioner correlation on human tissue.
In addition, the inorganic mechanical model used for these studies used only elastic components. That is, this inorganic model used springs that had an elastic coefficient of 1.0. In other words, the model was fully (completely) elastic, lacked inelastic features and did not have inelastic moving parts to palpate, i.e., individual parts having an elastic coefficients valued between 0.0, completely inelastic, and 1.0, completely elastic. Thus, this model did not have any hysteretic effect to present to the palpating practitioner. The practitioner's only learned the differences between elastic moving parts. When palpating human tissue, poor inter-practitioner correlation resulted because an understanding of the effects of hysteresis was missing.
It would, therefore, be desirable to provide an inorganic elastic hysteretic palpatory training device and method of use thereof that can provide to the practitioner, upon palpation, both elastic and hysteretic response.

Elastic hysteretic palpatory training apparatus and method of use thereof


A method (300) and apparatus (200) are provided for operating a portable pager. The method and apparatus eliminate channel noise between paging tones and voice messages. Channel noise is squelched between paging tones and voice messages using a delayed N timer, thereby allowing the speaker to remain on. Paging tones are received and played at the speaker during a signaling squelch mode of operation. The detection of the paging tones and subsequent drop in carrier signal, initiates a timer during which channel noise is squelched during a carrier squelch mode of operation. The timer is delayed (delay N timer) so as to expire only after the carrier frequency is re-established. Once the carrier signal is re-established followed by the delayed timer expiration, the carrier squelch is removed. The speaker remains on during both signaling squelch and carrier squelch. Hence, paging tones are heard, channel noise is silenced, and then voice messages are played.

A paging device is typically a portable, receive only, voice communication device. Paging devices were originally developed in the 1970's to address the need for a portable radio small enough to be worn by a person and only activated when needed. Paging devices continue to be utilized today and are oftentimes carried by fire and rescue personnel as well as other agencies, such as utilities and private contractors. Paging devices advantageously offer a small, compact form factor that can be carried on a person and usually left on a silent "standby" mode. When the unit is activated, the pager sounds a tone or vibrating alert at the pager's speaker, followed by an announcement from a dispatcher alerting the user of a situation. After activation, the pager remains in an "open" position much like a scanner, and continuously broadcasts any audio transmissions on that channel until the unit is reset back into a silent "standby" mode (depending on programming selections) or it resets back to the "standby" mode after a set amount of time. A pager is a receive-only unit, not a transceiver, and thus cannot transmit.
During typical pager operation, when an incoming radio frequency (RF) carrier is present on a channel, the speaker is turned on while the message/page is being recorded and played out. Having both the speaker and page recording active when the carrier drops results in a condition called open channel noise. Open channel noise can be considered annoying to some users.
Accordingly, it would be desirable to have a paging device that would eliminate the open channel noise condition.
Skilled artisans will appreciate that elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements in the figures may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help to improve understanding of embodiments of the present invention.
The apparatus and method components have been represented where appropriate by conventional symbols in the drawings, showing only those specific details that are pertinent to understanding the embodiments of the present invention so as not to obscure the disclosure with details that will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of the description herein.

Method and apparatus for improving audio reception in a paging device


Theft resistant upstanding mounts adjustably support at temporary, often unattended outdoor locations, such costly devices as compact, wireless electronic devices that control such excavation machinery as bulldozers and road graders. Each mount is connectable to or includes a massive base structure, and includes an upstanding, telescopically extensible mast. Lockable connections are provided between many components of the mount. A lockable, swivel connection provided between the mast and a costly device supported atop the mast permits leveling of the costly device for proper operation even if a longitudinal axis of the upstanding mast deviates significantly from true vertical. A protective cover locked to the mast assembly denies access to a control knob that might otherwise be used to detach the costly device from the mast.

This invention relates to theft resistant, upstanding mounts for adjustably supporting costly devices at selected above-ground heights at temporary locations that often are left unattended even during work days.
Costly devices such as compact electronic devices that need to be supported at above-ground heights, often on a temporary basis, are made by many entities. Typical of such costly devices are compact electronic devices that monitor and at least partially control the operation of heavy duty excavation and earth moving equipment at large outdoor construction sites.
Many sizable outdoor construction projects no longer make labor intensive use of surveyors and others who aid in determining the elevations and present positions of soil, rock and other landmarks—or are used in determining what soil, rock and other material needs to be repositioned, added or hauled away. When sites for road-beds, bridges, cloverleafs, parking lots, new buildings and the like are to be cleared, excavated and otherwise prepared for construction work that is to follow, drones of ever-increasing sophistication often are being used to acquire job site data in a fraction of the time it took survey crews to collect and correlate site data only a few years ago.
By making use of drone-collected data, combined with other information, as inputs to computer-aided design (CAD) software, a three-dimensional (3D) model can be generated of a site. Such a 3D model can then be conveyed to a costly wireless electronic device positioned atop an upstanding support in a CAD file to enable that device to monitor and at least partially control large excavation equipment such as bulldozers and road graders to perform such work as needs to be carried out at the job site in preparation for construction work to follow. Large scale outdoor work that only a few years ago was still quite labor intensive is increasingly being automated.
The out-of-the-way locations where the costly wireless electronic devices need to be temporarily positioned (so the costly devices and their upstanding supports do not interfere with movements of excavation equipment) to communicate properly with such excavation equipment being controlled by the devices often are unattended much of each workday, and at other times.
By way of example, Trimble Navigation Limited of Sunnyvale, Calif., sells costly, compact, wireless electronic control units for monitoring and controlling large excavation equipment such as bulldozers and road graders. The Trimble units are variously known as "Universal Total Station systems," or as "Robotic Total Stations" (often referred to hereinafter as "systems or units").
Trimble Total Station systems or units are used quite widely by thousands of sizable excavation and construction companies to aid with the layout, progressive grading, and final grading of roadbeds, bridges, clover-leafs, parking lots, new building sites, and the like—sites where compact yet costly devices such as Trimble Total Station systems or units need to be temporarily, adjustably positioned atop some sort of upstanding mounts—typically mounts that have, in some way, been extended to selected above-ground heights.
A typical Trimble Total Station system or unit is a compact, smaller-than-briefcase-size, relatively lightweight, easy-to-carry electronic device that easily may cost $35,000 or more. In essence, a 3D model of an associated job or project is described in detail in a CAD file that is loaded into the system or unit. The CAD file is combined with other programming and information that also may be loaded into the system or unit to let the system or unit know precisely what must be done, and how it must be done, so the system or unit can accomplish the associated job or project—for example, by controlling excavation and construction equipment to remove or reposition or supplement existing soil, rock and other materials at, to or from specific locations.
In use, a Trimble Total Station system or unit is supported atop an upstanding mount at a suitable out-of-the-way outdoor location where the system or unit can wirelessly transmit data and commands that enable the system or unit to monitor the work of, and to at least partially control the operation of an associated piece of construction and/or excavation equipment such as a road grader, a bulldozer, an excavator or the like. Each Total Station system or unit is said to be "married to" an associated piece of construction and/or excavation equipment—so that the equipment to which the system is married can perform such tasks as are needed to advance, and eventually to accomplish, the associated job or project.
Understandably, these compact but costly, lightweight and easy to carry Trimble systems or units (and other similar costly devices that may need to be supported at outdoor locations that often are left unattended even during busy workdays), have frequently become targets for theft by those who are inclined to stealthily grab one of these quite costly systems or units, and hustle away with it—so that it typically can be put to use at another job site—even a job site that may be fairly near to where the system or unit was stolen.
When one of the Total Station systems or units has suddenly "gone missing" at a job site, associated components of a Trimble controlled job site immediately become disabled and are nearly useless. Wireless receivers costing $55,000 or more carried on heavy construction and excavation equipment, to say nothing of the very costly construction and excavation equipment itself, are suddenly and unexpectedly rendered useless—until the stolen Total Station system or unit can be replaced and loaded with the appropriate 3D model so needed work can resume at the associated job site.
The problem of theft of costly equipment supported at elevated attitudes at unmanned, outdoor locations is very real. Indeed, the problem has become far more significant than one might think possible. There is hardly a sizable earthwork contractor in business today who has not had one or more of the costly Trimble Total Station systems or units stolen by snatch and grab thieves. One contractor in the Tampa area recently had 7 of his Trimble Total Station systems or units stolen during the same day—all at times while the systems or units were in operation monitoring and controlling associated construction and/or excavation equipment at active job sites.
Construction contractors have tried to use a variety of theft prevention measures to keep costly devices such as Trimble Total Station systems or units from being stolen. Typically, a Total Station system or unit is supported at a selected height and in a temporary, out-of-the-way location (where an un-needed vehicle can also be parked)—with the location being chosen to enable the system or unit to communicate adequately with and to control associated construction and/or excavation equipment that will be operating within a few miles of the system or unit which is tethered by a stout cable to the bumper of a vehicle parked at the chosen location. The often quiet, unattended and out-of-the-way outdoor locations chosen to temporarily position Total Station systems and units have been known to encourage would-be thieves who dash from a get-away vehicle waiting nearby with its engine running so they can use bolt cutters or battery-operated portable grinding equipment to quickly sever stout tether cables. Within a matter of a few seconds, a total station system or unit can be cut loose and spirited away by thieves who sometimes drop their bolt cutters or other cutting equipment as they focus on quickly grabbing an untethered system or unit, and escape in their waiting get-away cars.
As the foregoing explains, there exists a need for a mount that can be moved from one temporary location to another, and that can provide superior theft resistant support for costly devices positioned atop the mount, especially when the temporary locations are left unattended.
Another problem with positioning costly devices at a sequence of temporary job sites has to do with the condition and character of the ground surfaces at these sites. The ground may have been recently cleared of trees and brush, and may be so disturbed that it is unstable, often is quite uneven, and may cause whatever is situated atop the ground surface to tilt—so that relatively tall, upstanding mounts of one kind or another that are temporarily positioned at such sites for supporting costly devices such as Trimble systems and units are forced (by underlying ground surfaces that are uneven, unstable and less than level) to extend upwardly along axes that deviate significantly from true vertical. Hence, a need exists for a secure upstanding mount that can be moved from place to place, and that often can overcome the problem of disturbed ground surfaces tending to cause instability at such sites as have been selected for temporary positioning of such costly devices.
Yet another problem encountered in positioning costly devices for operation at elevated heights and in a series of temporary locations is that the devices themselves need to be properly leveled where positioned for use. While some costly devices are provided with on-board leveling mechanisms that permit the nearly level attitudes of the costly devices to be fine-tuned, seldom, if ever, are such devices provided with leveling mechanisms that are capable of compensating for supports that mount the costly devices at attitudes significantly tilted from level. Hence, a need exists for a secure upstanding mount that can be moved from one desired temporary location to another, with the mount itself having an on-board mechanism that enables a costly device carried atop the mount to be supported in a level orientation even if the mount itself has an upstanding mast that deviates significantly from true vertical.

