A method of communicating a data word via a bus includes driving the data word onto the bus in whichever one of a true polarity form and a complement polarity form that requires fewer bus lines to change state relative to a present state of each bus line, and providing an indicator signal to the bus to indicate which polarity form of the data word is driven onto the bus. The data word and the indicator signal may be received from the bus, and the polarity form of the data word is conditionally inverted in response to the indicator signal. A noise reduction system includes, for one embodiment, a sending circuit which compares each bit of a data word to be next communicated onto the bus against a corresponding bit of the present data word on the bus. If more than half the bits differ, then the next data word is inverted to form a complement next data word. The complement next data word is instead communicated onto the bus along with an indicator signal to indicate that a complement data word is communicated onto the bus. Consequently, no more than half the bits of the bus ever change state at a time, thus reducing the switching noise associated with communicating data words onto the bus. A bus interface includes a spatially distributed tally circuit having a respective portion thereof in close proximity with a respective output circuit for each respective bit of the data word. The tally circuit determines whether at least a certain number of bits within the next word differ from corresponding bits within the present bus state. The spatially distributed nature is particularly advantageous for accommodating an extremely wide bus, such as a 424-bit bus. In various embodiments, the tally circuit includes a summing node for accumulating an incremental signal for each bit of a group of bits within the next word which differs from a corresponding bit within the present bus state.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to bus interfaces, and more particularly to reducing switching noise in a bus interface to a large bit-width bus.
2. Description of the Related Art
As communication buses carrying data and electronic signals are designed to accommodate an increasing number of bits, the problem of electronic switching noise substantially increases in severity. For example, an implementation of an Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) packet routing system may be designed to accommodate an entire 53-byte standard packet as a single 424-bit (53xc3x978) wide data word. Unfortunately, the combined electronic switching noise resulting from the in-phase switching of four hundred or more bits of a wide data bus must be addressed for this implementation, typically at a large cost in circuit resources.
A data bus for communicating a data word includes a respective bus line for carrying each respective bit within the data word. Each of the bus lines has two states, representing two possible binary values of each respective bit. Electronic switching noise is created when a bus line switches from a first state to a second state, which corresponds to a bit carried on the bus line changing from one logic state to the other logic state. A worst case switching noise condition occurs when all bits in a large-width multiple-bit data word switch at the same time in the same direction (for instance, from all xe2x80x9c1xe2x80x9ds to all xe2x80x9c0xe2x80x9ds). The amount of switching noise increases in approximately a linear manner from an essentially zero noise condition in which no bits switch to the worst case switching condition when all the bits switch.
Data transitions in which a large number of bits switch occur infrequently. However, the bus interface circuit must be designed to withstand the very large power supply spikes that result when worst-case sequences of data words are communicated on the bus. Typically, a large power supply voltage spike results when a large number of bits of a data bus are changed in the same direction simultaneously. Thus, when the electronic switching noise becomes sufficiently large, a device connected to the bus may switch logical state unintentionally so that incorrect data is communicated via the bus.
What is needed is a bus interface circuit that reduces worst case switching noise so that potential data transmission errors are reduced.
In accordance with the present invention, within a data word carried on a bus the maximum number of bits that simultaneously switch states is reduced by one-half, thereby approximately halving the worst case electronic switching noise spike that effects the system power supply or ground reference.
In accordance with the present invention, a method of communicating a data word via a bus includes driving the data word onto the bus in whichever one of a true polarity form and a complement polarity form that requires fewer bus lines to change state relative to a present state of each bus line. An indicator signal is provided to the bus to indicate which polarity form of the data word is driven onto the bus. The data word includes a plurality of bits and the bus includes a corresponding plurality of bus lines for carrying the plurality of bits. Each of the plurality of bus lines has a first and a second state representing binary values of a bit associated therewith. The method may also include receiving the data word from the bus, receiving the indicator signal from the bus, and conditionally inverting the polarity form of the data word in response to the indicator signal.
The first and second states may be first and second voltages or may be first and second currents. The first and second states of each respective bus line may represent respective first and second binary values of an associated bit when the indicator signal is provided in a first state, and respective second and first binary values of an associated bit when the indicator signal is provided in a second state. The data word and a present data word corresponding to the present state of each bus line may be driven onto the bus by a single bus interface or by different bus interfaces. The invention lends itself well to implementation within a bus interface of an integrated circuit, which circuit may be used with other circuits to form a system carrying out the invention over a system bus. The bus may be either bidirectional or unidirectional, and may include circuits which both send and receive data words onto or from the bus.
In one embodiment of the invention, a bus interface for communicating a data word via a bus includes means for driving the data word onto the bus in whichever one of a true polarity form and a complement polarity form that requires fewer bus lines to change state relative to a present state of each bus line, and means for providing an indicator signal to the bus to indicate which polarity form of the data word is driven onto the bus.
In another embodiment of the invention, a method of communicating a data word via a bus includes the steps of: (1) comparing a present data word on the bus (i.e., present bus state) with a next data word to be next communicated via the bus; (2) driving the next data word onto the bus when fewer than a certain number of bits within the next data word differ from corresponding bits within the present data word; (3) driving an inverted next data word onto the bus when at least the certain number of bits within the next data word differ from corresponding bits within the present data word; and (4) driving an indicator signal onto the bus to indicate whether an inverted next data word is driven onto the bus. The certain number of bits may be chosen to be one-half the number of bits forming the data word, approximately one-half the number of bits forming the data word, or another number of bits.
In yet another embodiment, a bus interface circuit for communicating a data word via a bus, the data word including a plurality of bits, the bus including a corresponding plurality of individual bus lines for carrying the plurality of bits, each of the plurality of bus lines having first and second states representing binary values of a bit associated therewith, the bus interface includes a sending circuit which includes: (1) a determining circuit, responsive to a present data word on the bus and a data word to be next communicated onto the bus, for determining whichever one of the next data word and a complement next data word, if driven onto the bus, requires fewer bus lines to change state relative to the present data word on the bus; and (2) a polarity circuit for driving the next data word or the complement next data word onto the bus as determined by the determining circuit.
The polarity circuit may include a circuit for conditionally inverting each bit of the next data word to form the complement next data word. Alternatively, the polarity circuit may include a multiplexer circuit for choosing between the data word and the complement next data word, or may include other circuits. The determining circuit may be (but need not be) spatially distributed, having a respective portion thereof in close proximity with a respective output circuit for each respective bit of the data word. Likewise, the polarity circuit may be spatially distributed, having a respective portion thereof in close proximity with a respective output circuit for each respective bit of the data word. The bus interface may also include a receiving circuit for receiving a data word from the bus, and for reforming a data word upon receiving a complement data word from the bus.
The determining circuit may include: (1) a comparison circuit for determining, for each bit of data word to be next communicated onto the bus, whether each bit of the next data word differs from a corresponding bit of the present data word on the bus; and (2) a tally circuit coupled to the comparison circuit for determining whether at least a certain number of bits within the next data word differ from corresponding bits within the present data word.
One embodiment of the tally circuit includes: (1) a digital adder circuit for determining a total number of bits within the next data word which differ from respective bits within the present data word; (2) a reference circuit for generating a reference digital number; and (3) a numerical comparator circuit for comparing the total number of bits which differ against the reference digital number, and for generating a POLARITY_CONTROL signal accordingly. The POLARITY_CONTROL signal may be an INVERT signal. Another embodiment of the tally circuit includes: (1) a summing node for accumulating an incremental signal for each bit within the next data word which differs from a corresponding bit within the present data word; and (2) a differential comparator having a first input terminal coupled to the summing node, having a second input terminal, and having an output terminal coupled to a POLARITY_CONTROL signal line. Yet another embodiment of the tally circuit includes: (1) a first summing node for accumulating an incremental signal for each bit of a first portion of bits within the next data word which differs from a corresponding bit within the present data word; (2) a second summing node for accumulating an incremental signal for each bit of a remaining portion of bits other than the first portion of bits within the next data word which matches a corresponding bit within the present data word; and (3) a differential comparator having a first input terminal coupled to the first summing node, having a second input terminal coupled to the second summing node, and having an output terminal coupled to a POLARITY_CONTROL signal line.
Many advantages are gained by the present invention. One advantage is that worst-case switching noise is reduced. Another advantage is that switching noise is reduced using a noise reduction circuit that is simple, small and fast so that transmission delay is not significantly impeded (and bandwidth, of course, need not be impacted at all). Another advantage is that fewer power (e.g., VDD) and reference (e.g., VSS or GND) pins need be employed to drive binary signals onto the bus. In particular, for the same amount of switching noise the number of power and reference pins is approximately halved by the described circuits and operating method. It is also highly advantageous that, since fewer pins are utilized in an integrated circuit, the cost of manufacturing the integrated circuit package is substantially reduced. Still another advantage is that power is conserved by reducing the number of bits switched at one time from possibly many bits to substantially fewer bits. In particular, the dynamic power for driving signals onto the bus is reduced.
The invention may be advantageously implemented using a spatially distributed analog circuit. Such an analog implementation may be much smaller than a digital implementation, particularly for data buses with many bits.

