1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a novel class of organosilicon compounds. This invention also relates to organosiloxane compositions that cure by a platinum group metal catalyzed hydrosilation reaction and contain these compound as adhesion promoting additives. The compounds are particularly useful for achieving adhesion to a variety of substrates at curing temperatures below about 100.degree. C.
2. Background Information
One type of curable organosiloxane composition comprises an organopolysiloxane containing ethylenically unsaturated organic groups and an organosilicon compound containing silicon-bonded hydrogen atoms, curable in the presence of a catalyst which comprises a group VIII metal or a compound or complex thereof. Usually, the catalyst is a compound or complex of platinum. Unfortunately, the adhesion of these type of compositions is generally poor, limiting their usefulness in many applications.
Several methods are known to improve the adhesion of organosiloxane compositions, however most generally have limitations. For example, primers can be used to improve the adhesion, but their use requires a separate processing step which increases process time and cost. Additionally, the primer usually requires a heat-activated cure to be effective. Adhesion additives, which are added directly to the composition to promote adhesion, have therefore received considerable attention.
Useful adhesion additives typically contain at least two functional groups. U.S. Pat. No. 3,772,026 and U.S. Pat. No. 3,873,334 teach acyloxy functional silanes which additionally contain silicon bonded hydrogen atoms or alkenyl radicals, respectively. Although the acyloxy functionality is very reactive, it liberates corrosive acetic acid upon reaction with hydroxyl groups present at the surface of the substrate or with upon contact with water.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,196,273 teaches use of unsaturated alkoxysilanes as adhesion additives, however, adhesion is not demonstrated at temperatures below 100.degree. C. and only adhesion to glass is demonstrated at 100.degree. C. U.S. Pat. No. 4,329,273 teaches use of partially hydrolyzed alkoxysilanes containing ethylenically unsaturated groups bonded to the silicon atom. While satisfactory curing of these compositions containing these adhesion additives was demonstrated at 100.degree. C., the compositions did not cure at ambient laboratory temperatures.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,082,726 teaches using organosilicon compounds containing epoxy functional dialkoxysilyl groups and at least one alkenyl group or silicon-bonded hydrogen atom as adhesion additives. The exemplified compositions are cured at temperatures between 100.degree.-200.degree.C.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,087,585 teaches physical blends of epoxy functional alkoxysilanes with silanol functional fluids containing alkenyl functionality. Cure was obtained at elevated temperatures. Multifunctional organosilanes containing ethylenic unsaturation, epoxy functionality, and alkoxy functionality are taught in U.S. Pat. No. 4,732,932. U.S. Pat. No. 5,106,933 teaches use of mixtures of alkoxysilanes.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,659,851, U.S. Pat. No. 4,719,262, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,906,686 teach reaction products of 1) unsaturated alcohols and ethers derived from these alcohols and 2) alkoxysilanes. A shortcoming of these reaction products is that the resultant Sew-O-C bond between the unsaturated alcohol and alkoxysilane would be susceptible to hydrolysis to the extent that the adhesion may be decreased upon exposure to moisture.
Organosilicon compounds obtained from the reaction of polyhydric alcohols with compounds containing silicon-bonded hydrolyzable groups are known in the art. U.S. Pat. No. 2,349,338 teaches silicic acid esters of monohydric and polyhydric alcohols, including various glycol and glycerol silicate ester derivatives, are useful as corrosion prevention additives for heat transfer liquids. The corrosion prevention is afforded by the hydrolysis product of these compounds.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,776,307 claims silicon-containing esters of the type (R.sup.1 O).sub.3 Si(XR.sup.2).sub.n OSi(OR.sup.3).sub.3, where X can be oxygen, and n has a value of 2, 3, or 4. The compounds are said to be useful as hydraulic fluids and other lubricant purposes.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,992,429 teaches novel alkoxysilane cluster compounds containing sterically hindered alkyl groups to improve hydrolytic stability. Intended uses include heat transfer fluids, hydraulic fluids, brake fluids, transmission fluids, and the like.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,630,446 teaches polymeric silicates prepared from tetraalkyl orthosilicates and polyhydric alcohols. The silicates are intended for use as plasticizers, lubricants, and hydraulic fluid additives.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,072,655 teaches reaction products of polyhydric alcohols and silanes containing from 1 to 4 hydrolyzable groups per molecule. The reaction products are used as non-slump additives for moisture curable organosiloxane compositions.
The preparation of alkoxysilanes from glycols and glycol monoethers is taught by H. G. Emblem and K. Hargreaves in the Journal of Inorganic Nuclear Chemistry, Vol. 30 (3), p. 721, 1968).
The preparation of esters derived from tetraalkyl orthosilicates and polyhydroxy alcohols by a transesterification reaction is described in British Patent No. 450,875.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,029,269 teaches compounds of the type (RO).sub.3 SiOCR'.sub.2 (CH.sub.2).sub.n CR'.sub.2 -OSi(OR).sub.3, where n is 0-16 and R' is H or a lower aliphatic radical, and R is a saturated aliphatic radical of 1-16 carbons. The compounds are suggested as lubricants and hydraulic fluids and in general show low pour point, good viscosity and viscosity index properties as well as hydrolytic stability.
Finally, Applicants' copending application Ser. No. 08/240,598 filed on May 10, 1944, U.S. Pat. No. 5,424,384 describes adhesion promoting additives for curable organosiloxane compositions that are reaction products of a polyhydric saturated alcohol with a silane or bis-silylalkane. The organosilicon reactant contains at least three alkoxy or enoloxy groups on each silicon atom.
One objective of this invention is to provide a class of novel organosiloxanes that are particularly useful as adhesion promoting additives in organosiloxane compositions, particularly those that cure by a platinum group metal catalyzed hydrosilation reaction at temperatures below about 100.degree.C.


The present invention relates to a loading ramp that is interchangeable with the tailgate of a pickup requiring no alterations of the tailgate nor the tailgate mounting devices.


Media delivery has historically followed a broadcast type model, where users/consumers all receive the same programming. Thus, any effects, cross-fades or other blending between subsequent clips or program elements are performed upstream of the consuming device, prior to being sent over the broadcast channel(s). As is generally appreciated, the addition of these effects produces a high quality experience for the user, and also provides natural and enhanced transitions between program elements. These enhancements can significantly improve and enrich the listening experience, and can be changed or modified depending upon the “mood” of the channel, the sequence of songs or clips being played, as well as the audience type, time of day, and channel genre. Typically, elements that require cross-fading, blending or other signal processing of two or more elements require precise synchronization and simultaneous playback of the elements to be processed. Thus, although in the 1960s and 1970s DJs would try to mix songs in real time, by “cueing up” the next song and starting its turntable a bit before the currently being played song ended, with the advent of digital media it has become the norm to perform such processing on a playlist of multiple songs or clips prior to broadcasting it, storing its result at the media provider or broadcaster's servers, and then send it over the broadcast channel.
With the introduction of media compression and file based delivery, various types of media are commonly downloaded directly to a user's device, such as, for example, an iPod, digital media player, MP3 player, PC, tablet, cellular phone, smart phone, etc., and various hybrid devices or devices with equivalent functionalities, without the benefit of upstream processing between media elements. This leads to a less satisfactory user experience upon user consumption or playback. A user simply hears one song stop, then hears a brief pause, then hears the next song begin. There is no “awareness” by the media playing device as to what the sequence is, no optimizations as to which song most naturally follows another in the playlist, no sense of the “feel” “mood” or tempo of the playlist or any segment of it, and each sequence of media clips is, in general, unique to each user and how they organize their respective playlists.
Additionally, many consumer type devices, cell phones, smart phones, tablets, etc. do not have the capability to perform simultaneous decode and presentation of media and elements so that they can be cross-faded or processed as played back in real time. Such devices, for example cell phones, typically have a single hardware decoder per media type, so that any type of cross-fade in real time would also require additional software based decoding for the other elements, which (i) has negative impact on battery life, and (ii) would also require the precise synchronization of two or more decoders.
What is needed in the art are systems and methods to implement and facilitate cross-fading, blends, interstitials and other effects/processing of two or more media elements on a downstream device for various purposes so as to enhance the elistenign experience, and, for example, replicate to the extent possible the sound and feel of broadcast programming.
What is further needed in the art are methods to perform such processing involving two or more elements on a downstream device, where only a single hardware decoder is available or where other system constraints are operative.