Theft resistant upstanding mount for temporary positioning of costly equipment at unattended outdoor locations


The present invention relates to a level sensing spray applicator. In one embodiment, the spray applicator includes a gun that receives a liquid and a supply vessel coupled to the gun. The vessel includes a level sensor responsive to the volume retained by the supply vessel. In another aspect, a level-sensing supply vessel includes a level sensor responsive to a volume of liquid retained by the supply vessel, the sensor including a sensor element to detect the volume by sensing a resistance property of the liquid. In still a further aspect, a method of sensing a level of a liquid retained within a storage vessel includes sensing a first liquid volume, removing a portion of the first volume to define a second volume, determining if the second volume is less than a minimum volume, and generating an alarm signal if the second volume is less than the minimum volume.

A wide variety of spray application devices for applying liquids such as paint, varnish, cleaning solvents, or other liquid materials to a surface are known. Typically, such spray applicator devices include a supply vessel that contains a volume of the liquid to be applied to the surface. The liquid is transferred from the supply vessel to a spray gun that atomizes the liquid and projects the atomized liquid towards the surface. In one example of a spray applicator device, the supply vessel is positioned above the spray gun so that the liquid is transferred to the spray gun by a gravity-feed system. In another example of an applicator device, the supply vessel may be positioned below the spray gun and internally pressurized to transfer the liquid upwardly into the gun. In still other examples, the vessel may be positioned remotely relative to the gun so that the liquid is transferred from the vessel to the spray gun through a flexible hose.
In all of these spray applicator devices, determining the volume of the liquid remaining in the supply vessel as the application of the liquid proceeds constitutes a significant problem. If the liquid volume in the supply vessel is reduced to a low value, the gun may be supplied with liquid only intermittently, so that the gun emits the atomized liquid on an interrupted basis. As a consequence, the spray applicator device fails to apply the liquid uniformly to the surface. In particular, when the spray applicator device is used to apply a paint material to a surface, surface imperfections in the paint finish may result when non-atomized paint is projected, or "sputtered" onto the surface, thus necessitating time consuming surface rework and re-painting. Since supply vessels commonly used with spray guns are comprised of materials that are substantially non-transparent, a visual indication of the liquid level in the supply vessel is not generally possible.
Accordingly, there is a need in the art for a level-sensing device for spray applicators to provide a user of the spray applicator with an audible or visual indication when the volume of liquid in the supply vessel has been reduced to a predetermined level.

Fluid level sensing apparatus and method for a spray applicator


A new variety of Azalea plant found as a seedling in a planned cross between the female hybrid Azalea ‘EMBERS’ and the male hybrid Azalea ‘September Morn’ is disclosed. The new variety possesses a unique blooming time and is very cold hardy. It is an upright and slightly open growing Azalea with large and attractive, single to semi-double orange-red flowers.

The present invention is a new and distinct variety of evergreen Azalea of the genus Rhododendron. This new Azalea, hereinafter referred to as 'MNIESM', was discovered in March, 1999 in Lawrenceville, Ga. 'MNIESM' originated from a cross between hybrid Azalea 'EMBERS' ('Conleb', U.S. Plant Pat. No. 10,581) and hybrid Azalea 'September Morn' (unpatented) in Lawrenceville, Ga. The value of this new cultivar lies in its unique blooming period, bloom color, bloom form, growth habit, and cold hardiness.
Asexual propagation of the new plant by cuttings was performed in Dearing, Ga. The new plant retains its distinctive characteristics and reproduces true to type in successive generations by vegetative propagation.


A filter has a shell construction including a connection surface and a bar-like resonator in the shell construction. The bar-like resonator has an initial section having one end region thereof connected to the connection surface of the shell construction and an opposite end region. A substantially straight and elogate intermediate section extends from the opposite end region of the initial section to an end and a turning-point section extends from the end of the intermediate section to an end. A substantially straight and elongate end section has one end connected to the end of the turning-point section so as to extend adjacent to the intermediate section and supporting means connect to the connection surface of the shell construction for supporting the bar-like reasonator at least at one of the end section and turning-point.

The invention relates to a filter comprising a shell construction and at least one resonator in the shell construction, the resonator having a turning point where the coaxial resonator turns backwards and in which filter the coaxial resonator is attached to a connection surface included in the shell construction.
Radio-frequency filters, such as resonator filters are used for implementing high frequency circuits in base stations of mobile telephone networks, for example. Filter constructions can be used, for example, as interface and filtering circuits in the amplifiers of transmitter and receiver units in base stations.
There are several different types of resonator filters comprising a shell construction, or a body: e.g. a coaxial resonator filter and an L-C filter. The present solution relates to coaxial resonators. In addition, for example, a helix resonator and a cavity resonator construction are known. All these resonator types comprise a metallic shell construction. In coaxial resonator constructions, for example, the shell envelops a conductor which is positioned in the middle of the shell and which is called a resonator or a resonator pin. In helix resonators the wire of the resonator is wound into a spiral coil. A cavity resonator only comprises a cavity.
As the size of the equipments requiring filters has become smaller, it has become necessary to make the resonator small-sized. To reduce the space required by the resonator, a helix coil is used where the same operational length will be in a shorter space because the resonator in the helix resonator has been formed as a coil. A helix coil is, however, difficult to manufacture, and a further disadvantage is that it very difficult to attach to the helix coil a wiring connection or other such projection which is needed when the switching between two resonance circuits is to be adjusted. A further problem with helix resonators is that it is difficult to support them and carry out temperature compensation. References FI-80163, FI-80811 and FI-90157 disclose supports of helix resonators where the annular lower edge of the helix resonator coil rests on the surface to which the helix is attached. But as mentioned, it is difficult to support a helix resonator and the manufacturing of the actual helix is difficult in comparison to a bar-like coaxial resonator.
In coaxial resonators, a resonator is normally a straight pin which is connected only to the bottom of the resonator. This type of resonator is long and thus takes up a lot of space.
A coaxial resonator type, which is U-shaped, that is, comprises a turning point, is also known. Such a construction allows a smaller size but its manufacturing is problematic because the connection of the initial section and the support of the end section of the resonator will be on different surfaces wherefore the manufacture and installation of the filter will become considerably more difficult.


