The present invention relates to systems and methods for prevention of clashing between multiple conduits spaced closely together and to methods of installation of multiple conduits at the same time. Various aspects of the invention are provided involving separating the at least two transfer conduits, and allowing relative motion between the at least two transfer conduits.

This invention generally relates to fluid transfer conduits (generally steel-walled, and single-walled) that are suspended between two work platforms. Examples of such work platforms include production platforms and drilling platforms (whether floating or weighted to a marine floor, or otherwise), floating service vessels (e.g. FPSOs), and other work platforms that will occur to those of skill in the art. Such conduits are typically referred to as xe2x80x9ccatenaryxe2x80x9d fluid transfer conduits. The invention also relates to systems and methods for prevention of clashing between multiple conduits spaced closely together and to methods of installation of multiple conduits at the same time.
Referring now to FIG. 1, a platform 1 is seen being serviced by floating vessel 2. Platform 1 is held in place by mooring 3, and floating vessel 2 is held by mooring 4 connected to turret 5. Connected between turret 5 and platform 1 are catenary conduits 6a-6c for transfer of fluids between platform 1 and floating vessel 2. Thermal expansion and other phenomena (e.g. internal pressure fluctuations) cause catenary conduits 6a-6c to move relative to each other. If made the same length, they would be too close together in the middle area between platform 1 and vessel 2 and would clash. Therefore, catenary conduits 6a-6c have different lengthsxe2x80x94to prevent them from clashing. Since they are different lengths, however, there are problems.
For example, using different lengths for transfer conduits means that only one transfer conduit is of an optimum length for the particular installation. The additional length of the other transfer conduits, needed to avoid clashing, costs extra money in materials, manufacturing time, installation, towing loads, etc. Therefore, there is a need for a multiple transfer conduit system having transfer conduits of substantially the same length.
Also, each of catenary conduits 6a-6c must be towed individually to the location where platform 1 has been moored. The use of multiple vessels for towing the catenary conduits and the production downtime during the installation of each individual catenary conduit 6a-6c is expensive. Thus, there is also a need for a conduit system between two work platforms that allows for the installation of, and towing of, multiple catenary conduits at one time.
One proposed system for addressing this problem is to use xe2x80x9cflexiblexe2x80x9d conduits. Such conduits are made of multiple layers and are extremely expensive to fabricate. However, due to their particular thermal-expansion qualities, which are much less than the thermal-expansion qualities of the steel pipe catenary conduits illustrated in FIG. 1, flexible conduits can be rigidly clamped together in the middle section between platform 1 and floating vessel 2. Thus, the flexible conduits are made substantially the same length. However, as mentioned before, flexible conduits are more expensive.
Thus, there is a continuing, long-felt need, for a system of steel catenary conduits between a production platform and service vessel in which the transfer conduits having high expansion properties are substantially the same length but do not clash.
Problems described above are addressed by various embodiments of the invention. Common to all embodiments is the separation of transfer conduits while allowing relative motion between them.
According to one aspect of the invention, an apparatus is provided for separating at least two transfer conduits connected between at least two work platforms while allowing for relative motion between the at least two transfer conduits. The apparatus comprises: a first transfer conduit engagement member, a second transfer conduit engagement member, and a separation member between the first and the second transfer conduit engagement members. The separation member allows for relative motion between the first transfer conduit engagement member and the second transfer conduit engagement member while maintaining a minimum distance between the first transfer conduit engagement member and the second transfer conduit engagement member.
According to a more specific example embodiment, the first and second transfer conduit engagement members comprise curved members having inner surfaces arranged for frictional engagement with the first and second transfer conduits, respectively. In some examples, the curved members comprise multi-piece clamps for substantially surrounding the transfer conduits. In another specific embodiment, for use with a third transfer conduit, a third engagement member and a separation member are provided between first and third transfer conduit engagement members.
According to a further aspect of the invention, an apparatus is provided comprising: a means for separating at least two transfer conduits and a means for allowing relative motion between the at least two transfer conduits. In one specific example embodiment, the means for separating comprises a substantially inflexible separation member pivotally connected to at least one of the transfer conduits (for example, through a first collar substantially surrounding a first of the at least two transfer conduits and through a second collar substantially surrounding a second of the at least two transfer conduits). In a further example, there is provided a means for separating a further transfer conduit connected between the at least two work platforms from the at least two transfer conduits.
According to yet another aspect of the invention, a work platform transfer conduit bundle is provided. In this aspect, the bundle comprises at least two transfer conduits, wherein at least one of the at least two transfer conduits comprises a material having a total expansion coefficient (contributed to by, e.g., thermal expansion and internal pressure) sufficient to clash with the other of the transfer conduits at a spacing of the transfer conduits in the bundle, means for separating the at least two transfer conduits, and means for allowing relative motion between the at least two transfer conduits.
In a specific example, means for towing the at least two transfer conduits is also provided (for example, a clamp holding a first end of the at least two transfer conduits). In some examples, the clamp comprises a substantially inflexible clamp and a tow-line receptacle (e.g. a padeye).
In some examples, the means for allowing relative motion between the at least two transfer conduits comprises a substantially rigid separation member pivotally attached to the at least one of the at least two transfer conduits.
According to a further embodiment, buoyancy means (a volume having a density less than water) is attached to the means for separating the at least two transfer conduits. Some examples use a housing entrapping a gas (e.g., a steel can, composite cylinder or other shape, plastic housing, etc.). Other examples use a material in solid phase wherein the material has a density less than water (e.g, urethane, foam, etc.).
In still a further example embodiment of the invention, a tie-down is provided for the buoyancy means, wherein the tie-down holds the buoyancy means in a fixed spacing to the transfer conduits. In as more specific example, a means is provided for holding the buoyancy means in a spaced relation to the transfer conduits (for example, a substantially inflexible line, such as a wire rope or strap) surrounding the buoyancy means and the transfer conduits.
In an even further example embodiment, a separator is provided between the buoyancy means and the transfer conduits, and further separators are between the transfer conduits.
According to yet another aspect of the invention, a method is provided for installation of transfer conduits between a pair of work platforms. The method comprises: towing a bundle of transfer conduits to the work platforms, wherein at least one of the at least two transfer conduits comprises a material having a total expansion coefficient sufficient to clash with the other of the transfer conduits at a spacing of the transfer conduits in the bundle, separating the at least two transfer conduits, and allowing relative motion between the at least two transfer conduits, connecting a first end of a first transfer conduit of the bundle to a first of the pair of work platforms. The method further comprises: connecting a second end of the first transfer conduit of the bundle to a second of the pair of work platforms, connecting a first end of a second transfer conduit of the bundle to the first of the pair of work platforms, and connecting a second end of the second transfer conduit of the bundle to the second of the pair of work platforms. In some embodiments, tow loads of the first end of the first transfer conduit and the second transfer conduit is transferred to a first work vessel in the same load transfer operation.

Transfer conduit system, apparatus, and method


A handrail joint assembly has a mounting disc and plug-in portion. The plug-in portion is fitted with pin holes that align with the through-hole for threading of the pin. A ring cover is externally placed onto the mounting disc. The plug-in portion is formed by the extended and folded flange of the joint, which has an internal flange, an external flange and a terminal flange, such that the pin hole of plug-in portion can penetrate the internal and external flanges. The joint is fabricated from stainless steel.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a joint structure of a handrail, and more particularly to an innovative handrail with a coupling tube at the joint.
2. Description of Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37 CFR 1.97 and 37 CFR 1.98
The existing handrail is assembled and fixed onto the wall via its joint. Since the external diameter of the joint is much bigger than the handrail, the joint is individually fabricated and then combined with the handrail. For this reason, the present invention is intended to improve this coupling joint of the handrail.
The disadvantages of typical prior art structures are detailed in the first prior art structure as shown in FIG. 1, wherein the joint 11 and handrail 12 are soldered with soldering flux 13. However, it is found from the applications that, uneven bead and local shelling of soldering flux likely occur during the soldering process, leading to lower yield and higher cost as well as a time-consuming manufacturing process.
Another disadvantage is shown in the second prior art structure shown in FIG. 2, wherein the joint 21 and handrail 22 are fastened securely by means of screwing. In other words, a screw section 23 is placed at the end of the handrail 22, and a bolt hole 24 set at the center of the joint 21. So, the screw section 23 is screwed into the bolt hole 24 for fastening of the joint 21 and handrail 22. However, it is found that the handrail 22 is made from a pipe with a wall depth only about 1-1.5 mm. So, the thinner screw section 23 will offer an excessively small bonding force of the joint 21 and handrail 22, leading to poorer strength and degraded durability in the application.
Still another disadvantage is shown in the third prior art structure shown in FIG. 3, wherein the joint 31 and handrail 32 are fastened by pin connection. The joint 31 is die-cast from aluminum zinc alloys, and a protruding tube 33 is set at the center of joint 31 for mating with the end 34 of the handrail 32. Two radial through-holes 35, 36 are placed in opposition on the protruding tube 33 and end 34 of the handrail 32, allowing insertion of a pin 37 for a positioning purpose. However, it is found that the handrail 32 is commonly used in a bathroom or toilet, where it is exposed to moisture or cleaning agents with acid corrosion. In such a case, the joint 31 die-cast by aluminum zinc alloys likely generates oxidation and corrosion, leading to loss of structural strength and lower service life. The protruding tube 33 of joint 31 must be thick enough (approx. 3 mm) to support securely the pin. Given the fact that die-cast protruding tube 33 has a solid wall, this design is not perfectly suitable for mass production due to much higher costs, which are disfavored manufacturers.
Thus, to overcome the aforementioned problems of the prior art, it would be an advancement in the art to provide an improved structure that can significantly improve efficacy.
To this end, the inventor has provided the present invention of practicability after deliberate design and evaluation based on years of experience in the production, development and design of related products.