1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a face panel for a color image display apparatus, a panel for a color image display apparatus using the face panel, and a color image display apparatus on which the panel is mounted.
2. Description of the Related Art
It is difficult for a conventional image display apparatus using a Cathode Ray Tube (CRT) called a Braun tube to cope with requirements for an enlargement of a display screen due to its weight, a technical problem for an increase of size of the CRT, and the like. Accordingly, image display apparatuses using a flat panel called Flat Panel Display (FPD) are predominantly used as image display apparatuses at present. Furthermore, liquid crystal displays, a plasma displays, and the like are mainly used as image display apparatuses using FPD.
However, since the liquid crystal display and the plasma display are partially inferior to the conventional image display apparatus using a cathode ray tube (CRT) called a Braun tube in image quality and a response speed, they are required to further improve them.
There is a field emission display (FED) having the same operation principle as that of the CRT to improve the image quality and the response speed of the FPD.
There are characteristics of brightness of a displayed image as important characteristics of a color image display apparatus. The characteristics of the brightness of the displayed image are generally evaluated by luminance and a contrast ratio. The contrast ratio is a luminance ratio of white (maximum luminance) and black (minimum luminance). Since the black luminance is affected by the reflection of external light from an image screen, it is assumed below that the contrast ratio means a contrast ratio in an incident condition that external light incident on the image screen (bright place).
Furthermore, it is assumed that the contrast ratio in the bright place is the contrast ratio which is measured in a condition that external light of 150 lux is irradiated to the image screen at an angle of 45°.
The brightness and the contrast ratio of an image, which is displayed on the image screen and visually recognized by a viewer, depend not only on the level of luminance of the displayed image but also on the surface brightness of the display screen itself. That is, the brightness and the contrast ratio of the displayed image visually recognized by the viewer are determined by the balance between the sum total of the reflected lights when no image is displayed on the image screen, the visually recognized brightness of a fluorescent screen itself, and the like and the luminance of the displayed image which emits light by the fluorescent screen.
Then, the image display quality of a color image display apparatus can be improved by improving the brightness and the contrast ratio of the displayed image.
When the contrast ratio of the FED is improved, it is considered that the technique of the CRT, which has the same operation principle as that of the FED, can be used.
To improve the contrast ratio of the CRT, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Nos. 64-7457 and H07-179711 disclose a technique of using a color filter, which has the same color as that of a phosphor, between a substrate and a phosphor layer, the color filter having a function for causing the light emitted from the phosphor to selectively pass therethrough. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H09-27284 discloses a manufacturing method and like of a color filter of a plasma display. Furthermore, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-164145 discloses a technique for providing a filter on a surface of a substrate to improve a contrast ratio of a CRT.
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 64-7457 discloses a color filter which is composed of pigment particles having an average particle diameter of 0.005 μm to 0.07 μm and which has a film thickness of 15 nm to 250 nm.
Furthermore, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 09-27284 discloses a technique of not only interposing a color filter between a phosphor and the substrate but also forming an external filter to the surface of the substrate (outer surface) opposite to the surface thereof on which the phosphor is formed (inner surface).
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 09-27284 discloses to form a color filter whose transmittance to a light having a wavelength within the range of the maximum spectrum wavelength of emitted lights ±20 nm is higher than the transmittance to a light having a wavelength of 400 to 650 nm other than the above range in the lights light emitted from a phosphor layer.
The external surface filter is a filter for supplementing the light absorption of the color filter and has a maximum absorption in a constant wavelength band other than the range of ±20 nm of the maximum spectrum wavelength of the light emitted by a three-color phosphor layer.
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H07-179711 discloses a pigment-dispersed liquid composition containing an inorganic pigment of 0.5 to 50 parts by weight, at least one kind of a dispersing agent selected from a group composed of sodium salt, ammonium salt or amine salt of acrylic resin, acrylic copolymer resin, polycarboxylic acids, and an aromatic sulfonic acid formalin condensate, and water or a solvent compatible with water. Furthermore, the publication discloses a method of manufacturing a color filter using the pigment-dispersed liquid composition.
Although the contrast ratio can be increased when the transmittance of a substrate to visible light is increased to about 50%, a halation is caused in a portion where a white display is made in contact with a black display. To prevent this phenomenon, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-164145 discloses a technique for setting the transmittances of a substrate and a filter disposed to an outer surface of the substrate to 60 to 80%, respectively.


Electrophotography, which is a method for visualizing image information by forming an electrostatic latent image, is currently employed in various fields. The term “electrostatographic” is generally used interchangeably with the term “electrophotographic.” In general, electrophotography comprises the formation of an electrostatic latent image on a photoreceptor, followed by development of the image with a developer containing a toner, and subsequent transfer of the image onto a transfer material such as paper or a sheet, and fixing the image on the transfer material by utilizing heat, a solvent, pressure and/or the like to obtain a permanent image.
During the development stage of electrophotography, as toner is magnetically attracted to the magnetic development roller, a negative charge build up is caused on the individual toner particles. This is called the triboelectric charge. Since both the toner and roller are charged negatively, the toner is repelled towards the positively charged areas of the drum to create the latent image. The negatively charged areas of the drum also repel toner, leaving only the image on the drum in dusted toner particles.
In electrostatographic reproducing apparatuses, including digital, image on image, and contact electrostatic printing apparatuses, a light image of an original to be copied is typically recorded in the form of an electrostatic latent image upon a photosensitive member and the latent image is subsequently rendered visible by the application of electroscopic thermoplastic resin particles and pigment particles, or toner. Electrophotographic imaging members may include photosensitive members (photoreceptors) which are commonly utilized in electrophotographic (xerographic) processes, in either a flexible belt or a rigid drum configuration. Other members may include flexible intermediate transfer belts that are seamless or seamed, and usually formed by cutting a rectangular sheet from a web, overlapping opposite ends, and welding the overlapped ends together to form a welded seam. These electrophotographic imaging members comprise a photoconductive layer comprising a single layer or composite layers.
When the triboelectric charge of a toner is low, a number of issues occur in electrophotography using that toner. For example, there may be color spittings during development (e.g., toner particles accumulate at baffle and nips between the roll and edge of housing of the machine during printing and release them suddenly during printing marking undesirable large marks on prints), low developer life, and background (e.g., spots caused by individual particles that you see on the permanent image) on the final image. These issues can be magnified when a toner's triboelectric charge decreases with age. These issues are more prevalent with magenta developer, because triboelectric charge is generally lower than for other colors. External additives have been used to minimize these issues, but it has previously not been possible to increase the triboelectric charge of magenta developer to that of other colors. Previous attempts to sue an internal charge control agent have not been effective, because magenta toner is often itself a powerful charge control agent. Thus, the use of large quantities of external additives, the majority of the additives being negatively charging silica, are generally required to yield a functional magenta toner design.


As smart phones and other portable devices increasingly become ubiquitous, and data usage increases, macrocell base station devices and existing wireless infrastructure in turn require higher bandwidth capability in order to address the increased demand. To provide additional mobile bandwidth, small cell deployment is being pursued, with microcells and picocells providing coverage for much smaller areas than traditional macrocells.
In addition, most homes and businesses have grown to rely on broadband data access for services such as voice, video and Internet browsing, etc. Broadband access networks include satellite, 4G or 5G wireless, power line communication, fiber, cable, and telephone networks.


