A system and method can comprise a heat source, a plasma assisted vitrifier comprising a syphon valve; and a self-cleaning heat exchanger comprising a fired tube side and a water tube side. The self-cleaning heat exchanger can be configured to receive a heat source comprising an oxidized fossil fuel to one of the fire tube side or the water tube side and the self-cleaning heat exchanger can be further configured to receive a dirty water input on the other of the fire tube side and the water tube side to generate a steam. The plasma assisted vitrifier can be configured to process an organic or inorganic solid waste. The syphon valve is configured to assist in generating a reclaimed product, and the plasma assisted vitrifier is further configured to supply a portion of the process heat to the self-cleaning heat exchanger.

a. Field
This invention relates generally to a method and system for the generation of steam from dirty water and produced water. The system and method in a preferred embodiment is a Once Through Steam Generation (OTSG) system, apparatus and method an can be a Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD) system, apparatus and method. The steam product can be used in any steam application but is particularly well suited for Steam Assist Gravity Drain (SAGD) heavy oil applications.
b. Background Art
Once Through Steam Generators (OTSG) are the most common steam generation systems used in SAGD and Cyclic Steam Stimulation (CSS) heavy oil recovery. The heavy oil industry today uses 2 to 4 barrels of water (turned into steam) for every barrel of oil it produces. The oil and gas industry currently utilizes extensive water treatment technologies at the well site to clean its process water before making steam typically in an OTSG. It is a common comment that modern SAGD sites are really a large and expensive water treatment plant attached to a small well pad. The water treatment plant and process currently used in conventional OTSG requires extensive labor and large amounts of expendable chemicals to operate. During normal operations these water treatment plants produce a significant waste stream of lime sludge and other byproducts that must be disposed of Due to the operational expense and capital required to build ever more complete water treatment plants the norm in the oil industry is to limit the steam quality from 70 to 80% in the OTSG. In other words 20 to 30% of the liquid input or feed water stays in a liquid state and is not converted to steam. This practice helps to limit the deposits that will build up inside the OTSG which will eventually disable its operation. To produce a higher quality steam, the water would first have to be treated to a higher purity level adding additional expense and complexity to an already too large and too complex water treatment system. Unfortunately the practice of low quality OTSG steam production is energy inefficient since the spent process water, or blow down, wastes most of its energy without recovering any oil product. This practice produces excessive greenhouse gasses (GHG) from the wasted energy and another waste stream from the OTSG which is the blow down fluid. The amount of blow down produced is significant. The blow down waste contains many contaminated solids such as CAO3 and MGO3. This blow down must be disposed of in deep wells or again run through some very expensive and complex processes to reclaim the valuable water content. The invention taught in this patent eliminates the need for clean water and all its expense. It also eliminates all waste streams including blow down and can in an embodiment be a Zero Liquid Discharge system, a Zero GHG System and a Zero Waste System.

Plasma assisted dirty water once through steam generation system, apparatus and method


A scene switching system and method applicable to a plurality of media channels and a recording medium thereof are provided, which are used for switching and playing scenes for a plurality of media channels. Such a system includes a channel connection module and a media switching module. The channel connection module acquires first media data and second media data from a first media channel and a second media channel. The media switching module, when determining that a first switching setting corresponding to the first media data is set to be activated and the second media data is being played, analyzes whether a first playing scene of the first media data agrees with scene demand data of the first switching setting, and decides whether to perform switching processing on the first playing scene according to the first switching setting.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to a system and method for switching and playing media and a recording medium thereof, and more particularly to a scene switching system and method for switching and playing scenes in an environment of a plurality of media channels and a recording medium thereof.
2. Related Art
In the prior art, when supplying a media program and broadcasting videos and audios, a television station or a channel provider usually broadcasts media continuously at the channel of a program according to the time recorded in a program schedule. A user needs to watch a program according to the broadcasting time of the program. When more than two channels broadcast programs that a user want to watch at the same time, when there is only one television, the user needs to choose a channel to watch a demanded program or keep switching the connected channels of the television with a controller. Alternatively, a user may form a media file by recording and storing the data of media programs broadcasted by relevant channels using a media recording device, and then play the media file by using a playing device or playing software.

Scene switching system and method applicable to a plurality of media channels and recording medium thereof


According to an aspect, there is provided an apparatus for controlling a terminal device. The apparatus monitors a current charge level of a rechargeable energy storage device of the terminal device and a current energy harvesting state of an energy harvesting device of the terminal device. When the current energy harvesting state corresponds to an energy harvesting state indicative of no energy being harvested, the apparatus causes the terminal device to operate in one of a first, second and third operating modes depending on a value of the current charge level relative to first and second thresholds. The first, second and third operating modes and the first and second thresholds are defined so that the uplink transmission functionality of the terminal device is disabled when the current charge level drops below the first threshold and the downlink transmission functionality of the terminal device is disabled when the current charge level drops below both thresholds.

In 5G massive Internet of Things (IoT) use case, thousands of sensors are envisioned to be deployed in the field to perform a particular monitoring function. These sensors need to communicate with the network during operation. It is extremely important to keep functionality of these devices simple and lower their cost. Furthermore, these devices are energy limited and thus energy should be used efficiently to prolong battery life or lifetime of these devices.
Energy harvesting devices provide an alternative solution for keeping a system sustainable. Here, the goal is not to save energy as such, but to use energy in a way that it is available when needed. It is important to predict energy arrival and design transmission schedule accordingly. Energy harvesting (EH) devices (or sensors) typically are chargeable with solar energy. There may be a long gap between successive EH periods. For low cost, non-critical information gathering, devices may not be equipped with large batteries and batteries may drain for some time period every day, typically in winter.
Therefore, there is a need for solutions enabling prolonging the lifetime of such energy harvesting IoT devices in the IoT network without compromising the functionalities of the IoT device such as sensing.
US 2017332199 A1 discloses an energy storage management solution for a solar-powered tracking device.

Energy harvesting arrival aware joint sensing and transmission


An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus has an ultrasonic probe, a control unit, a basic image generating unit, a differential image generating unit, and a composite image generating unit. The control unit controls the ultrasonic probe so as to sequentially perform, every scanning line of scanning lines in a scanning region, a transmitting and receiving under a first transmitting/receiving condition, a second transmitting/receiving condition, and a third transmitting/receiving condition. The basic image generating unit generates a first image based on the first transmitting/receiving condition, a second image based on the second transmitting/receiving condition, and a third image based on the third transmitting/receiving condition. The differential image generating unit performs a differential processing based on the first image and the second image to generate a differential image. The composite image generating unit performs a composite processing based on the differential image and the third image to generate a composite image.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a technique capable of a two-dimensional (2D) scanning and a real time three-dimensional (3D) scanning, and more particularly to an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus and an ultrasonic diagnostic method that emphatically displays a needle-tip portion of a puncture needle so that an operator can easily visually recognize a position of the needle-tip portion.
2. Description of the Related Art
An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus is a medical diagnostic apparatus that noninvasively obtains tomograms of a soft tissue in a living body from a body surface using an ultrasonic pulse-echo method. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus has features that the apparatus is compact and inexpensive, has high safety with no exposure to X-rays, is capable of blood flow imaging, or the like as compared with other medical diagnostic apparatuses, and has been widely used in cardiac, abdominal, urology, obstetrics and gynecology departments, or the like.
The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus is used not only for image diagnosis but also, for example, for radiofrequency ablation (RFA) as a local therapy of hepatocellular cancer or a biopsy for hepatocellular tissue examination. Such a therapy and an examination require precise puncture into a region of interest such as a tumor using a puncture needle. Thus, to clearly ascertain where the puncture needle enters in the living body, an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that can monitor the region of interest and the puncture needle in real time is used. Particularly, in recent years, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus sometimes uses real time three-dimensional ultrasonic images for display because of faster computers. In such a case, some methods have been proposed of displaying a puncture needle position on three-dimensional data during a puncture therapy, or marking a direction of a puncture needle (for example, Japanese Patent Application Publication (Laid-open: KOKAI) No. 6-205776). The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that is easy to use and capable of easy observation in real time is often used for a biopsy, or monitoring the needle-tip portion of a puncture needle and a lesion position in a local ablation therapy for cancer.
In recent years, an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus capable of a real time volume scanning has also appeared. This apparatus can obtain needle position information in a slice direction of an ultrasonic probe, which has been hard to obtain, and is expected to increase accuracy of a biopsy or an ablation therapy.
However, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus in the related art sometimes has poor visibility because the visualized needle-tip portion of the puncture needle is buried in a background image, or the like, and places a burden on an operator. Also, because of uncertainty about the precise position of the needle-tip portion of the puncture needle, sufficient therapeutic effects may not be obtained such that tissue in a different position from the position of planned tissue is removed or an ablation therapy is performed in a different position.
When the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus capable of the real time volume scanning is used, there is a problem that an expected effect cannot be obtained due to insufficient visibility of the needle-tip portion of the puncture needle.
Further, various studies have been made to increase visibility of a needle-tip portion of a puncture needle, and for example, there is a method using an image processing filter such as edge reinforcement. However, such a method has not been put to practical use because separation of only the needle-tip portion is difficult, and a substantial portion other than the needle-tip portion is influenced.

Ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus and ultrasonic diagnostic method


Frequency information is selectively removed from a video signal in order to decrease the number of color values required for video compression. Removal of the frequency information includes both periodic raking out of narrow frequency bands, and rounding of frequency values. The frequency information removal is carried out selectively in those portions of the visible light spectrum in which the human eye""s color response is strongest, thus allowing increases in video compression ratios without visible degradation of image quality.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to spectral-based data compression and compensation, and more particularly to the field of frequency-based data substitution and compensation for enhanced video compression ratios.
2. Background of the Invention
Digital storage and/or transmission of video data has applications in entertainment, video conferencing, education, medicine, and virtually any application where moving pictures are desired. High quality video data requires large bandwidths whether the video data is to be stored, or transmitted over finite bandwidth transmission media such as modems and various other Internet connections. Various algorithms and systems exist for encoding and compressing video data, including the audio data that is normally included within the video data. One such standard is the Motion Pictures Expert Group (MPEG) standard, ISO/IEC 11172, entitled xe2x80x9cCoding of Moving Pictures and Associated Audio For Digital Storage Media At Up To About 1.5 Mbit/sxe2x80x9d, which is referred to as MPEG-1 and is incorporated herein by reference. However, 1.5 Mbit/s is too high a digital data rate to enable real time video playback over Internet connections, even including digital subscriber line (DSL) connections. Accordingly, a need exists for improved techniques for compressing, encoding, and playing back sensory stimulus data streams such as video data streams, audio data streams, and combined video/audio data streams.
In the invention, frequency information is selectively removed from a video signal. The removal of the frequency information includes reducing the magnitude of certain frequencies to zero. This magnitude reduction process can be thought of as color xe2x80x9craking.xe2x80x9d The color raking is performed periodically in the frequency spectrum. After the video signal has been raked, the signal is digitized and then oversaturated, which is the shifting of certain color values to nearby color values. The oversaturation process can be thought of as color rounding. Color rounding decreases the cardinal number of color values within the video signal. Both the color raking and the color rounding is performed in portions of the visible spectrum in which the human eye will not noticeably perceive that video information has been lost, i.e., the image quality will not be visibly degraded. Because raking and rounding both reduce the number of color values that a video data compressor must field as part of its color palette, the computational load on the video compressor is reduced. Additionally, the bit rate required to support video image transmission and/or reproduction is also reduced. That is, the compression ratios are increased. The invention therefore takes advantage of strengths and weaknesses in the ability of the rods and cones within the human eye to perceive colors of varying magnitudes and wavelengths.
The present invention also includes matching of a reduced spectrum lighting source with a reduced color palette within the data compressor. The use of the reduced spectrum lighting source allows the size of the color palette to be reduced without visible degradation in image quality, thus further enhancing the compression ratios.
A still further aspect of the present invention involves a method of spectral emphasis, or reverse spectral compensation, of a video signal such that when the video signal is reproduced on a playback device such as a computer monitor, the color contrast as seen by an observer of the original scene is preserved. This makes the scene as played back appear more natural looking and easier on the eye. This aspect of the invention can be explained as follows. Playback devices including television sets generally reproduce video signals with lower intensity levels than the original scene. In general, computer monitors reproduce video signals with intensity levels that are lower still. As the illumination or reproduction intensity level of a scene decreases, the eye""s ability to discern color contrasts within that scene decreases. If the scene is to be reproduced on a device such as a computer monitor, without any compensation the scene would appear darker than the original scene. The effect on the human eye is similar to watching a scene at dusk rather than in full daylight. Rather than merely appearing as a lower intensity version of the same scene with all of the same color information, nuances between colors get lost. This decreasing ability to distinguish between colors as light intensity decreases will be termed xe2x80x9ccolor depletionxe2x80x9d. Because the rods and cones within the human eye respond greatest at the middle of the visible light spectrum and respond less at the higher and lower ends of the spectrum, color depletion is most pronounced at the lower and higher ends of the spectrum, and is less pronounced in the middle, or generally green, part of the spectrum. Color nuances can be significantly restored by performing a spectral emphasis that is the reverse response of the human eye""s photopic response. By increasing the intensity levels of the colors on the lower and the higher ends of the spectrum where the color depletion effect is most pronounced, color nuances are greatly restored from the standpoint of the human observer. In this aspect therefore the present invention includes filtering the video signal with a filter whose frequency response is generally the reverse of the human eye""s spectral response to the output of a video playback device such as a computer monitor. The result is that to the human observer, the scene on the computer monitor appears to be merely a lower intensity version of the original scene with much of the color nuances remaining, rather than a dim-light, color depleted version of the original scene whose color nuances have been lost.
The above-described features and other features and benefits of the present invention will become clear to those skilled in the art when read in conjunction with the following detailed description of a preferred illustrative embodiment and viewed in conjunction with the attached drawings and appended claims.

Frequency-based video data substitution for increased video compression ratios


A self-propelled vehicle comprising a first wheel, a second wheel, and a third wheel of greater diameter than the first and second wheels. The third wheel has a center of rotation that is aligned with the first and second wheels. A first pedal connects the first wheel and the third wheel. A second wheel connects the second wheel and the third wheel. The first and second pedals are offset by 180 degrees relative to the third wheel. The third wheel has a width greater than the first and second wheels. The center of rotation of the third wheel is aligned with the centers of rotation of the first and second wheels. The pedal has a suitable width for the receipt of a human foot. The first and second pedals are detachably connected to the wheels. A suitable snap-ring is provided so as to allow each of the pedals to be received by each of the wheels of the present invention.

Throughout the years, there have been many devices that have been designed to amuse children. Various amusement items allow the child to transport himself or herself on a self-propelled vehicle. Amusement devices of this nature are quite common and are enjoyed by children everywhere. Roller skates, bicycles, scooters, tricycles, and the like, are well known devices for amusing children in this manner.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,107,926, issued on Oct. 22, 1963, to Carl B. Verge describes one type of self-propelled amusement device. This invention employs three wheels of equal size, width, and diameter. Pedals extend on each side of the central wheel and engage the outer wheels. Each of these pedals are removed from each other by 180 degrees. This device provides an amusement apparatus which is capable of being in rolling contact with a floor, a pavement, a sidewalk, or an equivalent surface. The user is supported by standing on the pedals and by manipulating portions of the device on which he is standing. As a result, self-propulsion is achieved in a desired direction. Specifically, the person stands on and is supported by the pedals. By shifting one's weight from one crank arm to the other, a balance is achieved. The balance is maintained by applying greater or lesser weight to one foot than the other. By applying weight first to one pedal and than to the other in the manner of applying force to the pedals of a bicycle, the user can effect self-propulsion along a supporting surface while supported by the device. According to the inventor, this device is capable of being learned within ten or fifteen minutes.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,786,067, issued on Nov. 22, 1988, to Chun-Yi Tang describes a unicycle construction. This unicycle includes two wheels having spacers extending between each of the wheels. Pedals are provided on the outer surfaces of these wheels. Each of these pedals is offset from the other pedal by 180 degrees. Although two wheels are provided on this unicycle, users can learn to unicycle by closing the distance between each of the wheels of the unicycle. As each of the wheels is positioned closer together, the effect of the device will more closely resemble that of a unicycle. The inventor Chun-Yi Tang has also disclosed similar concepts in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,190,675, 3,506,283, 4,786,068, and 4,786,069.
Canadian Patent No. 768,034, issued on Sept. 26, 1967, to Charles W. Sloan et al., discloses a similar type of self-propelled amusement device. This invention describes a pair of spaced wheels interconnected by a one-piece crank mechanism which acts as a support for a person standing on the device. The wheels of this device are essentially hoop-like elements having no internal support. The ends of the crank mechanism are connected to the inner circumferential faces of the wheels. Surfaces are provided on the crank mechanism so as to receive the feet of the operator.
Each of these prior art arrangements is of relatively complicated construction. In order to enhance its suitability as a children's toy, it is important that the item be very inexpensive. In addition to being inexpensive, the device should be relatively easy to assemble so that children can assemble the item without the help of their parents. Additionally, it is believed that children will enjoy the "unicycle" effect much more than having three equal sized wheels rolling on the ground at the same time. It is believed that the longer the challenge for mastering a device, the longer that children, and other persons, will have an interest in using the device.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a self-propelled vehicle that is easy to assemble.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a self-propelled vehicle that is relatively inexpensive.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a self-propelled vehicle which creates a unicycle-like effect.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide a self-propelled vehicle that provides unicycle-like challenges but maintains the safety of the user.
These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a reading of the attached specification and appended claims.


