There are provided measures for resource allocation control. Such measures may exemplarily include allocating resources based on a resource allocation assignment including at least an assignment of a resource allocation amount of granted resources for transmission to logical channels, for which data is available for transmission, according to a priority and a prioritized bit rate of each logical channel, and calculating a metric indicative of a result of the resource allocation in terms of at least one of requirements of the prioritized bit rates of the logical channels and the available data of the logical channels. Such measures may also exemplarily include receiving, from at least one device, a metric indicative of a result of resource allocation at said at least one device in terms of at least one of requirements of prioritized bit rates and available transmission data of logical channels, evaluating the received at least one metric with respect to a resource allocation assignment, and modifying the resource allocation assignment based on a result of the evaluation.

In the field of wireless communication systems, resource allocation and resource sharing represent important issues. This is particularly due to the fact that a band (i.e. frequency spectrum), on which resources are available for a specific communication or system, and thus the resources are limited. Therefore, available resources are to be commonly used by a plurality of communicating devices. Such common usage of resources may manifest in the common usage of logical channels or radio bearers between communicating devices.
As a first aspect in this regard, an amount of resources may be allocated or assigned (scheduled) for a number of communicating devices for their common use. In a cellular communication environment, this may be typically effected by an access node or base station for (groups of) terminals and other communicating devices in its coverage area, respectively.
As a second aspect in this regard, a sharing balance of resources may be allocated or assigned (scheduled) for communicating devices for defining their respective relation of the commonly allocated resources for their individual use. In a cellular communication environment, this may be effected by an access node or base station for (groups of) terminals and other communicating devices in its coverage area, respectively. Otherwise, in a network-controlled device-to-device (D2D) communication, wherein devices such as user equipments (UE) or terminals directly communicate with each other without involving a network entity such as an access node or base station or of a cellular communication network, this may also be effected in a coordinated manner between the communicating devices participating in a D2D communication.
However, in the field of wireless communication systems, it is a problem to provide for an appropriate and fair resource allocation control (e.g. for shared logical channels), particularly in terms of individual quality-of-service (QoS) configurations. Namely, it is problematic to ensure a resource allocation to communicating devices, including at least one of a resource allocation amount and a resource sharing balance, so as to comply with QoS settings and/or requirements of all logical channels involved in a certain communication.
Such problem is specifically relevant when the resource allocation amount is controlled by the network while the resource sharing balance is controlled by the communicating devices themselves.
In such case, it may for example hardly be prevented that a communicating device acts in a selfish manner compared to other communicating device, with which resources are shared. In other words, it may be problematic that, when the network configures QoS settings for logical channels to be commonly used by communicating devices (e.g. in a D2D or an uplink communication), the achievable and actually achieved bit rates of the logical channels cannot be properly controlled according to the configured QoS settings.
Further, in such case, an appropriate coordination of resource allocation and sharing may for example hardly be accomplished. In other words, it may be problematic how to exchange reliable parameters suitable for an appropriate and fair resource allocation and sharing between communicating devices. For example, when using buffer status as a parameter for balancing resource allocation between communicating devices, as conventionally proposed, this parameter may not reveal how used resource sharing of allocated radio resources corresponds to configured QoS settings for devices in a common D2D or uplink communication.
In view thereof, there is a problem in how to appropriately take into account specific characteristics relevant for resource allocation control (such as QoS settings of commonly used logical channels) in resource allocation control (e.g. for shared logical channels).
Thus, there is a need to further improve resource allocation control.


A multi-sided carousel storage device is rotatably mounted and has a plurality of storage cavities for receiving objects. Part of the rotatable mechanism comprises a stationary member having an upright member connected thereto, the upright member being fixedly connected to a platform member arranged in an opening of an upper surface of the carousel unit. The upper surface of the carousel unit includes a ring-like member having a bearing surface thereon. Rotatable members are mounted on the fixed platform and have bearing surfaces which bear against the bearing surface of the ring-like member, so that when the carousel member is rotated, the rotatable members rotate to frictional engagement with the bearing surface of the ring-like member. Decorative objects are preferably removably mounted on the rotatable members to rotate with rotation of the carousel device. Specific storage and shelf configurations are also disclosed.

This invention relates to carousel-type storage devices, and more particularly to carousel storage devices having very flexible storage capabilities, and having rotatable objects on the top thereof, the objects being rotatable upon rotation of the carousel.
Carousel storage devices are generally known in the art, for example for storing audio cassette tapes, video cassette tapes, books, food products, and the like.
An object of the present invention is to provide an improved carousel storage device having improved storage capabilities.
Another object of the invention is to provide an improved carousel storage device having rotatable objects on an upper surface thereof which rotate when the carousel is rotated.

Carousel storage device with rotating objects on top thereof


A cushion back cutter includes finger holes that are shaped to make blade changes and adjustments faster and easier. The cushion back cutter includes a center plate with a recess forming a blade pocket for holding a slotted razor blade. The center plate includes a finger opening for removing a slotted razor blade. The finger opening, which may be non-circular, crosses an upper wall of the blade pocket that supports the blade. A first side plate attached to a first side of the center plate covers the blade pocket in the center plate, and includes a blade window for removing a slotted razor blade from the blade pocket of the center plate. A second side plate is attached to a second side of the center plate, which also includes a finger opening.

