Abstract: When a connection failure occurs in an FFC for electrically interconnecting the ground potentials of the printed boards, the failure is immediately detected. A plasma display device has a scan electrode driving circuit for dividing scan electrodes into a first scan electrode group and a second scan electrode group and driving them, scan electrode driving ICs for applying a scan pulse generated by the scan electrode driving circuit to the scan electrodes, a timing generating circuit for generating switch signal SI used for switching the scan electrode driving ICs in a predetermined order, and a first printed board and second printed board that have the scan electrode driving ICs. The ground potential of the first printed board is electrically connected to that of the second printed board via an FFC. Switch signal SI is input from the first printed board to the second printed board via the FFC.

Abstract: An apparatus for supporting a device, comprising a base assembly, a plurality of carrier columns extending from the base unit, and a plurality of vertical support plates, each vertically movable along a respective carrier column and including a pivotal device mounting bracket. A pneumatic unit including a piston rod is associated with each vertical support plate such that vertical motion of the piston rod controls vertical motion of the respective vertical support plate.

Abstract: An illumination controller determines a target brightness setting value from a illuminance value measured by a illumination sensor, determines a brightness correction start time in response to a target brightness setting value and a current brightness setting value and a calculation information that are stored in a memory, calculates an amount of brightness setting change per specified time from the current brightness setting value stored in the memory and the target brightness setting value at a brightness correction start time, and outputs an output brightness setting value in response to the amount of brightness setting change that is calculated. The brightness controller adjusts brightness of the display unit in response to the output brightness setting value output from the illumination controller.

Abstract: A checking method in which serial data protected by check data are transmitted via a serial data bus from a transmitter to a receiver, the receiver then conditions the data and compares them with the transmitted check data in order to recognize transmission errors, wherein the transmitter bases the production of the check data and the receiver bases the conditioning of the data on the same check data formation method, wherein the check data formation/conditioning is performed using error recognition hardware, wherein the region of the receiver contains not only the error recognition hardware but also error recognition software which are used to additionally check the received data, and wherein also an error in the transmitted data and/or check data is caused by a transmitter-end error stimulation. A transmission and reception circuit for carrying out the above method and also the use thereof is also disclosed.

Abstract: In a speaker, a first space enclosed by the surface of a second edge close to a magnetic circuit body, a suspension holder, the outer circumferential surface of a voice coil body, the magnetic circuit body, and a frame is airtight to the atmosphere outside the speaker, to make a first space function as an air suspension. The voice coil body is supported with a first edge and a second edge, and with the aid of the springiness of gas inside a first space. Hence, an equivalent, low Young's modulus can be set to the first edge and the second. Consequently, deformation of the diaphragm connected to the first edge is reduced during sound reproduction, thereby reducing disturbance in frequency response in the middle and high ranges.

Abstract: An electrode foil for capacitor includes a substrate made of a valve metal foil, a first rough surface layer made of a valve metal formed on the first surface of the substrate by vapor deposition, and a second rough surface layer made of a valve metal formed on the second surface of the substrate by vapor deposition. The mode of diameters of pores of the first and second rough surface layers ranges from 0.02 ?m to 0.10 ?m. The thickness of the first rough surface layer is larger than the thickness of the second rough surface layer. The electrode foil has the rough surface layers formed by vapor deposition fabricated stably so that a solid electrolytic capacitor with high capacitance can be obtained using the foil.

Abstract: A Radio Frequency Receiver on a Single Integrated Circuit (“RFSIC”) is described. The RFSIC may include a mixer, a phase-locked loop (“PLL”) in signal communication with the mixer, and an on-chip auto-tuned RF filter in signal communication with both the mixer and PPL, such that the same PLL simultaneously tunes the frequency of the VCO and the frequency response of the auto-tuned RF filter.

Abstract: An induction heating cooker including a top plate where a pan is placed; a heating coil for induction heating the pan; an inverter circuit for supplying a high frequency current to the heating coil; an infrared sensor, which is arranged under the heating coil and detects an infrared light radiated from the pan; a light guiding part including an upper opening formed at an upper end facing the top plate and a lower opening formed at a lower end, and guiding the infrared light from the pan to the infrared sensor; and a control unit for controlling an output of the inverter circuit according to an output from the infrared sensor; wherein the light guiding part includes a nonmetallic material part in which the upper opening is formed upper than a lower surface of the heating coil.

Abstract: It comprises stator including stator core having yoke and a plurality of teeth protruded from yoke, which is formed with slots between adjacent teeth, and rotor having rotor core and permanent magnet formed with a plurality of magnetic poles, which confronts tip ends of teeth via gaps, wherein rotor core is formed by rotor core materials circumferentially equally divided into the predetermined number of divisions, and the least common multiple being N for the number of slots and the number of magnetic poles and the least common multiple being M for the number of slots and the number of divisions, then N is equal to M.

Abstract: A catalyst with large surface area structure, in particular for steam-reforming catalysts, which is characterized in that the large surface area structure is formed of a large number of round or parallel penetrating holes of polygonal cross-section, wherein the catalyst carrier is prepared in the injection molding process, coated with a washcoat and then impregnated with the active component. The catalyst carrier includes at least one sinterable material and has a lateral pressure resistance of at least 700 N. Also, a process for the preparation of such catalysts and the use thereof in a reactor.