Devices having setting elements are adjusted by carrying out a first measurement of a characteristic curve to be controlled at predefined measurement points, each setting element assuming a reference setting; testing a termination condition and terminating the method if this condition is satisfied; and, if the termination condition is not satisfied, modifying the reference setting of each setting element and measuring the characteristic curve again at predefined measurement points for this configuration; reproducing the initial reference setting of the modified setting element; when there is more than one setting element, calculating the gradient functions of the characteristic curve; calculating new settings by minimizing an error function by using the obtained measured values and the calculated gradient functions; and carrying out the method again, beginning with the new calculated settings serving as the new reference setting.

The invention relates to a method and an arrangement for automatic adjustment of devices having setting elements, and a corresponding computer program product and a corresponding computer-readable storage medium, which can be used in particular for computer-aided adjustment of microwave filters.
Microwave filters are still in many cases adjusted manually in a conventional way. The mutual influencing of the resonators and couplings makes both manual and automated computer-aided adjustment difficult. For the manual adjustment of these filters, experienced personnel are required and the adjustment time is therefore associated with high costs. Automated methods, which carry out this complex adjustment satisfactorily, have hitherto not been used.

Method and arrangement for automatic adjustment of devices having setting elements, and a corresponding computer program product and a corresponding computer-readable storage medium


A multi-bridge-channel MOSFET (MBCFET) may be formed by forming a stacked structure on a substrate that includes channel layers and interchannel layers interposed between the channel layers. Trenches are formed by selectively etching the stacked structure. The trenches run across the stacked structure parallel to each other and separate a first stacked portion including channel patterns and interchannel patterns from second stacked portions including channel and interchannel layers remaining on both sides of the first stacked portion. First source and drain regions are grown using selective epitaxial growth. The first source and drain regions fill the trenches and connect to second source and drain regions defined by the second stacked portions. Marginal sections of the interchannel patterns of the first stacked portion are selectively exposed. Through tunnels are formed by selectively removing the interchannel patterns of the first stacked portion beginning with the exposed marginal sections. The through tunnels are surrounded by the first source and drain regions and the channel patterns. A gate is formed along with a gate dielectric layer, the gate filling the through tunnels and extending onto the first stacked portion.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to methods of forming semiconductor devices, and, more particularly, to methods of forming a multi-bridge-channel metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor (MBCFET).
2. Description of the Related Art
As the integration density of semiconductor memory devices has increased, the area of an active region where elements are disposed has gradually been scaled down. The downscaling of the active region may preclude obtaining a sufficient effective channel length or effective channel width of a transistor.
A reduction in the channel length of a transistor, such as a metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor (MOSFET), may make a short channel effect predominant, thus adversely affecting the characteristics of the transistor. Also, as the channel width of a transistor decreases, a narrow width effect, which results in an increase of threshold voltage, may become more prominent and have a bad influence on the transistor. To overcome these drawbacks, many attempts for increasing the effective channel length (or width) of a transistor within a restricted active region have been made.
For example, a multi-bridge-channel FET (MBCFET) was presented. The MBCFET includes a plurality of rectangular thin channels and a gate surrounding the top, bottom, and side surfaces of the channels, and the channels are vertically stacked. The gate disposed on the channels includes branch layers that extend between the channels. The branch layers of the gate are connected to each other on two opposite lateral portions of the channels.
A typical MBCFET has the above-described structure, but a process of manufacturing the MBCFET may include some problems. For example, to operate an MBCFET, source and drain regions are connected to channels. However, when a stacked structure including the channels and a gate and/or branch layers is formed, a top of the source and drain regions is disposed in an even lower position than a top layer of the gate, thus leaving a step difference therebetween.
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a conventional MBCFET structure. Referring to FIG. 1, the conventional MBCFET includes a plurality of rectangular thin channels 11 disposed on a substrate 10, a gate 30 surrounding the top and bottom surfaces and/or the front and rear surfaces of the channels 11, and branch layers 31 of the gate 30. Gate dielectric layers 20 are disposed between the gate 30 (and/or the branch layers 31) and the channels 11.
The channels 11 are electrically connected to source and drain regions 15. When the channels 11 and the gate 30 (and/or the branch layers 31) are stacked,the source and drain regions 15 are disposed in a much lower position than a top layer of the gate 30. To overcome this step difference and electrically connect the source and drain regions 15 and the channels 11, a connection layer 13 is formed in the form of spacers on the sidewalls of the stacked structure including the channels 11 and the branch layers 31.
Thus, charges are transported between a contact position 17 on the source and drain regions 15 and the top layer of the gate 30 through the connection layer 13 that electrically connects the source and drain regions 15 and the channels 11. In this case, a charge transfer distance is greatly extended so that resistances to the source and drain regions 15 are undesirably increased.
Also, if the substrate 10 is a silicon on insulator (SOI) substrate, to realize a thin body of the SOI substrate, a silicon layer may be formed to a thickness of about 30 nm or less on a buried oxide layer or a bottom oxide layer (BOX). In this case, the buried oxide layer or the BOX may be exposed because an over etch margin is insufficient in an etch process for forming a path required for forming the branch layers 31. The exposure of the buried oxide layer or the BOX may preclude performing selective epitaxial growth (SEG). Accordingly, it may become difficult to form the source and drain regions 15.
Moreover, owing to the step difference between the source and drain regions 15 and the top layer of the gate 30, it may be difficult to perform a subsequent metallization, which is required to selectively form a metal electrode layer at the contact position 17 on the source and drain regions 15. This is because the step difference impedes forming insulating spacers, which are used in forming a metal layer or/a metal silicide layer selectively on the connection layer 13.
To solve these problems, a process of forming a polysilicon plug for the source and drain regions 15 on the connection layer 13 can be considered. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a conventional MOSFET including polysilicon-plug type source and drain regions 55. Referring to FIG. 2, the polysilicon-plug type source and drain regions 55 are formed on a stacked structure, which is formed on a substrate 50 and includes a plurality of rectangular thin channels 51, a gate 70, and branch layers 71 of the gate 70. The channels 51, between which the branch layers 71 and gate dielectric layers 60 are interposed, are connected to the source and drain regions 55 by a connection layer 53. In this case, the source and drain regions 55 are formed using polysilicon plugs 57 so as to reduce a step difference between the source and drain regions 55 and the gate 70.
However, the foregoing structure assists in reducing the step difference, but makes a manufacturing process complicated because the manufacturing process involves depositing and etching back a polysilicon layer. Also, corners of the channel 51 disposed under the gate 70 may be etched in the etchback process of the polysilicon layer so that upper shoulder corners 59 of the connection layer 53 have steep etched surfaces. Due to the steep etched surfaces of the connection layer 53, lightly doped drain (LDD)-type source and drain regions 55 formed in the connection layer 53 also have steep profiles. In this case, resistances of the source and drain regions 55 are undesirably increased. Further, by etching the corners of the channel 51, an etchback margin may be insufficient.
As described above, the step difference between the source and drain regions and the top layer of the gate may lead to an increase in resistance. Thus, there remains room for improvement in the art.

Methods of forming a multi-bridge-channel MOSFET


A first connection between a first communication apparatus and a server apparatus and a second connection between a second communication apparatus and the server apparatus are established. The first and second communication apparatuses exchange information on their features via the first and second connections, and then, disconnects the first and second connections. The first communication apparatus acquires information on settings of its communication environment, and then, establishes a third connection with the server apparatus. The second communication apparatus acquires information on settings of its communication environment, and then, establishes a fourth connection with the server apparatus. The first and second communication apparatuses exchange the information on the settings of their communication environments via the third and fourth connections. The first and second communication apparatuses establishes a fifth connection between them not through the server apparatus, based on the information on the settings of their communication environments.

1. Technical Field
The technical field relates to a method for establishing a connection between communication apparatuses, particularly over a network such as the Internet, and also relates to a communication apparatus and a server apparatus each involved in such a method.
2. Description of the Related Art
Methods for connecting communication apparatuses each connected to the Internet have been known in the art (e.g., see Japanese Patent Laid-open Publication No. 2003-169075). Japanese Patent Laid-open Publication No. 2003-169075 discloses a connection helper server capable of establishing communications between a requesting terminal and an answering terminal. The connection helper server relays data using connections from the answering terminal and requesting terminal associated with each other, for data transmission and reception.
Among methods for establishing a connection between two communication apparatuses, a peer-to-peer (P2P) method is known. According to the peer-to-peer method, it is possible to transmit and receive data directly between communication apparatuses not through a server apparatus. However, according to the peer-to-peer method, the communication apparatuses should exchange their information with each other via the server apparatus before establishing the connection between the communication apparatuses. In other words, the communication apparatuses should communicate with the connection helper server apparatus before establishing the connection between the communication apparatuses.

