An applicator for delivering pharmaceutical products or the like to a bodily cavity includes a barrel member having a distal end which is equipped with an opening. The applicator also includes a plurality of petals extending outwardly from the distal end in a generally axial direction. The petals cooperate with the opening so as to form a receptacle for releasably receiving a pharmaceutical product in the distal end of the barrel member. Each of the petals has a truncated flexible tip sized and shaped so as to engage a substantially central portion of the pharmaceutical product such that a large section of the pharmaceutical product extends outwardly beyond the petals so as to facilitate the release of the pharmaceutical product from the receptacle. The device also includes a plunger member for releasing the pharmaceutical product from the receptacle. In accordance with the present invention, the device can be packaged in a package together with the pharmaceutical product received in the receptacle.

Suppository applicators have been in use for delivering suppositories to bodily cavities, such as vaginal canals and recta. Conventional applicators are equipped with barrel members for receiving suppositories and plunger members for expelling same from the barrel members. The barrel members have loading ends which are typically equipped with finger-like members or segments projecting therefrom for releasably attaching suppositories to the loading ends (see, for instance, U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,754,822; 3,667,465; 3,934,584; 4,361,150; 5,201,779; 5,404,870; and 5,860,946). The finger-like members are sized such that, when suppositories are loaded onto the loading ends, they are enclosed substantially entirely by the finger like-members.
The applicators discussed above have various disadvantages. For instance, suppositories, when exposed to moisture, tend to stick to surfaces that are in contact therewith. In such circumstances, when the applicators are exposed to relatively high humidity, suppositories loaded therein tend to stick to the loading ends of the applicators. Because the suppositories are enclosed substantially entirely by the finger-like members, they have a relatively large area of contact with the loading ends of the applicators. As a result, when the suppositories stick to the applicators during storage or use, it becomes difficult to expel same from the applicators.

Applicator device for suppositories and the like


Devices, systems, and methods for transporting or transferring insect pupae in an aqueous solution are described. The system includes a tank containing a solution with insect pupae, a transfer chamber having an outlet at a bottom portion of the chamber, a solution inlet, an evacuation channel, and a depth measurement system. A tube fluidly connects to tank and the transfer chamber. An evacuation device connected to the evacuation channel removes air from the transfer chamber and generates a vacuum therein to draw the solution through the tube into the transfer chamber.

Many Sterile Insect Technique (SIT) programs require processing insects and moving insects in various stages of development. Typically, transfer processes involve moving trays or containers between locations within the process. Many other methods involve transferring insects using gravity feeds. During some transfer processes, insects may escape or be damaged while moving between locations.


A method and/or a system of a processor-agnostic encoded debug architecture in a pipelined environment is disclosed. In one embodiment, a method of a processor includes processing an event specified by a data processing system coupled to the processor to determine a boundary of the event, generating a matrix having combinations of the event and other events occurring simultaneously in the processor, capturing an output data of observed ones of the event and other events, and applying the matrix to generate an encoded debug data of the output data. The method may also include determining which of the combinations are valid based on an architecture of the processor. The event may be a trace-worthy event whose output value cannot be reliably predicted in an executable file in the data processing system and/or a sync event that is specified by a user of the data processing system.

A debugger may be a logic unit (e.g., a hardware and/or a software program) that is used to debug (e.g., to correct, repair, fix, etc.) other hardware/software programs. The other hardware/software programs may operate on a device (an integrated circuit) the debugger is running on, and/or may operate on a different device (e.g., a similar device, a dissimilar device, a software code, and/or an embedded processor, etc.).
A Digital Signal Processor (DSP) can be a special-purpose processor used in a digital signal processing application (e.g., an application having sources such as audio, video, weather satellites, earthquake monitors, etc.). The DSP may use a pipelining architecture to process data faster than a standard microprocessor (e.g., an Intel® Pentium®, etc.). By using the pipelining architecture, the DSP may provide simultaneous and/or parallel processing of overlapping operations by moving data and/or instructions into a conceptual pipe (e.g., stages of the conceptual pipe may be performed simultaneously). For example, while one instruction is being executed, the DSP may decode a next instruction.
Debugging the DSP may not work well (e.g., may cause a crash of an auxiliary peripheral, adding code to shut off the auxiliary peripheral may cause a change in a pipelining order, etc.) when the pipelining architecture is utilized in real-time data processing (e.g., an error such as a speckle may be only visible when a live-video is running, etc.). Furthermore, a large amount of data may need to be recorded, encoded, and/or exported to the debugger using a limited number of output pins on the DSP.
In addition, the debugger may need to be customized for different types of the DSP because of a wide variety of instructions that may be pipelined and the varying packet size of instructions. In each of the different types of the DSP, a large amount of storage may be required to perform the debugging because of the pipelined nature of various operations (e.g., storing output data of each operation may require a massive data buffer). Therefore, the debugging of different types of the DSP can be a difficult, time consuming, expensive, and/or frustrating process.

Data system simulated event and matrix debug of pipelined processor


Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for avoiding singular configurations of a robot. A singular configuration of the robot is obtained. A location of an end effector of the robot when the robot is in the singular configuration is determined. For each of a plurality of voxels in a workcell, a distance from the voxel to the location of the end effector when the robot is in the singular configuration is computed. A negative potential gradient of the computed distance is computed. Control rules are generated, wherein the control rules, when followed by the robot, offset the trajectory of the robot according to the negative potential gradient.

This specification relates to robotics, and more particularly to controlling robotic movements.
Robotics control refers to scheduling the physical movements of robots in order to perform tasks. For example, an industrial robot that builds cars can be programmed to first pick up a car part and then weld the car part onto the frame of the car. Each of these actions can themselves include dozens or hundreds of individual movements by robot motors and actuators.
Robotics planning has traditionally required immense amounts of manual programming in order to meticulously dictate how the robotic components should move in order to accomplish a particular task. Manual programming is tedious, time-consuming, and error prone. In addition, a schedule that is manually generated for one workcell can generally not be used for other workcells. In this specification, a workcell is the physical environment in which a robot will operate. Workcells have particular physical properties, e.g., physical dimensions, that impose constraints on how robots can move within the workcell. Thus, a manually programmed schedule for one workcell may be incompatible with a workcell having different robots, a different number of robots, or different physical dimensions.
Some robots can be programmed to perform online adaptation processes in order to react to changing situations in a workcell. To do so, a robot can dynamically compute a desired location and position in Cartesian space and then use inverse kinematics to determine the joint velocities that are needed to achieve the desired location and position.
However, such online adaptation processes often run into problematic configurations that are known as singular configurations. In this specification, a singular configuration is a configuration of the joints in the robot that severely limits control in one or more degrees of freedom. Often this means that velocity in one Cartesian degree of freedom is difficult or impossible or requires a disproportionate amount of joint velocity to achieve.
Singular configurations are problematic because they introduce uncertainty, delays, and safety risks into a robot plan. They slow down the robotics process because often high joint velocities are required to handle them that result in the end effector moving slowly in Cartesian space.

Robot control for avoiding singular configurations


Systems, apparatuses and methods for submitting a print job to a specified printer are provided which include means for and/or steps of (i) converting a document created with a specific application and to be printed, into a print-ready form that is independent of the specific printer and independent of computing platform, and (ii) submitting the print job to the specified printer, without using a printer driver.

In the current information age, there are often discussions of the desirableness of a paperless society. However, notwithstanding such discussions, there remains a great need by users of computers and other information terminals (that is, any of the various conventional devices which have a need to print on demand, such as personal computers, notebook computers, workstations, other types of computers, kiosks, PDAs, other information appliances, etc.) for printing functionality. Therefore, devices having printing or plotting functionality, such as printers, copiers, multi-function devices, etc., continue to play a significant role in information technology (IT) at home and at work. The terms "printer" and "printer device" are used hereinafter generically to include any output device having a printing or plotting functionality, and include multi-function devices having a copy and/or scanning functionality in addition to the printing or plotting functionality.
A computing device typically submits an electronic document or file to a specified printer by use of a pre-installed print driver, using facilities provided by the operating system, and the application that was used to create the file.
Typically, a print driver plugs into the infrastructure within the underlying print system provided by the operating system of a computing device. Drivers are generally provided by device manufacturers, and the drivers support specific devices, specific features and certain operating systems.
For example, a computing device having only a print driver for printing to a printer of printer type number one, in most instances, will not be able to print with a printer of printer type number two. Similarly, a computing device running an operating system (OS) of OS type number one, cannot use a print driver supporting OS type number two (but not supporting OS type number one). As another example, a computing device having only a print driver supporting single-sided printing (but not supporting duplex printing) to a specific printer will not be able to perform duplex printing to the specified printer, even if the specific printer has duplex printing capabilities.
The limitations of print drivers make it difficult for users of any computing device to submit any file to any printer. It is unlikely that any one computing device has print drivers for each printing device. This is a real constraint in the current information age in which information terminals have mobility and network capabilities that allow the terminals to receive and/or download files from heterogeneous sources, and allow the terminal to navigate to previously unvisited IT environments having printing devices for which the terminal does not have print drivers.
It is also unlikely that any such computing device has all of the applications needed for all files that might require printing. Further, even if a computing device has an application of one version does not necessarily ensure that the computing device can print (or at least obtain an acceptable printout of) a file created by a different version of the application.
Mobile or hand held devices often do not have an operating system that supports printer drivers, printer ports, or many of the applications in typical use today. While unable to create many file types, they can often receive or download these files by means like electronic mail, web browsers, etc.
In addition, installation of print drivers requires knowledge of the target printing device, access to the drivers, privileges to install drivers on the information terminal, and often overwhelms the user, resulting in frustrations, help desk calls, and unpredictable results.
There is a need for better techniques for submitting files to printing devices.