An automotive blade-type fuse and method of manufacturing same are provided. The fuse includes a pair of metallic terminals separated by and in electrical communication with a fuse element. An insulative housing is provided that covers at least a portion of an inner edge of each of the terminals and exposes the outer edges of the terminals and at least a portion of the upper edges of the terminals. The terminals can define grooves that interface with projections extending inwardly from the housing to hold the terminals firmly within the housing. Also, the upper edges of the terminals are bent inward to crimp the housing between an intermediate portion of the terminals and the bent upper end edges.

The present invention relates to fuses and more particularly to automotive fuses.
Automotive fuses, such as blade type fuses are known in the art. Modern electrical blade fuses have been manufactured by Littelfuse, Inc., the assignee of the present invention. Blade fuses protect electrical automotive circuits from current overloads. The protection results from the creation of an opening of a fuse element of the fuse, and therefore in the circuit protected by the fuse. Upon a current overload of a certain magnitude and over a predetermined length of time the fuse element or link breaks or opens.
Blade fuses are used extensively in automobiles. Automobile manufacturers are constantly looking for ways to reduce costs as much as possible. Manufacturers strive to reduce costs, such as material and manufacturing costs, as much as possible. Automobile manufacturers on the other hand are constantly adding more electrical devices and accessories to automobiles. Consequently, automobile circuits having increasingly higher operating voltages. Sixty volt systems for example, are being contemplated and implemented. Higher ratings require more robust conductive elements and more insulation. The trend towards saved rather than lower cost therefore competes against the trend towards higher capacity.
Known blade fuses employ: (i) an insulative housing; (ii) conductive male terminals that fit into female terminals extending from the automobile's fuse block; and (iii) a fuse element connecting the male terminals. The male terminals have typically extended below the insulative housing. When installed in the fuse block, the housing of the fuse sits above the female terminals. The housing in such configuration and placement provides a convenient apparatus or area of the fuse to be grasped and pulled or pushed to remove or replace the fuse, respectively.
In known blade-type fuses, the upper portions of the male terminals, which reside within the housing, provide suitable places to which to secure the insulative housing to the terminals or metal portions of the fuse. Because the upper parts of the terminals sit above the fuse block, the upper parts can be used to define holes, for example, through which the housing is anchored. One common process for attaching the insulative housing to the metal terminals is called a "staking" process. In a heat staking process, heat is applied to the housing at points overlapping or aligned with the holes in the terminals. The applied heat melts or deforms the insulative housing so that the insulative material flows into the holes, hardens and thereafter holds the housing and the terminals together. Another staking method is commonly called a "cold stake", in which the material is deformed by mechanical force alone. No heat is used.
Recently, attempts have been made to reduce the amount of metal in blade-type fuses by eliminating the upper parts of the male terminals so that the resulting fuse fits primarily in between the female terminals of the fuse block and not significantly above the female terminals. One such "low profile" blade fuse is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,359,543. The fuse disclosed therein includes a housing that covers the top of the terminals but enables the outer sides of the terminals to be exposed. The exposed surfaces of the terminals are mated with the female terminals of the fuse block.
One concern facing all blade-type fuses arises when the fuse element opens. The opening of the fuse element coincides with a release of energy, including sound and heat. The air within the housing expands, placing stress on the housing and the attachment mechanisms holding the housing to the terminals. In certain instances if the housing is not properly attached to the terminals, the housing upon a short circuit can come free from the terminals or otherwise become difficult to remove from the fuse block.
The "low profile" fuse, while reducing the amount of metal and insulating material for a given rating, makes insertion and removal more cumbersome because there is less material exposed to grasp. Further, the reduced metal and insulative material reduces the area of overlap between the metal and the insulative material, making the staking or attachment process more difficult and less effective. The housings of known "low profile" fuses may therefore be more susceptible to dislodgement upon opening, creating a situation in which it is difficult to remove the male terminals of the fuse, which are friction fitted to the female terminals of the fuse block. This is especially true in the case of the "low profile" fuse because the male terminals do not extend significantly above the female terminals of the fuse block.
A need therefore exists for a "low profile" type fuse having a housing more securely attached to the terminal portions of the fuse to reduce the likelihood that the housing will become dislodged from the terminals when the fuse element opens.
A further need exists for a "low profile" type fuse that is readily removeable from the fuse block after an overcurrent condition occurs and the element opens.


Disclosed is a system and method to separate solid particle components from a fluid that includes a spherical vessel with a tangential inlet to introduce the fluid and a fluid exhaust and filter arranged on the center line of the interior of the vessel. A combination of pressurized fluid and solid particles enter at the tangential inlet and move primarily in a circular path around the interior of the vessel. The circular path results in the larger mass particles settling at the vessels lower region. Less massive particles may be entrained in the exiting fluid flow toward a filter element where they are removed from the exiting fluid. The vessel has an opening to remove the trapped separated particles.

For over 100 years oil and gas extraction from hydrocarbon-rich subterranean locations has been performed predominately via chipping, drilling or other means in a vertical hole in the earth surface to access oil and gas rich regions. These hydrocarbons have been critical in economic and technical advancement throughout modern civilization and provide energy, transportation fuel, and chemical precursors for fertilizer, materials, pharmaceuticals and a myriad of other chemicals and technologies.
However extracting hydrocarbons has become more difficult and more technical as drillers are required to reach deeper and more difficult reserves and to deliver greater quantities of hydrocarbons from each reserve. Advanced methods to increase extraction include chemical means such as surfactants and solvents in injector wells and Steam Assisted Gravity Drainage or SAGD to name two of several. In addition, many wells use the technique of the horizontal drilling, wherein the drilled well bore or hole, after having been drilled vertically thousands of feet to reach oil-rich strata, will be further drilled substantially horizontally, developing a well bore or hole in the horizontal strata.
Additional methods include mechanical and chemical techniques such as hydraulic fracturing. Hydraulic fracturing or fracking involves injecting a large quantity of high pressure fluid and solid particle mixture into the well, opening existing fissures and fractures and even possibly creating new fissures and fractures, thereby increasing the volume of oil or gas from each well, or to make existing wells produce for longer periods of time.
Generally, these oil, oil and gas, or gas wells, which may be enhanced by hydraulic fracturing produce not only oil and gas but also water, other liquid impurities and particle solids called collectively a fluid stream. The source of the undesirable solids contamination may be from the hydrocarbon-rich rock formation itself or by added materials such as fracturing proppant, for example ceramic spheres or sand. The dimension of the solids will be variable, from high diameter particle and particle aggregates which can nominally be larger than 0.1 inch diameter, to very small diameter particles and particle aggregates, which can be less than 0.005 inch diameter. The proppant is generally used in conjunction with large volumes and pressures of additive containing liquids to expand existing fractures in the formation, and to "prop open" the fissures. The liquids additives are chosen with the objective, among other things, of increasing the viscosity of the fluid so it will better transport the proppant to the end of the fracture. Once the fracturing process is completed, at least a portion of the additive containing liquid or gas or a combination will return through the well bore back to the wellhead, usually under high pressure. Whether the material originated from the hydrocarbon-rich rock formation or from solid materials such as various types of proppants, they are referred to herein as "sand" or "solid particle components" unless otherwise specified.
The combination of solid particle components with a fluid stream, especially under high pressure, will cause surface erosion or deterioration in oil and gas well components such as wellheads, valves, fittings and the like. Erosion caused by the presence of the solid particle components in the fluid stream can cause equipment damage including system failure. System failure can cause massive loss of property and even human life. In addition, these solid particle components also contaminate further processing and can cause significant equipment deterioration over short periods of time.
Sand separating systems, in general, exist to separate solids and solid particle components from a liquid stream or from a gas stream or from a combination of a liquid and gas stream and will be referred to as a fluid stream to describe any combination of gas, oil, water and solids. The systems may be spherical, cylindrical or conical or a combination of cylinder and cone, most often oriented with the long axis of the system in the vertical direction. The dimensions of a conventional fluid and solid separation system are chosen to allow the fluid stream to undergo a sufficiently large velocity drop to facilitate solids removal before the fluid stream exits the separator. In some separator systems, an impact plate may be added internally for the high velocity solids and fluid to impinge.
Historically, these predominately cylindrical or conical separator systems have been effective when the inlet fluid stream has a substantially low velocity and a relatively low fluid flow rate. Additionally, the fluid stream usually has had low fractions of solid particles to overall volume of fluid and said solid particle components are substantially of the same dimension. In the case of added particles, such as for hydraulic fracturing, the particle diameter is selected to be appropriate for a given well. At higher fluid velocities, and greater distribution of the solids dimensions, these conventional separators significantly lose the efficiency of the solid separation. These systems are not suited to high velocity fluid streams containing large amounts of variably sized sand and water compositions that are most often encountered at or near the wellhead. The higher the velocity of incoming fluid and the smaller the solids sizes, the greater the relative drag force on the moving fluid and particles. In this high velocity, small particle sized environment, the standard separator will not function effectively and will not remove a large fraction of the solids.
For a conical or cylindrical sand separator to work safely at pressures in excess of 10,000 psi, the wall thickness of the separator, for example, can be steel more than 3 inches thick. Thus, the size, weight, material and cost of such a system becomes impractical, difficult to manage and cost prohibitive.
A system that can effectively separate a wide range of solid particle sizes from a high volume, high velocity stream in a smaller and lighter package, made with less expensive material is needed in the industry. The separator system of this invention solves these historical shortcomings.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Method and system for solid particle removal


