Provided are a cluster system, which can reduce power consumption by controlling power at a cluster level according to loads, and a power management method of the cluster system. The cluster system includes a plurality of management target nodes for performing an actual task which the cluster system is supposed to perform, a load balancer/switch for distributing a user's request received through an external network into the management target nodes, and a power management master for monitoring a load of an entire system and performing a power management by controlling the load balancer/switch. The power management master classifies the management target nodes into a power on group and a power off group.

1. Field of the Invention
The present disclosure relates to a cluster system and a power management method thereof, and more particularly, to a cluster system, which can reduce power consumption by controlling power under a cluster level according to the load of the cluster system, and a power management method of the cluster system.
2. Description of the Related Art
Various attempts have been made to reduce the power consumption of a computer system that consumes a large amount of power. A basic principle of reducing the power consumption of a computer system is to switch currently unused components into a low power mode. On the other hand, the basic principle is to switch the components into a normal operation mode when they start to operate, to thereby carry out an original task. It is an advanced configuration and power interface (ACPI) to have standardized such a power management scheme.
The ACPI is a power management specification that is co-developed by Intel, Microsoft, and Toshiba Inc, and can turn off power supplied to the currently unused components by allowing it to control a power connected to the components of a computer. For this end, the ACPI defines various power states with respect to each computer component, and provides an interface capable of changing the power state of each component according to the state of a computer. An operating system (OS) or an application program uses the ACPI to control the power consumed in each component. In this case, an algorithm for determining when to switch each component into the low power mode or the normal operation mode is independently determined by the OS or the application program.
A dynamic voltage scaling (DVS) is a technology that reduces the power consumption of the CPU, which is the most power consuming component in the components of a computer. More specifically, the DVS can reduce the power consumption of the CPU by controlling the operation frequency and the voltage of the CPU. Since the CPU operates in synchronization with a clock, the CPU has characteristics that its power consumption is reduced in slowing down its operation frequency. Further, power consumption is in proportion to the square of a voltage, thus the consumption of power is reduced in lowering the voltage.
Various technologies for the power consumption reduction have been introduced, but they manage power of local hardware resources at an individual node level. Accordingly, power is not effectively managed in view of an entire cluster system. However, the cluster system in which nodes are connected to one another requires a cluster level power management.
Since all nodes in a typical cluster system are always operated in the maximum performance mode, the typical cluster system has a disadvantage in that power is consumed even when the cluster system does not operate.

Cluster system with reduced power consumption and power management method thereof

Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute


This invention relates to a stand-on sulky device to be attached to the rear of a self-propelled power mower or other self-propelled vehicle. The sulky includes first, second, and third pivots to provide improved maneuverability of the two-wheeled sulky platform during operation. The first and third pivots are arranged substantially parallel to the ground during sulky operation and are vertically spaced from one another thereby resulting in improved sulky performance. According to certain embodiments, the sulky includes a design allowing for a more compact storage position wherein the platform is hung from the mower handle bars with the upper or foot receiving surface of the platform facing away from the mower and the first arm being received in an optional recess defined in the bottom of the mower so as to restrict swinging movement of the platform while in storage.

Sulky devices attachable to self-propelled power mowers are old and well-known throughout the art. For example, see U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,828,282; 5,004,251; and 5,413,364.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,004,251, commonly owned along with the instant application, discloses a one-wheel sulky adapted to be attached to and pulled behind a power mower. Due to the single wheel, only two pivots are needed. The mechanism for attaching the sulky of the '251 patent to the power mower includes a pair of pivot members with an elongated arm therebetween, the arm being connected to the power mower via the first pivot at one end with the second pivot at the other end enabling the platform ease of operation and storage. While the sulky device of the '251 patent has experienced commercial acceptance in the marketplace, many operators prefer two-wheeled sulky devices as opposed to the single-wheeled type illustrated in the '251 patent.
Two-wheeled stand-on sulky devices are also old and well-known throughout the art. See, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,485,314; 4,828,282; and 5,413,364.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,485,314 discloses a two-wheeled trailer adapted to be towed behind a power driven tractor. Unfortunately, the trailer of the '314 patent including its attachment mechanism to the tractor, is undesirable in view of its lack of maneuverability during operation and storage.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,828,282 discloses a sulky device adapted to be towed behind a self-propelled power mower including a pair of wheels between which a platform is disposed. A rigid towbar assembly is provided as a coupling mechanism between the mower and platform. Again, the sulky of the '282 patent is undesirable in view of its lack of maneuverability and lack of an adequate storage position.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,413,364 discloses a two-wheeled sulky device including three separate pivot members in the coupling mechanism. Unfortunately, the design of the coupling mechanism of the '364 patent, including its three pivot members and attachment thereto, is undesirable in that: (i) it limits maneuverability of the sulky during operation due to the co-planar orientation of all three pivots; (ii) the platform and wheels are unable to swing even part of the way under the front arm rendering the device susceptible to damage and undesirable in reverse modes; (iii) the mower of the '364 patent cannot safely and reasonably be driven if the sulky is stored because the co-planar design of the horizontal arms causes the platform, when stored, to interfere with the mower's handle bars; and (iv) the rear horizontal arm is relatively long compared to the other or front horizontal arm with its hitch thereby causing the sulky of the '364 patent to cut corners on turns during operation and also causing the operator to move further than necessary off-center relative to the mower handle bars during such turns.
Another prior art two-wheeled sulky device in commerce at least as early as 1992, is known as the "E-Z Rider" or "Lewstep". Unfortunately, this "E-Z Rider" two-wheeled triple pivot sulky is similar in most respects to that disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,413,364 and therefore is susceptible to the same problems as discussed above.
It is apparent from the above that there exists a need in the art for an improved two-wheeled sulky device, having three pivot members, with hitch, and arms of lengths so that the improved sulky (i) has improved maneuverability; (ii) maintains the standing operator more closely centered between the mower handle bars during turns; (iii) has a platform and wheels sized to swing at least part of the way under the front horizontal arm regardless of other parts added that would prevent this; and (iv) has an improved storage position and method.backslash.structure for implementing same.
It is a purpose of this invention to fulfill the above-described needs in the art, as well as other needs apparent to the skilled artisan from the following detailed description of this invention.

Sulky device with triple pivot attachment to mower


A method of patterning a crystalline film. A crystalline film having a degenerate lattice comprising first atoms in a first region and a second region is provided. Dopants are substituted for said first atoms in said first region to form a non-degenerate crystalline film in said first region. The first region and the second region are exposed to a wet etchant wherein the wet etchant etches the degenerate lattice in said second region without etching the non-degenerate lattice in the first region.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the patterning of crystalline films and more particularly to a method of altering the etch selectivity of crystalline films.
2. Discussion of Related Art
Semiconductor integrated circuits are fabricated from multiple layers of patterned thin films. Patterned single crystalline and polycrystalline thin films are used throughout manufacture of modern integrated circuits. For example, patterned semiconductor crystalline films, such as epitaxial silicon, gallium arsenide, and InSb are used to form semiconductor bodies or fins in nonplanar or tri-gate devices. Additionally, high dielectric constant metal oxide crystalline films are used to form gate dielectric layers in modern integrated circuits. Presently, crystalline films are patterned by first forming a mask with a desired pattern over a crystalline film. A wet etchant is then used to etch away the exposed portions of the crystalline film. Unfortunately, wet etchants undercut the mask resulting poor fidelity between the pattern in the mask and the resulting pattern in the crystalline film. Lack of fidelity between the patterning in the crystalline film and the mask limits the ability to further scale patterned dimensions of crystalline films. The ability to further scale the dimensions of crystalline films is essential in order to increase feature density in order to generate more powerful integrated circuits, such as microprocessors.

Method of varying etch selectivities of a film


An NTL (Non-Threshold Logic) NOR logic circuit exhibits a small signal swing, effected by establishing a pseudo threshold level by utilizing a low voltage power supply and a combination of NPN bipolar devices arranged to provide an essentially noise immune circuit having high DC gain and high AC noise tolerance.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to resistor transistor logic (RTL) circuitry and, more particularly, to a noise immune non-threshold logic (NTL) circuit utilizing NOR logic.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The prior art is replete with various types of voltage comparators and threshold level setting schemes, but invariably these circuits suffer from very poor AC noise tolerance, very low DC gain and relatively slow switching times. Most of these circuits utilize PNP bipolar transistor and field effect transistor (FET) devices in various configurations of schmitt triggers or differential comparators to effect some desired logic function.

International Business Machines Corporation


Intravenous or intramuscular injection of droperidol is disclosed to treat migraine episodes.

The prevalence of migraine is said to be approximately 6% of the male population and 18% of the female population. Treatment for many patients having the occasional migraine usually involves simple analgesics, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents, or specific agents such as ergotamines or triptans. Approximately 10% of migraine sufferers have three or more attacks per month and warrant prophylactic treatment. Preventative agents such as beta-blockers, tricyclic antidepressants and divalproex sodium can reduce but not eliminate migraine attacks in some patents. Thus, there remains a need for migraine specific medications such as sumatriptan. In the remaining population of migraine sufferers, and in those with intolerable side-effects from available drugs, there is a lack of conventional pharmaceutical preparations that exhibit therapeutic effect, without severe side-effects.
Droperidol presently is marketed by Akorn, Inc. under the trademark Inapsine, as an injectable formulation used in anesthesia for preoperative surgery. It has never been approved for use in the treatment or management of migraine attacks.
Preliminary results regarding a limited, uncontrolled, non-blinded, use of droperidol to treat migraine attacks were published in Headache, April 1996, p.280. That publication is authored by the inventors of the present invention. Although the article reports on apparently encouraging results in treating migraine attacks with droperidol, no definitive conclusions can be reached from the results reported in that article.