A harness protecting device of a steering column having a telescopic function includes a protector, having a cable penetrating section in the front and the rear, equipped so as to contract and expand at will across the fixing and moving sides of the steering column having the telescopic function. A pair of flexible bow-like holders in the protector, for dividing a plurality of single core cables from the penetrating section, into two in the width direction of the protector in order to retain the cables. The cables, which are connected to electrical equipment attached to the moving side of the steering column, and which are wired along the steering column, are wired along the bow-like holders in the protector so as to contract and expand. Further, the harness protecting device includes a connecting part, with bifurcated connecting rods, equipped to the moving side of the steering column, and a box-like fixing housing which is equipped to the fixing side of the steering column, and which is slidably connected to the connecting rods of the connecting part. The cables are housed in a space partitioned by the connecting part and the fixing housing, and are arranged so as to contract and expand in the width direction of the fixing housing in the space.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a harness protecting device of a steering column, and more particularly to a harness protecting device of a steering column having a telescopic function.
2. Description of the Related Art
As is well known, harnesses composed of a number of lead wires connected to various electrical equipment around steering wheels are arranged on steering columns. It is required, particularly in steering columns of a telescopic type, that wiring be arranged so as to absorb contraction and expansion of the harness involved in a telescopic operation. As is described in Japanese Utility Model Examined Publication No. 63-32527, in order to make it possible to absorb such contraction and expansion of the harness, it is known that a harness protecting device, which is constructed in such a manner that a harness spool for housing in a loop-like fashion the intermediate part of the harness, is provided on the lower side of a steering column so that a loop can contract and expand in accordance with the telescopic operation of the steering column.
However, in such wiring as described above, since a boss section which internally contacts the loop of the harness is formed inside the harness spool, and the loop contracts and expands from a fixed point, which is a sliding section against the boss section, stress tends to occur between the boss section and the sliding section, especially when the loop contracts. Further, because the harness spool is formed in a multi-stage vortical chamber structure to house, as mentioned above, the harness in a loop-like fashion, the thickness of the harness spool increases. As a result, a space on the lower side of the steering column is substantially taken up, so that a space between a driver's knees and the lower steering column is narrowed, thereby impairing sitting comfort.

Protecting device for cables of a steering column


A control device for driving a regulating motor driven by direct current (DC) includes a changeover mechanism having a first normally closed (NC) switch, a second NC switch, a first normally open (NO) switch, and a second NO switch, a power-supply module for providing DC for the regulating motor, a first operating switch for driving the regulating motor to rotate in a first direction while the two NC switches become open circuit and the two NO switches become short-circuit resulting from that the first operating switch is short-circuit, and a second operating switch for driving the regulating motor to rotate in a second direction opposite to the first direction. In light of these, the control device can control the rotational direction of the regulating motor by means of simple circuitry.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a control device for driving a regulating motor, and more particularly, the control device can control the rotational direction of the regulating motor.
2. Description of the Related Art
Among the conventional woodworking machines, for example, table saw, only a saw blade is driven to work by an electric motor, and other operations, like adjustment of the cutting height and angle of the saw blade, are done manually. Such manual adjustment is done generally by turning a hand wheel located outside the table saw; and then rotating the screw rod having an end fixed to a center of the hand wheel and further moving a saw base engaging with the screw rod by its thread and coupled with the saw to synchronously move the saw. However, such mechanical operation is laborious and takes more time to adjust the saw to the predetermined position, thus being inconvenient.

Control device for driving regulating motor


An image forming apparatus has an image forming carrier, an image forming portion that forms an image on the image forming carrier, an intermediate transfer medium to which the image on the image forming carrier is primarily transferred, and a transfer portion that secondarily transfers to a recording medium the image primarily transferred to the intermediate transfer medium. An area where the image forming carrier and the intermediate transfer medium are opposed includes a primary transfer area where the image on the image forming carrier is transferred to the intermediate transfer medium and a secondary transfer area where the image on the intermediate transfer medium is transferred to the recording medium.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as copying machines, printers and facsimile machines, and more particularly to an image forming apparatus of an intermediate transfer type for transferring an image formed on an image forming carrier to a recording medium via an intermediate transfer medium.
2. Description of the Related Art
There is a known image forming apparatus (e.g., JP-A-2-212870) as a related-art image forming apparatus of the intermediate transfer type, which has been provided with developing units for yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C) and black (B) color components, for example, around an image forming carrier such as a photosensitive drum and an intermediate transfer medium in the form of a belt (intermediate transfer belt), for example, disposed opposite to the image forming carrier. The conventional image forming apparatus above is used for forming a desired image on paper by making the primary transfer of unfixed toner images with various color components formed on the image forming carrier per rotation of the image forming carrier sequentially to the intermediate transfer belt and also makes the secondary transfer of a composite primarily-transferred image laid on top of each other on the intermediate transfer belt on the paper as a recording medium.
In this case, a secondary transfer device is employed, having, for example, a transfer roll so disposed as to be in contact with the intermediate transfer belt, a backup roll disposed opposite to the transfer roll with the intermediate transfer belt held therebetween, and a power supply for applying bias between the transfer roll and the backup roll for forming an electric field causing the toner images on the intermediate transfer belt to be transferred on the paper.
As the composite primarily-transferred image that has already been subjected to multiplex transfer on the intermediate transfer belt is collectively transferred on the paper, the image forming apparatus of the intermediate transfer type is advantageous in that unstable factors at the time of forming images become removable and that generation of image disorders and color drift can effectively be prevented at the time of the multiplex transfer.
In the above image forming apparatus of the intermediate transfer type, however, since the secondary transfer device provided separately from a primary transfer device is indispensable, a relatively high-cost functional member (transfer roll) has to be disposed on the periphery of the intermediate transfer medium, which tends to increase not only space for the exclusive use of the secondary transfer device but also the number of parts, thus resulting in increasing the size of the image forming apparatus itself as well as costs.


A positive resists material for high energy-sensitive positive resists which can be developed in aqueous alkali solution, said material comprising (A) a polyhydroxystyrene resin wherein some hydroxyl groups are substituted by t-butoxycarbonyloxy groups, (B) a solution blocking agent, and (C) an onium salt, and being characterized in that said solution blocking agent contains at least one t-butoxycarbonyloxy group per molecule, said onium salt is bis(p-t-butylphenyl) iodinium trifluormethylsulfonate represented by the following formula (1): ##STR1## and the weight proportions of (A), (B), (C) are given by the relations: 0.07.ltoreq.B-.ltoreq.0.40, 0.005.ltoreq.C.ltoreq.0.15, 0.55.ltoreq.A, A+B+C=1. As the resist has low absorption at the exposure wavelength of a KrF exima laser, a fine pattern having vertical walls is easily formed.

