Provided is a high power semiconductor package including: an insulation substrate having first and second surfaces opposite to each other; an interconnection patterns formed on the first surface of the insulation substrate, the interconnection patterns including a plurality of first dimples; a power control semiconductor chip mounted on the first surface of the insulation substrate, the power control semiconductor chip electrically connected with the interconnection patterns; and an encapsulation member encapsulating the insulation substrate, the interconnection patterns, and the power control semiconductor chip and exposing at least a portion of the second surface of the insulation substrate.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a high power semiconductor package, and more particularly, to a high power semiconductor package including a power control semiconductor chip mounted on an insulation substrate.
2. Description of the Related Art
Power devices, such as a silicon-controlled rectifier (SCR), a power transistor, an insulated-gate bipolar transistor (IGBT) a metal oxide semiconductor (MOS) transistor, a power rectifier, a power regulator, an inverter, a converter, and a power control semiconductor chip including a combination thereof, are designed to operate in a high-voltage range from 30 V to 1000 V or higher.
An insulation substrate is used to form the conventional high power semiconductor package. Interconnection patterns are formed on a top surface of the insulation substrate. Power control semiconductor chips may be mounted on some of the interconnection patterns. Bonding pads on top surfaces of the power control semiconductor chips may be electrically connected with the other of interconnection patterns by wires. After a wire bonding process, the conductive patterns are connected to external terminals of the high power semiconductor package such as leads. Thereafter, the high power semiconductor package is encapsulated using an epoxy molding compound (EMC) though a transfer molding process.
A high power semiconductor package manufactured as described above heats to a high temperature when operating, and thus, the electrical and mechanical reliability of the high power semiconductor package can be deteriorated due to repetition of temperature cycles. As a result, the lifespan of the high power semiconductor package may be short relative to that of low power devices, such as DRAM, CPU and Logic devices, etc.


The specification describes a Mach-Zehnder electro-optic modulator device in which the ridge containing the waveguides in the interactive electro-optic regions have re-entrant sidewalls. This shifts the peak in the RF field profile to below the surface of the ridge and closer to the peak of the optical field, thereby producing a device with reduced drive voltage.

Electro-optic modulators, typically lithium niobate modulators, are essential components of most lightwave systems. In state of the art commercial systems, these devices are digital and operate with data transmission rates up to 10 Gbits. Systems under development are expected to reach data rates of 40 Gbits or more. However, as bit rates increase, drive voltages increase as well. Excessive drive voltages currently limit practical implementation of ultra high bit rate modulators. New device designs, with reduced drive voltages, are critical to the development and large-scale commercial application of these modulators.
Among proposals for achieving lower drive voltages in Mach-Zehnder electro-optic modulators is the optimization of the region of interaction between the optic and electric fields. A technique that has had limited success is the etching of ridges into the lithium niobate crystal so the waveguide is located in a rdige of electro-optic material. This improves the field penetration and allows the drive voltage to be reduced. This structure also reduces the RF line capacitance in the interaction region. However, the profiles of the optical and electric fields in this device structure remain quite different, which prevents optimal interaction over the available interaction region.


A system and method is provided for preventing a dropout of an LED current. In one embodiment of the present invention, the system includes a voltage source, a first circuit, a second circuit, a controller, and at least one LED. The first circuit receives a reference voltage from the voltage source, receives set-point current data from the controller, and uses the reference voltage and the set-point current data to produce a threshold voltage. The threshold voltage is then provided to the second circuit, where it is converted into an output current, which is drawn through the LED. The second circuit then compares the threshold voltage to an output voltage corresponding to the output current, and provides an output to the controller. The controller then uses the output to determine whether a dropout has occurred. If a dropout has occurred, then second set-point current data is provided to the first circuit.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to light-emitting diodes (LED) drivers, or more particularly, to a system and method for preventing automatic dropout in an LED driver if an output current (or voltage) cannot be maintained.
2. Description of Related Art
Light-emitting diodes (LEDs) can be found in many different types of technologies, including flashlights, Christmas lights, and electronic devices. For example, LEDs are commonly used as backlights (e.g., edge-lit, array, etc.) for electronic devices having a liquid crystal display (LCD) (e.g., laptop computers, PDAs, cellular telephones, MP3 players, etc.).
When LEDs are used in electronic devices, steps are generally taken to ensure that the LEDs are provided with sufficient power. For example, an LED voltage driver might be used to provide a threshold voltage (e.g., 3.6 volts) to an LED. A problem arises, however, when a battery source for the electronic device is unable to provide the required threshold voltage. This may be due to the battery source being depleted, either as a result of time or the application of a load.
If the output voltage of the LED driver drops too low, it can cause individual LEDs to appear dim or inactive. This is because each LED has its own electrical characteristics. For example, a first LED may draw 20 mA at 3.3 volts, whereas a second LED may draw 15 mA at 3.3 volts. Because current in an LED is directly proportional to an amount of light produced, low voltage can result in an LED backlight having a non-uniform appearance (i.e., certain LEDs appear brighter than others). Also, if the voltage drop is due to a temporary load, then the LEDs may appear as if they are blinking (e.g., dimming when a load is applied, and increasing when the load is removed).
One way of solving this problem is to use a circuit (e.g., a capacitive charge pump, an inductive boost, etc.) to increase voltage. However, such a circuit adds cost to the device, and may require a relatively large package. Thus, in a world where devices are generally smaller and less expensive, many manufactures are reluctant to add such a circuit.
Another way of solving this problem is to monitor the LED voltage driver, and power down the electronic device if the output voltage of the LED voltage driver drops below a threshold voltage (e.g., 3.6 volts). While this ensures that the LED backlight is uniform when it is functional, it results in a shortened battery life (or at least an appearance of a shortened battery life), since the device is powered down after the voltage threshold can no longer be maintained.
Accordingly, it would be advantageous to provide a circuit that would prevent an automatic dropout in an LED driver if an output current (or voltage) cannot be maintained. Such a circuit, for example, would allow the device (e.g., portable electronic device, etc.) to continue to run at a reduced and regulated current (or voltage), thereby producing a light source even if an initial output current (or voltage) cannot be maintained.

Automatic dropout prevention in LED drivers


This invention uses the structures of the finite-sized conductor-backed coplanar waveguides for designing broadband switchable and tunable signal filters. The design methods construct a plurality of configurations, which including waveguides, via holes, metallic posts, and conductor planes in the structures, for selecting, coupling, converting, and dissipating of the signals with specific electromagnetic modes and frequencies propagating through the structures. The dominant electromagnetic modes of the signals include Coplanar Waveguide Modes and Microstrip-Like Modes. The design methods thereby produce a plurality of filter types, such as bandstop filters, bandpass filters, multiband filters, etc. The design methods can apply to the structures with single and multi-layer dielectric and metallic materials, such as Integrated Circuits, Thin-film transistor Circuits, Low Temperature/High Temperature Co-fired Ceramics (LTCC/HTCC), PCB, and others. In addition, the design methods add switches to perform electrically controllable functions including frequency band selection and filter type selection. The design methods can also perform impedance matching of broadband signals by electrically tuning the values of inductance and capacitance in conjunction with the structures.