Embodiments of the presently-disclosed subject matter include methods for synthesizing carbon nanomaterials from a lignin and/or source thereof. Exemplary methods comprise a process of thermal treating a lignin and/or source thereof in the presence of a catalyst to synthesize graphene nanosheets.

Lignin is a renewable carbon source and the second most abundant biopolymer next to cellulose on earth. It is a crosslinked and complex natural polymer composed of a phenyl propane unit as a basic unit, and lignin includes about 65 percent carbon, 6 percent hydrogen, and 29 percent oxygen. A great amount of lignin can be obtained from the pulping industry in the name of kraft lignin (or thiolignin) and lignosulfonate (LS). The approximate amount of lignin production in the existing pulping industry worldwide is estimated at more than 50 million tons/year. However, the complex structure of lignin makes the production of value-added chemicals from lignin difficult. Therefore, most lignin is currently not isolated, but is instead burned onsite to recover pulping chemicals and provide steam for power production in kraft pulp mills.
In this respect, LS from the sulfite pulping process is a largely available source of lignin, and the global production of LS is currently around 1 million tons/year. LS has been used for concrete admixtures, dispersants and dust suppression for roads, pellet binders, and vanillin. Others have also attempted to convert lignin into value-added materials, but there are few reports on the successful commercialization of lignin-related products. In particular, there are currently no systematic approaches in the processing of lignin for conversion into carbon-based nanomaterials, including the conversion of lignin to graphene. Additionally, carbon nanomaterials, such as graphene, have stimulated considerable scientific, industrial, and commercial interest due to their intriguing physical properties and enormous potential for various applications. Therefore, it would be beneficial if lignin could be utilized as an alternative carbon source for the production of high value carbon-based nanomaterials and the like.
Accordingly, there remains a need for systems and methods that can convert lignins and/or sources thereof to carbon nanomaterials, such as graphene. It would be advantageous if systems and methods could be achieved to convert lignins to carbon nanomaterials using simple and cost effective solutions.

Methods for synthesizing graphene from a lignin source

The United States of America as Represented by Secretary of Agriculture


Methods and compositions for the detection and diagnosis of infectious diseases are provided. In particular, efficient and sensitive methods and compositions for the detection of active mycobacterial disease are provided for distinguishing between individuals having active disease, and individuals who have been immunologically exposed, such as those infected with a mycobacterium but are without active disease, or those who have been vaccinated with BCG. The methods comprise topical application of antigen compositions for transdermal delivery.

The detection of infectious diseases is often accomplished by use of tests that monitor immunological responses. Many times, however such tests are cumbersome and frequently yield inconsistent results. In addition, the absence of sophisticated laboratory equipment often reduces the availability of testing to individuals living in underdeveloped areas where the occurrence of infectious disease may be disproportionately high. Accurate diagnosis and detection of infectious disease is important not only for treatment purposes, but also for the prevention of occurrence and dissemination of disease. The need for sensitive and accurate detection methods has become particularly pronounced recently especially in light of the increase in infections such as those caused by mycobacteria.
Mycobacterial infections often manifest as diseases such as tuberculosis. Human infections caused by mycobacteria have been widespread since ancient times, and tuberculosis remains a leading cause of death today. Although the incidence of the disease declined in parallel with advancing standards of living since at least the mid-nineteenth century, mycobacterial diseases still constitute a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in countries with limited medical resources and can cause overwhelming, disseminated disease in immunocompromised patients. In spite of the efforts of numerous health organizations worldwide, the eradication of mycobacterial diseases has never been achieved, nor is eradication imminent. Nearly one third of the world's population is infected with M. tuberculosis complex, commonly referred to as tuberculosis (TB), with approximately 8 million new cases and 3 million deaths attributable to TB yearly.
After decades of decline, TB is on the rise. In the United States, up to 10 million individuals are believed to be infected. Almost 28,000 new cases were reported in 1990, a 9.4 percent increase over 1989. A sixteen percent increase was observed from 1985 to 1990. Overcrowded living conditions and shared air spaces are especially conducive to the spread of TB, contributing to the increase in instances that have been observed in the U.S. in prison inmates and among the homeless in larger cities.
Approximately half of all patients with acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) will acquire a mycobacterial infection, with TB being an especially devastating complication. AIDS patients are at higher risks of developing clinical TB and anti-TB treatment seems to be less effective than in non-AIDS patients. Consequently, the infection often progresses to a fatal disseminated disease.
Mycobacteria other than M. tuberculosis are increasingly found in opportunistic infections that plague the AIDS patient. Organisms from the M. avium-intracellulare complex (MAC), especially serotypes four and eight, account for 68% of the mycobacterial isolates from AIDS patients. Enormous numbers of MAC are found (up to 1010 acid-fast bacilli per gram of tissue) and, consequently the prognosis for the infected AIDS patient is poor.
The World Health Organization (WHO) continues to encourage the battle against TB, recommending prevention initiatives such as the "Expanded Program on Immunization" (EPI), and therapeutic compliance initiatives such as "Directly Observed Treatment Short-Course" (DOTS). For the eradication of TB, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention are equally important. Rapid detection of active TB patients will lead to early treatment by which about 90% cure is expected. Therefore, early diagnosis is critical for the battle against TB. In addition, therapeutic compliance will ensure not only elimination of infection, but also reduction in the emergence of drug-resistance strains.
The emergence of drug-resistant M. tuberculosis is an extremely disturbing phenomenon. The rate of new TB cases proven resistant to at least one standard drug increased from 10 percent in the early 1980's to 23 percent in 1991. Compliance with therapeutic regimens, therefore, is also a crucial component in efforts to eliminate TB and prevent the emergence of drug-resistant strains.
Although over 37 species of mycobacteria have been identified, more than 95% of all human infections are caused by six species of mycobacteria: M. tuberculosis, M. avium-intracellulare, M. kansasii, M. fortuitum, M. chelonae, and M. leprae. The most prevalent mycobacterial disease in humans is tuberculosis (TB) which is caused by mycobacterial species comprising M. tuberculosis, M. bovis, or M. africanum (Merck Manual 1992). Infection is typically initiated by the inhalation of infectious particles which are able to reach the terminal pathways in lungs. Following engulfment by alveolar macrophages, the bacilli are able to replicate freely, with eventual destruction of the phagocytic cells. A cascade effect ensues wherein destruction of the phagocytic cells causes additional macrophages and lymphocytes to migrate to the site of infection, where they too are ultimately eliminated. The disease is further disseminated during the initial stages by the infected macrophages which travel to local lymph nodes, as well as into the blood stream and other tissues such as the bone marrow, spleen, kidneys, bone and central nervous system. (See Murray et al. Medical Microbiology, The C.V. Mosby Company 219-230 (1990)).
There is still no clear understanding of the factors which contribute to the virulence of mycobacteria. Many investigators have implicated lipids of the cell wall and bacterial surface as contributors to colony morphology and virulence. Evidence suggests that C-mycosides, on the surface of certain mycobacterial cells, are important in facilitating survival of the organism within macrophages. Trehalose 6,6′ dimycolate, a cord factor, has been implicated for other mycobacteria.
The interrelationship of colony morphology and virulence is particularly pronounced in M. Avium. M. avium bacilli occur in several distinct colony forms. Bacilli which grow as transparent or rough colonies on conventional laboratory media are able to multiply within macrophages in tissue culture, are virulent when injected into susceptible mice, and are resistant to antibiotics. Rough or transparent bacilli which are maintained on laboratory culture media often spontaneously assume an opaque colony morphology at which time they fail to grow in macrophages, are avirulent in mice, and are highly susceptible to antibiotics. The differences in colony morphology between the transparent, rough and opaque strains of M. avium are almost certainly due to the presence of a glycolipid coating on the surface of transparent and rough organisms which acts as a protective capsule. This capsule, or coating, is composed primarily of C-mycosides which apparently shield the virulent M. avium organisms from lysosomal enzymes and antibiotics. By contrast, the non-virulent opaque forms of M. avium have very little C-mycoside on their surface. Both resistance to antibiotics and resistance to killing by macrophages have been attributed to the glycolipid barrier on the surface of M. avium.
Diagnosis of mycobacterial infection is confirmed by the isolation and identification of the pathogen, although conventional diagnosis is based on sputum smears, chest X-ray examination (CXR), and clinical symptoms. Isolation of mycobacteria on a medium takes as long a time as four to eight weeks. Species identification takes a further two weeks. There are several other techniques for detecting mycobacteria such as the polymerase chain reaction (PCR), mycobacterium tuberculosis direct test, or amplified mycobacterium tuberculosis direct test (MTD), and detection assays that utilize radioactive labels.
One diagnostic test that is widely used for detecting infections caused by M. tuberculosis is the tuberculin skin test. Although numerous versions of the skin test are available, typically one of two preparations of tuberculin antigens are used: old tuberculin (OT), or purified protein derivative (PPD). The antigen preparation is either injected into the skin intradermally, or is topically applied and is then invasively transported into the skin with the use of a multiprong inoculator (Tine test). Several problems exist with the skin test diagnosis method. For example, the Tine test is not generally recommended because the amount of antigen injected into the intradermal layer cannot be accurately controlled. (See Murray et al. Medical Microbiology, The C.V. Mosby Company 219-230 (1990)).
Although tuberculin skin tests are widely used, they typically require 2-3 days to generate results, and many times, the results are inaccurate as false positives are sometimes seen in subjects who have been exposed to mycobacteria but are healthy. In addition, instances of mis-diagnosis are frequent since a positive result is not observed only in active TB patients, but also in BCG-vaccinated persons and those who had been infected with mycobacteria but have not developed the disease. It is hard therefore, to distinguish active TB patients from the others, such as household TB contacts, by the tuberculin skin test. Additionally, the tuberculin test often produces a cross-reaction in those individuals who were infected with mycobacteria other than M. tuberculosis (MOTT). Diagnosis using the skin tests currently available is frequently subject to error and inaccuracies.
What is needed are effective tests for detecting the presence of mycobacterial infection. In particular a test that does not require the invasion of the skin surface of the tested person would minimize the exposure of the health care professional administering the test to the bodily fluids of the tested person and lessen the risk of transmission of other infectious agents that may be present in the tested person. In addition, a test that is easily administered and has an easily determined positive or negative outcome is essential when monitoring compliance with a therapeutic regimen for highly infectious diseases such as tuberculosis, particularly in individuals such as homeless persons, prison inmates, schoolchildren and senior citizens.
What is also needed are inexpensive and accurate methods for distinguishing between persons who have active disease states and those persons who have only been immunologically exposed to infectious agents, (such as those persons previously infected with a mycobacterium) but are without active disease, or those persons who have been vaccinated with BCG. Additionally, there is no known method for monitoring the effects of drug therapy in persons infected with a mycobacterium, such as tests that can distinguish between active tuberculosis and other stages of healing or prior exposure. Furthermore, what is also needed is a test that can be easily administered to children, who are especially afraid of currently used skin tests that involve needles or puncturing the skin. Such tests are particularly desirable for monitoring patients particularly AIDS patients who are highly susceptible to mycobacterial infection. In addition, tests that are easily administered and have an easily determined positive or negative outcome are essential when monitoring a disease such as tuberculosis in homeless persons or prison inmates.