Noise reduction system and method for reducing switching noise in an interface to a large width bus


The tracks of the present invention utilize cut pieces of reinforcement which are associated with each individual drive lug. By using individual pieces the lugs can be easily built up with multiple layers of rubber and reinforcement. The cut pieces can be strategically shaped and placed to optimize their effect to realize improved performance and durability of the track. Incorporation of such inner fabric reinforcement layers adds stiffness to the lugs and thereby increases the torque capacity of the track. Additional layers also provide increased damage resistance after the outer layers of fabric are worn away, and added layers improve wear resistance on the sides of the lugs due to undercarriage misalignment and track-to-wheel contact when the vehicle turns during normal operations.

Positive drive, endless rubber tracks such as those used on agricultural or industrial vehicles typically have an internal, center row of individual drive lugs which engage drive bars on a drive wheel. The continued use and contact between the drive bar and drive lugs cause internal lug stresses and surface wear at the points of contact. Additionally, the internal, center row of lugs are typically functioning not only to transmit power from the drive wheel to the track, but also to retain the track on the vehicle. Contact between the vehicle undercarriage wheels and lateral end of the guide surfaces of the inner lugs frequently occurs as the vehicle maneuvers during normal service. This contact can cause wearing of the inner lugs, which can be severe, depending upon various vehicle design features and application use. Driving and/or guiding forces on the inner lugs, henceforth referred to as guide-drive lugs, can lead to cracks and eventual chunking of the rubber surface, and possibly to complete removal of the drive lugs, making the track unserviceable. Thus, a track belt having guide-drive lugs which are stronger and more resistant to wear is desired.
United States Patent Publication No. 2008/0136255 A1 discloses an endless track belt for use in an industrial or agricultural vehicle. The endless rubber track belts described therein include a rubber carcass having an inner surface having one or more drive lugs and an outer surface having tread lugs. The drive lugs include reinforcement layers that partially or substantially cover all or a portion of the end faces of the drive lugs. The reinforcement layers may include continuous strips, or discrete strips. The reinforcement layer may also be fabric cutouts to match the shape of the drive end faces of the drive lugs.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,974,196 B2 describes an endless track for an industrial or agricultural vehicle consisting of a body formed of a rubber material having an outer surface displaying a series of ground engaging profiles longitudinally spaced along the surface and an inner surface displaying a series of longitudinally spaced drive lugs adapted to be engaged by drive sprockets on the vehicle driving assembly. The body of the endless track is fabric reinforced. One layer of fabric longitudinally extends at a distance from the inner surface of the track and has a width slightly less than the width of the drive lugs so that the fabric may extend inside the drive lugs to increase their rigidity.


A seat core material having reduced deformation, extremely excellent dimensional accuracy, sense of unity, and strength is thus provided. The frame member and the foamed particle molding are integrated in the seat core material.

A seat core material has been recently used in a seat of a car. In the seat core material, a foamed particle molding and a frame member are integrated by burying the frame member including metal or any other material in the foamed particle molding. The frame member is buried in the foamed particle molding as, for example, a member for mounting to a vehicle body or a reinforcing member for collision.
For example, the seat core material having the frame member buried in the foamed particle molding is manufactured as follows. First, the frame member is disposed at a predetermined position in a mold. The mold is then filled with foamed particles. The foamed particles in the mold are heated, and fused to each other. The seat core material is integrally molded in the mold.
It should be noted that a foamed particle molding is usually subject to molding shrinkage after molding in a mold and the shape of the foamed particle molding is thus stabilized with a dimension shrinked from the dimension of the mold.
When the foamed particle molding having such a shrinkage property and the frame member are integrally molded, shrinkage of the foamed particle molding causes deformation of the frame member and warpage of the seat core material mainly owing to the difference between the shrinkage rate of the foamed particle molding and that of the frame member. There arise problems that, for example, the target dimensional accuracy of the seat core material cannot be obtained and the accuracy in mounting the seat core material to a vehicle is reduced.
In order to solve these problems in the seat core material for a seat of a car, there is proposed a method of stabilizing the dimension. In the method, pieces of divided space are provided in a foamed particle molding such that a frame member is exposed, and the foamed particle moldings are independently shrinked by the pieces of divided space (e.g., see Patent Literature 1).