Driverless printing system, apparatus and method


A method and system for wirelessly coupling a computer with a peripheral device. The peripheral device is initially docked to a docking port in the computer. Detecting the docking event, the computer then turns on the docked peripheral device and listens for identifiers from all peripheral devices within range of the computer, including the identifier for the peripheral device that is presently docked with the computer. The computer then instructs the docked peripheral device to turn off, thus preventing the docked peripheral device from broadcasting its identifier. By a process of deduction, the computer is able to identify the docked peripheral device. In a preferred embodiment, the docked peripheral device subsequently is wirelessly associated only with the computer to which that peripheral device was initially docked.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates in general to the field of computers, and in particular to computers having wireless peripheral devices. Still more particularly, the present invention relates to a method and system for logically coupling a specific wireless peripheral device to a computer.
2. Description of the Related Art
In an effort to make connections physically and aesthetically neater, many computer systems use wireless interfaces with peripheral devices. One popular wireless interface is known as Bluetooth®. The Bluetooth® specification is described in the "Specification of the Bluetooth System," published 05 Nov. 2003 by Bluetooth SIG, which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.
Bluetooth® employs a physical radio channel, which is shared by a group of devices that are synchronized to a common clock and frequency hopping pattern. A first device, typically a computer (desktop, laptop, tablet, Personal Digital Assistant—PDA, et al.) provides a synchronization reference, and is known as a master. All other devices (peripherals, other computers, et al.) are known as slaves. The master and slave together form a closely proximate (usually less than 10 meters apart) network known as a piconet, which permits radio communication between each slave and the master (but not between slaves).
To establish a radio link between the master and a slave, the master interrogates any slave that is close enough to "hear" an interrogation signal from the master. The slave responds with its Media Access Control (MAC) address, which identifies the slave. The user of the master computer then manually selects which available slave to connect to the master. For example, FIG. 1 illustrates a Graphical User Interface (GUI) 100 showing icons for a printer, a keyboard and a mouse, all of which are Bluetooth® enabled and are available to (and within range of) the master. The user then double clicks the icon of each wireless peripheral device that she wishes to wirelessly couple for communication with the master (computer).
Such a system as shown in FIG. 1 is adequate if the only Bluetooth® peripheral devices within radio range of the master computer are those peripheral devices that "belong" with the master computer. However, a problem arises if the master computer receives responses from Bluetooth® enabled devices that are associated with another master computer, particularly if an automatic connection system is used. Furthermore, manual, static association (the common method for establishing Master/Slave relationship) of only selected devices (such as described in FIG. 1) is not desirable since it is cumbersome and user error-prone, since the user may not know which icon described peripheral devices "belong" to her computer. Note that such available wireless devices may be in any common proximate area, such as an adjoining cubicle, or as contemplated in a preferred embodiment of the present invention, in a public retail establishment.
What is needed, therefore, is a method and system that selectively logically links an authorized Bluetooth® enabled peripheral device with an appropriate master computer. Preferably, such a method and system will require minimal user intervention. In particular, what is needed is a method and system that can be used in environments in which Bluetooth® enabled devices can be interchanged and the master/slave relationship can be re-established simply and quickly.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Bluetooth association based on docking connection

International Business Machines Corporation


A hinge for an electronic device is provided. The electronic device has a first half and a second half. The hinge includes a rigid, multi-layer printed wiring board capable of being electrically coupled to the first half of the electronic device, and a flexible circuit electrically connected to the printed wiring board and capable of being electrically coupled to the second half of the electronic device. The printed wiring board is fixed relative to the first half. When the second half of the electronic device is moved relative to the first half, the flexible circuit winds and unwinds.

Electronic devices, such as notebook computers, personal digital assistants (PDAs), cellular telephones, portable compact disc (CD) players, GPS devices, gaming devices and the like, are often designed with clamshell type or flip-up covers into which electronic components are added. These electronic components must be electrically connected to the electronic components in the other half of the electronic device through a hinged interface.
Such electronic devices are incorporating several items of functionality, such as cellular telephone, full function PDAs, gaming devices, radios, televisions, personal identification devices, computers wireless ports, and the like, into one full service electronic device. As a result, there is a need for higher speed signals and a greater number of signals to be transmitted between the halves of the electronic device.
One current trend in electronic devices is to form the device as a "clamshell". In a clamshell electronic device, it is possible to incorporate more functions, include larger displays, and add a variety of unique features. One of the challenges with a clamshell electronic device, however, is the need to transmit the high-speed signals, which may include radio-frequency signals, and the number of signals through a relatively small hinge (i.e. 4.5 mm diameter). This has to be done reliably and needs to have a service life of several hundred thousand cycles. To date, this has been a significant challenge and manufacturers of these products are looking for a cost effective and reliable solution.
Some manufacturers interconnect the electronic components in the halves by a multilayered flexible circuit that is routed through the hinge and mated to the printed wiring boards or displays on the opposite half. These flexible circuits are expensive, are difficult to install in the electronic device and require extensive manual labor. In addition, the hinge and the interconnect therethrough tend to have a reliability problem. As the need for the number of circuits increases and as the need for higher speed signals increases, the flexible circuit interconnect becomes relatively thick and inflexible. This results in reliability issues with its use in the field.
Often, if the hinge and/or flexible circuit fails, the entire device is disposed of instead of replacing the damaged components. Also, as color is being used in more electronic devices, the replacement of the entire electronic device is no longer cost effective.
Some manufacturers have used mechanical hinges that have some form of a sliding contact or rubbing contact between the upper and lower halves of the electronic device. These mechanical hinges are prone to wear associated with the high number of cycles and the inability to transmit radio frequency signals.
Some manufacturers have used small radio frequency cables routed through the hinge of the electronic device. These radio frequency cables are expensive and are difficult to assemble with the electronic device.
The present invention provides a hinge and interconnect which provides a solution to these problems. Other features and advantages will become apparent upon reading the attached description of the invention, in combination with a study of the drawings.


DNA molecule and process for producing insulin precursors having the formula B(1-29) -H.sub.1 --X.sub.2 --Y.sub.2 --Y.sub.1 --A(1-21), wherein B(1-29) are the 29 first amino acid residues of the B chain of human insulin starting from the N-terminus, A(1-21) are the 21 amino acid residues of the A chain of human insulin, X.sub.1 represents a peptide bond or one naturally-occurring alpha-amino acid acid residues, X.sub.2 represents Glu or Asp, and Y.sub.1 and Y.sub.2 each represent Lys or Arg, the positions A6 and A11, A7 and B7 and A20 and B19, respectively, are connected through sulphur bridges, and, if desired, one or more of the glutamic acid residues in positions A4, A17, B13 and B21 are substituted by another naturally-occurring alpha-amino acid residue having an uncharged side chain, are provided. The insulin precursors are prepared by culturing a yeast strain transformed with a replicable plasmid comprising a DNA sequence encoding an insulin precursor of the above formula in a suitable medium and isolating the insulin precursor thus formed from the culture medium. The insulin precursor can be converted into human insulin or insulin analogues by enzymatic treatment in a manner known per se.

In severe or chronic cases the disease of Diabetes is usually treated with injection preparations containing insulin, e.g. porcine insulin, bovine insulin or human insulin.
A number of different processes for the biosynthetic production of human insulin are known. Common to all of them is that the DNA strand coding for either the entire proinsulin, a modified form hereof or for the A and B chain separately is inserted into a replicable plasmid containing a suitable promoter. By transforming this system into a given host organism a product can be produced which can be converted into authentic human insulin in a manner known per se, cf. e.g. EP B1 85,083 or EP B1 88,117.
Some known processes for biosynthesis of proinsulin or similar insulin precursors and there conversion into insulin are described below.
Proinsulin may be prepared biosynthetically by using the method disclosed in the specification of European patent application No. 121,884. In this method the gene coding for proinsulin is inserted into a yeast strain and after culturing such transformed yeast train proinsulin can be isolated from the culture medium. Hereafter, proinsulin can be converted into insulin in a manner known per se. Yields of proinsulin obtained by this method are, however, unsatisfactory low for commercial production.
Insulin precursors of the formula B-X-A wherein B and A represent the B and A chain, respectively, of human insulin and X represents a polypeptide comprising at least 2 amino acid residues, preferably from 6 to 35 amino acid residues, are known from the specification of Danish patent application No. 5284/87. The precursors can be enzymatically digested into human insulin by treatment with trypsin and carboxypeptidase B in the presence of certain metal ions.
European patent application No. 195,691 discloses closely related insulin precursors of the formula B-X-Y-A wherein B and A represent the B and A chain, respectively, of human insulin, cross-linked through sulphur bridges as in human insulin, and X and Y each represents a peyine or arginine residue, as well as the preparation of said precursors. These precursors can be enzymatically digested into human insulin by treatment with trypsin and carboxypeptidase B. Moreover, said precursors can undergo tryptic digestion into des-B30-insulin; however, a considerable amount of A.sub.o Arg-des(B30)-insulin is formed which only slowly undergoes further digestion.

