A method for exchanging messages between computer systems communicatively coupled in a computer system network. A message (e.g., a read or write command) is sent from a software element of a first computer system (e.g., a client computer system) to a second computer system (e.g., a server computer system). A shared memory unit is accessible by the software element of the first computer system and a software element of the second computer system. The shared memory unit of the second computer system is directly accessed, bypassing the processor of the second computer system, and the data of interest is read or written from/to the shared memory unit. In one embodiment, the method pertains to acknowledgments between software elements. A plurality of messages is sent from one software element to another software element. A count of each of the plurality of messages is maintained. An acknowledgment message acknowledging receipt of a prescribed number of the messages is written to a shared memory unit when the count reaches the prescribed number.

The present invention pertains to the field of computer system architecture. More specifically, the present invention pertains to a method for using shared memory to facilitate message exchanges and data transfer in a computer system or in a network of computer systems.
A typical computer system utilizes a variety of software elements such as an operating system, device drivers, application programs (xe2x80x9capplicationsxe2x80x9d) including computer software programs, word processors, database management systems, electronic mail, and the like, and communication programs that execute communication protocols that define the procedures to be followed when data are transmitted and received.
The software elements in a computer system, and the software elements on different computer systems, use data packets to communicate with each other and exchange information. Sending and receiving is accomplished using software processes such as applications, threads, drivers, protocol stacks, and the like. In the prior art, software is involved at both ends of any message exchange or data transmission, whether it is a one-way exchange (for example, from one computer system to another), two-way (for example, from one computer system to another and back again), and so on. For example, a source software element sends data packets to a target software element in order to issue requests and commands, such as a command to execute a particular application. In response to these requests and commands, the target software element sends an acknowledgment data packet (xe2x80x9cacknowledgmentxe2x80x9d) to the source software element to indicate that the request or command was properly received, as well as responses to the requests and commands.
The focus of this discussion of the prior art is not the data processing accomplished by the software, but rather the involvement of the software in the data/message exchanges. The problem with these kinds of exchanges (with software elements involved at each end of the exchange) is that they consume processing cycles and memory resources in the computer systems involved in the exchange. In addition, the exchanges can only be accomplished at the rate at which the software can handle the data/message.
By way of exemplifying the problems with the prior art, consider the current process for sending and receiving acknowledgments in response to requests and commands. Prior Art FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a first computer system 80a communicatively coupled to a second computer system 80b in computer system network 30. The software elements executed by computer system 80a are represented by application layer A 10. In a similar manner, computer system 80b includes application layer B 60.
One of the software elements (e.g., from application layer A 10) of computer system 80a transmits to computer system 80b a data packet (e.g., message 90) containing, for example, a command or request. Computer system 80b responds to message 90 in the form of acknowledgment 95. Typically, a prescribed number of messages are sent by the source software element before an acknowledgment is provided by the target software element. For example, ten (10) messages may be sent from the source software element (e.g., from application layer A 10) before an acknowledgment is required from the target software element (e.g., from application layer B 60). The source software element will not transmit any further messages until it receives an acknowledgment. After receiving an acknowledgment, the source software element transmits another 10 messages.
In the prior art, message 90 is placed in a buffer (e.g., message queue B 22) of computer system 80b before it is eventually forwarded to application layer B 60, and similarly acknowledgment 95 is placed in a buffer (e.g., message queue A 20) of computer system 80a before it is eventually forwarded to application layer A 10. When a plurality of messages and acknowledgments are sent between computer systems 80a and 80b, in particular between the software elements on these computer systems, the message queues are used to control the flow of the messages and acknowledgments to the particular software elements.
A disadvantage to the prior art is that the resources of the computer system that processes the acknowledgments (e.g., computer systems 80a and 80c) are consumed by the operations associated with adding and removing acknowledgments from the message queues. For example, the computer system needs to establish field lengths for storing the acknowledgments and then needs to write the acknowledgments to the message queue. The computer system needs to synchronize the source and target software elements. It is sometimes necessary for the computer system to copy the acknowledgment before removing it from the message queue. Also, the computer system needs to specify and move pointers. Thus, the prior art techniques for processing acknowledgments consume a computer system""s processing cycles and memory resources in order to complete the required operations.
The discussion above can be readily extrapolated to the exchange of other types of messages and to data transmission in the prior art. For example, a command or request from one computer system to a second computer system is placed into a queue, and there is overhead associated with processing the exchange. The prior art techniques for message exchange and data transmission require a significant amount of processing overhead, and hence the overall performance of the computer system can be significantly reduced.
Accordingly, what is needed is a method to reduce the processing overhead associated with message exchange and data transmission. What is further needed is a method to improve the overall performance of the computer system in this regard. The present invention provides a novel solution to the above needs.
These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become obvious to those of ordinary skill in the art after having read the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments which are illustrated in the various drawing figures.
The present invention provides a method to reduce the processing overhead associated with message exchange and data transmission, and improves the overall performance of the computer system in this regard.
The present invention pertains to a method for exchanging messages between software elements in computer systems communicatively coupled in a computer system network. A message is sent from a software element of a first computer system (e.g., a client computer system) to a second computer system (e.g., a server computer system). A shared memory unit of the second computer system is directly accessed, bypassing the processor of the second computer system. The shared memory unit is accessible by the software element of the first computer system and a software element of the second computer system. Data of interest are directly read from or written to the shared memory unit.
In one embodiment, the present invention pertains to a method for acknowledging messages between a first software element and a second software element. A plurality of messages is sent from the first software element to the second software element. A count of each of the plurality of messages sent by the first software element is maintained. A message is written from the second software element to a memory unit shared by the first software element and by the second software element when the count reaches a prescribed number. The message from the second software element acknowledges receipt of the prescribed number of messages from the first software element.

Exchanging messages between computer systems communicatively coupled in a computer system network


A three-dimensional electro-optic waveguide is formed as a channel in a structure made of an organic non-linear optical polymer. A poling electric field is maintained in a portion of the polymer structure defining the channel, and the polymer structure is heated above the glass-transition temperature to enable dipolar moieties of the polymer to become aligned by the poling field. Heating continues until the dipolar moieties are sufficiently aligned to produce a higher index of refraction in the channel portion than in adjacent cladding portions of the polymer structure for at least one polarization of optical radiation propagating through the channel. The poling field is maintained as the polymer structure is then cooled below glass-transition temperature, thereby preserving alignment of the dipolar moieties (and hence preserving the differential index of refraction) in the channel portion of the polymer structure. Guided modes of optical radiation of at least one polarization can be supported in the channel.

