The present invention provides a computing method for accounting, comprising: (a) the first step of installing and storing spreadsheet software capable of creating accounting screens each of which is a matrix of cells including input setting cells and output displaying cells; (b) the second step of storing functional formulas and/or operational expressions for use in determining, based on numerical values entered in the input setting cells, numerical values to be displayed in the output displaying cells; (C) the third step of calling the accounting screens of at least N different kinds to develop and arrange the same on the display; (d) the fourth step of entering a given numerical value in a predetermined input setting cell; and (e) the fifth step of performing predetermined computations, based on the entered, given numerical value, according to the functional formulas and/or operational expressions to display numerical values indicative of the computation results in predetermined output displaying cells so as to complete each of the accounting screens.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a computing method for accounting, and more particularly, to a computing method for accounting for use in a simplified closing system, which simplifies accounting operations of the kind that are based on the double-entry bookkeeping method and makes it possible to input a high volume of data simply and instantaneously.
2. Related Arts
Forms of accounting sheets based on the double-entry bookkeeping method are widely used for accounting. Doing double-entry bookkeeping makes the accounting operations complicated and troublesome. That is why many companies and individuals are retaining experts or accountants to do the bookkeeping.
Instead, the personal computer on which a double-entry bookkeeping application is run can also be used to do the bookkeeping electronically, but in this case, the input processing is complicated, or it requires much time to create financial documents.
As matters now stand, however, regardless of whether the companies and individuals have the experts or spend lots of time and cost for accounting operations, what they can obtain will be terminal accounts and monthly trial balance at the most. The statement of accounts and relevant documents, such as account and financial sheets, which are created in the process of settling accounts, are all important, and they should be kept as the past records.
The accounting operations, however, have essentially another intended object of creating the statement of accounts and other accounting documents each time a transaction is input (entered) so that the financial documents can be a "compass for business management" indicating current circumstances and a perspective on future business. Such an essential object cannot be attained in conventional computing methods for accounting because they are incapable of creating the statement of accounts and other documents each time a transaction is entered.


In a telescopic gun sight, a widened range of displacement for the inverting system is obtained by the arrangement of the inverting system between the objective and the objective image plane, and the arrangement of the reticle in the eyepiece image plane. An improved tiltable mounting of the auxiliary tube containing the inverting system is provided by forming the tiltable joint for the auxiliary tube as flexible or elastic monolithic joint.

This invention relates to a telescopic gun sight. Such sights in various forms are well known in the art.
In typical telescopic sights of the prior art, there is a tubular telescope attached to the gun barrel. The telescope has an objective and an eyepiece or ocular. The target is imaged in the plane of the objective in laterally reversed and upside down orientation. An optical inverting system arranged within the tubular housing serves to erect the image and images it in the plane of the eyepiece, where it is viewed by the eyepiece.
In order to estimate the distance away of the object or sighted target, there is a reticle (a grid of crossed lines) mounted in the objective or eyepiece image plane, in the telescopic gun sights of known construction. In order to obtain a variable magnification, the optical elements of the inverting system of the known sights are made displaceable, and the point of attack or point of action of the displacement device is located in the vicinity of the objective image plane, the necessary path of displacement resulting from the angle of the target line displacement multiplied by the focal length of the objective. In order to change the target line (that is, to make necessary lateral and vertical corrections in the line of sight relative to the gun barrel on which the telescopic sight is mounted to compensate, respectively, for such variables as windage and the effect of gravity on bullet trajectory), it is furthermore known to mount the inverting system tiltably so as to be movable toward all sides in the telescope tube. Such known tiltable inverting systems are often organized within an auxiliary tube pivotally mounted at one end, the pivotal mounting being in the form of a circular or spherical bearing, or comprising a support surface made from an elastomer or other resilient material. It is also known to shift the pivot point of the tilting into the eyepiece image plane.


An electronic device is provided with an activation unit for activating an application wherein character input to a character input area is possible, a memory for storing a predetermined character string corresponding to the application, an operation unit for inputting a first character string and a second character string, a display unit for displaying the first character string and the second character string input from the operation unit, a determination unit for determining whether or not the second character string matches the predetermined character string, and a control unit which, when the determination unit determines that the second character string matches the predetermined character string, functions to control an activation unit to activate an application corresponding to the predetermined character string and functions to input the first character string in the character input area of the application.

Some electronic devices such as cellular telephone devices include: an operation unit that inputs characters; a display unit that displays characters that are input by the operation unit; and a control unit, in which, when a desired application having a character input screen is selected in a state where input characters are displayed, the control unit displays the input characters on the character input screen of the application thus selected (see Patent Document 1).
Patent Document 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application, Publication No. 2009-31971

Electronic device and method for activating application


An electroscopic fluid display comprises substrates (1, 2) having fixed electrodes (12, 22), and movable electrodes (3) between the substrates, the electrodes (12, 22, 3) being provided on the free main surfaces with an insulating layer (13, 23, 31, 32) respectively, and asymmetry of the alternating voltage drive for the electrodes being adapted to the difference in surface properties as regards charge delivery and charge adsorption of facing insulating layers (13, 31; 32, 23), or the alternating voltage drive is symmetrical, and facing insulating layers (13, 31; 32, 23) have substantially the same surface properties as regards charge delivery and charge adsorption. The insulating layer (31, 32) consists preferably, on at least one main surface of the movalbe electrode (3) of anodized electrode material and continuing along (33) the outer peripheral and inner peripheral portions of the perforated movable electrode. The insulating layer on the substrate (1, 2) opposite the insulating layer of anodized metal material (31, 32) on the main surface of the movable electrode (3) consists of an oxide of the same metal material.

A device of the type mentioned above is described in the non-prepublished Netherlands Patent Application No. 860027, corresponding to U.S. Pat. No. 4,807,967.
In this document a problem with electroscopic fluid displays is described, which consists in that during operation electric charge accumulates in or on the insulating layers due to absorption of ions, the amount of absorbed ions increasing in time, also in the case of alternating voltage drive.
The above document also provides a solution for this charge-accumulation problem, namely by using a bare, i.e. having no insulating surface layers, silver movable electrode and fixed electrodes to which a polyimide layer is applied. It has been found, however, that in practice this solution is difficult to implement in particular as regards the lower substrate, since the technology required for the manufacture of an assembly of a lower substrate and movable electrodes annihilates the property of the polyimide that ions formed at the interface between the movable electrode and the non-transparent liquid are not absorbed at the interface.
It is an object of the invention to provide a workable solution to the known charge-accumulation problem.
This object is achieved by a device as described in the opening paragraph, characterized in that the degree of asymmetry of the alternating voltage drive is adapted to the difference in surface properties as regards charge delivery and charge adsorption of opposing insulating layers, or in that the alternating voltage drive is symmetrical, and opposing insulating layers have substantially the same surface properties as regards charge delivery and charge absorption.
For example, in a strongly injecting insulating layer the driving period can be relatively short, whereas in the case of a small absorbing opposing insulating layer the driving period can be relatively long. In practice, a symmetrical alternating voltage drive is probably to be preferred.
It is to be noted, that in the above document a description is given of an embodiment in which opposing insulating layers are made of the same material, i.e. silicon oxide, so that the insulating layers may have the same surface properties as regards charge delivery and charge adsorption. However, as is described in the document, the silicon oxide layers are applied to the main surfaces of the movable electrode, which consists of aluminum, to enhance the brightness of the picture to be displayed by the electroscopic fluid display and to provide an additional measure against short circuits between the movable electrode and the fixed electrode. In this connection, reference is made to the prepublished Netherlands Patent Application No.84 03 536, in which a description is given of an identical structure having opposing insulating layers consisting of silicon oxide, the layers each being provided with a monolayer of a silane compound which prevents charge adsorption by the respective insulating layer.
In accordance with the present invention, such monolayers of compounds containing, in general, polar and apolar groups are not necessary, while the combination of pairwise opposing identical insulating layers in combination with a pure alternating voltage drive is proposed for the first time as a possible measure to prevent charge accumulation.
An advantageous embodiment of the electroscopic fluid display is characterized according to the invention in that on at least one main surface of the movable electrode the insulating layer consists of anodized metal material of the movable electrode, and the insulating layer continues along the outer and inner peripheral portions of the perforated movable electrode, and in that the insulating layer on the substrate opposite the insulating layer of anodized metal material on the main surface of the movable electrode consists of an oxide of the same metal material.
This is also a solution in which opposing insulating layers are made of the same dielectric material, the dielectric material being obtained on at least one main surface of the movable electrode by anodizing the movable electrode, the apertures of the perforated movable walls determining the electrode and the side walls of the movable electrode also being provided with an insulating layer of anodized electrode metal, such that, as will be obvious, less charge carriers, such as ions, are injected into the contrast liquid in the electroscopic fluid display, which contributes to a reduction of the charge adsorption.
In a preferred embodiment, the movable aluminum electrode including, for example, circular apertures, is embedded in aluminum oxide obtained by anodizing the complete movable electrode, while aluminum oxide layers are applied to both substrates by, for example, sputtering.
Since the movable electrode is provided on at least one of its main surfaces with an insulating layer obtained by anodizing, an additional advantage can be obtained since in the case of a single anodic layer warpage of the movable electrode can be compensated or remedied by adjusting the thickness of the layer and, in the case of a movable aluminum electrode embedded in aluminum oxide the absence of warpage can be maintained.
The invention further relates to a method of manufacturing an electroscopic fluid display by providing a first structured electrode layer on a lower substrate, providing a first insulating layer on the lower substrate which is provided with the first structured electrode layer, providing a polymer layer on the first insulating layer, providing a second insulating layer on the polymer layer, providing a second structured electrode layer on the second insulating layer, selectively etching the second insulating layer using the second structured electrode layer as a mask, underetching the second insulating layer via the second structured electrode layer and, hence, selectively etching the polymer layer, providing an identically structured third insulating layer on the second structured electrode layer, the second structured electrode layer having such a pattern and the underetching being carried out such that a number of rotatable perforated electrodes is obtained which are interconnected by resilient connecting pieces which are supported by respective polymer supports, providing a fourth insulating layer on a transparent substrate and, finally, interconnecting the substrates in a tightly sealed manner, such that the third and the fourth insulating layer contact one another.
Such a method is known from the non-prepublished Netherlands Patent Application stated hereinbefore.
By means of this known method a movable electrode is obtained whose inner peripheral walls and side walls, which determine the apertures in the movable electrode, are not coated with an insulating layer, such that injection of the charge carrier into the contrast liquid may occur.
In accordance with the above stated object of the invention, it is an object to overcome this disadvantage also.