As large scale integrated circuits (LSI) become more complex and achieve higher operating speeds, a demand for finer pattern rules is emerging. Using ordinary photoexposure procedures, however, practical limits of resolution defined by the wavelength of the light source used are rapidly being approached. By photoexposure to g rays (436 nm) or i rays (365 nm) as the light source, for example, this limit is a pattern rule of approximately 0.5 .mu.m permitting manufacture of an LSI corresponding to a degree of integration required by a 16M bit DRAM. LSI prototypes have however already reached this stage, and there is thus an urgent need to develop still finer patterning methods.
In this context, far UV lithography appears to offer promise as a new patterning technique. This type of lithography permits patterning down to 0.3 to 0.4 .mu.m, and a pattern having effectively vertical walls with respect to the substrate can be obtained if a resist having a low light absorption is used. Moreover, as this technique makes it possible to transfer a pattern in one operation, it offers a higher throughput than electron beam lithography. High intensity KrF exima lasers are now being used as light sources for far UV radiation, but if they are to have practical utility in mass production techniques, a highly sensitive resist with low light absorption is required.
Recently, resists which are capable of chemical amplification with an acid as a catalyst (such as that proposed by Liu et al in J. Vac. Sci. Technol., Vol. B6, p 379 (1988)) have been shown to possess excellent properties such as sensitivity similar to or greater than conventional resists, high resolution and good tolerance to dry etching, and they are therefore regarded as being particularly promising insofar as concerns far UV lithography. Shipley Inc. is already marketing a negative resist that uses chemical amplification (SAL601ER7) consisting of three components, i.e. novolak resin, a melamine compound and an acid-producing agent, but a positive type resist using chemical amplification was not commercially available. However, although negative resists can be used for some LSI manufacturing processes such as wiring or gate forming, fogging tends to occur when they are used to form contact holes. Fine patterning is difficult, and positive resists are far more suitable for this purpose.
A high performance positive resist is, therefore, strongly desired. Ito et al have developed such a positive type resist that uses chemical amplification by adding an onium salt to a resin known as PBOCST wherein the OH groups of polyhydroxystyrene are protected by t-butoxycarbonyl groups (hereinafter, abbreviated as tBoc groups).
The onium salt used contains antimony as a metal component (Polymers in Electronics, ACS Symposium Series. No. 242 (American Chemical Society, Washington D.C., 1984),p. 11). In order to avoid contaminating the substrate, metal components in the resist material are generally undesirable, and the aforesaid PBOCST resist is therefore unsuitable from the process viewpoint. Ueno et al report a far UB positive resist having p-styreneoxy tetrahydropyranyl as the principal component to which an acid-producing agent is added (36th Oyoo Butsuri Gakkai Kanren Rengo Koenkai, 1980, 1p-k-7).
The inventors however found that this type of resist tended to undergo positive to negative inversion when exposed to far UV radiation, electron beams or X-rays. With a two-component positive resist system consisting of a resin wherein the OH groups are protected by protecting groups combined with an acid-producing agent, many protecting groups have to be decomposed so that the resist can dissolve in the developing solution, and there is a considerably high risk of film thickness variations, in-file stress or air bubbles.
However, using a three component system with more diversified functions as a positive resist which makes use of chemical amplification, i.e. an alkali-soluble resin, a solution blocking agent and an acid-producing agent, not such acid is required to decompose the solution blocking agent. This suggests the possibility of reducing the aforesaid film thickness variations and generation of air bubbles so that the resist is more useful for very fine patterning applications. Hechist Inc. has developed a resist for X-ray lithograph, RAY/PF, wherein an acetal compound as a solution blocking agent is added to novolak resin, and an acid-producing agent is then added.
RAY/PF undergoes chemical amplification at room temperature. and its resist sensitivity closely depends on the time for which it is left after exposure to X-rays. In actual practice, strict regulation of the time between the exposure and developing processes is not easy. It might therefore be inferred that using this material, it is difficult to control pattern dimensioning. Further, its light absorption at the exposure wavelength of a KrF exima laser (248 nm) is too high.
In general, in order to make use of chemical amplification, many resists required post-exposure backing (PEB). Compared to resist systems where the system is merely left at room temperature to undergo chemical amplification, an additional resist process is involved, but as it is not necessary to regulate the time between exposure and developing so strictly, it is easier to control the properties of the resist.
In systems where hydrolysis occurs in the chemical amplification process, water is required for the hydrolysis reaction, and the resist must therefore contain a large amount of water.
In general, an organic solvent which is immiscible with water such as thoxyethyl acetate is used as a coating solvent for the resist material, and in many resist materials, the resin itself is not very compatible with water. It is also difficult to blend a predetermined amount of water with these resist systems, and even if the blending can be achieved, the number of components that must be controlled is larger which renders the system more complex. The decomposition of tBoc groups, however, proceeds with only two components, i.e. the tBoc group and an acid catalyst. As water is not required as a third component, the reaction is simpler and is well suited to chemical amplification.
It is known that the tBoc derivatives of many compounds block the dissolution of novolak resin, and that the tBoc group is useful for conferring insolubility. Schlegel et al reported a three component positive resist comprising novolak resin, a solution blocking agent consisting of the tBoc derivative of bisphenol A, and pyrogallol methanesulfonic acid ester (37th Oyoo Butsuri Gakkai Kanren Rengo Koenkai, Spring 1990, 28p-ZE-4).
Schwalm et al developed a bis (p-t-butoxycarbonyloxy-phenyl) iodinium hexafluoroantimonate as a combined solution blocking agent and acid-producing agent. (Polymer for Microelectronics, Tokyo 1989, Session A38) which, when mixed with novolak resin, is used as a positive resist with far UV light. However, as this system contains a metal, and as the light absorption of the novolak resin is too high, it is not suitable for practical application.
Moreover, if patterning was performed on conventional positive resists that undergo chemical amplification by means of far UV light, electron beams or X rays, the pattern tended to suffer from overhang.
This is assumed to be due to the fact that the solubility of the resist surface decreases (K. G. Chiong et al, J. Vac. Sci. Technol., Vol. B7, (6), p. 1771, (1989)). Overhang makes pattern dimension control difficult and impairs dimensional controllability even when substrates are patterned by dry etching.
Further, the base of the pattern was etched too fine, and easily led to pattern collapse.
As described hereintofore, many positive resists capable of chemical amplification which have a novolak or polyhydroxystyrene base resin and are sensitive to far UV radiation, electron beams or X rays, have been reported in the art. All of them are however associated with problems, and it is still difficult to use them in practical applications.


The invention is directed to a method for controlling the no-load speed of an internal combustion engine wherein the position of the throttle flap in the intake tube of the engine is varied as a function of the speed of the engine and of a position signal defining the position of the throttle flap. The variation of the throttle flap position takes place, however, only whenever the throttle flap has assumed a specific, predeterminable position and whenever the engine speed has remained virtually constant over a likewise predeterminable period of time. An embodiment in the form of a flow chart is described by means of which the method according to the invention can be realized.

From U.S. Pat. No. 3,964.,457, it is known to vary the no-load speed of an internal combustion engine by adjusting the throttle flap. For this purpose, first, a throttle flap switch is connected to the throttle flap, indicating the no-load position of the throttle flap, and an electrically adjustable cam is provided, with the aid of which this no-load position and hence the position of the throttle flap can be varied. As can also be learned from the aforementioned patent, the cam is acted upon in accordance with the no-load position of the throttle flap and with the speed of the engine.
The disadvantage of the above-described known apparatus is that in the no-load situation a continuous variation of the cam and hence of the position of the throttle flap occurs, so that the no-load speed also continuously varies slightly. Such fluctuations in the no-load speed are undesirable, however, because they impede smooth operation of the engine.

Method for controlling the no-load speed of an internal combustion engine


The particle size of amorphous protein material is reduced to uniform particulates without protein decomposition or loss of activity by passing the material through a fluid-energy mill.

This invention relates to the field of formulation chemistry, and more particularly to the formulation of protein materials for subcutaneous injection.
A fluid product intended for subcutaneous injection should have a consistent viscosity and be homogeneous. Freeze dried proteins, such as recombinant bovine somatotropin and growth hormone releasing factor, are amorphous materials of variable and large flake size. The freeze drying process produces material that is not homogeneous. Bovine somatotropin and growth hormone releasing factor have useful biological activity when administered as parenteral injections, but to enable formulation of these materials as homogeneous, easily injectable products having a consistent viscosity, a method is needed for reducing the large amorphous protein flakes to uniform particulates. The size reduction process selected, in addition to being applicable to non-crystaline material, must also be practicable without protein decomposition or loss of potency, without water uptake, and without quantitative loss of material. The process should also lend itself to maintenance of sterile conditions.

