Embodiments of the present disclosure disclose a method of positioning and a corresponding portable device. In one embodiment, a method of positioning is provided. The method comprises: capturing, by image capturing equipment of a portable device, a visually encoded to in an environment; decoding the visually encoded tag to obtain an identification for generating the visually encoded tag; and determining a location of the portable device in the environment by querying a predefined library using the identification, the library recording correspondences between a set of identifications for generating visually encoded tags and a set of locations in the environment.

A location-based service such as navigation has become a prevalent novel application. In the location-based service, location of a target object needs to be obtained. In an outdoor environment, location information may be obtained by means of a global navigation satellite system (GNSS). Examples of GNSS include a global positioning system (GPS), a Galileo positioning system, and a Beidou satellite positioning system (BDS), and the like. In an indoor environment, the satellite positioning systems usually may not work, and therefore various Indoor Positioning Systems (IPSs) may be used to obtain locations.
In an approach of IPS positioning, the positioning is usually implemented based on communications between a radio beacon transmitter and a terminal device in a wireless communication network. A cellular communication network, such as a 3G/4G mobile communication network and a general packet radio services (GPRS) network, and a computer network, such as a wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi) network, may all be used for indoor positioning.


A monobore wellbore apparatus and method of construction. The apparatus includes a series of overlapping expandable liner sections. The overlapping liner sections may be expanded and pressed to provide no gaps along the length of the liner system. The liner sections may include centralizers and/or circumferential seals that provide sealing functions and spaces between the overlapping liner sections. The liner sections may be lined with a suitable sealing material, including an epoxy or may be filled with cement or another desired materials.

1. Field of the Disclosure
The disclosure relates generally to apparatus and methods for wellbore completion.
2. Description of the Related Art
Hydrocarbons, such as oil and gas, as well as geothermal resources are recovered from a subterranean formation using a wellbore drilled into the formation. Such wellbores are typically completed by placing a casing along the wellbore length, cementing the annulus between the casing and the wellbore and perforating the casing adjacent each production zone. A wellbore casing is often made by joining relatively short pipe sections (for example 30 m long) via threaded connections at the pipe ends. Such conventional casing techniques utilize tubular strings of decreasing diameters and include multiple threaded connections. Monobore wellbore construction utilizing a solid casing design has limitations in terms of achievable collapse resistance of an expanded tubular. Expansion of liner elements connected with threads run a high risk with respect to the achievable long term reliability. The cost of building deep and extended reach wells is very high. Therefore, it is desirable to provide alternative methods of building such wellbores.
Thus, there is a need for improved apparatus and methods for building wellbores for transporting fluid to or from downhole locations without exposing the fluid to the wellbore locations between the surface and the downhole locations.

Apparatus and methods for multi-layer wellbore construction


A money activated beverage dispensing line is disclosed of the soda fountain type in which the dispensing of a beverage from a series of dispensing stations is automatically controlled with consumer interaction. The dispensing line includes a money validator which generates a start signal in response to a correct amount of money being detected as deposited by the consumer. In response to the start signal, a cup dispenser dispenses a cup. An ice dispenser subsequently dispenses ice into the cup. A beverage dispenser at a remote station includes a plurality of beverage dispensing nozzles having dispensing switches which must be manually activated by the consumer to dispense a selected beverage. An interlock control responsive to actuation of a beverage dispensing switch associated with a selected beverage dispensing nozzle disenables a remainder of the dispensing nozzles so that dispensing of beverage from the remainder of dispensing nozzles is prevented during a beverage dispensing cycle. A remote supply cabinet is utilized to supply concentrated syrup to the beverage dispenser. Advantageously, the supply cabinet may be disposed in another room, or up to 200 feet away, so that it does not take up space along with the automated dispensing line, and so it can be serviced out of sight from the dispensing line. Hot water rinsing nozzles are provided at the supply cabinet and at the dispensing nozzles, along with drains, so that the syrup packages and nozzles can be rinsed and maintained in a hygienic condition.