Various information processing systems have been developed as a result of the rapid changes which have taken place in the information industry in recent years. Methods of recording and apparatus compatible with new information processing systems have been developed and adopted. Thermal transfer recording methods use apparatus which is light and compact, has little noise, and has excellent operability and maintenance characteristics. Moreover, since thermal transfer also allow coloring to be achieved easily, these methods are widely used.
Thermal transfer recording methods can be broadly classified into two types, namely mass transfer types and dye transfer types. The latter case relates to a recording method in which a thermal dye transfer donating material (hereinbelow, "dye-donor") is constucted of a substrate with a dye layer containing dyes having heat transferability. The material is brought into contact with a thermal dye transfer receiving material (hereinbelow, "dye receptor"). The dye donor material is selectively heated with a thermal printing head provided with a plurality of juxtaposed heat-generating resistors. The heating is in response to an information signal defining a pattern or image. Dye from the selectively heated regions of the dye donor is transferred to the dye receptor and forms a pattern thereon. The shape and the density of the patern forms an image in accordance with the pattern and the intensity of heat applied to the dye-donor.
A dye receptor usually comprises a support coated with a dye receiving layer. The dye coming from the dye donor can thermally and properly diffuse into that layer. An intermediate layer, useful as cushioning layer, porous layer or dye diffusion preventing layer, may be provided between the support and the receiving layer.
The dye donor may be a monochrome dye layer or it may comprise a sequence of different colored and discrete areas of, for example, cyan, magenta, yellow, and optionally black hue. When a dye-donor containing said sequenced two, three or more primary color areas is used, a multicolor image can be obtained by sequentially performing the dye transfer process steps for each color. The dye receptors of the prior art are commonly manufactured by coating organic solvent solutions of polymers and other ingredients, involving expensive, polluting and hazardous processes. To reduce risks of fire, explosions and other accidents, special precautions and expensive manufacturing apparatus are needed in handling the organic solvent solutions used in that type of manufacture.
The image fastness given by the prior art dye receptors is quite limited and still not competitive with conventional photographic image fastness.
To bypass the use of organic solvents, JP Patent Appls. 57/137,191 or 60/038,192 claims dye receptors obtained by coating a blend of polyesters or vinylic latices that however still give the disadvantage of limited image fastness, including significant photofading.
European Appl. 363,989 describes dye receptors based on water soluble polymers in which polymeric dye accepting compounds are dispersed, and wherein said water soluble polymers are hardened by a hardening agent.
Similarly, JP Patent Appl. 02/025,393 describes dye receptors based primarily on polymer solutions as a primary binder and vinyl styrene or ethylvinylacrylate particles as a secondary ingredient.
EP 351,075 is another prior art example of aqueous dye receptors, using a silica dispersion and a melamine and formaldehyde condensation resin. In EP 300,505 a polyolefin latex is used to coat a receptor underlayer. The dye receiving layer is obtained by coating an organic solvent solution of polymer.
In JP Patent Appl. 61/266,296, aqueous receptors are obtained by using aqueous solutions of water soluble polymers such as polyvinyl alcohol or substituted celluloses as a binder for porous and non-porous fillers.
In JP Patent Appl. 63/315,283, aqueous solutions of polyvinyl alcohol and/or other water soluble resins are used as receptor binders. In EP 364,900 a polyester receptor layer is obtained by polycondensation of polyfunctional acids and alcohols and curing of the aqueous coated solution of reactants to crosslink them.
In DE 3,934,014 copolymers of styrene and acrylic compounds are used as latices for obtaining the underlayer. The dye receiving layer is coated over the latex underlayer.
JP 02/122,992 discloses a receiving layer comprising an aqueous solution or dispersion of polymeric resin in combination with silica particle and modified silicone oil, the layer having improved antisticking properties.
JP 01/038,277 discloses a composition for a receiving layer obtained from an aqueous dispersion of modified polyester containing hydrophilic groups.
In JP 01/004,391 aqueous latices with a Tg>50.degree. C. are involved in the preparation of dye receptors in combination with colloidal silica.
JP 63/011,392 discloses an oil solution of resin dispersed in water and then coated.
In JP 62/238,790 a solution or dispersion of polyester having solubilizing groups is combined with a water solution or dispersion of resins and of crosslinking compounds to increase the adhesion of the receiving layer.
In JP 62/146,693 a latex is coated as an underlayer (cushioning layer) on which the receiving layer is coated.
Accordingly, there is at present continuous work to obtain aqueous dye receptors with improved qualities which reduce the above mentioned problems.


In a mobile communication system, if a building is built in the vicinity of a base station, or if the installation status of a base station in the vicinity of the base station changes, the radio communication environment according to the base station changes. Therefore, conventionally, the operators make use of a measurement vehicle in which measurement equipment is loaded, and perform a drive test by measuring a state of a signal received from the network (base station), and then collecting the measurement data.
Such a measurement and collection process can, for example, contribute to the optimization of coverage of the base station, but faces the problem of too many man-hours and high cost. Thus, according to 3GPP (3rd Generation Partnership Project), i.e., a standardization project for mobile communication systems, a radio terminal belonging to the user is used to proceed with the specification planning of MDT (Minimization of Drive Test) for automation of the measurement and collection.
A type of MDT is the immediate report type MDT (referred to as “Immediate MDT”). According to Immediate MDT, a radio terminal in the connected state measures a reception signal state, and then reports the measurement results and location information during measurement to the network. The connected state refers to the state when the radio terminal is performing communications.
Furthermore, it is stipulated in the 3GPP standards that when a radio terminal in the connected state detects a connection failure with the network, a radio link failure (RLF) report about the connection failure is sent from the radio terminal to the network (see 3GPP TS 36.300 v10.4.0). A connection failure refers to RLF or a handover failure. Furthermore, it is stipulated that in Immediate MDT, the RLF report is extended, and the location information for identifying the location where the connection failure occurred is included in the RLF report (see 3GPP TS 37.320 v10.1.0).
Based on the Immediate MDT report and the RLF report received from the radio terminal, the network performs parameter adjustment (settings change) for coverage optimization.


The present invention relates to a network relaying apparatus and a network relaying method, or in particular to a network relaying apparatus including a router of a computer network system which is capable of searching at high speed for a destination of a packet input and a network relaying search method.
Generally, in a network system, a network relaying apparatus such as a router or a bridge is used for connecting a plurality of networks. The router checks the destination address of a packet received from a network or a subnet connected, determines the destination of the packet, and transfers the packet to a network or a subnet which is connected with the destination router or host.
FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a configuration of a conventional network relaying apparatus. In FIG. 13, a router 100 includes a routing manager (RM) 110, router buses 120, network interfaces (NIF) 130 and ports 140. Each port 140 is connected to an appropriate network 150.
Each network interface 130 receives a packet from a network connected to the port 140, and transmits the received packet through the router bus 120 to the routing manager 110. The routing manager 110 includes a routing table for holding the routing information, and using this routing information, determines the network 150 of the destination from the address of the packet received, and transmits the packet to the network interface 130 of the port 140 connected to the network 150. The network interface 130 that has received the packet from the routing manager 110 sends out the packet to the destination network 150. The routing manager 110 updates and maintains the routing information held in the routing table based on the header information of the packet received, and has the function of overall management of the router 100.
An explanation will be given of the route search process for searching for a port outputting the next address to which the packet is to be transferred upon receipt of the packet and outputting the packet. Normally, the route search uses a route search table (routing table) prepared from the component definition information and the information obtained by exchange between the routers. The routing table is for searching the information (next hop information) as to the output port, the next hop address and whether the network is directly connected or not with a set of the network address and the network mask length as a key.
As another conventional system, JP-A-05-199230 (U.S. Pat. Ser. No. 5,434,863) discloses an internet-work system and a communication network system which can flexibly meet the size requirement of the network without adversely affecting the high-speed routing process. In these systems, a router manager and a plurality of routing accelerator modules are coupled to each other with a high-speed bus Also, each routing accelerator is connected with a plurality of independent communication ports. In these conventional systems, a plurality of the routing accelerators makes possible a high-speed routing and by adding the routing accelerators, the requirement for increasing the network size can be easily met.
The conventional router, however, cannot meet the requirement of the high speed lines such as the high-speed LAN (local area network) and the wide band ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network) and ATM (asynchronous transfer mode) that have recently found applications. Also, the conventional router with only one routing means has the disadvantage that the number of ports and the communication traffic that can be supported are limited. It is therefore difficult to expand the configuration of the port menu of the router to a large size smoothly or to improve the performance in keeping with the port traffic volume.
Also, with the increase of internet users, the number of flows that the router is required to detect is on the increase. Therefore, it is necessary to set a multiplicity of flow conditions in the router. The increased traffic and the increased line speed of the internet, on the other hand, requires a shorter processing time per packet in the router. Even in the case where the number of set flow conditions is increased, therefore, the QoS (quality of service) control and the filter operation must be carried out at a high speed on the part of the router.
In setting flow conditions, on the other hand, a great variety of flow conditions set as desired by the router manager must be flexibly handled. The prior art fails to take this point into account.
In view of the above-mentioned points, an object of the present invention is to provide a network relaying apparatus and method for routing packets at high speed while assuring a high communication quality of service (QoS), a high reliability and security.
Another object of the invention is to provide a network relaying apparatus and method in which the flow conditions including the information for identifying users, the protocol information and the priority information can be set in great amounts, and in keeping with the increase in the line speed and the flow conditions, the flow can be detected at high speed so that the control operation for the communication quality including QoS control and filter can be realized.
Still another object of the invention is to provide a network relaying apparatus and method in which the control operation flexibly meeting a great variety of flow conditions including the priority control, discard control and band control can be performed at high speed by improving the description of the flow conditions and the combination of the information including the source and the transfer destination.
According to this invention, as described above, there are provided a network relaying apparatus and method for routing packets at high speed while at the same time assuring a high communication quality (QoS), a high reliability and tight security.
Also, according to this invention, the flow conditions including the information for identifying the users, the protocol information and the priority information can be set in great amounts in keeping with the increase in line speed and flow conditions, and the flow can be detected at high speed for realizing a high-speed QoS control and filtering. Further, the high-speed control operation flexibly meeting a great variety of flow conditions including the priority control, the discard control and the band control is made possible by improving the descriptiveness of the flow conditions and the combination of the information including the source and the transfer destination. Further, according to this invention, jobs of different categories (such as basic jobs and information jobs) can be combined into a single network.
According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided a network relaying apparatus comprising:
at least a network interface connected with at least a network;
at least a routing processor including a packet buffer for storing input packets and a flow search table set separately for each of the input or output line number with action information corresponding to the information including the packet source and the packet transfer destination as an entry;
a routing manager for managing the internal components of the system; and
a connector for connecting the routing manager and each of a plurality of the routing processors;
wherein the network interface outputs the input packet from the network to the routing processor; and
wherein the routing processor includes means for storing the input packet from the network interface in a buffer memory, means for searching the transfer destination of the input packet stored in the packet buffer based on the stored header information, means for searching and reading only the entry corresponding to the input or output line number of the packet by referring to the flow search table, means for determining whether the information including the packet source and the packet transfer destination are coincident with the reference conditions in the entry read out, means for determining, in the case of coincidence, the control operation for the communication quality including the order of priority of packet transfer and the possibility of transfer in accordance with the action information in the entry, and means for outputting the input packet stored in the packet buffer and the output packet produced according to the header information, to the connector and the network interface.
According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a network relaying method for outputting the input packet input from a network to a transfer destination in a network relaying apparatus comprising at least a network interface connected to at least a network, at least a routing processor for routing the packet input from the network interface, a routing manager for managing the internal components of the system, and a connector for connecting the routing manager and each of a plurality of the routing processors;
wherein the routing processor includes:
means for setting the action information corresponding to the information including the packet source and the packet transfer destination as an entry separately for each input or output line number in a flow search table;
means for storing the input packet in a buffer memory;
means for searching for a transfer destination of the input packet stored in the packet buffer based on the stored header information;
means for searching and reading only the entry corresponding to the input or output line number of the packet by referring to the flow search table;
means for determining whether the information including the packet source and the packet transfer destination coincides with the reference conditions in the read entry;
means for determining, in the case of a coincidence, the control operation for the communication quality including the priority of packet transfer or the possibility of transfer based on the action information in the entry; and
means for outputting the input packet stored in the packet buffer and the output packet produced by the header information to the connector or the network interface.