Method of manufacturing an improved electroscopic fluid display


An infrared radiation reflecting transparent layer system on a transparent substrate and a method for producing same is provided. The infrared radiation reflecting layer system comprises an infrared radiation reflecting layer sequence which includes a selective function usually consisting of a noble metal, mostly silver, or an alloy thereof and having a good selective reflectivity in the infrared range. The layer sequence is supplemented by at least one transparent dielectric layer of an oxynitride of a metal, a semiconductor or a semiconductor alloy having a low to moderate refractive index arranged directly on the substrate or above the infrared radiation reflecting layer sequence.

The present invention relates to an infrared radiation reflecting layer system on a transparent substrate having a sequence of layers that are applied to the substrate and reflect infrared radiation. The sequence of layers includes at least one selective function layer.
The invention also relates to a method for manufacturing such a layer system in which an infrared radiation reflecting layer sequence is applied to a transparent substrate by a suitable method.
In general, an infrared radiation reflecting layer system (low-E layer system) comprises the function layer, a base layer that improves adhesion of the function layer and a reflection reducing top layer, whereby the individual layers may repeat within the layer system. The function layer, usually consisting of a noble metal, mostly silver, or an alloy thereof, has a good selective reflectivity in the infrared range even with a small layer thickness. If only one function layer is arranged in the layer system, this is often referred to as a "single low-E" system.
The top layer also serves to improve the mechanical and chemical stability, in addition to reducing reflection. It is usually made of a highly refractive dielectric material containing silicon. To increase the transmittance of the layer system in the visible range, these reflection-reducing layers are arranged above and beneath the selective function layer.
Such infrared radiation reflecting transparent layer systems are also subjected to tempering processes to harden and/or shape the substrate. In this case they have a layer sequence having layer properties such that a substrate having this layer system may be subjected to a heat treatment and any changes that occur in the optical, mechanical and chemical properties of the layer system may be kept within defined limits. Depending on the application of a coated substrate, its layer system is exposed to different climate conditions in different time regimens during the tempering process.
Because of different thermal loads to which the layer sequences already applied are subjected, various processes that alter the reflectivity of the function layer and the transmittance of the layer system occur in the course of production of the following layers of the layer system and the tempering process, in particular diffusion of components of the reflection reducing layer into the function layer and vice versa. To prevent such diffusion processes, a blocking layer that serves as a buffer for the diffusing components is inserted between the reflection-reducing layer and the function layer. These blocking layers are structured and arranged according to the thermal burden that occurs and protect the sensitive function layer, which is often very thin or the function layers from the influence of neighboring layers. In particular shifts in color of the layer system and an increase in surface resistance of the layer system due to the tempering process are prevented by the introduction of one or more blocking layers.
In particular NiCr or NiCrOx layers are known as blocking layers for temporable layer systems. For example DE 035 43 178 and EP 1 174 379 describe blocking layers which include silver layer(s) or at least protect them on one side. However, the blocking layers cause a reduction in conductivity of the silver layer(s). If a silver layer with a surface resistance of approx. 5 ohm/sq. [sic] is deposited and embedded in two NiCrOx layers, this embedding may lead to an increase in the surface resistance by approx. 1.5 ohm/sq. to 6.5 ohm/sq. [sic].
EP 0 999 192 B1 describes a layer system including a silver layer as a selective function layer which is provided with a blocking layer of nickel or nickel chromium on both sides. By introducing an NiCrOx layer into the functional silver layer in a single low E system, the layer system is stabilized in the heat treatment. The disadvantage is that with this layer system, each individual layer of the two silver partial layers must be approximately 7 to 8 nm thick to prevent the formation of islands with the silver partial layers. This in turn leads to a low transmittance of the layer system. Furthermore, EP 0 999 192 B1 discloses the use of a substoichiometric TiOx layer between the blocking layer and the silver layer, which should reduce the so-called haze formation, i.e., the change in optical properties of the function layer due to diffusion processes into the function layer. However, this absorbent TiOx layer undergoes oxidation during the heat treatment, resulting in significant changes in the transmittance and a shift in the preset color locus.
EP 1 238 950 A2 discloses a temperable layer system that is provided with NiCrOx layers as blocking layers on both sides of a silver layer as the sensitive layer.
Furthermore, dielectric interface layers are provided in this layer system and are situated above and below the blocking layers. Such layers have various stabilizing effects on the layer system and also act as a diffusion barrier during the tempering processes.
Furthermore, EP 1 238 950 describes the use of gradient layers in stabilization of heat-treatable layer systems. The disadvantage here is that the SiNx layer is beneath the blocking layer so that the electric surface resistance and thus the emissivity of the layer system are not reduced. In this approach, several layer sequences of sensitive silver layers with underlayers and two blocking layers enclosing the respective silver layer are provided.
DE 100 46 810 also discloses the application of metallic blocking layers which form a gradient layer with the silver as the function layer in a transitional area between the two layers. The reflection-reducing layer may also consist of several metal oxide layers with a gradient layer consisting of two neighboring individual layers between them.
The use of metal oxides for the reflection reducing layer does not constitute an optimal approach so the reflection reducing layer in DE 101 31 932 consists of several individual layers of different metal nitrides, whereby the amount of material in a layer is reduced from initially 100% to 0% and the amount of material in the neighboring individual layer is increased from 0% to 100% to the same extent. However, it has been found that this layer system also fails to ensure the desired transmittance.
It has been found that these different layer structures are still too sensitive for climate changes and only special tempering processes are suitable despite the various measures employed, so that they cannot be manufactured in a satisfactory quality or yield when there are demanding or definitely different climate conditions.
These layer systems have quality problems in production, even in the case of raw glass in undefined starting states, i.e., a fluctuating chemical composition of the glass, in particular with regard to its sodium content. Furthermore, other glass influences such as corrosion or impressions of the section devices that are used in handling the glass and are often not detectable by visual inspections and cannot be eliminated by the usual cleaning operations, cause unwanted changes in the properties of the layer system. With such glass influences, it is a particular disadvantage that their effects on the properties of the layer system become visible only after the tempering process.

Infrared reflecting layer system for transparent substrate


A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate having a first surface being an element formation surface, and a second surface opposite to the first surface; a through-hole formed to penetrate the semiconductor substrate from the first surface to the second surface; an insulating film formed on an inner wall of the through-hole; a barrier film formed on the inner wall of the through-hole with the insulating film interposed therebetween; and a conductive portion formed to fill the through-hole provided with the insulating film and the barrier film. A gettering site is formed in a portion of the semiconductor substrate around the through-hole at least near a side of the first surface.

