A transmission device which cross connects channels on a synchronous multiplex transmission network which forms a ring, and which performs restoration of communication by looping back signals in a protection path when a failure occurs includes a memory area which stores information for determining whether an alarm indication signal needs to be inserted in a channel or not, wherein the size of the memory area corresponds to the number of channels targeted for the restoration, and a part which inserts said alarm indication signal in a channel by switching results of the determination according to predetermined information. Further, the transmission device may switch and recover a path without skipping an event which arises between polling accesses by a CPU of said transmission device. Furthermore, the transmission device may include a part, provided in each interface part, which performs phase adjusting of channel signals.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to a transmission device. More particularly, the present invention relates to a transmission device which adapts to various network configurations in a synchronous multiplex transmission network.
2. Description of the Related Art
Because of an increase of traffic, the use of synchronous multiplex transmission which utilizes optical communications for high-capacity transmission is in high demand. Especially, a synchronous multiplex transmission system which has a capability of transmission line switching in case of transmission line failure and which can form a ring, such as SONET, is widely used from the viewpoint of supporting diverse network configurations and ensuring reliability of a network.
An ADM (Add/Drop multiplexer) device, for example, is used as a transmission node of a synchronous multiplex ring transmission network. The ADM device can access a desired VT channel in an STS signal, where STS is a channel hierarchy of SONET.
FIGS. 1A and 1B are conceptual diagrams for explaining UPSR which is a transmission line switching system in a SONET ring network. UPSR, an abbreviation of Unidirectional Path Switched Ring, is an example of a system in which a path is switched and is recovered by selecting, at a receiving node, either of two path signals which are sent in two different directions over the synchronous multiplex transmission network from a sending node. In FIGS. 1A and 1B, each of a node A 1, a node B 2, a node C 3, and a node D 4 is a node which constitutes a SONET ring, and FIGS. 1A and B show a case in which a signal enters the node A 1 and exits from the node C 3.
In FIG. 1A, a signal which enters the node A 1 is sent along two routes, one of the routes going through the node A 1, the node D 4, and the node C 3 and another route going through the node A 1, the node B 2, and the node C 3. Then, the signal from the route along the node A 1, the node D 4, and the node C 3 is selected under normal conditions at the node C 3. A path in a route selected under normal conditions, such as the route along the node A 1, the node D 4, and the node C 3 in the case of FIG. 1, will be called a default path hereinafter.
As shown in FIG. 1B, if a fault occurs in a path between the node A 1 and the node D 4, which, fault will cause a communication interruption, the path is switched to a path in the route along the node A 1, the node B 2, and the node C 3 so that the communication continues. A path which is a destination of such a path switching from a default path, such as the path in the route along the node A 1, the node B 2, and the node C 3, will be called a non-default path hereinafter. In addition, the above-mentioned capability will be called path protection switching hereinafter.
FIGS. 2A and 2B are conceptual diagrams of BLSR in a SONET ring network. BLSR is an abbreviation of Bidirectional Line Switch Ring, and is an example of a system which carries out cross connecting on a synchronous multiplex ring transmission network and which restores communication by looping back a signal using a protection channel when a transmission line failure arises. In FIGS. 2A and 2B, each of the node A 1, the node B 2, the node C 3, and the node D 4 is a node which constitutes a SONET ring, and FIGS. 2A and 2B show a case in which a signal enters the node A 1 and exits from the node C 3.
As shown in FIG. 2A, initially, a signal which enters the node A 1 is sent to the node C 3 on the route along the node A 1, the node D 4, and the node C 3. Then, when a transmission failure occurs between the node A 1 and the node D 4, which transmission failure results in a communication interruption, the signal is transmitted through the node A 1, the node B 2, the node C 3, the node D 4, and the node C 3 by using a protection channel.
FIG. 3 shows, as an example, a system block diagram of a transmission device 5 which accesses a desired VT channel in any STS signal of SONET, and mainly shows a part for carrying out channel cross connecting. The transmission device 5 includes an STS cross-connecting part 10 for cross connecting an STS signal, a VT cross-connecting part 20 for cross connecting a VT signal, interface (INF) parts 301-30n for inputting signals, and interface (INF) parts 401-40n for outputting signals. The STS cross-connecting part 10 includes STS TSI parts 11, 12, 13 for performing cross connection of an STS signal, STS PSW parts 14, 15 for path protection switching in UPSR, and a selector (SEL) 16 for selecting either of a path accessed in the STS level or a path accessed in the VT level. The VT cross-connecting part 20 includes a VT SQL part 21 for performing VT squelch, a VT TSI part 22 for cross connecting a VT level signal, and a VT PSW part 23 for path protection switching in UPSR. Squelch is a process for inserting an alarm indication signal into an unrecoverable channel.
In FIG. 3, signals input from the INF parts 301-30n branch to STS level signals and VT level signals at a branchpoint 24. The STS level signals enter the STS TSI part 12, and are cross connected in terms of STS level, and, if selected at the SEL part 16, the signals are output to the INF parts 401-40n through the STS PSW part 15. The VT level signals are cross connected in the STS TSI part 11 at STS level, and enter the VT cross-connecting part 20 which cross connects the entered signals at the VT level. Then, through the TSI PSW part 23, the signals enter the STS TSI part 13 which cross connects the signals, and, if the signals are selected at the SEL part 16, the signals are output to the INF parts 401-40n. In addition, VT squelch is performed in the VT SQL part 21 in which an alarm indication signal (AIS) is inserted into a VT channel in which a misconnection occurs.
FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram of a VT access ring for explaining the VT squelch. FIG. 4 shows a BLSR configuration which has two fibers, an inside one and an outside one. Each of the inside line and the outside line has a protection channel and an active channel of BLSR. As shown in FIG. 4, a VT signal added at the node C 3 goes through the node B 2 and is dropped at the node A 1. In this case, the squelch table of the node A 1 includes "2" as an STS level source node ID, "2" as an STS level destination node ID, and "3" as a VT level source node ID. If a failure occurs between an E point 6 and an F point 7, STS level squelch will not be carried out because the node A can recognize the node B in the STS level. As for the VT level, squelch will be carried out for the VT channel signal which has the source node ID "3" in the corresponding squelch table because the node A can not recognize the node C. A VT path AIS is inserted into the VT channel for which squelch is carried out.
FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a conventional VT SQL part 21 for performing the above-mentioned VT squelch. A squelch table setting part 60 includes registers which accommodate 28 VT channels per each of STS channels 601-60n, where data setting to each register is performed by a control part 67. "Far End Node ID", that is, the node ID of the farthest node among connected nodes to which data can be transmitted is sent to each of SQL decision parts 621-62n. For example, in the network shown in FIG. 4, when a failure arises at the F point 7, node ID "4" is sent from the node D to the node A. Each of the SQL decision parts 621-62n determines whether VT squelch should be carried out or not on the basis of comparison between the "Far End Node ID" and the setting data in the squelch table setting part 60. The result of the decision is stored in each of the latching parts 641-64n. Then, a VT path AIS is inserted into channels which are applicable for squelch insertion in a squelch inserting (INS) part 66.
FIG. 6 is a block diagram of the STS PSW part 14, or 15, or VT PSW part 23 in FIG. 3, that is, a block diagram of a part for path protection switching of the above-mentioned UPSR. In FIG. 6, each of default side data 77 and non-default side data 78 is input into a selector (SEL) 76, and either of those data is selected and output. Each alarm of default side data 77 and non-default side data 78 is input to an ALM detection part 70 of a default side and an ALM detection part 71 of a non-default side respectively.
If the ALM detection part 70 of the default side or the ALM detection part 71 of the non-default side detects an alarm, the alarm is sent to an ALM notification register 72. In addition, the ALM detection part 70 of the default side or the ALM detection part 71 of the non-default side notifies a PSW control part 75 of the alarm. If the ALM detection part 70 of the default side detects an alarm during communication, path switching to the non-default side will be performed by the selector (SEL) 76 according to the control of the PSW control part 75.
Now, before a WTR control register 74 is described, WTR will be described. WTR, an abbreviation of "Wait To Restore", is a process in which if a default path is switched to a non-default path by a network failure, the default path is recovered from the non-default path after a predetermined time passes from the time when the failure of the default path is fixed.
Information of a working time of the WTR timer is recorded in a WTR control register 74 from a CPU 73. The CPU 73 reads the information and an alarm information stored in the ALM notification register 72 by a polling, and makes a decision on path selection. The PSW control part 75 outputs the path selection information to the selector (SEL) 76 which selects a path.
FIG. 7 is a time chart showing the operation of the above-mentioned WTR. The CPU 73 periodically reads the ALM notification register 72 by polling so as to monitor an alarm of the default path. When an alarm is detected in the default side at the timing of polling 2, the PSW control part switches the default path to the non-default side and keeps the state by the control of the WTR control register 74. After the CPU 73 recognizes a default side alarm at polling 2, when the CPU 73 recognizes disappearance of the alarm at polling 3, the WTR timer starts and the switched path is recovered by the PSW control part 75 if a default side alarm is not detected during the predetermined time of n minutes, which event is recognized by polling 6.
FIG. 8 is a block diagram of a conventional part for generating an STS signal and performing cross connection. Signals input into each of interface (INF) parts 801-80n are assembled into an STS frame in each of the interface (INF) parts 801-80n, and the STS frame is output from each of interface (INF) parts 811-81n after phase adjusting and cross connection is performed in a common part 90.
Since each of the interface (INF) parts 801-80n has the same configuration as that of the interface (INF) part 801, only the interface (INF) part 801 will be described in the following. An STS frame generating part 82 generates an STS frame according to a timing pulse generated by a pulse generating part 84. The generated STS frame is multiplexed by a MUX 86 and, sent to the common part 90. The pulse generating part 84 and the MUX 86 operate by a clock from a PLL 88. In addition, the PLL 88 receives a clock from a system clock 100.
The STS signals sent to the common part 90 are out of phase in channels. Therefore, the phase of each channel will be adjusted by replacing a pointer in each of pointer parts 921-92n. The phase adjusted signal of each channel is cross connected in a cross-connecting part 94 and sent to each of the interface (INF) parts 821-82n. The cross-connecting part 94 and the pointer parts 921-92n are operated by a timing pulse from a pulse generating part 96 which operates by receiving a clock from a PLL 98.
FIG. 9 is a time chart showing the operation of the above-mentioned phase adjusting. Each of frames 1-n is generated by a timing pulse generated by the pulse generating part 84 in each of the interface (INF) parts 801-80n. The phase of each frame is adjusted according to common part reference timing from the pulse generating part 96 with the pointer processing in the pointer part 921-92n. In FIG. 9, A1 is a head byte of a frame and J1 is a head byte of a path. As shown in FIG. 9, the phase adjusting process by pointer replacement includes removing the frame which was made in the interface (INF) part from contained paths and accommodating the paths to a new frame.
Recently, as diversification of services is demanded, increased transmission capacity of a transmission device and diversification of a network configuration are demanded. In addition, for the transmission device, further downsizing such as miniaturization and low power consumption is required.


