The belt tension/drive for a pinch roller system of the present invention combines means for urging a plurality of pinch rollers toward a capstan roller with means for driving pinch rollers when a pinch roller is not in contact with the capstan roller. The capstan roller is surrounded by and aligned with a plurality of pinch rollers. A resilient belt disposed about the plurality of pinch rollers urges the pinch rollers toward the capstan roller and drives any pinch roller not in contact with the capstan roller, assuring that all pinch rollers maintain the same surface speed as the capstan roller.

The technical field of this disclosure is belt driven power transfer devices, particularly, a belt tension/drive for a pinch roller system.
Pinch roller systems are used with machines that handle sheets of material, such as a paper folder. Paper folders are able to take sheets of paper or other material and fold them into various patterns for stuffing in envelopes or mass mailings. To accomplish the folding, the paper folder feeds paper between a pinch roller and a capstan roller. The paper path is blocked, so that the travel of the paper is stopped and the paper buckles. A second path is provided where the buckles occurs, so the blocked paper follows the second path. As the paper travels into this second path, it is grabbed by a second pinch roller and the original capstan roller, which creases the paper at the point of buckling, and drives the paper through any remaining fold processes. The blocking, grabbing, and creasing process can be repeated to form multiple folds.
The pinch rollers must be urged toward the capstan roller, while having sufficient freedom of movement to allow for single and multiple sheets of paper of various weights to pass between the pinch rollers and the capstan roller. It is very important that all of the rollers continually driver the paper through the folder. Large degrees of paper slippage cannot be tolerated, as this will cause a bad fold and/or a paper jam. Therefore, not only do the pinch rollers have to be urged toward the capstan roller, they must all be driven simultaneously at the same surface speed. Pinch roller systems typically provide separate means to perform the functions of urging the pinch rollers toward the capstan roller and driving the pinch rollers.
FIGS. 1 and 2 show the use of springs to urge the pinch rollers toward the capstan roller. The bearings and bushings used to support and guide the pinch rollers and capstan roller have been omitted from the figures for clarity. FIG. 1 shows a schematic diagram of a Single Spring Method in which a tension spring 20 is wrapped around pinch rollers 22 to urge the pinch rollers 22 toward capstan roller 24. FIG. 2 shows a schematic diagram of a Multi-Spring Method in which each pinch roller 30 is urged toward capstan roller 32 by a compression spring 34. Each of the pinch rollers 30 has a compression spring 34, increasing cost and complexity. Both the Single Spring Method and the Multi-Spring Method provide the force to urge the pinch rollers toward the capstan roller while providing sufficient freedom of movement to allow for different material thickness between the pinch rollers and the capstan roller, but require separate means to drive the pinch rollers.
FIGS. 3 and 4 show the use of gears and cogged belts to drive the pinch rollers at a simultaneous surface speed. The bearings and bushings used to support and guide the pinch rollers and capstan roller have been omitted from the figures for clarity.
FIG. 3 shows a schematic diagram of Gear Driven Pinch Rollers in which a capstan roller gear 40 attached to a capstan roller (not shown) drives pinch roller gears 42 attached to a pinch roller (not shown). Gears are designed to operate at a specific distance from one another. The point where gears make contact is commonly known as the pitch diameter. The pitch diameter for the capstan roller gear 40 and the pinch roller gears 42 must be the same as their respective roller diameters or there will be a difference in surface speeds between the capstan roller and the pinch roller. Surface speed difference causes binding and lock-up conditions. Because of gear design restrictions, there are limited options for capstan and pinch roller design.
Although the capstan roller gear 40 and the pinch roller gears 42 contact each other at the pitch diameter, a certain amount of play, also called backlash, occurs. Because the capstan roller and pinch roller move away from each other as paper passes between them, the point of contact of the associated gears moves away from the pitch diameter. This increases backlash, causing premature wear, which increases the chance that a gear could slip a tooth and cause a bad fold or paper jam.
FIG. 4 shows a schematic diagram of Cogged Belt Driven Pinch Rollers in which a cogged belt 50 is wrapped around pinch roller sprockets 52 attached to a pinch roller (not shown). Because the pinch rollers are in contact with the capstan roller, the capstan roller 54 turns the pinch roller, which turns the pinch roller sprockets 52. The teeth of the cogged belt 50 are engaged with the teeth of the pinch roller sprockets 52. To maintain the tooth alignment, the cogged belt 50 must be stiff with very little stretch or compliance. Because the capstan roller and pinch roller move away from each other as paper passes between them, the cogged belt 50 cannot be pulled tight to the pinch roller sprockets 52, but must have a certain amount of slack to allow the pinch rollers to move. The slack causes play between the teeth of the cogged belt 50 and the teeth of the pinch roller sprockets 52. Too much play can cause premature wear and slippage of the pinch rollers.
Both the Gear Driven Pinch Rollers and Cogged Belt Driven Pinch Rollers provide the means to drive the pinch rollers at the same surface speed, but require separate means to urge the pinch rollers toward the capstan roller. This increases the cost and complexity of the system. The changing distance between the capstan roller and pinch roller as paper passes between them causes tooth alignment problems and premature wear.
It would be desirable to have a belt tension/drive for a pinch roller system that would overcome the above disadvantages.
One aspect of the present invention provides a belt tension/drive for a pinch roller system which combines the tension and drive functions.
Another aspect of the present invention provides a belt tension/drive for a pinch roller system at lower cost and with less complexity.
Another aspect of the present invention provides a belt tension/drive for a pinch roller system avoiding premature wear that could cause operating and maintenance problems.
Another aspect of the present invention provides a belt tension/drive for a pinch roller system avoiding the use of gears and springs.
The foregoing and other features and advantages of the invention will become further apparent from the following detailed description of the presently preferred embodiments, read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. The detailed description and drawings are merely illustrative of the invention, rather than limiting the scope of the invention being defined by the appended claims and equivalents thereof.

Belt tension/drive for pinch roller system


A method and system for real time updating of an earth model. The efficiency with which an oil or gas well is constructed can be enhanced by updating the relevant earth model using real-time measurements of the effective density of the drilling fluid and other parameters. The method includes generating an earth model used for predicting potential problems in drilling of a borehole having a predetermined trajectory. Evaluations of the state of the borehole and local geological features are obtained which are based on the earth model. Real time data is used to create a diagnosis of the state of the borehole and local geological features. The evaluations are compared with a diagnosis to identify inconsistencies. A component of the earth model is identified that is both related to the identified inconsistency and has a high degree of uncertainty. The selected component of the earth model is then updated prior to completing construction of the borehole using the received data.