DNA sequences encoding insulin precursors and methods of production


In a liquid crystal display 90, a laminated retardation optical element 10 is placed between a polarizer 102A on the incident side and a liquid crystal cell 104, and a ˜/4 retardation film 102C 10 is placed between a polarizer 102B on the emergent side and the liquid crystal cell 104. The laminated retardation optical element 10 comprises: a ˜/4 retardation layer 14 having the function of bringing, to light that passes through this retardation layer, a 15 phase difference corresponding to a quarter of the wavelength of the light; and a C plate-type retardation layer 16 that acts as a negative C plate. The ˜/4 retardation layer 14 and the C plate-type retardation layer 16 are laminated to a transparent substrate 12 in 20 the order mentioned, and are optically bonded to each other. The I/4 retardation layer 14 comprises as its main component a horizontally-aligned, cross-linked nematic liquid crystal, while the C plate-type retardation layer 16 comprises as its main component a 25 cross-linked chiral nematic liquid crystal (a cross-linked nematic liquid crystal and a cross-linked chiral agent) or cross-linked discotic liquid crystal.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a laminated retardation optical element for use in a liquid crystal display or the like, especially a laminated retardation optical element having the function of effectively compensating for the viewing angle dependency of the optical properties of a liquid crystal cell (liquid crystal layer), being in the form of a thin film, and capable of effectively preventing lowering of contrast that is caused by interfacial reflection. The present invention also relates to a process of producing the same, and to a liquid crystal display comprising the laminated retardation optical element.
2. Description of Related Art
FIG. 12 is an exploded, diagrammatic perspective view of a conventional, standard liquid crystal display.
As shown in FIG. 12, the conventional liquid crystal display 100 comprises a polarizer 102A on the incident side, a polarizer 102B on the emergent side, and a liquid crystal cell 104.
Of these component parts, the polarizers 102A and 102B are so constructed that they selectively transmit only linearly polarized light having a plane of vibration in a predetermined direction, and are arranged in the cross nicol disposition so that the direction of vibration of linearly polarized light which the polarizer 102A transmits is perpendicular to that of vibration of linearly polarized light which the polarizer 102B transmits. The liquid crystal cell 104 comprises a large number of cells corresponding to pixels, and is placed between the polarizers 102A and 102B.
The case where the liquid crystal cell 104 in the above-described liquid crystal display 100 is of VA (Vertical Alignment) mode, which a nematic liquid crystal having negative dielectric anisotropy is sealed in a liquid crystal cell (in the figure, the directors of liquid crystalline molecules are indicated by dotted lines), is now taken as an example. Linearly polarized light that has passed through the polarizer 102A on the incident side, passes, without undergoing phase shift, through those cells in the liquid crystal cell 104 that are in the non-driven state, and is blocked by the polarizer 102B on the emergent side. On the contrary, the linearly polarized light undergoes phase shift when it passes through those cells in the liquid crystal cell 104 that are in the driven state, and the light in an amount corresponding to the amount of this phase shift passes through and emerges from the polarizer 102B on the emergent side. It is therefore possible to display the desired image on the emergent-side polarizer 102B side by properly controlling the driving voltage that is applied to each cell in the liquid crystal cell 104. The liquid crystal display 100 is not limited to the above embodiment in which light is transmitted and blocked in the above-described manner, and there is also a liquid crystal display so constructed that light emerging from those cells in the liquid crystal cell 104 that are in the non-driven state passes through and emerges from the polarizer 102B on the emergent side, and that light emerging from those cells that are in the driven state is blocked by the polarizer 102B on the emergent side.
Discussion is now made on the case where linearly polarized light passes, through the non-driven-state cells in the above-described liquid crystal cell 104 of VA mode. The liquid crystal cell 104 is birefringent, and its refractive index in the direction of thickness and that in the direction of plane are different from each other. Therefore, of the linearly polarized light that passed through the polarizer 102A on the incident side, the light that has entered the liquid crystal cell 104 along the normal to it passes through the liquid crystal cell 104 without undergoing phase shift, but the light that has slantingly entered the liquid crystal cell 104 from the direction deviating from the normal to it undergoes phase shift while it passes through the liquid crystal cell 104, and becomes elliptically polarized light. The cause of this phenomenon is that those liquid crystalline molecules that are vertically aligned in the liquid crystal cell 104 act as a positive C plate when the cells in the liquid crystal cell 104 of VA mode are in the non-driven state. It is noted that the amount of phase shift which light passing through the liquid crystal cell 104 (transmitted light) undergoes is affected also by the double refractive value of the liquid crystalline molecules sealed in the liquid crystal cell 104, the thickness of the liquid crystal cell 104, the wavelength of the transmitted light, and so on.
Owing to the above-described phenomenon, even when the cells in the liquid crystal cell 104 are in the non-driven state and linearly polarized light is supposed to be transmitted as it is and blocked by the polarizer 102B on the emergent side, part of the light that has emerged slantingly from the liquid crystal cell 104 in the direction deviating from the normal to it is to leak from the polarizer 102B on the emergent side.
For this reason, the above-described conventional liquid crystal display 100 has the problem (viewing angle dependency problem) that the image quality at the time when an image is viewed slantingly from a position not on the normal to the liquid crystal cell 104 is apt to be inferior to that at the time when the image is viewed from the front of the display.
To eliminate the viewing angle dependency problem with the aforementioned conventional liquid crystal display 100, there have been developed a variety of techniques up to now. One of them is a liquid crystal display as described, for example, in Patent Document 1 listed below. This liquid crystal display uses a retardation optical element comprising a retardation layer having a cholesteric structure (a retardation layer having double refractivity), where the retardation optical element is placed between a liquid crystal cell and a polarizer in order to provide optical compensation.
In the retardation optical element having a cholesteric structure, the selective reflection wavelength given by the equation of "λ=nav·p" (p: the helical pitch in the helical structure consisting of liquid crystalline molecules; and nav: the mean refractive index of a plane perpendicular to the helical axis) is controlled to be either shorter or longer than the wavelength of transmitted light, as described, for example, in Patent Document 2 listed below.
Further, as described, for example, in Patent Document 3 listed below, a liquid crystal display using a retardation optical element comprising a retardation layer (a retardation layer having double refractivity) made from a discotic liquid crystal, has also been known as another technique of eliminating the above-described viewing angle dependency problem. In this liquid crystal display, the retardation optical element is placed between a liquid crystal cell and a polarizer in order to provide optical compensation.
In these retardation optical elements, linearly polarized light that has slantingly entered the retardation layer from the direction deviating from the normal to it undergoes phase shift, while passing through this retardation layer, to become elliptically polarized light, as in the case of the above-described liquid crystal cell of VA mode. The cause of this phenomenon is that a cholesteric or discotic liquid crystal acts as a negative C plate. The amount of phase shift which light passing through the retardation layer (transmitted light) undergoes is affected also by the double refractive value of the liquid crystalline molecules in the retardation layer, the thickness of the retardation layer, the wavelength of the transmitted light, and so on.
It is therefore possible to eliminate, to a considerable extent, the viewing angle dependency problem with conventional liquid crystal displays by the use of the above-described retardation optical element, if the retardation layer contained in the retardation optical element is properly designed so that a phase difference brought by a liquid crystal cell of VA mode that acts as a positive C plate and a phase difference brought by the retardation layer acting as a negative C plate, contained in the retardation optical element, are canceled each other.
It is noted that it is possible to eliminate the viewing angle dependency problem with liquid crystal displays to a more considerable extent by the combination use of a retardation layer that acts as a negative C plate (i.e., a retardation layer whose refractive indices Nx and Ny in the direction of plane and Nz in the direction of thickness are in the relationship Nx=Ny>Nz) and a retardation layer that acts as an A plate (i.e., a retardation layer whose refractive indices Nx and Ny in the direction of plane and Nz in the direction of thickness are in the relationship Nx>Ny=Nz), as described in Patent Document 4 as listed below, for example.
In the meantime, the above-described liquid crystal displays comprising liquid crystal cells of VA mode encompass a liquid crystal display comprising a liquid crystal cell of so-called multi-domain VA mode in which liquid crystalline molecules are inclined in two or more different directions when an electric field is applied. In such a liquid crystal display, it has been known that, if light that enters the liquid crystal cell of multi-domain VA mode is linearly polarized one, light transmission is decreased, but that, if light that enters the liquid crystal cell has been converted to circularly polarized light by a λ/4 retardation film, decrease in light transmission can be effectively prevented (the following Patent Document 5 and Non-Patent Document 1).
However, in the liquid crystal display as described in Patent Document 5 or Non-Patent Document 1, although it is possible to prevent decrease in light transmission by converting light that enters the liquid crystal cell of multi-domain VA mode into circularly polarized light by a λ/4 retardation film, the contrast is, we found, drastically lowered when a retardation layer that acts as a negative C plate is placed between the liquid crystal cell of multi-domain VA mode and the λ/4 retardation film in order to eliminate the above-described viewing angle dependency problem.
In connection with the above-described background art, on the other hand, the method in which a λ/2 retardation film and a λ/4 retardation film are bonded to each other at a predetermined angle, as described, for example, in Patent Document 6 listed below, has been known as a method for eliminating wavelength dispersion on a λ/4 retardation film. With respect to patterning of a retardation layer, there has been known such a method that a non-patterned λ/4 retardation layer is laminated to a patterned λ/2 retardation layer in order to obtain three-dimensional images, as described in Patent Document 7 as listed below, for example.
In addition, we already filed a patent application relating to a filter substrate that comprises: a retardation layer (containing a nematic liquid crystal as a main component) having the function of converting linearly polarized incident light into circularly polarized light, composed of a λ/2 retardation layer and a λ/4 retardation layer; and a cholesteric liquid crystalline filter having the function of selectively reflecting the light circularly polarized by the retardation layer (see Patent Document 8 listed below). We also already filed a patent application relating to a retardation laminate that comprises a patterned layer of a liquid crystalline material capable of forming a nematic layer (see Patent Document 9 listed below).