A sensor assembly for measuring characteristics of motor oil in a vehicle includes a housing adapted to be mechanically coupled to a vehicle for receiving motor oil of the vehicle and at least one capacitive sensor including sensing electrodes positioned relative to the housing to measure characteristics of motor oil between the sensing electrodes. The sensing electrodes are coated with a soot build-up inhibiting coating which, in a preferred embodiment, is a silicone coating. The at least one capacitive sensor include an oil level sensor and an oil deterioration sensor in a preferred embodiment.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a sensor assembly for measuring characteristics of motor oil in a vehicle and, more particularly, pertains to a capacitive sensor with electrodes coated with a silicone coating to inhibit build-up of soot or carbon on the electrodes.
2. Description of the Related Art
Today's luxury automobiles rely heavily upon control systems which receive input signals from a wide variety of sensing devices. To ensure proper functioning of these control systems, a large number of highly dependable and accurate electronic transducers are needed to provide the aforementioned input signals. A problem with capacitive sensors employed to provide such input signals is the build-up of soot or carbon on the electrodes of the capacitive sensors. Thus, there is a need for a capacitive sensor with electrodes coated with a coating that inhibits the build-up of soot or carbon on the electrodes.

Capacitive sensor assembly with soot build-up inhibiting coating


A telephone system having a telephone network line for connection to an external phone line. The telephone system also includes a computer system and a telephone coupled to the telephone network line, and the telephone is taken off-hook to enter a voice command. A transmitter communicates the voice command from the telephone to the computer system without the telephone seizing the external phone line. A computer interface unit is connected to the computer system to receive the voice transmitted from the telephone and to transmit voice signals transmitted by the computer system to the telephone. A phone interface unit is connected between the telephone and telephone network line, and the phone interface unit is selectable between a first mode and a second mode. The phone interface unit connects the telephone to the telephone network line if it is in the first mode, and isolates the telephone from the telephone network line if it is in the second mode. If an external phone call is detected from the external phone line, the phone interface unit can be selected to be in the first mode if the external call is present. The computer system includes communication software for controlling communication in the telephone system, including receiving a voice command transmitted from the telephone when the telephone is off-hook, and controlling the phone interface unit to isolate the telephone from the external phone line when receiving the voice command from the telephone line.

The invention relates to the communication with computers using telephones.
Software and hardware are now available to enable computers to perform speech recognition. One application of speech recognition is in word processing, in which a user can draft a document by speaking into a microphone connected to the computer. Another application of speech recognition is in computerized telephone answering systems, in which a pre-recorded message prompts a caller to select different options by speaking.
In a computerized answering system the caller can access the system by calling from a telephone using an outside phone line. When the caller picks up the telephone, the phone company detects that a telephone has been taken off-hook (that is, in the off-hook state). Telephone line resources--including power, dual-tone multi-frequency (DTMF) or pulse dialing detectors, and call progress tone generators--are then dedicated to the now off-hook telephone.

Communication with a computer using telephones


A treatment to differentially regulate the expression of genes related to irritable bowel syndrome is provided.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a functional bowel disorder of unknown etiology. A functional disorder refers to a disorder or disease where the primary abnormality is an altered physiological function, rather than an identifiable structural or biochemical cause. IBS is characterized by a group of symptoms including intermittent abdominal pain and discomfort and alterations in bowel habits, such as loose or more frequent bowel movements, diarrhea, and/or constipation that occur in the absence of detectable ongoing organic disease.
IBS affects approximately 10-20% of the general population. It is the most common disease diagnosed by gastroenterologists and one of the most common disorders seen by primary care physicians. EBS is understood as a multi-faceted disorder. In people with IBS, symptoms result from what appears to be a disturbance in the interaction between the gut or intestines, the brain, and the autonomic nervous system that alters regulation of bowel motility (motor function) or sensory function.
Human studies demonstrate that IBS is associated with a state of chronic visceral hypersensitivity (CVH) suggesting that processing of visceral sensory information is altered. However, little is known about how the afferent nervous system is changed in this syndrome. A hallmark of IBS is increased visceral hypersensitivity, but the molecular changes underlying the development and maintenance of chronic visceral hypersensitivity in IBS are not known. Current medical treatments for IBS primarily target peripheral symptoms rather than the underlying causes, and therapeutic gains from drug treatments are usually modest and the placebo responses are high (Mertz et al., Gastroenterology, 109:40-52, 1995). Defining the underlying neurological and molecular defects is therefore important to the design of more successful therapeutic strategies. Moreover, there is a need in the art for improved methods for screening, diagnosing, and treating IBS and other CVH-related disorders.
N,N′-bis[3,5-diacetylphenl] decanediamidetetrakis[amidinohydrazone] tetrahvdrochloride (CNI-1493) is a MAPK and TNF inhibitor with anti-inflammatory and possible analgesic actions. CNI-1493 inhibits signal transduction pathways by preventing phosphorylation of p38 MAP kinase and JNK, and inhibits production of the proinflammatory cytokines such as TNF-alpha, IL-1, IL-6, MIP-1 alpha and MIP-beta. In animal models, CNI-1493 has shown protective activity against a wide variety of conditions, ranging from stroke to inflammatory bowel disease. However, CNI-1493 has never been tested for its anti-nociceptive activity in the absence of inflammation. Recently, an animal model of chronic visceral hypersensitivity was created using mechanical and chemical irritation of the colon of neonatal rats (Al-Chaer et al., Gastroenterology, 119: 1276-1285, 2000). The animal model provides an ideal platform for studying IBS, validating the neurogenic components of functional abdominal pain, and testing agents that may reduce visceral hypersensitivity.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Method of treating irritable bowel syndrome

The Board of Regents of the University of Texas System


A replaceable nasal interface system including a molded air tube having a generally D-shaped cross section, and including first and second lumens. The system further includes a base member operatively connected to and in fluid communication with the molded air tube; and a nasal interface operatively connected to the base member.

Snoring is an affliction that affects many people. Snoring may be an ongoing, regular problem, or may occur intermittently or occasionally. Snoring may result in various problems, both to the person snoring as well as those around the person snoring. For example, snoring has been linked to sleep deprivation, in which the sleeping patterns of the person snoring may be disrupted. Such sleep deprivation may result in daytime drowsiness, lack of focus, as well as other problems. There are a number of other breathing disorders including, but not limited to, OSA, COPD, and Asthma that could be aided by the use of a supplemental breathing apparatus.
As will be recognized, an interface between a user and any such supplemental breathing apparatus is essential. A common interface is a nasal interface. Due to contact with the user, maintenance such as washing and replacement are common practices for user. Thus, there is a need for an easily replaceable nasal interface.