This invention relates generally to flooring tools, and in particular to cushion back cutters with an internal blade holder design.
A cushion back cutter is a tool for precisely trimming the edges of carpet seams in preparation for making the seams. Cushion back cutters generally take replaceable slotted razor blades to cut through the carpet's backing. They are produced in two designs, which differ primarily in how they hold the blades.
One design is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,543,401 to Scott. Scott's cushion back cutter has a guide plate 12 with a blade notch 20 in the middle forming a center plate, and has retaining plates 22 forming a left side plate and a right side plate. Guide plate 12 and retaining plates 22 form a blade holding pocket in the area of blade notch 20, and two slotted razor blades left hand blade 24 and right hand blade 26 can be slideably inserted through the bottom of blade notch 20. A screw 32 extends through a retaining plate 22, blade notch 20, slots 28 and 30 of left hand blade 24 and right hand bade 26 respectively, and threads into a nut 34 on the opposite retaining plate 22. When screw 32 is tightened, it clamps left hand blade 24 and right hand blade 26 at a desired extension. Either blade may extend from the carpet engaging edge 14 of guide plate 12 to a cutting position, or else be retracted into blade notch 20 to a storage position. Scott describes how with a left blade 24 extended to a cutting position, the cut made in the carpet's backing "is close to the pile on left side of the space between two adjacent rows of tufts" (col. 3, line 62-64), and that with a right blade 26 extended to a cutting position, the cut made will be close to the pile on the right side (col. 3, line 65-66). As a result, excess backing material is trimmed away, bringing the piles "into abutting relation to conceal the seam" (col. 4, lines 4-5).
The cushion back cutter of Scott has a screw 32 for holding the left hand blade 24 and right hand blade 26 at the desired extension from carpet engaging edge 14 which forms the base of the cutter. This type of cushion back cutter will be referred to herein as an "external blade holder" design because screw 32 is not a feature of the body of the cushion back cutter 10 per se, but is a separate part. If screw 32 is not tightened in nut 34, left hand blade 24 and right hand bade 26 would simply slide out of blade notch 20.
In another design, as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,647,628B1 to Braaksma, a cushion back cutter (carpet cutter 10) has a body enclosing left and right internal pockets. The left and right internal pockets each can hold one slotted razor blade 17 only. Guide 12 forms a center plate which has the left and right internal pockets precision machined into its left and right sides. The carpet cutter 10 additionally has left and right side plates attached to the center plate, which in conjunction with the left and right internal pockets formed in guide 12 form blade holding structure 11. When inserted within either left or right internal pockets, a left or right blade may be extended to a cutting position or retracted to a storage position. To trim the carpet's backing close to carpet tufts on the left side of two adjacent rows, the left blade is extended to a cutting position and the right blade is retracted to the storage position. To trim the carpet's backing close on the right side, the right blade is extended to a cutting position, and the left blade is retracted to the storage position.
The cushion back cutter of Braaksma will be referred to herein as an "internal blade holder" design because the blade is held by the left or right internal pockets of the center plate and the left and right side plates forming the body of the cutter. Unlike the cushion back cutter of Scott, the internal blade holder of Braaksma does not use a blade holding screw, but holds the blades by means of the left and internal pockets and side plates.
FIG. 1 shows an exploded view of a prior art cushion back cutter 1 with an internal blade holder design. A center plate 10 includes a left blade pocket 13 (shown with a dashed line) on its left side and a right blade pocket 14 on its right side. Left blade pocket 13 and right blade pocket 14 are machined recesses in center plate 10 which are slightly greater in depth than the thickness of a slotted razor blade. Center plate 10 has a right center plate finger hole 15 through center plate 10 positioned generally at an upper portion of left blade pocket 13. Similarly, center plate 10 also has a left center plate finger hole 16 though center plate 10 positioned generally at an upper portion of right blade pocket 14.
A left side plate 20 and a right side plate 30 are attached to center plate 10, normally by spot welding. Left side plate 20 has a left blade window 25 that is rectangular, and a left side plate finger hole 26. Left side plate finger hole 26 is about the same size as left center plate finger hole 16 in center plate 10, and after spot welding is positioned concentrically with left center plate finger hole 16 of center plate 10. Similarly, right side plate 30 has a right blade window 34 and a right side plate finger hole 35 which is also about the same size as right center plate finger hole 15 in center plate 10. After spot welding, right side plate finger hole 35 is also positioned concentrically with right center plate finger hole 15 in center plate 10.
When left side plate 20 and right side plate 30 are spot welded to center plate 10, a left slotted razor blade 40 is held within left blade pocket 13 of center plate 10 by left side plate 20. Right slotted razor blade 42 is held within right blade pocket 14 in center plate 10 by right side plate 30. Left blade pocket 13 of center plate 10 includes a bottom wall 17, and right blade pocket 14 of center plate 10 includes a bottom wall 18 which control how far left slotted razor blade 40 or right slotted razor blade 42 extend from the base 11 of the prior cushion back cutter 1 when in a cutting position.
After the center plate 10, left side plate 20 and right side plate 30 are spot welded together, they form a cutter body 50. A handle 60 may be fastened to cutter body 50 by passing screw 70 through handle hole 61 and through three cutter body handle holes 51, then tightening with a nut 71.
FIG. 2 shows prior art cushion back cutter 1 with the handle 60 removed from the cutter body 50, a left slotted razor blade 40 inserted within a left blade pocket 13 (both shown with dashed lines) and retracted to a storage position, and right slotted razor blade 42 inserted within a right blade pocket 14 (shown with a dashed line) and extended to a cutting position. In this configuration, right slotted razor blade 42 will trim the carpet's backing close to the right side of the space between two adjacent rows of carpet tufts.
When right slotted razor blade 42 becomes dull, it is changed by use of the forefinger and thumb in a two-step bending and dragging process. First, a forefinger is inserted from the left side of the cutter body 50 through left side plate finger hole 26 in left side plate 20, then through left center plate finger hole 16 in center plate 10, until it contacts right slotted razor blade 42 to bend it outward from the inside. Right slotted razor blade 42 must be bent outward so it can pass over a upper wall 19 of right blade pocket 14. FIG. 5 shows prior art cushion back cutter 1 as right slotted razor blade 42 is being bent outward by pressure from the tip of a forefinger 2 through left side plate finger hole 26 (FIG. 2) and left center plate finger hole 16 (FIG. 2) so right slotted razor blade 42 can pass over upper wall 19 of right blade pocket 14.
Next, as shown in FIG. 2, from the right side of cutter body 50, the thumb can drag right slotted razor blade 42 forward until it contacts a top wall 39 of right blade window 34. From there, right slotted razor blade 42 must be further bent outward, again by the forefinger, so it can pass over the second step formed by top wall 39 of right blade window 34. After right slotted razor blade 42 passes over right blade window top wall 39, it can be removed entirely from right blade window 34 by the using the thumb again to drag it out. The process is similar to remove left slotted razor blade 40 from left blade pocket 13 if it were in a cutting position.
When right slotted razor blade 42 is not in use and needs to be retracted to a storage position, again the tip of the forefinger is used to bend it outward to pass over upper wall 19 of right blade pocket 14. Afterwards, the thumb can drag right slotted razor blade 42 forward until it contacts top wall 39 of right blade window 34. The inside of the right slotted razor blade 42 will rest against the outer surface 12 of center plate 10 and is frictionally held in this position for storage.
From time to time, either slotted razor blade can get stuck in right blade pocket due to debris build up from the carpet being cut, or the gradual dulling of the slotted razor blade, which can cause the cutting edge to mushroom and hang up in the pocket. However, because the finger holes 16, 26 and 15, 35 (FIG. 2) of prior art cushion back cutter 1 are of the same diameter and about the same size as the tip of the forefinger used to bend a slotted razor blade outwards, there is not enough room for the forefinger to move to assist the thumb in dragging the slotted razor blade out of the pocket. The tip of the forefinger simply buts up against the walls of the finger holes and cannot move very far. Furthermore, when a slotted razor blade must be bent outward to a greater degree to pass a top wall of a blade window, more force must be applied to bend the blade further out. Unfortunately, the tip of the forefinger is more or less stuck at the location of the finger holes, and is therefore unable to get additional leverage.
Because the carpet that is being trimmed by the cushion back cutter is very coarse and abrasive, blade change is frequent. Furthermore, in the use of the cutter, the left and right slotted razor blades are adjusted from the storage position to the cutting position on every seam to trim the left side or the right side close to the carpet tufts, adding to the work being done by the forefinger and thumb. A better design for the shape of the finger holes could provide mechanical advantage to the fingers, making blade changes and adjustments faster and easier, and thereby improving the efficiency of the tool.
The figures depict various embodiments of the present invention for purposes of illustration only. One skilled in the art will readily recognize from the following discussion that alternative embodiments of the structures and methods illustrated herein may be employed without departing from the principles of the invention described herein.

Cushion back cutter with internal blade holder


The present invention relates to a resin paste composition including an organic compound, and a granular aluminum powder having an average particle diameter of from 2 to 10 μm and a flake-shaped silver powder having an average particle diameter of from 1 to 5 μm which are uniformly dispersed in the organic compound, and a semiconductor device manufactured by bonding a semiconductor element onto a supporting member through the resin paste composition and then encapsulating the resulting bonded product. According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a resin paste composition used for bonding an element such as semiconductor chips onto a lead frame which is excellent in not only electrical conductivity and bonding property but also working efficiency without using a large amount of rare and expensive silver, and a semiconductor device having a high productivity and a high reliability.

As die-bonding materials for semiconductors, there are conventionally known Au—Si eutectic crystals, solders, resin paste compositions or the like. Among these materials, the resin paste compositions have been extensively used in view of high working efficiency and low costs.
In general, semiconductor devices have been manufactured by bonding elements such as semiconductor chips onto a lead frame through a die-bonding material. The semiconductor elements such as semiconductor chips have been required to have a high reliability of their properties such as electrical conductivity, thermal conductivity and bond strength with the enhancement of integration and fineness of the respective elements.
To meet the above requirements, it may be considered that resin paste compositions used for bonding the elements such as semiconductor chips onto the lead frame contain a conductive filler such as a metal powder, for example, a gold powder, a silver powder and a copper powder. Among these resin paste compositions, those containing a silver powder have been predominantly employed at the present time because the silver powder is not as rare as the gold powder and not readily oxidized nor deteriorated in storage stability as compared to the copper powder, and further is excellent in not only working efficiency and mechanical properties but also various other properties required for the resin paste compositions (refer to Patent Document 1, etc.).
However, the silver powder itself is a noble metal material and therefore still a rare material. For this reason, there is an increasing demand for die-bonding materials using the other more available filler material. However, at present, there have not been obtained any resin paste compositions using an alternate material for the silver powder which are capable of exhibiting properties equal to or superior to those using the silver powder.


A remotely bi-directional deflectable electrophysiology/ablation catheter of the type intended for placing into an interior passage of the heart is disclosed. The distal end of this elongated tubular catheter has a pair of tension/compression members each with a flattened end portion connected to the distal electrode and extending through the catheter casing and attached to a user moveable actuator for effecting the tension/compression thereon for remotely curling the distal end of the catheter. Spaced ring electrodes are provided adjacent the distal electrode. A permanent bend is pre-formed in the casing and tension/compression members adjacent the ring electrodes about an axis perpendicular to the elongated tension/compression members. Movement of the remote actuator causes the distal portion of the catheter to curl into a xe2x80x9chaloxe2x80x9d in a plane perpendicular to the axis along the elongated catheter casing, thus permitting electrical mapping or ablation with the distal and/or ring electrodes about the inner surface of the heart passage into which the xe2x80x9chaloxe2x80x9d is formed and situated.

