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The present invention relates to an ultrasonic treatment instrument which performs a procedure such as incising, removing, or clotting of a body tissue using ultrasonic waves.
As one example of an ordinary ultrasonic treatment instrument which performs a procedure such as incising, removing, or clotting of a body tissue by using ultrasonic waves, there is an ultrasonic clotting and incising apparatus disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,980,510 (Patent Document 1). In the apparatus, a proximal end portion of an elongated insertion unit is coupled with an operation unit on a near side of an operator. An ultrasonic transducer for producing ultrasonic vibration is disposed in the operation unit. A procedure unit for treating a body tissue is disposed at a distal end portion of the insertion unit.
The insertion unit includes an elongated circular tube sheath. A rod-like vibration transmission member (probe) is inserted into the sheath. A proximal end portion of the vibration transmission member is detachably connected to an ultrasonic transducer via a connection unit of a screwing type. Ultrasonic vibration produced by the ultrasonic transducer is transmitted to a cylindrical probe distal end portion at a distal end side of the vibration transmission member.
A clamp arm is disposed in the procedure unit so as to face the probe distal end portion. A pad with uneven is fixed to the clamp arm. Here, an arm holding member for holding the clamp arm is provided at a distal end portion of the sheath of the insertion unit. A proximal end portion of the clamp arm is rotatably supported by the arm holding member via a supporting shaft. An operation member which drives the clamp arm is inserted into the sheath so as to be capable of advancing and retreating in an axial direction. An operation handle is disposed on the operation unit. The operation member is driven so as to advance and retreat in the axial direction according to operation of the operation handle. The clamp arm is operated to be opened or closed to the probe distal end portion in a linking manner with action of the operation member.
A body tissue is grasped between the cylindrical probe distal end portion and the pad of the clamp arm at a time of closing operation of the clamp arm. In this state, ultrasonic vibration from the ultrasonic transducer is transmitted to the probe distal end portion at the procedure unit side via the vibration transmission member so that a procedure such as incising, removing, or clotting of a body tissue is performed using ultrasonic waves.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,280,407 (Patent Document 2) discloses an ultrasonic clotting and incising apparatus where a procedure face of a distal end of an ultrasonic transmission member is inclined to an axial direction of a center axis of the ultrasonic transmission member by an angle of 15 to 70°.
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As a temperature measuring apparatus for measuring a temperature of an object, a radiation thermometer has been known, for example (see Patent Literature (PTL) 1, for example). The radiation thermometer receives infrared radiation radiated from a surface of the object using an infrared sensor, and measures an infrared intensity to determine the temperature of the object.
In addition, as such a temperature measuring apparatus, a human body temperature measuring apparatus has also been proposed that measures the temperature of a part of a human body in a noncontact manner (see PTL 2, for example). In the human body temperature measuring apparatus disclosed by PTL 2, a photographed image is utilized to contain a human body to be measured within a measurement field of view, thereby measuring the temperature of a part of the human body.
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The present invention relates generally to telecommunications systems and more specifically to call information queries.
A modern telecommunications network generally includes at least one national or regional service management system (SMS), at least one local SMS, at least one service control point (SCP), at least one signal transfer point (STP), at least one tandem switch, and at least one service switching point (SSP). A national or regional SMS includes a master database that contains information for a given service or application. The information contained within the national or regional SMS can be concurrently utilized by multiple networks that are operated by different local telephone service providers. A local SMS stores information and acts as an interface between the national or regional SMS and an SCP. An SCP can include an SCP data base that can contain call information consisting of call routing and/or call rating information. The call information contained within an SCP database can be downloaded from the national or regional SMS via a local SMS. Additionally, an SCP receives queries requesting the return of call information. These queries are generated by an SSP. An SCP responds to the query by providing call information to an SSP.
An SSP comprises a high speed switch that transfers voice and data communications within the network. A central office is a call routing center that contains one or more switches that may or may not be equipped with intelligent network (IN) software or advanced intelligent network (AIN) software. An SSP comprises a central office containing one or more switches that is/are equipped with either IN or AIN software. Both the IN and AIN software equipped SSPs can generate queries. Queries are generated when certain predetermined conditions or thresholds are satisfied. When the conditions or thresholds are satisfied, a trigger within the IN or AIN software equipped SSPs is activated which in turn generates the query. Queries are requests for information associated with a telephone number that are transmitted from an SSP to an SCP database. Queries can contain both the telephone number for which associated information is requested and additional data that identifies the type of information that is requested. An STP comprises a high speed switch that transfers signaling commands within the network. An STP transfers queries and responses between an SCP and an SSP. An STP also transfers control signals between networks. A tandem switch transfers voice or data communications between networks.
A service provider typically utilizes a telecommunications network, as described above, to provide telephone service to its customers within a local network. A local network generally comprises the telecommunications network described above and is operated by an individual service provider. The local network typically has geographic boundaries and can contain one or more SSPs. Local networks operated by different service providers can have overlapping geographic boundaries. However, each service provider maintains control over the components that comprise the local network.
Each of the SSPs within the local network provide multiple customers with access to the network. Accordingly, individual customers gain access to the network through one of the SSPs. Each customer is assigned a unique ten digit telephone number which enables calls to be routed to them via their designated SSP. The first six digits of the telephone number, the NPA/NXX, identify the specific SSP that the customer is assigned to and thus facilitates the routing of calls to the customer. Each service provider maintains call routing information that is associated with each ten digit telephone number that also facilitates the routing of calls to the customer. The call routing information indicates the customer's assigned SSP and identifies the location of the customer within the network. Each service provider also maintains call rating information to facilitate the proper rating of calls placed to a customer. The call rating information identifies the location of the customer and is used to calculate the cost associated with terminating a call to the customer. Individual customers are typically assigned to a specific SSP based upon the customers' geographic location. The SSPs with a service provider's network are utilized to provide customers with access to the network.
Protocols are utilized to ensure that communications both with local networks and between local networks can be completed seamlessly. Global protocols are implemented by service providers to ensure that communications between service providers occur properly. Currently, global protocols are being established that allow information to be shared by and exchanged between multiple service providers. These global protocols include specifications regarding the routing of calls. These global protocols may also specify the format of information maintained in databases and the manner in which information in databases can be accessed. Specifically, the global protocols may limit or restrict the number of queries that can be performed for a given telephone number during the completion of a call. These global protocols also reflect the referred practices of sharing information amongst service providers and restricting modifications to this information as well as limiting the access to this information by limiting the number or queries that can be performed.
One such global protocol is embodied in service provider number portability (SPNP). Service Provider Number Portability (SPNP) is currently under development by several network hardware and software providers and will allow customers to retain their existing ten digit telephone number when they change from one service provider to another service provider. According to the SPNP specifications, when a call is placed by a calling party to a called party, the SSP that connects the calling party to the local network (calling party's SSP) must first determine whether the call is placed to a telephone number (called party's telephone number) that has potentially been transferred from one service provider to another service provider. If the number has potentially been ported, the calling party's SSP will launch a query to its local SCP database to obtain information on where to route the call.
The query contains both the called party's telephone number and other data that identifies the type of information, corresponding to the telephone number, that the SSP is requesting. One common request included within a query is for call routing information associated with a telephone number. Upon receipt of the query, the local SCP will search its database to locate call routing information associated with the called party's telephone number. If such information is found, it is transmitted by the SCP to the calling party's SSP. Once the call routing information is received from the local SCP database, the calling party's SSP forwards a special call-setup signaling message to the other SSPs in the call path to advise them that a query has been performed. The other SSPs that are in the call path may include SSPs that are within a different local network and are operated by a different service provider. Bit m of a Forward Call Indicator (FCI) field, which is included within the call-setup message, is used as a query indicator to signify whether a database query has been performed. The call-setup message also identifies where to terminate the call.
The technical requirements that have been documented to support the SPNP specifications expressly state that once a database query has been performed, no additional queries need be performed regardless of the number of subsequent SSPs involved in the call path. Each SSP within the call path can determine whether a query has been performed by analyzing bit m of the FCI. Thus, according to the SPNP specifications, once a query has been performed by a SSP, no other queries can be performed by any other SSP.
The implementation of global protocols such as SPNP results in undesirable limitations. First, every service provider that implements a global protocol must agree and adhere to the predetermined requirements of the protocol. Some of the protocol requirements include: the type of information contained within call information databases; the format of information within the call information databases; and the manner in which call information can be accessed by different network components. These global protocols also limit a single service provider's ability to modify the protocol because the changes must be accepted and implemented by all the service providers that adopt the protocol. Moreover, these changes must be implemented in every local network operated by each service provider that adopts the global protocol. Additionally, the global protocols, such as SPNP limit the number or queries for a single call. Accordingly, these protocols restrain an individual service provider from accessing additional information through the use of additional queries for a single call.
A service provider who wishes to introduce new service that requires a modification of a global protocol, for example the existing format of call information within a database, may not be able to implement such a modification. Because global protocols such as SPNP require that all information be obtained from a single query, changes in information within a local network must be reflected in all the local networks that share information. Therefore, all of the service providers would have to modify their formats in accordance with the modifications implemented by the service provider that seeks to introduce a new service. An individual service provider, however, has no way of mandating that other service provider's accept or implement the desired modifications. Accordingly, there is no way for an individual service provider to ensure that a protocol modification will be universally adopted. Therefore, a service provider cannot unilaterally introduce a protocol modification that may be necessary to provide a new service. Thus, a service provider may be limited in services that it can introduce. A system is needed that allows a service provider to unilaterally introduce new services requiring modifications of global protocol parameters while still supporting the existing global protocols.
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Roll-forming production systems or processes (e.g., roll forming, leveling, etc.) are typically used to manufacture components such as construction panels, structural beams, garage doors, and/or any other component having a formed profile. The moving material may be, for example, a strip material (e.g., a metal) that is pulled from a roll or coil of the strip material and processed using a roll-forming machine or system, or may be a pre-cut strip material that is cut in predetermined lengths or sizes.
Whether a strip material is used in the pre-cut process or post-cut process, the strip material is typically leveled, flattened, or otherwise conditioned prior to entering the roll-forming machine or system to remove or substantially reduce undesirable characteristics of the strip material due to shape defects and internal residual stresses resulting from the manufacturing process of the strip material and/or storing the strip material in a coiled configuration. For example, a material conditioner is often employed to condition the strip material (e.g., a metal) to remove certain undesirable characteristics such as, for example, coil set, crossbow, edgewave and centerbuckle, etc. Levelers are well-known machines that can substantially flatten a strip material (e.g., eliminate shape defects and release the internal residual stresses) as the strip material is pulled from the coil roll.
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Multi-level polymer based photonic devices, such as modulators and the like can be very difficult to deposit or otherwise build-up. Generally, the various polymer layers in a multi-layer structure are deposited in a solution, for example by spin coating or similar processes. In such processes solvents in the solution can attack previously deposited layers or in some instances even the next layer to be deposited. This attack can occur during coating and during the baking process when the polymer is hardened. The solvent attacks can cause cracking and delamination, either greatly diminishing the operation of the photonic device or, in some instances, making the photonic device completely useless.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved process of fabricating multi-layer polymer photonic devices and, specifically modulators.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a new and improved process of fabricating multi-layer polymer photonic devices that prevents solvent attacking of previous and following layers of material.
It is another object of the present invention to provide new and improved multi-layer polymer photonic devices.
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1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image formation apparatus capable of personal authentication, a control method of an image formation apparatus, and a computer readable medium having a software program stored therein, and relates to an authentication technique for permitting use of an image formation function.
2. Description of the Related Art
Some of image formation apparatuses such as copiers, printers, scanners, facsimile machines, and MFP (Multi Function Peripheral) which is a combination of these include a personal authentication function for preventing information leakage resulting from unauthorized use.
According to image formation apparatuses of this kind with the personal authentication function, for example, only an administrator and general users individually registered by the administrator are permitted to use the image formation apparatus. This prevents information leakage resulting from unauthorized use.
However, in the absence of an administrator, inconvenience may be caused in use of the apparatus. For this problem, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2002-109172 discloses that, in the absence of an administrator who administers a computer system, one of users is granted a proxy right as an administrator by obtaining approval of a plurality of users.
However, it takes much time and trouble to obtain approval by a plurality of users, thereby complicating the application process for proxy right. In addition, if a proxy user is given full power of the administrator, security concern arises. Moreover, it is not preferable in terms of security that the proxy right which is exceptionally given because of the absence of an administrator is reserved for an indefinite time.
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1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a steering system in a wheeled vehicle, and more particularly to a four-wheel steering system in a wheeled vehicle the front-wheel steering mechanism of which is drivingly interconnected to a rear-wheel steering mechanism by means of a mechanical linkage to steer the dirigible rear road wheels in dependence upon the turn-angle of the steering wheel of the vehicle.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In Japanese Patent Early Publication No. 60-64073, there has been proposed a four-wheel steering system in a wheeled vehicle the front-wheel steering mechanism of which is drivingly interconnected to a rear-wheel steering mechanism by means of a mechanical linkage composed of front and rear connecting shafts. Disposed between the front and rear connecting shafts is a coupling which includes drive and driven members assembled in such a manner as to establish torque transmission between the connecting shafts only when the front connecting shaft is rotated at a large angle. In the coupling, the drive member is circumferentially spaced in a predetermined distance from the driven member to make the torque transmission between the connecting shafts ineffective when the front connecting shaft is rotated at a small angle. Under control of the coupling, the rear road wheels are maintained in their neutral positions when the front road wheels are steered at a small angle and steered in the opposite direction relative to the front road wheels when the front road wheels are steered at a large angle. This is useful to ensure travel stability of the vehicle at a high speed and to enhance maneuverability of the vehicle at a low speed.
In the four-wheel steering system, however, the coupling does not act to restrain movement of the rear-wheel steering mechanism either in a direction when the steering wheel is operated to rotate the front connecting shaft at a small angle. When the steering wheel is operated to rotate the front connecting shaft at a large angle, the coupling acts to restrain movement of the rear-wheel steering mechanism in one direction but does not act to restrain movement of the same in the other direction. For this reason, the rear-wheel steering mechanism is provided therein with resilient means for biasing the rear road wheels toward their neutral positions and for retaining the rear road wheels in their steered positions. In the rear-wheel steering mechanism, it is required to make the biasing force of the resilient means sufficient for resisting against a reaction force acting on the rear road wheels from road surfaces. As a result, the rear-wheel steering mechanism is complicated in construction and large in size. Moreover, the biasing force of the resilient means acts as a reaction force on the front connecting shaft when the steering wheel has been operated to rotate the front connecting shaft at a large angle. In this instance, the driver is obliged to increase his effort applied to the steering wheel and feels unstable in his steering operation.
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This invention relates to a belt for a sorting machine unit of the so-called "cross-belt" type.
The industrial item sorting sector utilizes sorting machines employing various technologies, such as machines equipped with pushers, tilting dishes, etc.
Other known machines are of the "cross-belt" type, which comprise a small endless conveyor belt or mat installed on a trolley serving as a item carrier and sorting unit, where the said belt is actuated to move in a direction perpendicular to the forward motion of the sorting unit.
The systems based on a "cross-belt" technology enjoy an ever-growing diffusion, thanks to their high productivity coupled with other advantages such as a limited encumbrance and high sorting precision.
Compared to other technologies, the "cross-belt" technology also allows handling an extremely broad range of items, thanks to the fact that the sorting functions are carried out in an active manner, by case-to-case changing of the various parameters such as the acceleration imparted to the item, its unloading time and velocity, depending on the characteristics of the items themselves, thus eliminating the imprecision of the machines based on different technologies, such as those of a tilting-dish type, which unload by gravity.
For the purpose of loading items on the belts of the carrying and sorting units, loading stations are generally provided. These consist of several independent conveyor belts, arranged at an oblique angle to the direction of motion of the sorting unit.
In practice, all these stations constitute the interface between the operators charged with the loading process and the sorting machine itself.
The modern technologies for loading the items include the use of electronic devices capable of automatically verifying the dimensions and characteristics of the items and calculating, for each of them, the optimum accelerations and transit velocities.
The control of the functionality of the loading station generally serves the purpose of assigning each item to a sorting unit, and positioning the item at the center of the belt of that unit.
This positioning step is most important for a favorable final result, as any items loaded in erroneous positions may cause jamming along the sorting path, with a resulting abnormal operation of the machine and damage to the items. The items may even fall off the sorting unit, or, as in the most common case, assume anomalous trajectories during the unloading phase at the destination, with a consequent jamming in the exit devices and/or with sorting errors.
Although the latest systems utilize highly sophisticated technologies and equipment to ensure a precise positioning of the items, some loading errors occasionally still occur, wherein "error" involves an inability of an item to find its ideal position on the sorting unit.
These errors are generally generated by the unpredictable behavior of certain objects, both during the loading phase and while passing from the loading station to the carrying and sorting mat or belt.
In order to minimize these shortcomings, the present state of the art resorts to the following devices:
when the introduction belt is inclined in a horizontal plane with respect to the direction of motion of the sorting unit, the item is loaded onto the still-moving sorting unit with a velocity vector including some components congruent with the forward velocity of the sorting unit, so that the item may be deposited on the belt at a relative velocity of essentially nil; PA1 beside the path of the sorting machine, in front of the loading stations, some barriers are installed which prevent any objects with a low friction coefficient from being pushed off the sorting unit, in a direction perpendicular to the direction of motion of the unit; PA1 some retaining curbs are installed on the sorting units, separate from the mat, to prevent any items with a low friction coefficient from sliding off in the direction of motion of the unit, and thus dropping off the unit in either the forward or rearward direction; PA1 conveyor belts made of highly adherent materials are used, so as to reduce any undesirable effects when handling items with a low friction coefficient.
However, all of the expedients described above cannot always prevent the occurrence of anomalous situations, so that it occasionally still happens that some items are improperly positioned on the mats.
For example, limp items such as plastic bags of a large size with respect to the volume of their contents, tend to glide in the direction of motion of the machine, so that the use of any fixed banks on the carrying units may have negative effects.
The bags may in effect position themselves so as to partially pile up on the bank, which may in an unloading phase slow the item's motion by friction, thus adversely affecting its trajectory.
Moreover, the mats, friction coefficient varies in use due to the dirt accumulating on its surface or because of different conditions of humidity, with the result that the behavior of the items may in an unloading phase be affected even to a considerable extent.
Some known conveyor belts also carry a row of ledges arranged in a direction perpendicular to the direction of motion of the mat, i.e., parallel to the direction of motion of the sorting unit. These ledges are used when the conveyor belt is severely inclined, so as to prevent a slippage of the items being carried.
Other known rotating mats have a curb affixed to their lower (interior) surface (in contact with the supporting rollers), which curb slides in a groove provided in the supporting rollers and functions as a guide to keep the mat centered on the rollers.
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A background art will be described by way of a hydraulic shovel, for example.
As illustrated in FIG. 9, a hydraulic shovel includes a lower propelling body 1, an upper slewing body 2 that is rovolvably mounted on the lower propelling body 1, a work attachment (excavator attachment) 3 attached to the upper slewing body 2, and a cabin 4.
An engine room 6 formed of an engine cover 5 is provided at the back of the upper slewing body 2. An engine 7 and related devices thereof are accommodated in the engine room 6.
One disclosed in Patent Document 1 is known as a structure for discharging exhaust gas from the engine 7 and air that has cooled a heat exchanger to an outside of the engine room 6. This known technique will be described with reference to FIG. 10. FIG. 10 is a schematic view of a cross-section of the engine room 6 when seen from a rear side of the engine room 6.
A cooling fan 8 driven by the engine 7 and a heat exchanger 9 such as a radiator are provided in the engine room 6 on one end side of the engine 7. An intake opening 10 is formed in a portion on a side of an upper wall of the engine cover 5 where the fan 8 and the heat exchanger 9 are set, and a discharge opening 11 is formed in a portion on the opposite side of the upper wall. Outside air is introduced into the engine room 6 through the intake opening 10 with rotation of the fan 8 and passes through the heat exchanger 9, and air after cooling (hereinafter referred to as discharge wind) is discharged from the discharge opening 11.
On the other hand, a silencer (muffler) 12 is located on the other end side of the engine 7. The exhaust gas emitted from the engine 7 is discharged to the outside through the silencer 12 and an exhaust gas pipe (tail pipe) 13 connected to the silencer 12.
Here, since the exhaust gas is hot (for example, 500° C.), the exhaust gas deteriorates ambient temperature environment if the exhaust gas is directly discharged to the outside through the exhaust gas pipe 13. Moreover, in a configuration where the exhaust gas and the discharge wind are discharged as they are, the leakage to the outside of operating noise such as engine sound, exhaust sound, and discharge wind sound increases.
Therefore, in the known technique, a cylindrical duct 14 is provided at a position of the engine room 6 below the discharge opening 11 so as to extend in the up-down direction in a state where an upper end of the duct 14 is open to the discharge opening 11, and a lower end of the duct 14 is open to the inner side of the engine room 6. A distal end portion 13a of the exhaust gas pipe 13 is bent upward at the lower side of the duct 14 so that the distal end portion 13a is inserted into the duct 14 from the lower end of the duct 14.
By doing so, the discharge wind and the exhaust gas are guided into the duct 14, and both are mixed in the duct 14, whereby the temperature of the exhaust gas is decreased. After that, the discharge wind and the exhaust gas are discharged to the outside, and operating noise in the duct is reduced.
However, the pressure and the flow rate of the exhaust gas are greatly different from those of the discharge wind. Specifically, the pressure and the flow rate of the exhaust gas are higher than those of the discharge wind. Thus, it is naturally difficult for the exhaust gas and the discharge wind to mix with each other. Further, the known technique has a configuration in which the distal end portion 13a of the exhaust gas pipe 13 is inserted upward into the duct 14, and the exhaust gas is emitted from an opening (that is, intensively from one point) of the distal end portion 13a in the same direction as the discharge wind in the duct 14. Due to this, the mixing efficiency of the exhaust gas and the discharge wind worsens. Thus, the effect of decreasing the temperature of the exhaust gas is low.
Moreover, since the exhaust gas is discharged from the opening of the distal end portion 13a of the exhaust gas pipe 13 straightly toward the discharge opening 11, the reduction effect of the exhaust sound in the duct 14 also decreases.
Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. H3-229907
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It is known to use plastic containers in the food preparation and restaurant industry to package prepared foods. The typical food container of the prior art consists of a clear or solid colored base and a clear lid. In order to maintain the quality of food contents and prevent tampering with the contents of a sealed container, it is desirable that the food container, once initially sealed, not be capable of being initially opened without visible indication of the container having been opened. To achieve this feature, container manufacturers have designed containers having integral tamper evident features. Typically, these containers consist of a lid that is hingedly attached to a base. The lid seals to the base by superposing the rim of the lid upon the rim of the base. These types of plastic containers are sold as one-piece containers and are often referred to as “clamshell” containers or packages.
In one type of hinged tamper evident container the lid and base each have interlocking elements respectively located on or near the lid rim and base rim where the two rims meet when the container is sealed (i.e., at a non-hinged side or portion of the container). The interlocking element of the lid or base is conventionally located on a tab or flange extending from the rim of the lid or base. Either or both of the tabs are attached to their respective rims by a frangible section of plastic. When the lid and base are placed in initial sealing arrangement, the interlocking elements on or near the lid rim and base rim engage and lock together. In order to open the initially sealed container, the frangible section of one or both tabs must be ruptured so as to release the tab or tabs from the container. Because the interlocking sealing elements are located on the tabs, rupturing one or more tabs from the container disables the locking mechanism. The ruptured tab provides evidence of the container having been opened.
One shortcoming with the prior art food container described above is that the interlocked tabs can be cut from the container in clean fashion using scissors or another cutting implement so as to remove any indicia of the container having had a tamper evident mechanism.
In view of the issues presented by incorporating a tamper evident mechanism in the meeting rims of the hinged container, some manufacturers have incorporated tamper evident features as part of the structure that forms or includes the hinge. In these containers, the container is designed to require a severance near the hinge in order to unseal (initially open) the container. This construct make the hinge a single use hinge. These containers typically employ a square-shaped hinge arrangement (as seen from the side when the container is closed) in which the flange of the lid rim extends beyond the lid rim and then near-perpendicularly connects to a vertical segment that descends down from the lid flange. The vertical segment meets an extended portion of the base flange in similar near-perpendicular arrangement. The two flanges generally run parallel to each other and by their connection to the vertical segment form three sides of a square.
One example of a container with a square-shaped tamper evident hinge structure is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 7,073,680 (Boback, et al.). As can be seen in this patent, at the container's hinge area, the flange of the lid rim is vertically spaced above the flange of the base rim. A span of material (equal to the vertical spacing) adjoins to and descends from one end to the flange of the lid rim. The other end of the span of material adjoins to and ascends from the flange of the base rim. The span of material thus forms a strip of material connecting the lid rim flange and the base rim flange and operates to form hinge structure for the container. The lines of connection between the strip and the flanges are scored or include serial perforations such that the strip is a frangible section that can be torn away from the container after it is first sealed. With this type of tamper evident arrangement, one is left with a separate tear strip that must be disposed of and likely will not be recycled with the bulk of the container.
Another example of a clamshell container utilizing a square-shaped tamper evident hinge formation is shown in U.S. Published Patent Application No. 20120181280 (Barbier, et al). This reference discloses a hinge structure that is adapted to break by application of a squeeze force that causes the relative movement of two-adjacent sides (the top flange and the vertical span of material) that form the hinge arrangement.
Square-shaped hinge containers suffer from a variety of deficits. One is a tendency of the container not to remain fully open for purposes of filling the container. The memory of the square hinge mechanism is such that the lid tends to flop over and cover all or part of the base. Another deficit, at least as far as the Barbier container is concerned, is that the squeezing action required must move two adjacent, near perpendicular sides of the hinge structure and therefore the entire hinge structure must be effectively crushed in order to break the frangible line located at the bottom outside corner of the hinge structure. Thus, as is seen from the drawings in that published application, in order to rupture the frangible line, a squeezing force is applied to the entire box structure of the hinge area. This extended crushing motion may require the container to be stabilized with one's other hand in order to entirely rupture the frangible section. There is thus a need in the art for a re-closable plastic food container that is easy for end consumers to operate; combines reliable tamper evidence and defense against prying intrusion; and that uses a minimum of material to manufacture.
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It is generally understood in the industry that the performance of a golf club head is largely dependent on the location of the Center of Gravity (CG) and Moment of Inertia (MOI) of the golf club head. In order to adjust the CG and MOI of a golf club head, golf club designers often strategically place mass at specific locations within the golf club head to achieve the desired CG and MOI. Pursuant to the design objective above, golf club designers have constantly struggled with ways to reduce unnecessary mass from various portions of the golf club in order to strategically place it at more desirable portions. This process is so important to the design of a golf clubs; the golf club design industry even has a specific term used to describe this type of mass savings, called “discretionary mass”.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,152,833 to Werner et al. illustrates one of the earlier examples of trying to create more discretionary mass by creating a lightweight low density striking face that is supported to its rear by a hollow shell structure.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,860,824 to Evans illustrates another example of golf club designers attempt in creating more discretionary mass. In U.S. Pat. No. 6,860,824 it is contemplated that a golf club head has a body portion that is preferably composed of a lightweight non-metallic material to help reduce mass from the body portion of the golf club head.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,624,331 to Lo et al. illustrates another example of increasing discretionary mass by creating a composite-metal wood-style golf club head having a metal casing with at least two openings in the crown in which composite covers are disposed.
Finally, U.S. Pat. No. 7,361,100 to Morales et al. illustrates a modern day example of utilizing modern day materials to increase the discretionary mass within a golf club. More specifically, U.S. Pat. No. 7,361,100 discloses a golf club head that is formed with a crown having an aperture with an arcuate rear edge and a forward edge that is substantially parallel to the striking face, wherein the opening formed in the aperture by the ribs are filled with an organic-composite material such as carbon fiber epoxy.
It should be noted that although all of the above referenced prior art are very capable of reducing unnecessary mass from various portions of the golf club head, it fails to address the ancillary drawback associated with the usage of lightweight materials such as graphite composite. When lightweight materials are used to replace metallic materials at various portions of the golf club, the sound and feel of the golf club can significantly degrade, resulting in a undesirable golf club. Hence it can be seen from the above that although the current art is capable of creating discretionary mass by using lightweight materials, it fails to do so while minimizing the undesirable sound and feel of the golf club.
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The present disclosure relates generally to medical devices and, more particularly, to sensors used for sensing physiological parameters of a patient.
This section is intended to introduce the reader to various aspects of art that may be related to various aspects of the present disclosure, which are described and/or claimed below. This discussion is believed to be helpful in providing the reader with background information to facilitate a better understanding of the various aspects of the present disclosure. Accordingly, it should be understood that these statements are to be read in this light, and not as admissions of prior art.
In the field of medicine, doctors often desire to monitor certain physiological characteristics of their patients. Accordingly, a wide variety of devices have been developed for monitoring physiological characteristics. Such devices provide doctors and other healthcare personnel with the information they need to provide the best possible healthcare for their patients. As a result, such monitoring devices have become an indispensable part of modern medicine.
One such monitoring technique is commonly referred to as pulse oximetry. Pulse oximetry may be used to measure various blood flow characteristics, such as the blood-oxygen saturation of hemoglobin in arterial blood and/or the rate of blood pulsations corresponding to each heartbeat of a patient.
The devices based upon pulse oximetry techniques are commonly referred to as pulse oximeters. Pulse oximeters typically utilize a non-invasive sensor that is placed on or against a patient's tissue that is well perfused with blood, such as a patient's finger, toe, forehead or earlobe. The pulse oximeter sensor emits light and photoelectrically senses the absorption and/or scattering of the light after passage through the perfused tissue. The data collected by the sensor may then be used to calculate one or more of the above physiological characteristics based upon the absorption or scattering of the light. More specifically, the emitted light is typically selected to be of one or more wavelengths that are absorbed or scattered in an amount related to the presence of oxygenated versus deoxygenated hemoglobin in the blood. The amount of light absorbed and/or scattered may then be used to estimate the amount of the oxygen in the tissue using various algorithms.
During use, the performance of a pulse oximetry sensor may rely on there being substantial contact between the surface of the patient's tissue (i.e., skin or nail bed) and the light emitting and detecting sensors. Good contact between the sensor and the tissue helps prevent light from scattering before being detected by the detecting sensor and helps to prevent additional light, i.e., ambient light or other light not emitted by the sensor, from reaching the detector. For example, a sensor may be clipped about a patients finger tip with the emitter placed on the finger nail, and the detector placed on the under side of the finger tip. In this configuration, the sensor should clip about the finger with enough force to eliminate or reduce the gap between the emitter and the finger nail, as well as eliminate the gap between the detector and the underside of the finger tip. By providing a sufficiently tight fit, the emitted light may travel directly through the tissue of the finger and be detected without additional light being introduced or the emitted light being scattered. Further, the sufficiently tight fit may reduce the likelihood of the pulse oximetry sensor moving relative to the patient's tissue and/or falling off of the patient. However, in practice, anatomic variation between individuals may make achieving such a tight fit with good contact difficult using standardized sensor sizes.
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The present invention relates to systems which are used for repairing defects in vessels and other lumens. More particularly, the present invention relates to methods and systems for the endovascular repair of a vascular defect, while simultaneously stabilizing the vascular site at which an intraluminal graft is attached.
Aneurysms are discrete dilations of the vascular wall. One of the most common, and among the most life threatening, is an aneurysm of the abdominal aorta between the renal and iliac arteries. If untreated, the aneurysm dilates progressively with an ever increasing risk of rupture and hemorrhagic death.
One method of treatment is provided by direct surgical intervention, in which the defective vessel may be bypassed or entirely replaced using a prosthetic device such as a synthetic graft. The risks involved in direct surgical intervention of this magnitude are great, and include an extensive recovery period.
In recent years a less invasive method of treatment has evolved through a series of inventions. The details vary, but, conventionally, a resilient tubular conduit fashioned from flexible fabric (herein referred to as a xe2x80x9cgraftxe2x80x9d) is introduced into the defective vessel by means of catheters introduced into the femoral artery. The graft is attached to the non-dilated arteries above and below the aneurysm using expandable metallic cylinders (herein referred to as xe2x80x9cattachment systemsxe2x80x9d) which may include barbs or hooks to assist attachment to the vascular wall. Conventionally, an attachment system is attached to the interior of the graft""s lumen.
However, the use of tubular grafts to reinforce vascular walls in a patient is attended by numerous complications. The most troubling long-term complications include difficulty in forming an adequate connection of the graft to the vascular wall, which may result in fluid leakage around the exterior of the implanted graft, and downstream migration of the graft. There are certain factors which contribute to these complications. In particular, there may be a slow but steady increase in the diameter of the vessel at the site of a stent-graft attachment, particularly when the attachment system is self-expanding, and it is not yet clear whether the diameter reaches a stable limit. As a result of this steady increase in the vascular diameter, an attachment to the vessel which might initially be adequately secure will tend to loosen, increasing the probability of graft migration and fluid leakage around the graft.
Accordingly, there exists a need to stabilize a vessel being repaired against gradual dilation, and to enhance the connection between a repair device and the vascular wall. The present invention addresses these needs.
Briefly, and in general terms, the present invention provides a system and method for endovascular repair involving vascular stabilization of a repair site. It is contemplated that aortic stabilization may be achieved by first implanting at a desired location within the vessel of a patient a substantially rigid stent, or a vascular support structure configured such that it does not have a tendency to continue to expand after implantation. A graft is thereafter contemplated to be implanted within the vessel at the repair site.
It has been discovered that when a stent that does not have a tendency to continue to expand after implantation is deployed within a vessel of a patient there is an immediate increase in the diameter of the vessel accompanying expansion of such stent, but there is little change in the diameter of the vessel thereafter. Moreover, it has been discovered that such stabilizing structure is rapidly incorporated into the vascular wall by a process referred to as tissue ingrowth. The present invention harnesses this physiological behavior of the vessel.
In one aspect of the present invention, stabilizing structures embodying a substantially rigid stent, which has sufficient stiffness to retain a fixed expanded diameter, is deployed by endovascular insertion at a location within a vessel. The substantially rigid stent of the present invention is configured to have numerous orifices in its wall in its expanded state. These orifices facilitate incorporation of the stent into the vascular wall, and allow attachment systems of a subsequently implant graft to protrude through the wall of the stent. Next, a flexible tubular graft with an expandable attachment system is provided. The graft and the attachment system assembly is deployed by endovascular insertion within the vessel so as to allow the attachment system to engage the vessel. The attachment system may have hooks, or any protrusion, structure or surface treatment, that provides fixation of the graft and attachment system relative to the substantially rigid stent.