Method for establishing connection between communication apparatuses, communication apparatus, and server apparatus

PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.


An electronic fuze package and method includes a left casing comprising a substantially flat left surface having left casing recesses and a right casing comprising a substantially flat right surface having right casing recesses. The combination of the left casing and the right casing defines a fuze casing for the mounting of fuze components. The fuze package also includes plated-on electrical tracks on the left casing, including component connections immediately adjacent to the casing recesses for electrically coupling the fuze components in a fuze circuit. The fuze package can be made of thermoplastic left and right casings which can be epoxy-glued together. Copper can be used for the plated-on electrical tracks.

Electronics for high acceleration (high g) and extreme temperature environment applications such as projectile fuzes must survive and function both during and after launching. Modern electronic fuzes have become more complex as demands have increased for electrical as well as mechanical performance options. The increased complexity of fuze systems makes production of fuzes capable of functioning in extreme dynamic and thermal environments even more difficult. Performance reliability and high volume producibility of electronics fuze systems typically decrease as fuze system complexity increases, mainly due to failures at system levels.
A typical electronic assembly in a fuze system comprises various electronic components, including a printed wiring board (PWB), PWB support or housing, connecting wires or pins and sockets, and encapsulant. One of the most critical components of an electronic fuze is the PWB. To produce a high quality PWB which will function reliably requires time-consuming and labor-intensive processes for the steps of laminating fiberglass woven layers, drilling, cutting, adding connectors and standoffs. Most electronic components mounted to a PWB would not be able to withstand the dynamics of gun launching without a mask, PWB housing, and encapsulant material for cushioning, damping, and support of the internal components.
While encapsulant packaging techniques have generally been successful at providing such additional support in a fuze assembly under dynamic environments, such techniques can result in solder cracks and brittle component failures during military standard temperature and humidity tests (per MIL-STD-331). In addition, these encapsulant techniques are not easily controlled, are messy, and typically yield poor reproducibility, e.g., when unpredictable shrinks, cracks, or voids occur within the encapsulant.
Thus, what is needed is an apparatus for electronic fuze packaging with a higher degree of fuze system integration. Such integration is desired to eliminate the use of encapsulant material and reduce the number of components and assembly processes associated with the fuze assembly. By reducing the number of mechanical and electrical interfaces between components in an integrated fuze package, the fuze assembly will achieve a significant improvement in electrical and mechanical performance reliability, improved manufacturability, and reduction of unit cost.


Respective positive terminal electric potentials of exhaust gas sensors are sequentially selectively inputted to an analog input terminal of a multi-channel AD converter through a multiplexer. An offset voltage is applied to respective negative terminals of the exhaust gas sensors. This offset voltage is inputted to another input terminal of the multi-channel AD converter. A microprocessor detects a generating voltage of the exhaust gas sensors by the difference between a digital converting value of the positive terminal electric potential and a digital converting value of the negative terminal electric potential. The microprocessor also individually judges that each of the digital converting values is excessively small and excessively large. Thus, the microprocessor judges the existence of ground, sky short circuit and disconnection abnormalities of the negative terminal and the positive terminal.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an engine controller for feeding-back and controlling an air fuel ratio of an internal combustion engine, and particularly relates to an improvement of an abnormality diagnosing device built-in and used in the engine controller, and detecting a breakdown and a wiring abnormality of an exhaust gas sensor externally connected to detect the air fuel ratio and annunciating the abnormality.
2. Background Art
The exhaust gas sensor called a lambda type as a popular name to feed-back and control the air fuel ratio of the internal combustion engine, is widely practically used. For example, this lambda type exhaust gas sensor is arranged before and after a catalyst arranged in an exhaust pipe path, and generates a detecting voltage Vs according to oxygen concentration within exhaust gas. This detecting voltage Vs is about 0.45 V in a theoretical air fuel ratio as a driving target. However, this detecting voltage Vs has characteristics in which this detecting voltage is rapidly raised in a rich state of fuel, and is converged to a value of 0.85 to 1.0 V, and is rapidly lowered in a lean state of the fuel and is converged to 0.1 to 0 V.
However, it is general that the detecting voltage in a low temperature and non-activating state of this exhaust gas sensor is small, and internal resistance reaches a level of several MΩ although the internal resistance is several ten KΩ in an activating temperature state. Various techniques are proposed and practically used to detect the breakdown and the wiring abnormality of such an exhaust gas sensor.
For example, in accordance with JP-A-05-107299 "Connecting circuit for lambda sensor and inspecting method of this circuit", an offset voltage is applied to a ground lead (negative line) of the lambda sensor for detecting the air fuel ratio. The detecting voltage generated between a positive signal line and the negative line of the lambda sensor is amplified. A value provided by adding the above offset voltage is digitally converted and is then inputted to a microprocessor. If the detecting voltage inputted to the microprocessor is a value less than the above offset voltage, it is judged as a ground state in which the positive signal line comes in short circuit contact with a ground circuit. Further, it is detected as a ground abnormality at a disconnection abnormality time of the signal line by connecting a pull-down resistor to the positive signal line.
Further, in accordance with JP-A-2005-171898 "breakdown diagnosing device and breakdown diagnosing method of air fuel ratio sensor", the offset voltage is applied to the negative line of the air fuel ratio sensor. An electric potential of the positive signal line of the air fuel ratio sensor with respect to the ground circuit is digitally converted and is then inputted to the microprocessor. If the detecting voltage inputted to the microprocessor is a value less than the above offset voltage, it is judged as a ground state in which the positive signal line comes in short circuit contact with the ground circuit.
Further, the pull-down resistor is connected to the positive signal line, and it is possible to discriminate whether it is a ground abnormality or a disconnection abnormality by temporarily connecting a pull-up resistor.
Explanation of Problem of Former Technique
In accordance with the above JP-A-05-107299 and JP-A-2005-171898, the offset voltage is applied to the negative line of the exhaust gas sensor. Thus, if the exhaust gas sensor and its wiring are normal, an abnormality judgment relative to the positive signal line is made by logic in which no electric potential of the positive signal line becomes the above offset voltage or less.
However, a ground abnormality of the ground line (negative line) applying the offset voltage thereto, and a sky short circuit abnormality for coming in mixing contact with an electric power source line are not detected. Accordingly, there is a defect in which no abnormality judgment is synthetically made.


A network management system for managing communications in a cellular communication network comprising an access point operably coupled to an access controller. The network management system comprises an access controller configuration logic module arranged to configure the access controller with configuration information. The network management system further comprises an access point configuration logic module arranged to configure the access point with configuration information comprising, at least in part, configuration information intended for the access controller.