For a host that executes one or more guest virtual machines (GVMs), some embodiments provide a novel encryption method for encrypting the data messages sent by the GVMs. The method initially receives a data message to send for a GVM executing on the host. The method then determines whether it should encrypt the data message based on a set of one or more encryption rules. When the process determines that it should encrypt the received data message, it encrypts the data message and forwards the encrypted data message to its destination; otherwise, the method just forwards the received data message unencrypted to its destination. In some embodiments, the host encrypts differently the data messages for different GVMs that execute on the host. When two different GVMs are part of two different logical overlay networks that are implemented on common network fabric, the method in some embodiments encrypts the data messages exchanged between the GVMs of one logical network differently than the data messages exchanged between the GVMs of another logical network. In some embodiments, the method can also encrypt different types of data messages from the same GVM differently. Also, in some embodiments, the method can dynamically enforce encryption rules in response to dynamically detected events, such as malware infections.

Enterprises (e.g., financial service providers, healthcare providers, critical infrastructure providers, etc.) store valuable data, and transfer it over networks. Information spreads across datacenters often through dedicated telco-provided networks. Overlay networks provide the same service across the wide area network (WAN) on a public network for enterprises, and are susceptible to threats such as snooping, man in the middle attack (MITM), and forging. As enterprises widely adopt cloud-based Software-Defined Data Center (SDDC) instead of dedicated datacenters, new challenges are introduced, and protecting the data flowing into, within, and out of the cloud becomes a necessity. The privacy guarantee of private datacenters is no longer assumed, and threats similar to those in the Internet prevail.
Cryptography protects data and communication channels from malicious parties, provides confidentiality to enterprise dataflow in the cloud, and provides control over the data to the enterprise. However, current approaches to encrypt network data fall short in terms of contextual information, isolation, granularity, or ease of management. For example, IPSec has been a key game changer in business to business (B2B), virtual private networks (VPNs), and branch-office networking. However, IPSec tunneling by the edge devices is oblivious to the application context and the user generating the network traffic, lacks granularity as it encrypts data in bulk, and cannot address various internal threats as the traffic between the virtual machines (VMs) and the edge devices is in plaintext. Moreover, the known problem with traditional IPSec is that both endpoints negotiate a security association, and agree upon a key. In a network that includes N endpoints, the number of keys in the secure overlay is O(N2).
In-VM encryption provides contextual information for fine-grained security decisions. However, in-guest encryption fails to isolate the protected data from the protection mechanism as they both reside in the guest. This scheme also suffers from inability for upgrades, and is extremely difficult to manage from a centralized management console.

Method and apparatus for differently encrypting data messages for different logical networks


In a film cassette capable of propelling a non-protruding film leader to the exterior of the cassette shell, a camming flange is rotated coaxially with respect to a film spool in a film unwinding direction to deflect one of the flanges of the spool firmly against the outermost convolution of the film roll wound on the spool. This enables rotation of the spool in the same direction to propel the film leader out of the cassette shell.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates generally to the field of photography, and particularly to a film cassette containing roll film. More particularly, the invention relates to a film cassette capable of propelling a non-protruding film leader to the exterior of the cassette shell.
2. Description of the Prior Art.
In conventional 35mm film manufacturers' cassettes, such as manufactured by Eastman Kodak Company and Fuji Photo Film Co. Ltd., the filmstrip is wound on a flanged spool which is rotatably supported within a cylindrical shell. A leading section of the filmstrip approximately 21/3 inches long, commonly referred to as a "film leader", protrudes from a light-trapped slit or mouth of the cassette shell. One end of the spool has a short axial extension which projects from the shell, enabling the spool to be turned by hand. If the spool is initially rotated in an unwinding direction, the film roll inside the shell will tend to expand radially since the inner end of the filmstrip is attached to the spool, and the fogged leader section protruding from the slit will remain stationary. The film roll can expand radially until a firm non-slipping relation is established between its outermost convolution and the inner curved wall of the shell. Once this non-slipping relation exists, there is a binding effect between the film roll and the shell which prevents further rotation of the spool in the unwinding direction. Thus, rotation of the spool in the unwinding direction cannot serve to advance the filmstrip out of the shell, and it is necessary in the typical 35mm camera to engage the protruding leader section to draw the filmstrip out of the shell.
A 35mm film cassette has been proposed which, unlike conventional film cassettes, can be operated to automatically advance the filmstrip out of the cassette shell by rotating the film spool in the unwinding direction. The film leader normally does not protrude from the cassette shell. Specifically, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,407,579, granted Oct. 4, 1983, there is disclosed a film cassette wherein the film spool is comprised of two spool pieces constructed to telescopically receive one another. Each spool piece includes a radially extending flange which is adapted to lie closely adjacent to but not in contact with one of the opposite sides of the film roll. A trailing end of the film roll is attached to one of the spool pieces, and a leading end of the roll rests against a cylindrical insert located between the two flanges and the cassette shell. The insert restricts the maximum diameter of the film roll to a value less than the diameter of the flanges, and it includes an integral stripper-guide located immediately ahead of a slot in the insert which leads to the light-trapped film passage opening of the cassette shell. To move the leading end of the film roll over the stripper-guide, into the slot, and through the light-trapped opening, to make it available outside the film cassette, one must manually grasp the opposite ends of the film spool and move the two spool pieces axially toward one another until the flanges are axially positioned in firm clamping relation with the opposite sides of the film roll. While maintaining this inwardly directed manual pressure against the two spool pieces, one then must rotate the film spool relative to the cassette shell in an unwinding direction. As a result, the leading end of the film roll will be rotated relative to the insert, causing it to be advanced over the stripper-guides into the slot, and through the light-trapped opening to the exterior of the cassette shell. The film cassette disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,407,579 has several shortcomings. For one, it must be operated manually to advance the leading end of the film roll to the exterior of the cassette shell. This must be done before the film cassette is loaded into a camera. Another shortcoming is that to increase the gripping effect of the two flanges at the opposite sides of the film roll, the flanges include a friction-producing material such as rubber which is axially compressed against the opposite sides of the film roll. This significantly increases the manufacturing expense of the film cassette. Moreover, it is possible especially in high temperature and/or humidity conditions that the opposite sides of the film roll may adhere to the rubber, in which instance a film advance failure may occur.
Commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 4,846,418, granted July 11, 1989 discloses a film cassette wherein the leading end of a film roll coiled about a film spool is located within the cassette shell. The film spool is comprised of two spool pieces constructed to telescopically receive one another. Each spool piece includes a radially extending flange normally disposed adjacent one of the opposite sides of the film roll. When the film spool is initially rotated in a film unwinding direction, a rotation-responsive cam device coupling the two spool pieces automatically moves one spool piece axially toward the other piece to cause the respective flanges to firmly clamp the film roll at its opposite sides. Then, with continued rotation of the film spool in the same direction, the leading end of the film roll will be advanced over a stripper-guide which strips the leading end from between the flanges and guides it through a light-trapped opening in the cassette shell to the outside of the cassette shell. The two flanges are slightly concave-shaped, and several ribs located on an interior wall of the cassette shell protrude radially between the flanges to circumferentially confine the outermost convolution of the film roll in order to prevent that convolution from clock-springing beyond the periphery of each flange. When the flanges firmly clamp the film roll at its opposite sides, the slight concave shape of the flanges may operate to slightly transversely pinch the outermost convolution of the film roll. In any event, the leading end of the film roll will tend to slightly separate from the next-inward convolution of the film roll to facilitate movement of the leading end over the stripper-guide responsive to rotation of the film spool in the film unwinding direction.


A limited-slip driveline apparatus including a first driveline component that is rotatable relative to a second driveline component. The driveline apparatus also includes a clutch. The driveline apparatus further includes an actuation arrangement for actuating the clutch. The actuation arrangement includes a hydraulic pump that pumps hydraulic fluid through a hydraulic circuit when relative rotation exists between the first and second driveline components. The hydraulic pressure generated by the hydraulic pump within the hydraulic circuit is used to actuate the clutch. The actuation arrangement also includes a flow regulating valve for regulating a hydraulic fluid flow rate through the hydraulic circuit. The flow regulating valve is configured to prevent the hydraulic fluid flow rate from exceeding a set maximum flow rate regardless of a magnitude of the hydraulic pressure in the hydraulic circuit.