The fast development of telecommunication services, such as Cellular phones, WiFi, WiMAX, RFID, Digital TV etc., faces different standards, spectrum allocations, and regulations. The portable products for these services move toward highly integrated forms as the technologies progress. To select a desirable signal or service on these products, we have been observing an increasing need exists for switchable and tunable filters for both broadband and multiband systems that are small in size, inexpensive, and easy to manufacture.
Highly integrated portable telecommunication products demand system miniaturization. The design of filters evolves with the miniaturization efforts of System On Package (SOP) and System On Circuit (SOC) technologies accordingly. From the SOP perspective, new generation of filters are assembled with other active and passive RF components, such as integrated circuits and antennas in Low Temperature Co-fired Ceramics (LTCC) packages. From the SOC perspective, active filters make steady progress as the high Q value on-chip inductors improve performance (Kuhn, et al "Dynamic Range Performance of On-Chip RF Bandpass Filter", IEEE Trans. On Circuits and Systems, Vol. 50, No. 10, October 2003, pp. 685-694). Recently, one of the efforts proposed Photonic Band Gap (PBG) or Electromagnetic Band Gap (EBG) structures on the substrates for the design of bandpass or bandstop filters or for the suppression of high-order harmonics (Y. Qian, V. Radisic, and T. Itoh, "Simulation and experiment of photonic band-gap structures for microstrip circuits", Asia-Pacific Microwave Conf., Hong Kong, December 1997, pp. 585-588). Other efforts adopted Defected Ground Structure (DSG) to create resonators on the ground plane. This approach resulted in that part of energy with frequencies at DSG resonators' frequencies is coupled to the ground plane and dissipated and constructed bandstop filters.
However, miniaturization does not directly meet the need for switchable and tunable filters for both broadband and multiband applications. Hereby, this invention follows the miniaturization trend and develops switchable and tunable filters based on some of prior arts:    (1) Finite-sized conductor-backed coplanar waveguides    (2) Vias or Via holes including connecting posts    (3) Switches (such as PIN diodes, FET transistors, Thin Film Transistors, MEMS etc.)
Coplanar waveguides was initially proposed by C. P. Wen in 1969 and has been under intensively investigation since this structure can be used for signal transmission and feeding, such as in Microwave Monolithic Integrated Circuits (MMICs) and antennas. For example, the inventor of this invention proposed of using coplanar waveguide for feeding high frequency patch antenna (D. Ni, et al, "Millimeter-Wave Generation and Characterization of a GaAs FET by Optical Mixing", IEEE Trans. On Microwave Theory and Techniques, Vol. 38, No. 5, May, 1990, pp. 608-614). Since the IC chips are generally attached onto finite-sized packages constructed by metallic and dielectric materials, finite-sized conductor-backed coplanar waveguides have also been studied extensively as shown in the following publications:
M. Riaziat, I. Feng, R. Majidi-Ahy, and B. Auld, "Single-Mode Operation of Coplanar Waveguides", Electronic Letters, Nov. 19, 1987, Vol. 23, No. 24, pp. 1281-1283;
C-C. Tien, C-K. C. Tzuang, S. T. Peng, and C-C. Chang, "Transmission Characteristics of Finite-Width Conductor-Backed Coplanar Waveguide", IEEE Trans. On Microwave Theory and Techniques, Vol. 41, No. 9, September 1993, pp. 1616-1624.
Recently, SOP efforts have integrated several active and passive components into millimeter-sized multi-layer LTCC packages, therein coplanar waveguides and the related waveguides once again under intensive modeling and simulation efforts.
Via holes have been playing a crucial roles in MMIC technology. Recently, via holes are also extensively used in multi-layer LTCC packages for connecting signal paths and ground planes across multi-layers. There are studies and measurements on the parasitic parameters, such as inductance and capacitance, as well as interference phenomena. The following publications describe some of these efforts:
K. L. Finch and N. G. Alexopoulos, "Shunt Posts in Microstrip Transmission Lines", IEEE Trans. On Microwave Theory and Techniques, Vol. 38, No. 11, November. 1990, pp. 1585-1594;
M. E. Goldfarb and R. A. Pucel, "Modeling Via Hole Grounds in Microstrip", IEEE Microwave and Guided Wave Letters, Vol. 1, No. 6, June 1991, pp. 135-137;
E. Laermans, J. D. Geest, D. Zutter, F. Olyslager, S. Sercu, and D. Morlion, "Modeling Differential Via Holes", IEEE Trans. On Advanced Packaging, Vol. 24, No. 3, August 2001;
In the studies listed above, Finch and Alexopoulos used via holes in conjunction with microstrip lines to construct bandpass filter at specific frequencies. Along with the development of multi-layer packages, such as LTCC, via holes are used in various areas:    (1) Isolation of signal waveguides from interference;    (2) Formation of walls of resonating cavities;    (3) Formation of connections for grounding;    (4) Use of via holes' parameters, such as length and radius, to adjust inductance and capacitance for the purpose of impedance matching.
The following publications and U.S. patents illustrate these usages of via holes: J. A. Ruiz-Cruz, Y. Zhang, K. A. Zaki, A. J. Piloto, and J. Tallo, "Ultra-Wideband LTCC Ridge Waveguide Filters", and U.S. Patent Documents: U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,689,216, 6,137,383, 7,053,729 B2, 7,113,060 B2, 7,142,074 B2, 7,170,373 B2.
Switchable and tunable filters take advantage of switching devices (such as PIN diodes, FET transistors, Thin film transistors, MEMS etc.) for connecting modules with different resonating frequencies. In the prior arts, designs of switchable and tunable coplanar filters used PIN diodes and MEMS for selecting or connecting several configurations of cavities or waveguide. Due to the fixed sizes and patterns of these configurations, the switchable types and tunable frequency range are limited. Others used magnetic of ferromagnetic materials, such as Barium Strontium Titanate Oxide (BSTO), for changing impedance and subsequently for tuning the frequencies. However, there are also limitations in frequency response due to the material characterization and manufacture cost. The following publications disclosed these prior arts: US Patent documents: U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,142,255, 5,693,429, 6,606,017, and 7,148,770.

Methods for designing switchable and tunable broadband filters using finite-width conductor-backed coplanar waveguide structures


Systems, methods, and apparatuses for strided access are described. In some embodiments, a plurality of registers are loaded with data from an array of structures. Then data elements that that are not needed in a permute operation are overwritten with index values with a write mask. The register now contains a mix of data and index values. When this same write mask is passed to the permute instruction which overwrites the index register as destination, the data values are preserved and index values are overwritten with data coming from the other two source registers as controlled by the index values.

One class of user code changes for efficiency involves eliminating the use of memory gather-scatter operations. Such irregular memory operations can both increase latency and bandwidth usage, as well as limit the scope of compiler vectorization. Some applications may benefit from a data layout change that converts data structures written in an Array of Structures (AOS) representation to a Structure of Arrays (SOA) representation.

Systems, apparatuses, and method for strided access


A disk drive includes a head for accessing a disk, a suspension for supporting the head, a carriage coupled to the suspension, a pivot-bearing assembly, an adhesive, and an adhesion inhibitor. The pivot-bearing assembly is housed in a hole of the carriage that is configured to rotate in such a way that the carriage is configured to oscillate. The adhesive is disposed between the pivot-bearing assembly and an inner circumferential surface of the hole for bonding the pivot-bearing assembly with the carriage. The adhesion inhibitor is disposed on the same surface as the adhesive for controlling a region of adhesion.

A number of disk drives using a range of recording-disk types including optical disks, magneto-optical disks, and flexible magnetic-recording disks are available. These disk drives also include HDDs which are widely employed in computers as data-storage devices, and which are indispensable in existing computer systems. Furthermore, because of the superior characteristics of HDDs, the use of a HDD is not limited to computer systems, and the use of HDDs has been expanded to include video image recording and reproduction apparatuses, and car navigation systems.
A HDD includes a magnetic-recording disk for storing data, a head-slider for reading form, and/or writing data to, the magnetic-recording disk, and an actuator for moving the head-slider to a designated position on the magnetic-recording disk. The actuator is driven by a voice-coil motor (VCM), and oscillates about a pivot shaft. As a result, the actuator causes the head-slider to move over the rotating magnetic-recording disk in substantially the radial direction of the magnetic-recording disk.
The head-slider is able to be moved to a designated track on the magnetic-recording disk, and data processing is able to be performed by reading data from, or writing data to, this track. The head-slider includes a magnetic-recording head for performing data processing by reading data from, or writing data to, the track. The actuator includes an elastic suspension, and the head-slider is fastened to the suspension.
The head-slider is able to fly over the magnetic-recording disk at a predetermined fly height between the head-slider and the magnetic-recording disk due to the balance that exists between the pressure generated by the viscosity of the air between the rotating magnetic-recording disk and the air-bearing surface (ABS) of the slider opposing the magnetic-recording disk, and a load that is applied by the suspension towards the surface of the magnetic-recording disk. The suspension is fabricated to allow the slider to track across the surface of the magnetic-recording disk in such a way that the slider is able to be tilted in a predetermined direction in order to compensate for magnetic-recording disk runout and other factors.
The actuator typically includes a carriage, which is also known as an E-core or comb, which includes a VCM coil and one arm, or a plurality of arms, a head-gimbal assembly (HGA) affixed to the distal end of the arm, or arms, and a pivot-bearing assembly affixed within a hole disposed in the center of the carriage. The HGA includes the suspension and the head-slider. The actuator oscillates about the pivot-bearing assembly as a result of a driving force applied by the VCM coil.
Increased HDD recording density has been accompanied by increased track density and further increased positioning precision. Increasing the track density, which may be obtained by narrowing the track interval, has lead to widening the head positioning control bandwidth. To do this, the head-slider is supported, and the bandwidth of the actuator for moving the head-slider is widened. To widen the bandwidth of the actuator, reducing actuator vibration characteristics is useful for increasing HDD performance.

Disk drive with adhesively bonded pivot-bearing assembly


A disposable penile erection device that has a positive locking mechanism on the superficial veins around the base of a human penile organ. The device is a tubular structure adapted to the penis to be secured in loop configuration about the base of the penis to provide two (2) adjustable and lockable radial constriction force about the base of the penis. Methods for using the device are also provided.