The present invention relates to the field of drilling oil and gas wells. In particular, the invention relates to a method for updating an earth model during construction of the well.
Earth models contain data which characterise the properties of, and surfaces bounding, the geological features which form the earth""s sub-surface, such as rock formations and faults. They are used to assist operations occurring in the earth""s sub-surface, such as the drilling of an oil or gas well, or the development of a mine.
The domain of applicability of an earth model varies greatly and should be considered on a case by case basis. Some earth models are applicable only in the near vicinity of a particular oil or gas well, or mine. Others may be valid for an entire oil or gas field, or perhaps even over a region such as the North Sea or Gulf of Mexico.
The data in an earth model consists of measurements gathered during activities such as the seismic, logging or drilling operations of the oil and gas industry, and of interpretations made from these measurements. The data may be gathered above, on, or below the earth""s surface.
As the duration or number of sub-surface operations increases, more data is gathered. This data can be used to amend the relevant earth model, with the aim that it should characterise the geology and properties ever more accurately. Clearly, it will be conducive to the efficiency of these operations if amendments which enhance the accuracy of the earth model are made as quickly as possible, or appropriate.
The oil and gas industry""s traditional approach to amending earth models has not had a real-time element, apart from using formation integrity, leak-off or extended leak-off tests, or equivalent circulating density (ECD) data in the case of drilling fluid (commonly referred to as xe2x80x9cmudxe2x80x9d) loss while drilling, to constrain the minimum principal in-situ stress. See e.g., Addis et al., xe2x80x98A comparison of leak-off test and extended leak-off test data for stress estimationxe2x80x99, paper SPE/ISRM 47235 presented at the 1998 Eurock Rock Mechanics in Petroleum Engineering Conference, Trondheim, Jul. 8-10 (hereinafter xe2x80x9cAddis et al., 1998xe2x80x9d). Measurement-while drilling (MWD) data, logging-while drilling (LWD) data, wireline logs, results from tests performed on core, drilling experience and perhaps other information are used to amend the relevant earth model using techniques identical to those used to generate the original version of the earth model. An example of these conventional techniques are described in a publication by Schlumberger Educational Services entitled xe2x80x98Log interpretation principles/applicationsxe2x80x99, Houston, Tex. (1987), incorporated herein by reference and hereinafter referred to as xe2x80x9c(Schlumberger, 1987)xe2x80x9d.
This traditional approach has been enhanced in order to improve the handling of very severe wellbore instability problems in the Cusiana field in Colombia. See, Last, N., Plumb, R. A., Harkness, R., Charlez, P., Alsen, J. and McLean, M.: xe2x80x98An integrated approach to evaluating and managing wellbore instability in the Cusiana field, Colombia, South Americaxe2x80x99, paper SPE 30464 presented at the 1995 Annual SPE Technical Conference, Dallas Oct. 22-25, incorporated herein by reference and hereinafter xe2x80x9cLast et al. (1995).xe2x80x9d Last describes an integrated approach to evaluating and managing wellbore instability. An earth model was constructed using data from existing wells, together with results obtained using a computational analysis tool which modelled the geological structure and the in-situ stress state. This allowed the upper and lower bounds to the drilling fluid density to be estimated, provided that the well trajectory was specified, using standard techniques.
As a well was drilled, a data acquisition programme which included cavings monitoring and measurements-while-drilling allowed the failure mechanisms of the rock formations to be characterised and as well as the identification and implementation of appropriate drilling practices. This led to faster, more efficient, well construction. The earth model was updated after a well or hole section had been completed using all available data, particularly (a) downhole images of borehole geometry, fractures, faults and bedding (b) stress measurements such as extended leak-off tests (c) results from tests made on core, and (d) four arm calliper logs, where available. Measurement-while-drilling techniques were used to characterise time-dependent hole geometry in particular hole, intervals.
The approach of Last et al. (1995) enhanced the analysis of formation instability that can be made while drilling, with the minimum horizontal stress also being updated in real-time. The understanding of the nature of the formation instability led to improved drilling practices allowing the wells they studied to be constructed much more efficiently.
However, the approach of Last et al. (1995) has many limitations, including the following. First, no constitutive parameter or component of the in-situ stress state, other than the minimum principal stress, was updated in real-time. Such parameters were updated after drilling had been completed, using measurements made by wireline tools, in addition to the data gathered in real-time. Second, LWD measurements, such as resistivity and sonic, were not extensively used. This inhibited the diagnosis of the instability mechanisms. Due to these limitations, it was not possible to quantify amendments to drilling practices, apart from updating the value of ECD above which drilling fluid is lost to the formation.
Thus, it is an object of the present invention to provide a method to increase the efficiency with which an oil or gas well can be constructed.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a method in which amendments that enhance the accuracy of the earth model are made quickly and efficiently.
It is a further object of the present invention where one or more inconsistencies are identified to provide a method of selecting which component or components of an earth model to update.
According to the present invention the efficiency with which an oil or gas well is constructed can be enhanced by updating the relevant earth model using real-time measurements of the effective density of the drilling fluid and at least one other parameter. Updating the earth model need not occur on a continuous basis, but on a timescale appropriate to this construction process. As used herein the term xe2x80x9creal-timexe2x80x9d is defined to mean as the well or borehole is being constructed. That is, the data acquisition can occur continuously (e.g. measurement while drilling data), or at discrete times (e.g. palaeontological analysis of rock carried by the drilling fluid from the wellbore) and still be considered xe2x80x9creal-timexe2x80x9d.
A method for updating an earth model is provided that includes obtaining an earth model used for predicting potential problems in drilling of a borehole having a predetermined trajectory. Evaluations of the state of the borehole and local geological features are obtained which are based on the earth model. Data is received that has been gathered during the construction of the borehole. The evaluations are compared with a diagnosis of the state of the borehole and local geological features to identify at least one inconsistency. A component of the earth model is identified that is both related to the identified inconsistency and has a high degree of uncertainty. The selected component of the earth model is then updated prior to completing construction of the borehole using the received data.
Preferably, the evaluations of the state of the borehole and local geological features are predictions of one or more conditions under which the borehole will fail, and they are obtained by combining the earth model with the predetermined trajectory of the borehole.
Preferably, the process is repeated until a sufficient match exists between the predicted failure conditions and the diagnoses of the borehole.
Preferably, the earth model component that will be updated is selected by first identifying components of the earth model that are relevant to the identified inconsistency and then ranking the identified components according to the degree of uncertainty. The component selected is preferably updated using the minimum changes needed to eliminate an identified inconsistency.
Preferably, the received data includes the effective density of the drilling fluid used in the construction of the borehole and one at least other parameter, and the selected component is updated by using the effective density and at least one other parameter.
The invention is also embodied in a method for drilling a borehole using an earth model that is updated according to the invention. The invention is also embodied in a computer readable medium that is capable of causing a computer to update the earth model according to the invention.

Method for updating an earth model using measurements gathered during borehole construction


A technique is directed to managing data. The technique involves identifying a logical page size utilized by a set of SSDs and, based on a first data storage application which stores first data elements in a set of hard disk drives (HDDs), creating a second data storage application which stores second data elements in the set of SSDs. Each first data element has a first size which is larger than the logical page size utilized by the set of SSDs. Each second data element has a second size which is equal to the logical page size utilized by the set of SSDs. The technique further involves operating, by processing circuitry coupled to the set of SSDs, the second application to store the second data elements in the set of SSDs. Such a technique is well-suited for a data storage system that stores host data in an array of SSDs.

A conventional data storage system executes data storage software that reads data from and writes data to an array of hard disk drives (HDDs). Some data storage software provides block-based storage while other data storage software provides file-based storage.
When the data storage software writes data to a HDD of the array, much of the write time is related to the mechanical nature of rotating platters and moving heads of the HDD. That is, much of the time is spent waiting for HDD components to travel to particular locations, and the time to actually write data to the HDD is only a small portion of the overall write time. As a result, the time to write data is virtually the same regardless of whether the write operation writes an 8 kilobyte (KB) block of data or a 16 KB block of data. Consequently, software algorithms optimized for use with HDDs commonly write larger blocks of data to minimize the number of input/output (I/O) operations. For example, rather than performing multiple 8 KB write operations, the data storage software can perform a single 16 KB write operation in roughly the same amount of time.

Utilizing flash optimized layouts which minimize wear of internal flash memory of solid state drives


A method of manufacturing a polyester textile fabric having a relatively low level of particulate contaminates and high absorbency is provided by heatsetting the fabric at a temperature of 300.degree. F. or less.

This invention relates to the manufacturing of polyester fabric for wipers, in particular, wipers which release fewer particulate contaminates.
Wipers may be made from knitted, woven or non-woven polyester fabrics. The typical manufacturing process begins with drawing and texturing continuous filament polyester yarn. The textured yarn is knitted or woven to construct a fabric, and the fabric is washed or scoured to remove spinning oils. The fabric may be chemically modified in order to improve its wettability and performance. The fabric is then dried in a "tenter frame" oven at a temperature of between 325 and 450.degree. F., to remove moisture and heat set the fabric. Heat setting dissipates stress in the polyester fibers and stabilizes the fabric.
Next, the fabric is cut into wipers, typically 9 inch by 9 inch squares. The wipers may remain unlaundered or may be washed in a cleanroom laundry, employing special surfactants and highly-filtered and purified water, to reduce the contamination present on the fabric. After washing, the wipers may be packaged dry in air-tight plastic bags, or pre-saturated with a suitable solvent before being packaged, and are ready for use.
These wipers are utilized for a number of different applications, including cleaning within cleanrooms, automotive painting rooms and other cleanroom environments. Each different application emphasizes certain standards these types of wipers should attain. For example, for wipers utilized in cleanrooms, stringent performance standards must be met. These standards are related to sorbency and contamination, including maximum allowable particulate, unspecified extractable matter and individual ionic contaminants. The standards for particulate contaminant release are especially rigorous and various methods have been devised to meet them. For example, Paley et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,888,229, describes a wiper having fused borders, the sealed edge of the wipers being present to reduce contamination caused by small fibers. Diaber et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,229,181, describes a knit fabric tube, only two edges of which must be cut and sealed, thereby reducing the contamination caused by loose fibers from the edges. Paley et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,271,995, describes a wiper for a cleanroom environment that has reduced inorganic contaminants through the use of a specific yarn, namely "nylon bright". Reynolds, U.S. Pat. No. 5,069,735, describes a procedure to cut the fabric into pieces using a hot air jet in the range of 600 to 800.degree. F. to melt the fibers, forming a sealed edge product with reduced loose fiber contamination.
Despite advances made in reducing particulate contamination release from cleanroom wipers, further reductions in particulate release are, nevertheless, highly desirable.