An electro-optic channel waveguide is a three-dimensional optical waveguide formed as a channel in a structure made of a non-linear optical material for the purpose of transmitting selected modes of optical radiation of desired polarization. The index of refraction in an electro-optic channel waveguide is greater for at least one polarization in at least one direction than the index of refraction in portions of the polymer structure adjacent the channel waveguide.
Techniques for fabricating three-dimensional optical waveguides made of thin-film materials are described in co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 019,369, assigned to Hoechst-Celanese Corporation. Typically, a thin-film optical waveguide is formed by: (1) coating a substrate with a first cladding layer (of, e.g., SiO.sub.2); (2) etching a waveguide pattern in the first cladding layer; (3) providing an optical wave-guiding medium (e.g., an organic polymer) in the etched waveguide pattern; and (4) covering the optical wave-guiding medium and adjacent portions of the first cladding layer with a second cladding layer (also of, e.g., SiO.sub.2). Electrode structures may be formed on the cladding layers in patterns determined by the intended function of the waveguide.
In general, techniques used to form thin films from organic electro-optic materials (e.g., spin techniques and dip-coating techniques) do not produce films that are electro-optic in character, because films produced by such techniques generally have a centrosymmetric bulk structure. A molecular alignment process is needed to form a noncentrosymmetric bulk structure in a thin film formed from an organic electro-optic material. An article by K. D. Singer et al., J. Opt. Soc. Am., B4, 968 (1987), discusses an electrically induced poling technique for achieving molecular alignment in a thin-film organic electro-optic material. Furthermore, a technique for forming a thin film of organic electro-optic material does not generally produce a three-dimensional optical waveguide. A patterning technique is needed to produce a three-dimensional waveguide from the thin film of electro-optic material.
It was known in the prior art that when certain non-linear optical polymer materials are "poled" (i.e., when dipolar moieties of the constituent polymers of such materials are aligned), the indices of refraction of the materials are thereby altered. When a modulating electric field is applied to an optical waveguide made of such a poled non-linear optical polymer material, field-dependent changes are thereby superimposed upon the altered index of refraction that is characteristic of the poled polymer material. Thus, by applying a modulating electric field to an optical waveguide made of a poled non-linear optical polymer, phase modulation of optical radiation transmitted through the waveguide can be achieved.
A standard approach to the formation of optical waveguides from poled non-linear optical polymers is the "mask and etch" process, which is discussed by D. L. Lee in Electromagnetic Principles of Integrated Optics, (Wiley, New York, 1986), Chapter 7. Sequential steps in the "mask and etch" process are illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3.
As shown in FIG. 1, a layer 10 of a non-linear optical polymer is deposited by a conventional technique on a planar substrate 11 made of a chemically stable material such as a glass or fused silica. The substrate 11 with the layer 10 of polymer thereon is then sandwiched between a pair of electrodes 12 and 13 of opposite polarities to produce a poling electric field in the polymer. While the poling field is being maintained in the polymer, the polymer is heated to a temperature above the glass-transition temperature so that dipolar moieties of the polymer are brought to a mobile condition. The dipolar moieties, while in the mobile condition, are urged into alignment by the poling electric field. After a sufficient percentage of the mobile dipolar moieties have become aligned so as to raise the index of refraction of the polymer for a given polarization to a preselected value, the polymer is then cooled below the glass-transition temperature so as to return the dipolar moieties to a stable (i.e., non-mobile) condition while the electric field is still being maintained in the polymer. The electric field is maintained in the polymer for a sufficient time while the polymer is being cooled, so that the dipolar moieties remain permanently aligned after returning to the stable condition.
To form a waveguide (or network of waveguides) from the "poled" non-linear optical polymer material, a mask 14 is formed by a conventional photolithographic technique on the polymer layer 10 as indicated in FIG. 2. The mask 14 is configured to define the shape of the waveguide (or waveguide network). The portion of the polymer layer 10 that is not covered by the mask 14 is then removed from the substrate 11 by a conventional etching technique.
As shown in FIG. 3, only that portion of the polymer layer 10 comprising the waveguide (or waveguide network) remains on the substrate 11. A beam of optical radiation of preselected TM or TE modes generated by a source 15 is guided via the waveguide to a switching region, as determined by the type of device. The optical radiation propagated through the waveguide can be phase-modulated by disposing a pair of electrodes 16 and 17 of opposite polarities so as to impress an electric field on a portion of the waveguide, thereby superimposing field-dependent changes on the index of refraction of the waveguide.
In U.S. Pat. No. 3,801,185 (Ramaswamy et al.) and U.S. Pat. No. 3,802,760 (Sosnowski et al.), other techniques are disclosed for forming three-dimensional optical waveguides from certain types of thin-film materials for which the index of refraction can be altered by an applied electromagnetic field.


An image forming apparatus of the present invention may comprises a power supply system which supplies powers to an image forming unit, a fixing unit, and a general control unit in such a manner that as much power as possible can be supplied to the fixing unit within a limit of a current supplied from an alternating-current power supply, before load fluctuation on a secondary side of a direct-current power supply influences a primary side.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus preferably applied to a monochromatic or color printer having a function of thermally fixing a toner image formed on a recording medium, a facsimile apparatus of the same type, a digital copying machine of the same type, a complex machine of them or the like.
2. Description of the Related Art
A digital copying machine has heretofore been used in many case, when an image is formed based on original image data obtained by reading an original image. In this type of copying machine, a direct-current motor (hereinafter referred to as the DC motor) which drives a sheet conveying system has been used. For example, when the original image is read by a scanner or the like, a sheet conveying system driven by a DC motor such as a stepping motor conveys an original to an original reading unit, or a sheet having a desired size is conveyed to an image forming unit from a sheet supply cassette.
The original image data read by the scanner is subjected to image processing such as γ correction, zooming, space filter, and image compression. Here the original image data subjected to the image processing is transferred to a printer. The printer forms an image on a predetermined sheet based on the original image data. At this time, an electrostatic latent image based on the original image data is formed on a photosensitive body uniformly charged by a charging unit. This electrostatic latent image is developed by a developing unit. A toner image is formed on the photosensitive body by performing the charging, exposing, and developing, and is transferred onto the sheet by a transfer unit. The toner image transferred onto the desired sheet is thermally fixed by a fixing unit. As a result, the original image can be copied.
Additionally, this type of copying machine is provided with a power supply system for supplying power to the DC motor or the fixing unit which drives the sheet conveying system. FIG. 39 is a block diagram showing a constitution example of a power supply system 10 mounted on a conventional digital copying machine or the like.
In FIG. 39, an alternating-current power supply 1 is connected to a current limiter (LMIT) 2, and a current (user current) I supplied from the alternating-current power supply 1 is limited to, for example, 10 A, 15 A or the like, when a digital copying machine is used. The current limiter 2 is connected to a direct-current power supply 3 and a fixing unit 7 through a current detector 4. The direct-current power supply 3 supplies a direct-current power (current Id) to a direct-current load circuit 5 such as a DC motor. When a primary side and a secondary side are defined by this direct-current power supply 3, the primary side is connected to the alternating-current power supply 1, and the secondary side is connected to the direct-current load circuit 5.
The current detector 4 is connected between the primary side of the direct-current power supply 3 and the current limiter 2, and detects the use current (hereinafter referred to also as a primary-side current) I supplied from the alternating-current power supply 1 to output a primary-side current detection signal SP1. The primary-side current I is obtained by adding up a current of the direct-current power supply 3 on the primary side and a current which flows into the fixing unit 7. The current detector 4 is connected to a power control unit 6, the primary-side current detection signal SP1 is input, and the current detector 4 controls power supply of the fixing unit 7 connected to the alternating-current power supply 1 based on this primary-side current detection signal SP1.
Next, an operation example of the power supply system 10 according to a conventional system will be described.
FIG. 40 is a waveform diagram showing a control example of the primary-side current I supplied from the alternating-current power supply. In FIG. 40, the ordinate indicates an amplitude of the primary-side current I, and the abscissa indicates time t. In FIG. 40, a waveform shown by a bold solid line indicates the primary-side current I at a non-control time, and a waveform shown by a bold broken line indicates the primary-side current I after fixing power control. A thin solid line indicates a limit value which limits the use current supplied from the alternating-current power supply 1. The limit value is set to 10 A, 15 A, 20 A or the like (15 A in Japan). A thin broken line indicates a control threshold value set by the current detector 4. In FIG. 40, M indicates a margin for controlling the primary-side current I, and is given by a difference between the limit value and the control threshold value.
The power supply system 10 of the conventional system relates to a case where the primary-side current I supplied from the alternating-current power supply 1 is limited, and the power supply system 10 executes a supply control of a fixing power based on the limit value to control threshold value. For example, the power control unit 6 monitors the primary-side current I through the current detector 4 in such a manner that the primary-side current I supplied from the alternating-current power supply 1 does not exceed the control value. As a result of the monitoring, when the power control unit 6 detects the primary-side current I exceeding the control threshold value, the power control unit 6 outputs, to the fixing unit 7, a power control signal SP2 for setting the primary-side current I to be not more than the limit value. The fixing unit 7 executes fixing/heating based on the power control signal SP2. Accordingly, the power can be supplied to the direct-current power supply 3, the fixing unit 7 and the like connected to the alternating-current power supply 1.
In a rising portion (direct-current load increase time) of the waveform of the primary-side current I shown in FIG. 40, a time when the waveform crosses the control threshold value corresponds to a control start point of supply of fixing power. In a falling portion (direct-current load decrease time) of the waveform, the time when the waveform crosses the control threshold value corresponds to the control start point of the fixing power supply. In general, when the current Id to the direct-current load circuit 5 fluctuates, the influence is reflected in the primary-side current I. It is known that a time when this influence is propagated to the primary side from the secondary side of the direct-current power supply 3 depends on a power capacity, and requires about 10 ms.
It is to be noted that with regard to the above-described power supply system, a power control device is disclosed in Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 10-274901 (see page 3 and FIG. 1). This power control device is mounted on an image forming apparatus having a direct-current power supply and a fixing unit, and is constituted in such a manner as to detect a current input into the image forming apparatus. The fixing power is controlled in such a manner that this current is not more than a certain value. When this device is mounted, power consumed by the image forming apparatus can be efficiently distributed, and rising time of power control can be shortened.
Moreover, an image forming apparatus, a method of controlling the apparatus, and a storage medium are disclosed in Patent Document 2: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-268446 (see page 3 and FIG. 1). This image forming apparatus comprises a current detection unit, a reader (an original reading unit), and a heater (a fixing unit). The apparatus detects a current which flows into the reader from the alternating-current power supply, and executes power control of the heater based on current detection information. When the apparatus is constituted in this manner, the current consumed by the whole image forming apparatus can be suppressed to be not more than a predetermined value.
Furthermore, a fixing heater energization device has been disclosed in Patent Document 3: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-177629 (see page 2 and FIG. 1). This fixing heater energization device is mounted on the image forming apparatus having a direct-current power supply, and detects a current input into the image forming apparatus. The fixing heater energization device controls the fixing power in such a manner that this current is not more than a certain value. When the device is constituted in this manner, performance of a load circuit or the like connected to the direct-current power supply is sufficiently usable.
Additionally, according to the digital copying machine on which information conventional power supply system is mounted, there are problems as follows.
(i) The power supply system in which the current detector described in Patent Documents 1 to 3 is disposed on the primary side of the direct-current power supply 3 needs to take much margin of the primary-side current I. This is because a current fluctuation in the direct-current load circuit 5, to be reflected in the primary-side current I, requires about several tens of ms, and a power control range for compensating for this delay time is enlarged. Therefore, since much margin of the primary-side current I is taken, much power cannot be supplied to the fixing unit 7 within a limit of the primary-side current I. Accordingly, since the power that can be supplied fully within the limit value of the primary-side current I cannot be used, an amount of power that can be drawn/assigned to the fixing power is reduced.
(ii) The power control unit 6 cannot start the fixing power supply control from when a current fluctuation is generated in the direct-current load circuit 5 until the primary-side current I exceeds the control threshold value. That is, although the current fluctuation is generated in the direct-current load circuit 5, the primary-side current detection signal SP1 cannot be obtained from the current detector 4, and therefore the power control unit 6 waits for the fixing power control. Therefore, large delay is generated from when the primary-side current I exceeds the control threshold value, and the control is started until an effect of the fixing power control appears. By this constitution, a drop width of the fixing power increases from a power supply state immediately before the control at a time when the primary-side current I exceeds the control threshold value.