1. Field
This application relates to adjustable tourniquet for venous flow control, specifically for treating erectile dysfunction.
2. Prior Art
Numerous treatments for impotence are known in the art, and include psychological therapies, hormonal therapy, administration of various vasodilators, surgery (e.g. vascular surgery or implantation of penile prosthesis). Vacuum devices and various external aids such as penile splints and constriction devices. More particularly U.S. Pat. No. 5,810,710 to Burgos describes constriction device composed of a pair of rigid C-shaped members hinged joined to form said split-ring. The disadvantage of this device is that it has to be applied prior to erection and is very difficult if not impossible to adjust once in place especially after erection has taken place. It is also rigid and could be uncomfortable and bothersome to one or both partners. U.S. Pat. No. 3,461,863 to Sullinger describes an adjustable constriction device consisting of a loop of flexible tubing having two apertures arranged at one end of the tubing which allow the other end to pass through and provide a means for fastening the device in place. Sullinger further describes the importance of the relative spacing of the two apertures and tube wall thickness to prevent or resist slippage of the device in response to the increased tension. The disadvantage of this device is that it could present a hygienic problem. U.S. Pat. No. 5,855,548 to Virgil A. describes a venous flow control device assisting in the maintenance of a penile erection or in preventing urinary incontinence. The device is a tubular structure adapted to be secured in a loop configuration about the penis to provide an adjustable radial constrictive force, about the base of the penis. One dis-advantage is it does not have a positive locking mechanism. The VFC device has a tendency to loosen during sexual intercourse especially a vigorous one. Another factor that could loosen the device is the presence of natural vaginal lubricant or personal lubricant applied to the penis and/or the vaginal area which could result in the slipping of the device resulting in loss of rigidity of the penis. The grasping means at both distal and proximal ends are formed by inserting annular or plastic rings. The insertion of annular bodies into the tubing does not provide a leak proof seal. Washing the unit with soap and water after each use can cause leakage into the tubing, which can be a source of contamination. Since the tubing material used in prior art is an opaque off-white colored latex and 'O' rings are used to seal the ends of the tubing, it is difficult to see the soapy solution seeping into the tubing. Therefore, any fluid, natural or otherwise can enter the tubing becoming an environment for bacteria to proliferate.
Although these devices, as well as other types of constriction or clamping devices known in the art, are capable of restricting blood flow from the penis, these devices are subject to several disadvantages in the treatment or prevention of erectile failure. One common disadvantage involves a lack of means to adjust tension and lock the device in place. It is important to restrict veinal outflow to maintain penile rigidity. Insufficient restriction prevent such devices to maintain an erection. Too much restriction may result in user discomfort, numbness and insensitivity which may result in damage to the penile tissue especially if left in place for an extended period of time. Some devices can not be adjusted without removing the clamping device resulting in loss of penile rigidity. Furthermore, since the degree of veinal restriction provided by prior devices depends in part on the stage of the individual's erection, a problem arises when such devices are adjusted to achieve tightness suitable for initial erection but subsequently becomes too restrictive thereafter.

Adjustable tourniquet for venous flow control


A laser alignment system for adjusting a mounting bracket of a lamp is disclosed. The laser alignment system includes an alignment bracket including a body portion defining one or more target features and a plurality of index features. The one or more target features include a target that is configured to align with a laser beam and the plurality of index features that are configured to position the alignment bracket along a surface. The laser alignment system also includes a laser alignment tool including a base, a mount, and a laser device. The mount holds the laser device in place and the laser device is configured to emit the laser beam, and the base of the laser alignment tool is shaped to fit within the mounting bracket for the lamp and the laser device directs the laser beam towards a corresponding one of target features of the alignment bracket.

An aircraft is equipped with landing lights for illuminating the terrain and runway ahead during takeoff and landing. The aircraft may also include runway turnoff lights, which are often installed on the leading edges of the wings. The runway turnoff lights are used to illuminate high-speed runway exits as the aircraft decelerates during landing.
The landing and the runway turnoff lights require very precise installation accuracy. Thus, if there is even a relatively small deviation in the installation angle of the brackets that hold the landing light, this may result in insufficient lighting in the area in front of the aircraft. During assembly of the aircraft, the brackets that hold the landing and the runway turnoff lights are aligned using a laser tool.
The alignment process becomes especially time consuming and labor intensive when performed with the airplane on wheels instead of at a manufacturing facility. This is because the brackets that hold the landing lights are high above the ground and may only be reached by lifting personnel up into the air using machinery, such as a hi-lift. For example, one type of aircraft requires four individuals working for about sixteen hours to align the landing and runway turnoff lights.

Laser alignment system for a lamp mounting bracket


A scanning method used by a laser radar for scanning a predetermined scanning region with a laser beam so that the whole of the scanning region is illuminated with the laser beam, is disclosed in which a laser beam makes a first spiral scanning outwardly or inwardly and then makes a second spiral scanning inwardly or outwardly so that the rotational direction of the second spiral scanning is the same as that of the first spiral scanning, and the first spiral scanning and the second spiral scanning are repeated. According to this scanning method, the output of drive means for driving an optical system which causes a laser beam to perform a scanning, can be reduced, since a maximum power necessary for causing a body large in inertia to make a curvilinear or rotational motion is far smaller than a maximum power necessary for causing the body to make a linear motion.

The present invention relates to a scanning method used by a laser radar for scanning a desired region with a laser beam to detect a target, and a laser radar for carrying out the scanning method.
In a conventional laser radar, as described in a Japanese patent application JP-A No. 57-125,371, a laser beam performs a raster scanning.
In a raster scan, as shown in FIG. 13, a laser beam 5 makes a linear scanning in a predetermined scanning region 1 in each of X- and Y-directions.
In a laser radar, it is required to make small the divergence angle of a laser beam, and thus an optical system for shaping and transmitting the laser beam is obliged to become large in size and weight. The above optical system is driven so that a desired region is scanned with the laser beam. In a case where the laser beam performs a raster scanning operation, a body large inertia is required to move linearly. Thus, there arises a problem that drive means such as X- and Y-scanners become large in size. The divergence angle 1/4 of a laser beam is given by the following equation: EQU tan1/4=1.22.lambda./D (1)
where D indicates the effective diameter of a lens, and .lambda. the wavelength of the laser beam. For example, in order to make the angle 1/4 equal to 10 .mu. rad in a case where the laser beam has a wavelength of 10.6 .mu.m, it is necessary to make the effective diameter of the lens greater than about 1.3 m. When the lens is made of fuzed silica having a density .function. of 2.2 g/cm.sup.3, the weight of the lens is in the order of 600 Kg. A maximum torque T.sub.max necessary for rotating the lens in a time t.sub.F equal to 100 ms through an angle .theta..sub.F equal to 0.1 rad by a bang-bang control, is given by the following equation: ##EQU1## where J indicates the moment of inertia of the lens.
When a disc having a diameter of 1.3 m and a thickness of 0.2 m is used as an approximation of the lens, the moment of inertia J is nearly equal to 60 Kgm.sup.2. Thus, it is known from the equation (2) that the maximum torque T.sub.max is about 2400 Nm. From an equation T=D.multidot.F with respect to a rotational motion (where F indicates a drive force), it is known that the drive unit is required to have a maximum output F.sub.max equal to 1800 N.
In a radar using a microwave, as described in a Japanese patent application JP-A No. 51-85,392, a microwave beam makes a spiral scanning different from a raster scanning. In this case, however, the microwave beam makes the spiral scanning for the purpose of finding a target rapidly, and continues the outward spiral scanning till the target is found. That is, the repetition of the scanning for the same region is not taken into consideration. Further, in some cases, the spiral scanning is mixed with a linear scanning. That is, the above-mentioned problem of a laser radar has not been recognized.

Scanning method used by laser radar and laser radar for carrying out the method


The invention concerns a fitment apparatus which includes: a flange having first opening; at least one projection assembly containing at least one second opening in which the projection assembly is attached to the flange such that said first opening and said second opening form a channel; and at least one engagement structure mounted on the projection assembly for detachably securing the fitment apparatus to an interface. The invention also concerns an interchangeable fitment system which includes: a container; and an interface detachably engaged to the container in which the interface has a notch having predetermined dimensions for receiving a first fitment apparatus and a second fitment apparatus. The first and second fitment apparatuses each have an opening corresponding to the predetermined dimensions in which the perimeter of the opening of the second fitment apparatus is not equal to the perimeter of the opening of the first fitment apparatus.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates generally to shipping containers, and more particularly to a fitment apparatus and system for use in such containers.
2. Description of Related Art
Currently, many companies use shipping containers to transport a wide variety of cargo. Notably, a large number of these containers are used to haul fluids. Some of the containers that are used to haul fluids use a durable, inner plastic liner bag as the primary means of fluid containment. Once the cargo reaches its final destination, it must be drained from the shipping container and the plastic bag in which it is stored. As such, the containers used to transport fluid cargo generally contain one or more drainage mechanisms to permit the contents to be drained.
Conventional draining mechanisms typically consist of a fitment and a mechanical securing device for securing the fitment to the shipping container. The fitment usually includes a flange and a threaded female outlet for receiving a threaded male valve that can be attached to a drainage hose or pipe. The mechanical securing device is usually integral to the container and is often sized to receive a fitment of a specific dimension.
The present system, however, suffers from several significant drawbacks. Notably, there is no uniform standard in the shipping industry for mechanical securing devices to secure fitments. Consequently, if a user desires to place a three inch threaded opening fitment in draining mechanism, then the selected container needs to include a securing mechanical device that is able to accommodate a three inch fitment. If the user wishes to switch to a two inch threaded fitment, then it will be necessary to select a container with a mechanical securing device that is able to accommodate a two inch fitment.
The mechanical securing devices used in containers are often able to accommodate either a two inch or three inch fitment but not both sizes. However, even when a container has a mechanical securing device that can accommodate two and three inch fitments, the requirement for containers to include a mechanical securing device complicates container design and adds to manufacturing costs. Further, the mechanical securing devices can jam thereby preventing the fitment form being properly secured. The mechanical securing devices can also capture particles of food or dirt, which can contaminate perishable cargo during the shipping and unloading stages. Thus, what is needed in the art is a new fitment system that can eliminate the need for mechanical securing devices for securing fitments within containers.