Methods and compositions for detection and diagnosis of infectious diseases


Disclosed herein is a holder comprising a first compartment comprising: a first front side and a first back side each comprising a first exterior and a first interior surface; a first pocket secured to the first interior surface of the first front side and to the first interior surface of the first back side; and a first zipper element joining the first front side and the first back side of the first compartment. The holder further comprises a second compartment comprising: a second front side and a second back side each comprising a second exterior and a second interior surface; an accordion file secured to the second interior surface of the second front side and to the second interior surface of the second back side; and a second zipper element joining the second front side and the second back side of the second compartment.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an article for holding and retaining a variety of personal items. More particularly, this invention relates to a holder comprising individualized compartments, wherein at least one compartment is formed to hold coins and at least another compartment is formed to hold credit cards, automatic teller machine ("ATM") cards, identification cards, monetary bills, photographs, and the like, wherein the holder can hold and retain items securely while simultaneously allowing easy visibility of and access to the contents of the holder.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The prior art teaches a variety of articles used to retain a user's personal items in a variety of fashions. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 2,477,840 to Vasilas teaches a pocket wallet comprising transparent envelopes, a bill fold, and a coin envelope. The exterior of the wallet comprises a window such that a portion of the transparent window closest to the exterior of the wallet may be viewed. The transparent envelopes are hinged onto a flexible hinge forming strip, and are thereby secured onto the wallet. The bill fold is also hinged onto the flexible hinge forming strip and is positioned directly next to the transparent envelopes. The bill fold comprises a top portion that is attached to a bottom portion by means of a button fastener. Attached to the bill fold and opposite to the transparent envelopes is a coin envelope. The coin envelope may be opened and closed by a snap button fastener. The pocket wallet is zipped closed, wherein the zipper engages with teeth located on three of the four sides of the wallet.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,477,840 has several disadvantages. For example, in order to access either the paper currency or the coins, a user must first open the wallet, and then open up either the bill fold component or the coin envelope component. Additionally, due to the construction of the wallet, the bill fold component and coin envelope are unnecessarily constricted in the amount of currency that the wallet can hold. Also, the construction of the wallet makes it difficult for a user to differentiate between the different types of currency and to maneuver in the small spaced opening allotted by the bill fold and coin envelope components.
D376,257 to Broussalian teaches several embodiments of an accordion style card holder. More particularly, D376,257 teaches a front cover attached to a back cover by means of a screw like mechanism. An accordion file is attached to the interior surfaces of the front and back covers by means of mounting surfaces attached to each of the two opposite ends of the accordion file. D376,257 is limited, however, in that it holds only cards, and does not contemplate the holding and retention of other items, such as coins.
D332,866 to Kopel et al. teaches a wallet comprising three parts: a top part, a middle part, and a bottom part. The top part comprises an interior side comprising a transparent window in the center portion of the interior side and a Velcro fastening means on the top center of the interior side. The middle part continuously joins the top and bottom parts. The middle part comprises a transparent window and a zipper portion on its exterior surface. On its interior surface, the middle part comprises three slots formed to hold identification cards, credit cards, etc. The interior surface of the middle part further comprises a zippered section. The bottom part comprises a Velcro receiving part on its exterior surface, wherein the Velcro fastening means from the top part is positioned on the Velcro receiving part on the bottom part to secure the wallet in a closed position. The interior surface of the bottom part of the wallet comprises two pockets and a key ring. The bottom part and the middle part (excluding the zipper portion of the middle part) can be secured together by means of a zipper. D332,866, however, fails to teach a wallet wherein a user has easy access to both coins and to other personal items.
Therefore, what is currently needed in the art is a holder capable of holding a wide variety of materials, such as coins, paper currency, identification cards, credit cards, ATM cards, and the like, wherein access to these materials is unrestricted. Furthermore, the art requires a holder wherein a user can readily assess the types of materials contained in the holder and can readily insert and remove the materials, wherein the holder securely retains the materials, and wherein the holder is not overly cumbersome to a user.


A brass washer is mounted on a cable at one end portion of the cable by being staked to a skin of the cable. The skin of the cable is coated with polytetrafluoroethylene or PTFE. Subsequently, a bushing member is integrally molded on the washer to the cable by injection molding. The bushing member is made of polyvinyl chloride or PVC. Thereby, a cable bush is mounted on the cable such that the cable bush is securely fixed to the cable.

This invention relates to a cable bush mounted on a cable and, in particular, to a method for mounting the cable bush (bushing) on the cable which is used for connecting between a mobile antenna unit for receiving a digital radio broadcasting and a receiver (receiver body) and which has a skin coated with a slippery material.
In recent years, a digital radio receiver, which receives a satellite wave or a terrestrial wave to listen the digital radio broadcasting, has been developed and is put to practical use in the United States of America. The digital radio receiver is mounted on a mobile station such as an automobile and can receive an electric wave having a frequency of about 2.3 gigahertz (GHz) to listen in a radio broadcasting. That is, the digital radio receiver is a radio receiver which can listen in a mobile broadcasting. Inasmuch as the received wave has the frequency of about 2.3 GHz, a reception wavelength (resonance wavelength) λ thereof is equal to about 128.3 mm. In addition, the terrestrial wave is an electric wave in which a signal where the satellite wave is received in an earth station is frequency shifted a little.
Inasmuch as the electric wave having the frequency of about 2.3 GHz is used in the digital radio broadcasting in the manner which is described above, it is necessary to set up an antenna outside the automobile. Accordingly, the antenna must be attached to a roof of the automobile in a case where the digital radio receiver is mounted in the automobile.
Such as an antenna for the automobile and a receiver (receiver body) put inside a room of the automobile are electrically connected to each other through a cable. On mounting the cable to the antenna for the automobile, it is necessary to hold one end portion of the cable in the antenna. For this purpose, the cable is mounted with a cable bush. The cable bush is also called a bushing.
The cable has a skin coated with a slippery material such as polytetrafluoroethylene or PTFE. In other words, the cable has a slippery skin. The bushing is made of polyvinyl chloride or PVC. Therefore, adhesion between the bushing and the cable is poor. When the cable is pulled, the bushing may slide on the skin of the cable thereby the bushing may shift on the cable. As a result, it is desired to mount the bushing on the cable with the bushing securely fixed to the cable.


