An address retrieval apparatus includes a retrieval table having plural table nodes for different hierarchical levels of a hierarchical tree structure, a divided bit string retrieval block, and a transfer destination distribution information acquiring block for acquiring a transfer destination distribution information from a transfer destination distribution information table based on a retrieval result supplied from the divided bit string retrieval block. An original bit string providing an inputted route information is divided into plural divided bit strings correspondent to respective brunches with the different hierarchical levels, thereby to do retrieval processes by a sequential use of the plural divided bit strings in the sequence from the bottom level to the top level with shifting up by one level the hierarchical level until the location designation information is retrieved.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an address retrieval apparatus, and more particularly to an address retrieval apparatus for retrieving a transmission destination address, to which one or more packets of data are transmitted through one or more communication networks, so as to assisting a router in distributing the one or more data packets.
All of patents, patent applications, patent publications, scientific articles and the like, which will hereinafter be cited or identified in the present application, will, hereby, be incorporated by references in their entirety in order to describe more fully the state of the art, to which the present invention pertains.
2. Description of the Related Art
A variety of communications have been realized through a variety of communication networks such as the Internet. A router is one of function units for providing interconnections between plural networks. The router retrieves a routing information which indicates or designates the transmission destination address, to which one or more data packets are transmitted. If the networks are included in the Internet, then the one or more packets may be Internet Protocol (IP) packets, so that the router decides an output port for outputting the one or more data packets. Usually, a plurality of the routers are placed over the networks. Each of the routers over the networks sequentially decides and assign the output ports for the packets for defining respective transmission routes over the networks, whereby the respective packets are transmitted through respectively assigned routes over the networks to the respective transmission destination addresses.
This routing operation made by the router is similar to a routing operation that exchanges respectively corresponding to the sequences of figures of telephone number sequentially distribute output ports for the figures of telephone number, so that a call is made upon a complete correspondence in all digits of the telephone number.
For distribution operation by each of the routers over the communication networks, the each router decides or selects one of the plural output ports based on the data included in the each packet with reference to a retrieval table included in the each router, in order to permit the each packet to be transmitted from the selected one of the plural output ports. Namely, the retrieval table enables the router to select one of the plural output ports based on the data included in the each packet.
It is possible that one or more additional terminals are added or one or more existent terminals are removed over the communication networks. It is, hereby, assumed that whereas the router selects a first output port for data packet transmission based on a route information which designates a transmission destination "A" with reference to the existent retrieval table, even any one terminal on a route between the first output port and the transmission destination "A" is removed, whereby the packet outputted from the first output port could no longer reach the transmission destination "A". In this case, it is possible that the router may select a different output port, for example, a third output port for data packet transmission through a different roundabout route between the third output port and the transmission destination "A". In order to respond to any change to the existent configuration of the networks, it is necessary to renew and/or change the existent retrieval table in the each router, or to register new data onto the existent retrieval table with or without deletion of the existent data.
The following descriptions will be made assuming that the data packet is the IP packet. The retrieval table in the router has a distribution information which enables the router to decide or select one of the plural output ports. The distribution information may include any next stage transfer destination, for example, an IP address of an output interface or a next stage router, to which the packet is transmitted. The distribution information may be registered as an IP Sub-Net address and a Prefix length. The term "Sub-Net" means a plurality of subordinate networks divided from the network. The "IP address" may comprise a network address and a host number, so that one or more predetermined significant bits of the host number designates a sub-net number which is used for dividing the network into the plurality of sub-networks. The term "Prefix length" means a length of an effective bit string and is represented by a bit number which corresponds to the length of the effective bit string of address.
The router selects the output port for the packet transmission with reference to the retrieval table, wherein one of the plural IP Sub-Net addresses is decided in accordance with a Longest Prefix Match method, provided that the decided one is longest, in the matched effective bit string which is identical with the IP address as a retrieval key, among the plural IP Sub-Net addresses registered on the retrieval table. It is, for example, assumed that the IP address comprises three bits, and two IP addresses "0**" and "00*" are registered on the retrieval table. The IP address "0**" has a single effective bit "0" as the first bit, while the second and third bits "*" is the arbitrary value which may be either "0" or "1". The IP address "00*" has two effective bits "0" as the first and second bits, while the third bit "*" is the arbitrary value which may be either "0" or "1".
The retrieval with reference to the retrieval table is made by referring the transferred IP address as the retrieval key to the two IP addresses "0**" and "00*" registered on the retrieval table, wherein the transferred IP address indicates the transmission destination, to which the packet is intended to be transmitted. If the transferred IP address is "0001. . . ", then the bit string "00*" is longer in Prefix length than the other bit string "0**". In this case, the Prefix-longest bit string "00*" is selected as the IP address for the next transmission destination.
If the bit number of the IP address is as small as described above, then it is easy to realize a desired high efficiency in retrieving the IP address. Unfortunately, however, the bit number of the actual and practical IP address is much longer than 3. In accordance with the Internet Protocol version 4 (IPv4), the bit number of the IP address is 32. In accordance with the recently standardized Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv6), the bit number of the IP address is 128. In such cases, it is no longer easy to realize the desired high efficiency in retrieving the IP address. Namely, it is practically difficult for the router to realize the desired high efficiency in obtaining the transmission destination information based on the data included in the each packet with reference to a retrieval table included in the each router.
There are two existent retrieval methods, for example, a Binary Tree retrieval method, and a Prefix Expansion retrieval method. The Binary Tree retrieval method utilizes a two-branched data configuration. FIG. 1 is a view illustrative of respective bit patterns of eight IP addresses P1, P2, P3, P4, P5, P6, P7 and P8. "*" represents the arbitrary value which may be either "0" or "1". FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrative of the two-branched data configuration utilized by the Binary Tree retrieval method, wherein the eight IP addresses P1, P2, P3, P4, P5, P6, P7 and P8 constitute the two-branched tree-structure from a starting point 101. In accordance with the Binary Tree retrieval method, sequential bit referring operations from the head bit in one-bit unit or one-bit-by-one-bit are made. The two-branched tree-structure comprises a plurality of nodes including the eight IP addresses P1, P2, P3, P4, P5, P6, P7 and P8, a plurality of first type segments extending left-downwardly which correspond to "0"-bit, and a plurality of second type segments extending right-downwardly which correspond to "1"-bit, wherein each of the first and second type segments interconnects adjacent two of the plurality of nodes.
Japanese laid-open patent publication No. 11-191781 discloses an address retrieval apparatus including a hardware circuit which makes the retrieval of the address by utilizing the binary-tree structure as the routing table, wherein unnecessary branches are removed for performing a desired high speed route-retrieval operation. The use of the hardware circuit for the retrieval allows the desired high speed route-retrieval operation.
In accordance with the above retrieval method utilizing the binary-tree structure, there is any tree structure which has the same number of brunches as the maximum address bit number. In accordance with the Internet Protocol version 4, the IP address comprises 32-bits. The above example shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is the case of 8-bits configuration. 32-bits tree-structure may have 32 brunches at the maximum. This means it necessary to make 32-times of access to the nodes. The Binary-Tree retrieval method is advantageous in view of allowing the increase in the times of access to the nodes and resulting in an undesired low efficiency of the retrieval operation. The use of the hardware for realizing the retrieval instead of any software is insufficient for compensating for the increased number of bunches of the binary-tree structure.
In order to reduce the number of bunches in the binary-tree structure, the Prefix Expansion retrieval method is effective. Japanese laid-open patent publication No. 2000-307641 discloses that the Prefix Expansion retrieval method, wherein the bit string of the IP address is divided into a plurality of divided subordinate bit strings. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrative of a hierarchical structure of plural subordinate bit strings divided from the bit string of the IP address. The divided subordinate bit strings are configured in a hierarchical structure. First to fourth retrieval tables 111, 112, 113 and 114 are provided for the divided subordinate bit strings, respectively. In each of the first to fourth retrieval tables 111, 112, 113 and 114, the divided subordinate bit string serves as an entry address.
In the example shown in FIG. 3, there are triple-layered hierarchical structure, wherein a string of 7-bits in total of the IP address is divided into two bits for the lowest level in the triple-layered hierarchical structure, three bits for the middle level, and two bits for the highest level. The first retrieval table 111 is positioned at the highest level in the triple-layered hierarchical structure. The second and third retrieval tables 112 and 113 are positioned at the middle level in the triple-layered hierarchical structure. The fourth retrieval table 114 is positioned at the lowest level in the triple-layered hierarchical structure.
In each of the first and fourth retrieval tables 111 and 114 at the highest and lowest levels respectively, four divided subordinate bit strings "00", "01", "10" and "11" are the entry address. In each of the second and third retrieval tables 112 and 113 at the middle level, eight divided subordinate bit strings "000", "001", "010", "011", "100", "101", "110", and "111" are the entry address.
In accordance with this Prefix Expansion retrieval method, for renewal of an IP address registered on a retrieval table, an end/continue flag which indicates whether a transmission of this IP address is ended at this retrieval table or continued to a next retrieval table, a next table pointer which indicates a next IP address for a next transfer destination are stored or registered with overlap respectively into all of the entries allowing the registrations in the entries of this retrieval table.
For registering the IP address on the each retrieval table, a bit string of an entry, which does not reach a terminal of each divided subordinate bit string, is expanded up to the terminal of each divided subordinate bit string. It is, for example, assumed that the divided subordinate bit string at one level in the hierarchical structure comprises 3-bits, while a bit string of the entry is smaller bit number, 2 bits or 1-bit. In this case, the shorter bit string is expanded to the 3-bits length. Respective short bit strings are expanded to a uniform or common bit length, so that a plurality of the bit-length-expanded entries including the short bit strings do correspond to the common registered IP address.