Interchangeable fitment apparatus and system


A golf club shaft including a fiber reinforced resin layers and a variety of metal fibers.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates generally to golf clubs and, more particularly, to composite resin/fiber golf club shafts.
2. Description of the Related Art
Many substitutes have been introduced for the hard wood shafts originally used in golf club drivers and irons. Early substitute materials included stainless steel and aluminum. More recently, carbon fiber reinforced resin shafts have become popular. Such shafts are typically hollow and consist of a shaft wall formed around a tapered mandrel. The use of fiber reinforced resin has allowed golf club manufacturers to produce shafts having varying degrees of strength, flexibility and torsional stiffness. As such, manufacturers are able to produce shafts which suit the needs of a wide variety of golfers.
Nevertheless, manufactures are faced with a variety of design issues that have proven difficult to overcome using conventional fiber reinforced resin technologies. For example, some golfers prefer that the center of gravity of the shaft be shifted towards the tip of the shaft in order to increase the striking force when the club head impacts the golf ball. This can be difficult to accomplish with conventional technologies because composite materials are generally light. It is also preferable in some instances to increase the kick of the shaft. One conventional method of increasing the kick of a shaft is to use a large number of graphite fibers that have a very high modulous of elasticity. This method is, however, very expensive. Another method is to alter the shape of the shaft, as is disclosed in commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 5,957,783. Another design issue is the location of the shaft flex point and, more specifically, the inability of shaft designers to precisely predict the location of the flex point when designing a shaft without using excessive amounts of composite material, which can lead to weight and thickness issues.

Golf club shaft having multiple metal fiber layers


A room temperature curable polyether composition, comprising a polyether compound of which at least one terminal has a group, represented by the general formula (1): ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 is an alkyl group or an aryl group, R.sup.2 is a hydrogen atom or a monovalent organic group, R.sup.3 is a divalent organic group, X is a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, a hydroxyl group, an alkoxyl group, an alkenyloxy group, an acyloxy group, a ketoximate group, an amido group, an aminoxy group or a mercapto group and a is an integer of 0 to 2, and of which main chain comprises a fluorine-containing polyether chain, represented by the general formula (2): ##STR2## wherein R.sub.f is a perfluoro group, R.sup.4 is a divalent organic group, m is an integer of 4 or more and n is an integer of 0 or more. The cured product thereof is excellent in rubber properties and is useful as one-part or two-part type elastic sealant. Furthermore it provides an elastic sealant excellent in solvent-resistance, chemical resistance, water repellency, oil repellency, etc.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a room temperature curable polyether composition that can be cured readily with the atmospheric water vapor.
2. Description of the Prior Art
As a room temperature curable polyether composition, a composition comprising a silyl group-terminated polyether which can be cured to form a rubber at room temperatures is proposed in Japanese Pre-examination Patent Publication (KOKAI) No. 54-6097 (1979). However, conventional room temperature curable polyethers are poor in solvent-resistance, chemical resistance, water repellency, oil repellency and heat-resistance.

Room temperature curable polyether composition


Various techniques for virtual entity migration in a computer network is disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a method includes receiving an indication to migrate a virtual machine in a virtual network from an originating network node of the underlay network to a target network node of the underlay network. The method also includes establishing a network tunnel in the underlay network from the originating network node to the target network node in response to receiving the indication to migrate the virtual machine. The method further includes migrating the virtual machine from the originating network node to the target network node following the established network tunnel in the underlay network while maintaining an address of the migrated virtual machine in the virtual network.

Computer networks can have a large number of physical servers interconnected with one another in an underlay network by routers, switches, bridges, or other network devices via wired or wireless network links. Each physical server can host multiple virtualized servers or virtual network functions interconnected with one another in one or more virtual overlay networks supported by the underlay network. Network nodes and network end points of the virtual overlay networks can exchange messages via the underlay network in accordance with one or more network protocols.

Method for virtual machine migration in computer networks


A memory system includes a controller, a buffer, and a nonvolatile memory including a plurality of blocks, wherein each of the blocks includes a plurality of pages and each of the pages includes a plurality of unit data portions. The controller is configured to carry out garbage collection by reading data from one or more pages of a target block of the garbage collection and selectively copying valid unit data portions included in the read data to another block, count a number of invalid unit data portions included in the read data, and accept, in the buffer, unit data portions from a host as write data, up to a number determined based on the counted number, during the garbage collection.

Today, a memory system including a nonvolatile memory is widely used. An example of such a memory system includes a solid state drive (SSD) based on a NAND flash technology. The SSD is characteristic in low power consumption and high-speed performance, and is typically used as a main storage of various computers. Improved performance on data input/output between a host and a memory system is desired.

Storage device that writes data from a host during garbage collection


A memory cell transistor includes a semiconductor substrate, a N-type source region, a N-type drain region, a control gate and a P.sup.+ -type emitter region, which is formed in the surface region of the drain region. An insulating film overlies the source region, the drain region, the emitter region, and the control gate. A contact hole is formed in the insulating film so that the surface of the emitter region is exposed. An emitter electrode is formed in and around the contact hole. A PNP vertical bipolar transistor is constituted by the semiconductor substrate serving as a collector region, a P.sup.+ -type buried layer serving as a collector contact, and the drain region serving as a base region.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to a semiconductor integrated circuit such as a nonvolatile semiconductor memory, and more particularly to a nonvolatile memory cell from which data can be read out at a high speed and a nonvolatile semiconductor memory device having the same.
2. Description of the Related Art Nonvolatile semiconductor memory devices have been widely used, which comprise a multilayer-gate type nonvolatile memory cell transistor having a floating gate and a control gate. The nonvolatile semiconductor memory devices include an EEPROM (electrically erasable and programmable read only memory) and an EPROM (erasable and programmable read only memory).
The conventional multilayer-gate type nonvolatile memory cell transistor having a floating gate and a control gate has a threshold voltage higher than a normal MOS transistor. Hence, the current driving capacity thereof is low and data cannot be easily read out at high speed.