A precharacterized cell library for EDA tools includes driver model data includes output current signals indexed by output voltages. The driver model can then generate a model output by interpolating the output current signals using the output voltage to generate an output current. The output current can then be used to generate an updated output voltage across a predetermined time increment. The output current signals can then be interpolated using the updated output voltage to generate a new output current, when can be used to update the output voltage once again across the next time increment. By repeating this process across a time frame for the model output signal, a model output current and output voltage signals can be generated that match the actual output current and voltage signals from a driver in a multi-driver system.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to the field of integrated circuit modeling, and in particular to a system and method for accurately representing the effects of multi-drive conditions.
2. Related Art
An electronic design automation (EDA) system is a computer software system used for designing integrated circuit (IC) devices. The EDA system typically receives one or more high level behavioral descriptions of an IC device (e.g., in HDL languages like VHDL, Verilog, etc.) and translates ("synthesizes") this high-level design language description into netlists of various levels of abstraction. A netlist describes the IC design and is composed of nodes (functional elements) and edges, e.g., connections between nodes. At a higher level of abstraction, a generic netlist is typically produced based on technology independent primitives.
The generic netlist can be translated into a lower level technology-specific netlist based on a technology-specific (characterized) cell library that has gate-specific models for each cell (i.e., a functional element, such as an AND gate, an inverter, or a multiplexer). The models define performance parameters for the cells; e.g., parameters related to the operational behavior of the cells, such as power consumption, output slew, delay, and noise. The netlist and cell library are typically stored in computer readable media within the EDA system and are processed and verified using many well-known techniques.
FIG. 1 shows a simplified representation of an exemplary digital ASIC design flow. At a high level, the process starts with the product idea (step E100) and is realized in an EDA software design process (step E110). When the design is finalized, it can be taped-out (event E140). After tape out, the fabrication process (step E150) and packaging and assembly processes (step E160) occur resulting, ultimately, in finished chips (result E170).
The EDA software design process (step E110) is actually composed of a number of steps E112-E130, shown in linear fashion for simplicity. In an actual ASIC design process, the particular design might have to go back through steps until certain tests are passed. Similarly, in any actual design process, these steps may occur in different orders and combinations. This description is therefore provided by way of context and general explanation rather than as a specific, or recommended, design flow for a particular ASIC.
A brief description of the components steps of the EDA software design process (step E110) will now be provided. During system design (step E112), the designers describe the functionality that they want to implement and can perform what-if planning to refine functionality, check costs, etc. Hardware-software architecture partitioning can occur at this stage. Exemplary EDA software products from Synopsys, Inc. that can be used at this step include Model Architect, Saber, System Studio, and DesignWare® products.
During logic design and functional verification (step E114), the VHDL or Verilog code for modules in the system is written and the design is checked for functional accuracy. More specifically, the design is checked to ensure that it produces the correct outputs. Exemplary EDA software products from Synopsys, Inc. that can be used at this step include VCS, VERA, DesignWare®, Magellan, Formality, ESP and LEDA products.
During synthesis and design for test (step E116), the VHDL/Verilog is translated to a netlist. The netlist can be optimized for the target technology. Additionally, the design and implementation of tests to permit checking of the finished chip occurs. Exemplary EDA software products from Synopsys, Inc. that can be used at this step include Design Compiler®, Physical Compiler, Test Compiler, Power Compiler, FPGA Compiler, Tetramax, and DesignWare® products.
During design planning (step E118), an overall floorplan for the chip is constructed and analyzed for timing and top-level routing. Exemplary EDA software products from Synopsys, Inc. that can be used at this step include Jupiter and Floorplan Compiler products.
During netlist verification (step E120), the netlist is checked for compliance with timing constraints and for correspondence with the VHDL/Verilog source code. Exemplary EDA software products from Synopsys, Inc. that can be used at this step include VCS, VERA, Formality and PrimeTime products.
During physical implementation (step E122), placement (positioning of circuit elements) and routing (connection of the same) is performed. Exemplary EDA software products from Synopsys, Inc. that can be used at this step include the Astro product.
During analysis and extraction (step E124), the circuit function is verified at a transistor level, this in turn permits what-if refinement. Exemplary EDA software products from Synopsys, Inc. that can be used at this step include Star RC/XT, Raphael, and Aurora products.
During physical verification (step E126), various checking functions are performed to ensure correctness for: manufacturing, electrical issues, lithographic issues, and circuitry. Exemplary EDA software products from Synopsys, Inc. that can be used at this step include the Hercules product.
During resolution enhancement (step E128), geometric manipulations of the layout are performed to improve manufacturability of the design. Exemplary EDA software products from Synopsys, Inc. that can be used at this step include the iN-Phase, Proteus, and AFGen products.
Finally, during mask data preparation (step E130), the "tape-out" data for production of masks for lithographic use to produce finished chips is performed. Exemplary EDA software products from Synopsys, Inc. that can be used at this step include the CATS® family of products.
As indicated in FIG. 1, timing analyses can be performed at various points along the EDA process, such as during synthesis, design planning, netlist verification, and analysis (as indicated by the bolded chevrons). The accuracy of these timing analyses is critical to the quality of final IC produced using EDA systems. To perform a timing analysis, the IC design (or a portion of the IC) is defined as a network of drivers and receivers. Cells designated as drivers provide stimuli to the network, and the resulting waveforms are received by the cells designated as receivers.
For example, FIG. 2 shows a schematic diagram of a sample driver-receiver network 200 that includes a driver (cell) 210 and a receiver (cell) 230. An input pin 211 of driver 210 receives a driver input signal S_IND and generates a driver output signal S_OUTD at a driver output pin 212. This signal is transmitted across an interconnect element 220 and is received as a receiver input signal S_INR at a receiver input pin 231 of receiver 230 (depicted as an inverter for exemplary purposes). Receiver 230 processes receiver input signal S_INR and generates a receiver output signal S_OUTR at a receiver output pin 232. Note that receiver 230 can also function as a driver for downstream cells, as indicated by load 240 connected to receiver output pin 232.
Conventional driver models represent transistor behavior by indexing the output voltage behavior of the driver by input slew and output capacitance. For example, FIG. 3A shows a conventional driver model 210A for modeling driver cell 210 shown in FIG. 2. Driver model 210A includes a time-dependent voltage source V210A in series with a drive resistor R210A and driver output pin 212A, and an output capacitor C210A coupled between pin 212A and ground. Driver model 210A is sometimes referred to as a "Thevenin model". Driver model 210A is precharacterized by applying a range of driver input signals S_INA to input pin 211A across a range of capacitance values C1 through CN for output capacitor C210A (via SPICE simulations or actual device measurements). Each input signal S_INA exhibits a particular input slew SI (i.e., the time required for the signal to go from one logic state to the opposite logic state) and a particular input delay time TDI (i.e., the time at which input signal S_INA reaches a threshold level (generally 50% of the signal swing)). The output voltage signals V_OUT(t) generated in response to the various input signals S_INA each exhibit a particular output slew SO and an output delay time TDO. By subtracting the input delay time TDI of an input signal S_INA from the output delay time TDO of an associated output signal S_OUTA, an output delay value DOUT can be determined. The output slew SO and the output delay value DOUT for each of output signals S_OUTA can then be indexed by input slew SI and output capacitance values C1 through CN in a precharacterized library cell entry for driver cell 210.
Thus, conventional precharacterized library cell entries for driver cells generally include output voltage curve characteristics (i.e., output slew and output delay) as precharacterization output signals, with output capacitance, input slew, and signal type acting as indexing parameters. For example, FIG. 3B shows a precharacterized library cell entry 300 generated by driver model 210A in FIG. 3A. Cell entry 300 includes a set of precharacterized driver output signal data stored as output delays DOxx and output slews SOxx indexed by input slews SI1 through SI4 and output capacitances C1 through C4. Thus, for example, output delay DO11 is indexed by input slew SI1 and output capacitance C1. Output slew SO11 is indexed by the same indexing parameter values (i.e., input slew SI1 and output capacitance C1). In some cases, a driver cell may be associated with separate library entries for output delay and output slew (i.e., output delay and output slew values that are indexed by separate sets of input slew and output capacitance values).
Note that because the behavior of a cell can vary according to the type of signal being applied to that cell, the output delay and output slew values in cell entry 300 can also be indexed according to input signal type (i.e., rising signals, falling signals, "best case" (fastest) transitions, and "worst case" (slowest) transitions). Thus, for example, output delay value DO14 (circled) can include a set of output delay values DO14-R, DO14-F, DO14-B, and DO14-W, which correspond to rising, falling, "best case", and "worst case" signals, respectively.
The precharacterized signal data stored in cell entry 300 can be then used during timing analyses to derive a model driver output signal based on the model output capacitance (and signal type). For example, FIG. 3C shows a graph of rising driver output signals V_OUT(t)-11, V_OUT(t)-12, V_OUT(t)-13, and V_OUT(t)-14 (generated according to the precharacterization output delay and output slew values indexed by output capacitances C1, C2, C3, and C4, respectively, and input slew SI1 in cell entry 300 in FIG. 3B). To perform a timing analysis on a model driver cell, a model output capacitance value C5 is determined for that driver cell (based on the characteristics of the cell). For exemplary purposes, model output capacitance value C5 is selected to be between precharacterization output capacitance values C2 and C3. A model driver output signal V_OUT(t)-INT(C5) can then be interpolated from the precharacterized driver output signals V_OUT(t)-12 and V_OUT(t)-13 (associated with output capacitance values C2 and C3, respectively). Output slew and delay values for the model driver cell can then be derived from model driver output signal V_OUT(t)-INT(C5). Alternatively, output slew and delay values for the model driver cell can be directly interpolated from the precharacterization output delay and slew values of cell entry 300 in FIG. 3B.
As the devices used to instantiate the driver cells in a system continue to shrink, the driver cells formed from those devices begin to exhibit increasingly complex output current responses that are not adequately described by output slew and delay values. For example, reduced device dimensions generally result in faster circuits, which in turn requires greater modeling accuracy. To provide this enhanced modeling accuracy, the nuances of device behavior (in particular output current behavior) must be properly captured. Therefore, modern EDA tools have begun to incorporate output current-based schema (rather than output delay/slew-based schema) for cell modeling.
For example, FIG. 4 shows a driver model 210B for modeling driver cell 210 shown in FIG. 2. Driver model 210B includes a time-dependent voltage source V210B in series with a drive resistor R210B and driver output pin 212B, and an output capacitor C210B coupled between pin 212B and ground (Thevenin model). Driver model 210B is therefore substantially similar to driver model 210A shown in FIG. 3A, except that model 210B is precharacterized by measuring output current signals I_OUTB(t) across a range of input slews SI and output capacitance values C1 through CN. The output current signals I_OUT(t) can then be compiled in a precharacterized library cell entry for driver cell 210. An example of this output current-based approach is described in co-owned, co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/866,981.
However, while an output current-based approach can provide greater modeling accuracy for small device effects, indexing output current according to output capacitance requires that the output capacitor be fully charged or fully discharged at the start of the output current signal (i.e., the output capacitor must initially be at a known state at one of the power rails). Unfortunately, this assumption cannot be made in a systems that includes multiple driver cells operating at different times (i.e., "multi-driver" systems).
For example, FIG. 5A shows a system 500 that includes an aggressor driver cell A510 and a victim driver cell V510. Aggressor driver cell A510 is modeled as a resistor R_AGG and an output capacitor C_AGG, and is configured to generate an output signal S_OUTDA from an input signal S_INDA. Victim driver cell V510 is modeled as a resistor R_VIC and an output capacitor C_VIC, and is configured to generate an output signal S_OUTDV from an input signal S_INDV. The outputs of aggressor driver cell A510 and victim driver cell V510 are parasitically coupled, as indicated by capacitor C_PAR.
Because of this parasitic coupling, crosstalk can exist between aggressor driver cell A510 and victim driver cell V510. For example, if aggressor driver cell A510 is switching in the same direction as victim driver cell V510, output signal S_OUTDV from victim driver cell V510 could exhibit a slew much greater than the typical best case (i.e., no load) slew value. On the other hand, if aggressor driver cell A510 is switching in the opposite direction from victim driver cell V510, output signal S_OUTDV from victim driver cell V510 can exhibit a significantly decreased slew.
Furthermore, if aggressor driver cell A510 begins switching before victim driver cell V510, the output of victim driver cell V510 can actually be pulled outside of the circuit power rails. For example, FIG. 5B shows a sample graph of output signal S_OUTDV generated by victim driver cell V510 for the situation when aggressor driver cell A510 starts a falling transition before victim driver cell V510 begins switching. Victim output signal S_OUTDV is initially pulled below ground (0.0 V) before beginning its upward trajectory. Because conventional output current-based driver models require that initial capacitance states be well-defined (i.e., voltage at one of the power rails), such models are not well-equipped to deal with multi-driver systems (i.e., systems that are faced with crosstalk among driver cells).
Thus, conventional cell driver models can be inadequate for the timing analysis of modern IC designs. Accordingly, it is desirable to provide a cell driver model that can accurately represent the behavior of a driver cell in a multi-driver system.

Nonlinear driver model for multi-driver systems


A mobile terminal (302, 304) wakes up from a low power state and initiates a frame exchange in a wireless local area network that supports voice traffic by transmitting a polling frame (602). If the mobile terminal had voice data to send, it is included in the polling frame. In response to receiving the polling frame, the access point transmits a delay frame (604) to acknowledge receipt of the polling frame. If the access point has data for the polling mobile terminal, it transmits a non-delay frame (606) including the voice data, otherwise it transmits a null frame (702). The mobile terminal acknowledges the data from the access point (608), and goes back to sleep until the beginning of the next service interval.