At least one exemplary embodiment is directed to an image-blur correction/reduction system miniaturized by arranging support guiding devices of a movable member and a rotation restricting device configured for restricting the rotation of the movable member about the optical axis so as to overlap each other viewed from the optical axial direction, a lens barrel, which can have the image-blur correction/reduction system, and an optical apparatus, which can have the same.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image-blur correction/reduction system and an optical apparatus having the image-blur correction/reduction system.
2. Description of the Related Art
During handhold shooting, for preventing or reducing image blur due to camera shake, optical apparatuses (e.g., a digital camera, and a video camera) equipped with an image-blur correction/reduction system have been used.
The camera shake is detected by a shake detecting device so as to optically or electronically correct and/or reduce the camera shake corresponding to the detected result.
An optical image-blur correction/reduction system includes a scheme in that a correction lens held on a movable member is displaced in the yaw or the pitch direction so as to correct and/or reduce the camera shake.
For example, an image-blur correction/reduction system constructed as below is discussed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 3229899.
Three abutment parts abutting the movable member that moves on a plane perpendicular to the optical axis are provided on a base member.
For restricting the position of the movable member in the optical axial direction with the three abutment parts while restricting the movable member from rotating about the optical axis by a rotation restricting device, a structure shown in FIG. 12 is adopted.
Referring to FIG. 12, reference numeral 11 denotes a support frame; numeral 545 a correction lens; numeral 547 a fixed frame; numeral 550 a first holding frame; and numeral 558 a part of a housing formed integrally with the support frame 11.
A pitch shaft 549p is for displacing the correction lens 545 in the pitch direction and a bearing 548p is the bearing of the pitch shaft 549p.
A yaw shaft 549y is for displacing the correction lens 545 in the yaw direction and a bearing 548y is the bearing of the yaw shaft 549y.
Three support parts 12a, 12b, and 12c, each of which can have a recess, are provided in the support frame 11.
These recesses are to be fitted to hatched protrusions 547a, 547b, and 547c of the fixed frame 547, respectively.
Thereby, the fixed frame 547 is surrounded by three points of the support parts 12a, 12b, and 12c so as to define the plane of the movable member including the correction lens, thereby precisely defining the moving direction and the inclination to the optical axis of the movable member.
Also, the first holding frame 550, the bearings 548p and 548y supported by the housing 558, the pitch shaft 549p, and the yaw shaft 549y, which are mentioned above, have functions of restricting the rotation of the movable member about the optical axis.
In the system discussed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 3229899, although the moving direction and the inclination to the optical axis of the movable member including the correction lens can be precisely defined, a problem can arise when a lens barrel is miniaturized.
That is, the three abutment parts for restricting the position of the movable member in the optical axial direction and the rotation restricting device configured for suppressing the rotation of the movable member about the optical axis can be arranged in different positions viewed from the optical axial direction, so that the miniaturization of the lens barrel in diameter is suppressed.

Optical apparatus having image-blur correction/reduction system


A press working apparatus for processing a heated workpiece is provided with a base part which is relatively movable so as to advance and retreat with respect to the workpiece, a pad provided on the base part and configured to hold the workpiece, a working tool provided on the base part to pass through the pad and adapted to process the workpiece, and a support member configured to movably support the working tool in a direction perpendicular to an advance and retreat direction of the base part.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a press working apparatus for processing a heated workpiece.
2. Related Art
Conventionally, a press working method in which a heated workpiece is press-worked and then subjected to a quenching process is known. Since a processed product obtained by such a working method has a high strength owing to the quenching process, it is difficult to perform a punching process or a cutting process by a working tool. The punching process or the cutting process of the processed product can be performed by a laser processing. However, in this case, there is a problem that a manufacturing cost is raised, as compared to a case of utilizing the working tool.
JP-A-2005-138111 discloses a working method in which a heated workpiece is press-worked by a pad (punch) and at the same time is punched by a working tool (movable mold) passing through the pad, and then a quenching process is completed. According to this working method, the workpiece can be subjected to a punching process before it has a high strength by the quenching process. Accordingly, it is possible to easily perform the punching process for the workpiece.
However, according to the working method of JP-A-2005-138111, the heated workpiece is press-worked and therefore the pad is thermally expanded due to a heat of the workpiece during the press working. In the meantime, the working tool is caused to perform the punching process for the workpiece and thus just temporarily contacts the workpiece. Accordingly, the amount of thermal expansion of the working tool is small, as compared to the pad. For this reason, a positional relationship between a through hole provided in the pad and the working tool is deviated and thus there is a possibility that the working tool and the pad are interfered with each other. Consequently, there is a risk that a cutting blade of the working tool is worn and thus the processing precision is degraded or the press working cannot be performed due to the damage of the pad.


An electronically tuned, wavelength-dependent optical detector is provided. The electronically tuned, wavelength-dependent optical detector is a modified metal-semiconductor-metal photodetector including a comb-like metal electrode at a common voltage and metal electrodes each supplied with a control voltage by a voltage means. The wavelength to be detected in an optical input illuminating the detector is selected based on the set of control voltages applied to the metal electrodes. In another embodiment of the invention, the wavelength to be detected with the electronically tuned, wavelength-dependent optical detector is also selected using a standing wave generator, such as an interferometer, to produce a spatially varying light intensity on the surface of the electronically tuned, wavelength-dependent optical detector. Electronic wavelength demultiplexing is also provided. Design flexibility can be obtained by providing two or more optical patterns at a detector surface, each pattern having a different wavelength dependence.

Wavelength-dependent optical detectors are essential optical components that are incorporated in a myriad of applications including spectrometers, optical interconnects and optical communications systems.
An existing wavelength-dependent optical detector is the so-called metal-semiconductor-metal (MSM) photodetector. In this device, an interdigitated pair of metal electrodes is deposited on a surface of a semiconductor. Light illuminating the MSM device is absorbed in the semiconductor producing charge carriers that drift to the neighboring metal electrodes when a voltage is applied to the metal electrodes. The resulting light-induced current is amplified and detected by an amplifier. The wavelength-dependence of the MSM device is partially determined by the absorption characteristics of the semiconductor in the MSM device. GaAs is used as the semiconductor for MSM devices in the 800 nm wavelength range. InAlAs deposited on InGaAs is used as the semiconductor for MSM devices in the 1600 nm wavelength range. The prior art teaches that the wavelength-dependence of the MSM device can be further selected by creating a standing wave on the MSM detector and fabricating the MSM device such that metal electrodes have a particular spacing, for example, a quarter of the wavelength of light to be detected.
While such MSM devices have been successfully employed in a variety of applications, a principal limitation of the MSM device is that the wavelength-dependence cannot be dynamically tuned. It is manifest that this is also the case for other optical detectors that are not wavelength-dependent, such as photodiodes and photomultiplier tubes. Prior art solutions to this technical challenge include external means for dynamically tuning the wavelength of light detected. Solutions include monochromators, interferometers, multiplexers/demultiplexers, spatial optical filters, spectral optical filters (including cavity resonators) and diffraction gratings. For example, see U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,583,900, 6,594,410 and 6,597,841. However, the speed with which the selected wavelength can be changed in these approaches is limited when the dynamic tuning is based on mechanical motion, such as that associated with a stepper motor or thermal expansion. This is also the case when the dynamic tuning is based on the propagation of waves (for example, sound) in a medium, such as in an acousto-optic modulator or a dynamic diffraction grating. The response time for dynamic tuning of the wavelength-dependence of the existing optical detectors in conjunction with such external means is substantially longer than a microsecond and is typically hundreds to thousands of microseconds. A PIN detector with multiple quantum wells can be dynamically tuned with a fast response time; however, such devices only have a coarse tuning capability over a small range of wavelengths and require a large biasing voltage. These limitations in the dynamic tuning of the wavelength dependence of existing optical detectors are particularly problematic in existing or proposed optical communications systems based on Wavelength Division Multiplexing (WDM).
In optical communications systems based on WDM, a combination of time dependent multiplexing (interleaved packets of information), frequency dependent multiplexing (information communicated using multiple, different wavelengths) and/or spread spectrum (wideband) encoding techniques such as code division multiple access are used. Systems include coarse wavelength division multiplexing (CWDM) and dense wavelength division multiplexing (DWDM). Recent proposals include 80 channels utilizing a wavelength range centered around 1550 nm (193,300 GHz) with a channel spacing of approximately 0.4 nm (50 GHz) and optical packets of information spaced on time scales on the order of nanoseconds. Future systems will employ more channels (smaller channel spacing) and packets of information spaced on shorter time scales.
To be useful in detecting packets of information based on wavelength in a WDM system, it is highly desirable to be able to switch the wavelength dependence of the optical detector on times scales on the order of or less than the length of the optical packets of information. This necessitates response times for dynamic tuning of the wavelength dependence of the optical detector of a few nanoseconds or less. Response times of this order are well beyond the capability of most of the existing solutions. The alternative, involving a plurality of wavelength-dependent optical detectors with slow dynamic tuning response times, would be expensive and difficult to manufacture and maintain. Each wavelength in the optical system would require a separate detector, the related electronics for amplifying detected signals, as well as a fixed optical filter capable of resolving the small band of wavelengths corresponding to the channel spacing. For example, see U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,546,209, 5,910,851, 6,307,660 and 6,556,321.
As a consequence, there is a need for a wavelength-dependent optical detector that can be dynamically tuned with a response time less than a few nanoseconds for WDM applications, and more generally with a response time less than a microsecond for other applications. It would also be advantageous if the wavelength-dependent optical detector could be dynamically tuned to resolve the narrow channel spacing in WDM systems yet have a wide tuning range. Furthermore, it would be advantageous if such a wavelength-dependent optical detector with fast dynamic tuning were electronically controlled using a low voltage thereby allowing ease of integration with other components.