FIG. 4 is a view illustrative of both original IP addresses different in bit length from each and shown in FIG. 1, and expanded IP addresses up to three different bit lengths. Registered IP addresses of the eight IP addresses P1, P2, P3, P4, P5, P6, P7 and P8 are respectively expanded up to least significant bits of the respective divided subordinate bit strings. The IP address P5 has a prefix length of "1" as an effective bit string length. The IP address P5 has the original and pre-expansion bit string "0*". The IP address P5 is expanded by one bit to 2-bits length, and has two expanded bit strings "00" and "01". With reference back to FIG. 3, the IP address P5 is registered with overlap at both the entry addresses "00" and "01" on the first retrieval table 111 at the highest level.
The IP address P2 has a prefix length of "3" as an effective bit string length. The IP address P2 has the original and pre-expansion bit string "111*". The IP address P2 is expanded by two bits to 5-bits length, and has four expanded bit strings "11100", "11101", "11110", and "11111". On the second and third retrieval tables 112 and 113, strings of the third to fifth significant bits correspond to the entry addresses. With reference again to FIG. 3, the IP address P2 is registered with overlap at the four entry addresses "100", "101", "110", and "111" on the third retrieval table 113 at the middle level.
As described above, the bit-strings expansions of the IP addresses make the registered IP addresses correspond to specific entry addresses on the retrieval tables. This allows that the divided subordinate bit strings of the registered IP addresses are simply or directly compared to the entry addresses of the retrieval tables for the retrieval process.
Namely, the prefix expanded retrieval method limits the maximum retrieval times to the number of the multilevels of the hierarchical structure. The prefix expanded retrieval method is effective to reduce the maximum retrieval times. In the above-example shown in FIG. 3, the four retrieval tables are configured in the three-level hierarchical structure. Thus, the maximum retrieval times are only three.
Each of the first to fourth retrieval tables 111, 112, 113 and 114 further include the above-described end/continue flag, a transfer destination distribution information, a pointer effective/ineffective flag which indicates whether a pointer of the transfer destination distribution information is effective or ineffective, and a pointer to a retrieval table including a next-retrieved bit string. Those entry informations are stored or registered in all of the entries which allow the registrations thereof. For the original and pre-expansion bit string "0*", the entry information is stored and registered in both the 1-bit-expanded strings "00" and "01".
For registering the IP address on the each retrieval table, a bit string of an entry, which does not reach a terminal of each divided subordinate bit string, is expanded up to the terminal of each divided subordinate bit string. After the bit string has been expanded, the entry information corresponding to the original and pre-expansion bit string is entirely stored and registered on all of the retrieval tables which include the divided subordinate bit strings divided from the original and pre-expansion bit string. The write operation raises the following problems.
FIG. 5 is a view illustrative of four bit patterns of IP addresses P1, P2, P3 and P4. FIG. 6 is a view illustrative of correspondences between the expanded four-bits strings and the expanded IP addresses. With reference to FIGS. 5 and 6, an example will be described to clarify the problems in connection with the above-described prefix expanded retrieval method. It is, hereby, assumed that an original and pre-expansion bit string is longer than another original and pre-expansion bit string. The first original IP address P1 is "0" and has a single-bit length. The first original IP address P1 is expanded to 4-bits strings "0***", for example, eighth 4-bits strings "0000", "0001", "0010", "0011", "0100", 0101", "0110", and "0111".
The second original IP address P2 is "010" and has a 3-bit length. The second original IP address P2 is expanded to 4-bits strings "010*", for example, two 4-bits strings "0100" and "0101".
The third original IP address P3 is "1010" and has a 4-bit length. The third original IP address P3 is not expanded.
The fourth original IP address P4 is "10" and has a 2-bit length. The fourth original IP address P4 is expanded to 4-bits strings "10**", for example, four 4-bits strings "1000", "1001", "1010" and "1011".
With reference to FIG. 6, there are theoretically sixteen different 4-bits strings which include four 4-bits strings "11**", for example, "1100", "1101", "1110" and "1111" which are not derived from the four original IP addresses P1, P2, P3 and P4 shown in FIG. 5. The router is configured to respond to the expanded 4-bits strings "00**", "01**", and "10**", but is not responsible to four 4-bits strings "11**". For this reason, those four 4-bits strings "11**" are not registered (NULL) as the IP addresses, while twelve expanded 4-bits strings "00**", "01**", and "10**" are registered with correspondence to the four original IP addresses P1, P2, P3 and P4. For example, the bit string "0000" is registered as the first IP address P1.
It should be noted that two or more expanded IP addresses correspond to a common expanded 4-bits string, wherein the two or more expanded IP addresses conflict to each other with reference to the common expanded 4-bits string. This raises an issue of whether either one of the conflicting two or more IP addresses should be made correspond to the common expanded 4-bits string.
For example, the expanded 4-bits string "0100" is derived from the original and pre-expansion bit string "0" and corresponds to the first original IP address P1, as well as is derived from the original and pre-expansion bit string "010" and corresponds to the second original IP address P2. Namely, the first and second original IP addresses P1 and P2 conflict to each other with reference to the expanded 4-bits string "0100". This raises an issue of whish either one of the conflicting first and second IP addresses P1 and P2 should be made correspond to the common expanded 4-bits string "0100".
Similarly, the expanded 4-bits string "0101" is also derived from the original and pre-expansion bit string "0" and corresponds to the first original IP address P1, as well as is derived from the original and pre-expansion bit string "010" and corresponds to the second original IP address P2. Namely, the first and second original IP addresses P1 and P2 conflict to each other with reference to the expanded 4-bits string "0101". This raises a further issue of whish either one of the conflicting first and second IP addresses P1 and P2 should be made correspond to the common expanded 4-bits string "0101".
If two or more expanded IP addresses conflict to each other with reference to the common expanded 4-bits string, then one expanded IP address, which has a longer or longest original and pre-expansion bit string, is given a priority to correspond to the common expanded 4-bits string. Namely, an entry information corresponding to the longer original and pre-expansion bit string is registered or stored. In the above-described two examples, the original and pre-expansion bit string "010" of the second IP address P2 is longer than the original and pre-expansion bit string "0" of the first IP address P1. As shown in FIG. 6, the second IP address P2 is given the priority to correspond to the common expanded 4-bits string "0100".
For example, the expanded 4-bits string "1010" is derived from the original and pre-expansion bit string "1010" and corresponds to the third original IP address P3, as well as is derived from the original and pre-expansion bit string "10" and corresponds to the fourth original IP address P4. Namely, the third and fourth original IP addresses P3 and P4 conflict to each other with reference to the expanded 4-bits string "1010". This raises another issue of whish either one of the conflicting third and fourth original IP addresses P3 and P4 should be made correspond to the common expanded 4-bits string "1010". The original and pre-expansion bit string "1010" of the third IP address P3 is longer than the original and pre-expansion bit string "10" of the fourth IP address P4. As shown in FIG. 6, the third IP address P3 is given the priority to correspond to the common expanded 4-bits string "1010".
FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrative of one of the conventional retrieval tables. The transfer destination distribution information is referred to as "NHP". In accordance with the conventional prefix expanded retrieval method, expanded bit strings "000", "001", "010", "011", "100", "101", "110", "111", are made corresponding to transfer destination distribution informations "NHP1", "NHP2", "NHP3", "NHP4", "NHP5", "NHP6", "NHP7" and "NHP8". Further, the expanded bit strings "000", "001", "010", "011", "100", "101", "110", "111", are made corresponding to next or higher hierarchical level node pointers "LPTR1", "LPTR2", "LPTR3", "LPTR4", "LPTR5", "LPTR6", "LPTR7" and "LPTR8".
FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrative of a configuration of a conventional address retrieval apparatus for managing divided bit strings. A conventional address retrieval apparatus 120 includes a retrieval table 121, a bit string management table 122, and an IP address management process block 123 which is functionally coupled to both the retrieval table 121, and the bit string management table 122. The bit string management table 122 is essential for the conventional address retrieval apparatus 120.
FIG. 9 is a flow chart illustrative of sequential steps of a bit renewal process involved in registration, deletion and renewal processes for bit strings on the retrieval table in the conventional address retrieval apparatus shown in FIG. 8. In the step S201, registration, deletion or renewal is made of a subject bit string on the bit string management table 122. In the step S202, an original and pre-expansion bit string is obtained from the bit string management table 122. In the step S203, the original and pre-expansion bit string is expanded to a longer bit string of a predetermined bit number. In the step S204, a calculation is made of the bit string to be stored into the retrieval table 121. During the calculation, if the same bit strings are present, then one of the bit strings is selected, wherein the selected one is derived from the original and pre-expansion bit string which is longer than the original and pre-expansion bit string which was expanded to the unselected one. In the step S205, the calculated bit strings are stored on the retrieval table 121. The renewal process is then completed.
The conventional address retrieval apparatus 120 needs not only the retrieval table 121 but also the bit string management table 122. For taking place at least one of the registration, deletion and renewal processes, it is necessary to expand the divided bit string to the predetermined bit number.
In accordance with the prefix expanded retrieval method, as described above, an entry information storing regulation is necessary, for which reason it is impossible to leave pre-expansion informations on the retrieval table, where the pre-expansion information indicates a configuration of the original and pre-expansion bit string. For this reason, the original and pre-expansion bit string configuration information is necessary for taking place at least one of the registration, deletion and renewal processes. In order to hold the original and pre-expansion bit string configuration information, an additional table for managing he retrieval table is further needed.
With reference again to FIG. 5, descriptions will be made, assuming that the IP address P2 is deleted. In this example, two bit strings "0100" and "0101" are deleted. The retrieval table does not include any effective information of what should be stored at positions of the two bit strings "0100" and "0101". For example, two different-length bit configurations "A" and "B" are present, wherein the bit configuration "A" is longer than the bit configuration "B". The longer bit configuration "A" is registered on the retrieval table. Any change is caused of the communication network, whereby a router becomes not needing the longer bit configuration "A". Thus, the bit configuration "A" and its accompanying transfer destination distribution information should be deleted from the retrieval table. Notwithstanding, the retrieval table does not include any effective or useful information which indicates which bit configuration would conflict with the bit configuration "A", namely, the retrieval table does not include any effective or useful information which indicates which bit string should be registered instead of deletion of the bit configuration "A".
For the prefix expanded retrieval method, it is necessary to store, on the retrieval table, the same number of the transfer destination distribution informations as the registered bit strings. Further, it is necessary that each hierarchical level or layer for retrieval of the divided bit strings holds those transfer destination distribution informations. The conventional address retrieval apparatus performing the prefix expanded retrieval method needs a relatively large memory size for managing the retrieval table.
In the above circumstances, the development of a novel address retrieval apparatus free from the above problems is desirable.