Generally, wireless local area networking (WLAN) devices must support two channel access methods, namely, contention-based access and polling driven access. Contention based access allows any wireless terminal or access point to capture the channel and transmit a data frame after monitoring the channel in accordance with carrier sensing procedures. When using the polling driven access procedure, on the other hand, all frame exchanges are initiated by an access point, either through a polling signal or by simply transmitting data from the access point to one of a plurality of stations. Either contention based or polling driven access techniques may be used to transport voice traffic between an access point and a plurality of wireless terminals, and extensions to both techniques are available to provide service differentiation between voice and data traffic classes sharing a single WLAN channel. However, the frame exchange sequences defined by both procedures are inefficient when used to deliver voice traffic between an access point and a plurality of stations. Additionally, neither technique offers adequate support for power savings operations in a wireless terminal that is transmitting and receiving voice traffic.
ANSI/IEEE Standard 802.11, 1999 Edition (hereinafter "the 802.11 standard"), defines two different methods of accessing the channel. Section 9.3 of the 802.11 standard defines a polling-based contention-free access method. Section 9.2 of the 802.11 standard defines a carrier sensing contention-based access method.
The WLAN frame exchange sequence using the contention-free access method is illustrated in FIG. 1. Under this method, a communication device such as a mobile terminal (MT), wakes up prior to each beacon transmission and waits to be polled by the access point (AP). The duration between transmission of the beacon and receipt of a polling message at a particular MT can depend on the loading level of the network as well as the scheduling algorithm at the AP. Along with the polling message, the AP also transmits a downlink voice packet. Then, the MT responds with an acknowledgement (ACK) to the downlink voice packet and an uplink voice packet destined to the AP. Upon successful reception of the ACK and uplink voice packet, the AP acknowledges the successful reception by sending an acknowledgement message to the MT. Following a successful frame exchange sequence, the MT can stop monitoring the channel and turn off its radio transceiver. It should wake up again to receive the next beacon transmission. Because the frame exchange sequence depicted in FIG. 1 has to be initiated by the AP, the MT has to be alert at all times waiting for the initiation. This causes a power drain on the MT's battery, which on average, is proportional to the number of MTs on the polling list for a particular AP.
FIG. 2 shows a prior art method 200 of polling in a wireless local area network. The method illustrated in FIG. 2 is similar to the method illustrated in FIG. 1, except that the initial poll frame 202 does not contain any data, and is only a polling frame. In this instances, the polling station seeks to receive data from the polled station, here the MT. In response to the polling frame, after a short interframe space (SIFS) time period 204, the polled station sends a data packet 206 to the polling station. After another SIFS 208, the polling station acknowledges receipt of the data by sending an acknowledgment frame 210.
The problem with the prior art method of polling is that it is driven by the AP, and requires the MT to remain on for long periods, which consumes significant battery life. One solution to this is to let the mobile terminals control polling, as is described in pending U.S patent application No. 60/421490, filed Oct. 25, 2002, titled "Method Of Communication Device Initiated Frame Exchange,"and assigned to the assignee of the present application, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference. While allowing the mobile terminals to control polling could allow for better management of power consumption, it has been found that many access point controllers cannot respond fast enough because the AP must locate data for the MT, place it in a transmit buffer, and then transmit it. Since a SIFS time period is on the order of 9 to 20 microseconds, AP equipment is not always able to respond in time. Therefore, there is a need whereby a mobile terminal can power down for longer periods, but allow an AP time to respond to a polling frame.

Method for performing transactions in a wireless local area network


An embodiment of the invention is a digital subscriber line (DSL) protection device. The DSL protection device includes a housing and protection components with the housing providing at least one of over-voltage and over-current protection. An in put twisted wire pair and an output twisted wire pair carry DSL signals. A wire interface in the housing is in electrical communication with the protection component. The wire interface detachably secures and makes electrical contact with the input twisted wire pair and the output twisted wire pair.

The present invention relates generally to digital subscriber line (DSL) protection devices and in particular to a DSL protection device having a detachable wire interface.
Protection devices are used to protect communication paths such as voice and data communication paths from surges (e.g., over-voltage and/or over-current conditions). Existing protection devices may use gas tube and/or solid state protection mechanisms (e.g., varistors) to provide surge protection. Such devices include a number of wires hard wired to the protection components and a plurality of pins for mating the protection device with a socket.
A drawback to existing protection devices is that the hard wiring significantly complicates the ability to service the protection device. In a typical situation, service is corrupted or interrupted on a communication path including the protection device. A technician may diagnose the service problem as relating to the protection device, but due to the hard wiring the initial technician cannot replace the protection device. A second technician, such as a DSL technician, is needed to rewire a new protection device as most technicians do not carry the tools and hardware needed for rewiring. This need for two technicians complicates the service process and unduly delays resolving the problem.

DSL protector having a detachable wire interface


The invention prevents an LC type optical connector plug from seriously harming a body of a worker, particularly eyes of the worker in a work for fitting the LC type optical connector plug having various concavo-convex shapes. A connector housing (1) has in its inner side of a side wall a guide groove line (7a, 7b, 12) which inserts and guides LC type optical connector plugs (P1, P2) from its fitting portion, and a recess portion (11b) which conforms to a swing motion of a shutter plate (11), and the guide groove line (7a, 7b, 12) is constructed by cutting a part of the guide groove line (7a, 7b, 12) so as to form the same planar shape by forming the recess portion (11b).

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an interconnecting adapter for LC type optical connectors, the adapter interconnecting a pair of opposed LC type optical connector plugs.
2. Description of the Conventional Art
Conventionally, as shown in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2008-26778 resulting in Japanese Patent No. 4768539 which are prior applications by the applicant of the subject case, there has been proposed an interconnecting adapter for LC type optical connectors which can achieve an improvement of a workability and a cost reduction on manufacturing, and can prevent a retaining capacity of an LC type optical connector plug from being lowered, by provision of a housing constructed by an integral structure which is open in both ends and can accept the LC type optical connector plug from both directions, for the purpose of interconnecting a pair of opposed LC type optical connector plugs.

Interconnecting adapter for LC type optical connectors


Disclosed embodiments relate to systems and methods for discovering and controlling sensitive data stored in temporary access memory. Techniques include identifying an application configured to perform one or more secure functions using sensitive data, wherein the application is configured to store or access the sensitive data in a temporary access memory accessible to the application; analyzing one or more processes associated with runtime activity of the application; detecting, based on the analyzing, an instance of the sensitive data, wherein the detecting is based on at least one of: analyzing input from a user to the application, or analyzing attributes of the application; and automatically implementing, based on the detecting, a control action to limit the accessibility of the sensitive data in the temporary access memory.

One effective way for attackers to gain unauthorized access to passwords, credentials, secrets, and other sensitive data is through memory scraping. By analyzing the memory contents of a device (e.g., RAM memory, browser cache, application cache, etc.), malicious entities may discover this information and use it for numerous harmful purposes, including identity theft, impersonation, financial fraud, and more.
Attacks of this type are a significant threat because numerous types of applications use secrets during normal operation. For example, when users of Microsoft Windows™-based machines utilize their Remote Desktop Connection™ (RDC) or Remote Desktop Protocol™ (RDP) client (e.g., the mstsc.exe client) to access remote technical support (e.g., from an administrator), the remote access is provisioned using a credential. Often, this is a powerful credential (e.g., an administrator's credential or root credential) that can provide broad and deep access throughout the client machine itself and also potentially throughout other networked machines. Because this remote access technique involves storing, at least temporarily, the credential in memory of the client machine, the memory of the client machine is a highly vulnerable attack surface. If attackers are able to monitor or access the memory (e.g., RAM or otherwise) of client machines and obtain powerful administrator credentials, the attackers may have immense power to steal, misuse, and misappropriate data, applications, and documents throughout a network environment. Many other thin clients (e.g., PuTTY, SQL*Plus, Independent Computing Architecture, PC-over-IP, etc.), IT management tools (e.g., Windows Command Prompt™, Windows PowerShell™, etc.), and software scripts (e.g., in languages such as Python, Autolt, etc.), use secrets stored in memory for their operation as well, and pose similar threats.
Internet browsers (e.g., Internet Explorer™, Chrome™, Safari™ Firefox™, etc.) pose additional risks for the theft and misuse of sensitive data. For example, browsers can access a plethora of websites that have log-in (e.g., username and password) prompts, such as social media sites, virtual private network (VPN) sites, personal medical or financial sites, and many more. When users interact with such sites, and optionally use add-on password manager software (e.g., password managers built into Chrome™, Internet Explorer™, etc. or third-party password managers), user credentials are often stored in memory. Additionally, not only are browsers used to enter log-in credentials, but they are also used to prompt users to enter personally sensitive data (e.g., medical, financial, social, etc.). This data may also be stored in memory on a client machine and thus vulnerable to scraping or memory dump attacks.
Further, cloud computing resources (e.g., virtual machines, container instances, etc.) often utilize secrets and other sensitive data during their operation. For example, when a container instance is configured to authenticate itself to a backend server, or to access data from a secure database, a credential or token is often required. Nevertheless, cloud computing systems do not automatically wipe memory utilized by virtual instances. Instead, the virtual instances are processes within an operating system, and the temporary memory utilized by the virtual instances is often preserved throughout the existence of the instance and potentially even longer. Accordingly, this temporary memory is also an attack surface.
There are no effective techniques available to control the exposure of sensitive data and secrets in local memory on computing devices. Indeed, there are many technological hurdles that make effective solutions difficult to achieve.
For example, many applications are designed to store credentials and other sensitive data in clear-text in local memory (e.g., RAM or otherwise). Applications of this type range from browsers, to specific-purpose applications (e.g., social media or business applications), to password manager applications, and more. For these applications, the existence of secrets and other sensitive data in local memory is a security threat.
Many of these applications are not designed to effectively or easily wipe the memory of secrets and other sensitive data. Often, it is up to a developer's particular implementation to implement memory wiping, and thus the process is susceptible to errors and oversights. For example, in C++ the developer may need to call the SecureZeroMemory( . . . ) WinAPI function with respect to a secrets buffer. In C #, a developer may need to use the SecureString object in order to wipe memory. These techniques are thus incomplete and difficult to fully implement.
These difficulties are compounded by the fact that many programming languages do not provide a mechanism for wiping memory. For example, in Python, string objects are not changeable after they are created. Thus, even if a string associated with a password is deleted, there would likely be other instances of the password associated with other string operations. Similarly, in Autolt, passwords and other credentials cannot be completely encrypted and protected from access. Attackers can decompile Autolt code and fetch credentials from memory even if encryption is used. Accordingly, in these languages it is very difficult if not impossible to ensure the protection of credentials and other sensitive data that is stored in local memory. Similarly, many types of third-party software that organizations and individuals use may not have a way to comprehensively or accurately wipe memory of passwords or other data. For third-party software, organizations and individuals lack access to the software itself and thus cannot attempt to remedy these problems.
When secrets and other sensitive data are not wiped from memory when a process or application terminates, they may reside in memory for a potentially lengthy period of time. Some operating systems (e.g., Windows™) do not automatically clear memory of credentials and other data when processes terminate, and thus these sensitive elements of data may remain in memory indefinitely. This prolongs the existence of the memory as an attack surface and extends the vulnerabilities of memory-based attacks. Attack tools such as Mimikatz and others may then be used to steal credentials and other data from memory.
Accordingly, in view of these and other deficiencies in existing techniques for managing credentials and other sensitive data, technological improvements are needed in order to more securely, comprehensively, and adaptively identify and control such data. Improvements and solutions to these and other technological problems are discussed in detail below.

