An aqueous hot melted type adhesive base material containing 4-biphenylyl acetic acid (BPAA) is provided. The adhesive base material contains constant amounts of BPAA and has good drug releasability, so that bioavailability of the drug is enhanced. An analgesic and anti-inflammatory external plaster containing BPAA is also provided. The plaster is obtained by dissolving BPAA into an aqueous hot melted type adhesive base material comprising as essential components a styrene-isoprene-styrene block copolymer, an adhesive resin, an antioxidant, lanolin, and water.

BPAA is a pharmacologically active agent that is widely used in various external preparations, such as ointments, lotions, and aqueous plasters (cataplasm), for the purposes of relieving pain and alleviating inflammation in various disease conditions, including osteoarthritis, muscle- and fascia-related lumbago, periarthritis humeroscapularis, tendinitis, tenosynovitis, peritendinitis, external humeral epicondylitis (such as tennis elbow), sore muscle, and post-traumatic swelling and pain.
Among these external preparations, ointments and lotions have been considered less suitable for administration of BPAA continuously and in constant dosages and are also thought to be inconvenient since they may stick elsewhere other than the intended application site, and may sometimes soil the clothes at the time of administration. On the other hand, an aqueous plaster, though not associated with these problems, has a low adhesiveness and thus requires fixing means such as a strip of surgical tape so that it stays on flextion parts such as elbows and knees.
Non-aqueous adhesives are also known, including those that use natural or synthetic rubber as a base material and plasters that make use of adhesive base material using acrylate adhesive base. This type of plaster has a strong adhesiveness and is thought to overcome the drawbacks of aqueous plasters. Thus, much effort has been put into development of external preparations of various drugs using such plasters.
However, the low solubility of BPAA makes it difficult to dissolve BPAA directly in adhesive base material. BPAA is readily soluble in dimethylacetamide, less soluble in acetone, ethanol, glacial acetic acid, and ether, and hardly soluble in water. BPAA is also hardly soluble in polyols, glycols, and esters, which are commonly used as a solvent for drugs in preparation of external plasters.
For this reason, attempts have been made to use various solubilizers to dissolve BPAA For example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. Hei 4-321624 discloses a technique in which crotamiton is used as a solubilizer for BPAA. Nonetheless, the use of crotamiton as a solubilizer to help dissolve BPAA has achieved a solubility of at most about 7%. Also, the solubility achieved by the aforementioned aqueous plaster, which uses diisopropanolamine as the solubilizer, is not more than about 11%. Thus, it has been difficult heretofore, even with the help of a solubilizer; to obtain a hot melted type adhesive base material that contains BPAA in an amount sufficient to allow it to exert desired pharmacological effects.
In aqueous plasters containing BPAA, BPAA is solubilized by first dissolving diisopropanolamine in water so that it becomes ionized and then adding BPAA to the solution, thus facilitating dissolving of BPAA in the solution. Though possible, adoption of this technique in producing non-aqueous adhesives containing BPAA, for example, solvent adhesives, which require a drying process, or hot melted type adhesive base materials, which require exposure to high temperature, may result in evaporation of moisture and thus crystallization of BPAA in the adhesive base.
A surfactant may also be used as a component of the hot melted type adhesive base material in order to facilitate mixing of water. This approach, however, may cause skin irritation and thus is not favorable.
Aside from the above-described approaches, a water-absorbable or water-soluble high molecular compound is thought to enable the adhesive material to absorb water. One disadvantage of this approach is that moisture evaporates when the temperature is raised to melt the successive adhesive in continuous production. As a result, the high molecular compound crystallizes and forms unwanted particles in the adhesive base. Moreover, water is surrounded by the high molecular compound which is presented in the adhesive base material, and this prevents diffusion of BPAA in the adhesive preparation, and as a result, the efficiency of drug utilization is lowered
Accordingly, it is an objective of the present invention to provide an aqueous hot melted type adhesive base material containing BPAA that overcomes the above-identified problems. This adhesive base material contains constant amounts of BPAA and exhibits a good releasability of the drug from the adhesive, thereby enhancing bioavailability of the drug.

External plaster containing 4-biphenylacetic acid


The present disclosure relates to a method of cementing comprising: providing a cement composition comprising: water, a cement, and a non-aqueous liquid anti-shrinkage cement additive comprising calcined magnesium oxide and a non-aqueous liquid; introducing the cement composition into a subterranean formation; and allowing the cement composition to set in the subterranean formation. Non-aqueous liquid anti-shrinkage cement additives, cement compositions, and systems are also provided.

In well cementing, such as well construction and remedial cementing, cement compositions are commonly utilized. Cement compositions may be used in a variety of subterranean applications. For example, in subterranean well construction, a pipe string (e.g., casing, liners, expandable tubulars, etc.) may be run into a well bore and cemented in place. The process of cementing the pipe string in place is commonly referred to as "primary cementing." In a typical primary cementing method, a cement composition may be pumped into an annulus between the walls of the well bore and the exterior surface of the pipe string disposed therein. The cement composition may set in the annular space, thereby forming an annular sheath of hardened, substantially impermeable cement (i.e., a cement sheath) that may support and position the pipe string in the well bore and may bond the exterior surface of the pipe string to the subterranean formation. Among other things, the cement sheath surrounding the pipe string functions to prevent the migration of fluids in the annulus, as well as protecting the pipe string from corrosion. Cement compositions also may be used in remedial cementing methods, for example, to seal cracks or holes in pipe strings or cement sheaths, to seal highly permeable formation zones or fractures, to place a cement plug, and the like.
A particular challenge in well cementing is the development of satisfactory mechanical properties in a cement composition within a reasonable time period after placement in the subterranean formation. During the life of a well, the cement sheath undergoes numerous strains and stresses as a result of temperature effects, pressure effects, and impact effects. The ability to withstand these strains and stresses is directly related to the mechanical properties of the settable composition after setting. The mechanical properties are often characterized using parameters such as compressive strength, tensile strength, Young's Modulus, Poisson's Ratio, elasticity, and the like. These properties may be modified by the inclusion of additives.
Conventional cement compositions have the limitation of shrinking during cement hydration. The shrinkage of the cement composition may result in the stresses that lead to damage of the cement sheath. The cement sheath may de-bond from the casing or formation resulting in micro-annuli and compromised zonal isolation. In some instances, such as certain combinations of depth and formation properties, even when external fluid is available to fully hydrate the cement composition, the cement sheath may become stressed during hydration and may not be able to withstand subsequent well operations.
One additive used to enhance mechanical properties is an anti-shrink additive. The anti-shrink additive helps prevent premature failure of the cement sheath by inhibiting or preventing cracks from forming. In some instances, cracks and gaps formed may lead to the migration of gas and fluid within the well and loss of zonal isolation. There may be considerable expense involved to repair a well with a failed cement sheath. In some instances the damage may be extensive enough to where the well needs to be abandoned.


The control system of this floating wind turbine generator is a control system of a floating wind turbine generator in which the control system controls a pitch angle control section by a pitch angle instruction value calculated on the basis of signals detected by a second sensor detecting a relative angle between a nacelle and a tower and a third sensor detecting a yaw angle from a reference position of the tower so that a signal detected by a first sensor detecting wind direction deviation relative to a vertical direction of a rotation plane of wind turbine blades indicates an angle within a predetermined range from the vertical direction of the rotation plane of the wind turbine blades, and controls a yaw driving device by a yaw driving instruction value calculated on the basis of the signals detected by the second sensor and the third sensor.

Conventionally, there has been a proposed technique in which the direction of the rotation plane of wind turbine blades is controlled to be a direction of receiving wind in a wind turbine generator provided on the sea surface.
For example, Patent Literature 1 below proposes a technique for, in a floating wind turbine generator on the sea surface, detecting a yaw angle of a foundation and a relative angle (yaw angle) between a turbine and a tower, and for controlling a yaw driving device so as to reduce the yaw angle of the foundation.

Control system, method and program, and floating wind turbine generator provided therewith


Several promising techniques have been recently proposed to bind an image or video to its source acquisition device. These techniques have been intensively studied to address performance issues, but the computational efficiency aspect has not been given due consideration. Considering very large databases, the efficiency of the sensor fingerprint based source device identification technique is described. Novel schemes that improve search complexity as compared to a conventional approach are described.