Driveline clutches are used to selectively rotationally couple first and second rotatable driveline components. Limited-slip driveline clutches are driveline clutches that selectively couple first and second rotatable driveline components while concurrently permitting a limited/controlled amount of relative rotation between the first and second rotatable driveline components. One application for a limited-slip driveline clutch is in a differential where the driveline clutch is used to limit the rotational slip that can occur within the differential.
A differential is a component of an axle assembly that is used to transfer torque from a drive shaft to a pair of output shafts. The driveshaft drives the differential through the use of a bevel gear that meshes with a ring gear mounted to a housing of the differential. In automotive applications, a differential allows the tires mounted at either end of the axle assembly to rotate at different speeds. This is important when the vehicle is turning because the outer tire travels over an arc of greater distance than the inner tire. Thus, the outer tire must rotate at a faster speed than the inner tire to compensate for the greater distance of travel. The differential includes a gear arrangement that allows torque to be transferred from the driveshaft to the output shafts while concurrently allowing the output shafts to rotate at different speeds as needed.
While differentials are useful in cornering, they can allow vehicles to lose traction, for example, in snow or mud or other slick mediums. If either of the drive wheels loses traction, it will spin at a high rate of speed and the other wheel may not spin at all. To overcome this situation, limited-slip differentials have been developed to shift power from the wheel that has lost traction to the wheel that is not spinning.
Limited-slip differentials have been developed that use a hydraulically actuated clutch to limit differential rotation between the output shafts of the differential. Such limited-slip differentials can include a pump in the form of a gerotor incorporated into the differential housing. Solenoid valves have been used to precisely control the actuation pressure provided to the clutch. However, to be operable, such valves require an electronic controller and valve control hardware/software. This can be expensive. In contrast, a simple orifice is a relatively inexpensive structure that has been used in combination with a hydraulic pump to generate hydraulic pressure for actuating the clutch. However, a non-compensated orifice will provide very different actuation pressures depending upon the rate of flow output from the hydraulic pump. Example limited-slip differentials are disclosed at U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,012,968; 5,310,388; 6,332,522; 6,733,411; 6,789,657; 7,361,144; 7,448,482; and 8,043,184.


Multilayer construction is disclosed. The multilayer construction includes a II-VI semiconductor layer and a Si3N4 layer disposed directly on the II-VI semiconductor layer.

Light emitting diodes (LEDs) are frequently employed as light sources in many different applications including projection display systems, backlights for liquid crystal displays, and the like. LEDs have improved brightness and operational lifetime as compared to conventional light sources. Some light sources include one or more LEDs and one or more multilayer semiconductor constructions for converting light emitted by the LEDs to longer wavelength light. Such semiconductor constructions, however, have limited lifetime due to, for example, poor adhesion between some of the layers within the semiconductor constructions.


An apparatus for opening and closing an armrest is provided. After an armrest is slid to a position, the position of the armrest is selectively locked or unlocked using an armrest locking unit to thus prevent the weight of the armrest or vibrations of a vehicle from accidentally changing the position of the armrest against the intention of the user. The operation of unlocking the opening/closing plate from the console body and the operation of unlocking the sliding cover from the opening/closing plate are performed simultaneously with a single unlocking manipulation to allow a user to rapidly and conveniently perform the operations of opening/closing and sliding the armrest.

Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to an apparatus for opening and closing a sliding armrest console and, more particularly, to an apparatus for opening and closing a sliding armrest console and preventing the sliding and open position of an armrest from being accidentally changed due to vibration while a vehicle is being driven.
Description of the Related Art
A console box having an armrest structure is disposed within a vehicle between the driver's seat and the front seat next to the driver's seat (e.g., front passenger's seat). The console box provides support to a driver's arm or a front passenger's arm placed thereon and is used as a storage compartment. When a driver or a front passenger is sitting on the seat in the front of the vehicle, it is known that an arm is in a comfortable position when the lower portion thereof is lightly supported with the shoulder being relaxed.
Thus, when the driver or the front passenger places an arm on the armrest, it is possible to reduce fatigue caused by long-time driving, thereby preventing an accident that would otherwise occur unexpectedly. In addition, a hinge unit including several elements, such as a hinge and a pivot shaft, is attached to the armrest. With this configuration, the upper part (i.e. the cover) of the armrest may be pivoted, and thus, articles may be contained within the console box. In addition, provided is a locking unit that prevents the console box from being opened when the console box is not used, and thus, the console box functions as the armrest.
Recently, the armrest is configured with the capability of sliding forwards and backwards based on the body conditions of a person sitting on a seat. In other words, the armrest is adjustable and capable of being slid in the forward and backward direction based on the body shape of the person on the seat, and thus, the arm may be supported by the armrest. In particular, the armrest is set to the body conditions of the person on the seat. When the user intends to open the console box in the position in which the armrest is slid forwards, the adjusted position of the armrest causes difficulty in manipulating the locking unit. Thus, after the armrest is required to be slid backwards to thus manipulate the locking unit and access the console box.
However, when the user attempts to use the console box by manipulating the locking unit without completely sliding the armrest backwards, the armrest is erected in the opened position. Then, the armrest may fall downwards due to the weight thereof or due to vibrations of the vehicle, thereby causing noise or injuring the user.
The foregoing is intended merely to aid in the understanding of the background of the present invention, and is not intended to mean that the present invention falls within the purview of the related art that is already known to those skilled in the art.

Apparatus for opening and closing sliding armrest console


A method comprises: measuring reflected and forward power at a power amplifier output; determining if the reflected power equals to or exceeds a first level; if the reflected power is equal to or exceeds the first level, then reduce power of a power amplifier input signal; determining if a standing wave ratio at the power amplifier output equals or exceeds a second level; if the standing wave ratio at the power amplifier output equals or exceeds the second level, then reducing the power amplifier input signal power level and/or sending an alarm; determining if the power amplifier output power equals or exceeds a third level; and if the power output from the power amplifier equals or exceeds the third level, then reducing the power amplifier input signal power level until such power level is less than or equal to the third level and/or sending an alarm.

Transmitters are used in communications systems such as base stations and distributed antenna systems. Transmitters typically employ power amplifiers to boost the power of a transmitted signal.
In the event of an impedance match between the power amplifier and subsequent components such as a diplexer, duplexer, or antenna, the reflected energy may damage the power amplifier. To protect the power amplifier, an isolator such as a ferrite isolator may be inserted after the power amplifier. The isolator terminates reflected energy into a load rather then into the output of the power amplifier. Therefore, the isolator prevents the power amplifier from being damaged by excessive reflected energy.
Isolators, however, are costly, bulky, and have insertion loss. Isolator insertion loss reduces the effective power added efficiency of the transmitter's power amplifier. Therefore, there is a need for an alternative technique for protecting the power amplifier from excessive reflected power.

Methods and apparatuses for power control


A folding line is pressed using both a first and second pressing members of press roller pairs. Further, positions of the first and second pressing members are shifted from each other. When the number of the sheets included in a booklet is a predetermined number or less, the folding line is pressed by only the first pressing member. When the number of the sheets is more than the predetermined number, the folding line is pressed by both the first and second pressing members.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a sheet post-processing apparatus performing post-processing on a folded portion of a bundle of sheets stacked and folded.
2. Description of Related Art
A conventional sheet post-processing apparatus performing post-processing on a sheet on which an image is formed performs saddle-stitch bookbinding, in which a sheet bundle acquired by collecting conveyed sheets is stitched in the vicinity of a center thereof in a conveyance direction for example, doubled at a stitched portion to make it in a booklet-like shape, and then discharged. In this case, the sheet post-processing apparatus thrusts the center portion of the sheet bundle with a thrust member after stitch processing is performed, and pushes the center portion thereof into a nip of a folding roller pair to fold the sheet bundle. Further, U.S. Pat. No. 7,802,779 discusses a sheet post-processing apparatus including a folding-line reinforcing mechanism for reinforcing a folding line of a booklet by moving a roller pair along the folding line while pressing the folding line. With such a configuration, quality, such as an appearance, of the bound sheet bundle can be enhanced.
The sheet post-processing apparatus discussed in the U.S. Pat. No. 7,802,779 may not be able to sufficiently reinforce the folding line only by pressing the folding line once with the roller pair, when the number of sheets forming the booklet is increased or the sheet having a large basis weight is used. Even in such a case, to realize sufficiently reinforcing the folding line, it is conceivable to intermittently move the roller pair, or to move them back and forth a plurality of times. However, such a method for moving the roller pair may take time to perform processing for reinforcing the folding line, thereby lowering productivity.


A system for production planning. A MES provides production information corresponding to a preset time period of a production line, monitors processing of work-in-process (WIP), and provides processing status information of the WIP. A processor determines a move target for the WIP in the production line during the preset time period according to the production information, calculates achieved moves of the WIP, and compares the move target and the achieved moves.

The invention relates generally to production planning, and more particularly to move target setting for a product flow in a manufacturing environment.
In processing lines for semiconductor fabrication, there are various processing stages through which wafer lots proceed to achieve a production goal specified in a master production schedule (MPS). The progress of wafer lots through a processing line is monitored for management purposes. A 'move' is a basic unit for calculating the progress of wafer fabrication. For example, when a wafer completes one processing stage, one 'move' is achieved. Typically, a monthly move target is set for a semiconductor fab, specifying a monthly goal of product moves.
Various conventional methods of move target setting have been developed to manage product flows. According to one conventional method, the move target is determined according to cycle time of product fabrication in a manufacturing system. This method uses the cycle time of the product fabrication and number of working days specified in current month MPS and next month MPS to determine a move target for products for a current month. When the cycle time exceeds the sum of working days of the current month, the MPSs of the next two months are considered in determining the move target of the current month. The conventional method focuses on the quantity of achieved moves, but ignores move targets assigned to products of different months.
According to another conventional method, achieved moves of products are calculated, and a move target thereof is determined accordingly. The achieved moves of a particular product are referred to as the "WIP energy" thereof, and may be used to estimate impact of the WIP profile on move target achievement.
Both methods focus on quantities of moves, and neglect the 'composition' thereof.
Ensuring quantities of moves achieve a preset target, however, cannot guarantee a corresponding delivery requirement being fulfilled. For example, a monthly move target is set as 900,000, and a daily move target is 30,000 accordingly. Monthly delivery requirement, however, may not be fulfilled when daily movement targets are achieved for each working day during the month. For example, there are two products A and B being fabricated, wherein product A is to be delivered this month, while product B is to be delivered next month. When the achieved moves are accomplished on WIPs of product B, and product A is suspended, the delivery requirement of product A may not be fulfilled although the daily move target is achieved. The "composition" of the moves is neglected conventionally, in spite of its importance.