In a first embodiment, Tetraethyl Orthosilicate Si(OC2H5)4 is used at the process temperature of 650° C.±5° C. as film forming material, to decrease crystal defects occurring during deposition. In a second embodiment, annealing is carried out in sparse oxygen gas atmosphere after deposition, to mend crystal defects that occurred during deposition. In a third embodiment, initial temperature of the CVD device is kept at about 400° C., whereby the start of natural oxidation of the deposition surface is prevented and production circumstances of the semiconductor element is not deteriorated. Then, the CVD device is heated up to CVD temperature of about 750° C. or about 650° C., to deposit oxide.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method of producing semiconductor element which is able to enhance the dielectric strength of the insulation film such as a tunnel oxide film of nonvolatile semiconductor memory, and the same memory produced by this method.
2. Description of Related Art
To begin with, giving brief description about nonvolatile semiconductor memory which is the background of the present invention: as shown in FIG. 10 and FIG. 11, this kind of memory is able to memorize one bit of data by accumulating a group of electrons in a floating gate 9. According to FIG. 10, when data is written in the memory, the gate is impressed with a voltage. Thus, the channel is opened. And hot electrons come out of the channel. And these electrons are accumulated in the floating gate 9. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 11, when data in the memory is erased, the source is impressed with a voltage in stead of the gate. Thus, the electrons accumulated in the floating gate 9 is let out by tunnel current from the floating gate 9 to the control gate 11. In this operation, as shown in FIG. 11, the tunnel current flows through a sharp portion of the floating gate 9 (see e.g. U.S. Pat. No. 5,067,108 Jenq).
Tunnel oxide film of this kind of semiconductor memory is a very thin dielectric with thickness of less than 100 angstroms (c.f. Jenq). As an actual method to form this kind of thin film, there is a chemical vapor deposition (CVD) which uses mixture gas of SiH4 and N2O. The conditions of film forming are the temperature 750° C., the pressure 0.45 Torr, and the atmosphere SiH4:N2O=24:1200 cc. And after film forming, the film formed is annealed. The conditions of annealing are the temperature 1000° C., the atmosphere N2, and the process time 30 seconds.
In the semiconductor memory mentioned above, it is necessary to keep the dielectric strength of the very thin tunnel oxide film in high level. Otherwise, the electrons which should be kept in the floating gate 9 become likely to leak to the control gate 11 through the sharp portion of the thin film shown in FIG. 11. Even if the source is not impressed with the high voltage.
Accordingly the inventor of the present invention tested the dielectric strength of the sample of tunnel oxide film which was formed with the conventional method. The result is shown in FIG. 9. The method of the test is to prepare a sample of prescribed thickness and sectional area. This sample is impressed with a voltage at the thickness. The voltage is gradually increased. Then the leak current is detected. And a sample of thermal oxide film was tested with the same method. Both of the leak currents were compared. Then the dielectric strength of the CVD tunnel oxide film was evaluated under the standard of the thermal oxide film.
Both results of the test of these samples are shown in FIG. 9. Samples which thickness is about 100 angstroms were prepared for both of conventional CVD oxide film and thermal oxide film. And the voltage impressed at thickness of each sample is increased from 0V. Then the next phenomena appeared. About the conventional CVD oxide film, when the voltage was 10V, a leak current of 1.E-12A flowed. So the dielectric began to be broken at this moment. And the strength of the electric field that is the dielectric strength at this moment was 10V÷100 Å=10 MV/cm. On the other hand, about the thermal oxide film, when the voltage was 12V, a leak current of 1.E-12A flowed. So the dielectric began to be broken at this moment. And the strength of the electric field that is the dielectric strength at this moment was 12V÷100 Å=12 MV/cm. As a next step, about the conventional CVD oxide film, when the voltage was 12V, a leak current of 1.E-10A flowed. A current of CVD oxide film flowed at the voltage of 12V was 100 times larger than that of thermal oxide film at same voltage. After this, each voltage impressed to both samples was increased. Then each current flowed as represented in the characteristic curve in FIG. 9. As shown in FIG. 9, the characteristic curves of the voltage versus current have similar figures about both kinds of samples. And it has been revealed that the average current of CVD oxide film which flows at each voltage is some 10 times larger than that of thermal oxide film. In addition, the vertical coordinate in FIG. 9 has a logarithmic scale. By this method, testing samples of oxide film, the tunnel oxide film which dielectric strength is near to that of thermal oxide film is obtained. And the subject of this invention is to obtain tunnel oxide film which dielectric strength is as high as possible.

Method of producing semiconductor element and nonvolatile semiconductor memory produced by this method


Disclosed is a method for estimating an available bandwidth of a network. A plurality of periodic time-stamp packets are transmitted to a receiving-party communication apparatus, which is connected to the network, through the network at a currently-set test transmission rate, and then a changing tendency of transmission delay time differences between the time-stamp packets is checked on the basis of reception times at which the receiving-party communication apparatus have received the respective time-stamp packets. When the transmission delay time differences are located outside a stable range and show a tendency to increase, the test transmission rate is set to a decreased value and the time-stamp packets are repeatedly transmitted at the decreased rate and when the transmission delay time differences are located outside the stable range and show a tendency to decrease, the test transmission rate is set to be an increased value and the time-stamp packets are repeatedly transmitted at the increased rate. A test transmission rate is determined as the available bandwidth when the transmission delay time differences are within the stable range.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a network, and more particularly to a method for estimating an available bandwidth of a network.
2. Description of the Related Art
Various services requiring a quality of service ('QoS') with a predetermined level with respect to a transmission bandwidth, such as VOD (Video On Demand), VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) etc., have recently been provided. In order to transmit data according to these services through networks having various characteristics, it is necessary to estimate an available bandwidth of each network.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating communication apparatuses which are connected to each other through various links having different bandwidths in a network. Communication apparatuses 108 and 110 connected to each other in a network 100 typically communicate with each other via various links 102, 104, and 106 having different bandwidths. In FIG. 1, each of the heights of blocks representing the links 102, 104, and 106 conceptually expresses a size of a bandwidth of each relevant link. Also shown are dotted portions of the links 102, 104, and 106, which represent the respective bandwidths that are currently in use, and the remaining portions of the links 102, 104, and 106 represent the remaining bandwidths that are not in use.
When the communication apparatuses 108 and 110 communicate with each other via links 102, 104, and 106, having different bandwidths from each other, an available bandwidth of a link having the least bandwidth of the links 102, 104, and 106 through which data pass becomes the actual available bandwidth of the network 100 for the communication apparatuses 108 and 110. That is, in the example shown in FIG. 1, an available bandwidth of the link 106 being the least bandwidth of the links 102, 104, and 106 becomes the actual available bandwidth of the network 100 for the communication apparatuses 108 and 110.
According to the conventional techniques of estimating a bandwidth in a network as described above, only an approximate value of bandwidth can be found. According to these techniques, for example, TCP (Transmission Control Protocol)/UDP (User Datagram Protocol) packets are transmitted to a receiving-party communication apparatus 110 through the network 100 for a predetermined period of time. In this case, the packets are transmitted for a predetermined period of time while its transmission bandwidth is saturated with the packets more than the maximum available bandwidth of the network. Thereafter, the number of packets transmitted per unit time and the number of packets received per unit time in the receiving-party communication apparatus 110 are compared with each other, thereby estimating packet loss and an available bandwidth. That is, when a time period of packet transmission is 'T' and a size of periodic packets is 'S', a bandwidth is determined as 'S/T'.
However, when such a bandwidth estimation method is used, it is necessary to transmit/receive packets for a long time to increase the estimation accuracy. Therefore, a long time is necessary for estimating an available bandwidth according to the prior art. Moreover, a relevant bandwidth is occupied in a saturated state for the time that available bandwidth estimation is performed. This results in a waste of the network bandwidth.
Furthermore, the prior art method compares the number of packets transmitted per unit time with the number of packets received per unit time at the receiving-party communication apparatus. Thus, this method does not estimate the actual available bandwidth of the network in real time, but is merely an estimate of a momentary average bandwidth at a fixed time.
Hence, there is a need in the industry for a method for estimating network bandwidth that may be performed in substantially real-time and represents an estimate of an actual available bandwidth.

Method for estimating available bandwidth of network


A method of promoting the healing of a lesion in a smooth muscle, comprising selecting a smooth muscle portion having a lesion and applying a non-excitatory electrical field to the portion, which field reduces the mechanical activity of the portion.