Method of manufacturing low contaminant wiper


A PIU plug-in/plug-off mechanism for an electronic apparatus, which is capable of efficiently applying a force required for a plugging-in/off operation of connectors to a printed board by pressing a portion of the printed board close to a backplane. An operating handle of a card lever is turned counterclockwise to thereby bring a push pin into abutment with a rear edge of an open recess. When the card lever is further turned in this state, a pressing force for moving a plug-in unit in the insertion direction acts on an engaging member via an arm. This starts fitting the printed board into a plug-in connector without causing warping of the printed board.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a PIU (plug-in unit) plug-in/plug-off mechanism for an electronic apparatus, which enables the printed board of a PIU to be plugged into and out of a bookshelf-type electronic apparatus, and more particularly to a PIU plug-in/plug-off mechanism for an electronic apparatus, which is configured not to prevent electronic components of a plug-in unit from being damaged when the printed board of the plug-in unit is plugged into and out of the backplane of the electronic apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
In a conventional bookshelf-type electronic apparatus, when the printed board of a plug-in unit is plugged into/out of a backplane of the electronic apparatus, a nail of a card lever secured to the front panel of the plug-in unit is engaged with a strike plate disposed on a front face of a shelf body, and a propulsive force generated by turn of the card lever is transmitted to the printed board.
FIG. 19 is a perspective view showing the overall arrangement of a conventional bookshelf-type electronic apparatus having a backplane.
A shelf 10 forms a subrack unit having the backplane 11, disposed on a rear side at a predetermined depth location, as a motherboard. A plug-in unit is plugged into the backplane 11. Within the shelf 10, guide plates each formed with guide rails 12 are disposed with a predetermined space between each vertically associated pair, and plug-in connectors 13 are arranged on the backplane 11. A printed board 20 is inserted into the shelf 10 by having its upper and lower sides guided along the respective guide rails 12 in the shelf 10. Thus, a plurality of plug-in units are in orderly arrangement in the shelf 10.
The printed board 20 has a front panel 21 provided on an operator side thereof, as viewed in the insertion direction, and plug-in connectors 22 and a guide module, not shown, provided on a rear side thereof, as viewed in the insertion direction. The plug-in connectors 22 of the printed board 20 are accurately positioned by the guide module and are connected to the plug-in connectors 13 on the backplane 11. In the front face of the shelf 10, strike plates 14 and 15 are formed on the respective upper and lower guide plates each formed with the guide rails 12. On the other hand, guide levers 24 and 25 are disposed at respective upper and lower ends of the front panel 21 of the printed board 20.
FIG. 20A is a plan view of a conventional printed board. FIG. 20B is a side view of essential parts of the printed board connected to the backplane.
The strike plate 14 is formed with a recessed part 14a for engagement with a nail part 24a of a card lever 24. When the card lever 24 is turned in a direction indicated by an arrow A, a force F1 acts on the printed board 20 in the insertion direction. This provides a force pushing the plug-in connector 22 toward the backplane 11 to thereby apply a necessary fitting force to the printed board 20 being inserted in the shelf 10.
In the conventional PIU plug-in/plug-off mechanism constructed as above, when the printed board 20 is plugged into the plug-in connectors 13 on the backplane 11, the card levers 24 and 25 are pushed in the depth direction and turned until they are pressed against the front panel 21, so as to firmly push the printed board 20 into the plug-in connectors 13. However, since insertion forces transmitted from the card levers 24 and 25 to the plug-in connectors 13 on the backplane 11 acts rearward from the front end of the printed board 20, the printed board 20 is sometimes largely bent, which causes a fear that the printed board 20 is broken or electronic components mounted thereon are adversely affected.
FIG. 21 is a perspective view of a printed board assembled as a conventional plug-in unit. FIG. 22 is an exploded perspective view of the conventional plug-in unit.
In an optical transmission device or a like electronic device, optical converter modules 26 and 27, for example, are sometimes mounted on the printed board 20 forming the plug-in unit. The optical converter modules 26 and 27 sometimes have radiation fins 26a and 27a having a predetermined thickness, formed on respective surfaces thereof. In such a case, after forming large-sized open holes 20a and 20b in the printed board 20, the optical converter modules 26 and 27 are fixed to the printed board 20 using module-mounting screws 28 and 29.
FIG. 23 is a three-view diagram showing the front surface, the top, and a side of the conventional plug-in unit. FIG. 24 is a diagram showing the rear surface of the conventional plug-in unit.
The plug-in unit as shown in these figures can realize an optical transmission device provided e.g. with the optical converter modules 26 and 27, by forming the open holes 20a and 20b having a predetermined size, in the printed board 20. What is more, the plug-in unit is advantageous in that it can be given a degree of freedom of arrangement of components on the printed board 20.
In the conventional PIU plug-in/plug-off mechanism constructed as above, since the open holes 20a and 20b are formed in the printed board 20, the rigidity of the printed board 20 becomes insufficient. On the other hand, pressing forces from the card levers 24 and 25 are transmitted via the printed board 20, which can deform the printed board 20 of the plug-in unit during a plugging-in operation, and in a worse case cause breakage of the printed board 20.
Next, a description will be made of the plugging-in operation of a plug-in unit in a conventional electronic apparatus.
FIGS. 25 to 28 are views useful in explaining the plugging-in operation of the plug-in unit in the conventional electronic apparatus. Hereafter, a turning operation of the card lever 24 disposed at the upper part of the plug-in unit will be mainly described, assuming that the card lever 25 disposed at the lower part of the plug-in unit is turned together with the card lever 24.
FIG. 25 shows a state of the plug-in unit being pressed rightward, as viewed in the figure, and thereby being plugged into the plug-in connector 13 disposed on the backplane 11. At this time, a first nail part 24a of the card lever 24 has been lowered to a position immediately below the recessed part 14a of the strike plate 14, but it has not appeared in the figure. The plug-in connector 22 on the leading end of the printed board 20 is being brought closer to the plug-in connector 13.
Referring to FIG. 26, the card lever 24 is turned counterclockwise, and the first nail part 24a appears from the front panel 21 and comes into abutment with the inner surface of the recessed part 14a of the strike plate 14. That is, the first nail part 24a of the card lever 24 and the recessed part 14a of the strike plate 14 come into engagement with each other.
Referring to FIG. 27, the card lever 24 is further turned counterclockwise, whereby the first nail part 24a presses the recessed part 14a of the strike plate 14. At this time, the card lever 25, not shown in FIG. 27, is turned at the lower part of the plug-in unit just as the card lever 24 is turned at the upper part of the plug-in unit, so that the whole plug-in unit is smoothly moved along the upper and lower guide rails 12 in a direction indicated by an arrow B in FIG. 27, to advance the plug-in connector 22 of the printed board 20 to a position from which the plug-in connector 22 starts to be inserted into the plug-in connector 13.
Referring to FIG. 28, the card lever 24 has been turned and brought into a state where the end thereof is pointed vertically downward, and the plug-in unit has been further moved in the direction indicated by the arrow B by the pressing forces from the card levers 24 and 25. This places the plug-in unit into a state connected to the plug-in connectors 13 on the backplane 11.
In plugging-off the plug-in unit, an operation is carried out which is reverse in its procedure to the above-described procedure of the plugging-in operation of the plug-in unit, and a second nail part 24b of the card lever 24, appearing in FIG. 25, acts on an outer side surface of the strike plate 14.
FIG. 29 is a view useful in explaining problems with the plugging-in operation of the plug-in unit in the conventional electronic apparatus.
FIG. 29 provides a comparison between a position where the first nail part 24a comes into abutment with the recessed part 14a of the strike plate 14 in a first stage of the plugging-in operation, shown in FIG. 26, and a position where the first nail part 24a is held in contact with the recessed part 14a of the strike plate 14 in a final stage of the same shown in FIG. 28.
When the card lever 24 is operated to plug in the plug-in unit, the first nail part 24a of the card lever 24 moves in an arc about a rotating shaft 24c, and hence a position of contact between the first nail part 24a and the recessed part 14a, as a stopper, of the strike plate 14 relatively varies, i.e. is not constant. Similarly, when the plug-in unit is plugged off by the second nail part 24b of the card lever 24, a strong pressing force is generated which acts between the card lever 24 and the outer side surface, as a stopper, of the strike plate 14, and hence the second nail part 24b moves while causing friction.
In the conventional PIU plug-in/plug-off mechanism configured as above, when plug-in/plug-off levers with high strength are employed, not only a force applied to the plug-in unit of an optical/ electronic device, but also forces applied to the backplane 11, the plug-in connectors 13, and the shelf 10 are increased, which can cause breakage of any of these components. To solve this problem, a fitting mechanism has been proposed e.g. in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2000-91772 (paragraphs [0014] to [0032] and FIGS. 1 and 2), in which phase differences are provided between operations of movable backboards based on motion curves defined by cam grooves formed in respective cams associated with the movable backboards, and a plurality of sets of connector housings and connector plugs are fitted to each other separately at respective times made different from each other.
As described hereinabove, in the conventional PIU plug-in/plug-off mechanism, since the printed board 20 is sometimes largely bent, there is a fear that the printed board 20 is broken or electronic components mounted on the printed board 20 are adversely affected.
Further, when the rigidity of the printed board 20 becomes insufficient, the printed board 20 of the plug-in unit can be deformed during a plugging-in operation, which can lead to breakage of the printed board 20.
Furthermore, the operating forces of the card levers 24 and 25 are lost due to frictions with the strike plates 14 and 15, and hence in a plug-in unit provided with high-speed and high-density connectors, it is impossible to efficiently obtain a force required for a connector plugging-in operation. In addition, actions of the card levers 24 and 25 during a plugging-off operation of the plug-in unit can damage the front surfaces of the strike plates 14 and 15. Therefore, a testing operation carried out using a plug-in unit on an electronic apparatus as a product before shipment of the electronic apparatus can cause the problem of damaging the product.