Once the substantially rigid stent is implanted in the corporeal vessel, the vessel maintains a constant diameter established by the diameter of the substantially rigid stent. Moreover, over a period of time, the vessel may incorporate the substantially rigid stent into its wall, thereby enhancing the resistance of the substantially rigid stent to downstream forces. Thus, the attachment system fixing the graft in place within the vascular lumen has the advantage of being provided with a stable foundation which eliminates the slow radial dilation of the vessel which might occur in the absence of such stent. Additionally, the structure of the substantially rigid stent may also reinforce the vascular wall in the downstream direction and provide the attachment system of a graft with additional mechanical support to resist downstream forces.
These and other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following more detailed description, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of illustrative embodiments.
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The following description provides a summary of information relevant to the present invention. It is not an admission that any of the information provided herein is prior art to the presently claimed invention, nor that any of the publications specifically or implicitly referenced are prior art to the invention.
The immobilization of oligonucleotides on substrates is an important and necessary step for many applications such as DNA chip technology, surface plasmon resonance experiments, or other biosensor applications. Classically, oligonucleotides are immobilized onto substrates by modification of the 3′- or 5′-end with one reactive group e.g. an amine, thiol or aldehyde (covalent attachment) or group forming stable complexes e.g. biotin, phenylboronic acid etc. (noncovalent attachment). The modified oligonucleotides are then addressed to the location where the immobilization is desired and reacted with an appropriate functional group such as an aldehyde, maleimide, hydrazide etc. or complexed with a binding molecule such as streptavidin, etc. The addressing to specific locations on a substrate can be done by spotting (pin or drop deposition), by electronic addressing, or by a variety of other processes. In some cases the reaction for the immobilization is slow and requires long (overnight) incubation of the oligonucleotides on the substrate. These immobilization reactions may also be reversible, resulting in the release of the biomolecule over time.
In other instances, dendrimeric structures on biomolecules has been described (e.g., WO 99/10362, WO 96/19240, and WO 99/43287), but the use of the dendrimeric structures have been directed toward providing signal sites such as for detection while the biomolecule itself is simply attached to a substrate using classical means.
In contrast thereto, the present invention describes an improved process for immobilization of biomolecules using oligonucleotides containing multiple reactive sites, i.e. nucleophiles, electrophiles, and Lewis acids or bases. The advantage of this approach is a higher rate of immobilization, a higher stability of the attachment, and the potential to obtain higher amounts of immobilized oligonucleotide onto the substrate surface. These gains are independent of the approach used for the immobilization. Oligonucleotides with multiple attachment sites can be obtained with both covalent and noncovalent attachment chemistries.
Furthermore the present invention describes the preparation of oligonucleotides containing one or more hydrazides. Hydrazides are nucleophilic reactive groups that can be used for any type of conjugation reaction. They can react, for example, with electrophilic aldehydes forming hydrazones (which can be further stabilized by reduction) and with active esters forming stable covalent linkages, see FIG. 18. This chemistry can be used for attaching fluorophores, proteins or peptides, reporter groups and other oligomers to oligonucleotides. The reactions of hydrazides can also be used for the immobilization of biomolecules onto substrates. Such hydrazide modified oligonucleotides have not been previously described.
The advantages of this invention within the scope of this description are numerous. For example, this invention uses a short reaction time, allows for multiple binding sites per bound entity, provides for stability to a relatively broad pH range, and provides for the capability of attachment under both anhydrous or aqueous conditions thereby providing an improved method for attaching molecules to any solid phase surface for any applicable use. The invention is useful for solid phase synthesis and/or synthesis of small molecule libraries such as biomolecules including, but not limited to, DNA, RNA, PNA, p-RNA (pyranosyl-RNA), and peptides. The invention is also useful for analytical techniques that require an immobilized reagent such as, without limitation, hybridization based assays, diagnostics, gene sequence identification and the like.
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As memory sizes increase, the range of applications using non-volatile memories increases sharply. For example, it has already become possible to store audio in non-volatile solid-state memories, e.g. using MP3 coding. It is expected that in the foreseeable future it will be possible to store a movie in a non-volatile memory at reasonable costs. Using such non-volatile memories enables relatively cheap and reliable rendering devices, such as an MP3 player, and opens many new applications in hand-held computer-like devices, such as PDAs and new generation mobile phones. Magnetic or Magnetoresistive Random Access Memory (MRAM) is currently being considered by many companies as a successor to flash memory. It has the potential to replace all but the fastest static RAM (SRAM) memories. It is a non-volatile memory device, which means that no power is required to sustain the stored information. This is seen as an advantage over most other types of solid-state memory. The MRAM concept uses magnetisation direction in a magnetic multilayer device as information storage and the resultant resistance difference for information readout. Each magnetic memory cell is able to store at least two states which represent either a “1” or a “0”. An array of magnetic memory cells is often called magnetic RAM or MRAM.
Different kinds of magnetoresistive (MR) effects exist, such as the anisotropic magnetoresistive (AMR) effect and the Giant Magneto-Resistance effect (GMR). For MRAMs, it is preferred that the Tunnel Magneto-Resistance (TMR) effect is used. In a Magnetic Tunnel Junction (MTJ), the memory cells are formed using a stack of thin films of which at least two are ferromagnetic or ferrimagnetic, and which are separated by an insulating tunnel barrier. The magnetoresistance results from the spin-polarized tunnelling of conduction electrons between the two ferromagnetic or ferrimagnetic layers. The tunnelling current which flows in the perpendicular direction to the plane of the stack depends on the relative orientation of the magnetic moments of the two ferromagnetic or ferrimagnetic layers. The tunnelling current is observed to be the largest (or thus resistance to be the smallest) when the magnetisation directions of the films are parallel and tunnelling current is the smallest (or thus resistance the largest) when the magnetisation directions of the films are anti-parallel.
MTJ memory elements generally include a layered structure comprising a fixed or pinned ferromagnetic layer (PFL), a free ferromagnetic layer (FFL) and a dielectric barrier in between. The PFL layer has a magnetic vector that always points in the same direction. The magnetic vector of the FFL layer is free, but constrained within the easy axis of the layer, which is determined chiefly by the physical dimensions of the element. The magnetic vector of the free layer points in either of two directions: parallel or anti-parallel with the magnetisation direction of the pinned layer, which coincides with the said easy axis. These two possible directions of magnetization of the FFL layer along this easy axis define the two states of the memory cell. The magnetization direction of the PFL layer is more difficult to change than that of FFL. In the range of fields applied by currents through the bit and word lines, the magnetization direction of PFL is fixed or pinned. The magnetic fields applied to write the memory cell are large enough to reverse the direction of magnetization of FFL, but not the direction of PFL. Thus, the magnetization of PFL does not change direction during operation of the memory cells in the MRAM.
For accessing the memory elements, word lines and bit lines are patterned separately into two metal layers under and above the MTJ stack. Each memory element is located at a cross-point region of a word line and a bit line. Word lines extend along rows of memory elements, and bit lines extend along columns of memory elements. During reading a current is directed through a cell to be read. Since cells share word and bit lines, it is known to use for each cell a transistor to control through which cell the read current is fed. Such MRAMs are referred to as 1T1MTJ MRAMs (one-transistor per one MTJ cell). U.S. Pat. No. 5,640,343 describes an alternative MRAM that uses a diode per cell to control the reading. The advantage of this so-called 0T1MTJ MRAM is that it uses a small chip area FIG. 1 illustrates the known 0T1MTJ MRAM. The MRAM array of magnetoresistive memory cells includes a set of electrically conductive traces that function as parallel word lines WL1, WL2, and WL3, and in a horizontal plane, and a set of electrically conductive traces that function as parallel bit lines BL1, BL2, and BL3 in another horizontal plane. The bit lines are oriented in a different direction, usually at right angles to the word lines, so that the two sets of lines intersect when viewed from above. A memory cell, such as typical memory cell 10, is located at each crossing point of the word lines and bit lines in the intersection region vertically spaced between the lines. The memory cell 10 is arranged in a vertical stack and may include a diode-like device 7 and a magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) 8. During operation of the array, current flows in a vertical direction through the cell 10. The vertical current path through the memory cell permits the memory cell to occupy a very small surface area. Contact to the word lines, the MTJ, the diode, and the contact to the bit line all occupy the same area. The array is formed on a substrate, such as a silicon substrate on which there would be other circuitry (not shown). The detailed construction of the diode-like device and the MTJ are not relevant for the invention.
The MTJ 8 changes resistance when the direction of magnetization of the FFL switches from being parallel to being antiparallel to the magnetization direction of PFL. As will be explained, this occurs as a result of magnetic fields generated when current is passed through the bit and word lines. When a sufficiently large current is passed through both a write line and a bit line of the MRAM, the self-field of the so combined currents at the intersection of the write and bit lines will rotate the magnetization of the FFL of the single particular MTJ located at the intersection of the energized write and bit lines. The current levels are designed so that the combined self-field exceeds the switching field of the FFL. This self-field is designed to be much smaller than the field required to rotate the magnetization of the PFL. The cell array architecture is designed so that the write currents do not pass through the MTJ itself. The memory cell is read by passing a sense current perpendicularly through the diode and MTJ from the PFL through the tunnel junction barrier to the FFL (or vice versa). The state of the memory cell is determined by measuring the resistance of the memory cell when a sense current, much smaller than the write currents, is passed perpendicularly through the MTJ. The self-field of this sense or read current is negligible and does not affect the magnetic state of the memory cell. The tunneling current is spin polarized, which means that the electrical current passing from one of the ferromagnetic layers, for example, the PFL, is predominantly composed of electrons of one spin type (spin up or spin down, depending on the orientation of the magnetization of the ferromagnetic layer). The tunneling probability of the charge carriers is highest when the magnetic moments of both layers are parallel, and is lowest when the magnetic moments are antiparallel. As a result, the two possible magnetization directions of the FFL uniquely define two possible bit states (0 or 1) of the memory cell.
To read and write the 0T1MTJ MRAM only the bit lines and the word lines are required; no other control lines from outside the array are necessary to read or write the memory state of the memory cells. This provides a very efficient memory array. A selected cell, e.g. cell 10 of FIG. 1, is written by passing current Ib through the bit line BL3 and current Iw through word line WL3 connected to the cell 10. Bit line control circuitry is attached to the bit lines and controls Ib. Word line control circuitry is attached to the word lines and controls Iw. The magnetic field produced by either Ib or Iw alone in the region of the cells is less than the magnetic field required to change the magnetic state in a cell, so half-selected cells (those over which only Ib or Iw alone is passing) are not written. However, the combination of magnetic fields from Ib and Iw is sufficient to change the state of selected memory cell 10. At least one of the currents Ib or Iw has to be reversible to write the two different magnetic states of the cell 10. The bit lines are also connected to the sensing circuitry, which may be part of bit line control circuitry. The voltage level of the bit lines during a write operation is near a voltage Vb for convenience in providing for the bidirectional currents. The voltage level of the word lines is near a more positive voltage Vw. The voltage levels are selected to ensure that all diodes in the array are reverse biased so that the currents Ib and Iw do not flow vertically through any memory cell. In a read operation a forward bias voltage is established across the selected cell 10 by pulling the word line WL3 voltage down to Vb, and raising the bit line BL3 voltage to Vw. During a read, unselected bit lines BL1, BL2 remain at the standby voltage level Vb, and unselected word lines WL1, WL2 remain at the standby voltage level Vw. Half-selected cells have zero voltage drop from word line to bit line and do not conduct. The resistance of the selected memory cell determines the sense current that flows from the bit line through the selected memory cell to the word line. In the sense circuitry, this current is compared to a reference current set to a value halfway between the expected values for the two possible states of the memory cell and the difference is amplified to read the data stored in selected cell 10.
In particular for mobile devices, it is very important to reduce the power consumption of memory devices. For non-volatile memories in general the writing operation is most power-consuming. For example, a write operation on MRAM elements involves two current pulses of several mA, that must be sent simultaneously through a bit line and a word line for each bit of a word to be written.
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Chemical pesticides and herbicides have been a primary means used by the agricultural industry for controlling insects, weeds and the like. Although chemical pesticides and herbicides are highly efficient in controlling weeds and insects, these chemicals harm biological life in the soil, and toxic residues of these chemicals pollute the subsoil and ground water.
Certain burner devices have been developed for use in controlling weeds, insects, and the like, but most of the commercially exploited burner devices have been discontinued. It is believed that the particular design and construction of these prior art burner devices resulted in their abandonment.
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Many electrochemical applications and devices, such as electrochemical cells or batteries, for example, employ compositions that demonstrate electrochemical redox activity and/or are capable of participating in electrochemical redox reactions. Merely by way of example, secondary or rechargeable cells or batteries employing alkali ion compositions have generated considerable interest. Lithium ion batteries, for example, typically have a lithium ion electrolyte, a solid reductant as an anode, and a solid oxidant as a cathode, the latter typically being an electronically conducting host into which lithium ions are reversibly inserted from the electrolyte in the discharge stage and from which lithium ions are reversibly released back to the electrolyte in the charge stage. The electrochemical reactions taking place at the anode and the cathode are substantially reversible, rendering the battery substantially rechargeable.
Various solid compositions have been investigated as possible compositions for use as electrochemical redox active electrode materials. Such compositions include those having a spinel structure, an olivine structure, a NASICON structure, and/or the like, for example. Some of these compositions have demonstrated insufficient conductivity or operability or have been linked with other negative associations, such as being expensive or difficult to produce or polluting to the environment, for example.
Development of compositions suitable for use in electrochemical redox reactions, methods of making same, uses of same, and/or associated technology is generally desirable.
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1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates in general to a substrate voltage generation circuit for a semiconductor memory device, and more particularly to a composite mode substrate voltage generation circuit for a dynamic random access memory (referred to hereinafter as DRAM) in which a reference voltage for the generation of a substrate voltage in a self-refresh mode is lower than that in a normal refresh mode, so that a self-refresh operation can stably be performed at low power consumption, resulting in an increase in refresh efficiency of the DRAM.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Generally, a DRAM has operating modes such as a read mode, write mode, refresh mode, etc.. The refresh mode is classified into two modes, or a normal refresh mode and a self-refresh mode. The normal refresh mode is performed when the DRAM is normally operated, and the self-refresh mode is performed by a refresh counter in the DRAM when the DRAM is not accessed.
Because a memory cell access operation is not basically performed in the self-refresh mode, a self-refresh operation requires a period longer than that of a normal refresh operation. The self-refresh period depends on an interval for allowing charge stored in a memory cell not to be lost due to a leakage current.
In the DRAM, each memory cell is composed of one transistor and one capacitor. Charge stored in the capacitor may be lost due to a leakage current, which is generally classified into a junction leakage current at a storage node and a subthreshold leakage current in a subthreshold region of the transistor. Generally, as a semiconductor chip is highly integrated, a memory device becomes smaller in size and thus has a short channel effect. As a result, the subthreshold leakage current accounts for most charge losses in the DRAM cell.
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The present invention relates generally to an assembly, such as a sensor assembly positioned within a container containing a sample fluid, and methods of securing elongated members within such assembly. Specifically, the present invention is directed to an assembly and method in which a metallic arrangement is configured to provide therethrough one or more elongated members containing a particular fluid, and is adapted to maintain a temperature of the particular fluid to be substantially the same as a temperature of the sample fluid.
Conventional assemblies (e.g., conventional sensor assemblies) may be used to determine a characteristic of a sample fluid within a container (e.g., within a tank). For example, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,234,019, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference, the conventional assemblies can be used to determine a temperature of the sample fluid, a pressure associated with the sample fluid, a density of the sample fluid, etc. An exemplary conventional assembly may be affixed to a tank, and can include a housing assembly positioned within the tank. The conventional assembly also may include a first sensor positioned within the tank at a first fluid level of the sample fluid, in which the first sensor is adapted to detect a fluid pressure at the first fluid level. Conventional assembly can also include a second sensor positioned within the tank at a second fluid level below the first fluid level, in which the second sensor is adapted to detect a fluid pressure at the second fluid level. Moreover, a transmitter can also be provided which is adapted to communicate with the first sensor and with the second sensor, and a determining device that is coupled to the transmitter. The transmitter can be further adapted to generate signals corresponding to the density of the sample fluid, and the determining device may be adapted to determine the density of the sample fluid based on such signals.
The first sensor of the conventional assemblies may be in communication with the transmitter via a first tube situated within an opening which is formed through a first rod. The first rod can be positioned within the housing arrangement between the first sensor and the transmitter. Moreover, the first tube can contain a first sensor fluid, and when the first sensor senses the fluid pressure at the first fluid level, the first sensor acts on the first sensor fluid. For example, the first sensor can displace the first sensor fluid, and an amount of the displacement of the first sensor fluid depends on the fluid pressure at the first fluid level. The transmitter can subsequently communicate with the first sensor via the first sensor fluid.
Similarly, the second sensor may be in communication with the transmitter via a second tube situated within an opening which is formed through a second rod. The second rod can be positioned within the housing arrangement between the second sensor and the transmitter, or alternatively, may be positioned within the housing arrangement between the second sensor and the first sensor. Moreover, if the second rod is positioned between the second sensor and the first sensor, the second tube can be provided inside the second rod and the first rod. The second tube can contain a second sensor fluid, and when the second sensor senses the fluid pressure at the second fluid level, the second sensor acts on the second sensor fluid. For example, the second sensor can displace the second sensor fluid, and an amount of the displacement of the second sensor fluid depends on the fluid pressure at the second fluid level. The transmitter can subsequently communicate with the second sensor via the second sensor fluid. Moreover, based on the displacement of the first sensor fluid and the second sensor fluid, the transmitter can generate the signals corresponding to the density of the sample fluid, and the determining device can determine the density of the sample fluid based on such signals.
Nevertheless, in the conventional sensor assembly, when the opening is provided through the first rod and/or the second rod, (e.g., by drilling), it may be difficult to form an opening having a diameter which is substantially the same as a diameter of the first tube and/or the second tube, respectively. Specifically, the diameter of the opening may be substantially greater than the diameter of the first tube and/or the second tube. As such, after the first tube and/or the second tube is inserted inside the first rod and/or the second rod, respectively, there may be air gaps, e.g., voids, provided within the first rod and/or the second rod. When the conventional sensor assembly is positioned inside the tank, such air gaps may adversely affect a transfer of energy between the sample fluid and the first sensor fluid and/or the second sensor fluid.
Consequently, a temperature of the sample fluid may be different than a temperature of the first sensor fluid and/or a temperature of the second sensor fluid. Similarly, the temperature of the first sensor fluid may be different than the temperature of the second sensor fluid. When the temperature of the sample fluid is different than the temperature of the first sensor fluid and/or the temperature of the second sensor fluid, the fluid pressure detected at the first fluid level and/or the second fluid level may be inaccurate. Similarly, when the temperature of the first sensor fluid is different than the temperature of the second sensor fluid, the detected fluid pressure may be inaccurate due to thermal expansion. Consequently, due to this inconsistency, the density of the sample fluid determined by the determining device may also be inaccurate.
Therefore, a need has arisen to provide an assembly, such as a sensor assembly, and a method of securing elongated members within such assembly, which overcome the above-described and other shortcomings of the prior art.
One of the advantages of the present invention is that the assembly, and method are adapted to maintain a temperature of the particular fluid substantially the same as a temperature of the sample fluid. For example, the construction of the assembly of the present invention may prevent air gaps from being provided within an elongated member thereof.
This and other advantages can be achieved with an exemplary embodiment of the assembly and method according to the present invention. This assembly, such as a sensor assembly positioned within a container containing a sample fluid, and the method of securing elongated members within the assembly, are provided for at least such purpose. In particular, one or more of the elongated members (e.g., one or more first tubes, such as metallic tubes) which are adapted to contain a particular fluid may be affixed (e.g., soldered or welded) to a temperature-conducting (e.g., metallic) arrangement. For example, the metallic arrangement can be configured to provide the elongated member therethrough, and the elongated member can have an opening adapted to contain the particular fluid.
In one preferred exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the opening can be a groove formed through (by drilling, chiseling, etc.) an outer surface (e.g., a side portion) of the metallic arrangement, and the particular elongated member can be inserted into the groove via the side portion of the metallic arrangement. In this exemplary embodiment, the arrangement can be soldered to the metallic arrangement such that the solder forms a portion of the outer surface of the metallic arrangement. Further, the metallic arrangement can be affixed (e.g., soldered or welded) to a further elongated member (e.g., a second tube) which is configured to provide the metallic arrangement therethrough. Moreover, the metallic arrangement may maintain a temperature of the particular fluid to be substantially the same as a temperature of the sample fluid. For example, the elongated member can be provided through an opening in the metallic arrangement, and can be affixed to the metallic arrangement using solder. After the elongated member is affixed to the metallic arrangement, the metallic arrangement can be provided through an opening in the further elongated member. Moreover, the metallic arrangement can be affixed to the further elongated member using solder.
According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the assembly can be a sensor assembly. The sensor assembly can include a sensor housing arrangement. In this exemplary embodiment, the further elongated member may be positioned inside the housing arrangement. The sensor assembly also can include a first sensor which is coupled to the housing arrangement or positioned inside the housing arrangement, and the first sensor may be adapted to detect a first fluid pressure of the sample fluid at a first fluid level by acting on the particular fluid. Moreover, the elongated member can include a pair of particular elongated members. For example, a first one of the pair of the elongated members can be adapted to contain the particular fluid, and a second one of this pair can be adapted to contain a further fluid. In this embodiment of the present invention, the metallic arrangement may be further adapted to maintain the temperature of the particular fluid to be substantially the same as a temperature of the further fluid, thereby reducing or even eliminating the problems associated with thermal expansion.
In another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the sensor assembly can also include a second sensor which is coupled to the housing arrangement or positioned inside the housing arrangement, and the second sensor may adapted to detect a second fluid pressure of the sample fluid at a second fluid level by acting on the further fluid. Moreover, the sensor assembly can include a transmitter situated externally from the container, which is coupled to the housing arrangement or positioned inside the housing arrangement. The transmitter may be adapted to communicate with the first sensor via the particular fluid, and with the second sensor via the further fluid. The transmitter also can be adapted to generate signals corresponding to a density of the sample fluid. The sensor assembly can include a determining device coupled to the transmitter, and the determining device may be adapted to determine the density of the sample fluid based on the signals.
In any of the foregoing exemplary embodiment and other embodiments or variations of the present invention, the metallic arrangement can also be adapted to maintain a first temperature of the particular fluid and/or the further fluid provided at a first end of one of the particular elongated members to be substantially the same as a second temperature of the particular fluid and/or the further fluid provided at a second end of the particular elongated member.
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The Role of Dendritic Cells in the Immune Response
Dendritic cells (DC) constitute a trace population of leukocytes, originating from the bone marrow but distributed widely throughout most organs of the body, with the possible exception of the brain [Steinman 1991; Banchereau & Steinman, 1998]. The function of DC is largely dependent on their state of maturation, which varies according to their local microenvironment. DC resident within interstitial tissues, such as the Langerhans cells of the skin, are predominantly immature, forming a network of cells adapted to the acquisition of foreign antigens following a local microbial challenge.
To perform such a sentinel function, immature DC are competent phagocytes, taking up whole microorganisms and apoptotic cells for processing [Albert et a., 1998a], as well as soluble protein antigens by the endocytic route. Such activity betrays the close lineage relationship between DC and macrophages; indeed the classical DC first described by Steinman and colleagues [1973] are now known to be derived from myeloid progenitors, in common with members of the reticuloendothelial system. What distinguishes DC from macrophages, however, is the nature of their response to an encounter with antigen at a primary site of infection. Inflammatory stimuli, such as the local release of interferon-γ or lipopolysaccharide, induce the maturation of DC precursors [De Smedt et al., 1996; Cella et al., 1997], causing them to lose the ability to acquire further antigens but inducing their migration via the draining lymphatics, to the secondary lymphoid organs [Austyn & Larsen, 1990]. Here they adopt a stimulatory role, presenting the cargo of antigens they acquired in situ, to the repertoire of naive T cells. Their ability to activate T cells that have never before encountered antigen, is a property unique to DC and is a function of the co-stimulatory molecules they express upon maturation, of which CD40, ICAM-1 (CD54), B7-1 (CD80) and B7-2 (CD86) are the best characterized. Furthermore, their propensity to induce a Th1 phenotype among the T cells which respond is due largely to the secretion of cytokines such as IL-12 and IL-18 [Cella et al., 1996; Koch et al., 1996].
Because of their unrivalled ability to stimulate naive T cells in viva, all immune responses, whether protective or pathogenic, are initiated upon the recognition of antigen presented by DC. Consequently, the potential for modulating the outcome of an immune response by harnessing the function of DC has aroused widespread interest. Indeed, their potential has been successfully exploited in a number of laboratories for enhancing an otherwise inadequate immune response to tumour-specific antigens, resulting in efficient tumour regression [Mayordomo et al., 1995; Celluzzi et al., 1996]. Furthermore, by providing immature DC with a source of chiamydial antigens, Su and colleagues have been able to successfully immunize mice against subsequent infection with Chlamydia [Su at al., 1998], illustrating their likely usefulness in programs of vaccination against infectious agents that have proven difficult to eradicate using conventional strategies.
Over the past few years, the study of immunology has been revolutionized by the discovery that DC may present antigen not only for the purpose of enhancing cell-mediated immunity, but also for the induction of self-tolerance [Finkelmann et al., 1996; Thomson et al., 1996]. This contention has been supported by the characterization of a second lineage of DC derived from a lymphoid progenitor in common with T cells [Wu et al., 1997; Shortman & Caux, 1997]. These cells share with ‘myeloid DC’ the capacity to acquire, process and present antigen to T cells but appear to induce unresponsiveness among the cells with which they interact, either by preventing their expansion through limiting IL-2 release [Kronin et al., 1996], or provoking their premature death by apoptosis [S0ss & Shortman, 1996]. In this respect, lymphoid DC have been reported to constitutively express Fas-ligand which induces cell death among cells expressing its counter-receptor, Fas. These findings have raised the additional prospect of further harnessing the properties of DC to down-modulate detrimental immune responses, such as those involved in autoimmune disease and the rejection of allografted tissues.
In spite of the promise DC hold for exploitation in a therapeutic setting, a number of less-desirable properties of DC have consistently limited progress. Firstly, although it is the immunogenic and tolerogenic function of mature DC which is most amenable to immune intervention, DC exhibit a short life span once terminally differentiated. This has made the prospect of genetic modification of DC less attractive since any benefits gained are necessarily short-lived. Furthermore, primary DC are peculiarly resistant to transfection, confounding most attempts to stably express heterologous genes; indeed the best protocol currently available involves the use of mRNA instead of cDNA for transfection purposes, creating, at best, a transient expression system [Boczkowski et al., 1996]. Although many groups have attempted to circumvent some of these difficulties by generating stable DC lines, the results have been universally disappointing, most putative lines being either retrovirally transformed [Paglia et al., 1993; Girolomoni et al, 1995; Volkmann et al., 1996] or incapable of progressing beyond an immature state [Xu et al., 1995]. Thus none of these provides a useful, renewable source of DC or one that can be genetically manipulated.
Embryonic Stem Cells and their Differentiation
Embryonic stem (ES) cells are derived from the epiblast of advanced blastocysts. The epiblast cells contribute to all cell types of the developing embryo, rather than the extra-embryonic tissues. Individual ES cells share this totipotency but may be maintained and propagated in an undifferentiated state by culturing them in recombinant leukaemia inhibitory factor (rLIF) [Smith et al., 1988], or on a monolayer of embryonic fibroblasts which may act as a potent source of this or related cytokines. Although ES cells may be propagated for a few passages in LIF, for long term culture, fibroblast feeder cells are preferred since ES cells maintained indefinitely in rLIF may lose their differentiation potential.
Unlike primary cultures of DC, ES cells are particularly amenable to genetic modification since they survive even the most harsh conditions for the introduction of foreign DNA, including electroporation. Consequently, ES cells have been used extensively over recent years for the production of transgenic mice and for gene targeting by homologous recombination. Indeed, by introducing a null mutation into selected genes, it has proven possible to generate ‘knockout’ mice, congenitally deficient in expression of specific molecules [Fung-Leung & Mak, 1992: Koller & Smithies, 1992].
The ability of ES cells to contribute to all lineages of the developing mouse, once reintroduced into recipient blastocysts, is a property which has also proven useful in vitro for the study of lineage relationships [Snodgrass et al., 1992; Keller 1995]. Indeed, a variety of protocols has been devised to encourage differentiation of ES cells along specific pathways. To date, there have been reports of the emergence of cell types as diverse as cardiac muscle, endothelial cells, tooth and neurons [Fraichard et al., 1995; Li et al., 1998]. In addition, differentiating ES cells have been shown to engage in the development of haematopoietic stem cells [Palacios et al., 1995] with the potential to differentiate into erythrocytes, macrophages, mast cells [Wiles & Keller, 1991; Wiles, 1993] and lymphocyte precursors of both the T and B cell lineages [Gutierrez-Ramos & Palacios, 1992; Nisitani et al., 1994; Potocnik et al, 1997].
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In general, the present invention relates to an information processing apparatus. More particularly, the present invention relates to an information processing apparatus which allows a plurality of storage media to be mounted thereon and stores and reads out data into and from any of the storage media.
There have been used information processing apparatuses such as a digital camera, a personal computer and an automatic answering telephone on which a plurality of recording media such as a PC card, a flash memory and a memory stick (trademark) can be mounted. The storage media mounted on the information processing apparatus are each used for storing information such as a picture and audio data. Information stored in a storage medium such as a picture and audio data is played back for use by an information processing apparatus such as a digital camera used for accumulating such information or by another information processing apparatus such as a personal computer.
A PC card mounted on an automatic answering telephone is used for storing a voice urging a caller to leave a message. On the other hand, a memory stick mounted on such a telephone is used for recording a message coming from a caller. A memory stick containing a message given by a caller is removed from the telephone and then mounted on typically an information processing apparatus such as a personal computer for playing back the message.
A PC card mounted on a digital camera which also accommodates a memory stick is used for storing all pictures taken by the digital camera. When the pictures taken by the digital camera are played back by using another information processing apparatus such as a personal computer, the picture data is copied from the PC card to the memory stick. The memory stick containing the copied picture data is then removed from the digital camera and mounted on a personal computer for reading out and playing back the picture data from the memory stick.
In the case of an information processing apparatus accommodating a plurality of storage media, however, the user will have difficulty to select which medium is to be mounted on or removed from the apparatus. In some cases, the user mounts or removes a wrong storage medium on or from the information processing apparatus.
It is thus an object of the information processing apparatus addressing the problem described above to provide an information processing apparatus accommodating a plurality of storage media wherein it is easy for the user to determine which medium is to be mounted on or removed from the apparatus and the user hardly mounts or removes a wrong medium on or from the apparatus.
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Radio frequency (RF) spectra may be used in one- and two-way communication between devices, and may involve the transmission of packets containing digital information. An increase in the number of devices communicating over certain radio bands and the need to transmit more information has resulted in considerable noise and interference. This is particularly burdensome when using low-power devices and/or devices utilizing unregulated areas within the spectrum.
In response, different channel plans, filters and modulation schemes have been developed to provide better results. However, these developments fail to adequately provide for the need to transmit increasingly larger volumes of information and to work within increasingly crowded and noisy RF environments.
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1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a method of driving a diode type display unit wherein display is carried out by means of a combination of a two-terminal element and an electrooptical element.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The term "two-terminal element" used herein means elements, of which the voltage-current characteristics exhibit nonlinearity such as PN junction diode, metal-insulating layer-metal diode (hereinafter referred to simply as "MiM diode") and the like. On the other hand, the term "electrooptical element" means elements, of which the optical quality is controlled by means of impressed voltage such as liquid crystal element, electrochromic element, PLZT element, electroluminescent element, plasma luminescent element, fluorescence luminescent element and the like.
For the sake of simplicity, a MiM diode and a liquid crystal element are utilized as the two-terminal element and the electrooptical element, respectively, in the following description.
FIG. 1 shows a construction of a diode type display unit wherein reference numeral 1 designates an input signal line, i.e., input line of display information, reference numeral 5 designates a display panel part, and this display panel part is one obtained by disposing a unit picture element shown in two dimensional manner in FIG. 2. A scanning electrode line driving circuitry part 3 applies a prescribed voltage to scanning electrode lines of the display panel part. A signal electrode line driving circuitry part 4 applies a prescribed voltage to a signal electrode display panel part 5. A controlling part 2 supplies control signals to the scanning electrode line driving circuitry part 3 and the signal electrode line driving circuitry part 4, respectively, in order to display input information.
In the unit picture element shown in FIG. 2, reference numeral 6 designates a scanning electrode line, 7 a signal electrode line, 8 a MiM diode being a two-terminal element, and 9 a display picture element capacitor composed of a liquid crystal layer being an electrooptical element and a display electrode, respectively.
FIG. 3 illustrates a conventional driving signal waveform wherein scanning electrode signal waveform is represented by solid line whilst signal electrode signal waveform is represented by dotted line. This driving signal waveform consists of two types of periods, i.e., writing periods designated by W and holding periods designated by H in FIG. 3. A pulsing signal 10 or 12 is applied to the scanning electrode line during the writing period W whilst a holding signal 11 or 13 is applied during the holding period H.
On one hand, ON signal 14 or 16 is applied to the signal electrode line in the case when a picture element is in ON display (voltage of display picture element capacitor is high) whilst OFF signal 15 or 17 is applied when the picture element is in OFF display (voltage of the display picture element capacitor is low). Problem of halftone can be solved by setting the voltage signal between OFF and ON signals. During the writing period W, charge is injected into the display picture element capacitor in accordance with display information, and charge of the display picture element capacitor is held by utilizing current-voltage nonlinearity of MiM diode during the holding period H. Since the voltage corresponding to the charge which has been held is continuously applied to the liquid crystal layer, high quality display is possible in comparison with voltage equalization driving method which exhibits remarkable deterioration in display quality due to increase of number of scanning electrodes.
