A method is provided for oxidizing arsenic in an arsenic-containing solution. The method comprises contacting the solution containing arsenic in a +3 oxidation state with an amount of a specific type of oxidizing agent, i.e., an agent containing at least one ##STR1## wherein X is a halogen to effect substantially complete oxidation of the arsenic to the +5 oxidation state. The amount of oxidizing agent used is substantially less than that which would theoretically be required. In accordance with a particularly preferred embodiment, the oxidized arsenic is reacted with a metal to form a substantially water-insoluble precipitate, preferably an iron or calcium arsenate.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a method of treating an arsenic-containing solution. It particularly relates to the treatment of an arsenic-containing brine in an open cooling tower and the like, in which a condensate of steam, derived from an arsenic-containing geothermal brine, is cooled.
2. Background Discussion
There are many sources of an aqueous arsenic-containing stream containing arsenic in a +3 oxidation state and for which there is a need to convert the arsenic to a higher oxidation state; for example, to convert arsenious acid to arsenic acid. The reason for converting the arsenic from a lower to a higher oxidation state is that the latter is far more reactive and, thus, more readily precipitated from the stream by reaction with a metal such as calcium or ferric iron to form a substantially water-insoluble, stable, calcium arsenate or ferric arsenate, respectively. Arsenic-containing fluids of interest are aqueous geothermal fluids. Of particular interest are the geothermal brines used for the production of electric power.
General processes by which geothermal brines can be used to generate electric power are well known. In a typical process, a geothermal brine at an elevated temperature and pressure is introduced into a zone of reduced pressure (flashed) to convert some of the brine into steam. The steam so produced is then used to drive a conventional steam turbine-generator combination to produce electricity. Generally, the remaining brine from the first reduced pressure zone will be introduced into one or more additional zones of further reduced pressure for the production of additional steam. Ultimately, the steam is condensed, recombined with any remaining brine and reinjected into a deep well for disposal.
Reinjection of the geothermal brine into an adjacent well is important to avoid the problems associated with the transport and disposal of the large amounts of saline and usually highly-contaminated liquid involved. Frequently, the brine contains small amounts of arsenic in the +3 oxidation state, most often present as arsenious acid. Arsenic in its +3 oxidation state is both water-soluble and highly toxic. Accordingly, any waste containing it must be disposed of in a hazardous waste disposal site. Obviously, the cost associated with disposal in a hazardous waste site is substantially greater than the cost for normal waste disposal.
One source of waste is the cooling tower and associated catch basin which are used to cool the steam. More particularly, a sludge forms in the cooling tower and the catch basin. The sludge comprises a mixture of living organisms, dust particles, precipitated salt from the brine and some entrained steam condensate. Many types of airborne organisms are known to grow at a very rapid rate in the hot, wet environment of the cooling tower and condensate catch basin. Such organisms include bacteria, algae, fungi and the like. While it is possible to control the growth of such living organisms, a significant amount of sludge will still form over an extended period of time. The sludge so formed must be periodically removed for disposal to prevent its interfering with the operation of the brine handling system. Since the sludge contains arsenic-containing condensate some treatment is required to permit disposal in a non-hazardous waste site.
Another problem associated with the use of a geothermal brine for generating electric power is that it is not always possible to reinject all of the brine into an adjacent well. For example, in some locations reinjection of all or even a significant portion of the brine produces a reduction in the temperature of the source brine. Another situation which can arise is that the reinjection well will not penetrate a subterranean formation having sufficient permeability to accept the brine at the same flow rate at which it is being processed. When reinjection of the brine is not possible, disposal of all or any substantial portion of the brine in a hazardous waste site would be prohibited by the cost. As an illustration, the production of only about 10 megawatts of electric power requires a continuous flow of over a millions pounds per hour of geothermal brine. When such large quantities of brine cannot be reinjected into a well, treatment to permit their disposal in a non-hazardous waste site is essential.
It is known that arsenic in its higher oxidation state is less toxic, for example, arsenic acid is less toxic than arsenious acid. It also is known that the higher oxidation state is more reactive and will react with, for example, iron and calcium to form stable, water-insoluble iron arsenate and calcium arsenate, respectively. A problem arises in that the materials taught by the prior art for the oxidation of arsenic require that at least a stoichiometric amount be used, and generally a slight excess is required to ensure substantially complete oxidation of all of the arsenic. In the case of geothermal brines, in addition to the arsenic, there also are many other ions which accept the oxygen as readily as arsenic and, since the oxidizers are not selective, they also will be oxidized. The net result is that a substantial amount of oxidizer is required. Clearly there is a need for a method of treating an aqueous solution containing arsenic in a +3 oxidation state to oxidize it to a +5 oxidation state without the necessity of using stoichiometric quantities of an expensive oxidizer.

Method of treating an arsenic-containing solution


Anticaking agents for inhibiting or preventing caking of inorganic salt granules are provided. The anticaking agents comprise a coordination complex of iron and a salt anion of an organic acid, wherein the salt anion is selected from the group consisting of malate, polyacrylate, diphosphonate, and mixtures thereof. Free-flowing, solid salt compositions resistant to caking are also described herein, along with methods of melting ice and/or snow on a surface or inhibiting the accumulation or formation of ice and/or snow on a surface, and methods of preventing or inhibiting caking of solid inorganic salt granules.

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to anticaking and anticorrosion agents for inorganic salts.
Description of Related Art
When exposed to conditions of varying atmospheric humidity, inorganic salts, such as sodium chloride (NaCl), cake or harden due to the formation of crystalline salt bridges that effectively welds adjacent salt crystals together. This results in the formation of large clumps, as well as a hardened crust on the surface of salt piles, and is detrimental to the ease of handling and applying the salt. This agglomeration, clumping, crusting, and/or hardening between individual salt granules is referred to herein (and in the art) as "caking." Caking occurs because of the hygroscopic nature of salt. Thus, at higher humidity, water is trapped between adjacent salt granules and dissolves salt at the crystal interface. This water evaporates as the humidity falls, which leaves behind a salt bridge or weld between and among the granules. Sodium ferrocyanide, also known as yellow prussiate of soda or YPS, has become well known as an effective anticaking agent for sodium chloride. However, YPS is undesirable in certain applications, such as those that involve the electrolytic generation of chlorine (e.g., industrial chloralkali processes and/or salt water pool chlorinators). These processes use electricity to convert chloride anions (Cl−) into free available chlorine (Cl+) in the form of sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl). During the electrolytic process, chlorine can react with nitrogen-containing compounds such as ammonia or the cyanide moiety of YPS to produce volatile, explosive nitrogen trichloride (NCl3). In order to minimize the formation of undesirable NCl3, operators limit or proscribe the use of nitrogenous compounds for the electrolytic generation of chlorine. Moreover, YPS is the subject of continuing environmental scrutiny, which underscores the need for YPS-free and nitrogen-free anticaking agents for inorganic salts.
In light of YPS's undesirability for certain applications, alternative compositions and methods to deter the caking of inorganic salts have been developed, including the use of carbohydrate-metal complexes, iron ammonium complexes of polyhydroxycarboxylic acids, tartaric acid, and meso-tartaric acid. However, these alternatives have several drawbacks. For example, meso-tartaric acid is very expensive to purchase and difficult to prepare. Meso-tartaric acid requires heating a solution of d-tartaric acid in sodium hydroxide for two hours at 118° C. (244.4° F.). After cooling this solution, hydrochloric acid must be added to adjust the pH to 6.
In addition to caking and hardening, another consideration when using inorganic salts is the corrosion they can cause when used to device roadways. In view of these concerns, organizations such as the Pacific Northwest Snowfighters (PNS) Association have set specifications for products used to melt snow and ice. This consortium of U.S. and British Columbia transportation agencies mandates tests to measure the corrosion rates in deicers in accordance with the National Association of Corrosion Engineers (NACE) Standard TM0169, as modified by PNS. In order for a corrosion inhibited snow and ice control product to meet this standard, it must demonstrate that it is at least 70% less corrosive than sodium chloride alone. Improved compositions and methods that can prevent or reduce the caking of inorganic salts and concomitantly reduce corrosion would be exceptionally useful and novel.
In addition to anticaking agents for bulk deicing salt, various substances are used with edible salts, such as potassium or sodium chloride. For example, silicon dioxide has been used in food salt as an anticaking agent. Garlic, onion, peppers, herbs, spices, and sugars are often mixed with salts to reduce caking as well as impart unique flavors to food grade salts. Various acids, such as uric acid, lactic acid, citric acid, and malic acid can act as taste modifiers for edible salts. The use of acids, such as malic acid, for taste modification however, requires the acids to be applied in the acid form in order for them to impart the desired flavor. That is to say, neutralization of the acidulants renders them non-acidic and destroys their ability to produce the desired tanginess.
Thus, there remains a need in the art for improved anticaking agents for inorganic salts, such as NaCl, KCl, and MgCl2.