PIU plug-in/plug-off mechanism for electronic apparatus


An information recording medium and information processing device are provided so that recording medium-identifying ID information cannot be rewritten. Unique ID information specific to a recording medium is recorded in a servo zone, which is not a data zone in which data recording/reproduction can be performed. After the medium is installed in the disk drive, a user cannot rewrite the recorded ID information and can only read it. When information distributed via a network is stored in a storage device, the ID in the servo zone is verified so that the information can be stored in the storage device only when the storage device is properly licensed.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a disk-shaped information recording medium and information processing device which can record and reproduce data such as a magnetic disk or optical disk. In particular, it relates to a digital data recording and reproducing device which can record and reproduce data digitally, wherein, when information such as music or images are received via a network, broadcast or other recording medium, and this information is recorded by a magnetic disk device or the like connected to a personal computer, unauthorized copying is prevented and the authors copyright is protected.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, network data distribution systems are becoming popular. In these systems, information such as music or images are distributed via a network or broadcast, the distributed information is received via the Internet, and received information is displayed on the monitor of an individual""s personal computer, or recorded by a magnetic disk or magneto-optic disk device connected to the personal computer.
It is understood that, from the viewpoint of a copyright owner providing information, it is generally acceptable for a user who has a personal computer connected to the Internet, for example, to display received digital information on the computer""s monitor. However, special authorization from the copyright owner may be required to record this information on a magnetic disk, magneto-optic disk or other recording medium. One way of restricting the recording of distributed information on an individual""s magnetic disk, magneto-optic disk or other recording medium, for example, might be to store a key showing whether recording of information on the disk device was authorized or not. This key would be used to verify whether or not the disk device was an authorized device, i.e., whether or not it was a device licensed by the information provider. When the device was confirmed to be an unauthorized device, information recording on this disk device would be permitted.
When information is transmitted between an information provider and an information receiving device which receives the transmitted information and attempts to record it, one method of verifying whether or not the receiver""s device is an authorized device, i.e., whether or not a receiver""s device is a licensed device, is to embed unique information (ID information) to identify the information storage device or recording medium in the system on the information receiving side.
The information provider distributes information, and a check is performed based on this unique information (ID information) as to whether the device is a properly licensed device as regards information transmitted between the information provider and information receiving device. If it is verified that this is a properly licensed device, recording is performed normally, and if it is not a properly licensed device, recording is not performed.
Alternatively, there is another method wherein recording of information is permitted on any device, but if the information is found to be an unauthorized copy when a license check is performed, reproducing does not take place. Unique information to identify the medium or device is recorded at a predetermined position of the data recording part of the medium when it is shipped to prevent duplication.
An example of illegal copy prevention in the case of data transmission via the Internet is shown in FIG. 8.
In the layout shown in FIG. 8, an information provider 800 is connected to plural information receiving users aid 801, 802, 803 via the Internet, transfer of information between the users being possible.
Information is received from the information provider 800, and a user attempting to store the received data on a storage device such as a hard disk attached to the user""s personal computer, sends a data distribution request to the information provider 800 via the Internet, and sends his own ID to the information provider 800.
When the information provider 800 receives the ID from the user, it is compared with IDs registered in an ID database 820. If a matching ID is registered in the ID database 820, the data distribution request is considered to be from a properly licensed user, so data (P) is extracted from a distribution database 810 and provided to the user. The data may for example be encoded and transmitted as f(P).
If there is no matching ID as a result of comparing the ID from the user with the IDs registered in the ID database 820, it is determined that the data request is not from a properly licensed user, and data transmission is not performed.
In this system, the information receiving users 801, 802, 803 are generally individual personal computers comprising a data transmission means, and provided with a device such as a magnetic disk for recording data. The user""s ID is either created by the user himself, or it is unique system information (ID information) which is pre-recorded at a predetermined position of a data recording part of the medium when it is shipped.
The information provider 800 first concludes a license agreement with the user, and registers personal information (ID information) relating to the licensed information receiving users 801, 802, 803 in the ID database 820 on that occasion. The information provider 800 compares the ID information transmitted from the information receiving users 801, 802, 803 with the registered IDs, and determines whether or not the two match. If they do match, it is confirmed that the user is an authorized user. The data is then for example encoded by a predetermined key k, and transmitted to the information receiving users 801, 802, 803.
This key k may for example be a value k (=f (ID) generated by applying a predetermined function f to the device ID transmitted by the information receiving users 801, 802, 803. Likewise, in an information receiving device 702, the function f is applied to the ID to generate the key k (=f (ID). The key k may then be used to decode encoded audio or image data transmitted from the information provider.
However, in this related art construction, the individual ID (ID information) of the user""s information receiving device is set by the user, or is recorded at a predetermined position of a data recording part of the medium when it is shipped. This arbitrarily set ID or ID recorded in a data recording region of the data recording medium can easily be rewritten. An ID recorded in the data part of a recording medium such as a hard disk can be rewritten from the host computer by a user operation, and is therefore prone to falsification.
To prevent illegal ID falsification, it is also possible to prevent rewriting of a part in which the ID is recorded, for example by a program which controls disk drives, however, there still remains the possibility that somebody wishing to make an illegal copy will rewrite the control program so that the data in this area can be rewritten.
As a result, another possibility is that unauthorized recording of received data may take place by an unauthorized user rewriting the ID in one electronic device to modify it to an ID of a properly licensed user. Yet another possibility is that an authorized ID will be copied to plural devices, thereby permitting illegal recording of received data in plural devices.
There was therefore a problem in that the method of recording ID information in the data part of a medium in a related art system could not entirely prevent illegal copying.
It is therefore an object of this invention to resolve the above problems inherent in the related art, and provide an information recording medium wherein ID information cannot be rewritten, or an information processing device comprising such an information recording medium.
A first aspect of this invention, which was conceived to overcome the above problems, is:
a disk-shaped information recording medium permitting data recording and reproducing, the disk-shaped information recording medium comprising:
a data zone permitting data recording and reproducing, and
a servo zone for recording servo information for positioning a head which performs data recording or reproducing relative to the information recording medium, wherein
ID information for identifying the information recording medium is recorded in the servo zone.
In one variation of the information recording medium of this invention, the disk-shaped information recording medium has a construction in which plural data zones and plural servo zones are formed alternately, and the ID information is recorded in at least one servo zone of the plural servo zones.
In another variation of the information recording medium of this information, the ID information forms one piece of ID information by linking recorded information in plural servo zones.
In another variation of the information recording medium of this invention, the servo zone comprises a track address recording region in which a track address for identifying a disk data track is recorded, and the ID information is recorded in the track address recording region.
In another variation of the information recording medium of this invention, the same ID information is recorded in different servo zones of the plural servo zones.
In another variation of the information recording medium of this invention, the same ID information is recorded in servo zones of different surfaces of the disk-shaped information recording medium.
In another variation of the information recording medium of this invention, the same ID information is recorded in regions at different radial positions of a servo zone on the same surface of the disk-shaped information recording medium.
A second aspect of this invention is an information processing device comprising a disk-shaped information recording medium permitting data recording and reproducing, wherein the disk-shaped information recording medium comprises:
a data zone permitting data recording and reproducing, and
a servo zone for recording servo information for positioning a head which performs data recording or reproducing relative to the information recording medium, wherein
ID information for identifying the information recording medium is recorded in the servo zone.
In one variation of the information processing device of this invention, the information processing device comprises a means for performing data recording and reproducing to and from the information recording medium, and
ID information read means for reading the ID information from the servo zone.
In another variation of the information processing device of this invention, the ID information read means reads the ID information recording servo zone data as ID information based on ID information recording servo zone region information of the information recording medium on which ID information is recorded.
In another variation of the information processing device of this invention, the ID information read means comprises a means for executing an ID information read program generated in correspondence with the ID information recording servo zone region information.
In another variation of the information processing device of this invention, the information processing device comprises an ID comparison means for performing a comparison of license information generated based on the ID information and the ID information when distribution information from an external information providing means is recorded on the information recording medium, and a storage enabling means which enables storage of information from the external information providing means on the information recording medium only when it is confirmed that the license information is information created based on the ID information as a result of the comparison in the ID comparison means.
In another variation of the information processing device of this invention, the storage enabling means is a decoding means which performs decoding of encoded information from an information providing means, and which decodes encoded information from an external information providing means only when it is confirmed that the license information is information created based on the ID information as a result of the comparison in the ID comparison means.
In another variation of the information processing device of this invention, the information processing device records distribution information from an external information providing means on the information recording medium, and comprises an ID comparison means for performing a comparison of license information generated based on the ID information and the ID information when the recorded information is played back, and reproducing enabling means which enables reproducing of recorded information recorded on the information recording means only when it is confirmed that the license information is information created based on the ID information as a result of the comparison in the ID comparison means.
In another variation of the information processing device of this invention, the reproducing enabling means is a decoding means which performs decoding of encoded information from an information providing means, and which decodes encoded information recorded on the information recording medium only when it is confirmed that the license information is information created based on the ID information as a result of the comparison in the ID comparison means.
According to the information recording medium and information processing device of this invention, when copyrighted information such as audio information or image information is recorded and played back to and from a recording device, the process of storage or reproducing on a device or medium other than a properly licensed device can be made very difficult, properly licensed user devices can be identified with a higher degree of certainty, and an information provider""s information can be recorded only by properly licensed users.
According to the information storage medium and information processing device of this invention, medium-specific ID information is recorded in a servo zone different from a data recording/reproducing zone. When this medium is installed in a storage device, the ID information cannot be rewritten and can only be reproduced. Storage in the storage device is subject to verification of the ID, hence unauthorized data storage can be prevented
Further, according to the information storage medium and information processing device of this invention, a servo writer, which is a special expensive piece of equipment, is used to record the medium-specific ID information in the servo zone, so rewriting of the ID or falsification by the general user can be prevented.
Still further, according to the information storage medium and information processing device of this invention, by encoding distribution data and decoding this data using a decoding key based on the unique ID recorded in a servo zone of the storage device, only users who have received a valid license, i.e., users who own a recording medium which has definitely been identified, are permitted to perform storage or reproducing of the decoded data.