The problem of such conventional driving method composed of the writing and holding periods as mentioned above resides in that the charge of the display picture element capacitor immediately after the writing period depends upon the charge which has been written in the preceding writing period to the aforesaid writing period. In this connection, the problem will be more specifically described by referring to FIG. 4 wherein reference character W designates a writing period, and H.sub.1, H.sub.2 holding periods before and after the writing period, respectively. In FIG. 4, voltage across both ends of the display picture element capacitor 9 is plotted as ordinate and time as abscissa wherein reference numerals 18 and 19 designate voltages across both the ends of the display picture element capacitor 9 in case of OFF display and ON display during the holding period H.sub.1, respectively, numeral 22 designates a voltage during the holding period H.sub.2 when the charge corresponding to ON display was written during the writing period W, and numerals 20, 21 designate voltages when OFF displays were written, respectively. When ON display was written, the voltage after writing becomes the situation 22 in either case that display is ON 18 or OFF 19 during the holding period H.sub.1. As a result, the ON display voltage 22 is obtained, which does not depend on the display situation prior to the writing period. On the other hand, when OFF display was written during the writing period W, the situation 18 becomes the voltage 20 in case of OFF display during the holding period H.sub.1 whilst the situation 19 becomes the voltage 21 in case of ON display during the holding period H.sub.2. In other words, the voltages in case of OFF display during the holding period H.sub.2 depend upon the display situation before writing period as represented by reference numerals 20 and 21. Such dependence results in decrease in display quality such as display reliability, contrast ratio, and the like.
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This application relates to a transfer vehicle with a stack clamping mechanism for engaging and clamping a stack of signatures supported on a stacker. It relates particularly to a stack clamping and transfer mechanism for use in a signature handling apparatus as shown in the twp occurrences invention disclosure of James Wise entitled "Signature Handling Apparatus", application Ser. No. 525,840, which is assigned to the assignee of this invention.
In the aforesaid application of James Wise, a stack transfer vehicle can move between a stack pickup position and a stack delivery position. At the stack pickup position, a clamping mechanism carried on the transfer vehicle clamps a stack of signatures supported on a stacker, and withdraws the stack of signatures from the stacker. The transfer vehicle then transports the stack of signatures to a delivery station while maintaining positive engagement with the stack, and releases the stack of signatures at the delivery location.
A specific improvement for the aforesaid system of James Wise is shown in a concurrently filed application of Mohanjit Chandhoke and Michael Duke, entitled "Apparatus For Forming A Stack Of Signatures", U.S. application Ser. No. 518,015, and also assigned to the assignee of this application. In that improvement, a stack of signatures are formed from an incoming stream, and an end board is associated with end of the stack. When a stack is completed, it is deposited onto an intermediate member in position to be picked up by the transfer vehicle. As the clamping mechanism moves over to a stacker to pick up a stack, it carries with it an end board for use with a succeeding stack. When the clamping mechanism is at the stacker, the end board is deposited with the stacker, and the stacker associates that end board with a succeeding stack.
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1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a method and apparatus for cooling integrated circuit devices. More particularly, it relates to a closed-cycle coolant medium impingement cooling system and method that does not require a refrigeration cycle after the compression stage of the cooling system.
2. Prior Art
Each generation of semiconductor integrated circuits develops smaller and more closely packed devices. This higher integration generates greater component density and permits more circuit functions to be performed on a single semiconductor chip. On the other hand, packing more and more circuit elements closer and closer together generates greater heat and concentrates this heat in a smaller chip area. To ensure proper circuit performance, durability, and reliability, a way must be found to remove this heat to maintain device junction temperatures below some maximum value.
Conventional methods of cooling integrated circuits or a printed circuit board having a number of integrated circuits mounted on them include natural convection, forced convection (fan cooling), liquid cooling, various forms of heat sink, and a combination of two or more of these methods. However, all of these known methods are unsatisfactory because they are ineffective at present heat flux densities, inefficient, and/or expensive to operate. Known methods particularly suffer from a low power-density limitation.
In most known mounted component cooling systems, the heat removal capability of the system is limited by the thermal resistance of the interface of the device and its mounting. By cooling a coolant medium gas with an expansion valve, an interface thermal resistance can be tolerated. Other methods developed to pre-cool impingement air or other coolant medium include an additional refrigeration cycle, where the coolant passes through a refrigeration (cold) heat exchanger. In open-cycle cooling systems, condensation of water can be a major problem. In addition, the integrated circuit chips may be cooled directly, minimizing the interface resistance between the chips and the cooling medium.
It would therefore be advantageous to provide a cooling system to maintain electronic component junction temperatures below a prescribed maximum at high heat flux densities. Further, the present closed cycle system provides high heat transfer by utilizing gases other than air which have high heat transfer properties, such as helium, freon and the like, thus providing very efficient heat transfer. Such a system also eliminates the introduction of impurities, contaminants, or moisture into the cooling system.
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The present invention pertains to a pre-folding device for carton bottoms. More particularly, the present invention pertains to an apparatus for pre-folding carton bottom flaps for cartons having folded-in gusset tips.
Gable top cartons are widely used for packaging milk, juice and the like. Recently, packaging technology has made enormous strides vis-à-vis these gable top cartons, as well as other types of packages. Present technology permits packaging perishable food items for non-refrigerated extended shelf lives. These packages provide the ability to bring these food items into parts of the world that have limited transportation, distribution and storage infrastructure.
As such, efforts have been focused on increasing the ability to maintain high levels of cleanliness in forming, filling and sealing containers to provide the highest quality product and to provide the greatest product shelf life. In conjunction with these efforts, the demands on packaging machines have become greater, in particular, relative to operating speeds. Such machines must form, fill and seal packages, in a sterile environment, at high operating speeds.
To maintain the integrity of the package after it is filled and sealed, advanced technologies have been applied to the carton materials, as well as the processing operations. Many such packaging materials are formed from paperboard or fiberboard-based materials formed in a composite structure. Typically, one or more layers, such as polymeric coatings, foil coatings and the like, are applied to the paperboard or fiberboard substrate to reduce or eliminate the gas and liquid permeability of the substrate material.
It has been found that one avenue for promoting an environment that reduces the shelf life is wicking of the food product into the package material. Wicking occurs at the edges of the material that are exposed to the food product. Often, wicking occurs at the raw or exposed edges of the bottom wall panels as they are folded to form the bottom wall. To this end, it has been found desirable to reduce the amount or extent of exposed edges, and in particular at the bottom wall. It has also been found that foil at the tips of the gussets (the in-folded triangular panels) can crack thus exposing the paperboard substrate.
One package that has affected such a reduction is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,328,204 to Stacy-Ryan and an apparatus to form such an over-folded bottom is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,385,950 to Anderson, both of which patents are commonly assigned with the present application and are incorporated herein by reference. While this over-folded bottom served to “cover” the exposed edge from the bottom front or rear panel, the infolded side panels (those panels that form the triangles when folded in) have edges that can remain exposed.
A package that overcomes these drawbacks is disclosed in copending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/163,657, entitled “Carton With Folded-In Gusset Tips”, filed Oct. 26, 2005, commonly owned with the present application and incorporated herein by reference. One machine is known for carrying out the folded in gusset tips of the carton. However, this machine contacts the carton on the interior surfaces to fold the gusset tips after the carton (polymeric coating) has been heated. This resulted in the accumulation of polymer on the folding gusset folding elements which in turn caused increased maintenance.
Accordingly, there exists a need for a carton bottom pre-folding device for pre-folding or pre-breaking cartons having bottoms with folded in gusset tips. Desirably, such a device can be fitted within known form, fill and seal machines. More desirably, such a pre-folding device can accommodate carton folding operations at the operating speeds of known filling machines
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The present application is based on, and claims priority from, Taiwan Application Serial Number 93111512, filed on Apr. 23, 2004, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to a turbulent flow blower. More particularly, the present invention relates to a turbulent flow blower applied in a notebook PC.
2. Description of Related Art
Due to advanced semiconductor technology, the performance of Central Process Units (CPUs), Dynamic Random Access Memories (DRAMs) and Video Graphics Arrays (VGAs) enhances to make a notebook PC become a multi-media appliance. To advance a notebook PC's mobility, efforts are devoted to decrease its weight and thickness. Under the challenges of high power devices and limited layout space, the heat dissipation issue become a serious problem for each notebook PC's manufacturer.
A turbulent flow blower is one frequently used dissipation device inside a notebook PCs. FIGS. 1A and 1B respectively illustrate a top view and a side view of a conventional turbulent flow blower applied in a notebook PC. FIG. 1B is taken along the cross-sectional line O—O in FIG. 1A. The turbulent flow blower is incorporated with dissipation fins 16 attached to a heat-generating device to enhance dissipation efficiency. The characteristic of the turbulent flow blower lies in gaps (d1, d2 and d3) between an impeller 14 and an outer housing 12. Gaps vary in different points of the outer housing 12; for example, d3 is larger than d2; and d2 is larger than d1. The impeller 14 inputs air axially (direction 18 or direction 20, for example), and output flows radially (direction 22, for example). However, referring to FIG. 1A, output flows are not uniform when the impeller 14 rotates counterclockwise. Flow F1 is stronger than flow F4, flow F4 is stronger than flow F2, and flow F2 is stronger than flow F3. The uniform output flow of the conventional turbulent flow blower, integrated with dissipation fins 16, has a low dissipation efficiency and also generates a lot of noise.
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The present invention relates to a housing structure, in particular to a housing structure which can be favorably employed for a in-vehicle electronic device such as an airbag Electronic Control Unit (ECU).
FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view illustrating an airbag ECU to which a housing structure for an in-vehicle electronic device according to a first related art is applied. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses the first related art. The airbag ECU is mounted on a vehicle. The airbag ECU controls a gas generator so as to activate the gas generator when detecting a shock to a vehicle body due to a collision to supply the gas from the gas generator to an airbag.
The airbag ECU 1 includes a housing 4 which has a case body 2 and three brackets 3a, 3b, 3c integrally formed in the case body 2 for mounting the case body 2 on the vehicle body. The airbag ECU 1 further includes a control board 6 which is an in-vehicle electronic device on which an acceleration sensor for detecting the shock due to the collision is mounted, a lid 8 which is fixed to the housing 4 with a plurality of bolts 7 when the control board 6 is accommodated in the housing 4, and a connector 10 fitted into a fitting recess 9 formed at one side of the housing 4.
Functions required for the housing 4 are as follows: (1) precisely transmitting the shock due to the collision of the vehicle to the acceleration sensor mounted on the control board 6; and (2) protecting the control board 6 from an external load applied to the housing 4 due to the collision of the vehicle so that the control board 6 can continue to function normally even after the collision.
Regarding the second function (2) of these two functions required for the housing 4, Patent Document 2 discloses a second related art. According to the second related art, the brackets 3a, 3b, 3c is intentionally designed to be broken by the shock transmitted from the vehicle body to the housing 4 to protect the control board 6. In this structure, each of the brackets 3a, 3b, 3c is broken at a position lower than a mounting position of the control board 6 in the housing 4. In other words, each of the bracket 3a, 3b, 3c is broken at its base end side. Accordingly, a metal piece generated when each of the brackets 3a, 3b, 3c is broken does not fall on the control board 6, thereby preventing a circuit of the control board 6 from being broken.
Since the airbag ECU 1 is mounted on any vehicle as a standard equipment, an outer shape of the airbag ECU 1 and a attachment structure to the vehicle body are standardized. In a model change of the airbag ECU 1, the control board or the housing 4 may be required to be reduced in size. However, if the attachment structure of each bracket 3a, 3b, 3c to the vehicle is changed in the model change, it is necessary to also change the standard of the attachment structure or change the structure of the vehicle body. Accordingly, even in such a model change, the attachment structure of the housing 4 to the vehicle body is not changed and only an attachment portion of the control board 6 to the housing 4 may be reduced in size.
FIG. 2 is a top plan view for explaining a change of the structure of an airbag ECU 10 according to a third related art due to the downsizing. FIG. 3 is a perspective view for explaining the change of the structure of the airbag 10 shown in FIG. 2. In FIG. 2, the airbag ECU 1 according to the first and second related arts is represented in solid lines and the airbag ECU 10 according to the third related art is represented in dashed lines.
In accordance with a requirement for further cost reduction of the airbag ECU 1, a control board 11 of the airbag ECU 10 according to the third related art is reduced in size relative to the control board 6 according to the first and second related arts. In a housing 15 of the airbag ECU 10, fixing positions 12a, 12b, 12c to be fixed to the vehicle body with fixing means such as bolts and the case body 13 which is reduced in size in accordance with the downsized control board 11 are connected by long brackets 14a, 14b, 14c. Accordingly, gap between each fixing position 12a, 12b, 12c and the case housing 13 becomes large.
In such an airbag ECU 10 according to the third related art, since each bracket 14a, 14b, 14c is relatively long, transmissibility of the shock is reduced. In order to solve such a problem, a fourth related art discloses an airbag ECU 16 which employs a housing 18 in which flange portions 17a, 17b continuously and integrally formed between the brackets 14a, 14b, 14c in a single surface, as shown in a perspective view of FIG. 4.
Further, as shown in a perspective view of FIG. 5, a fifth related art discloses, as another reinforcement configuration, an airbag ECU 22 which employs a housing 21 in which ribs 20a, 20b, 20c are integrally formed between each of the brackets 14a, 14b, 14c and the case body 13.
Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Publication No. 2006-306307A
Patent Document 2: Japanese Patent Publication No. 2002-308021A
In the above describe fourth related art, since the flange portions 17a, 17b are integrally formed between each bracket 14a, 14b, 14c in the housing 18, the weight of the airbag ECU 19 increases, and thus the manufacturing cost also increases.
In the fifth related art, each rib 20a, 20b, 20c are integrally formed between each bracket 14a, 14b, 14c and the case body 13 in the housing 21. When the airbag ECU 22 is mounted on a vehicle and the shock is applied to the housing 21 due to the collision of the vehicle, the impact force is transmitted to the case body 13 through each bracket 14a, 14b, 14c and each rib 20a, 20b, 20c, and thus the case body 13 may be broken at a position upper than higher than the control board 6, i.e. a position at a side of a top plate 23. Therefore, as well as the first related art, the fifth related art has a problem that scattered articles such as a metal piece, generated due to the breakage of the case body 13 may fall on the control board 6 and the circuit of the control board 6 may be broken. In addition, since each bracket 14a, 14b, 14c are reinforced by each rib 2a, 20b, 20c, the brackets 14a, 14b, 14c have high rigidity. Therefore, the shock transmission performance from each bracket 14a, 14b, 14c to the case body 13 may be reduced.
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1. Technical Field
This invention generally relates to compressing digital images. More particularly, this invention relates to enhancing dictionary-based image compression techniques, such as the well known Lempel-Ziv algorithms (including LZ77, LZ78, and LZW), in such a way as to increase the compressibility of images while introducing minimal visual distortion.
2. Related Art
Digital image data can be large and expensive to transport and/or store. In order to transmit fewer bytes when transporting a digital image (e.g., over the Web), compression techniques may be used. Compression may be either lossy or lossless. Lossy compression results in an image that is not identical to the original, but resembles the original closely. Lossless compression takes advantage of the statistical redundancy in images to create an image that exactly represents the original, but uses less data.
A methodical understanding of compression (also known as source coding) began with the seminal work of Claude Shannon (1948), in which he laid out the foundations of most of Information Theory. A powerful class of compression techniques, known as dictionary-based techniques, were first described in the work of Ziv and Lempel (1977 and 1978) and later extended by Welch in 1984. These techniques, known commonly as LZ77, LZ78 and LZW, are simple to implement and relatively fast, and they achieve fairly high compression rates. Because of these properties, these techniques have been used in many computer applications.
LZ77 forms the underlying compression technology for the computer programs gzip, zip, PKZip, deflate, and zlib. In addition, LZ77 forms the underlying compression layer used in the PNG graphics format. LZW forms the underlying compression technology for the computer program compress. In addition, LZW forms the underlying compression layer used in the GIF graphics format.
Dictionary-based techniques are based on the assumption that, within a particular data set, groups of values will tend to be repeated. One of the groundbreaking facts proven by Ziv and Lempel (1977) is that for a stationary distribution—data that is generated by the same unchanging process—dictionary-based techniques approach the entropy of the system, and thus achieve the maximum possible compression ratio. This theoretical result only guarantees that maximum compression will be achieved if the data to be compressed is infinitely large. In practice, this is clearly not the case (all data must be finite) as data is limited by many constraints, including storage, memory, and bandwidth. Therefore, the rate at which the technique approaches the entropy of the data is of critical importance.
In practice, the entropy of a dataset will be lower, and dictionary-based compression will usually approach that entropy faster if the data values are chosen from a smaller alphabet (range of values). Because of this, both GIF and PNG formats reduce the number of colors that can be represented within the image, thereby reducing the alphabet of the data to be compressed. Both GIF and PNG formats have an upper bound of 256 colors. With more colors, the LZ77 and LZW techniques require more data than is present in a typical image to achieve reasonable compression ratios.
The process of GIF or PNG encoding an image can be described at a high level by the following steps: reduce the image to 256 or fewer colors; represent the image as a look up table (LUT) of colors and a two-dimensional array of color look up values (color values); store the size of the image; store the look up table; and compress and store the color values using LZW or LZ77.
With these techniques, GIF and PNG encoding techniques can achieve compression ratios between roughly a factor of 2 and a factor of 50.
To further increase the compressibility of images, two techniques are known in the prior art: image resizing and color reduction.
Image resizing is the simple operation of reducing the size of the image and thereby reducing the number of pixels in the image. Image resizing can be done in a number of ways: Subsampling—simply keeping some pixels and throwing away others; Bilinear interpolation—replacing a group of pixels with the weighted average value of the colors in that group; Spline interpolation—replacing a group of pixels with the weighted average value of the colors in that group and in the surrounding region, taking into account the smoothness of the color variation in the original image; Filtering—replacing a group of pixels with a sum value of the colors in that group and in the surrounding region weighted by the values of the particular filter used. Often a Gaussian filter is used in this application.
By reducing the size of the image, fewer pixel values need to be encoded, resulting in a smaller compressed image. However, by reducing the size of the image, image detail is lost, potentially including critical image characteristics.
Because images that are best stored as GIFs or PNGs are often detail-oriented (e.g., icons, diagrams, or drawings), the detail lost due to image resizing is often unacceptable, even for moderate size reductions (e.g., reductions of 30% or less).
Color reduction is the operation of representing the image using fewer colors. Color reduction is already performed in GIF and PNG compression when the image is reduced to 256 colors, typically from a potential set of 16 million colors.
Color reduction improves the compressibility of images by reducing the size of the alphabet—the number of allowable values—that each pixel can take on. Smaller alphabets typically result in longer sets of repeated values in the data, and thus higher compressibility.
Up to a point, color reduction techniques can be quite effective at reducing the size of a compressed image while creating very little visible distortion of the image. However, as the number of colors is decreased, visible distortion increases, regardless of the reduction method used.
To compensate for decreased colors, techniques such as dithering and error diffusion can be used. By filling image regions with patterns of pixels of differing color, the appearance of a larger color set can be approximated. However, the applicability of dithering or error diffusion in a dictionary-based compression scheme is limited, as the patterns of mixed colors tend not to repeat, yielding short dictionary entries and limited compressibility.
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The present invention relates generally to thin film resistors and pertains particularly to controlled temperature coefficient of resistance thin film resistors and method of making same.
Thin film technology is utilized in the production of micro circuits. The materials produced by the thin film technology frequently have properties different from the same materials in bulk compositions. Accordingly it has been found that bulk or thick film technology cannot be readily adapted to thin film technology.
In the past, thin film resistors have been made from a number of compositions. The primary technique of thin film resistor construction utilizes tantalum, refractory metal oxides, and nickel chromium alloys. Perhaps the most commonly used material at present is that of an alloy of nickel-chromium.
Resistors made of this composition typically have a temperature coefficient of resistance (TCR) which generally runs around 40 to 200 ppm/degree centigrade. While thin film resistors of these materials are satisfactory for many applications, they are unsatisfactory for certain specific advanced applications. The TCR is especially critical in certain micro circuits which are necessarily subjected to extreme environmental conditions. Because of the environmental conditions encountered it is desirable to be able to tailor the circuit to the conditions expected. For example, extreme temperatures can affect the performance of the circuit. It is desirable that the circuit be balanced for the respective temperatures encountered.
It is therefore desirable that thin film resistors and method of making such resistors be available for tailoring the TCR to meet certain requirements.
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Titanium alloys are light in weight and high in strength and are used in various fields of parts in which light weight is important, such as aircraft parts and automobile parts. Titanium alloys are superior in corrosion resistance and biocompatibility and are widely used in a field of bioimplant devices. In any of these fields, α-β type titanium alloys, typically exemplified by Ti-6Al-4V, are common since the alloys have high strength and broad utility and are low in cost.
Development of increased strength in α-β type titanium alloys that have high practical utility due to low cost are actively pursued. For example, Japanese Patent Unexamined Publication No. 5-272526 discloses a technique in which Ti-6Al-4V is subjected to gas nitride and a brittle TiN compound surface layer is removed, thereby improving fatigue strength. Japanese Patent Unexamined Publication No. 2000-96208 discloses a technique in which a first layer of a nitrogen solid solution hard layer and a second layer of an oxygen solid solution hard layer are formed simultaneously on pure Ti or Ti-6Al-4V, thereby hardening a surface of the member. Japanese Patent No. 4303821 discloses a composite material in which TiC compound is dispersed in Ti-6Al-4V.
On the other hand, β type titanium alloys also may be exemplified as a high-strength titanium alloy. However, β type titanium alloys include large amounts of rare metals, and materials for forming parts are expensive compared to α-β type titanium alloys. Although static strengths of β type titanium alloys can be improved by aging (precipitating) hardening, fatigue strength is insufficient compared to static strength. Precipitated phases having high hardnesses formed by heat treatment improve static strength. However, difference of hardness (elastic strain) between the precipitated phase and the matrix of the β phase is large, and the boundary between the precipitated phase and β phase may be initiation of breakage in fatigue in which cycle stress is loaded.
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Polyimides ("PI") are a group of high polymers in which repeating units are connected by imide groups (--(CO).sub.2 N--) in the polymer chain. Polyimides have good tensile strength, low water absorption, remain undistorted by heat at temperatures of 260.degree. C. or higher, have a low dielectric constant, and a relatively small coefficient of linear expansion. They also exhibit high temperature stability (up to about 370.degree. C.) excellent frictional characteristics, good wear resistance at high temperatures, radiation resistance, low outgassing under high vacuum, are resistant to organic materials at relatively high temperatures, and are flame retardant. Therefore, polyimides have found a number of uses including high temperature coatings, laminates and composites for aerospace vehicles, ablative materials, oil sealants and retainers, adhesives, semiconductor applications, valve seats, bearings, insulation for cables, printed circuits, magnetic tapes, flame resistant fibers, and binders for abrasive materials; (N. Sax and R. Lewis, Hawley's Condensed Chemical Distionary, 11th Ed., 1987).
In the microelectronics or semiconductor industry, polyimides have found a number of applications including the formation of planarizing dielectric films between layers. As known to those familiar with microelectronic integrated circuit (or "chip") manufacturing, the steps used to build up a microelectronic device typically result in a three-dimensional surface pattern of semiconductor materials, insulators and conductors, among other materials. These three-dimensional topographies are often referred to as "geometries" in this art. Although a resulting finished semiconductor device will exhibit such geometries, during manufacturing, when the various layers of materials are being added, there are some processes for which the three-dimensional structure is disadvantageous. In particular, during typical photolithographic steps, a planar surface is much more desirable than a three-dimensional one because of the high optical resolution required during such steps. A uneven surface can lower the resolution of a photolithographic step, while a highly planar one can help increase the resolution. The ability to achieve planar surfaces over varying topography is critical to lithographic steps which require etching small features; i.e. those of about one micron or smaller.
Therefore, one typical step during semiconductor device manufacturing is to add a layer of polyimide which fills in and levels out the geometries, a process referred to as "planarizing." The polyimide, to do the best job of planarizing, is generally added as a film of a solution or suspension in which a high solids content and low viscosity are generally accepted as favoring improved planarization properties. The film is then thermally cured to produce the desired polyimide layer.
In the polymer art, the term "cure" is often used to represent two different process steps. In one sense, "cure" represents the chemical reaction in which particular reactants are used to produce a resulting polymer. An example is the production of polyimide in a solution. The word "cure" is also used, however, to represent the process by which a polymer in solution is formed into a solid polymer, usually by driving off a solvent along with water and other reaction products. An example is the solidification of a polyimide solution into a solid film. In order to distinguish these steps, the solvent removal or similar steps will be referred to herein as a "thermal cure," reflecting the common use of heat to accomplish this step.
As also used herein, the term "film" refers to a very thin liquid coating, usually of a solution, upon a substrate. In the manufacture of microelectronic devices, such films are often applied by applying the solution to a rapidly rotating substrate, a technique that helps form an even film. The technique is accordingly referred to as "spin casting" or "spinning" and the resulting film as a "spun" or "spun cast" film. The term "film," however, generally is used to refer to the coating both in its liquid state and after it has been hardened into a resulting solid.
Typical procedures for preparing polyimide films from spun cast polyamic acid films, however, involve complex processes over extended periods of time with temperatures that reach as high as 400.degree. C. or greater. In some chip manufacturing processes, however, such high temperatures are disadvantageous, particularly with respect to their effects on the other materials present, and the deposit and cure of polyimide at relatively low temperatures would offer significant advantages.
One attempt to deliver polyimide at lower temperatures is to supply polyimide as a low molecular weight polyimide powder dissolved (or redissolved) in one of the common polyimide solvents such as 1-methyl-2-pyrolidinone (NMP). The resulting solution is used in the spinning techniques familiar to those in this art to add polyimide films of a desired thickness. Films formed from these low molecular weight powders dissolved in a solvent or mixture of solvents can be thermally cured at relatively lower temperatures of about 300.degree. C. Unfortunately, however, the mechanical and electrical properties of films formed from such low molecular weight powders are inferior in many respects. They are readily attacked by many common solvents, tend to be susceptible to moisture, exhibit poor adhesion, and have poor dielectric properties.
Alternatively, in order to achieve improved mechanical and electrical properties, the polyimide is best added as a solution of polyamic acid. As used herein, the term "polyamic acid" refers to a polyimide precursor and generally represents a polymer having an amide bonding scheme which, when the amide linkage is dehydrated, will form an imide linkage. Because the amide is supplied in polymeric form, the dehydration step produces polyimide. Films formed from polyamic acid solutions generally demonstrate better mechanical and electrical properties than do films formed from solutions of polyimide powders. Unfortunately the polyamic acid must be subjected to a complex curing process which typically includes a 30 minute treatment at a temperature of about 400.degree. C. or greater to achieve the required imidization or water removal step.
Therefore, investigators have pursued the problem of producing polyimides suitable for microelectronic processes that can be produced or cured at generally lower temperatures. Some of these have included chemical curing of polyimides using phosphorous halide and similar curing agents. These procedures, however, introduce impurities into the resulting polyimide films and produce unusable materials.
Nevertheless, the potential benefits of curing polyimides at lower temperatures are attractive and offer several advantages over redissolving polyimide powder in solvents. First, the molecular weights of polyamic acids tend to be greater than those of redissolved polyimide powders. Thus, by chemically curing polyamic acid the original high molecular weight polyamic acid can be converted into a high molecular weight polyimide. Second, because the chemically cured solutions contain polyimide chains rather than polyamic acid chains, high molecular weight polyimide films spun from these solutions ought be curable at temperatures somewhat lower than that of the conventional curing scheme, depending upon the solvent system. Third, the mechanical and electrical properties of high molecular weight polyimide films are desirable, particularly if they could be made comparable to those formed from the polyamic acid precursor. These would desirably be superior to those of films formed from polyimide solutions prepared by dissolving the low molecular weight PI powder.
Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a method of preparing and curing low viscosity, highly planarizing polyimides at moderate temperatures, and for which the resulting polyimides are resistant to attack from common organic solvents and are particularly suitable for use in microelectronic applications.
In one aspect, the invention is a method of preparing and curing low viscosity, highly planarizing polyimides at moderate temperatures for use in microelectronic applications. In this aspect the invention comprises curing polyamic acid into polyimide by adding a hydrophilic reagent to a polyamic acid solution, and in which the hydrophilic reagent has little or no reactivity with amines or carboxylic acids and that removes the water normally produced by the imidization of polyamic acid to polyimide to thereby encourage the formation of polyimide in the solution. As a result, the associated removal of water drives the polyamic acid dehydration reaction to produce polyimide at moderate temperatures.
In another aspect, the invention is a precursor solution from which a low viscosity, highly planarizing polyimide film can be formed at moderate temperatures.
In yet another aspect, the invention is a method of planarizing the surface of a microelectronic device such as an integrated circuit or its precursor.
In a further aspect, the invention is a precursor for a microelectronic device such as an integrated circuit.
The foregoing and other objects, advantages and features of the invention, and the manner in which the same are accomplished, will become more readily apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description of the invention, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:
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A cluster typically refers to a service delivery platform that includes a tightly coupled group of servers (i.e., nodes), storage devices, and software. Each node in the cluster is interconnected to at least one other node in the cluster. The nodes in the cluster are configured such that the cluster as a whole provides the ability to run failover, parallel, and/or scalable resources. Thus, clusters are useful for industries that require high availability of applications and services (e.g., telecommunications industry).
Further, each node is associated with a cluster and is configured to join the cluster it is associated with when the node is booted. However, if the cluster to which the node is configured to join is not present when the node is booted, then the node may attempt to create the specific cluster to which it is configured to join. In some situations, the cluster to which the node is to join is present but due to a communications failure between the node and the cluster, the node is not able to join the cluster and, thus, attempts to create the cluster. In this situation, the cluster may become partitioned resulting in multiple instances of the same cluster being created and executed. The operation of two instances of cluster is commonly referred to as “split-brain” and may result in data corruption, etc.
To solve the aforementioned problem, a node may only create a cluster if the node obtains a sufficient number of quorum votes to obtain a quorum. The quorum refers to the minimum number of quorum votes required to create a cluster, which is typically half the number of nodes in the cluster plus one. Further, each node in the cluster typically has one quorum vote. Thus, if a node attempting to form the cluster is connected to at least half of the other nodes in the cluster, then a quorum is reached and the cluster created.
While the aforementioned scheme is adequate for clusters containing a relatively large number of nodes, the scheme is not appropriate for two-node clusters or clusters that may easily degenerate into two-node clusters. For a two-node cluster, the quorum votes required for a two-node cluster is 2 (i.e., 2 (number of nodes in cluster)/2+1).) Therefore, I the case of two-node clusters, if one node fails, then the remaining operational node is not able to create a cluster because the remaining operation node will never be able to obtain a quorum of 2.
The aforementioned scheme has been modified to address two-node clusters. Specifically, a quorum device is connected to the cluster such that each node in the cluster is able to communicate with the quorum device. The purpose of the quorum device is to provide an additional quorum vote. Thus, the quorum vote provided by the quorum device allows a single node in the two-node cluster to create a cluster in the event that the other node is not operational or experiencing communication difficulty. More specifically, each node in the two-node cluster includes functionality to reserve the quorum device, and thereby obtain the quorum vote associated with the quorum device. The ability to reserve the quorum device also provides a means for indicating, to the other node in the two-node cluster, that the quorum vote associated with the quorum device is in use, thereby preventing the node that does not have the quorum vote associated with the quorum device from creating a new cluster.
Quorum devices are typically shared storage devices (such as SCSI disks) and are referred to a quorum disks. The quorum disk is connected to all nodes that have a potential of joining the cluster. The use of a quorum disk typically requires that the nodes in the cluster have the appropriate hardware and software for interacting with the quorum disk.
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In inductive power transfer (IPT) systems, power is transferred inductively between a primary conductive path or track supplied by an alternating-current power supply (the power supply and track together forming a primary side of the IPT system), and one or more pick-ups inductively coupled with the track (forming the secondary side of the system).
The pick-up comprises a tuned or resonant circuit consisting of at least a pick-up coil and a tuning capacitor. Two common pick-up topologies are the series-tuned pick-up, in which the tuning capacitor is provided in series with the pick-up coil, and the parallel-tuned pick-up, in which the tuning capacitor is provided in parallel with the pick-up coil. The tuned circuit is typically electrically coupled to a control circuit (typically comprising a rectifier and a converter or regulator) to obtain the desired output to supply a load.
An alternative pick-up topology is known as the series-parallel tuned LCL (inductor-capacitor-inductor) pick-up, as shown by way of example in FIG. 1.
The series-parallel tuned LCL pick-up topology (hereinafter referred to as an LCL pick-up) is controlled with a slow switching (i.e. a switching frequency that is much less than the frequency of the IPT track) decoupling control method similar to a slow switching parallel-tuned pick-up. An issue with the slow switching topology is the transient inrush power drawn by the pick-up during normal power regulation. In multiple pick-up systems, each time the pick-up is switched on the transient power inrush transiently reduces the track current. This disturbance, if large, will limit the power flow to all other pick-ups coupled to the track. A control circuit topology for minimizing this track current transient disturbance using a parallel LC tuned pick-up controller was described by Boys, J. T.; Chen, CI; Covic, G. A.; “Controlling inrush currents in inductively coupled power systems,” The 7th International Power Engineering Conference, 2005, Vol. 2, pp. 1046-1051, Nov. 29, 2005-Dec. 2, 2005. However, this simple approach cannot be used in the LCL topology using existing design approaches because it requires a large DC inductor for continuous current conduction in the switch mode circuit.
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1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a semiconductor integrated circuit, and in particular, to the structure and pattern layout of a logic circuit which is preferably applied to a decoder circuit of semiconductor memory devices or the like.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventional decode circuits in semiconductor memory devices have the function of selecting a specific address in a memory cell, and the decoder circuits generally employ, for example, a two-input NAND circuit explained below. FIG. 12 is a circuit diagram showing an example of such a NAND circuit.
The shown NAND circuit 100 consists of a logic section 101 using CMOS transistors, and an output section 102 using bipolar and MOS transistors.
The logic section 101 includes a parallel-connected circuit employing two pMOS (i.e., p-channel MOS) transistors M51, and M52, and a serially connected circuit employing two nMOS (i.e., n-channel MOS) transistors M53 and M54. The parallel-connected circuit and the serially-connected circuit are further serially connected in this order between a high-potential power supply line 103 (i.e., voltage=Vcc) and an earth (or grounding) line 104.
Among two input signals A and B to be logically operated, signal A is input into the gate electrodes of pMOS transistor M51 and NMOS transistor M53, while signal B is input into the gate electrodes of pMOS transistor M52 and NMOS transistor M54. A signal resulting from this operation is output from a common drain electrode of pMOS transistors M51 and M52, and nMOS transistors M53 and M54 to output section 102.