None
Not Applicable
Not Applicable
The present invention relates to a catheter employed for diagnostic and/or therapeutic procedures in medicine, more specifically in minimally invasive cardiac electrophysiology studies and/or cardiac ablation procedures.
Catheters of the above described type are known in the art and, in particular, catheters capable of bi-directional curvature or lateral deflection upon movement of a remote manual actuator. A catheter of the aforesaid type employing tension/compression members without the need for a compression strut is known; and, in particular such a catheter is shown and described in my earlier U.S. Pat. No. 5,861,024 commonly owned by the assignee of the present invention. The catheter described in the aforesaid patent ""024 is of the type that is bi-directionally curveable in a generally planar curvature for entering the passages of the heart. In certain procedures the catheter is inserted through the femoral vein to a first chamber of the heart and it is then desired for the end of the catheter employing the electrodes to enter into another passage of the heart communicating with the first chamber of the insertion.
In addition, it has been desired to have the catheter conform to the inner periphery of certain passages in the heart and in particular the pulmonary vein for mapping or taking of electrical measurements of the condition of the inner periphery of the aforesaid passage or, in certain cases, performing ablation procedures on the passage of the heart.
Heretofore, it has been possible to deflect the catheter laterally with respect to the direction of elongation of the catheter casing; however, it has not been possible to provide such a catheter which could conform to the transverse peripheral configuration of the interior of the heart passage for which it is desired to conduct these studies and/or ablation procedures. Thus, it has been desired to find a way to map the inner periphery of the passage of the heart in a circumferential or transverse direction with a remotely inserted and remotely actuate deflectable tip catheter.
The present invention provides a solution to the above-described problem of utilizing a remotely insertable and deflectable tip catheter in a passage in a human heart and deflecting the distal end of the catheter in a substantially halo, loop, or lariat configuration of curvature in a plane generally perpendicular to the direction of elongation of the catheter. In other words, the distal end of the catheter is curved in a planar curvature about an axis, which is parallel to the direction of elongation of the catheter casing.
The catheter of the present invention employs tension/compression members anchored to the distal end of the catheter and which extend through the catheter casing to the proximal end and which are connected to an actuator for manually applying tension to one of the tension/compression members while compressing the other for remotely affecting the curvature of the distal end of the catheter when the catheter is inserted typically through the femoral vein into a passage in the heart.
The catheter of the present invention has a plurality of spaced electrodes disposed on the distal end of the casing of the catheter; and, each of these electrodes has an electrical lead connected thereto which extends through the casing to the proximal end of the catheter for external electrical connection thereto.
The catheter casing and tension/compression members have a permanent bend or preformed bend of about a right angle formed adjacent the proximal-most electrode; and, this pre-formed bend remains in the casing as the catheter is deflected and inserted through a guide tube placed in the vein for entry into the heart passage. Upon user movement of the remote actuator, which affects movement of the tension/compression members inside the casing, the distal end of the catheter deflects laterally or curls into a xe2x80x9chaloxe2x80x9d configuration in a plane generally at right angles to the direction of elongation of the catheter, or in other words, in a plane parallel to the axis of curvature of the pre-formed bend, which axis is at right angles to the direction of elongation of the catheter casing. The halo is capable of extending in curvature through an angle of at least 270xc2x0 and thus disposes the electrodes transversely or circumferentially at a single station about the major portion of inner periphery of the passage in the heart. This disposition of the electrodes enables an electrical mapping of the inner periphery of the heart passage or the performance of ablation procedures at spaced intervals about the circumference of the interior of the heart passage. Upon reversal of the remote manual actuator attached to the proximal end of the catheter casing, the halo is uncurled to a straight configuration. The catheter may then be removed from the heart passage through the guide tube in vein, usually the femoral vein, from which it was inserted. In the preferred embodiment of the invention the initial permanent or pre-formed bend in the casing is formed at about 90xc2x0 in catheters having the minimum radius for the curled loop and about 450xc2x0 for catheters having a larger curled loop.
The catheter of the present invention has the permanent or pre-formed bend therein about an axis perpendicular to the direction of elongation of the catheters; and, the portion of the catheter distal the pre-formed bend is preferably manually flexed and inserted into the vein for entry into the heart passage. The pre-formed bend remains formed in the catheter. Upon user movement of the remote actuator, flexure of the catheter is facilitated in a plane normal to the direction of elongation of the catheter casing to thereby form a xe2x80x9chaloxe2x80x9d for facilitating circular electrical mapping of the interior of the heart passage into which the halo is situated.

Electrophysiology/ablation catheter having xe2x80x9chaloxe2x80x9d configuration


An apparatus for driving an upwardly directed shaft in rock, which includes a platform that can be regulated in height. The platform carries a drilling unit having engageable elements enabling fixation of the drilling unit relative the wall of the shaft. The drilling unit and platform can be separated a given distance such as to form an air gap for preventing the transfer of vibrations from the drilling unit to the platform when a drilling machine pertaining to the drilling unit is in operation. The apparatus has bracket elements and a transverse member for limiting the separation distance between the drilling unit and platform. The platform carries a work station for a drilling machine operator.

The present invention relates to an apparatus for driving an upwardly directed shaft in rock, and includes a platform that can be regulated in height.
An elevator is normally used in driving an upwardly directed shaft, e.g. a mine raise, and extra sections are added to this elevator so that its reach increases as the length of the raise increases. This kind of elevator has a work platform for carrying an operator and a drilling machine utilised for driving the raise. The vibrations from the drilling machine are transferred to the platform, and thus the operator is also subjected to them.

Apparatus for driving an upwardly directed shaft in rock


Method for thermally spraying a heater onto a substrate, comprising providing a metallic material having a core and an insulator therein and thermally spraying the metallic material and the insulator onto a substrate to form a heater. Method of fabricating a thermally sprayed gas heater, comprising providing a gas flow apparatus that propels a gas through a housing; thermally spraying a material to form a resistive heating layer; bonding the resistive heating layer to a surface of the apparatus, the heating layer being positioned to heat the gas flow in the housing. Method of fabricating a heater system of a turbulent gas flow duct, comprising providing a duct having a gas flow channel, the channel having a shaped surface providing a turbulent gas flow therein; thermally spraying a material to form a resistive heating layer; positioning the resistive heating layer to heat the gas flow in the channel.

Various devices are known for heating a gas, such as air, and gas heating devices have been employed for numerous industrial and domestic applications, such as cooking and room heating, and in many appliances such as hair dryers and clothes dryers. In an electrical gas heater, an electric heating element is energized and gas is caused to flow past the element. The air may flow past the element either naturally or by being forced by a blower or fan.
The most common electric heating element used today is a resistance heating wire, such as a nickel chromium wire, that is wound into a heating coil. These wire-type heating elements are effective at generating heat, but frequently need to operate at very high temperatures in order to provide sufficient heat to the surrounding gas. The flux of radiant heat of the heating element is proportional to the fourth power of its temperature, thus when the heating element is operated at high temperatures (e.g., when it becomes red hot), the element transfers heat predominantly by radiation. Gasses do not absorb radiative heat well, so much of this radiant energy does not heat the gas flowing past the element, but instead radiates to and heats up the surrounding structures. The conventional wire-based electric heating elements are therefore not very efficient in heating gas, due to this radiant heat loss. Furthermore, the intense radiant heat generated by the wire heating element can heat up surrounding structures to dangerous temperatures, which can pose a safety risk. For example, in the case of a clothes dryer, the radiant heat from the heating element can heat components of the dryer that are accessible to users, which can result in burns.


The invention presented provides a method of accurately, precisely mounting a flexographic printing plate on a printing press cylinder. A mounting device is utilized having a plate support which includes a pair of movable studs for maintaining the plate in proper position as it is mounted on the press cylinder. The flexographic plate is formed with a pair of removable alignment projections along its border which assist in the formation of precise apertures therein. During alignment, plate mounting studs are adjustably positioned on the support plate for reception by the apertures formed in the printing plate to accurately position the printing plate on the printing press cylinder.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention herein pertains to devices for mounting flexible printing plates on press cylinders and particularly to mounting device support plates and methods.
2. Description of the Prior Art and Objectives of the Invention
Various printing plate mounting devices have been conceived and used in the past such as set forth in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,925,506 and 4,705,590. These devices are useful in mounting previously prepared printing plates on press cylinders. A slideable support plate is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,925,506 whereby an adhesive tape is used to temporarily hold the printing plate onto the mounting device support plate while a transparent grid is utilized to insure correct alignment of the printing plate on the support. This method has proved useful but at times the grid can be misread or the printing plate can be moved from its desired position thus ultimately causing the printing plate to be incorrectly mounted on the press cylinder.
With the shortcomings and problems associated with prior art mounting devices and methods, the present invention was conceived and one of its objectives is to provide an improvement in a plate mounting device and method by presenting a support plate having mounting studs thereon which cooperatively engage apertures within the printing plate for positive alignment.
It is another objective of the present invention to provide an apparatus and method for forming a printing plate having apertures for the aforementioned cooperative engagement.
It is still another objective of the present invention to provide a method of mounting a printing plate on a mounting device support plate to insure correct alignment and attachment to the printing press cylinder.
Various other objectives and advantages of the present invention become apparent to those skilled in the art as a more detailed presentation is set forth below.