Apparatus and method for an electronically tuned, wavelength-dependent optical detector

The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior Universtiy


A lid for a cooking vessel such as a pot. The lid is circular and has a central region and a peripheral region. At least one aperture is disposed within the central region of the lid, thereby enabling hot air and steam to pass through the lid. A plurality of rib elements are disposed on the top of the lid, wherein the various rib elements define a pathway from the apertures in the central region to the peripheral region. The rib elements all terminate in the same plane. As such, a cooking vessel can be placed on top of the lid and the rib elements will support that cooking vessel in an even manner. As hot air and steam from a cooking vessel rise up, that hot air and steam passes through the apertures in the lid. The hot air and steam then passes through the pathways on the top surface of the lid, thereby allowing that hot air and steam to heat a second cooking vessel placed on the lid.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates in general to lids and covers for pots, pans and other cooking vessels. More particularly, the present invention relates lids and covers that have area of perforation that enable steam and/or hot air to exit the cooking vessel in a controlled manner, whereby the exiting steam and/or hot air can be used to heat a second cooking vessel.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In the prior art record, there is a wide variety of different cooking vessels and covers for those cooking vessels. A common traditional cooking vessel is a metal pot or pan having a round open top. The traditional lid for such a pot or pan is a metal lid with a handle in it's center. The lid is sized to exactly cover the round open end of the pot or pan. As a result, different sized pots and pans use different sized lids and the lids between different pots and pans are not normally interchangeable.
Traditional lids for pots, pans and other cooking vessels are solid. As a result, when a lid is placed over a pot or pan, the contents of the pot or pan are sealed. If the pot or pan is placed over heat and the contents begin to boil, the resultant steam has no where to go within the sealed confines of the pot or pan. As a result, the pressure of the steam within the pot or pan causes the lid to periodically raise so that steam can escape. The lid, therefore, chatters on the top of the pot or pan until the lid is removed or heat source is removed. A solid lid also traps heat within the confines of a pot or pan. As a result, the contents of the pot or pan do not cool rapidly. As a result, the contents of a covered pot or pan may continue to boil until the contents boiler over and out onto the stove top. By the time a cook sees or hears the chatter of a lid on a pot or pan, some of the contents may have already spilled out past the lid with the escaping steam. This causes the sides of the pot or pan and the stove top to become dirty and require cleaning.
Another disadvantage of traditional pot lids and pan lids is that the presence of the lid handle in the top center of the lid prevents any other pot or pan from being placed onto that lid. Consequently, pots and pans cannot be doubled up on the stove top and each pot or pan must have its own burner on the stove.
A need, therefore, exists in the art for a single pot or pan lid that is capable of covering numerous different sized pots and pans.
A need also exists for a lid that enables steam to escape from a pot or pan in a controlled manner that enables some of the escaping heat to be reused.
Lastly, a need also exists for a lid that is flat and is capable of supporting other pots and pans, thereby enabling pots and pans to be doubled up on a stove top.
These needs are met by the present invention as described and claimed below.


A magnetic memory cell and a magnetic memory incorporating the cell are described. The magnetic memory cell includes at least one magnetic element and at least one non-planar selection device. The magnetic element(s) are programmable using write current(s) driven through the magnetic element. The magnetic memory may include a plurality of magnetic storage cells, a plurality of bit lines corresponding to the plurality of magnetic storage cells, and a plurality of source lines corresponding to the plurality of magnetic storage cells.

FIGS. 1-2 depict a small portion of a conventional spin transfer torque random access memory (STT-RAM) 1. FIG. 1 depicts a circuit diagram of the portion of the conventional STT-RAM 1, while FIG. 2 depicts a cross-sectional view of the portion of the conventional STT-RAM 1. The conventional STT-RAM 1 includes a conventional magnetic storage cell 10 including a conventional magnetic element 12 and a conventional selection device 14 that is preferably an isolation transistor 14, word line 24, source line 26, and bit line 28. The source line 26 is shown oriented perpendicular to the bit line 28. However, the source line 26 is typically either parallel or perpendicular to the bit line 28, depending on specific architecture used for the conventional STT-RAM 1.
The conventional magnetic element 12 may be a magnetic tunneling junction (MTJ) or other analogous magnetic element and is configured to be changeable between resistance states by driving a current through the conventional magnetic element 12. The current changes state of the conventional magnetic element 12 using the spin transfer torque switching effect. Typically, this is achieved by ensuring that the conventional magnetic element 12 has a sufficiently small cross-sectional area and that the layers of the magnetic element, such as pinned, spacer and free layer (not separately shown) have particular thicknesses. When the current density is sufficient, the current carriers driven through the conventional magnetic element 12 may impart sufficient torque to change the state of the conventional magnetic element 12. When a write current is driven in one direction, the state may be changed from a low resistance state to a high resistance state. When the write current is driven in the opposite direction, the state may be changed from a high resistance state to a low resistance state.
The conventional selection device 14 is typically a conventional planar transistor, such as a planar MOSFET. The conventional planar transistor 14 includes a conventional source 16, a conventional gate 18, a conventional drain 20, and a conventional gate oxide 22. The conventional source 16 and conventional drain 20 are typically N-doped and reside in a P-well 15 formed within the substrate 13. The conventional planar transistor 14 is termed a "planar" transistor because the conventional gate oxide 22 separating the conventional gate 18 from the P-well 15 is substantially planar. When a threshold voltage is applied to the conventional gate 18 through the conventional word line 24 current can flow between the conventional source 16 and the conventional drain 20. This current may be used in programming the conventional magnetic element 12 via spin transfer.
In order to program the conventional storage cell 10, the conventional word line 24 and thus the conventional planar transistor 14 are activated. A current is driven between the conventional source line 26 and the conventional bit line 28 by supplying a high voltage to the conventional bit line 28 and a low voltage, such as ground, to the conventional source line 26, or vice versa. For a read operation, the bit line 28 and the word line 24 are activated. Consequently, the conventional planar transistor 14 is turned on. A read current is driven through the conventional magnetic element 12. In order to ensure that the conventional storage cell 10 is not written during a read operation, the read current is typically less than the write current. Thus, the conventional magnetic storage cell 10 can be programmed and read.
Although the conventional STT-RAM 1 functions, one of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that there are drawbacks. It is desirable for the conventional STT-RAM 1 to be integrated at higher densities. For the conventional STT-RAM 1 to operate at sufficiently high speeds, it is desirable for the current pulse used to be low. For example, the switching current pulse may be desired to have a width ten nanoseconds or less. However, one of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the required switching current increases rapidly, particularly for pulse widths below ten nanoseconds. The magnitude of the current through the conventional magnetic element 12 may be limited by the amount of current that can pass through the conventional planar transistor 14. The current passing capability of the conventional planar transistor 14 is proportional to the width of the gate 18. The gate width is measured perpendicular to the cross-section shown in FIG. 2. Thus, the gate width is length of the gate 18 out of the plane of the page in FIG. 2. As the switching current increases, the conventional planar transistor 14 has a larger gate width to support the current. Consequently, it is difficult to fabricate higher density cells 10.
The conventional planar transistor 14 may give rise to other issues as the conventional STT-RAM 1 scales to higher densities. As the gate length, l, scales to smaller sizes, for example from ten microns to fifty nanometers and beyond, the supply voltage decreases. The supply voltage is decreased to account for the reduction in the thickness of the gate oxide 22 at smaller sizes. In addition, the relative transistor leakage power level increases as the technology scales down from 0.25 micron to forty-five nm. For conventional STT-RAM 1 applications, the power leakage generally reaches an unacceptable level for devices having a critical dimension, or gate length, of forty-five nm or less. To compensate for the power leakage, the threshold voltage (Vt) of the conventional planar transistor 14 used for memory chips or embedded memories can be increased. This is effective in reducing leakage power in the off state. However, a slightly high Vt may significantly reduce the saturation current of the conventional planar transistor 14. In a conventional STT-RAM cell 10, such a reduction in saturation current means that the write current that may pass through the magnetic element 12 is reduced. The reduction in saturation current may be compensated by using a conventional planar transistor 14 having a much larger gate width. However, a large conventional planar transistor 14 causes the size of the conventional cell 10 to increase. In addition, as discussed above, the supply voltage rapidly decreases as the transistor 14 technology scales down. The transistor drain to source saturation current, the same current that is allowed to pass through the conventional magnetic element 12, depends on the value of the gate voltage (Vg). A reduction of Vg, for example from 1.5 v to 1.0 v, reduces saturation current to ⅕ of its original value. Consequently, as the supply voltage scales down, the gate width of the conventional planar transistor 14 may be scaled up to supply a sufficient write current for switching the state of the conventional magnetic element 12. Consequently, the conventional cell 10 utilizing the conventional planar transistor 14 may be difficult to scale to higher densities.
Accordingly, what is desired is a method and system for providing and utilizing memory cells employing spin transfer based switching that may be extended to higher densities. The present invention addresses such a need.

Method and system for providing spin transfer tunneling magnetic memories utilizing non-planar transistors


A vibration detection apparatus for, for example, ultrasound/AE, with Fiber Bragg Grating (FBG), is used for elastic wave detection generated by a material impact and ultrasonic defect detection. Disadvantageously, the apparatus cannot detect ultrasound and has degraded performance at variable temperatures and strains. In response, a highly sensitive, small and light vibration detection apparatus is provided. FBG reflection light is lased by using a fiber laser. The intensity of the lased reflection light from the FBG is converted into an electrical signal. Thus, the ultrasound vibration or the like is detected. A vibration detection system includes an optical amplifier 42, an optical circulator 43, and an optical coupler 45. An FBG 44 and an entry/exit port of the optical circulator are connected by an optical fiber. The optical coupler and the optical amplifier are inserted between an entry port and an exit port of the optical circulator. The entry port and the exit port are connected by an optical fiber.