Systems and methods for production planning

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.


An Ethernet SAN system includes an initiator device and a target device coupled together by an Ethernet fabric that includes a plurality of Ethernet switch devices. The Ethernet switch devices exchange L2 FIP domain exchange multicast frames that include domain information associated with each of the Ethernet switch devices. That domain information is then used to exchange L2 FIP path exchange multicast frames that include path information associated with each of the Ethernet switch devices. That path information is then used to calculate path costs associated with at least some of the Ethernet switch devices. Those path costs are then used to exchange L2 FIP device exchange unicast frames that include device information associated with the initiator device and the target device. The Ethernet switch devices then transmit data between the initiator device and the target device based on the device information and the path costs.

The present disclosure relates generally to information handling systems, and more particularly to an Ethernet storage area network system provided with and/or utilized by information handling systems.
As the value and use of information continues to increase, individuals and businesses seek additional ways to process and store information. One option available to users is information handling systems. An information handling system generally processes, compiles, stores, and/or communicates information or data for business, personal, or other purposes thereby allowing users to take advantage of the value of the information. Because technology and information handling needs and requirements vary between different users or applications, information handling systems may also vary regarding what information is handled, how the information is handled, how much information is processed, stored, or communicated, and how quickly and efficiently the information may be processed, stored, or communicated. The variations in information handling systems allow for information handling systems to be general or configured for a specific user or specific use such as financial transaction processing, airline reservations, enterprise data storage, or global communications. In addition, information handling systems may include a variety of hardware and software components that may be configured to process, store, and communicate information and may include one or more computer systems, data storage systems, and networking systems.
Information handling systems such as, for example, switches and storage systems, are sometimes used to provide Storage Area Networks (SANs) in order to allow for the storage and retrieval of data by other information handling systems such as, for example, servers. Conventional SANs, particularly those which store and transmit sensitive data, typically employ Fibre Channel (FC) fabrics (i.e., FC switches and/or other FC networking components), and SAN administrators are typically hesitant to employ Ethernet fabrics (e.g., Ethernet switches and/or other Ethernet networking components) with their SANs despite the lower cost of those Ethernet fabrics due to several deficiencies associated with Ethernet SANs. For example, Ethernet fabrics allow devices to be connected to and unconnected from the Ethernet fabric with little to no effort to authenticate those devices or keep track of which devices are connected to the Ethernet fabric, which can be problematic for use with SANs that store and transmit sensitive information. Furthermore, the state of links between Ethernet switches in an Ethernet fabric is indeterminate and time-lagged, as there is no hardware level link state detection mechanism in Ethernet fabrics other than bit syncing and link indicators, and timeouts are typically used in Ethernet fabrics to determine link states. For example, Ethernet fabrics such as Fiber Channel over Ethernet (FCoE) use keep alive timers and run link state probes, and those techniques requires exchanges that are on the order of seconds, while utilizing retries that provide for link state awareness that lags the actual link state by 10′s of seconds and up to minutes, which causes delays in link state propagation through the Ethernet fabric and associated failover mechanisms.
Further still, Ethernet fabrics are a lossy medium where frames are delivered by best effort and can be dropped due to congestion. Flow control in Ethernet fabrics is typically accomplished by a Media Access Control (MAC) PAUSE frame, which can cause large losses of data frames when Ethernet switches get congested (as frames are discarded by the Ethernet switch cannot process them). The Ethernet Data Center Bridging (DCB) protocol standards made improvements to Ethernet fabric flow control by introducing a more granular version of the MAC PAUSE frame that provides a Priority Flow Control (PFC) mechanism between link endpoints, and adding a requirement that frames cannot just be discarded when an Ethernet switch is congested. However, as with the MAC PAUSE frames discussed above, DCB protocol standards do not provide the deterministic and controllable flow control available in FC fabrics. For these and other reasons, FC fabrics tends to be the fabrics of choice for SANs despite their higher costs.
Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide an improved Ethernet SAN fabric.

System and method for transmitting data via ethernet switch devices in an ethernet fabric


An adjustable micro-optoelectronic system supporting bidirectional transmission, an online upgrade, and online configuration. The system includes: a substrate; and edge connectors, a clock-and-data recovery (CDR) chip for transmitting, a CDR chip for receiving, a microprocessor, and an internal optical system, which are provided on the substrate. The edge connectors serve as an interface of a high-speed electrical signal, and are configured to exchange information between the micro-optoelectronic system and an external environment. The internal optical system is configured to transmit and receive an optical signal. A link for the high-speed electrical signal is connected among the edge connectors, the CDR chip for transmitting, the internal optical system, and the CDR chip for receiving. A communication connection is provided between the microprocessor and each of the edge connectors, the CDR chip for transmitting, the CDR chip for receiving, and the internal optical system.

Emerge of 5G wireless communication brings diversified services requiring a network that is more flexible, more intelligent, more integrated, and more open. Different from the 4G networks, the 5G networks necessitates re-slicing services inevitably. A base band unit (BBU) is split into two logical units, i.e. a central unit (CU) and a distributed unit (DU). A protocol and a function in and above a packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) layer are implemented by the CU, while a protocol and a function below the PDCP layer are implemented by the DU. A radio frequency unit, a part of a function of a baseband physical layer, and an antenna constitute an active antenna unit (AAU). According to a change in architecture of a 5G radio access network (RAN), a 5G bearer network include three parts, i.e., fronthaul (from AAU to DU), midhaul (from DU to CU), and backhaul (from CU to a core network). The 5G networks feature high speed, low latency, high reliability, and high-precision synchronization, which requires that all equipment related to the fronthaul, the midhaul, and the backhaul is capable to transmit a service rapidly, effectively, and with a lowest delay. In an initial stage of 5G, commercial equipment qualified for 5G deployment puts various requirements of service configuration on a micro-optoelectronic system, which serves as a key component of the AAU and the DU. In current local 5G experiments, 100G CWDM4 and 100G WDM PON are main solutions for the fronthaul. The solution of 100G CWDM4 requires lots of fiber resources, and substantially does not provide a function of an online upgrade and online configuration. Thus, it is necessary to re-plug the micro-optoelectronic system in case of an upgrade and configuration at a bottom level. The solution of 100G WDM PON requires a dedicated MAC layer and a dedicated CPRI (common public radio interface) service conversion, and does not provide a function of an online upgrade and online configuration, either.

Adjustable bidirectional transmission micro-optoelectronic system supporting online upgrade configuration


An anemometer with a substrate (12) comprising glass material, the length L of the substrate being considerably greater than the width B and the thickness D. The edge areas (20, 22) of the substrate are not substantially heated by the formation of the surface resistor.

The invention relates to an anemometer for quantity measurement of gases or fluids, in particular for determining an air quantity intake of an internal combustion engine through a channel, having a block-shaped substrate of low thermal conductivity arranged in a channel, having on at least one surface of the substrate a temperature-dependent surface resistor, current connecting means to the surface resistor, and a holder for the substrate.
To achieve in particular for internal combustion engines an optimum combustion sequence, accurate information on the respective air quantity intake must be available. The ignition point, the fuel quantity to be injected and similar can be controlled as a function thereof.
Anemometers are available in a wide variety of designs. Conventional anemometers operate on the constant-temperature principle, as set forth in German patent application DE-AS 26 49 040. To determine the air quantity measurement, a bridge circuit is used in which a temperature-dependent resistor is located. This resistor is electrically heated and subjected to the flow of the fluid to be measured. An electrical control circuit ensures that the heated electrical resistor is heated to a constant temperature. Measurement of the flow through the bridge permits conclusions to be drawn as to the air quantity flowing past the resistor. A second temperature-dependent resistor can be connected in a second bridge leg to compensate for the effect of the intake air temperature.
A time variation in the characteristic curves should be avoided partly by the design of the temperature-dependent resistors and their arrangement in relation to the air flow. The selection and the design of the substrate supporting the resistor are intended to ensure that thermal inertias of the substrate are largely ruled out, to ensure rapid recording of the air quantity or of changes thereto.
As regards the current connecting means, it may be noted that these can be designed in the form of wires, for example, or by soldering or by conductive adhesive attachment to a conductive holder.

Sensycon Gesellschaft fur industrielle Sensor-systeme und ProzeBleitechnik mbH


A configurable switching device includes a switch card coupled to interface with a backplane of a computer chassis, a plurality of PCI-Express switching elements coupled to the switch card, and a configuration means coupled to the switch card, where the configuration means is operable to configure and reconfigure the plurality of PCI-Express switching elements to operate in a plurality of directional fabric domains, and where each of the plurality of PCI-Express switching elements can operate in only one of the plurality of directional fabric domains at a time.