§1.1 Field of the Invention
The present invention concerns sensor fingerprint based source device identification.
§1.2 Background Information
Promising research results have emerged in recent years in identifying the source acquisition device (e.g., camera, video camera, camera enabled smart phone, etc.) of multimedia objects. These efforts have primarily focused on the design of techniques that can identify and extract class properties (the type of color filter array, specifics of the demosaicing technique, type of lens, compression parameters) and individual properties (noise characteristics of the imaging sensor and traces of sensor dust of images and videos). (See, e.g., the articles: J. Lukas, J. Fridrich, and M. Goljan, "Digital Camera Identification From Sensor Pattern Noise," IEEE Transactions Information Forensics and Security 1(2), pp. 205-214, (2006); S. Bayram, H. T. Sencar, and N. Memon, "Classification Of Digital Camera Models Based On Demosaicing Artifacts," Digital Investigation: The International Journal of Digital Formesics & Incident Response, 5, pp. 49-59, (September 2008); K. S. Choi, E. Y. Lam, and K. K. Y. Wong, "Source Camera Identification Using Footprints From Lens Aberration," Digital Photography II. Proceedings of the SPIE 6069, pp. 172-179, (February 2006); A. Swaminathan, M. Wu, and K. J. R. Liu, "Non Intrusive Forensic Analysis Of Visual Sensors Using Output Images," IEEE Transactions of Information Forensics and Security 2, pp. 91-106, (March 20070), A. E. Dirik, H. T. Sencar, and N. Memon, "Digital Single Lens Reflex Camera Identification From Traces Of Sensor Dust," IEEE Transactions on TIFS, (2008); Z. J. Geradts, J. Bijhold, M. Kieft, K. Kurosawa, K. Kuroki, and N. Saitoh, "Methods For Identification Of Images Acquired With Digital Cameras," SPIE, Enabling Technologies for Law Enforcement and Security 4232, pp. 505-512, (February 2001); K. Kurosawa, K. Kuroki, and N. Saitoh, "CCD Fingerprint Method Identification Of A Video Camera From Videotaped Images," ICIP99, pp. 537-540, Kobe, Japan, (1999); H. T. Sencar and N. Memon, "Overview Of State-Of-The-Art In Digital Image Forensics", World Scientific Press, (2008), each of which is incorporated herein by reference.) Methods to identify the unique fingerprint of a source device (e.g., digital camera) which is present in every image taken with the camera are described in Lukas, Fridrich and Goljan (2006), much like how every gun leaves unique scratch marks on every bullet that passes through its barrel. Furthermore, this unique fingerprint is hard to remove or forge and survives a multitude of operations performed on the image such as blurring, scaling, compression, and even printing and scanning. It can be detected with very high accuracy with false positives and negatives below 10−6.
Although the existence of multimedia forensics techniques is essential in determining the origin, veracity and nature of media data, with the explosive growth in the amount of media data, a more fundamental question also arises as how to integrate these methods into investigative and forensic settings in a more practical manner. For example, when triaging information from distributed sources, analysts may need to verify whether there are additional copies of a received picture or video that might have been captured by the same camera or camcorder, or may need to find the owner of an anonymized multimedia object containing contraband content. More critically, the analysts may need to find such instances from local databases or open sources, like the Internet for example, very fast.
Consider the following very specific scenarios:                1) The XY Times, the leading newspaper of XY city, receives a set of pictures from a terrorist organization claiming responsibility of a bombing event. The pictures show the scene just before the bomb was triggered thereby establishing complicity of the organization in the crime. A few days later, based on an anonymous tip, law enforcement agents raid a suspected hideout. A detailed forensics search of the computer found in the hideout uncovers no evidence linking the suspects to the crime. However, they find a camera on location whose "fingerprint" obtained by forensics analysis matches the picture sent to XY Times thereby clearly establishing the link between the suspects and the crime;        2) As above, The XY times again gets the same set of pictures for the same event. However, there is no anonymous tip this time. Instead, law enforcement agents now extract an estimate of the camera "fingerprint" from the pictures received by XY Times. They then perform a search for images on the internet, including online photo repositories, which have the same "fingerprint". The search results in the discovery of a few hundred images that were potentially taken from the same camera as the pictures sent to XY Times. Manual inspection of this set leads to a group of pictures on a social media Website account apparently taken at a wedding celebration and depicting adults who fit a suspected profile. More detailed traditional investigation ultimately leads to the arrest of these adults and the breaking up of a major terrorist organization; and        3) A person is apprehended while suspiciously taking pictures of children near an elementary school. He claims to be an amateur photographer pursuing a hobby. The police extract a fingerprint of his camera and search a large database (of millions of images) of known child pornography images. A cluster of such recently reported images is found to match the suspect's camera fingerprint. The suspect is questioned, the child depicted in the pictures is rescued and the suspect is convicted after a short trial and put behind bars.
It should be noted that the problem in the first example above is an instance of the multimedia source "verification" problem, i.e., one is trying to match a given object to a given device. On the other hand, in the second and third scenarios, the task turns into a multimedia source "identification" problem where one has to do a comparison with all the entities in a large database to decide which objects in the database match the query device or the query object.
One solution to the identification problem would be to use multiple one to one comparisons using conventional source verification techniques. However this would require comparisons linear to (on the order of) the size of the database as shown in FIG. 1. For large databases, this is not feasible. Specifically, conventional source identification techniques can be viewed to include an offline and online step. During the offline step, fingerprints from (1) all the available images and videos and (2) the available source devices are extracted and saved. Typically, the computational requirements of this step are quite intensive; however, since it is done only once per media object, it is surmountable pending on the specifics of the decision scenario. This might include as few as a hundred objects, to large databases of millions of objects. During the online step, a matching decision is sought for the provided media object(s). The computational requirements of the online step will vary depending on the specifics of the decision scenario. For example, when a match between an image and a camera is in question, the computational load may be negligible. On the other hand, when for a given camera fingerprint, all the copies of images taken by the same camera are to be searched over a large database, then the computational load may be determined by the size of the database.
The conventional linear matching methodology, for a given sensor fingerprint associated with a device, operates on each media object individually by correlating the device fingerprint with the fingerprint extracted from each media object. Therefore, computational complexity may be linear in the size of the database. Hence for large databases, no matter how simple the matching operation is, the computational burden will be in the order of the size of database. Since video and image databases today often contain a very large number of objects, identifying source of a media object in a reasonable time duration is desirable. In this paradigm, the online step of the sensor fingerprint matching method has been a bottleneck for real-life retrieval scenarios, and has limited the benefit of the previously developed techniques.
FIG. 1 illustrates a linear search to identify a matching object for a given sensor fingerprint. In FIG. 1, fA shows the device fingerprint and pi (i=1, 2 . . . , N) shows the fingerprints of the media objects in the database to be searched.
Although the overwhelming amount of multimedia information is one of the most significant challenges faced by source-device identification techniques, computational scalability has not been a major concern for current the techniques. As a result, even if the above conventional techniques perform quite reliably, their success will be quite limited in applications that involve large databases simply due to the sheer volume of the data and impractical due to computational limitations and time constraints. It would be useful to have techniques that will make source identification, such as in the multimedia forensic analysis described in examples two and three above, practical and effective.

Sensor fingerprint matching in large image and video databases

Polytechnic Institute of New York University


A scanner system has a scanner and a personal computer (PC). On the scanner side, a fluorescent lamp for illumination is turned on, and step driving of a CCD is performed in accordance with the state of a resolution selection SW under the control of a RISC. Simultaneously, a sensing operation in the main scanning direction is performed. The sensed image signal is subjected to predetermined image processing and transferred to the PC side. Upon completion of scanning of one frame of a film, information (scanning parameters) associated with the resolution and sub-scanning direction is transferred to the PC side. The fluorescent lamp is turned off, and processing on the scanner side is ended. On the PC side for performing information processing, the correction amount for color misregistration of the sensed image signal is determined on the basis of the scanning parameters with reference to a table held in advance, in which optimum correction processing is defined, under the control of a CPU. The images of the respective color components are shifted in the sub-scanning direction on the basis of the correction amount, thereby performing color misregistration correction. The result is subjected to predetermined conversion and externally sent.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a scanner system and, more particularly, to a scanner system having a function of, using a computer, correcting any color misregistration generated in reading a color image by a scanner.
2. Description of the Related Art
Generally, a linear sensor is used as the image sensing device of a scanner for reading a color image.
In this case, two systems are available to convert the read image into a color image, e.g., to separate the image into three primary colors (R, G, and B), i.e., red, green, and blue components: a system which separates the light source into three primary colors and scans the image three times ("three-pass system") and a system which scans the original only once using a color CCD linear sensor which has a plurality of arrays of charge-coupled devices (CCDs) with three primary color filters formed thereon ("one-pass system").
In the RGB system, as the linear sensor used for the latter one-pass system, a "two-line linear sensor" having a total of two arrays of CCDs, i.e., an array of green CCDs and an array of red/blue CCDs, or a "three-line linear sensor" having three arrays of CCDs for red, green, and blue can be used.
FIGS. 14A to 14C are schematic views showing conventional linear sensors.
FIGS. 14A and 14B respectively show a two-line linear sensor and a three-line linear sensor.
R, G, and B in these drawings represent pixels of red, green, and blue CCDs, respectively, which are aligned in the main scanning direction (longitudinal direction) of the sensor.
The three-line linear sensor shown in FIG. 14B prepares data of one pixel of an image on the basis of outputs from the G, B, and R pixels aligned in the horizontal direction.
The two-line linear sensor shown in FIG. 14A prepares data of one pixel of an image on the basis of outputs from the G, B, and R pixels adjacent to each other. However, since the number of B or R pixels is 1/2 that of G pixels, B and R data are used twice to prepare image data.
When an original is sensed by a so-called "one-pass system" using a sensor having a plurality of lines in the main scanning direction, a color misregistration inevitably occurs because of its principle.
This is because the R, G, and B values constituting one pixel of the sensed image are obtained by sensing the original at positions slightly shifted from each other.
To cope with this problem, the conventional scanner temporarily stores a sensed image signal and reads the signal from a buffer incorporated in the scanner main body at a timing at which such color misregistration may not occur.
In some cases, the buffer is incorporated not in the scanner main body but in the linear sensor, and such a buffer incorporated type linear sensor as shown in FIG. 14C is used. With this arrangement, the entire scanner apparatus can be easily controlled.
As described above, the conventional scanner uses a buffer incorporated type linear sensor as shown in FIG. 14C to temporarily store a sensed image signal in the buffer and reads out the signal from the buffer at a predetermined timing, thereby preventing a color misregistration.
Such a buffer is sometimes separately arranged in the scanner main body, instead of in the linear sensor.
However, when the buffer is arranged in the scanner main body, the scanner becomes bulky, and the apparatus becomes expensive accordingly.
In case of the buffer incorporated type linear sensor as well, a sub-scanning direction in which color misregistration correction can be performed is limited to only one direction. When a sub-scanning operation is performed in the opposite direction, the color misregistration undesirably increases. Therefore, a bidirectional sub-scanning operation cannot be performed though it is convenient in practice.
When an original is to be read with various resolutions, the degree of color misregistration changes depending on the read resolution. When a buffer is used to shift the timing of outputting the image signal, the color misregistration undesirably increases.