Printing plate mounting support and method


A memory device that has a function used to continue or disrupt a supply of electric power used to retain data stored in a recording medium or a supply of operating electric power of a circuit used to read out data stored in a storage medium, using personal identification information is provided. When the recording medium is formed of a volatile memory, this memory device has a power supply used to manage a supply of electric power that is used for retention of the stored data using the personal identification information and to retain or erase stored data by continuation or disruption of a supply of electric power by use of the personal identification information.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to memory devices. More specifically, the invention relates to memory devices that are in the class of memory cards that are rewriteable.
2. Description of the Related Art
With the development of data terminal devices represented by cellular phones, the importance of memory devices by which different types of data are stored has been increasing. For memory devices, semiconductor memory, hard disks, and the like are used primarily. Data stored in data terminal devices includes not only textual data such as that of schedules and address files but also image data that is recorded by digital cameras, music data that is distributed through the Internet or the like, and other types of data. For these reasons, an increase in the capacity of memory devices used in data terminal devices is being promoted.
With improvements in the performance of data terminal devices, it has become easier for a user to comfortably carry large amounts of data, and convenience in daily life has been increasing. On the other hand, leaking of data stored in memory devices is becoming a problem. Because the type of data that can be input to a data terminal device has been diversified, if a memory device is lost, there is a risk of personal information being leaked to a third party. Furthermore, when a data terminal device is discarded, unless the data terminal device is physically destroyed, data stored in a memory device is left remaining, and there is a concern that the data will be disclosed to the public by a third party who has malicious intent.
Consequently, in order that data not be leaked to a third party, protection of the data using a personal identification number or the like is being considered. For example, devices in which a retry counter that records the number of failed attempts at password verification of a memory card is provided and data is compulsorily deleted when the number of failed attempts reaches a given number are known (referring to Patent Reference Document 1).    Patent Reference Document 1: Japanese Published Patent Application No. 2005-011151

Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.


Laundry separating devices that are configured to be inserted within a laundry drying chamber of a dryer machine are disclosed. The devices include a central frame having at least two sides with a first telescoping extender. The devices include at least two side arms connected to the central frame, with each side arm including a telescoping extender. The devices include a set of joints that connect the two side arms to the central frame, which allow each of the side arms to rotate about an axis. The devices include a set of telescopic clutches, with a clutch included in each of the central frame and the two side arms (the telescopic clutches are configured to allow the telescoping extenders to be lengthened, shortened, and locked into a desired position). The devices further include at set of separation panels, which are configured to be reversibly connected to the central frame and the two side arms.

Powered laundry dryers have been a household staple item for many decades, including both electric- and gas-powered dryers. Such dryers often include an internal chamber (typically a cylindrical chamber) that rotates and is provided with a continuous supply of (hot or room temperature) air to facilitate the drying of laundry. The size and internal volume capacities of such chambers vary, although standard capacities often range from about 7 cubic feet to 8.5 cubic feet (but can be smaller or larger in some cases).
Laundry dryers are routinely used to dry various types of laundry, ranging from clothes to bedding sheets (e.g., linens, comforters, etc.). When such disparate types and sizes of laundry are dried in a single load together, the larger items (e.g., bedding sheets) often become tangled with the smaller items (e.g., clothing items). Such tangling will sometimes compromise thorough drying; it increases the amount of undesired wrinkling; and it is burdensome on users to de-tangle and separate the laundry items after the drying cycle is complete.
Accordingly, there is a continuing need for laundry dryer appliances that are effective in preventing or reducing the amount of such unwanted tangling. The present invention, as described further below, addresses many of such demands in the marketplace.


A method for producing a gasoline blend having a high concentration of a butanol isomer and having good cold start and warm-up driveability performance.

This invention relates to fuels, more particularly to oxygenated gasolines including gasolines containing a high concentration of a butanol. This invention provides an oxygenated gasoline having good driveability performance.
Gasolines are fuels which are suitable for use in a spark-ignition engine and which generally contain as a primary component a mixture of numerous hydrocarbons having different boiling points and typically boiling at a temperature in the range of from about 79° F. to about 437° F. under atmospheric pressure. This range is approximate and can vary depending upon the actual mixture of hydrocarbon molecules present, the additives or other compounds present (if any), and the environmental conditions. Typically, the hydrocarbon component of gasolines contain C4 to C10 hydrocarbons.
Gasolines are typically required to meet certain physical and performance standards. Some characteristics may be implemented for proper operation of engines or other fuel combustion apparatuses. However, many physical and performance characteristics are set by national or regional regulations for other reasons such as environmental management. Examples of physical characteristics include Reid Vapor Pressure, sulfur content, oxygen content, aromatic hydrocarbon content, benzene content, olefin content, temperature at which 90 percent of the fuel is distilled (T90), temperature at which 50 percent of the fuel is distilled (T50) and others. Performance characteristics can include octane rating, combustion properties, and emission components.
For example, standards for gasolines for sale within much of the United States are generally set forth in ASTM Standard Specification Number D 4814-07a ("ASTM D4814") which is incorporated by reference herein. Additional federal and state regulations supplement this standard. The specifications for gasolines set forth in ASTM D4814 vary based on a number of parameters affecting volatility and combustion such as weather, season, geographic location and altitude. For this reason, gasolines produced in accordance with ASTM D4814 are broken into volatility categories AA, A, B, C, D and E, and vapor lock protection categories 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6, each category having a set of specifications describing gasolines meeting the requirements of the respective classes. This specifications also sets forth test methods for determining the parameters in the specification.
For example, a Class AA-2 gasoline blended for use during the summer driving season in relatively warm climates must have a maximum vapor pressure of 7.8 psi, a maximum temperature for distillation of 10 percent of the volume of its components (the "T10") of 158° F., a temperature range for distillation of 50 percent of the volume of its components (the "T50") of between 170° F. and 240° F., a maximum temperature for distillation of 90 percent of the volume of its components (the "T90") of 374° F., a distillation end point of 437° F., a distillation residue maximum of 2 volume percent, and a "Driveability Index" or "DI" maximum temperature of 1250° F. In particular, when a gasoline blend contains ethanol, ASTM D4814 uses a linear combination of D86 distillation temperatures and ethanol concentration to calculate the Driveability Index (DI), as follows:DI=1.5(T10)+3(T50)+T90+2.4(ethanol vol. %)  Equation (A)
However, control experiments have indicated that cold start and warm-up driveability performances can be problematic for gasoline blends that contain a high concentration of a butanol. It has also been found that existing methods for predicting cold start and warm-up driveability performance from fuel volatility parameters, such as the aforesaid Driveability Index (DI) are ineffective for high-butanol blends.

Oxygenated gasoline composition having good driveability performance


A data retrieval apparatus selects data to be retained in a cache so that a cache created in retrieval at a previous stage is reused in retrieval at a later stage, and implements retrieval processing to enhance a reusability of retrieved data and upgrade a response speed.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a data retrieval apparatus and a data retrieval method that performs high-speed retrieval processing by use of a database engine.
2. Description of the Related Art
Along with increase in flash memory capacity in recent years, even resource-constrained devices such as a digital camera or a photo frame, an inkjet multifunctional peripheral and the like, in which there is a limit to computational resources, have come to have enough storage capacity to save several tens of thousands to several hundreds of thousands of data sheets. Further, an improvement of recognition technology enables providing a diversity of attribute values such as person names or location names.
There is a growing need to perform a wide variety and a large amount of data retrievals at high-speeds using these attribute values, even in the resource-constrained devices. In a case of photo data, attribute values such as dates, shooting parameters, Global Positioning System (GPS) coordinates serving as position information, etc., are assigned during shooting. Attribute values such as favorite degrees or printing specifications are assigned during reproduction. A typical format used to store these attribute values is the Exchangeable image file format. These attributes are useful in retrieving a user's desired data. However, in a case where data is retrieved and attribute values are of a wide variety and in a large amount, performing a total scanning on all pieces of data to perform the retrieval processes requires an enormous calculation amount, and accordingly causes delay of a response time.
Thus, in order to perform retrievals at a high speed, as a common approach, a response time is shortened by keeping an index built in advance that contains index information and using the index during retrieval. If a plurality of indexes can be used, a predetermined index will be selected and used. Selecting an index to be preferentially used, depending on a retrieval condition, becomes important for enhancement of a response speed. For example, in selecting the index, a rule that is generally used does not consider a hit ratio of a cache which retains the index, such as preferentially using a column having a small number of data and a high refinement effect.
However, when retrieval is repeatedly implemented, data reading from a database file is frequently performed, and a hit ratio of the cache greatly influences the response speed. This is because a transfer speed of an external storage unit in which the database file is placed is slower compared with that of a random-access memory (RAM) serving as a main storage, and frequent data reading degrades a computing performance of the entire apparatus. Generally, in order to address the problem, read and write frequency is suppressed by providing an intermediate layer such as the caching mechanism in the RAM or the main storage unit, but the caching mechanism has a small capacity because of the restrictions of computational resources in the resource-constrained device, which particularly influences the performance. For example, in a digital camera or the like, metadata is synchronized and updated between a personal computer (PC) and a camera. As a result, records of a large number of data are retrieved and updated, a hit ratio of the cache drops, and data reading from the database file frequently occurs.
Conventionally, as a retrieval method which focuses on a retrieval index selection method, for example, as discussed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 07-311699, a method for selecting an index using analysis results such as data distribution in advance, or rebuilding a database file so that retrieval cost becomes low are available.
However, conventional methods such as the above-described example are premised on an operation in a PC or a server with abundant resources. An advance analysis of data distribution or rebuilding of the database file is not suitable for a resource-constrained device with limited computational resources. For this reason, index selection control must be performed in response to an instructed retrieval condition without relying on computational resources, regardless of the distribution of data in the resource-constrained device. It may be possible to perform analysis processing or rebuilding processing during standby time, but in many cases there is a limit to an electric power or computation ability.