Laminated retardation optical element, process of producing the same, and liquid crystal display


An input device for triggering a function of an electronic device comprises a humidity sensor (12), and a control unit (11). The control unit (11) analyzes a humidity signal (RH) supplied by the humidity sensor (12) and provides a trigger signal (C) subject to the analysis of the humidity signal (RH) for triggering the function of the electronic device (3). In such way, the function of the electronic device can simply be controlled by blowing at the input device (1).

Miniaturization and wireless technologies have enabled portable electronic devices to process information in a ubiquitous way.
The more functions and features are integrated into smart phones, for example, the more interaction with the user can be expected. Today's human-machine interface of electronic devices still is strongly relying on key or touch key interaction. However, in many situations such interaction may be difficult since one hand of the user has to hold the device while the other hand may not be free either to interact with the device. Hence, there is a continuous interest to simplify and extend the ways of interacting with electronic devices.


The object of the present invention is to provide an optimizing method for a groove structure of a friction disk of a wet-type friction engaging element, which can reduce drag torque by increasing outgoing flow of lubricating oil on the friction surface and increasing the content of air in the lubricating oil. The optimizing method for a groove structure of a friction disk of a wet-type friction engagement element comprising a sectoral inner section 12 of a groove 10 widening inwardly formed on the surface of a friction member of the wet-type friction engaging element, wherein the outgoing flow per groove area is calculated based on the entrance angle (opening angle) θ of the inner section 12 and the ratio h/w of the full length w of the groove 10 to the length h of the inner section; and then a range of the entrance angle (opening angle) θ of the inner section and the ratio h/w of the full length w of the groove to the length h of the inner section is determined where the outgoing flow per groove area is at least a certain value.

Conventionally, a wet-type friction engaging element has been used for example in an automatic transmission for motor vehicles.
As the wet-type friction engaging element of the automatic transmission, there have been used a friction plate, a brake band, etc. in a multiple disk friction engagement apparatus. As shown in FIG. 10, a multiple disk friction engagement apparatus 20 conventionally comprises a hydraulic-actuated piston 21, and a plurality of wet-type friction plates 22 and mating plates 23 arranged alternately so as to be engaged with each other by the piston 21.
The wet-type friction disk 22 comprises a core plate 24 and friction members 25, 25 fixedly attached on both sides of the core plate 24.
As shown in FIG. 11, on the surface 26 of the friction member 25 which is in contact with the mating plate 23, a plurality of grooves 30, of which sides are in parallel, are radially formed (e. g., Unexamined Patent Publication No. 53674/1997).
These grooves are for draining lubricating oil supplied for cooling, and when the wet-type friction disks with the friction members 25 fixedly attached thereon are rotated relative to the mating plates in the non-engaging state of the wet-type friction disk, the lubricating oil supplied from the center is dragged and drained towards the outer circumference.
Theoretically, torque is not transmitted between the wet-type friction disk 22 and the mating plate 23 when they are in non-engaging state. However, since there is lubricating oil between the wet-type friction disk 22 and the mating plate 23, in reality, torque is transmitted to some degree from the wet-type friction disk 22 to the mating plate 23, or from the mating plate 23 to the wet-type friction disk 22. Such torque is called a drag torque, and this may cause a loss of motive power in an automatic transmission.
This drag torque is caused by shear resistance of lubricating oil. It is known that shear resistance decreases in case lubricating oil on the friction side contains much air, but on the other hand, shear resistance increases when lubricating oil on the friction side contains little air. In addition, air content in lubricating oil on the friction surface can be increased by increasing outgoing flow of lubricating oil. Therefore, in order to reduce drag torque of the wet-type friction disk 22 and the mating plate 23, which are rotated relatively, it is effective to increase outgoing flow of lubricating oil on the friction surface, increase the content of air in lubricating oil, and thus to reduce shear resistance of lubricating oil.

Method for optimizing groove structure of friction plate of wet type friction engagement apparatus


In a preferred embodiment, the invention relates to systems and methods for storing digital video information on an optical recording medium comprising the steps of moving the optical recording medium in a first direction, sinusoidally scanning a beam of light over the moving optical recording medium in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction to establish a scan path over the optical recording medium, and periodically deflecting the sinusoidal scanning beam in the first direction to linearize at least a portion of the scan path. By linearizing at least a portion of the scan path, two traces can be made per cycle of a primary sinusoidal deflection, thereby doubling scanning efficiency.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to video recording and playback. More particularly, the invention relates to sinusoidal scanning systems and methods for optical writing and reading of data with respect to a storage medium such as a flexible optical tape.
2. State of the Art
Presently, flexible tape for optical storage of data is known, as described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,719,615 and 4,912,696, both identified on their faces as being assigned to Optical Data, Inc. To optically record data on a medium such as a flexible optical tape, a beam of laser light is directed onto the tape. The laser beam melts the tape or burns holes in the tape to produce data spots representing bits of data. The data spots have a reflectivity, transmissivity or other optical characteristic which can be distinguished from the background of the optical tape. Presently, optically sensitive tape has not been effectively used to record high frequency signals such as television video signals.
Generally speaking, television pictures are comprised of snapshot-like "frames" that contain video signal information in horizontal scan lines organized by synchronizing signals. For example, according to the standards of the National Television Systems Committee (NTSC), each frame of video information comprises 525 horizontal scan lines. Further according to NTSC standards, the frame repetition rate is thirty frames per second, or 15,750 horizontal scan lines per second.
In practice, all of the video information in a complete television frame is not reproduced at a receiver simultaneously; instead, a technique known as interlaced scanning is used to reduce flicker. In interlaced scanning, each frame of video information is divided into two interlaced fields, each comprising a raster array of odd numbered or even numbered horizontal scan lines. Thus, if the horizontal scan lines of a 525-line NTSC frame were numbered sequentially from the top of a raster array, an odd-line field would comprise numbered horizontal scan lines 1, 3, 5, and so forth through frame line 525. Similarly, an even-line field would include numbered lines 2, 4, and so forth through line 524. According to the NTSC format, the field repetition rate is sixty fields per second.
In video recording systems that employ magnetic videotape as the recording medium, it is conventional to record each television field by using only a single track on the recording medium. This single track is traced by a recording head which helically scans the recording medium. (Helical recording heads are widely used because they provide high head-to-tape speed, usually exceeding one meter per second, with relatively slow moving tape). FIG. 1 shows an example of four fields of video information recorded in parallel tracks 2, 4, 6 and 8, respectively, which extend at a small angle (e.g., 5 to 15 degrees) relative to the longitudinal edge of a magnetic videotape 10.
However, optical recording and playback of data poses significant problems which do not arise in traditional magnetic recording playback systems. For example, in establishing relative movement between a laser and a flexible tape, there is a limit to how rapidly the optical characteristics of a spot on the tape can be altered to form a data spot. Such a limit can be significant when the information being recorded includes high frequency video information. Further, such a limitation can be significant when attempting to optimize space efficiency in recording information on the optical tape.
Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide a system and method for efficiently writing and reading information to and from an optical recording medium such as a flexible optical tape. The system should be cost-effective in efficiently writing and reading information such as analog and/or digital data, including audio-video signals.