In the output section 102, bipolar transistor (abbreviated to xe2x80x9cBiP-Trxe2x80x9d, hereinafter) Q1 whose collector electrode is connected to the power supply line 105, and two nMOS transistors M55 and M56 are serially connected in this order between the power supply line 105 and earth line 106, as shown in FIG. 12. A logic signal from logic section 101 is input into the base electrode of BiP-Tr Q1, and input signals A and B are respectively input into the gate electrodes of the NMOS transistors M55 and M56. This two-input Bi-CMOS NAND circuit uses the contact of the drain electrode of the nMOS transistor M55 and the emitter electrode of the BiP-Tr Q1 in the output section as an output terminal from which output signal X0 is output.
In the NAND circuit 100 as shown in FIG. 12, when both signals A and B are high, the serially connected nMOS transistors M53 and M54 are on (i.e., in the ON states), while the parallel-connected pMOS transistors M51 and M52 are off (i.e., in the OFF states). As a result, the electric potential of the base electrode of the BiP-Tr Q1 becomes ground level, so that the transistor is set to the OFF state. In addition, the serially connected nMOS transistors M55 and M56 are switched on, so that the electric charges of a load (not shown) are discharged via these transistors M55 and M56, and the level of the output signal X0 becomes low.
In contrast, when signal A or B is low, one of the NMOS transistors M53 and M54 is off; thus, these nMOS transistors M53 and M54 have no effect on the decrease of the base potential of the BiP-Tr Q1. Here, one of the pMOS transistors M51 and M52 is on; therefore, the above pMOS transistors M51 and M52 increase the electric potential of the base of the BiP-Tr Q1. As a result, the voltage at the base of the BiP-Tr Q1 is increased to Vcc, and the transistor is switched on. On the other hand, one of the serially connected nMOS transistors M55 and M56 is switched off, so that these transistors have no effect on the discharge from the output terminal. As a result, according to the charging operation using the BiP-Tr Q1, the level of the output signal X0 becomes high.
That is, the output from circuit 100 as shown in FIG. 12 is low only when both of the two inputs are high, and in other cases, the output is high based on the NAND logic. Decoder circuits provided in semiconductor storage devices or the like often employ logic circuits as explained above. Here, a feature of the circuit operation is that only one of arrayed NAND gates outputs a low level signal (i.e., LOW signal) as a selected output, and the others output high level signals (i.e., HIGH signals) as non-selected outputs. In the decoder circuit, a plurality of such gate structures are connected, and the memory cell designated by an input address can be selected.
In the above conventional NAND circuit, the level of the output signal can be made high by using the BiP-Tr Q1 to which the base current is supplied using the pMOS transistors M51 and M52. Therefore, sufficient current can be supplied, and the operation speed can be high. However, the level of the output signal can be made low by (i) decreasing the potential of the base of the BiP-Tr Q1 by using the serially connected nMOS transistors M53 and M54, and (ii) drawing electric charges (i.e., current) from an output load by using the serially connected nMOS transistors M55 and M56. This means that in the nMOS transistor, the equivalent gate length is double while the current supplying ability is half, compared with the other cases.
In order to compensate for the reduction (by half) of the current supplying ability, generally, the gate width of the nMOS transistor is designed to be wider so as to improve the current supplying ability and to prevent a delay in the speed of the drop in potential. However, the increase of the gate width causes an increase of the input capacitance observed from the input signal side; thus, the operation speed of the logic circuit as the former stage is decreased. That is, in order to improve the operation speed of a circuit having a plurality of logic gates, it is necessary to improve the fan-out characteristics (i.e., the relationship between the ratio of the capacitance of the output (load) to the capacitance of the input, and the delay time). However, the degradation of the current supplying ability of the serially connected nMOS transistors is an obstacle which must be overcome to improve the fan-out characteristics. In addition, the increase of the gate width obviously causes an increase of the area of the logic circuit.
As for the decoder circuit, the speed of the selecting operation, which is a characteristic operation of this circuit, depends on the delay time of the output selected signal. Here, the selecting operation is performed by decreasing the output level by using serially connected nMOS transistors (or by increasing the output level by using serially connected pMOS transistors in case of a NOR circuit). Therefore, the decrease of the current supplying ability with respect to the serially connected MOS transistors has a considerable effect on the operation speed.
In order to solve the operational delay, increase of the occupied area, and the like in such logic circuits, the inventors of the present invention proposed the logic circuit, having a structure as shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, which is disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application, First Publication, No. Hei 9-200036.
In the conventional circuit shown in FIG. 12, each of the current path for decreasing the potential of the base of the BiP-Tr Q1 and the current path for drawing electric charges from an output load is formed using two serially connected nMOS transistors. In contrast, the circuit 200 in FIG. 13, each path (here, the BiP-Tr Q2 is used) is formed using a single nMOS transistor M63 or M64. Among two input signals A and B, ∇B (here, ∇ represents an upper bar indicating inversion, hereinafter), the inverted signal of input signal B, is input into the source electrodes of the nMOS transistors M63 and M64. The same logic as that realized in the circuit shown in FIG. 12 can also be realized in the circuit 200. In the structure of circuit 200, the input capacitance is half as much as that of the conventional gate-input capacitance, and the fan-out characteristics can be improved. Additionally, the nMOS transistor M64 functions as a transfer gate; thus, current drawing from the output terminal is started before the ON operation by the gate input. Therefore, the operation speed of the whole circuit (also including the logic circuit) can be very high. However, in this structure, the load capacitance at the output terminal is discharged via a wiring line of ∇B, an input signal. Therefore, in order to perform a high speed operation, it is necessary to satisfy a condition that the load capacitance of inverted signal ∇B is larger than the load capacitance of the output terminal. In comparison with the conventional circuit using 7 transistors, only 5 transistors are used in the whole circuit in the present example, thereby reducing the occupied area of the logic circuit.
The circuit 300 as shown in FIG. 14 has the same structure of the NAND logic circuit as that of the NAND circuit using a bipolar CMOS structure as shown in FIG. 13, but has the difference that a CMOS inverter is added to the output point of the NAND circuit so as to form an AND logic circuit. The load driving ability of CMOS circuits is generally lower than that of bipolar CMOS circuits. Therefore, in order to drive a large load, an inverter for driving the same is connected to the logic circuit. In the decoder circuit using the present structure, most of the decoder outputs are not selected, and only at the selected output, the output load of the NAND logic can be active via the source electrode of the NMOS transistor. In this case, the load capacitance of the relevant NAND output only corresponds to the input capacitance of the CMOS inverter for the driving operation; therefore, almost all of the load capacitance of the decoder outputs corresponds to the sum of the input and wiring capacitance of the non-selected channels. Therefore, the above conditions for improving the operation speed can be easily satisfied, and the high-speed operation can be efficiently performed. Also in this circuit, the number of necessary transistors can be decreased from 7 (in the conventional case) to 5, thereby reducing the occupied area of the logic circuit.
As explained above, the circuits as shown in FIGS. 13 and 14 are effective for improving the operation speed, but still insufficient for reducing the occupied area. In semiconductor storage. devices, the memory cell area having regularly arrayed elements has been reduced because the size of each cell has been reduced; however, in the peripheral circuit area including the decoder circuit, area reduction remains difficult because the relevant elements are not regularly arranged. The demand for reduction of chip size has increased, and reduction of the occupied area of peripheral circuits such as the decoder circuit has received much attention.
In consideration of the above circumstances, an objective of the present invention is to provide a semiconductor integrated circuit in which the area of the logic circuit is reduced so that the area of the peripheral circuits such as the decoder circuit can be reduced, thereby reducing the chip size.
Therefore, the present invention provides a semiconductor integrated circuit having a logic circuit which comprises:
one or more first transistors for supplying electric charges to an external load via an output terminal; and
one or more second transistors for drawing electric charges from the load via the output terminal; and wherein:
in the logical operation of the logic circuit, the above supply and drawing of electric charges are executed according to combination of the states of a plurality of binary logic signals input from an external device; and
among all the transistors in the logic circuit, each transistor other than the first transistors for supplying electric charges has a threshold voltage value lower than that of each first transistor.
The inventors of the present invention worked to reduce the occupied area of a conventional AND logic circuit (as shown in FIG. 14), and found that the size of each MOS FET as a constituent of the logic circuit can be reduced by reducing the threshold voltage value (called Vth, hereinbelow) of the FET, and accordingly, the size of the whole circuit can be reduced. That is, to reduce Vth of the MOS FET causes an increase of current flowing when a predetennined voltage is applied to the gate electrode, so that the ability to drive a transistor is improved and a smaller gate width is sufficient for providing a specific current. Therefore, according to the reduction of the threshold voltage value Vth of the MOS FETs in the logic circuit, the size of each transistor can be reduced and the occupied area of the whole logic circuit can be reduced.
According to the above, it is most preferable that Vth of all of the MOS FETs in the logic circuit be reduced. However, this cannot be realized in some kinds of logic circuits. This is due to a strong demand of reduction of power consumption as well as the reduction of the chip size in the current development of semiconductor integrated circuits.
For example, when the circuit shown in FIG. 14 is used as a decoder circuit, the output terminal is connected to a word line, and when the output to the word line is low (i.e., the signal level is low), the operation is in a standby mode. Under this condition, the nMOS transistor for drawing electric charges from the word line is on while the pMOS transistor for supplying electric charges to the word line is off. If it is assumed that the threshold voltage value Vth of the pMOS transistor for supplying electric charges be reduced (according to the above-considered reduction of all the MOS FETs), then the leakage current of the relevant pMOS transistor in the OFF state is considerably increased because a high voltage Vcc is directly applied to the source electrode of the pMOS transistor. This increase of the leakage current causes an increase of the standby current, thereby increasing the power consumption. Accordingly, Vth of the transistor for supplying electric charges, which is in the OFF state in the standby mode of the circuit operation and which is connected to high voltage Vcc, cannot be reduced.
Generally, such a logic circuit is formed using transistors having a specific Vth. However, in the present invention, low and high threshold voltage values Vth (the high value corresponds to the above specific Vth which is generally used) are used in a single circuit, that is, a xe2x80x9cmulti-Vthxe2x80x9d method is applied to such a logic circuit. Accordingly, the gate width of each transistor having a low Vth can be reduced in comparison with the conventional case, thereby reducing the occupied area of the whole circuit.
The present invention also provides a more specific semiconductor integrated circuit having an AND logic circuit which comprises:
a NAND circuit which includes:
parallel-connected first and second p-channel MOS FETs, where first and second input signals are respectively input into the gate electrodes of the FETs; and
a first n-channel MOS FET, where the first input signal is input into the gate electrode and an inverted signal of the second input signal is input into the source electrode, and
wherein the common drain electrode of the first and second p-channel MOS FETs and the drain electrode of the first n-channel MOS FET are connected; and
an inverter circuit having a complementary MOS transistor structure for receiving an output signal from the NAND circuit and outputting an inverted signal of the received signal from an output terminal, where the complementary MOS transistor structure comprises a third p-channel MOS FET and a second n-channel MOS FET, and
wherein among all the MOS FETs in the AND logic circuit, each FET other than the third p-channel MOS FET has a threshold voltage value lower than the threshold voltage value of the third p-channel MOS FET.
This structure is obtained by applying the concept of the present invention to the AND logic circuit as shown in FIG. 14 (which is a previous invention of the inventors). Among the five transistors (three pMOS FETs and two nMOS FETs), the threshold voltage value Vth of each of the four transistors other than the third pMOS FET can be reduced, thereby sufficiently reducing the occupied area of the whole logic circuit.
The present invention also provides another specific semiconductor integrated circuit having an AND logic circuit which comprises:
a NAND circuit which includes:
a first pMOS FET, where a fixed electric potential is applied to the gate electrode so as to keep the first MOS FET on; and
a first n-channel MOS FET, where a first input signal is input into the gate electrode and a second inverted input signal is input into the source electrode, and
wherein the drain electrode of the first p-channel MOS FET and the drain electrode of the first n-channel MOS FET are connected; and
an inverter circuit having a complementary MOS transistor structure for receiving an output signal from the NAND circuit and outputting an inverted signal of the received signal from an output terminal, where the complementary MOS transistor structure comprises a second p-channel MOS FET and a second n-channel MOS FET, and
wherein among all the MOS FETs in the AND logic circuit, each FET other than the second p-channel MOS FET has a threshold voltage value lower than the threshold voltage value of the second p-channel MOS FET.
In this structure, only two input signals, the first input signal and the second inverted input signal are necessary, and the number of necessary transistors can be reduced by one in comparison with the previous structure. Accordingly, the occupied area of the logic circuit can be further reduced also by reducing the threshold voltage value Vth.
The present invention also provides a semiconductor integrated circuit having a NOR logic circuit which comprises:
a first pMOS FET, where a first input signal is input into the gate electrode and an inverted signal of a second input signal is input into the source electrode; and
parallel-connected first and second nMOS FETs, where the first and second input signals are respectively input into the gate electrodes of the FETs, and wherein:
the drain electrode of first pMOS FET and the common drain electrode of the first and second NMOS FETs are connected; and
the threshold voltage value of each of the MOS FETs in the NOR logic circuit may be decreased.
The NOR logic circuit having the above structure has a relatively high ability to drive a load; thus, no inverter circuit for driving a load is necessary. In addition, this logic circuit includes no transistor (for supplying electric charges) which is off in the operation-standby mode and which is connected to a high voltage Vcc. Therefore, all of the transistors can have low threshold voltage value Vth, and have an effect on the reduction of the occupied area of the logic circuit.
The logic circuits as explained above may be applied to a decoder circuit.
The present invention also provides a semiconductor integrated circuit comprising:
a decoder area, positioned between adjacent memory cell areas, having one or more p-channel MOS FETs and one or more n-channel MOS FETs, wherein:
each of the p-channel MOS FETs and n-channel MOS FETs is arranged in a manner such that the direction of the gate width is perpendicular to the direction along which word lines extend in the memory cell areas.
As explained above, in the logic circuits according to the present invention which include transistors having low threshold voltage values Vth, the gate width of each relevant transistor can be reduced. Therefore, even if each transistor is arranged in a decoder area in a manner such that the direction of the gate width is perpendicular to the direction along which the word lines extend (that is, arranged in the longitudinal direction), all the transistors can be arranged within the longitudinal range of a predetermined number of memory cells, so that the occupied area of the whole decoder area can be reduced.
In the above structure, the p-channel MOS FETs and the n-channel MOS FETs may be aligned in a direction perpendicular to the direction along which word lines extend in the memory cell areas, in a manner such that the p-channel MOS FETs and the n-channel MOS FETs face each other.
In the general conventional arrangement of the decoder area, the p-channel MOS FETs and the n-channel MOS FETs are aligned in the transverse direction, that is, in a direction parallel to the direction along which word lines extend in the memory cell areas. In contrast, in the decoder area of the semiconductor integrated circuit according to the present invention, the conventional arrangement can be rotated by 90 degrees, so that the width (in the direction along which the word lines extend) of the decoder area between the memory cell areas can be reduced.
In the general decoder area, a main power supply line for supplying electric power is provided in and along each boundary between the decoder area and each of the memory cell areas. However, if the the p-channel MOS FETs and the n-channel MOS FETs are aligned in a direction parallel to the direction along which the word lines extend, then power supply lines can extend from each main power supply line towards the area where the p-channel MOS FETs are formed, but cannot pass through the area where the n-channel MOS FETs are formed. Therefore, the main power supply lines which face each other via the decoder area cannot be connected.
In contrast, in the present invention, the p-channel MOS FETs and the n-channel MOS FETs are aligned in a direction perpendicular to the direction along which word lines extend in the memory cell areas, in a manner such that the p-channel MOS FETs and the n-channel MOS FETs face each other. In this case, power supply lines (first sub power supply lines) which cross the decoder area and extend parallel to the direction along which the word lines extend can be provided in the area where the p-channel MOS FETs are formed, so as to connect the main power supply lines using the first sub power supply lines. As a result, the voltage drop in the power supply lines can be reduced, and the resistance of the power supply lines can be reduced, thereby providing improved power supply lines. In addition, the width of each power supply line can be reduced.
In addition, the main power supply lines at both sides of a memory cell area may be connected via second sub power supply lines which cross the memory cell area. Accordingly, over the whole chip area of the semiconductor integrated circuit, power supply lines are arranged and electrically connected, thereby forming a wiring network. Therefore, the power supply lines can be much more efficiently arranged, and the above-explained effects can be much more easily obtained.
The above-explained wiring structure can also be applied to earth lines.
That is, when a main earth line for grounding is provided in and along each boundary between the decoder area and each of the memory cell areas, the main earth lines in the boundaries can be connected via first sub earth lines which cross the decoder area and extend parallel to the direction along which the word lines extend.
In addition, the main earth lines at both sides of a memory cell area can be connected via second sub earth lines which cross the memory cell area, and the main earth lines, and the first and second sub earth lines may form a wiring network for grounding over the whole chip area of the semiconductor integrated circuit.
In the above-explained distinctive pattern layout of the decoder area, the p-channel MOS PETs and the n-channel MOS FETs may form a NAND circuit, an AND logic circuit comprising a NAND circuit and an inverter circuit, NOR circuit, or the like.
As explained above, according to the present invention, the area of the logic circuit can be reduced, thereby reducing the area of the decoder circuit, peripheral circuit, or the like. Therefore, it is possible to provide a semiconductor integrated circuit which has an effect on the reduction of the chip size. In addition, the operation speed can be improved in comparison with the conventional circuit structure.
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The present invention is related to a stamping press arrangement, comprising an impact member, a supporting member and a movably arranged cutting tool, the impact member being arranged to perform at least one striking movement against the cutting tool for cutting a blank being held by the supporting member.
The invention is also related to a method for cutting a blank and moulding a segment of the blank obtained by a previous cutting.
The invention is especially applicable at arrangements for cutting and machining of metallic material by adiabatic softening of the metallic material. Typical such arrangements comprise stamping press machines for cutting metal bars or metal wire into shorter segments.
Such machines normally comprise an impact member in the shape of an impact piston, which by means of a striking movement achieves a cutting or compacting of an object. The impact piston may be spring operated, operated by means of compressed air or preferably by means of hydraulics. The kinetic energy which by such a stroke is directed against a blank or a body, which for instance shall be cut, is so large that so called adiabatic softening or coalescence arises in the material. Thereby a very efficient machining, e.g. cutting, of the blank or the body can be achieved with a minimum of cracks, material changes or similar in the material.
In connection with cutting bodies or blanks into smaller or shorter segments, where the cutting is performed by a stroke by means of an impact member, e.g. an impact piston, being directed against a cutting tool for cutting the body or the blank it is not unusual with a more or less prominent deformation of the blank and/or the segment cut therefrom in the area where the cutting tool has influenced the blank and accomplished the actual cutting. When cutting for instance bars with circular cross section it is for instance not unusual that a somewhat deformed cross section, that is a not completely circular cross section, is obtained at the cutting area. In the cases when such deformations cannot be accepted, accordingly, a subsequent moulding of segments which have been cut and somewhat deformed in the manner described above is required. In cases with segments of metallic materials, e.g. bar segments, the moulding is suitably performed by placing the segment in a moulding tool, in which it is moulded by pressing, e.g. cold pressing.
The abovementioned is valid also when cutting metallic materials, where stamping machines and tools for cutting perform cutting by adiabatic softening of the material in question. This cutting technique enables very fast cutting of long blanks preferably bars or wire, into a large number of shorter segments. A large number of segments which each require moulding are thereby obtained in a short time. To make the cutting industrially applicable it is important that subsequent moulding of cut segments can be done in a manner being as cost efficient and fast as possible. In order not to create bottlenecks in an industrial process utilizing this type of cutting, it is desirable that the moulding procedure can be carried out with high velocity, preferably with substantially the same velocity as the cutting procedure.
An object of the present invention is to provide a stamping press arrangement being arranged to, in a cost efficient manner, perform cutting of an object or a blank and subsequently perform required moulding of segments obtained by the cutting. The moulding of said segments is to be possible to take place with substantially the same frequency as the one the original body or blank is cut into segments with. The construction of the arrangement shall promote production of single segments with high accuracy with reference to the production velocity and the shape of the obtained segments.
The object of the invention is achieved by means of a stamping press arrangement of the initially defined kind, which is characterized in that it comprises a moulding tool for moulding a segment cut from said blank and that the impact member is arranged also to influence the moulding tool during said striking movement for moulding said segment.
The segment which is moulded in the molding tool is a segment cut at a previous striking movement of the impact member. Preferably, said segment is cut at the most previous striking movement of the impact member. The moulding tool is suitably arranged to receive the most recently, by means of cutting, obtained segment by this being fed into the moulding tool and in connection with that pushes the latest moulded segment out of the moulding tool. The arrangement therefore preferably comprises means for feeding a cut segment to the moulding tool after the segment has been cut. Preferably, such a means is arranged to feed the blank to be cut forward to suitable cutting position, while the blank thereby in its turn feeds the latest cut segment further to the moulding tool by a displacement movement. The feed takes place between two consecutive cuttings of the blank, i.e. between two consecutive striking movements of the impact member.
According to a preferred embodiment of the arrangement according to the invention the impact member is arranged to hit and influence the cutting tool for initiating the cutting and the moulding tool for achieving the moulding, respectively, sequentially during one and the same striking movement, the impact member initially hitting and influencing the cutting tool and subsequently hitting and influencing the moulding tool. Thereby, the residual energy of the impact member, that is a kinetic energy that the impact member still has after the cutting tool has received the impact from the impact member which generates the cutting, is utilized in an optimal manner. Since the moulding tool will have a damping influence on the further movement of the impact member, the need for additional damping members for damping the striking movement of the impact member is reduced.
The cutting tool and the moulding tool are preferably arranged adjacently. The distance between the tools is determined by the length of the segment 2. The distance between the two tools in the area where a cut segment is transferred from the cutting tool to the moulding tool is preferably substantially shorter than the length of such a segment. The space is arranged in an area where an end of the blank to be cut will be present during the cutting and moulding sequence. Wear between different movable parts, e.g. between the cutting tool and the moulding tool and between the end of the blank to be cut and the moulding tool, is avoided thanks to the space.
The blank to be cut preferably comprises a metallic material, and the influence of the impact member on the cutting tool is effected with such a velocity and force that the metallic material of the blank is subjected to an adiabatic softening resulting in the cutting. The blank is elongated, preferably bar shaped or wire shaped.
The invention is also related to a method of the initially defined kind, which is characterized in that the cutting and moulding is done by a stroke by means of an impact member being directed against a cutting tool for cutting the blank and a moulding tool for moulding said segment, and that the cutting and moulding are achieved by one and the same striking movement of the impact member.
Further advantages with and features of the invention will be apparent from the following description and the appended claims.
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FIG. 28 illustrates a hydraulic excavator 10, which is a work machine. The hydraulic excavator 10 includes a lower structure 11, an upper structure 12, a cab 13, a work equipment 14, and a power system 15 that includes an engine. The cab 13, the work equipment 14, and the power system 15 are mounted on the upper structure 12, which is rotatably mounted on the lower structure 11. The power system 15 is covered by a top cover 16, side doors 17,18, and other such components. The side doors 17,18 are mounted by hinges, which will be explained later, so as to be capable of opening and closing, and secured in the closed state by means of a latching device 19.
A conventional door that comprises a set of two metal panels and is used in the field of automobile technology, typically has a structure with a hemmed outer panel, in other words, the outer panel so folded as to curl over the peripheral edge of the inner panel. Therefore, the outer panel, which curls over the inner panel, is usually thinner than the inner panel. However, should this structure be applied to the door panel of a side door 17 or 18 of a work machine, the door panel becomes too weak to withstand an impact from the outside.
Cover units exist with such a structure that includes an outer panel of a work machine folded to curl over the peripheral edge of an inner panel. The outer panel is formed of a plate material having the same thickness as that of the inner panel (e. g. See Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 9-228412 (page 3, and FIGS. 7 and 8) (“JP '412”)).
Various examples also exist of an engine cover of a work machine with a lining that is a sound insulating material or a sound absorbing material attached to the inner side of the cover body of the engine cover (e. g. See Japanese Patent No. 3457804 (page 2, and FIG. 1) (“JP '804”).
A cover unit disclosed in JP '412 has an outer panel and an inner panel that are of the same thickness. Therefore, should both panels be made thinner in order to make the cover unit compact, the panels are easily dented by an external impact. On the other hand, making both panels thicker in order to prevent this problem presents the difficulty of increased weight and costs.
The engine cover disclosed in JP '804 requires that sufficient strength be provided by the cover body alone. This requirement not only makes the cover body heavier but also presents the difficulty of ensuring sufficient strength.
In order to solve the above problems, an object of the invention is to provide a door panel that is light in weight and has sufficient strength.
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1. Field of Invention
The invention relates to an audio communication system and more particularly to a means of establishing a connection between audio communications devices, such as telephones, intercoms or other audio communication terminals, connected together using TCP/IP connections. The invention relates to TCP/IP Client-Server network connection pairs where the connection pairs of a plurality of devices is managed to provide multiple combinations.
2. Description of Related Technology
Audio communication over Ethernet and Internet connections are known. They are implemented in VoIP telephony and communications equipment, music distribution, paging and remote audio monitoring. VoIP communications traditionally requires SIP/H323 management for establishment of a paired connection. The requirement includes encryption (TLS/SSL) that may require processor power of ARM or DSP processors running at over 10 MIPS and a ‘name server’ database to provide connection information.
Client-Server TCP/IP connections are also known and provide a single paired connection for data transfer. Client-Server describes the relationship between two processors with TCP/IP programming in which one processor, the client, issues a service request to another processor program, the server, which fulfills the request.
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Many automobiles are equipped with a transmission that generally includes such a ratio change mechanism, whose operation is controlled by applying a predetermined pressure of hydraulic oil (line pressure). For example, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. S60(1985)-256662 discloses a system that applies a hydraulic pressure into a hydraulic cylinder for controlling the width of a pulley, or more specifically, the force applied on the pulley pushing the belt in a belt-type continuously variable transmission. This control system operates to calculate the torque output from the engine on the basis of the rotational speed of the engine and of the pressure inside the intake pipe (negative pressure) and to set the hydraulic pressure in correspondence to the calculated torque value.
By setting the hydraulic pressure in correspondence to the torque output of the engine, it is possible that the engaging capacity of the clutch in the transmission, which is set also by the hydraulic pressure, be set to a minimum capacity required for transmitting the engine-output torque to the side toward the wheels. This can reduce the energy consumed by the engine for generating the hydraulic pressure and thereby improve the fuel efficiency of the vehicle. Moreover, this improves the operability and performance of the vehicle. Because the clutching capacity is limited to the minimum necessary for the transmission of the engine-output torque, the clutch can slip limiting the torque change while the output of the engine or the load of the driving vehicle is changing rapidly (for example, when the accelerator pedal is operated quickly or the vehicle goes over a curb). Furthermore, this attempt of making the pushing force applied to the belt minimum improves the durability of the belt and also facilitates miniaturization in designing the transmission.
In recent years, for the purpose of improving fuel economy, vehicles are equipped with an idling elimination control, in which the operation of the engine is stopped when the vehicle comes into a halt, or equipped with a partial cylinder operation control, in which, under certain driving conditions, some of the cylinders are deactivated or disengaged from the operation of the engine. The output of the engine is smaller while some of the cylinders are deactivated (this condition is referred to as “partial cylinder operation”) than while all the cylinders are active or engaged in the operation (this condition is referred to as “complete cylinder operation”). Because of this reason, for example, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. S59(1984)-13154 discloses a method for increasing the speed ratio of a ratio change mechanism used with such an engine, which has cylinders that are deactivated in partial cylinder operation mode.
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1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a performance line display unit which displays an image photographed by an imaging device attached near the leading end of a boom of a crane with a performance line of a crane overlapped.
2. Description of the Related Art
A camera system is conventionally known, which overlaps a guide line illustrating a moving range of a leading end portion of a boom on an image photographed by a camera provided to photograph a periphery of a crane and displays its image (refer to Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2008-312004).
A safety mechanism for a crane is also known, which displays on a display a stable zone and unstable zone with a rotation axis position of a boom as a center (refer to Japanese Patent Application Publication No. H08-29917).
The above-described camera system is configured to obtain a radius of a circle provided by the leading end portion of the boom in the rotation movement at a derricking angle with the present length of the boom, obtain the position of the circle on the world coordinate system based on the radius, projection-transform the position of the circle to the coordinate system of the imaging surface of the camera, overlap the transformed circle on the photographed image of the display as a guide line, and display its image.
A range closer to the crane than the guide line displayed on the display is a safe condition range. An operator rotates the boom while carefully watching whether or not an obstacle is in the safe condition range.
The above-described safety mechanism for a crane is configured to display on a display screen a rotation axis of a crane, a rectangular frame illustrating a crane, a position of each outrigger jack and an operation limit range according to each suspended load W.
However, the above-described camera system has a problem in that it can not determine how far a suspended load can be moved within the operation limit range of the crane if the boom is extended and the derricking angle is reduced because the above-described camera system can only display the moving range of the suspended load at the present derricking angle in the present length of the boom.
Moreover, the above-described safety mechanism for a crane also has a problem in that it can not determine how much the suspended load can be moved on the actually photographed image because the safety mechanism can only display on a display screen only the rotation axis position of a crane, the rectangular frame illustrating a crane and the operation limit line with the rotation axis position as a center.
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This application is based upon and claims priority of Japanese Patent Application No. 2001-261967, filed on Aug. 30, 2001, the contents being incorporated herein by reference.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an amplification circuit, and particularly to an amplification circuit for outputting from its output terminal a voltage in accordance with voltages inputted to its first and second input terminals.
2. Description of the Related Art
FIG. 7A shows a circuit of an operational amplifier in a prior art.
An n-channel MOS (metal-oxide-semiconductor) transistor 702a has a gate connected to a positive logic input terminal IN, a source connected to one end of a constant current source 703, and a drain connected to one end of a load 701a. The other end of the constant current source 703 is connected to a ground potential. The other end of the load 701a is connected to a positive power source potential Vdd.
An n-channel MOS transistor 702b has a gate connected to a negative logic input terminal XIN, a source connected to the aforesaid one end of the constant current source 703, and a drain connected to an output terminal OUT and one end of a load 701b. The other end of the load 701b is connected to the power source potential Vdd.
A positive logic input signal Vin which is inputted to the positive logic input terminal IN and a negative logic input signal Vxin which is inputted to the negative logic input terminal XIN mutually compose differential signals. In other words, both signals are signals whose logics are opposite to each other.
FIG. 7B is a chart showing the operation of the operational amplifier in FIG. 7A. The horizontal axis represents a differential voltage Vinxe2x88x92Vxin and the vertical axis represents currents Isrc and Iout and a voltage Vout. The current Isrc is a current flowing through the current source 703 and is constant regardless of the differential voltage Vinxe2x88x92Vxin. The current Iout is a current flowing through the load 701b and varies lineally in accordance with the differential voltage Vinxe2x88x92Vxin in a predetermined range. The output voltage Vout is a voltage of the output terminal OUT. When a resistance value of the load 701b is shown by R, the output voltage Vout is expressed by the following formula.
Vout=Vddxe2x88x92Ioutxc3x97R
FIG. 8 shows a circuit of another operational amplifier in the prior art. In this operational amplifier, p-channel MOS transistors 801a and 801b are provided in place of the loads 701a and 701b in FIG. 7A so that the gain of the output voltage Vout can be increased. The p-channel MOS transistor 801a has a source connected to the power source potential Vdd and a drain connected to the drain of the n-channel MOS transistor 702a. The p-channel MOS transistor 801b has a source connected to the power source potential Vdd and a drain connected to the drain of the n-channel MOS transistor 702b. Gates of the transistors 801a and 801b are connected to the drain of the transistor 702a.
For example, when the positive logic input signal Vin becomes larger, a current flowing through the transistor 801a increases and a voltage of the drain of the transistor 702a decreases. Then, a gate voltage of the transistor 801a decreases and the current flowing through the transistor 801a further increases. As a result, a current flowing through the transistor 801b decreases and an output voltage of the output terminal OUT further increases so that the high gain can be obtained.
FIG. 9 shows a circuit of still another operational amplifier in the prior art. In this operational amplifier, an n-channel MOS transistor 901 is provided in place of the current source 703 of the operational amplifier in FIG. 7A so that the gain of the output voltage Vout can be increased. The transistor 901 has a gate connected to the drain of the transistor 702a, a source connected to the ground potential, and a drain connected to the sources of the transistors 702a and 702b.
For example, when the positive logic input signal Vin becomes larger, a current flowing through the transistor 702a increases and the voltage of the drain of the transistor 702a decreases. Then, a gate voltage of the transistor 901 decreases and a current flowing through the transistor 901 decreases. As a result, a current flowing through the transistor 702b also decreases and the output voltage Vout of the output terminal OUT increases so that the high gain can be obtained.
The operational amplifier as described above is used for a small-amplitude input circuit so as to receive a signal from the outside and amplify it. Some small-amplitude input circuits receive data and a clock simultaneously.
As shown in FIG. 10, however, a clock 1001 has a high frequency compared with that of data 1002 and, when a waveform becomes deformed due to signal propagation, the signal amplitude becomes smaller. For example, the clock 1001 is a binary logic signal whose low level is 1 V and high level is 2 V, while the data 1002 is a binary logic signal whose low level is 0 V and high level is 3.3 V.
In this case, even if the clock 1001 and the data 1002 start falling simultaneously at time t1, delay time Td occurs between the clock 1001 and the data 1002. In other words, if the amplitude of the clock 1001 and the data 1002 are different, the delay time Td occurs between the clock 1001 and the data 1002. Further, there is a problem that the delay time Td varies depending on the magnitude of the amplitude of the signals.
As shown in FIG. 7B, the aforesaid operational amplifier can output the output voltage Vout in a range from 0 to Vdd V. If the amplitude of the input signals Vin and Vxin are small, the amplitude of the output voltage Vout is also small, and if the amplitude of the input signals Vin and Vxin are large, the amplitude of the output voltage Vout is also large. As shown in FIG. 10, the signal 1001 of 1 to 2 V is outputted and the signal 1002 of 0 to 3.3 V is outputted in accordance with the amplitude of the input signals Vin and Vxin.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an amplification circuit capable of outputting an output voltage having the constant amplitude regardless of the magnitude of the amplitude of an input signal.
According to an aspect of the present invention, provided is an amplification circuit comprising: a first MOS transistor having a gate to which a first input terminal for inputting a positive logic input signal or a reference potential is connected and a drain to which a first load is connected; a second MOS transistor having a gate to which a second input terminal for inputting a negative logic input signal, which composes differential input signals with the positive logic input signal, or the reference potential is connected and a drain to which an output terminal and a second load is connected, and pairing up with the first MOS transistor; and a current source to which sources of the first and second MOS transistors are connected, for supplying a constant current to the first and/or second load when the difference in voltage between the first and second input terminals is in a predetermined range, and varying the current to be supplied to the first and/or second load when the difference in voltage is beyond the predetermined range.