Process for protein particle size reduction using a fluid-energy mill


Provided are a thin film magnetic head and a method of manufacturing the same, which is capable of high density recording and obtaining stable output. The thin film magnetic head includes an MR film sandwiched in between first and second shield layers. The first shield layer includes an inner layer, a magnetization stabilizing layer, an underlayer, and an outer layer laminated in order from the MR film. The second shield layer includes an inner layer, a magnetization stabilizing layer, an isolating layer, and an outer layer laminated in order from the MR film. The magnetization stabilizing layers are formed of antiferromagnetic material, so as to control the direction of magnetization of the inner layers.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a thin film magnetic head for use in a magnetic recording apparatus or the like such as a hard disk drive, and a method of manufacturing the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, an improvement in performance of a thin film magnetic head has been sought in accordance with an increase in a surface recording density of a hard disk drive. A composite thin film magnetic head, which has a laminated structure comprising a reproducing head having a magnetoresistive element (hereinafter referred to as MR element), and a recording head having an inductive magnetic transducer, is widely used as the thin film magnetic head. The MR element has a single-layer or multi-layer magnetoresistive film (hereinafter referred to as MR film) indicating a change in resistance by sensing a signal magnetic field, and based on the change in resistance in the MR film, data is read out. As the MR film, a AMR film indicating Anisotropic Magnetoresistive effect (AMR effect) and a GMR film indicating Giant Magnetoresistive effect (GMR effect) are well known.
In general, many data elements (each of which is an area corresponding to 1 bit of information) are arranged on a track line formed on a magnetic medium, and a space between the data elements is extremely short. Thus, when reading out information of a data element, the MR film of the thin film magnetic head has to avoid being affected by other data elements adjacent to the data element. Therefore, the thin film magnetic head has a structure such that the MR film is sandwiched in between a pair of shield layers of magnetic material having high magnetic permeability. That is, undesired magnetic fluxes (namely, magnetic fluxes from adjacent data elements) mainly flow to the shield layers and do not flow to the MR film, and thereby, an undesired magnetic field is prevented from reaching to the MR film. Such an effect is called a shield effect. A space between the shield layers substantially corresponds to the space between the data elements.
In accordance with a recent increase in the surface recording density of the hard disk or the like, an arrangement density (i.e., a linear density) of the data elements on the track line tends to further increase. Accordingly, it is required that the space between the shield layers of the thin film magnetic head be further reduced. When the space between the shield layers is reduced in such manner, the shield layers and the MR film are arranged closer to one another. However, the shield layers may be affected by a magnetic field generated by the magnetic medium, which leads to random changes in the direction of magnetization. Therefore, there is a problem that when the shield layers and the MR film are arranged close to one another, the MR film is affected by changes in the directions of magnetization of the shield layers, and consequently, output of the thin film magnetic head will become unstable.
In order to solve such a problem, it has been proposed that each of the shield layers is made of a laminate having a ferromagnetic layer and an antiferromagnetic layer, and an exchange coupling between the ferromagnetic layer and the antiferromagnetic layer is used to completely fix the direction of magnetization of the shield layer (Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. Hei 9-274712 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,621,592).
However, when the directions of magnetization of shield layers are fixed in such manner, the magnetic permeability of the shield layers is declined, so that it is hard to flow an undesired magnetic flux to the shield layers, which results in a decline in the shield effect. There is a problem that when the shield effect of the shield layer is declined in such manner, the space between shield layers cannot be further reduced, so the thin film magnetic head is incapable of the high-density recording.
The present invention has been achieved in light of the foregoing problems. It is an object of the invention to provide a thin film magnetic head capable of high-density recording and stabilizing output, and a method of manufacturing the same.
A thin film magnetic head of the invention comprises: a functional film having a magnetic transducer function; a first gap film and a second gap film sandwiching the functional film in between, the first and second gap films each having electrical insulating properties; and a first shield layer and a second shield layer sandwiching the functional film with the first and second gap films in between, respectively, so as to prevent an undesired magnetic field from reaching to the functional film, wherein at least one of the first and second shield layers includes an inner layer having a controlled direction of magnetization, a magnetization stabilizing layer controlling the direction of magnetization of the inner layer, and an outer layer having a freely changeable direction of magnetization, laminated in order from the functional film.
In the thin film magnetic head, at least one of the first and second shield layers includes an inner layer having a controlled direction of the magnetization, provided nearest to the functional film. Thereby, in at least one of the first and second shield layers, it is hard to lead a change in magnetization in a region near the functional film. Further, in the outer layer, the direction of magnetization can be freely changed, so an undesired magnetic flux can be fed to the outer layer. Thereby, the shield effect preventing an undesired magnetic field from reaching to the functional film can be fully exerted.
In the thin film magnetic head according to the invention, the thickness of the inner layer is preferably from 10 nm to 300 nm inclusive. Further, the magnetization stabilizing layer preferably contains at least one of an antiferromagnetic material and a hard magnetic material. Moreover, an intermediate layer is preferably provided between the magnetization stabilizing layer and the outer layer. In addition, it is preferable that a thin magnetic head according to the invention further includes magnetic domain control films for applying a bias magnetic field to the functional film, the bias magnetic field controlling a magnetic domain of the functional film, and the direction of magnetization of the inner layer is nearly parallel in the same direction or nearly parallel in a reverse direction, with respect to a direction of the bias magnetic field applied to the functional film by the magnetic domain control films. Further, the functional film may include a nonmagnetic layer; a soft magnetic layer provided on a side of the nonmagnetic layer; a ferromagnetic layer provided on another side of the nonmagnetic layer opposite to the soft magnetic layer; and an antiferromagnetic layer provided on a side of the ferromagnetic layer opposite to nonmagnetic layer. In this case, it is preferable that the antiferromagnetic layer and the ferromagnetic layer are formed to induce an exchange coupling therebetween by a heat treatment at a first temperature, and the magnetization stabilizing layer and the inner layer are formed to to induce an exchange coupling therebetween by a heat treatment at a second temperature different from the first temperature.
Another thin film magnetic head according to the invention comprises: a functional film having a magnetic transducer function; a first insulating film and a second insulating film sandwiching the functional film in between, and a first magnetic layer and a second magnetic layer sandwiching the functional film with the first and second insulating films in between, respectively, wherein at least one of the first and second shield layers includes an inner layer and an outer layer laminated in order from the functional film, and an uniaxially anisotropic magnetic field in the outer layer is closer to 0 than an uniaxially anisotropic magnetic field in the inner layer.
In a method of manufacturing a thin film magnetic head according to the invention, the thin film magnetic head includes a functional film having a magnetic transducer function, a first shield layer and a second shield layer for preventing an undesired magnetic field from reaching to the functional film, and the method comprises the steps of: forming the first shield layer on a base with an insulating layer in between; forming a first gap film having electrical insulating properties on the first shield layer; forming the functional film on the first gap film; forming a second gap film having electrical insulating properties on the functional film; and forming the second shield layer on the second gap film, wherein in the steps of forming the first shield layer and forming the second shield layer, at least one of the first and second shield layers is formed so as to include an inner layer having a controlled direction of magnetization, a magnetization stabilizing layer controlling the direction of magnetization of the inner layer, and an outer layer having a freely changeable direction of magnetization, laminated in order from the functional film.
In a method of manufacturing a thin film magnetic head according to the invention, a thin film magnetic head is manufactured so as to include the first and second shielding layers, at least one of which includes an inner layer having a controlled direction of magnetization, a magnetization stabilizing layer controlling the direction of magnetization of the inner layer, and an outer layer having a freely changeable direction of magnetization, laminated in order from the functional film.
In a method of manufacturing a thin film magnetic head according to the invention, the magnetization stabilizing layer preferably contains at least one of an antiferromagnetic material and a hard magnetic material. Further, it is preferable that the inner layer and the magnetization stabilizing layer are continuously formed through a substantially same means of forming. Moreover, it is preferable that the magnetization stabilizing layer and the outer layer are discontinuously formed through different means of forming.

Thin film magnetic head and method of manufacturing the same


A charge pump current compensating circuit (4) including feedback so that a difference between a charging current and a discharging current may be reduced is disclosed. Charge pump current compensating circuit (4) may include a current source leg (I11, N16, and N15), a first current mirror leg (P13, P14, N14, and N13), a second current mirror leg (P11, P12, N12, and N11), and a compensation circuit (5). Compensation circuit (5) may provide compensation to control insulated gate field effect transistors (IGFETs) (P12 and P13) so that a charging current and a discharging current may be essentially the same even when output impedances of IGFETs (P12 and N12) are different.