This invention relates to the residue number system (RNS) and more particularly to improved apparatus for converting residue number signals to binary number signals which are readily converted to analog representations of decimal number signals.
It is becoming increasingly popular to design electrical equipment such as filters, CODECS and echo cancellers to perform necessary processing functions in a digital manner in order to obtain the advantages of high reliability and reproducibility of results. This requires converting an analog input signal to a digital signal, performing the necessary processing operations on the digital signal in a digital manner, and then translating the processed digital signal back into an associated analog output signal. In a digital filtering operation, for example, a series of multiplications and a long summation of product terms may be required. Since there are carries involved with basic arithmetic operations such as multiplication and addition in weighted number systems such as the decimal and binary (base 10 and base 2) number systems, time is required to accommodate all of the necessary carry operations. By way of example, there is a single carry from the units column to the 10's column when adding the numbers 9 and 5 to get the number 14 in the base 10 number system. This also applies to multiplication. And where 2 each 16 digit numbers are multiplied together to obtain a 32 digit number, it may be necessary to propagate a carry from the least significant digit in the units column all the way up to the last digit that corresponds to the most significant digit. This can be very time consuming. One technique for overcoming this time limitation that is called pipelining involves generation, in the same time, of different future product (or addition) terms corresponding to different bits and delaying them accordingly, so that all bits of a result will appear on outputs at the same time. This normally requires considerable hardware which can be costly in terms of both economics and real estate in an integrated circuit structure. Another technique for overcoming this time limitation is to perform such operations as multiplication and addition in a non-weighted number system which is called the residue number system (RNS). A residue signal processor has advantage over a conventional binary-digital processor in that results are exact, a smaller amount of hardware is required, shallower pipelining is possible, operation time may be decreased, and no carries are involved.
During recent years there has been considerable interest in and development of techniques for performing digital computing and digital signal processing with hardware based on the RNS. This interest stems at least partially from the fact that operations can be performed quickly in the RNS because of the separability of operations on each RNS digit and the elimination of carries. Residue signal processor means must sample analog input signals and convert the samples to residue signals, perform the necessary processing on the residue signals, and convert the resultant residue signals back to analog output signals. Although techniques are readily available for efficiently converting analog/decimal or binary/digital signals to residue number signals, it is much more difficult to convert residue number signals back into analog signals. Since the RNS is not a weighted number system, its direct conversion to decimal/analog is not practical. One approach is to convert residue number signals to digital/binary signals and use one of the well known digital to analog conversion schemes to obtain the requisite analog/decimal signals.
Residue to analog conversion is described in the articles:
"Techniques for Residue-to-Analog Conversion for High Data Rate Digital Filtering" by W. K. Jenkins, 1978 IEEE International Conference on Acoustics, Speech and Signal Processing, pages 804-807;
"An Efficient Residue-to-Decimal Converter" by F. J. Taylor and A. S. Ramnarayanan, IEEE Transactions on Circuits and Systems, Vol. 28, No. 12, December 1981, pages 1164-1169;
"An Improved Residue Number System Digital-to-Analog Converter" by M. A. Soderstrand, et al, IEEE Transactions on Circuits and Systems, Vol. 30, No. 12, December 1983, pages 903-907; and
"Techniques for Residue-to-Analog Conversion for Residue-Encoded Digital Filters" by W. K. Jenkins, IEEE Transactions on Circuits and Systems, Vol. 25, No. 7, July 1978, pages 555-562.
Prior art residue to binary/digital converters generally require considerable hardware and/or have relatively slow execution times and/or require considerable surface area, which is undesirable in an integrated circuit structure or implementation. Also, many of the prior art residue to analog converters require memories that store look-up tables and/or modulo adders, both of which are generally hardware intensive, slow in terms of overall execution time and/or are magnitude limited in that memory size dictates the maximum number of bits and thus the largest number that can be handled. The execution time of RNS to binary converters which require memory is normally dictated by the access time of the memory, (i.e., the time that it takes to obtain information from a memory location) which may be for CMOS ROMS in the order of 100 nanoseconds. Memory systems having much shorter execution times are very expensive and are even more magnitude limited (i.e., memories with short execution times normally have fewer bytes of memory). Stated differently, memories having larger storage capacity normally have longer execution times and require considerably more real estate, which is a disadvantage in an integrated circuit structure. This can be a significant limitation since the advantages of the RNS increase with the number of bits of memory that are available. By way of example, multiplication of 2 each n-bit numbers is n times faster in the RNS than in the binary number system without pipelining. Additionally, modulo adders are normally more complex than and require more surface area in integrated circuit implementations than do conventional binary adders.
An object of this invention is the provision of improved method and apparatus for converting residue number signals to binary number signals.