Methods and compositions to prevent caking of sodium chloride and prevent transition metal stains


The present invention is concerned with 1×2 thermo-optic digital optical switches known in the art as “Y-branch digital optical switches” and variable optical attenuators.

Digital optical spatial switches (DOS) are well known in the art. One class of such switches is the 1×2 digital optical switch known as a "Y-branch digital optical switch" (Y-branch DOS) wherein light input into the "base" or trunk of the Y is directed through one or the other of the output branches by virtue of changes effected in the refractive index of one or both of the output branches. The switch can also be operated in reverse, whereby one or the other "upper branches" of the Y can be selected as an input channel with the base of the Y being the output channel. Y-branches are a fundamental building block of optical circuitry, and may be employed singly, or in various combinations to form more complex switching and coupling devices.
The Y-branch DOS has received wide commercial acceptance primarily because of its robustness to variations in critical parameters such as electrical power applied, polarization, wavelength, temperature, and to a large extent, even device geometrical variations. Typically a Y-branch DOS is designed such that two waveguide branches intersect to define a Y-shape structure with a very small angle at the intersection of the branches. The composition of the waveguide structure may include a wide variety of materials such as lithium niobate, semiconductors, silica, or polymers. A Y-branch DOS performs its switching function by adiabatically changing (i.e. slowly varying, as opposed to abruptly altering) the light propagation direction in one of the output waveguides.
Specifically, switching in a Y-branch DOS is achieved by forcing a refractive index change in one waveguide branch with respect to the other. The change in refractive index may be induced by applying for example voltage and/or current to selected sections of the structure. Of particular significance among the characteristics of a Y-branch DOS is its step-like response to applied voltage or current, which allow the light to remain in a higher index branch, notwithstanding an increase in the applied voltage or current beyond the switching threshold. When a Y-branch DOS operates above the switching threshold, variations in polarization and wavelength do not impact significantly the switching capacity of the Y-branch DOS.
One persistent problem presented to the designer by the Y-branches of the art is footprint. In order to effect the adiabatic transfer of energy, known in the art as adiabatic modal transfer (AMT), of the propagating wave into the single output channel selected, it is necessary to maintain a separation of the two output branches of no greater than ca. 30 times the wavelength of the propagating signal for a silica-fiber-level of refractive index difference in the waveguide of ca. 0.5% of the base index. For 1.5-micron radiation, this means that the separation between the two branches must be maintained at a distance on the order of 45 micrometers or less until the energy transfer is complete. This requirement in turn necessitates very small vertex angles on the order of 0.1 to 0.3 degrees and device lengths up to 30 mm. Controlled fabrication of such devices is quite difficult and error prone. Furthermore, the large footprint of such devices greatly limits their applicability in integrated optical circuitry.
One approach to addressing these problems is provided by Okayama et al, J. Lightwave Tech. 11 (2), 379-387 (1983), in which a two angle shaped Y-branch DOS wherein the output waveguides initially diverge by an angle of ca. 2° and then undergo a bend to a smaller extrapolated angle of divergence of ca. 0.3°.
Several methods are known in the art for effecting the desired change in refractive index. These involve the electro-optic effect, the stress-optic effect and the thermo-optic effect. In a typical Y-branch thermo-optic DOS known in the art, the two upper branches of the "Y" are provided with a heating means, typically a thin layer of metal deposited thereupon, which heating means when activated induces a shift in the refractive index of the corresponding branch, thereby effecting a coupling of power input to the base of the "Y" to one or the other branches. By turning on the heating of one branch and turning off the heating of the other branch, switching of incoming optical signals can be effected.
Both polymeric and glass Y-branches are known. Because of the much larger temperature dependence of the refractive index of polymers, polymers are preferred for use in thermo-optic digital optical switches.
Hida et al, IEEE Photonics Technology Letters 5 (7), 782-784 (1997), disclose polymeric 2×2 thermo-optic switches consisting of two coupled Y-branches fabricated from deuterated and fluoro-deuterated methacrylate polymers. The method of fabrication involves spin coating polymer solutions onto a silicon substrate followed by forming the Y-shaped components by conventional photolithography, the core ridges being subsequently formed by reactive ion etching. Chromium thin-film strip heaters were formed on the upper Y-branches by electron beam evaporation and wet etching. Separation of the arms was 250 micrometers. The Cr heater strips were 5 mm long and 50 micrometers wide.
Eldada et al, Proc. SPIE, vol. 3950, pp. 78-89 (2000), discloses 1×2 optical switches fabricated from polymeric materials which Y-branches exhibit 0.1 dB insertion loss for vertex angles of less than 2°. The direct photolithographic fabrication method using halogenated acrylates as practiced therein is disclosed to enable sharp profiles of the components and the removal of residue even at the vertex of relatively small angle Y-branches.
Lackritz et al, U.S. Pat. No. 6,236,774B1, discloses thermo-optic switches employing cross-linked polymeric waveguides operated above Tg. Disclosed are metallic heaters substantially rectangular in shape disposed upon a polymeric optical waveguide surface, the long side of said rectangular heater being positioned at a slight angle to the direction of propagation in the waveguide. Said heaters are positioned to be in uniform thermal contact with waveguide material over the entire area of the heater. It is disclosed that the temperature, and therefore the refractive index, of the polymer waveguide material will depend upon the distance of any point therein from the heater, those regions closest to the heater experiencing greater temperature than those further away.
He et al, U.S. Pat. No. 6,526,193 B1, discloses the electro-optic effect in a Y-branch digital optical switch having curved output waveguides provided with curved electrodes to provide a shorter device than achievable in the earlier art which employed diverging straight waveguide sections. The curvature of the output waveguides provides a continuously increasing angle of divergence.
Lee et al, U.S. Pat. No. 5,623,566, is drawn to thermally induced guides in silicon optical benches. Disclosed in FIG. 2 thereof is the temperature profile through the various optical materials employed therein as a result of localized heating applied thereto.
Moosburger et al, Proc. 21st Eur. Conf. on Opt. Comm, pp. 1063-1067 (1995) disclose Y-branches with "near perfect" vertices having an angle of 0.12° fabricated from silica-clad polymeric waveguides having cores of ca. 9 micrometers. The upper branches of the Y were coated with Ti thin film heaters. 27 dB cross-talk suppression was achieved between output branches with heater power of ca. 180 mW. Moosburger expressly teaches that blunted vertices induce losses and reduce the crosstalk suppression between output waveguides.
Diemeer, Optical Materials 9, 192-200 (1998) provides a thoroughgoing analysis of the thermal transport and physical aspects of thermo-optic switching in polymeric vs. silica thermo-optic digital optical switches. For polymers in general, and polycarbonate and polymethylmethacrylate in particular, it is shown that switching power lies in the range of 50-100 mW, and that a temperature rise of ca. 10° C. in the waveguide core is necessary to achieve a minimum refractive index difference of ca. 0.001.

Y-branch-based thermo-optic digital optical switches and variable optical attenuators with non-uniform heating


A discharge amount measuring device includes a power source, first and second sensors, a calibration wire, and a measuring portion. The power source applies a voltage to a coil of a rotational electric machine. The first sensor detects a current flowing through the coil. The calibration wire has an end connected to the coil. The second sensor detects a current flowing through the calibration wire. The measuring portion forms a calibration line based on a first waveform detected by the first sensor and a second waveform detected by the second sensor. The measuring portion calculates a discharge amount based on the calibration line.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a discharge amount measuring device and method for a rotational electric machine.
2. Description of Related Art
A rotational electric machine such as an electric motor or generator includes a coil, and the coil may directly contact with a casing or core of the rotational electric machine. When the machine includes plural coils, the coils may directly contact with each other. The coil is insulated by an insulating film. However, discharge may be generated by applying a pulse voltage. If discharge is generated, the insulating film is damaged. Further, a short may be generated, if the insulating film is completely damaged. Therefore, a discharge amount or insulating performance is required to be measured.
JP-A-2006-098170 discloses a method of measuring a discharge amount. A current waveform is detected by a high frequency current transformer, and the detected waveform is filtered by a high-pass filter. Thus, only discharge pulse is extracted, and a discharge amount is calculated based on a peak value of the extracted pulse.
JP-A-2005-274440 discloses a method of measuring a discharge amount. A current waveform is detected by a current sensor, and an electromagnetic waveform is detected by an electromagnetic sensor. Fourier transform is performed relative to the current waveform and the electromagnetic waveform. A discharge amount is calculated based on a variation of a high frequency component of the Fourier transform.
JP-A-2006-038688 discloses a method of measuring a discharge amount. A discharge amount is calculated by measuring a partial discharge current, when a surge voltage is intentionally applied to a coil of a motor with a predetermined frequency 50 Hz-20 kHz by using a surge voltage generating device.
However, a frequency of a discharge pulse generated in the motor is high. Further, an impedance of the coil of the motor is complicated, because the impedance is represented by a distribution constant. Therefore, a discharge generated in the motor is easily diffused, and an amount of current flowing through a sensor may not correspond to an actual amount of the discharge. That is, the current passing through the sensor is only a part of the actual discharge amount. Thus, the discharge amount measured by using the above method is smaller than the actual discharge amount.