Data retrieval apparatus, data retrieval method, and program


A high pressure discharge lamp with auxiliary lamp comprises: a high pressure discharge lamp having an arc tube and at least one sealing portion, a pair of main electrodes, and a pair of feeders supplying power to the main electrodes; an auxiliary lamp having an airtight case, an inner electrode, and an outer electrode, wherein the inner electrode is arranged at a position so as to part the inner space to large and small spaces, the outer electrode is arranged at a position so as to face the large space, the auxiliary lamp as arranged as the large space faces the sealing portion.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a high pressure discharge lamp having an auxiliary lamp that emits ultraviolet rays for decreasing required voltage value for lighting-up. The auxiliary lamp enhances lighting-up performance of the discharge lamp.
2. Description of Related Art
High pressure discharge lamps are mainly used as light sources for optical devices, for example liquid-crystal projectors, exposure devices or the like. The high pressure discharge lamp comprises: an arc tube having a space where luminescent materials such as mercury, halide, products from halogen cycle, or the like are enclosed; and a pair of main electrodes placed oppositely each other inside the arc tube. An electrical discharge by an insulation breakdown between the main electrodes that high voltage for lighting-up is applied excites the luminescent materials. The excited luminescent materials emit light.
Recently, for reducing the size of point light sources and enhancing luminance efficiency of high pressure discharge lumps, an amount of the enclosed luminescent materials is increased and a volume of the space of the arc tube is decreased. Consequently, a pressure of the arc tube in operation is extremely high, for example approximately 200 atmospheres or higher. Furthermore, this kind of the optical devices is required to reduce the time not only for cold start but for hot start.
Particularly, the higher the pressure inside the arc tube is, the higher the required voltage for generating the electric discharge is. At the hot start, when inner temperature of the arc tube is high, it is required not only to apply high voltage but to wait until the temperature of the high pressure discharge lamp becomes relatively low. And high voltage, for example more than 10 kV, is required for the cold start.
But application of the high voltage in lighting-up of the high pressure discharge lamp causes a problem. For example, insulation breakdown at unintended position is generated and the insulation breakdown causes electrification. And noises generated by the application of the high pressure voltage causes malfunction of an electronic circuit provided for the optical device. The "insulation breakdown at unintended position" is, for example, insulation breakdown between two insulation cables or creeping discharge on a surface of a connector or a connecting terminal.
Technology for lighting-up the high pressure discharge lamp with lower voltage has been developed to solve these problems. For example, see Patent Document 1 (JP-A-2002-151006). A light source 1 of the Patent Document 1, as shown in FIG. 8, has a high pressure discharge lamp 2, an auxiliary lamp 3 separated from the high pressure discharge lamp 2, and a power feeding device 4. The high pressure discharge lamp 2 has an arc tube 5 and a feeder 6. The arc tube 5 has a light-emitting part 5a that has an inner space where mercury or the like, or luminescent material M1, is enclosed and a sealing portion 5b enclosing the inner space of the light-emitting part 5a. The feeder 6 has a pair of main electrodes 6a, a pair of metal foil 6b, and a pair of external lead bar 6c. Each main electrode 6a is provided to face each other within the light-emitting part 5a at a specified position. Each of the metal foils 6b is connected electrically to the corresponding main electrode 6a and buried in the sealing portion 5b. One end of each external lead bar 6c is connected electrically to the corresponding metal foil 6b and buried in the sealing portion 5b, and the other end of each external lead bar 6c protrudes outside.
The auxiliary lamp 3 has a discharge envelope 7, an inner electrode 8, and an outer electrode 9. The discharge envelope 7 has a discharge space enclosing medium for discharge M2 as a material that generates ultra violet UV by being excited with electrical discharge. And the discharge envelope 7 is provided toward an end face of the sealing portion 5b. The inner electrode 8 is provided inside the discharge space and connected electrically to one external lead bar 6c. One end of the outer electrode 9 is wound around an outer surface of the discharge envelope 7, and the other end of the outer electrode 9 is connected electrically to the other external lead bar 6c.
In this light source 1, high-frequency voltage is applied between the inner electrode 8 and the outer electrode 9 of the auxiliary lamp. And electrical discharge is generated between the inner electrode 8 and the outer electrode 9 through the discharge space of the discharge envelope 7. The medium for discharge M2 in the discharge space excited with the electrical discharge generates ultra violet rays UV. When the ultra violet rays UV irradiates the main electrodes 6a in the light-emitting part 5a of the high pressure discharge lamp 2, the electrical discharge between the main electrodes 6a is accelerated. Consequently, the high pressure discharge lamp 2 can be lighted with lower applying voltage.

High pressure discharge lamp with auxiliary lamp


A method and a system of memory management using stack walking. The method of managing memory in a computer system includes identifying compiled code to be deleted, examining the return addresses of the frames in the stack, determining whether any of the return address of the frames are in the range of addresses of the compiled code to be deleted, and if they are, then altering the contents of the frame determined to have a return address in the range of addresses of the compiled code to be deleted.