Wireless communication systems, such as the 3rd Generation (3G) of mobile telephone standards and technology, are well known. An example of such 3G standards and technology is the Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS), developed by the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) (www.3Gpp.org).
Typically, wireless subscriber communication units, or User Equipment (UE) as they are often referred to in 3G parlance, communicate with a Core Network (CN) of the 3G wireless communication system via a Radio Network Subsystem (RNS). A wireless communication system typically comprises a plurality of radio network subsystems, each radio network subsystem comprising one or more cells to which UEs may attach, and thereby connect to the network.
The 3rd generation of wireless communications has been developed for macro-cell mobile phone communications. Such macro cells utilise high power base stations (NodeBs in 3GPP parlance) to communicate with UEs within a relatively large coverage area.
Lower power (and therefore smaller coverage area) femto cells or pico-cells are a recent development within the field of wireless cellular communication systems. Femto cells or pico-cells (with the term femto cells being used hereafter to encompass pico-cells or similar) are effectively communication coverage areas supported by low power base stations (otherwise referred to as Access Points (APs)). These femto cells are intended to be able to be piggy-backed onto the more widely used macro-cellular network and support communications to UEs in a restricted, for example 'in-building', environment.
In this regard, a femto cell that is intended to support communications according to the 3GPP standard will hereinafter be referred to as a 3G femto cell. Similarly, an access controller intended to support communications with a low power base station in a femto cell according to the 3GPP standard will hereinafter be referred to as a 3rd generation access controller (3G AC). Similarly, an Access Point intended to support communications in a femto cell according to the 3GPP standard will hereinafter be referred to as a 3rd Generation Access Point (3G AP).
In a 3G femto cell deployment, each 3G AC is arranged to support a large set of 3G APs. Each 3G AP is configured to associate with a specific 3G AC, and each 3G AC must be specifically provisioned to authorize and service each 3G AP. Typical applications for such 3G femto cell APs include, by way of example, residential and commercial (e.g. office) locations, 'hotspots', etc, whereby an AP can be connected to a core network via, for example, the Internet using a broadband connection or the like. In this manner, femto cells can be provided in a simple, scalable deployment in specific in-building locations where, for example, network congestion at the macro-cell level may be problematic.
Typically, each 3G femto cell AP is owned by a member of the public, as opposed to a Network Operator, and the owner of the 3G AP pays for the network resources, such as Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) bandwidth, used through the femto cell.
It is known that a consequence of the introduction of numerous femto cells is a need to provision the 3G AP with various useful parameters that enable it to find suitable information to enable it to transmit and work in harmony with the rest of the macro cellular network. In this regard, the initial provisioning information of the 3G AP should allow the 3G AP to search a provided range/selection of frequencies, primary scrambling codes and transmit powers in order to find values that optimize its integration into, and minimize interference it causes, to the macro-cellular network.
Referring now to FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B, a known proposed architecture 100 for provisioning a 3G AC and a 3G AP in a femto cell network, is illustrated. The architecture 100 comprises a femto cell AP, for example a 3G AP, 105 that is operably coupled to a managed residential gateway, for example a 3G AC, 125 over a local area network (LAN) 120. The managed residential gateway 125 is operably coupled to an auto configuration server (ACS) 135 via a regional broadband network 130. The ACS 135 is arranged to independently provision, and receive provision parameter confirmation, the managed residential gateway 125 via southbound interface 140. The ACS 135 is arranged to independently provision, and receive provision parameter confirmation, the femto cell AP 125 via southbound interface 110. The ACS 135 is also operably coupled to a service configuration manager 145 via a northbound interface.
Referring now to FIG. 1B, the operation of the known architecture 150 is illustrated in more detail. Here, a Network Operator Management System 155 forwards configuration (provisioning) information to the femto cell management system 135. The femto cell management system 135 is operably coupled to respective logical entities a femto cell gateway (or access controller) management system (FGW-MS) 160 and a femto cell access point management system (FAP-MS) 165. The FGW-MS 160 is arranged to independently configure the femto cell gateway 125 via interface Fg 170. The FAP-MS 166 is arranged to independently configure the femto cell AP 105 via interface Fm 175.
Thus, a need exists for an improved method and apparatus for provision of information in a cellular communication network.

Method and apparatus for provisioning of information in a cellular communication network


Apparatus configured to:                receive an indication of a mood state of a user of the apparatus;        determine and record one or more items of context information associated with the apparatus at the time the indication is received;        receive an instruction to recreate a previously indicated mood state; and        in response to the instruction, use one or more of the items of context information associated with the apparatus at the time of the previously indicated mood state to replicate one or more actions associated with the one or more of the items of context information.

It is now common for portable communication devices, such as mobile phones, to be programmed to perform a wide range of functions in addition to basic call making. It is also becoming more common for people to use their portable devices to communicate with one another in diverse ways beyond basic voice calls. Portable devices also now have the memory capacity and processing power to record detailed information about the usage history of the device.

Method and apparatus relating to a mood state of a user


Some features pertain to an integrated device that includes a dielectric layer configured as a base for the integrated device, several redistribution metal layers in the dielectric layer, a first wafer level die coupled to a first surface of the dielectric layer, and a second wafer level die coupled to the first wafer level die. The dielectric layer includes several dielectric layers. In some implementations, the first wafer level die is coupled to the redistribution metal layers through a first set of interconnects. In some implementations, the first wafer level die includes several through substrate vias (TSVs). In some implementations, the second wafer level die is coupled to the redistribution metal layers through a first set of interconnects, the TSVs, a second set of interconnects, and a set of solder balls. In some implementations, the integrated device includes an encapsulation layer that encapsulates the first and second wafer level dies.

Field
Various features relate to an integrated device that includes stacked dies on redistributions layers.
Background
FIG. 1 illustrates a conventional integrated package 100 that includes a substrate 102, a first die 106, a second die 108, a first set of solder balls 116, a second set of solder balls 118, and a third set of solder balls 120. The first die 106 is coupled to the substrate 102 through the first set of solder balls 116. The second die 108 is coupled to the substrate 102 through the second set of solder balls 118. The third set of solder balls 120 is coupled to the substrate 102. Typically, the third set of solder balls 120 is coupled to a printed circuit board (PCB) (not shown).
Conventional integrated packages, such as the one described in FIG. 1, have certain limitations and downsides. For example, the substrate 102 of the integrated package 100 of FIG. 1 is typically made of an organic laminate (e.g., rigid or flexible), or a silicon (Si) interposer. The use of such materials as a substrate creates design problems when attempting to manufacture low profile integrated package. That is, these materials create substantial design penalty due to their manufacturing limitations. In particular, these materials make it impossible or cost-prohibitive to provide a low profile integrated package that includes multiple dies, where the integrated package takes up as little real estate as possible.
Moreover, the use of solder balls as a coupling method between a die and a substrate limits the density of the connection that can exist between a die and a substrate, as the minimum spacing required between solder balls is often greater than the minimum spacing required between traces and/or vias on a substrate.
Therefore, there is a need for a cost effective integrated package that has a low profile but also takes up a little real estate as possible. Ideally, such an integrated package will also provide higher density connections with the dies.

Integrated device comprising stacked dies on redistribution layers


A loading shelf for a luggage compartment of a vehicle has one rear panel and at least one front panel coupled by means of a guide-and-slide device, which has two longitudinal channels, fixed relative to the rear panel, and two front slides and two rear slides, which are carried by the front panel and engage the channels; the rear slides are coaxial along an axis orthogonal to the longitudinal direction in which the front panel may slide; channels have respective openings having position, shape and size so as to let the front slides coming out of the channels; when the front slides are outside of the channels, the front panel is rotatable about the axis of the rear slides.

Vehicles are known in which the luggage compartment is provided with a horizontal loading shelf, which may be moved height-wise between a lowered position adjacent to a bottom surface of the luggage compartment and a raised position for splitting the luggage compartment into an upper space and a lower space.
In order to be held fixed in the raised position, the loading shelf usually has side fastening members, which are coupled to the side panels of the luggage compartment in a releasable manner. Specifically, such fastening members are either fastened to retaining devices or resting on supporting brackets.
From patent EP2075153, a loading shelf is known having a main board and two front plates which are coupled to respective portions of a twin back seat. The portions of the back seat along with the respective plates are movable parallel to the longitudinal advance direction of the vehicle. In this manner, when the loading shelf is in teh raised position, the plates may cover the gap which has been formed between the back seat and the main board.
The need is felt to improve the above-described solution so as to be able to rest the plates on the backrests of the back seat when such backrests are folded forward on their respective seats, so as to form a single loading surface defined by the backrests and the loading shelf.

Loading shelf for a vehicle luggage compartment


In a housing case for an electronic circuit board on which components such as connectors are mounted, there are provided a pair of guide rails that form a guide path when the board is inserted in the case and a holder holding the connectors mounted on the board, and the guide rails are disposed in a position that does not interfere with the board when the connector is held by the holder, thereby enabling to easily receive the board to be accurately fixed at a predetermined position, while preventing an excessive twisting/shaking force from concentrating at a joint where components are joined to the board, when mating connector is inserted to or removed from the connectors.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a housing case for an electronic circuit board, more particularly to a housing case for an electronic circuit board provided with a pair of guide rails that form a guide path for guiding the electronic circuit board.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, the housing cases for housing the electronic circuit boards on which connectors, electronic parts and other components are integrally mounted or fixed are configured such that the electronic circuit board can be easily inserted and fixed at a predetermined position in the housing case, as disclosed, for example, in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 2001-237557 (from paragraph 0031 to 0034, FIG. 1, etc.).
Specifically, in the technique taught in '557, the connectors are fixed on the electronic circuit board by soldering the distal portions of connection terminals of the connectors on the board, and two rails are formed so as to face each other on the internal wall surface of the housing case in which the electronic circuit board is to be inserted. In addition, flange-like projections are formed on the surfaces of the connectors that are in contact with the housing case (i.e., surfaces opposite to the surface facing the electronic circuit board), and recesses are formed in the housing case for engagement with the projections.
When the electronic circuit board is inserted between the rails and fixed at a predetermined position in the housing case, the projections engage the recesses. The electronic circuit board is thereby easily inserted and accurately fixed at a predetermined position in the housing case.
However, at a time when the electronic circuit board is housed in the housing case taught in '557, when mating connectors are to be inserted or removed from the connectors mounted on the electronic circuit board, it produces a twisting/shaking force that will then be applied or transmitted to the electronic circuit board.
Since the spacing (groove width) of the rails holding the electronic circuit board is substantially the same as the thickness of the electronic circuit board (more precisely equal to the board thickness plus about 0.1 mm), the electronic circuit board can hardly move in the direction in which the twisting/shaking force acts, whereby the twisting/shaking force concentrates at the joints (soldered portions) where the components such as connectors are joined to the electronic circuit board. The twisting/shaking force disadvantageously acts to increase the stress on the joints, thereby rendering the electrical connections between the connectors and the electronic circuit board unstable.