Image forming apparatus with power supply system

Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.


The present invention is directed to apaint stripping composition comprising (a) from about 0.5 to about 50% by weight of an aromatic alcohol, such as benzyl alcohol; (b) from about 0.5 to about 20% by weight of malic acid; and (c) from about 15 to about 60% by weight of water. The pH of the composition broadly ranges from about 2 to about 3. The stripping composition of the present invention is free of chlorinated solvents, environmentally safe, and user-friendly. It is non-corrosive or only slightly corrosive to substrates, non-flammable, non-toxic, low odor, and fully biodegradable. A method of preparing the paint stripping composition is also provided.

For decades, strong acids and halocarbon solvent-based compositions were employed in stripping various protective coatings from metal and other substrates. Increased awareness of the detrimental impact of such paint strippers on health and environment, in recent years, resulted in government legislative bodies all over the world restricting and/or prohibiting the use of these materials. Furthermore, these paint strippers often damaged the substrates to which they were applied.
Wilkins et al., U.S. Pat. No.5,215,675 provides an aqueous stripping composition based on a soluble ester such as ethyl lactate and a peroxide such as hydrogen peroxide.
Distaso, U.S. Pat. No. 5,405,548 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,542,986 describe the use of methylbenzyl formate or benzyl formate and formic acid in an aqueous-based system for stripping various protective coatings.
However, these prior art compositions suffer from several disadvantages, namely, low solvency (low efficacy), high cost, corrosiveness, narrow range of stability, and extremely strong, unpleasant, and irritating odor.


Disclosed herein are laser-assisted metal-organic chemical vapor deposition devices and methods of use thereof.

Semiconductor material systems are of interest for both optoelectronic and power electronic device applications. The fabrication of many semiconductor films mainly relies on epitaxy technology. Epitaxy methods include, for example, hydride vapor phase epitaxy (HYPE), molecular beam epitaxy (MBE), and metal-organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD). Low cracking efficiency of certain precursors is one of the key challenges for semiconductor epitaxy. Therefore, methods for enhancing the cracking efficiency of precursor are needed for high quality and efficient semiconductor epitaxy using MOCVD. The devices and methods discussed herein address these and other needs.

Laser-assisted metal-organic chemical vapor deposition devices and methods of use thereof


The present invention provides a basketball hoop including a frame having a cavity for releasably holding a plurality of backboard pieces therein to form a planar backboard, a basketball hoop pivotally attached to the frame, and a projector assembly coupled to the basketball hoop. When a slam-dunk force is applied to the basketball hoop, the force rotates the hoop downward, causing a projector to pivotally swing forward. The projector applies an ejection force to a rear surface of the plurality of backboard pieces ejecting the backboard pieces from the cavity of the frame, simulating a shattering backboard caused by a slam-dunk. The backboard pieces are preferably fabricated of a safety material, such as foam, rubber, and the like. The arrangement pattern of the backboard pieces may be applied upon the frame to aid in reassembly thereof.

Basketball has become a very popular sport played by amateurs and professionals alike. The sport is often broadcasted on local and national television and is played by professional national basketball association teams, collegiate teams, and regional schools. Amateurs often play basketball in residential driveways, at local recreational centers, at parks, and the like. The game of basketball is typically played on a playing surface identified as a basketball court and two basketball hoops are positioned at opposite ends of the basketball court and situated a predetermined height from the court. The playing surface may include identifiers, such as circles, arcs, and a variety of straight and curved lines, to define the playing boundaries prescribed by game rules. Teams compete against each other in an effort to score the most points by throwing a basketball through the opponent's basketball hoop.
Conventional basketball hoops include a round metal rim or hoop attached to a backboard. A netting material is suspended downward from the hoop, and the hoop is securely positioned about the lower, horizontally centered region of the backboard. The backboard is often constructed from glass, Plexiglas, or a hard thick plastic material. The diameter of the basketball hoop is larger than a basketball to allow the ball to pass easily through the hoop during play. There are a variety of different basketball hoops on the market today. Some configurations include brackets designed to permanently attach the basketball hoop to a substantially vertical surface, such as a garage, while others include columns, adjustable frames or telescoping beams that provide mobility in moving and placing the basketball hoops in different locations if desired.
One crowd-pleasing play that is often seen during the game of basketball is what is coined "a slam dunk". A slam-dunk occurs when a player jumps through the air and forces the ball downward through the hoop with one or both hands. On occasion, the player is often seen applying a downward force on the rim of the hoop or holding onto the rim of the hoop for a split second. In rare circumstances, the downward force applied to the hoop during a slam-dunk causes the backboard to shatter resulting in the backboard glass shattering. Needless to say, the experience not only provokes the spectator's attention, but also provides an uplifting adrenaline rush engulfing the audience's attention to the game. The dramatic sights and sounds of the event instill a heightened level of interest in replicating the shattering backboard event. As such, basketball enthusiasts' desire to simulate the shattering of a basketball backboard.
What is desired is a basketball hoop that is designed to emulate the shattering of a backboard during a slam dunk of a ball through the hoop, is safe to use by children, is easy to assemble, and requires little effort in puzzling together backboard pieces for repeated use.

Basketball hoop with backboard shatter simulation


A heat dissipating structure of an interface card is applied in an electronic device. The structure includes a heat dissipating apparatus attached to a circuit board of the electronic device, wherein the heat dissipating apparatus comprises a heat sink and a fan received in a room of the heat sink; and an interface card electrically connected to the circuit board of the electronic device via a connector. At least a surface of the interface card that is mounted with semiconductor components is mounted on top of a part of the heat dissipating apparatus in a faced-down manner to dissipate heat generated during operations of the semiconductor components to an external environment through the heat sink and the fan.

In the quickly changing, highly competitive world of electronics industry, electronic devices have been developed rapidly with more and more functions, resulting in increased power demand. As a result, a single system often has more than one heat-generating components. In the prevailing trend of electronic device minimization, heat dissipation for heat-generating components in a confined space becomes a problem waiting to be solved.
For instance, a laptop or a personal computer may comprise a CPU (central processing unit) and other electronic components such as a video card and the like. It is common to have two or many heat-generating components in a computer or in a workstation; however, if the heat cannot be dissipated, it may burn the internal circuit in a chip and eventually lead to a destructive breakdown of the whole electronic system. Therefore, it is desirable to set a product goal in dissipating as much heat as possible in the smallest space, so that the heat-generating components can be operated smoothly and reliably under an adequate environment.
For example, a typical interface card (such as a video card) in a laptop comprises many semiconductor chips including active components and/or passive components such as a capacitor, a resistor, and an inductor. In order to effectively dissipate the heat generated during operation of the semiconductor chips in the interface card, the semiconductor chips are usually connected to a surface of the interface card through electrical terminals such as pins, and then a thermal conductive gel is applied on an inactive surface of the semiconductor chip for attaching a heat dissipating unit such as a fin thereto so as to dissipate the heat generated by the chip during its operation. Furthermore, typically a fan is further employed to dissipate the heat generated by various electronic components during their operation for improving the overall heat dissipating efficiency of the electronic components formed in the laptop.
The ever-growing demand of an slim and minimized electronic device leads to a trend of developing a thinner and lighter laptop; however, if a fin with a certain thickness is provided for the semiconductor chip of the interface card, the overall thickness of the system would increase and therefore would not satisfy the tendency of lighter and thinner laptop. Moreover, if the interface cards provided in a laptop include a video card, a sound card and a peripheral interface card, attaching fins to the semiconductor chips of each interface card respectively may result in an increase in production cost.
Thereby, under the consideration of minimization of the electronic devices within a confined space, the problem that urgently needs to be solved is how to effectively provide heat dissipation for an interface card in an electronic device.