This invention relates, in its most general aspects, to a computer system and to a method of operating that system, and to improvements in the performance of various operations within such a system. It also relates to a computer-readable storage medium. The computer system may be, may include, or may be part of, a virtual machine. The computer-readable storage medium may contain executable code or other instructions for programming the computer system/virtual machine.
In recent years, there have been developments in programming languages towards what is known as an object-oriented language. In these developments, concepts are regarded as xe2x80x98objectsxe2x80x99, each carrying with it a set of data, or attributes, pertinent to that object, as well as information relating to so-called xe2x80x98methodsxe2x80x99, that is functions or sub-routines, that can be performed on that object and its data. This is well known to those skilled in the art of computing and/or programming.
The advent and rapid advancement in the spread and availability of computers has led to the independent development of different types of systems, such as the IBM and IBM-compatible PC running IBM-DOS or MS-DOS or MS-Windows applications, the Apple Macintosh machines running their own Apple System operating system, or various Unix machines running their own Unix operating systems. This proliferation of independent systems has led to useful applications being available only in one format and not being capable of running on a machine for which the application was not designed.
Under such circumstances, programmers have devised -software which xe2x80x98emulatesxe2x80x99 the host computer""s operating system so that a xe2x80x98foreignxe2x80x99 application can be made to run successfully in such a way that, as far as the user is concerned, the emulation is invisible. In other words, the user can perform all of the normal functions of say a Windows-based application on a Unix machine using a Unix-based operating system without noticing that he is doing so.
A particularly notable product of this type is that developed by Insignia Solutions of High Wycombe, GB and Santa Clara, Calif., USA and known under the name xe2x80x98SoftWindows 2.0 for Powermacxe2x80x99. This software enables a physical Macintosh computer to emulate a PC having an Intel 80486DX processor and 80487 maths co-processor plus memory, two hard disks, IBM-style keyboard, colour display and other features normally found on recent versions of the PC-type of computer.
Furthermore, there is an ever-increasing demand by the consumer for electronics gadgetry, communications and control systems which, like computers, have developed independently of one another and have led to incompatibility between operating systems and protocols. For example, remote-control devices for video players, tape players and CD players have similar functions, analogous to xe2x80x98play,xe2x80x99 xe2x80x98forward,xe2x80x99 xe2x80x98reverse,xe2x80x99 xe2x80x98pause,xe2x80x99 etc, but the codes for transmission between the remote control, or commander, operated by the user may not be compatible either between different types of equipment made by the same manufacturer or between the same types of equipment made by different manufacturers. There would be clear benefits of having software within the equipment which can produce for example the correct xe2x80x98playxe2x80x99 code based upon a xe2x80x98playxe2x80x99 command regardless of the specific hardware used in the equipment. Such software is commonly known as a xe2x80x98Virtual Machine.xe2x80x99
Other uses and applications are legion: for example, set-top boxes for decoding television transmissions, remote diagnostic equipment, in-car navigation systems and so-called xe2x80x98Personal Digital Assistants.xe2x80x99 Mobile telephones, for instance, can have a system upgrade downloaded to them from any service provider.
Emulation software packages tend to have certain features in common, notably that they are not general purpose but are dedicated. They are of most benefit in rapid development areas and have a distinct advantage in enabling manufacturers to cut costs. In particular, they can divorce software from the physical machine, i.e., the effect of the software in the physical machine can be altered by the emulating software without having to go into the machine""s native software to implement those changes.
The specific object-oriented language used in some of the implementations described later is that known as Java (registered trade mark to Sun Microsystems Corporation). Some of the following implementations will enable Java to be used in smaller devices than is currently possible because of the improved performance and/or reduced memory footprint. Future uses projected for embedded software (virtual machines) include computers worn on the body, office equipment, household appliances, and intelligent houses and cars.
While it is recognised that there are clear advantages in the use of virtual machines, especially those using object-oriented languages, there are naturally areas where it is important and/or beneficial for some of the operations that are carried out within the system to be optimised. These may include reducing the memory requirement, increasing the speed of operation, and improving the xe2x80x98transparencyxe2x80x99 of the system when embedded in another system. One of the principal aims of the inventions described herein is to provide a Virtual Machine which is optimised to work as quickly as possible within a memory constraint of, for example, less than 10, 5, 2 or even 1 Mbyte. Such a constraint is likely to be applicable, for example, to electronics gadgetry and other equipment where cost (or size) is a major constraint.
The invention relates to a method of and apparatus for examining memory in a computer system to allow a section of compiled code to be deleted, and to a method of and apparatus for deleting compiled code in a computer system. The invention finds particular (but not exclusive) application in the environment of a unified stack virtual machine in which stack walking allows compiled code to be deleted. In a preferred embodiment, the invention relates to stack walking to allow compiled code deletion in the multi-threaded environment of a unified stack virtual machine
The invention applies preferably to virtual machines where compiled portions of the code being run in the virtual machine appear and need to be removed at various times in the execution of the virtual machine; for example, in a dynamically compiling virtual machine.
When executing code using a virtual machine, we have found that it is advantageous to produce a compiled version of some or all of the emulated code (see Agent""s Reference No. 1 in this specification). We believe that it will sometimes be desirable or necessary to subsequently remove some or all of these compiled versions. Also we believe that it would be advantageous to use a single stack to support the stack requirements of both the emulated machine and also the needs of the virtual machine code itself, and to use a native call instruction to perform the equivalent of an emulated call (invoke) and use of a native return instruction to perform the equivalent of an emulated return in the code being run on the virtual machine.
Where a computer system has finished using memory which it has taken to perform a particular function we have found that it is in the interests of speed and efficiency that the used memory is returned as soon as possible for further use.
Currently known techniques for virtual machines would require that one or more of the optimising techniques listed in the background information section be not taken advantage of, or require explicit checks to be used which impair the efficiency of the system.
In particular, the deletion of compiled code from a system can give rise to problems. There may be a link from a section of compiled code which is not being deleted into a section of deleted code. Particular problems can arise because of the proposed use of a native call instruction (or equivalent) to emulate a call or invoke in the virtual machine; this would typically leave the address where execution is to continue once the called method is complete (thexe2x80x9creturn addressxe2x80x9d) on that stack for that thread, at or near the stack point when the call or invoke is performed. If the native call instruction is part of a compiled version of a section of code, then the return address will point into the compiled version. This causes no problems until the point of deletion of the compiled version. The return address cannot be left pointing to where the compiled version used to be. If, during execution, a thread tried to return to the address where the compiled code used to be, an error would occur and execution by that thread would usually terminate. In such an arrangement, it would be necessary to perform a check at each place where a return is about to be performed to ensure that it is safe to perform a return operation.
The present invention seeks to mitigate this and/or other problems.
The solution to these problems in a preferred embodiment of the invention is, at the point of deletion of the compiled code, to perform an examination of the virtual machine, looking for cases where a return address exists in the stacks that points to a position within the piece of compiled code to be deleted, and to re-arrange the thread""s stack contents to allow seamless continuation of execution of that thread without the compiled version of the code which is about to be deleted. The mechanism is preferably arranged such that the cost of the operation is borne at the time of deletion, with little or no extra cost at normal call/return time, since the relative frequency of the two situations is such that there are many more call/return operations than code deletion operations.
Accordingly, the invention in one aspect provides a method of examining memory in a computer system to allow a section of compiled code to be deleted, the method including:
examining a frame of a stack in the computer system;
identifying whether the frame contains a return address which is in the range of addresses of the section of compiled code; and
altering the contents of the frame when such a return address is identified.
By carrying out the above method, the problems associated with leaving a return address pointing into a section of compiled code to be deleted can be overcome.
In a closely related aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of deleting compiled code in a computer system, including:
selecting a section of compiled code to be deleted;
examining a frame of a stack in the computer system;
identifying whether the frame contains a return address which is in the range of addresses of the section of compiled code;
altering the contents of the frame when such a return address is identified; and
deleting the section of compiled code.
Preferably any such return address is changed to the address of a piece of continuation code. The continuation code enables execution to continue after the return without the code to be deleted. Preferably, the continuation code is arranged to transfer control to an interpreter. The continuation code may be arranged so that subsequent instructions are interpreted, for example, until a section of emulated instructions is encountered for which there is a compiled version, or alternatively, to jump to a compiled version of the code to be deleted, if such a version exists. The use of a fallback interpreter for the execution of instructions subsequent to the return allows execution of the instructions of the deleted compiled code without the overhead of creating a new compiled version of the instructions.
If the frame contains such a return address, preferably, values in the frame are changed. Preferably, values in the frame are arranged to enable execution to continue without the code to be deleted. For example, temporary register information which is stored in the frame may be changed to take into account optimisations which were made when the code to be deleted was compiled. Such changes may be required, for example, where control is to be transferred to an interpreter for subsequent execution (see Agent""s reference no. 1 of this specification).
Preferably the alteration of the frame is carried out at the time of deletion. Thus, none of the links and return addresses of the frame will point into the compiled code after deletion, and time consuming checks during execution can be avoided.
Preferably, a plurality of frames in the stack are examined. For example, all frames in the stack may be examined, or else, each frame which may contain a return address pointing into the section of compiled code is examined.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the computer system operates a multi-threaded environment. Each thread has its own stack.
Preferably, the stacks of a plurality of threads in the computer system are examined. For example, the stacks of all threads in the computer system may be examined, or else, the stack of every thread to which the code to be deleted may have had access is examined.
In this way it can be ensured that no return addresses point into the section of compiled code to be deleted.
It may be known that some threads cannot have had access to the section of compiled code to be deleted. Execution time can be saved by not examining the stacks of such threads.
For the thread of the stack being examined, however, it will often be necessary to stop the thread while the examination is carried out. Alternatively, a return barrier may be inserted to restrict the thread to certain sections of the code (see Agent""s Reference No. 5 in this specification).
In another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of deleting compiled code in a computer system, including:
examining each frame of each stack of each thread in the system;
identifying whether a return address points to a portion of compiled code which is to be deleted; and
rearranging the contents of each stack containing the return address so as to enable that thread to continue execution without that portion of the compiled code which is to be deleted.
In a further aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of deleting a section of compiled code in a computer system, the method including, examining the memory of the computer system identifying a link to the section of compiled code and altering the link.
The link to the section of compiled code is preferably a return address in a frame. Thus, the return address identified when examining a frame is preferably a return address which is in the range of addresses of the section of compiled code to be deleted.
Alternatively, or in addition, the examination of the memory may identify a patch or other jump to the compiled code to be deleted. The link may be a direct or an indirect link to the compiled code to be deleted. For example, the link may be via a section of glue code to the section of compiled code.
Preferably, the computer system is configured as a virtual machine.
In a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for examining memory in a computer system to allow a section of compiled code to be deleted, including:
means for examining a frame of a stack in the computer system;
means for identifying whether the frame contains a return address which is in the range of addresses of the section of code to be deleted; and
means for altering the contents of the frame.
In another aspect of the present invention there is provided apparatus for deleting compiled code in a computer system, including:
means for selecting a section of compiled code to be deleted;
means for examining a frame of a stack in the computer system;
means for identifying whether the frame contains a return address which is in the range of addresses of the section of compiled code to be deleted;
means for altering the contents of the frame; and
means for deleting the section of compiled code.
The apparatus may further include means for executing subsequent instructions, and the means for arranging the contents of the frame may be adapted to change any such return address to the address of the means for executing subsequent instructions. Preferably, the apparatus further includes a fallback interpreter. The means for executing subsequent instructions may be arranged to interpret subsequent instructions until a section of emulated instructions is encountered for which there is a compiled version.
The means for arranging the contents of the frame may be adapted to alter values in the frame to enable execution to continue without the code to be deleted, if the frame contains such a return address.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, a record is kept of the optimisations which have been carried out in compiling code so thatxe2x80x9cclean upxe2x80x9d information will be available as to what alterations are required to update the values to allow for the subsequent execution, for example, by the interpreter. For a computer system including the apparatus, preferably the system further includes a compiler system, the compiler system including a recorder for recordingxe2x80x9cclean upxe2x80x9d information as the code is compiled.
The means for examining a frame in the stack may be adapted to examine a plurality of frames in the stack. The means for examining a frame in the stack may be adapted to examine the stack of each of a plurality of threads in the computer system.
The invention also provides a virtual machine including the apparatus described above.
The invention further provides a computer system including the apparatus described above.
In another aspect, the invention provides a computer system including means for deleting compiled code, further including means for examining each frame of each stack of each thread in the system, means for identifying whether a return address points to a portion of compiled code which is to be deleted, and means for rearranging the contents of each stack containing the return address so as to enable that thread to continue execution without that portion of compiled code about to be deleted.
The invention further provides a computer-readable storage medium having a programme recorded thereon for carrying out a method as described above.
The features of any of the above aspects may be provided with any other aspect, in any appropriate combination. Apparatus features may be applied to the method aspects and vice versa.