Night vision systems are used in a wide variety of military, industrial and residential applications to enable sight in a dark environment. For example, night vision systems are utilized by military aviators during nighttime flights. Security cameras use night vision systems to monitor dark areas and medical instruments use night vision systems to alleviate conditions such as retinitis pigmentosis (night blindness).
Image intensifier devices are employed in night vision systems to convert a dark environment to an environment perceivable by a viewer. More specifically, the image intensifier device within the night vision system collects tiny amounts of light in a dark environment, including the lower portion of the infrared light spectrum present in the environment, which may be imperceptible to the human eye. The device amplifies the light so that the human eye can perceive the image. The light output from the image intensifier device can either be supplied to a camera, external monitor or directly to the eyes of a viewer. The image intensifier device is commonly employed in vision goggles that are worn on a user's head for transmission of the light output directly to the viewer. Accordingly, since the goggles are worn on the head, they are desirably compact and light weight for purposes of comfort and usability.
Image intensifier devices include three basic components mounted within a housing, i.e. a photocathode (commonly called a cathode), a microchannel plate (MCP), and a phosphor screen (commonly called a screen, fiber-optic or anode). The photocathode detects a light image and converts the light image into a corresponding electron pattern. The MCP amplifies the electron pattern and the phosphor screen transforms the amplified electron pattern back to an enhanced light image.
Referring to FIG. 1, a current state of the art Generation III (GEN III) image intensifier tube 10 is shown. Examples of the use of such a GEN III image intensifier tube in the prior art are exemplified in U.S. Pat. No. 5,029,963 to Naselli, et al., entitled REPLACEMENT DEVICE FOR A DRIVER'S VIEWER and U.S. Pat. No. 5,084,780 to Phillips, entitled TELESCOPIC SIGHT FOR DAYLIGHT VIEWING. The GEN III image intensifier tube 10 shown, and in both cited references, is of the type currently manufactured by ITT Corporation, the assignee herein. In intensifier tube 10 shown in FIG. 1, infrared energy impinges upon photocathode 12. The photocathode 12 is comprised of glass faceplate 14 coated on one side with antireflection layer 16, a gallium aluminum arsenide (GaAlAs) window layer 17 and gallium arsenide (GaAs) active layer 18. Infrared energy is absorbed in GaAs active layer 18, thereby resulting in the generation of electron/hole pairs. The produced electrons are then emitted into vacuum housing 22 through a negative electron affinity (NEA) coating 20 present on GaAs active layer 18.
A microchannel plate (MCP) 24 is positioned within vacuum housing 22, adjacent NEA coating 20 of photocathode 12. Conventionally, MCP 24 is made of glass having a conductive input surface 26 and a conductive output surface 28. Once electrons exit photocathode 12, the electrons are accelerated toward input surface 26 of MCP 24 by a difference in potential between input surface 26 and photocathode 12 of approximately 300 to 900 volts. As the electrons bombard input surface 26 of MCP 24, secondary electrons are generated within MCP 24. The MCP 24 may generate several hundred electrons for each electron entering input surface 26. The MCP 24 is subjected to a difference in potential between input surface 26 and output surface 28, which is typically about 1100 volts, whereby the potential difference enables electron multiplication.
As the multiplied electrons exit MCP 24, the electrons are accelerated through vacuum housing 22 toward phosphor screen 30 by a difference in potential between phosphor screen 30 and output surface 28 of approximately 4200 volts. As is the electrons impinge upon phosphor screen 30, many photons are produced per electron. The photons create the output image for image intensifier tube 10 on the output surface of optical inverter element 31.
FIG. 2 is a schematic representation of image intensifier tube 41. The tube includes photocathode 54, microchannel plate (MCP) 53 and imaging sensor 56. Imaging sensor 56 can be any type of solid-state imaging sensor, such as a CCD device, or a CMOS imaging sensor.
Photocathode 54 can be, but is not limited to, a material such as GaAs, Bialkali, InGaAs, and the like. Photocathode 54 includes input side 54a and output side 54b. MCP 53 has a plurality of channels 52 formed between an input surface and an output surface.
An electric biasing circuit 44 provides a biasing current to image intensifier tube 41. Electric biasing circuit 44 includes a first electrical connection 42 and a second electrical connection 43. First electrical connection 42 provides a biasing voltage between photocathode 54 and MCP 53. Second electrical connection 43 applies a biasing voltage between MCP 53 and imaging sensor 56. In this configuration, photocathode 54, MCP 53, and imaging sensor 56 are maintained in a vacuum body or envelope 61 as a single unit, in close physical proximity to each other.
Still referring to FIG. 2, in operation, light 58, 59 from an image 57 enters image intensifier tube 41 through input side 54a of photocathode 54. Photocathode 54 changes the entering light into electrons 48, which are output from output side 54b of photocathode 54. Electrons 48 exiting photocathode 54 enter channels 52 of MCP 53. Secondary electrons are generated within the plurality of channels 52 of MCP 53. The MCP 53 may generate several hundred electrons in each of channels 52 for each electron entering through the input surface. Thus, the number of electrons 47 exiting channels 52 is significantly greater than the number of electrons 48 that entered channels 52. The intensified number of electrons 47 exit channels 52 and strike the electron receiving surface of imaging device 56. The imaging device transforms the electrons into a light image which may be stored in memory or viewed on display 46.


This invention relates generally to electrical connectors and more particularly to a molded connector having a construction which facilitates the assembly of the electrical connections for a float controlled pump such as a sump pump.
Electric sump pumps are commonly equipped with a float having a mercury switch or mechanical switch that automatically turns the pump motor on when the liquid in the sump rises to a preselected level. In the past, the electrical lead wires from the motor, the power cord and the float switch cord have all been extended into an electrical compartment on the pump housing, and the proper wires must then be connected with one another by hand in the electrical compartment; another arrangement that has been used involves the provision of a separate cord with the float switch attached and a separate plug with "piggy-back" connector for the purpose of attaching the pump power cord. As can easily be appreciated, this assembly technique requires considerable time and a reasonable amount of skill, and it is also possible for the electrical connections in the box to be faulty.
The present invention is directed to an electrical connector which is constructed in a unique manner in order to facilitate assembly of the electrical wiring, reduce the assembly time, and virtually eliminate faulty electrical connections in a float controlled electric pump. In accordance with the invention, a tee shaped electrical connector is molded in a single integral piece with the power cord molded to one leg of the connector body and the float switch cord molded to another leg. The final leg of the connector body has a plug head equipped with electrical contacts to which lead wires from the power cord and the float switch cord extend. The pump casing is provided with a socket into which electrical terminals for the motor leads project. The plug head may be inserted into the sockets so that the electrical contacts mate with the terminals, and the connector body may be fastened in place by two screws.
Due to this construction, all that is required for the electrical connections to be completed during the assembly process is to plug the connector into the socket and secure it with the screws. Because the connector body is prewired, the electrical circuit that results following assembly is properly arranged so that the float switch controls the on/off condition of the pump motor in the intended manner.


The invention relates to compositions suitable for use as adhesives, especially for medical products. This invention also relates to medical devices that include portions bonded together by the adhesives.
Adhesives can be used in the medical field in a variety of ways. Medical adhesives can be used, for example, in manufacturing and/or implantation of medical devices. In surgical settings, medical adhesives provide an alternative to sutures, staples and the like for closing wounds in soft tissue. Certain tissues, such as nerves and particular vital organs, are too delicate for suturing or stapling, so the use of medical adhesives may be a viable repair option. In manufacturing settings, medical adhesives can be used to adhere one or more components of a medical device together.
Generally, the use of an adhesive for the manufacturing and/or implantation of medical devices or to repair wounds in soft tissue can be desirable due to potential sealing properties and uniform stress distribution. Adhesives provide a means for attaching substrates in the medical devices. The use of an adhesive may form an adhesive bond over the length of an attachment site. Adhesives tend to distribute the stress exerted on the attachment site over the length of the attachment site.
Generally, medical adhesives can be classified according to whether they include synthetic polymers, natural (biological) polymers or both. A variety of synthetic urethane based polymers have been developed as medical glues. Natural surgical adhesives generally are based on proteins. For example, fibrin glues include the protein fibrinogen. Fibrinogen is used in natural wound healing mechanisms in humans and other mammals. Synthetic adhesives have the disadvantage of being potentially toxic. On the other hand, biological/natural adhesives generally have relatively low binding (cohesive) strengths and rapid degradation times.
In a first aspect, the invention pertains to an adhesive composition including an epoxyamine and a curing agent. The epoxyamine is at a concentration of between about 25 percent by weight and about 90 percent by weight in the adhesive composition.
In a further aspect, the invention pertains to a prosthesis including a first substrate. The first substrate is associated with an adhesive composition that includes an epoxyamine. The concentration of the epoxyamine in the adhesive composition is between about 25percent by weight and about 90 percent by weight.
In another aspect, the invention pertains to method of securing a first substrate to a second substrate. The method includes contacting a first substrate including an adhesive composition with a second substrate to form an adhesive bond between the first and the second substrate. The adhesive composition includes an epoxyamine.
In a further aspect, the invention pertains to a method of manufacturing a heart valve prosthesis. The method includes associating a first valve component with an adhesive composition and adhering the first valve component with a second valve component to form an adhesive bond between the first valve component and the second valve component. The adhesive composition includes an epoxyamine.
In another aspect, the invention pertains to a prosthesis including at least two substrates. The substrates are adhered together by an adhesive bond. The adhesive bond is formed when an epoxyamine adhesive between the substrates is cured.


Signal transduction is the general process by which cells respond to extracellular signals. Signal transduction across the plasma membrane begins with the binding of a signal molecule, e.g., a hormone, neurotransmitter, or growth factor, to a cell membrane receptor. The receptor, thus activated, triggers an intracellular biochemical cascade that ends with the activation of an intracellular target molecule, such as a transcription factor. This process of signal transduction regulates all types of cell functions including cell proliferation, differentiation, and gene transcription.
Biological membranes surround organelles, vesicles, and the cell itself. Membranes are highly selective permeability barriers made up of lipid bilayer sheets composed of phosphoglycerides, fatty acids, cholesterol, phospholipids, glycolipids, proteoglycans, and proteins. Membranes contain ion pumps, ion channels, and specific receptors for external stimuli which transmit biochemical signals across the membranes. These membranes also contain second messenger proteins which interact with these pumps, channels, and receptors to amplify and regulate transmission of these signals.