The present invention relates generally to a charge pump current compensating circuit that may be used for a phase-locked loop (PLL) and/or a delay-locked loop (DLL) and more particularly to charge pump current compensating circuit that provides compensation so that charging current and discharge current may be essentially equal.
A charge pump current compensating circuit can be used to compensate current supplied to a low-pass filter (LPF) of a phase locked loop (PLL) and/or a delay locked loop (DLL).
Referring to FIG. 6, a block schematic diagram of a phase locked loop (PLL) is set forth and given the general reference character 600.
PLL 600 includes a phase comparator 1, a conventional charge pump circuit (CP) 2, and a voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) 3.
Phase comparator 1 receives a reference input signal REFERENCE INPUT and an oscillating output signal OUTPUT and provides an up pulse UP and down pulse DN. Phase comparator 1 compares each phase of reference input signal REFERENCE INPUT and oscillating output signal OUTPUT. When reference input signal REFERENCE INPUT leads oscillating output signal OUTPUT, up pulse UP is provided. When reference input signal REFERENCE INPUT lags oscillating output signal OUTPUT, down pulse DN is provided. Conventional charge pump circuit 2 generates control current for charging or discharging a capacitor using the up pulse UP or the down pulse DN provided from phase comparator 1. Voltage controlled oscillator 3 provides oscillating output signal OUTPUT based upon a control voltage generated by conventional charge pump circuit 2. In this way, conventional charge pump circuit 2 in phase locked loop 600 controls charging current and discharge current for a capacitor of a low pass filter (LPF). By using a low pass filter (providing a sufficiently large capacitor value), the stability of an oscillating output signal OUTPUT is increased.
Referring now to FIG. 7, a circuit schematic diagram of conventional charge pump circuit 2 is set forth.
Conventional charge pump circuit (CP circuit) 2 includes PMOS (p-type metal oxide semiconductor) transistors (P1 to P4), NMOS (n-type metal oxide semiconductor) transistors (N1 to N6), constant current source 11, and capacitor C.
Constant current source 11 has a current amplified by a current mirror that includes PMOS transistors (P2 and P4) for charging capacitor C and by a current mirror formed by NMOS transistors (N2 and N4) for discharging capacitor C. In this way, a desired constant current (for example, ten times current 11) is used to provide a predetermined voltage Vcont on capacitor C forming a low pass filter. Up pulse UP is provided to the gate of PMOS transistors P1 to control the charging current and down pulse DN is provided to the gate of NMOS transistor N1 to control the discharge current. Conventional charge pump circuit 2 varies the potential of voltage Vcont on capacitor C forming a low pass filter and thereby varying a frequency or delay time in phase locked loop 600.
Referring to FIG. 8, a graph illustrating transfer characteristics of conventional charge pump circuit 2 is set forth.
As shown in FIG. 8, symmetrical voltage-current characteristics of PMOS transistor P2 and NMOS transistor N2 are illustrated with solid lines. A stable operating point of conventional charge pump circuit 2 gives a potential of voltage Vcont at point Al that can be supplied to voltage controlled oscillator VCO. However, when the output impedances of PMOS transistor P2 and NMOS transistor N2 varies due to process variations, the values (Ids) of charging current and discharge current become different.
For example, when the output impedance of NMOS N2 varies (from a characteristic illustrated as the solid line in FIG. 8 to a characteristic shown as a dashed line) due to process variations, voltage Vcont has a stable operating point at point A2. As a result, voltage Vcont can varies to point A2 through charge and discharge.
Referring to FIG. 9, a graph illustrating transfer characteristics of conventional charge pump circuit 2 is set forth. The transfer characteristics of FIG. 9 illustrate maximum and minimum points at which voltage Vcont and charging/discharge current are locked. FIG. 9 illustrates the maximum and minimum values at which NMOS and PMOS transistors (N2 and P2) are locked. When PMOS P2 is locked at point (A1), NMOS transistor N2 is locked at point (B2) or when PMOS P2 is locked at point (A2), NMOS transistor N2 is locked at point (B1) respectively. In this way, values of charging and discharging current (Ids) become different. As a result, a desired voltage Vcont cannot be acquired because of variations of points (B2) through discharge and variation of points (A1) through charging, or a desired voltage Vcont cannot be acquired because of variations of points (B1) through discharge and variation of points (A2) through charging. Also, the output impedances decrease as the gate length (L) of transistors forming charge pump is reduced. Thus, as transistors are reduced in size, process variations may cause greater effects and the difference between charging current and discharge current can become even greater.
A conventional charge pump circuit used for a PLL is described above. However, a conventional charge pump circuit can be similarly used for a DLL.
In a conventional charge pump circuit as described above, a charging current and a discharge current for a capacitor may be different due, for example, to process variations. Therefore, a conventional charge pump circuit may not keep an output potential (Vcont) in a desired range as illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9. Due to this, the output potential (Vcont) may deviate from a desired range which may cause the performance of a PLL or DLL including the conventional charge pump circuit to deteriorate.
In view of the above discussion, it would be desirable to provide a charge pump current compensating circuit which may provide an output potential essentially constant or in a desired range.
According to the present embodiments, a charge pump current compensating circuit (4) including feedback so that a difference between a charging current and a discharging current may be reduced is disclosed. A charge pump current compensating circuit may include a current source leg, a first current mirror leg, a second current mirror leg, and a compensation circuit. A compensation circuit may provide compensation to control insulated gate field effect transistors (IGFETs) so that a charging current and a discharging current may be essentially the same even when output impedances of IGFETs are different.
According to one aspect of the embodiments, a charge pump compensating circuit may control a charge current for charging a capacitor and a discharge current for discharging a capacitor based on a phase comparator output. The charge pump current compensating circuit may include a compensation circuit coupled to receive a voltage output from the capacitor and provide compensation so that the charge current may be essentially the same value as the discharge current.
According to another aspect of the embodiments, the capacitor may be a capacitance of a low pass filter.
According to another aspect of the embodiments, the compensation circuit may prevent the voltage output from essentially varying.
According to another aspect of the embodiments, the compensation circuit may compensate for differences in a first output impedance of a p-type insulated gate field effect transistor (IGFET) and a second output impedance of a n-type IGFET so that the charge current may be essentially the same value as the discharge current.
According to another aspect of the embodiments, the charge pump current compensating circuit may include an essentially constant current circuit and a current mirror circuit. The essentially constant current circuit may provide a bias output. The current mirror circuit may receive the bias output and provide the charging current through a p-type IGFET having a control gate coupled to receive a compensation signal from the compensation circuit.
According to another aspect of the embodiments, the charge pump current compensating circuit may include an essentially constant current circuit and a current mirror circuit. The essentially constant current circuit may provide a bias output. The current mirror circuit may include a first current mirror leg and a second current mirror leg receiving the bias output. The first current mirror leg may provide the charging current and the discharge current at a first current mirror leg node. The compensation circuit may provide compensation by detecting a potential difference between the first current mirror leg node and a second current mirror leg node of the second current mirror leg.
According to another aspect of the embodiments, the charge pump current compensating circuit may be used in a phase locked loop or a delay locked loop.
According to another aspect of the embodiments, a charge pump current compensating circuit may include a current source leg, a first current mirror leg, a second current mirror leg, and a first compensation circuit. The current source leg may provide a bias potential. The first current mirror leg may receive the bias potential and provide a first current mirror leg voltage output. The second current mirror leg may receive the bias potential and provide charging current and discharge current for charging and discharging a capacitance at a second current mirror leg voltage output. The first compensation circuit may receive the first current mirror leg voltage output and the second current mirror leg voltage output and provide a first compensation potential to a control gate of a second current mirror leg insulated gate field effect transistor (IGFET) included in the second current mirror leg.
According to another aspect of the embodiments, the first compensation circuit may provide the first compensation potential to a first current mirror leg IGFET included in the first current mirror leg.
According to another aspect of the embodiments, the charge pump compensating circuit may include a third current mirror leg and a second compensation circuit. The third current mirror leg may receive the bias potential and provide a third current mirror leg voltage output. The second compensation circuit may receive the first current mirror leg voltage output and the third current mirror leg voltage output and provide a second compensation potential to a control gate of a third current mirror leg IGFET included in the third current mirror leg.
According to another aspect of the embodiments, the first compensation circuit may include a first sense amplifier and the second compensation circuit may include a second sense amplifier.
According to another aspect of the embodiments, the second current mirror leg IGFET is a p-type IGFET.
According to another aspect of the embodiments, the first current compensation circuit may provide compensation so that the charge current is essentially the same value as the discharge current.
According to another aspect of the embodiments, the charge pump current compensation circuit is used in a phase locked loop or a delay locked loop.
According to another aspect of the embodiments, a charge pump current compensating circuit may include a current source, a first amplifier, a first insulated gate field effect transistor (IGFET), a second IGFET, a third IGFET, a fourth IGFET, a fifth IGFET, a sixth IGFET, a seventh IGFET, and an eighth IGFET. The current source may be disposed between a first power source and a first bias node. The first amplifier may include a first amplifier input, a second amplifier input, and a first amplifier output. The first IGFET may be of a first conductivity type and may have a first IGFET source connected to the first power source, a first IGFET gate connected to a second power source, and a first IGFET drain coupled to the second IGFET source. The second IGFET may have the first conductivity type and may have a second IGFET drain connected to the first amplifier input and a fifth IGFET drain. The third IGFET may have the first conductivity type and may have a third IGFET source connected to the first power source, a third IGFET gate connected to receive a first input signal, and a third IGFET drain connected to a fourth IGFET source. The fourth IGFET may have the first conductivity type and may have a fourth IGFET gate connected to receive the first amplifier output and a fourth IGFET drain connected to the second amplifier input and a seventh IGFET drain. The fifth IGFET may have-a second conductivity type and may have a fifth IGFET source connected to a sixth IGFET drain and a fifth IGFET gate connected to the first bias node. The sixth IGFET may have the second conductivity type and may have a sixth IGFET source connected to the second power source and a sixth IGFET gate connected to the first power source. The seventh IGFET may have the second conductivity type and may have a seventh IGFET source connected to an eighth IGFET drain and a seventh IGFET gate connected to the first bias node. The eighth IGFET may have the second conductivity type and may have an eighth IGFET gate connected to receive a second input signal and an eighth IGFET source connected to the second power source.
According to another aspect of the embodiments, the first conductivity type is p-type and the second conductivity type is n-type.
According to another aspect of the embodiments, the gate of the second IGFET is connected to receive the first amplifier output.
According to another aspect of the embodiments, the charge pump current compensating circuit may include a second amplifier, a ninth IGFET, a tenth IGFET, an eleventh IGFET, and a twelfth IGFET. The second amplifier may include a third amplifier input, a fourth amplifier input connected to the first amplifier input, and a second amplifier output. The ninth IGFET may have the first conductivity type and may have a ninth IGFET source connected to the first power source, a ninth IGFET gate connected to the second power source, and a ninth IGFET drain connected to a tenth IGFET source. The tenth IGFET may have the first conductivity type and may have a tenth IGFET gate connected to the second amplifier output and a tenth IGFET drain connected to the third amplifier input and an eleventh IGFET drain. The eleventh IGFET may have the second conductivity type and may have an eleventh IGFET source connected to a twelfth IGFET drain and an eleventh IGFET gate connected to the first bias node. The twelfth IGFET may have the second conductivity type and may have a twelfth IGFET source connected to the second power source and twelfth IGFET gate connected to the first power source.
According to another aspect of the embodiments, the first conductivity type may be p-type and the second conductivity type may be n-type.
According to another aspect of the embodiments, the fourth IGFET may provide a first current and the second IGFET may provide a second current and the first and second currents are essentially equal.