The present disclosure relates to semiconductor devices including through electrodes, and methods of manufacturing the devices.
In recent years, for higher integration of semiconductor devices and integration of various types of semiconductor devices, stacked semiconductor devices formed by stacking a plurality of semiconductor chips in a package have been developed. In most of them, the semiconductor devices to be stacked are electrically connected by wire bonding with a relay substrate such as an interposer interposed between the semiconductor devices. In this structure, since drawn-around wiring for connecting the semiconductor chips is long, parasitic capacitance in the wiring increases with an increase in wiring resistance. This increases an RC delay to limit high-speed operation. In addition, since the area for drawing around the wires increases the size of the entire semiconductor device, miniaturization and reduction in the height of the device have been also limited.
A method of connecting semiconductor devices to be stacked using through electrodes formed by filling through-holes formed in semiconductor devices with metal or conductive resin is known as a solution. (See, for example, Japanese Patent Publication No. 2003-309221). With this structure, the semiconductor devices to be stacked can be connected at the minimum distance, and thus, the interconnection length can be reduced as compared to connection by wire bonding, thereby reducing interconnection resistance and parasitic capacitance. As a result, RC delays are reduced to enable high-speed operation. In addition, since the region for drawing around the wires is not required, only the sizes of the semiconductor devices to be stacked themselves determine the size of the entire stacked semiconductor device. Moreover, the thicknesses of the semiconductor devices to be stacked are reduced, thereby reducing the height of the staked semiconductor device, and thus, the size of the entire semiconductor device can be reduced as compared to the conventional structure.
FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view of a conventional semiconductor device including a through electrode. As shown in FIG. 13, in a conventional semiconductor device 200, a through-hole 211 is formed in a semiconductor substrate 210 having a first surface 210a which is an integrated circuit formation surface, and a second surface 210b which is opposite to the first surface 210a. The through-hole 211 extends from the first surface 210a to the second surface 210b. An interlayer insulating film 212 including an interconnect layer 213 is formed on the first surface 210a. The through-hole 211 is also formed in the interlayer insulating film 212 to reach the interconnect layer 213. An insulating film 214 is formed on the inner walls of the through-hole 211 and on the second surface 210b. A barrier film 215 is formed on the inner walls of the through-hole 211 with the insulating film 214 interposed therebetween. A conductive portion 216, which serves as a through electrode, is formed to fill the through-hole 211 provided with the insulating film 214 and the barrier film 215. The insulating film 214 electrically insulates the semiconductor substrate 210 from the conductive portion 216. The barrier film 215 reduces diffusion of a conductive material forming the conductive portion 216 into the semiconductor substrate 210.
A method of manufacturing the semiconductor device 200 shown in FIG. 13 will be described below.
First, after forming an integrated circuit etc. (not shown) on the first surface 210a of the semiconductor substrate 210, the interlayer insulating film 212, which includes the interconnect layer 213 electrically connected to the integrated circuit, is formed on the first surface 210a. Then, the back surface (i.e., the surface opposite to the first surface 210a) of the semiconductor substrate 210 is mechanically polished/ground or chemically polished/ground to reduce the thickness of the semiconductor substrate 210. After that, the through-hole 211 is formed from the second surface 210b, which is a new surface of the back surface of the semiconductor substrate 210, to expose the interconnect layer 213 inside the through-hole 211. Next, after forming the insulating film 214 on the inner walls of the through-hole 211 and on the second surface 210b, the barrier film 215 is formed on the inner walls of the through-hole 211 with the insulating film 214 interposed therebetween. Then, the through-hole 211 provided with the insulating film 214 and the barrier film 215 is filled with the metal material to form the conductive portion 216, which serves as a through electrode.


A transformer with good insulation is disclosed. The transformer includes a bobbin, an insulating shell and a core structure. The bobbin is wound with a secondary winding. The insulating shell encloses the bobbin and the insulating shell is wound with a primary winding. Further, the core structure is magnetically coupled to the primary winding and the secondary winding.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a transformer, and more particularly to a transformer with good insulation.
2. Description of the Related Art
Generally, because the secondary side of a transformer has a high voltage, it is generally necessary to insulate the secondary winding to prevent the electric elements or users from being harmed by high voltage. However, there are many shortcomings to several conventional method of insulating the secondary winding.
A conventional transformer, as shown in FIG. 1a, is composed of a bobbin 10a, a core structure and an insulating shell 30. The core structure comprises two E type cores 50 which are coupled together by being inserted into the two ends of the bobbin 10a respectively. The bobbin has a primary side 20a and a secondary side 20b. The primary side 20a is provided with a primary winding (not shown) and the secondary side 20b is provided with a secondary winding (not shown). The primary side 20a is separated from the secondary side 20b by a first separating flange 25. In addition, the primary winding is electrically coupled to at least one of the primary pins 21, and the second winding is electrically coupled to at least one of the secondary pins 22. The secondary side 20b further comprises a plurality of secondary flanges 27 for producing several dividing voltages. Namely, the primary winding and the secondary winding are formed along the same axis of one bobbin. Moreover, the transformer further comprises an insulating shell 30 to insulate the secondary winding from outside. The insulating shell 30 encloses the whole bobbin 10a.
However, in the conventional transformer shown in FIG. 1a, because only the first flange 25 is used to insulate the secondary winding from the primary winding, the primary winding is not completely insulated from the secondary winding. The creepage distance between the primary winding and the secondary winding may be not enough when the primary winding and the secondary winding are formed at the primary side 20a and the secondary side respectively, due to poor design or error in the production process, for example, the first flange 25 is too low or the secondary winding is wound too thick. In this case, the high voltage at the secondary winding may be short-circuited to the primary winding, thereby decreasing the efficiency of the transformer.
Another conventional method is to insulate the secondary winding by using an insulating glue. In FIG. 1b, a conventional transformer with an insulating glue is comprised of a bobbin 10b, a core structure and a container 60. The core structure comprises two E type cores 50 which are coupled together by being inserted into the two ends of the bobbin 10a respectively. The bobbin 100 has a primary side 20a and a secondary side 20b. The primary side 20a is provided with a primary winding (not shown) and the secondary side 20b is provided with a secondary winding (not shown). The primary side 20a is separated from the secondary side 20b by a first separating flange 25. In addition, the primary winding is electrically coupled to a least one of the primary pins 21, and the second winding is electrically coupled to a least one of the secondary pins 22. The secondary side 20b further comprises a plurality of second flanges 27 to produce several dividing voltages. Namely, the primary winding and the secondary winding are along the same axis direction of one bobbin. The transformer further comprises a container 60 to hold the secondary winding from the environment. The container 60 is used to include the bobbin 10b and the core structure. The insulating glue is added into the container 60 to insulate the secondary winding from environment.
However, the transformer shown in FIG. 1b not only has the problem about creepage distance, but it is also difficult to implement the transformer in the Surface Mount Device (SMD) type. Instead, the transformer must be implemented in stitch type because the bobbin 10b must be placed in the container 60. However, it is very difficult to control the potting height to cover the bobbin 10b but still expose the pins 21 and 22 because the pins 21 and 22 in the transformer of the SMD type and the lower surface of the bobbin 100 are almost in the same plane. Furthermore, the insulating glue must be added in a vacuum environment to prevent bubbles from being formed when the insulating glue is added into the container 60.
In view of this, it is desirable to develop a novel transformer to solve the problems mentioned above.
An object of the present invention is to provide a transformer wherein the high voltage side (secondary side) is insulated completely. The transformer of the present invention comprises a bobbin, an insulating shell and a core structure. The surface of the bobbin is provided with a plurality of flanges, a plurality of secondary side pins and secondary winding. The flanges are formed on the surface of the bobbin to form a plurality of slots on the surface of the bobbin. A conductive wire is wound on those slots to form the secondary winding. The secondary winding is electrically coupled to the pins.
The insulating shell is comprised of an upper insulating cover and a lower insulating cover, wherein the upper insulating cover covers the top surface of the bobbin and the lower insulating cover covers the bottom surface of the bobbin. Namely, the secondary winding and surface thereof are enclosed by the upper insulating cover and the lower insulating cover. Consequently, the secondary winding of the bobbin is completely electrical insulated from the environment. Moreover, another conductive wire is wound on the insulating shell to server as the primary winding and electrically coupled to the primary pins.
The upper insulating cover further comprises a top extending board, and the lower insulating cover further comprises a bottom extending board. The top extending board and the bottom extending board extend beyond the secondary pins. Alternatively, the top extending board and the bottom extending board enclose the secondary pins exactly.


A key input apparatus includes a light beam source, a plurality of input keys operable for varying the color of a light beam or intercepting a group or groups of light beams, an optical detector for detecting variations in the color of the light beam or interception of the group or groups of light beams, and a circuit for identifying operated keys based on outputs of the optical detector.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to key input apparatus and, more particularly, to key input apparatus utilizing light beams.
2. Description of the Background Art
Referring to FIG. 13 of the drawing, there is schematically shown a conventional key input apparatus. In the conventional key input apparatus, a plurality of input keys 41 are connected between an input port 44 and an output port 45 in an interface section 43. These input keys 41 comprise electric switches arranged in a matrix formed on a circuit board. Operated input keys are identified on the basis of state changes in the circuits associated therewith.
However, the conventional key input apparatus as noted above requires an expensive material for the contact of each input key 41. Further, the switching operations of the input keys 41 generate undesirable electromagnetic waves, and measures must be taken to prevent electromagnetic interference. The conventional key input apparatus, therefore, is expensive and has a complicated circuit construction in the interface section 43.

Key input apparatus with light-shielding plates and liquid crystal shutter


A micromechanical acceleration sensor having a substrate, a suspension, a seismic mass, and stationary capacitive electrodes, in which the seismic mass is suspended over the substrate with the help of the suspension, the seismic mass has a mass center of gravity, the suspension has at least two anchors on the substrate, the two anchors are situated on opposite sides of the mass center of gravity, the distance between the two anchors being small compared to a horizontal extension of the seismic mass, the two anchors determine a central axis, the seismic mass have recesses which are situated on opposite sides of the central axis and are laterally open outward on the sides facing away from the central axis, and the stationary electrodes at least engage in the recesses of the seismic mass.