In many body tissues, activity of individual cells, especially contraction, is initiated by changes in trans-membrane potentials. These types of tissue are also called excitable tissue, since when they are excited by an electrical signal, they react by activation. Some examples of excitable tissue include: cardiac muscle, skeletal muscle, smooth muscle and neural tissue. In many cases, the activity of large numbers of such excitable tissue cells is synchronized by propagating electrical activation signals. An activation signal is an electrical signal which, when it reaches an excitable cell, causes it to depolarize and perform its activity. In addition, the depolarization creates a new propagating activation signal which then continues to propagate towards the next un-activated cell. In most excitable tissue, the cell is refractory after a depolarization, such that the activation signal cannot immediately travel backwards.
The gastrointestinal (GI) tract is an example of a major physiological system in which many activities are coordinated by propagating electrical activation signals. The GI tract comprise a stomach, a small intestine and a large intestine. In a typical digestive process, food is chewed in the mouth and enters the stomach for digestion. The food is periodically passed to the antrum for grinding down and then passed back to the stomach. After a period of time, the pyloric sphincter opens and the food is passed to the small intestine. In the small intestine the food is churned and passed forward by a rhythmic motion of the intestines, until it reaches the large intestine. A one way sphincter allows movement only from the small intestine to the large intestine. Once in the large intestine, the food is further churned and compacted by motions of the large intestines. These motions also advance the digested food, now feces, to a pair of outlet sphincters, which mark the end of the GI tract.
The GI tract is mostly composed of smooth muscle, which, when depolarized, contracts. All of the above described movements of the GI tract are synchronized by propagating activation signals. As can be appreciated, in many cases, these electrical signals are not properly activated and/or responded to, resulting in disease. In one example, an ulcer causes inflammation of GI tissue. The inflamed tissue may generate spurious activation signals, which can cause the stomach to contract in a chaotic manner. The inflamed tissue may also affect the activation profile of the stomach by not conducting activation signals or by having a different conduction velocity than healthy tissue.
Pacing the GI tract is well known in the art, for example as shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,292,344 and 5,540,730, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. The '730 patent describes both increasing and decreasing the excitability of the GI tract by stimulating different portions of the vagus nerve. The '344 patent describes a pacemaker which directly stimulates portions of the GI tract. Electrical stimulation of the GI tract is also known to be used for stimulating the GI tract of patients suffering from post operative damping syndrome, as evidenced by SU 1039506, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
The uterus also comprises smooth muscle, which contracts in response to electrical activation signals. "Uterine Electromyography: A Critical Review" by D. Devedeux, et al., Am. J. Obstet Gynecol 1993; 169:1636–53, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference, describes the different types of uterine muscle and electrical signals generated by such muscles. An important finding which is described therein is that electrical activity in the uterus appears to be uncorrelated prior to labor, but when labor is established, the contractions and the electrical activity associated to them become highly synchronized.
In current medical practice, labor can be delayed by administering certain drugs. However, the operation of these drugs is somewhat uncertain. In addition, labor can be induced using other drugs, such as Oxytocin. Unfortunately, the dosage of Oxytocin which is required cannot be known in advance and overdoses of the drug can result in over-contraction which can mechanically damage the fetus and/or the mother.
SU 709078, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference, describes stimulating the uterus after labor using an externally applied electrical current, to increase the contractions and aid in the expulsion of the afterbirth and reduce bleeding by rapidly shrinking the uterus.
The use of locally applied electrical fields for reducing pain is well known in the art. "Electrical Field Stimulation—Meditated Relaxation of a Rabbit Middle Cerebral Artery", D. A. Van Ripper and J. A. Bevan, Circulatory Research 1992; 70:1104–1112, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference, describes causing the relaxation of an artery by applying an electric field. U.S. Pat. No. 4,537,195, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference, describes treatment of pain using TENS (Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve stimulation), for treatment of headaches. It is hypothesized in this patent that the electrical stimulation prevents the constriction of arteries by stimulation of the muscle in the walls of the arteries, thereby preventing the dilation of capillaries, which dilation is a cause of headaches.
SU 1147408, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference, describes a method of changing the distribution of blood flow in and about the liver, by applying electrical fields to arteries, varying the frequency of the field in synchrony with the cardiac rhythm.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,447,526, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference, describes a transcutaneous electrical smooth muscle controller for inhibiting or decreasing the contraction of smooth muscle, especially uterine muscle. The controller, which is applied to the outside of the abdomen may also sense muscle contractions and effect inhibitory or stimulatory pulses unto the uterus as a whole, depending on the medical application, in response to sensed contractions.


A fabrication method for a molybdenum disilicide sintered body in which a molybdenum disilicide powder having excellent oxidation resistance is sintered in a low-temperature sintering method and compacted at a low temperature and under no pressure, includes carrying out a milling on a molybdenum disilicide powder at a low temperature, providing a diffusion path required to sinter the molybdenum disilicide on which a milling is performed, and sintering the resultant powder under the atmosphere of hydrogen or argon gas.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a fabrication method for a molybdenum disilicide (MoSi.sub.2) sintered body, and more particularly, to a low-temperature sintering method for a molybdenum disilicide powder in which molybdenum disilicide powder having an excellent oxidation resistance is molded at a low temperature and under no pressure so as to fabricate a high density sintered product.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Generally, since molybdenum disilicide has a high melting point (2030.degree. C.), a low density (6.3 g/cc) and excellent oxidation resistance, it is commonly referred to as super kanthal and is used as a high temperature heating element.
The reason that molybdenum disilicide has an excellent oxidation resistance characteristic is that silicon (Si), one of composing elements of the molybdenum disilicide, is combined with oxygen in air to form silica (SiO.sub.2) which is an oxidation-resistant layer on the surface of the sintered product, which prevents oxygen from being diffused to the inside of the material.
However, as reported in recent publication (Mat. Res. Soc. Symp. Proc. vol.322.1994), the sintering of a powder material is generally carried out at 1600.degree. which corresponds to about 80% of the melting point even when the average powder grading is about 1 micron, and several to tens of hours are disadvantageously required to carry out such process.
Since a fabrication process which requires a long time at a high temperature needs much energy, and causes an increase in the fabrication cost of the product, a hot pressing method has been adopted wherein heat and pressure are applied together to sinter a powder material within a short time at a low temperature.
However, such hot pressing method requires a separate apparatus, resulting in an increase in fabrication cost.
A representative example that has been studied to solve such problem is the method of mechanically mixing the powder or employing a milling process. In case of molybdenum disilicide, if powders of molybdenum and silicon are mechanically mixed, molded and heated, about 90% of the theoretical density can be obtained by combustion synthesis within one hour at the temperature range of 1400.about.1450.degree. C. under no pressure, according to one report disclosed in Mat. Res. Soc. Symp. Proc. vol.364.1995.
However, to utilize molybdenum disilicide as a high temperature material, its mechanical characteristics and oxidation resistance have yet to be estimated, and the powder materials must not be polluted by air since they are to be mixed or alloyed.

Fabrication method for molybdenum disilicide sintered body

Korea Institute of Science and Technology


The conical roller bearing includes an inner ring which includes an annular groove between an inner-ring-side raceway surface and a small-diameter-side end portion thereof, and a cage which includes an erected portion extending from a first annular portion of the cage towards the annular groove. The erected portion includes a first inclined portion and a second inclined portion. The first inclined portion is inclined towards conical rollers disposed in pockets of the cage while extending from the first annular portion towards the annular groove. The second inclined portion is inclined towards the small-diameter-side end portion while extending from the first inclined portion towards the annular groove. The second inclined portion is configured to be brought into engagement with the annular groove in an axial direction of the inner ring.

The present invention relates to a conical roller bearing in which an inner ring, conical rollers and a cage are fitted together into an assembly.
For example, the assembling of constituent parts into a conical roller bearing 100 shown in FIG. 4 (Patent Literature 1) is carried out as follows: a plurality of conical rollers 140 are aligned on an inner-ring-side raceway surface 121 of an inner ring 120, a cage 130 is fitted from an outer circumferential side of the plurality of conical rollers 140 which are arranged into a ring shape, a first annular portion 131 at a small-diameter side of the cage 130 is crimped radially inwards so that the conical rollers 140 are made difficult to be disengaged from the cage 130, and an outer ring 110 is fitted from the outer circumferential side of the plurality of conical rollers 140 which are arranged into the ring shape.
The inner ring 120, the conical rollers 140 and the cage 130 are prevented from being disassembled by crimping the annular portion 131 at the small-diameter side of the cage 130 radially inwards, whereby those constituent parts are fitted together into an assembly. By fitting them together into the assembly, the inner ring 120, the conical rollers 140 and the cage 130 can be transported as an assembly without the outer ring 110.
In the event that the first annular portion 131 at the small-diameter side of the cage 130 is crimped radially inwards too much, the conical rollers 140 may be brought into contact with pockets 134 to thereby prevent the smooth rolling of the conical rollers 140.
As a countermeasure against the aforesaid problem, there is provided a conical roller bearing 200 shown in FIG. 3 (Patent Literature 2). The assembling of constituent parts into the conical roller bearing 200 is carried out as follows: a plurality of conical rollers 240 are aligned on an inner-ring-side raceway surface 221 of an inner ring 220, a cage 230 is fitted from an outer circumferential side of the plurality of conical rollers 240 which are arranged into a ring shape, an erected portion 231 at a small-diameter side of the cage 230 is deformed so as to ride over a small-diameter end portion 223, a radially inner side of the erected portion 231 is brought into engagement with an annular groove 223a in an axial direction of the inner ring 220, and an outer ring 210 is fitted from the outer circumferential side of the plurality of conical rollers 240 which are arranged into the ring configuration.
In this conical roller bearing 200, the inner ring 220, the conical rollers 240 and the cage 230 are prevented from being disassembled by bringing the erected portion 231 into engagement with the annular groove 223a in place of crimping the cage 230 radially inwards, whereby the inner ring 220, the conical rollers 240 and the cage 230 are fitted together into an assembly. The inner ring 220, the conical rollers 240 and the cage 230 can be transported as an assembly without the outer ring 210 by those constituent parts being fitted together into the assembly.
In order to allow a radially inward distal end of the erected portion 231 to ride over the small-diameter end portion 223, the cage 230 needs to be formed from a resin so as to allow the erected portion 231 to be bent largely. Because of this, there is imposed a limitation on the cage 230 that the cage 230 has to be formed from a resin, leading to fears that the erected portion 231 is damaged at a root thereof.
[Patent Literature 1] JP-B-4009047
[Patent Literature 2] JP-Y-58-50094


A conference call facility is described in which one (2a) of a group of communication devices (2a,2b,2c,2d) connected to a low power radio frequency network (9) is able to set up a call to a party external of the network (9) and then selectively add further devices (2a,2b,2c) to the call under the control of the user of the one device (2a). The users of the other devices (2b,2c) are able to enable or disable the selection of their device in a conference call. One or more of the communication devices may be a mobile radio telephone equipped with the necessary network interface (1).