The present invention relates to a system and method for issuing an OTP application in a face-to-face confirmation manner, and the system includes at least one or more service provider devices for transmitting OTP application issuance request information, including information on recognition of a terminal device tagged on a reader provided for each service provider or entering a previously set service area, to an integrated service device; and the integrated service device for registering secure storage medium identification information as medium identification information for OTP authentication and transmitting an OTP installation guide to the terminal device if the recognition information is the secure storage medium identification information, and transmitting the OTP installation guide to the terminal device if the recognition information is terminal device identification information, in which the terminal device can be a terminal device of a user seeing a service provider face-to-face.

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a system and method for issuing an OTP application in a face-to-face confirmation manner, and more specifically, to a system and method for issuing an OTP application in a face-to-face confirmation manner, which can solve the problem of face-to-face confirmation for confirming a real name of a user by registering secure storage medium identification information or an OTP serial number acquired from a reader to install an OTP application in a secure storage medium of a terminal device.
Background of the Related Art
A one time password (hereinafter, referred to as an OTP) generator used in a bank, stock or insurance transaction is provided through a separate device. When a financial institute provides an OTP generator to a customer, it performs a procedure of registering a serial number printed on the back of the OTP generator in corresponding subscriber information after confirming the real name of the user.
When a customer performs transfer of money larger than a specific amount in a banking transaction, the customer inputs an OTP generated by an OTP generator as an additional authentication means, and the bank performs a procedure of verifying the OTP.
However, such a method has a problem of inconvenience in using the OTP generator since the user should possess an OTP generator for each service provider and a problem of increasing the inconvenience in using the OTP generator since the user should separately carry the OTP generator.
In order to solve such problems, a card (IC card) type OTP generator connectible to a terminal device always carried by a user is distributed. Such a card is provided with an OTP function in addition to the function of a cash card or a check card generally distributed by a bank, and compared with an OTP generator of dedicated hardware, the card type OTP generator can be distributed at a much lower price since it does not need to mount a display or a battery, and it is very convenient since the customer may carry the card type OTP generator in a wallet.
Such a method may provide a function the same as that of the dedicated hardware method since an OTP application for generating an OTP is provided in the card and a generated OTP can be displayed on the terminal device, and this method also performs a work of confirming the real name of the user and matching an OTP serial number when a bank branch issues the card to the user.
However, since an OTP authentication method using a terminal device should contact the card to the back of the terminal device to generate and input an OTP when the user performs a financial transaction, the work should be done with two hands, or even a risk of breaking the terminal device may occur since handling the terminal device is inconvenient.
In order to solve such problems, there is an attempt of mounting an OTP application in a secure area of a terminal device, such as a Universal Subscriber Identity Module (USIM), a Secure Element (SE), a TrustZone or the like, and using the OTP application in a financial transaction service.
However, since a face-to-face confirmation should be performed as a method of confirming the real name of the user, the OTP application cannot be used for the purpose of financial transactions to which a strict regulation is applied.

System and method for issuing OTP application in face-to-face confirmation manner


The present disclosure provides a backflow prevention device, comprising: an inlet chamber comprising at least two ports, in which a first port is used for receiving a fluid; a chamber-separating component comprising a separating member and a relief valve; an outlet chamber separated from the inlet chamber by the separating member; the relief valve being operatively connected with the separating member for opening or closing a drain port of the outlet chamber; wherein the fluid is allowed to be delivered from the outlet chamber only when the relief valve is closed by means of a differential pressure applied on the separating member. Also provided is a dialysis apparatus comprising the backflow prevention device. According to the present disclosure, the backflow prevention device has simple structure, reduced dead space and small sizes and can work reliably.

A backflow prevention device is usually disposed between a fluid supply and a connected apparatus for receiving fluid from the fluid supply in order to protect the fluid supply from being contaminated or polluted by the connected apparatus.
Air gap separation method is a common means for preventing a backflow contamination risk. However, the air gap separation method can not be used in some applications, such as a pressurized operation.
In this case, a check valve or double-check valve backflow preventer is a basic form of a backflow prevention device. However, such a backflow preventer is not reliable because the valves may be incompletely closed due to particles or debris in a fluid pipeline; sometime the malfunction of the valves can not be completely avoided, either.
In some important applications, more sophisticated devices with redundancies, such as a reduced-pressure zone (RTZ) device is used. However, most RTZ devices available in the market are mainly produced for a portable water supply and are not suitable for a medical device due to the following reasons:
1) Most RTZ devices have internal flow paths that are not easily disinfected. Such devices have atmospheric vents and test valves that can introduce bacteria into distribution lines. Bacteria can colonize the device and re-contaminate the treated fluid, thereby causing harm to the patient if the device is used in a medical apparatus.
2) Chemical disinfectants may be trapped in the internal flow paths of the conventional RTZ devices during routine disinfection. The trapped disinfectants may then be released into the treated fluid, for example the reverse osmosis water during a dialysis treatment, thereby exposing the patient to a risk of toxicity of the disinfectants.
3) Most RTZ devices are constructed of materials which are not suitable for use with the medical device. Certain metals can contaminate the fluid and present a hazard to the patient.

Backflow prevention device and dialysis apparatus with the backflow prevention device


A nonvolatile memory device and a method of programming the nonvolatile semiconductor memory device are disclosed. The programming method includes applying a first voltage greater than a ground voltage to a selected word line at a first time; applying a second voltage greater than the first voltage to the selected word line at a second time that occurs after a predetermined period from the first time; applying the ground voltage to a first unselected word line directly adjacent to the selected word line at the first time; and applying a third voltage greater than the ground voltage to the first unselected word line at the second time.

This disclosure relates to a method of programming a nonvolatile semiconductor memory device and, more particularly, to a method of programming a NAND-type flash memory device.
Semiconductor memory devices may be largely classified into volatile semiconductor memory devices and nonvolatile semiconductor memory devices. A volatile semiconductor memory device may store data due to a logic state of a bistable flip-flop or the charging or discharging of a capacitor. The volatile semiconductor memory device may store or read data when a power is supplied and lose the stored data when the power is interrupted.
A nonvolatile semiconductor memory device, such as an electrically erasable programmable read-only-memory (EEPROM), may store data even if power is interrupted. The nonvolatile semiconductor memory device may be used to store programs and data in a wide range of applications, such as computers and communication devices. Since an EEPROM is electrically erasable and programmable, the EEPROM is being widely used as a system programming device or auxiliary memory device that may need to be continuously updated. Among flash memory devices, a NAND-type flash memory device may be more highly integrated than a NOR-type flash memory device.
The NAND-type flash memory device may include a memory cell array to store data, and the memory cell array may include a plurality of cell strings (also called NAND strings). A memory cell of the NAND-type flash memory device may perform erase and program operations using a Fowler-Nordheim (F-N) tunneling current.
In general, an increase in storage capacity may reduce a program performance due to wide threshold voltage distribution of memory cells in the memory cell array. Accordingly, it is desirable to control a threshold voltage distribution of memory cells in order to improve the program performance.