Scanner system having color misregistration correction function


A valve actuator comprising a lower housing comprising a mounting spool that is operable to couple to a valve body. A rotating sleeve is disposed within the lower housing and coupled to a stem connector. A fixed sleeve in disposed within the lower housing and includes a first slot disposed therethrough. A second slot is disposed in the rotating sleeve, wherein at least one of the slots is a helical slot. An axle engages both the first slot and the second slot. A shaft is coupled to the axle and extends through a connector flange that is coupled to an upper end of the lower housing. A piston is coupled to the shaft and movably disposed within an upper housing that is coupled to the connector flange. Axial movement of the piston within the upper housing will result in rotational movement of the rotating sleeve.

This invention relates to a system of a hydraulic actuator for operating a valve between open and closed positions and the control system used to regulate the operation of the actuator. This system is particularly suited for operation of ball valves used in the oil and gas industry. These ball valves are typically used in gas pipelines to control the flow of gas through the pipeline. The actuator of the present invention uses gas pressure from the pipeline to power the actuator. In the event gas pressure from the pipeline is unavailable or inaccessible, a pair of manual hand pumps are incorporated to allow operation of the actuator and valve.
Prior actuators utilizing the gas pressure of the pipeline as a power source typically have a double acting piston upon which the gas acts to drive the actuator and hence the valve to be opened or closed. These actuators have vented the gas pressure from one side of the double acting piston as gas pressure is applied to the other side of the piston. This venting is necessary to ensure that equal pressure is not acting on both sides of the piston simultaneously. In this event, the force acting on both sides of the piston would balance and the actuator would fail to operate or be "pressure locked" as commonly referred to in the industry.
As a result of the need to vent each side of the actuator piston to ensure proper operation, the gas pressure is usually vented to atmosphere. This gas is not a pure gas but in fact has hydrocarbon liquids entrained in the gas, known as condensate in the industry. When this venting to atmosphere occurs, the hydrocarbon liquid condensate condenses and becomes a sticky, unsightly oily residue on the ground adjacent the valve and actuator. In recent years this venting to the atmosphere of the gas has raised environmental concerns due to possible contamination of the ground and groundwater by this oily residue.
Another concern with prior valve, actuator and control system assemblies has been the interface and operation of the manual hand pumps that are required to operate the actuator and valve when gas pressure from the pipeline is not available. This may occur during new installations when the pipeline has not been filled with gas yet and opening or closing of the valve is needed. Other times when maintenance is to be performed on the valve or actuator, the pipeline must be bled of gas pressure as a safety precaution. When it is desired to operate the valve prior to subsequent pressurization of the pipeline, the ability to operate the valve and actuator manually is required. Prior valve, actuator and control system assemblies have had problems in their design and operation that allowed possible scenarios in which pressurization of the pipeline and thus the actuator, could result in inadvertent operation of the actuator while manual operation of the actuator was occurring and possible injury to an operator. It is therefore desirable to have a valve, actuator and control system assembly that allows minimizing the size of the actuator and operation of the control system in a manual mode that automatically prevents accidental operation by pipeline pressure. The valve, actuator and control system of the present invention offers such novel features.

Valve, actuator and control system therefor


A clutch assembly includes an outer ring having an inner peripheral surface and an inner ring seated within the outer ring and having an outer peripheral surface. A plurality of rollers is seated between the inner and outer rings for selectively binding between the inner and outer peripheral surfaces to prevent rotation of the inner disc relative to the outer disc. At least one of the inner and outer disc includes an inner sleeve mechanically coupled to an outer jacket with an interference fit such that the inner sleeve is in compression and the outer jacket is in tension whereby the tensile hoop stress is reduced between the inner and outer rings upon the binding of the rollers between the surfaces.

The invention relates to a clutch assembly. More particularly, the invention relates to a clutch assembly having a multi-piece inner or outer clutch ring.
One-way or bi-directional roller type clutches typically include a cylindrical inner ring seated within a larger cylindrical outer ring. The outer peripheral surface of the inner ring commonly includes cam surfaces wherein a plurality of rollers is seated along the cam surfaces between the outer peripheral surface of the inner ring and the inner peripheral surface of the outer ring. These clutches may also include biasing springs for biasing the roller along the cam surfaces. When the clutch is unlocked, it allows rotation of the inner ring relative to the outer ring. Conversely, when the clutch is locked, it prevents rotation of the inner ring relative to the outer ring by the binding action of the rollers moved along the cam surfaces between the inner and outer rings.
When the clutch is locked by the rotation and torquing action of the inner ring with respect to the outer ring, the outward force of the rollers puts the outer ring into tension. The tensile hoop stress on the outer ring is at a maximum its inner peripheral surface and decreases towards the outer peripheral surface. The clutch torque limit is typically due to the limit of hertz stresses and hoop stress between the rings. Typically, the hertz stress is highest between the roller or spragues and the race or cam surfaces. This torque limit, or capacity, is a function of race diameter, roller diameter, roller length, number of rollers, material selection, heat treatment, and other factors. Further, the failure mode for excessive hoop stress is typically in the outer clutch ring where there is also tensile hoop stress. It is less common, but still possible, to have compression hoop stress failures in the inner clutch ring or shaft. The hoop strength of a clutch is also typically a function of inner and outer ring diameter, thickness, material selection, heat treatment, and other factors.
Prior art one way and bi-directional roller clutches, sprague clutches, strut clutches, and the like, are made of isotropic material and each of the inner and outer rings is made as a single part.
It is desirable to provide inner and outer clutch rings with higher hoop strengths, such that the clutch capacity will be less limited by the hoop strength of the rings.
According to one aspect of the invention, a clutch assembly includes an outer ring having an inner peripheral surface. An inner ring is seated within the outer ring and has an outer peripheral surface. A plurality of rollers is seated between the inner and outer peripheral surfaces for selectively binding the inner and outer rings and preventing relative movement between the inner and outer rings. At least one of the inner and outer rings includes an inner sleeve mechanically coupled to an outer jacket with an interference fit such that the inner sleeve is in compression and the outer jacket is in tension, whereby the tensile hoop stress is reduced between the inner and outer rings upon the binding of the rollers between the inner and outer peripheral surfaces.

Clutch assembly having a multi-piece clutch ring


A bitmask array is implemented as a two dimensional bit array where each bit represents an allocated/free cell of the heap. Groups of bits of the bitmask array are assigned to implement commonly sized memory cell allocation requests. The heap manager keeps track of allocations by keeping separate lists of which groups are being used to implement commonly sized memory cell allocations requests by maintaining linked lists according to the number of cells allocated per request. Each list contains a list of the bit groups that have been used to provide allocations for particularly sized requests. By maintaining lists based on allocation size, the heap manager is able to cause new allocation requests to be matched up with previously retired allocations of the same size. Memory may be dynamically allocated between lists of differently sized memory requests.