Bidirectional sinusoidal scanning system


This disclosure relates to a method of fabricating semiconductor devices with a gate-to-gate spacing that is wider than a minimum gate-to-gate spacing and the resulting semiconductor devices. The method includes forming gate structures over an active structure, the gate structures including a first gate structure, a second gate structure, and a third gate structure. The second gate structure is between the first and third gate structures. A plurality of epitaxial structures are formed adjacent to the gate structures, wherein the second gate structure separates two epitaxial structures and the two epitaxial structures are between the first and third gate structures. The second gate structure is removed. A conductive region is formed to connect the epitaxial structures between the first and third gate structures.

Semiconductor devices with a wider gate-to-gate spacing than a minimum gate-to-gate spacing are frequently used for high frequency applications. The gate-to-gate spacing may be two to three times wider than the minimum gate-to-gate spacing. A wide gate-to-gate spacing allows a wider gate to source/drain contact spacing, which results in a lower gate to source/drain capacitance. In addition, a wide gate-to-gate spacing also allows a larger source/drain contact area, resulting in a lower source/drain contact resistance. A lower device resistance and capacitance leads to a higher maximum operating frequency.
One of the challenges of fabricating semiconductor devices with a wide gate-to-gate spacing is fabricating substantially uniform epitaxial structures independent of the local pattern density. It is desirable to have substantially uniform epitaxial structures in devices with wide and narrow gate-to-gate spacing. Epitaxial structures fabrication includes etching to form cavities and filling the cavities by an epitaxial growth process. A semiconductor device with a wider gate-to-gate spacing will have an epitaxial under-fill issue due to having less silicon seeding area per unit volume in the formed cavities as compared with the cavities in a semiconductor device having a narrow gate-to-gate spacing.
It is also challenging to fabricate substantially uniform gates for devices with a wide gate-to-gate spacing, because a wide gate-to-gate spacing may result in various patterning issues during gate lithography and etching processes. For example, issues such as photoresist flopping and lifting may occur.
Hence, there is a need to present a method to overcome the challenges mentioned above.

Semiconductor devices with wide gate-to-gate spacing


Apparatuses for peer-to-peer network setup are presented. In one embodiment, an apparatus comprises a wireless processing unit to communicate with a master device. The wireless processing unit is operable to receive encoded data in a two-dimensional (2D) barcode. The encoded data comprise at least user information associated with the master device including a user identifier, a device identifier, or both. The encoded data further comprise network information including a network identifier, a password, and a profile lifetime value. In one embodiment, the apparatus further comprises a display unit to display at least part of the user information and the network information to a user. The wireless processing unit is operable to initiate a peer-to-peer network setup with the master device based at least on a response from the user.

Wireless network setup procedures may be slow and cumbersome. For instance, many network setup procedures require a user to remember the name of a network, the type of a security suite used in the network, and a password (e.g., PIN). Short passwords or passwords with a low security (e.g., dictionary words) are often used because so that users can remember them easily. This severely compromises network security. A user is also required to input such information by using a keyboard which is not ideal for small mobile devices, such as, for examples, tablets, smart phones, and cameras.
Peer-to-peer networks are often set up on the fly. In many cases, a user may not want to retain the peer-to-peer network information permanently in a mobile device. A user may not want the mobile device to automatically connect to other devices as soon as they are in the proximity.


The invention provides a segment type diamond tool capable of improving cutting rate and reducing the amount of fine debris generated during cutting by properly arranging diamond particles in a cutting segment of the diamond tool. In the invention, the layers of diamond particles are arranged such that cutting grooves formed on a workpiece by trailing layers of diamond particles are arranged between cutting grooves formed thereon by leading layers of diamond particles, respectively, in cutting of the work piece. The cutting segment has high-concentration and low-concentration areas. The high-concentration area shows a concentration higher than an average concentration and the low concentration area shows a concentration lower than the average concentration. Also, at least one low concentration area is formed on the leading and/or trailing section of the cutting segment. The diamond tool of the invention ensures superior cutting rate and reduced amount of fine debris generated during cutting.

An artificial diamond (hereinafter referred to as "diamond") was invented in the 1950s. The diamond, which is known to have the highest hardness out of materials in the earth, has been accordingly used for cutting and grinding tools due to such properties.
Especially, the diamond has been broadly used in a stone processing field where stone such as granite and marble is cut and ground, and in a construction field where a concrete structure is cut and ground.
Typically, a diamond tool comprises segments having diamond particles dispersed therein and a metal core having the segments fixed thereto.
FIG. 1 illustrates an example of a segment type diamond tool.
As shown in FIG. 1, the segment type diamond tool 1 includes a plurality of segments 11 and 12 fixed to a disk-shaped metal core 2, each segment 11, 12 having diamond particles 5 randomly dispersed therein.
In cutting a work piece with the diamond tool, each of the diamond particles dispersed in the cutting segments performs cutting.
However, studies and experiments by the inventors have confirmed that in case where the diamond particles are randomly dispersed in the cutting segments, the diamond particles exhibit a lower cutting rate.
That is because the diamond tool having only cutting segments with the diamond particles randomly dispersed therein experiences inefficiencies as follows. First, grooves formed by the diamond particles of a leading segment may be more widely spaced from each other than the size of the diamond particles, thus unable to completely remove lands between the grooves from a work piece even after the diamond particles of a trailing segment pass along the lands. Second, the diamond particles of a trailing segment may pass along the grooves previously formed by the diamond particles of a leading segment so that the diamond particles of the trailing segment do not perform any work.
The segments having the diamond particles randomly dispersed are fabricated via powder metallurgy in which the diamond particles are mixed with metal powder, molded and then sintered.
In case of fabricating the cutting segments by powder metallurgy, the diamond particles are not evenly dispersed owing to differences in particle sizes and specific gravities in mixing, molding and sintering fine diamond particles together with metal powders. Thus as shown in FIG. 1, this disadvantageously leads to a cutting surface 3 having too many diamond particles or a cutting face 4 having too few diamond particles, causing the diamond particles to segregate.
The diamond particles segregated as described above disadvantageously lead to decline in cutting rate of the cutting tool and also useful life thereof.
To overcome such problems of the conventional technique, the inventors have carried out studies and experiments, and based on the results thereof, invented a diamond tool capable of enhancing cutting rate and reducing the amount of fine debris generated during cutting by properly arranging diamond particles in cutting segments of the diamond tool. The diamond tools of such invention are disclosed in Korean Patent Application No. 2001-60680 and No. 2003-55532.


Optimal parallelization of necessarily serial operations is performed by speculative parallel processing and propagation of serial marking signals to indicate valid data. An exemplary instruction marking circuit for a computer system implementing such optimization includes a series of columns, each column corresponding to one byte of a fixed length instruction line, and a length decoder in each column. Each length decoder receives a byte of the respective column, and performs a length decode independently of the other length decoders. The length decoder asserts a length signal indicative of an instruction length when the byte is the first byte of an instruction. A marking unit arrangement is coupled to the length decoders, and operates to mark each column containing a first byte of an instruction as a function of the length signals asserted by the length decoders.

Computer systems are capable of executing various arithmetic and logic operations on data. The particular arithmetic or logic operation to be executed is indicated by an "instruction" that is typically retrieved from a memory of the computer system, decoded in an instruction decode block, and then transmitted to an execution block of the computer for execution. Computer programs comprise a set of instructions that, when taken from memory, decoded and transmitted to the execution block in a certain sequence, cause the computer system to execute a series of operations that achieve the objective of the program.
There are computer systems designed to implement a variable length instruction architecture, wherein instructions can vary in length from, for example, one byte to eleven bytes or more. However, memory systems, and in particular the cache memory used to store instructions prior to execution, typically store data in fixed sized blocks such as, for example, sixteen byte blocks. In such a system, instruction data is fetched in sixteen byte lines aligned on sixteen byte boundaries. Accordingly, in a variable length instruction architecture, each fixed sized line fetched from memory contains instructions of various lengths that may start anywhere within the line and may even cross a line boundary into a succeeding line of memory.
An instruction marking circuit is typically implemented in the instruction decode block of a computer having a variable length instruction architecture in order to mark the beginning of each instruction in a line fetched from a fixed sized line memory system. The instruction marking circuit includes length decoders, which process a selected byte or number of bytes of the fetched line to determine a length for the instruction containing the bytes. Once instruction lengths are determined and first instruction bytes are marked, the instructions of the fetched line can be transmitted to an instruction decoding circuit within the decode block.
Instruction marking is, by nature, a serial operation--the beginning of a particular instruction can be determined with certainty only after the beginning and length of a previous instruction have been determined. In present instruction marking circuits, the serial nature of instruction marking is accommodated by performing the marking operation according to an externally-timed scheme that controls and synchronizes circuit operations by a system clock. Marking information is propagated through the marking circuit in synchronization with the system clock. The length decoders that are typically used in marking circuits, however, comprise combinational logic circuits that perform length decodes in varying amounts of time depending upon the particular instruction being processed. To assure that all possible instructions found in an instruction line fetched from memory will be marked, the timing of the clock signals must be sufficient to process a "worst case" decode time for an instruction. That is, the timing must be sufficient to permit signals to traverse the longest path through the combinational logic of the length decoder, thus delaying the propagation of marking signals through the marking circuit when the instruction is not a "worst case" instruction.
Only a limited subset of instructions are of the "worst case" instruction type. Thus the time required for processing this relatively small subset of instructions is imposed on all marking operations such that the overall time needed for instruction marking is longer than actually required in most instances. As a result, the known scheme for marking instructions in a variable length instruction architecture incurs wasteful delay in the instruction execution process, decreasing system performance.