Housing case for electronic circuit board


A roof includes a plurality of rafters each having at its upper end a connection and having at its lower end a fixing section, and a rod for retaining the rafters at predetermined intervals. The roof further includes a reinforcement material provided between the rafters, and an eaves trough extending along the periphery of the lower edge of the sheathing surface laid on the rafters. Accordingly, the labor hours required for, e.g., the positional change of the ridgepole or rafters when remodeling the conventional roof, are reduced, thereby enabling occupancy within the house under remodeling, as well as restraining the remodeling cost.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a pitched roof.
2. Description of the Related Art
A method of forming the conventional roof of this type comprises the steps of providing a ridgepole as a top edge, providing side by side a multiplicity of rafters slantingly extending from the ridgepole, laying a sheathing plate over the rafters, and covering the sheathing plate with, for example, a roof tile material.
The method of forming the conventional roof like this further comprises the steps of fixing the ridge pole onto pillars, and successively providing a plurality of horizontal crossbeams each having a difference in height relative to the ridgepole, and providing the rafters originating from and slantingly extending on both sides of the ridgepole and supported by the crossbeams.
In the above-mentioned conventional roof structure, the ridgepole and rafters are initially fixedly positioned with each other. Accordingly, providing that it is desired at the time of remodeling to alter the height or slant of the roof, the entire roof frame composed of the ridgepole, the crossbeams and rafters needs to be rebuilt, which disadvantageously leads to a troublesome work and increased remodeling cost. More inconveniently, this remodeling work must be performed on a large scale, and hence it is impossible to reside within the house under remodeling.
In addition, the conventional roof structure described above needs a multiplicity of pillars for supporting the ridgepole and crossbeams, which adversely leads to a complicated and high-cost roof frame structure. Furthermore, the presence of the multiplicity of pillars may reduce an available space in an attic, which possibly make it impossible to utilize the attic as a storeroom.


An image projecting apparatus is so constructed as to generate a stereoscopic-image signal having images for right and left eyes alternatively arranged for each field, decompose an image produced by the stereoscopic-image signal into lights with predetermined components, divide the lights into first and second groups, assign the first group to a first polarized light having the directions of polarization different from each other for each period of a video field, assign the second group to a second polarized light having the directions of polarization different from each other for each period of a video field and having a direction of polarization different from that of the first polarized light, and project the first and second polarized lights, the second polarized light being delayed by one video field with respect to the first polarized light.

The present invention relates to an image projecting apparatus for projecting on a screen images for right and left eyes, which are different in the direction of polarization, and can stereoscopically be seen with polarizing glasses.
FIGS. 12-13 shows image projecting apparatus for showing a stereoscopic image. The image projecting apparatus as shown in FIG. 12 is constructed such that right and left images for right and left eyes recorded on two video discs or video cassettes are reproduced by simultaneously starting two players 122, 121, which are projected on the same screen 125 through two video projectors 124, 123 subjected to cross or circular polarization in accordance with the right and left images. When seeing the projected right and left images separately by right and left eyes with polarizing glasses 126 subjected to cross or circular polarization in accordance with the right and left images, a stereoscopic vision is obtained.
The image projecting apparatus as shown in FIG. 13 serves to reproduce images recorded on VHD video discs. Referring to FIG. 13, right and left images recorded on a VHD video disc for each field are reproduced by a VHD player 127, which are projected on a screen 125 by a single projector 128. On the other hand, shuttered glasses 130 are alternatively shaded for each field under control of the VHD player through an adaptor 129 so that the right and left images are always seen by right and left eyes, respectively, achieving a stereoscopic vision.
With the image projecting apparatus as shown in FIG. 12, however, there arise problems that a need of a pair of laser discs or video cassettes, etc. restricts applicable video software, and that a need of two players and two projectors and that of reproducing the players in synchronism with each other result in specialized form and enlarged size of the apparatus. Moreover, the direction of projection, zoom ratio, focusing, etc. of the two projectors should be adjusted separately to obtain on the screen the projected images with the same or slightly different size, which constitutes a complicated work.
On the other hand, with the image projecting apparatus as shown in FIG. 13, a need of the shuttered glasses causes a complicated structure and an increased cost of the apparatus.
It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide an image projecting apparatus which is simple and small in structure, and can project right and left images from which a stereoscopic vision is obtained when seen with simple polarizing glasses.


The electrical control system for an electrically powered foldable rearview mirror having a mirror body mounted on a hollow supporting shaft extending from a supporting base so as to be movable between a folded state and an erected state, comprises a reversible motor and reduction gear drive contained in the mirror body; a motor drive circuit connected to the reversible motor to drive the mirror body between the folded state and the errected state; a mechanical stop device to stop rotation of the mirror body when the mirror body reaches the erected state or the folded state including convex and concave portions on the a root portion of the shaft and mirror body respectively; a noncontacting sensor for detecting a halt to motor rotation as a result of a halt of mirror body rotation; and a control circuit for interrruption of the motor drive circuit when the noncontacting sensor detects the halt of the motor rotation.

The present invention relates to electrically powered foldable rearview mirrors of a motor vehicle and, more particularly, to an electrically powered control system for electrically powered foldable rear view mirrors.
Conventional electrically powered foldable rearview mirrors for a motor vehicle are provided on the exterior of the vehicle for the driver so that the driver can see to the rear of the vehicle and are folded by an internal electric motor as needed or are deployed in the erected state during driving. As disclosed by Japanese Published Patent Application No. Sho 63-169341, the electrically powered foldable rearview mirror comprises a shaft mounted on an extension of a base fixed to a door panel or to a quarter window of the vehicle, a spring and a clutch gear respectively received in a frame connected to the shaft and a clutch receiver pressing the spring and thereafter being fixed to the shaft. The clutch gear is adapted to engage with a pinion gear which is rotated by the internal electric motor in a mirror body via a speed reduction mechanism and the mirror body is rotated around the shaft by actuating the electric motor.
In an erected state or a folded state of the electrically powered foldable rearview mirrors, methods of deenergizing the motor control circuit while the rotation of the mirror body is being halted by a rotation step means are described hereinbelow. In one of the methods, means for changing the circuit is provided at the rotating parts between a clutch retainer fixed on the shaft and the mirror body, so that a folding state of the control circuit is changed to an erecting state of the control circuit and vice versa and the motor control circuit is interrupted or opened, when the mirror body rotates and reaches the folded state or the erected state. In another method, a load current of the motor is detected to interrupt the control circuit.
In a conventional control system for electrically powered foldable rearview mirrors as described hereinbefore, in the control system having the means for changing the circuit as described above, it is difficult to adjust the means for changing the circuit to the erected state or the folded state of the mirror body. Furthermore because the means for changing the circuit includes; a slide contact system, there is a problem due to an imperfect contact on the rotating contact surface a foreign material contamination and the like and the circuit composition is complicated. Moreover, in the latter method of detecting the load current of the motor, because of the environmental conditions during mirror rotation, variable friction on the slide rotating surface, foreign contamination or thermal variation, a load fluctuation of the motor is caused thus making the correct stopping of the mirror body based on a motor load fluctuation criteria impossible.


Systems and methods for providing a piano system are provided. In some embodiments, the methods include receiving a plurality of key signals related to a first performance of a piece of music, wherein each of the plurality of key signals corresponds to motion of at least one key of a piano during the first performance; generating first performance information based on the plurality of key signals; receiving musical data related to a second performance of the piece of music; receiving musical data related to a second performance of the piece of music, generating second performance information based on the musical data; and providing content for presentation on a display device based on the first performance information and the second performance information. The methods can also include receiving at least one pedal signal corresponding to motion of a pedal of the piano during the first performance, and generating first performance information based on the pedal signal.