Method and system of memory management using stack walking


Radio frequency filtering circuitry blocks certain frequencies in an outgoing signal so that the signal may be transmitted over a desired frequency. The radio frequency filtering circuitry includes a first inductor having a first coil and a second inductor coupled to and disposed within the first coil. The second inductor has a second coil and a third coil symmetrical to the second coil. When current is applied to the radio frequency filtering circuitry, the current in the second coil causes a first induced current in the first coil and the current in the third coil causes a second induced current in the first coil, wherein the second induced current is approximately equal in magnitude and opposite in direction to the first induced current. As such, the second induced current may compensate for the first induced current.

The present disclosure relates generally to electronic devices, and more particularly, to electronic devices that transmit and receive radio frequency signals for wireless communication.
This section is intended to introduce the reader to various aspects of art that may be related to various aspects of the present disclosure, which are described and/or claimed below. This discussion is believed to be helpful in providing the reader with background information to facilitate a better understanding of the various aspects of the present disclosure. Accordingly, it should be understood that these statements are to be read in this light, and not as admissions of prior art.
An electronic communication device may include radio frequency filtering circuitry (e.g., an LC (inductor-capacitor) choke) that enables pass-through or blocks certain frequencies in an outgoing signal so that the signal may be transmitted over a desired frequency. In particular, the radio frequency filtering circuitry may include a first inductor (e.g., a differential inductor) coupled to a capacitor that provide a target impedance (e.g., zero or infinite impedance) at a resonant frequency of the radio frequency filtering circuitry. The radio frequency filtering circuitry may also include a second inductor (e.g., a second harmonic distortion (HD2) inductor) that filters second harmonics in the outgoing signal to suppress oscillator flicker noise.
If the second inductor and the first inductor are placed too close together, current in the second inductor may cause a transformer effect with the first inductor. The transformer effect induces current in the first inductor, which may potentially cause differential imbalance in the first inductor and negatively affect the filtering performance of the first inductor and the capacitor. To maintain filtering performance by decreasing the transformer effect, the second inductor may be placed a sufficient distance from the first inductor. However, placing the second inductor the sufficient distance from the first inductor may take up valuable space in the electronic device, which could be used for other circuitry or electronic components.

Inductor with embedded symmetric resonant circuit


A plugged honeycomb structure has a plurality of cells defined by partition walls to become through channels for fluid, one end of each of the predetermined cells is plugged by a plugging member, the other end of each of the residual cells is plugged by the plugging member, the partition wall is made of a cordierite component as a main component, and a value obtained by dividing Young's modulus of a plugging structure portion formed by the partition walls and the plugging member by Young's modulus of a cell structure portion formed by the partition walls is in a range of 1.05 to 2.00.

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a plugged honeycomb structure, and a manufacturing method of the plugged honeycomb structure. More particularly, the present invention relates to a plugged honeycomb structure which is for use in a diesel particulate removing filter (DPF) or the like and is capable of trapping and removing particulates constituted of particulate matter, and also relates to a manufacturing method of the plugged honeycomb structure.
Description of the Related Art
Heretofore, honeycomb structures made of ceramics have been applied to various uses in a car exhaust gas purifying catalyst carrier, a diesel particulate removing filter, a heat reservoir for a burning device and the like. For example, the diesel particulate removing filter is used to trap particulate matter in an exhaust gas emitted from a diesel engine, and in the filter, a honeycomb structure (a plugged honeycomb structure) is usually used in which one end of each predetermined cell is plugged by a plugging member and the other end of each of the residual cells is plugged by the plugging member.
In the above plugged honeycomb structure, a ceramic material such as a cordierite component or a silicon carbide component is used. For the purpose of achieving decrease of pressure loss of the plugged honeycomb structure, increasing of a porosity of a partition wall constituting the plugged honeycomb structure is advanced (see, e.g., Patent Documents 1 and 2).
When the increasing of the porosity of the partition wall is performed, a mechanical strength of the plugged honeycomb structure necessarily decreases. As a result, especially a partition wall portion of each cell end is easy to crack. To eliminate such a problem, there has been suggested development of a plugged honeycomb structure whose end portions are hard to crack and which is excellent in durability (see, e.g., Patent Document 3).
[Patent Document 1] JP-A-2003-269132
[Patent Document 2] JP-A-2011-189252
[Patent Document 3] JP-A-2004-154692

Plugged honeycomb structure, and manufacturing method of plugged honeycomb structure


A flexible flat cable assembly includes a flexible flat cable and a shaping member. The flexible flat cable is composed of a plurality of wires arranged in parallel. The shaping member is disposed on one part of the flexible flat cable to shape the flexible flat cable to substantially form a first bending angle.

1. Field of Invention
The invention relates to a flexible flat cable assembly and an image acquiring device using the same, and more particularly to a flexible flat cable assembly having a shaping member and an image acquiring device using the flexible flat cable assembly.
2. Related Art
A conventional flatbed scanner includes a movable scanning module and a stationary mainboard. The relative position between the scanning module and the mainboard continuously changes during the scanning process. So, a flexible flat cable for connecting the scanning module to the mainboard is needed to transmit an image signal to the mainboard without influencing the movement of the scanning module.
FIGS. 1 and 2 are schematic side views showing a conventional image acquiring device 101. Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the conventional image acquiring device 101 is a flatbed scanner including a housing 110, a scanning module 120, a mainboard 130 and a flexible flat cable 140. A scan platen 111, which is usually a glass platen, is mounted on the housing 110. The scanning module 120 is movably mounted in the housing 110. The mainboard 130 is disposed and fixed in the housing 110 and performs controlling and signal processing operations. The flexible flat cable 140 connects the scanning module 120 to the mainboard 130.
The flexible flat cable 140 has a plurality of wires arranged in parallel, and has a first terminal 140A and a second terminal 140B.
As shown in FIG. 1, when the first terminal 140A is located on a left side of the second terminal 140B, the flexible flat cable 140 will not rub against the scan platen 111.
As shown in FIG. 2, when the first terminal 140A is located on a right side of the second terminal 140B, the highest point of the flexible flat cable 140 directly contacts the scan platen 111, and the flexible flat cable 140 rubs against the scan platen 111. So, the scan platen 111 may be scratched and the image quality is affected, or the flexible flat cable 140 may break, and the operation of the image acquiring device is therefore interrupted.

Flexible flat cable assembly and image acquiring device using the same


The present invention provides a belt fastening means that can improve fittability of a shoe and that can equally tighten an upper of the shoe to a wearer""s foot without hindering the movement of the foot. A belt fastening means for a shoe includes a first belt member disposed mainly on a lateral side portion of an upper and a second belt member disposed mainly on a medial side portion of the upper. The first and second belt members are located at nearly symmetrical positions with respect to an opening portion. A proximal end portion of the first belt member is connected to a sole on the lateral side and a distal end portion thereof extends over the opening portion. The first belt member extends in a direction nearly perpendicular to a ridge line of an instep portion as viewed from a lateral side of the shoe. A proximal end portion of the second belt member is connected to the sole on the medial side and a distal end portion thereof extends over the opening portion. The second belt member extends in a direction nearly perpendicular to the ridge line of the instep portion as viewed from a medial side of the shoe. The second belt member is formed with an elongated aperture into which the first belt member is inserted. The first and second belt members are releasably secured on the instep portion through hook and loop fastening materials.