The present invention relates both to a method and to apparatus for establishing a conference or multi-party call including members of a wireless local area network, particularly, although not exclusively, a low power radio-frequency network (LPRF).
The development of wireless local area networks has stemmed from a desire to replace the cabling and line of sight techniques presently required to connect modern digital electronic equipment such as personal computers, printers, facsimile machines and the like. In addition, the network confers the further advantage of enabling users to form relatively small ad hoc networks or piconets which can bridge to existing voice and data networks and, indeed, another piconet to form a multiple piconet structure or scatternet.
A digital device capable of utilising a wireless local area network will be provided with a module providing additional functionality in the form of a radio unit, a link control unit, link management and the relevant software including that necessary to interface with the functionality of the device. It has been proposed to provide cellular radio telephone with such a module. Once connected to the network a user of the telephone should be able to transfer data such as phone book entries, for example both to and from his telephone to other devices such as a personal computer, a printer or the like attached to the network.
A traditional use of telephones for group working has been conferencing. Traditionally, a conference call has been established using the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN). Such a call to multiple participants requires the establishment, over the PSTN of a number of connections.
Consequently, a conference call has been much more expensive in terms of both network resources and subscriber charges than a typical point to point call. Furthermore, it can be difficult and time-consuming to set up a conference call particularly if a language barrier exists in dealing with a network operator.
It is thus an aim of the present invention to attempt to reduce the cost and complexity involved in making a conference call. It is a further aim of the invention to seek to provide a conference call facility on a network having only limited telephony resources.

Conference call method and apparatus therefor


The present invention relates to an antireflective coating composition comprising a novel polymer in a solvent composition. The invention further comprises processes for using the antireflective coating composition in photolithography. The antireflective coating composition comprises a novel polymer and a solvent composition, where the novel polymer of the antireflective coating comprises at least one unit containing a dye that absorbs from about 180 nm to about 450 nm and at least one unit that contains no aromatic funtionality. The solvent may be organic, preferrably, a solvent of low toxicity, or it may be water, which may additionally contain other water miscible organic solvents.

The present invention relates to novel antireflective coating compositions and their use in image processing by either forming a thin layer between a reflective substrate and a photoresist coating or above the photoresist coating. Such compositions are especially useful in the fabrication of semiconductor devices by photolithographic techniques.
Photoresist compositions are used in microlithography processes for making miniaturized electronic components such as in the fabrication of computer chips and integrated circuits. Generally, in these processes, a thin coating of film of a photoresist composition is first applied to a substrate material, such as silicon wafers used for making integrated circuits. The coated substrate is then baked to evaporate any solvent in the photoresist composition and to fix the coating onto the substrate. The baked coated surface of the substrate is next subjected to an image-wise exposure to radiation.
This radiation exposure causes a chemical transformation in the exposed areas of the coated surface. Visible light, ultraviolet (UV) light, electron beam and X-ray radiant energy are radiation types commonly used today in microlithographic processes. After this image-wise exposure, the coated substrate is treated with a developer solution to dissolve and remove either the radiation-exposed or the unexposed areas of the photoresist.
The trend towards the minitiarization of semiconductor devices has lead to the use of sophisticated multilevel systems to overcome difficulties associated with such minitiarization. The use of highly absorbing antireflective coatings in photolithography is a simpler approach to diminish the problems that result from back reflection of light from highly reflective substrates. Two deleterious effects of back reflectivity are thin film interference and reflective notching. Thin film interference results in changes in critical linewidth dimensions caused by variations in the total light intensity in the resist film as the thickness of the resist changes. Variations of linewidth are proportional to the swing ratio (S) and therefore must be minimized for better linewidth control. Swing ratio is defined by: EQU S=4(R.sub.1 R.sub.2).sup.1/2 e.sup.-.alpha.D
where R.sub.1 is the reflectivity at the resist/air or resist/top coat interface, PA1 where R.sub.2 is the reflectivity at the resist/substrate interface, PA1 where .alpha. is the resist optical absorption coefficient, and PA1 D is the film thickness. PA1 X is N.dbd.N, R'C.dbd.CR', R'C.dbd.N or N.dbd.CR', where R' is H or alkyl; PA1 Y is aryl, aralkyl, heterocyclic or alkyl; PA1 m=1-3; and PA1 X is N.dbd.N, R'C.dbd.CR', R'C.dbd.N or N.dbd.CR', where R' is H or alkyl; PA1 Y is aryl, aralkyl, heterocyclic or alkyl; PA1 m=1-3.
Bottom antireflective coatings function by absorbing the radiation used for exposing the photoresist, thus reducing R.sub.2 and thereby reducing the swing ratio. Reflective notching becomes severe as the photoresist is patterned over substrates containing topographical features, which scatter light through the photoresist film, leading to linewidth variations, and in the extreme case, forming regions with complete resist loss. Similarily dyed top antireflective coatings reduce the swing ratio by reducing R.sub.1, where the coating has the optimal values for refractive index and absorption characteristics, such as absorbing wavelength and intensity.
In the past dyed photoresists have been utilized to solve these reflectivity problems. However, it is generally known that dyed resists only reduce reflectivity from the substrate but do not substantially eliminate it. In addition, dyed resists also cause reduction in the lithographic performance of the photoresist, together with possible sublimation of the dye and incompatibility of the dye in resist films. In cases where further reduction or elimination of the swing ratio is required, the use of a top or bottom antireflective coating provides the best solution for reflectivity. The bottom antireflective coating is applied to the substrate prior to coating with the photoresist and prior to exposure. The resist is exposed imagewise and developed. The antireflective coating in the exposed area is then etched, typically in an oxygen plasma, and the resist pattern is thus transferred to the substrate. The etch rate of the antireflective film should be relatively high in comparison to the photoresist so that the antireflective film is etched without excessive loss of the resist film during the etch process. The top antireflective coating is applied on top of a film of photoresist. The system is then imagewise exposed and developed to give a pattern on the substrate. Top antireflective coatings are disclosed in EP 522,990, JP 7,153,682, JP 7,333,855 and in pending patent application with U.S. Ser. No. 08/811,807, filed on Mar. 6, 1997, based on provisional application 60/013,007, filed on Mar. 7, 1996, now abandoned, and all incorporated herein by reference.
Antireflective coatings containing a dye for absorption of the light and an organic polymer to give coating properties are known. However, the possibility of sublimation and diffusion of the dye into the environment and into the photoresist layer during heating make these types of antireflective compositions undesirable.
Polymeric organic antireflective coatings are known in the art as described in EP 583,205, and incorporated herein by reference. However, the antireflective films as disclosed in EP 583,205 are cast from organic solvents, such as cyclohexanone and cyclopentanone. The potential hazards of working with such organic solvents, have lead to the development of the antireflective coating composition of the instant invention, where the solid components of the antireflective coating are both soluble and spin castable from solvents having lesser toxicity hazards. The preferred solvents that are known in the semiconductor industry to have low toxicity among others are propylene gycol monomethyl ether acetate (PGMEA), propylene gycol monomethyl ether (PGME), and ethyl lactate (EL). An even more preferred solvent is water for its ease of handling and transportation. The antireflective coating of the present invention can be cast from these low toxicity solvents, water, or mixtures of water and lower alcohols, ketones or esters that are miscible in water. Antireflective coatings are also disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,525,457 and in pending patent applications with U.S. Ser. Nos. 08/698,742 filed on Aug. 16, 1996, 08/699,001 filed on Aug. 16, 1996, and 08/724,109 filed on Sep. 30, 1996, and all incorporated herein by reference. However, the novel dye functionality of the instant invention when attached to the specific types of monomer described, makes the instant invention significantly different from the prior art referred to previously. Another advantage of using antireflective coatings soluble in the preferred, lower toxicity solvents, is that these same solvents can also be used to remove the edge bead of the antireflective coating and no additional hazards or equipment expense is incurred, since these solvents are also used for photoresist and photoresist processing. The antireflective coating composition also has good solution stability. Additionally, substantially no intermixing is present between the antireflective coating and the photoresist film. The antireflective coatings also has good dry etching properties, which enable a good image transfer from the resist to the substrate and good absorption characteristics to prevent reflective notching and linewidth variations.
In another embodiment the antireflective coating could also be formed on top of the photoresist and function as dyed top antireflective coating, where preferrably the top coat is cast from an aqueous polymeric solution.

Antireflective coating compositions for photoresist compositions and use thereof


A composite structure includes at least one resin matrix layer having a resin material and a plurality of fiber elements and a plurality of titanium particles provided in the resin material. A method of toughening a resin matrix layer is also disclosed.

Polymer composite materials selected and qualified for various applications, such as with primary structure applications in the manufacture of aircraft, for example and without limitation, may be evaluated for two key mechanical properties: compression-after-impact (CAI) strength and hot-wet compression strength, and more specifically open-hole-compression (OHC) strength. However, the means for increasing a composite material's CAI strength and hot-wet OHC strength have typically been counterproductive to each other. More specifically, traditional particulate interlayer toughening methods using elastomeric or thermoplastic-based polymer particles have been effective for increasing a composite's CAI strength, but not generally effective for simultaneously increasing hot-wet compression strength (e.g., hot-wet OHC) properties and, more typically, result in a tradeoff relationship with one another.
Conventional methods utilized to increase the hot-wet compression strength properties of a polymer composite may involve increasing the resin matrix crosslink density to increase the elastic modulus of the resin or by reducing the water absorption characteristics of the matrix by proper formulation of the resin's specific chemistry. Efforts associated with increasing the matrix crosslink density to increase hot-wet compression strength typically result in a composite having reduced CAI properties.
In the interest of toughening the composite matrix interlayer sufficiently to improve its CAI strength, it will be appreciated that titanium particles are irregularly-shaped (small pieces of Ti sponge) and should provide a mechanical bond within the epoxy, along with the ductility and function of a "blocker" for crack propagation. In view of the foregoing, it would be highly desirable to provide a polymer composite structure having a matrix interlayer which provides the properties of titanium but which does not significantly add to the weight of the overall structure, and also which does not negatively affect the hot-wet compression strength of the matrix interlayer.