The present invention relates generally to an exposure method and apparatus used to expose an object, such as a single crystal substrate for a semiconductor wafer and a glass plate for a liquid crystal display (“LCD”)
Reduction projection exposure apparatuses have been conventionally employed which use a projection optical system for projecting a circuit pattern formed on a mask (reticle) onto a wafer, etc. and for transferring the circuit pattern, in manufacturing such devices as semiconductor devices, LCD devices and thin-film magnetic heads in the photolithography technology.
Along with finer and more highly integrated ICs, the projection exposure apparatus has been required to expose a circuit pattern on a reticle onto a wafer with high resolving power. The minimum critical dimension to be transferred by the projection exposure apparatus (resolution) is proportionate to a wavelength of light used for exposure, and inversely proportionate to the numerical aperture (“NA”) of the projection optical system. The shorter the wavelength is, the better the resolution is. Accordingly, the recent light sources have been in transition from an ultra-high pressure mercury lamp (g-line with a wavelength of approximately 436 nm) and i-line with a wavelength of approximately 365 nm) to KrF excimer laser (with a wavelength of approximately 248 nm) and ArF excimer laser (with a wavelength of approximately 193 nm). Practical use of F2 excimer laser (with a wavelength of 157 nm) has been promoted.
A step-and-repeat exposure apparatus (also referred to as a “stepper”) for entirely projecting and exposing an approximately square exposure area onto a wafer with a reduced exposure area has been replaced mainly with a step-and-scan exposure apparatus (also referred to as a “scanner”) for accurately exposing a wide screen of exposure area through a rectangular slit with relatively and quickly scanning the reticle and the wafer.
In exposure, the scanner uses a surface-position detector having an oblique light projection system to measure a surface position at a certain position on the wafer before the exposure slit area moves to the certain position on the wafer, and accords the wafer surface with an optimal exposure image-surface position when exposing the certain position, thereby reducing influence of the flatness of the wafer. In particular, there are plural measurement points in longitudinal direction of the exposure slit, i.e., a direction orthogonal to the scan direction, at front and back stages to the exposure slit area to measure an inclination or tilt of the surface as well as a height or focus of the wafer surface position. In general, the scan exposure proceeds in both directions from the upper stage and from the back stage (see, for example, Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 9-45609 corresponding to U.S. Pat. No. 5,750,294).
Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 6-260391 (corresponding to U.S. Pat. No. 5,448,332) proposes, as a method for measuring a surface position on a wafer in a scanner and for correction the same, an arrangement of plural measurement points on a pre-scan area other than the exposure area to measure the focus and tilt in scan and non-scan directions. Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 6-283403 (corresponding to U.S. Pat. No. 5,448,332) proposes as a method for measuring the focus and tilt in the scan and non-scan directions and for driving and correcting the same, by arranging plural measurement points in the exposure area.
A description will be given of these proposals with reference to FIGS. 18 and 19. Here, FIG. 18 is a schematic sectional view of focus and tilt measurement points FP1 to FP3 on the wafer 1000. FIG. 19 is a schematic sectional view showing the wafer 1000 that has been driven to an optimal exposure image-surface position based on the measurement results. Referring to FIG. 18, the focus and tilt are sequentially measured at the measurement points FP1 to FP3 on the wafer 1000. A pre-scan plane PMP is calculated based on the measurement results from the measurement points FP1 to FP3, and the orientation of the wafer is driven and adjusted to the best focus plane BFP in moving the wafer 1000 to the exposure are an exposure slit 2000, as shown in FIG. 19.
However, the recent increasingly shortened wavelength of the exposure light and the higher NA of the projection optical system have required an extremely small depth of focus (“DOF”) and a stricter accuracy with which the wafer surface to be exposed is aligned to the best focus position BFP or so-called focus accuracy.
In particular, they have also required stricter measurement and precise correction of the tilt of the wafer surface in the scan direction or width direction of the exposure slit. A wafer having an insufficiently flat surface has disadvantageous focus detection accuracy. For example, when the exposure apparatus has a DOF with 0.4 μm, the flatness of the wafer requires several nanometer order, for example, the flatness of the wafer needs 0.08 μm where it is one-fifth as long as the DOF, or 0.04 μm where it is one-tenth as long as the DOF. In addition, while a surface-position detector having the oblique light projection system measures the wafer's surface position before the area hangs over the exposure slit, the measurement timing is discrete and no information is available or considered about the wafer's flatness between two timings. As a result, there is no information available between timings of the flatness of the wafer.
For example, this measurement timing is at an interval of 2 mm on the wafer 1000 in the scan direction as shown in FIG. 20. Then, the wafer 1000 has such an insufficient flatness due to lack of the information for a distance of 2 mm, e.g., between points P1 to P2 in FIG. 20 that the front position may offset by Δ from the pre-scan plane PMP calculated by the measurement at the interval of 2 mm. Here, FIG. 20 is a schematic sectional view showing an offset of flatness between the pre-scan plane PMP and the wafer 1000.
In exposure, the pre-scan plane PMP is adjusted to the best focus plane BFP, and the exposure in FIG. 20 needs a shift by the amount of Δ. This shift occurs in a direction orthogonal to the scan direction as well as the scan direction. This is due to an arrangement of measurement points of the above oblique light projection system, rather than the measurement timing.
The finer measurement timing in the scan direction and the increased number of measurement points in the oblique light projection system would reduce an offset error, but might disadvantageously lower the throughput due to the deteriorated scan speed in exposure time, increase measurement time, rise cost together with the complicated apparatus structure, and grows likelihood of troubles.


1. Field of the Invention
The present invention concerns a cooler for electrical and/ or electronic components, more particularly a cooler used in a testing system for semiconductors.
2. Discussion of the Background Art
The lifetime and proper functioning of electric and/or electronic components, in particular microprocessors, depends heavily on their thermal strain. In order to increase the lifetime and to ensure optimum functioning, coolers of the above-mentioned type are used for cooling such thermally strained components.
Coolers for the most varied applications and in different embodiments are known from, among others, JP-A-07038025, DE-A-19600166, JP-A-2000323636, DE-A-19800166, and DE-U-9201158.


The present disclosure generally relates to a storage system that provides easier access to multiple portions of a storage rack.
Storage systems are used in warehouses, department stores, and storage facilities to store products thereon. The storage systems containing a plurality of storage racks may hold large amounts and a variety of products that consumers or pickers pull from. Some storage systems are designed in a manner to provide support with insufficient accessibility, thereby requiring additional resources and time for workers to pull all of the products they require to fill a particular order. For example, some storage systems include a horizontal bar that extends to another storage system adjacent thereto; the horizontal bar provides support for both storage system structures. However, the horizontal bar obstructs the pathway for the consumer or picker to access products on an opposite side of the horizontal bar.