Since ultrasound traversing a material is largely scattered and attenuated at a defect portion, the property of the ultrasound is different depending on whether or not the defect exists. Ultrasonic defect detection is a method for detecting a defect in a material by using the above property. In the ultrasonic defect detection, a piezoelectric device is often conventionally used as an ultrasound sensor. Since a microfracture in a material emits an acoustic emission (AE), detecting the AE allows monitoring a microfracture state in the material. Since the AE is an elastic wave in the ultrasound range, a piezoelectric device is often used as the AE sensor in the same manner as the ultrasound sensor.
Disadvantageously, the piezoelectric device, which is an electric sensor, is affected by electromagnetic interference and cannot be used in a flammable atmosphere. In recent years, Fiber Bragg Grating (hereinafter also referred to as "FBG") has attracted attention as an ultrasound/AE sensor for solving these problems. The FBG is a kind of optical fiber sensors.
An ultrasound or AE detection system that uses the FBG as a sensor is largely divided into two types: the system that uses a laser as a light source; and the system that uses broadband light as a light source. In the case of using the laser, laser lases at a wavelength at which reflectivity of FBG reflection spectrum is largely changed. Such laser is incident on the FBG through an optical circulator. As a result, it is possible to obtain FBG reflection light intensity synchronized with an ultrasound or AE vibration received by the FBG. In the case of using the broadband light, broadband light including an FBG reflection wavelength range is incident on the FBG through an optical circulator. The FBG reflection light is incident on an optical filter with reflection property or transmission property that rapidly changes in the FBG reflection wavelength range. As a result, it is possible to obtain optical filter transmission or reflection light intensity synchronized with an ultrasound or AE vibration. Even when the optical filter is disposed between the broadband light source and the optical circulator, the same effect can be obtained. Non-Patent Document 1 written by the inventor describes an experiment in which each light source is used for ultrasound detection and ultrasonic defect detection in the FBG. Related arts include Patent Documents 1 to 5 by the inventors.
In the structure of the Fiber Bragg Grating (FBG), a core operating as a waveguide of an optical fiber has a refractive index that changes periodically in the fiber axis direction. The FBG reflects narrow-band light around a Bragg wavelength λB represented by Formula (1).
[Expression 1]λB=2nΛ  (1)
Here, n represents a refractive index and A represents a period interval (grating interval) of the change of the refractive index. When the FBG receives a temperature change or a strain change, the refractive index n and the grating interval Λ are changed. Accordingly, the Bragg wavelength λB is changed (see Formula (1)). The amounts of the Bragg wavelength change caused by the strain change and the temperature change are 1.2 pm/microstrain and 14 pm/° C. respectively in an FBG having the Bragg wavelength in 1.55 μm band generally used in a communication field. An elastic wave such as ultrasound and an AE causes a feeble vibration of about several microstrains at most. If the FBG receives ultrasound wave or an AE, the Bragg wavelength is changed by only about several pm at most. Generally, many of FBGs used to evaluate soundness of structure have a grating length of 1 to 20 mm and the reflection spectrum full width of about 1 to 2 nm at most. If the FBG receives a large temperature or strain change, the Bragg wavelength is largely changed. In a system using a laser light source, the laser wavelength may be therefore outside the reflection wavelength range of the FBG. In a system using a broadband light source, the reflection spectrum of the FBG does not cross over the wavelength range of the optical filter in which the reflection property or the transmission property is rapidly changed. In this case, the ultrasound or the AE received by the FBG cannot be detected.
One possible solution is use of a wavelength variable laser or tunable filter to control the wavelength of the laser or the wavelength at which the optical property of the optical filter changes according to the change of the Bragg wavelength of the FBG. Disadvantageously, the control cannot follow the change of the Bragg wavelength when the Bragg wavelength of the FBG rapidly changes. For this reason, the ultrasound and the AE cannot be detected. The AE in particular is caused by an instantaneous strain change that occurs when the material is broken. Thus, the generation of the AE inevitably accompanies a fast Bragg wavelength change. For this reason, it may be difficult to detect the AE in a measurement system that uses a wavelength variable laser or a tunable filter.
To solve this problem, Patent Document 3 by the inventor ("material soundness evaluation apparatus") discloses a technique for detecting an ultrasound or an AE propagating through a test object without attaching an FBG to the test object. In a conventional detection of ultrasound or AE by the FBG, the FBG is attached to the test object. In contrast, in this technique, a portion other than an FBG in an optical fiber to which the FBG is written is in contact with the test object. The ultrasound or the AE propagating in the test object flows into the optical fiber through a contact point of the optical fiber, propagates in the optical fiber, and ultrasonically vibrates or AE-vibrates the FBG. Since the FBG is not attached to the test object, the Bragg wavelength of the FBG is no longer affected by the strain received by the test object. Nevertheless, the Bragg wavelength of the FBG is inevitably changed by temperature change. As a result, there remains a problem in the detection of the ultrasound and the AE at variable temperatures.
Patent Document 4 by the inventor ("AE/ultrasound detection system, and material monitoring apparatus and nondestructive testing apparatus including the same") discloses an ultrasound/AE detection technique that uses two Fabry-Perot filters and that is independent of the Bragg wavelength of the FBG. In this related art, broadband light is incident on the FBG and reflected light from the FBG is incident on the two Fabry-Perot filters. The two Fabry-Perot filters have a free spectral range (FSR: interval of transmittance peak wavelengths of Fabry-Perot filter with periodic transmission property) that is substantially the same as the reflection spectrum full width of the FBG. In addition, the two Fabry-Perot filters have transmittance peak wavelengths different from each other by FSR/4. In this technique, the transmission light intensity of at least one Fabry-Perot filter varies in synchronization with the ultrasound or AE vibration received by the FBG regardless of the Bragg wavelength of the FBG. For this reason, it is possible to detect the ultrasound or the AE independently of the change of the Bragg wavelength.
There are two requirements in the ultrasound/AE detection system described in Patent Document 4: First, two Fabry-Perot filters have an FSR that is substantially the same as the reflection spectrum full width of the FBG; Second, the transmittance peak wavelengths of the two Fabry-Perot filters are shifted from each other by FSR/4. Yet, the first requirement presents difficult to accurately control the reflection spectrum full width of the FBG and the FSR of the Fabry-Perot filters in a manufacturing process of these. Thus, expensive system constituent elements may be required. Further, to shift the transmittance peak wavelengths of the two Fabry-Perot filters from each other by FSR/4 (second requirement), it is necessary to attach a temperature adjustment unit for controlling the transmittance peak wavelength to the Fabry-Perot filters or prepare a large number of Fabry-Perot filters and select two Fabry-Perot filters whose transmittance peak wavelengths are shifted from each other by FSR/4 from the prepared Fabry-Perot filters. As described above, in the technique of Patent Document 4, there are problems that the system constituent elements are expensive and the number of the system constituent elements increases.

FBG vibration detection system, apparatus and vibration detection method using the system

NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ADVANCED INDUSTRIAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY


A golf tee apparatus for altering a golf ball's launch angle from an initial launch angle to a final launch angle, and for simultaneously imparting a spin for increasing the ball's roll distance. The apparatus includes a penetrating element for inserting the tee into a surface. A stem extends from the penetrating element, and a platform element extends from the stem. The platform element includes a ball setting surface and an impact surface, the impact surface extending from the ball setting surface at an angle.

It is often an object of a golfer to hit the golf ball such that the ball has sufficient vertical flight, and also travels the intended horizontal distance; however, it may take several years before a golfer is able to develop the required expertise to cause the ball to have the desired trajectory. Indeed, anyone who has ever played golf likely remembers his first several times at the golf course or driving range, and the frustration that follows when the golfer is unable to hit the ball properly from a tee.
For example, the golfer's swing may have an unintended negative angle of attack, which would produce a lower launch angle than a swing with a positive angle of attack, and consequently, cause the ball to hit the ground earlier than intended. Air provides less resistance against the ball's travel path than the ground, and as such, with a negative angle of attack, the ball may not travel the intended horizontal distance. Or, the golfer may, for example, unintentionally "top" the ball, i.e., hit the golf ball above its equator, which may cause the ball to hit the ground immediately, or at least, render the ball unable to rise up at the desired launch angle. Experienced golfers with well-developed swings, although less prone to making such errors, may nevertheless commit them from time to time.
A golfer may also intend for the golf ball to continue to roll after it hits the ground, so as to achieve a desired horizontal distance. Such continued rolling may be effectuated by imparting a spin on the golf ball that counters the friction between the ball and the ground. Such spin, however, cannot easily be conveyed to the ball using conventional tees.


An opening switch for a vehicle having a decorative cover assembly, a sensor housing region, and a microelectromechanical (MEMS) sensor mounted in the sensor housing region. The decorative cover assembly has an inner surface, an outer surface, an anchor portion, and a deflection portion. When contact from a vehicle user occurs at the deflection portion in the decorative cover assembly, a microdeflection occurs. The microdeflection has a microdeflection apex, and the microdeflection apex is spaced from other surfaces in the sensor housing region when the contact from the user occurs at the deflection portion in the decorative cover assembly. The MEMS sensor is configured to generate an output signal that is indicative of a force of the contact from the user. The force integrated switch can include haptic feedback and/or backlighting.