Toughened resin fiber laminates with titanium particles


For preparing an extrusion-cooked food product, a food component emulsifier is combined with water to obtain an aqueous dispersion of the emulsifier, and the dispersion is fed into an extruder for being mixed with food components being mixed and heated in the extruder to prepare the extrusion-cooked product.

It is already known to prepare expanded, shaped products by extrusion-cooking which is a short-time, high-solids process in which components are mixed, sheared and subjected to elevated temperatures and pressures, to produce products having a plastic consistency which are shaped by passage through a forming die, whilst in the plastic phase, and then, cut to length. Expansion of size occurs, owing to the release of the pressure upon die exit and normally, to release of gas(es) such as steam. With the prior art, such a procedure results in non-homogeneity of the expansion both within each individual product portion and from one product portion to another product portion. Expanded extrusion-cooked product pieces therefore are known to suffer limitations in their sharpness of features, in their presence of deformities of shape, in their variability of surface characteristics and in their tendency to clump and stick together.
The positions, size and surface activity of minute internal surfaces within the mass of extrusion-cooked products determine which sites are those upon which the gas generation is nucleated. The degree of subsequent expansion, to generate hollows, is variable and dependent upon the strengths of the layers of surrounding plastic mass, which entrap the gas until rupture occurs and the gas escapes from the structure. The problem is that such a procedure results in pieces of an uneven geometry. With uneven geometry, the cosmetic appearance of the shape and its packing fraction are influenced. In addition, an uneven geometry results in products having some thin parts which more easily break and thereby make a considerable contribution to undesirable dust in subsequent handling operations.
Variable pore size and variable wall thickness also influence the rates of hardening of the different parts of the external surfaces of the cut products. This results in a degree of stickiness on parts of the surfaces which causes some cut products to adhere to each other after cutting, which may be permanent or semi-permanent. In the case of permanent adherence, the products are of reject quality. In the case of semi-permanent adherence, the product portions harden at slower rates at the temporary point of attachment, and usually suffer deformity upon detachment.
Variable hardening rates on the surfaces of the product portions also influence the porosity of such surfaces. This porosity variability influences the visual appeal and color of the product, as well as its water absorption or solubility parameters.
With such characteristics, it is necessary to use relatively high energy to prepare such products and suffer low throughput rates. This causes a high degree of wear and tear on the equipment.
Prior art has considered reducing variability in the expansion characteristic by the addition of fat to the product formulation. Although such an approach significantly reduces the total expansion that occurs, it increases fragility, increases energy requirements, reduces production throughput and has dietary implications. Similarly, dry emulsifiers have been added as part of the feedstock to the cooker extruder, but in this form, they fail to significantly influence the degree of non-uniformity in expansion characteristic. U.S. Pat. No. 5,260,078 concerns such a process and furthermore, in this patent, at the extrusion exit, the product is furthermore coated with a vegetable oil and a second surfactant dispersed in the to obtain a desirable level of flavoring.

Process for obtaining extruded food products having high die shape conformity and reduced adhesion


The invention comprises a zoom lens system including two lens groups. The first lens group has an overall positive refractive power, and includes three sub-group lens units. The first sub-group lens unit has a negative refractive power, the second sub-group lens unit has a positive refractive power, and the third sub-group lens unit has a positive refractive power. The second lens group has an overall negative refractive power and includes two sub-group lens units. The fourth sub-group lens unit has a positive refractive power, and the fifth sub-group lens unit has a negative refractive power. The magnification of the system can be changed by varying a distance between the first lens group and the second lens group, wherein the following conditions are satisfied: EQU Mt/Mw>1.95, EQU 0.20<fbw/fw<0.37,. where:. Mt represents the magnification of the second lens group at a telephoto position; PA1 Mw represents the magnification of the second lens group at a wide-angle position; PA1 fw represents a focal length of the zoom lens system at the wide-angle position; and PA1 fbw represents a back focal length of the zoom lens system at the wide-angle position.

A. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a compact wide-angle zoom lens system, and, more particularly, to a compact wide-angle zoom lens system comprising two lens groups and having a zoom ratio of about 2.0 times.
B. Description of the Related Art
Automatic compact cameras have been recently provided with zoom lenses and panorama structures. As a result, users require these cameras to be compact and to have a wide viewing angle. In order to reduce a camera's size, however, the camera's optical system must first be reduced.
Generally, zoom lens systems for compact cameras can be divided into two types: those having two lens groups and those having three lens groups. The two lens group type is compact and light, but does not provide a high magnification. The three lens group type, on the other hand, provides a high magnification, but is large and heavy.
Zoom lens systems having two lens groups are disclosed in tile U.S. Pat. No. 4,936,661 and Japanese Publication Nos. Hei 5-224122, Hei 5-82696, and Hei 5-289294. The zoom lens system of U.S. Pat. No. 4,936,661 has a very short back focal length, making the size of the rear lens group large in order to obtain a marginal illumination. As a consequence, it is very difficult to reduce the lens system's size.
The zoom lens system of Hei 5-224122 does not have a wide angle. It, therefore, has a large telephoto ratio at a telephoto position which also makes it difficult to obtain a compact camera. The zoom lens system of Hei 5-82696 suffers from the fact that it has a poor zoom ratio of less than 1.9 times. The zoom lens system of Hei 5-289294 has a large telephoto ratio at a telephoto position, but has a large number of lenses making it expensive to manufacture.


A nestable shopping cart includes an upright frame, an upper angle support and a pair of tie bars extending out from the upright frame. A tray is pivotally connected to the upright frame. The tray includes a utility position and a nested position. The tray includes a tapered front and at least one side. A slope plate is mounted to at least one side of the tray. In the nested position, the nestable shopping cart is nested with another nestable shopping cart, resulting in a nesting gap of about 11 inches between the shopping carts.

Existing shopping carts do not have a compact storage configuration, and typically require a lot of labor work to collect and move them. Trays and/or baskets of existing shopping carts require improvements on durability.
A need exists for an improved nestable shopping cart configuration to facilitate collecting and moving many carts at one time. A need also exists for an improved tray for added durability. Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to this and other considerations.


A device for processing and storing data is disclosed, which comprises a primary controller, a primary memory, a security element (SE), and at least one universal port, wherein the device for processing and storing data further includes a first additional port, via which the security element (SE) can directly interacts with a second external device to complete the processing and access of the data. The security element (SE) in the device for processing and storing data disclosed herein can work independently without being effected by the condition whether the primary memory is performing the data read/write process, and supports the single wire protocol (SWP).

Nowadays, with the rapid development and popularization of the near-field communication (NFC) technology and the increasing enrichment of the business applications in different field, such as the financial transaction field, the mobile payment solutions based on the NFC technology become more and more important.
In general, existing mobile payment solutions can be divided into the following two types: (1) a SIM card-based NFC solution, in which a contactless antenna and a contactless communication frontend (CLF) are integrated in a mobile phone, while a security element (SE) is integrated in a SIM card, which communicates with the contactless antenna and the CLF via a particular communication protocol, e.g., the single wire protocol; and (2) an SD card-based remote mobile payment solution, in which a security element (SE) is integrated in a SD card, and the access to the security element is made by using a particular client application to call a file interface of a standard SD card, and thereby the remote mobile payment process is implemented.
However, the first solution described above is disadvantageous in that it does not support concurrent processing due to the small storage capacity of the existing SIM cards, which is usually 80-100 kB, and this makes it difficult to extend the applications of NFC-based mobile payment in various business categories.
The second solution described above is also disadvantageous for the following reasons: NFC-based mobile payment application may not be supported because a particular client application is required to access to the security element (SE) so as to call a file interface of a standard SD card; because the security element (SE) and the primary processor (i.e., the SDC) and the primary memory (i.e., a FLASH memory) in the SD card share the powering of the SD card interface, the powering of the security element (SE) may be insufficient or inversely effected such that it can not work properly; because the access to the security element (SE) requires the calling of the file interface of the SD card, the external device will not be able to access the security element (SE) during the writing or reading process of the SD card, and thus this will limit the time for transaction.
Therefore, there exists the need for a device for processing and storing data that supports the single wire protocol and a mobile terminal that includes such device for processing and storing data.


A flexible tube of an endoscope includes a tubular spiral, a meshwork tube provided around the tubular spiral, and a resin sheath provided around the meshwork tube. The meshwork tube is made by netting a plurality of wire bundles, each of the bundles being made of a plurality of metal wires. At least one wire for each bundle is coated with a coating material made of thermoplastic resin. The coating material is bonded to the resin sheath and the tubular spiral by heating the resin sheath and the meshwork tube.