Discovering and controlling sensitive data available in temporary access memory


A method and apparatus for applying a wear coating to the back side of a wear part.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an apparatus and method for applying a wear coating to the back side of a wear part.
2. Background
Wear parts such ground engagement tools used in agricultural applications such as plow sweeps and rippers, as well as other wear parts, are subject to extreme wear and tear. These parts are as a result frequently replaced as they deteriorate to the point where they are no longer effect at the intended task. This occurs because the leading face, which does the bulk of the work, becomes dull from abrasion and wears away dramatically limiting the effectiveness of the part.
The part then requires replacement, which involves expense and down time. The problems of wear and replacement have been somewhat ameliorated by the use of wear resistance coatings placed on the working face of the wear parts. These coatings are very dense and resistant to abrasion. Tungsten carbide is a common wear resistant coating used for extending the life of such wear parts.
In the prior art, the leading face (the face that undergoes the most wear) is coated with a wear resistant coating. This will extend the life of the tool, but it has the drawback of making it a less effective cutting tool. Wear resistant coatings, such as tungsten carbide, are very dense and thick. As a result, they interfere with the flow of the material over the leading face of the wear part. Also, they dull the leading face reducing the cutting, or tearing, effect of the face.
In some prior art applications, the both the leading and back side face of the wear part are coated with a wear resistant coating. There is no disclosed advantage of coating both sides, and such parts suffer from the same disadvantages as parts with coatings on the leading face. Thus, coating both sides appears to do nothing to enhance the tools but is a waste of wear coating.
Accordingly, a need exists for a wear coating that will extend the life of a wear part but not interfere with the effective use of the tool.


A magnetic recording medium having plural magnetic layers is disclosed. The uppermost magnetic layer contains an abrasive with an average particle diameter of not more than 0.3 .mu.m, and a magnetic layer other than the uppermost magnetic layer contains an abrasive with an average particle diameter of not less than 0.3 .mu.m. The medium is improved in the electromagnetic conversion characteristics and sliding noise.

In recent years, there is an increasing demand for high-density recording in magnetic recording mediums. In particular, in video tapes, a very high density recording has been required with an increasing demand for making higher the bands of recording frequencies, and hence it has become popular to use a magnetic powder with a smaller particle diameter.
Making the particles of a magnetic material finer to increase its BET value brings about a smoother surface of a magnetic layer, making it possible to carry out high-density recording, and thus bringing about an improvement in electromagnetic conversion characteristics of the magnetic recording medium. The magnetic layer surface made smoother in this way, however, causes an increase in the friction resistance between the magnetic layer and a magnetic head during the traveling of a magnetic recording tape, in particular, a video tape, so that the magnetic layer of the magnetic recording medium may be damaged after its use for a short period of time, resulting in an increase in sliding noise, and also resulting in adhesion of milky-white foreign matters to the magnetic head, which are brought from the tape thus damaged.
In other words, the attempt to improve the electromagnetic conversion characteristics at high frequencies and the attempt to suppress the increase in sliding noise after repeated traveling of the tape and also to suppress the adhesion of the stated milky-white foreign matters are contradictory to each other.


To provide a game that uses a position of a player terminal in the real world and can improve satisfaction of a player who cannot perform sufficient movement in the real world is an object. To give a game which advance based on a position of a player terminal. To give a game which advance based on a predetermined position in the real world that is different from a position of a player in a case where a predetermined first condition is satisfied.

In the related art, there is a game using a position of a player terminal measured by using a positioning system such as a GPS. For example, NPL 1 discloses that the type of game medium (which appears on a game) that can be acquired by a player differs depending on a position of a player terminal in the real world.

Game program, and method for controlling game program


A data existence judging device includes: L number of first storage areas each associated with one of L hash values; M number of second storage areas each associated with some of the L hash values; an information setting part, for each data in a data set, to calculate k hash values about the data, and, for each calculated hash value, when a count value in the first storage area associated with the calculated hash value is less than 2n−1, to count up the count value, whereas when the count value is 2n−1, to set 1 into the first storage area associated with the calculated hash value; and a judging part to calculate k hash values about an input data, and to judge that the input data is a new data when a count value in the first storage area associated with the input data is 0.

As data structures that can be used for testing existence of a data, a Bloom Filter and a counting Bloom filter are known.
To start with, the Bloom filter will be explained referring to FIGS. 1A and 1B.
As illustrated in FIG. 1A, the Bloom filter is a bit array of m bits (m=18 in FIG. 1A), for example. When the Bloom filter used, k hash functions (k=3 in FIG. 1A) are also prepared (defined). Moreover, each hash value obtained by each hash function is associated with one bit of the Bloom filter. Then, with respect to each existing data, k hash values of the existing data are obtained using the k hash functions, and "1" is set to a bit (initial value of which is zero) associated with each obtained hash value in the Bloom filter.
At the time of testing existence of a given data (denoted hereinafter as the judgment target data), k hash values of the judgment target data are obtained using the k hash functions. Then, if any of the bits associated with the obtained hash values is zero, the judgment target data is judged to be a new data. If not, the judgment target data is judged to be a new data or an existing data.
Thus, by using the Bloom filter, it is possible to judge existence of the judging target data (whether the judgment target data is a new data or a data that can be a new data) rapidly in a way that requires a small storage capacity. The Bloom filter is, however, a data structure from which the registered information cannot be deleted.
Specifically, in FIG. 1A, the bits of the Bloom filter which represent the existence of data x are the 2nd, 6th and 14th bits from the left. Therefore, for the purpose of deleting the data x from the data set {x, y, z}, it is conceivable to change each of the 2nd, 6th and 14th bits of the Bloom filter into zero. However, if such update is made to the Bloom filter, as shown in FIG. 1B, it follows that the data w, which is the same as the data z contained in the data set, is judged to be a new data. Since such situations extinguish the feature of the Bloom filter that false negative results are not yielded, deleting the registered information from the Bloom filter is impossible.
Next, the counting Bloom filter will be discussed referring to FIGS. 2A and 2B.
The counting Bloom filter is an improved version of the Bloom filter which allows the registered information to be deleted. As schematically shown in FIG. 2A, the counting Bloom filter (which will be hereinafter termed the CBF) has such a configuration that can store n (≧2) bits information per hash value.
Contents of the CBF are updated as follows.
In the case of registering information of an existing data: To each of the storage areas associated with the hash values obtained from the existing data, "1" is added.
In the case of deleting information of a data: From value of each of the storage areas associated with k hash values obtained from the data to be deleted, "1" is subtracted.
Specifically, in FIG. 2A, the bits of the Bloom filter which represent the existence of data x are the 2nd, 6th and 14th bits from the left. Therefore, when deleting the data x from the data set {x, y, z}, the value of each of the 2nd, 6th and 14th bits from the left of the CBF is decremented by "1". As a result, the situation of the CBF will be changed into the situation illustrated in FIG. 2B, i.e., the situation which causes that data identical with any data (w in FIG. 2B, for example) within the data set {y, z} not to be wrongly judged to be a new data.
Thus, the CBF has the feature to delete the registered information. However, required memory size to actualize (implement) the CBF is n times as large as that for the bloom filter.