Apparatus and method for parallel processing and self-timed serial marking of variable length instructions


Provided are wrappings for foods comprising a laminated composite sheet which comprises an impermeable sheet, an absorbent fiber sheet and a hydrophobic fiber sheet, said hydrophobic fiber sheet having a water resistance of at least 5 cmH.sub.2 O and an air permeability of at least 10 c/cm.sup.2 /sec. Also provided are bags and boxed fabricated from the above wrappings.. These wrappings are microwaveable and have heat insulation property.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a wrapping material for foods such as hamburger and OKONOMIYAKI, which can be heated with its contents in a microwave.
2. Description of the Related Arts
In recent years, as the diversification of foods proceeds, fast foods such as hamburgers, hot dogs and OKONOMIYAKI (a thin, flat cake of unsweetened butter fried with bits of vegetables and meats) have been widely spreading. These foods are taken in restaurants as they are cooked warm, or foods are consumed warm in resturants or then eaten outside or at home. When people eat such takeouts at home, they usually rewarm the takeouts in their microwaves. In any case these takeouts are wrapped with impermeable sheets that do not allow water or oil to penetrate, in order to prevent dirtying the customer's hands and clothes with oozing sauce, ketchup or the like. Sometimes they are additionally placed in styrofoam or like containers.
Available impermeable sheets for this purpose are laminates of tissue/polyethylene or polypropylene film, tissue/aluminum foil, tissue/aluminum foil/polyethylene film, and the like. These sheets are formed into bags as they are, partly backed with an absorbent sheet, partly replaced by a permeable water-proof film or perforated film, or by like means.
Where warm foods just after being cooked, such as hamburger, are wrapped with these impermeable sheets, there occurs a problem wherein excess vapor inside the wrap condenses on the inside surface and the water drops formed are absorbed into the food contained therein, thereby impairing the taste or changing the shape. If the foods are wrapped after being cooled, vapor will generate upon heating in microwave and then condense to produce similar results. Where the inside is covered with an absorbent sheet, the condensed water drops are absorbed in the sheet to make it wet, whereby the wet sheet touches the food to moisten and impair its taste. Furthermore, absorbent sheets have little heat insulation ability and the foods contained therein, when taken out, cool in a short time.
With bags partly comprised of a permeable water-proof film or a perforated film are used, the effect of removing vapor is not sufficient and dew drops still tend to form inside the film and cause similar problems. In addition, impermeable water-proof sheets are very expensive and perforated films have a drawback of leakage of sauce or ketchup through the holes. The use of these films for part of a bag has another drawback of increasing the manufacturing cost due to complex manufacturing processes and high percentage defect caused by poor adhesion or the like.


A segmented stator plate for an electrostatic transducer is provided. The segmented stator plate may have multiple electrically separate sections that can be independently operated and are usable to generate sound and/or detect sound waves in the electrostatic transducer.

Loudspeakers, headphones, and earphones can utilize an electrostatic transducer for sound reproduction that includes a tensioned conductive low-mass diaphragm positioned between a pair of conductive stator plates. Small air gaps may be present between the diaphragm and the stator plates, and the diaphragm may have a stationary charge relative to the stator plates. If no signal is applied to the stator plates, the diaphragm may be static and stays centered between the stator plates. When an audio signal is applied across the stator plates, an electric field is generated between the plates. Because the diaphragm has a fixed charge, a net force imbalance may be created over the diaphragm, which displaces the diaphragm. In turn, the air adjacent to the diaphragm may be displaced to create sound corresponding to the audio signal.
As a result, loudspeakers, headphones, and earphones using electrostatic transducers may have very low harmonic distortion, full bandwidth frequency response, and high fidelity sound reproduction, as compared to loudspeakers, headphones, and earphones with moving coil transducers. Electrostatic transducers may have these characteristics due to the push-pull, constant charge electrostatic drive and the relatively low mass of the diaphragm. In particular, the low harmonic distortion may be due to the push-pull electrostatic drive and the nearly constant bias charge on the diaphragm.
Condenser microphones for sound detection may use a tensioned conductive low-mass diaphragm separated by an air gap with a conductive stator plate, or suspended between two stator plates with an air gap on each side. A voltage may be present on the diaphragm, relative to the stator plates, or a permanent charge (i.e., electret) may be applied to the diaphragm and stator plates for biasing. The diaphragm moves and vibrates when sound waves strike it, which changes the distance between the diaphragm and the stator plate(s). When this occurs, the capacitance between the diaphragm and the stator plate(s) changes, which can be converted into an output audio signal.
Arrays that generate sound (e.g., speaker arrays) and arrays that sense sound (e.g., microphone arrays) are indistinguishable from the creation of multipole acoustic devices that enable the processing of amplitude and phase relationships between individual poles in order to create directional attributes. Arrays typically require geometric separation between sections used for sound generation and sections used for sound sensing in order to achieve spatialization for beamforming and sound field synthesis. Such an array has discrete transducers that are distributed over fixed locations, and each transducer is relatively small as compared to the overall size of the array. However, small transducers (regardless of their type, e.g., moving coil, piezoelectric, electrostatic, etc.) have inherent limitations attributable to their size, such as diaphragm surface area, diaphragm stiffness, and diaphragm mass. These inherent limitations small transducers can result in performance limitations, such as volume velocity and bandwidth limitations when generating sound in loudspeakers, or noise and frequency response limitations when sensing sound in microphones.
Accordingly, there is an opportunity for a segmented stator plate with independent, electrically separate sections that can be driven and/or sensed separately to enable more complex configurations for electrostatic transducers.

Segmented stator plates for electrostatic transducers


On one side of a transparent structure 31 molded of glass, plastics or the like there is formed integrally therewith a prismatic protrusion 31A, and an optical fiber 15 is disposed on the transparent structure 31 and positioned with its one end face abutted against a positioning surface 33 of the prismatic protrusion 31A. A light emitting or receiving device 37 is positioned relative to the other side of the transparent structure 31 by using fiducial marks and fixedly disposed by face down bonding in opposing relation to the prismatic protrusion 31A. Between the light emitting or receiving surface of the light emitting or receiving device 37 and a core exposed in one end face of the optical fiber 15 abutting against the positioning surface 33 there is formed an optical path in which a slope 34 of the prismatic protrusion 31A serves as a reflecting surface.

The present invention relates to an optical device module in which a light emitting device which emits light from its surface substantially at right angles thereto, such as a laser diode, or a light receiving device which receives light substantially at right angles to its surface, such as a photo diode (which elements will hereinafter be generically referred to as an optical semiconductor device) and the optical path of an optical waveguide member such as an optical fiber or optical waveguide board, i.e. the core of the optical fiber or the optical waveguide of the optical waveguide board, are interconnected by an optical path bent substantially at right angles.
FIG. 9 is a diagrammatic showing of a conventional optical device module of this kind proposed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Gazette No. 08-21930. Reference numeral 12 denotes a photo detector disposed in a casing 11, 13 a window made in the top panel of the casing 11, 14 a condenser lens fitted in the window 13, 15 an optical fiber disposed on the top of the casing 11, and 16 a reflecting surface formed by cutting one end face of the optical fiber 15 at an angle of about 45 degrees. Light propagated through the optical fiber 15 is bent at right angles by the reflecting surface 16 and gathered by the condenser lens 14 for incidence on the photo detector 12 as indicated by the broken line. In FIG. 3 of the above-mentioned official gazette there is also proposed such a construction as depicted in FIG. 10 in which the end face of the optical fiber 15 is perpendicular to its axis and the end face abutted against a prism 17 so that the light from the optical fiber 15 is bent at right angles by the prism 17 as indicated by the broken line.
In Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Gazette No. 10-160959 there is proposed a conventional optical device module of this kind. As depicted in FIGS. 11 and 12, a frame-like guide block 21 with a rectangular opening has formed integrally therewith a guide prism 22, an optical fiber is disposed in each recess 23 of the guide block 21 with the end face of the optical fiber 15 abutted against the guide prism 22, and a light receiving device 24 is fitted in the frame of the guide block 21. Light from the optical fiber 15 is bent by the guide prism 22 for incidence on the light receiving device 24.
However, the prior art example of FIG. 9 suffers much difficulty in aligning the point of incidence on the reflecting surface 16 of the optical fiber 15, the axis of the lens 13 and the light-receiving center of the photo detector 12; hence, it is not easy to launch the light from the optical fiber 15 into the photo detector 12 with high efficiency. In the example of FIG. 10, too, it is very difficult to align the reflecting-point of the prism 17, the axis of the lens and the light-receiving center of the photo detector.
In the example of FIGS. 11 and 12, the abutment of the end face of the optical fiber 15 against one side of the guide prism 22 ensures accurate positioning, but the light receiving device 24 needs to be fitted snugly in the frame of the guide block 21. To meet this requirement, it is necessary that the inside dimensions of the frame of the guide block 21 and/or outside dimensions of the light receiving device 24 be adjusted for each optical device module. Hence, the illustrated structure lacks general versatility. Moreover, the light receiving device 24, once fitted in the frame of the guide block 21, is fixed and its position cannot be adjusted so that its light receiving surface is placed at a correct position.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an optical device module free from the above-mentioned defects of the prior art.
According to the present invention, there is provided an optical device module comprising:
an optical waveguide member having at least one optical path, the optical waveguide member having a light emitting or receiving surface substantially at right angles to the longitudinal direction of the at least one optical path;
a transparent structure having a first side which supports one end portion of the optical waveguide member and a second side opposite the first side;
an optical semiconductor device disposed opposite said second side of the transparent structure and having a light emitting or receiving surface substantially at right angles to the second side of the transparent structure;
a plurality of positioning marks placed in the second side of the transparent structure for positioning the optical semiconductor device and the transparent structure relative to each other in a plane parallel with the second side of the transparent structure;
optical semiconductor device support means for supporting the optical semiconductor device on the second side of the transparent structure; and
a prismatic protrusion formed integrally with the transparent structure on the first side thereof;
wherein the prismatic protrusion has a positioning surface which extends substantially at right angles to the first side of said transparent structure for abutment with one end face of the optical waveguide member to position the optical waveguide member and a reflecting surface which crosses an extension of the at least one optical path of the optical waveguie member abutted against the positioning surface and slopes with respect to the first side of the transparent structure to form between the end face of the optical path and the optical semiconductor device a bent optical route passing through the transparent structure.