This invention relates to a flexible tube of an endoscope.
An endoscope is provided with a flexible tube which is inserted into a human body cavity. In order to obtain the flexibility, the flexible tube includes a tubular spiral made of a metal band wound in helical fashion. In order to maintain the wound shape of the metal band of the tubular spiral, a meshwork tube is provided around the tubular spiral to cover the tubular spiral. A resin sheath is adhered to the outer surface of the meshwork tube, thereby to surround the meshwork tube.
However, when the flexible tube is bent, a stress is applied to the resin sheath at the bent portion of the flexible tube. Therefore, the resin sheath may be separated from the meshwork tube, which causes buckling of the resin sheath. Thus, the durability of the flexible tube may be lowered.
Further, since a stress is also applied to the resin sheath at the bent portion of the flexible tube, the meshwork tube may be separated from the tubular spiral, so that the wound shape of the metal band may not be maintained. Thus, the flexibility of the flexible tube may be lowered.


A light source for projecting rectangular color light bands includes a white-light source, a color separation device for separating the white light into red, green and blue components, and separate optics for forming images of rectangular red, green and blue light bands at predetermined positions. The light source is particularly useful in projection television apparatus having single panel light valves.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a multiple-color-band light source and, in particular, to such a light source which is especially useful with video projection systems for scrolling such light bands across a single-panel light valve.
2. Description of Related Art
U.S. Pat. No. 5,548,347, which is hereby incorporated by reference, discloses a number of systems in which light from an intense white light source, for example an arc lamp, is collected, and separated using dichroic filters into light bands of the primary colors, i.e. red, green and blue. The color-separated light bands are arrayed adjacently, with each band being narrower in one direction, e.g. the "vertical" direction, and wider in another direction, e.g. the "horizontal" direction. Scanning optics are employed to cause the three bands of light to be imaged onto a light-valve panel. This arrangement proves very effective when utilizing a matrix display panel such as, for example, a liquid crystal display (LCD) panel. Regardless of what type of light-valve panel is utilized, the scanning optics cause the bands of illumination to move across the panel. As each band passes over the "top" of the active area of the panel, a band of light of that color typically leaves the "bottom" of the panel. Accordingly, there is a continual sweep of the three colors across the panel.
Prior to each color band passing over a given row of pixels on the panel, that row will have been addressed with the appropriate brightness information for that color. Each row of the panel is addressed three times for each video field which is to be displayed.
The simultaneous use of a substantial portion of the available red, green and blue light through a single light valve panel provides optical efficiencies comparable to that of three-panel systems employing the same types of light-valve panels. Using only a single panel eliminates the need to mechanically converge different color images, formed on separate panels, and further reduces system cost. Additionally, beam-combining dichroic filters are not needed which leads to further cost savings. The various scanning systems disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,548,347 have many advantages, particularly optical efficiency. The only color-band light source disclosed in detail in that patent, however, is complicated to manufacture and produces color bands which follow light paths of uncompensated different lengths to facets of a rotatable prism and contribute to entendue problems.


The present invention herein provides ceramic powder which is to be incorporated into rubber or a resin and which can be used as, for instance, a semiconductor-sealing material and for the preparation of a composition excellent in the narrow interstice-filling up property and moldability. The ceramic powder has a multiple peak-frequency type particle size distribution which has at least two peaks, as determined according to the laser diffraction-scattering type particle size distribution analyzer, wherein the maximum particle size observed for the first peak falls within the range of from 12 to 30 μm; that observed for the second peak falls within the range of from 2 to 7 μm; the content of the particles having a particle size of greater than 7 μm and less than 12 μm is not more than 18% (including 0%); and wherein the ratio (F2/F1) of the frequency value F2 of the maximum particle size for the second peak to that F1 of the maximum particle size for the first peak ranges from 0.5 to 1.3.

To cope with the requirements for the development of compact and lightweight electronic machinery and tools, which are likewise greatly improved in their performance, there has rapidly been advanced the investigation and development of smaller, thinner and high density packaged semiconductors. Accordingly, with respect to the packaged structure of such semiconductors, the conventional lead-terminal type ones such as QFP and SOP have been superseded by the area-array type ones such as BGA and LGA, which are highly effective for the realization of thinner and high density packaging. Moreover, it has been a recent trend to positively adopt a stacked-chip multi-layered structure in which a plurality of IC chips are laminated or packaged within a single semiconductor package and in other words, the structure of such a semiconductor package has increasingly been complicated and the packaging density of each semiconductor device has likewise even more rapidly become higher.
In respect of the stacked-chip multi-layered structure, there have been highlighted several problems concerning the moldability thereof due to its complicated structure. This is because, when IC chips are packaged in layers, the difference in height between the portion provided with such chips and that free of any chip on the substrate is considerably increased as compared with that observed for the conventional one chip and accordingly, the semiconductor-sealing material flows through these portions at different speeds. As a result, fine air bubbles are caught in the material at the uppermost narrower portions of the laminated chips at which the flow rate of the material is reduced to thus form un-filled areas (voids). Moreover, the number of gold wires required for the electrical connection of these chips is increased in proportion to the number of chips to be packaged, the use of long-spun gold wires is required and accordingly, problems arise such that such long-spun wires are liable to be deformed by the action of the flowing sealing material (flow resistance thereof) and this in turn results in the contact of a wire with the neighboring one and the formation of a short-circuit.
There have variously been investigated for the solution of these problems, while taking note of the improvement of molds used for molding, and the resins and the fillers used for forming a sealing material for semiconductors. In respect of the improvement of the mold used for molding, there have been proposed, for instance, a technique in which the mold is so designed that it is provided with a groove for exhausting air (air-vent), to thus prevent the formation of any void during the molding operations (Patent Document 1) and a technique in which the mold is so designed that it is provided with a member for controlling the fluidity of a sealing material to thus inhibit the occurrence of any deformation of wires and the formation of any void (Patent Document 2). Moreover, regarding the improvement of the sealing material for semiconductors, there have been proposed, for instance, a method which comprises the steps of reducing the viscosity of a resin to thus precisely control the curing time thereof at the molding temperature (Patent Document 3); a method in which a semiconductor-sealing material comprising a filler and a resin is improved in the property of filling-up narrower portions by reducing the rate of charging of the filler in the resin, lowering the viscosity of the sealing resin and further reducing the particle size of the filler; and a method in which the particle size distribution of a filler to be incorporated into a semiconductor-sealing material is adjusted so as to control the charging (or filling up) property and to simultaneously reduce the viscosity of the sealing material (Patent Document 4). However, these methods have still been insufficient and there has not yet been developed any semiconductor-sealing material which is never accompanied by the formation of voids and the deformation of distributing wires and which can accordingly be used in the sealing of semiconductors having such a stacked-chip multi-layered structure satisfactorily, as well as any ceramic powder used in the sealing material.
Patent Document 1: JP-A-2003-209216;
Patent Document 2: JP-A-2005-310831;
Patent Document 3: JP-A-2006-013382;
Patent Document 4: JP-A-2003-110065.


The invention relates to the discovery that in chronic wounds the expression levels of certain genes are altered relative to the expression levels observed in healthy tissues.

Acutely injured tissues generally undergo a well-choreographed set of repair processes, usually characterized in three major phases: the inflammatory phase, initiated almost immediately after trauma occurs (lasting from 1-3 days); the proliferative phase, in which new tissue is formed (lasting from 3 to 14 days); and the remodeling phase, involving wound contraction, accumulation of collagen, and scar formation (this final phase can last for several months).
In contrast, chronic wounds fail to exhibit any well-defined healing processes. Some wounds remain in a state of chronic inflammation, while others simply fail to initiate tissue regrowth. Chronic wounds will often remain refractory to traditional treatments for years. For venous stasis ulcers, this is a particularly vexing problem; standard compression therapy only works on about 50% of the time, and there are few alternative treatments. Currently there are approximately 1.3 million individuals who suffer from these wounds in the U.S., with a treatment cost of over $730 million in 1998.
Factors leading to the failure of chronic wounds to heal are largely unknown. In fact, the entire process by which chronic wounds fail to heal is poorly understood. If factors and mechanisms contributing to the failure of healing in chronic wounds were identified, new treatment regimens could be developed. Therefore, a need exists for biomarkers of chronic wounds and for new procedures and formulations for treating wounds.


A switching noise cancelling system in a space diversity receiving system, comprising a comparator for comparing two receiving signal levels received by two antennas to provide a high level signal or a low level signal in response to the result of the comparison, a first switch for selecting, in response to the output signal of the comparator, one of two signals received by the antennas, a noise generating unit for generating noises substantially the same as noises generated by the switch, and a noise cancelling unit for cancelling the noises generated by the first switch by using the noises generated by the noise generating unit, whereby noises generated by the switch are canceled.

1. Filed of the Invention
The present invention relates to a switching noise cancelling system in a space diversity receiving system, and more particularly to a system for removing a switching noise generated at the output of a switch in a space diversity receiving unit.
As space diversity receiving methods, there are generally two methods, i.e., a first method for detecting, from signals from two receiving antennas, a receiving signal having a higher level, and then selecting the detected receiving signal, and a second method for controlling the phases of the receiving signals from two receiving antennas to have the same phase, and synthesizing the two receiving signals. Various research into each of the methods has been carried out. From a view point of easy construction, the first method which does not require a construction for synthesis if preferred over the second method.
The present invention relates to the first method.
2. Description of the Related Art
In the first method, a switch is used to select the higher level receiving signal. Conventionally, noises are generated at the output of the switch. The noises are generated at the time of the switching operation because the voltages of the receiving signals applied to the switch are not always the same. The difference in the voltages is caused due to the difference of the characteristics of the receivers or due to a leakage current in the switch.

Switching noise cancelling system in a space diversity receiving system