Other micromechanical acceleration sensors are discussed in European Patent Application EP 1626283 A1 and in the translation of European Patent DE 60311281 T2.
A basic principle of acceleration sensors is that a seismic mass is installed with the aid of a suspension on a substrate, movably with respect to stationary electrodes. Mechanical stresses between the substrate and the suspension or the seismic mass may be caused by different thermal expansion coefficients and/or warping between the substrate, the stationary electrodes, and the seismic mass having the movable electrodes. The mechanical and electrical properties of the acceleration sensor may be affected thereby.

Micromechanical acceleration sensor having an open seismic mass


Disclosed is a method that enables a smart card to exchange data with an apparatus, which is intended to supply the smart card with a permanent clock signal in a permanent mode of operation. The method according to the invention includes the steps of detecting, in the course of the permanent mode of operation, of an impending disappearance of the permanent clock signal, wherein the detecting step includes a comparison of the value of the amplitude of the permanent clock signal with a predetermined value; and substituting an auxiliary clock signal for the permanent clock signal. The invention enables the smart card to receive, after the disappearance of the permanent clock signal, a number of clock pulses which suffices for completing pending read/write operations.

The present invention relates to a method enabling a smart card to exchange data with an apparatus which includes an oscillator which is referred to as a permanent oscillator and is intended to supply the smart card with a clock signal, referred to as a permanent clock signal, in a permanent mode of operation.
A smart card includes an integrated circuit which is disposed on its surface and is provided with terminals for electrically contacting terminals of a connector which is accommodated in the apparatus which is usually an apparatus intended to receive and/or transmit data, such as a portable radio telephone, or a computer connected to a network, or a television signal decoder. The integrated circuit generally contains data necessary for the operation of the apparatus, for example a code enabling identification of the user having inserted the smart card into the apparatus, and the functions that the apparatus is allowed to offer to the relevant user.
The interactions between the apparatus and the smart card are described in a standard ISO/IEC 7816-3:1997.
A so-called activation phase of the smart card takes place in two steps: in a first mode of operation, referred to as a transitory mode of operation, the system formed by the combination of the smart card and the apparatus is not yet operational. The apparatus must first detect the presence of the smart card and then set the integrated circuit disposed on its surface to its nominal operating conditions, that is to say inter alia to provide it with a power supply voltage or to initialize data paths so that the integrated circuit can communicate with the apparatus. In a second mode of operation, referred to as the permanent mode of operation, the integrated circuit is supplied with a voltage and receives a permanent clock signal of a frequency which is called the operating frequency, and the data paths are ready to transport information between the integrated circuit and the apparatus. In the course of the transitory mode of operation the integrated circuit must receive a transitory clock signal whose frequency may differ from the operating frequency. Use is preferably made of a signal having a so-called transitory frequency which is lower than the operating frequency, thus enabling a reduction of the energy consumption of the integrated circuit in the transitory mode. Such a choice is particularly advantageous in the case of applications where the energy source used to supply the integrated circuit with its supply voltage is formed by a battery as is usually the case for a portable apparatus. Thus, at the end of the transitory mode of operation, the system has to switch over the signal applied as the clock signal to the integrated circuit provided on the surface of the smart card. Such switching over is performed by a switching device which, in response to a relevant command, replaces the transitory clock signal, constituting the clock signal of the integrated circuit in the course of the transitory mode of operation, by the permanent clock signal which is intended to constitute the clock signal of the integrated circuit in the permanent mode of operation.
The standard ISO/IEC 7816-3:1997 concisely describes a deactivation sequence for the smart card. Such deactivation takes place upon conclusion of a data exchange between the apparatus and the integrated circuit provided on the surface of the smart card, i.e. after the permanent mode has reached an end. Deactivation of the smart card must also take place when the power supply for the apparatus is untimely interrupted before the end of the permanent mode of operation, either by the user himself or by accident.
The deactivation sequence described in the standard ISO/IEC 7816-3:1997 specifies, without more detail, that the clock signal applied to the integrated circuit by the apparatus must be placed on hold in a low state which is formed by a logic level 0. However, if the interruption of the power supply for the apparatus is untimely, it may occur that the exchange of data between the apparatus and the integrated circuit has not yet been completed when the above-described deactivation takes place. This means that the integrated circuit still requires some clock pulses, for example in order to complete read/write operations taking place in a non-volatile memory included in the integrated circuit.
A pure and simple disappearance of the clock signal, such as described in the standard ISO/IEC 7816-3: 1997 thus involves the risk of inducing a loss of information, leading to incorrect information stored in the integrated circuit. This is not acceptable, particularly when taking into account the fact that the information stored in the integrated circuit of a smart card generally serves to protect and/or invoice financial transactions or communications.
It is an object of the present invention to remedy the described drawbacks by proposing a deactivation method enabling the integrated circuit disposed on the surface of the smart card to complete all read/write operations taking place at the instant of occurrence of an interruption of the power supply for the apparatus.
A method of the kind set forth in the opening paragraph according to the invention is characterized in that it includes the following steps:
detection, in the course of the permanent mode of operation, of an impending disappearance of the permanent clock signal before such a disappearance effectively takes place,
substitution of an auxiliary clock signal for the permanent clock signal.
According to this method, the permanent clock signal is replaced, before its effective disappearance, by an auxiliary clock signal. The integrated circuit disposed on the surface of the smart card thus receives, after the disappearance of the permanent clock signal, a number of clock pulses which suffices to complete all read/write operations taking place.
According to an alternative version of the invention, the auxiliary clock signal is formed by the transitory clock signal, so that it is not necessary to take recourse to a supplementary oscillator.
In a further version of the invention, the described method includes, inserted before the step for substituting the auxiliary clock signal for the permanent clock signal, a step for synchronizing these signals.
Such synchronization enables the prevention of untimely arrival of an active clock edge at the integrated circuit provided on the surface of the smart card. Such an untimely edge would occur if an active edge of the transitory clock signal were to appear before an active edge of the permanent clock signal, after the substitution of the transitory clock signal for the permanent clock signal has taken place but so early that said active front of the transitory clock signal cannot be taken into account by the integrated circuit, notably because of the existence of excessively long critical paths within said integrated circuit.
A further version of the described method according to the invention is characterized in that said detection consists of a comparison of the value of a supply voltage for the apparatus with a predetermined value.
Another version of the described method according to the invention is characterized in that the detection consists of a comparison of the value of the amplitude of the permanent clock signal with a predetermined value.
The invention also relates to an apparatus for carrying out said method, which apparatus includes:
a connector which is to be electrically connected to an integrated circuit present on the surface of said smart card and has at least one terminal which is referred to as a clock terminal and is intended to apply a clock signal to said integrated circuit,
a microcontroller which is intended to exchange data with said integrated circuit,
an oscillator which is referred to as a permanent oscillator and is intended to generate a permanent clock signal, and
a switching device which is intended to direct the permanent clock signal to the clock terminal in a permanent mode of operation,
which apparatus is characterized in that it also includes:
detection means for detecting an impending disappearance of the permanent clock signal, and
control means which enable, in the course of the permanent mode of operation, an auxiliary clock signal to be directed to the clock terminal upon detection of an impending disappearance of the permanent clock signal.
In such an apparatus the auxiliary clock signal is directed to the clock terminal of the connector as soon as an impending disappearance of the permanent clock signal is detected.
An attractive embodiment of the apparatus according to the invention also includes an interface module via which the smart card is intended to exchange data with the microcontroller, said interface module including an oscillator which is referred to as a transitory oscillator and is intended to supply the clock terminal with a transitory clock signal in a transitory mode of operation, said transitory clock signal constituting the auxiliary clock signal.
Because the interface module is realized in integrated form, and hence is powered by a voltage which is much lower than the voltage required by the apparatus for generating the permanent clock signal, the transitory clock signal will persist much longer than the permanent clock signal after the interruption of the power supply of the apparatus. This delay is sufficient to supply the integrated circuit with a number of clock pulses which suffices for completing all pending read/write operations.

Method enabling an exchange of data between a smart card and an apparatus


A nozzle for controlling the flow of fluids into and/or out of a hydrocarbon-bearing reservoir comprises a fluid passage extending between first and second openings. The passage comprises a flow adjusting region for increasing the velocity of fluids injected into the reservoir and for choking steam produced from the reservoir.