Abstract: In a plasma display panel, abnormal discharge in address periods is suppressed to enhance image display quality. The scan electrode driving circuit generates a first falling down-ramp voltage i.e. down-ramp voltage L2 or down-ramp voltage L4, in initializing periods, generates sustain pulses in sustain periods, generates a rising up-ramp voltage, i.e. erasing up-ramp voltage L3, at the ends of the sustain periods, and applies the voltages to the scan electrodes. After generating the sustain pulses in the sustain periods, the scan electrode driving circuit generates a second down-ramp voltage, i.e. erasing down-ramp voltage L5, which has a portion falling with a gradient gentler than that of down-ramp voltage L2 and down-ramp voltage L4. After generating erasing down-ramp voltage L5, the scan electrode driving circuit generates erasing up-ramp voltage L3 and applies the voltage to the scan electrodes.

Abstract: A method for processing a rebate claim. The method comprises providing a web site accessible by the consumer and integrated with a processing system accessible by the retailer. The processing system receives an identifier of a qualified transaction and/or of the consumer, and receives information from which it can be determined if the qualified transaction at least partially satisfies a rebate offer. Information from the consumer is received on the web site sufficient to match identifying information about the consumer to the information from the retailer and/or sufficient to satisfy conditions for making a rebate claim. The rebate claim is validated and the value of the rebate offer is transferred to the consumer. Embodiments are discussed relating to transactions on a computer network, making rebate claims via a wireless communications device, and use by membership clubs or in conjunction with loyalty cards or other designated cards.

Abstract: A semiconductor memory and a data processing system having hardware for carrying out a method for the improved internal monitoring of addressing circuits in semiconductor memories or in a data processing system, in which logic levels addressing lines are tapped off, the actually selected address or subaddress is represented by additional address bit lines, the actually accessed address/subaddress is recovered using the address bit lines, and the actually selected address/subaddress is compared with the applied address/subaddress, obtained from the additional address bit lines, in order to recognize an error in the addressing circuit.

Abstract: This invention is related to the use of polyurethane based polymer as a drug delivery device to deliver biologically active compounds at a constant rate for an extended period of time and methods of manufactures thereof. The device is very biocompatible and biostable, and is useful as an implant in patients (humans and animals) for the delivery of appropriate bioactive substances to tissues or organs. The drug delivery device for releasing one or more drugs at controlled rates for an extended period of time to produce local or systemic pharmacological effects comprises: 1. a reservoir, said reservoir comprising; 2. at least one active ingredient; and, optionally, 3. at least one pharmaceutically acceptable carrier; a polyurethane based polymer completely surrounding the reservoir.

Abstract: A system and methods for voice controlled operation of a media player are provided. In one embodiment, a method includes detecting user positioning of a microphone power switch to an off position, detecting user positioning of the microphone power switch to an on position within a predetermined period of time and entering a voice recognition mode, by the media player, based on the user positioning of the microphone power switch to the on position within the predetermined period of time. The method may further include detecting one or more output signals of the microphone, detecting a voice command based on the one or more output signals of the microphone, and controlling operation of the media player based on the voice command, wherein the media player outputs a graphical display associated with the voice command.

Abstract: A device is arranged to carry out a method for identifying traffic-relevant information in a moving vehicle, wherein image data of a visual sensor and map data of a navigation system are each pre-evaluated for the identification and the results of the pre-evaluation are combined and interpreted. The image and map data is scanned for traffic-relevant information and compacted to relevant image and map data in a first and second scene interpretations, and the relevant image and map data is supplied to a rule engine and to a state machine for interpreting the image and map data. The rule engine evaluates the image and map data and transmits an action to be executed to the state machine which carries out a transition in its state space including pre-defined states and outputs information which is assigned to the state or to the transition.

Abstract: This invention relates to a combination of erythropoietin glycoisoforms, wherein such glycoisoforms may include a quantity of sialic acid ranging from 4 to 10 molecules of sialic acid per molecule of erythropoietin. The combination of glycoisoforms can be used for the treatment or prevention of sepsis, and used to prepare a pharmaceutical composition including such combination. The invention also encompasses a cell line producing a combination of erythropoietin glycoisoforms, procedures to obtain the cell line, a procedure to produce such a combination of glycoisoforms, and methods of treatment and prevention of sepsis.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer readable storage mediums for presenting project information are disclosed. Project information may be presented by receiving electronic planning information associated with a project, where the received electronic planning information includes at least one milestone associated with two or more phases of the project and occurring during the two or more phases. The received electronic planning information is then transformed into a graphical representation of the received electronic planning information for visual presentation to a user and presented for perception by the user. The presented graphical representation includes two or more bars corresponding to the two or more phases and a connection between the two or more bars corresponding to a time at which the milestone occurs.

Abstract: An automatic emergency call is transmitted in the form of voice data which contain address information for the vehicle. The address information has been ascertained inside the vehicle by the emergency call device on the basis of a GPS position.