Force sensing is oftentimes used in various vehicle applications. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 8,994,689 to Pandher discloses the use of capacitive sensors to control power windows, and US 2009/0065267 A1 to Sato discloses the use of electrostatic capacitive sensors along with strain sensors for an electronic button. However, capacitive sensors often require capacitive touch with a user's body or finger. It is a desirable alternative to provide force sensing or detection when a user is wearing a glove, for example. Further, it is desirable to provide certain functionalities such as opening and/or closing of various vehicle devices including windows, doors, and storage compartments, in a more seamless manner than traditional switches. The switches described herein can more simply integrate force sensing with these various vehicle functionalities, including backlighting and haptic feedback, to enhance the vehicle user's experience.


A method of fabricating a color filter is provided. First, a substrate having a light shielding layer formed thereon is provided, wherein the light shielding layer is adopted for defining a plurality of sub-pixel regions on the substrate. Next, a hydrophobic layer is formed on the light shielding layer by stencil printing, or a surface silylation treatment is carried out to clean the light shielding layer by inkjet printing. Next, a color filter layer is formed in the sub-pixel regions. Thus, fabrication method of the present invention is capable of reducing the possibility of intermixing the color ink between adjacent sub-pixel regions.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to a method of fabricating a color filter. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method of fabricating a color filter, wherein the possibility of intermixing between the color inks in adjacent sub-pixel regions can be substantially reduced.
2. Description of Related Art
As the development of the performance of computer, internet, and multimedia technology, the transformation of image information has gradually progressed from analog information to digital information. In recent years, the size and weight of many electronic device has gradually reduced to produce thinner and lighter electronic products. As to a display device, although the conventional cathode ray tube (CRT) display is widely used, however, it has the disadvantages of large size, high radiation, heavy weight and high power consumption. Therefore, the flat panel display (FPD), which has the advantages of being thinner, flatter, lighter, low or radiation free, and low power consumption, has gradually become the mainstream of display devices. The flat panel display (FPD) includes, for example, liquid crystal display (LCD), organic light emitting display (OLED) or plasma display panel (PDP).
A conventional liquid crystal display (LCD) consists mainly of a thin film transistor (TFT) array, a color filter, and a liquid crystal layer disposed between the thin film transistor array and the color filter. The color display of the liquid crystal display is generally performed by color filters. The color filter is generally constructed over a transparent glass substrate. The color filter generally comprises a black matrix and a color filter layer comprising, for example, red filter units, green filter units and blue filter units arranged corresponding to each sub-pixel, wherein the black matrix is adopted for shield light.
A fabrication method for forming a color filter layer by inkjet printing has been developed recently. According to this conventional fabrication method, first, a black matrix is formed on a substrate to define a plurality of sub-pixel regions. An inkjet printing process is then performed to inject color ink (red, green, or blue) into the sub-pixel regions defined by the black matrix. Next, a thermal baking process may be performed to solidify the color ink.
The above conventional fabrication method, however, has some shortcomings, such as, during the injection of color ink into the sub-pixel regions between patterns of the black matrix, the level of color ink in each of sub-pixel areas is often higher than the surface of the black matrix since the volume of the color ink injected is usually a little larger than that defined by the sub-pixel areas. Therefore, the problem of intermixing of the color inks in adjacent sub-pixel regions may occur if the inkjet printing process is not properly controlled.
In order to resolve the above problem, a hydrophobic film is formed on the black matrix before forming the color filtering layer using a plasma process. However, instead of obtaining an expected flat hydrophobic film, usually a black matrix film with island structures formed thereon is obtained due to variation in the processing recipe, resulting in overflow of color inks and intermixing color inks. Furthermore, the hazardous CF4 gas used in the plasma process is also a grave safety concern.
In addition, another conventional method, disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 09230127, includes coating a 25% C8F17C2H4—Si—(OCH3)3/methanol solution over the substrate and etching using a solution comprising 1% Buffer Fluoric acid (50% HF:40% NH4F). Thereafter, a color filter layer is formed in the sub-pixel regions. Since the 25% C8F17C2H4—Si—(OCH3)3/methanol solution is coated over the entire substrate, the surface of the substrate in the sub-pixel regions may still have hydrophobic property even though a cleaning process is being performed thereafter, and the problem of intermixing of the color inks in adjacent sub-pixel regions still occurs. Besides, the entire process time is longer than 8 hours, and the use of HF acid is of a grave safety concern.


A convertible includes a top having a foldable support structure made of metal sections articulated with one another. The metal sections are hot-formed and at least partially heat treated.

The present invention relates, in general, to a motor vehicle, and more particularly to a convertible automobile, referred to hereinafter as "convertible".
Nothing in the following discussion of the state of the art is to be construed as an admission of prior art.
Although convertibles are typically derived of production vehicles, their body still is designed with numerous modifications to satisfy prescribed safety regulations. Despite various reinforcements, convertibles are inferior as far as safety is concerned because the absence of a hard roof and the connection to the vehicle body necessarily diminish stability and rigidity. Traditionally, convertibles have canvas tops with a foldable support structure which includes metal sections that are articulated to one another and covered by a canvas. Increasingly popular is the use of foldable roofs or tops which also include a foldable support structure of metal sections to support the convertible top of sheet metal.
German Pat. No. DE 101 34 439 C2 describes a convertible with a top having a foldable support structure made of metal sections which are articulated to one another. The metal sections are made by an internal high pressure forming process. German patent publication no. DE 101 62 441 A1 describes a process for making vehicle body components through a hot forming process by way of internal high pressure forming. In general, hot forming is a typical process used for making vehicle body parts, as, for example, also described in German patent publication no. DE 199 02 655 A1.
It would be desirable and advantageous to provide an improved convertible exhibiting superior stability and safety.


Apparatus for spreading fluids and in particular fertilizers, pesticides and similar fluids, with a connection for attaching said apparatus to a machine, with a tubular body for conducting the fluid, and with a first outlet device via which the fluid can be discharged. The outlet device can be fixed at various positions in a longitudinal direction of the tubular body such that a position of the outlet device can be selected relative to the tubular body.

The present invention relates to an apparatus for spreading fluids and in particular fertilisers, pesticides, herbicides, fungicides and similar. The present invention thus relates in particular to the agricultural sector. In the prior art, it has been known for a long time to apply fluids, such as for example fertilisers, pesticides, herbicides and fungicides, mechanically. It is known that corresponding spreading machines have booms on which pipes are arranged in a hanging and/or dragging manner, wherein these pipes have an outlet opening at the end via which the respective fluid can be applied to a target area such as a field. These pipes are sometimes known as drag pipes.
These spreader units must be relatively robust since spreading or application usually takes place on relatively difficult terrain. These spreader means may be damaged, for example due to unevenness in the ground and similar.
A further problem is that, dependently of the respective good to be treated, for example a plant species, the fluid must be applied in different regions. Thus it is possible for example that a pesticide must be spread onto a stem or also onto leaves of the respective crop. The spreader means known from the prior art do not allow such variability in the application position.


According to the invention, a system for verifying a steganogram is disclosed. Included in the system are a first system, a second system, a steganogram, and a steganogram preparer. The first system is coupled to an access device by way of a public network. The second system coupled to the first system. The steganogram is comprised of random data and encrypted information, which is randomly dispersed throughout the steganogram. The steganogram preparer provides the steganogram to the access device. The first system gathers a subset of the encrypted information from the access device. The second system receives the subset or a derivative of the subset and verifies that the subset or a derivative of the subset is from the steganogram.

This invention relates in general to credentials and, more specifically, to hardening a credentials at the point of presentment.
Credentials are used to authenticate persons and equipment in electronic systems. For example, a credential could be formed by encrypting a payload to form a cryptogram. Presentment of the cryptogram allows the receiving entity to decrypt and check the payload in the cryptogram against the known payload. If the received payload matches the known payload, the credential is authentic, and presumably, so is the person or equipment at the point of presentment. A copy of the cryptogram or payload and key allows others to impersonate the true owner of the credential.
A credential can be protected using signatures or other cryptographic techniques. A credential can be successively signed or encrypted by multiple parties to authenticate a chain of those parties. Verification of the encryption or signatures allows confirming an audit trail for the payload through the chain.
Hardware and/or software is often used at the point of presentment to provide a stored credential or generate a credential. Those skilled in the art trust hardware more than software when dealing with credentials. There are robust techniques to protect against hardware tampering, but software is generally seen as being more vulnerable to hackers. Hardware is problematic also because of the expense in deployment in large systems. For example, providing authentication hardware to all users of Internet as the point of presentment is problematic.
Credit cards are often used to purchase items over the Internet. The user enters information printed on the card into a computer terminal. This is passed to the merchant with a secure channel in many cases. The merchant checks the provided information and charges the account. Possession of the card information by hackers is a ubiquitous source of fraud, because authentication is often presumed for anyone who possesses the card information.
In the appended figures, similar components and/or features may have the same reference label. Further, various components of the same type may be distinguished by following the reference label by a dash and a second label that distinguishes among the similar components. If only the first reference label is used in the specification, the description is applicable to any one of the similar components having the same first reference label irrespective of the second reference label.