Information recording medium and information processing device


A cleaning tool for cleaning particulate matter from contact surfaces of fiber-optics ferrules of an electronics assembly has one or more first connector halves for engaging one or more second connector halves hosting the ferrules to be cleaned, and one or more cleaning inserts provided within the one or more first connector halves, the cleaning inserts comprising adherent surfaces for removing particulates from engaged surfaces. The tool is characterized in that the one or more cleaning inserts are sized to contact the contact surfaces of the fiber optics ferrules with the first connector half engaged in the second connector half.

In the general state of the art of electrical and electronic systems housed in cabinets (often termed chassis), there are typically inputs and outputs to the system, facilitated by connection of communication links of various sorts, over which signals are received and sent. There are also numerous situations wherein groups of components in a chassis have to be connected to and communicate with other groups of components internally. Data routers in packet networks, such as the well-known Internet, are a good example. In description in this specification a data router is used as a specific example of such a situation, and the present invention in several aspects is applicable to such routers.
Transmission of network data traffic is accomplished with the use of data routers as introduced above. A physical data routing machine typically consists of a processing unit or multiple units which are housed in a chassis and which communicate with each other and with other data routing machines.
In prior art, one method for achieving communication between processing units in a single chassis, such as in a data router, involves the use of an electrical backplane. When communication between multiple chassis is required, cables have been used to connect the electrical backplanes of the chassis. The electrical backplane is commonly implemented as a printed circuit board assembly, which provides electrical connectivity between processing units.
Noting that it may sometimes be desirable to communicate at backplane level between elements that are not closely physically associated, such as between elements that may be mounted in separate physical electronic cabinets, there is a potential problem with electrical backplanes. When an electrical signal is transmitted over relatively long distances, for example, deterioration of the signal may occur for any of several reasons. For example, longer signal paths necessarily present additional resistance. Also, longer paths present additional opportunity for interference. Therefore, in order to transmit clean signals in systems utilizing electrical backplanes, the elements in communication must be in relatively close physical proximity to one another, such as in the same cabinet.
Another drawback to electrical backplane boards is that they are relatively difficult to service. One reason is that the conductors for the electrical signals are typically patterned on the board, and individual conductors (signal paths) cannot be separately serviced. In many cases the backplane boards are also hardwired to other components. Because any change or repair is normally via a replacement of the entire backplane, the system containing the electrical backplane is generally out of service during any backplane service.
A modular and adjustable backplane assembly is known to the inventor, and is taught in the patent application referenced as a priority document in the Cross-Reference section above. The assembly provides a fiber-optics backplane interface to a plurality of router cards functioning as a data router. The modular assembly has a first portion housing a first array of connector halves for interfacing with a compatible array of connector halves mounted to specified router cards. The assembly also has a second portion having a second array of connector halves for interfacing with a compatible array of connector halves specific to another type of router card used in the same router. The mechanics of the assembly enable a moveable backplane attachment with respect to the first and second portions of the assembly such that they may be positionally adjusted during mounting, and wherein external data paths are provided from individual ones of the connectors to individual others of the connectors by fiber-optic conductors. The backplane assembly is illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 herein, and the adjustment capability is illustrated in FIG. 2 of the co-pending application.
In the above-referenced backplane assembly, each connector housing comprises a male and female component (halves) that snap together. Referring to FIG. 1 of Ser. No. 09/920,556, only the backplane connector halves LC and FC connectors 103 and 102 respectively are illustrated. Each component contains at least 4 separate fiber optic contact inserts provided in the form of spring-loaded inserts, also termed ferrules by the inventor, that when inserted properly and with the connector housing snapped together, provide the actual fiber optic interface. Each springloaded insert or ferrule has a connector head, a snap-in body, and a spring bridging the former components to provide flexibility in alignment. The entire assembly fits over a fiber optic cable set and presents the fiber optics cable ends in a strategic array. Two opposing ferrules in proper position complete a fiber-optics channel. The connector heads of the backplane inserts contain the contact surface portions which must be kept clean to provide a good fiber optics connection. As is well known in the art, particulate matter collecting on the contact surfaces of a fiber optics ferrule can seriously degrade transmission performance.
In current art, the fabric cards and line cards (FC,LC) of the router connect to the backplane assembly through the router chassis utilizing the housing connector components to align and retain the multiple opposing inserts that actually form the transmission connections (See FIG. 3). Each router card has mounted thereon an array of one type (male or female) housing components. Currently on one type of card (FC) there are 5 such housing components retaining 4 each of the contact inserts. Therefore, there are 20 separate inserts or ferrules per card that interface with a same number of inserts or ferrules in the backplane assembly whose contact surfaces must be kept free of particulate matter.
Current cleaning practices require that a card first be removed from its shelf (unplugged) so that the associated backplane contact surfaces are then accessible for cleaning. Each component housing retaining the inserts on the backplane has a spring-loaded, hinged door that covers the contact surfaces of its housed inserts collectively and protects those surfaces from dust and other particulate matter when a card is not plugged in to the assembly. The door swings positively toward the inside of the housing and inserts when pushed on. When the housing components are snapped together, the door is in the open position.
A cleaning tool for cleaning particulates from a single connector surface is available to the inventor. This tool has a handle extension and a profile that allows the cleaning portion of the tool to extend through the small space in a card shelf left by a removed card. The tool must be inserted through the space and through the door of the component housing on the backplane in order to reach the contact surface to be cleaned. Because the component housings are vertically stacked (typically 5) on the backplane assembly, an adjustment mechanism with an extension is provided to elevate the cleaning tool to the proper height profile of each insert contact surface to be cleaned. Adjustments must be made each time one surface is cleaned.
What is clearly needed is a mechanism for cleaning optics contact surfaces on a backplane assembly that can clean all of the surface areas comprising a connection between a router card and a backplane assembly simultaneously or at least much more efficiently than cleaning one surface at a time between height adjustments. A mechanism such as this would greatly reduce downtime to a router connection due to cleaning.