Data existence judging device and data existence judging method


The present invention relates to a door assembly and refrigerator having the same. The door assembly according to the present invention includes a door main body, a panel disposed on a front surface of the door main body, and a side cover coupled at least one of a left side portion and a right side portion of the door main body and supporting the panel, wherein the side cover is provided with screw coupling portions concaved from an external surface and protruded from an inner surface along an insertion direction of screws and screw holes formed by penetrating the screw coupling portions, and the door main body is provided with inference-avoiding space portions for receiving the screw coupling portions therein. Accordingly, it is capable of preventing inferiority of the side cover and of reducing the amount of used materials.

As well known, a refrigerator serves to store food items therein in a cool state and includes a refrigerator main body having a cooling chamber, a door for opening and closing the cooling chamber, and a refrigerating cycle for supplying cool air to the cooling chamber.
The door includes an outer case forming an external appearance, an inner case disposed in the outer case with a filling space for a foaming agent and door caps respectively disposed at an upper end and a lower end of the outer case and the inner case.
However, the door of the refrigerator according to the related art has a problem that it is easily marked and scratched since the outer case is implemented as a metallic member coated with paint. Thus, a door assembly configured by disposing a panel implemented as a transparent stiff member such as a glass member on a front surface of the outer case is currently used so as to solve the abovementioned problem.
In order to support the panel, the door assembly may include an upper cover and a lower cover respectively coupled to an upper end portion and a lower end portion of the door main body and side covers respectively coupled to a left side portion and a right side portion of the door main body. The side covers are coupled to the door main body using a plurality of screws.
The side covers are provided with screw head receiving portions in a concave shape so as to prevent head portions of the screws from being protruded from surfaces of the side covers. The screw head receiving portions may be generally formed using a drill.
However, in the door assembly according to the related art, the screw head receiving portions should be formed one by one by an operator in a cutting manner such as a drilling manner so as for the head portions of the screws to be received in the side covers, thereby increasing a fabrication time.
And, peripheral portions of screw holes should be cut in a thickness direction so as to form the screw head receiving portions, which may cause the side covers to be thicker as much as the peripheral portions are cut. Accordingly, materials for fabricating the side covers may be increased.
Also, size variation may largely occur depending on skillfulness of the operator for the screw head receiving portions, operation environment, etc, which may cause inferiority of the side covers. That is, if each depth of the screw head receiving portions is greater, strength of the screw head receiving portions may decrease.
On the other hand, if each depth of the screw head receiving portions is lower, the head portions of the screws may be outwardly protruded. In this case, the protruded heads may contact with peripheral items, which causes inferiority such as scratch. Concretely, when the screw head receiving portions are formed on a front surface of the door main body of the side covers, the protruded screw head portions may contact with the panel and scratch the surface of the panel, thereby causing inferiority of the panel.

Door assembly and refrigerator having the same


An electricity-conducting roller includes a hub joined to a lower end of a frame of a vehicle, and an electricity-conducting roller module; a wheel of the vehicle is fitted on the hub, and the electricity-conducting roller module is fitted to a bottom of the hub, and comprises a fixed supporting member secured to the bottom of the hub, an electricity-conducting roller, a swinging support member pivoted on the fixed support member for holding the electricity-conducting roller in position, and an elastic element to bias the swinging support member downwards in order for the electricity-conducting roller to be in constant touch with the floor; the swinging support member will swing up and down while the vehicle is moving on an uneven floor, thus preventing the electricity-conducting roller from being obstructed by bumps and holes on the uneven floor.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an improvement on an electricity-conducting roller structure, more particularly one, whose electricity-conducting roller is supported on a swinging support member; the swinging support member is biased downwards with an elastic element, and can pivot up and down so as to prevent bumps and holes on an uneven floor form obstructing the electricity-conducting roller.
2. Brief Description of the Prior Art
Patients are usually transported from a sick chamber with vehicles, e.g. wheelchairs and wheeled hospital beds, to the examination division to have a medical examination such as computerized axial tomography (CAT) scan and nuclear magnetic resonance radiography. However, when such vehicles are moving, static electricity will be produced thereon owing to the vehicles rubbing against other objects, especially in cold, dry, and low-humidity seasons, which static electricity will cause shock and discomfort to the patients on the vehicles. If a patient has a medical examination with a high-precision medical examination apparatus while resting on the vehicle, static electricity will interfere with the medical examination apparatus. Consequently, errors are prone to happen to the outcome of the examination.
To overcome the above problems, referring to FIG. 7, the inventor of the present invention developed a kind of electricity-conducting roller module 42 before. The electricity-conducting roller module 42 is joined to a lower end of a metallic hub 41 of a wheel 4 of a vehicle, and includes first and second holding members 421 and 422, and an electricity-conducting roller 423, which is supported on the second holding member 422 with an axle 424 thereof being passed two sides of the second holding member 422. The second holding member 422 is held in the first holding member 421. The second holding member 421 has two opposing slots 425, and the axle 424 of the roller 423 is passed the slots 425 at two ends thereof. A rod part 426 is positioned between upper portions of the both the first and the second holding members 421 and 422, and an elastic element 427 is positioned around the rod part 426 to bias the second holding member 422 downwards. Therefore, it is certain that the electricity-conducting roller 423 will be constantly in contact with the floor in order for allowing static electricity carried on the vehicle to travel onto the floor through the electricity-conducting roller module 42.
Furthermore, when the vehicle is moving on an uneven floor/road, the electricity-conducting roller 423 will move up and down with the axle 424 moving within the slots 425 of the first holding member 421; thus, small holes and bumps of the uneven floor can't obstruct the roller 423. And, the elastic element 426 will help to reduce the shock produced from the roller 423 hitting against the holes and bumps on the uneven floor/road.
However, because the electricity-conducting roller 423 can only move up and down, it is prone to be obstructed by large holes and bumps on an uneven floor/road. Consequently, the vehicle can't move smoothly on an uneven floor with large holes and bumps.


A method of monitoring heat damage to a tissue during a heat ablation procedure is disclosed. The method comprising: providing images of the tissue, extracting at least one parameter being indicative of a biological response to heat, and using the parameter(s) for determining the heat damage to the tissue.

The present invention relates to the monitoring of tissue ablation, and more particularly, to a method and system for monitoring ablation of tissue by determining a biological response of the tissue to heat.
Cancer is a major cause of death in the modern world. Effective treatment of cancer is most readily accomplished following early detection of malignant tumors. Most techniques used to treat cancer (other than chemotherapy) are directed against a defined tumor site in an organ, such as brain, breast, ovary and colon, etc. Removal of a consolidated mass of abnormal cells is possible by surgical excision, heating, cooling, irradiative or chemical ablation.
Minimal invasive thermal therapy is a potential treatment for solid internal malignancies. This type of therapy provides for shorter hospital stays, faster recovery and better cosmetic results. In thermal therapy, heat is produced by devices inserted directly into a target site within an organ. Potentially less invasive than conventional surgery, this approach enables the treatment of tumors in otherwise inaccessible locations. Several devices have been employed for interstitial heating, including laser irradiation devices, radiofrequency ablation devices, high-focus ultrasound devices, microwave devices and the like. These devices have been shown to be capable of generating temperature elevations sufficient for thermal coagulation of tissue.
For example, radiofrequency ablation destroys tumor tissue by heat through laparoscopic application of mild, almost painless high-frequency energy applied directly to the tumor. More specifically, when an alternating electric field is created within the tissue, ions are agitated in the region neighboring the electric field source (typically an electrode). This ionic agitation creates friction and induces thermal injury to the tissue.
Radiofrequency ablation, however, is mainly applied to hepatic tumors, or tumors that are not close to a major blood vessel, due to its insufficient accuracy. The fact that the liver is a large enough organs could permit enough safety margins.
Destruction of unwanted cells via laser light can be achieved either through a direct thermal interaction between the laser beam and the tissue, or through activation of some photochemical reactions using light-activated molecules which are injected into or otherwise administered to the tissue.
The use of ultrasound for healing purposes has increased in importance. Depending on the therapy, ultrasound is applied in the form of continuous or pulsed ultrasound wave fields. The desire to generate rapid, localized temperature increases in tissue has led to the development of focused ultrasound as a method to treat tumors. In high-focus ultrasound treatment an ultrasound transducer generates focused ultrasound waves which are transmitted to the tumor. By special control of the time the focused ultrasound waves act on the tumor, resulting in an overheating of the tissue hence leading to its destruction. High-focus ultrasound can be employed by external or interstitial ultrasound transducers. To date, interstitial transducers have been developed for a variety of applications including cardiac ablation, prostate cancer ablation and gastrointestinal coagulation.
Several characteristics of the above prior art thermal therapy devices, however, limit their ability to treat large volumes or regions close to important anatomical structures. High temperatures close to the device surface often leads to undesirable physical effects of charring or vaporization in tissue. Inadequate heating can occur at the target boundary due to rapid decreases in deposited power with increasing distance from the device. Generally, the goal with interstitial thermal devices is to deliver a target-specific heating pattern which is as uniform as possible to the entire target volume of tissue, while avoiding excessive or inadequate heating.
Irrespectively of the method which is used to ablate the tumor, it is recognized that success of the treatment depends on the ability to monitor the ablation process [Hyunchul Rhim, et al., Radiographics, 2001, 21:S17-S35]. Thus, the use of minimal invasive thermal therapy is limited by the ability to monitor, hence control the destruction process precisely while it is being administered. Such precise control is required in order to minimize injury to normal adjacent parenchyma while assuring complete destruction of the offending lesion. The transfer of heat energy to the target depends on the efficiency with which the tissue absorbs the applied energy, and is therefore a function of tissue composition. Heat conduction through diffusion and perfusion processes may vary locally as a function of tissue architecture, tissue composition, local physiological parameters and the temperature itself. During ablation procedures, heat transfer characteristics may change as tissue coagulation can significantly modify heat conduction and energy absorption.
Several approaches are known in the art for monitoring the response of the treated tissue during treatment. For example, in radiofrequency ablation, commercially available devices include a thermal monitoring circuit which is integrated in the radiofrequency probe.
In another approach, impedance and capacitance-related parameters are measured and tracked during the ablation procedure to estimate tissue temperature. These techniques, however, only measure the temperature at isolated locations and cannot show the temperature distribution in the volume surrounding the destructing device. Efficient and accurate monitoring can be achieved by MRI, which can provide a reliable temperature mapping of the tissue. However, this MRI is an expensive procedure which imposes serious constrains to the surgical scenario.
In laser ablation, particularly in the area of skin disorders or in fully invasive procedures, the ablative procedure can be monitored optically using an optical fiber and a CCD camera coupled to a video monitor. A major disadvantage of this method is that it is limited to surfaces and the difficulty to apply this technique in minimal invasive procedure without significantly modifying the procedure's scenario.
An additional technique to monitor ablative procedure includes the use of ultrasound imaging. Attempts to adapt ultrasound imaging for temperature measurements include measurements of various ultrasound parameters such as the speed of sound, frequency shifts and the like. These approaches, however, have failed to provide the information required for minimizing injury to normal tissue while ablating the tumor.
There is thus a widely recognized need for a diagnostic ultrasound based monitoring method, and it would be highly advantageous to have such a method and system for monitoring ablation of tissue, devoid of the above limitations.