Nonvolatile semiconductor memory circuit with high speed read-out


A cache array, a cache tag and comparator unit and a cache multiplexor are provided to a cache memory. Each cache operation performed against the cache array, read or write, takes only half a clock cycle. The cache tag and comparator unit comprises a cache tag array, a cache miss buffer and control logic. Each cache operation performed against the cache tag array, read or write, also takes only half a clock cycle. The cache miss buffer comprises cache miss descriptive information identifying the current state of a cache fill in progress. The control logic comprises a plurality of combinatorial logics for performing tag match operations. In addition to standard tag match operations, the control logic also conditionally tag matches an accessing address against an address tag stored in the cache miss buffer. Depending on the results of the tag match operations, and further depending on the state of the current cache fill if the accessing address is part of the memory block frame of the current cache fill, the control logic provides appropriate signals to the cache array, the cache multiplexor, the main memory and the instruction/data destination. As a result, subsequent instruction/data requests that are part of a current cache fill in progress can be satisfied without having to wait for the completion of the current cache fill, thereby further reducing cache miss penalties and function unit idle time.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the field of computer systems and their cache memory. More particularly, the present invention relates to cache misses.
2. Art Background
Typically the Central Processing Unit (CPU) in a computer system operates at a substantially faster speed than the main memory. In order to avoid having the CPU idle too often while waiting for data or instructions from the main memory, a cache memory which can operate at a higher speed than the main memory is often used to buffer the data and the instructions between the main memory and the CPU. The data and instructions in memory locations of the main memory are mapped into the cache memory in block frames. Each block frame comprises a plurality of block offsets corresponding to a plurality of memory locations storing a plurality of the data and instructions. To further improve the overall CPU performance, some computer systems employ separate cache memories, one for data and one for instructions.
However, the use of separate cache memories does not solve the problem entirely. When cache read miss occurs, that is, when the datum or instruction requested by the CPU is not in the cache memory, the cache memory has to retrieve the datum or instruction from the main memory. To do so, typically the entire block frame of data or instructions comprising the requested datum or instruction is retrieved, and the CPU goes idle until the retrieval is completed. For other cache performance problems and improvement techniques, see J. L. Hennessy, and D. A. Patterson, Computer Architecture--A Quantitative Approach, pp. 454-461, (Morgan Kaufmann, 1990).
The amount of time it takes to fill the cache memory with the replacement block frame is dependent on the block size and the transfer rate of the cache memory-main memory hierarchy. For example, if the block size is eight (8) words and the speed of the main memory is two (2) block offsets per three (3) clock cycles, then it takes eleven (11) clock cycles to fill the cache memory with the replacement block frame, assuming memory accesses are pipelined. Reducing the block frame size or filling a partial block on cache read miss does not necessarily reduce the CPU idle time, since it will increase the likelihood of future cache read misses.
Various techniques have been used to minimize the amount of CPU idle time waiting for the cache memory when cache read misses occur. One common practice is early restart, that is, as soon as the requested datum or instruction arrives, it is sent to the CPU without waiting for the writing of the entire block to be completed. Therefore, the CPU may resume its execution while the rest of the replacement block frame is being written.
A further refinement of the early restart technique is out of order fetch which is a request to the main memory to retrieve the requested datum or instruction first, skipping all the data or instructions before the requested datum or instruction in the replacement block frame. Like the early restart, the retrieved datum or instruction is sent to the CPU as soon as it is retrieved. Again, the CPU may resume its execution while the rest of the replacement block frame is being retrieved. After retrieving the requested datum or instruction, the main memory continues to retrieve the remaining data and instructions in the replacement block frame, starting with the data and instruction after the requested datum or instruction, and loops around to retrieve the previously skipped data or instructions at the beginning of the block frame, until the end of the block frame is reached. Thus, the CPU can resume execution as soon as the first datum or instruction is retrieved from the main memory.
However, traditional cache memory typically do not allow read and write operations to be performed against them in the same clock cycle. This makes the handling of another request from the CPU while trying to fill the rest of the replacement block frame complicated. As a result, the CPU typically goes idle again after the datum or instruction is executed, and waits for the remaining retrievals to be completed. The CPU goes idle and waits, even if the subsequent datum or instruction requested by the CPU is already in the cache memory or part of the remaining data or instructions being retrieved. Thus, the benefits from early restart and out of order fetch is limited, if the CPU is likely to complete its execution before the rest of the replacement block frame is written. This is especially likely to occur on computer systems where the number of clock cycles required to execute a typical instruction is small, for example, RISC computers, in particular, Super-Scaler RISC computers where more than one instruction is executed in each clock cycle.
Today, some modern cache memory do allow read and write operations to be performed against them in the same clock cycle, thus providing new opportunities for further reducing cache miss penalties, particularly CPU idle time, and improving cache and overall system performance. Subsequent requests for data or instructions that are in the cache memory can be satisfied during the second half of the clock cycle. The problem is knowing that the data or instructions are in the cache memory and synchronizing their read out from the cache memory to the second half of the clock cycle, without substantial investment in additional hardware. Likewise, to satisfy the subsequent requests for data or instructions that are in the process of being retrieved from the main memory, the problem is knowing when the data or instructions are retrieved and synchronizing their direct transfer to CPU with their retrieval, without substantial investment in additional hardware.
Thus, it is desirable to provide a new approach to fetching data from cache memory which allow read and write operations to be performed in the same clock cycle that further reduces CPU idle time. It is particularly desirable if cache miss penalties are reduced. It is also desirable if subsequent data being fetched by the CPU can be returned to the CPU during a cache memory fill and without having the CPU remain idle waiting for the cache memory fill to complete, if the data being fetched is part of the memory block frame currently being cached.
As will be described, these objects and desired results are among the objects and desired results of the present invention, which overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art, and provides a method and cache memory controller for fetching data for a CPU that further reduces CPU idle time.

Cache miss buffer adapted to satisfy read requests to portions of a cache fill in progress without waiting for the cache fill to complete


A music information retrieval system and method that involve a query-by-humming (QbH) database system for processing queries in the form of analog audio sequences which encompass recorded parts of sung, hummed or whistled tunes, recorded parts of a melody played on a musical instrument or a speaker's recorded voice articulating at least one part of a song's lyrics to retrieve textual background information about a musical piece whose score is stored in an integrated database of said system after having analyzed and recognized said melody.

The present invention relates to the field of music information retrieval systems, in particular to a system that can be applied to retrieve information about a played, sung or hummed melody stored e.g. in a database.
Traditional ways of querying music databases where a user has to type in the title of a song, the name of an interpreter or any other information referring to a specific song, are limited by the growing number of songs stored in said music databases, which makes it difficult for the user to find the song he/she wishes to hear.
An example for a content-based retrieval method is query-by-humming (QbH). QbH systems particularly aim at searching a desired piece of music by accepting queries in the form of sung, hummed or whistled tunes, e.g. in order to find a song from a music library but has forgotten its title or composer.
One of the first QbH system was developed and described in 1995 by the authors A. Ghias, J. Logan, D. Chamberlin, and B. C. Smith in their article "Query by Humming, Musical Information Retrieval in an Audio Database" (Proc. of ACM Multimedia Conf., pp. 231-236, 1995). The QbH system makes it possible to find a song even though the user only knows its melody. It thereby provides a very fast and effective query method when looking for a particular song in a large music database.
As depicted in FIGS. 1a-c, 2a and 2b, a QbH system basically takes a hummed melody as input data and compares it with the songs stored in an integrated database. The output data of the QbH system is usually a ranked list of songs classified in the order of similarity. The first song listed should therefore be the searched song. Since the comparison has to be done between two media of the same type, the hummed melody as well as the files of the database have to be transformed into a format that allows the comparison to be made. For this reason, the hummed melody is first transcribed into musical notation from which the relevant information is then extracted. The extraction of note information from a stave is also known as a "description". As depicted in FIG. 2b, the files stored in said database, which contain the scores of stored songs, go through the same description procedure. Thereby, musical key characteristics (descriptors) are extracted from said files, and a new database of files is created which are in the same format as the transformed hummed melody.
Recent works on QbH are mainly focused on melody representations, similarity measures and matching processing. In some works, only pitch contours (which means the intervals and interval directions of a melody) are used to represent a song. A three-state QbH system, a so-called "UDS system", is based on the assumption that a typical person does not hum correctly. This is actually the case for two reasons: First, people make mistakes in remembering the song they wish to hum and second, people make mistakes in actually humming correctly the song. Based on this assumption, scientists have created a UDS system which supports these kinds of errors.
A UDS system consists of a description of the musical notation obtained by the transcription of a hummed tune into a string of U, D and S letters, and comparing this string to the UDS strings derived from the songs stored in a database. The description is based on the intervals between the recognized notes of the hummed tune. As illustrated in FIGS. 3a-c, an ascending interval is coded by the letter U ("up"), a descending interval is coded by the letter D ("down"), and a "null interval" (a perfect prime) is coded by the letter S ("same"). Finally, the same description is applied to the melodies of various songs stored in the database, and a comparison is made between the UDS string derived from the hummed tune and the UDS string of each stored melody.
As this method deals with interval directions and not with the particular notes of a hummed song's melody, the system works independently from the key of the hummed melody and tolerates wrong notes as long as the interval directions of the hummed tune are correct. The QbH system thus gives a lot of freedom to the hummer, who just needs to be able to make the difference between ascending intervals (U), descending intervals (D) and so-called "null intervals" (S), which means perfect primes.