Nonvolatile memory device and method of programming the same

Samsung-ro, Yeongtong-gu, Suwon-si, Gyeonggi-do


A system and method for motion compensation of color sequential displays, receiving a motion image data input, extracting an estimate of a motion of an image portion represented in said image data input with a motion estimator, and calculating, for a time instance of display of each image subframe of an image frame, a compensated representation for reducing display artifacts with a processor, wherein each subframe represents a different aspect of the image frame. The subframes are preferably different color planes of the image frame. The processor preferably performs a bilinear interpolation where the compensated image boundary does not fall on a display pixel boundary. The motion compensation algorithm is preferably robust in the face of erroneous motion vectors. The system and method is advantageously used in single panel liquid crystal display projection systems, although the techniques are applicable to various image display technologies.

Color image displays are of two general types. In a first type, exemplified by a typical direct view cathode ray tube color display, all color image components are displayed simultaneously. Thus, an image model, e.g., a CCIR-601 signal, defines the luminance and chrominance of each image pixel at a particular time. The motion image is therefore presented as a time sequence of color image frames.
In a second type of color image display, color image planes are displayed sequentially. This type of system is employed, for example, in certain single panel image projection systems, in which light of various colors sequentially illuminates a common spatial light modulator. The spatial image modulator, therefore, modulates the intensity of each respective color component of a pixel sequentially and independently, which is perceived as a color motion image.
Sequential color displays work well as long as one pixel is being observed during an entire frame time. When a moving object is present, the eyes are focussing on this object, and the eyes start tracking the motion. The color breakup artifact that an observer notices at that moment is caused due to tracking of the motion by the eyes, i.e. the eyes follow a moving object by rotating the head and eyes while keeping this object focussed on the same position on the retina.
Color sequential displays display the Red, Green, Blue (RGB) colors alternating during a frame time, as represented in FIG. 1. This frame time might have a small delay for each successive row, depending on the way the color sequential illumination is implemented, but this time delay is generally considered negligible. The image pixels are observed at different time moments within a frame period, and thus might display different video data for the RGB colors other than the intended one. If this happens when the video data of these pixels changes, at that moment a color break-up artifact is visible.
JP 08-123355 A, published May 17, 1996, relates to a motion compensation system for a plasma display panel. In this system, the image motion artifact caused by the tracking of the human eye of motion of a displayed object between successive frames, in a display system having pulse modulated gray scale generation, representing a plurality of image subframes differing in brightness, is corrected by calculating object motion and moving the object within the image for correction at the time of display.
The following references are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entirety:
W. Bruls, A. van der Werf, R. Kleihorst, T. Friedrich, E. Salomons and F. Jorritsma, "A single-chip MPEG-2 encoder for consumer storage applications" Digest of the ICCE, 1997, Chicago, pp. 262-263.
G. de Haan and H. Huijgen, "Motion estimation for TV picture enhancement", in Signal Processing of HDTV III, (H. Yasuda and L. Chiariglione, eds.), Elseviers Science Publishers B.V., 1992, pp. 241-248.
G. de Haan, J. Kettenis, and B. Deloore, "IC for motion compensated 100 Hz TV, with a smooth motion movie-mode", IEEE Transactions on Consumer Electronics, vol. 42, May 1996, pp. 165-174.
G. de Haan, P. W. A. C. Biezen and O. A. Ojo, "An Evolutionary Architecture for Motion-Compensated 100 Hz Television," in IEEE Transactions on Circuits and Systems for Video Technology, Vol. 5, No. 3, June 1995, pages 207-217.
"Motion—compensated picture signal interpolation", U.S. Pat. No. 5,495,300, Inventors: G. de Haan, P. Biezen, A. Ojo, and H. Huijgen.
G. de Haan, P. Biezen, H. Huijgen, and O. Ojo, "True motion estimation with 3-D recursive search block-matching," IEEE Transactions on Circuits and Systems for Video Technology, vol. 3, No. 5, October 1993, pp. 368-388.
G. de Haan, P. W. A. C. Biezen, H. Huijgen and O. A. Ojo, "Graceful Degradation in Motion-Compensated Field-Rate Conversion" in Proceedings of the International Workshop on HDTV, Ottawa, Canada, 1993, pages 249-256.
JP 06-46358, 18.2.1994, "Liquid Crystal Driving Device", Masao Kawamura. (Moving image emphasis system).
WO 96/35294, "Motion Compensated Filtering", 7 Nov. 1996, Timothy Borer (Motion compensated filtering of interlace video). See also U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,335,194; 4,862,266; and 4,862,267.

System and method for motion compensation of image planes in color sequential displays


A method includes segmenting a virtual volume into an active area configured to map to a first type of storage and a non-active area configured to map to a second type of storage through a storage virtualization engine. The second type of storage includes data associated with a host device and the first type of storage includes point-in-time images corresponding to the data associated with the host device. The first type of storage offers a higher performance than that of the second type of storage. The method also includes allocating a portion of space in the first type of storage to serve as a cache memory during a write operation and/or a read operation, and reducing a latency associated with the response to a write request and/or a read request through performing the corresponding write operation and/or the read operation through the first type of storage.

A storage system may include data associated with one or more users belonging to an entity (e.g., an organization) stored in storage pools therein. A portion of the data may be accessed frequently by the one or more users and another portion of the data may be accessed less frequently by the one or more users. Additionally, the storage system may be configured to back up data associated with the one or more users therein.
When data to be frequently accessed is stored on hardware offering low performance, read/write requests thereto may be addressed with an increased response time. Moreover, when the hardware offering low performance includes data stored close to a maximum capacity thereof, the response time may be even further increased. In an example scenario, when the hardware is associated with remote storage offered as a service in a cloud storage environment, the one or more users may encounter read/write timeouts, leading to wastage of human effort and/or loss of productivity.

Latency reduction associated with a response to a request in a storage system


An exercising machine comprised of a triangular base frame having handles on the three sides thereof and plastic bottom sockets extended from the three angles thereof and supported on spring elements above vacuum mount incorporated stands, a rotating disk supported on the triangular base frame for allowing the player to twist the body while standing on it, wherein the inner diameter of the plastic sockets is equal to the outer diameter of the spring elements, and the stands have a respective top recessed hole in diameter equal to the outer diameter of the spring elements, so that the spring elements can be respectively fastened between the sockets and the stands without the use of tools or fastening elements.

The present invention relates to a multipurpose, spring-supported exercising machine which is comprised of a triangular base frame supported on vacuum mount stands above spring elements, and a rotating disk turnably disposed above the triangular base frame for allow the player to balance above the rotating disk while twisting the body.
There is a kind of exercising device for comprised of a rotating disk mounted on a spherical base supported on three equally spaced stands and designed for exercises by twisting the body while standing on the rotating disk. The player must stand up on the rotating disk while playing, and therefore the application of the exercising device is limited. As the base is made in a spherical configuration, the device may incline when the player steps one leg on a corner area, causing the player to fall to the ground.

Mutipurpose, spring-supported exercising machine


There is provided a method in a first device of a cellular communication system, the method comprising: acquiring a first value of a performance indicator; causing a transmission of management plane performance data to a second device of the cellular communication system, said performance data comprising said first value; acquiring a second value of the performance indicator; and preventing a transmission of the second value if the second value is substantially equal to the first value.

In a communication network, management plane entity or entities may be used to gather management plane data comprising one or more performance indicators. The performance indicators may be measured and/or acquired by network devices and transmitted to said management plane entity or entities. As the number of devices in the present communication networks increases, there may be a need to provide solutions which may decrease amount of transferred management plane data.