Discharge amount measuring device and method for rotational electric machine


A hot water tank leakage detection system having a conventional smoke alarm unit 10, conductor pair 20, and probe 30. Conductor pair 20 is removably connectable to alarm unit 10 through male/female two conductor jack pair 15 and 25 respectively. In use probe 30 is placed in the predicted water shed of hot water tank 40.

Ceiling mounted smoke alarm systems have become common in residences throughout the United States of America, and indeed are required by many fire and safety codes. Such conventional smoke alarms serve to detect the presence near the ceiling of suspended particulate matter in the breathable air of such a household in relatively small concentrations. In fact they will detect in the home atmosphere more than actual "smoke"; as concentrations of dust and water vapor will also activate their alarms, due to their sophisticated ionization chamber detection techniques.
Equally ubiquitous throughout these same households is the conventional hot water heater usually consisting of a storage/heating tank, heating coils if electric, or burner section if gas or oil fired, and associated plumbing and/or wiring. Unfortunately the hot water tanks, as they grow old, or if they are otherwise damaged, may develop leaks which go either unnoticed or undetected, due in part to the remote and sometimes concealed installation location of the water heater. Leaks not detected very soon after they begin can cause severe water damage to the areas of the household surrounding and beneath the water heater. It is therefore of primary importance to have an apparatus and method for early detection of hot water tank leaks.
Since the probability of leakage for any one tank is of a low order, it is difficult to justify the expense of a single purpose specially prepared and installed hot water tank alarm system. On the other hand, putting the ubiquitous smoke alarm to use involves only small expense and effort.
Heretofore no such apparatus or method has been proposed, and certainly no such apparatus or system has been proposed which makes use of an already existing alarm system elsewhere in the household. Accordingly it is an object of the invention to provide a method and apparatus for early detection of hot water tank leaks.
It is a further object of the invention to provide an apparatus and method of providing for the early detection of hot water tank leaks by modifying and making use of a conventional smoke alarm system in the same household.
Other needs arise in a typical household where warning by an alarm system would be beneficial, but where, perhaps, the cost of purchasing and installing such an alarm system would also be prohibitive. For instance window, door, and other access ways to the household, if they are alarmed at all are usually separately alarmed. Similarly, if sump pumps are monitored for failure, the alarm system is a separate one. Accordingly it is an object of the invention to provide a means of protecting access ways to a household, and meeting other alarm needs, by modifying and using a conventional smoke alarm system in the household.