Heat dissipating structure of interface card


A circuit configuration and system of capacitors for a converter having a filter system, the circuit configuration including a converter, which has an alternating voltage connection, especially for a multiphase input- or output-side alternating voltage source, and a unipolar connection on the input or output side, especially a direct voltage connection, especially for a voltage intermediate circuit, the alternating voltage connection being connected to phase lines, especially to three phase lines, the phase lines having inductances, in particular, characterized in that first capacitances are situated between a phase line and a common star point in each case, it being the case, in particular, that one of the first capacitances is situated between a particular phase line, especially each phase line, and the common star point, it being the case, in particular, that each of the first capacitances is of equal size.

Converters having a voltage intermediate circuit and an inverter downstream from the voltage intermediate circuit are known from the printed publication EP 0 899 859 B1. The inverter supplies a three-phased alternating voltage at its outputs. A filter system connects the output terminals of the inverter and the voltage intermediate circuit. The filter system includes a filter choke connected in series with the output terminals and a filter capacitor which leads from each output terminal to a common capacitor star point.
EP 0 899 859 B1 teaches in paragraph [0006] that only the pure three-phase voltage systems are filtered. If one were to connect the capacitor star point directly to a center tap located between two intermediate circuit capacitors, then the direct voltage system is indeed filtered as well, but disadvantages result with regard to the system technology. Without additional measures, the filter system is constantly excited to natural oscillations. As taught in paragraph [0007] of EP 0 899 859 B1, only a regulation that intervenes in the switching sequence of the inverter can damp these natural oscillations without losses.
These natural oscillations are caused by the series resonant circuit made up of the filter chokes and the filter capacitors that are connected to the common capacitor star point.
According to paragraph [0007] of EP 0 899 859 B1, the switching sequence of the inverter is nowadays usually defined by a control computer, which determines the switching commands for the power switches based on the load conditions. The control computer normally operates in only two coordinates because of the symmetry of the output, from which the switching states of the three phases are able to be determined. The three phases are decoupled in the filter circuit. A resonance regulation thus must be performed using three independently acting control circuits. The resonance regulation thus is no longer easily able to be integrated into the load regulation. However, since both parts of the control access the same control variable, they cannot operate in a decoupled manner.
Also disadvantageous in the afore-described circuit of EP 0 899 859 B1 is the high additional current loading of the intermediate circuit capacitors and the inverter, which results especially at low switching frequencies of the inverter-semiconductor switches from the charge reversal of the filter capacitors by the direct voltage system.
As disclosed in FIG. 5 of EP 0 899 859 B1, the capacitor star point is connected to the voltage intermediate circuit via an RC element formed by a resistor, which is connected in series with a capacitor.
The printed publication JP 2000 224862 A shows an energy conversion device.
The printed publication DE 10 2010 009 265 A1 shows an inverter.
The printed publication JP 2007 259688 A shows a three-phased rectifier.
The printed publication US 2010 0320992 A1 shows a PWM converter having a sample and hold circuit.
The printed publication DD97943 describes a circuit configuration for flame monitoring of motor-independent heating devices, which are operated at a direct current or alternating current source and use liquid fuels.
The publication DE 100 19 696 A1 shows a method and a circuit for reducing interference radiation in engine supply switching applications.
DE 10 2010 028 927 A1 shows a power electronics system.
DE 40 23 687 A1 shows a power converter system.
WO 2008 092152 A2 shows a common mode filter and a differential mode filter for a frequency converter.
DE 10 2009 053 583 A1 shows a power converter system having a modular design.

Circuit configuration and system of capacitors


A regulator valve includes dual actuators that operate according to different principles to position a valve element to either an open or a closed position. One actuator, which is an electromechanical actuator, operates in response to electrical command signals. The other actuator, which is a pneumatic actuator, operates in response to a fluid pressure. The electromechanical actuator is responsive to the electrical command signals to rotate in either a valve open or a valve close direction, to move the valve element to either the open or closed position.

Many aircraft include an environmental control system to supply and distribute conditioned air to one or more cabins within the aircraft. In some aircraft, the environmental control system includes an inlet duct that receives air conditioned air from an air source and two or more distribution ducts that supply the conditioned air to the aircraft cabins. A regulator valve that is moveable between an open position and a closed position may be mounted on one of the distribution ducts and used to regulate flow through the system. In such instances, when the regulating valve is in the closed position, conditioned air is supplied to the aircraft cabins via only one of the outlet ducts. Conversely, when the valve is in the open position, conditioned air is supplied to the aircraft cabins via all of the distribution ducts. The position of the regulator valve may be controlled by a valve actuator that receives valve position commands from an external controller and, in response to the received commands, moves the regulator valve to the commanded position.
In order to minimize aircraft weight, the air distribution ducts in the above-described environmental control system may be constructed with thin walls, and of relatively lightweight materials such as, for example, a wrapped composite. It will thus be appreciated that in certain rare instances if the system were to experience a sudden increase in flow rate when the regulating valve is in the closed position, pressure on one side of the regulating valve suddenly increase. If this pressure is not relieved, it may exceed an acceptable level and adversely impact the structural integrity of the distribution ducts. Preferably, if such an event were to occur, the regulating valve would be commanded to the open position to allow air to flow through all of the distribution ducts. However, in the highly unlikely event the control system did not command the regulating valve to open, or the regulating valve did not open for some other reason, the pressure in the distribution ducts upstream of the regulating valve may increase to an unacceptable level.
To address the above-noted overpressure concern, a parallel duct system has been implemented into some aircraft. The parallel duct system includes a separate duct coupled to one of the existing distribution ducts in the environmental control system, and a relief valve mounted on the duct. When the pressure increases to an unacceptable level, the relief valve opens and directs air either overboard or to other sections of the aircraft. However, this system, too, may have disadvantages. Specifically, the parallel duct system includes additional components which may increase the weight and/or manufacturing cost of the aircraft.
Accordingly, there is a need for an environmental control system that maintains the structural integrity of the distribution ducts in the unlikely event of an unexpected airflow rate increase. In addition, there is a need for an environmental control system that is lightweight and relatively inexpensive to implement. The present invention addresses one or more of these needs.

Dual-actuator aircraft environmental control system valve


Chewing gums incorporating Alitame in a manner to delay its release, separate the Alitame from gum ingredients which cause the Alitame to degrade, or both, are disclosed. The Alitame may be coated by an encapsulating agent applied by spray drying, fluid bed coating, fiber spinning or coaservation techniques, agglomeration, and fixation or entrapment/absorption plus encapsulation or agglomeration. Also, the Alitame may be incorporated in a physically separate part of the gum, such as a center fill, a part of a rolling compound, or a part of a panning composition.