The current source supplies the constant current to the first and/or second load when the difference in voltage between the first and second input terminals is in the predetermined range, while varies the current to be supplied to the first and/or second load when the difference in voltage is beyond the predetermined range so that a voltage of the output terminal can be controlled at a constant value when the difference in voltage is beyond the predetermined range. As a result, when the amplitude of the input signal is large, the amplitude is controlled so that an output signal constantly having the same amplitude can be outputted. The amplitude of the output signal becomes constant, which makes it possible to eliminate delay time between signals or to keep the delay time constant.
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Prior art extrusion methods to isolate a component material from the severing device by including the component material in filling material which is then completely enclosed in a coating material, depend on converging flow terminators to affect the desired intermittent flow of the filling material. These converging flow terminating methods, in the act of terminating the flow of a filling material containing component material not suitable to be severed or resistant to being severed, such as capsules, spheres, or cubed meat, either damage the component material, or become jammed, or do not seal completely when attempting to close on to the component material, thus resulting in an unacceptable high product scrap rate. A prior art method which encloses an easily severed material, within another easily severed material using a converging flow terminator, is taught by Svengren in U.S. Pat. No. 4659580. Apr. 21, 1987
To circumvent the problems associated with including component material that is resistant to being severed or is sensitive to being severed within an extruded and cut product, conventional methods use subsequent methods to add the component material to the exterior of an extruded and cut base of uniform consistency thus suffer from a number of disadvantages:
(a) The subsequent attaching of component material to the exterior of an extruded and cut base, either requires manual labor introducing quality variations, or costly devices that take up considerable space, and are correspondingly expensive to maintain.
(B) Attaching the component material to the surface of an extruded and cut base, does because of its nature, expose the component material to the elements, thus as in the case of a dough product with cubed meat as the component material, precludes subsequent sanitary cooking and packaging of the product.
(C) Attaching the component material to the surface of an extruded and cut base can expose the product to the entrapment air-borne pathogens due to the successive layering of ingredients as the product progresses forward by conveyor from one station to another.
(D) Attaching the component material to the surface of an extruded and cut base usually depends on uniform, dry, and non-sticky component material, thus limiting the materials and products compatible with the process.
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Safety laminates have been in commercial production for almost a century and have been utilized in applications that require sheet material having a high degree of clarity and impact resistance. For example, safety laminates have been widely used in the automobile industry as windshields or side windows because the laminate structures are characterized by high impact and penetration resistance and do not scatter glass shards and debris when shattered. More recently, safety laminates are also being incorporated into building structures as windows, walls, stairs, etc.
Safety laminates typically consist of a sandwich of two glass sheets or panels bonded together with an interlayer of a polymeric sheet. One or both of the glass sheets may be replaced with optically clear rigid polymeric sheets, such as sheets made of polycarbonate. Safety glass laminates have further evolved to include multiple layers of glass and polymeric sheets bonded together with interlayers of polymeric sheets.
The interlayers used in safety laminates are typically made from relatively thick polymer sheets, which exhibit toughness and bondability to the glass in the event of a crack or crash. Widely used interlayer materials include complex, multicomponent compositions based on poly(vinyl butyral), poly(urethane), ethylene vinyl acetate copolymers and ionomeric ethylene carboxylic acid copolymers (such as ionic, partially or fully neutralized ethylene methacrylic acid copolymers and ionic, partially or fully neutralized ethylene acrylic acid copolymers (i.e. ethylene methacrylic acid copolymer ionomers and ethylene acrylic acid copolymer ionomers)).
Blend compositions of ethylene copolymers, such as those disclosed in U.S. Patent Publication Nos. 2006/0025527, 2006/0160952 and 2006/0148988, have been found to exhibit high temperature resistance and good high frequency weldability. In addition, the blend compositions can adhere well to metals (such as aluminum) or plastics (such as polyamides and polyolefins). However, it has been found, that polymeric sheets made from such ethylene copolymer blends can also form superior adhesive bonds to glass, and that such adhesive bonds are water resistant.
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For new wireless systems such as WLAN and Wi-MAX, power amplifiers with high linear efficiencies are needed. Some sort of class AB or dynamic biasing is typically used to obtain high linear efficiencies. Other applications such as high dynamic range receivers can also benefit from dynamic biasing. Such receivers improve the input compression of a low noise amplifier (LNA).
Conventional approaches implement class AB configurations as a popular solution. Many implementations are used, most of which include external manual tuning of resistors. Such implementations have extra control ports, and can be very sensitive to process or temperature variations.
Referring to FIG. 1, an example of a circuit 10 illustrating a conventional approach is shown. The circuit 10 illustrates a traditional class AB bias circuit applied to a power amplifier transistor Q1. Many conventional class AB circuits implement a pass gate QPG, which supplies a base current IB to amplifier transistor Q1. The base current is received from the supply VCC. As input power is increased, the base current IB increases. Conventional approaches include diode temperature compensation D1 and D2, which are often added to provide stability over temperature. A resistor R1 is typically externally adjusted in order to set the quiescent current of the transistor Q1. A coupling capacitor C1 detects and integrates an RF input signal IN. The coupling capacitor C1 increases the voltage applied to the pass gate transistor QPG in order to provide more base current to the transistor Q1 when under drive.
The circuit 10 has one or more of the following deficiencies (a) needing an additional supply VCC input pin which is incompatible with a SOT89 package configuration, (b) needing manual tuning of the resistor R1 in order to set the bias current of the transistor Q1 that is not very stable, and (c) providing a detection circuit that is open loop.
Referring to FIG. 2, a circuit 20 illustrating another conventional approach is shown. The circuit 20 illustrates a variation of the popular class AB bias. The circuit 20 uses a current mirror implemented as a mirror transistor QMIRR. The transistor QMIRR sets the quiscent bias. The quiscent bias adjustment allows substantially less process sensitivity compared to the bias network 10 of FIG. 1. Similar to the circuit 10, the circuit 20 uses a pass gate transistor QPG for the supplying base current IB to the amplifier transistor Q1 under RF input drive.
The circuit 20 also uses a separate supply voltage/input pin for operation of the pass gate transistor QPG. Unlike the circuit 10, the circuit 20 does not include a feed-forward coupling capacitor to enhance the class AB action. The circuit 20 also illustrates a series base resistor RBB. The size of the base resistor RBB determines the amount of class AB action that is attainable. The circuit 20 also uses an open loop configuration.
It would be desirable to implement a compact class AB dynamic feedback bias that may (i) be implemented without (a) external resistor tuning and (b) additional dedicated control ports, (ii) be implemented with a two terminal gain block, such as a Darlington feedback amplifier, and/or (iii) be implemented without being sensitive to process and/or temperature variations.
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The conventional catalytic converter utilizes a ceramic monolith on which is deposited a catalyst which aids in the conversion of pollutants such as, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides (NO.sub.x), unburned hydrocarbons, etc., to carbon dioxide, nitrogen, and water. However, this conversion is not efficient initially while the exhaust gases are relatively cold. To be effective at a high conversion rate, the catalyst and surface with which the exhaust gases come in contact must be at a minimum elevated temperature; 390.degree. F. for carbon monoxide, 570.degree. F. for volatile organic compounds, and 1000.degree. F. for natural gas. Otherwise, the conversion to harmless by-products is low and cold-start pollution of the atmosphere is high. Of course, once the exhaust system comes to its operating temperature, the catalytic converter is effective. Hence, it is to the achievement of early conversion of pollutants before normal operating temperature is obtained or operation when low temperatures are encountered that the present invention is directed.
The principle of elevating the temperature of a catalytic converter to a higher more efficient operating temperature for start-up is not, per se, new. Reference may be had to U.S. Pat. No. 3,768,982 to Kitzner dated Oct. 30, 1973. In this patent, heat from a centrally located electric heater is transferred by conduction through a monolithic catalyst support to heat the catalyst to an optimum operating temperature. Reference may also be had to U.S. Pat. No. 3,770,389 to Kitzner dated Oct. 30, 1973 which discloses a central electrically heated core within a ceramic monolith, heat being transmitted by conduction to the catalyst contained in the openings of the ceramic monolith. The heating core is formed of metal sheets, one flat and one corrugated, coated with alumina and also bearing a catalyst. The metallic core is heated electrically by virtue of its own electrical resistance.
Recent attempts at electrically heating catalysts have shown that corderite ceramic and silicon carbide, while having considerable electrical resistance, are too brittle to accommodate the relatively large electrodes and high current flow required for electrically heated converters. Furthermore, earlier attempts at electrically heating the catalyst do not take advantage of the low backpressure associated with metallic honeycomb catalytic converters, nor do they take advantage of the very high heat transfer efficiency when the catalyst containing ferritic strip is also used as the electrical conductor and heating element.
Reference may be had to the U.S. Pat. No. 4,711,009 to Cornelison and Retallick, dated Dec. 8, 1987 for details of the preparation of accordion folded thin stainless steel honeycomb converter units having a catalyst supported on an aluminum oxide surface. This patent is incorporated herein by reference thereto.
The devices of the present invention are distinguished from the prior art structures in that they do not depend upon conduction to transmit heat, a time consuming event. In the present invention, the entire catalytic monolith is formed of corrugated thin metal foil which becomes the resistance heater and whereby the entire monolith is elevated in temperature rather than depending on conduction through a ceramic, for example, to achieve the desired temperature. The devices of the present invention will achieve optimum catalyst temperature in from 2 to 20 seconds depending upon the voltage potential, as compared to several minutes for converters depending on conduction as the mode of heat transfer. This is an important distinction if one is obligated to wait for a catalytic converter to achieve "light-off" or optimum operating temperature before starting the engine. Moreover, the corrugated metal foil structure is nonnesting and the necessity for a flat metal sheet is obviated. Still further, spirally wound devices as illustrated in the prior art are subject to telescoping of the catalyst support unit under operating conditions.
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Polypropylene tape fibers are utilized in various end-uses, including carpet backings, scrim fabrics, supersacks, and other fabrics for article reinforcement or dimensional stability purposes. Unfortunately, prior applications utilizing standard polypropylene tape fibers have suffered from relatively high shrinkage rates, due primarily to the fiber constituents. Heat, moisture, and other environmental factors all contribute to shrinkage possibilities of the polypropylene tape fibers (and yarns made therefrom), thereby causing a residual effect of shrinkage within the article itself. Thus, although such polypropylene tape fibers are highly desired in such end-uses as carpet backings, unfortunately, shrinkage causes highly undesirable warping or rippling of the final carpet product. Or, alternatively, the production methods of forming carpets (such as, for example, carpet tiles) compensate for expected high shrinkage, thereby resulting in generation of waste materials, or, at least, the loss of relatively expensive amounts of finished carpet material due to expected shrinkage of the carpet itself, all the result of the shrinkage rates exhibited by the carpet backing fibers themselves. Furthermore, such previously manufactured and practiced tape fibers suffer from relatively low tensile strengths. For scrim fabrics (such as in roofing articles, asphalt reinforcements, and the like), such shrinkage rate problems are of great importance as well to impart the best overall reinforcement capabilities to the target article and permitting the reinforced article to remain flat. Utilization of much more expensive polyesters and polyamides as constituent fibers has constituted the only alternative methods to such problematic high shrinkage, low tensile strength tape fibers in the past (for both carpet backings and scrim applications).
There has been a continued desire to utilize such polypropylene tape (high aspect ratio) fibers in various different products (as alluded to above), ranging from apparel to carpet backings (as well as carpet pile fabrics) to reinforcement fabrics, and so on. Such polypropylene tape fibers exhibit excellent strength characteristics and do not easily degrade or erode when exposed to certain “destructive” chemicals. However, even with such impressive and beneficial properties and an abundance of polypropylene, which is relatively inexpensive to manufacture and readily available as a petroleum refinery byproduct, such fibers are not widely utilized in products that are exposed to relatively high temperatures during use, cleaning, and the like. This is due primarily to the aforementioned high and generally non-uniform heat- and moisture-shrink characteristics exhibited by typical polypropylene tape fibers. Such fibers are not heat stable and when exposed to standard temperatures (such as 150° C. and 130° C. temperatures), the shrinkage range from about 2% (in boiling water) to about 3-4% (for hot air exposure) to 5-6% (for higher temperature hot air). These extremely high and varied shrink rates thus render the utilization and processability of highly desirable polypropylene fibers very low, particularly for end-uses that require heat stability (such as carpet pile, carpet backings, molded pieces, and the like).
Past uses of polypropylene tape fibers within carpet backings have resulted in the necessity of estimating nonuniform shrinkage rates for final products and thus to basically expect the loss of a certain amount of product during such manufacturing and/or further treatment. For example, after a tufted fiber component is first attached to its primary carpet backing component for dimensional stability during printing, if such a step is desired to impart patterns of color or overall uniform colors to the target tufted substrate. After printing, a drying step is required to set the colors in place and reduce potential bleeding therefrom. The temperatures required for such a printing step (e.g., 130° C. and above) are generated within a heated area, generally, attached to the printing assembly. At such high temperatures, typical polypropylene tape fiber-containing backings exhibit the aforementioned high shrink rates (e.g., between 2-4% on average). Such shrinkage unfortunately dominates the dimensional configuration of the printed tufted substrate as well and thus dictates the ultimate dimensions of the overall product prior to attachment of a secondary backing. Such a secondary backing is thus typically cut to a size in relation to the expected size of the tufted component/primary backing article. Nonuniformity in shrinkage, as well as the need to provide differently sized secondary backings to the primary and tufted components thus evince the need for low-shrink polypropylene tape fiber primary carpet backings. With essentially zero shrinkage capability, the reliable selection of a uniform, proper size for the secondary backing would be a clear aid in reducing waste and cost in the manufacture of such carpets. The same general problems are associated with monofilament propylene fibers as well.
If printing is not desired, there still exist potential problems in relation to high-shrink tape fiber primary backing fabrics, namely the instance whereupon a latex adhesive is required to attach the remaining secondary backing components (as well as other components) to the tufted substrate/primary backing article. Drying is still a requirement to effectuate quick setting of such an adhesive. Upon exposure to sufficiently high temperatures, the sandwiched polypropylene tape fiber-containing primary backing will undergo a certain level of shrinkage, thereby potentially causing buckling of the ultimate product (or other problems associated with differing sizes of component parts within such a carpet article).
To date, there has been no simple solution to such problems, at least that provides substantially the same tensile strength exhibited by such higher-shrink tape fibers. Some ideas for improving upon the shrink rate characteristics of non-tape polypropylene fibers have included narrowing and controlling the molecular weight distribution of the polypropylene components themselves in each fiber or mechanically working the target fibers prior to and during heat-setting. Unfortunately, molecular weight control is extremely difficult to accomplish initially, and has only provided the above-listed shrink rates (which are still too high for widespread utilization within the fabric industry). Furthermore, the utilization of very high heat-setting temperatures during mechanical treatment has, in most instances, resulted in the loss of good hand and feel to the subject fibers. Another solution to this problem is preshrinking the fibers, which involves winding the fiber on a crushable paper package, allowing the fiber to sit in the oven and shrink for long times, (crushing the paper package), and then rewinding on a package acceptable for further processing. This process, while yielding an acceptable yarn, is expensive, making the resulting fiber uncompetitive as compared to polyester and nylon fibers. As a result, there has not been any teaching or disclosure within the pertinent prior art providing any heat- and/or moisture-shrink improvements in polypropylene fiber technology. Additionally, it has been found that these limited shrink-rate improvement procedures for non-tape fibers do not transfer to tape fibers to provide any substantial low-shrink benefits.
As noted above, the main concern with this invention is the production of low-shrink single filament high-denier polypropylene fibers (e.g., tape or monofilament types). For the purpose of this invention, the term “tape fiber” or fibers is intended to encompass a monofilament fiber exhibiting a cross sectional aspect ratio of at least 2:1, and therefore is a relatively wide and flat fiber. As noted above, such a tape fiber is generally produced through the initial creation of a film and/or tube of polypropylene from which the desired fibers are then slit (thereby according the desired flat configuration through such a slitting procedure with the slitting means, such as blades, situated at substantially uniform distances from each other during the actual slitting process to provide substantially uniform aspect ratios for the target fibers themselves). The denier of the inventive fiber should be at least 50, and preferably higher, for example, up to about 1,000 and higher, such as within the range of 5,000 to 10,000.
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The increasing use of MIDI and music synthesis capabilities in applications such as personal computer multimedia, Karaoke, and low cost musical instruments is fueling the demand for high performance music synthesis systems.
FIG. 1 depicts a synthesis system architecture 100 common to many modern cost-effective wavetable synthesizer implementations. A plurality of processor units are implemented in this instrument, where specialized tasks are assigned to each processor unit to realize high speed multi-tasking data processing. The configuration includes a synthesis processing unit 102, in which the synthesizing arithmetical operations are mainly performed, a microprocessing unit 104, that controls the synthesis processing unit 102 and also performs slow synthesizing operations, an input/output-unit 106 (I/O-unit) for data exchange with external peripherals, e.g. computers, (MIDI) keyboards, via interfaces, a memory management unit 108 for data exchange with external memory (DRAM, SRAM, ROM, floppy drive, etc.), and a clock unit 110 for providing a clock signal and reset signal.
This approach utilizes a specialized synthesis DSP core 102 for the sample processing tasks which directly generates synthesized voices, and a general-purpose microprocessor 104 to implement the command parsing and control tasks. This allows the DSP core 102, which must perform a limited number of processing tasks repetitively and very efficiently, to be optimized for the music synthesis task. By implementing only the instructions and capabilities needed for specific synthesis algorithms, and by adding specialized hardware for synthesis-specific functions, the synthesis DSP 102 performance can be improved.
According to the above-mentioned configuration, the time-critical functions are realized in the specialized synthesis DSP 102, where repetitive operations on one set of tone sample data could be performed. This kind of electronic musical instrument is disclosed in "A Music Synthesizer Architecture which Integrates a Specialized DSP Core and a 16-bit Microprocessor on a Single Chip", presented at the 98th Convention of the Audio Engineering Society, Feb., 25, 1995 by Deforeit and Heckroth. However, in the publication, no teaching is given on how to handle positive or negative overflows that may occur on performing arithmetic operations.
A computer system handling positive and negative overflow resulting from arithmetic operations of a two's complements adder is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,448,509. In the case of positive and negative overflows, the result of the two's complement adder is replaced by predetermined maximum and minimum values, respectively. The predetermined maximum and minimum values depend on the predetermined assignment of signs to the operands and the predetermined number of bits per operand. This limitation of the range of values produces a straight clipping of exceeding values. For example, when the sum of two positive continuous functions exceeds the predetermined maximum value, discontinuous function will result, as depicted in FIG. 2A.
Also, U.S. Pat. No. 5,381,356 discloses a technique to handle overflow for use in a digital filter. In this case, the polarity of the result of the two's complement adder is inverted at the occurrence of an overflow. This means, for example, that during summation of a constant signal and a sinusoidal signal using this adder, a jump of the resulting value will occur, when the resulting value exceeds the maximum value (an overflow event), as depicted in FIG. 2B.
As described above, a conventional digital musical tone forming device includes one or more CPUs for performing specialized operations on tone sample data, where occasionally a digital overflow may result from the operation as the digital sample data values are limited by the available number of bits per digital number representing a range of valid integer numbers. Thus, either the overflow is handled in a way given above, producing abrupt discontinuities in the time behavior of the tone data synthesis, resulting in distortions during the reproduction of these tone data (e.g. by speakers), or the initial tone data values are limited to a fraction of the available number of bits being operated at, so that no overflow will occur during tone synthesis, however substantially limiting the dynamic range of tone reproduction. The above is also true for other audio systems transferring or processing digital tone data.
In other applications such as process control systems or fast calculating systems, the occurrence of an overflow may cause an unwanted or even dangerous system failure. Furthermore, the abrupt or discontinuous clipping of digital process parameters or numerical data according to the conventional art may cause serious instabilities in process control or numerical model calculations. On the other hand, a software implementation of other clipping modes slows down the overall calculation speed of the system.
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Toxicants applied to the exterior of rodents, referred to as contact toxicants, are of particular importance in those situations where conventional rodent devices, such as baits, are either difficult to apply or are poorly accepted.
Although contact toxicants can be directly applied (e.g. by spraying) to pest animals, the logistics of this approach make passive systems preferable. Passive contact toxicant systems are those wherein the pest animal encounters the toxicant during the course of it's normal movement or behavior. Most passive contact toxicant systems involve tracking powders which are ingested through subsequent grooming activity of the animal after exposure and body contamination. Such formulations, unfortunately, are unable to withstand changes in climatic conditions and therefore contaminate the environment.
Passive contact toxicants are further employed in control devices. An example of such a device is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,281,471. In this reference, an apparatus characterized by an elongated tube with an interior cross-section is disclosed. Within this interior cross-section is located at least one cartridge onto which is loaded an absorbent material commonly referred to as the "wick." The absorbent material is saturated with a toxic solution. Rodents passing through the elongated tube come into contact with the toxicant formulation. During grooming, the rodent ingests the adhered toxicant and subsequently dies, usually outside the area of contact. This apparatus offers maximum contact between the rodent and pesticide, while substantially reducing chances of contamination to non-target species.
Morris et al, "Design and Evaluation Criteria for Development of Toxic Wicks for Rodent Control", Special Technical Publication 817, pp. 165-182, 1984, discusses the feasibility of using similar devices in the control of rodents. In this publication, the toxicant composition applied to the wick is a 0.25% solution of brodifacoum in a propylene glycol solution containing polyethylene glycol of an approximate molecular weight of 200. Unfortunately, rodents often find such toxicant compositions attractive for nesting purposes and thus they readily remove them from the cartridges. Further, this toxic formulation readily absorbs water. Thus, the probability of the formulation leaking off the wick into the interior cross-section of the tube and, thus, into the environment is high. As a result, this composition may contaminate non-target species and the environment. Further, it is unsuitable for use in mass marketing due to it's susceptibility to physical changes in the atmosphere.
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A semiconductor bridge (“SCB”) die device has typically been configured to include a pair of conductive lands connected together by a narrower conductive bridge segment. The bridge segment may be formed from doped or undoped silicon, either alone or having an upper layer of a metal such as tungsten or titanium disposed thereover. The lands may also comprise silicon, oftentimes covered with a layer of, e.g., aluminum. Other configurations of the die exist in the art. The conductive lands are commonly connected to a source of electrical energy (e.g., an active power source or a stored charge device such as a capacitor). For use as an explosive initiator or igniter, the bridge segment is typically placed in close physical contact with an explosive charge (e.g., a pyrotechnic material charge). In various embodiments of these devices, an electrical current passing through the bridge causes plasma to form from the electrically activated bridge material, wherein the plasma subsequently initiates or ignites the explosive charge. The explosive charge may be connected by, e.g., a shock tube, to a detonator device that detonates upon initiation or ignition of the explosive charge by the SCB device.
In addition, the SCB die is typically connected to a header device. The header may comprise ceramic, glass, metal or other suitable material. The bottom surface of the SCB die may connect to the top surface of the header by, e.g., a soldered connection or epoxy. Besides this physical connection of the SCB die to the header, an electrical connection from the electrically conductive SCB die to pins (typically two pins) on the header also exists. The header pins are then connected to the electrical power source.
Prior art SCB devices typically utilize bondwires (e.g., 5 mils in diameter) to make an electrical connection from the top surface of the die (i.e., from the metallized conductive lands on the die) to the pins or other suitable contact areas on the header. However, issues regarding the use of bondwires may include bondwire cutoff smearing aluminum across the glass seal which surrounds the pin to be wirebonded, sub-optimal bondwire configuration for relatively small geometry applications, minimum powder load requirements to assure the bondwires do not touch the output cup, added header cost due to the unique features required for wirebonding, electrostatic discharge issues, and with respect to high volume applications the cost of capital equipment required for wirebonding at high speed.
For these and other reasons, it is known to eliminate the bondwires and use some type of electrically conductive surface connection between the bottom surface of the SCB die and the top surface of the header. Such a surface mounted SCB die enables igniters with relatively smaller charges to be readily manufactured since the header can be made with a smaller diameter and the minimum powder bed above the die can be reduced, as there are no bondwires that might contact the output cup. However, these and other common known approaches for connecting the SCB die to the header without bondwires (e.g., submounts and wraparound metallization) are relatively limited in their applicability, for example, in that they require relatively tightly controlled header dimensions. Also, these methods are of relatively high cost and not easily manufacturable.
Vertical holes have been manufactured but fabricating die with metal on the insides of the holes has proven problematic. What is needed is a tapered or “slope-sided” SCB die and method for making such a die wherein the resulting die is relatively more easily solderable to the header through use of a surface mounting technique without the use of bondwires, the connection between the die and the header being relatively more reliable, the dimensional requirements of the header are relaxed to a certain degree, and the manufacture of the SCB die and header, along with the soldering of the die to the header, are all of relatively lower cost.
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1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to a stainless steel wire, and more specifically to a type of stainless steel wire having a nickel plated layer on the outer surface of the stainless steel wire.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Various types of stainless steel wire of superior anticorrosive nature are known, and these are widely employed in the production of coiled springs.
However, when the stainless steel wire is formed into coiled springs, some difficulties in the coiling process are experienced. The most fundamental of these difficulties is the frictional seizure or galling caused between the stainless steel wire and the feed rollers, the wire guide, and the bending die of an automatic coiling machine. If such frictional seizure occurs, irregularities in the dimensions or in the structure of the coiled springs inevitably result, and the operation of the coiled springs thus produced are not constant. Furthermore, wear in the feed rollers and bending die is severe, rendering the production of the coiled springs utterly unsuccessful.
In order to avoid such difficulties, a stainless wire plated with lead or coated with a suitable resin has been employed in automatic coiling machines.
However, where a stainless steel wire plated with lead is employed, there is always a hazard from pulverized lead, which is poisonous to te human body, being spread around the coiling cite. Furthermore, both the lead plated and the resin covered stainless steel wire easily change in color during the stress relieving process (at about 400.degree. C) carried out after the coiling process, rendering the coiled springs esthetically unpleasant, and requiring another process for removing the lead or resin layer before the stress-relieving process.
Therefore, the primary object of the present invention is to provide a stainless steel wire so processed that the above described drawbacks of conventional stainless steel wires can be essentially eliminated.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a stainless steel wire which possesses sufficient lubrication when it is processed in a coiling machine.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a stainless steel wire which preserves its aesthetically pleasant features even after it is subjected to a stress-relieving process following the coiling process.
An additional object of the invention is to provide a stainless steel wire which also preserves its anti-corrosive nature after it is subjected to the stress-relieving and coiling processes.
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Electronic devices commonly utilize piezoelectric, piezo-resistive and capacitive components to measure dynamic changes in mechanical variables such as acceleration, vibration, and mechanical shock. Such measurements are obtained by converting mechanical motion into an electrical signal. These devices are useful for a wide variety of applications including, but not limited to engineering, machine monitoring, biological study, navigation, medical applications, transportation, motion input, orientation sensing, and image stabilization.
One such class of electronic device is the accelerometer, which is capable of measuring acceleration by generating or altering a voltage proportional to a physical accelerative force acting thereon. Piezoelectric accelerometers are operative to convert mechanical force, such as a force applied to a piezoelectric crystal by a seismic mass, to an electrical signal. Piezo-resistive accelerometers use a piezo-resistive sensor element in place of the piezoelectric crystal. When a force acts upon a seismic mass, the stress induced on the piezo-resistive gages causes a change in resistance, thereby altering a voltage provided across the gages of the sensor element. Unlike piezoelectric accelerometers, piezo-resistive accelerometers measure acceleration levels down to zero Hertz (i.e. static conditions).
While these devices are capable of producing accurate measurements when properly calibrated, their baseline voltage outputs (at zero acceleration for example) are subject to drift. Drift may be the result of temperature and/or environmental changes, component break-in, as well as packaging stresses that tend to relax over time. The output bias of a typical accelerometer output may shift, for example, a couple percent of full range as a result of its drift, thereby reducing the measurement accuracy of the device over its lifecycle.
In order to compensate for these errors, manufacturers often employ thermal conditioning techniques in an attempt to work out these anomalies prior to final device calibration. Such techniques include extended burn-in periods and thermal cycling of the devices. However, these techniques do not fully cure the problem. Accordingly, end users either have to allot for these measurement uncertainties or employ separate instrumentation, such as auto-zero signal conditioners, to periodically perform zero correction.
Additional solutions include the implementation of mechanical potentiometers integrated into the circuits of the devices for manually dialing-out this drift. However, potentiometer-based solutions tend to be time consuming and are of limited accuracy. Other devices employ auto-zero algorithms based on ADC-MCU-DAC arrangements (where ADC is analog to digital converter, DAC is digital to analog converter, and MCU is microcontroller unit) which induce digital noise and increase cost.
Accordingly, improved systems and methods of offset voltage correction are desired.
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Mobile computing devices such as smart phones and laptops are routinely moved from one local wireless network to another. A mobile computing device often interacts with other computing devices (e.g., peripheral such as printers, monitors, and so on or other mobile devices) within the network where the device currently resides. The mobile computing device employs discovery techniques to discover the device names of other devices that are part of the network. The device names can be used by the mobile computing device to address packets used to communicate with the devices.
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A recording apparatus is known in which an accommodating device is supported by a casing so as to open and close. For example, a copier is disclosed in which a cassette is supported by a main body so as to open and close.
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1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a thermoplastic resin composition. More particularly, it pertains to a thermoplastic resin composition which comprises as the principal component a styrenic polymer having a high degree of syndiotactic configuration, said composition being improved in long-term heat resistant stability by being compounded with a polyphenylene ether that is modified by a compound having an ethylenic double bond and a polar group in the same molecule (particularly typified by maleic anhydride) or a derivative thereof at a modification rate of not less than 1.3% by weight (hereinafter sometimes referred to as "Maleic anyhydride-modified PPO" or simply "Modified PPO"), and at the same time, to a process capable of efficiently producing the Maleic anhydride-modified PPO.
2. Description of Related Art
There has heretofore been adopted the technique for improving various thermoplastic resins in the dynamical properties (or mechanical properties), especially rigidity and heat resistance by compounding therein an inorganic filler such as glass fiber. There are proposed the thermoplastic resin compositions excellent in heat resistance and dynamical properties, for example, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Nos. 257948/1987 and 182344/1990 in which syndiotactic polystyrenes are compounded with an inorganic filler, and a thermoplastic resin and/or rubber together with an inorganic filler, respectively. However, the aforesaid technique has been incapable of producing a satisfactory resin composition even if compounded with an inorganic filler because of the insufficient adhesivity between a syndiotactic polystyrene (SPS) and an inorganic filler.
Such being the case, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 126743/1991 discloses the improved technique over the aforementioned ones in which a syndiotactic polystyrene is incorporated with a maleic anhydride-modified PPO to provide a resin composition excellent in impact resistance, heat resistance and mechanical properties. The aforesaid improved technique, however, necessitates at least 5% by weight of the maleic anhydride-modified PPO to be incorporated therein for the purpose of sufficienty exhibiting the effect owing to its low modification rate.
Nevertheless it has been found, as a result of long-term heat resistance test for the resin composition incorporated with the maleic anhydride-modified PPO, that the decrease in the molecular weight of the syndiotactic polystyrene (SPS) is made remarkable by the increase in the loading of the maleic anhydride-modified PPO causing deterioration of dynamical properties of the composition, and that a loading thereof of 5% by weight or more further accelerate the aforestated unfavorable tendency. Moreover in order to allow an alloy-based resin composition incorporated with polyamide to exert a sufficient compatibility effect, it is necessary to add a large amount of maleic anhydride-modified PPO to the composition, thus lowering the crystallinity of SPS. Likewise, the decrease in the molecular weight of SPS is inevitable in the long-term heat resistance test for the composition.
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There are many bedding products, including mattresses and pillows designed to increase a user's comfort while lying down to sleep or rest or perform sedentary activities. Some major concerns for people lying down or sleeping are related to breathing, pressure, stress, alignment, and overall comfort. These concerns can be greater for overweight or taller users, athletic users, and pregnant women.
Most pillows are designed to provide support for the user's head and neck while the user lies down on their back or side. Some designs are created to keep the user's spine in alignment while the user sleeps on their side or back. These pillows may be designed with curves upward to provide further support in the area at the base of the skull for the user sleeping on their back or at the neck and jawline of the user sleeping on their side. Some pillows are manufactured out of special materials to provide support or flexibility and to contour to the user's unique shape. However, not all people prefer to lie down or sleep on their back or side, and the above mentioned specially designed pillows are not comfortable for a user who chooses to sleep on their front facing the pillow.
Some people prefer to sleep or rest face-down to increase their comfort and alleviate their concern with breathing, loss of circulation, and pressure. For example, some people sleep face down because they are uncomfortable sleeping on their back due to breathing problems, such as a closing of their airway or sleep apnea. Some people sleep face down because they find that sleeping on their side will cause their arms to fall asleep or their spine to feel misaligned. Many people toss and turn throughout the night trying to get comfortable or reposition their body to relieve some stress on their arms, hips, neck, head, and back.
Sleeping face-down on a standard pillow can cause issues with airflow, breathing, and temperature control. Sleeping facing down can also cause problems with blood circulation in the arms if the arms are pressed under the body. It can also cause breathing problems or issues with air flow or circulation when the user is facing the pillow. Further, issues with temperature control can be caused by breathing into a pillow pressed against the user's face. Some users turn their head sideways when sleeping face-down to increase airflow and temperature control. This can cause a strain on the user's neck, arms, and back if the user turns their head to sleep with their current pillows. Pillows have been designed to help provide a place for an adult's face to lie, or a hole, which allows room for the user to breathe, for example U.S. Design Pat. No. D277,059 (Boone).