A convertible barbecue server and accessory cart formed of molded plastic which has a removable tray-type top which can be removed and used indoors either in inclement weather or for placement of food items in the food tray prior to rejoining it with the cart bottom for serving food outdoors in conjunction with barbecuing or in the serving of food to guests or others.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to utility or accessory carts and more particularly to utility and accessory carts and caddies for use with barbecue and outdoor grill equipment and carts, and more particularly still to utility and accessory carts that are convertible for both summer or other warm weather use, and for use indoors during cold or inclement weather.
2. Preliminary Discussion
Home barbecue and outdoor grill equipment is now almost ubiquitous in the well-equipped American home as well as in many homes in foreign countries. Sometimes such barbecues are in the form of permanent backyard structures, but more frequently they take the form of a portable charcoal or gas burner which is stored indoors and then taken outside to a patio or yard, or frequently in more recent times, taken onto an outer deck or balcony, where the fumes from the burner presumably do not pollute the indoor atmosphere of the user's living space. While some barbecues and grills are small and can simply be carried outdoors, the typical modern barbecue or grill will be carried on a cart which can be wheeled or stored outdoors. Frequently, such carts may have storage space behind doors or on the sides to store supplies. Such storage space is frequently not used for anything except essential supplies, because the barbecue operator is also frequently somewhat untidy and the whole cart may be difficult and time-consuming to keep clean. Not infrequently, therefore, such carts are left outdoors to be cleaned by the elements.
More recently, auxiliary workstation carts have made their appearance for use in conjunction with the usual barbecue equipment. Such auxiliary or work station carts are designed to provide storage space and additional countertop space for food preparation and serving and, as indicated in advertisements at least for such auxiliary carts, make it almost like bringing a kitchen outdoors' or in other words, make outdoor cooking as convenient as cooking indoors.
One large drawback with previous work station and accessory carts, which drawback is the same as for barbecue equipment carts, is the fact that while they take up a fair amount of space, they are used most frequently during the warmer weather months and during the rest of the year they take up space in the owner's garage, storage space, or frequently anywhere in which some "out of the way" room or space can be found.
It is the aim of the present invention to provide a combined work station and server cart for outdoor warm weather use in barbecuing or other serving of food, a portion of which cart is convertible for use as an indoor server that takes up considerably less space and can be used indoors during inclement or just plain cold weather, thereby essentially doing double duty by serving as an outdoor workstation and server cart plus an indoor server. Such interconvertibility is accomplished by providing for the cart a lift off, or removable, top which can then be simply carried into and about the home with food, ice, utensils and the like provided in the top. Thus, a single utility cart is enabled to be used in two or actually three ways. The removable top or server can, when lifted off, be simply placed on a counter top or floor, resting preferably on small feet located on the bottom of the tray top, such removable server top in warm weather being placable, or positionable, on the top of the lower portion of the utility cart with the feet of the server tray fitting on to the main bottom portion of the cart with the feet on the tray or server portion fitting into recesses in the top of the cart, thereby preventing the removable top from sliding off the lower portion of the cart. When used indoors, such feet enable the tray or server portion to be supported away or slightly raised from whatever surface it is placed upon. The combined utility cart of the invention has three principal uses (a) as a server on wheels to be used with barbecue equipment, (b) as a portable server tray which can be removed from the wheeled cart portion and carried indoors either to be loaded and carried out again to its own mobile base outdoors and used for serving or to be loaded with comestibles, or foods, preferably in a subsidiary tray or trays which can be placed in the main tray, and (c) as an auxiliary barbecue cart in which barbecue equipment and ingredients are contained and transported in the cabinet of the main body portion of the cart.
In an alternative embodiment, the removable top tray may have greater or longer length removable or foldable legs for its own support at a convenient height. The food server top portion also preferably has a pivoting transparent cover to protect food items contained in trays or compartments in the top.
Consequently, the server tray provided on the top of the utility server cart of the invention can be used both outdoors on its own wheeled base, plus used indoors as a server in inclement or other undesirable weather, thus doing double duty. It can also be used to transport comestibles between a kitchen and an outdoor barbecue station already supplied with food or comestibles already arranged for eating. Meanwhile, the lower portion of the cart which has storage room within it behind doors, plus at least one fold out tabletop or serving tray type arrangement to provide additional workspace, serves as a barbecue utility cart for outdoor use which will usually simply be stored during the off-season for outdoor eating. The convertible utility cart of the invention, because it has a stand-alone upper top in the form of a food server tray, provides a much more convenient utility server cart than has previously been available, it's double duty features being very attractive to those who frequently entertain guests at barbecues, lunches, or brunches in these hurried times when space and time are at a premium.
Preferably, the removable tray portion of the utility and server cart of the invention is provided with a compartment or arrangement in which ice may be placed which ice in the form of chips or cubes can then flow outwardly coming into contact with the bottom and sides of cold comestible trays supported in the main tray. If desired, other insulated trays may be used in which hot foods may be placed. If these are to be used along with the cold trays, they will be doubly or triply insulated to maintain their heat content and may even be supplied with hot water compartments to increase their heat retaining capacity.
3. Description of Related Art
While there have been utility carts in the past, the present inventor is not familiar with any utility or accessory cart convertible in the manner of his. The inventor is aware, however, of the following prior art relating to devices in the category of utility carts and related structures:
U.S. Pat. No. 2,897,999 issued to R. H. Bishop on Aug. 4, 1959, entitled "Container With Tray Lids," discloses a simple container with hinged lids which pivot downwardly to the outer sides of the container so they are out of the way when accessing the storage area. The outer or top side of the lids have a trap-like shape to facilitate placement of articles thereon. For example, items taken out of the container through one open lid can be placed on the tray portion of the other lid. Bishop teaches a basic container which could be used to serve food and the like.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,515,119 issued to S. E. Kivela on Jun. 2, 1970, entitled "Food Carrying and Preparing Appliance," discloses a handle (13), rectangular housing (1), insulated food drawing (5), drop front (8) which serves as a work surface or burner (9), and storage space (12). The Kivela food case is designed more for carrying and then preparing simple foods, rather than simply keeping already cooked or prepared foods cool or protected against contact by insects and the like.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,027,727 issued to G. Pullens on Jun. 7, 1977, entitled "Portable Battery Operated Hot-Cold Storage Unit," discloses a battery operated insulated storage container for keeping food items either in a hot or cold condition.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,685,483 issued to M. A. Balazs on Aug. 11, 1987, entitled "Collapsible Support for Food Screen," discloses a framework for maintaining a cloth screen over dishes on a hotel serving cart being designed, mainly so that the covering does not come into contact with the food.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,873,841 issued to W. Bradshaw et al. on Oct. 17, 1989, entitled "Portable Cooler," discloses a cooler having rear wheels and a pulling handle on the side opposite the rear wheels.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,910,975 issued to D. A. Derby on Mar. 27, 1990, entitled "Condiment Cooler," discloses a small container for cooling foods comprised of an insulated chest having an open top in which ice may be placed, and several compartments which extend into the chest in which the food items are stored. The ice contacts the walls of the compartments, thereby cooling the items in such compartments. The Derby condiment cooler is an example of inserts used in the upper section of an insulated compartment.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,437,165 issued to R. W. White et al. on Aug. 1, 1995, entitled "Food Organizer Insert for Portable Ice Chest," discloses a horizontally disposed template designed to be placed in a portable ice chest. The template includes various sized and shaped receptacles for receiving and holding primarily food items. The cover of the ice chest acts as a plastic bug cover, which cover may be entirely separable from the chest or may be hinged secured thereto.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,480,170 issued to R. B. Kaiser, II on Jan. 2, 1996, entitled "Cooler Caddy, and Methods of Constructing and Utilizing Same," discloses an insulated cooler having wheels, one or more foldable trays (26), and means for supporting an umbrella (84) (see FIG. 8). The wheels are removable or foldable in one embodiment so that the cooler is supported on telescoping legs (86) which allow the elevated position of the cooler to be adjusted.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,493,874 issued to M. A. Landgrebe on Feb. 27, 1996, entitled "Compartmented Heating and Cooling Chest," discloses an insulated carrying case having both hot and cold storage compartments side by side.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,551,774 issued to A. Campbell et al. on Sep. 3, 1996, entitled "Food Bar With Modular Support System," discloses a food bar of a well known type such as commonly found in supermarkets or the like wherein a large insulated chamber is filled with ice and various sized and shaped food receptacles which fit over the top surface of the chamber are used to accommodate food containers.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,605,056 issued to A. C. Brown et al. on Feb. 25, 1977, entitled "Portable Cooler With Suspended Grate for Ice-Free Storage Areas," discloses a cooler having several drawers and a tray as well as areas for supporting ice around the items placed in such drawers and trays. Brown et al. generally illustrates a cooler having special apparatus for holding food or other items placed in the cooler, and in which the ice does not directly contact the food items.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,876,047 issued to M. S. Dennis on Mar. 2, 1999, entitled "Utility Cart," discloses a cart having a wagon-like appearance and including an ice chest (19) as well as a storage compartment (10) for holding various accessory equipment. The cart also includes drop leaf table panels (32) which are movable to a horizontal position, and umbrella support (60), and can be used to support or transfer folding lawn chairs or the like.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,975,325 issued to A. Wallace on Nov. 2, 1999, entitled "Food Enclosure," discloses a folding enclosure having two open sides and two open ends, as well as a skirt (20) which fits over such open sides and ends, and a canopy over the top of the structure.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,086,073 issued to T. A. Tisbo et al. on Jul. 11, 2000, entitled "Portable Work Center," discloses a molded storage cabinet having a wheel assembly (32) along one bottom edge and at least one pair of support legs along the other bottom edge, the legs supporting a rectangular storage area accessible through doors (22 and 24). Column 1, lines 25–31 discuss a barbecue work "station" having shelf space and slotted racks for holding grilling implements. Reference is made on the front page of the patent under "Other Publications" to "The Barbeque Store, Advertisement for BBQ Kargo Kart, 1 page, 1997."
U.S. Pat. No. 6,153,857 issued to A. J. Gunnels on Nov. 28, 2000, entitled "Portable Food and Utensil Storage Device," discloses a device having a plurality of segregated storage compartments for containing utensils, hot and cold food items, and a gas grill. As shown in FIG. 1, the device has a pivotable lid component (11), which opens to three separate storage compartments, each having a separate lid member (16). First compartment (9) is used to store perishable items in ice, another compartment (17) is used to store hot items and has heating coils embedded therein, while a third central larger compartment is used to carry other food or nonfood items. A receptacle (27) for supporting an umbrella is also provided, as are loops (30) and bands (14) in the lid for holding silverware and cups, respectively. Wheels (15) are also provided.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,216,488 issued to R. D. Rucker on Apr. 17, 2001, entitled "Multi Purpose Cooler," discloses another insulated container for carrying hot or cold foods. The Rucker container is primarily designed to be used at the beach or for carrying items to the beach. A side compartment (7) is provided for carrying small items, a built-in radio is provided, as is an umbrella holder (13). The lids (1) include indentation (1a) and drink holders (2a) to prevent objects from falling off, and the device includes a platform (12) so that it can be used as a dolly.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,344,630 issued to C. W. Jarvis et al. on Feb. 5, 2002, entitled "Thermoelectric Heated Food Service Cart," discloses an insulated food cart with electronic controls for keeping food trays or the like in a heated condition.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,499,411 issued to P. C. Brown on Dec. 31, 2002, entitled "Table Tent," discloses a mesh and frame structure having a plastic bottom section, support frames over which a mesh tent is laid, and clear plastic windows through which food situated within the tent can be accessed. Velcro® strips are used to seal the mesh to the plastic bottom and the plastic windows to the mesh tent.
Improvements (Quick and Clean Problem Solvers) February 2002, page 01, Barbecue Station® compact cabinet with work top showing cart with various serving trays and utensil holders in a barbecue accessory cart.
While there have been prior serving carts and barbecue utility carts, as well as disclosures of conveniences that might be conceivably applied to such carts, therefore, there have not, so far as the present inventor is aware, been any combined barbecue server and utility carts combining the unique features of the present inventor's cart, particularly with respect to introconvertability between use, first in spring, summer and fall as a full server and utility cart and in winter or other inclement weather as a smaller more compact server tray.
Accordingly there is a present need for an accessory, food display and serving cart for use in connection with barbecue carts and the like which can be converted from a serving cart for use outdoors to use as a food display and server for indoor use during inclement or cold weather.


Increased reporting capabilities from a database system may be available in a customer relationship system while functionality of the customer relationship management system is maintained.

Enterprise resource planning ("ERP") systems have made tracking resources and planning resource use easier. These interactive systems provide immediate information about resources which may be used to better service customers. In addition, the ERP system may store data in a different manner than many systems, such as storing actual total amounts rather than storing formulas to calculate total amounts. ERP systems have report generating abilities that make it easy to visualize the data in the ERP system.
Database systems have been around even longer than ERP systems. Database systems store large amounts of data in a way that is easy to search and manipulate. Data is usually stored as individual entries and totals usually do not have their own entry but are calculated as needed by adding up the individual elements from the database. As database systems have been around for a significant period of time, the ability to create reports is refined.

Integration of database reporting with ERP systems


A semiconductor package according to the present invention includes a die attachment area for receiving a die attachment material and a stitch bond area for receiving a wire lead from a die. The stitch bond area is adjacent to said die attachment area on the substrate. Moreover, a stud bump is formed on the substrate for preventing the die attachment material from contacting the stitch bond area when a die is attached to the die attachment area. A method for manufacturing a semiconductor package according to the present invention also is disclosed.