The present invention relates to methods for producing chewing gum. More particularly the invention relates to producing chewing gum containing Alitame.
Alitame is a high-potency sweetener with a chemical composition of L-.alpha.-Aspartyl-N-(2,2,4,4-tetramethyl-3-thietanyl)-D-alaninamide hydrate. This sweetener, which is not yet approved for use in food products and chewing gum, is being considered by the FDA as a food additive. The manufacturer of Alitame is the Pfizer Corporation of Groton, Conn. This highly consumer-acceptable, high-potency sweetener gives chewing gum a fast, strong release that is not desirable.
Alitame has been used in chewing gum. Such use has been disclosed in several patents. U.S. Pat. No. 4,411,925 discloses simple addition of Alitame in gum. U.S. Pat. No. 4,536,396 discloses combinations of Alitame and Acesulfame K in foods including chewing gum.
Alitame has been found to be relatively unstable and susceptible to degradation in chewing gums containing certain ingredients. This result was rather unexpected since Alitame has been shown to be much more stable in aqueous solutions than aspartame, another dipeptide high-potency sweetener, and therefore, was expected to be much more stable in chewing gums.
Further, at the concentrations usually used in chewing gums, Alitame has a pure and rapidly perceptible sweet taste that does not linger. However, when Alitame is added to chewing gum at a level of about 0.01%- 0.04%, the sweetener gives the chewing gum a fast, intense sweetness which dissipates rather quickly, leaving a strong flavor that is less than pleasant. It would be considered a significant improvement to a chewing gum to have Alitame protected against degradation, or to have its sweetness released as the flavor in the gum is released, thus balancing the overall taste perception. Thus, methods of treating the high-potency sweetener to protect against degradation and to delay the release of sweetness in balance with the chewing gum flavor would therefore be a definite improvement.
Efforts have been directed at perfecting the use of other high-potency sweeteners within the chewing gum formulation, to thereby increase the shelf-life stability of the ingredients, i.e. the protection against degradation of the high-potency sweetener over time.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,139,639 to Bahoshy et al. teaches a process of "fixing" aspartame by co-drying (by spray drying or fluid-bed coating) a solution containing aspartame and an encapsulating agent, such as gum arabic, to thereby surround and protect the aspartame in the gum during storage.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,384,004 to Cea et al. teaches a method of encapsulating aspartame with various solutions of encapsulating agents using various encapsulation techniques, such as spray drying, in order to increase the shelf-stability of the aspartame.
Efforts have also been devoted to controlling release characteristics of various ingredients in chewing gum. Most notably, attempts have been made to delay the release of sweeteners and flavors in various chewing gum formulations to thereby lengthen the satisfactory chewing time of the gum. Delaying the release of sweeteners and flavors can also avoid undesirable overpowering burst of sweetness or flavor during the initial chewing period. On the other hand, some ingredients have been treated so as to increase their rate of release in chewing gum.
Some patents disclose how a sweetener like aspartame can be physically modified to control the release rate in chewing gum. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,597,970 to Sharma et al. teaches a process for producing an agglomerated sweetener wherein the sweetener is dispersed in a hydrophobic matrix consisting essentially of lecithin, a glyceride, and a fatty acid or wax having a melting point between 25.degree. C. and 100.degree. C. The method disclosed uses a spray-congealing step to form the sweetener-containing matrix into droplets, followed by a fluid-bed second coating on the agglomerated particles.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,515,769 and 4,386,106, both to Merrit et al., teach a two step process for preparing a delayed release flavorant for chewing gum. In this process, the flavorant is prepared in an emulsion with a hydrophilic matrix. The emulsion is dried and ground and the particles are then coated with a water-impermeable substance.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,230,687 to Sair et al. teaches a process for encasing an active ingredient to achieve gradual release of the ingredient in a product such as chewing gum. The method described involves adding the ingredient to an encapsulating material in the form of a viscous paste. High-shear mixing is used to achieve a homogeneous dispersion of the ingredient within the matrix, which is subsequently dried and ground.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,634,593 to Stroz et al. teaches a method for producing controlled release sweeteners for confections, such as chewing gum. The method taught therein involves the use of an insoluble fat material which is mix mulled with the sweetener.
In light of the problem that Alitame degrades in the presence of some chewing gum ingredients, there presently exists a need to prevent this degradation. There also exists the need to control Alitame's release from the chewing gum so as to increase overall taste perception. None of the prior art indicated specifically addresses either a means to delay the degradation of Alitame in chewing gum or a means to slowly release the sweetener. Thus a means to both delay the degradation and control the release of Alitame would be highly desired.

Alitame stability in chewing gum by encapsulation


Dynamic translation of idioms is performed with respect to electronic communications. An electronic communication is observed and movement of indicia proximal to a phrase in the electronic communication is detected. In response to the detection, an idiom search application is activated which identifies an idiom within the phrase and searches a corpus for a translation of the idiom and one or more associated characteristics. In response to detection of the translation in the corpus, profile metadata related to the observed communication is collected and compared to the one or more characteristics. The idiom and the collected profile metadata are stored in a corpus that supports a search of the idiom. In response to absence of the translation in the corpus, the idiom is dynamically translated. The translated idiom is presented proximal to the evaluated expression.

The present embodiments relate to identification and processing of idioms in a natural language processing environment. More specifically, the embodiments relate to monitoring electronic communications and utilizing machine learning to identify idioms and explanations of the idioms in order to develop a continuously expanding phrase dictionary for language translation.
In the field of artificially intelligent computer systems, natural language systems (such as the IBM Watson™ artificially intelligent computer system or and other natural language question answering systems) process natural language based on knowledge acquired by the system. To process colloquial language, which is often full of idioms, the system often performs a literal translation. The resulting outcome can be incorrect or inaccurate for a variety of reasons relating to peculiarities of language constructs and/or cultural differences.
Current language translation algorithms fall short of properly translating language idioms, such as expressions peculiar to a given language, regional speech or dialect, specialized vocabulary understood by a specific group of people, or jargon. Language idioms are particularly pervasive in the realm of social media due to the informal nature of such communication. Particularly, text messages sent through social media devices usually contain short-hand phrases, jargon, and expressions peculiar to the language or even the geographical area. To complicate matters even further, text messages are free form and typing mistakes are prevalent causing inaccurate translation(s).

International Business Machines Corporation


An object of the present invention is to provide an arcing horn system having a highly efficient dynamic current shutoff property including a dynamic current shutoff capability, for example, enough for the short circuit fault and other object thereof is to provide an arcing horn system capable of repeatedly maintaining the good dynamic current shutoff capability.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an arcing horn system to be annexed to an insulator set or the like for supporting an overhead power transmission line.
2. Description of the Related Art
The above mentioned insulator set is described in, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-open Publication Heisei No. 8-321372. In this publication, as shown in FIG. 20, a structure is provided such that a electric line 72 is suspended from a steel tower (not illustrated) through a sequential suspension type insulator set 71 to be supported. In this case, an arcing horn system is constructed in such a manner that a ground side arcing horn 73 as sort of an iron bar and a electric line side arcing horn 74 are disposed as being opposed with each other at the opposite sides interposing the insulator set 71 therebetween. Then, this arcing horn system is disposed at the right and left sides of the insulator set 71. Alternatively, front end sides of the ground side arcing horn 73 and front end sides of the electric line side arcing horn 74 are formed as being inflected downward and upward, respectively.
At each of front end sides of the ground side arcing horn 73, for example, an insulative tube 75 made of a vinyl chloride is disposed. As shown in FIG. 21, this insulative tube 75 is consisted of an inner layer 75a and an outer layer 75b. Then, the insulative tubes 75 are secured to this arcing horn 73 as surrounding the front end sides of the arcing horn 73 and an air vent 76 opening to a lower end face of this insulative tube 75 is formed at the lower part of this arcing horn 73. Alternatively, a middle electrode 77 consisted of a conductive member is embedded in the lower end side of the insulative tubes 75 in a radial direction as facing its inner end to the above mentioned air vent 76. Additionally, a cap 78 covering the above mentioned air vent 76 is attached to the lower end of the insulative tube 75.
On the time of thunder stroke, a flashover path running into the electric line side arcing horn 74 from the front end of the ground side arcing horn 73 via the air vent 76 and the middle electrode 77 is formed. Hence, the insulator set 71 is protected. Further, in this case, the inner surface of the air vent 76 is solved to be damaged by the arc due to thunder stroke, so that cracked gas is generated. Additionally, the air within the insulative tubes 75 is heated by the arc or the like, so that the inner pressure thereof is rapidly increased. As a result, the high pressure gas is injected in jet together with the arc through the air vent 76 and due to a cooling and diffusion behavior or the like of this high pressure gas (hereinafter, referred to as arc jet), for example, it is possible to shutoff the dynamic current of the earth fault at the overhead power transmission line for 77 kV almost in a moment of time.
By the way, the accident current of the above mentioned earth fault is several hundred A (Amperes) while the accident current of the short circuit fault is not less than 1,000 A. With respect to such large amount of electric current, even the above described arcing horn system such that the insulative tubes 75 is disposed at the ground side arcing horn 73 may not be able to shutoff the dynamic current. Therefore, an arcing horn system having a dynamic current shutoff capability upon the short cut fault has been demanded.
Alternatively, the above mentioned cap 78 is blown off by the above mentioned arc jet to drop off. Hence, it is possible to easily confirm whether or not the above described operation is generated after the accident. Then, even if the operation is generated once and the cap 78 drops off, at the subsequent thunder stroke, the outburst of the ark jet is generated substantially in the same way as the above, so that the dynamic current is repeatedly shutoff.
If the above mentioned insulative tube 75 is disposed at the electric line side arcing horn 74, the dynamic current shutoff capability is further improved. Therefore, for example, it is possible to provide an arcing horn system having the enough dynamic current shutoff capability for the short circuit fault in addition to the earth fault upon the thunder stroke. However, in this case, only if the insulative tube 75 as same as the above described one is disposed at the front end of the electric line side arcing horn 74, the above mentioned air vent 76 is opened upward, so that after the cap 78 is dropped off at the first thunder stroke, rain water enters in the air vent 76 and water is apt to remain. Then, if the water remains in the air vent 76 in this way, the flashover property is extremely decreased and it becomes difficult to generate the arc. Therefore, it becomes difficult to obtain the sufficient dynamic current shutoff capability.