Music information retrieval using a 3D search algorithm


A driving circuit of an AC fan motor has an AC to DC converter, a current detecting unit, a step-down divider, a motor driving unit, two windings each having many coils and a harmonic wave elimination unit. The AC to DC converter converts AC power to high voltage DC power. The motor driving unit is connected to the step-down divider to obtain low voltage DC power to operate. The two windings are directly connected to the AC to DC converter through the current wave detect unit to obtain the high voltage DC power. Therefore, the current wave detecting unit can response current changes of windings and then an operator can simulate present current wave of the windings to determine the present operating status of the AC fan motor.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a driving circuit of an AC fan motor and more particularly to an AC fan motor driving circuit providing a current wave detecting capability to adjust the operating status of AC fan motor.
2. Description of Related Art
With reference to FIG. 4, one driving circuit of one AC fan motor has an AC to DC converter (20), a regulated voltage divider (21), a motor driving unit (22), two windings (23), a harmonic wave suppression unit (24) and an current protection unit (25).
The AC to DC converter (20) is connected to the AC power through the current protection unit (25). The AC to DC converter (20) coverts the AC power to high voltage DC power and then outputs the high voltage DC power to regulated voltage divider (21).
With further reference to FIG. 5, the regulated voltage divider (21) has a large resistor, a node and a zener diode (ZD1) connected in series. The large resistor is connected to the AC to DC converter, and may be two large resistors (R1, R2). The node is connected to the large resistor. The zener diode (ZD1) has a breakdown voltage, is connected between the node and ground and operates at the breakdown voltage. Consequently, a regulated low voltage is dropped across the zener diode (ZD1) and provided at the node.
The motor driving unit (22) is connected to the regulated voltage divider (21) to obtain low voltage DC power and has a first transistor (Q1), a second transistor (Q2), a driving IC (IC1) and a Hall sensor (H1). Each transistor (Q1, Q2) has a base terminal (B), a collector terminal (C) and an emitter terminal (E). The driving IC (IC1) has a low voltage DC input, two Hall signal inputs (H+, H−) and two control outputs (O1, O2). The low voltage DC input is connected to the node in the regulated voltage divider (21). The two control outputs (O1, O2) are connected respectively to the base terminals (B) of the transistors (Q1, Q2). The Hall sensor (H1) is connected to the Hall signal inputs (H+, H−) of the driving IC (IC1) and has a low voltage DC input connected to the node in the regulated voltage divider (21). Therefore, the driving IC (IC1) output controlling signals to the base terminals (B) of the transistors (Q1, Q2) to alternately turns the transistors (Q1, Q2) on and off according to the Hall signals from the Hall sensor.
The windings (23) have a first winding (L1) and a second winding (L2) and are connected to the high voltage DC power, the filter (C1) and respectively to the collector terminals (C) of the transistors (Q1, Q2). Since the windings (23) are directly connected to high voltage DC power, a large current is passed through the windings (23). To prevent the windings (23) from being damaged by the large current, each winding (L1, L2) has many coils to increase the resistance. Therefore, the large current will be held in a suitable range to increase the rotation rate of the AC fan motor, and the windings (L1, L2) will not be damaged.
The harmonic wave suppression unit (24) is connected to the high voltage DC power in parallel with the windings (L1, L2) and has two diodes (D2, D3) and a zener diode (ZD2). Each diode (D2, D3, ZD2) has a negative terminal and a positive terminal. The negative terminals of the two diodes (D2, D3) and the zener diode (ZD2) are connected together. The positive terminals of the two diodes (D2, D3) are connected respectively to the collector terminals (C) of the transistors (Q1, Q2). The positive terminal of the zener diode (ZD2) is connected to the high voltage DC power and the filter (C1) to obtain high voltage DC power.
In the driving circuit, the driving IC and Hall sensor are important elements to keep the AC motor in a steady situation. However, the present driving circuit does not have a detecting current through the windings function so the operator can not further adjust the operating status of the AC motor.
Further, the regulated voltage divider uses the two large resistors and zener diode to divide to low voltage, but the two large resistors are easily heated to reduce useful life, since the large current passes through the two large resistors when they are connected to high voltage DC power.
Therefore, the present invention provides a driving circuit of an AC fan motor to add the detecting current wave function and increase the useful life of the regulated voltage divider.

AC fan motor driving circuit having detecting current wave capability


Apparatus for fabricating a fused biconical taper fibre optic coupler includes a hollow furnace (12) having a longitudinal slot (50). Clamp units (14, 16) are provided to hold at least two suitably prepared optical fibres (8, 9) in intimate side-by-side contact. The clamp units are moveable by motors (18, 20) to relatively laterally move the fibres into and out of the furnace (12) through the slot (50). A power supply (60) heats the furnace (12) to in turn heat segments of the fibres therein while these segments are in intimate side-by-side contact to a temperature sufficient to cause the fibre segments to fuse together. Drawings devices (22, 24) associated with the clamp units (14, 16) longitudinally draw the heated fibres while in the hot furnace to cause each fused fibre to develop a biconical taper and so form a coupler.

The usual technique for forming fused biconical taper fibre optic couplers entails disposing respective segments of two or more optical fibres in intimate side-by-side relationship and heating the segments to a temperature sufficient to cause the fibre segments to softer and fuse together. The heated fibres are then longitudinally drawn to cause each of the fused fibres to develop a biconical taper and to thereby form the coupler. A typical disclosure of these steps is to be found in U.S. Pat. No. 4612028 to Abebe.
Known means for effecting heating of the intimately contacted fibre segments include electrical resistance coils, the flames of gas microtorches, and electric arcs. Coils have generally been considered too slow in their heating and cooling rates, and lacking in adequate heat capacity, but flames are liable to cause significant physical damage to the delicate fibres, and also generate undesirable combustion coataminates unless special precautions are taken. For example, U S. Pat. No. 4,439,221 to Smyth et al discloses an improvement on these traditional heating arrangements in which the intimately contacted fibre segments are enclosed in the heating zone within a quartz tube. The fibres are threaded through the tube, which initially acts to protect the fibres and is heated by a flame and is said to thereby act as a furnace to distribute heat to the fibres. After drawing, the tube is retained as a protective packaging sleeve for the coupler.
Similar tubes, typically of quartz or glass and providing both protection and indirect heating, are described in other references. In some cases, the tube is fused into the coupler during heating; in others, it maintains a separate identity and is retained as a packaging sleeve. Australian patent application 46871/85 to Hitachi Ltd, for example, suggests heating the tube with an electric furnace or an oxyhydrogen flame but considers that the furnace is too slow. The reference discloses protective tubes of annular, semi-circular or U-shaped cross-section.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,377,403 to McLandrich discloses a coupler formed from single-mode fibres. The coupler is manufactured by etching the cladding over a given length, longitudinally twisting the fibres (three to ten turns over approximately two centimeters), and fusing the fibres by use of an electric arc. A sheath is placed around the etched, twisted, and fused fibres. A fluid having a refractive index closely matching that of the claddings of the fibres is introduced into the sheath and its ends plugged.
According to U.S. Pat. No. 4,392,712 to Ozeki, a group of optical fibres are placed in side-by-side contact, a quickly solidifying adhesive agent is applied at two positions along the fibres, and the glued fibres are fed into a fusing apparatus. This fusing apparatus comprises a hollow cylindrical heater (a coil of nichrome wire having an elliptical cross-section), clamps for the fibres, and runners driven by a stepping motor. The optical fibres are passed through the heater so that the lengths of the fibres between the two glued positions are located in the heater. The fibres are clamped, and then tightened so as to be straight by runners.
One set of fibre ends is coupled to light sources while the other set of fibre ends is coupled to photoelectric detectors. The heating is continued until the aformentioned portions are fused together. Fusion is measured by the photodetectors as a reduction in the light transmitted through the fibres. At this point, the runners start to move in opposite directions at 1 to 2 mm/sec. to elongate the heated fibre portions to create biconical taper sections. The elongation is continued until the difference in the output powers of the fibres as detected by the detectors is reduced to 0.5 dB.
A microtorch arrangement is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,591,372 to Bricheno.
It is considered by the present inventors that these prior heating arrangements, which were often developed for benchtop fabrication, are generally not well adapted to efficient, reproducible and reliable manufacture of fibre optic couplers on a mass production basis For example, with flame heating, there is practical difficulty in producing consistent flame characteristics such as temperature profile and temporal and spatial stability. Gas flow buffeting of fibres is also a problem. With an arc, it is extremely difficult to sufficiently control the spatial extent of the arc for coupler manufacture.


The disclosed apparatus, systems and methods relate to devices, systems and methods for intra-operative imaging.

The disclosure relates to apparatus, systems and methods for an intra-operative imaging system for visualizing microscopic disease.
Successful treatment of early stage cancer, such as prostate and breast cancer, depends on completely resecting all disease, both gross and microscopic, while sparing healthy tissue. Unfortunately, because microscopic disease is challenging to visualize intraoperatively, yet cancer cells are all too often left behind, significantly increasing the chance of cancer returning across disease sites. Consequently, the surgeon is faced with a difficult clinical decision: remove an additional margin of healthy appearing tissue, risking additional morbidity or risk leaving microscopic disease behind. Microscopic residual disease ("MRD") leads to increased local recurrence ("LR") and, potentially, reduced overall survival ("OS"). Therefore patients are often subjected to additional treatment (such as re-resection, radiation, and/or chemotherapy) to reduce the chance of recurrence; a result that could have been avoided if the entire tumor was initially removed. Although crude methods exist to evaluate tumor in the operating room, definitive identification of MRD can only be determined days later after molecular staining and microscopic visualization of the excised specimen in a pathology laboratory, rendering it ineffective for intraoperative guidance. Similarly microscopic lymph node involvement (mLNI) often goes undetected, and detecting mLNI intraoperatively is of significant importance. Therefore this imager covers both imaging on the tissue surface and several (1-10) millimeters below the surface.
Identification of MRD is a prime concern in almost every oncological case. The device presented here is meant to be a platform imager for use with any disease subsite where surgical resection is necessary for cure, and for which there is a targeted agent capable of labeling and identifying the cancer cell. One example is breast cancer, whereby microscopic tumor is left in the tumor bed in one out of four operations. Microscopic residual disease doubles the rate of recurrence and thereby decreases overall survival. Therefore a repeat operation is essential. This could have avoided if all disease was resected during the initial operation. Another example is in prostate cancer, where a positive margin (another term for microscopic residual disease) increases the chance of cancer recurrence. Due to the morbidity of reoperation, patients with MRD are often advised to receive post-operative radiotherapy, lasting approximately 6 weeks with significant cost and additional side effects. Therefore, there is a need to intraoperatively identify MRD within the tumor bed to guide complete resection in a single surgery preventing both the morbidity and cost associated with multiple therapeutic procedures.
To maintain excellent oncologic outcomes across cancer types, while reducing the need for additional post-operative therapy, intraoperative assessment of MRD and mLNI in real-time with precise localization is critically needed. Thus, there is a need in the art for improved intra-operative resection devices, systems and methods.