The present invention relates to semiconductor packages and to methods for manufacturing such semiconductor packages.
As die sizes increase to include more components (e.g., circuits, transistors, or the like) to provide more functions, and semiconductor package sizes decrease to reduce size and promote a miniaturization of semiconductors, semiconductor packaging manufacturers must contend with reduced operating margins on the substrate between a die attachment area of the substrate, a stitch bond area of the substrate, and a die that is placed on the die attachment area of the substrate. Semiconductor packages may comprise a substrate, which includes a die attachment area for receiving a die, and a stitch bond area adjacent to the die attachment area. The stitch bond area forms a surface for connecting a lead wire from a die to electrical conductors on the substrate, thereby forming an electrical connection between the die and the conductors or conductive balls in the case of a ball grid array on the substrate. The term substrate as used herein may be a lead frame, a laminate substrate, a tape base substrate, or the like. Further, a die attachment material, e.g., a die attachment paste, a die attachment film, or the like, may be placed on a die attachment area of the substrate for securing a die thereto. In known semiconductor packages, the die attachment material may bleed out of the die attachment area when a die is affixed to the die attachment area. Moreover, the die attachment material which bleeds out of the die attachment area may contact or cover the stitch bond area which is adjacent to the die attachment. Such contact may prevent or hinder attachment of wire leads, from the die to the substrate. As a result, an electrical connection may not be formed adequately between the die and the conductors on the substrate. To compensate for the tendency of die attachment material to bleed out from the die attachment area onto the stitch bond area, manufacturers have to reduce the size of a die that is attached to a given die attachment area, or manufacturers have to increase the die attachment area of the substrate for a given die, or both.
A still further problem is that the gold wire used for attaching to the substrate conductors or balls may not easily connect to the lead frame metal conductors or balls in the ball grid array case. This may be due to the conductor material and/or the size of the wire attachment area.

Semiconductor packages and methods for manufacturing such semiconductor packages


A model transforming data generating portion 4 extracts parameter data corresponding to a given road area from two-dimensional map data in a two-dimensional map data storage portion 3. Subsequently, the model transforming data generating portion 4 reads out pattern data corresponding to the specified road area from a pattern model storage portion 5 and generates model transforming data. An image data generating portion 6 transforms a corresponding three-dimensional map display model by using the generated model transforming data to generate three-dimensional image data. The generated three-dimensional image data is given to and displayed in a display 7. The operator operates an input portion 2 on the basis of the contents displayed in the display 7 to correct the generated model transforming data.