Central Research Institute of Electric Power Industry


A device for pressing a rack onto a pinion engaged with the rack, in particular for a steering system of a motor vehicle, comprising a pressure piece, which can be loaded in the direction of the rack and is displaceably guided in a housing, and comprising an adjusting device for compensating play that occurs in the steering system. In known devices, the play of the pressure piece must be set by way of an adjusting screw. This proves to be very complicated and problematic. An adjusting screw is therefore provided, wherein a spring washer is disposed between the adjusting screw and the adjusting device, and the adjusting device has a shoulder and the adjusting screw has a recess, or the adjusting device has the recess and the adjusting screw has the shoulder.

The invention relates to a device for pressing a rack onto a pinion engaged with the rack, in particular for a steering system of a motor vehicle, comprising a pressure piece, which can be loaded in the direction of the rack and is displaceably guided in a housing, and comprising an adjusting device for compensating play that occurs in the steering system, according to DE 10 2008 054 782.4.
In the devices of the type in question known from the prior art, the play of the pressure piece must be set by way of an adjusting screw. Setting the play often causes problems since the adjusting screw must be safeguarded against unintentional unscrewing. To this end, the adjusting screw is often caulked in the final setting thereof. The caulking and the effect of forces during operation can cause the play of the pressure piece to change in an unwanted manner.


A flow restrictor for a mud lubricated earth drilling motor consisting of a first seal support non-rotatably coupled to an outer housing and a second seal support non-rotatably coupled to an inner tubular member which is telescopically received within the outer housing. The first seal support having a first seal face and the second seal support having a second seal face. The first seal support and the second seal support are axially movable. A plurality of springs engage the first seal support to exert a biasing force bringing the first seal face into sealing engagement with the second seal face to form a mechanical seal, having a first side adjacent the outer housing and a second side adjacent the inner tubular member. A first fluid flow passage extends from the interior drilling mud flow passage of the inner tubular member the first side of the mechanical seal. A second fluid flow passage extends from the second side of the mechanical seal to exterior of the outer housing. At least one groove is provided across the first seal face and the second seal face, extending from the first side to the second side of the mechanical seal, such that a continuous flow of drilling mud passes through the groove and is vented to the exterior of the outer housing via the second fluid flow passage.

A number of downhole motors used in the oil or mining industries for drilling through earth formations are mud lubricated. These earth drilling motors have an outer housing, an inner tubular member concentrically disposed within the outer housing, and a plurality of bearings disposed between the outer housing and the inner tubular member to facilitate the rotation of the inner tubular member. Mud lubrication is passed through a passage in the tool firstly, to provide some lubrication for the bearings and secondly, to dissipate heat which builds up within the tool.
Each mud lubricated tool requires a flow restricter to control the rate of mud flow. This is particularly critical at pressures in excess of 500 pounds per square inch. If the flow is too great it will "wash away" portions of the tool until the tool is destroyed. Conversely, if the flow is substantially cut off the heat will not be effectively dissipated and the tool will be destroyed by the resulting heat build up.
Mechanical seals have previously been used for the flow restricter, due to their ability to function at the pressure levels required. Mechanical seals work effectively when the tool is newly constructed, however, as wear occurs in the tool these flow restricters lose their effectiveness. It is common knowledge in the art that a critical factor in having effective sealing with mechanical seals is controlling the pressure on the seal faces. When wear occurs in bearings axial movement occurs which effects the pressure on the seal faces.

Flow restricter for mud lubricated earth drilling motors


An LSI designing method using one or more functional blocks each containing two or more flip flops, includes the following: preparing a timing model which can be used under a first mode and a second mode; performing functional design of some functional elements each of which includes one or more functional blocks; carrying out logic composition with respect to the functional elements decided by the functional design using the timing model of the functional blocks under the first mode; performing a first timing analysis with respect to the functional elements on which logic composition was carried out using the timing model under the first mode; performing layout based on the result of the logic composition and the first timing analysis; and performing a second timing analysis after the layout using the timing model under the second mode.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to a timing model. More specifically, the present invention relates to a timing model of a functional block and a method of LSI (large scale semiconductor integrated circuit) designing using the timing model.
2. Background Information
In the field of LSI systems and related devices, a method of turning a core functional block of an LSI into a module and recycling the functional block has become typical in recent years. This method has been pursued as a measure to shorten the length of time for designing an LSI and to improve productivity.
As an example of the conventional art, Japanese Patent No. 3420195, which is hereby incorporated by reference, discloses a method of LSI designing, in particular, a method of LSI layout designing using a module.
In the LSI designing using a module, logic composition, timing verification, etc. are performed using a timing model in which the timing information inside the module is incorporated. This timing information is made of input setup time, input hold time, and output delay time inside the module. In the definition of each time, clock delay time inside the module is already included. Furthermore, in the process of logic composition, pre-layout timing verification, and post-layout timing verification, the same timing model is used.
In the usual LSI designing, logic composition is performed under so-called ideal clock conditions where the delay time of a clock is assumed to be zero. However, in the timing model of the module, the propagation clock conditions which contained internal clock delay time are already defined. Therefore, when designing a higher rank class using the module, the difference between the ideal clock conditions of this higher rank class and the propagation clock conditions inside the module influences the timing restrictions greatly. For this reason, it is difficult to design an LSI with a desired performance. Then, in the logic composition, it is necessary to use another timing model set as the ideal clock conditions where the clock delay time inside the module is disregarded. This is also the same in the case of pre-layout timing verification.
On the other hand, in post-layout timing verification, i.e. the timing analysis performed after physical layout is completed, the timing model of the propagation clock conditions containing the clock delay time is needed.
However, under the present circumstances, since the timing model which fulfills ideal clock conditions and propagation clock conditions simultaneously does not exist, it is necessary to prepare two kinds of timing models according to a design step. For this reason, the design environment tends to become complicated. Moreover, there is a possibility that design efficiency might decline. In addition, Japanese Patent No. 3420195 does not indicate any designing method of LSI for solving such a problem.
In view of the above, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art from this disclosure that there exists a need for an improved a method of LSI designing and a computer program for designing LSIs. This invention addresses this need in the art as well as other needs, which will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this disclosure.

Method of LSI designing and a computer program for designing LSIS


A plural-layer, composite, high-transmissivity, optical pellicle is provided. The pellicle includes a base layer with a single anti-reflective coating layer on each side thereof. The composite pellicle has a thickness of 1.2 microns plus or minus 0.1 micron and exhibits transmissivity which peaks at mercury's I, H and G spectral lines.