Subterranean hydrocarbon reservoirs are generally accessed by one or more wells that are drilled into the reservoir to access hydrocarbon materials contained therein. Such materials (or simply "hydrocarbons") are then brought to the surface through tubing, namely production tubing, that is provided within the wells.
The wellbores drilled into the reservoirs may be vertical or horizontal or at any angle there-between. In some cases, where the hydrocarbons comprise relatively viscous materials, such as heavy oil and the like, steam, gas, or other fluids, typically of a lower density, may be injected into one or more sections of the reservoir to stimulate the flow of the hydrocarbons into production tubing provided in the wellbore. Steam Assisted Gravity Drainage, "SAGD", is one example of a process that is used to stimulate the flow of viscous oil. In a SAGD operation, a number of well pairs, each typically comprising a horizontal well, are drilled into a reservoir. Each of the well pairs comprises a steam injection well and a production well, with the steam injection well being positioned vertically above the production well. In operation, steam is injected into the injection well to heat and reduce the viscosity of surrounding hydrocarbon materials, in particular viscous, heavy oil material. After steam treatment, the hydrocarbon material, now mobilized after being heated, drains into the production well located below the injection well by gravity. The hydrocarbons are subsequently pumped to the surface through the production tubing.
Cyclic Steam Stimulation, "CSS", is another hydrocarbon production method where steam is used to enhance the mobility of viscous hydrocarbon materials. In a CSS process, a single well is used to first inject steam into the reservoir through tubing, generally production tubing. After the steam injection stage, the heat from the steam is allowed to be absorbed into the reservoir, a stage referred to as "shut-in" or "soaking", during which the viscosity of the hydrocarbon material is reduced. Following the shut-in stage, the hydrocarbons are brought to the surface, as described above, in a production stage.
Tubing used in wellbores typically comprises a number of segments, or tubulars, that are connected together. Various tools may also be provided along the length of the tubing and positioned in line with adjacent tubulars. The tubing, for either steam injection and/or hydrocarbon production, generally includes a number of apertures, or ports, along its length. The ports provide a means for injection of steam and/or other viscosity reducing agents, and/or for the inflow of hydrocarbon materials from the reservoir into the pipe and thus into the production tubing. The segments of tubing having ports are also often provided with one or more filtering devices, such as sand screens, which serve to prevent or mitigate against sand and other solid debris in the well from entering the tubing.
One of the problems known in the art involves the preferential introduction of steam into production tubing over the desired hydrocarbon material. This generally occurs as steam, or other low density material found in reservoirs, is more mobile than the hydrocarbon material due to its lower density. Further, this problem arises in one or more discrete locations along the length of the production tubing. To address the above-noted problem, steps are often taken to attempt to limit or throttle steam production into the production tubing, and to thereby increase the overall production rate of hydrocarbon materials by increasing the hydrocarbon to steam ratio of the materials brought to the surface. As also known in the art, due to the length of tubing that is used in a typical hydrocarbon well (which may be in the range of several thousand meters), steps must often be taken to ensure that the injection of steam and/or other such materials, where needed, is accomplished generally evenly along the length of the tubing so as to avoid preferential stimulation of one or more regions of the reservoir.
Various nozzles, or flow control devices, have been proposed to control the flow of steam out of and into tubing, such as production tubing. In some cases, a device such as a flow restrictor or similar nozzle is provided on a "base pipe" of the tubing to impede the inflow of steam etc. during the production phase and to accelerate the flow of steam in desired sections during a steam injection phase. Examples of such flow control devices are described in the following references: U.S. Pat. Nos. 9,518,455; 9,638,000; 9,027,642; 7,419,002; 8,689,883; and, 9,249,649, and 8,496,059.
Further flow control nozzles are described in Applicant's co-pending application numbers PCT/CA2019/050636 and PCT/CA2019/050942, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
There exists a need for an improved flow control means to control or limit the introduction of steam into production tubing and which can also serve to control the flow of steam from production tubing into a reservoir.

Nozzle for steam injection and steam choking


A masking addition operation apparatus for prevention of a side channel attack, includes a random value generation unit generating a first random value for a first input, second random value for a second input, and a summation random value. The masking addition operation apparatus includes an operation part performing an operation on the first and second random values, a previous carry input, and first and second masked random values generated based on the first and second random values. The masking addition operation apparatus includes a carry generator generating a carry input using a result of the operation part; and a summation bit generator generating a summation bit using the summation random value, the first and second random values, the previous carry input and the first and second masked random values.

In order to prevent side channel attack, a method of masking random value is usually used. According to the method of masking random value, a plain text to be encrypted is masked by perform XOR operation with an arbitrary random value at the beginning of an encryption process, and after finishing the encryption process, a cipher, which is a result of the encryption process, is unmasked by perform XOR operation again with the arbitrary random value.
Meanwhile, a symmetric encryption algorithm uses an addition operation such as SEED. Such addition operation unit is constructed by combination of carry save adders, as shown in FIG. 1.
As shown in FIG. 1, conventional addition operation unit calculates a sum bit sumi by performing XOR operation between two inputs 'ai' and 'bi', and previous carry input cai-1, and performing AND operation between two inputs 'ai' and 'bi', and the previous carry input cai-1. Then, the conventional addition operation unit performs XOR operation to the result of the AND operation above, and then outputs a carry cai.
An addition operation unit of N bits can be constructed by connecting carries of the above explained addition operation unit.
However, such addition operation unit may be vulnerable to a side channel attack since the operation is performed with two inputs 'ai' and 'bi' exposed. Moreover, such addition operation unit has a difficulty in processing a masked data input in an encryption algorithm. To solve this, general addition operation units calculate a masked random valued before input not with XOR operation but with addition operation. However, when using the addition operation, it causes a lot of additional operation, increase of hardware area, and performance degradation. Moreover, it has to add XOR masking operation after performing a masking addition operation.
Due to above mentioned drawbacks, a masked value is changed due to the addition operation in the symmetric encryption algorithm using the addition operation. Accordingly, it is hard to unmask the masked value. In this algorithm, a XOR masking operation needs to be converted to a masking addition operation before the addition operation, and, after the addition operation, the converted operation needs to be re-converted. Such converting operation requires too complex algorithm that increase complexity of hardware and decreases efficiency of operation.

Masking addition operation device for prevention of side channel attack

Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute


Systems and methods according to the invention provide a surveillance, monitoring and real-time events platform to (i) enable the integration and communication of information between government agencies and organizations specifically tasked with ensuring the security and safety of our nation and its communities, (ii) to integrate information systems from federal, state and/or local agencies (from disparate data sources if necessary) in order to obtain a single, real-time view of the entire organization, and (iii) to extract more complete, actionable information from their existing systems, thereby dramatically improving decision making speed and accuracy.

The invention pertains to surveillance, monitoring and real-time event processing. It has application in public health & bioterrorism, border and port security, public and community safety, and government data integration, to name a few.
Today, national, state, and local governments are challenged to achieve unprecedented levels of cooperation in and among agencies and organizations charged with protecting the safety of communities. Many of these organizations use either proprietary or incompatible technology infrastructures that need to be integrated in order to provide real-time, critical information for effective event monitoring and coordinated emergency response. Information must be shared instantaneously and among numerous entities to effectively identify and respond to a potential threat or emergency-related event.
Significant efforts are underway along these lines, for example, in the public health and bioterrorism arena. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has launched several initiatives toward forming nationwide networks of shared health-related information that, when fully implemented, will facilitate the rapid identification of, and response to, health and bioterrorism threats. The CDC plans the Health Alert Network (HAN), for example, to provide infrastructure supporting for distribution of health alerts, disease surveillance, and laboratory reporting. The Public Health Information Network (PHIN) is another CDC initiative that will provide detailed specifications for the acquisition, management, analysis and dissemination of health-related information, building upon the HAN and other CDC initiatives, such as the National Electronic Disease Surveillance System (NEDSS).
While these initiatives, and others like them in both health and non-health-related fields, define functional requirements and set standards for interoperability of the IT systems that hospitals, laboratories, government agencies and others will use in forming the nationwide networks, they do not solve the problem of finding data processing equipment capable of meeting those requirements and standards.
It is not uncommon for a single enterprise, such as a hospital, for example, to have several separate database systems to track medical records, patient biographical data, hospital bed utilization, vendors, and so forth. The same is true of the government agencies charged with monitoring local, state and national health. In each enterprise, different data processing systems might have been added at different times throughout the history of the enterprise and, therefore, represent differing generations of computer technology. Integration of these systems at the enterprise level is difficult enough; it would be impossible on any grander scale. This is a major impediment to surveillance, monitoring and real-time events processing in public health and bioterrorism. Similar issues result in parallel problems in border and port security, public and community safety, and government data integration, is the consolidation of data from disparate databases and other sources.
An object of this invention is to provide improved methods and apparatus surveillance, monitoring and real-time events processing.
A related object is to provide such methods and apparatus as can applied in public health and bioterrorism, e.g., to facilitate CDC initiatives in this area.
A further object of the invention is to provide such methods and apparatus as can be applied border and port security, public and community safety, and government data integration.
A still further object of the invention is to provide such methods and apparatus as can be implemented inexpensively, incrementally or otherwise without interruption of IT functions that they bring together.

Surveillance, monitoring and real-time events platform


A substrate processing method for forming a space extending along a predetermined line in a silicon substrate includes a first step of converging a laser light which is an elliptically-polarized light having an ellipticity other than 1 at the substrate so as to form a plurality of modified spots within the substrate along the line and construct a modified region including the modified spots, and a second step of anisotropically etching the substrate so as to advance an etching selectively along the modified region and form the space in the substrate. In the first step, the light is converged at the substrate such that a moving direction of the light with respect to the substrate and a direction of polarization of the light form an angle of less than 45° therebetween, and the modified spots are made align in a plurality of rows along the line.