Japan Aviation Electronics Industry Limited


The present invention relates to a method for preparing polymeric films, preferably electroactive films, with enhanced physical properties by the steps of applying to a substrate a solution of a polymer containing pendant labile solubilizing groups, then removing the solvent and a sufficient concentration of the labile solubilizing groups render the polymer less soluble in the solvent than before the labile groups were removed. It is believed that the removal of pendant soluble groups a) permits optimization of the semiconducting backbone for charge transport performance, b) allows direct control of microstructure in the final film, and c) renders the final film more robust during subsequent process steps needed to construct multilayer devices.

The present invention relates to a method of preparing a polymer with reduced solubility in an organic solvent from a polymer that is soluble in the solvent by virtue of the presence of solubilizing groups which, when removed or converted to nonsolubilizing groups, form the polymer that has reduced solubility in the solvent.
Electroactive polymers such as conjugated polymers containing structural units of a fluorene monomer are useful as thin films in electronic devices such as organic light emitting diode displays (OLEDs) or transistors. Typically, a solution of an electroactive polymer such as poly(9,9-dioctyl fluorene-alt-bithiophene) dissolved in xylenes is applied to a substrate by techniques such as spin coating or ink jet printing, whereupon solvent is removed to form a thin film of the soluble polymer with desirable electroactive properties. The presence of the octyl groups on the fluorene structural units of the polymer imparts solubility and improves the handling characteristics of the polymer, but may disadvantageously degrade the transport characteristics and prevent the formation of ordered microstructure in the final film.
Although polymer films containing ordered microstructure are clearly desired, polymers that intrinsically develop such structure tend to be insoluble in precursor ink solutions. Therefore, applying these preferred polymers to substrates by solution processing is impractical if not impossible. While it is possible to apply an insoluble polymer onto a substrate by means such as evaporation, sputtering, or plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition, these techniques are slow and expensive.
Consequently, it would be desirable to prepare an insoluble electroactive organic film on a substrate from a material that can be easily and reproducibly applied to the substrate.

Method of preparing an insoluble polymer film on a substrate from a soluble polymer containing labile solubilizing groups


An aerosol creation system can include a pair of counter-rotating rollers configured to be positioned adjacent each other and define a nip between each other, a fluid source configured to provide a fluid to the nip, a driving element configured to drive the pair of counter-rotating rollers to rotate in counter rotation with respect to each other and cause the fluid to be drawn through the nip, and a collection shell configured to be positioned substantially around the pair of counter-rotating rollers, the collection shell having a nozzle configured to allow passage of the fluid from the nip.

Many manufacturing and industrial applications benefit from fluid atomization to create a fine vapor mist or aerosol, such as the fuel/air mixture used in combustion applications, atomized air-paint mixtures for spray painting, application of coatings to pharmaceuticals, adhesive applications, and the like. Once a component solution is made into an aerosol it can be readily processed to coat virtually any shaped surface. Alternatively, in the pharmaceutical industry, aerosols are commonly used in a process called "spray-drying" to create fine powders that serve as upstream component solutions to create active pharmaceutical ingredients.
Regarding prior techniques for the spray processing of viscoelastic fluids, such fluids often exhibit strain hardening behavior that suppresses droplet formation in conventional atomization methods. Some systems take advantage of this strain hardening behavior and harness it to generate droplets through an elastocapillary instability. FIG. 14 illustrates an example of such a system 1400 that includes a spray mechanism having two counter rotating rollers 1402 and 1404 that are in hard contact with each other. Such systems generally allow for the spraying of viscoelastic fluids both at room temperature (e.g., polymer solutions and complex formulations) and at elevated temperatures (e.g., polymer melts).
Existing technologies can work with large rollers or small rollers. For example, whereas large rollers may be used for high throughput applications (e.g., as a unit operation at the end of a manufacturing line for producing droplets or powders), small rollers may be used for smaller output but at an equally small device footprint (e.g., as a handheld device for precision dispensing).
The collection of the spray produced is generally integral to the spray technology. The spray droplets tend to naturally follow their own trajectory based on their initial velocity (e.g., upon filament break-up) and droplet size. These trajectory lines often follow a spray cone 1410. Depending on different parameters such as the roller diameter, roller speeds, contact force, and the fluid rheology, this spray cone 1410 is usually wide enough to make controlled deposition on a limited difficult.
FIG. 15 illustrates a system 1500 for obtaining controlled deposition on a limited area that includes the use of a mask 1504 (or, alternatively, a sheet with an orifice) to block the unwanted spray fraction of the spray cone 1510 from the spray source 1502, such as a pair of counter-rotating rollers. While this system 1500 may limit the delivery area to a limited space 1512 on a surface 1520, the system is also significantly inefficient in that most of the unwanted spray collects on the mask 1504 (or sheet).
Over time, this collected volume will accumulate and likely eventually drip, which would be unsanitary for particular applications (e.g., the application of drug formulations and consumer products). This system 1500 is also wasteful, particularly for high value fluids that are only available in limited volumes (e.g., specialized drugs and bioactives manufactured in the μg scale).
Therefore, methods and systems that reduce the amount of wasted spray would be beneficial in the art.

Methods and systems for collecting droplets of strain hardening viscoelastic fluids in a spray


An apparatus for forming molded edges on opposite sides of a load bearing surface including a stretching assembly integrated into a molding assembly. The stretching assembly may include localized fabric clamps that leave the center region of the fabric free (e.g. not clamped) through the process. The clamps may be arranged so that once extended to stretch the fabric, the fabric is held by the clamps in the appropriate position for molding. The fabric may be held so that opposed edges terminate in the mold cavities. The mold parts may cooperatively define two spaced apart mold cavities, and may include a mold pocket to provide space to store excess fabric. The fabric may be held against the surface of the mold cavity during the molding process, for example, using hold-down pins and special gate configurations. The molding apparatus may include an alternative stretching assembly configured to provide different amounts of stretch to different portions of the fabric blank. The alternative stretching assembly may include additional intermediate clamps.