Method and apparatus for cleaning particulate matter from an optic-connector surface


An embodiment of a POS system according to the present invention stores log information and RAS information into a storage device (11) which stores an operating system, an application program and the like without being equipped with any non-volatile memories for storing the log information and the RAS information, wherein the log information is a record of a process, an operation and the like; and the RAS information is information pertaining to a hardware life-time. The POS device does not need to be equipped with a nonvolatile memory which is different from a storage device to store an operating system (OS), an application program and the like. Nevertheless the POS device is able to retain log information, RAS information and the like.

Conventionally a POS device to record log information which is the record of processing or operation, or information related to hardware life-time has been known.
The log information means information related to histories of data processing performed in a CPU (Central Processing Unit) mounted in the POS device, or the operation of the other hardware device mounted in the POS device. Further, the information related to hardware life-time means the information related to the number of times a keyboard is pushed down, the number of times a cash drawer is opened, and the number of times of scanning operations performed by a magnetic card reader, the number of times a back-light of LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) is energized, the number of letters printed by a printer, the number of times of operations of a cutting mechanism of a printer and the like. The information for the hardware life-time is used for estimating the life-time of the hardware components of the POS device.
The information for the hardware life-time is typically called RAS (Reliability, Availability and Serviceability). Therefore, in the description below, the information for the hardware life-time is named as RAS information.
Patent literature 1 discloses a POS device equipped with a nonvolatile memory in addition to a storage device to store an operating system (OS), an application program and the like (e.g. a hard-disk drive (HDD)). The nonvolatile memory stores history information.


A cutter is coupled to a tip of a driven shaft rotatably attached in an operating arm as a main body of a bush cutter, and the other end thereof is provided to a driven side coupling portion selectively coupled with any one of a driving side coupling portion of an engine output shaft and a driving side coupling portion of a motor output shaft. To a driven side joint provided in the other end of the operating arm, any one of an engine output side joint of an engine and an engine output side joint of an electric motor is selectively detachably attached. An engine revolution regulator is connected to the engine through a cable, a motor revolution regulator is connected to the electric motor through an electric cord, and these regulators are detachably attached to a handle of the operating arm.

The present invention relates to a bush cutter capable of driving a cutter with any of an engine and an electric motor used as a power source.
In order to mow weeds sprouting in paths between fields or on riversides, bottom weeds of forest lands, meadow grass, or the like, a bush cutter also referred to as a lawn mower is used. The bush cutter includes an arm coupling type in which a cutter is mounted on a tip of an operating arm and a power source is attached to a rear end thereof, and a direct driving type in which the cutter is directly mounted on a rotational shaft of the power source. As a power source, there are the case of attaching an engine and the case of attaching an electric motor.
In the bush cutter with the electric motor used as a power source, there are a numerous of direct driving types, in each of which the electric motor is attached to the tip of the operating arm and the cutter is directly attached to the shaft of the electric motor. In the bush cutter with the engine used as a power source, there are a numerous of arm coupling types, in each of which the cutter is mounted on the tip of the operating arm and the engine is attached to the rear end thereof.
In the arm coupling type in which the cutter is mounted on the tip of the operating arm and the engine is attached to the rear end, there are a carrying type of mounting the engine on a carrying stand, a shoulder type of hanging, on a shoulder, a loop belt mounted on the operating arm, a handle type of gripping by hand and operating a handle provided to the operating arm, and the like. The handle includes a loop handle and a two-handed handle.
In the bush cutter with the electric motor used as a power source, there are a power supply connection type of being used by connecting a power supply connector to a commercial power supply terminal and a battery mounting type of mounting a battery. In the case of the power supply connection type, it can be used when the commercial power source terminal exists at a position relatively close to a place for use. However, at a position where no power supply terminal exists, it cannot be used as it is and requires a generator when it is used. On the other hand, in the case of the bush cutter of the battery mounting type, since there is a limit to battery capacity, an operation to exchange or charge the battery is required. In contrast to this, the bush cutter with the engine used as a power source can be used even when no commercial power supply terminal exists at the position relatively close to the place for use, and furthermore, it has an advantage of being able to operate for a long time by replenishing fuel. However, engine noises during an operating time become louder than those during the motor driving.