As an example of substrate processing methods in the above-mentioned technical field, Patent Literature 1 discloses one comprising converging a laser light at a silicon substrate so as to form a modified region and then etching the silicon substrate so as to advance an etching selectively along the modified region, thereby forming a space such as a through hole in the silicon substrate.


After passing through the process in which the number of one page I/O requests generated in a certain unit time period, the number of multiple pages I/O requests, and the number of pages required at each of the multiple pages I/O request are input, the quantity of the I/O requests generated in the above-described unit time period is calculated in accordance with the thus-input values. The unit (the number of pages) for a multiple pages I/O actually performed by one time operation of the I/O control device corresponding to the multiple pages I/O request from users is determined in accordance with the user's instruction or specific criterion for the system based on the result of the above-described calculation, the performance of the CPU, the performance of the I/O control device, the performance of the DASD (Direct Access Storage Decive), and to which DASD each of I/O requests corresponds. The result of this determination is employed as the unit (the number of pages) for the multiple pages I/O performed by one time operation of the I/O control device. In case of the specific criterion for the system, the structure may be constituted in such a manner that it can be automatically changed in accordance with the state of change in the quantity of the I/O request.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to data I/O transaction method capable of transacting the mixture of one page I/O requests and a multiple-page I/O request, and, more particularly, to a data I/O transaction method and system including a multiple-pages I/O method which is suitably used when a high speed response to one page I/O request is needed.
2. Description of the Prior Art
For example, a computer system for transacting bank deposit works needs to be provided with a region for storage programs or data. In general, a high speed semiconductor memory is used to serve as the main storage device. However, with increment of the programs and data, a method has been widely used in which a cheap direct access storage device (abbreviated to "DASD" hereinafter) such as a magnetic disk is also used as a compliment to an expensive semiconductor memory serving as the main storage device so that the storing system thereof is made hierarchic such that programs or data is input from the DASD to the main storage device at needs. However, such computer system suffers from a problem that the DASD has a poor transacting speed with respect to a central processing unit (abbreviated to "CPU" hereinafter) and the overhead of its CPU used for I/O transaction cannot be negligible. In order to overcome the above-described problems, a multiple pages I/O transaction was invented. The multiple pages I/O transaction is a transaction capable of reducing the overhead of the CPU thereof by I/O transacting multiple pages corresponding to one I/O request as an alternative to the transaction in which I/O transaction is performed by one page unit. It is the transaction capable of shortening the seeking time or searching time over the DASD on which multiple pages of data to be input/output are physically adjacent, wherein the word "page" represents the minimum unit, the word "one page I/O" represents an I/O of one page, and the word "multiple pages I/O" represents an I/O exceeding one page. This multiple pages I/O transaction leads to a fact that the throughput of such CPUs can be improved.
In general, the time required for transacting multiple pages is in proportion to the number of pages transacted by one multiple pages I/O transaction. Therefore, the transacting time takes a longer time in accordance with increment of pages to be transacted in one transaction. In the above-type of conventional technology, such number of pages is fixed as predetermined regardless of the quantity of the I/O request.
However, in the above-described type of bank deposit operation, the number of requests generated for a unit time period in an ON-LINE transaction (one page I/O) usually tends to be changed in accordance with the period of time in a day. If an ON-LINE I/O request (one page I/O request) to the DASD is generated after a massive (the number of pages is great) multiple pages I/O transaction has been started in the same specific DASD, execution of transacting this one page I/O request needs to be waited until the time at which the preceding one multiple-page transaction is completed (two I/O transactions cannot be performed simultaneously). Therefore, a problem arises that the response to the ON-LINE I/O request becomes excessively poor. Such time delay generated in execution of transacting the ON-LINE I/O request becomes larger in the period of time in which the number of ON-LINE I/O requests for a unit time period are great, and the more the number of pages to be in one multiple pages I/O transacted. The number of I/O requests (frequency) generated in one system for a unit time period changes greatly between the busy time period and the slack time period. For example, a system to which requests are generated at an average of 10 to 20 clock periods in the busy time period in the daytime is changed in its period to a second unit in the nighttime.
However, in the above-described type of the conventional technology, the unit when the multiple pages I/O transaction is performed as described above is fixed. Therefore, any regard is not paid for determining this unit so as to make this unit correspond to the change in the number of one page I/O requests for a unit time period in accordance with the period of time in a day.


A distinct variety of live oak (Quercus virginiana) named ‘FBQV22’ which is distinctive in having a dense, pyramidal shaped, upright canopy; a dominant central leader; well placed scaffold branches and numerous small lateral spur branches, generally without included bark in the branch unions; mature dark foliage with leaves typically being about one and one-quarter inch to about two and one-half inches long and about three-eighths to about one-half inch wide; and an evergreen habit. The canopy is very dense with interior and exterior foliage provided by interior spur branches.

The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of Quercus virginiana (Live oak) referred to by the varietal name 'FBQV22'.
The original 'FBQV22' tree was initially discovered as a seedling growing in a cultivated area of the Fish Branch Tree Farm, in Zolfo Springs, Fla., among a group of cultivated Live Oak seedlings. These seedlings had been acquired from a grower of "liners" when they were about twelve to fourteen inches tall. These seedlings had been grown from seed. The parent trees of these seedlings and therefore of the original tree of this new variety are both unknown to the inventor.
'FBQV22' was observed to have an upright habit of growth and a dominant leader, relatively dark-green foliage color compared to common seedling Live Oak trees observed by the inventor, dense foliage arrangement, and true evergreen habit. Compared to common seedling Live Oak trees observed by the inventor, this initially discovered tree had a rapid growth rate, generally lacked included bark in branches, had numerous small diameter lateral spur branches, had leaves which typically are about one and one-quarter inch to two and one-half inches long by about three-eights inch to about one-half inch wide and which were consistently relatively dark green when mature, and exhibited a dense, upright, pyramidal canopy. These characteristics of my new variety have been observed to be fixed and reproduce true to type in progeny asexually propagated from cuttings from the initially discovered tree. Asexual propagation was performed at a nursery in Zolfo Springs, Fla.


Entry sub for small conduit operations within the bore of a drill string. The entry sub comprises a central body having upper and lower collars, adapted for in-line attachment to a drill string. Each of the collars has a bore therethrough. The upper and lower collars are joined by dual connecting arms, the connecting arms separated so as to provide a cut-out section between the upper and lower collars. Fluid passages are contained within each connecting arm, connecting with the bores of the collars and providing a fluid flowpath through the length of the entry sub. A seal assembly is positioned in the bottom of the cut-out section, permitting a wireline or other small diameter conduit to pass therethrough into the bore of the lower collar and then into the bore of the drill string. A sheave is connected to the entry sub and positioned such that a wireline passing over the sheave enters the seal assembly substantially coincident with the axis of the drill string and positioned away from the wall of the bore of the lower collar and the drill string, thereby minimizing wear on the wireline and the entry sub. The axes of the collars being coincident with the axis of the drill string, no torque or bending moment is created between the entry sub and the drill string when the drill string is picked up with the entry sub connected in-line with the drill string.