The invention relates to a promoter screening vector, to methods for the identification and isolation of Streptomyces promoters using the screening vector, and to the isolated promoters themselves, preferably the pS1 and P14 (SEQ2ID NO: 1) promoters of the S. ghanaensis phase I19.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a promoter screening vector, to methods for the identification and isolation of Streptomyces promoters using the screening vector, and to the isolated promoters themselves, preferably the ps1 (SEQ ID No: 2) and p14 (SEQ ID NO: 1) promoters of the S. ghanaensis phage I19 which are described hereinafter.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Only relatively few strong promoters are hitherto available for homologous and heterologous gene expression in Streptomyces. The promoters hitherto described and employed for this purpose mainly derive from antibiotic-resistant genes and from other genes whose expression is regulated by other gene products.
In order to be able to utilize Streptomyces better as host organism for strong expression of any required gene there is a need for correspondingly strongly constitutive promoters as well as promoters of defined strength. Promoters of these types can be found, for example, in the DNA of lytic bateriophages.

Promoter screening vector, streptomyces promoters found therewith, and the isolation and use thereof


Circuitry for controlling a motor, such as a brushless motor (BLM), is disclosed. The circuitry may comprise one or more inputs for receiving rotor position signals from one or more Hall effect sensors that detect the position of, for example, a BLM rotor. The circuitry may also comprise an input for receiving a pulse width modulated speed control signal. The circuitry generates one or more drive signals, each drive signal having a plurality of driving intervals. Each drive signal may control power switches during its driving intervals, the power switches being coupled to electromagnets of the BLM. The circuitry may cause the driving intervals of a first drive signal to be temporally spaced from the driving intervals of a second drive signal.

1. Technical Field
The disclosure relates to circuitry for controlling a brushless motor (hereinafter referred to as a "BLM").
2. Description of the Related Art
Recently, a BLM for driving a blower or a fan for an HVAC, or a pump has been widely used. The use of a BLM is closely related to home and work environments in daily life, including apartments, offices, or factories, etc. A motor for a blower or a fan for an HVAC, or a pump has a significant amount of electric power consumption, which may range from several times to several ten times the amount used in different fields such as, e.g., the field of industrial mechanical devices or machine tools, etc., due in part because such a motor is required to be operated continuously for typically at least several hours or more per day. Therefore, a motor for a blower or a fan for an HVAC, or a pump, which requires a long time or a continuous operation, has a very large amount of energy consumption. Particularly, the electric power consumption required for driving a blower or a fan for an HVAC, or a pump takes a very large portion in a BLM. Further, the use of a BLM affects directly the efficiency and performance of a driving system for an HVAC or a pump.
Accordingly, a motor having high-efficiency for saving energy has been required, and a development of an intelligent control system capable of controlling a motor having high-efficiency conveniently and stably has been required.
In the past, an AC induction motor with an inexpensive and simple structure has been mainly used as a motor having high-efficiency. However, there is a problem that causes an unnecessary over-speed operation and hence a significant loss of electric power because this AC induction motor is difficult to control. For example, it is difficult to control a speed necessarily required for providing an energy saving and convenient operation conditions. Meanwhile, the AC induction motor has used a separate inverter in order to solve this kind of problem. However, the use of a separate inverter causes a noise problem, and has a certain limit in providing a program suitable for various required operation conditions, in addition to a speed controlling, due to a low operation efficiency in terms of economic efficiency (an energy consumption amount compared to costs).
Further, motors for driving a fan using a BLM or an electrically commuted motor (hereinafter referred to "ECM") have recently been practiced. However, the motors for driving a fan using an ECM are designed to be used mainly as motors for driving simply a compact or low-capacity fan with 100 Watts or less, and thus have a limit in that they are not suitable for an HVAC designed for the use of a high-capacity housing or industrial purpose.
In the meanwhile, technologies relating to an apparatus and a method for controlling an ECM used for an HVAC with a housing and industrial purpose are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,592,058 (hereinafter referred to "'058 patent") allowed to William R. Archer, et al. and entitled "Control System and Methods for a Multi-parameter Electronically Commutated Motor." However, because the control system and methods for a multi-parameter electronically commutated motor disclosed in '058 patent use AC half waves as input signals for various system parameters, use a separate programmable memory for storing the various system parameters, and use separately a complicated circuit such as ASIC, which is used with being connected to a means for sensing a position of a rotor and a current control circuit, the '058 patent has a problem in that an overall system and controlling processes are complicated.
Further, in the control system and methods for the multi-parameter electronically commutated motor disclosed in the '058 patent, since a microprocessor controls an ECM depending on parameter signals pre-stored in the programmable memory, it is impossible to respond properly in real time when, for example, an abnormal operation condition may occur.
Still further, in the control system and methods for the multi-parameter electronically commutated motor disclosed in the '058 patent, the means for sensing the position of a rotor may be made in a sensor-less manner. However, in case of sensing a position of a rotor using this sensor-less manner, there are problems that an unstable transient phenomenon may occur at a startup of the ECM and a high possibility of a mal-operation may occur due to a vulnerability to an electromagnetic noise.
In the meanwhile, conventional control systems of a motor do not have means capable of controlling efficiently a system for driving various kinds of blowers or fans for an HVAC, or a pump, such as means or functions including a non-regulated speed control (NRS) operation function, a regulated speed control (RS) operation function, a constant torque control function, a constant air flow/constant liquid flow control function, a remote communication and monitoring function, a network control means or function capable of controlling a drive of multiple fans or pumps using a mod bus, and a data logging means or function capable of checking operation states or records of a control system for an HVAC or a pump.
Moreover, conventional control systems of a motor have a problem in that they cannot provide the functions described by a single integrated control circuit and program.
The foregoing discussion is to provide background information and does not constitute an admission of prior art.


The golf putter is configured such that the stop step of the rotary linkage is formed outwardly in an extended length to cause the lock screws to stop the rotary linkage from being rotated with a large torque at a position remote from the center of the threaded axle hole, so that when a user does not desire to change the lie angle in use, the adjusted lie angle is not changed for a long period of time.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a golf putter used for putting, which can adjust the angle (i.e., the lie angle) formed between a putter head and a shaft.
2. Description of Related Art
There are an estimated 60 million golfers worldwide today, and golf is considered a very popular sport, particularly in developed countries. Golf is a very simple exercise in which a golfer uses fourteen golf clubs to put a golf ball into eighteen holes/cups on the green, which are approximately 10-546 yards far away from each other, through the process of hitting tee shots and approach shots. However, it is known that most golfers feel stress but not amusement when putting on the green as a finishing step in each hole. The reason for this is that the diameter of the hole is no more than 10 cm and it is difficult to set the aiming point and adjust the distance between the golf ball and the hole according to the slop of the putting green. But first of all, the reason why the golfers feel stress with putting is that since a golf putter a golfer uses does not fit the somatotype characteristics of the golfer, the direction in which a putted golf ball rolls initially toward the hole does not align with a desired direction. For example, accuracy in the directionality of a golf ball is required to be more than 99% in order to put a golf ball 5 m away from a hole into the hole even on a relatively flat putting green having no a slope. The problem associated with the putting resides in that in the case where a collision occurs between a putter head and a golf ball putted with a perfect stroke through more practice, if the putter head is not maintained in a horizontal state, the front striking surface of the golf putter is not oriented toward an aiming point set by a player, and as a result the golf ball does not roll correctly in the direction the aiming point. For example, when a player hits a putting shot three meters on the putting green having no a slope, if the putter head is aimed at the hole in a state in which a toe is lifted by 7 degrees, the slotline of the golf putter is oriented toward the hole but the front surface of the putter head confronts the left edge of the hole so that although the golf ball is rolled in a straight line, it passes by the hole. But actually, since the front surface of the golf putter is not perpendicular to the progress direction (i.e., the center of the hole) of the putter head, the golf ball upon the collision against the putter head is spinning to the side in a counterclockwise direction, and the rolling golf ball is greatly deviated from the hole in a hook shape in which the golf ball is spinning to the left as if the rolling golf ball rolled on a left downhill slope. This phenomenon very frequently occurs in most weekend golfers and many professional golfers. However, most golfers consider a cause of the phenomenon to be a problem associated with their stroke or a failure to correctly grasp the slope of the green. Of course, the lie angle of the golf putter that does not fit the somatotype characteristics of the golfer is one of various key factors that hinder the dropping of a golf ball into the hole, but also is a problem that can be solved in the easiest manner.
Nowadays, many kinds of golf putters are manufactured by numerous golf club manufacturers, but the somatotype characteristics and the putting postures of the golfers vary depending on the golfers and thus it is not easy to purchase golf putters correctly that fit their somatotype characteristics and putting postures. Furthermore, since the somatotype characteristics and the putting postures of the golfers vary over time, it is difficult to find new golf putters that fit them each time. Thus, the above-mentioned problems will be solved by a golf putter in which the angle (i.e., the lie angle) formed between a putter head and a shaft can be adjusted, if necessary. In particular, a lie angle adjustable golf putter requires that the lie angle should be adjusted only when a player desires to adjust it. In addition, the lie angle adjustable golf putter cannot be used in a formal golf game until it receives an approval from the United States Golf Association (USGA) or R&A.
Inventors have provided numerous golf putters that comply with the above purpose over the past several decades. However, most inventions related to golf putters entails a lot of problems in the actual use thereof, golfers suffer from an inconvenience in use, or the approval of the golf putters is denied by USGA or R&A. For this reason, the golf putters provided by the inventors have nearly disappeared on the market before they reach real consumers. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,580,051 discloses an adjustable golf club putter which comprises a putter head and a shaft interconnected by means of an adjustable gear linkage comprising a shaft gear and a hosel gear, each of which has a gear teeth, and the shaft gear and the hosel gear are engaged with or disengaged from each other by means of tightening or loosing of a bolt so as to adjust the lie angle formed between the putter head and the shaft. However, such a conventional adjustable golf club putter entails a shortcoming in that the gear linkage is large and complicated in terms of structure, and that since the adjustable lie angle has a limited range, it is not easy for a golfer to obtain a desired lie angle. U.S. Pat. No. 5,542,665 discloses an adjustable golf putter in which an angle adjustment means is connected to an adaptor interconnecting a putter head and a shaft, the adaptor being connected to a rear surface of the putter head. Since the adaptor is disposed on the rear surface, the distance between an adaptor portion connected to the shaft and a ball striking portion are longer than that in general golf putters, thus causing a problem in that a golfer must hit a putting shot pullingly but not pullingly. In addition, U.S. Pat. No. 4,815,740 discloses an adjustable golf club in which the line of the center of gravity of the golf club putter is used as an ideal axis, a circular array of V-shaped serrations is arranged on the axis, and another set of similar serrations are connected to a shaft by a hosel linkage. This configuration is theoretically excellent, but encounters a problem in that the golf club is complicated structurally due to an unnecessary part such as a compression spring, resulting in a deficiency of simplicity and practicality needed for mass production.
Accordingly, the present inventor has proposed an adjustable golf putter disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,142,884 corresponding to Korean Patent Registration No. 10-0584815 in an attempt to solve the problems occurring in the existing prior arts, and receives popularity from golfers with the success in mass production of the golf putter. However, such a golf putter has a problem in that if it is used for a long period of time after adjusting and fixing the lie angle, lock screws are often loosened from the threaded holes. A lie angle adjustable golf putter requires that the adjusted lie angle of the golf putter should not be changed and a locking means for securely fixing a shaft and a putter head should not swivel the putter head in use. Particularly, in the case where the lock screws of the locking means are loosened means during the golf game to cause the putter head to be swiveled, unless a tool for tightening the lock screws is prepared, a golfer suffers from a great inconvenience.