An optical disc device comprises a spherical or coma aberration correction unit to pre-correct spherical or coma aberration occurring in the light beam, a focus or tracking detection unit operable to detect a focus or tracking error signal, and an FE or TE amplitude adjustment unit operable to adjust the signal amplitude of the focus or tracking detection unit to a specific value after the amount of spherical or coma aberration has been matched to a specific value by the spherical or coma aberration correction unit.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method for adjusting focus or tracking detection unit, and an optical disc device.
2. Background Information
Write-once and rewritable optical disc devices have become commonplace today. Microscopic tracks are provided in a spiral or concentric pattern on the optical discs used in these devices, and information is recorded on these tracks. To record information to the tracks or read information from the tracks, a light beam has to be controlled so that it is always located over the information tracks.
It is also necessary to correct deviation of the laser beam with respect to the recording surface due to axial runout of the optical disc, radial runout of the rotary axis of the turntable, or the like, so that the focal point of the laser beam precisely follows the recording surface of the optical disc.
FIG. 23 is a diagram illustrating the constitution of a conventional optical disc device. An optical irradiation unit 3 in FIG. 23 directs a light beam 2 at an optical disc 1 and irradiates the disc at a specific power. The irradiating light beam 2 passes through a beam splitter 5 and is focused by a focusing lens 4 on the information surface of the optical disc 1. The light beam 2 reflected by the optical disc 1 is directed by the beam splitter 5 to a light receiver 6. The light receiver 6 outputs the amount of received light as a signal. An optical head 7 is made up by the optical irradiation unit 3, the focusing lens 4, the beam splitter 5, and the light receiver 6. A focus error detector 10 detects a focus error signal (hereinafter referred to as FE signal) on the basis of the signal from the light receiver 6. The FE signal expresses runout between the focal position of the optical spot and the information signal recording surface of the optical disc. A total received light detector 12 detects the reflected light sum signal (hereinafter referred to as an AS signal) on the basis of the signal from the light receiver 6. A correction coefficient calculator 13 calculates a correction coefficient that is the ratio of the FE signal amplitude to the total amount of received light. When the total amount of received light changes, an automatic amplitude controller 14 (AGC circuit) automatically controls the amplitude of the FE signal based on the amount of change and the correction coefficient. More specifically, the automatic amplitude controller 14 outputs a value obtained by multiplying the basic gain by the quotient of dividing the FE signal by the AS signal. As a result, the FE signal amplitude is kept at a specific level even though the disc reflectivity may vary or there may be variance in the power of the light beam. This is because the FE signal and the AS signal are both generally proportional to the intensity of the light reflected from the disc.
A tracking error detector 11 detects a tracking error signal (hereinafter referred to as TE signal) on the basis of the signal from the light receiver 6. The TE signal is information about positional deviation in the track width direction of an optical pickup with respect to the pits. Just as with the FE signal, the total received light detector 12 detects the total amount of received light on the basis of the signal from the light receiver 6, and the correction coefficient calculator 13 calculates a correction coefficient that is the ratio of the TE signal amplitude to the total amount of received light. When the total amount of received light changes, the automatic amplitude controller 14 automatically controls the amplitude of the TE signal based on the amount of change and the correction coefficient. As a result, the FE signal amplitude is kept at a specific level even though there may be variance in the disc reflectivity or the power of the light beam. This is because the TE signal and the AS signal are both generally proportional to the intensity of the light reflected from the disc.
There has also been a proposal for a device that adjusts the amplitude of the FE signal or the TE signal when the amount of light reflected from an optical disc varies between tracks or between recording layers (see Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application 2002-170259, for example).
In addition, a device has been proposed in which attention is turned to the fact that changes in the FE signal are also caused by spherical aberration, and spherical aberration is imparted prior to focus pull-in, thereby increasing the slope of the S curve of the FE signal, allowing the amplitude thereof to be increased, and affording more reliable focusing (see Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application 2003-99970, for example).
With recently disclosed high-density optical disc devices that make use of blue lasers of about 405 nm, because of the short wavelength, considerable coma aberration occurs in the spot on the optical disc as a result of disc tilt. For example, compared to the red laser of a DVD, there is roughly 1.6 times as much coma aberration. Furthermore, when an objective lens with a large NA of 0.85 is used for narrowing the beam in addition to a blue laser, considerable spherical aberration occurs in the spot on the optical disc as a result of variance in the light transmitting layer thickness. For instance, compared to a lens of NA of 0.6, such as with a DVD, there is roughly 10 times as much spherical aberration.
Spherical aberration occurs when the actual light transmitting layer thickness of an optical disc deviates from the ideal light transmitting layer thickness that is used as a predetermined reference in the design of an optical head. As shown in FIGS. 20 and 21, when aberration occurs in the light spot on an optical disc, the detection sensitivity (that is, the amplitude or slope) of the FE signal or TE signal varies, but there is almost no change in the level of the AS signal. Therefore, when an automatic amplitude controller (AGC circuit) is constituted by a division circuit or the like as in the past, there is fluctuation in the level of the various outputs for focus and tracking AGC, and the gain of the focus control system and tracking control system fluctuates. In general, sensitivity and amplitude drop, so there is a decrease in gain, and in a worst case, focus control or tracking control deviate in a state in which the automatic amplitude controller (AGC circuit) has been actuated. Conversely, if the spherical aberration is corrected to be approximately zero after the adjustment of the loop gain of focus and tracking, the same problems as those encountered with the above-mentioned spherical aberration will occur with coma aberration depending on the configuration of the optical system or the direction, amount, and phase of the coma aberration that occurs.
Furthermore, although the focus or tracking error signal is adjusted or loop gain is adjusted under the condition that the spherical aberration is small, in the two-layer disc or multilayer disc, after the light beam moves between the layers, a big spherical aberration corresponding to difference of the light transmitting layer thickness occurs. Until the spherical aberration correction element sufficiently follows the spherical aberration, the gains of the focus and tracking lowers so that the focus or tracking control deviates on the information surface of the layer to which the light beam moved.
In light of the above situation, it is an object of the present invention to provide an optical disc device that allows automatic amplitude control capable of ensuring focus and tracking performance that will always remain stable even when spherical aberration or coma aberration occurs, and affords stable high functionality and reliability with both two-layer discs and multilayer discs.

Method for adjusting focus or tracking detection unit, and optical disc device


A distributed ledger is used by one or more parties executing a ledger node to document a lifecycle of a device. When devices are manufactured, shipped, and used, attestation transactions are recorded to the distributed ledger that identify the devices and include attestation information about the device. The distributed ledger further supports command transactions that are used to change the behavior of the device, such as unlocking capabilities on the device. The distributed ledger provides a history of device attestation and activation.

After devices leave a manufacturing facility, it is difficult to confirm devices' authenticity and integrity. Because devices are increasingly implemented with functionality for network connectivity, performing computations, controlling other device, device security and authenticity is increasingly important. If a device is believed to be faulty or compromised (e.g., via malware), then the device may be returned to a device manufacturer. Returning a device to a manufacturer may be costly and time consuming. Furthermore, devices under warranty may be analyzed under a return merchandise authorization (RMA) process. It is often difficult for a device manufacturer to confirm that the device warranty has not been voided.


A foam dispenser is formed by modifying a standard reciprocating piston liquid pump having a reciprocating piston that is pressed to dispense liquid at an outlet. A holding chamber membrane surrounds the reciprocating piston and the outlet to define a holding chamber such that liquid dispensed at the outlet gathers at the bottom of the holding chamber. Pressing on the holding chamber membrane actuates the reciprocating piston liquid pump to dispense liquid into the holding chamber and also forces air and a portion of the liquid gathered in the holding chamber into an through a dispensing spout communicating with the holding chamber. The air and liquid are mixed at a foam media to create a foam product dispensed at an outlet of the dispensing spout.

Presently, more and more products are being dispensed as foam because the consuming public typically prefers foam products over their liquid predecessors. For example, foam soap, wherein a liquid soap is mixed with air to create a foam soap product, is quickly becoming more popular than the non-foam soap product that is simply dispensed as a liquid soap. In light of this, many different foam pumps have been designed and are now offered in the marketplace. Those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the standard liquid pumps have been significantly redesigned to incorporate the air pumps necessary for advancing air to mix air with the liquid and create a foam. It is believed that the art would therefore benefit from the provision of a foam pump wherein the air pump mechanisms are simply added onto a common stock reciprocating piston liquid pump to provide a foam pump without any significant alteration of the liquid pump.


In a disk array controller, the cache memory has memory modules and a plurality of clossbar switches. A plurality of host computer adapters are connected with the clossbar switches while a plurality of disk enclosure adapters are connected with the clossbar switches. The clossbar switches are connected with the memory modules. The clossbar switches have function to directly connect the host computer adapters to the disk enclosure adapters. Accordingly, data transfer between the host computer and the disk enclosure can be carried out, independent on memory data transfer capability to the cache memory.