1. Field of Art
This invention relates to apparatus for running wireline, coiled tubing or other small diameter conduit inside of a larger tubular string, such as conventional drill pipe. With further particularity, this invention relates to an entry sub for pressure-controlled access to the interior of a drill string with a top drive unit in place, in which the apparatus is connected linearly with the drill string below a top drive unit, the wireline enters a seal assembly in the entry sub substantially aligned with the center axis of the drill string, the lift axis of the entry sub is concentric with the center axis of the drill string, and full pumping capability is retained through the top drive and drill string.
2. Related Art
At times, in the course of drilling oil and gas wells, it is necessary to run certain tools down through the inside of the drill string, with the drill string extending downhole. In this description, it is understood that the term "drill string" means, without limitation, the string of tubular members employed in drilling oil and gas wells, usually including drill pipe, drill collars, and possibly other downhole tools. Similar strings may be used in workover procedures as well.
One such situation is when a drill string becomes stuck during drilling operations. Diagnostic tools, commonly called "free point" tools, are run downhole within the bore of the drill string. Through manipulation of the drill string with the free point tool in place, the depth at which the drill string is stuck can be determined. Once the stuck point is determined, an explosive charge or "string shot" is run to a point above the stuck point, then discharged, loosening a drill string connection downhole and permitting the drill string to be backed off and a portion removed from the hole.
Other types of thru-drill string tools that are run on wireline include formation evaluation logging tools. In addition to wireline, it is occasionally desired to run coiled tubing downhole through the drill string. Although the following description discusses the running of wireline, it is understood that the discussion applies equally to other small diameter conduits such as, by way of example, coiled tubing.
Various tools have been employed to permit running small diameter conduits within a drill string, while retaining pressure control over the drill string. When running of such small diameter conduits, including wireline (whether "slickline" or electric line) and coiled tubing, the operational goals which such tools should satisfy include:
1) routing the wireline (or other small diameter conduit) from a spool or drum that is axially displaced from the center axis of the drill string, to a position substantially coincident with the center axis of the drill string, so that the wireline may run downhole with minimal rubbing contact on the interior of the tools and drill string (wearing both the drill string and the wireline); PA1 2) maintaining a pressure seal about the wireline and thereby maintaining pressure control over the drill string; PA1 3) preserving fluid pumping capability through existing rig equipment (for example a top drive unit or conventional drilling swivel), down through the drill string; and PA1 4) permitting linear and rotary manipulation of the drill string without creating undesirable torque or bending moment forces in the drill string. PA1 a) to provide an entry sub which permits introduction of small diameter conduit, such as wireline or coiled tubing, into a drill string; PA1 b) to provide an entry sub which retains pressure control over the drill string while small diameter conduit is worked into or out of the drill string; PA1 c) to provide an entry sub which aligns the wireline with the center axis of the drill string prior to passage of the wireline into the entry sub, minimizing wear on the wireline and the entry sub which may be caused by the wireline bearing upon the interior of the entry sub; PA1 d) to provide an entry sub which may be employed in conjunction with top drive units or conventional rotary drilling equipment, by being made up into the drill string below the top drive unit; PA1 e) to provide an entry sub which may be used in conjunction with different numbers of sheaves, depending upon the specific operational situation at hand; and PA1 f) to provide an entry sub which has a lift axis which is substantially aligned with the center axis of the drill string to which it is connected, for prevention of bending moments and the resulting torque and canting.
Various methods and apparatus exist in the related art for permitting running of wireline downhole within a drill string, while achieving perhaps some of the operational goals. Perhaps the oldest and simplest device is a "packoff assembly" which comprises a rubber sleeve with a hole therethrough, through which the wireline runs. The rubber sleeve is contained within a generally bowl-shaped body. A compression sleeve atop the rubber sleeve is threadably engaged with the bowl-shaped body, and is tightened to compress the rubber sleeve, in turn squeezing the rubber sleeve around the wireline and effecting a pressure seal. Other embodiments of the packoff assembly utilize a hydraulic actuated compression sleeve, which is forced downward onto the rubber sleeve by hydraulic force. Such packoff assemblies are typically made up in the uppermost box connection of a string of drill pipe, at a position above the rotary table. A number of drawbacks accompany such devices. The pressure capability is limited. Usually, a sheave must be mounted in the rig mast and aligned with the center axis of the drill string, with the wireline routed from a spool over that sheave and thence into the drill string. The hanging of the sheave is often problematic. With some packoff assemblies, it is not possible to maintain fluid pumping capabilities through the drill string, and those packoff assemblies that do provide for pumping usually employ a hose connected to a T-connection in the body of the packoff assembly, rather than being able to pump through the rig equipment (top drive and drill string). Significant restraints on fluid pressures and rates exist with such arrangements.
As a response to the significant limitations of the conventional packoff assembly, "entry subs" were developed. Two examples are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,681,162 to Boyd (Jul. 21, 1987) and U.S. Pat. No. 5,284,210 to Helms et al (Feb. 8, 1994). Both entry subs comprise a tubular member having a central body with lower threads for connection to the drill string. The central body has a bore which divides into first and second passages in its upper section, generally in a Y-shaped configuration. The first passage provides for threadable connection to the drill string above the entry sub (which may comprise a top drive unit or the like), while the second passage provides a means for introducing wireline, coiled tubing, or other small diameter conduit into the bore of the central body. A threaded connection at the upper end of the second passage provides a means for installing a pressure seal device around the wireline.
A common drawback to the entry subs disclosed in the Boyd and Helms et al references is that the wireline enters the entry sub at an angle to the center axis of the central body bore and of the drill string. As a result, the wireline bears against the low side of the interior of the entry sub, especially where the second "wireline" passage merges with the bore of the central body (in effect, where the wireline "turns the corner" from the angled second passage into the bore of the central body). Inevitably, wear occurs to both the wireline and the interior of the entry sub, and possibly to the drill string itself; recognizing such inevitable wear, both the Boyd and Helms et al entry subs have a replaceable section at the lower end of the entry sub where the majority of the wireline wear is expected.
Although an alternative embodiment in the Helms et al reference (FIG. 3 of the Helms et al '210 patent) provides a "straight line" entry of the wireline into the entry sub, such straight line wireline entry is accomplished at the expense of having an offset lift axis; that is, the drill string connection at the upper end of the Helms et al entry sub, in that embodiment, is offset from the center axis of the drill string. Canting of the entry sub and drill string results from the torque and bending moment generated with an offset lift axis. It is to be noted that both embodiments of the Helms et al entry sub have a lift axis which is not coincident with the center axis of the drill string; therefore, due to creation of a bending moment, torque and canting of the drill string inevitably occurs.
Wittrisch, U.S. Pat. No. 4,913,227 (Apr. 3, 1990) discloses another entry sub which provides a pair of guide rollers to align the wireline with the center axis of the drill string. However, Wittrisch does not permit pumping through the entry sub via the top drive or drill string. Rather, a side opening is provided in the sub below the seal assembly, for connection to a "pumping installation" (which would necessarily comprise hoses or the like, with attendant rig-up problems, pressure limitations and the like).


An electric rotation machine for windmill power generation equipped with a stator slot structure having distributed windings and a rotor pole structure having permanent magnets, wherein the number of slots per pole per phase (Nspp) is undividable by 3 times P (where P is the number of poles), and pole width rate Pw obtained by dividing pole piece width Tp by pole pitch Tr at the outermost diameters of the adjoining poles of the rotor is satisfied any of Pw≦0.6, 0.67≦Pw≦0.71, and 0.78≦Pw. The distortion factors of induced voltages in a permanent magnet type electrical rotation machine, particularly for windmill power generation, can be reduced.

Recently, wind turbine systems have been installed dramatically and the world has demanded large-capacity wind turbine systems of permanent magnet type of 1 megawatt (MW) or more to improve the economical efficiency by increasing the capacity of a single unit. Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-069735 discloses an electrical rotation machine equipped with a stator having an armature winding on an iron core and a rotor having a permanent magnet on an iron core, wherein the stator and the rotor are arranged so that all torques between the stator and the rotor may be made by synthesizing a reluctance torque and a torque which generates due to the action between a current passing through the armature coil and the interlinking magnetic flux of the permanent magnet and the armature coil is wound around the stator core at a winding pitch of 40 to 80% of the pole pitch.

Electrical rotation machine and a wind turbine system


An AC color plasma display system comprises an AC plasma display panel having transversely oriented first and second insulated electrode arrays defining a matrix of display pixels. Linear ribs are in substantially parallel alignment with one of the linear electrode arrays to form gas channels, respectively, aligned electrodes in one of the arrays. A plurality of phosphor layers are on the ribs, and a UV rich gas discharge medium is sealed in the channels. An interface circuit for receiving video signals from one of a selected plurality of video sources produces, in digital form, pixel data, pixel clock, and horizontal and vertical synchronizing signals from a gray scale drive system is connected between said interface circuit and AC plasma display panel. The gray scale drive system include blue, green and red color channels and pixel-by-pixel gray scale control of each color channel. The gray scale drive system includes circuits for supplying write, erase, and sustaining potentials to said electrode to arrays and perform the following operations: 1) supply said write potential to all said electrodes to cause all pixels to be in an "on" state, 2) supply said erase potential to selected ones of said electrodes to erase selected pixels and cause the selected pixels to be in an "off" state, and 3) supply a burst of sustaining potentials to the electrode arrays for predetermined number of cycles to cause the pixels in the "on" state to emit light for each sustainer cycle, and repeating operations 1, 2 and 3 a predetermined number of times.