A piano (e.g., an acoustic piano) is a musical instrument played using a keyboard. The piano may include a protective case, a soundboard, metal strings, hammers, keys (e.g., white keys and black keys), and pedals. The keys may be mechanically connected to hammers. When a key of the acoustic piano is pressed by a player, a hammer may strike the metal strings and the strings may vibrate at their respective resonant frequency. These vibrations may be transmitted to the soundboard and amplified by coupling the acoustic energy to the air. A note produced by the piano may be sustained, by application of one or more pedals of the piano, even when the keys are released.
As one of the world's most popular musical instruments, the piano is widely played and studied today. A piano student (especially a beginning student) may find it difficult to learn fingering and hand positions, fingering sequences, pedaling techniques, and other piano techniques. Accordingly, it is desirable to provide a visualized and personalized teaching system and method to assist in learning piano.

SUNLAND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.


A liquid ejecting method includes detecting a faulty nozzle in which an ejection fault occurs when a liquid should be ejected, calculating corrected tone values by correcting tone values of pixels adjacent to pixels at which the liquid should be ejected from the faulty nozzle based on a correction amount, and a liquid ejecting apparatus ejecting the liquid to the adjacent pixels based on the corrected tone values.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to liquid ejection methods and liquid ejection apparatuses.
2. Related Art
Inkjet printers are known in which a head is moved in a movement direction and a printed image is accomplished by causing ink to be ejected from nozzles during that movement.
In these printers, sometimes the ink droplets do not land in the correct position on the medium due to problems such as the processing precision of the nozzles. When this happens, shading variations occur in the vicinity of the region in which the ink droplets should have landed and stripe shaped density irregularities are produced in the printed image.
Accordingly, methods have been proposed to remedy these density irregularities by sampling an image using a CCD sensor and correcting the data to be outputted by the inkjet printer based on gain irregularity characteristics of the CCD sensor (See JP-A-2-54676).
Other methods are also proposed in which density irregularity test patterns are printed and density irregularity correction is carried out based on density data of the density irregularity test patterns (See JP-A-6-166247).
If a faulty nozzle, which cannot perform ejection when ink droplets should be ejected, occurs during printing, dots will not be formed in positions where the intended dots should have been formed. In this case, density irregularities will be produced in the printed image even if correction had been carried out of density irregularities due to problems such as the processing precision of the nozzles.
Also, although the faulty nozzle may be recovered by cleaning the nozzle face, the printing time will be lengthened by the time required for cleaning.

Liquid ejecting method and liquid ejecting apparatus


A learning system is provided, which includes network storage means for storing a network including a plurality of nodes, each of which holds a dynamics; and learning means for self-organizationally updating the dynamics of the network on the basis of measured time-series data.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to learning system and method, recognition device and method, creation device and method, recognition and creation device and method, and programs, and more particularly, to learning system and method, recognition device and method, creation device and method, recognition and creation device and method, and programs, capable of autonomically learning a plurality of dynamics from measured time-series data and recognizing input time-series data are recognized or creating and outputting time-series data from a predetermined input on the basis of the learning result.
2. Description of the Related Art
It was known that actions (movements) of a system such as a robot can be described as dynamical systems determined by a rule of time evolution and the dynamical systems of various actions can be embodied by a specific attractor dynamics.
For example, a walking movement of a bipedal robot like a human being can be described in limit cycle dynamics in which a movement state of a system is secured to a certain specific cyclic orbit from a variety of initial states (for example, see G. Taga, 1998, "Self-organized control of bipedal locomotion by neural oscillators in unpredictable environment", Biological Cybernetics, 65, 147-159 (Non-patent Document 1) and Gentaro Taga, "Nonlinear Dynamical System and Development of Dynamical Design Movement and Recognition of Brain and Body", published by Kanekoshobo (Non-patent Document 2). A reaching movement of an arm robot like extending a hand to an object can be described in fixed-point dynamics in which the movement is secured to a certain fixed-point from a variety of initial states. It could be also said that all the movements can be embodied by a combination of a discrete movement describable in the fixed-point dynamics and a cyclic movement describable in the limit cycle dynamics.
When controlling actions (movements) of a system such as a robot by the use of the attractor dynamics, it is important, first, how to construct the attractor dynamics depending on the tasks and second, that a corresponding motor power is created in accordance with the attractor dynamics on the basis of information acquired from an input to a sensor. In order to solve the important points, it is necessary to create action outputs (movement outputs) of the system so that the attractor dynamics continuously interact with environments.
There has been suggested a method of learning such attract dynamics instead of a person's design. For example, a method using a recurrent neural network (hereinafter, referred to as RNN) is known. As the RNN, a network which has a context unit coupled to the network in a feedback loop and which can theoretically approximate a dynamical system by holding an inner state therein is known. However, in a learning model including a network module coupled densely, when a plurality of dynamics necessary for learning a large scale of actions is learned, the interference between dynamics to be stored is too large, thereby making the learning difficult. Accordingly, there have been suggested several learning models employing a modular architecture in which a set of a plurality of network modules constitutes a learning model. In the modular architecture, the number of dynamics to be stored can be easily increased by increasing the number of modules in principle, but there is a problem with a module selection determining with which module to learn a given learning sample.
The method of performing the module selection is classified into two methods of a supervised learning method in which a person determines to which module the learning sample (learning data) should be assigned and an unsupervised learning method in which a learning model autonomically determines the module. In order for a robot or a system to autonomically perform a learning operation, it is necessary to perform a learning operation of a module by the use of the unsupervised learning method.
As an example of the module learning method, there has been suggested a learning model called a mixture of RNN expert (for example, see JP-A-11-126198 (Patent Document 1)). In the learning model, outputs of a plurality of RNN modules are integrated in a gate mechanism to determine the final output and the learning of the RNN modules is performed while adjusting the gate mechanism by the use of a maximum likelihood estimation method. However, in the method based on such entire optimization, there is a problem in that it is difficult to perform the learning operation when the number of modules is great. On the contrary, in methods using a self-organization map (hereinafter, referred to as SOM) (for example, see T. Kohonen, "Self-organization Map", published by Springer Verlag, Tokyo (Non-patent Document 3)) used to learn a category of a vector pattern or neural-gas (for example, see T. M. Martinetz, S. G. Berkovich, K. J. Schulten, ""Neural-Gas" Network for Vector Quantization and its Application to Time-Series Prediction", IEEE Trans. Neural Networks, VOL. 4, No. 4, pp. 558-569, 1999 (Non-patent Document 4)), it is known that a learning rule based on the entire optimization is not used and thus the optimization is not ensured, but an appropriate category architecture can be self-organizationally learned in an unsupervised learning manner. In the methods, it is possible to practically perform the learning even when the number of modules is great.

Apparatus and method for embedding recurrent neural networks into the nodes of a self-organizing map


An engine with an exhaust passage in which a catalyst purifying NOx and an NOx adsorbent adsorbing NOx in an exhaust gas are arranged successively from the upstream side. After engine startup until the catalyst is activated, the NOx in the exhaust gas is adsorbed at the NOx adsorbent. NOx adsorbed at the NOx adsorbent is removed by dissolution by supplying a solvent from an injector. After the catalyst is activated, the solvent containing the NOx removed by dissolution is sprayed from an injector and the NOx contained in the sprayed solvent is purified by the catalyst.

Known in the art is an exhaust gas purification device designed to remove the NOx by spraying exhaust gas discharged from the engine into a bubbling tank filled with water to dissolve the NOx in the water in the bubbling tank, supplying the water dissolving the NOx into a neutralizing tank provided with a large number of electrode plates to convert the NOx contained in the water to a soluble substance by electrolytic action, and discharging the water (see Japanese Patent Publication (A) No. 2003-301714).
However, in the above mentioned exhaust gas purification device, the electrode plates are consumables. Accordingly, there is a problem in that the electrode plates must be replaced often.