1. Field
This application relates to network elements and, more particularly, to a method for highly efficient heap management.
2. Description of the Related Art
Data communication networks may include various switches, nodes, routers, and other devices coupled to and configured to pass data to one another. These devices will be referred to herein as "network elements". Data is communicated through the data communication network by passing protocol data units, such as frames, packets, cells, or segments, between the network elements by utilizing one or more communication links. A particular protocol data unit may be handled by multiple network elements and cross multiple communication links as it travels between its source and its destination over the network.
Network elements are designed to handle packets of data efficiently to minimize the amount of delay associated with transmission of the data on the network. Conventionally, this is implemented by using hardware in a data plane of the network element to forward packets of data, while using software in a control plane of the network element to configure the network element to cooperate with other network elements on the network. For example, a network element may include a routing process, which runs in the control plane, that enables the network element to have a synchronized view of the network topology so that the network element is able to forward packets of data across the network toward its intended destination. Multiple processes may be running in the control plane to enable the network element to interact with other network elements on the network and forward data packets on the network.
The applications running in the control plane make decisions about how particular types of traffic should be handled by the network element to allow packets of data to be properly forwarded on the network. As these decisions are made, the control plane programs the hardware in the dataplane to enable the dataplane to be adjusted to properly handle traffic as it is received. The data plane includes ASICs, FPGAs, and other hardware elements designed to receive packets of data, perform lookup operations on specified fields of packet headers, and make forwarding decisions as to how the packet should be transmitted on the network. Lookup operations are typically implemented using tables and registers containing entries populated by the control plane.
Both the control plane and the data plane use memory to store tables and other values in connection with implementing forwarding decisions. To manage the memory, a heap manager is required which keeps track of which memory addresses are currently in use and which are available.
A heap is a pre-allocated contiguous chunk of memory that is used by application tables to dynamically allocate and free data within the course of their runtime operations. The heap is divided into basic units of usage, which are referred to herein as "memory cells" or "cells" for short. A cell can be configured to have a size that is 1× or multiple of the size of the underlying physical memory location. For example, assume that the underlying memory has a memory cell size of 4 bytes. Memory would then be allocated to include 4 bytes, 8 bytes, 12 bytes, or another number of contiguous 4 byte cells. Typically, the cell size is selected such that it optimizes and makes efficient use of the underlying physical memory.
The heap labels its constituent cells by a zero-based identifier called a Cell Index. A data structure keeps track of free cells, and is maintained by the heap manager. When an application requires data storage in its course of execution, it dynamically requests one or more cell indexes from the heap manager. The heap manager uses the data structure to find one or more contiguous open cells and returns a single cell index to the application. If the application requested one cell, then the heap manager returns a single index. If, on the other hand, the application requests more than one cell, then the heap manager tries to find the requested number of contiguous cell indexes to enable a contiguous block of memory to be allocated to the application. Once the heap manager finds a block of memory that is the correct size, it will return the cell index of the first cell to the application. The application will write its data to the memory starting at the starting index and the heap manager will update the cell index data structure to indicate that the associated cells have been allocated.
The data structure that is used to store the cell indexes, and keep track of free and occupied cells, represents overhead. For example, current solutions have an overhead, on average, anywhere from 8 to 28 bytes per memory allocation. Since each memory allocation results in allocation of one or more cells, if all memory allocations are a single cell, then the overhead is huge.
Since memory ranges of cells may be allocated, and then subsequently released, the memory tends to become fragmented meaning that allocated cells are interspersed with unallocated cells. For example, if an application requests and is allocated two cells, and subsequently releases the two cells, those two available cells may not be contiguous with another available cell. Hence, the two cells would not be available to be allocated in response to a request by another application for an allocation of four cells. Fragmentation thus can make memory regions effectively unavailable for use in fulfilling subsequent requests, even though technically the cells are not in use and hence should be available. Defragmentation is very difficult, since moving memory allocations involves reallocating memory locations to the applications.
A heap manager thus aims to minimize memory footprint required per cell index data structure (minimize overhead), to minimize fragmentation, and to minimize the search time to allocate or free cells. This last aim is associated with performance—it is desirable to use a heap management scheme that is able to efficiently find the next free index when a memory allocation is received so that the heap manager is not a bottleneck in memory performance.
Unfortunately, existing heap managers fall short in one or more of these categories. For example, many current solutions use extensive overhead to try to optimize placement of allocations within existing memory allocations to minimize fragmentation of the heap. Other solutions use a simple linked list keep track of open memory cells, which allows for reduced overhead but can cause extensive fragmentation. Accordingly, it would be advantageous to provide a highly efficient heap management scheme.


A frozen dumpling is obtained by applying to a dumpling, a first layer of a batter, and a second layer of water or a seasoning solution, wherein the first layer is present in an amount of 5 to 30% by weight relative to the dumpling, and the second layer is present in an amount of 20 to 100% by weight relative to the dumpling, and then freezing the dumpling. Tray-packed frozen dumplings are obtained by placing the dumplings on a tray, and contacting the dumplings with a first layer of batter, and a second layer of water or a seasoning solution, and freezing the dumplings, wherein the first layer is present in an amount of 5 to 30% by weight relative to the dumpling, and the second layer is present in an amount of 20 to 100% by weight relative to the dumpling.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to frozen dumplings which are obtained by adding water or seasoning solution to the dumplings prior to freezing. As a result, perfectly prepared, succulent, supple-skinned dumplings can be obtained during cooking without having to add a specific amount water.
2. Brief Description of the Related Art
Dumplings are commonly cooked by placing raw, steamed, or frozen dumplings in an iron frying pan which has been coated with oil, adding a certain amount of water, covering the pan, and allowing them to cook.
Although the right degree of browning can be achieved using the above method, there is a risk of the water flying out of the pan when the water is added. Furthermore, the skillful cooking of dumplings requires great practice, and can also be tedious when having to repeatedly add water to a hot frying pan, and therefore repeatedly removing and replacing the lid. Therefore, a method is desirable which allows for an even, easy cooking and freezing process for dumplings while not effecting the flavor or appearance.


According to example configurations herein, while operating a power supply in a discontinuous power supply mode, a controller initiates activation of a first switch of the power supply to increase a magnitude of current flowing through an inductor. The flow of current through the inductor produces an output voltage for powering a load. The controller estimates a time duration in which to activate a second switch of the power supply to reduce the current flowing through the inductor. The controller uses the estimated time duration as a parameter for controlling the second switch in the power supply. For example, upon or after deactivating the first switch, the controller initiates activation of the second switch for the estimated time duration. Deactivation of the second switch based on the estimated time duration reduces or eliminates a need to employ complex circuitry to physically measure a magnitude of current through the inductor.

Conventional buck power supply systems sometimes use an analog comparator circuit to physically measure when the current in an inductor goes to zero so that a respective synchronous rectifier field effect transistor (e.g., low side switch connecting the inductor to ground) can be turned off. Turning off the synchronous switch at or around a time of measuring zero current in the inductor reduces and/or eliminates negative current in the inductor.
One way to measure current through the inductor is to physically measure a voltage indicative of a magnitude of current through the inductor via a comparator circuit. Since a magnitude of such a voltage sensed by the comparator can be quite small (e.g., such as in the millivolt range), a respective comparator in the conventional buck power supply typically has to be very precise and accurate.
In certain cases, the conventional comparator circuit for detecting a magnitude of current through the inductor must be co-located with a corresponding switch driver circuit to sense the voltage across the synchronous switch. When a switch driver and respective controller are separated from each other, the switch driver must transmit a communication signal back to the controller to notify the controller when the inductor current is negative and/or a time of turning off a synchronous rectifier switch. Based on receipt of the communication signal from the switch driver, the controller is able to switch between so-called discontinuous and continuous control mode operations.

Power supply switching and discontinuous power supply mode


An article and a method for making shaped cooling holes in an article are provided. The method includes the steps of providing a metal alloy powder; forming an initial layer with the metal alloy powder, the initial layer having a preselected thickness and a preselected shape, the preselected shape including at least one aperture; sequentially forming an additional layer over the initial layer with the metal alloy powder, the additional layer having a second preselected thickness and a second preselected shape, the second preselected shape including at least one aperture corresponding to the at least one aperture in the initial layer; and joining the additional layer to the initial layer, forming a structure having a predetermined thickness, a predetermined shape, and at least one aperture having a predetermined profile. The structure is attached to a substrate to make the article.

Turbine systems are continuously being modified to increase efficiency and decrease cost. One method for increasing the efficiency of a turbine system includes increasing the operating temperature of the turbine system. To increase the temperature, the turbine system must be constructed of materials which can withstand such temperatures during continued use.
In addition to modifying component materials and coatings, one common method of increasing temperature capability of a turbine component includes the use of complex cooling channels. The complex cooling channels are often formed in metals and alloys used in high temperature regions of gas turbines. One current method of forming the complex cooling channels includes costly drilling, such as with a laser or waterjet. Another method of forming the cooling channels includes costly electrical discharge machining.
However, the complex cooling channels can be difficult to form using drilling or electrical discharge machining resulting in increased scrap, which aids in driving up costs. In particular, it is difficult to form shaped holes with the current methods. Furthermore, it is increasingly difficult to form small shaped holes with either drilling or electrical discharge machining.
An article and method with improvements in the process and/or the properties of the components formed would be desirable in the art.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Article and method for making an article


This invention relates to a method for inhibiting viral and retroviral infections via the use of various compounds, including antioxidants, and compounds corresponding to the formula ##STR1## wherein R in each occurrence thereof independently represents lower alkyl of from one to four carbon atoms, inclusive, and wherein R.sub.1 represents methyl and R.sub.2 represents methyl or ethyl. This invention further discloses methods for inhibiting viral and retroviral infections using compounds including bis(3,5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxyphenyl) acetone mercaptole, bis(3,5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxyphenyl) butanone mercaptole, bis(3-tert-butyl-4-hydroxy-5-isopropylphenyl) acetone mercaptole, bis(3-tert-butyl-4-hydroxy-5-methylphenyl) acetone mercaptole, 4,4'-thiobis(6-tert-butyl-o-cresol), 1,3,5-trimethyl-2,4,6-tris(3,5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxybenzyl) benzene, 4,4'-methylenebis(2,6-di-tert-butylphenol), 2,6-di-tert-butyl-.alpha.-dimethylamino-p-cresol, and 4,4'-methylenebis(2,6-di-tert-butylphenol).