This invention comprises a new and distinct variety of Orchid named Dendrobium Stardust xe2x80x98Firebirdxe2x80x99, a hybrid of the Genus Dendrobium (Dendrobium unicomxc3x97Dendrobium ukon), referred to herein by its grex and varietal name Stardust xe2x80x98Firebirdxe2x80x99. Stardust xe2x80x98Firebirdxe2x80x99 is a distinct variety selected from progeny of a cross between the unpatented Dendrobium unicum and Dendrobium unkon. The same cross has produced other Stardust family members (see below).
The chronology of events leading to selection of Stardust xe2x80x98Firebirdxe2x80x99 is as follows: Dendrobium unicum and Dendrobium unkon were crossed in 1980 and seedlings were placed in flasks in October of that year. These seedlings were grown to maturity, flowered, and the Grex epithet Stardust was registered with The Royal Horticultural Society, The International Registration Authority for Orchid Hybrids, in 1986 by N. Ashi. From this group of seedlings a plant with desirable characteristics (i.e., good flowers, compact growth habit, and fast growth), was selected and given the varietal epithet xe2x80x98Firebirdxe2x80x99.
This plant was then reproduced asexually using conventional meristem culture techniques for tissue culture of orchids (Plants from Test Tubes, Lydiane Kyte and John Kleyn, eds., Timber Press (1996)). Asexual reproduction took place at 60 Aza Hanto, Oaza Ishihama, Higashiuratnachi, Chita Gun, Aichi, Japan, and Stardust xe2x80x98Firebirdxe2x80x99 reliably reproduced true to type. A long testing period followed.
In February of 1993, the plants of Stardust xe2x80x98Firebirdxe2x80x99 continued to display the desirable characteristics selected for. These plants were then examined for their susceptibility or immunity from known diseases, namely, Dendrobium virus, Dendrobium Thabdo virus and Tomato Spotted Wilt virus. Stardust xe2x80x98Firebirdxe2x80x99 displayed immunity to those diseases. All developmental work was done in a glass greenhouse located at Aichi-ken, Japan where minimum temperature was kept at 13xc2x0 C.
Stardust xe2x80x98Firebirdxe2x80x99 is descended from 5 species of the genus Dendrobium. These are Dendrobium unicum, Dendrobium moniliforme, Dendrobium aureum, Dendrobium signatum, and Dendrobium nobile. These species have been extensively used in hybridizing and are found over an extremely large area having a wide range of habitat elevations. The habitat area extends from India in the West to Japan in the north, and Australia and New Zealand in the south. Eastward, the habitat includes most of the Pacific Islands. The species are found from sea level to elevations as high as 12,000 feet. It is impossible to make accurate generalizations about the horticulture of the Dendrobium species but it can be said that its hybrids have cultural requirements which are similar to parents Dendrobium unicum and Dendrobium ukon, neither which is patented, and form a predictable guide. Dendrobium unicum and Dendrobium ukon and Stardust xe2x80x98Firebirdxe2x80x99 have rather large attractive flowers and are generally easy to cultivate.
Dendrobium unicum is a very distinctive species from Thailand and Laos. It has a deep orange color. It differs significantly from Stardust xe2x80x98Firebirdxe2x80x99 in that the petals and sepals are very narrow and strongly reflexed, the lip is larger than petals and sepals, is brownish orange and has a 3 ridged callus along the center. Dendrobium ukon is a hybrid, registered with The Royal Horticultural Society in 1979 by H. Furuse. It differs from Stardust xe2x80x98Firebirdxe2x80x99 in growth habit, in the pseudobulbs being quite large and swollen in the middle, and in flower shape and size. Flowers are usually white or pink, petals larger than sepals, with a broad flat lip. Petals and sepals are also much wider at the apex than at the base.


1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to a light-emitting device such as an organic electroluminescence element (hereafter referred to as “an organic EL element”).
2. Description of the Related Art
Organic EL elements have been examined for application to various light-emitting devices and have been practically used as light-emitting devices. For example, organic EL elements are used for flat panel displays, backlight units for liquid crystal displays, and light sources for illumination.


1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to electrical energy storage devices and is directed more particularly to an electrically rechargeable, reduction-oxidation (REDOX) type cell.
2. Description of the Prior Art
REDOX cells utilizing anode and cathode fluids separated by an ion permeable membrane and employing REDOX couples as the electrochemical active materials are generally well known. The electrochemical capacity of these fluids is a function of the amount of active material in the solution and the oxidation state of the material. If the anode fluid and the cathode fluid contain the same number of equivalents of active material and both have the same degree of charge the REDOX system is said to be in balance.
For a REDOX system using a chromous/chromic couple as the anode fluid and the ferrous/ferric couple as the cathode fluid, a balanced system has the same number of equivalents of chromous chloride in the anode fluid as there are equivalents of ferric chloride in the cathode fluid. The anode fluid is an aqueous solution of hydrochloric acid and chromium chloride while the cathode fluid is an aqueous solution of hydrochloric acid and iron chloride.
During the operation of a REDOX system, electrochemical imbalance can gradually build up if reactions other than the desired electrochemical REDOX reactions occur. For example, if a system when new had a capacity of 100 ampere hours and after a certain length of time had a capacity of only 90 ampere hours, it would be clear that an imbalance between the anode and cathode fluids had occurred. This imbalance is defined as a different state of charge in the anode and cathode fluids.
An imbalance in a REDOX system can occur for a number of reasons including, but not limited to, the following:


The present invention relates generally to wire bonded integrated circuit packages and, more particularly, to methods and arrangements for isolation and reinforcement of individual bonding wires in integrated circuit packages.
In a wire bonded integrated circuit package, a die is attached and wire bonded to a lead frame (or other substrate) and then molded. During the molding process, the flow of the mold may displace some bonding wires, a phenomenon commonly referred to as “wire sweep”. As a result of wire sweep, some displaced bonding wires may come in contact with other bonding wires and produce short circuits. Wire sweep generally causes a decrease in package yields, since packages with shorts are rejected (“short rejects”). In other situations, wire sweep may push adjacent bonding wires closer together than is desired even though they do not actually touch. This can lead to increased inductive coupling and/or crosstalk interference between adjacent bonding wires, which can decrease the performance of the resulting packaged integrated circuit and lead to further reductions in package yields.
One approach to addressing the wire sweep problem has been to insulate the bonding wires before molding. By way of example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,455,745 and 5,527,742 describe methods of insulating bonding wires. Although the existing wire insulation techniques work well, in the semiconductor industry, there are continuing efforts to improve packaging techniques and/or reduce costs.


An image detection apparatus that utilizes a flat panel detector is widely used in x-ray digital imaging to generate digital image data. The flat panel detector includes a scintillator for generating fluorescence when exposed to radiation and a pixel array for detecting the fluorescence of the scintillator. The scintillator and the pixel array are disposed on, for example, individual substrates, respectively, and are bonded to each other through an adhesive layer. The radiation is converted into light by the scintillator and the fluorescence of the scintillator is converted into an electrical signal by the pixel array, and, as a result, digital image data is generated.


1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to the field of fiber optical circulators. More particularly, the present invention relates to the field of compact, low cost and high performance optical circulators with at least three ports, which can expanded to more ports.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In general, the fiber optical circulator transfers light from a port to another sequentially. It has at least three ports. The light enters the circulator through a first port and exits through a second port. Another light that enters the second port exits through a third port and so on. Since the optical circulator is an inherently non-reciprocal device, the light never goes to other ports.
Such an optical device has a broad range of applications in the field of fiber optic communication systems, such as in bi-directional communication, dense Wavelength Division Multiplexing (WDM) and Dispersion Compensation.
Many types of optical circulators have been developed and manufactured. However, the high cost and bulky size of the circulator have limited the popular acceptance for system applications.


Portable radios with earphones have become popular for use during many types of activities. For example, exercisers use portable radios with earphones to listen to radio broadcasts while exercising. Sports fans use portable radios at live games to listen to radio broadcasts of the game while viewing the game from the stands. Moreover, others use portable radios with earphones to listen to broadcasts privately and therefore, not disturb others. Portable radios are configured so that large headphones which substantially cover a user's ears are positioned adjacent to the user's ears by supporting them on a substantially rigid head mount. Smaller headphones are anchored inside the user's ear canals.
In portable radios with headphones, the antenna for the receiver is the long wires attaching the receiver to the headphones. Long antenna wires are required for quality reception of FM transmissions. Frequently, the long wires act as encumbrance to the user of the portable radio. For example, when the receiver is attached to the user's belt, suspended from the user's shoulder by a shoulder strap, or in the user's hand, the length and position of the antenna wires causes them to become tangled and unmanageable. Frequently, the wires are in the way of the user's hands and can become tangled with other articles carried by the user such as a purse or jacket.
Another type of portable radio with headphones is that having the receiver fixably attached to the headphone's substantially rigid head mount. In this arrangement, a rigid antenna is also attached to the head mount and typically projects upwards. While this type of portable radio avoids the problem of loose long antenna wires, it is a bulky and unbalanced arrangement, and therefore not suitable for use during activities involving substantial motion.
Other portable radio configurations include those which run an antenna through a headband so that it encircles a user's head. While this configuration avoids the problem of loose long antenna wires, the headband is rigid and therefore, uncomfortable. In this configuration, a headband made from a more comfortable non-rigid material such as fabric is unacceptable for many activities, such as exercising, because with the wires inside it, the headband cannot be washed.
Other portable radio configurations also include those which are attachable to a washable headband by clips. Because the radio is removable from the headband, the headband is washable. However, in these configurations, the earphone wires which double as antenna wires hang from the radio, drape down past the user's shoulders and therefore the wires are in the way of the user's hands and can become tangled with other articles carried by the user.