A non-volatile memory cell having a symmetric cell structure is disclosed. The non-volatile memory cell includes a substrate, a tunnel oxide layer, two floating gates, a dielectric layer, a plurality of spacers, a control gate, and two split gates. The substrate has at least two sources and a drain that is located between the sources. The floating gates are formed on the tunneling oxide layer, and each of floating gates is located between each source and the drain. The dielectric layer is formed on the floating gates. The control gate is formed over the drain and is between the floating gates. The split gates are located adjacent to outward sidewalls of the floating gates, respectively. Therefore, each of the split gates is opposite to the control gate through each of the floating gates.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a memory cell structure. More specifically, the present invention relates to a non-volatile memory cell structure and a manufacturing method thereof.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Computer storage media technology is evolving rapidly. While hard drives and CD-ROMs will still be around for years to come because of their high capacity and low cost, new forms of storage are constantly being developed. One technology that appears to have distinct advantages over conventional forms of storage is flash memory. Like conventional storage systems, flash memory is nonvolatile, requiring no power to maintain the stored information, and rewriteable.
FIG. 1 is a sectional schematic diagram illustrating a prior art non-volatile memory cell structure 1. As shown in FIG. 1, prior art non-volatile memory cell structures 1 includes a substrate 10, a tunneling oxide layer 11 formed on the substrate 10, a floating gate formed on the tunneling oxide layer 11, a dielectric layer 13, and a control gate 14. A drain region 15 and a source region 16 are provided in the substrate 10.
FIG. 2 illustrates another prior art non-volatile memory cell structure 2 having a split gate for improving work performance and reliability of the non-volatile memory cell structure 2. As shown in FIG. 2, the prior art non-volatile memory cell structure 2 includes a substrate 20, a tunneling oxide layer 21, a floating gate 22, a dielectric layer 23, a control gate 24, a polysilicon spacer 25, and an erase oxide layer 26. A drain region 27 and a source region 28 are provided in the substrate 20. The polysilicon spacer 25 functions as a split gate which is isolated from the substrate 20 and the stacked gate structure consisting of the floating gate 22 and the control gate 24 by the erase oxide layer 26.
The manufacturing process for the above-mentioned prior art non-volatile memory cell structure 2 is complex. To manufacture the prior art non-volatile memory cell structure 2 as set forth in FIG. 2, a first polysilicon layer is deposited over the substrate 10, which is thereafter patterned and etched to form the floating gate 22. After this, a second polysilicon layer is deposited and is then patterned and etched to form the control gate 24. After the formation of the control gate 24, a third polysilicon layer is deposited thereon. The third polysilicon layer is subjected to an etching back process to form the split gate structure 25. Therefore, it needs three polysilicon layers to complete the prior art non-volatile memory cell structure 2.
However, the above-mentioned prior art non-volatile memory cell structure is quite not compatible with the manufacturing process for the peripheral logic circuit. It is well known that, in most cases, the peripheral logic circuit includes CMOS single-poly transistors. The memory cell structure determines the degree of integration between the manufacturing process for the non-volatile memory cells and the manufacturing process for the peripheral logic circuit thereof. Moreover, the coupling ratio of the above-mentioned prior art non-volatile memory cell structure is still low. It is known that the coupling ratio is basically proportional to the overlapping area between the floating gate and the control gate and is an important factor related to the operation of the non-volatile memory. Therefore, to maintain sufficient overlapping area between the floating gate and the control gate, namely, coupling ratio, the possibility of further miniaturizing the memory cell size is hindered.
In light of the foregoing, there is a need to provide an improved non-volatile memory cell structure that is capable of eliminating the aforementioned problems.
Accordingly, one object of the present invention is to provide an improved non-volatile memory cell structure having reduced numbers of polysilicon layer and increased overlapping area between control gate and floating gates.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a non-volatile memory cell structure having the control gate disposed between two floating gates, and the control gate and split gates are formed in the same etching step.
To achieve these and other advantages and in accordance with the purposes of the invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, the present invention provides a non-volatile memory cell structure including a substrate having thereon at least a drain and two sources. The drain is disposed between the two sources. A tunneling oxide layer is formed on the substrate. Two floating gates are disposed on the tunneling oxide layer, and each of the two floating gates is disposed between the drain and one of the two sources. A dielectric layer is disposed on the floating gates. A plurality of spacers are formed on sidewalls of the floating gates. A control gate is formed over the drain and is disposed between the two floating gates. Two split gates are symmetrically formed on an outer side of the floating gates opposite to the control gate.
According to one aspect of the present invention, the present invention also pertains to a manufacturing method for making the non-volatile memory cell structure. The manufacturing method includes the steps of providing a substrate having thereon a tunneling oxide layer, a floating gate layer and a dielectric layer;etching the floating gate layer and the dielectric layer in order to define two floating gates;forming a plurality of spacers on sidewalls of the floating gates;oxidizing the substrate to grow a control gate oxide layer between the two floating gates and split gate oxide layer on an outer side of each of the two floating gates; implanting ions into the substrate to form a drain between the two floating gates; depositing a gate layer over the substrate, the gate layer covering the dielectric layer and the spacers:forming a photo mask on the gate layer, the photo mask being disposed over the drain; and etching the gate layer to form a control gate over the drain and simultaneously form a split gate at the outer side of each of the two floating gate in a self-aligned manner, the split gate being opposite to the control gate.
It is advantageous to use the present invention because the control gate of the non-volatile memory cell is located between two floating gates, thereby increasing the overlapping area between the control gate and the floating gates. The overlapping area includes the sidewalls of the floating gates and a portion of the top surface of the floating gates. This results in an increased coupling ratio. Furthermore, the split gates and the control gate are formed by etching the same polysilicon layer (second polysilicon layer). Only two layers of polysilicon are needed to complete the non-volatile memory cell of this invention. By doing this, the manufacturing process for the novel non-volatile memory cell structure of this invention can be well compatible with the manufacturing process for the peripheral circuit.
Other objects, advantages, and novel features of the claimed invention will become more clearly and readily apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Non-volatile memory cell structure and method for manufacturing thereof


A circuit includes a fuse circuit and a control circuit. The fuse circuit has an electrical fuse. The control circuit is configured to receive an input signal having an input pulse, and, based on a feedback signal from the fuse circuit, generates a read pulse smaller than the input pulse for use in reading the data stored in the electrical fuse.

Read access time of an electrical fuse varies depending on various factors, such as the resistance of the programmed fuse, manufacturing process, operational voltage, and temperature (collectively PVT) variations, etc. In some approaches, to cover a wide range of variations, the width of a read signal pulse and thus the read access time of the electrical fuse are loosely set. The width of the read signal, however, is proportional to the time the fuse is being subjected to an electrical stress by a read current. As a result, in some conditions, the fuse is subject to an electrical stress longer than necessary when the fuse is read. The maximum cumulative number of read accesses for the lifetime of the fuse is therefore reduced. The electrical stress is worse with a higher read voltage.
Like reference symbols in the various drawings indicate like elements.

Circuit and method for generating a read signal

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.


A steering device with a constitution in which an operation unit and steerable wheels are not mechanically connected, has a target turning angle setting device which sets a target turning angle of the steerable wheels according to an operation amount of the operation unit, a turning angle measuring device which measures an actual turning angle of the steerable wheels, and a turning actuator which turns the steerable wheels according to a deviation between the target turning angle and the actual turning angle, wherein, when an operating direction of the operation unit is reversed, the target turning angle setting device sets the target turning angle according to the actual turning angle which is measured by the turning angle measuring device at a time of reversing.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a steering device with a constitution in which a operation unit operated by a driver and steerable wheels which are steered are not mechanically connected, and may be made to connect from such a condition.
Priority is claimed on Japanese Patent Application No. 2004-252087, filed Aug. 31, 2004, the content of which is incorporated herein by reference.
2. Description of Related Art
Conventionally, in a so-called SBW (steer-by-wire) type steering device, there is no mechanical connection between the steering wheel (hereinafter also referred to as an operation unit) steered by the driver, and the steerable wheels (the vehicle wheels). Therefore, greater output is required of the turning actuator which actually applies the turning angle to the steerable wheels, than in a conventional steering system in which the steering wheel and the steerable wheels are linked mechanically, due to the fact that steering effort of the driver applied to the steering wheel is not directly transmitted to the turning actuator.
Furthermore, in an SBW type steering device, the physical rack end position on the steerable wheels side cannot be felt at the steering wheel side by the driver. Therefore, it is necessary to otherwise make the driver aware of so-called rack end bottoming that corresponds to the maximum turning angle.
One known method of making the driver aware of the maximum turning angle is to rapidly build up the steering reaction force when the steering angle (steering wheel angle) approaches an angle at which the turning angle reaches the maximum, thereby letting the driver know when the turning angle reaches the maximum (see, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 5, 247,441).
Incidentally, in the case of an SBW type steering device in which an electric motor is used for the turning actuator, there is a need for the output capacity of the turning actuator to be as low as possible from the viewpoint of decreasing manufacturing costs and power consumption.
However, if the output of the motor is not sufficient, the driver may be unable to adequately turn the steerable wheels to the turning angle intended by the driver, i.e., the target turning angle determined according to the steering angle, so that the driver experiences considerable unusual sensation. This unusual sensation is particularly marked at extremely low speeds where high turning output is required, such as when parking, for example.
Moreover, when the steerable wheels do not sufficiently approach the target turning angle according to the steering operation by the driver, i.e., when a motor of the turning actuator turns the steerable wheels at the maximum output, a phenomenon can occur in which, even if the driver reverses the steering direction of the steering wheel, the steerable wheels continue to be turned in the turning direction in which the steerable wheels had been turned in the first place.
At this time, even if the driver does not have a feeling that the steerable wheels are not responding properly, when the state is continued in which the steering direction of the steering wheel and the turning direction of the steerable wheels are reversed with respect to each other, a vehicular motion is showed in which the vehicle continues to be turned in the same direction (direction opposite to the steering direction) as the direction in which the vehicle has been turned until then, and after that, the vehicle begins to be turned in the same direction (same direction as the steering direction) as the direction of the intention-of the driver, and the driver will feel considerable unusual sensation.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


Disclosed is a ventilating air intake arrangement of an aircraft. The arrangement includes at least one air duct connected to an air intake orifice. At least one confined zone connects with the air duct and the air intake orifice, and the confined zone is configured in a manner in which outside air enters through the air intake orifice. A controllable mobile element modifies the flow of air entering the confined zone by varying a cross section of the air duct. A control unit is used to control the controllable mobile element, with the control unit being arranged so as to control the controllable mobile element to vary the cross section of the at least one air duct as a function of speed and altitude of the aircraft.