There are urgent and compelling reasons for the development of more efficacious and safer treatments of viral and retroviral infections. It is estimated that at least one and a half million people in the United States alone have been infected with the human immunodeficiency (HIV) or AIDS virus. HIV causes a decay of a major arm of the immune system, the immune helper cells (T4 helper or CD4.sup.+ helper cells). This decay leads to a wide spectrum of diseases, generally called HIV disease, of which AIDS is the most serious and devastating form. It is anticipated that over one third of the budget for medical care in the U.S. will be consumed on HIV disease. There is an escalating incidence of other viral diseases as well. For example, cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection is rapidly increasing in the teenage population of the United States.
In recent years, many investigators have proposed novel treatments for combating insidious forms of disease, many involving viruses or retroviruses as the causative agents. Due to the many differences that separate these pathogens--including, for example, their structure, their method of replication and their susceptibility to or resistance to various treatment modalities--one might not expect a single method of inhibiting the development of viral and retroviral infections to be feasible. Nevertheless, such a methodology is now available, due to the unanticipated efficacy of known and novel compounds in affecting membrane fluidity, among other things.
In my practice and in my investigations, I nave noted that certain viruses and retroviruses including, for example, cytomegalovirus (CMV), herpes simplex virus, herpes zoster virus, Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), Newcastle Disease virus, Semliki Forest virus, influenza viruses, pseudorabies virus, and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), are of the lipid membrane variety. I have also observed that certain ubiquitous preservatives, namely, butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) and butylated hydroxytolulene (BHT), were reported in various sources as possessing some efficacy in treating various viral infections. (See Hendler, S., "The Complete Guide to Anti-Aging Nutrients," Simon and Schuster, New York, 1984.) For example, Cupp, et al., in Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy 8: 698-706 (1975) reported that the lipid-containing bacteriophage PM2 could be inactivated by BHT. Similarly, Brugh reported that BHT was effective in protecting chickens exposed to Newcastle Disease virus, in Science 197: 1291-1292 (1977).
In addition, it has been theorized that free oxygen radicals may be involved in the pathogenesis of certain viral infections (see Oda, et al., Science 244: 974-976 (1989), and that antioxidants may have an impact upon viral or retroviral infections (see Hendler, S., "The Oxygen Breakthrough," William Morrow and Company, Inc., New York, 1989). These observations led me to investigate whether there might be substances possessing the ability to fluidize viral membranes, or otherwise affect their structures, in ways that make them less capable of infecting cells. The invention disclosed herein is not limited to or by a particular theory of operation, however.
Therefore, in response to this pervasive need for safer and more efficacious treatments of viral and retroviral infections, the present invention relates to a method for inhibiting such infections via use of known compounds with unexpected efficacy in combating viral and retroviral infections. The present invention also suggests the use of novel compounds to inhibit these infections, as well as methods for their use in living organisms.

Method for inhibiting viral and retroviral infections


Devices, apparatus, systems and methods of providing therapy and exercise to the leg, ankle, and foot of a patient/occupant preferably laying down on a bed. The device can include a clamp that attaches about a footboard/headboard of a bed, with an elongated member extending out from the clamp. Pivotally attached to the end of the member can be a backward L-shaped bar, and a foot pad can be pivotally attached to the lower horizontal leg of the L-shaped bar. Springs can pull the top of the L-shaped bar toward the clamp. The user can push their foot and pivot the footpad so that the springably biased pivotally attached L-shaped bar constantly pushes back against the foot. The ankle can be rotated and the leg extended and the foot moved for therapy and exercise. An additional spring can hold the foot pad in a pivoted position so that an ankle can be further exercised.

Over the years, accidents and conditions such as arthritis have resulted in muscle, tendon and nerve damage to one's feet and ankles. Ankle type fractures have been treated by immobilizing the body part in a cast and the like, where removal after many weeks or months can result in other serious complications. For example, an immobilized patient can experience a loss of muscle tone that can include muscle atrophy as well as the threat of blood clots by constant immobilization. The sixty degrees of articulation that is required in one's ankle can be seriously effected by such immobilization. Thus, there is a need to provide therapy and exercise treatment to the body parts to allow for enhancing blood flow by moving the body parts so that the muscles, tendons and nerves properly heal.
Various types of devices have been proposed over the years for providing treatment to the lower extremities of the body. Some of these devices have required the body parts such as the lower legs and/or feet to be securely strapped in place. See for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,509,793 to Thompson; 4,474,176 to Farris et al.; 6,206,807 to Cowan et al.; 6,709,369 to Jacobs; and U.S. Patent Application Publication 2006/0251067 to Terry. However, these devices are both cumbersome to use and require extra time to attach and remove from the patient that is not desirable for long term use.
Other devices have limited exercise and therapy capability since they fail to treat and articulate one's ankle. See for example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,887,180 to Berman.
Still other devices have been proposed that are complex, expensive, not easy to assemble and disassemble and not practical for use outside of a hospital, and cannot be easily used by most patients without a doctors prescription and/or a therapist to use. See for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,340,666 to Johanson; 4,637,379 to Saringer; 6,270,445 to Dean, Jr. et al.; and U.S. Patent Application publication 2006/0064044 to Schmehl.
Many devices require the patient be in a sitting or prone position that can be both uncomfortable and also require the patient to control the device with one's hand which can require the patient to be in an uncomfortable position for long periods of time. See for example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,872,186 to Branch et al. as well as U.S. Pat. No. 6,206,807 to Cowans et al. Additionally, just sitting in a seated position does not allow for the legs to receive any therapy and exercise which is also not desirable, which can be the result of other devices such as U.S. Pat. No. 7,008,357 to Winkler.
Thus, the need exists for solutions to the above problems with the prior art.


In a semiconductor memory device including memory cells respective having a ferroelectric capacitor, and are provided at intersection portions of sets of a plurality of word lines and plate lines which is adjacent thereto, with bit lines, clamp circuits are respectively connected between the bit lines and nodes being supplied with reference potentials. Herewith, electric charges supplied from the ferroelectric capacitors to the bit lines are extracted by the clamp circuits, and capacities of the bit lines are increased artificially. Consequently, during a data read operation, an amount of electric potential change of the bit lines according to stored data in the ferroelectric capacitors is improved, and it becomes possible to obtain a large potential difference between the bit lines.