Management plane performance indicator transfer


A golf training machine that clearly demonstrates to a trainee the two optimum golf swing methods, namely the so-called “inward” swing method and the so-called “outward” swing method. The training machine is a tandem-type golf training machine that allows an instructor to work directly with a trainee positioned on the opposite side of the machine. In carrying out a training session, both the instructor and the trainee are putting toward the same target in a manner to positively convey to the trainee the differences between the two swing methods.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to golf swing training devices. More particularly, the invention concerns a machine for conveying to a trainee the differences between two putter swing methods, namely the "inward" swing method and the "outward" swing method.
2. Discussion of the Prior Art
It is generally agreed that there are two mutually exclusive and equally effective optimum golf swings, namely the so-called "inward" golf swing and the so-called "outward" golf swing. It is also generally agreed that the golf swing embodies two separate applications of geometry, both of which must be properly addressed in an effective golf swing. The first of these, namely "Impact geometry" concerns the fact that one must compress the ball on the face of the club head in such a manner that maximum swing force is transferred. Accomplishing this without side spin is the ideal, but most accomplished golfers use either a draw spin or a fade spin in carrying out the majority of their shots.
The other application of geometry, namely "force controlling geometry," produces the physics that controls the transfer of the total swing force to the club head. Most good golfers develop a feel for an effective swing through a trial and error method ("muscle memory") that is inconsistent at best. Adding to the difficulty with this approach is the fact that there are two diametrically opposed procedures for effectively releasing the club head, each with its own unique feel. Mostly because of this fact, contradictory advice has always plagued the game; more often by being incomplete, rather than totally wrong.
The forgoing and various other theories concerning the golf swing have been discussed in numerous books and articles, including books by Ben Hogan and Horner Kelley.
Ben Hogan in his noted work, Five Lessons: The Modern Fundamentals of Golf likened the swing plane to a large flat pane of glass inclined from the intended line of flight of the ball and generally resting on the shoulders of the trainee. In Hogan's theory, the glass pane intersected the ground in a line which was coincident with the line of flight. To control club movement, the golfer ideally swung the club head underneath the plane throughout the swing. However, Hogan introduced a slight shift in the plane line in the downswing to account for the apparent motion of the club head outward and away from the golfer from hip height through impact.
Horner Kelley in his well known book The Golfing Machine describes the swing plane as a two dimensional geometric structure on which the entire club moves throughout the golf swing. Kelley pictured the swing plane as a flat pane of glass intersecting the ground in a line, with the plane line being identical with the intended initial line of flight of the ball. This plane was described by Kelley as having a dynamically changing inclined angle during the swing with the entire club remaining on the plane throughout the swing.
Kelley mentions in his book that, depending on the number of accumulators used, that is, parts of his "power package", a golf swing can be anything from a simple "one barrel" to a full "four barrel" version.
The inward and outward swings, which are taught to be recognized by the trainee through the use of the apparatus of the present invention, can be explained in terms of the Kelley concepts as follows: Basically there are five basic elements of the golf swing, the lower body (hips), the upper body (shoulders), the leading arm, the hands, and the shaft flex. These five elements are released in the sequence listed in the downswing of each swing method. However, each element has the potential to release in either direction, that is, inward or outward. As such, they have the capacity to create torque four times by opposing each other in sequential fashion. It is these four potential segments of torque that actually establish the number of barrels a swing contains and, thereby, its ability to create effortless power.
In performing the golf swing, each of the five basic elements of the golf swing is indirectly affected by each of the others. For example, the hips are outward when they are adding to the turning force of the swing through impact and they are inward when they are resisting this force. The shoulders act similarly, but must act in an opposite direction to the hips for a four barrel swing to result. The leading arm is outward when the angle formed by it and the shoulders is increasing (Kelley's #4 accumulator); and it is inward when this angle is decreasing through impact. The action of the hands and club shaft are similar to the action of the hips and shoulders.
The importance of understanding and being able to recognize the two swing methods discussed in the preceding paragraphs is highlighted by the fact that, while most touring professionals are inward swingers there are some notable exceptions, including Jack Nicklaus, Greg Norman, Fred Couples and John Daly. Examples of renowned inward swingers include Arnold Palmer, Lee Trevino, Steve Ellington and Nick Faldo.
Teachers of golf and authors of books and articles on the golf swing almost always fall into one category or the other. For example, Ben Hogan's Five Lessons, The Modern Fundamentals of Golf tends to favor the inward swing, while Leslie King's Master key to Good Golf tends to favor the outward swing.


An object is to provide a radiation image conversion panel minimizing deterioration of sensitivity and sharpness due to improved moisture resistance, as well as a method of preparing a radiation image conversion panel exhibiting high production efficiency. Also disclosed is a radiation image conversion panel possessing a support having thereon at least a stimulable phosphor layer, wherein an average height of burr generated on the radiation image conversion panel is 1-400 μm.

In recent years, a method of creating radiation images has been utilized employing a radiation image conversion panel possessing a stimulable phosphor.
It is a process of employing a radiation image conversion panel possessing a stimulable phosphor layer provided on a support as disclosed in the U.S. Pat. No. 3,859,527 and Japanese Patent O.P.I. Publication No. 55-12144, for example. A stimulable phosphor layer in the radiation image conversion panel is exposed to the radiation passing through an object, so as to store radiation energy corresponding to the radiation transmittance of each portion of the object to form a latent image (stored image), the radiation energy stored at each portion is radiated by scanning this stimulable phosphor layer by stimulated emission light (laser light used in this case) to be converted into light, and the strong or weak light intensity is read to obtain an image. This image may be reproduced on various kinds of displays such as a CRT and so forth, or may be reproduced as a printed copy.
It is demanded that a stimulable phosphor layer in a radiation image conversion panel utilized in this radiation image conversion method exhibits high radiation absorptance and light conversion efficiency, together with excellent graininess of an image and high sharpness.
In order to improve radiation sensitivity, it is preferred commonly to make the stimulable phosphor layer thicker.
The thinner the stimulable phosphor layer is, the higher the sensitivity, but the sensitivity drops largely if the layer is too thin.
Since graininess of an image depends on location-fluctuation of the radiation quantum number (quantum mottles), structure-fluctuation (structure mottles) of a stimulable phosphor layer in a radiation image conversion panel or such, images are deteriorated by increasing quantum mottles via reduction of the radiation quantum number absorbed in the stimulable phosphor layer when the layer becomes thinner, or increasing structure mottles via elicitation of the structure-fluctuation. Accordingly, it was desired that the thick stimulable phosphor layer was used in order to improve graininess of an image.
The image quality and sensitivity in the radiation image conversion method employing a radiation image conversion panel are determined through various factors as described above. Though various studies and trials to improve these image quality and sensitivity have intensively been done by adjusting plural factors relating to them, still not much satisfactory outcome has been obtained.
On the other hand, there were problems to be improved in view of preparation of a radiation image conversion panel. In order to have a stimulable phosphor provided on a support, a vapor deposition method has been utilized in recent years in place of a conventional coating method, since a coating material contains components making no contribution to luminescence such as binder and so forth. It has been known, however, that burr generated at support ends of the radiation image conversion panel deteriorates a moisture resistance property, resulting in degradation of a moisture resistance film, and also causes a problem when a support cut in a panel size in advance is used.
A stimulable phosphor usable in a radiation image conversion panel generally exhibits a large moisture absorption property, and is deteriorated as time passes, since moisture in the air is absorbed in the case of standing in a room under the regular climate condition. When a stimulable phosphor is placed at high humidity, for example, radiation sensitivity of the foregoing phosphor drops with increase of absorbed moisture. Generally, a latent image of a radiation image recorded in a stimulable phosphor is also regressed as time passes after radiation exposure. Thus, the regressing speed of the foregoing latent image becomes large as the stimulable phosphor absorbs moisture, though there exists a characteristic in which intensity of a reproduced radiation image signal becomes smaller with a longer time from radiation exposure to scanning by stimulating light. Therefore, reproduction of a reproduced signal during reading the radiation image drops in the case of employing a radiation image conversion panel possessing a moisture-absorbed stimulable phosphor.
Further, in the case of forming a stimulable phosphor layer on a support inside a vacuum apparatus by an evaporation method and the like, it has been a problem to be solved to improve production efficiency of a radiation image conversion panel, since a ratio of the crystal-formed amount adhering to a support, based on the phosphor amount evaporated from a crucible is as small as 3-10%. Particularly, in order to prepare several sizes of radiation image conversion panels efficiently, a stimulable phosphor layer was formed on a support having the area where a plurality of radiation image conversion panels can be occupied. Subsequently, each of radiation image conversion panels was cut in a desired dimensional size employing laser cutting, punching or another technique to prepare a plurality of radiation image conversion panels. In the case of preparation employing these techniques, the similar problem caused by burr appeared.
When a radiation image conversion plate (a plate having a phosphor layer provided on a support) was tried to be cut by shirring or such, there was a problem such that the plate was deformed, and the phosphor layer was peeled from the support, and there was another problem such that high burr was generated during cutting. In the case of the burr being too high (in the case of average height of burr exceeding 400 μm), when the direction in which burr is generated is vertical to the panel surface and is on the phosphor layer side, images are deteriorated because of peeling of the phosphor layer, and when the direction is opposite (the direction in which burr is generated is vertical to the panel surface and is on the support side), a moisture resistance film to moisture-prevent a radiation image conversion panel is deteriorated. These are not preferable.
Further, it is not preferable that a cutting speed when using a diamond cutter is slow, and electrolyte is also used in the case of employing a cutting process such as electrostatic processing and so forth.
After forming a recording layer (a magnetic recording layer, an optical recording layer, or a magneto-optic recording layer) and a protective layer provided on a large support, a method of preparing a plurality of recording media by cutting these layers via laser cutting, electrical discharge machining or machining is disclosed in Patent Document 1, but it is not associated with radiation image conversions.
(Patent Document 1) Japanese Patent O.P.I. Publication No. 5-128509

Radiation image conversion panel and manufacturing method thereof

Konica Minolta Medical and Graphic, Inc.


Provided is a laser reflow apparatus for reflowing electronic components on a substrate disposed on a stage, the apparatus including: a laser emission unit comprised of a plurality of laser modules for emitting a laser beam having a flat top output profile in at least one section of the substrate on which the electronic components are disposed; a camera unit comprising at least one camera module for capturing a reflowing process of the electronic components performed by the laser beam; and a laser output control unit configured to generate a control signal for independently controlling the respective laser modules of the laser emission unit based on a signal output from the camera unit and apply the control signal to the laser emission unit.