The present invention relates to a method and a device for detecting dissymmetry of thrust in an aircraft under braking with reverse thrust, for example during a landing or during an aborted takeoff. The invention also relates to an aircraft provided with such a device.
It is known that many aircraft, particularly civilian transport aircraft, are equipped with thrust reversers to improve the braking of said aircraft taxiing along the ground by applying reverse thrust.
It is also known that, under braking on the ground, reverse thrust is applied manually by the crew of said aircraft by, for example, bringing the throttle control levers of the various engines from an intermediate landing position into a reverse thrust position corresponding to the deployment of the thrust reversers of the engine and the application of an appropriate engine speed.
However, because of the high workload (particularly in the case of aircraft that have two or more engines) which is particularly stressful during landing, one of the pilots may forget to position the throttle control lever of one of the engines in reverse thrust position, which means that that engine will continue to apply forward thrust, unlike the other engines which are applying rearwardly directed thrust. An oversight such as this then leads to dissymmetry in the thrust of the aircraft engines and makes this engine more difficult to control, or may even make it uncontrollable.

Method and device for the detection of a thrust dissymmetry of an aircraft during a braking


A conductive element includes wiring having a flat portion at a top portion and including metal particles. An average value of a ratio of a width of the flat portion to a width of the wiring is 20% or more. An average value of arithmetic average roughness of the top portion is 1 μm or less.

In recent years, a technology of forming wiring with metal particles is actively studied. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a technology of forming routed wiring to connect a transparent electrode to an external circuit on a touch panel by performing drying treatment or annealing treatment after printing a conductive paste.

Conductive element, manufacturing method for same, input device, and electronic apparatus


A drain valve for a compressed air tank is pneumatically activated by the residual air which is released from an air compressor when the air compressor comes to a stop after an active cycle. The invention allows for consistent and reliable draining of condensation from a compressed air tank. The energy of the residual air released is used to operate the valve. Under favorable conditions, the valve is operated at a frequency proportional to the rate of moisture condensation.

(a) Field of the invention
The present invention relates to a pneumatically activated moisture drain valve for use in a compressed air supply system.
(b) Brief description of the Prior Art
It is known in the art of air compressors that the condensation of moisture in the compressed air is a problem. Most compressed air storage tanks must be provided with drain valves in order to allow the tank to be regularly drained.
Means for automatically draining moisture from a compressed air system have been proposed. However, all involve either a complicated valve and control means or the regular leakage of compressed air from the system.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,100,485 describes a drain valve which effects a continuous but slow draining of a compressed air reservoir. U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,462,614 and 3,486,303 both describe drainage systems for air compressor systems which involve the use of sophisticated timer means which activate the drain valve.

Pneumatically activated drain valve for compressed air


In a photosensor and a method of manufacturing the same, the photosensor comprises: an intrinsic silicon layer formed on a substrate; a P-type doped region formed in a same plane with the intrinsic silicon layer; and an oxide semiconductor layer formed on or under the intrinsic silicon layer, and overlapping an entire region of the intrinsic silicon layer.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a photosensor and a method of manufacturing the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
A photosensor having a P-I-N structure is a semiconductor device which converts an optical signal into an electrical signal. In a photosensor having the P-I-N structure, a negative voltage may be applied to a P-type doped region, and a positive voltage may be applied to an N-type doped region. In this state, if light is incident on the photosensor, the energy of the incident light causes electrons and holes to be generated in an intrinsic region or causes electrons and holes to be generated in an N/P-type doped region, and then to diffuse to the intrinsic region. Consequently, electric current flows through the photosensor due to a reverse electric field of the intrinsic region. In this regard, a larger amount of light or higher energy causes more current to flow through the photosensor, and transistors output electrical signals according to the amount of current, thereby operating the photosensor.
To form the P-I-N structure, two rounds of doping process (that is, P-type doping and N-type doping) are required, which complicates the manufacturing process and raises manufacturing costs.

Photosensor and method of manufacturing the same


A vent apparatus for use in a mold defining an opening that includes a vent tube portion configured to extend through the opening of the mold and a secondary tube portion configured to mate with the vent tube portion. The secondary tube portion may define a valve region configured to control, or restrict, airflow therethrough.

The present disclosure relates to vent apparatus for use in venting the inside of a rotational mold to outside of the mold.
Rotational molding involves heating a flowable material in a hollow mold and rotating the mold to melt and distribute the material over the inside of the mold. Rotational molding is a high temperature, low pressure process and the strength required from the molds is minimal, which results in its ability to produce large, complex parts using a low-cost mold. Further, the low processing pressure involved in rotational molding has the added advantage of producing parts that are virtually stress free.
Rotational molded articles are used for many different commercial or consumer purposes including but not limited to livestock feeders, drainage systems, food service containers, instrument housings, fuel tanks, vending machines, highway barriers, road markers, boats, kayaks, childcare seats, light globes, tool carts, planter pots, playing balls, playground equipment, headrests, truck/cart liners, and air ducts.
The process of rotational molding generally includes placing a flowable material such as, e.g., a polymer usually in a powder form, inside a mold. Often, the mold is composed of two or more parts and totally encloses the powder. Molds may be made out of steel, aluminum, and/or another metal and may be supported by a steel frame. The mold is then placed in an oven and heated for a predetermined amount of time to allow the flowable material to turn into a liquid state. The mold is rotated in two perpendicular axes throughout the rotational molding process. As the mold heats up, the flowable material begins to coalesce to the inside walls of the mold. The heat distribution around the inner surface of the mold may be determined by the outside design of the mold. For example, tin may be used to reduce heat in areas and gas lines may be used to radiate, or deliver, more heat on, or to, other areas similar to a convection oven.
Centrifugal forces additionally contribute to the accumulation of the flowable material around the inside of the mold (e.g., such centrifugal forces may constantly pull the material against the inside surface of the mold as the mold is rotated about the two respective axes). After a selected period of time, the mold may be cooled. Rotation of the mold may continue throughout the cooling process. Once the flowable material (e.g., polymer) has hardened (after the cooling process has completed), rotation can stop, the mold may be opened, and the mold part can be removed from the mold.
Along with the flowable material, gases (e.g., air, oxygen, nitrogen, carbon dioxide, etc.) are located inside the mold during the molding process. The gases may exercise significant rates of thermal expansion in comparison to the flowable materials inside the mold. Since the mold may be sealed tight, the pressure inside the mold may fluctuate (e.g., increase and/or decrease) due to the temperature fluctuations of the gases located inside the mold during the heating and cooling steps of the rotational molding process. The pressure fluctuations may cause "blowholes" and/or deformations in the article being molded.
To counter these pressure fluctuations, a "vent tube" may be placed in the mold to allow the inside of the mold to "breathe" to the outside of the mold. In other words, the vent tube may allow the pressure inside of the mold to equalize with the pressure outside of the mold. Typically, a wad of furnace filter or steel wool is placed in the vent tube to prevent any flowable material (e.g., polymer) from falling out of the mold through the vent tube as the mold rotates. Tape may also be used to cover the end of the vent tube located inside of the mold. The wad of furnace filter or steel wool and/or the tape may be burned off after a selected time period during a heating cycling of the rotational molding process such that, e.g., the vent tube can breathe. Often, such practices may result in clogged vent tubes, which may cause a resistance in airflow (e.g., which may cause improper molding or blowholes).
Many molds may not fully seal at the points where the mold comes together (which may be called parting lines). Often, the mold may vent through the parting lines prior to the flowable material solidifying, or hardening, and thereby blocking the parting lines. If airflow in a vent tube is restricted after the parting lines have become blocked, the air pressure inside the mold will rise as the temperature inside the mold rises. Likewise, as the mold begins to cool, the pressure inside the mold will begin to fall as the temperature inside falls. During the cooling process, the gas inside the mold may be sealed from the outside of the mold as the polymer completely coats the entire inside of the mold. If the vent remains restricted, a vacuum may be created within the molded part that may cause "blowholes" along the parting lines as gas tries to enter the mold to relieve the vacuum. Additionally, as the polymer hardens during the cooling process, the vacuum may suck a portion, or part of the molded article away from the mold wall and cause a deformed or "scrap" part.
Vents may be used as one-way valves, which may be reliant on the pressure differential of the gas inside the mold to the gas outside the mold, which may provide a positive pressure inside the mold at the end of the heating cycle such that a vacuum may not be created during the cooling phase. Such one-way valve system may have an inability to control pressure that builds up in the mold. A silicone tube used as a vent tube is disclosed in U.S. Pat. App. Pub. No. 2005/0167887 published Aug. 4, 2004 to Rory Jones, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.