In recent years, according to a popularization of portable devices, in stead of volatile memories such as a DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory), an SRAM (Static Random Access Memory), in which data stored in a memory are disappeared unless an electric power is continued to be supplied, a nonvolatile memory in which stored data can be kept without supplying an electric power attracts an attention. As the nonvolatile memory, an EPROM (Erasable and Programmable Read Only Memory), a flash memory, and so on, are already used widely, but they both are time-consuming in data writing, and therefore, the use and application thereof are limited to be used as memories capable for reading/writing of data.
On the other hand, a ferroelectric memory in which a ferroelectric is used for a memory cell, can read and write a data at a speed equivalent to a conventional SRAM, and has nonvolatilily of a stored data. The memory cell of the ferroelectric memory. has a similar configuration with the DRAM, and the ferroelectric (ferroelectric capacitor) is used for a capacitor portion to hold the data. Concretely speaking, one electrode of the ferroelectric capacitor is connected to a bit line via a MOS transistor of which gate is connected to a word line, and the other electrode is connected to a plate line.
FIG. 17 is a view showing a hysteresis characteristic of the ferroelectric capacitor. A horizontal axis represents a voltage applied to the ferroelectric capacitor (hereinafter, referred to just as an "applied voltage"), and when an electrode potential at a plate line side is higher than the electrode potential at a bit line side, it is regarded as positive (it is the same as in the following). Besides, a vertical axis represents a polarization charge amount, and a difference between a start point and an end point when it is shifted on a hysteresis curve in accordance with a change of the applied voltage, becomes to be an electric charge amount supplied from the ferroelectric capacitor.
In FIG. 17, when the applied voltage changes from 0 (zero) V to +VDD (power supply voltage) to 0 (zero) V to −VDD, and to 0 (zero) V, the polarization charge shifts from a point P1 to a point P2 to a point P3 to a point P4, and to a point P1. As shown in FIG. 17, on the hysteresis curve, there are two stable points P1 and P3, which have remanent polarizations and have different polarization directions, even when the applied voltage is 0 (zero) V. Data of "1" and "0 (zero)" are respectively corresponded to these points P1 and P3, and thereby, the ferroelectric memory can store the data, and a nonvolatile of the stored data becomes possible.
The ferroelectric memory applies a predetermined voltage to the ferroelectric capacitor based on a characteristic of the ferroelectric shown in FIG. 17, and performs a read/write of data from/to a memory cell.
As for the data write to the memory cell, when the "1" data is to be written, the voltage of −VDD is applied to the ferroelectric capacitor, for example, by turning the electric potential of the bit line to +VDD, and the electric potential of the plate line to 0 (zero) V. Besides, when the "0" (zero) data is to be written, the voltage of +VDD is applied to the ferroelectric capacitor, for example, by turning the electric potential of the bit line to 0 (zero) V, and the electric potential of the plate line to +VDD.
When a stored (written) data is read out of the memory cell, there are various methods to apply a voltage to the ferroelectric capacitor. At present, as for the read of a data out of the memory cell, a method is used in general, in which a voltage is applied to the ferroelectric capacitor toward a direction from the plate line side to the bit line side by, for example, turning the bit line to 0 (zero) V, and thereafter, turning it to a high impedance (floating) state, and turning the electric potential of the plate line to +VDD.
As described above, the data read out of the memory cell appears on the bit line as an electric potential at a certain level, and amplified by a sense amplifier, and so on, to be outputted. As for the electric potential appeared on the bit line in accordance with the read data, an explanation will be given by using FIG. 18. In FIG. 18, a horizontal axis represents a voltage applied to the ferroelectric capacitor, and a vertical axis represents a polarization charge amount.
When the bit line is turned to the high impedance state and the electric potential of the plate line is turned to +VDD, a potential difference between the electric potential of the plate line and the electric potential of the bit line is applied to the ferroelectric capacitor. Herewith, the respective data points shift toward the direction in which the applied voltage value is increasing (in the right direction in FIG. 18) on the hysteresis curve as shown by arrows in FIG. 18, and they stop at the positions corresponding to the voltage value finally applied to the ferroelectric capacitor. The difference between the polarization charge amount at the stopped position and the polarization charge amount before the voltage is applied, is the electric charge amount supplied (flow in) from the ferroelectric capacitor (memory cell) in the read operation.
The electric potential appeared on the bit line during the read operation can be obtained as a result of dividing the electric charge supplied from the ferroelectric capacitor in accordance with a ratio between a capacity of the bit line and the capacity of the ferroelectric capacitor. As it is obvious from FIG. 18, the electric charge amount supplied from the ferroelectric capacitor of the "1" data is larger and the electric potential change of the bit line becomes large.
Besides, in FIG. 18, the points P5 and P6 on the hysteresis curve are operating points when the "1" and "0" data are read respectively, and the difference of voltage values corresponding to the points P5 and P6 becomes to be a data margin (sense margin) DMC of the "1" data and the "0" data. The point P5 is an intersection point of a line (load curve) LC1 with the hysteresis curve, the line LC 1 of which a reference point is a point P7 corresponding to the polarization charge amount at the point P1 and the voltage +VDD applied to the plate line, and the load capacitance thereof is the capacity of the bit line. Similarly, the point P6 is the intersection point of a line LC2 with the hysteresis curve, the line LC2 of which the reference point is a point P8 corresponding to the polarization charge amount at the point P3 and the voltage +VDD applied to the plate line, and the load capacitance thereof is the capacity of the bit line.
As described above, in the conventional ferroelectric memory, the voltage applied to the ferroelectric capacitor and the electric potential appeared on the bit line, and so on, during the data read operation are determined in accordance with the ratio between the capacity of the bit line and the capacity of the ferroelectric capacitor, and the electric charge amount supplied from the ferroelectric capacitor.
Therefore, a memory cell configuration, and so on, in the ferroelectric capacitor has low flexibility, and therefore, there was a case when the capacity of the bit line and the capacity of the ferroelectric capacitor is not an adequate ratio relative to the number of the word lines determined by a design specification, namely, the number of the memory cells connected to one bit line. As a result, a state in which a sufficient voltage is not applied to the ferroelectric capacitor at the time of the data read occurs, and therefore, an error sensing of the read of data, and so on, may occur due to the small electric potential change of the bit line caused by the insufficient supply of the electric charge from the ferroelectric capacitor.
Further, the polarization charge amount of the ferroelectric memory decreases (deteriorate), and the data margin thereof becomes smaller in accordance with the increase of the number of rewrites. Consequently, there are trends that the data margin of the conventional ferroelectric memory becomes smaller, and an operating life of a device becomes shorter when the ratio between the capacity of the bit line and the capacity of the ferroelectric capacitor is not adequate.
There is disclosed a method to improve the electric potential appeared on the bit line by driving a circuit in the sense amplifier with controlling at the time of reading so as to suppress the above-described error sensing, and so on, to perform the data read accurately, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2002-74939.
Besides, as it is obvious from the hysteresis curve of the ferroelectric capacitor shown in the above-stated FIG. 17 and FIG. 18, the electric charge amount supplied from the ferroelectric capacitor depends on the voltage applied to the ferroelectric capacitor. Therefore, when a data is read out of the memory cell, it is preferable to apply the voltage to the ferroelectric capacitor as large as possible.
For example, the bit line is connected relative to a ground to keep the electric potential of the bit line to be a ground level (0 (zero) V), and the electric potential of the word line is turned to +VDD, and thereby, it is possible to completely draw (make supply) the electric charge from the ferroelectric capacitor. However, all of the electric charge supplied from the ferroelectric capacitor flows into the ground, and therefore, it is impossible to output a data (information) stored in the ferroelectric capacitor.
Consequently, it is required to make the capacity of the bit line larger to apply a large voltage to the ferroelectric capacitor. However, for example, when a dummy capacitor is added to the bit line to increase the capacity of the bit line, it has almost no effect on rising the electric potential of the bit line (improve the data margin), because the capacity of the bit line also become large although an enough large voltage is applied to the ferroelectric capacitor at the time of reading, to increase the electric charge amount supplied from the ferroelectric capacitor.
Further, when the dummy capacitor is added to the bit line, a charge and discharge of the capacity of the dummy capacitor has to be performed at the time of amplification of the electric potential of the bit line by the sense amplifier, and at the time of a data write to the memory cell by a write amplifier, and thereby, a power consumption increases.
Patent Document 1
Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2002-74939


There is provided an engagement chain whose driving force per occupied space is increased, whose durability is improved by reducing stress in a direction of bending a connecting pin and whose engagement noise during driving is reduced. The engagement chain includes a large number of outer and inner link plates, each having hook-like portions, which are connected in a chain longitudinal direction by connecting pins, the large number of outer and inner link plates are connected flexibly without gap in the chain width direction while the back surfaces of the link plates opposite to the hook-like portions engage with driving sprockets.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to an engagement chain built into a driving system for moving an object in parallel with an installation surface. More specifically, the present invention relates to an engagement chain for a driving system for use in manufacturing facilities in various manufacturing fields, transfer facilities in the transportation field, nursing care facilities in the health-care and welfare fields, stage facilities in the performing art filed and the like.
2. Related Art
Driving systems are currently used for lifting an object which needs to be moved such as a heavy load using a pair of engagement chains, which are commonly referred to as chuck chains. The engagement chains engage with each other as the chains are moved up and down. For example, one such engagement chain is shown in Japanese Patent Publication No. 3370928.
As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the engagement chain 500 has inner link units which include a pair of front and rear bushes 530 which are press-fitted into a pair of inner link plates 510. Each inner link plate has a hook-like portion 511. A pair of outer link plates 520 are disposed respectively outside the inner link units in a width direction of the chain, herein referred to as the "chain width direction." The outer link plates 520 each have a pair of front and rear pin holes and a hook-like portion 521.
The engagement chain is built by connecting the large number of inner link units together in a longitudinal direction, hereinafter referred to as the "chain longitudinal direction," by press-fitting a pair of front and rear connecting pins 531 into the pair of front and rear pin holes of the outer link plates 520 with the front and rear connecting pins 531 extending through the bushes 530 of the inner link units.
Each bushing 530 has a roller 532 fitted around it. The rollers 532 engage with a pair of driving sprockets 501 disposed so as to face to each other, so that when the driving sprockets are driven, the engagement chains 500 are driven so as to integrally engage with an opposing portion of the chain by causing the hook-like portions 511 of the inner link plates 510 and the hook-like portions 521 of the outer link plates 520 to face to each other in the chain longitudinal direction so as to integrate the chain when the chain is driven from a horizontal direction to a vertical direction.
The respective engagement chains 500 are moved as the pair of driving sprockets 501 come into slidable contact with the rollers 532 of the chain which is pressed against a chain guide 502.
One problem with this configuration, however, is that because the rollers 532 transmit the driving force by engaging with the driving sprocket 501, the engagement chains 500 require spaces where the inner and outer link plates 510 and 520 do not exist in order for the driving sprockets to come into contact with the rollers 532. Thus, in order for the driving force to be transmitted to the chain in the chain longitudinal direction, the spaces occupied by the engagement chains 500 has to be relatively large.
The engagement chain 500 also has had a problem when the driving force transmitted from the driving sprocket 501 to the roller 532 is also transmitted to the pair of right and left inner link plates 510 or the outer link plates 520, as the stress is transferred from the roller to the center part of the connecting pin 531. This can result in a large stress and shearing force, causing bending in the connecting pin 531, thus lowering durability of the chain.
Furthermore, the engagement chain 500 has had a problem that because the rollers 532 engage with the driving sprocket 501 by colliding against teeth of the driving sprocket 501 from a radial direction when the driving sprocket 501 is rotated, the engagement chain 500 generates a large engagement noise during driving.
Accordingly, there is a need for an engagement chain whose driving force per occupied space is increased, whose durability is improved by reducing bending stress and shearing force otherwise acting on connecting pins and whose engagement noise during driving is reduced.