This application claims priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2001-243621, filed Aug. 10, 2001 and Japanese Patent Application No. 2002-75933, filed Mar. 19, 2002.
The present invention relates to a shoe having a belt fastening means with at least a pair of belt members.
Conventionally, especially in a sports shoe, a fastening structure with a shoelace was commonly used to close and fasten an opening portion of a shoe to secure the upper of the shoe to a wearer""s foot. Recently, a belt fastening means with a hook and loop fastening material has been used.
A belt fastening means of the prior art has a belt that is provided on one side of an opening portion of an upper and that has one piece of a hook and loop fastening material attached to a distal end of the belt. The other piece of the hook and loop fastening material is attached on the other side of the opening portion of the upper. By pulling the belt and fastening one piece of the hook and loop fastening material at the distal end of the belt to the corresponding other piece of the hook and loop fastening material on the upper, the belt is fastened to a shoe.
Such a belt fastening means is superior in that it eliminates the need to secure a shoelace with a knot and allows for easy opening and closing of the shoe. However, in fastening a belt, only one side of the upper relative to the opening portion is tightly pulled. As a result, the upper deforms and fittability of a shoe decreases.
An attempt was made to solve this problem in a shoe shown in Japanese Utility Model Application Examined Publication No. 62-35364 or Japanese Utility Model Application Unexamined Publication No. 59-16406. A belt fastening means described in these publications has a pair of belts provided on both sides of the upper and crossed in an X-shape over the opening portion. Each belt is detachably fastened on the upper through a hook and loop fastening material.
In such a belt fastening means, by pulling each belt, it is possible to pull opposite sides of the upper nearly equally. However, in this case, each belt is pulled in a diagonal direction relative to a shoe width direction over the opening portion of the upper, thereby causing a wrinkle on the upper, and it becomes difficult to secure the upper equally to a foot.
In a prior-art belt fastening means shown in FIG. 1 of the present application, each of the belts 100, 101 is pulled in a shoe width direction over an opening portion 110. However, in this case, the belt 100 adapted to pull a lateral side of the upper toward a medial side and the belt 101 adapted to pull the medial side of the upper toward the lateral side are shifted or offset in a longitudinal direction of the shoe. Thus, when each of the belts 100, 101 is pulled in an opposite direction, the upper is twisted, thereby decreasing fittability of the upper.
Japanese Patent Application Laying Open Publication No. 9-28413 shows a belt fastening means having a belt provided on one side of the upper and a D-shaped ring attached on the other side of the upper. By inserting the belt into the ring, folding back and pulling the belt, the opposite sides of the upper are nearly equally pulled and the upper is secured to a foot without twisting the upper. However, in this case, at the time of bending of a foot, D-shaped ring may interfere with a foot and hinder the movement of the foot.
The present invention is directed to solving the above-mentioned problems, and its object is to provide a shoe with a belt fastening means that can secure an upper equally to a foot and that can advance fittability without hindering the movement of a foot.
The present invention is directed to a belt fastening means with improved fittability for a shoe.
In one preferred embodiment, a shoe is formed of a sole and an upper attached to the sole. The upper has a longitudinally extending opening portion formed at an instep portion thereof. The instep portion has a medial and lateral side located on opposite sides of the opening portion, and a belt fastening means provided across the opening portion in a lateral direction. The belt fastening means is comprised of first and second belt members that are disposed at generally symmetrical positions with respect to the opening portion. Each of the first and second belt members extends in a direction generally perpendicular to xe2x80x9ca ridge linexe2x80x9d of the instep portion as viewed from a side of the shoe. Proximal end portions of the first and second belt members are connected to the sole and distal end portions thereof extend over the opening portion. The second belt member has an elongated aperture into which the first belt member is inserted. The elongated aperture may extend along the length of the second belt member and it faces the opening portion. The first and second belt members are releasably attached to the instep portion through hook and loop fastening materials provided on the belt members.
According to this embodiment, each of the first and second belt members extends in a direction generally orthogonal to xe2x80x9ca ridge linexe2x80x9d of the instep portion, or xe2x80x9ca swell linexe2x80x9d that extends from a position corresponding to a navicular bone of a wearer""s foot to a position corresponding to a head of a metatarsus of a second or third toe, as viewed from a side of the shoe. And these belt members are disposed at symmetrical positions with respect to the opening portion. Thus, when pulling each distal end portion of the belt members in an opposite direction, the medial and lateral sides of the instep portion of the upper are equally pulled without causing torsion or wrinkles on the upper, thus securing the instep portion of the upper equally to a foot and making the whole surfaces of the belt members on the instep portion""s side tightly contact with the instep portion. As a result, the whole instep of a wearer""s foot can be supported in such a manner as to be wrapped by the upper of a shoe and fittability of the shoe can be improved.
Also, since each proximal end of the first and second belt members are connected to the sole, a foot can be tightly secured to the sole through extending portions of the belt members on the medial and lateral sides of the upper when each distal end portion of the taut belt members are fastened to the instep portion of the upper.
Moreover, in this case, not a slit but an elongated aperture extending along the length of the second belt member is formed in the second belt member and this elongated aperture faces the opening portion of the upper. Thus, insertion and extraction of the first belt member relative to the second belt member can be conducted with ease, and besides, individual differences of the height of an instep or the width of a foot can be absorbed and fittability can be maintained.
Furthermore, in this case, since each belt member is secured to the instep portion of the upper through a hook and loop fastening material without using a metal fitting such as a D-shaped ring, the movement of a foot is not hindered and a shoe wearer does not feel uncomfortable when bending a foot.
In another embodiment, each proximal end of the first and second belt members is connected to a sole through a reinforcement member or strip provided on the upper. In this case as well, as with the above-mentioned embodiment where each proximal end of the belt members is directly connected or fixed to a sole, when each distal end portion of the taut belt members is fastened to the instep portion, a wearer""s foot can be tightly secured to the sole of a shoe through the medially and laterally extending portions of the belt members and the reinforcement members.
In still another embodiment, the second belt member is bifurcated at a region extending from a proximal end portion to an elongated aperture and a band-shaped tab is formed integrally with a distal end portion of the second belt member. In this case, when fastening belts, insertion and extraction of the first belt member relative to the second belt member can be conducted with more ease. Also, by utilizing the tab provided at the distal end portion of the second belt member, the second belt member can be easily gripped, thereby facilitating fastening of the belts.
In a further embodiment, a plurality of pairs of the first and second belt members are provided. In this case, a plurality of portions of the instep of a foot can be secured and fittability of a shoe can be further advanced.

Shoe with belt fastening means of improved fittablity


One embodiment of the present method and apparatus for robust input interpretation by conversation systems includes receiving a user request containing at least one un-interpretable term. The present invention conveys the conversation system's interpretation capabilities to the user, for example by suggesting at least one alternative request in context of the un-interpretable user request, where the alternative request is phrased in a manner that is substantially fully interpretable. A user may then select a suggested alternative request or formulate a new request in accordance with knowledge of the conversation system capabilities learned from the conveyed information. In another embodiment, a method may independently (e.g., without user prompting) adapt the un-interpretable user request in accordance with learned information regarding the meaning of any un-interpretable terms in the user request.

The present invention relates generally to conversation systems and relates more particularly to the interpretation of input by conversation systems.
Conversation systems allow a user to interact with or search a database of information by receiving and responding to user data requests. For example, a user may search real estate listings by presenting a conversation system with a query that is defined by one or more search criteria, such as "Show all houses in Scarsdale, N.Y. priced at $400,000 or less". The conversation system then dissects this query and searches the database for results that meet the user's search criteria.
One common shortcoming of conventional conversation systems is limited interpretation capability. Due to limited vocabularies and grammars, typical conversation systems can experience difficulties in correctly interpreting even search criteria with unambiguous meanings, such as the city name "Scarsdale, N.Y." or the price "$400,000 or less" in the example above. These difficulties are magnified when qualitative search criteria is provided by the user. For example, a typical conversation system would not be capable of interpreting the command "Show all houses in good school districts priced at $400,000 or less", because the search criteria "good school districts" is not clearly defined (that is, the conversation system can not know what the user means by "good").
Some conversation systems attempt to address this difficulty by simply recognizing or understanding a wider range of potential input expressions. However, algorithms for adapting these expanded vocabularies are still imperfect or unknown. Moreover, such an approach increases the cost and the computational complexity of the conversation system. The feasibility of this solution is therefore still limited.
Thus, there is a need in the art for a method and apparatus for robust input interpretation by conversation systems.

Method and apparatus for robust input interpretation by conversation systems

International Business Machines Corporation