In industrial laser processing, micron (μm) laser processing is performed in micron-level precision, which is widely used in a variety of industries such as semiconductors, displays, printed circuit boards (PCB), and smartphones, etc. Memory chips used in all types of electronic devices had been developed to have minimal circuit intervals so as to achieve a high degree of integration and performance and high-speed communication. In recent times, however, it has become difficult to reach a desired level of technology solely by reducing circuit intervals and line intervals, and thus, memory chips tend to be vertically deposited these days. TSMC has developed a deposition technique for deposition up to 128 layers, while Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix, etc. are currently applying a technique for deposition up to 72 layers to mass production. Moreover, earnest research is being conducted on technology for mounting memory chips, micro-processor chips, graphic-processor chips, wireless processor chips, sensor processor chips, etc. on a single package, and such technology has already reached a considerably high level and is being employed in practice.
However, during the development of such technology, a cooling treatment issue has been raised regarding heat generation due to a large power consumption, as a greater number of electrons needs to participate in a signal processing process in high-speed/high-capacity semiconductor chips. In addition, to address the requirements of high-speed signal processing and high-frequency signal processing for a greater number of signals, there has been raised another technical issue of having to transfer a mass of electronic signals at high speed. Furthermore, due to a greater number of signal lines, signal interface lines external to semiconductor chips cannot be dealt with a primary lead-line scheme any more. For this reason, a ball grid array (BGA) method (also referred to as Fan-In BGA or Fan-in Wafer-Level-Package (FIWLP)), which is a secondary treatment performed underneath semiconductor chips, is being used. Alternatively, a Fan-Out BGA or Fan-Out Wafer-Level-Package (FOWLP) or Fan-Out Panel-Level-Package method may be used, which is to provide a signal layout redistribution layer being underneath a ultra-fine BGA layer below semiconductor chips and underneath it, having a secondary fine BGA layer, is being used.
According to recent technology, semiconductors having an epoxy-mold compound layer with a thickness of 200 μm are being introduced. When using a mass reflow (MR) process such as a thermal reflow oven technique, which is a standard process of traditional surface mounting technology (SMT) to attach an ultra-thin semiconductor chip of micron size with a thickness of only hundreds of microns, the semiconductor chip would be exposed to the temperature of 100-300° C. for hundreds of seconds. Thus, due to a difference in coefficients of thermal expansion (CTE), various soldering bonding defects may occur, such as chip-boundary warpage, PCB-boundary warpage, and random-bonding failure by thermal shock.
Under the circumstances, to attach an ultra-thin semiconductor chip to an ultra-thin PCB, localized heating technology has been developed. For example, a BGA soldering technique by heating pad pressurization and a BGA soldering technique by absorption heating using square laser beam irradiation. A BGA soldering technique by heating pad pressurization has disadvantageous such as a large electricity consumption and having to maintain a heating pad at high temperature continuously. Moreover, since it is based on contact-based heat transfer, the following process needs to be performed at optimal conditions: solid heat transfer→heat absorption→secondary heat transfer→maintaining the temperature→non-thermal shock low-temperature cooling. However, to prevent chip damage by thermal shock that may occur due to a difference in coefficients of thermal expansion (CTE), the process rate cannot be increased, and thus, this technique has a drawback.
Meanwhile, a laser reflow (LR) process is advantageous in that it is a non-contact based technique, wherein laser light is directly absorbed by a semiconductor chip, which is a primary heat absorption mechanism, which allows the prevention of thermal shock occurring due to a difference in coefficients of thermal expansion (CTE). Additionally, since localized heating is performed only for a required period of time, it has benefits of low power consumption, and minimization in terms of total heat input, thermal shock and process time, etc.
However, a conventional laser reflow (LR) process suffers from plenty of problems when it is applied to a mass production mass area processing, which is recently required. Specifically, since a large area laser reflow process requires the same amount of laser output power per unit area as in a less area laser reflow process, a total amount of laser output power required for large area laser reflow would be exponentially increased, and to this end, high-output laser is needed.
However, such high-output laser requires high costs, and high-power supply for high average power. Furthermore, absorption power by neighboring devices due to scattering/diffusion should not be underestimated. Additionally, due to technical restrictions of beam homogenizers for homogenizing laser beam outputs, it is difficult to reduce the level of beam flatness more than approximately 10%. Accordingly, a loss of approximately 10% is inevitable in case laser processing is performed in accordance with a minimum output line within a beam flat area. To compete with conventional mass reflow (MR) process, a temperature deviation of the entire area of a large area substrate needs to be maintained below 3 to 4° C. even in the case of processing ultra-thin semiconductor chips on the large area substrate. However, this target temperature is substantially impossible to achieve.
Thus, due to the aforesaid disadvantages of laser reflow process, despite various drawbacks of mass reflow process, a laser reflow process still cannot substitute a mass reflow process. This phenomenon is remarkably observed in the fields of large-area processing technology or technology that requires high-output laser.

Laser reflow apparatus and method for electronic components with micron-class thickness


A system is provided for containing an animal in a defined area. The system comprises first, second, and third communicating units. One of the first two units defines a containment area, and the other unit is operatively associated with the animal. One of the first two units transmits an ultrasonic timing signal at a periodic interval, and the other unit receives the timing signal, and determining a distance between the first and second units. If the distance corresponds to the animal being outside the containment area, one of the first two units generates a warning signal. A third unit monitors whether or not the animal is within the defined area.

It is often desirable to contain an animal within a particular area for one or more reasons, including but not limited to: protection of the animal, protection of people and other animals from the animal, and convenience. Various systems have been devised for containing an animal. Fences are sometimes used to contain an animal, but they are expensive, require ongoing maintenance, are fixed in location, and are permanent. Also, fences may not be appropriate for all terrain, may not be aesthetically pleasing, and do not provide notification when an animal leaves the containment area. A buried line that interacts with an animal collar to shock the animal if it crosses the line addresses the aesthetic problem of the fence, but it too is expensive, fixed in location, permanent, and does not provide notification when an animal leaved the containment area. A chain anchored at one end and attached to an animal at the other end is inexpensive and may be portable by using a stake or the like for an anchor. Chains, however, may easily become entangled in obstructions, may be inconvenient to attach to the animal, may not be esthetically pleasing, and do provide notification when an animal leaved the containment area.


A pacemaker contains at least one power-consuming component, such as a sensor with associated electronic circuitry for controlling the pacemaker function or a heart signal detector, and an electrode system for emitting heart stimulation pulses. The power-consuming component is disenabled prior to implantation of the pacemaker. Circuitry is provided for enabling the power-consuming component which is responsive to an event occurring substantially simultaneously with pacemaker implantation in the patient. Such circuitry may include a device for measuring the electrode impedance so as to enable the power-consuming component in response to the measured impedance value. The circuitry for enabling the power-consuming component can alternatively includes internal telemetry equipment in the pacemaker and external telemetry equipment for communications between the telemetry equipments. The external telemetry equipment can contain programming equipment and the internal telemetry equipment be arranged to enable the power-consuming component as soon as the programming equipment begins communicating at the time of implantation with the internal telemetry equipment, or by sending a special command from the programming equipment at the time of implantation. Alternatively the enabling circuitry can include a reed element, controllable by an external magnetic field, applied at the time of implantation, for enabling the power-consuming component.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a pacemaker of the type containing an electrode system for emitting heart stimulation pulses, and at least one power-consuming component connected to the pacemaker battery.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A typical pacemaker is operating and continuously emitting stimulation pulses from the time of its delivery from the factory.
Pacemakers have hitherto been delivered with even the heart signal detector or some other sensor already enabled at the factory. Since a pacemaker may be stored for up to 1 to 2 years prior to implantation, the heart signal detector or the sensor consumes power needlessly, thereby reducing the life of the pacemaker since it is drawing energy from the battery contained in the pacemaker.

Pacemaker with power-consuming component inhibited during storage


A press roll is disclosed for removing water, the press roll provided in the press portion of a paper machine. The press roll has a metal base and a sprayed coating provided on the outer surface of the metal base, at least the outer layer of the sprayed coating being a sprayed mixture of a plastics and at least one of a ceramics and a cermet. The outer surface of the plastic portion of the sprayed coating has a lapped, depressed surface relative to the outer surface of the ceramic or cermet portion.

The present invention relates to a press roll, and in particular relates to a press roll for removing water which is provided in the press portion of a paper machine, and a paper machine having the press roll.
Conventionally, a roll made of natural granite which is a so-called "stone roll", has been widely used as a press roll. However, such stone rolls are expensive due to the exhaustion of natural good-quality granite. Furthermore, the stone roll is difficult to produce and is not sufficiently strong. Therefore, recently, a roll having a plastic layer formed on the surface of a steel roll, and a spray-coated roll having a sprayed coating 2 on the outer surface of a steel roll 1 (as shown in FIG. 4) have been researched and developed so as to replace the stone roll.
However, the plastic-steel roll does not have sufficiently good performance to permit smooth release of wet paper and does not have high surface hardness; the plastic-steel roll therefore easily causes abrasion or thrust by the doctor blade which is a blade for removing bits of extraneous stock such as paper dregs adhering on the roll. Therefore, use of the plastic-steel roll cannot necessarily yield satisfactory results.
The sprayed roll has several other problems in that the sprayed coating 2 thereof is easily soiled and cleaning thereof is difficult. Furthermore, the sprayed roll does not exhibit sufficiently good. Performance to permit smooth release of wet paper, and the sprayed coating 2 is often damaged by freezing.
Oxide ceramics having high hardness, e.g., alumina, titania, zirconia or the like, have been employed for the sprayed coating 2 of the sprayed roll which has been conventionally used, taking into consideration the performance thereof so as to permit smooth release of wet paper and so as not to cause abrasion by the doctor blade. However, the sprayed coating 2 comprising such a ceramic has often voids of several .mu.m to several 10's of .mu.m among particles of the ceramics, the voids comprising several % to several 10's of % of the total area ratio. The voids often are interconnected in three dimensions and form deep pinholes or conduits which pass through the sprayed coating 2 from the outer surface thereof to the surface of the metal base steel roll 1.
Rosin (collophonium) or aluminium sulfate as an inhibitor of ink bleeding, i.e., a sizing agent, when printing, and a kind of loading material, e.g. , clay, talc, gypsum, barium sulfate, magnesium carbonate or the like, for improving paper quality, i.e., opacity, surface smoothness, flexibility, glossiness, density, uniformity, stretch prevention or the like, are added to the pulp liquid. Some of the particles of these additives are small enough to easily enter into the voids of sprayed coating 2. If these small particles penetrate into the voids, it is impossible to remove them because the diameter of the voids is very small. These small particles are gradually deposited in the voids, so that the deposits finally come into direct contact with the wet paper. Consequently, the performance with regard to the smooth release of wet paper deteriorates and causes problems such as breakage of the paper. There is a possibility of the failure of the sprayed coating or the peeling off thereof from the metal base by volume expansion of the pulp liquid if the pulp liquid in the voids freezes.