This invention relates to gas discharge (plasma) displays, and more particularly to color gas discharge display panels.
Multiple cell gas discharge display and/or memory panels of one particular type with which the present invention is concerned are characterized by an ionizable gaseous medium, at an appropriate gas pressure, in a thin gas chamber or space between a pair of opposed dielectric charge storage members. The dielectric charge storage members are typically backed by arrays of electrodes or conductors which are appropriately oriented so as to define a plurality of discrete gas discharge unit or cell sites.
In some embodiments, the discharge cells are additionally defined by surrounding or confining physical structures such as apertures in perforated glass plates and the like so as to be physically isolated relative to other cells.
In either case, with or without the confining physical structure, electronic charges are produced upon the ionization of the gas volume at a selected discharge cell, when proper alternating operating potentials are applied to selected electrodes or conductors thereof. The electronic charges are collected upon and/or within the dielectric at specific locations defined by the crossovers of opposite electrodes. These charges constitute an electrical field opposing the electrical field which created them so as to terminate the gas discharge for the remainder of the half cycle and aid in the initiation of a gas discharge on a succeeding opposite half cycle of applied voltage. Such dielectric charges as are stored constitute an electrical memory.
The dielectric members prevent the passage of substantial conductive current from the conductor members to the gaseous medium and also serve to collect or store ionized gaseous medium charges during the cycles of the operating potentials. Such charges collect first at one elemental or discrete dielectric surface area and then at an opposing elemental or discrete dielectric surface area on alternate half cycles to constitute the electrical memory.
An example of a panel structure containing nonphysically isolated or open discharge cells is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,499,167 (incorporated herein by reference) issued to Baker, et al.
An example of a panel containing physically isolated cells is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,559,190 (incorporated herein by reference) issued to Bitzer, et al.
A monolithic or single substrate device structure may also be used as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,860,846 (Mayer), U.S. Pat. No. 3,964,050 (Mayer), U.S. Pat. No. 4,080,597 (Mayer), U.S. Pat. No. 3,646,384 (Lay) and U.S. Pat. No. 3,896,327 (Schermerhorn), all incorporated herein by reference.
In the construction of the panel, a continuous volume of ionizable gas is confined between a pair of dielectric surfaces backed by electrode arrays typically forming matrix elements locating individual pixels in the display. The two electrode arrays may be orthogonally related sets of parallel lines. However, any other configuration of electrodes may be used. The two arrays of electrodes define at their crossovers a plurality of opposed pairs of charge storage areas on the opposing surfaces of the dielectric members bonding or confining the gas. Thus, for a first array of R parallel row electrodes and a second array of C parallel column electrodes, the number of gas discharge cells will be the multiple of R times C. The number of dielectric charge storage locations will be twice the number of discharge cells where the electrodes of each array are separated from the gas by a dielectric member.
It is possible to have only one electrode array insulated from the gas with an dielectric member and have the other opposing electrode array in direct contact with the gas, or coupled to the gas through a resistive layer.
In one monolithic panel structure, a first dielectric layer is applied over a first array of X-electrodes and a second array of Y-electrodes is applied over the first dielectric layer. A second dielectric layer is then applied over the second array of Y-electrodes. A top envelope portion is applied over the substrate and filled with ionizable gas such that a chamber of gas is above the second dielectric layer.
In the monolithic device structure, the dielectric applied over the bottom X-electrodes must be capable of physically, mechanically and structurally supporting the array of top Y-electrodes applied over the first dielectric portion without flexure or movement of the electrodes. Such dielectric support of the Y-electrodes is especially important during the various process thermal cycles. Thus, it is important that the supporting dielectric portion not become soft and flow or develop cracks or flaws during the application of the Y-electrode or during the application of a second dielectric portion covering the Y-electrodes or during the sealing together of the envelope and substrate.
Bitzer et al. U.S. Pat. No. 3,559,190, referred to above, discloses an AC plasma display with a multiplicity of physically isolated cells with phosphor deposited on the walls of the cells. Baker et al. U.S. Pat. No. 3,499,167, referred to above, discloses an AC plasma display having "open" cell structures, one embodiment of which includes an array of grooves, channels or troughs aligned with an array of dielectric covered electrode array. Schermerhorn U.S. Pat. No. 3,896,327 discloses an AC plasma display having a common substrate for the dielectrically covered electrode arrays and cavities in the dielectric for the discharge sites to form a so-called "monolithic" display panel.
Knauer et al. U.S. Pat. No. 4,827,186 discloses an alternating current plasma display panel (AC-PDP) in which an etched or chemically milled imperforate barrier structure has upstanding posts with cell sidewalls defining concavities intermediate the posts. The imperforate structure has a plurality of such concavities, each associated with a unique cell and providing an intercell barrier structure. The cell sidewalls are provided with priming particle passing gaps and UV responsive phosphor islands are deposited on the surface of a front dielectric structure.
In contrast, in the present invention, elongated channels, troughs or grooves are chemically milled in the dielectric layers, and the channels, troughs, or grooves have elongated ribs or lands therebetween. The sloping rib walls are coated with a phosphor structure (undercoat/phosphor/overcoat) which significantly enhances the light output because the phosphor surfaces are greater in extent area-wise, closer to the UV sources in the discharge and are not in the path of discharge products. Since light is produced in two spaced areas of phosphor by the UV produced on discharge, more light is produced and the electrodes have less attenuating effect on visible light emission from each side. Moreover, since the channels, troughs or grooves, in a preferred embodiment, are formed in a second (and even a third) dielectric layer, the seal area or zone (for securing a second electrode bearing substrate to form the matrix) can be on the first dielectric layer with the ends of the channels, troughs or grooves formed in the second (and even third) dielectric layer being in free connection via a transition corridor for exemplary or ideal vacuum bake-out operations with the transition corridor serving as the site for border conditioning discharge sites.

AC plasma display gray scale drive system and method


A method for a two-factor authentication process includes, responsive to determining a first user authentication was prompted in a first application on a first device associated with a user, identifying a second application on a second device based on a user profile associated with the user. The method identifies a first event from a plurality of events that previously occurred in the second application in a select time frame, wherein the first event relates to a first action performed by the user in the second application. The method generates an authentication question based on the first event, wherein the authentication question is a second user authentication. Responsive to determining an answer provided by the user to the authentication question is correct, the method grants access to the first user authentication prompt.

Typical user authentication methods for accessing an online account or service include a user providing a username and password combination verifiable by a provider of the online account or service. Certain providers of online accounts and service require an additional verification step to access sensitive information (e.g., account and routing numbers) or when the provider's system detects a new device attempting to access an account. The additional verification step can include answering a previously selected question by the user, where an answer to the previously selected question was established months or years prior. However, if the security of the provider becomes compromised by a malicious entity, both the username and password combination, and the answer to the previously selected question become compromised.

Multi-factor authentication utilizing event data

International Business Machines Corporation


In one embodiment, a programmable logic device (PLD) with configuration memory includes at least one configuration memory cell and soft error detection (SED) logic for checking for errors in data stored by the configuration memory. The SED logic calculates a present data value for the configuration memory for comparison with a pre-calculated data value. A fuse within the PLD is configurable in a first logic state to enable the SED logic to read from the configuration memory cell in calculating the present data value and configurable in a second logic state to prevent the SED logic from reading from the configuration memory cell in calculating the present data value. The SED logic may be tested for correct operation by writing data representing a soft error into the configuration memory cell and enabling the SED logic to read from the configuration memory cell in calculating the present data value.

A soft error upset (SEU), also known as a single event upset, refers generally to a change of state or a transient induced in one or more signal values in a semiconductor device (e.g., when struck by an ionizing particle, such as a neutron or an alpha particle). For example, a programmable logic device (PLD), such as a field programmable gate array (FPGA) or a complex PLD (CPLD), is configured by data stored in configuration memory cells (e.g., SRAM cells), which are susceptible to SEUs that change the originally programmed data state (e.g., programmed a "1" but SEU changes value to "0"). One or more SEUs within the PLD may be particularly noticeable because the data stored in the configuration memory cells determines the PLD's functionality.
Consequently, for example, a conventional PLD typically includes soft error detection (SED) logic (e.g., soft error intellectual property (IP)) that will read the configuration memory cells, such as in the background of a user mode of operation, and calculate a cyclic redundancy code (CRC) value to compare with a pre-calculated CRC value (e.g., CRC checksum). If the CRC values match, then there is no error in the values stored in the configuration memory cells. However, if the CRC values do not match, an error flag may be provided, which may for example trigger a reconfiguration of the PLD.
To test the SED logic's ability to detect a soft error (e.g., SED logic functionality), a typical procedure is to simulate a soft error in the PLD (as it is may be difficult to produce a real soft error in the hardware). For example, associated logic may be provided to the SED logic to simulate a soft error from one or more configuration memory cells, such as by changing a data value after it has been read from the configuration memory cell but before the CRC calculation is performed. However, the simulated soft error is not a true soft error condition and thus, may not accurately simulate and properly emulate a real (i.e., true) soft error, such as for example with respect to timing or other considerations.
As a result, there is a need for improved techniques for testing SED logic of programmable logic devices.
In one embodiment of the invention, a programmable logic device (PLD) includes configuration memory including a configuration memory cell; soft error detection (SED) logic adapted to check for an error in data stored by the configuration memory including the configuration memory cell by calculating a present data value for the configuration memory for comparison with a pre-calculated data value for the configuration memory; and a fuse configurable in a first logic state to enable the SED logic to read from the configuration memory cell in calculating the present data value of the configuration memory and configurable in a second logic state to prevent the SED logic from reading from the configuration memory cell in calculating the present data value.
In another embodiment of the invention, a method of testing SED logic for correct operation within a PLD includes writing data representing a soft error to a configuration memory cell with the configuration memory; and, with the SED logic, reading data stored in the configuration memory including the configuration memory cell; calculating from the read data a present data value for the configuration memory; and comparing the present data value with a pre-calculated data value for the configuration memory that does not include the soft error data written to the configuration memory cell. The SED logic is operating correctly if the present data value does not match the pre-calculated data value.
The scope of the invention is defined by the claims, which are incorporated into this section by reference. A more complete understanding of embodiments of the present invention will be afforded to those skilled in the art, as well as a realization of additional advantages thereof, by a consideration of the following detailed description of one or more embodiments. Reference will be made to the appended sheets of drawings that will first be described briefly.
Embodiments of the present invention and their advantages are best understood by referring to the detailed description that follows. It should be appreciated that like reference numerals are used to identify like elements illustrated in one or more of the figures.

Testing of soft error detection logic for programmable logic devices