Although the PCI (Peripheral Component Interconnect) Bus has been widely used as a general purpose I/O interconnect standard over the last ten years, it is beginning to hit the limits of its capabilities. Extensions to the PCI standards, such as 64-bit slots and clock speeds of 66 MHz or 100 MHz, have been made, but cannot continue to meet the rapidly increasing bandwidth demands in PCs over the next few years. PCI Express™ has been recently developed to meet this challenge and takes the form of a serial bus architecture.
MicroTCA and AdvancedTCA provided PCI-Express™ switched fabric connectivity. In these platforms, PCI-Express™ switching is supplied by a central switching function for the entire chassis and a processing "root complex" provides the control function. The central switching function creates one continuous domain of PCI-Express™ within the chassis.
The prior art PCI-Express™ switching functions do not allow for multiple, smaller PCI-Express™ domains within a chassis rather than a single unified domain. This is a limitation in multiprocessing systems where multiple control functions are useful. Further, the number and size of these smaller domains will vary from application to application. Currently, there is no method of reconfiguring a PCI-Express™ switching function by a user subsequent to manufacturing. This has the disadvantage of making it difficult for a user to customize and modify the number and size of PCI-Express™ domains within a chassis.
There is a need, not met in the prior art, of a method and apparatus to allow the number and size of PCI-Express™ domains to be varied by a user. Accordingly, there is a significant need for an apparatus that overcomes the deficiencies of the prior art outlined above.
Elements in the Figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements in the Figures may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help improve understanding of various embodiments of the present invention. Furthermore, the terms "first", "second", and the like herein, if any, are used inter alia for distinguishing between similar elements and not necessarily for describing a sequential or chronological order. Moreover, the terms "front", "back", "top", "bottom", "over", "under", and the like in the Description and/or in the Claims, if any, are generally employed for descriptive purposes and not necessarily for comprehensively describing exclusive relative position. Any of the preceding terms so used may be interchanged under appropriate circumstances such that various embodiments of the invention described herein may be capable of operation in other configurations and/or orientations than those explicitly illustrated or otherwise described.

Re-configurable PCI-Express switching device

Emerson Network Power - Embedded Computing, Inc.


An apparatus for evaluating a target of interest of a living subject. In one embodiment, the apparatus has a first light source for generating a broadband light, a second light source for generating a monochromatic light, a beamsplitter optically coupled to the first light source for receiving the broadband light and splitting it into a reference light and a sample light, a reference arm optically coupled to the beamsplitter for receiving the reference light and returning it into the beamsplitter, and a probe having a working end placed proximal to a target of interest of a living subject, optically coupled to the beamsplitter and the second light source for receiving the sample light and the monochromatic light, delivering them from the working end to the target of interest, collecting from the working end a backscattering light and a Raman scattering light that are obtained from interaction of the sample light and the monochromatic light with the target of interest, respectively, and returning the backscattering light into the beamsplitter so as to generate an interference signal between the returned backscattering light and the returned reference light in the beamsplitter.

Skin cancer is the most commonly occurring of all cancers, accounting for more than a million incidences in the United States annually [1]. There are three types of skin cancer including basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), and malignant melanoma.
BCC arises from transformed epidermal stem cells in the basal layer of the epidermis, such that upon pathological analysis, tumor cells have a characteristically columnar appearance. BCC tends to form nests of the tumor cells whose peripheral borders appear as an orderly line of basal cells (termed "peripheral pallisading") and whose centers possess similar cell types with low amounts of cytoplasm. Clinically, BCC presents in four variants: superficial, nodular, pigmented, and sclerosing [2]. Clinical recognition of the BCC variants can be difficult because of their resemblance to other clinical entries such as sebaceous hyperplasia and molluscum contagiosum (nodular BCC) or eczema and psoriasis (superficial BCC).
SCC originates from transformed cells in the stratum spinosum, and has the potential to develop downwards and invade into underlying structures. SCC appears pathologically different from BCC. The tumor nests in SCC are bordered by polygonal cells with larger degrees of cytoplasm than that in BCC. SCC tumor cells also differentiate towards the center of the nests such that the nest centers often have sections of keratinized epidermal cells which appear as "keratinized pearls" [3]. Clinical differentiation of SCC from other skin lesions also normally requires histo-pathological analysis as they can often be confused with keratoacanthomas.
Melanomas arise from transformed melanocytes in the basal layer of the epidermis. The cancerous cells then spread upwards into the epidermis as well as downwards into the dermis and underlying tissues. Clinically, melanomas appear as dark pigmented lesions with four subtypes: Lentigo maligna, superficial spreading melanoma, acral lentiginous melanoma, and nodular melanoma. The first three melanomas initially spread horizontally for years before vertical invasion, and therefore have an excellent prognosis if diagnosed early enough. Nodular melanoma, however, almost immediately begins a vertical growth phase and is therefore associated with a much worse prognosis.
Currently, the gold standard for skin cancer diagnosis is histopathological evaluation of tissue biopsies. Depending on the nature of the skin lesion, different types of biopsies are performed. For protruded skin lesions believed not to be melanocytic, a shave biopsy is performed. For flat lesions and lesions where it is imperative that a full-thickness specimen is taken, a punch biopsy may be advantageous. Almost all small lesions suspected to be melanocytic, however, are removed via excisional biopsy. The excisional biopsy removes the entire lesion including a margin of normal skin at a depth that extends into the subcutaneous tissue. This is to ensure proper analysis of the depth profile of the lesion as well as a precautionary method. In suspicious lesions that are potentially non-melanomas, incisional biopsies are taken where only a portion of the lesion is removed for histological analysis.
Although the current gold standard for evaluation of potentially cancerous skin lesions is effective, it is far from perfect. Biopsy is an invasive and painful procedure that is often unnecessary when the lesions are benign. The biopsy is also a time-consuming and expensive procedure. Additionally, in patients who present with multiple similarly appearing lesions, the selection of the site for biopsy is subjective and could result in misdiagnosis [2]. Thus, there remains a need for a non-invasive technique that can reliably analyze suspicious lesions in situ in real-time and serve as a method to initially guide biopsy and eventually potentially serve as a replacement for histo-pathological analysis.
Raman spectroscopy (RS) is an optical technique that probes the specific molecular content of a sample by collecting in-elastically scattered light. Raman spectroscopy is a regularly used tool in analytical chemistry to determine the presence of specific molecules in mixed samples. Recent studies have shown RS can be utilized for investigating cancerous human tissues. Examples include the analysis of tissues from the breast [4-7], cervix [8,9], bladder and prostate [10], lung [11], and GI tract [12]. Although Raman spectroscopy has been proven to be a powerful tool for the biochemical analysis of tissue, a significant limitation lies in its inability to practically relate biochemical data to tissue structure.
Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is a recently developed imaging modality capable of generating cross-sectional images of tissue micro-structure [13], function [14], and optical properties [15-17]. Clinical applications include imaging of the retina [18] and anterior chamber of the eye [19-22], GI tract [23], coronary vasculature [24]. OCT has also been applied to the in vivo imaging of the skin to examine dermatitis, psoriasis, as well as the effect of varies ointments, water, tape stripping, and UV radiation on normal skin [25-29]. Additionally, the polarization-sensitive OCT has been employed to assess burn depth based on changes in dermal collagen structure [30-32]. Applications of OCT for the imaging of skin cancers, however, have been limited. Initial studies have demonstrated OCT's ability to image tumor nests in basal cell carcinomas, as well as the structure of the horny cysts in seborrheic keratosis [25]. Additional studies have shown the appearance of melanocytic nevi and their correlation with histopathology [33, 34]. However, while OCT is capable of producing cross-sectional images of tissue microstructure with near histological resolution, conventional application prohibits determination of the biochemical composition of tissue anomalies and defects.
Therefore, a heretofore unaddressed need exists in the art to address the aforementioned deficiencies and inadequacies.

Combined raman spectroscopy-optical coherence tomography (RS-OCT) system and applications of the same


An electro-optic modulator includes a substrate including a top surface, a Y-shaped waveguide embedded into the top surface and including a first branch dedicated for transmitting transverse electric wave and a second branch dedicated for transmitting transverse magnetic wave, a ground electrode, a first modulating electrode, and a second modulating electrode. The top surface defines a first groove separating the first branch and the second branch, a second groove, and a third groove at a side of the second branch opposite to the first groove. The first modulating electrode and the ground electrode are located two sides of the first branch. The first modulating electrode covers a first sidewall of the second groove adjacent to the first branch. The ground electrode entirely covers the first groove and the second branch. The second modulating electrode covers a bottom surface of the third groove.

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to integrated optics, and particularly to an electro-optic modulator.
2. Description of Related Art
Electro-optic modulators, such as Mach-Zehner electro-optic modulators, change a refractive index of a branch of a Y-shaped waveguide (hereinafter the second branch) using a modulating electric field, utilizing electro-optic effect. Thus, the modulator can alter a phase of lightwaves traversing the second branch. As a result, the lightwaves traversing the second branch have a phase shift and thus interfere with lightwaves traversing another branch of the Y-shaped waveguide (hereinafter the first branch). An output of the Y-shaped waveguide is modulated as the output depends on the phase shift, which in turn depends on the modulating electric field. However, a bandwidth of the electro-optic modulators is often less than satisfactory.
Therefore, it is desirable to provide an electro-optic modulator, which can overcome the above-mentioned problems.