A technique protects, in a communications network, a point-to-multipoint primary tree between a root node and primary leaf nodes of the network if a failure occurs affecting one of the primary leaf nodes. One network node receives from another upstream network node a request to protect the primary tree via a backup branch leading to a backup leaf node situated downstream from said node, if a failure affecting one of the primary leaf nodes to be protected occurs, the backup leaf node being associated with the primary leaf node to be protected. If the node is connected directly to the downstream primary leaf node to be protected, it configures a backup routing rule for routing packets from an upstream primary branch to the downstream backup branch and, possibly, to the downstream primary branch(es) and is activated in the event of a failure affecting the primary leaf node to be protected.

Transporting services such as an Internet Protocol television (IPTV) service requires traffic engineering mechanisms for optimizing the use of resources, guaranteeing a quality of service appropriate to the service, and minimizing service outages in the event of failures. The Point-To-Multipoint Multi-Protocol Label Switching Traffic Engineering (P2MP MPLS-TE) technology is designed to do this. It allows a point-to-multipoint tree to be set up in a Multi-Protocol Label Switching (MPLS) communications network allowing reservation of resources. The associated protocol specified in the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) document RFC 4875 is an extension of the Resource Reservation Protocol-Traffic Engineering (RSVP-TE) protocol and allows MPLS trees known as LSP P2MP trees to be set up in which packets are routed explicitly. Such trees replicate traffic from a node known as the root node to a set of nodes known as leaf nodes that are then responsible for routing the traffic to the receivers. P2MP RSVP-TE explicit routing allows trees to be set up that minimize the cost in terms of bandwidth consumption; it further allows reservation of resources and therefore a guaranteed quality of service when routing packets.
To minimize the impact of a failure on a service and in particular on television pictures in an IPTV service, it is necessary to be able to reroute packets in less than fifty milliseconds. The P2MP MPLS-TE Fast Reroute (FRR) mechanism specified in the IETF document "draft-ietf-mpls-p2mp-te-bypass-01" relies on local backup trees bypassing the protected element; it therefore allows the above-mentioned level of security to be guaranteed in the event of a link or transit node failure in an LSP P2MP network.
In contrast, it does not allow fast rerouting of packets in a time compatible with services requiring a guaranteed quality of service in the event of failure of leaf nodes of a label-switched point-to-multipoint tree.
Below, references to a failure affecting a leaf node refer to a failure of the node itself or a failure of a link supporting a branch coming from it.

Technique for protecting leaf nodes of a point-to-multipoint tree in a communications network in connected mode


A thin film transistor (TFT) that includes a gate, an oxide semiconductor layer, a gate insulator, a source, and a drain is provided. The gate insulator is located between the oxide semiconductor layer and the gate. The source and the drain are in contact with different portions of the oxide semiconductor layer. Each of the source and the drain has a ladder-shaped sidewall that is partially covered by the oxide semiconductor layer. A method for fabricating the above-mentioned TFT is also provided.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a thin film transistor (TFT), a pixel structure, and a method for fabricating the same. More particularly, the invention relates to a TFT having an oxide semiconductor layer, a pixel structure, and a method for fabricating the TFT and the pixel structure.
2. Description of Related Art
With the advancement in technology, bulky cathode ray tube (CRT) displays have been gradually replaced by flat panel displays including liquid crystal displays (LCDs), organic electro-luminescent displays, field emission displays (FEDs), and plasma display panels (PDPs). Among the flat panel displays, the LCDs are most popular.
In the most well-known thin film transistor liquid crystal display (TFT-LCD), reliability of the TFT poses a direct impact on the manufacturing yield of the TFT-LCD. Accordingly, how to further improve the manufacturing yield of the TFT is one of the research topics at this current stage.

Thin film transistor, pixel structure and method for fabricating the same


Systems and methods are provided for a layered emission control device coupled to an exhaust manifold. Various formulations may be incorporated in a plurality of layers of the device to enable various emission control functions to be grouped within spatial constraints. For example, a first layer may include a first, oxidizing catalyst, a second layer may include a HC trap, and a third layer may include a second, different oxidizing catalyst, the second layer positioned between the first and third layers. The layers may be organized to reduce functional interference and improve functional synergy between the various emission control functions.

In an effort to meet stringent federal emissions regulations, vehicle engines may be configured with an emission control system including various emission control devices, such as three-way catalysts, diesel oxidation catalysts, particulate filters, NOx catalysts, and hydrocarbon (HC) traps. The various emission control devices may be arranged in different configurations.
One example configuration is shown by Maaseidvaag et al. in U.S. Pat. No. 6,167,696. Therein, a three-way catalyst is included upstream of a HC trap, a NOx trap and an electrically heated catalyst. Another example configuration is shown by Yamato et al. in U.S. Pat. No. 7,181,903. Therein, a three-way catalyst is included downstream of a NOx trap and a plasma reactor containing a HC trap. Based on the specific configuration and order of the various emission control devices in the emission control system of '696 and '903, different control strategies (e.g., temperature control strategies) are used to coordinate their activities.
However, the inventors herein have identified potential issues with such systems. As one example, the various functions may compete and/or interfere with each other. For example, NO species may be oxidized to NO2 by a diesel oxidation catalyst upstream of a NOx catalyst after an engine cold start. However, the hydrocarbon and carbon monoxide oxidizing function of the diesel oxidation catalyst may interfere with the NO oxidation function of the catalyst. As a result, even with different configurations, emissions compliance may not be achieved. This issue may be exacerbated as emissions regulations get more stringent while combustion processes become more efficient with significantly lower exhaust temperatures. As another example, the different configurations and the lower exhaust temperatures may complicate emission control device temperature control strategies. As still another example, due to packaging volume constraints on the vehicle, the space available for the different configurations and functionalities of the emission control system may be limited. Overall, exhaust emissions may be degraded.
In one example, some of the above issues may be at least partially addressed by a layered emission control system coupled to a vehicle engine exhaust manifold. In one embodiment, the layered system comprises a first, upper layer including a first, oxidizing catalyst, a second, intermediate layer including a HC trap for trapping exhaust HCs, and a third, lower layer including a second, different oxidizing catalyst. The second layer may be positioned between the first and third layers, and all the layers may be layered on, and supported by a substrate support. In this way, various formulations may be layered on a substrate in a selected order to enable various emission control functions to be grouped within spatial constraints to provide synergistic benefits.
For example, an exhaust emission control system may include a layered emission control device upstream of one or more NOx catalysts and particulate filters. In one example, the layered emission control device may be a layered diesel oxidation catalyst system wherein a plurality of layers are layered on, and supported by a substrate support. A first, upper layer may include a first, oxidizing catalyst, such as a diesel oxidation catalyst (DOC), for oxidizing exhaust hydrocarbons (HCs) and generating an exotherm for downstream particulate filters or HC traps. For example, exhaust HCs may be oxidized to periodically generate an exotherm, such as to assist in regeneration of a downstream particulate filter. A second, intermediate layer may include a HC trap for trapping exhaust HCs. A third, lower layer may include a second, different oxidizing catalyst for oxidizing exhaust NO species to NO2 species. The exhaust NO2 species may then be trapped or converted in a downstream NOx trap or NOx reducing catalyst. By retaining the exhaust HCs in the second layer, the NO oxidation reaction of the third layer may be protected from HC interference. In addition to a specified functionality, each layer may also have a specified washcoat loading and/or precious metal loading suited to the specific functionality of the layer. The loadings may also be based on the vehicle application and the specific emission profile. For example, in vehicles operating on fuels or calibrations that have a higher HC content in the exhaust gas during cold start, the device may be configured such that the capacity of the second layer having the HC trap is increased. As another example, in vehicles operating with lean-burn engines that have a higher NOx content in the exhaust gas, the device may be configured such that the capacity of the third layer is increased to improve NO2 formation. In still further embodiments, one or more of the layers may be included within the substrate support, such as a highly porous substrate support, to reduce backpressure.
In this way, an emission control device may be configured with different formulations in the different layers to integrate various emission control functions and provide synergistic benefits. By reducing functional interference and improving functional synergy, the quality of exhaust emissions can be improved.
It should be understood that the summary above is provided to introduce in simplified form a selection of concepts that are further described in the detailed description. It is not meant to identify key or essential features of the claimed subject matter, the scope of which is defined uniquely by the claims that follow the detailed description. Furthermore, the claimed subject matter is not limited to implementations that solve any disadvantages noted above or in any part of this disclosure.

Methods and systems for an engine emission control system


An actual maximum fuel injection rate is computed based on a falling waveform and a rising waveform of the fuel pressure. The falling waveform represents the fuel pressure detected by a fuel sensor during a period in which the fuel pressure increases due to a fuel injection rate decrease. The rising waveform represents the fuel pressure detected by the fuel sensor during a period in which the fuel pressure decreases due to a fuel injection rate increase. The falling waveform and the rising waveform are modeled by modeling functions. A reference pressure is computed based on pressure during a specified time period before the falling waveform is generated. An intersection pressure is computed, at which the straight lines expressed by the modeling functions intersect to each other. The maximum fuel injection rate is computed based on a fuel pressure drop from the reference pressure to the intersection pressure.