The invention relates to containers, and more particularly to an insulated container possessing impact cushioning characteristics with an improved ability to maintain a desired limited cold or hot temperature range for an extended period of time.
The shipment and handling of various goods and commodities, such as blood, drugs, vaccines, frozen foods, catalysts, chemicals, and the like, requires that the shipping container be well suited for cold or hot storage and that it have the ability to maintain the shipped product in a particular environment over a limited temperature range during the course of shipment and handling. In designing such a shipping container, the weight of the empty container is of significance; for instance, many perishable goods travel by air to distant destinations. The size and configuration of the container is also a design consideration, whether ground or air transportation is employed. The materials from which the container is constructed constitute a further factor in its design, since it is desirable to form the container from low cost materials which yield an easily assembled container which, where required, can be quickly disassembled for storage and/or re-shipment. It is further desirable to fabricate the container from materials which are relatively resilient to the customary impact shocks and blows encountered in shipment, and which provides satisfactory protection from damage incurred by the container through rough handling. A shipping container for cold or hot storage must therefore maximize the protection and preservation ability of the container, and minimize the cost and difficulty of construction of the container.
It is well known in the prior art to provide a shipping container with foam insulation as both the means to preserve a cold temperature storage environment within the container as well as protect the enclosed product from damage. In Cline et al, U.S. Pat. No. 3,4l6,692, a cold storage shipping container is disclosed which is semi-rigid and self supporting. The container has walls composed of a flexible and resilient foamed insulating material of an interconnected open-cell type which is enclosed within a fluid impervious casing, possessing a similarily composed cover. Since the walls and bottom of the container are an integral unit, the container cannot be knocked-down for storage or shipment. The container is typical of those types of shipping containers having walls composed of an insulating material encased between outer and inner walls. Such a container, though having flexible walls, is relatively expensive, since the encased insulation assembly is fairly elaborate. Further, this type of container must be purchased in assembled form, and cannot be compactly shipped or stored by the user for later assembly, as needed.
Likewise, it is known in the art to use an open-celled insulating foam material for insulating and protective purposes in containers. Such foam material as used in Cline, U.S. Pat. No. 3,416,692, is of an interconnected open-cell type, such as polyurethane, where the interstices between the foam cells reduce the circulation of gases from the colder interior compartment through to the outer warmer side of the container. However, the ability of such open-celled foam to hold a reduced temperature within a shipping container is far inferior to closed-cell foam such as polystyrene, which material has a relatively low susceptability to internal convective circulation or direct transmission of gases.
Ernst, et al, U.S. Pat. No. 3,890,762, shows a produce shipping container comprised of a common corrugated paperboard box and six closed-cell polystyrene foam panels, the six panels respectively residing in facial engagement with the sides, top, and bottom of the box. The panels are of a rigid foam, however, and thus provide a limited amount of protection to the contained product from damage through shipping and handling. Rigid panels of this type are also subject to chipping and breaking, which effectively degrades the container's ability to maintain a reduced interior temperature, and limits the commercial life of the container itself for re-use where desired.
The temperature preservation ability of the Ernst container further suffers from the employment of a type of closed-cell foam which will conduct the gases in the interior of the container to the ambient atmosphere or vice versa. The absence of an effective barrier to the flow of vapors between the interior and exterior of the container significantly reduces the shipping container's ability to maintain the requisite storage environment. In point of fact, the foam material specified in Ernst was selected for its ability to permit rapid temperature modification of the contained produce through cooling by an external source.
The prior art thus fails to provide an inexpensive and easily assembled light-weight, reusable shipping container having the improved ability to maintain a desired limited cold or hot temperature range over a long period of time while providing adequate cushioning and protection for the contained product.


A projection system typically includes a light source, illumination optics, one or more imagers, projection optics, and a projection screen. The illumination optics collect light from the light source and direct that light in a predetermined manner to the imager(s). The imager(s) are typically polarization-rotating, image-forming devices, such as liquid crystal display imagers, which operate by rotating the polarization of the light to produce an image corresponding to digital video signals. The projection optics then magnify the image and project it onto the projection screen.
Imagers used in projection systems typically rely on polarizers to separate light into a pair of orthogonal polarization states (e.g., s-polarization and p-polarization). The separation generally involves transmitting light having a desired polarization state and absorbing the majority of the light having an undesired polarization state. Such polarizers, however, absorb a substantial amount of light energy, which is converted to heat. During extended periods of use, the generated heat may build up and damage the polarizers, thereby diminishing the polarization properties. This accordingly reduces the quality of the projected images over time. Typically, high-speed air flows are provided over the polarizers to maintain the polarizer temperatures below acceptable limits. However, the required volumetric flow rates may be high, and the size and number of fans needed in the projection system can consume a significant amount of electrical power and space in the projection system, in addition to generating distracting noise.


1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to a synchronization method of communication, in particular, to a synchronization method adapted to be employed in the third generation mobile communication system for decreasing the call-dropping probability thereof.
2. Description of Related Art
With the arrival of the information era, demands for mobile audio, data communication, and kinds of mobile service are continuously increasing. Limited communication channels and insufficient transmission speed deter the concurrent communication system to be further developed. Therefore, the third generation mobile (3G) mobile communication, capable of providing higher frequency band utilizing efficiency and faster transmission service, has been developed accordingly.
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram for illustrating a 3G mobile communication network. Referring to FIG. 1, a user equipment (UE) 10, e.g., a cellular phone or one of other handheld communication devices, communicates to a universal mobile telecommunication system radio access network (UTRAN) 11 via radio signals. The UTRAN 11 includes several radio network subsystems (RNS) 121, 122. Each of the RNSs is controlled by a radio network controller (RNC) 131, 132. Each RNC is connected with a plurality of node bases (Node B) 141-143. For example, as shown in FIG. 1, the RNS 121 includes RNCs 131 and Node Bs 141, 142, and the RNS 122 includes RNCs 132 and a Node B 143. The UTRAN 11 communicates with other telecommunication network, e.g., internet, via a core network (CN) 15 to provide 3G audio and/or data transmission service.
If moved or the wireless environment is changed, the UTRAN may shift UE among different RNSs, e.g., changing from connection to the RNS 121 to connect to the RNS 122. Such a procedure is called serving radio network subsystem (SRNS) relocation. In such a procedure, the UE 10 and the UTRAN 11 have to communicate to each other by synchronously using identical setting configuration. For example, the UE 10 and the UTRAN 11 must synchronously use data cipher corresponding to a new setting configuration to encrypt or decrypt the data.
FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram for illustrating the 3G mobile communication synchronization between a UE and a UTRAN. Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, in an SRNS relocation procedure, the UTRAN transmits a radio resource control (RRC) message containing ciphering configuration information. After receiving the RRC re-configuration message containing the ciphering configuration information, the UE changes to the corresponding new ciphering configuration and transmits RRC response message to the UTRAN. For example, the UTRAN transmits a UTRAN mobility information RRC message containing downlink counter synchronization information to the UE. After receiving the aforementioned RRC message, the UE changes to the new configuration and feeds back a UTRAN mobility information confirm RRC message to respond the reception of the RRC message.
Because of the standard of 3G mobile communication, the UE is setup to measure e.g. wireless channel, according to which the RNC performs and controls channel source management. The obtained results also depend on the adjustment of the wireless channel quality factors for maintaining quality of different services. Therefore, the UE transmits a measurement report at predetermined times to the UTRAN according to the measurement event or the standard. However, the 3G mobile communication standard does not clearly define when the UTRAN should use its corresponding new ciphering configuration. As such, the UTRAN cannot correctly use the same data cipher of the UE to encode or decode the data, which is illustrated with reference to FIG. 4 as follows.
FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram for illustrating incorrectly encrypting/decrypting due to a synchronization failure between the UE and the UTRAN of 3G mobile communication. At the beginning, the UTRAN transmits UTRAN mobility information RRC message containing downlink counter synchronization information and ciphering mode info containing new ciphering configuration to the UE. However, after receiving the aforementioned RRC message, the UE most probably sends measurement reports to the UTRAN at predetermined times triggered by measurement event or following the standard, before changing to the new ciphering configuration and feeds back a UTRAN mobility information confirm. In such a way, the UE will use the old configuration to transmit the measurement report. Unfortunately, if the UTRAN has already used the new ciphering configuration to receive the measurement report, the UE and the UTRAN is unsynchronized, thus causing incorrectly data encrypting/decrypting of the two parties. Affections of the incorrectly data encrypting/decrypting are illustrated below with reference to FIG. 4.
FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram for illustrating incorrectly data encrypting/decrypting of the UE and the UTRAN. Referring to FIG. 4, it is assumed that the measurement report transmitted by the UE is composed of protocol data units (PDUs) 401-402, while the UTRAN mobility information confirm is composed of PDUs 403-404 of the RLC entity. If the data are asynchronously encrypted/decrypted, the UTRAN would decrypt the received PUDs 405-408 into incorrect service data unit (SDU), e.g., SDU 411 and SDU 412 which would not form RRC messages. The measurement report includes measurement values of the wireless connection, and the UTRAN can select exchanging cells according to the measurement values. Most importance of all, the new configurations of data cipher between UE and UTRAN are not synchronous any more and the old configuration cannot be changed back. Therefore, the call-dropping probability is increased.