A device, a system, and methods of securing an authentication device are disclosed. A security system includes an authentication device configured for transmitting a second signal to deactivate the authentication device, in response to receiving a first signal. The authentication device further includes a receiver, a transmitter, an activation device, and a power source, and wherein the second signal includes a unique identifier of the authentication device. The security system further includes an authentication device reader configured for receiving the second signal from the authentication device, extracting the unique identifier from the second signal, and transmitting the extracted unique identifier. The security system further includes an identification data management system configured for storing stored unique identifiers corresponding to authentication devices, storing validity status indicators corresponding to the stored unique identifiers, validating a transaction of the at least one authentication device in response to a combination of the corresponding stored unique identifier and the corresponding validity status indicator, receiving the extracted unique identifier from the authentication device reader, matching the extracted unique identifier with the plurality of stored unique identifiers, and deactivating the authentication device corresponding to the at least one matched stored unique identifier, wherein the deactivation is performed by modifying the corresponding validity status indicator, if a match is found between the extracted unique identifier and at least one stored unique identifier. Also disclosed are a device and methods for securing the authentication device.

Use of electronic cards is increasing rapidly and is gaining widespread acceptance by people. There are many types of electronic cards, such as, for example, an electronic credit card, an electronic debit card, an electronic financial card and an electronic identification card. Electronic credit cards are used extensively as they provide flexibility of use for multiple purposes and users don't have to physically carry large amount of cash, which can be risky.
Recent innovations have brought significant security-related advances to the electronic cards and consumer banking industries. In the 1980s, holographic images were introduced and included on plastic card faces to deter the manufacture of counterfeit cards. More recently, some cards have been configured to include a photograph of the authorized user, thereby obviating the need for a purchaser to present separate identification and decreasing the likelihood of fraud. More recently, smart cards, also known as personal data cards or chip cards, which include a memory chip integral with the card, now provide additional security features.

International Business Machines Corporation


An evacuation system is provided for removing smoke generated during a surgical procedure performed in a surgical room. The evacuation system includes a pre-filter assembly and a replaceable filter cartridge module disposed in the surgical room to permit replacement of used filter cartridge modules with new filter cartridge modules by personnel within the surgical room. A vacuum generator is disposed outside of the surgical room and includes a vacuum pump for establishing an air flow through the replaceable filter cartridge module. The pre-filter assembly includes an elongate flexible suction hose that is adapted for manipulation into position adjacent the medical procedure. A mechanical connection mechanism enables pre-filter assemblies to be easily replaced between each surgical procedure. An accumulated filter usage circuit calculates a quantity of filter capacity available and generates a filter loading signal based on the available capacity. The filter usage is calculated by adjusting usage counter in proportion to the speed of a vacuum motor and pump mechanism.

The subject invention is directed toward the art of medical equipment and, more particularly, to a surgical smoke evacuation system with a unitary filter cartridge module that can be easily replaced and further, including filter usage circuit and display device that accurately shows actual filter usage and is easily readable by medical equipment operators.
The invention is especially well suited for incorporation into overhead surgical equipment management systems and will be described with particular reference thereto. However, as will become apparent, the invention is capable of broader application beyond surgical use and could be supported by and/or integrated into a variety of medical equipment apparatus such as, for example, surgical carts and free standing support stands, and further, could be integrated directly into medical operating room walls, ceilings, or floors, or the like.
It is well known that in many forms of laser surgery, orthopedic surgery, and electro-cauterization, smoke is generated including very fine particles of vaporized tissue, blood, and other bodily fluids sometimes mixed with liquids, bone fragments, and other larger sized debris. It is advantageous to the surgeon to not only remove these surgical by-products from the surgical site because they interfere with access to the surgical site, but also to rid the operating room of the by-products so that they are not inhaled or leaked into inappropriate areas. To that end, various tubular fluid suction apparatus have been proposed for removing liquids and large pieces such as bone fragments that are generated and accumulate within the surgical incision. In addition, a wide range of smoke evacuation systems have been proposed for removing finer airborne particles including smoke and other smaller debris that rises from the surgical site and into the air space of the operating room.
One such laser plume evacuation system is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,409,511 to Paul. As taught there, an elongate section of tubing is carried from the surgical site to a vacuum source by an articulating arm assembly connected from overhead to the ceiling of the operating room. The Paul system proposes a single centrally located centrifugal separator tank, garbage pump, vacuum producer or fan, and HEPA filter, collectively "vacuum source". The vacuum source is sufficiently large to provide adequate air flow to enable multiple simultaneous surgeries to be performed in multiple independent surgical rooms. In that regard, the vacuum source is typically centrally located wherein each of the operating rooms is connected to the vacuum source by a system of tubing strings that are routed overhead through the surgical ceiling network.
One disadvantage of laser plume evacuation systems of the type described is that the filters are not easily replaceable by operating room personnel. The filters are neither modular nor are they located within the same room in which the surgical procedures are performed. Normally, the filters can only be serviced by trained technicians. This makes filter replacement difficult and expensive.
Another disadvantage of the prior art plume evacuation systems is that they offer a mostly inadequate representation of usable filter life remaining. This can compromise surgical procedures because of an inability to properly gauge the useful time remaining on any given filter at the vacuum source. Further, inadequate air flow can unknowingly result when the filter becomes clogged because of gage accuracy limitations.
Typically, filter status signals used in prior art plume evacuation systems are based on calculations derived from either a pressure differential signal or a strict timer value. Commonly, a pressure transducer is disposed adjacent or across the filter medium in order to sense a pressure differential developed between air flows upstream and downstream from the filter medium. As the filter becomes worn and clogged, the pressure differential developed across the filter increases. For that reason, pressure differential type systems are usually accurate only when used within a narrow range of air flow rates. Simple system changes, such as replacing a suction hose with another having a different length or diameter, can result in completely inaccurate pressure differential readings.
Alternatively, absolute counters or timers have been proposed to essentially log total filter usage. The counter or timer is reset whenever the filters are replaced. However, much of the usable filter life is usually wasted because the timers are typically set to expire prematurely based on a "worst case" usage estimate. The counters are almost completely inaccurate when the vacuum system is used outside of its normal flow rate range of operation and when system parameters are changed such as with hose replacement as noted above.
It would therefore be desirable to provide a surgical smoke evacuation system that enables easy filter replacement by personnel in the operating room.
It would also be desirable to provide a replaceable pre-filter assembly including an elongate suction hose segment and a pre-filter housing for collecting larger airborne particles and that is replaceable for each surgical procedure. In that way, a single main smoke filter cartridge module could be used for multiple surgical procedures by simply replacing the pre-filter assembly between each use.
It would further be desirable to provide a means for generating an accurate accumulated filter usage signal that could be used by operating room personnel during surgical procedures to quickly and easily ascertain the usable filter life remaining. Preferably, the accumulated filter usage signal would be an enhanced hybrid of the above-noted strict timer based and strict pressure differential based systems so that none of the usable filter life is wasted and to enable the system to be used over a wide range of vacuum air flow rates without erroneous filter life readings.

Surgical smoke evacuation system with replaceable filter cartridge module and accumulated filter usage display