The present invention relates to a disk array controller and a method of controlling disk array, in particular to the disk array controller and the method of controlling disk array, each of which is characterized in controlling data transfer between a host computer and disk devices.
A conventional disk array controller (hereunder called a first prior art) comprises host computer adapters each of which is connected to each host computer and which carry out data transfer, a cache memory which temporarily memorizes not only data transmitted from host computers and disk enclosures but also information for controlling the disk array controller, and disk enclosure adapters each of which is connected to each disk enclosure and which carry out data transfer. The host computer adapters, the disk enclosure adapters, and the cache memory are multi-connected to each other through a common bus. All of the data transfer is carried out by way of the cache memory.
In the first prior art, transfer performance is improved by enlarging bus width of the internal common bus and fastening transfer period of the internal common bus. However, a structure of a conventional common bus cannot catch up with improvement of performance of a host computer interface and a disk enclosure interface in the first prior art. In addition, reflection of signal wave is inevitably caused to occur due to the structure of the conventional common bus. Accordingly, it has become difficult to respond to a requirement for obtaining a disk array controller having high performance.
On the other hand, as a proposal for solving such a problem of the conventional disk array controller, for example, unexamined Japanese Patent Publication 2000-99281 discloses an another conventional disk array controller (hereunder called a second prior art) in which a host computer and a cache memory are connected to each other through a plurality of host computer adapters and in which a disk enclosure and a cache memory are connected to each other through a plurality of disk enclosure adapters. In this second prior art, fault-proof capability and a throughput of the disk array controller are improved to some extent by transferring data through a plurality of adapters. However, it has a limit to improve the throughput even in the second prior art thus mentioned.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a disk array controller and a method of controlling disk array which are capable of further improving the throughput in the disk array controller.
Other objects of the present invention will become clear as the description proceeds.
According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a disk array controller for use in storing data transmitted and received between a host computer and a disk enclosure, comprising: at least one cache memory which stores the data transmitted and received between the host computer and the disk enclosure; the at least one cache memory including at least one memory module and a plurality of crossbar switches connected with the at least one memory module; a plurality of host computer adapters which connect the host computer with the at least one cache memory; a plurality of host computer adapters being connected with a plurality of crossbar switches; a plurality of disk enclosure adapters which connect the disk enclosure with the at least one cache memory; a plurality of disk enclosure adapters being connected with a plurality of crossbar switches; and a plurality crossbar switches have function to directly connect the host computer adapters to the disk enclosure adapters.
Each of a plurality of crossbar switches may directly connect each of the host computer adapters to each of the disk enclosure adapters in response to a command outputted from each of the host computer adapters.
The crossbar switches may transfer data in synchronization with each other.
One of a plurality of crossbar switches may be operable as a master while the others of a plurality of crossbar switches may be operable as a slave controlled by the master, so that a plurality of crossbar transfer data in synchronization with each other.
Each of a plurality of crossbar switches may have a buffer memory for temporarily storing data transmitted from the host computer adapters or the disk enclosure adapters.
The data transmitted from the host computer adapters or the disk enclosure adapters may include a command and a memory address, the data including the command and the memory address being collectively transmitted to the buffer memory.
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is also provided a disk array controller for use in storing data transmitted and received between a host computer and a disk enclosure, comprising: at least one cache memory which stores the data transmitted and received between the host computer and the disk enclosure; the at least one cache memory including at least one memory module and a plurality of crossbar switches connected with the at least one memory module; a plurality of host computer adapters which connect the host computer with the least one cache memory; a plurality of host computer adapters being connected with a plurality of crossbar switches; a plurality of disk enclosure adapters which connect the disk enclosure with the at least one cache memory; a plurality of disk enclosure adapters being connected with a plurality of crossbar switches; and a plurality of crossbar switches transferring data in synchronization with each other.
According to still another aspect of the present invention, there is also provided a method of controlling a disk array for use in a disk array controller including at least one cache memory which stored data transmitted and received between a host computer and a disk enclosure, a plurality of host computer adapters which connect the host computer with the at least one cache memory, a plurality of disk enclosure adapters which connect the disk enclosure with the at least one cache memory, the method comprising the steps of providing at least one memory module and a plurality of crossbar switches in the at least one cache memory; connecting a plurality of host computer adapters with a plurality of crossbar switches; connecting a plurality of disk enclosure adapters with a plurality of crossbar switches; connecting a plurality of crossbar switches with the at least on memory module; and directly connecting the host computer adapters to the disk enclosure adapters.

Disk array controller using crossbar switches and method of controlling the same


Weight-shift activity is measured by small, flat, low-cost pressure sensors placed under the cushion in the seat of the wheelchair. A wireless communications device such as a Blackberry™ page processes data received from the pressure sensors and transfers the electronic records to a central database periodically or in near real-time. The information about activity and weight shift exercises is stored at the central database where it may be accessed and viewed by Internet users. Historical records of an individual's activity may be presented to the individual and authorized caregivers through secure web pages. This activity information will encourage the wheelchair user to perform regular weight shift exercises and will allow caregivers to intervene when high-risk periods of inactivity are detected.

When sitting for long periods of time, people must occasionally shift their weight to allow blood flow in compressed posterior tissues. Without adequate blood flow, skin problems and pressure sores can develop that lead to serious health complications. Because of their limited mobility, wheelchair users are at a greater risk to develop such sores.
One such problem, pressure ulcers, are a major public health concern that can lead to painful, life-threatening, and expensive medical complications. If severe, pressure ulcers may result in a person becoming bed-ridden. For wheelchair users, pressure ulcers can be directly attributable to the failure of a user to perform regular weight shift exercises. Weight shift exercises enable unrestricted capillary blood flow in compressed posterior tissues, and are often effective at preventing pressure ulcers and other skin problems resulting from inactivity. Unfortunately, a wheelchair user often does not realize if he or she has been stationary for extended periods of time, which may lead to sores and skin problems.
What is needed are systems and methods to enable the activity monitoring of a person seated for extended periods of time, such as wheelchair users. It would also be advantageous if such systems and methods permitted not only the wheelchair user to monitor his or her activity, but also other persons, such as physical therapists, to remotely monitor the wheelchair user's activity.

Systems and methods for mobile activity monitoring


A molded animal chew toy including a resin, a fluid such as water, and meat jerky, particularly chicken jerky, is provided. Processes for forming such resin/water/jerky composition into shapes by direct injection molding, including a desired screw design, are also disclosed.

A variety of disclosures exist pertaining to the development of edible dog chews that are digestible, nutritious along with a texture that can be individually adjusted to suit a wide variety of a dog's preferences or needs. Attention is therefore directed to the following exemplary disclosures: U.S. Pat. No. 6,180,161 "Heat Modifiable Edible Dog Chew; U.S. Pat. No. 6,159,516 "Method of Molding Edible Starch; U.S. Pat. No. 6,126,978 "Edible Dog Chew"; U.S. Pat. No. 6,110,521 "Wheat and Casein Dog Chew with Modifiable Texture"; U.S. Pat. No. 6,093,441 "Heat Modifiable Peanut Dog Chew"; U.S. Pat. No. 6,093,427 "Vegetable Based Dog Chew"; 6,086,940 "High Starch Content Dog Chew"; U.S. Pat. No. 6,067,941 "Animal Chew"; U.S. Pat. No. 6,056,991 "Turkey and Rice Dog Chew With Modifiable Texture"; U.S. Pat. No. 5,941,197 "Carrot Based Dog Chew"; U.S. Pat. No. 5,827,565 'Process for Making an Edible Dog Chew"; U.S. Pat. No. 5,339,771 "Animal Chew Toy Containing Animal Meal; U.S. Pat. No. 5,240,720 "Dog Chew with Modifiable Texture"; U.S. Pat. No. 5,200,212 "Dog Chew with Modifiable Texture". Attention is also directed to U.S. Pat. No. 6,165,474 entitled "Application for Patent for Nutriceutical Toy" and U.S. Pat. No. 5,419,283 entitled "Animal Chew Toy of Starch Material and Degradable Ethylene Copolymer".
U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,586,027 and 6,916,497 both entitled "Health Chew Toy" are assigned to the assignee of the present invention and are included herein in their entirety by reference. These patents are directed at molded, completely digestible, nutritious animal chews, enriched with vitamins, minerals and/or herb additives.
While the above certainly contributes to the body of chew products available to an animal, there is nonetheless a need to improve on the above, particularly with respect to heat forming (e.g. molding) and incorporating meat products within such chew products. Accordingly, one object of the present invention is to provide a molded chew toy for an animal that includes meat products such as chicken. In addition, it is also an object of this invention to provide a method of including such meat products in animal chews by extrusion and injection molding.


The present automated trustee payments system implements a series of automated processes which significantly reduce, and in many cases, eliminate a creditor user's work that is required to accurately and timely process incoming Chapter 13 Trustee remittances. The automated trustee payments system also effects application of the funds to the proper bankrupt debtor accounts and accounts for the funds against the proper creditor's loan account segments (e.g., the bankruptcy estate pre-petition indebtedness or the post-petition ongoing payments).

The conventional processing of payments from Chapter 13 Trustees to a creditor can often be time-consuming and error prone due to the need to cross-reference numerous entries on a given remittance check to locate the correct loan and debtor loan data on the creditor's internal systems and properly identify the nature of the payment. New systems are desired to reduce a creditor's workload while improving accuracy and timeliness of the remittance processing and properly identify the nature of payment being remitted with regard to pre-petition indebtedness, post-petition payments, and/or applicable fees.
This Background is provided to introduce a brief context for the Summary and Detailed Description that follow. This Background is not intended to be an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter nor be viewed as limiting the claimed subject matter to implementations that solve any or all of the disadvantages or problems presented above.