A radiation sensitive composition for color filters comprising (A) a colorant, (B) a binder polymer, (C) a poly-functional monomer, (D) a photopolymerization initiator containing at least one biimidazole compound typified by 2,2'-bis(2-chlorophenyl)-4,4',5,5'-tetrakis(4-ethoxycarbonylphenyl)-biimid azole and 2,2'-bis(2,4-dichlorophenyl)-4,4',5,5'-tetraphenylbiimidazole, and (E) a solvent. The composition can be used for the manufacture of color filters exhibiting excellent photographic sensitivity and superior contrast, while effectively controlling production of residual insoluble material during development process.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a radiation sensitive composition for color filters used for a color liquid crystal display device or a color image pickup tube element.
2. Description of the Background Art
A color liquid crystal display device is mounted on a portable personal computer. Because of an increased demand for color liquid crystal display devices in recent years, reduction in the cost of color liquid crystal displays has been strongly desired. In particular, color filters which are indispensable parts of the color liquid crystal display device are mainly manufactured by forming patterns utilizing photolithographic etching of a chromium thin film used as a black matrix. The manufacturing cost of this type of color filter is extremely high. In addition, the environmental problem caused by chromium waste fluid materials produced during manufacture of the color filter is a subject of public concern.
As a means for solving these problems, attention has been given in recent years to a method for using a radiation sensitive composition in which a black colorant is dispersed to manufacture the black matrix. In this method, a radiation sensitive composition in which a colorant with a black color, for example, is dispersed is first applied to a substrate, the resulting coated film is irradiated with light through a photomask to cure the exposed part, and the coating is developed using an alkali, for example, as the developing solution, to remove the part of the coating which has not been irradiated, thereby obtaining a specified black color pattern (black matrix). Then, a process comprising the application of a radiation sensitive composition in which a colorant with a red, green, or blue color is dispersed, light irradiation, and the development treatment is carried out for various colors to form pixel arrays of each color on the same substrate. A color filter is obtained in this manner.
However, when a black matrix is manufactured by using a black colorant, a significant amount of the colorant which is a non-photosensitive component must be used to secure a sufficient light shielding effect for the black matrix. A relative decrease in the amount of the photosensitive component and a resulting decrease in the sensitivity of the radiation sensitive composition is unavoidable. Furthermore, because the effective strength of radiation in coated films is reduced due to absorption of light by the colorant or the like, the radiation strength inevitably decreases toward the bottom of the coated film (i.e. the part close to the substrate surface). As a result, the reaction for curing the coated film tends to be insufficient close to the bottom. In some case, the bottom of the pattern may be hollowed out during development of the coating, thereby producing lacks, losses, and under-cuts in part of the formed pattern. In addition, when the effective strength of radiation is decreased, the rate of film retention after development and the strength of the pixels themselves may decrease. As a result, the pixels are easily damaged when a transparent conductive film or a liquid crystal aligning layer are formed over the color filter. Although these problems can be solved to some extent using a high energy radiation, this tends to decrease the production efficiency of the black matrix.
Accordingly, efforts have been made to develop a photopolymerization initiator with a high photo-sensitivity sufficient to provide a reaction for curing the radiation sensitive composition for color filters close to the bottom of the coating. One example is a composition comprising a binder polymer which contains a carboxyl group, a poly-functional acrylate compound such as pentaerythrithol hexacrylate, and a photopolymerization initiator. As the high sensitive photopolymerization initiator used for this type of radiation sensitive composition, 2,2'-bis(2-chlorophenyl)-4,4',5,5'-tetraphenyl biimidazole, 2,2'-bis(2,3-dichlorophenyl)-4,4',5,5'-tetraphenyl biimidazole, and the like, have been proposed (for example, Japanese Patent Applications Laid-open No 75372/1994, No.75373/1994, etc.). The use of 2,2'-bis(2-chlorophenyl)-4,4',5,5'-tetraphenyl biimidazole, 5,5'-tetra(alkoxyphenyl) biimidazole, 5,5'-tetra(dialkoxyphenyl) biimidazole, 2,2'-bis(2-chloro-phenyl)-4,4',2,2'-bis(2-chlorophenyl)-4,4',2,2'-bis(2-ch lorophenyl)-4,4',5,5'-tetra(trialkoxyphenyl) biimidazole, and the like as the photopolymerization initiator of the radiation sensitive composition used in a print or photoresist has also been proposed (e.g. Japanese Patent Publication No. 38403/1973 official report, Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 174204/1987).
However, these radiation sensitive compositions do not provide a sensitivity of a level sufficient to eliminate the use of the high energy radiation. The above-mentioned problems of lack or loss of patterns, low rate of film retention, and the decreased strength of pixels may still occur if the amount of irradiation is insufficient.
In particular, because the above-mentioned 2,2'-bis(2-chlorophenyl)-4,4',5,5'-tetraphenyl biimidazole is scarcely soluble in solvents, it is impossible to add a large amount of this compound to sufficiently increase the photographic sensitivity. Insoluble or precipitated compounds may cause production of foreign material which may produce projections on pixels which may impair the function of the transparent conductive layer of liquid crystal aligning layer coated on the color filter.
In addition, the radiation sensitive composition using the above-mentioned 2,2'-bis(2-chlorophenyl)-4,4',5,5'-tetraphenyl biimidazole, may leave substances which are insoluble in a developing solution in areas other than the area where the pixels are formed during the development process in the manufacture of color filters. The resulting color filters exhibit low light transmission on the whole. Use of such color filters in a color liquid crystal display device may result in decreased display contrast. In addition, pixels formed by a succeeding process on the part where insoluble material remains exhibit insufficient adhesion to the substrate due to the insoluble material. This may cause peeling of that part from the substrate and production of damaged parts in the color filters.
Development of a new photopolymerization initiator which can solve these various problems has therefore been desired. In spite of the extreme difficulty in anticipating the relationship between the structure of a photopolymerization initiator and its characteristics, development of a photopolymerization initiator which can provide the radiation sensitive composition exhibiting excellent sensitivity and contrast, which produces no insoluble material during the development treatment has been strongly desired.
The present invention has been achieved in view of this situation and has an object of providing a radiation sensitive composition for color filters which can exhibit excellent photographic sensitivity and contrast, but does not produce any insoluble material during the development treatment.

Radiation sensitive composition for color filters


According to one embodiment, a memory module includes a substrate, a semiconductor memory device, a plate-form conductive member, wire, and a mold member. The substrate includes a ground terminal to which a ground potential is applied. The semiconductor memory device is provided on the substrate. The plate-form conductive member is provided on the semiconductor memory device. The wire that electrically connects the ground terminal to the plate-form conductive member. The mold member seals the semiconductor memory device on the substrate, the plate-form conductive member and the wire.

Conventionally, if a personal computer or server is shielded by use of ground (GND) potential, it is generally known to use a method for sufficiently stably connecting a metal casing to a ground terminal on a printed-wiring board by use of screws or the like and making the metal casing itself function as a shield based on the ground potential.
However, in the case of a small and thin mold type semiconductor memory device, a substrate including a chip is entirely sealed with resin. Therefore, even if the metal shield is provided outside the mold, it is impossible to directly connect the metal shield to the ground terminal on the substrate of the semiconductor memory device.