Ishikawajima-Harima Heavy Industries Co., Ltd.


A method for joining fluid containers and fluid ejectors in a fluid ejecting device are provided. The fluid container includes one or more heat stakes and a substrate includes one or more apertures for receiving the heat stakes and one or more three-dimensional features in the vicinity of the one or more apertures. The fluid ejector and optionally an elastic member are interposed between the fluid container and the substrate. Thermal energy is applied to the one or more heat stakes so that the one or more heat stakes soften to occupy the apertures and three-dimensional features of the substrate and pressure is applied to maintain contact between the fluid container, elastic member, fluid ejector and substrate. The present invention is also directed to substrate including one or more apertures for receiving heat stakes and one or more three-dimensional features in the vicinity of the one or more apertures.

1. Field of Invention
This invention is directed to fluid ejection devices. In particular, this invention is directed to methods for attaching fluid containers to fluid ejectors in fluid ejection devices.
2. Description of Related Art
Inkjet printing devices have gained prominence in printing as a result of their capabilities in performing quality, economical color and monochromatic printing. Inkjet printing devices include, but are not limited to, piezoelectric inkjet printing devices and thermal inkjet printing devices. Piezoelectric inkjet devices eject ink from a nozzle by mechanically generating pressure to deform an ink chamber. Thermal inkjet devices eject ink by energizing a heater element to vaporize ink.
In such inkjet printing devices, a die module, which acts to eject ink onto a recording medium, is joined to an ink manifold. That is, ink is supplied from the ink manifold to the die module via an ink supply interface between the ink manifold and the die module. The ink supplied to the die module is then ejected from one or more fluid passages in the die module.
Various methods are known for attaching the ink manifold to the die module. For example, the ink manifold and the die module can be sealed together using an adhesive. Other methods of attaching the ink manifold to the die module are also known. Such methods include providing an organic material between the ink manifold and the die module and sealing the three components together by ultrasonic welding. Also, the ink manifold and the die module could be sealed together by conventional heat staking methods.
A further method of sealing an ink manifold to a die module is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,460,965, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. This method involves interposing an elastic member between the ink manifold and the die module and applying pressure to hold the seal. Pressure can be applied using bolts.
The above described methods of sealing an ink manifold to a die module have various deficiencies. For example, the use of adhesives requires that the amount of adhesive used and the positions of the ink manifold and die module be strictly managed during assembly. Controlling these aspects of manufacture increases cost and time of manufacture, while failure to control them can have adverse effects on print quality of the resulting printing device. Also, in the instance of heat cured adhesives, applied thermal energy can adversely affect the integrity of the adhered parts, again resulting in reduced print quality.
Some methods, such as the method disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,460,965, are deficient in that they do not permit precise control over the distance between the ink manifold and the die module and/or the pressure with which the ink manifold and die module are joined. Sealing ink manifolds to die modules by ultrasonic welding or conventional heat staking also present similar difficulties. For example, both ultrasonic welding and heat staking introduce mechanical and thermal stresses that can adversely affect printing performance in the resulting printing devices. In addition, conventional heat staking methods do not allow precise control over the distance between the ink manifold and the die module and/or the pressure with which the ink manifold and die module are joined.
The difficulty in managing accurate position and/or pressure with conventional heat staking arises due to the interface between the heat staking material and the substrate that is being "staked." As shown in FIG. 1, a thermoplastic heat stake 11 is used to stake an object (not shown) to a metal substrate 12. The heat stake 11 is inserted into an aperture 13 in the substrate 12. So that the heat stake 11 will fit into the aperture 13, the heat stake 11 has a diameter that is smaller than the diameter of the aperture 13. This difference in diameter between the heat stake 11 and the aperture 13 results in a first gap 14 between the heat stake 11 and an inner surface of the aperture 13.
When the object and the substrate 12 have been assembled with an end of the heat stake 11 protruding through the aperture, heat energy is applied to deform that end. The deformed end of the heat stake 11 prevents the heat stake 11 from being removed from the aperture 13, and thus binds the object to the substrate 12. However, after application of thermal energy ceases, the heat stake 11 cools unevenly. The portions of the heat stake 11 in contact with the substrate 12 cool more quickly than other parts of the heat stake 11. As a result, the portions of the heat stake 11 in contact with the substrate 13 tend to pull away from the substrate 12, leaving a second gap 15. The second gap 15 results in a reduction of the applied pressure holding the object to the substrate 13. This reduced pressure, in turn, causes a reduction in the friction between the heat stake 11 and the substrate 12 that allows the heat stake 11 to move in a direction normal to the direction in which the object and the substrate 13 are attached in the space left by the first gap 14. Accordingly, the presence of the first and second gaps 14, 15 permits play between the object and the substrate 12 after attachment is complete. This play is one of the causes of imprecise control of position and/or pressure between the staked elements.

Method for attaching a fluid container to a fluid ejector in a fluid ejection device


A reservoir is formed in a wheel of a vehicle for storing high pressure air for inflating a tire mounted on the wheel. A regulating valve communicates the reservoir with the tire when the air pressure in the tire drops below a predetermined value to maintain the tire fully inflated. A mechanism for automatically replenishing the high pressure air in the reservoir includes a radially extending bore formed in the wheel, and a piston which is sealingly movable in the bore. A variable volume compression chamber is defined in the bore between the radially outer ends of the bore and the piston. When the vehicle is stopped, a relatively weak spring urges the piston to a radially innermost position in which an inlet check valve opens to allow communication of the chamber with the atmosphere so that the chamber can be filled with fresh air. When the vehicle accelerates above a predetermined speed, the piston is moved radially outward against the spring by centrifugal force to compress the air in the chamber, and an outlet check valve opens to allow communication of the chamber with the reservoir so that compressed air can be pumped into the reservoir.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a self-inflating system for a tire of an automotive or other vehicle, and more particularly to a system in which the tire is automatically inflated from a high pressure reservoir in response to a sensed low pressure condition in the tire, and the high pressure air in the reservoir is also automatically replenished.
2. Description of the Related Art
Low tire pressure is an important cause of excessive fuel consumption, tire wear and impaired steerability. A normal tire will typically leak on the order of 25 percent of its pressure per year due to its inherent permeability. It is thus good practice to maintain tire pressure on a regular basis.
However, even checking tire pressure every few weeks may not prevent these adverse affects when a slow leak is present, and the leak may go undetected unless a careful record is maintained of how frequently the pressure in each tire has to be replenished. A fast leak or flat condition can rapidly cause damage to the tire and even render it unusable in a short period of time, but this condition may go unnoticed by an inexperienced driver until it is too late.
It is thus highly desirable to have some mechanism that automatically replenishes the tire pressure when it is too low. One such system is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,067,376 to Barabino. This patent incorporates a high pressure reservoir into the vehicle wheel, and uses a valve that automatically opens a passageway between the high pressure reservoir and the tire in response to the tire pressure falling below a selected threshold level.
In a prior art system of the type disclosed by Barabino, the high pressure air reservoir becomes progressively depleted as the air stored therein is used for maintaining full inflation of the tire. For this reason, the reservoir must be filled at intervals ranging from several months to a year or more depending on the size of the reservoir and the condition and use of the tire. This is disadvantageous in that a service operation for replenishing air for the tire is still required. A driver who neglects to check tire pressure will most likely also neglect to fill the reservoir, and the tire will begin to lose pressure when the air supply in the reservoir drops below a minimum level.

Vehicle wheel including self-inflating mechanism


A pantograph jack is disclosed having a drive screw having a length required to span a distance between a threaded annulus at a first joint and a second joint, the improvement comprising an extension means to extend the threaded annulus towards the second joint to shorten the said distance and the length required of the drive screw.