The present invention relates to three-dimensional map display devices, and more particularly to a device for simply displaying a three-dimensional configuration of a target area on a map.
A conventional car navigation system generally navigates along the route by displaying a two-dimensional map. In a case where a road is overlaying on another in parallel as shown on a display navigating a vicinity of freeway entrances and exits, however, a two-dimensional map without a longitudinal representation often puzzles a driver as to which way to go. Also, as to a multi-level intersection of a ordinary-type road to be navigated, when the display navigates to turn right after passing the multi-level intersection, it is difficult for the driver to instantaneously understand the navigated route as a conventional car navigation system does not represent the route stereoscopically.
Recently, various car navigation systems are being developed to display a map in a three-dimensional manner. Conventionally, when a map is three-dimensionally displayed, width and height information is manually provided to data about roads on a two-dimensional map in advance so as to generate three-dimensional polygon data from the map data having the information provided, and then the three-dimensional polygon data is stored in a map storage medium (CD-ROM, DVD, etc.). When a vehicle reaches a point to be navigated, a car navigation system in which this map storage medium is provided reads out corresponding three-dimensional polygon data from the map storage medium and displays a three-dimensional image.
The conventional system, however, requires width and height information to be added to every piece of road data on a two-dimensional map, which considerably complicates the processing. Further, it requires preparation such as measurements, and the like. Moreover, since two-dimensional map data contains a large amount of information which do not conform to the real-world road locations, an accuracy of a three-dimensional map obtained through such data on the two-dimensional map data is poor, which confuses the driver more. Information on road locations on a two-dimensional map may be corrected, or configuration data on a completed three-dimensional map may be corrected with a CAD tool, and the like in order to obtain a desired three-dimensional map. It will require a large number of additional processing steps. Further, since an accuracy of the conventional polygon automatic generating algorithm is poor, parts separated into small links and coupling/branching parts between two road links differing in width cannot be smoothly connected. That is to say, the polygon data does not coincide with the real-world road configuration, resulting in a reduction of the safety.
Moreover, in the conventional system, the three-dimensional polygon data itself is stored in a map storage medium (CD-ROM, DVD, etc.), and therefore the amount of map data to be stored is too large to three-dimensionally display many areas. To solve such an inconvenience, two-dimensional map data containing added width and height information may be stored in the map storage medium, in which case a car navigation system carried on a vehicle creates the three-dimensional polygon data. However, this method largely increases the load on a CPU of the car navigation system, resulting in another problem that the map cannot be scrolled at high speed.
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a three-dimensional map display method and a device which can easily and simply display the three-dimensional configuration of target areas on a map, with a largely reduced amount of data stored in a storage medium, and a device for creating data used in the method and device.
The present invention has the following features to achieve the object mentioned above.
A first aspect of the invention is directed to a device for creating model transforming data used to transform a three-dimensional map display model, wherein a three-dimensional configuration of a given part on a map is classified in advance into a plurality of patterns and a standard three-dimensional map display model is prepared for each pattern, and the model transforming data creating device comprises:
a two-dimensional map data storage portion for storing two-dimensional map data;
a parameter data extracting portion for extracting parameter data corresponding to the given part from the two-dimensional map data stored in the two-dimensional map data storage portion;
a parameter data analyzing portion for analyzing the parameter data extracted by the parameter data extracting portion to generate the model transforming data; and
a storage portion for storing the model transforming data generated by the parameter data analyzing portion.
As stated above, according to the first aspect, instead of the three-dimensional image data itself, the model transforming data for transforming a previously prepared three-dimensional map display model into a desired form is generated as data for obtaining a three-dimensional image of a given part on a map, and then the data for three-dimensional map display can be provided in an extremely compressed form as compared with conventional ones.
According to a second aspect which depends on the first aspect,
the model transforming data creating device further comprises a pattern model storage portion for storing pattern data defining sorts of parameters required when transforming the three-dimensional map display model for each pattern,
wherein the parameter data analyzing portion comprises:
a pattern data reading portion for reading the pattern data corresponding to the given part from the pattern model storage portion; and
a data converting portion for converting the parameter data extracted by the parameter data extracting portion into the model transforming data on the basis of the pattern data read out by the pattern data reading portion.
As stated above, according to the second aspect, the parameter data is converted into the model transforming data on the basis of the pattern data, and more detailed model transforming data can be created as compared with the case in which the model transforming data is created from only the parameter data.
According to a third aspect which depends on the second aspect,
the pattern data reading portion comprises a pattern determining portion for determining the pattern on the basis of the parameter data extracted by the parameter data extracting portion and reading out the pattern data corresponding to the determined pattern from the pattern model storage portion.
As stated above, according to the third aspect, the parameter data can be automatically read from the parameter data storage portion without requiring manual operation.
According to a fourth aspect which depends on the third aspect,
the pattern determining portion comprises:
a branching part road attribute deciding portion for deciding attributes of roads around a branching point on the basis of the parameter data extracted by the parameter data extracting portion; and
a branch type deciding portion for deciding the type of the branching on the basis of the road attributes decided by the branching part road attribute deciding portion to determine the pattern.
As stated above, according to the fourth aspect, the pattern is determined according to the road attributes at a branching point especially requiring three-dimensional display, which enables pattern discrimination more conforming with the real-world road configuration.
According to a fifth aspect which depends on the fourth aspect,
the parameter data analyzing portion further comprises:
a parameter data classifying portion for classifying the parameter data according to road function on the basis of the pattern determined by the pattern determining portion; and
a data integrating portion for integrating the parameter data classified by the parameter data classifying portion within each classified group, and
the data converting portion converts the parameter data integrated by the data integrating portion into the model transforming data.
As stated above, according to the fifth aspect, not the mere parameter data extracted from the two-dimensional map data but the integrated parameter data is converted into the model transforming data, so that a three-dimensional map display model with a less number of connected portions can be adopted to provide a beautiful three-dimensional image, and the finally obtained three-dimensional image can be simplified on the basis of the road function to provide navigation display easy to understand for the user.
According to a sixth aspect which depends on the fifth aspect,
the parameter data classifying portion comprises:
a link tracing portion for tracing a desired link on the basis of the two-dimensional parameter data extracted by the two-dimensional parameter data extracting portion and temporarily storing and holding data of the traced link; and
a link data classifying portion for classifying the link data stored and held in the link tracing portion on the basis of the pattern determined by the pattern determining portion.
As stated above, according to the sixth aspect, the amount of parameter data as the source data for classification can be reduced depending on the condition for tracing links, and then the classifying operation can be performed at high speed.
According to a seventh aspect which depends on the second aspect,
the pattern data reading portion reads the pattern data corresponding to a pattern indicated by an operator from the pattern data storage portion.
According to an eighth aspect which depends on the second aspect,
the data converting portion obtains values of part of the parameters defined by the pattern data read by the pattern data reading portion directly from the parameter data extracted by the parameter data extracting portion and obtains remaining parameter values by inference processing.
As stated above, according to the eighth aspect, parameters wanting when generating the model transforming data can be automatically obtained by inference.
According to a ninth aspect which depends on the second aspect,
the data converting portion obtains values of part of the parameters defined by the pattern data read by the pattern data reading portion directly from the parameter data extracted by the parameter data extracting portion and obtains remaining parameter values through an instruction from an operator.
According to a tenth aspect which depends on the first aspect,
the model transforming data creating device further comprises:
an image data generating portion for generating three-dimensional image data by applying the model transforming data generated by the parameter data analyzing portion to the corresponding three-dimensional map display model and transforming the three-dimensional map display model; and
a display portion for displaying the three-dimensional configuration of the given part on the basis of the three-dimensional image data generated by the image data generating portion.
As stated above, according to the tenth aspect, since the three-dimensional configuration obtained on the basis of the generated model transforming data is displayed in a real-time manner, it is easy to see whether desired model transforming data has been obtained.
According to an eleventh aspect which depends on the tenth aspect,
the model transforming data creating device further comprises a model transforming data correcting portion for correcting the model transforming data generated by the parameter data analyzing portion in response to an instruction from an operator.
As stated above, according to the eleventh aspect, the model transforming data can be corrected and the corrected three-dimensional configuration can be displayed, and thus the correcting operation can be achieved easily.
According to a twelfth aspect which depends on the first aspect,
the parameter data extracting portion extracts the parameter data of a part indicated by an operator from the two-dimensional map data.
According to a thirteenth aspect which depends on the first aspect,
the parameter data extracting portion extracts the parameter data of a part which conforms with a previously set condition from the two-dimensional map data.
As stated above, according to the thirteenth aspect, the part to be three-dimensionally displayed on a map can be automatically specified to extract parameters.
According to a fourteenth aspect, a device for creating three-dimensional polygon data used to display a three-dimensional configuration of a given part on a map comprises:
a two-dimensional map data storage portion for storing two-dimensional map data;
a parameter data extracting portion for extracting parameter data corresponding to the given part from the two-dimensional map data stored in the two-dimensional map data storage portion;
a parameter data analyzing portion for analyzing the parameter data extracted by the parameter data extracting portion to generate model transforming data;
a three-dimensional polygon data generating portion for generating the three-dimensional polygon data by applying the model transforming data generated by the parameter data analyzing portion to a corresponding three-dimensional map display model to transform the three-dimensional map display model; and
a three-dimensional polygon data storage portion for storing the three-dimensional polygon data generated by the three-dimensional polygon data generating portion.
As stated above, according to the fourteenth aspect, the three-dimensional polygon data is obtained by transforming a previously prepared three-dimensional map display model, so that the computation for generating the three-dimensional polygon data can be simplified.
According to a fifteenth aspect, a device for creating three-dimensional image data used to display a three-dimensional configuration of a given part on a map comprises:
a two-dimensional map data storage portion for storing two-dimensional map data;
a parameter data extracting portion for extracting parameter data corresponding to the given part from the two-dimensional map data stored in the two-dimensional map data storage portion;
a parameter data analyzing portion for analyzing the parameter data extracted by the parameter data extracting portion to generate model transforming data;
a three-dimensional polygon data generating portion for generating three-dimensional polygon data by applying the model transforming data generated by the parameter data analyzing portion to a corresponding three-dimensional map display model to transform the three-dimensional map display model;
a three-dimensional image data generating portion for generating the three-dimensional image data on the basis of the three-dimensional polygon data generated by the three-dimensional polygon data generating portion; and
a three-dimensional image data storage portion for storing the three-dimensional image data generated by the three-dimensional image data generating portion.
As stated above, according to the fifteenth aspect, the three-dimensional image data is generated from the three-dimensional polygon data obtained by transforming a previously prepared three-dimensional map display model, so that the computation for generating the three-dimensional image data can be simplified.
A sixteenth aspect is directed to a three-dimensional map display device for displaying a three-dimensional configuration of a given part on a map,
wherein the three-dimensional configuration of the given part on the map is classified in advance into a plurality of patterns and a standard three-dimensional map display model is prepared for each pattern, and the three-dimensional map display device comprises:
a two-dimensional map data storage portion for storing two-dimensional map data;
a parameter data extracting portion for extracting parameter data corresponding to the given part from the two-dimensional map data stored in the two-dimensional map data storage portion;
a parameter data analyzing portion for analyzing the parameter data extracted by the parameter data extracting portion to generate model transforming data used to transform the three-dimensional map display model;
an image data generating portion for generating three-dimensional image data by applying the model transforming data generated by the parameter data analyzing portion to the corresponding three-dimensional map display model to transform the three-dimensional map display model into a desired form; and
a display portion for displaying the three-dimensional configuration of the given part on the basis of the three-dimensional image data generated by the image data generating portion.
As stated above, according to the sixteenth aspect, the map configuration is classified into a plurality of patterns and a standard three-dimensional map display model prepared for each pattern is transformed to obtain a three-dimensional image, which enables three-dimensional display more fitted to the object of the navigation (that is to say, to enable clear understanding of the correspondence between real-world roads and navigated routes) as compared with the conventional system in which a three-dimensional image is obtained directly from two-dimensional map data with added width and height information. That is to say, according to the sixteenth aspect, the basic configuration of roads is previously prepared in the form of a three-dimensional map display model, and therefore the relation among roads, such as how roads are connected to one another or branched, is not largely changed even when the three-dimensional map display model is largely transformed. Accordingly, errors in some degrees existing on the two-dimensional map data are automatically corrected at the time when the pattern of the specified road part is determined, which reduces a possibility of displaying errors far apart from the original object of the navigation. Also, according to the sixteenth aspect, it is not necessary to perform all the steps for calculating and generating the three-dimensional image data, but it can be generated by just performing the calculation of transforming a previously defined three-dimensional map display model on the basis of the model transforming data, and the amount of calculation can be largely reduced as compared with conventional case. This enables high-speed picture drawing processing. Further, according to the sixteenth aspect, since the model transforming data is generated within the three-dimensional map display device, the map storage medium can be used to store the two-dimensional map data only, and the device can work with almost the same amount of previously stored map data as a conventional map display device displaying a two-dimensional map.
According to a seventeenth aspect which depends on the sixteenth aspect,
the three-dimensional map display device further comprises a pattern model storage portion for storing pattern data defining sorts of parameters required when transforming the three-dimensional map display model for each pattern, and
the parameter data analyzing portion comprises:
a pattern data reading portion for reading out the pattern data corresponding to the given part from the pattern model storage portion; and
a data converting portion for converting the parameter data extracted by the parameter data extracting portion into the model transforming data on the basis of the pattern data read by the pattern data reading portion.
As stated above, according to the seventeenth aspect, the parameter data is converted into the model transforming data on the basis of the pattern data, and more detailed model transforming data can thus be created as compared with a case in which the model transforming data is created from only the parameter data.
According to an eighteenth aspect which depends on the seventeenth aspect,
the pattern data reading portion comprises a pattern determining portion for determining the pattern on the basis of the parameter data extracted by the parameter data extracting portion and reading out the pattern data corresponding to the determined pattern from the pattern model storage portion.
As stated above, according to the eighteenth aspect, the parameter data can be automatically read out from the parameter data storage portion without through manual operation.
According to a nineteenth aspect which depends on the eighteenth aspect,
the pattern determining portion comprises:
a branching part road attribute deciding portion for deciding attributes of roads around a branching point on the basis of the parameter data extracted by the parameter data extracting portion; and
a branch type deciding portion for deciding the type of the branching on the basis of the road attributes decided by the branching part road attribute deciding portion to determine the pattern.
As stated above, according to the nineteenth aspect, the pattern is determined in accordance with road attributes at a branching point especially requiring three-dimensional display, so that the pattern can be determined in a manner more fitted to the real-world road configuration.
According to a twentieth aspect which depends on the nineteenth aspect,
the parameter data analyzing portion further comprises:
a parameter data classifying portion for classifying the parameter data according to road function on the basis of the pattern determined by the pattern determining portion; and
a data integrating portion for integrating the parameter data classified by the parameter data classifying portion within each classified group; and
the data converting portion converts the parameter data integrated by the data integrating portion into the model transforming data.
As stated above, according to the twentieth aspect, not the mere parameter data extracted from the two-dimensional map data but the integrated parameter data is converted into the model transforming data, so that a three-dimensional map display model with a less number of connected portions can be adopted to provide a beautiful three-dimensional image, and the finally obtained three-dimensional image can be simplified on the basis of road function to provide navigation display easy to understand for the user.
According to a twenty-first aspect which depends on the twentieth aspect,
the parameter data classifying portion comprises:
a link tracing portion for tracing a desired link on the basis of the two-dimensional parameter data extracted by the two-dimensional parameter data extracting portion and temporarily storing and holding data of the traced link; and
a link data classifying portion for classifying the link data stored and held in the link tracing portion on the basis of the pattern determined by the pattern determining portion.
As stated above, according to the twenty-first aspect, the amount of the parameter data as the source data for classification can be reduced depending on the condition used when tracing links, and the computation for classification can be performed at high speed.
According to a twenty-second aspect which depends on the seventeenth aspect,
the data converting portion obtains values of part of the parameters defined by the pattern data read by the pattern data reading portion directly from the parameter data extracted by the parameter data extracting portion and obtains remaining parameter values by inference.
As stated above, according to the twenty-second aspect, parameters wanting in generating the model transforming data can be automatically obtained by inference.
According to a twenty-third aspect which depends on the twenty-second aspect,
the three-dimensional map display device is installed in a car navigation device for navigating a vehicle on the map.
A twenty-fourth aspect is directed to a three-dimensional map display device for displaying a three-dimensional configuration of a given part on a map,
wherein the three-dimensional configuration of the given part on the map is classified in advance into a plurality of patterns and a standard three-dimensional map display model is prepared for each pattern, and the three-dimensional map display device comprises:
a model transforming data storage portion for storing model transforming data for transforming the three-dimensional map display model;
an image data generating portion for generating three-dimensional image data by reading out the model transforming data corresponding to the given part and applying the model transforming data to the corresponding three-dimensional map display model to transform the three-dimensional map display model into a desired form; and
a display portion for displaying the three-dimensional configuration of the given part on the basis of the three-dimensional image data generated by the image data generating portion.
As stated above, according to the twenty-fourth aspect, the map configuration is classified into a plurality of patterns and a standard three-dimensional map display model prepared for each pattern is transformed to obtain a three-dimensional image, which enables three-dimensional display more fitted to the object of the navigation (that is to say, to understand a correspondence between real-world roads and navigated routes in a clear manner) as compared with the conventional system in which a three-dimensional image is obtained directly from two-dimensional map data with added width and height information. That is to say, according to the twenty-fourth aspect, the basic configuration of roads is previously prepared as a three-dimensional map display model, and therefore the relation among roads, such as how roads are connected to one another or branched, is not largely changed even when the three-dimensional map display model is largely transformed. Accordingly, errors in some degrees existing on the two-dimensional map data are automatically corrected at the time when the pattern of the specified road part is determined, which reduces a probability of displaying errors far apart from the original object of the navigation. Also, according to the twenty-fourth aspect, it is not necessary to perform all the steps for calculating and generating the three-dimensional image data, but it can be generated by just performing the calculation of transforming a previously defined three-dimensional map display model on the basis of the model transforming data, and the amount of calculation can be largely reduced as compared with a conventional case. This enables high-speed picture drawing processing. Further, according to the twenty-fourth aspect, the device stores the model transforming data extremely compressed as compared with the three-dimensional polygon data and three-dimensional image data, so that the amount of previously stored map data (data required to display a three-dimensional map) can be considerably reduced, as compared with a conventional map display device displaying a three-dimensional map.
According to a twenty-fifth aspect which depends on the twenty-fourth aspect,
the three-dimensional map display device is installed in a car navigation device for navigating a vehicle on the map.
A twenty-sixth aspect is directed to a method for displaying a three-dimensional configuration of a given part on two-dimensional map data, the method comprising the steps of:
classifying in advance the three-dimensional configuration of the given part into a plurality of patterns and preparing in advance a standard three-dimensional map display model for each pattern;
extracting parameter data corresponding to the given part from the two-dimensional map data;
generating model transforming data from the extracted parameter data; and
applying the model transforming data to the corresponding three-dimensional map display model to transform the three-dimensional map display model into a desired form, thereby obtaining a three-dimensional image of the given part.
As stated above, according to the twenty-sixth aspect, the map configuration is classified into a plurality of patterns and a standard three-dimensional map display model prepared for each pattern is transformed to obtain a three-dimensional image, which enables three-dimensional display more fitted to the object of the navigation (that is to say, to understand a correspondence between real-world roads and navigated roads in a clear manner) as compared with the conventional system in which a three-dimensional image is obtained directly from two-dimensional map data with added width and height information. That is to say, according to the twenty-sixth aspect, the basic configuration of roads is previously prepared as a three-dimensional map display model and therefore the relation among roads, such as the configuration of connections and branches of roads, is not largely changed even when the three-dimensional map display model is largely transformed. Accordingly, errors in some degrees existing on the two-dimensional map data are automatically corrected at the time when the pattern of the specified road part is determined, which reduces a possibility of displaying errors far apart from the original object of the navigation. Also, according to the twenty-sixth aspect, it is not necessary to perform all the steps for calculating and generating the three-dimensional image data, but it can be generated by just performing the calculation of transforming a previously defined three-dimensional map display model on the basis of the model transforming data, and the amount of calculation can be largely reduced as compared with conventional devices. This enables high-speed picture drawing processing.
A twenty-seventh aspect is directed to a storage medium used in a three-dimensional map display device in which a three-dimensional configuration of a given part on two-dimensional map data is classified in advance into a plurality of patterns and a standard three-dimensional map display model is prepared in advance for each pattern, and the three-dimensional map display model is transformed into a desired form to generate and display three-dimensional image data of the given part,
wherein the storage medium contains model transforming data for transforming the three-dimensional map display model into the desired form in correspondence with each road part to be three-dimensionally displayed.
As stated above, according to the twenty-seventh aspect, data for three-dimensional map display can be stored in an extremely compressed form.