Some users take stress off their neck when they sleep on their front by placing their arms or hands under the pillow to prop the pillow up to. This can cause a loss of blood circulation to the arms or hands with their arm placed under the pressure of the body, head, or pillow. One attempt to solve this problem of creating space under a pillow, is U.S. Pat. No. 3,883,906 (Sumpter), which provides tunnel-like openings for the arms of a sleeper. Sumpter provides that the user's arms would be extended above the user's head and parallel to their body underneath the pillow. The problems described above also occur when the user tries to perform sedentary tasks when resting on their front facing a pillow structure. For example, users seek a comfortable way to perform sedentary tasks, such as reading email or typing on an electronic device, reading books, or performing tasks on their mobile devices, cell phones, or tablets while resting. These tasks can include many different tasks on various devices or objects, such as reading and writing emails and text messages; watching videos, such as sports, movies and television shows; surfing the internet; reading the news and gossip; shopping online; and other tasks requiring limited ability to move. With the proliferation of smaller devices capable of performing these tasks and other tasks, people are more likely to perform these tasks on a smaller device and at various locations. Although these tasks may take place while the user is seated, such as on an airplane, or at a desk, or at a table, these tasks may alternately take place while the user is leaning forward while seated or while the user is lying down. Many people perform these tasks in bed. Some people are not comfortable lying on their back while holding a book or mobile device, cell phone, or tablet above them for an extended period of time. Holding an object above your face for an extended period of time can be uncomfortable. Some people are not comfortable lying on their side for an extended period of time holding a book or device. Lying on one's side limits the ability of one arm or hand to hold the book and turn the page or to touch the device. Further, many new devices contain technology that automatically turns the image on the device based on how the device is oriented, assuming the user is not lying sideways, so that a user reading a website or looking at a picture or video with their head turned sideways must awkwardly turn (or change the settings on their device).
Another problem people have is trying to rest or perform sedentary activities comfortably while seated. This is particularly the case while users are seated on an airplane or at a desk or table. Some pillows have been designed to help support the user's head and neck, but these do not provide the desired amount of support or stability. Some users lean forward and cross their arms and rest their head against their arms, turning their head to the side. This position allows for some level of comfort if the user can comfortably do so while bending at the waist. In many locations, bending at the waist is not a comfortable option, including on an airplane. Also, by turning their head, the user's spine is not aligned. Some users lean their head to the side or try to keep their head back against a headrest, but during their rest their head may lean forward or to a different side if not given the desired support. Leaning the head to the side for too long will also cause pain, stiffness, or soreness for the user's neck. By turning their head, the user's spine is not aligned and the user cannot comfortably rest or sleep. Based on the restricted size of seats, leg space, and lap space for user's sitting on airplanes, users seek a comfortable alternative to the available options. Users are particularly sedentary on airplanes, but the inventive pillow structure would be similarly useful for users seated at a desk or table.
Another problem people have while lying down is comfortably listening to audio through headphones. Some people listen to music, books “on tape,” audio with video, or other sounds such as “white noise” while resting. People place headphones over their ears or place earbuds into their ears while leaning forward in a seated position or while lying down. Many headphones that cover the user's ears or earbuds inserted into the ear are not comfortable when the user's head is against a pillow or against the user's arm or another object. Pressure from an object against the headphones or earbuds, even from a relatively soft object such as a pillow, can cause discomfort to the user.
Designing a comfortable pillow structure that allows the user to rest facing down towards a pillow structure, while the user's arms and/or hands are comfortably placed underneath the user's head at an angle substantially perpendicular to the user's body would be a useful invention as it would allow the user to rest comfortably and position their arms in a manner that allowed flexibility in the user's movements and allow the user to perform sedentary activities. Designing a pillow structure with a cavity in the middle of the pillow structure for the user to place an object such as a book or device, and providing at least one opening for the user's face and at least two openings for the user's arms and/or hands that meet at the cavity would be a useful invention allowing the user to perform sedentary activities while comfortably resting. Designing a pillow structure with space in at least one opening to the cavity for wires, power cords, or headphones or earbuds would be a useful invention. Designing a pillow structure with a source of light for viewing objects placed in the cavity in the middle of the pillow structure the would be a useful invention.
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The invention concerns a guidance device for a thrust reverser system of a jet engine mounted on a mast comprising at least two guide pieces fastened to the upper frame integral with the mast and pieces to be guided fastened to a moving fairing.
The actuation of the thrust reverser system of certain turbojet engines is effected by the displacement by known means, such as jacks, of a section located in the rear part of the nacelle fairing.
The displacement toward the rear of the section has the effect of:
extending the reverser cascades retracted within the nacelle;
carrying along the closing means of a known type, such as blocker doors, to close off the secondary jet downstream from the reverser cascades;
redirecting in the upstream direction the entire flow of air coming from the fan, through the cascade.
This displacement results in a deployed position of the exhaust reverser system and furnishes a reverse thrust mode, when the section is moved toward the bow, the thrust reverser is in a forward thrust mode, in a stowed position.
The invention concerns more particularly the guidance device mounted between the mobile reverser cascades and a stationary part, such as the upper and lower frames of the nacelle integral with the mast from which the jet engine is suspended.
French Pat. No. 2,184,021 describes a guiding device for a cowling ring capable of varying the cross section of the jet pipe in a jet engine comprising a variable pitch fan. The ring is displaced so as to form an air inlet when the fan operates in reverse. The device contains two guide pieces or rails, parallel to the axis of the nacelle, attached to the mast and to each other by means of crossbraces, wherein the pieces to be guided and fastened to the ring are slidably guided. The pieces have a T-shaped part which engages in the guide rail.
The part of the rail cooperating with the T-shaped parts is covered by a plastic layer which assures tightness and ease of translational movement. Tightness is obtained by the pivoting of the T-shaped part under the weight of the ring, with the opposing edges of the transverse bar forming two lines of sealing contacts.
The functions of guidance and tightness are suitably assured by the above-described device, however, the ease of translation is doubtful, because it is necessary to overcome the contact forces developing along the two sealing lines.
French Pat. No. 2,132,380 eliminates this disadvantage, but at the price of increased complexity. Each half of the fairing carries two sets of inversion blading supported between two spars extending longitudinally. Sliding elements, having a T-shaped part, are attached to the upper spar of the upper blading and to the lower spar of the lower blading and cooperate with the slots provided in the upper and lower frame elements. The spars further carry a groove which cooperates with a wing of an actuating device to retain the bladings and to make possible their sliding. The wings of the actuating device play an important role only at the onset of the motion of the blades. When the blades arrive in their positions, only the elements sliding in the slots provided in the frame elements ensure the guidance and support of the weight of the blades and of the forces generated by the inversion of the gas flow.
In the final phase of the installation of the blades, difficulties similar to those found in the preceding patent, are encountered. Furthermore, no plastic coating is provided in the slots to facilitate displacement.
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1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a microcomputer, and more particularly to a microcomputer having an instruction execution unit and an internal memory formed on the same chip and capable of accessing the internal memory and an external memory.
2. Description of Related Art
Recent advancement of semiconductor device manufacturing technologies has resulted in increase in the integration density of semiconductor devices. This advancement has developed so-called microcomputers from 8 bits to 16 bits, and further to 32 bits. Particularly, increased integration density of the microcomputer has increased the capacity of an internal memory formed together with an instruction execution unit on the same single chip.
On the other hand, the advancement of the semiconductor device manufacturing technologies has also elevated the operation speed of the semiconductor devices. Particularly, the internal memory can be operated at a speed higher than that required for accessing to an external memory, because the internal memory can be accessed without intermediary of an external bus and a bus buffer.
Thus, in order to improve the performance of microcomputers, it has become an ordinary practice to positively utilize an internal memory and set a read/write cycle in such a manner that an internal memory access time is shorter than an external memory access time. For this purpose, for example, a microcomputer is constructed such that an internal bus of the microcomputers is divided into a main bus for transferring data and address to an external memory access, and a sub-bus specially provided for accessing an internal memory, so that an internal memory access can be executed in a short time.
In an instruction execution of microcomputers, however, the memory access time is closely related to the actual time of the instruction execution. Therefore, in the computer constructed as mentioned above, the processing time the execution of instructions with reference to the internal memory is different from the time for the execution of instructions with reference to the external memory. This is true even if the contents of the processings are the same.
On the other hand, in the case of a microcomputer having an internal memory composed of a mask programmable read only memory (ROM), when only a small amount of microcomputers is produced, the system is so constructed that only an external memory is used from the viewpoint of the cost and reliability of the processing program. But, if the computer becomes manufactured in a mass-production manner, a processing program is then relocated to an internal memory to allow reduction of required capacity of an external memory, so that the cost is decreased.
In this circumstance, it is inconvenient that the processing with reference to the internal memory is different in execution time from the processing with reference to the external memory. Particularly, this problem is very significant in the field of application such as a motor control in which a real time processing has to be precisely executed.
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1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to thermal management of radio frequency identification (RFID) tag readers.
2. Background Art
Radio frequency identification (RFID) tags are electronic devices that may be affixed to items whose presence is to be detected and/or monitored. RFID tags are read or interrogated by RFID readers on which one or more interrogator antennas reside. RFID readers are conventionally kept in an ON state for a considerable portion of their operating cycles. This results in excessive power consumption and over-heating. Over-heating of the RFID reader may further lead to erroneous functioning or even worse, a permanent damage to the RFID reader's electronic circuitry rendering the RFID reader useless.
Thus, what is needed is an efficient thermal management system and method for controlling temperature variations in an RFID reader and thereby avoid over-heating and damage of the RFID reader components.
The present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, like reference numbers indicate identical or functionally similar elements. Additionally, the left-most digit(s) of a reference number identifies the drawing in which the reference number first appears.
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The present invention relates to an improved energy saving process for the manufacture of synthetic ammonia.
The ammonia synthesis feed gas produced by conventional hydrocarbon conversion processes contains objectionable quantities of carbon dioxide and water which adversely affect the ammonia conversion catalyst. The carbon dioxide content of the raw feed gas after reforming and shifting, is reduced by conventional alkaline or solvent scrubbing, but low level residual carbon dioxide after methanation, is still objectionable in the synthesis loop.
The conventional ammonia plant removes the remaining carbon dioxide and the water from the make-up gas by introducing the make-up gas into the ammonia loop after the catalytic synthesis converter and before the refrigerating system that condenses the product ammonia. The liquefying ammonia absorbs the carbon dioxide and water from the unreacted synthesis gas which is then recommended with recycled gas and passed to the converter.
It has also been proposed to remove water and residual carbon dioxide from the make-up gas by scrubbing with liquid ammonia as described for example in the patent to Nebgen, U.S. Pat. No. 3,349,569, or by using molecular sieve driers.
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1. Field of the Invention
In landscaping operations large grown trees are often transplanted to open areas to provide a pleasing appearance. The trees to be transplanted include a ball of earth about the essential root structure of the tree to be transplanted. The size of the ball depends on both the size of the tree and the size of the necessary root structure for survival of the type of tree. According to the size and type of tree the ball may be as large as four or five feet in diameter.
2. Related Art
In order to successfully plant such a tree a hole must be excavated to accommodate the ball of earth contained about the root structure. Excavations have been performed by hand using shovels or by use of a back hoe. While use of a back hoe may reduce the time necessary to make the hole, due to its digging action a much larger hole is often excavated than required for a ball. Additionally the shape of the hole is such that it may leave an unsightly scar in the landscaped area requiring some hand work to clean up the eyesore.
A need for a device that would quickly and neatly excavate a ball hole was thus seen. While combination auger and buckets are fairly old in the art none appear to be readily adapted for the purpose. For example Lyon in U.S. Pat. No. 173,482 discloses a boring cylinder divided into two parts with cutting edges only on the bottom. The rotational cutting force must be supplied through the walls of the cylinder. Additionally Lyon's auger cylinder requires a band to keep the two halves together during operation which might prove difficult to remove after the auger is lifted from the excavation. Hubbard in U.S. Pat. No. 185,638 discloses a similar earth auger having the similar characteristics to Lyon. Salyer in U.S. Pat. No. 154,962 discloses another version of an earth auger which includes cutting edges on the walls of the cylinder as well as bottom. Salyer's auger depends upon external tabs or lips bearing on the sides of the cylinder to prevent the halves from opening.
Richards in U.S. Pat. No. 146,475 discloses a clam-like auger for cleaning out wells which includes a sliding rotating member for opening a part of the shell to dump the excavation product. The cutting edge in Richard is also contained on the walls of the auger. Similar auger cylinders are disclosed by Needham in U.S. Pat. No. 244,819 and Gooder in U.S. Pat. No. 2,091,779. While each of the disclosed devices may perform their function well, due to the diameter of the excavation required for a tree root ball (often five feet or larger), the strength required in the cutting edge and their support is considerable. Such strength would require a heavy walled cylinder making the weight of the device practically unmanageable without expensive heavy equipment. Additionally the cylindrical shape of these devices would require a deeper excavation than necessary for a tree root ball.
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The proliferation of air bag systems in vehicles has and continues to be dramatic. In the recent past, for instance, air bags were only available on certain models of cars and were typically limited to being installed in the steering column. Now, air bags are standard equipment on almost all current models of cars and trucks. Further, in addition to driver-side air bags, vehicles now contain passenger-side air bags and side-curtain air bags that may be located along the side walls of a vehicle and can, for instance, extend substantially the entire length of an interior side of a passenger compartment.
When installed in a vehicle, air bags are typically folded and located in small compartments. The air bags are placed in communication with a gas inflation system that inflates the air bag when a collision between the vehicle and another object is detected.
Air bags are made from materials, such as woven fabrics, that must have a unique combination of properties. For instance, the air bags should be capable of being folded into small shapes and should also be able to withstand broad temperature swings without degrading. For example, the inside of a vehicle can become relatively warm in the summer and relatively cold in the winter.
Air bags should also be made from materials that are capable of withstanding the force of the inflation gas while, in some embodiments, also being capable of quickly deflating after being inflated in a process referred to as “leak down”. Air bag materials should also have relatively high tensile strength and tear strength and should be capable of being made with a relatively low permeability.
In the past, many air bags were made from a woven fabric containing multifilament yarns, such as yarns made from nylon. The air bag fabrics were made using various different weaving systems. For instance, in some applications, the fabrics were woven on a Rapier weaving machine.
Recently, various attempts have been made to produce air bag fabrics on water jet weaving machines. In a water jet loom, the weft or pick yarns are moved in the cross machine direction through a shed formed by the warp yarns using jet streams of water. Of particular advantage, water jet weaving machines are much faster and have a higher throughput than conventional Rapier weaving machines.
The use of water jet looms to produce air bag fabrics, for instance, is disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,421,378; 5,503,197; 5,650,207; 6,413,452; and 6,796,337, which are all incorporated herein by reference. In the past, when producing air bag fabrics on water jet looms, it was generally taught not to apply a size to the warp yarns during the weaving process. Sizing is a procedure where the warp yarns are coated with a substance, such as a polymeric material that facilitates weaving, such as by reducing friction and/or improving abrasion resistance. The process of applying a size is commonly called “slashing”. Abrasion reduction contributes to a reduction in the number of breaks, strip backs, fuzz balls, etc. all of which translate into a higher percentage of off-quality and into more machine stops during the course of weaving.
In the past, a size was not typically applied to the warp yarns during a water jet weaving process for various reasons. For instance, water jet weaving processes can be less stressful on the yarns during weaving in comparison to other conventional weaving systems. This is possible in part because the water introduced in this process acts in limited capacity as a size by adding coherency and lubrication to the yarn. Consequently, a size was generally not necessary in order to prevent yarn breakage. Further, the use of a size requires several extra steps in the fabrication process. In addition, sizes can add cost to the product and typically were removed from the yarns after being applied in a process known as “scouring”.
The present disclosure is generally directed to further improvements in producing air bag fabrics on water jet weaving machines. In particular, the present disclosure is directed to the use of a size composition during water jet weaving in which the formed fabric does not necessarily have to undergo scouring to remove the size composition. Of particular advantage, the size composition not only improves the efficiency of the weaving process but can also provide benefits and advantages to the final product.
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1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to recombinant nucleic acid molecules and recombinant fusion proteins, and more particularly to Shiga-like toxin-vascular endothelial growth factor fusion proteins and recombinant DNA molecules coding for such fusion proteins. The present invention also relates to bacterial vectors containing the above recombinant nucleic acid molecules, methods of producing the above fusion proteins, and their use in therapeutic treatments.
2. Description of the Related Art
Angiogenesis is a tightly controlled process of growing new blood vessels (see, Folkman & Shing, 1992; Hanahan, 1997, for reviews). Under normal circumstances angiogenesis occurs only during embryonic development, wound healing and development of the corpus luteum. However, angiogenesis occurs in a large number of pathologies, such as solid tumor and metastasis growth, various eye diseases, chronic inflammatory states, and ischemic injuries (see, Folkman, 1995, for review). Thus, growing endothelial cells present unique targets for treatment of several major pathologies.
The crucial positive regulator of angiogenesis is vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) also known as vascular permeability factor (see, Neufeld, et al, 1999 for reviews). VEGF is a secreted dimeric glycoprotein that, as a result of alternative splicing, may consist of polypeptides with 121, 145, 165, 189 and 206 amino acid residues. VEGF is expressed by normal and tumor cells and the control of VEGF expression appears to be regulated on several levels (see, Claffey & Robinson, 1996, Veikkola & Alitalo, 2000, for reviews). Expression of VEGF is upregulated in response to hypoxia and nutritional deprivation suggesting a feedback loop between tumor and metastasis growth and the ability of tumor cells to induce host angiogenic responses.
The action of VEGF on endothelial cells is mediated by tyrosine kinase flt-1 and KDR/flk-1 receptors, also known as VEGFR-1 and VEGFR-2 (see, Terman, & Dougher-Vermazen, 1996; Veikkola, et al, 2000, for review). These receptors are preferentially expressed on endothelial cells. There are reports that endothelial cells at the sites of angiogenesis express significantly higher numbers of KDR/Flk1 receptors than quiescent endothelial cells (Brown, et al., 1993, 1995; Plate, et al., 1993; Detmar, et al., 1994; Couffinhal, et al., 1997). The receptors are single span transmembrane protein tyrosine kinase that belong to the immunoglobulin superfamily and contains seven Ig-like loops in the extracellular domain and shares homology with the receptor for platelet-derived growth factor. VEGF binding to these receptors induces receptor dimerization followed by tyrosine phosphorylation of the SH2 and SH3 domains in the dimer (see, Neufeld, et al., 1994 for review). KDR/Flk1-VEGF complex is internalized via receptor-mediated endocytosis (Bikfalvi, et al., 1991).
Several groups reported that targeting of either VEGF or KDR/flk-1 inhibits angiogenesis and angiogenesis-dependent processes (Kim, et al., 1993; Millauer, et al., 1994; Saleh, et al., 1996; Aiello, et al., 1995). On the other hand, direct injection of VEGF or a plasmid encoding VEGF into ischemic tissues in a model system promoted development of microvasculature and improved recovery after ischemic injury or balloon angioplasty (Asahara, et al., 1996). Taken together, these results leave little doubt that VEGF and KDR/Flt1 play crucial roles in angiogenesis. Although these experiments provided a “proof-of-principle” that VEGF-toxin conjugates or fusion proteins may work in vivo, further development of DT-VEGF constructs is doubtful, because of the renal and liver toxicity of DT-containing fusion proteins (see, for example, Vallera et al., 1997).
Since VEGF binds specifically to endothelial cells, this growth factor provides a unique opportunity for targeted drug delivery to the sites of angiogenesis. It was demonstrated that catalytically active forms of diptheria toxin covalently linked or fused via recombinant DNA technology to recombinant VEGF165 and/or VEGF121 are selectively toxic against cells expressing KDR/flk-1 receptors and also suppressed angiogenesis in vivo (Ramakrishnan, et al., 1996; Olson et al., 1997; Arora, et al., 1999).
It is advantageous to use VEGF for targeting toxins that are “natural killers” of endothelial cells. Shiga-like toxin 1 produced by E. coli O157:H7 is such a “natural killer” for endothelial cells. Damage to endothelial cells caused by Shiga-like toxins 1 plays a causative role in the pathogenesis of hemorrhagic colitis (HC) and hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) induced by E. coli O157:H7 (Obrig, et al., 1987, 1993; Richardson, et al., 1988; Kaplan, et al., 1990).
Shiga-like toxin 1 (SLT-1) is composed of a single copy of a 32 kDa A-subunit associated with a ring shaped pentamer of receptor-binding 7 kDa B-subunits. B-subunits bind SLTs to the cellular receptor globotrioaosylceramide known as Gb3 (Obrig et al., 1993). This receptor is found on many cell types including endothelial cells (Obrig et al., 1993). After binding to the cell surface receptor, SLT is endocytosed and A-subunit is cleaved into A1 (27.5 kDa) and A2 (4.5 kDa) forms that are linked by disulphide bond (Olsnes et al., 1981). Processed A subunit is a specific N-glycosidase that inactivates ribosomes by cleaving off a single adenine residue in the position 4324 from 5′ terminus of 28S rRNA of 60S ribosome subunit (Saxena et al., 1989). The cleavage of A4324 from 28S rRNA inactivates ribosomes by inhibiting binding of the elongation factor (EF-1)/aminocyl-tRNA complex to ribosomes, resulting in the inhibition of the protein synthesis. As with other ribosome-inactivating agents, the subsequent cytostatic and cytotoxic effects might arise as a cellular response to inactivation of a relatively small proportion of ribosomes through ribotoxic stress response (Iordanov et al., 1997). Alternatively, cytostatic and cytotoxic effects might arise as a cellular response to a massive collapse of protein synthesis due to inactivation of a large number of ribosomes. It is important that the unprocessed, full length A subunit as well as various truncated A subunits retain significant N-glycosidase activity (Haddad, et al., 1993; Al-Jaufy, et al., 1994, 1995). Furthermore, fusion proteins containing unprocessed, full length A subunit as well as various truncated A subunits fused to N-terminus of CD4 retain N-glycosidase activity and are cytotoxic for cells expressing HIV-1 gp120-gp41 complex (Al-Jaufy, et al., 1994, 1995).
Since Shiga-like toxin is a “natural” killer of endothelial cells it is advantageous to deliver enzymatically active full-length, truncated or mutated A subunit into endothelial cells in order to inhibit their growth and/or kill them. To avoid damage to other cell type the enzymatically active full-length, truncated or mutated A subunit should be delivered into target cells by endothelial cell specific growth factor such as VEGF. Therefore, it is an object herein to provide effective recombinant DNA methods for the production of fusion proteins containing enzymatically active full-length, truncated or mutated A subunit fused to full-length, truncated or mutated VEGF that retain ability to bind to VEGF receptors.
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1. Field
Methods and apparatuses consistent with exemplary embodiments of the inventive concept relate to operating a storage controller, and more particularly to initializing a main memory of a data storage device using a memory initialization device with a wider band width than a central processing unit (CPU) or a direct memory access (DMA).
2. Description of the Related Art
A solid state drive (SSD), as one of auxiliary memory devices, has advantages of having less operating noises, less power consumption, and faster speed than a hard disk drive (HDD). As a capacity of a NAND flash memory of the SSD is gradually increased, a capacity of a buffer memory such as a dynamic random access memory including meta information or a mapping table of the NAND flash memory is also constantly increased. An initializing operation is required to use a dynamic random access memory (DRAM), and, as a capacity of the DRAM is increased, time required to initialize the DRAM is also increased.
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{
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1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus, an image processing method, a computer-readable recording medium, a printing system, and a method of producing printed material and in particular, to an image data processing technique for performing printing using a printer (printing apparatus).
2. Description of the Related Art
JP2008-8841A discloses a printed material inspection method and a printed material inspection system for performing quality determination of a printed material produced by a printing machine. The method disclosed in JP2008-8841A is a printed material inspection method of performing quality determination of a printed material based on a master image as a reference for quality determination and an image obtained by capturing the printed material using an imaging unit. In this method, the density level of an area image of the master image is compared with the density level of an area image of a print image corresponding to the area image, and the portion is detected as a defective spot if the difference between the compared density levels is equal to or greater than the allowable value set in advance.
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This invention relates to a radio receiver for frequency modulated tones, such as is used in radio-paging systems and some navigation systems.
In such systems the input signals at the receiver consist of a sinewave tone (audio) frequency modulated onto a radio frequency carrier wave. Existing receivers for these signals generally use the superheterodyne principle which requires filtering to remove first order responses (so called image response). Homodyne (zero intermediate frequency) receivers are known which will demodulate frequency modulated signals in general but these require complex hardware to realise them. For the reduced requirement of detecting simply the presence or absence of a modulating tone the more simple receiver described herein may be employed.
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The present disclosure relates to a reflective liquid crystal display element and its manufacturing method. For example, the present disclosure relates to a reflective liquid crystal display element having improved quality and its manufacturing method.
There are various types of reflective liquid crystal display elements that display color images. Examples of the types of reflective liquid crystal display devices include a type in which a color image in each pixel is displayed by combining images of three primary colors respectively displayed by three elements, a type in which a color image in each pixel is displayed by switching a color of an image displayed by each element by a field sequential method, and a type in which a color image in each pixel is displayed by a combination of color filters corresponding to three primary colors provided for each element (see Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2000-131685).
Note that in the reflective liquid crystal display element disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2000-131685, a substrate on which a reflective film (a reflection metal electrode) and color filters are formed and another substrate on which a transparent electrode is formed are opposed to each other with a liquid crystal interposed therebetween.
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(a) Technical Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to windshield wiper blades, and more particularly to a blade assembly providing even distribution of pressure against the windshield.
(b) Description of the Prior Art
As shown in FIG. 10, a conventional windshield wiper blade assembly contains a large arm 91 and a number of medium and small arms 92 and 93. The large arm 91 has an attachment element 911 for connection to the windshield wiper arm (not shown); while the small arms 93 jointly support a rubber strip. The problem with the conventional blade assembly is that a series of arms branch out from the middle like a tree, so the rubber strip is actually connected in several places, causing uneven distribution of pressure against the windshield and leaving streaks when the blade assembly is in operation.
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1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to simulating moving lights using nonmoving lights.
2. Related Art
In the art of lighted displays, it is often desired to present a cartoon or picture which gives an impression of motion. When the display itself is stationary (and the lights in the display are themselves stationary), this poses a problem because the impression of motion is necessarily an illusion, and it can be difficult to present an adequate illusion. This problem can be acute where it is desired to give the impression of smooth motion, and particularly when using only a relatively inexpensive display having only a few lights.
One method which is known in the art is to present a sequence of cartoons or pictures, each of which represents a separate still picture in a moving sequence. For example, a moving arrow can be simulated using several still pictures of an arrow. While this method can achieve the illusion of motion, the impression which is given will often be jerky or rough, particularly with a relatively inexpensive display, due to the granular limitation of having only a few lights per foot.
The following patents are examples of the art:
U.S. Pat. No. 3,737,722, "Method And Apparatus For Forming Spatial Light Patterns", issued Jun. 5, 1973, in the name of inventor Meyer J. Scharlack.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,161,018, "Lighted Ornamental Devices", issued Jul. 10, 1979, in the name of inventors James B. Briggs, et al.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,231,079, "Article Of Wearing Apparel", issued Oct. 28, 1980, in the name of inventor Stephen R. Heminover.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,860,177, "Bicycle Safety Light", issued Aug. 22, 1989, in the name of inventors John B. Simms, et al.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,081,568, "Traffic Police Baton With Means To Indicate The Direction In The Night", issued Jan. 14, 1992, in the name of inventors Lu J. Dong, et al.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,327,329, "Lighting Attachments For In-Line Roller or Blade Skates", issued Jul. 5, 1994, in the name of inventor David L. Stiles.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,416,675, "Illuminated Helmet", issued May 16, 1995, in the name of inventor Robert J. DeBeaux.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,438,488, "Illuminated Article of Apparel", issued Aug. 1, 1995, in the name of inventor Larry Dion, and assigned to LaMi Products, Inc.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,457,612, "Bicycle Rear Lighting System", issued Oct. 10, 1995, in the name of inventor Scot Carter.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,544,027, "LED Display For Protective Helmet And Helmet Containing Same", issued Aug. 6, 1996, in the name of inventor Anthony Orsano.
Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide a method and system for providing an illusion of relatively smooth motion in a lighted display, with only a relatively rough granularity and only a relatively small number of lights. This advantage is achieved in an embodiment of the invention in which much smaller degrees of motion are simulated by simulating lights which appear to be partly on and partly off.
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1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a process for desulfurizing an acid gas containing at least hydrogen sulfide (H.sub.2 S) where the sulfur recovery stage is carried out at high pressure.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The prior art describes many redox processes and devices allowing removal of the hydrogen sulfide and recovery of the elementary sulfur formed during the process.
In general, it is well-known to contact the solution containing the elementary sulfur with air at atmospheric pressure and to recover the sulfur by flotation and/or decantation. When the gas to be desulfurized is at high pressure, a preliminary stage of expansion of the catalytic solution containing the sulfur is necessary so that it can be reoxidized in air. This expansion brings about degassing of the solution, which generally leads to foaming and clogging problems.
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{
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1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a coil antenna device, and more particularly to a coil antenna device that includes a core including a magnetic layer and a coil conductor arranged in the core such that a portion of the magnetic layer defines a magnetic core and such that a coil axis extends along a principle surface of the core.
2. Description of the Related Art
The present invention also relates to an antenna module in which a plurality of wireless communication devices for use in wireless communication, which includes a coil antenna device, is mounted on a printed wiring board.
An example of such coil antenna devices is disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2009-284476. According to this background art, a magnetic antenna is formed such that an electrode material is arranged in a coil shape around a center core composed of a magnetic material and a non-magnetic material. Further, an insulation layer is formed on one or both of exterior side surfaces of the coiled electrode material. Further, a cross-section of the core, which is cut in a direction perpendicular to a magnetic flux, is configured such that the magnetic material is divided by the non-magnetic material. According to the foregoing configuration, reduction in size and improvement in communication sensitivity are achieved together.
Here, the “coil antenna” is a device that wirelessly communicates with an antenna of a communicating party on the other side through a magnetic field produced in a coil conductor. As frequencies of wireless signals, HF bands are mostly used.
However, in the background art, the coiled electrode material is wound on the surface of the core, thereby producing a magnetic field that expands evenly in the core's side surface directions and principle surface directions. This may cause magnetic field formation failures due to interference between a metal object mounted near the magnetic antenna and the magnetic field, and thus lead to deterioration in wireless communication performance. It is particularly worrying that sufficient communication distance may not be secured, or that communication characteristics may vary when the mounting position of the metal object is changed.
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The present invention relates to a female terminal for connection to corresponding fuses, male terminals of bus bar or male terminals connected to wire harness.
Recently, as fuses for use in vehicles, so-called mini-fuses have been used In place of auto-fuses which are generally larger in size than such mini-fuses.
Because the auto-fuse is different from the mini-fuse in thickness as well as in pitch and width of the male terminal portion, the female terminals for both fuses must have been prepared individually.
FIG.1 shows a pair of conventional auto-fuse 1 and female terminal 2, and FIG. 2 shows a pair of conventional mini-fuse 3 and female terminal 4. A typical example of such a conventional female terminal is disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Laid Open (Kokai) No. (HEI)2-76480.
Accordingly, when vehicles employ such conventional auto-fuses and mini-fuses together, the types of these terminals must be increased so that the maintenance and preparation of such various parts be very troublesome.
Additionally, in the electric connection box provided in the engine room or the like place of vehicles, junction terminals (which are so-called female-female type terminals and will be called herein as "female junction terminals") are used for connection of each male terminal of wire harness derived from each electric part to each male terminal of bus bar or for connection of male terminals between wire harness terminal portions.
FIG.3 shows a pair of female junction terminals 5a, 5b used in an electric connection box 9, bus bar 6 and male terminal 8 connected to one end of electric wire, the latter two of which are to be inserted respectively in the former, i.e., the corresponding Junction terminals 5a, 5b . In such a case, since the male terminal portion 6a of bus bar 6 is different in thickness and width from the male terminal portion 8a of metal terminal 8, the female junction terminal 5a corresponding to the male terminal portion 6a of bus bar 6 and the other female Junction terminal 5b for the male terminal portion 8a of terminal 8 of the prior art must be constructed as parts of different types.
However, different construction in these female junction terminals for the male terminal of bus bar and for the male terminal does not only increase the types of such junction terminals 5a, 5bbut also require much trouble in maintenance and preparation of such parts.
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Dynamics control systems are increasingly used in automotive vehicles to improve vehicle safety and satisfy government regulations. Examples of such systems include vehicle active safety systems like vehicle electronic stability control (ESC) systems, comprehensive safety vehicle (CSV) systems, and vehicle lane change assist systems. For those safety systems to operate effectively, accurate and timely knowledge of vehicle dynamic states are required.
When a moving vehicle has “spun” such that the vehicle's corresponding velocity vector is pointing to the side, stability control systems can provide little benefit to the directional control of the vehicle. In this case, the stability control system can be disabled until the vehicle has been properly oriented.
A determination of vehicle spin-out conditions ahead of actual vehicle spin-out may allow a vehicle driver and/or vehicle active safety systems to counteract driving behavior leading to vehicle spin-out.
Accordingly, the need exists for a system and method for determining vehicle spin out-conditions, possibly including precursor vehicle spin-out conditions and actual vehicle spin-out. In addition, it is desirable to implement such a system and method using available sensed signal and in a processing efficient scheme. Furthermore, other desirable features and characteristics of the present invention will become apparent from the subsequent detailed description and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and the foregoing technical field and background.
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This invention relates to a fluid dynamic pressure bearing device in which a shaft member is supported by a bearing member, using dynamic pressure of a lubricant, such that relative rotation between the shaft member and bearing member is possible. This invention may also relate to a spindle motor provided with the fluid dynamic pressure bearing device, and to a recording disk drive device provided with the fluid dynamic pressure bearing device. This invention relates particularly to improvement of a capillary seal portion that suppresses lubricant filled in the fluid dynamic pressure bearing device from leaking to the outside, using capillarity.
Recently, in recording disk drive devices such as a magnetic disk or an optical disk used for a computer, there is a strong demand for higher density in addition to miniaturization, thinness, and lightness. Because of this, there is a strong demand for increasing the rpm (revolutions per minute) and improving rotation precision of a spindle motor used for disk rotation. In order to meet such a demand, instead of using a conventional ball bearing as a bearing device for a spindle motor, a fluid dynamic pressure bearing device is used that rotatably supports a rotation shaft by a bearing member, using fluid dynamic pressure of a lubricant.
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1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to functional film networks, and in particular to sequentially deposited radio frequency plasma film layers having an open network structure, thereby increasing interstitial spacing between plasma film layers and providing access to functional groups contained therein.
2. Previous Art
The surfaces of polymeric, metal and ceramic materials are important in many applications. Often these surfaces must be modified for a specific use. For example, surfaces of medical devices implanted in the body must have biocompatible surfaces.
Different methods are generally employed to modify the surfaces of polymers, as opposed to metal and ceramic surfaces. Several conventional methods of surface modification employ wet chemical processes. Most recently developed are energetic methods of surface modification. Each of these methods for each type of material is discussed below.