The development of high tech fabrics has permitted the incorporation of fabric into a wide variety of applications not previously consider appropriate for fabrics. For example, certain high tech fabrics have been developed that incorporate elastomeric elements, such as a weave of multifilament yarns and elastomeric monofilaments. These fabrics provide remarkable load bearing characteristics, while at the same time providing appropriate elasticity to be comfortable as a load bearing fabric in seating applications. These fabrics are now widely used to form the seats and backs of office chairs and other seating structures. To enable attachment of the fabric to a chair seat or other support structure, it is known to mold a mounting component ("carrier") directly onto the fabric. The mounting component is typically molded about the periphery of the fabric to provide a structure that can be mounted to a frame or other support structure. In many applications, it is desirable to mount the fabric to the chair in a stretched (or loaded) condition primarily because the stretched fabric provides more desirable comfort characteristics. The desire to have a loaded fabric complicates the manufacturing process—at least with respect to the process of molding the mounting component onto the fabric.
One known process for manufacturing chair components with a loaded fabric is to stretch the fabric before it is placed in the mold for forming the mounting component. In one known embodiment of this process, the fabric is stretched prior to molding using a stretching machine that is located remotely from the mold. Once stretched, the fabric is shuttled to a loom station where a loom is closed onto the fabric to hold it in the stretched condition. The loom is then moved to the mold and positioned so that the fabric is properly oriented with respect to the mold surfaces. The mold is closed about the fabric while it continues to be held in the stretched position by the loom. Once the molding process is complete, the loom carrying the fabric and attached mounting component are removed from the mold and returned to the loom station. The loom is removed at the loom station and the fabric and attached mounting component are returned to the operator. The assembly is finished, for example, by trimming the excess fabric from the assembly.
A number of other methods are known for forming a molded edge onto a load bearing fabric. In one alternative, the fabric is stretched by the closing action of the mold. In this alternative, the edges of the fabric are held and the mold parts are specially shaped so that movement of the mold parts together causes the fabric to stretch. This process requires a specific amount of stretch to be built into the shape of the mold and does not provide the ability to readily adjust the stretch. In another alternative, hydraulic components are included in the mold. The hydraulic components are moved after the fabric has been closed in the mold to apply the desired amount of stretch. Although providing some benefits, these alternative methods continue to suffer from a variety of problems ranging from high cost to product quality issues.
In another known system for molding a peripheral carrier around a fabric blank, the fabric stretching assembly is integrated into the molding apparatus. The stretching assembly may be disposed about the mold and includes a plurality of clamp assemblies to grip essentially the entire periphery of a fabric blank. The clamp assemblies are selectively movable away from one another on slide assemblies to stretch the blank. When it is desirable to mold a carrier around a generally rectangular fabric blank, the apparatus may include four clamp assemblies and four slide assemblies disposed in a rectangular arrangement outside the mold. The clamp assemblies may grip along the four edges of the rectangular fabric blank. The stretching assembly may include a float plate that is movable with respect to the mold so that the mold does not interfere with the stretching process. The float plate carries the slide assemblies and clamp assemblies and is movable between a stretch position and a mold position. In the stretch position, the float plate is positioned away from the mold so that the fabric is not in contact with any portion of the mold during the stretching process. In the mold position, the float plate is positioned over the mold with the fabric closed between the two mold parts.

Apparatus and method for manufacturing a load bearing fabric surface


A superscalar uniprocessor that performs concurrent multi-task processing is provided. The processor of the present invention maintains a complete set of program address, memory control and general data registers for each task executing concurrently within the microprocessor, allowing independent control of the program flows. Each set of registers are associated with only one task and are utilized by the memory control and execution units to execute the associated task. The processor includes an instruction fetcher and memory management unit that retrieves an instruction from memory for a given task, as directed by the task's address and control registers, and attaches a task tag to the retrieved instruction that identifies that task. The superscalar processor has a plurality of execution units that can execute a plurality of tasks simultaneously, and a dispatch unit that sends a retrieved instruction and its attached task tag to one of the plurality of execution units for execution. The instruction's task tag identifying the task is then associated with any result data that results from the execution of the instruction. The addition of task tag information in the program flow and in the register file provides for process utilization of execution resources simultaneously with, and substantially independently from other processes, thereby substantially enhancing concurrent multitasking in the superscalar uniprocessor.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates in general to an improved uniprocessor, and in particular to an improved uniprocessor having multitasking. Still more particularly, the present invention relates to a uniprocessor providing concurrent multi-task processing.
2. Description of the Related Art
Multitasking within a computer is a mode of operation offered by an operating system in which a computer works on more than one task at a time. Each task has an associated process so that several processes are being executed by the single processor, or uniprocessor, but only one process controls the processor at any given time. Multitasking is accomplished by sharing clock cycles among the processes in a time-slice manner, wherein each task is given a fraction of the microprocessor's clock cycles to execute its process. To maintain order, tasks are either processed in order of priority or are processed in sequential order.
Multitasking within a uniprocessor can be very inefficient. As the processor is multitasking between multiple tasks, the current state of the processor for each task must be both loaded and stored as the task is switched in and out. This switching of the control of the processor consumes valuable processor cycles. Another inefficiency occurs in a superscalar uniprocessor architecture having multiple execution units for executing a single task in parallel (as much as possible) when, depending upon the current task program flow, large blocks of processor resources are under-utilized or not utilized at all during a particular task. Still another inefficiency in a uniprocessor occurs when a branch is mispredicted and the processor's resources remain idle while the program stream of the task is reset and the new instruction stream for the correct branch is started. In each of these situations, the uniprocessor wastes valuable resources and clock cycles that could be used to execute another task. Clearly, it would be desirable to provide a uniprocessor that will perform concurrent multitasking without the described inefficiencies in processor resource utilization.

Concurrent multitasking in a uniprocessor

International Business Machines Corporation


A three-dimensional moulded planar cable, includes a laminate made from at least one conductor track, bonded between two insulation layers and at least one support layer, connected to each other by an adhesive layer. The cable is applied to a positive moulding tool, brought into shape by the application of heat and/or radiation and/or pressure and fixed in the three-dimensional shape thereof by cooling to below the glass temperature Tg of the adhesive layer or by hardening of the adhesive layer.

The present invention relates to a three-dimensionally (3D) shaped flat cable, method for its manufacture and use thereof.
A method for manufacturing a cable harness for vehicles is known from German Patent Application 196 49 972, in which the cables are bonded using a support sheet, provided with plug connectors, and attached to a dimensionally stable substrate. At least some of the cables are non-insulated bunched conductors which, successively and independently from one another, are applied along a predefined track to an insulating support sheet which is provided with an adhesive layer and either an insulating protective sheet is subsequently applied to the support sheet and bonded under pressure with the support sheet, or the support sheet and the applied bunched conductors are coated with a layer of protective lacquer and finally adapted to the contour of the place of installation via trimming. The labor-intensive placing of the conductor tracks and their attachment to the dimensionally stable substrate are disadvantages in this method.
A cable harness and a method for its manufacture are known from German Patent Application 196 28 850. The cable harness has electric cables which are situated in a first resin layer having recesses, the first resin layer being formed in such a way that it runs along a predefined installation track of the electric cables and a second resin layer is fixedly connected to the first resin layer in such a way that it covers at least the recess of the first resin layer and is applied via vacuum forming.
The known approaches have the disadvantage that either the cables must be applied to the surface of the dimensionally stable substrate by hand in a very labor-intensive process, or separate parts must be manufactured, the conductors introduced and fixed in their position using the second resin.

Three-dimensional moulded planar cable, method for production and use thereof


An electro mechanical contactor device in a wire feeder for an electric arc welder having a power source and a gun with a contact tip through which welding wire is fed and a weld cycle start trigger switch having a closed condition to initiate and hold a weld cycle and an open condition. The contactor device comprises a power inlet lead connected to the power source, an output lead connected to the contactor tip, a plurality of current branches between the input lead and the output lead with a mechanical contactor having an open condition and closed condition for opening and closing each of the branches. A single solenoid operating the contactors in unison based upon the condition of the trigger switch, with a first position to close the contactors in unison when said trigger switch is shifted from the open condition to the closed condition and to hold the contactors closed when the trigger switch is in the closed condition.

In an electric arc welder, an electro mechanical contactor or switch is used to direct welding power from the power source to the contact tip of the welding gun. The electro mechanical contactor relies upon mechanical contacts to turn the welding current on and off; consequently, arcing at the contacts leads to degeneration of contactor performance. The degeneration of performance is exhibited as an increased contact resistance that causes an equal decrease in output power. With continued use of degraded mechanical contacts, the contactor will ultimately overheat. Such deteriorating contactors must be replaced prior to ultimate failure. If the contactor fails during an actual welding operation, the weld performed during the welding cycle may require extensive rewelding or other corrective measures.
Since the commonly used electro mechanical contactor includes a single contactor operated by a solenoid responsive to the position of the weld trigger of the welding gun, a suggested, but not prior art, solution to the overheating of the mechanical contacts is to provide two current branches in the wire feeder. Two sets of contacts are each operated by a solenoid. This suggested solution to the problem of contactor overheating was ineffective. One of the contacts would become overheated thereby driving more current into the other contactor causing it to overheat rapidly. This unbalance of current was caused by the dynamics of the two solenoids operated in unison by the signal from the welding trigger. The concept of providing two separate branches with individual sets of mechanical contacts operated by a dedicated solenoid proved to be no better than the existing mechanical contact or device. The attempt to solve the deficiency merely increased the cost of the contactor device. For that reason, this suggestion was not implemented in the welding industry. The industry turned to the concept disclosed in publication US 2004/0089645, incorporated by reference herein. A solid state circuit was used to prevent overheating and deterioration of the contactor in the wire feeder. When a solid state switch is employed, there is no contact created arcing. Furthermore, there is no mechanical contacts to wear. But, the conduction resistance of the solid state switch is substantially higher than the normal contact resistance of closed mechanical contacts. Indeed, the resistance of a solid state switch is often in the general range of 0.50 ohms or greater. Since an electric arc welder often operates at current of over 300 amperes, a substantial amount of heat energy is generated at the solid state switch or switches. This generated heat must be dissipated in the wire feeder cabinet. Internal heat dissipation is challenging for wire feeders requiring generally sealed cabinets, especially when used in the field.
Thus, the solid state switch approach is costly and not completely satisfactory.

Electro mechanical contactor device for welding wire feeder