This invention relates generally to an optical element, such as a membrane or pellicle, and more particularly to an optical pellicle with superior properties of transmissivity.
In recent years, pellicles have played an important role in the fabrication of semiconductor wafers used in integrated semiconductor circuits. As is well understood by those in the art, pellicles protect photomasks which are used in the various photolithography steps required in wafer preparation and fabrication.
The typical pellicle takes the form of an extremely thin optical membrane which is supported on a ring-like frame, the entirety of which is then placed over the photomask to prevent contamination of the mask during photolithography. To be most effective, a pellicle should not only prevent contamination of a photomask, but it also must exhibit a very high degree of optical transmissivity at the wavelength of light used during photolithography. The requirements of transmissivity for an optical pellicle are generally discussed in an article entitled "Pellicle Protection of IC Masks" by Ron Hershel, published in 1981 by the Society of Photo Optical Instrumentation Engineers.
Mercury lamps have typically been used as a light source in lithography operations. These lamps normally exhibit maximum amounts of light at wavelengths of 365, 405 and 436 nanometers, known by those skilled in the art as the mercury atom's I, H and G spectral lines ("the I, H and G lines"), respectively. Projection steppers used in lithography have traditionally used mercury's G line, i.e. light having a wavelength of 436 nanometers. For this reason, pellicles have been developed which exhibit maximum transmissivity at the G line. However, to facilitate use at various wavelengths, so-called broadband pellicles have been developed which exhibit an average transmissivity of about 92% over the I, H and G lines.
Because of the shorter wavelengths at the I and H lines, use of these wavelengths from the mercury lamp can increase resolution beyond that achieved at the G line. While the transmission of a conventional 2.85 micron thick pellicle, that is, 92%, is often sufficient, it would be preferable if the transmission was greater than 92% at the I, H and G lines. Of course, any loss in transmission as the light passes through the pellicle will reduce the light which contacts the mask. This requires either stronger mercury lamps, or increased time of exposure.
Pellicles with multiple anti-reflective coating layers have been developed to increase transmissivity. Such pellicles are disclosed in my U.S. Pat. No. 4,759,990. While these pellicles permit higher average transmissivity for the I, H and G lines, they are typically more expensive than pellicles having a single anti-reflective coating on each side.
A necessary feature of all optical pellicles is that they be relatively durable. If a pellicle product breaks during use, it not only requires replacement, which can be a sensitive operation potentially resulting in contamination of the mask area, but the breakage of the membrane itself can cause contamination by pellicle debris falling onto the mask. Thicker pellicles, such as 2.85 micron pellicles sold by Micro Lithography, Inc., are far more durable than thinner pellicles such as those of 0.86 micron thickness. However, with thicker pellicles, it is often more difficult to control pellicle thickness and uniformity. Thickness control directly affects uniformity, and uniformity can vary not only from pellicle to pellicle (or lot to lot) but also across the face of any particular membrane.
It is therefore a general object of the present invention to provide an optical pellicle which overcomes the drawbacks and limitations of prior art proposals. More specifically, the invention has as its objects the following: (1) to provide a pellicle having peak transmissivity at wavelengths corresponding to the wavelengths emitted by a mercury lamp in a photolithography process; (2) to develop a maximum-transmissivity, optical pellicle that is sufficiently durable that it is not prone to breakage, but which is not so thick that lot-to-lot and edge-to-edge uniformity is a problem; (3) to provide a pellicle which can be used with steppers that are used at the higher resolution, shorter I and H lines; (4) to provide a pellicle which can be used interchangeably with a wide variety of steppers using different wavelengths from mercury light; (5) to provide a pellicle which exhibits greater than 92% transmissivity at the critical wavelengths; (6) to develop a pellicle having a single anti-reflective coating on each side which has transmissivity at the above-identified critical wavelengths approaching that of a pellicle having multiple anti-reflective coatings on each side; and ( 7) to provide a superior optical pellicle which can be fabricated using largely proven techniques.

Optical pellicle with controlled transmission peaking


A method for transmitting and receiving short message broadcast services in a communication system is disclosed. The present invention reduces a battery consumption of a mobile station by additionally using an inserted message field of a broadcast indicator for notifying whether a broadcast message is being transmitted from a base station to the MS, thereby allowing a more efficient short message broadcast service.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to mobile communication services, and more particularly to a method for transmitting and receiving short message broadcasting services in a code division multiple access communication system.
2. Description of the Related Art
Short Message Service (SMS) procedure for a code division multiple access (CDMA) system includes transmitting broadcast messages from a Short Message Service Center (SMSC) to mobile stations through a base station (BS), and receiving the broadcast messages transmitted from the BS at a mobile station MS. Generally, the BS transmits broadcast messages to a MS through two forward channels, namely a paging channel and a broadcast channel. A MS receiving the SMS chooses the messages from among the transmitted broadcast messages.
The BS may transmit broadcast messages using one of various transmitting methods such as a multi-slot broadcast transmission, a multi-slot broadcast paging or a periodic broadcast paging. Of these methods, the multi-slot broadcast message transmission is the simplest, causing the least amount of delay in transmission, and is used regardless of whether a periodic broadcast paging transmission is available. In the multi-slot broadcast message transmission, broadcast messages are transmitted from a BS to MSs within the service region of the BS through all slots of a control channel. However, because the broadcast messages are transmitted using all slots of the control channel, an overload of the control channel may occur, thereby impeding transmission of messages other than the broadcast messages.
On the other hand, the multi-slot broadcast paging is used when the periodic broadcast paging is unavailable. In this method, a general paging message of a relatively small size, which indicates a forthcoming transmission, is first transmitted to MSs through all slots of the control channel before transmitting a broadcast message of a large size.
However, the periodic broadcast paging is a more efficient method than the multi-slot broadcast transmission as well as the multi-slot broadcast paging methods. In the periodic broadcast paging, a BS gives a notice to MSs of the periodic transmission of broadcast messages before periodically transmitting the broadcast messages. Particularly, a BS first transmits a general page message including a broadcast page information in every first slot of a broadcast cycle. Thereafter, a MS can determine the type and time of the message transmission based on the broadcast page and receive broadcast messages in consecutive slots of the broadcast cycle.
A detailed explanation of the periodic broadcast paging, which is most commonly used by communication systems including the CDMA, will follow. However, a description of a common control channel will first be provided. The common control channel is a channel used when a BS transmits an overhead information required for the operation of a MS as well as a general paging message for paging a MS.
Generally, the common control channel is a paging channel or a broadcast channel, but for purposes of explanation, the operation of the common control channel will be discussed with respect to the paging channel. However, such operations can also be performed through a broadcast channel.
FIG. 1 shows a general configuration of a paging channel for the SMS. As shown in FIG. 1, a BS loads and transmits broadcast messages in a slot of 80 ms, where each slot recurs in every 2048 slot of the paging channel with respect to the system time. The slot (SLOT_NUM) at which a broadcast message is transmitted can be calculated by Equation 1 below, where 't' represent a system time for each am of the paging channel.SLOT_NUM=└t/4┘mod2048  [1]
A MS remains in a non-active state and becomes active to receive broadcast messages transmitted in the 80 ms slot of the paging channel. Upon receipt of the messages, the MS returns back to the non-active or idle state. The periodic broadcast paging method in the related art will next be discussed with reference to FIG. 2.
Referring to FIG. 2, a BS transmits broadcast page information in every first slot of a broadcast cycle and transmits broadcast messages in subsequent slots of the broadcast cycle to MSs. A MS which is configured to receive SMS broadcast message then receives the broadcast messages based on broadcast page(s) by periodically monitoring every first slot of the broadcast cycle to receive the broadcast page information. Here, the maximum interval of the broadcast cycle (M) can be calculated by Equation 2, where 'i' represents a maximum slot cycle index (MAX_SLOT_CYCLE_INDEX) field value of a system parameter message transmitted to a MS through the paging channel.M=2i×16,0≦i≦7  [2]
Accordingly, based upon the broadcast cycle M, a BS transmits broadcast page information through a first slot of a broadcast cycle, where the slot number is calculated by Equation 3 below. In other words, the BS transmits Broadcast Pages 1, 2, and 3 through the first slot a broadcast cycle, which is indicated as '0' in the paging channel shown in FIG. 2.└t/4┘mod M=0  [3]
Each broadcast page transmitted through the first slot as described above, includes at least one broadcast address (BC_ADDR), where each BC_ADDR includes information regarding a broadcast message. As shown in FIG. 2, the first broadcast page would include two broadcast addresses corresponding to the first broadcast message in slots 3 and 4, the second broadcast page would include a broadcast address corresponding to the second broadcast message in slot 6, and the third broadcast page would include three broadcast addresses corresponding to the third broadcast message in slots 9.about.11. Thus, a BS periodically transmits broadcast page(s) in the first slot and broadcast messages in subsequent slots of the broadcast cycle, after notifying MSs of its broadcast cycle through a system parameter message of the paging channel.
Here, a broadcast index field (BCAST_INDEX) of an expanded system parameter message is used. Namely, a value of BCAST_INDEX is set as 'i, (1.ltoreq.i.ltoreq.7)' when the BS is providing a SMS and '0' otherwise. If the value of the BCAST_INDEX is set as 'i,' the broadcast cycle in which the broadcast message is transmitted can be calculated using Equation 4.B=2i×16,1≦i≦7  [4]
After the value of B is obtained by Equation 4, the broadcast message is transmitted by a broadcast cycle of (B+3) and the first slot of the broadcast cycle can be calculated by Equation 5.└t/4┘mod M(B+3)=0  [5]
When broadcast messages are periodically transmitted through a paging channel, a MS must also periodically monitor the assigned paging channel. Thus, a MS receives the transmitted broadcast page(s) from the BS through the first slot of the broadcast cycle and if several broadcast addresses (BC_ADDR) are included in the broadcast page(s), the MS checks the subsequent slots to receive the necessary broadcast message.
In the CDMA system of the related art for the SMS, the broadcast index field BCAST_INDEX of the expanded sys parameter message is used only to set the state of a broadcast cycle and thus the SMS on or off. As a result, a BS cannot notify MSs that there is no broadcast message transmitted during certain broadcast cycles. Thus, a MS has to periodically monitor the common control channel to receive broadcast messages from a BS. Accordingly, a MS must periodically check the common control channel for at least every 80 ms, even when there are no messages transmitted from a BS. This unnecessarily wastes the power consumption of a MS.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Method for transmitting and receiving message of short message broadcasting services in telecommunication system