Exhaust purification device of internal combustion engine


A golf club head having localized heat treatment is described herein. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Characteristic Time (CT) is a measurement of the amount of time, in microseconds, that a golf ball is in contact with the faceplate during impact. Characteristic time requirements are one of the many rules that the United States Golf Association (USGA) and the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews (R&A) impose on golf equipment manufactures to determine club head conformance. Oftentimes, the characteristic time properties of golf club heads are not uniform and substantially varies across the faceplate. This variation can cause inconsistencies in club head performance, and more particularly produce different ball speeds depending on where the ball impact occurs on the faceplate. These minor variations in ball impact locations across the faceplate can lead to notable variations in produced ball speed and ball travel distance thereby making the game unpredictable to the golfer.
Variations in the characteristic time properties of the golf club head can be caused by faceplates with an asymmetrical perimeter geometry and/or variable faceplate features (i.e. thickness, material, texture, face-to-body transition, etc.). Reducing the thickness of materials used to form a golf club head, and more particularly a faceplate can be beneficial for many reasons. Among those reasons, a thinner faceplate can reduce weight, increase flexibility, and reduce the amount of materials used. A weight reduction in one area of the golf club head can allow for that weight to be redistributed (as desired) to increase clubhead performance.
Redistributing weight from the faceplate can lead to an increase in flexibility and an increase in energy transfer to the golf ball. This increase in flexibility (resulting from a thin faceplate) can lead to a more variable CT across the faceplate. There is a need in the art for a repeatable, efficient, and affordable manufacturing method that allows the CT to be locally altered to reduce CT variation across the faceplate.
Other aspects of the disclosure will become apparent by consideration of the detailed description and accompanying drawings.
For simplicity and clarity of illustration, the drawing figures illustrate the general manner of construction, and descriptions and details of well-known features and techniques may be omitted to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the present disclosure. Additionally, elements in the drawing figures are not necessarily drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements in the figures may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help improve understanding of embodiments of the present disclosure. The same reference numerals in different figures denotes the same elements.

Golf club heads having a localized heat affected zone


A thermoplastic article can be mounted to a support structure by a fastener. The article includes a molded body having a length. The molded body also has an attachment surface configured to face the support structure and a show surface opposite the attachment surface. The molded body defines an interior channel separating the attachment surface and the show surface. The article also includes a attachment boss coupled to and extending from the attachment surface for receiving the fastener to mount the article to the support structure. The attachment boss extends through the attachment surface and into the interior channel of the molded body for reinforcing the attachment boss at the attachment surface.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an article for mounting to a support structure, more particularly to an article having a attachment boss for receiving a fastener to mount the article to the support structure.
2. Description of Related Art
Articles for attaching to a support structure are known, especially in the appliance handle industry. Typically, when the article is a handle for an appliance, such as a refrigerator or stove, the article is made from thermoplastic materials to provide a lightweight and cost effective article. The article typically includes at least two attachment bosses for receiving a fastener to attach the article to the support structure. Therefore, the attachment bosses must be strong enough to withstand forces acting on the article while attached to the support structure. Logic would suggest to simply increase a size of the attachment bosses to increase strength. However, increasing the size of the attachment bosses results in the formation of sink marks in a show surface of the article. Sink marks are indentations within the show surface and are undesirable because of the negative affect on the aesthetics of the article. It is believed that sink marks occur in an area of increased thickness because the relatively large mass of thermoplastic material located in the area cools at a relatively slower rate as compared to the thinner portions of the thermoplastic structure.
Efforts to overcome sink marks in thermoplastic articles have been disclosed in the prior art. For example, channels have been made within the thermoplastic article between the attachment bosses. Said differently, the interior of a portion of the thermoplastic article is hollow. The hollow interior reduces the thickness variation and is effective in eliminating sink marks. However, the hollow interior also has the undesirable consequence of weakening the article at the attachment bosses at the connection point with the thermoplastic article. The weakening of the attachment boss limits the environments which the thermoplastic article may be used for structural reasons. Said differently, a strong attachment boss is required in environments in which the thermoplastic article will be acted upon by an outside force, for example, as a handle for an appliance, such as a refrigerator or oven. Therefore, there remains an opportunity to develop an improved thermoplastic article having a show surface free of sink marks while maintaining a strength of a attachment boss.

Thermoplastic article for mounting to a support structure


A pressure-sensitive adhesive composition for an image display panel, a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer for an image display panel, and an optical film provided with a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer are disclosed which are free of problems regarding durability and defective appearance caused by an antistatic agent (conductive agent), and which have superior antistatic properties so as to be usable for applications such as in an image display panel. An image display panel is also disclosed in which the optical film provided with a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer is attached to the surface of the image display panel in contact with the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer without an interposed conductive layer, and a liquid crystal display device using the image display panel. Further, a liquid crystal display device is disclosed with a touch sensing function using the image display panel that can be used as various input display devices such as mobile devices.

Generally, from the image forming method in liquid crystal display devices, polarizing films are bonded to both sides of a liquid crystal cell with an interposed pressure-sensitive adhesive layer. In addition, ones that mount a touch panel on a display screen of a liquid crystal display device have been put to practical use. As the touch panel, there are various systems such as an electrostatic capacitance type, a resistive film type, an optical type, an ultrasonic type, and an electromagnetic induction type, but an electrostatic capacitance type is increasingly adopted. In recent years, a liquid crystal display device with a touch sensing function that incorporates an electrostatic capacitance sensor as a touch sensor unit is used.
When the polarizing film provided with a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer is adhered to a liquid crystal cell during manufacturing process of a liquid crystal display device, a releasing film is peeled from the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer of the polarizing film provided with a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer, but static electricity is generated by such a release of the releasing film. The static electricity generated in this way affects the orientation of the liquid crystal layer inside the liquid crystal display device and causes defects. Generation of static electricity can be suppressed, for example, by forming an antistatic layer on the outer surface of the polarizing film.
On the other hand, an electrostatic capacitance sensor in the liquid crystal display device with a touch sensing function detects a weak electrostatic capacitance formed by a transparent electrode pattern and a finger when the user's finger approaches the surface. In the case where a conductive layer such as an antistatic layer is provided between the transparent electrode pattern and the user's finger, the electric field between a driving electrode and a sensor electrode is disturbed, the sensor electrode capacitance becomes unstable, and the touch panel sensitivity is reduced to cause malfunction. In the liquid crystal display device with a touch sensing function, it is required to suppress the occurrence of static electricity and suppress the malfunction of the electrostatic capacitance sensor. For example, in order to reduce the occurrence of display defects and malfunctions in a liquid crystal display device with a touch sensing function regarding the above problems, it has been proposed to dispose a polarizing film having an antistatic layer with a surface resistance value of 1.0×109 to 1.0×1011Ω/□ on the viewer side of the liquid crystal layer (Patent Document 1).

Adhesive composition, adhesive layer, optical film provided with adhesive layer, image display panel, and liquid crystal display


A sensing system includes a filter construction module that constructs a high pass filter for filtering sensor values indicative of a process variable, the filter construction module setting values for parameters of the filter based on a temperature value indicative of a temperature of the sensor that produced the sensor values.

In processing plants, gases and liquids are routed through various conduits and tanks. In order to control the operation of the plant, the current status of the liquids and gases in the various portions of the plant as well as the state of controlled devices such as valves and burners must be monitored. The variables monitored to determine these states are referred to generally as process variables and can include pressures, differential pressures, temperatures, tank levels, valve positions, and the like. These process variables are determined using one or more sensors which generate an electrical signal indicative of the process variable. Because processing plants are dynamic, the electrical signals produced for the process variables are also dynamic and tend to vary significantly over time.
In the past, filtering had been used to remove or dampen the variations in the process signals. More recently, statistical process monitoring (SPM) has been introduced in which the dynamics of the process variables are used as one measure of the state of the process variable. Under SPM, a median or mean of the process variable signal can be determined to represent the process variable itself while a standard deviation or coefficient of variation can be calculated to provide a measure of the dynamic nature of the process variable.
Some process variables have a normal amount of variation or a normal standard deviation. When the standard deviation increases above or significantly below the normal amount of standard deviation, it can be indicative of abnormal conditions within a portion of the processing plant. For example, if the standard deviation of a differential pressure sensor drops, it can be indicative of a plugged impulse line.
The statistical values, collectively referred to as SPM data, are generally determined by electronics within field devices such as sensors, transmitters and valve controls that are located within the processing environment. These field devices can be configured to generate alerts when the SPM data crosses a threshold indicating abnormal operation. These alerts are sent to a host system, which can make the alert visible to an operator. Alternatively, the field device can transmit the SPM data to the host system via a digital communication protocol. The host system can be configured to generate alarms when the SPM data crosses various thresholds. In addition, multi-variant statistical analysis can be performed on the SPM data at the host system.