This invention relates to a lifting jack for automobiles and other vehicles. More particularly, it relates to an improvement in the construction of a pantograph jack to reduce the length of the drive screw and the space required for storage.
A portable jack is often stored in a vehicle to enable a driver to lift the vehicle to effect emergency repairs, for example, to change a tire. One popular type of jack for automobiles is the pantograph jack. Known pantograph jacks typically have four arms hinged in a parallelogram at four joints. One joint is located on a base of the jack. Another joint is positioned at a load rest vertically above the base. Two other free floating joints are located on a horizontal diagonal at opposite comers of the parallelogram formed by the arms. When the free floating joints are drawn together in a horizontal plane the arms extend vertically to lift the load support with respect to the base and vice versa. The relative position of the free floating joints is controlled by a drive screw or threaded shaft which links them together.
Modem automobile design places increasing emphasis on efficient use of space. In turn, jack manufacturers have focused attention on reducing the amount of trunk space required for jack storage. It is has been found that it is often more space efficient to store a pantograph jack in a diamond or square shape rather than in either of the fully extended or lowered positions. A problem is encountered in this configuration, however. The drive screw must be long enough to span between the free floating joints in the fully lowered position. Therefore, in the partially lowered diamond shape, the drive screw extends outside the parallelogram of the arms. Extra storage space is then required to accommodate the projecting portion of the screw.
The present invention is directed to an improvement in the construction of a pantograph jack to reduce or eliminate the projection of the drive screw in the partially lowered jack position.
The invention is an extension mechanism attached to one of the free floating joints, hereafter the first joint, which projects a threaded annulus along the diagonal towards the second free floating joint thereby reducing the length required of the drive screw.
More particularly, the improvement of this invention relates to a pantograph jack having a base to position the jack on a ground support, a load rest to fit under and to carry a vehicle, a parallelogram pantograph and a drive screw. The pantograph has first and second arms hinged at the base, third and fourth arms hinged at the load rest, first and third arms hinged at a first joint and second and fourth arms hinged at a second joint, with the first and second joints on an approximately horizontal diagonal of the pantograph. The drive screw is mounted between the first and second joints to rotate about an axis coextensive with the diagonal. The length of the drive screw is sufficient to connect between the first and second joints when the jack is in a fully lowered position. The jack has a trunnion nut moans pivotally mounted in the first joint which has a threaded annulus to engage the drive screw. Rotation of the drive screw within the threaded annulus drives the first joint linearly along the drive screw. There is also a trunnion bearing means pivotally mounted in the second joint having an opening to receive an unthreaded portion of the drive screw in a rotatable but linearly fixed connection relative to the drive screw.
The improvement of this invention comprises a trunnion nut means having an extension means to extend the threaded annulus along the diagonal towards the second joint and a drive screw having a length sufficient to span from the trunnion bearing means of the second joint into the threaded annulus of the trunnion nut means of the first joint when the jack is in the fully lowered position.


The printing device includes an original data acquiring unit, a first determining unit, a first data generating unit, and a printing unit. The original data acquiring unit is configured to acquire original data representing at least two related objects on a worksheet. The first determining unit is configured to determine whether the at least two related objects are capable of being included in one page. The first data generating unit is configured to generate first data based on the original data. The first data generating unit generates the first data such that the at least two related objects are included in the one page when the first determining unit determines that the at least two related objects are capable of being included in the one page. The printing unit prints an image based on the first data.

Conventional printing devices generally print target data having no page concept by first dividing the print target into page data. There are printing devices well known in the art that are capable of outputting printing results for such printing targets that are easy to read for the user.
One conventional image-forming device prints continuous documents such as HTML documents having no page concept by determining positions at which the document should be divided into pages so that objects within the document can be printed in their entirety on single recording sheets. That is, the conventional image-forming device adjusts the positions at which the document is divided into pages by inserting a page break before any object that extends beyond one recording sheet so that the entire object fits within the next page data.

Printing device which prints first object and second object on the same page


A pneumatic tire comprises a tread portion 2 provided with a circumferential land region 6 provided with a plurality of combined sipes 35 (36, 37). The combined sipes 35 (36, 37) are each composed of a straight portion 34 extending from one edge toward the other edge of the circumferential land region 6, and an arc-shaped portion 33 extending from the straight portion 34 to the other edge of the circumferential land region 6. The combined sipes 35 include a first combined sipe 36 in which the maximum depth of its arc-shaped portion 33 is larger than the maximum depth of its straight portion 34, and a second combined sipe 37 in which the maximum depth of its straight portion 34 is larger than the maximum depth of its arc-shaped portion 33.

Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2006-160055 discloses a pneumatic tire having a tread portion with land regions provided with straight sipes and L-shaped sipes in order to improve on-the-snow performance. Such straight or L-shaped sipe exert its edge effect to increase a frictional force only in one specific direction or two specific directions. Further, simply providing the circumferential land region with sipes tends to reduce the rigidity of the circumferential land region, and thereby the steering stability on dry roads tends to deteriorate.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


A surgical instrument may include a knife moveable from a stowed position completely within said surgical instrument to a cutting position in which at least part of the knife is positioned outside the surgical instrument. The surgical instrument may also include at least two cam slots, a cam pin extending from the knife into the cam slots, at least two guide slots that are substantially linear and are spaced apart from said cam slots, and a guide pin extending from the knife into the guide slots. In some embodiments, the cam slots are shaped to cause the knife to move from the stowed position to the cutting position as the knife is urged proximally.

An endocutter is a surgical tool that staples and cuts tissue to transect that tissue while leaving the cut ends hemostatic. An endocutter is small enough in diameter for use in minimally invasive surgery, where access to a surgical site is obtained through a trocar, port, or small incision in the body. A linear cutter is a larger version of an endocutter, and is used to transect portions of the gastrointestinal tract. A typical endocutter receives at its distal end a disposable single-use cartridge with several rows of staples, and includes an anvil opposed to the cartridge. During actuation of an endocutter, the cartridge fires all of the staples that it holds. In order to deploy more staples, the endocutter must be moved away from the surgical site and removed from the patient, after which the old cartridge is exchanged for a new cartridge. The endocutter is then reinserted into the patient. However, it can be difficult and/or time-consuming to located the surgical site after reinsertion. Further, the process of removing the endocutter from the patient after each use, replacing the cartridge, and then finding the surgical site again is tedious, inconvenient and time-consuming, particularly where a surgical procedure requires multiple uses of the endocutter.
In order to overcome these difficulties, Cardica, Inc. of Redwood City, Calif. has developed a true multi-fire endocutter that is capable of firing multiple times without the need to utilize single-use-cartridges. That endocutter is described in, for example, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/263,171, filed on Oct. 31, 2008; and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/436,101, filed on May 5, 2009 (the "Endocutter Documents"), which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety. The Endocutter Documents, among other items, disclose a knife or cutter used to cut tissue before, during and/or after stapling of tissue.
The use of the same reference symbols in different figures indicates similar or identical items.

Cam-controlled knife for surgical instrument


Apparatus including a first edge having a cutout adjacently located between a pair of counter bore panels, a connector assembly including a connector having a mounting flange with a pair of inserts and a pair of guide pins. The pair of inserts adapted to receive and secure the pair of guide pins. Mounting flange adapted to abut a rear face of the first edge such that the connector extends through the cutout and the pair of inserts align with the pair of counter bore panels. The cutout and the pair of counter bore panels are slightly oversized for the connector and respective guide pins. Once the pair of guide pins is received by the pair of inserts the connector floats within a space defined by the cutout and pair of counter bore panels and the connector and pair of guide pins.

Many electronics equipment includes circuit cards. Often the circuit cards are designed to be inserted into a chassis, shelf or other equipment. The circuit cards typically include connectors for connection to the housing or other equipment within the housing or connected to the housing, such as a backplane. With the variation in card sizes and tolerances, it is often difficult to align connectors on the cards with associated connectors on a backplane or adapter card. In particular, when the card includes more than one connector to be aligned. This results in poor connection, lack of connection, or on-site modifications to the connectors either on the backplane, adapter card, or the circuit card. On-site modifications can lead to additional problems, such as loose connections to the cards, damage to other circuitry on the card, and modified cards that are non-standard.
There is a need for flexibility between the connectors on the card and associated connectors on the backplane or other equipment.


Methods and systems for operating an autonomous driving vehicle (ADV) are disclosed. A current state of an ADV is sampled at a first time to obtain a set of parameters. A cost, from a cost function that reflects desired control goals, is generated for a future time horizon based at least in part on the set of parameters. The cost is minimized with one or more constraints to obtain target control input values. For each of the target control input values, a lookup operation is performed using the control input value to locate a first mapping entry that approximately corresponds to the control input value. A first control command is derived from the first mapping entry. The ADV is controlled using the derived first control command.

Vehicles operating in an autonomous mode (e.g., driverless) can relieve occupants, especially the driver, from some driving-related responsibilities. When operating in an autonomous mode, the vehicle can navigate to various locations using onboard sensors, allowing the vehicle to travel with minimal human interaction or in some cases without any passengers.
Motion planning and control are critical operations in autonomous driving. For example, throttle, brake, and steering commands are important commands in autonomous driving. While Model Predictive Control (MPC) has been widely studied for high performance, high precision robotic controls, such has been seldomly used (if at all) for autonomous driving vehicles (ADVs). This is largely due to the excessive computational power requirement to implement an MPC model, and the instability of the MPC model when controlling the ADV in extreme conditions (e.g., large curve, high speed, sharp turn, etc.).

Methods and systems for model predictive control of autonomous driving vehicle