Wet chemical surface modification of metals and ceramics is accomplished either by forming composites where the metals and ceramics are blended with matrix resin, or by coating these substances with organic coatings.
A typical wet chemical approach of surface modification of polymeric materials employs acids to etch and oxidize the surface. Other approaches employ solvent swelling and penetration of topical coatings into the swollen surfaces. Upon evaporation of the solvent, the coating is incorporated into the top layer of the polymeric article.
There are many problems associated with use of solvents and other wet chemical methods for modifying surfaces. For example, the use of wet chemical methods to modify surfaces can take several steps to accomplish. The chemicals used are often messy, corrosive and toxic to both humans and the environment. There are often many steps, such as the application reaction, rinsing, and neutralization. It is not easy to change steps if sequentially applying several chemicals. Not all surface areas of the material to be modified are accessible to the wet chemicals, such as blind vias and other hidden surfaces. The monomers used must be reactive. Yields are low and solvents can leave residues on the surface leading to contamination of the surface. Additionally, some wet chemical methods can also damage the surface that one is attempting to modify.
Surface composition of polymeric materials is commonly modified by blending additives into the bulk polymer before fabrication and allowing surface active agents to migrate to the surface. The end groups of the polymer chain can also be modified with specific functional groups. Changes to the bulk of the polymer are thus minimized. The added mobility of the end groups relative to the polymer backbone appear to facilitate self-assembly of the molecular overlayers by the surface active end blocks.
A major drawback of this method of surface modification is that there is a limit to the chemical functional density that can be incorporated without significantly altering the basic nature of the material.
Energetic processes (i.e., plasma) for surface modification of polymeric materials have also been gaining acceptance in a number of industries. In plasma modification, the bulk properties of the original polymer are retained while chemically changing only the top 20 .ANG. of the surface. Polymers such as polypropylene, polystyrene, polyester, Teflon.RTM. and other commercially available polymers have been modified using this method. For example, a polystyrene material that normally does not contain nitrogen can be modified using ammonia gas ionized in a radio frequency (RF) field. This method commonly employs a vacuum chamber, means for introducing a reactive gas such as oxygen, ammonia or nitrous oxide into the chamber and RF energy as tools in the modification process.
In plasma surface modification, the gas employed for modifying the surface of the polymer is introduced into the vacuum chamber containing the surface to be modified. The gas is ionized using RF energy and this ionized gas interacts with the surface of the material. Ionized gases contain a mixture of highly reactive chemical species that include free radicals, electrons, ions and metastable reactive species. These species easily break the chemical bonds on the surface of polymeric materials and substitute the desired chemical groups on the surface of the material. In this manner carbonyl, carboxylic acid, hydroxy, and amine functional groups have been incorporated into and hence become a part of polymeric surfaces.
The design of the reaction chamber, the distribution of power, the excitation frequency, and the gas dynamics are critical factors influencing the properties and efficiency of plasma reactions. Extensive work has been published that shows a direct correlation between excitation frequency and plasma reactivity.
Unlike polymeric materials, metals and ceramics do not contain bonds that can be easily broken. Plasma film deposition offers a means for modifying the surfaces of such materials. In this process monomers consisting of polyatomic molecules are typically ionized using RF energy.
Using plasma polymerization (or plasma film deposition), functional groups can be incorporated into or deposited on any surface, including polymers, metals, ceramics and composites. The films deposited using plasma polymerization are compositionally very different from the polymers formed in bulk processes of polymeric materials using these same monomers. Materials such as methane, propane, and other saturated hydrocarbons are commonly employed to deposit plasma polymerized films on metals and ceramics. Additionally, the film can be comprised of amines, acids, methacrylates, glycidyls or mixtures such as methane and amine, or methane and acid.
When depositing functional films on surfaces using plasma film deposition, the functional density in most cases is limited to that achieved by a monolayer. For example, 11 atom % nitrogen in films deposited from diaminocyclohexane on polystyrene was reported in Clinical Materials 11 (1992). This concentration equates to a concentration of 1 nmoles/cm.sup.2 of primary amines on the surface or a coverage of one monolayer of amine on the surface.
The difficulty with most single monolayers of functional density is that there are a limited number of chemically reactive sites that are available for interaction with the desired coating material such as a biomolecule or the matrix resin of a composite. When the number of functional groups available on the surface of a substrate is limited, the benefits that can be achieved are also limited. In the case of composites, the number of locations where the matrix resin is bonded to the reinforcing materials is limited and the ultimate strength of the composite material is also limited. In the case of biomolecule attachment, lower functional densities decrease the amount of these materials that can be anchored on the surface. Often attachment of more than one biomolecule is desired to facilitate multiple performance attributes. In these cases the amount of any given material that can be attached is decreased and may be below the minimum threshold needed for the desired performance.
Plasma polymerized films have also been deposited using acrylic acid which produces films with a high density of functional groups. The density is achieved by building a linear polymer of acrylic acid on the surface. Additionally, soft plasma or pulse plasma has been employed with variable duty cycle to preserve the functional groups of films during deposition using plasma polymerization. In addition to only leaving a single monomer layer deposited, these methods also depend on building long linear chains anchored to the surface to generate the high functional densities that are desired.
Further, in plasma deposition, the energy per mole of monomer determines the number of bonds broken. At high power and low monomer concentration (hard plasma) more of the bonds are broken and less of the functional character is retained.
It is known that the power applied, the frequency of the pulse, and the duty cycle can all be varied to preserve the functional nature of the deposited film. Indeed, it has been found that by using high power coupled with a low duty cycle, a higher portion of the functional nature of the deposited film is maintained. A major drawback of these methods is that the films that are deposited are mechanically weak and can be easily abraded away. Furthermore, during plasma film deposition, there are two competing processes that occur. One is the deposition of the film and the other is the ablation of the film being deposited. The degree to which one process predominates is a function of both the process conditions being employed and the chemical nature of the film being deposited. In an attempt to build sufficient functional density on the surface using plasma polymerization, there is also an inherent risk that some of the film being deposited will be ablated away due to the process conditions that need to be employed.
Even if sufficiently long chains of reactive groups could be deposited, the groups at the lower regions of the film may not be as easily accessible for interactions with coating materials as is desired. For example, in films deposited from allylamine, it has been found that a primary amine concentration on the surface is not as high as would be expected from the nitrogen content of the surface measured by ESCA. It has been concluded that perhaps some of these functional groups were buried and not accessible on the surface for reaction with the derivatizing reagents used in their analysis.
Finally, star polymers have been created employing wet chemical methods. For example, the synthesis of star polymers have been reported after reacting multifunctional isocyanates with glycols.
In U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,507,466; 4,588,120; 4,568,737; 4,587,329; and 4,694,064, herein incorporated by reference, Tomalia, et al. disclose synthesis of giant star polymers commonly referred to as "dendrimers". In the noted patents, sequential reactions of methylacrylate and ethylenediamine are achieved employing methanol as a solvent. Star polymers offer several advantages, namely, a network structure that provides physical strength and the ability to provide high chemical functional densities.
There are several problems associated with star polymers. First, the conventional method of building molecules from the core produces only small quantities of star polymers and requires several days to accomplish. Second, large scale synthetic methods remain to be developed.
Additionally, in order for star polymers (and dendrimers) to be useful in modifying surfaces of materials, star polymers must be anchored to reactive sites on surfaces using reactive cores as attachment points. This type of anchoring has many problems. For example, it is difficult to attach dendrimers to surfaces because the anchoring point of the core is located in the center of the star. Thus, anchoring can only occur through a reactive group on the periphery of the dendrimer. Even in these cases the substrate to which the dendrimer is attached must be modified by some means to allow attachment.
Steric hindrance of the star also limits the amount of dendrimers that can be attached to a surface. Additionally, it is easy to break this single attachment.
In biomedical applications, for example, a stent or other object placed in the body, the medical devices must have the biomedically active agent fixed to and completely cover the surface. Dendrimers provide space between each attachment, leaving substrate surface areas exposed to body fluids.
Most plasma processing techniques employ the deposition of functional groups on the surface as the end point of their process rather than as an intermediate link in an ultimate structure. Therefore, practitioners employ conventional materials such as oxygen, ammonia and other such materials to deposit functional groups on the surface. For example, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,342,693, herein incorporated by reference, a glassy film is deposited using siloxanes ionized in a plasma. Using the methods of plasma surface modification, ammonia is then used to provide amine functional groups on the surface. Other materials are subsequently attached to this functional group using wet chemical methods.
Therefore, what is needed is (i) a sequentially deposited film network comprising several RF plasma layers and having a strong interface, (ii) a method to provide high functional density film networks with controllable amounts of crosslinking for accessible functional groups, and (iii) means for providing large scale RF plasma deposition that can be accomplished in a relatively short time without employing wet chemical methods.
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1. Field of the Invention
The subject invention is directed generally to a system for delivering fluid flow, and more particularly, to a system for using two pumps to efficiently and quickly respond to high transient flow demands at a high pressure without excessive size or weight.
2. Background of the Related Art
In modern gas turbines, fuel pumps need to supply fuel to engine geometries. For example, in mid to larger class engines, linear pistons are used as guide vanes. The linear pistons require a significant source of fuel to slew. This slewing is a transient event that can unacceptably starve the supply of fuel to the engine. Thus, fixed delivery fuel pumps have often been sized to provide excessive fuel flow capacity in order to insure adequate supply to the associated engine. Under most operating conditions, this results in large amounts of pressurized fuel being returned to the pump inlet for recirculation. The return and recirculation results in significant fuel heating due to additional energy being put into the fuel which is subsequently turned into heat as the pressure drops in the recirculation path. In modern designs, fuel heating is a critical issue because the fuel is typically used as a heat exchanger to maintain proper operating temperature. Other methods of heat exchange are undesirable because of the associated size, weight and cost.
Variable displacement fuel pumps have partially overcome the thermal deficiencies of fixed delivery pumps by being able to vary the amount of fuel output. By varying the fuel output, the fuel delivered more closely matches engine demand. Thus, the recirculated flow, along with the heat generated thereby, is reduced. Variable displacement fuel pumps are known in the art as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,833,438 to Sunberg and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/705,362 filed on Nov. 11, 2003, each of which is herein incorporated by reference. A variable displacement pump typically includes a rotor having a fixed axis and pivoting cam ring. Controlling the position of the cam ring with respect to the rotor controls the output of the pump. As a result, the output flow may be controlled by a torque motor operated servo valve acting on the cam ring.
However, the engine operating conditions include transients such as those caused by engine actuator slewing, start-up and the like as would be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the pertinent art. Under such rapidly varying operating conditions, prior art pump control systems often utilize a portion of the fuel supply to move the cam ring. Because a portion of the supply is subtracted to reset the pump, the resulting response is slow and creates flow disturbances to the engine. Moreover, many prior art pump control systems lack the required stability to reliably provide fuel to the engine. So despite the advances of the state of the art, variable displacement pumps are lacking in stability and still do not respond quickly enough to varying engine demands. As a result, poor performance and inaccurate fuel flow are still common.
Examples of variable displacement pump control arrangements are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,716,201 to Peck et al. and 5,715,674 to Reuter et al., the disclosures of which are herein incorporated by reference in their entirety. These pump control systems attempt to maintain accurate fuel flow throughout the range of engine operating conditions. However, as noted above, such systems still contain inadequacies such as complexity, thermal inefficiency and abrupt shutdowns. It is also undesirable for pump control systems to include sophisticated electronics and numerous additional components that undesirably increase costs and complexity. Still further, these arrangements are often undesirably large. These disadvantages are further magnified in high pressure fueldraulic applications where the fuel pump has to be sized to provide engine geometry and variable nozzle actuators at relatively high pressure (such as 3000-5000 psid) and at the same time provide very fast dynamic response. In such situations, building high capacity pumps has proved difficult and poor performance is typical.
In view of the above, it would be desirable to provide a flow control system which has a robust design for fast response, small size and weight, and accurate regulating of the output with stability and without the associated drawbacks of the prior art.
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1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a wiping technique of wiping away ink adhering to a recording head in an inkjet printer that ejects ink from nozzles of the recording head onto a printing medium to form an image.
2. Description of the Related Art
Inkjet printers that ejects small ink droplets from plural nozzles disposed in a recording head to conduct a printing operation are classified into a so-called serial head printer and a so-called line head printer. The serial head printers conduct a printing operation by a combination of a moving operation in a main scanning direction (the width direction of a sheet) in which ink is ejected while moving the recording head in the main scanning direction, and an operation in which the sheet is moved in a sub-scanning direction. The line head printers include a line head having a printing width that is equal to the width of a sheet functioning as a printing medium, and conduct a printing operation while relatively moving the line head and the sheet. In a line head printer, particularly, it is not required to move a recording head in the main scanning direction of a sheet. Hence, the printing speed can be made higher than that in a serial head printer.
In both the serial head printer and the line head printer according to the related art, in order to obtain an image of excellent quality, ink ejection from minute nozzles disposed in the recording head must be kept in satisfactory condition. Therefore, a wiping operation is conducted to wipe an ejection surface where ink ejection ports of the nozzles are disposed, thereby removing excess ink droplets or foreign matters adhering to the ejection surface.
The serial head printer described above has a structure in which the recording head can be moved in the main scanning direction. Therefore, a wiping operation can be conducted after the recording head is retracted to a region, which is on an extended line in the main scanning direction and is outside the printing region.
However, an ink jet head of the line head type has an ink ejection surface, which is larger than that of an ink jet head of the serial head type. When a printer is configured so that such a recording head is horizontally moved to a region outside the printing region and a wiping operation is then conducted, the size of the printer is inevitably increased. Therefore, in a line head inkjet printer according to the related art, a maintenance unit, which conducts a wiping operation, is inserted between the ink jet head and a medium transporting apparatus while a recording head is kept to be horizontally fixed, and a wiping operation is then conducted.
JP-A-2003-1855 (pages 10-12; and FIG. 20) discloses a line head inkjet printer in which ink absorbing members are disposed between plural recording heads, so that after an ejection surface of one of the recording heads is wiped, ink adhering to a wiper is prevented from adhering to another recording head to be next wiped by the wiper, thereby eliminating color mixture.
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1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a swirling device for a stirling cycle engine, and more particularly to a swirling device for producing a swirl in the air stream which is introduced into the combustion chamber of a stirling cycle engine.
2. Descriptions of Prior Art
A stirling cycle engine is a kind of external combustion engine which includes a combustion chamber for burning fuel therein to produce a heat which is used to heat a working gas through a heat exchanger. In this type of stirling cycle engine, it is essential, in accomplish an improved thermal efficiency, to improve the efficiency of combustion in the combustion chamber as well as the efficiency of the heat exchanger. In an effort to improve the efficiency of combustion, conventional stirling cycle engines include a swirling device in the passage of intake air into the combustion chamber to produce a swirl of the intake air. Known swirling devices adopted for such purposes include a swirl chamber having a plurality of substantially tangentially directed, substantially straight inlet ducts through which the intake air is drawn into the swirl chamber to produce a swirl therein. The swirling intake air is then introduced into the combustion chamber. In case where four inlet ducts are provided, these ducts are arranged perpendicular to each other.
The conventional swirling device is however disadvantageous in that the intake air stream discharged from one of the inlet ducts interfere with the intake air from another inlet duct producing a substantial pressure loss. Further, such interference weakens the swirl of the intake air and prevents uniform mixing of fuel with the intake air resulting in an incomplete combustion of fuel. It should further be noted that the inlet ducts cannot provide a sufficient passage area for the intake air so that the intake air flow speed is unavoidably increased causing a substantial friction loss. In the conventional stirling cycle engine having the aforementioned swirling device, it has been required to use a blower of a high capacity in order to compensate for the pressure loss, the incomplete combustion and the friction loss.
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The exemplary embodiment relates to the linguistic processing arts. It finds particular application in conjunction with assisting a user to develop queries for searching a structured knowledge base, such as a manual for troubleshooting of faults with electromechanical devices, and will be described with particular reference thereto. However, it is to be appreciated that it is also amenable to other like applications.
Many of the devices used today, both within the workplace and outside it, are highly complex. Such devices include electromechanical devices, such as image reproduction devices, e.g., printers and photocopiers, vehicles, and audio and visual equipment, such as cameras, video recorders, cell phones, dictation devices, music systems, computing devices, such as personal computers, and the like. As computing power has increased, so the functionality of these devices has also increased. The added functionality is wasted, however, if users do not know how to use or maintain the device or are unable to locate the necessary information to do so.
When a customer observes a problem with an electromechanical device, it is advantageous for the customer to determine how to repair the device without requiring a visit from a service engineer. The customer may therefore try to troubleshoot the machine problem, for example, by following instructions on the machine, by searching for solutions in online resources, or by contacting the manufacturer's help line (e.g., by phone or email). The troubleshooting process generally requires the user to articulate the symptoms of the problem so that the likely solutions can be retrieved from the resource. However, troubleshooting systems with natural language query based user interaction usually provide efficient results only if the user has some expertise of the terminology used in the underlying knowledge base and is able to choose “good” words in the query. This leads to user frustration and abandonment of the troubleshooting process, resulting in an expensive service visit for remediation and a period in which the device is performing suboptimally.
Moreover, when the troubleshooting capabilities are embedded within a system (the place where the problem occurs), the user interaction is also constrained by the affordances of the device. In particular, a Multifunction Device (MFD), such as a device having printing, copying, and optionally fax or email capability, may not have a proper keyboard to enter a query which may make the tasks difficult, especially if this is combined with the need of having to write several iterations of the query.
There is a great deal of literature in the field of information retrieval (IR) on techniques for what is generally referred to as query expansion. This term is used to describe techniques used in vector space IR models or Boolean search engines with an OR operator, when adding more words to a query results in more results being retrieved (and may also improve the ranking). These techniques involve supplementing the original query with additional words that are related to those originally entered by the user. The expansion may be performed interactively, where the user is asked to select relevant words or documents, or automatically, where the system expands the query “behind the scenes.” Such systems still suffer when there is a mismatch between the user's terminology and that of the information being searched.
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The present invention relates to hand tools, and more particularly to such a hand tool which can be set in any of a variety of operating modes for turning the workpiece efficiently.
A regular hand tool is generally comprised of a handle, a tool stem connected to the handle and adapted for holding any of a variety of tool bits. Because the tool stem is fixedly connected to the handle, it is synchronously turned with the handle when the handle is turned with hand forwards or backwards. There is known a reversible hand tool which comprises ratchet means coupled between the handle and the tool stem, for permitting the tool stem to be turned with the handle in one direction only. However, because the tool stem is axially extended from the handle, much effort should be applied to the handle when turning the handle with the hand.
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Data recording devices which include sensors, are widely deployed in several industries, such as automotive industry, stock market industry, electrical industry, and electro-mechanical industry. Such devices typically record data pertaining to an activity or an operation at uniform intervals of time. For example, in stock markets in financial sectors, the data recording device may be deployed for recording the value of a stock through the course of a day. Data recorded by such data recording devices is generally represented in the form of a time series. A time series may be understood as a sequence of values measured typically at successive points in time spaced at uniform time intervals. Further, the data may be subjected to several data analytics techniques for analysis and diagnostic purposes.
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Heretofore, the cleaning of chips and burrs from the slots of newly assembled armatures has been primarily accomplished manually, resulting in a very time-consuming and tedious job.
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There has long been a need well known to musicians for a means of readily and simply supporting their instruments during break periods, or between songs, or when the musician is using an alternative instrument, or during a period when the musical score does not call for the particular instrument in question to play. Many relatively clumsy devices are available which are in the nature of stands resting on the floor but these are apt to get in the way of the musicians moving around from place to place, they are clumsy, and they are sometimes difficult to transport so as to be readily available at any location.
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This invention relates to the manufacture of ice, and particularly to a small residential or domestic maker of clear ice cubes.
Typical domestic or residential ice makers form ice cubes by depositing water into a mold attached to an evaporator and allowing the water to freeze in a sedentary state. Such an approach results in clouded ice cubes as a result of the entrapped air and impurities.
It is known that forming ice by flowing water over a freezing surface will eliminate the clouding associated with sedentary freezing. Such a flowing water process has typically been used in commercial ice cube makers. One example of the flowing water approach is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,586,439 issued Dec. 24, 1996 to Schlosser et. al. In that patent, water is flowed over a vertically disposed evaporator plate whose surface defines pockets. The water flows over the surfaces of the pockets and an ice cube is formed in each pocket. The ice cubes are harvested by passing hot vaporous refrigerant through the evaporator in place of the cold refrigerant.
The present invention incorporates such a flowing water system in a small unit for residential or domestic uses.
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This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from the prior Japanese Patent Application No. 2000-050957, filed Feb. 28, 2000, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
The present invention relates to a technique of detecting a character writing area in an existing document to be scanned by an optical character reader or an optical character recognize (hereinafter called xe2x80x9cOCRxe2x80x9d) and setting a format in the target existing document.
Recently, there increasing needs for reading characters written on existing documents by means of an OCR.
To scan an existing document which is not exclusively designed to be read by an OCR, it is necessary to previously register format control data (FC data) in that OCR as the format for that document. This FC data is registered by registering positional information (coordinate data of a character writing area (which is enclosed by ruled lines) on the document and attributes, such as the type and font of characters to be written in that area, and whether they are handwritten written or typed. Writing in this specification includes both hand-writing of characters and printing of characters by a printer or the like.
Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI Publication No. 10-40312 discloses a technique of acquiring an unfilled document image by taking a logical product of a plurality of written document images respectively having different characters written thereon.
This technique could not however detect a character writing area set on a document. Neither could it detect the character type which is one of the attributes of characters to be written in the detected character writing area.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus and method of detecting a character writing area in an existing document, a recording medium and a document format producing apparatus.
To achieve the above object, according to one aspect of this invention, there is provided an apparatus for detecting a character writing area in a document, which comprises image input means for inputting a plurality of images of written documents respectively having different characters recorded thereon to a document previously provided with ruled lines and a character writing area where characters are to be recorded; image processing means for producing a common image common to the plurality of images and a differential image acquired by performing a logical sum of mutually different images in the plurality of images, based on the plurality of images input by the image input means; and character-writing-area detection means for detecting the character writing area based on the common image and the differential image produced by the image processing means.
This structure can allow a character writing area in an existing document to be detected.
According to another aspect of this invention, there is provided a document format producing apparatus which comprises image input means for inputting a plurality of images of written documents respectively having different characters recorded thereon to a document provided with ruled lines and a character writing area where characters are to be recorded; image processing means for producing a common image common to the plurality of images and a differential image acquired by performing a logical sum of mutually different images in the plurality of images, based on the plurality of images input by the image input means; character-writing-area detection means for detecting the character writing area based on the common image and the differential image produced by the image processing means; attribute setting means for setting attributes for the detected character writing area based on the common image and the differential image produced by the image processing means; and format setting means for setting positional information of the detected character writing area and the set attributes as format control information of the written documents in association with each other.
This structure can permit a document format to be set for an existing document.
Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objects and advantages of the invention may be realized and obtained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out hereinafter.
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An interposer is a device having electrically conductive vias that is inserted between one or more integrated circuits. Typically, an interposer is constructed from an epoxy resin substrate. Through holes are opened in the epoxy resin substrate, and then either filled with conductive paste or subjected to an electrolytic plating process to thereby form the electrically conductive vias.
A carrier, such as a printed circuit board, is inserted between the interposer and the integrated circuits. The integrated circuits are electrically coupled to each other via the carrier and the electrically conductive vias.
However, the resulting electronic devices formed using such interposers may be thicker than desirable. Consequently, there has been a demand for thinner interposers to be used in miniaturized electronic devices. Therefore, new interposers constructed from silicon have been devised. Due to the hardness of silicon, the thickness thereof as an interposer can be less than that of an epoxy resin interposer, resulting in a thinner and smaller electronic device. In addition, wiring layers may be directly deposited on the silicon, potentially eliminating the need for a carrier between an interposer and an integrated circuit.
One such interposer is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,678,685 to Sunohara et al. Sunohara et al. discloses an interposer including a substrate made of an inorganic material. Through wiring including conductors is embedded in through holes. The interposer also includes an upper wiring and/or a lower wiring. The through wiring, the upper wiring, and the lower wiring are respectively formed on preliminary wiring patterns that are formed on layers made of an insulating material applied to at least wiring forming parts of the substrate.
Another interposer is disclosed in U.S. Pat. Pub. 2007/0020914 to Higashi. Higashi discloses a method of manufacturing interposer wherein a first through hole is formed in a semiconductor substrate and a first insulating layer is formed on the entire surface of the semiconductor substrate. First wiring layers connected to each other via an outer through conducting portion provided on the inner surface of the first through hole are formed on both sides of the semiconductor substrate. A second insulating layer is formed which covers the first wiring layers on both sides of the semiconductor substrate and the outer through conducting portion on the inner surface of the first through hole. The second insulating layer has a structure in which a second through hole is provided in a central portion of the first through hole. Second wiring layers connected to each other via an inner through conducting portion provided in the second through hole are formed on the second insulating layer on both sides of the semiconductor substrate.
Due to recent developments of integrated circuits having a large number of pins arranged in a fine pitch array, there is now a demand for silicon interposers with multiple wiring layers thereon to accommodate these integrated circuits. Consequently, methods of producing silicon interposers with multiple wiring layers are needed.
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The exemplary embodiments herein are directed towards an electronic display which can be serviced or repaired while remaining in a mounted position.
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The present invention relates generally to a robotic system for processing an article in serial high-volume production. More particularly, the invention pertains to minimizing the size of a painting booth containing a robotic system used to paint a motor vehicle body.
The safety zone is an area in a painting booth where people could be present while a robot, mounted for movement along a rail beside a conveyor, operates. Frequently people are present in the booth to view the robot in operation. It is conventional practice to use a limit switch, mounted on the rail, to stop the robot at a fixed location on the rail and prevent an articulating robot arm from entering the safety zone located at the end of the rail. If the robot travels too far down the rail, it will trip the limit switch and cause the robot to stop before the arm enters the safety zone.
Other techniques have been employed to guard against personal injury caused by a robot operating in a painting booth. For example, a light curtain, located at the boundary of the safety zone, stops the robot from entering the safety zone when the curtain is crossed by the end of the robot arm or tooling carried by the arm. The light curtain reduces the length of the rail and paint booth because it allows the robot to move to the end of the rail provided it does not cross the light curtain.
In an automotive paint booth, it is conventional to use a silhouette or cattle fence between the safety zone and the robot. The silhouette is a wall with a cutout slightly larger then the envelope of the vehicle body being process in the booth. The cattle fence is a railing that partially isolates the safety zone from the robot-painting zone. The cattle fence extends from the sidewall of the booth into the booth. There is an opening in the middle of the cattle fence that allows vehicle bodies to pass through the fence.
These devices are awareness barriers to remind people to stay out of the working range of the robot rather then a wall that is designed stop the robot. The light curtain typically extends from one side of the booth to the other side. But the light curtain must be disabled when the vehicle body is present because the vehicle body would otherwise break the light beam as the body passes along the conveyor path. Therefore, a control system is required to disable the light curtain, when the vehicle body passes through the light curtain. However, paint booth operators prefer that a safety emergency stop system operate independently of a control system, which, if operating correctly, would prevent the robot from entering the safety zone. Once the light curtain is disabled to allow the vehicle body to pass through the curtain boundary, booth occupants would not be protected from the robot if it went out of control and passed through the silhouette or cattle fence.
The limit switch wastes rail and booth line length. The light curtain must rely on a control system to disable the curtain when a vehicle body passes through the curtain boundary. When the light curtain is disabled to allow a vehicle body to pass, it doesn't offer any protection to a person in the safety zone. If control of the robot is lost while the curtain is disabled, the robot could pass through the silhouette or cattle fence undetected and enter the safety zone.
A technique is required that avoids wasted rail and booth length preferably by synchronizing the trip point of a limit switch based on the position of the rail and the angle of articulation of the robot the waist.
Other methods to reduce the size of a robotic paint booth and improve paint booth process throughput are required. For example, a painting robot, door opener robot, and a hood/deck opener robot, mounted on rails in the paint booth, would operate more efficiently if they could pass each other on the rails while performing their respective tasks.
Space in the paint booth that is required to accommodate direct charge atomizers could be saved by using a paint applicator, such as a rotary atomizer, that ionizes a stream of air directed onto the atomized paint produced by the atomizer.
A method to isolate a nonconductive paint component from a conductive component before mixing them is required when using a direct charge electrostatic application, in which the fluid stream is charged via direct contact with a high voltage probe.
paint utility line failures are costly and time consuming to repair. It is necessary to support paint system utility lines connected across an articulating joint of a robot arm against failure induced by flexing the lines as the arm articulates. An arrangement of the utility lines that minimizes flexural displacement is required.
A goal of automatic painting equipment is to change rapidly from one paint color to another. Often the painting equipment includes a dump circuit, fluid passages used to carry cleaning solvent and waste paint from the system, as a means for venting existing air in the system before paint flow starts. It is preferable that a dump circuit for the solvent and waste paint land, and a vent circuit for venting air would be arranged for coordinated operation in order to expedite a cleaning operating, in which lines and operating components are cleaned and flushed of waste paint and solvent, and a color change operation, in which the system is filled with a new paint color.
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Typically, the optical systems used in the context of fabricating microelectronic devices such as semiconductor devices include a plurality of optical elements, such as lenses and mirrors etc., in the light path of the optical system. Those optical elements usually cooperate in an exposure process to transfer an image formed on a mask, reticle or the like onto a substrate such as a wafer. The optical elements are usually combined in one or more functionally distinct optical element groups. These distinct optical element groups may be held by distinct optical element units.
Optical element groups including at least mainly refractive optical elements, such as lenses, mostly have a straight common axis of symmetry of the optical elements usually referred to as the optical axis. Moreover, the optical element units holding such optical element groups often have an elongated substantially tubular design due to which they are typically referred to as lens barrels.
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Object data documents are a convenient and ubiquitous means of transporting objects. In an object-oriented (OO) programming paradigm a data model is created which represents the class structures and the relationships between these structures. The object data documents in this type of model represent individual instances of these classes. Object data documents typically consist of attribute-value pairs, the attribute specifying the type of data and the value specifying the value of the attribute for a particular instance. Object data documents may be implemented in a variety of language independent data formats, such as such as JavaScript Object Notation (JSON), Extensible Markup Language (XML), and YAML™, to name a few. Object data documents are supported by many programming languages and often used to transport or transmit data objects between applications and computer systems.
The object data documents can be stored in a relational database (RDBS) to take advantage of ACID (atomic, consistent, isolated, and durable) principles during data modification, to take advantage of backup and restore operations, high availability features, and disaster recovery features provided by the database. The logical data model, which represents all the classes in the object model, is normalized in an RDBS implementation into a physical model which persists the instance object data in different tables and their corresponding attribute values in columns.
A limitation of this approach is that the object data documents, i.e., the application's objects, are decomposed into columns and are not persisted in their entirety. This limits the advantages for which object data documents are used, e.g., to transport whole objects amongst the different modules of an application or between the modules of different applications avoiding the decomposition into table-columns upon insert/update into the RDBS and construction of the object data document from table-columns upon data retrieval from the RDBS.
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1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a printed matter such as advertisement materials or commodity catalogs, and more particularly, to a printed matter which can provide a three-dimensional effect to a printing layer by varying colors of the printing layer according to a view angle.
2. Description of the Related Art
There are many known techniques for providing a three-dimensional effect to a printing layer such that the colors printed on a plane of the printing layer are varied according to a view angle. For example, Korean Utility Model Publication No. 1998-68600, which was filed by the applicant of the present invention, discloses that a printing layer is constructed such that half-tone dots of three primary colors, i.e., red, yellow and blue, and black, are printed on one-side plane of a base plate at predetermined printing angles, the half-tone dots overlapping with each other at a predetermined portion, and a plurality of hemispherical protrusions made of transparent resin are formed on the other-side plane of the base plate such that the center of each of the protrusions is disposed at a portion where the half-tone dots of the respective colors overlap with each other.
However, in the printed matter described in the above-stated Korean Utility Model Publication, the hemispherical protrusions and the printing layer are opposite to and face each other at either side of the base plate. Thus, in order to form the hemispherical protrusions, after forming the printing layer on one-side plane, the base plate must be reversed. Thus, the fabrication process cannot be carried out continuously, resulting in lowering in fabrication efficiency. Also, it is not possible to partially provide a three-dimensional effect to the printing layer. Further, since the base plate is made of a transparent material, light is transmitted through the printing layer formed on the other side thereof, so that the printing layer cannot be displayed in its original color but is displayed in a faded color due to light. As a result, the color projected on the protrusions is not visually clear. To prevent light from being transmitted through the printing layer, a separate printing layer must be formed on the other side of the printing layer, which is quite a complicated work, thereby undesirably increasing the fabrication cost.
To solve the above problems, it is an object of the present invention to provide a printed matter displaying various colors according to a view angle, by which a three-dimensional effect can be provided to a printed pattern by making invisible colors visible according to a view angle, the fabrication efficiency can enhanced by continuously performing the fabrication process, and the fabrication cost can be reduced by reducing the quantity of raw materials required for forming a projection layer.
To accomplish the above object, there is provided printed matter displaying various colors according to a view angle, including an opaque base plate, a printing layer provided on the base plate and having various colors printed thereon such that half-tone dots of the respective colors are printed at different angles and overlap at a predetermined portion, a projection layer made of transparent resin, and partially formed to a predetermined thickness at only a particular portion intended to display a special color on the printing layer using a screen printing method, and a plurality of hemispherical protrusions made of transparent resin using a screen printing method such that the centers thereof are positioned at predetermined portions where the half-tone dots of the respective colors of the printing layer overlap with each other.
The aforementioned printed matter is constructed such that the hemispherical protrusions serving as a magnifying lens are spaced an appropriate distance apart from the printing layer by means of the projection layer to allow the colors of the printing layer to be refracted and enlarged. Thus, the overlapping colors, which are not visually perceived by naked eye, are made visible, thereby attaining a three-dimensional effect of a printed pattern. Also, since the printing layer, the projection layer and protrusions are sequentially stacked on the base plate, the fabrication process can be continuously performed, thereby enhancing the fabrication efficiency. Further, since the projection layer is partially formed on the printing layer, the fabrication cost can be reduced by reducing the quantity of raw materials required for forming the projection layer.
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Search graphs, or lattices, in automatic speech recognition (ASR) systems can be used to map an input utterance to one or more output text strings. Some implementations attempt to select text string(s) that have a minimal probability of having one or more word errors. It may be more accurate to instead select text strings that have the smallest expected word error rate (e.g., the smallest edit distance) to a correct transcription of the utterance. However, doing so can be computationally expensive.