A method of and apparatus for protecting data in a data storage system. A method of securely erasing data stored in a data storage system includes: determining whether a security-erase command is received together with a random number and an encrypted random number; decrypting the encrypted random number using a security-erase algorithm and an associated key when the security-erase command is received; determining whether the decrypted random number is identical to the received random number; and executing the security-erase command when the decrypted random number is identical to the received random number, and stopping the execution of the security-erase command when the decrypted random number is not identical to the received random number.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method of and apparatus for protecting data in a data storage system, and more particularly, to a method of securely erasing data recorded on a storage medium while preventing data leakage, and a hard disk drive using the method.
2. Description of Related Art
A hard disk drive is a type of a data storage device that contributes to the operation of a computer system by reproducing data from a disc, or writing data on a disk using a magnetic head. Current hard disk drives are compact, have a high capacity and density, and are widely used as a data storage system.
In a conventional technique, a host system transmits security commands such as security-lock, security-unlock, and security-erase commands, together with associated passwords, to a hard disk drive. The hard disk drive determines whether the received password matches a previously stored password. If the passwords match, the hard disk drive executes the security commands. However, the password is transmitted via a bus, and may be intercepted and hacked by using a bus monitoring tool. Therefore, there is a demand for greater password security.

Method of securely erasing data and hard disk drive using the same


Compositions such as photoresists and microfabrication processes are provided that can produce high-fidelity microfabricated structures. The provided photoresists can have reduced swelling during the development phase and can give tight tolerances for products, such as microneedles, that can be used, for example, in the medical field. The provided compositions include a photoresist, a photoinitiator system dispersed in the photoresist, and a polymer-tethered nanoparticle dispersed in the photoresist. The photoresist can be a negative photoresist and the photoinitiator system can include a two-photoinitiator system. The polymer-tethered nanoparticle can include an acrylic polymer and, in some embodiments, can include poly(methyl methacrylate). The nanoparticles can include silica.

Three-dimensional articles can be replicated from a master that can be used to fabricate a tool for microreplication. A number of technologies have been developed to make tools or molds for microreplication or nanoreplication of three-dimensional articles. These technologies include conventional photolithography and two-photon photolithography. Additionally, three-dimensional articles can be fabricated using a nonlinear thermal polymerization process.
Some microstructures such as, for example, microneedles or microneedle arrays have features that have a high aspect ratio—that is, they have a large length or height compared to their diameter. The ability to write structures using two photon-photolithography with high aspect ratios in three dimensions requires very thick layers of photoresist—particularly if the structures need to be fabricated vertically. During the development state, where unexposed photoresist is removed to reveal the desired three-dimensional structure, the developer fluid, typically a solvent for the unexposed photoresist, can be absorbed or swelled by the exposed photoresist—particularly when the development step takes long periods of time such as hours. The formed three-dimensional structure is then dried to remove the solvent. The swelling and then shrinking due to solvent removal ultimately leads to structures with reduced fidelity to the structure that was written by the two-photon exposure.

Photoresists containing polymer-tethered nanoparticles


A container, such as a pail for holding paint or the like, integrally molded from a resilient plastic material. The container includes an integrally molded bail having ends joined to wall portions of the container by relatively thin, flexible, diametrically opposed hinge portions which enables the container and its liquid contents to hang vertically from the bail. A stiffening bead is provided circumferentially about the wall of the container adjacent its upper rim, the bead including a vertically extending, X-shaped lattice structure included between the wall of the container and a wall spaced annularly thereabout.

Paint and other liquids commonly are stored and sold in metal pails having separately formed wire bails or handles rotatably attached to the pail sides. The rotatable wire bail allows the containers to hang substantially perpendicular to the ground so that the contents are not spilled when the bail is placed over a ladder hook or other support. Some effort has been made to utilize plastics for such containers. U.S. Pat. No. 4,380,304, Anderson, discloses a plastic container having an integral handle and a design suitable for stacking filled containers one upon another. However, the prior art plastic containers with integrally formed bails do not hang properly when suspended by their bails, due at least in part to the stiffness of the bails. Also, due to the resiliency of their plastic walls, such plastic pails tend to deform under the weight of their liquid contents when so suspended, resulting in unintended spillage of liquid.

Container having integrally formed bail hinge and reinforcing ring


An IPS-LCD, in which the direction of an optical axis and retardation values are adjusted according to the disposition of a phase retardation film replacing one protective film, obtains a contrast ratio similar to that of an IPS-LCD having upper and lower protective films, and has a small thickness. The IPS-LCD includes first and second polarizing plates (1, 2), an IPS panel (3), and a first protective film. Absorption axes (4, 5) of the first and second polarizing plates (1, 2) are orthogonal to each other, and an optical axis of a liquid crystal in the IPS panel (3) and the absorption axis (4) are parallel with each other. A second phase retardation film, obtained by coating a biaxial film (17) with a uniaxial C film (11), is disposed between the second polarizing plate (2) and the IPS panel (3) and is used as a second protective film.

In general, LCDs are divided into an in-plane switching (IPS)-LCD, a super in-plane switching (super IPS)-LCD, and a fringe field switching (FFS)-LCD according to modes of an active matrix driving electrode including pairs of electrodes. In the present invention, IPS-LCDs include the super IPS-LDS and the FFS-LCD.
FIG. 1 illustrates the basic structure of a conventional IPS-LCD. The IPS-LCD comprises a first polarizing plate 1, a second polarizing plate 2, and an IPS panel 3. An absorption axis 4 of the first polarizing plate 1 is orthogonal to an absorption axis 5 of the second polarizing plate 2, and is parallel with an optical axis 6 of a liquid crystal in the IPS panel 3.
Polarizing films in the first and second polarizing plates 1 and 2 are very thin and stretched films, thus being easily damaged by external physical and mechanical force. Accordingly, in order to protect the polarizing films of the first and second polarizing plates 1 and 2, a protective film is essentially formed on the internal surfaces of the first and second polarizing plates 1 and 2, on which the liquid crystal is formed.
In order to compensate for the light polarization of a polarizing plate to improve visibility and increase clearness of a screen, various phase retardation films are used. That is, in order to prevent light leakage and improve a contrast ratio, various phase retardation films or optical compensating films are used.
Accordingly, the polarizing plate includes various film layers, such as a polarizing film, a protective film for protecting the polarizing film, and a phase retardation film for improving optical characteristics of the polarizing plate. These various film layers increase the thickness of the polarizing plate.
This thick polarizing plate goes against the thin profile trend of the IPS-LCD. Thus, the improvement of the thick polarizing plate has been required.
In order to satisfy the above requirement, several techniques are proposed. According to one technique, the protective film is removed from the polarizing plate and the phase retardation film serves to protect the polarizing plate.
However, when the protective film is removed from the polarizing plate and the phase retardation film serves to protect the polarizing plate, the contrast ratio of the IPS-LCD is lowered. That is, the contrast ratio refers to a ratio of the luminance of the brightest portion to the luminance of the darkest portion. The higher a difference of luminances between the brightest portion and the darkest portion is, the higher the contrast ratio is. Accordingly, in order to assure the contrast ratio, it is necessary to prevent the light leakage at the darkest portion. When a phase retardation between the polarizing film and the phase retardation film is not properly controlled, the light leakage is severe according to viewable angles, thus causing a difficulty in assuring the contrast ratio.
Accordingly, an IPS-LCD comprising a polarizing plate, in which a phase retardation between a phase retardation film and a polarizing film is properly controlled, is required.
Particularly, the IPS-LCD has the worst contrast characteristic at a tilt angle of 75°. The improvement of the contrast characteristic of the IPS-LCD at a tilt angle of 75° means the improvement of the contrast characteristics of the IPS-LCD at all viewable angles. Thus, it is necessary to set the contrast characteristic of the IPS-LCD at tilt angle of 75° to more than a sufficient value.
For the above reason, a protective film is provided on the inner surfaces of the first and second polarizing plates of the IPS-LCD. In this case, the contrast ratio of the IPS-LCD is 10:1˜45:1. Consequently, it is preferable that an LCD having a contrast ratio similar to the above range and a simple structure is developed.

In-plane switching liquid crystal display having simple structure