Storage medium for use with a three-dimensional map display device

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


The present invention relates to a vibration-damping device (10) which is provided with: a tubular first attachment member (11) joined to one of a vibration generating unit and a vibration receiving unit; a second attachment member (12) joined to the other thereof; an elastic body (13) which joins the first attachment member (11) to the second attachment member (12); and a partition member (16) which partitions a liquid chamber in the first attachment member (11) into a first liquid chamber (14) and a second liquid chamber (15), and in which at least one of the first liquid chamber (14) and the second liquid chamber (15) has the elastic body (13) as a portion of a wall surface thereof. A vortex chamber unit (30) through which the first liquid chamber (14) communicates with the second liquid chamber (15) is formed in the partition member (16).

A constitution disclosed in, for example, Patent Document 1 is known as such a type of vibration-damping device. Such a vibration-damping device includes a tubular first attachment member joined to one of a vibration generating unit and a vibration receiving unit, a second attachment member joined to the other of the vibration generating unit and the vibration receiving unit, an elastic body which joins the first attachment member to the second attachment member, and a partition member which partitions a liquid chamber in the first attachment member in which a liquid is sealed into a first liquid chamber and a second liquid chamber. The vibration-damping device further includes a first restriction passage and a second restriction passage through which the first and second liquid chambers communicate with each other, a cylinder chamber which is provided between the first liquid chamber and the second liquid chamber, and a plunger member which is arranged movably between an open position and a closed position in the cylinder chamber.
A plurality of types of vibrations with different frequencies such as, for example, idle vibrations and shake vibrations are input to the vibration-damping device. For this reason, resonance frequencies of the first restriction passage and the second restriction passage are set (tuned) to frequencies of the different types of vibrations in the vibration-damping device. The plunger member is moved between the open position and the closed position in accordance with frequencies of the input vibrations so that a restriction passage through which the liquid flows is switched between the first restriction passage and the second restriction passage.


A system has at least a first circuit portion and a second circuit portion. The first circuit portion is operated at normal AC frequency. The second circuit portion is operated in a back-up mode at low AC frequency, such that the second circuit portion can rapidly come-online but has limited temperature bias instability degradation. The second circuit portion can then be brought on-line and operated at the normal AC frequency. A system including first and second circuit portions and a control unit, as well as a computer program product, are also provided.