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Conventionally, feed for livestock such as hay, silage or other stock feed material is generally prepared and stored in the form of round or square/rectangular bales. Such bales are typically stored in fields for later feeding to the livestock to supplement their dietary intake.
Traditional methods of feeding such bales involve dispensing the bales on an individual basis. In this regard, the bales are typically manually loaded onto trucks and manually pushed off the truck at intervals to provide a number of feeding sites for the livestock to access and feed on the bales. Any breakage of the bales into smaller pieces is also typically done manually prior to unloading the bales from the truck. As the bales are often quite large and heavy, and tightly bound together with string, this can be very tiresome and labour intensive task, requiring a number of workers. Due to the manual nature of the task, there is much potential for causing physical damage to a person handling the bales.
A number of mechanically operated feeders have been proposed to assist in transporting and unloading bales from the feeder onto the ground for the livestock to feed on. Many of these devices involve various complicated mechanical structures that feed the bales by way of sliding or tilting movements of a variety of moving parts. The disadvantage with such feeders is that they are typically designed at unloading individual bales, and do not provide a device that is adapted to feed multiple bales to large numbers of livestock without having to make numerous trips to a supply to reload the device. In addition, where bales are bound together with string, there is no way for safely and automatically handling the string other than manually removing the string. The presence of loose pieces of string can result in the string becoming entangled in the machinery of the feeder as the bales are being unloaded. This can cause temporary or permanent failure of the feeding equipment/machinery resulting in an increase in cost and time to the farmer/primary producer.
Accordingly, there is a need to provide a hay and silage feeder that is able to feed large numbers of stock in a safe and reliable manner.
Any discussion of documents, acts, materials, devices, articles or the like which has been included in the present specification is solely for the purpose of providing a context for the present invention. It is not to be taken as an admission that any or all of these matters form part of the prior art base or were common general knowledge in the field relevant to the present invention as it existed before the priority date of each claim of this application.
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This invention relates to an optical disk reproducing apparatus for reproducing information recorded on an optical disk, such as a CD (compact disk) or an LVD (laser vision disk), and more particularly, to a system for avoiding a so-called track stray upon effecting a track jump.
In an optical disk reproducing apparatus, the tracing position is often forcibly moved from one track to another. This movement of the tracing position is generally called a track jump. A track jump is effected, for example, when a user of a CD player is trying to locate the beginning of a piece of music in a CD player. The track jump is of two types: a one-track jump is effected by supplying a jump pulse to the tracking actuator; and a multi-track jump is effected by moving the optical pickup itself by means of a slider. In the case of a one-track jump, the jump pulse is composed of a pulse for moving the focusing position of the objective lens and a brake pulse for diminishing the acceleration effected by the above-mentioned pulse.
A problem with the track jump is a phenomenon called a "tracking stray". This is a phenomenon in which the actuator fails to stop at the destination track and instead moves onto some other tracks. A tracking stray occurs when the setting of the tracking actuator after a track jump is poorly made. Conventional optical disk reproducing apparatuses have been equipped with a circuit called a "brake circuit" for avoiding such a track stray. The brake circuit is a circuit for improving the setting of the actuator which drives the pickup when effecting a track jump. The brake circuit is designed to operate from the start of a track jump to the termination thereof, at predetermined time intervals.
The operation of this brake circuit will now be described in detail.
As disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 57-120276, the brake circuit utilizes the fact that the phase relationship between a signal obtained by extracting the envelope of a RF (radio frequency) signal reproduced by the pickup (hereinafter referred to as the "envelope signal") and a tracking error signal differs depending on the direction in which the light spot for signal reading is moved. The above-mentioned phase relationship when the light spot for signal reading moves radially across a track from the inside to the outside is shifted by 90.degree. with respect to the phase relationship when the light spot moves across the track from the outside to the inside.
The operation of the brake circuit is as follows: in the area where the tracking servo loop operates as a negative feedback loop, the tracking servo loop is set in a closed state, and, in the area where the tracking servo loop operates as a positive feedback loop, the tracking servo loop is set in an open state. More specifically, when, during a track jump operation, the light spot for signal reading moves from the center of one track and passes across the line which is substantially at the center of an inter-track section (section between two adjacent tracks), the tracking servo loop is set in the closed state, and, when the light spot for signal reading moves from the line which is substantially at the center of an inter-track section and passes across the center of a track, the tracking servo loop is set in the open state. This helps to diminish the relative speed of the light spot for signal reading with respect to the optical disk each time this light spot moves across a track.
In other words, the actuator which drives the pickup is braked each time the light spot for signal reading moves across a track. Accordingly, the setting of the actuator is improved, thereby enabling it to jump to a desired track.
A conventional optical disk reproducing apparatus, however, has the following problems: If there is some defect in the target or object track to which the pickup is to be jumped, the RF signal is not emitted in the normal manner, with the result that the comparison signal is not emitted in the normal manner, either. Thus, there is a problem that the brake circuit might set the tracking servo loop in an open state, when it should instead be set in the closed state, or vice versa, thereby causing a track stray.
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1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the extraction and purification of flavonoid compounds from plant material, and more specifically to the production of compositions enriched in phenolic compounds.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Flavonoid compounds are present in all aerial parts of plants, with high concentrations found in the skin, bark, and seeds. Such compounds are also found in numerous beverages of botanical origin, such as tea, cocoa, and wine. The flavonoids are a member of a larger family of compounds called polyphenols. That is, these compounds contain more than one hydroxyl group (OH) on one or more aromatic rings. The physical and chemical properties, analysis, and biological activities of polyphenols and particularly flavonoids have been studied for many years.
Anthocyanins are a particular class of naturally occurring flavonoid compounds that are responsible for the red, purple, and blue colors of many fruits, vegetables, cereal grains, and flowers. For example, the colors of fruits such as blueberries, bilberries, strawberries, raspberries, boysenberries, marionberries, cranberries, elderberries, etc. are due to many different anthocyanins. Over 300 structurally distinct anthocyanins have been identified in nature. Because anthocyanins are naturally occurring, they have attracted much interest for use as colorants for foods and beverages.
Recently, the interest in anthocyanin pigments has intensified because of their possible health benefits as dietary antioxidants. For example, anthocyanin pigments of bilberries (Vaccinium myrtillus) have long been used for improving visual acuity and treating circulatory disorders. There is experimental evidence that certain anthocyanins and other flavonoids have anti-inflammatory properties. In addition, there are reports that orally administered anthocyanins are beneficial for treating diabetes and ulcers and may have antiviral and antimicrobial activities. The chemical basis for these desirable properties of flavonoids is believed to be related to their antioxidant capacity. Thus, the antioxidant characteristics associated with berries and other fruits and vegetables have been attributed to their anthocyanin content.
Proanthocyanidins, also known as “oligomeric proanthocyanidins,” “OPCs,” or “procyanidins,” are another class of naturally occurring flavonoid compounds widely available in fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, flowers, and barks. Proanthocyanidins belong to the category known as condensed tannins. They are the most common type of tannins found in fruits and vegetables, and are present in large quantities in the seeds and skins. In nature, mixtures of different proanthocyanidins are commonly found together, ranging from individual units to complex molecules (oligomers or polymers) of many linked units. The general chemical structure of a polymeric proanthocyanidin comprises linear chains of flavonoid 3-ol units linked together through common C(4)-C(6) and/or C(4)-C(8) bonds. 13C NMR has been useful in identifying the structures of polymeric proanthocyanidins, and recent work has elucidated the chemistry of di-, tri-, and tetrameric proanthocyanidins. Larger oligomers of the flavonoid 3-ol units are predominant in most plants and are found with average molecular weights above 2,000 Daltons and containing 6 or more monomer units (Newman, et al., Mag. Res. Chem., 25:118 (1987)).
Considerable recent research has explored the therapeutic applications of proanthocyanidins, which are primarily known for their antioxidant activity. However, these compounds have also been reported to demonstrate antibacterial, antiviral, anticarcinogenic, anti-inflammatory, anti-allergic, and vasodilatory actions. In addition, they have been found to inhibit lipid peroxidation, platelet aggregation, capillary permeability and fragility, and to affect enzyme systems including phospholipase A2, cyclooxygenase, and lipoxygenase. For example, proanthocyanidin monomers (i.e., anthocyanins) and dimers have been used in the treatment of diseases associated with increased capillary fragility and have also been shown to have anti-inflammatory effects in animals (Beladi, I. et al., Ann. N.Y. Acad. Sci., 284:358 (1977)). Based on these reported findings, oligomeric proanthocyanidins (OPCs) may be useful components in the treatment of a number of conditions (Fine, A. M., Altern. Med. Rev. 5(2):144-151 (2000)).
Proanthocyanidins may also protect against viruses. In in vitro studies, proanthocyanidins from witch hazel (Hamamelis virginiana) killed the Herpes simplex 1 (HSV-1) virus (Erdelmeier, C. A., Cinatl, J., Plant Med. June: 62(3):241-5 (1996); DeBruyne, T., Pieters, L., J. Nat. Prod. Jul: 62(7):954-8 (1999)). Another study was carried out to determine the structure-activity relationships of the antiviral activity of various tannins. It was found that the more condensed the chemical structure, the greater the antiviral effect (Takechi, M., et al., Phytochemistry, 24:2245-50 (1985)). In another study, proanthocyanidins were shown to have anti-Herpes simplex activity in which the 50 percent effective doses needed to reduce herpes simplex plaque formation were two to three orders of magnitude less than the 50 percent cytotoxic doses (Fukuchi, K., et al., Antiviral Res., 11:285-298 (1989)).
Cyclooxygenase (COX-1, COX-2) or prostaglandin endoperoxide H synthase (PGHS-1, PGHS-2) enzymes are widely used to measure the anti-inflammatory effects of plant products (Bayer, T., et al., Phytochemistry, 28:2373-2378 (1989); and Goda, Y., et al., Chem. Pharm. Bull., 40:2452-2457 (1992)). COX enzymes are the pharmacological target sites for nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (Humes, J. L., et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA., 78:2053-2056 (1981); and Rome, L. H., et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A., 72:4863-4865 (1975)). Two isozymes of cyclooxygenase involved in prostaglandin synthesis are cyclooxygenase-1 (COX-1) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) (Hemler, M., et al., J. Biol. Chem., 25:251, 5575-5579 (1976)). It is hypothesized that selective COX-2 inhibitors are mainly responsible for anti-inflammatory activity (Masferrer, J. L., et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA., 91:3228-3232 (1994)). Flavonoids are now being investigated as anti-inflammatory substances, as well as for their structural features for cyclooxygenase (COX) inhibition activity.
Due to the above characteristics and benefits of anthocyanins and proanthocyanidins, much effort has been put forth toward extracting these compounds from fruits, vegetables, and other plant sources. In addition to proanthocyanidins and anthocyanins, plants, fruits, and vegetables also contain other compounds such as mineral salts, common organic acids such as citric or tartaric acid, carbohydrates, flavonoid glycosides and catechins. It is often desirable to separate the anthocyanins and proanthocyanidins from other naturally occurring compounds. Anthocyanins have been extracted from plants and fruits by various procedures. One method of extracting anthocyanins employs the addition of bisulfate to form zwitterionic species. The extract is passed through an ion exchange column which adsorbs the zwitterionic anthocyanin adducts, and the adsorbed anthocyanins are eluted from the resin with acetone, alkali, or dimethylformamide (DMF). Disadvantages of this process include the presence of bisulfate, which interferes with adsorption of anthocyanins, thereby requiring multiple column adsorptions. Elution with alkali degrades the anthocyanins considerably, while DMF is not a recognized food additive and therefore must be completely removed before the anthocyanins can be added to any food products.
In order to capture these flavonoid compounds, well-defined and precise processing and separation techniques are needed. Nafisi-Movaghar, et al. in U.S. Pat. No. 5,912,363 describe a method for the extraction and purification of proanthocyanidins from plant material comprising heating an aqueous mixture of plant material, filtering the aqueous solution through an ultrafiltration membrane to remove larger molecular weight polymers and particulates to produce a permeate containing extracted proanthocyanidins, separating the proanthocyanidins from the liquid by contacting the permeate with an adsorbent material which is capable of releasably retaining the proanthocyanidins, and eluting the retained proanthocyanidins with a polar solvent. However, this method uses a very hot extraction temperature, which can cause degradation of the proanthocyanidins. Further, the ultrafiltration removes some of the low molecular weight polyphenolic material from the final product.
Many processes known in the art for extracting and isolating proanthocyanidins and/or anthocyanins from various plant materials use toxic and/or environmentally hazardous materials. Consequently, the current methods available for isolating and purifying proanthocyanidins are not easily scaled up to an efficient commercial process where disposal considerations of various chemicals and solvents play an important role in the overall feasibility of the process. Further, proanthocyanidins and anthocyanins must be isolated in a manner that minimizes their natural tendency toward degradation.
There is still a need, therefore, for an efficient process for isolating and purifying compositions containing phenolic compounds such as proanthocyanidins for uses in nutraceuticals and pharmaceuticals that is cost-effective, scalable, economically sound, does not require the use of toxic solvents or reagents, and isolates the phenolic compounds from plant material in a manner that minimizes their tendency toward degradation.
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The present invention relates to wireless electronic data transfer, and to circuits and methods for secure wireless information transactions.
A Smartcard is a plastic card with an embedded integrated circuit computer chip (i.e., a piece of thin, semiconductor material, such as silicon) that has been chemically processed and etched with a specific set of electrical characteristics such as circuits, storage, and logic elements of smartcard elements. When coupled with a Smartcard reader, this combination has the processing power to perform the complex operations previously requiring a personal computer or other large logic device.
In the form of a credit card, a Smartcard contains a built-in semi-conductor chip. The chip memory stores payment information, e.g., account information, similar to a magnetic stripe on the back of a credit card, but may also include additional information such as issuer-defined controls (e.g., online authorization frequency requirements, floor limits, credit limit, etc.). Many smartcards issued in the United States will also include an embossed sixteen-digit account number in the magnetic stripe. The non-chip features allow the smartcard to be used at storefronts that are not equipped to interact with smart chips. Smartcards can also be contactless or wireless, meaning the smartcard transfers data to and from another Smartcard enabled device via a built-in antenna without physically touching the other Smartcard enabled device.
Smartcard chips can be categorized as either intelligent chips or memory chips. Intelligent chips, i.e., smart chips, contain a microprocessor that has various read/write capabilities (e.g., EEPROM and ROM space), and the smart chip interacts with a Smartcard reader using software applications stored on the chip. Conversely, some Smartcard memory chips lack processing capability and do not manage files dynamically. Generally, the Smartcards currently issued by bank card issuers in the United States for payment contain intelligent chips and have processing power. For example, a Smartcard could contain an access control application where the smart chip authenticates the cardholder and provides the user with access to a previously locked door or computer network. Information on the smart chip is read from a Smartcard reader, and the smart chip is designed so that some of the information stored in the smart chip cannot be changed.
A smart chip operates similarly to a personal computer, e.g., it can control the execution of the applications and it can store information. A smart chip can also lack processing power—be “dumb card.” The primary difference with a smart chip is that the operating system is programmed into the ROM portion of the chip at the time of the manufacture and generally cannot be altered. There exist several different smartcard operating systems. Between the operating system and the application is an application programming interface (“API”)—the message management process through which the operating system and the applications interact. The operating system and breadth of applications on the smart chip are not necessarily important to the merchant and card user, as long as it is an open platform that can interface with a Smartcard reader and provide payment information to the merchant's POS terminal.
Software applications on the chip are designed for security and to process transactions. Additional applications or information may be added by the issuing bank, or potentially the card holder, such as a loyalty program, a stored value application, an e-ticket program, or a secure access verification program. When the Smartcard is used to transact payment, a point of sale (“POS”) device often requires a PIN to authenticate the user. Conventional debit and ATM networks authenticate the PIN entered by the cardholder using a back-end network (e.g., the POS device contacts, directly or indirectly, the financial network of the user that corresponds to the account number stored in the smartcard. The financial network authenticates the PIN number by comparing the account number and the PIN number associated with the account number to the PIN number entered by the user) since the PIN is not stored on debit/ATM cards. Unlike an ATM transaction, in a Smartcard transaction a PIN entered by the user is authenticated by the security system resident on the chip which examines secure information stored in the chip and compares it to the entered PIN number.
According to ISO standards, a smartcard chip operates in one of two modes either in contactless mode or in contact mode. In contactless mode, a smartcard chip is enabled to send and receive wireless communications (e.g., radio signals) through a first data channel (or data channel device). In contact mode, a smartcard chip is enabled to send and receive direct contact communications (e.g., electrically coupled signals) through a second data channel. Generally, a smartcard is pre-programmed to operate in a contactless mode and contact mode in conformance with ISO standards.
For example, when using a Smartcard to purchase goods, the consumer will hand their Smartcard to a merchant and the Smartcard is inserted into a Smartcard reader. The chip contains certain contact points that line up with the Smartcard reader to transfer information. For cards that have both a magnetic stripe and the chip, the Smartcard reader may be programmed to utilize the chip technology over the magnetic stripe since the chip is more secure. If the Smartcard contains both credit and debit applications, the cardholder must first select a payment method. At this point, the smart chip and record reader communicate to determine several things, such as whether the terminal has on-line authorization capabilities, whether the card is authentic, and processing restrictions, e.g., expiration date.
The card communicates to the reader the type of risk management checks that the card issuer wants to be performed, such as the floor limit, random online processing, and a velocity check, that determines whether an on-line authorization is necessary. Next, the POS terminal requests authorization via the back-end processing network that connects to the seller's financial institution, home office, or bank (if necessary), just like magnetic stripe card. Upon approval, the Smartcard reader and the smart chip may exchange additional information such as reward points or e-coupons for the next purchase. This information is then stored on the smart chip for future use, or could be used for the current transaction.
In contactless, or wireless, Smartcard applications, information contained on the Smartcard is transferred in one direction. Information is provided to the Smartcard reader when the Smartcard is placed in close proximity to the Smartcard reader. For example, a Mobil Speedpass smartcard is waved near a gas pump (containing a reader) to permit the user to purchase gasoline from the pump. When the Speedpass is placed near the gas pump, the user's account information is wirelessly provided to a reader in the gas pump. The account information is then used for approval of and billing of a gasoline purchase that will follow.
In some applications, information is transferred between the Smartcard and the Smartcard reader. For example commuters may use a Smartcard to pay for subway or bus transit, where fares are conventionally paid at the beginning or conclusion of the metro transit. The Smartcard stores an “electronic cash” value on the card. When entering the metro the Smartcard is placed near the smart reader on a turnstile and the reader receives payment information from the Smartcard. The user provides no additional information to the Smartcard or Smartcard reader, and does not take any further action affirming the transaction. If the Smartcard has at least a predetermined amount of electronic cash, then the smart reader provides a signal to the Smartcard indicating the metro entry point and provides a signal to the turnstile, permitting the user to enter. If there are not sufficient electronic funds, then the Smartcard reader does not provide a signal to the turnstile, and therefore the user is not permitted to enter. To exit the metro at the end of the transit, the user places the Smartcard near the Smartcard reader of a turnstile. The Smartcard reader determines the fare (by reading the entry point from the Smartcard), and deducts the fare from the value of the electronic cash stored on the card. The Smartcard reader provides a signal to the turnstile permitting the user to exit.
As described above, a contactless Smartcard can be used for information transactions (e.g., subway or bus fare transit). However, there is little to ensure that the person using the contactless Smartcard is the same person who owns the Smartcard. As Smartcards are typically pre-programmed to operate in a contactless mode, the information on a smartcard is available to be read by any device capable of reading smartcards. For example, a valid subway card or Speedpass may be used by anyone in possession of the transit card/Speedpass, respectively, even though the possessor of the transit card/Speedpass may not be the owner of the transit card/Speedpass. Therefore, it would be desirable to have a contactless system that provides an increased level of security for the information contained within the Smartcard.
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The present invention relates generally to devices for storing and displaying items of jewelry, and more particularly to such a storage and display device which can be used in the typical fashion for display purposes and can be compactly nested with similar devices for easy storage.
While jewelry items can be stored and displayed in a variety of trays, holders or racks, the most common type of jewelry display, particularly useful for rings, is a rectangularly shaped tray having an upper surface with a plurality of slits to accommodate the circular shank portion of the ring. Trays having other shapes are also found in the art. This known tray has a depth sufficient to accommodate at least half of the diameter of the ring, or its shank portion to provide stability to the ring when it is carried in the tray. The undersurface of this known tray is usually flat for placement on a surface for display purposes. Some prior art trays of this type are provided with a downwardly extending peripheral lip. This construction permits storage with other display trays of the identical size.
Placing the upper exposed surface of such a display tray beneath and within the peripheral lip of another display tray placed on top of it provides means for storing a number of identically shaped display trays one on top of the other in a manner which prevents the upper exposed portion of the jewelry items from being damaged. In order to keep the trays spaced apart, support elements are required to be provided on the underside of the tray. In some cases the peripheral lip provides this function.
Because it is necessary to provide spacer elements between the jewelry trays of the foregoing type, when in the storage condition, these trays tend to have an overall height of almost double the height of the jewelry item carried in the tray. Accordingly, storage of a number of these trays, one on top of the other, occupies a large amount of space and tends to make these types of trays heavy, bulky and difficult to place in a storage condition. It has therefore become common practice for jewelers to store jewelry items in separate storage cases remote from the display devices. This usually requires removal of the jewelry items from the display tray, which are carried in a display case or cabinet, and storing the jewelry items in separate storage containers during periods of non display, such as overnight or over weekend periods. In order to again place the jewelry items on display, they must be individually and separately removed from storage and placed within the display tray or on a separate holder. Sometimes, the entire display tray is removed for storage.
The prior art display trays have also been found difficult to use by traveling salespeople. For the reasons discussed above, most display trays cannot be stored in a compact and space saving condition. Accordingly, use of the typically known display trays in a traveling case is inconvenient and not practical.
It is accordingly a principal object of the present invention to provide a jewelry display device in the form of a tray which can be used both for display purposes and for compact storage with other similar display trays.
It is a more specific object of the present invention to provide a jewelry display tray which has a plurality of openings on its undersurface so that it can be easily nested with other display trays for compact storage.
Another object of the invention is to provide a jewelry display tray which facilitates presentation of the jewelry item in a pleasing arrangement, so as to allow each piece to be viewed and appreciated individually, while still allowing for compact storage.
Yet a further object of the present invention is to provide a jewelry display device which is made of materials light in weight so as to render the device usable for either display, storage or transit.
A further more specific object of the present invention is to create a jewelry storage tray which is capable of nesting with a plurality of identically constructed jewelry storage trays by taking advantage of a honeycomb cross-sectional construction between trays so that a plurality of trays can be stored in a compact fashion.
Still a further object of the invention is to provide a display tray which has great strength because of an interlocking structure between upper and lower members of the tray.
Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description of the invention in connection with the appended drawings, to be described more fully hereinafter.
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This invention relates to a power management system. More specifically, this invention relates to a circuit and an associated power management technique to detect and respond to changes in the power supplied to a system of one or more integrated circuit devices.
Microprocessor and microcontroller based systems are obviously dependent upon a continuous supply of electrical power for their operation, which may be from a line source, a battery, a local generator, or the like. A primary effect of an insufficient voltage level being supplied to integrated circuits of such a system is the loss of data in volatile memory. Inevitable occasional disruptions in the power supply are desirably handled in a manner that minimizes such effects. Such power disruptions include short power glitches, a total removal of power, such as occurs during power outages when a line source is used or when a battery is removed from a battery supplied system, and, in the case of a battery supply, when the voltage of the battery declines over time below a level sufficient to operate the circuits. Further, a rapid change in voltage supply level may also damage integrated circuits if not handled properly.
There are many standard approaches for eliminating or reducing such undesirable effects of a power supply interruption. For example, when a digital clock is unplugged, oftentimes the clock is equipped with a backup battery to permit the clock to continue operating. The clock might continue to work for about thirty minutes, obviating the need for reprogramming once it is plugged in again. Likewise, some television sets are equipped with a battery to permit storage of the contents of programmed channels or other user defined values. Thus, the television does not have to be reprogrammed once the power is resupplied. While the use of a battery as a backup power source is advantageous, it is inefficient. The battery must be periodically replaced, which is potentially expensive, and the back-up battery may not always be charged enough to properly compensate for a loss of power. A back-up battery is therefore unreliable and not cost effective for use in power management.
Another situation that is encountered is a complete loss of power where a battery backup cannot be used or is not practical. And in battery supplied systems, such as with a hand held television remote control device, the effects of a low battery voltage or the removal of the batteries altogether provides a disruption which must somehow be handled.
Therefore, it is a general object of the invention to provide a novel power management system which will obviate or minimize difficulties of the type previously described.
It is a specific object of the invention to provide a power management system which detects changes in power supply voltage.
It is yet another object of the invention to provide a circuit for use in a power management system which does not require a power source other than the main power input.
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Automatic pool cleaners normally are connected to a source of suction through a flexible pipe that is in turn connected to a suction opening in the base of the pool weir or skimmer which is connected by suitable piping to a circulating pump for the pool. In order that the cleaner and the pipe are not subject to undue negative pressure during operation, the pipe is often connected to the piping through a regulating control valve.
There are a number of such regulating control valves which are known. Typical of such control valves are those described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,643,217; (Frentzel) issued to U.S. Pat. No. 4,368,751 (issued to Chauvier); U.S. Pat. No. 4,790,344 (issued to Chauvier et al) and U.S. Pat. No. 4,570,660 (issued to Chauvier).
This invention is concerned with a regulating control valve which is different to the foregoing and which comprises a main water passage having an inlet port and an outlet port; a relief chamber connected to the main water passage and having an opening remote from the passage; and a closure for the opening, the closure having a relief port therethrough, the surround (i.e., edge) of the relief port comprising a valve seating, and a relief valve within the chamber that is biassed to seat on the valve seating, the relief valve being connected to a surface subject to the suction pressure in the main passage so that when there is excessive suction in the main passage, the relief valve is drawn away from the valve seating against the bias to open the relief port. Such a control valve is hereinafter referred to as "a control valve of the kind set forth".
One widely used prior art control valve of the kind set forth will be described in detail below with reference to FIGS. 2 to 4. In this control valve, the relief valve will normally project at least partially through the relief port. Such a control valve of the kind set forth normally works very satisfactorily. It has been found, however, that when the swimming pool water contains a lot of leaves, these will tend to be caught between the relief valve and the valve seating, so that the relief valve is unable to move freely to relieve the high negative pressure in the main passage.
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1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a lighting device used, for example, in a backlight of a liquid-crystal display apparatus, a surface light source including the lighting device, and a liquid-crystal display apparatus including the surface light source.
2. Description of Related Art
In a backlight of a conventional large-sized liquid-crystal display apparatus, a number of cold cathode tubes are disposed right under a liquid crystal panel, and these cold cathode tubes are used together with members such as a diffusing plate and a reflecting plate. In recent years, light emitting diodes (hereinafter referred to as “LEDs”) have been used as light sources for backlights. LEDs have increased their efficiency recently, and are expected to serve as low-power light sources to replace fluorescent lamps. In the case where LEDs are used as a light source in a liquid-crystal display apparatus, the power consumption of the apparatus can be reduced by controlling the light and dark states of the LEDs according to an image to be displayed.
In a backlight of a liquid-crystal display apparatus using LEDs as a light source, a large number of LEDs are disposed therein instead of cold cathode tubes. The use of a large number of LEDs allows the entire surface of the backlight to have uniform brightness, but the need for such a large number of LEDs is an obstacle to cost reduction. Attempts to increase the output power of each LED to reduce the required number of LEDs have been made. For example, JP 3875247 B proposes a surface light source in which a lighting device including a lens for widening a range of transmission directions of LEDs is disposed behind a diffusing plate.
For another example, JP 2002-352611 A proposes a configuration using a light direction conversion element for directing the traveling direction of light rays emitted from a light source to the normal direction to a backlight exit surface, as a configuration allowing the surface of the backlight to have uniform brightness.
When configuring a surface light source to be used in a backlight of a liquid-crystal display apparatus, it is preferable to employ a lighting device that emits white light. For example, JP 2008-545269 T discloses a lighting device as shown in FIG. 12. In this lighting device, a blue LED that emits blue light is used as the LED, and a phosphor layer 102 is disposed between a blue LED 101 and a lens 103. The phosphor layer 102 converts a part of the blue light into yellow light, so that white light is generated using the blue light.
In the lighting device as shown in FIG. 12, the phosphor layer 102 has larger surface dimensions than those of the blue LED 101. In such a configuration, the blue light emitted from the blue LED 101 and the yellow light exiting the phosphor layer 102 have different light paths to reach a light exit surface of the lens. This makes the illuminance distribution of the yellow light different from that of the blue light in an area to be irradiated with the lights, resulting in unevenness of color.
Moreover, the configuration disclosed in JP 2002-352611 A is a configuration for making the brightness uniform and is not effective in reducing the unevenness of color.
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{
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1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to the development and management of transactions on the Internet.
2. Background
The Internet is a worldwide matrix of interconnected computers. An Internet client accesses a computer on the network via an Internet provider. An Internet provider is an organization that provides a client (e.g., an individual or other organization) with access to the Internet (via analog telephone line or Integrated Services Digital Network line, for example). A client can, for example, download a file from or send an electronic mail message to another computer/client using the Internet.
To retrieve a file on the Internet, a client must search for the file, make a connection to the computer on which the file is stored, and download the file. Each of these steps may involve a separate application and access to multiple, dissimilar computer systems. The World Wide Web (WWW) was developed to provide a simpler, more uniform means for accessing information on the Internet.
The components of the WWW include browser software, network links, and servers. The browser software, or browser, is a graphical interface (i.e., front-end) that simplifies access to the Internet. A browser allows a client to communicate a request without having to learn a complicated command syntax. A browser typically provides a graphical user interface (GUI) for displaying information and receiving input. Examples of browsers currently available include Mosaic, Netscape, and Cello.
Information servers maintain the information on the WWW and are capable of processing a client request. Hypertext Transport Protocol (HTTP) is the standard protocol for communication with an information server on the WWW. HTTP has communication methods that allow clients to request data from a server and send information to the server.
To submit a request, the client contacts the HTTP server and transmits the request to the HTTP server. The request contains the communication method requested (e.g., GET an object from the server or POST data to an object on the server). The HTTP server responds to the client by sending a status of the request and the requested information. The connection is then terminated between the client and the HTTP server. A connection between a client and an HTTP server therefore has four stages: 1) initiation, 2) request transmittal, 3) response transmittal, and 4) termination. A connection can only process a single transaction or interaction between the client and the HTTP server.
The HTTP server does not retain any information about the request after the connection has been terminated. HTTP is, therefore, a stateless protocol. That is, a client can make several requests of an HTTP server, but each individual request is treated independent of any other request. The server has no recollection of any previous request.
An addressing scheme is employed to identify Internet resources (e.g., HTTP server, file or program). This addressing scheme is called Uniform Resource Locator (URL). A URL contains the protocol to use when accessing the server (e.g., HTTP), the Internet domain name of the site on which the server is running, the port number of the server, and the location of the resource in the file structure of the server.
The WWW uses a concept known as hypertext. Hypertext provides the ability to create links within a document to move directly to other information. To activate the link, it is only necessary to click on the hypertext link (e.g., a word or phrase). The hypertext link can be to information stored on a different site than the one that supplied the current information. A URL is associated with the link to identify the location of the additional information. When the link is activated, the client's browser uses the link to access the data at the site specified in the URL.
If the client request is for a file, the HTTP server locates the file and sends it to the client. An HTTP server also has the ability to delegate work to gateway programs. The Common Gateway Interface (CGI) specification defines the mechanisms by which HTTP servers communicate with gateway programs. A gateway program is referenced using a URL. The HTTP server activates the program specified in the URL and uses CGI mechanisms to pass program data sent by the client to the gateway program. Data is passed from the server to the gateway program via command-line arguments, standard input, or environment variables. The gateway program processes the data and returns its response to the server using CGI (via standard input, for example). The server forwards the data to the client using the HTTP.
A browser displays information to a client/user as pages or documents. A language is used to define the format for a page to be displayed in the WWW. The language is called Hypertext Markup Language (HTML). A WWW page is transmitted to a client as an HTML document. The browser executing at the client parses the document and produces a displays a page based on the information in the HTML document.
HTML is a structural language that is comprised of HTML elements that are nested within each other. An HTML document is a text file in which certain strings of characters, called tags, mark regions of the document and assign special meaning to them. These regions are called HTML elements. Each element has a name, or tag. An element can have attributes that specify properties of the element. Blocks or components include unordered list, text boxes, check boxes, radio buttons, for example. Each block has properties such as name, type, and value. The following provides an example of the structure of an HTML document:
<HTML> PA1 </HTML>
<HEAD> PA2 . . . element(s) valid in the document head PA2 </HEAD> PA2 <BODY> PA2 . . . element(s) valid in the document body PA2 </BODY>
Each HTML element is delimited by the pair of characters "<" and ">". The name of the HTML element is contained within the delimiting characters. The combination of the name and delimiting characters is referred to as a tag. Each element is identified by its tag. In most cases, each element has a start and ending tag. The ending tag is identified by the inclusion of an another character, "/" that follows the first delimiting character ("<").
HTML is a hierarchical language. With the exception of the HTML element, all other elements are contained within another element. The HTML element encompasses the entire document. It identifies the enclosed text as an HTML document. The HEAD element is contained within the HTML element and includes information about the HTML document. The BODY element is contained within the HTML. The BODY element contains all of the text and other information to be displayed. Other elements are described by any HTML reference manual.
Web-based access has been used for simple information publishing that consisted of static data and no logic. For example, a client request might request another page. The HTTP server fetches a pre-defined Web page using the URL contained in the request. The Web page is returned to the client. Web-based access has progressed to dynamic information publishing that allows some simple queries and some limited logic to access a database and display database information. Web applications have been used in commerce to order articles of manufacture via the Web (e.g., a personal stereo cassette deck). Commerce applications provide some limited logic and allow a Web page to change based on the client input.
Web-based applications are developed independent of other Web-based applications. That is, constructs used to implement one Web-based application remain local to the application. They are not shared.
Currently, a common gateway interface program is written to process a single transaction. Minimal state information is retained within the HTML document. It would be beneficial to use object-oriented HTML elements to manage a series of Internet transactions and to maintain state information across Internet transactions. It would be beneficial to be able to generate HTML documents dynamically using information from a previous transaction, corporate data, and data retained in HTML element objects. It would be beneficial to be able to share application development across applications.
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