Apparatus, systems and methods for intraoperative imaging

The Regents of the University of California


Female and male connectors (10, 20) are provided on body and trim panels (1, 5), respectively. A supporting plate (35) is raised from the trim panel (5), and a loose hole (36) is formed in the supporting plate (35). A leg (31) projects from a bottom end of the male connector (20) and a fastening plate (32) is at the leading end of the leg (31). The leg (31) is inserted into the loose hole (36) and the fastening plate (32) engages surface areas adjacent the loose hole (36). A guiding receptacle (50) is provided on the bottom surface of a holder (11) of the female connector (10). The leg (31) moves in the loose hole (36) of the supporting plate (35) during connection to correct displacement.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a construction for connecting connectors on two plates as the plates are mounted together.
2. Description of the Related Art
A known construction includes a waiting-side connector mounted, for example, on a body panel and connected with a power-supply side wiring harness. The known construction also includes a movable connector mounted, on a trim panel and connected with an electrical or electronic device. The moveable connector is connectable with the waiting-side connector as the trim panel is mounted on the body panel.
The body panel and the trim panel are both large parts. Additionally, the connectors may not have good mounting precision and may be displaced from each other. Thus, the movable connector typically is mounted for vertical and horizontal displacement and has a spring piece on its outer periphery to take up a displacement of the two connectors. Such an assembly is disclosed, for example, in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 10-172656.
The invention was developed for above environment to enlarge a range of displacement of connectors during connection.
The invention is directed to a construction for connecting first and second connectors. The first connector may be on a first member and the second connector on a second member. The construction enables the first and second connectors to be connected with each other as the first and second members are mounted on one another. The second member may comprise a supporting plate for contacting the second connector. The supporting plate is formed with a loose hole and the second connector is formed with a leg insertable into the loose hole while defining a clearance to the loose hole. A fastening portion is provided at the leading end of the leg for sandwiching the supporting plate between the fastening portion and portions of the second connector adjacent the base end of the leg. At least one slanted guide may be at an engaging end of the second connector for positioning the connectors.
The clearance of the leg in the loose hole accommodates displacement, and there is no limit in the dimension of the clearance. Thus, the displacement can be taken up over a wide range. Further, unlike the prior art, a spring piece is not needed, and a smaller force is required to connect the connectors since no returning resilient force is exerted during positioning.
The second connector is connected with the first connector as the second member is mounted on the first member. The two connectors may be offset or rotationally displaced during this connection. However, the slanted guide of the second connector guides the connectors and moves the leg in the loose hole of the supporting plate to correct offsets and angular displacements. Thus, the two connectors are connected efficiently.
The supporting plate preferably has an insertion groove that extends from the loose hole to an outer edge of the supporting plate to permit insertion of the leg in a direction substantially parallel with the supporting plate. Thus, the leg can be introduced into the loose hole even if the fastening portion is formed integrally or unitarily with the leg and the construction can be simplified.
Insertion of the leg into the insertion groove preferably is guided by a projection on a surface of the supporting plate facing either the second connector or the fastening portion.
Spaced apart restricting ribs may be formed on a surface of the supporting plate facing either the second connector or the fastening portion, and a contact rib is formed on the second connector or the fastening portion The contact rib is between the restricting ribs and contacts the restricting ribs to restrict angular rotation of the connector. Thus, the movable range of the connector is not unnecessarily large during rotational displacement.
The second connector preferably is provided with at least one guide rib to be introduced into a corresponding guide groove on the first connector.
At least one shake-preventing rib is provided on either one of surfaces of the supporting plate facing the second connector or the fastening portion.
The invention also relates to a method for connecting connectors. The method comprises providing a first connector on a fixed member and a second connector on a mountable member. The method then comprises providing a supporting plate with a loose hole. The second connector is formed with a leg insertable into the loose hole while defining a clearance to the loose hole, and a fastening portion is provided at the leading end of the leg for tightly holding the supporting plate in cooperation with the second connector.
The method may further comprise employing at least one slanted guide at an end of the second connector for positioning the connectors.
Preferably, the leg is inserted into an insertion groove that extends from the loose hole to an outer edge of the supporting plate in a direction substantially parallel with a surface of the supporting plate.
These and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent upon reading of the following detailed description of preferred embodiments and accompanying drawings. It should be understood that even though embodiments are separately described, single features thereof may be combined to additional embodiments.

Connector construction and a method for connecting a pair of connectors


Embodiments of the present invention recite a computer implemented method and system for estimating skin color from an image. In embodiments of the present invention, an image of a subject and of an imaged reference color set is accessed. In embodiments of the present invention, a controlled infrastructure is not required when capturing the image. At least one skin pixel of the subject is located in the image and a color description of the at least one skin pixel is determined. Then, a color correction function to be applied to the color description of the at least one skin pixel is determined. The color correction function is applied to the color description of the at least one skin pixel to create a modified color description. Finally, the skin color of the subject is estimated based upon an analysis of the modified color description.

Much image processing work has been applied to detecting skin pixels in a digital image. Most of this work does not attempt to produce a single estimate of the skin color a person in the image, but instead simply classifies pixels into skin and non-skin categories, using broad models of skin color that apply across many types of imaging conditions. In many cases, non-skin objects with skin-like color, such as cardboard boxes and wooden tables, are classified as skin pixels by such algorithms. Some prior methods attempt to produce a skin color estimate of a person in an image, but these typically do not account for the effects of the lighting and imaging device at the time of the image capture. Thus, the resulting skin color estimates of the same person in different images may be very different if the lighting or imaging device has been changed.
Much less work has investigated objective measurement of human skin coloration to enable its color classification. Classification of a person's skin coloration would be useful, for example, in the medical field for quantification of skin erythema, lesions, ultra-violet radiation effects, and other phenomena. In the field of computer graphics people could be rendered more accurately in video-conferencing, or their appearance could be improved or altered. In the fashion industry, automated suggestion of personal appearance products, such as clothing, makeup, and eyeglasses, that complement skin tone could be facilitated. In the field of biometrics, automatic classification of skin color could be used as an aid in recognizing a person, or used in systems in which determination of skin coloring is useful.
Prior work in the medical domain currently requires sophisticated, calibrated instrumentation and controlled lighting and is not designed to discriminate skin colors across people. In the field of computer graphics and interfaces, emphasis has been directed to representation and synthesis rather than classification of skin color, and multi-spectral data beyond what a camera normally provides is sometimes required. Other methods use a camera, colorimeter, spectrophotometer, or confocal imaging under controlled illumination to estimate skin color at a specific skin location manually selected by a human operator. Some of these methods obtain spectral reflectance values for the skin with controlled illumination provided by the device itself, thus producing a skin color representation that is independent of the ambient illumination. The disadvantage of such methods is that the capture devices used are much more expensive than a typical camera and require a trained operator.
Other prior work extracts skin color characteristics, such as bi-directional reflectance distribution functions (BRDFs), or melanin and hemoglobin content that are independent of the illuminant and the imaging device. However, that work focused on synthesis of new images of a person under different conditions, such as changed lighting, and did not attempt to extract, from their extensive measured data, a single estimate representing the skin color of the person. Instead, they obtained, in effect, a set of skin color estimates from different locations on the subject's face. The selection, combination, and reduction of these spatially-varying skin color estimates to a single estimate representing the overall skin color requires analysis of facial features and measured color statistics, and is thus non-trivial. Also, some of these methods use multiple images to measure the skin color characteristics.
Some current methods rely upon a controlled infrastructure in which the ambient lighting conditions and the camera processing parameters are carefully calibrated and controlled. Prior knowledge of the camera processing parameters and lighting conditions are necessary in these methods in order to accurately classify the skin color of a person by compensating for these effects in the picture being analyzed. One or more pictures of the subject are taken and analyzed by a human consultant who then generates, for example, a cosmetics consultation to the subject. However, due to the expense and amount of space these facilities require, they are not generally made available to most subjects. Other systems rely upon a plurality of pictures which record different locations of the subject's skin or under different lighting conditions.

Method and system for skin color estimation from an image

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.


A turn broaching machine can be used either as a single turn broaching machine or as a set turn broaching machine with a minimal retooling expense by employing two independently movable tool supports into which either a single turn broaching tool or a turn broaching tool set can be inserted, where the ends are designed so they are suitable for chucking in the chucks of the two tool supports.