In server systems, there are backup chips (or in multi-core processors, backup cores) that are continuously powered on. These backup chips and cores are ready to start computation if the initial working chip or core, as the case may be, experiences errors due to hardware failure or single event upsets, and/or if there is a spike in workload. Hence, they cannot be powered off while not being used, as latency time to bring them up can be quite large (several million clock cycles) compared to the expected response time of a few clock cycles. Even though the backup chips are powered on, they are not operating, as this would result in a large amount of wasted power consumption. Furthermore, they are also experiencing temperatures typical of the entire system. Hence, these backup chips, cores, and/or circuits are degraded by NBTI and PBTI mechanisms since they are powered on at high temperature.
FIG. 1 shows a p-type MOSFET 1100 with a grounded gate and the left-hand drain-source terminal at voltage VDD, i.e., an NBTI stress condition. FIG. 2 shows an n-type MOSFET 1200 with gate at voltage VDD and the left-hand drain-source terminal grounded, i.e., a PBTI stress condition. NBTI leads to an increase in absolute value of PMOS threshold voltage (Vt) and PBTI leads to an increase in absolute value of NMOS threshold voltage (Vt). Increase in threshold-voltage is also referred to as degradation because performance of a MOSFET is reduced thereby.

Reducing performance degradation in backup semiconductor chips

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION


A storage assembly has a panel on a structure and a receptacle with a storage space defined within a body. The panel has an inner surface and an outer surface. A slot is formed through the panel. A tab is attached to and extends from the body of the receptacle and terminates at a free end. A first fastener part is positioned near the slot on the inner surface of the panel and a second fastener part is coupled to the free end of the tab. The tab is extended through the slot and the second fastener part is detachably connected to the first fastener part to attach the receptacle to the panel.

1. Field of the Disclosure
The present disclosure is generally directed to storage receptacles, and more particularly to storage receptacles that are attachable to and detachable from a panel on an article of manufacture such as a child seating device or car seat.
2. Description of Related Art
Child seating devices, such as car seats, booster seats, stroller seats, and infant carriers are well known in the art. To provide storage for these devices, portable storage receptacles, such as storage bags, cup holders, trays, or caddies, are often attached to a part of the child seating device. Typically, these storage receptacles are (i) made from a relatively hard yet inexpensive plastic material; and (ii) directly mounted on or to a base frame component of the child seating device or an existing console or arm rest on or near the child seat of the device.
Such storage receptacles, being typically made from a plastic material, can easily be cracked or broken during use, transport, or storage. As a result of how they are attached, such storage receptacles also often project outward from or near the child seating device, leaving them susceptible to damage or unintentional and undesirable removal or detachment. For example, some known storage receptacles have an L-shaped connector that can be placed over the arm rest of the child seating device to attach the storage receptacle to the device. This L-shaped connector, because it is exposed and somewhat bulky, can be bent, broken, or otherwise damaged during installation, use, or storage, rendering it unsuitable for future use. Likewise, this exposed connector can result in an occupant of the child seating device being able to remove the receptacle at inopportune times. By doing so, the occupant can spill or empty the contents of the storage receptacle, which can, depending on the receptacle contents, lead to a mess on or around the child seating device. Removal of the receptacle can also result in damage or destruction to the L-shaped connector, the receptacle, and/or the contents of the receptacle.


A wall-mounted radiator comprising a support (1) adapted to make it tilting with respect to a support wall and possibly comprising blocking means (2) of the radiator to maintain it in a proximal or distal position with respect to said support wall. The support may be adapted to be associated with the radiator (3) so as to allow to adjust the fastening point so as to facilitate the installation thereof. Moreover, the support (1) may comprise a removable part (11c) in order to further simplify the installation of the radiator.

Wall-mounted radiators are generally installed during the building step or when upgrading an environment and are not likely removed unless for their maintenance or for painting the walls on which they are installed.
Generally, these radiators have a vertical development and may comprise several modules associated in relation to the needs.
Two or more support brackets generally protrude from the wall, to which a radiator is bolted.
Removing radiators is not within everybody's reach due to the efforts required to unfasten them from the support brackets and due to the equipment required to disconnect the inflow and outflow manifolds of the vector fluid from the distribution installation.
For this reason, dusts and mites which are difficult to be removed accumulate on the rear surfaces of the radiators, i.e. those facing the walls. Hence, the air breathed in an environment in which the radiators are full of dust, is unhealthy.
Making the rear surfaces of the radiators smooth may be helpful, but the performance of the radiators decreases because the finnings in which the dusts and mites accumulate are required for heat exchange.
Installing traditional radiators is costly due to the same aforementioned problems, because it requires the intervention of two operators to install a radiator due to the precision required in nearing the radiator to the support brackets and due to the fact that while one of the two operators holds the radiator, the other one bolts it to the brackets.
Therefore, the technical problem is that of solving the difficulty in installing a radiator and subsequently removing the dusts which accumulate thereon over time.

Radiator fastening system for hinge support

I.R.C.A. S.P.A. INDUSTRIA RESISTENZE CORAZZATE E AFFINI


This invention provides for filtering instructions to obtain more precise event counts with a plurality of instructions having a counter enable bit, executing the instructions thereby causing a plurality of events, filtering the instructions, activating the counter enable bit if the instructions fall within the filter, which then determines whether an event counter coupled to the event is incremented.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to computer systems, and more particularly an apparatus, method and system to filter instructions to achieve more precise event counts.
2. Description of Related Art
Collecting performance data in an operating computer system is a frequent and extremely important task performed by hardware and software engineers. Hardware engineers need performance data to determine how computer hardware operates with operating systems and application programs. Specific designs of hardware structures, such as processor, memory and cache, can have drastically different, and sometimes unpredictable, utilizations for the same set of programs. Performance data can identify how efficiently software uses hardware, and can be helpful in designing improved systems.
It is a problem to accurately monitor the performance of hardware systems without disturbing the operating environment of the computer system, particularly if the performance data is collected over extended period of time such as days, or weeks. In some cases, performance monitoring systems are hand crafted. Costly hardware and software modifications may need to be implemented to ensure that operations of the system are not affected by the monitoring system.
Other profiling systems known in the art collect performance data relating to how frequently instructions are executed. Some prior art profiling systems require that source or object programs be modified to insert instructions which can collect the data when the programs are executing. Modifying the programs means that the programs need to be recompiled and/or relinked.
Additionally, prior art profiling systems generally only determine the frequency of execution of particular instructions, and not where time is spent overall in a program. In a pipelined multi-processor system, the number of cycles required to issue the various instructions is a significant indicator of the performance of the system.
Other known profiling systems can only generate profiles for instructions of an application program. This means that when the application program calls an operating system procedure, no performance data on actual instructions executed by the system procedure are collected. Some profiling systems may measure the amount of time it took to process the system call, and attempt to infer performance data by dividing the time for processing a system call by some xe2x80x9caveragexe2x80x9d execution time of instructions. However, nothing concrete is learned about the actual execution of instructions of system procedures.
One way that the performance of a computer system can be monitored is by using performance counters. The performance counters are able to xe2x80x9ccountxe2x80x9d occurrences of significant events in the system such as cache misses, instructions executed, cycle counts, and so forth. By checking the counters, the performance of the system can be deduced.
The counters could also be used to count the events to determine where time is spent overall in a program. It would be efficient to study the performance of the system if the event counters were on the processing chip itself and use software to extract the performance data from the event counters on the chip.
Thus, there is a need to study the performance of a system without modifying the existing system software. This is also a need for a more efficient method and system to study the performance of the system by applying an event counter onto the hardware itself. There is also a need for a more precise method and system to filter instructions to determine where time or resources are spent in a program rather than utilizing xe2x80x9caveragesxe2x80x9d of counters.
This invention provides for an apparatus, method, and system for filtering instructions to obtain more precise event counts.
A first aspect of this invention is a method whereby a counter enable bit is registered with a plurality of instructions, executing the instructions thereby causing a plurality of events, filtering the instructions, activating the counter enable bit if the instructions fall within the filter, which then determines whether the event counter coupled to the event is incremented.
A second aspect of this invention is an apparatus to obtain more precise event counts which has a plurality of instructions with corresponding counter enable bits, a filter means to filter the instructions, a plurality of events associated with the plurality of instructions, and each plurality of events having a corresponding event counter incremented in response to the corresponding counter enable bit.
A last aspect of this invention is a system for filtering instructions to obtain more precise event counts having a counter enable bit registered to each of a plurality of instructions, executing the instructions thereby creating a plurality of events having associated event counters, means to filter the instructions, activating the counter enable bit if the instruction is filtered, deactivating the counter enable bit if the instruction is not filtered, and incrementing the associated event counter based upon the counter enable bit.

Method for filtering instructions to get more precise event counts