In the method of manufacturing the DRAM mixed logic memory, first, a pattern of one gate electrode is formed, and then a pattern of another gate electrode is formed. A step of oxidizing a polycrystalline silicon residue is performed thereafter. Therefore, the polycrystalline silicon residue is prevented from being left and prevention of electric short circuit is allowed.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a semiconductor device having a plurality of MIS (Metal Insulator-Semiconductor) transistors with different electric characteristics and a manufacturing method thereof.
2. Description of the Background Art
As a method for improving system performance, System on Chip technology has been actively researched and developed recently. A device particularly drawing attention is a DRAM mixed logic memory device in which a memory portion with large capacity and a logic portion operating at high speed are mounted on a single chip.
In the DRAM mixed logic memory device, an MIS transistor is one of technically important key devices. Specifically, in the DRAM memory cell portion, the MIS transistor must be very small to minimize the size of the memory cell and must include an insulation film capable of enduring high voltage application to accommodate a voltage of a word line of a level higher than power supply voltage.
Conversely, in the DRAM logic portion, as high-speed operation is required, a gate electrode interconnection and source/drain active regions must have low resistance and high current driving capability.
To meet the above described conflicting requirements in the DRAM mixed logic memory device is not easy, and generally the performance of the MIS transistor in the DRAM logic portion is lowered to be equal to the performance of the MIS transistor in the DRAM memory cell portion.
FIGS. 14A and 14B show sectional structures of N type MIS transistors, respectively in the memory cell portion and the logic portion mounted on separate chips according to a conventional art.
Shown in FIGS. 14A and 14B are, a semiconductor substrate 1a, a P type well region 2a, a trench isolation region 3a, gate insulation films 4a and 4b of silicon oxide films or the like, a first polycrystalline silicon film 5a of a polycrystalline silicon film doped with an N type impurity or the like, a second polycrystalline silicon film 5b of an N type polycrystalline silicon film doped with an impurity by ion implantation after the formation of the polycrystalline silicon film, a first silicide layer 6a of a tungsten silicide (WxSiy) layer or the like, a second silicide layer 6b of a titanium silicide, (TixSiy) layer, cobalt silicide (CoxSiy) layer or the like, N- source/drain active regions 7a, an extension region 7b, N+ source/drain active regions 8a, insulation films 9a and 9c of a silicon nitride film, a silicon nitrided oxide insulation film, or the like, an insulation film 9b of a silicon nitrided oxide film, a silicon oxide film (both will be referred to as silicon oxide film hereinafter) or the like, and a third silicide layer 10 of a titanium silicide (TixSiy) layer, a cobalt silicide (CoxSiy) layer or the like formed as a silicide layer on the active region.
First polycrystalline silicon film 5a and first silicide layer 6a form a gate electrode of a first MIS transistor of the memory cell portion. Second polycrystalline silicon film 5b and second silicide layer 6b form a gate electrode of a second MIS transistor of the logic portion.
Insulation film 9c covers the gate electrode of the first MIS transistor of the memory cell portion and insulation film 9b is a sidewall.
In general, the performance of the MIS transistor is improved with a thinner gate insulation film. On the other hand, when the gate insulation film is thin, a voltage applied to the gate is lowered to guarantee the reliability. Therefore, in the memory cell portion where high voltage operation is required, thick gate insulation film 4a is formed whereas in the logic portion where maintenance of a certain level of the performance rather than the high voltage operation is required, thin gate insulation film 4b is formed.
In addition, as the logic portion rather than the memory cell portion must operate at fast speed, a material employed in a silicide has a lower sheet resistance at an electrode interconnection in the logic portion than in the memory cell portion. Additionally, the active region is formed of a silicide to suppress the delay of the transistor operation caused by parasitic resistance.
With reference to FIGS. 15A and 15B, sectional structures of the memory cell portion and the logic portion of the DRAM chip having the above described DRAM mixed logic memory will be described. In the drawings, though the structure is shown only up to a level of a first metal interconnection 26 (described below) for the simplicity, generally about two to six layers of metal interconnections are employed besides first metal interconnection 26.
The memory cell portion shown in FIG. 15A includes, a bit line 21 formed of polycrystalline silicon, a polycide or the like, a storage node 22 formed of polycrystalline silicon or the like, a capacitor dielectric film 23 formed of a silicon oxide film, a silicon nitrided oxide film or the like, and a cell plate 24 formed of polycrystalline silicon or the like. In addition, the structure includes interlayer insulation films 28a, 29 and 30.
In the logic portion shown in FIG. 15B, an N type MIS transistor region 25n of a second MIS transistor and a P type MIS transistor region 25p of a third MIS transistor are arranged. Further, in P type MIS transistor region 25p, a third polycrystalline silicon film 5c of a P type polycrystalline silicon film doped with an impurity through ion implantation after the formation of the polycrystalline silicon film and a second silicide layer 6c of a silicide layer formed on third polycrystalline silicon film 5c are formed. Still further, in P type MIS transistor region 25p, a first metal interconnection 26, and metal plugs 27 connecting first metal interconnection 26 and the active region, and first metal interconnection 26 and the gate electrode (not shown) of the transistor are formed. In some cases, first metal interconnection 26 and metal plug 27 are employed also in the memory cell portion. An interlayer insulation film 28b is also provided.
Next, a method for manufacturing first and second MIS transistors in a memory cell portion and a logic portion of a DRAM mixed logic memory will be described. Here the manufacturing processes up to the formation of interlayer insulation film 28a shown in FIG. 15 will be described and the process after the formation of interlayer insulation film 28a will not be described. In addition, as a manufacturing process of a third MIS transistor, which is a P type MIS transistor, is the same with that of first and second MIS transistor, the description thereof will not be repeated.
With reference to FIG. 16, P type well region 2a and an N type well region 2c (see FIG. 15) are formed on semiconductor substrate 1a.
Then, trench isolation region 3a is formed in a region reaching a certain depth from a surface of P type well region 2a. After the memory cell portion is covered by a resist film 32, a silicon oxide film is formed as gate insulation film 4b of the logic portion in the thickness range of about 2 to 4 nm. Thereafter polycrystalline silicon film 5b not doped with an impurity and a silicon oxide film 31 are formed.
Then, anisotropic etching is performed on silicon oxide film 31 by the photolithography technique. Thereafter anisotropic etching is performed on polycrystalline silicon film 5b and gate insulation film 4b using silicon oxide film 31 as a mask, and the gate electrode pattern of the logic portion is formed.
Then implantation of an n type impurity is performed respectively on the N type MIS transistor and P type MIS transistor of the logic portion, forming n type extension region 7b and an n type extension region 7c (see FIG. 15).
As shown in FIG. 17, after the removal of silicon oxide film 31 on the gate electrode through the wet etching or the like, insulation film 4a of a silicon oxide film or the like is formed. In addition, sidewall 9b of the MIS transistor in the logic portion is formed through etchback technique. Here, through the wet etching or the like, silicon oxide film 31 on the gate electrode has been previously removed.
Then, through N+ implantation for forming'source/drain of the N type MIS transistor in the logic portion, N+ source/drain active region 8a is formed and through P+ implantation for source/drain of the P type MIS transistor, a P+ source/drain active region 8b (see FIG. 15) is formed. Here an N type impurity similar to that in the active region is implanted into polycrystalline silicon layer 5b of the gate electrode of the N type MIS transistor in the logic portion. P type impurity is implanted to the P type MIS transistor in the same manner.
Then after the removal of resist film 32, gate insulation film 4a of the memory cell portion is formed. For example, a silicon oxide film of about 7 to 10 nm thickness is formed.
Next with reference to FIG. 18, first polycrystalline silicon film 5a of a doped polycrystalline silicon film, first silicide layer 6a of a tungsten silicide layer and insulation film 9a of a silicon nitrided oxide film are formed. Thereafter, a resist 33 is formed through the photolithography technique in a portion that is to be the gate electrode of the memory cell portion as shown in the figure.
With reference to FIG. 19, anisotropic etching is performed on insulating film 9a and first polycrystalline silicon film 5a using resist 33 as a mask, and a gate electrode pattern of the memory cell portion is formed. Then an N type impurity is implanted to the memory cell portion. FIG. 19 shows portions after the N- implantation for source/drain.
Next with reference to FIG. 20, insulation film 9c of a silicon nitrided oxide film or the like is formed and is removed in the portion other than the portion corresponding to the memory cell portion through the photolithography technique and etching technique.
Then through sputtering of cobalt (Co), a portion of source/drain region 7b and a portion of second polycrystalline silicon film 5b of the gate electrode in the logic portion are turned into a silicide. Thus, second silicide layer 6b and third silicide layer 10 are formed as shown in FIG. 20. By the following formation of first metal interconnection 26, metal plug 27 and interlayer insulation films 28a, 29, and 30, the DRAM mixed logic memory as shown in FIG. 15 is finished.
The DRAM mixed logic memory device as described above has the following four problems.
First, as the MIS transistor of the memory cell portion is formed after the formation of the MIS transistor in the logic portion, polycrystalline silicon produced at the formation of the gate electrode of the MIS transistor in the memory cell portion is left in the logic portion as a residue. This residual polycrystalline silicon causes an electrical short circuit or the like. As shown in FIG. 19, for example, a polycrystalline silicon residue 34a is left in the proximity of a lower portion of sidewall 9b of the MIS transistor in the logic portion.
Secondly, as the gate electrode structure is different in the memory cell portion and the logic portion, the gate electrode of the memory cell portion is formed after the formation of the source/drain active regions and the gate electrode of the logic portion. Therefore because of the previous formation of the MIS transistor in the logic portion, the effect of heat treatment and impurity diffusion is enhanced at the formation of the MIS transistor of the memory cell portion, and hence a substantial interval between the source/drain active regions become decreased. Therefore, compared with a structure in which each logic is formed separately, it is difficult to shorten the gate length of the logic portion.
Thirdly, as mentioned in the description of the second problem, as unintended extra heat is applied on the device compared with the case in which the DRAM or the logic is formed separately, the DRAM in which use of an ultra small transistor is required cannot be formed prior to the formation of the gate electrode of the logic portion.
Therefore during the etching process for the formation of the gate electrode of the MIS transistor in the logic portion, a surface of the semiconductor substrate in the memory cell portion is affected, for example being damaged by the etching. Thus, a leakage current generated in a storage node region of each memory cell is increased. In view of the structure of the memory cell of the DRAM, the suppression of the leakage current is prerequisite and the condition of leakage current suppression is more stringent in the logic portion.
Fourthly, because of the above described first to third problems, the above described MIS transistor cannot be employed in the DRAM mixed logic memory device in practice. As a result, gate insulation films with different thickness are employed in the memory cell portion and the logic portion, and doped polycrystalline silicon and tungsten silicide are employed for the gate electrode of the logic portion as the common material with the memory cell portion.
Therefore compared with the chip in which a logic is formed separately, sheet resistance of the gate electrode interconnection and the active region in the logic portion are high. In addition, as the P type MIS transistor includes a gate electrode of N type polycrystalline silicon with lower performance than a gate electrode of P type polycrystalline silicon, in other words, as the P type MIS transistor is of a buried channel type with lower performance than a surface channel type, the operation speed of the transistor is not satisfactory.

Semiconductor device and manufacturing method thereof