Turn broaching machines have recently been used to a great extent for machining crankshafts, camshafts and similar parts. The workpiece, which is usually clamped and driven on both ends, rotates rapidly, and the blades which sit on the perimeter of a disk-shaped tool are engaged on the workpiece. The disk-shaped tool rotates relatively slowly about an axle parallel to the longitudinal axis of the workpiece. The individual blades on the periphery of the disk-shaped tool may all be the same distance from the point of rotation or they may be arranged with increasing distances. In the case where the blades are arranged on an arc and are all the same distance from the point of rotation of the disk-shaped tool, the tool must be advanced in the X direction, i.e., toward the axis of rotation of the workpiece. However, if the blades are arranged so the distance from the point of rotation of the tool increases, then the advance is determined only by the rotation of the tool.
Depending on the given machining application, the blades extend over the entire periphery of the disk-shaped tool or only over a part of the circumference.
This machining principle is used especially for final machining of the bearing faces of crankshafts and camshafts because the cutting pressure acting on the workpiece is much lower than in turning, so these relatively labile workpieces are also subjected to relatively little deformation during machining. In addition, this machining process yields very good surface quality.
Thus far two different types of machines are known for performing turn broaching.
The so-called set-type machines are suitable for holding turn broaching tool sets. These are several disk-shaped individual tools which are arranged together in parallel at a certain distance and are joined by an approximately cylindrical central body with a much smaller diameter so they are all driven together. The central body can also be divided in the longitudinal direction, i.e., a plane parallel to the Z direction, just like each individual tool. The two half-shells are placed on a specially designed carrying shaft when tooling the turn broaching machine, so the carrying shaft runs in the Z direction and joins the two tool supports together in one piece. These two tool supports cannot be lengthened in their mutual position in the Z direction in a so-called set machine and this form a unit with a U-shaped outline and a fixed spacing in the Z direction. Regardless of whether only such tools whose blades have an increasing distance from the center of rotation are used, the tool support can either be moved in the X direction or not. With tool supports that cannot be moved in the X direction, the construction cost of the machine is lower, but on the other hand a specially designed tool must be created for each new application. As a rule, since the main bearing points of such crankshafts are usually aligned with each other, when they must be produced over a long period of time and in large numbers they are therefore finished in one operation.
However, if a number of different workpieces which change frequently must be machined by the turn broaching principle, so-called flexible turn broaching machines are used. These are turn broaching machines that have at least two tool supports that can be moved independently of each other in both X and Z directions, so one disk-shaped tool can be driven in each tool support.
Due to the fact that the tool supports and thus the tools can be moved in both X and Z directions, any rotationally symmetrical surfaces on a wide variety of workpieces can be machined. However, since only two tools, for example, are in use at the same time, the progress made in machining is not as fast as when four or more disk-shaped tools of a turn broaching tool set are in use simultaneously.
Thus these flexible turn broaching machines are especially suitable for machining reciprocating bearings, for remachining individual main bearings or for machining recesses at the transition from the bearing face to the cheek.
In flexible turn broaching machines, the steep taper which must be provided at the end of the spindle with the facing stop attached to it is used as the tool holding fixture which must be aligned in the Z direction, or a standardized jaw chuck is used such as that also used for a spindle head chuck. The disk-shaped tool as well as the central body to which it is attached therefore need no longer be divided in a plane parallel to the Z direction but instead the central body need only be designed on the side facing the tool support so it can be secured and chucked on the tool holding fixture.
This eliminates a number of disadvantages such as those encountered with tool sets that can be divided longitudinally as on such set machines because the half-shells used there must be placed on a specially designed carrier shaft and anchored there, i.e., they must be chucked, so an extremely precise alignment of the two shells in both X and Z directions is required for satisfactory machining results. In addition, a very high gripping power must be applied to secure the shells on the carrying shaft. On the other hand, due to the one-sided chucking of a disk-shaped tool and its central body in a jaw chuck, there cannot be any bilateral chucking of the tool or central body with all the resulting disadvantages.


A CMOS memory array, including a number of bit cells arranged in an array of N rows and M columns includes a duplicate column of bit cells that is used for self-timing. Receipt of an address will access a predetermined number of the bit cells to generate a reset signal that is used to enable sense amplifiers for sampling bit lines of the array.

The present invention is directed generally to semiconductor memory architectures of a type having a number of bit cells arranged in a row and column array. More particularly, the memory includes an additional column of bit cells that are used to produce a self-timed control signal that estimates the time for sampling accessed bit cells.
Semiconductor memory design today typically includes a plurality of memory cells arranged by rows and columns to form an array. Each row of memory cells connects to a word line that, when activated by the decoding of an address, accesses access the bit cells of that row. Word line activation causes the data of each bit cell of the row to be passed to a pair of bit lines of the column in which the bit cell is located. A sense amplifier is then enabled at the appropriate time to sample the voltage difference on the bit lines, and convey the sampled data to a data bus for some other output. Sampling the bit lines too early, i.e., before the differential true/complement voltages are fully developed can result in an incorrect reading of the bit lines. Sampling the bit lines later than really needed tends to slow down operation.
A number of technologies are used to implement such memory architectures. One such technology and architecture is the use of complementary MOS (CMOS) technologies to implement a static RAM (SRAM) memory architecture. Recent advances in this technology and architecture has resulted in memories that have high-speed, low power, and are easy to use (i.e., not refresh circuitry as in dynamic RAM constructions), providing significantly more storage, faster access, and lower price. However, efforts to squeeze more and faster circuitry onto a semiconductor chip has made the circuitry more vulnerable to manufacturing variations, power fluctuations, and operating environmental changes. For example, variations in the process used to produce the memory circuit, can cause the circuitry formed on one part of the semiconductor chip to have different operating characteristics from circuity on another part of that chip. This is particularly troublesome when generating the timing signals, such as the enable signal to tell the sense amplifiers when to sample their respective bit lines. Variations such as these can cause the sense amplifiers to sample bit lines too early, producing possible erroneous data.
One design approach taken to accommodate such variations has been the incorporate of self-timing circuitry to provide, for example, a signal that enables sampling of an accessed cell at the right time. Self-timing allows the generated timing to vary according to similar variations imposed upon the memory itself--whether process variations or variations resulting from operating conditions (e.g., temperature and/or power fluctuations). One such technique is the use of an inverter chain to delay an earlier signal to generate array control signals. This technique, however, has three major disadvantages. First, the delay variation can be enhanced by threshold and supply voltage variations in memory circuits designed for low voltage operation. Therefore, threshold voltage and internal supply voltage variations can cause more delay mismatches between inverter chains in the control section and memory array area Secondly, the bit cell structure often uses small sized transistors, usually a smaller size than minimum W of logic area, in an effort to obtain higher circuit density. These small W transistors are more vulnerable to process variations than typical devices in the inverter chain which magnifies delay mismatches. Lastly, inverter chain delays are dominated in both NMOS and PMOS variations while memory cell current is only a function of NMOS.
Accordingly, an approach that eliminate these disadvantages is needed.

Duplicate bitline self-time technique for reliable memory operation


A method of highlighting linked-to document sections for increased readability uses standard <h1>, <h2> . . . <h6> tags or like to identify different sections within a page, and then highlights from the beginning of a newly-linked-to section up to the beginning of the next section that has an equivalent header tag or a header tag which is higher in the tag hierarchy.

Web browsers have the ability to link into particular sections of a HTML document by using URLs (Uniform Resource Locators) ending in #<id-of-section>. For example, clicking on hyperlinked text from a rendered HTML document may display additional information related to the hyperlinked text on the same display, shifting down the content that was displayed after the hyperlinked text. While this feature is very useful, it is often difficult for the reader to find the end of the section they linked to. This problem also occurs for the top of the section when the section is near the bottom of the document and its height is less than the window height. Normally, the linked-to section would be displayed at the top of the window. However, if the linked-to section is at or very near the bottom of the document the linked-to section may be displayed anywhere in the window, where the user cannot immediately find it. All this makes finding the relevant section difficult.
Thus, what is desirable is a method for discerning, for example, highlighting a linked-to section from the original document. Known techniques such as "selectors" in Cascading Style Sheets (in CSS3) bind style properties to elements/sections of a document in order to solve the similar problem. Known techniques also require special tags to be inserted at various positions in a page, defining when to start the highlighting and when to stop highlighting, which can achieve a similar effect to the method of the present disclosure, but they involve much more complexity for Web page authors or subsequent editing of existing Web pages. For instance, while CSS3 allows new style properties such as highlighting of an identifiable section, it relies on special tags such as nested use of <div> and <span>. In addition, while a page designer may add special tags to be inserted at various positions in a page, defining when to start the highlighting and when to stop highlighting, those tags may be inconsistent with other aspects of their page design, and may not be supported by all browsers.

Highlight linked-to document sections for increased readability

International Business Machines Corporation


A semiconductor light emitting element includes a semiconductor multilayer structure including a first conductive type layer, a second conductive type layer and a light emitting layer sandwiched between the first conductive type layer and the second conductive type layer, a first transparent electrode formed on the second conductive type layer, a reflecting layer formed on the first transparent electrode, and including a smaller area than the first transparent electrode, a second transparent electrode formed on the first transparent electrode so as to cover the reflecting layer, and a pad electrode formed on the second transparent electrode and in a region above the reflecting layer.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a semiconductor light emitting element.
2. Description of the Related Art
JP-A-2008-300719 discloses a semiconductor light emitting element that includes a reflecting layer under a pad electrode in order to prevent light emitted from a light emitting layer from being absorbed by the pad electrode.