It is important to detect a fuel injection condition, such as a fuel-injection-start timing, a maximum fuel injection rate, a fuel injection quantity and the like in order to accurately control an output torque and an emission of an internal combustion engine. Conventionally, it is known that an actual fuel injection condition is detected by sensing a fuel pressure in a fuel injection system, which is varied due to a fuel injection. For example, JP-2008-144749A (US-2008-0228374A1) describes that an actual fuel-injection-start timing is detected by detecting a timing at which the fuel pressure in the fuel injection system starts to be decreased due to a start of the fuel injection and an actual maximum fuel injection rate is detected by detecting a fuel pressure drop (maximum fuel pressure drop).
A fuel pressure sensor disposed in a common rail hardly detects a variation in the fuel pressure with high accuracy because the fuel pressure variation due to the fuel injection is attenuated in the common rail. JP-2008-144749A and JP-2000-265892A describe that a fuel pressure sensor is disposed in a fuel injector to detect the variation in the fuel pressure before the variation is attenuated in the common rail.
The present inventors has studied a method of computing the maximum fuel injection rate based on a pressure waveform detected by the pressure sensor disposed in a fuel injector, which method will be described hereinafter.
As shown in FIG. 15A, when a command signal for starting a fuel injection is outputted from an electronic control unit (ECU) at a fuel-injection-start command timing "ls", a driving current pulse supplied from an electronic driver unit (EDU) to a fuel injector starts to rise at the fuel-injection-start command timing "ls". When a command signal for ending a fuel injection is outputted from the ECU at a fuel-injection-end command timing "le", the driving current pulse starts to fall at the fuel-injection-end command timing "le". A detection pressure detected by the fuel pressure sensor varies as shown by a solid line "L1" in FIG. 15B.
It should be noted that the command signal for starting a fuel injection is referred to as a SFC-signal and the command signal for ending a fuel injection is referred to as an EFC-signal, hereinafter.
When the SFC-signal is outputted from the ECU at the fuel-injection-start command timing "ls" and a fuel injection rate (fuel injection quantity per unit time) increases, the detection pressure starts to decrease at a changing point "P3a" on the pressure waveform. Then, when the EFC-signal is outputted at the fuel-injection-end command timing "le" and the fuel injection rate starts to decrease, the detection pressure starts to increase at a changing point "P7a" on the pressure waveform. Then, when the fuel injection ends and the fuel injection rate becomes zero, the increase in the detection pressure ends at a changing point "P8a" on the pressure waveform.
Timings "t1" and "t3" at which the changing points "P3a" and "P7a" respectively appears are detected and the fuel pressure drop (maximum fuel pressure drop "Pβ") generated during a period from a timing "t1" to a timing "t3" is computed. Since the maximum fuel pressure drop "Pβ" and the maximum fuel injection rate have a high correlation with each other, the maximum fuel injection rate is computed based on the maximum fuel pressure drop "Pβ".
Specifically, as shown by a solid line M1 in FIG. 15C, differential values are computed with respect to every detection pressure. After the SFC-signal is outputted at the fuel-injection-start command timing "ls", the differential value first becomes lower than a threshold TH at a timing "t1". This timing "t1" is detected as the timing at which the changing point "P3a" appears. The timing "t1" corresponds to a fuel-injection-start timing. Further, after the fuel-injection-star timing "t1", the differential value first becomes zero at a timing "t3". This timing "t3" is detected as the timing at which the changing point "P7a" appears. This timing "t3" is referred to as a maximum-fuel-injection-rate-reach timing. The fuel pressure at timing "t3" is subtracted from the fuel pressure at timing "t1" to obtain the maximum fuel pressure drop "Pβ".
It should be noted that the pressure waveform illustrated by the solid line L1 in FIG. 15B represents a waveform in a case that a single fuel injection is performed during one combustion cycle. In a case that a multi-stage injection is performed, the pressure waveform generated by the second or successive fuel injection is illustrated by a broken line L2. This pressure waveform illustrated by the broken fine L2 is generated by overlapping an aftermath (refer to an encircled portion "A0" in FIG. 15B) of the previous waveform with the current waveform. When such a pulsation is generated in the pressure waveform, the differential values shift from the solid line M1 to a dashed line M2 in FIG. 15C. That is, the differential value becomes lower than the threshold TH at a timing "tx", and this timing "tx" which is earlier than the actual fuel-injection-start timing "t1" is erroneously detected as the fuel-injection-start timing. The fuel pressure at the changing point "P3a" is erroneously detected as the fuel pressure at the changing point "P3x". The maximum fuel pressure drop "Pβ" can not be accurately computed.
Especially, in a case that a multi-stage injection is performed, when an interval between n-th injection and (n+1)th injection is short, an unstable pressure waveform of n-th fuel injection overlaps with the pressure waveform of (n+1)th fuel injection. The pulsations of the pressure waveform and the differential value become large and an erroneous detection may be caused.
Also, the fuel pressure at the changing point "P7a" is erroneously detected and the maximum fuel pressure drop "Pβ" can not be accurately computed.
Moreover, it is conceivable that noises overlapping on the pressure waveform may cause a disturbance of the pressure waveform. Thus, even in a case that single-stage injection is performed or the interval is long, the above mentioned erroneous detection may be performed.


A sheet feeder attracts an uppermost sheet of a sheet stack of a plurality of stacked sheets, and feeds the sheet in a sheet feeding direction. The sheet feeder includes an endless belt, a charging device, and a control device. The endless belt is made of a dielectric material, passes over upstream and downstream rollers, and is disposed above the sheet stack to face the sheet stack. The charging device applies an alternating voltage to an outer circumferential surface of the endless belt to form thereon alternating charge patterns. The control device separately controls the respective rotation states of the upstream and downstream rollers to make a sheet contact surface of the endless belt go slack in sheet attraction and make the sheet contact surface of the endless belt taut with tension into a substantially flat surface in sheet conveyance.

As a sheet feeder for feeding a sheet of recording media in an image forming apparatus such as an electrophotographic copier, facsimile machine, or printer, a sheet feeder employing a friction method using a pickup member including rollers and a belt made of a material having a relatively high coefficient of friction, such as rubber, has been widely employed.
The configuration employing the friction method is relatively simple. However, the pickup member is pressed against the surface of the sheet by a spring or the like to obtain a relatively strong frictional force. Further, with material having a relatively high coefficient of friction, such as rubber, the coefficient of friction of the surface thereof changes with time or environment. With this method, therefore, it is difficult to obtain reliable sheet feeding performance.
Further, with printers in particular, diversification of users has brought about use of not only a plain sheet but also recording media sheets of various features, such as a coated sheet and a label sheet. Moreover the number and types of such recording media sheets are expected to continue to increase in the future. Some of these special-purpose recording media sheets have a surface with a substantially low coefficient of friction. Further, a release portion of the label sheet, for example, is removed in some cases by the rotating roller and the pressing member in the process of frictional separation. Therefore, there are cases in which it is difficult to separate sheets using conventional frictional separation.
The sheets difficult to separate by friction, as in the above-described example, may be separated by an air suction method that generates a negative pressure area by air suction and thereby attracts and conveys a sheet. This method provides relatively reliable sheet feeding performance compared to the friction method. The method, however, produces relatively large noise in air suction, and increases the size and cost of the device, and is therefore unsuitable for an appliance used in an environment such as an office.
To address the above-described issues, sheet feeders have been proposed which include an endless dielectric belt facing the upper surface of a stacked sheet stack and moving in the sheet feeding direction a charger to apply an alternating voltage to a surface of the endless dielectric belt to form thereon alternating charge patterns and to discharge the endless dielectric belt. The sheet feeders supply electrical charge to the surface of the endless dielectric belt, and generate an attraction force from an electric field generated by the electrical charge to thereby separate the uppermost sheet from the sheet stack and move the sheet in the sheet feeding direction.
Such a background sheet feeder includes, for example, a belt and a charging device. The belt made of a dielectric material is looped around rollers and faces the upper surface of a bundle of sheets loaded on a sheet loader. The charging device forms predetermined charge patterns on a surface of the belt. The sheet feeder attracts and feeds a sheet from the upper surface of the sheet stack using the belt, a fulcrum of which is set on the downstream side of the sheet in the sheet feeding direction. The belt swings about the fulcrum such that the surface of the belt facing the sheet is substantially parallel to the surface of the sheet loader facing the surface of the belt.
Another background sheet feeder includes a pickup member facing the upper surface of a stacked sheet stack and which moves in the sheet feeding direction, and picks up and feeds a sheet from the upper surface of the sheet stack using the pickup member. The pickup member includes an endless dielectric belt. The sheet feeder further includes a member that applies an alternating voltage to a surface of the endless dielectric belt. The member serves as a charging and discharging member for forming alternating charge patterns on the surface of the endless dielectric belt and discharging the endless dielectric belt.
Still another background sheet feeder attracts and feeds a sheet from stacked sheets using electrostatic force, and includes a rotatable endless dielectric belt, an electrostatic attraction device, and a contacting and separating device. The electrostatic attraction device includes a charging device that supplies charge to the outer circumferential surface of the endless belt. The contacting and separating device separately and swingably supports predetermined positions of the electrostatic attraction device in a direction substantially perpendicular to the sheet feeding direction using a pair of swing members.
In the above-described sheet feeders, however, sufficient sheet separation performance and sheet conveyance performance are not provided in some cases, depending on the properties of the sheet. It is therefore desired to provide a sheet feeder consistently discharging superior sheet separation performance and sheet conveyance performance.

Sheet feeder and image forming apparatus incorporating same