Method and system for monitoring ablation of tissues

Tel Hashomer Medical Research Infrastructure and Services Ltd.


The present invention describes a novel integration between wind and solar thermal renewable energy technologies. An existing wind turbine consisting of a hub and blades is operated by the power generated from a waterless solar thermal system (using high pressure, high temperature air) during periods of low wind availability. The solar thermal system consist of a heliostat field, solar air receiver panels, a thermal energy storage tank and a Pelton wheel assembly system for converting thermal energy of air into kinetic energy of the power shaft of the wind turbine. The thermal energy converting system consists of a plurality of supersonic air nozzles acting as stator, producing supersonic air jets to interact with a rotating Pelton wheel. A thermal storage system provides means for energy dispatchability. The proposed integrated system is capable of generating a stable renewable energy with minimum intermittency.

Wind turbines provide an attractive means to produce renewable electricity at low costs. One of the key issues with power output from a wind turbine is its inherent intermittent nature, which often dictates that wind farms be augmented with supplemental generation capacity using natural gas firedturbines to enhance stability and dispatch ability of power supply.
Many inventors have sought a renewable energy solution that would provide a low cost stable and dispatchable power, without the use of fossil fuel. An extensive survey of patent literature has disclosed patents with this theme and these are summarized next.
U.S. Pat. No. 20100117372 (McMaster) discloses a "Hybrid Wind Turbine" where the shaft powerproduced by a wind turbine is integrated with shaft power produced from a thermal energy source like solar or fossil firing. The thermodynamic cycle employed for the thermal power source is a Rankine cycle utilizing a working fluid that changes phase. This system does not provide any means for renewable energy storage and dispatchability is maintained principally through fossil firing.
U.S. Pat. No. 2008029190 A1 (Sui) discloses a "Combined Wind Power Electricity Generator", which is a hybrid wind turbine additionally powered by a gas jet during periods of insufficient windresource. The gas is stored in a gas bottle and is heated using solar heat. The exact mechanism for converting the gas or air jet into shaft power is not clearly detailed. Also there is no clear discussion of energy storage. The size as well as the practicality of the use of gas stored in bottles for utility scale applications is not addressed satisfactorily.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,229,941 (Hope) discloses a "Method and System for Generating Energy from Solarand Wind Resources". The patent describes a solar thermal energy system utilizing a parabolic mirror and a Fresnel tube to produce steam. The steam is used to produce shaft power, which is integrated with the shaft power produced by wind. The system described in this patent is more suited to residential applications and its scalability to utility scale is questionable. Also this system does not address the question of energy storage.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,229,941 (Enis) discloses a method in which power generated from a single or multiple windmills is stored as compressed air in a single or multiple pressurized storage tanks. During times when wind is not available, the compressed air is converted into power via a turbo exchanger.
Heat is added to compressed air utilizing several sources of energy such as: solar thermal, waste heat collector and a separate heating unit. This system provides means for renewable energy storage and dispatchability through compressed air storage system, which requires high volume storage tanks at high-pressure.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,851,935 (Tsao) discloses a method in which a parabolic dish/trough solar collector is interconnected to a thermo-mechanical engine. The thermo-mechanical engine is mechanically integrated to the transmission element of the wind turbine through a secondary shaft. The system was designed as a small-scale roof top system. The storage element in their system is purposed to store direct electricity.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,615,884 (McMaster) discloses an enhancement to an existing wind turbine. The enhancement is done using an auxiliary power section, which is connected to the generator to enable longer time periods in which the wind turbine generator can be utilized. The generator itself has two inputs, one from the primary power generation, i,e, the wind turbine rotor and a secondary one from the auxiliary section, where each one of the inputs can drive the generator independently. The described system has three modes of operation: wind only, auxiliary only and combined. The auxiliary powersection can be one of many of heat engines such as: combustion engine, gasoline engine, diesel engine, natural gas etc. The heat recovery (recuperation) system uses the exhaust heat from the heat engine as well as the solar collector system to heat a liquid medium. The liquid medium can either be water, which will be used directly through a steam turbine (as one form of an auxiliary motor options) or as a liquid source to an organic Rankine turbine (as another form of an auxiliary motor), where it will be recycled back to the solar absorber. No storage of any type has been included in this system.

Solar augmented wind turbine for stable and dispatchable utility scale power generation


A method includes encoding data bits into codewords according to a first error correction encoding scheme. The method includes storing the codewords into a memory and generating a combined codeword by encoding, at the memory, the codewords according to a second error correction encoding scheme to generate parity bits of the combined codeword. The method includes, after storing the codewords into the memory, storing the parity bits of the combined codeword into the memory.

Non-volatile data storage devices, such as universal serial bus (USB) flash memory devices or removable storage cards, have allowed for increased portability of data and software applications. Flash memory devices can enhance data storage density by storing multiple bits in each flash memory cell. For example, Multi-Level Cell (MLC) flash memory devices provide increased storage density by storing 3 bits per cell, 4 bits per cell, or more. Although increasing the number of bits per cell and reducing device feature dimensions may increase a storage density of a memory device, a bit error rate of data stored at the memory device may also increase.
Error correction coding (ECC) is often used to correct errors that occur in data read from a memory device. Prior to storage, data may be encoded by an ECC encoder to generate redundant information (e.g., "parity bits") that may be stored with the data as an ECC codeword. As more parity bits are used, an error correction capacity of the ECC increases and a number of bits required to store the encoded data also increases.
In order to take advantage of increased error correction capability due to increased codeword length, ECC codewords may be formed that span multiple logical pages of a MLC flash memory. However, storage of multiple pages of data in a controller of a data storage device for encoding into a multi-page codeword may require additional complexity and memory (e.g., random access memory (RAM)) at the controller (and therefore increased cost of manufacture), increased write latency, and/or increased risk of data loss in the event of power loss at the controller before the multi-page codeword can be transferred to non-volatile memory.

Error correction coding in non-volatile memory


An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit for forming an image on a photosensitive drum, a surface potential measurement device for detecting a surface state of the photosensitive drum, a control for optimizing an operating condition of the image forming unit in accordance with a detection value from the surface potential measurement device and a target value, and a temperature/humidity (T.H.) measurement device for detecting an atmospheric condition within the image forming apparatus. The control selects the target value in accordance with a detection value from the T.H. measurement device.

The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus with a humidity measurement device.
In an image formation apparatus such as an electrophotographic copying machine or a printer, it is very important to control image forming conditions and adjust an image density so as to obtain a high-quality image. According to a conventional method of adjusting an image density, a surface potential of a photosensitive body is detected to control image forming conditions such as a charging amount and an exposure amount, thereby correcting influences caused by an atmospheric change of the photosensitive drum and its deterioration of over time. According to another conventional method, atmospheric conditions and the number of copy cycles (prints) are measured to correct the image forming conditions.
However, the charging characteristics of a toner during, e.g., a developing process of an electrophotographic apparatus are greatly influenced by humidity A toner exposed in a low humidity condition provides an image density different from a toner exposed in a high humidity condition even if identical image forming conditions are given. For this reason, in a conventional image forming apparatus, it is difficult to optimally adjust an image density to obtain a high-quality image.

Humidity measurement device and image forming apparatus having the same


A low-voltage switching device includes a housing in which power-electronic components are arranged in the region of ventilation of a fan. In an embodiment, the power-electronic components operate under temperature regulation by virtue of an air flow that is guided asymmetrically proceeding from the fan. Therefore, the low-voltage switching device can be operated at a nominal device current range of up to 650 A as the result of the asymmetrically guided air flow.

In multi-phase power networks, these are three-phase in the vast majority, power electronic devices such as soft starters are used to control the power flow. For this purpose there are power electronic units, also called power modules, in each network phase, which influence the power flow suitably. In soft starters a power module comprises two power electronic components, these are thyristors connected in anti-parallel, which are provided with cooling devices such as heat sinks.
The cooling devices are needed to lead the thermal losses which are produced by the power control in the power electronic components away from the same and therefore to avoid impermissible temperatures in the components.
A further cooling device(s) is/are fans for improving the dissipation of heat from heat sinks. These permit a higher device current or else higher switching cycle numbers.
In soft starters in three-phase networks, the three power modules are frequently loaded virtually symmetrically, so that similarly high power losses and over-temperatures are produced in the same. Differences in the power losses can arise as a result of an unequal voltage level of the three network phase voltages, which cause unequal network phase currents, and as a result of manufacturing tolerances in the let-through behavior of the power electronic components.
One solution known from the prior art resides in equipping each power module with a temperature sensor, in order thus to be able to protect each power module, independently of the others and independently of the existing power loss inequality.
A further solution resides in determining the least beneficially cooled power module by (of thermal measurement and to provide only the module with a temperature sensor. In the case of three power modules arranged beside one another and natural convection, this is the central one, since it is concomitantly heated by its two neighbors and the latter each have a cooler outer side. Given forced convection with fans, this can be each of the three power modules, depending on the direction of rotation of the rotor of the fans and the air flow direction through the power modules.
In the case of cooling with fans, should one of the outer power modules be the hottest and be fitted with the temperature sensor there, a certain temperature margin for the event of a fan defect has to be maintained, since then the central power module becomes the hottest. In addition, a temperature margin has to be incorporated in the design, in order to take the power loss inequality into account. Both result in a certain over-dimensioning of the power modules.
Another solution is the arrangement of all the power electronic components on a common heat sink, so that the latter is then provided with a single temperature sensor. However, this assumes the electrical insulation of the power components of one network phase from that of the other network phases, which is thermally disadvantageous, so that this is practicable only up to a nominal device current level of about 150-200 A.

Low-voltage switching device having an asymmetrically guided air flow-based cooling system


To provide a retainer having excellent moldability and durability while having a predetermined pull-out load and predetermined rotational torque. The retainer includes a nut main body 10 having a female thread 11, longitudinal ribs 13 formed between a plurality of recessed portions 12 and 12 provided along an outer circumferential surface of the nut main body 10, transverse ribs 14 formed between a plurality of recessed portions 12 and 12 provided on the outer circumferential surface of the nut main body 10 along an axial center direction, and the longitudinal ribs 13 and the transverse ribs 14 are connected to each other. Then, the longitudinal ribs 13 and the transverse ribs 14 form a frame structure.

In the related art, as an embedded type nut, for example, there is an insert nut which is insert-molded in a resin base (refer to Patent Literature 1). The insert nut has a shaft portion and a washer integrally molded with an upper end portion of the shaft portion. Two independent annular band portions are formed on an outer circumferential surface of the shaft portion in order to secure a predetermined pull-out load and predetermined rotational torque. Multiple fine spiral grooves are formed on a surface of each of the annular band portions in order to enhance a bonding force with resin. The spiral grooves provided on the upper annular band portion and the spiral grooves provided on the lower annular band portion are formed in different directions.


A repair system and method for wooden power poles which includes a rigid reinforcing post member having a longitudinal bend formed therein and attachable to the outside surface of a pole to be repaired in overlying relation to the weakened rotted portion thereof, and means for attaching a driving mechanism to the upper portion of the reinforcing post member, and including means for attaching adjacent partially overlapped post members to the upper exposed portion of the pole to be repaired.

In the past, various repair systems have been developed for the repair of rotted sections of wooden poles such as are used for electric transmission lines. For the most part; these have included the use of reinforced concrete or plastic encased around the rotted portion of the pole adjacent to the ground line. Such repair systems are objectionable since they all involve on-site mixing of the semiliquid repair material which is frequently very inconvenient and also requires excavating a large annular hole around the pole to permit installation of the reinforcing encasing material around the pole. Such systems are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 961,837, issued Jun. 21, 1910 to Briffod; 966,337, issued Aug. 2, 1910 to Lamb; 1,598,591, issued Aug. 31, 1926 to Barrett; 4,365,451, issued Dec. 28, 1982.
In addition to the use of such concrete or plastic reinforced sleeve constructions, a number of inventors have provided outer reinforcing pole stub elements which are driven into the ground with the upper portions thereof overlapping and attached to the above-ground portions of the pole to be reinforced. While these do not require the preparation and insertion of the semi-liquid encasing material on site, they all require the use of relatively complicated attachment mechanisms which involve either drilling holes through the diameter of the pole and the use of bolt and nut attachment means or, in the alternative, require banding of the reinforcing system to the outside of the exposed portion of the pole immediately above the groundline. None of these systems provide the simplistic, easily installed solution provided by the present invention.

Pole repair and reinforcing system and method for installing the same


This invention provides a composite diffuser plate comprising a light-emitting layer for emitting light, a middle layer for guiding light, and a light-entering layer for entering light, being sequentially stacked downwardly. At least one surface of the middle layer is provided with an array of curved protrusions. Refractive indexes of the light-emitting layer, the middle layer and the light-entering layer are gradually increased. This invention further provides an ultra-thin direct type backlight module. In the composite diffuser plate of this invention, in addition to a gradual increase in refractive indexes of the light-emitting layer, the middle layer and the light-entering layer, the middle layer is provided with a microstructure having curved protrusions, which further enhances diverging effect of emitting angle. The direct-light TV can increase a light-emitting area with a small OD value, and thus improves a LED Mura problem, realizing a slim direct-light TV and enhancing market competitiveness.

With consumer's increasing demanding for the appearance of electronic display products such as TV, notebook and monitor, a thinner and narrower bezel design of a whole TV is highlighted more and more by consumers.
Currently, a TV of edge-light model quickly occupies an ultra-thin TV market due to an achievement of a thinner TV by reducing the size of light emitting diodes (LED), the thickness of a light guide plate, and the thickness of a prism, as well as using a manner of whole pasting and other ways. However, since the price of a light guide plate in a TV of an edge-light model is relatively high, and the number of LED dies used therein is relatively large, this model has no cost advantage, and cannot have a broader market for a low-end consumer group, although it is easier for that model to reach a thinning purpose.
Contract to an edge-light TV, since the cost of a diffuser plate in a backlight structure of a direct-light TV with a same size is lower, and the number of LED dies is relatively less, a direct-light TV has an apparent advantage in price. However, due to a limitation in design, the closer the distance between the diffuser plate and the LED is, the easier it is to see the LED, resulting in a poor qualification. Moreover, since an emitting angle of the LED is limited, a zone between adjacent LEDs is a non-luminous dark area, which forms an uneven brightness area with a neighbor LED emitting area. Although the diffuser plate and the prism have an effect of diffusion and shielding to the light passing through the diffuser plate and the prism, they are not enough to resolve the problem of uneven brightness. When the pitch between the LEDs is larger, it is easier to appear Mura (shadow) in light paths between adjacent LEDs. Thus, it is required the LED density to be large enough. Therefore, if it is willing to let a TV of direct-light model pass a qualification requirement, a sufficient optical distance (OD) value between the diffuser plate and the reflector should be insured so as to prevent an appearance of a LED Mura. Therefore, although a direct-light TV has an advantage in cost in comparison with the edge-light TV, it has an embarrassing situation that fails to get the market share in the field of ultra-thin TV.

Composite diffuser and ultra-thin direct type backlight module

HUIZHOU CHINA STAR OPTOELECTRONICS TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.


A method, computer program, and computer system is provided for compressing a neural network model. One or more coding tree units are identified corresponding to a multi-dimensional tensor associated with a neural network. A set of weight coefficients associated with the coding tree units is unified. A model of the neural network is compressed based on the unified set of weight coefficients.

ISO/IEC MPEG (JTC 1/SC 29/WG 11) has been actively searching for potential needs for standardization of future video coding technology for visual analysis and understanding. The Compact Descriptors for Visual Search (CDVS) standard was adopted by ISO in 2015 as a still-image standard, which extracts feature representations for image similarity matching. The Compact Descriptors for Visual Analysis (CDVA) standard is listed as Part 15 of MPEG 7 and ISO/IEC 15938-15 and was finalized in 2018, which extracts global and local, hand-designed and DNN-based, feature descriptors for video segments. The success of Deep Neural Network (DNN) in a large range of video applications such as semantic classification, target detection/recognition, target tracking, video quality enhancement, etc. poses a strong need for compressing the DNN models. Therefore, MPEG is actively working on the Coded Representation of Neural Network standard (NNR), which encodes DNN models to save both storage and computation.

Neural network model compression with selective structured weight unification