The invention relates to the dispensing of beverages from a money operated dispensing line in the form of a soda fountain in an automatic manner, and method.
Soda fountain type dispensing lines operated manually by the consumer have become increasingly popular in convenience stores, fast-food restaurants and the like. However, the problem occurs that the use and operation of the beverage dispensing line cannot always be effectively monitored. The consumer operated beverage dispensing line in such facilities is often abused. This results in loss of revenues and waste. It is also difficult to achieve a consistent quality of dispensed beverage. The consumer operated beverage dispensing line typically includes a cup rack from which is a cup is manually dispensed by the consumer. Next, there is an ice dispenser typically actuated by a lever pressed against by the cup as held by the purchaser. Next, there is a beverage syrup dispenser also typically actuated by engagement with the cup held by the purchaser. The number of cups, amount of ice, and amount of beverage syrup dispensed is wholly at the control of the consumer. The waste of cups, ice, and syrup and dispensing of a consistent and quality drink are problems to which considerable attention need be given.
Automatic, coin-operated vending machines are known which dispense a cup, ice, and beverage in a single automated cabinet. For example, see U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,169,669; 2,994,421; 2,834,190; and published UK Patent Application no. 2,146,621. The prior vending machines are commonly referred to as "cold drink cup machines". The typical cold drink cup machine includes a single cabinet containing a cup dispenser, and an ice maker which makes ice for dispensing into the cup. The cabinet also contains a number of syrup containers having removable lids so that the syrup can be replenished. The syrup is dispensed along with carbonated water, also supplied from the cabinet, into the cup. A money validator senses the correct amount of money. A cold water bath in the cabinet is maintained at a cold temperature. The carbonated water is produced by a carbonator which carbonates water and has a coil disposed in the cold bath. In addition, there are syrup lines also immersed in cold bath to cool the syrup. However there is always a certain distance of tubing which contains syrup and carbonated water between the water bath and dispensing nozzle that is not cooled. Accordingly, there is a always a certain amount of warm syrup dispensed into the drink. The dispensing head typically includes a dispensing opening for the water and a plurality of the dispensing openings for the syrup so that they are not actually mixed, but are dispensed individually into the cup and mixed in the cup. The syrup containers normally have loose lids. When the syrup is replaced, new syrup is poured on top of the old syrup which often results in a syrup which is not totally fresh. Also, the syrups in the different container can be accidentally mixed.
In addition, while a program for maintaining the cold drink cup machine is often in place, the maintenance is often not carried out because the machine is locked and requires a trained technician to clean properly. There are many lines in the machine in which water and other fluids remain in continuously. These lines becomes contaminated or dirty due to the standing liquid in the lines. The pumps that pump the syrup are diaphragm type pumps which become uncalibrated through continuous use due to the stretching of the diaphragm and other things. In sum, the machine includes many features that are complicated and require adjustment and it is difficult to keep such machines well adjusted and clean so that a consistent quality beverage is dispensed.
The above shortcomings account for some of the unpopularity of beverages dispensed from cold drink cup machines, and the increasing popularity of beverages dispensed from soda fountain type dispensing lines.
Various automatic controls have been employed in beverage dispensing systems. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,517,651 discloses an automatic control system for a cup vending machine which makes use of a microcomputer to compute the time duration for supply of component materials in accordance with stored data and supplied input data. U.S. Pat. No. 4,967,932 discloses a system which has an automatic dispenser unit having a cup conveyor. A cup is automatically dropped and filled with ice at a cup drop position. The cup is then moved by the conveyor to a beverage dispenser. The system employs mechanical arms to move the cups and sensors to detect the position of the cups whereby beverages may be automatically dispensed, particularly, in an assembly line fashion. U.S. Pat. No. 4,628,974 discloses an automated assembly for flowable material having a robot arm which grasps a glass and moves the glass to an ice dispenser and liquor dispenser. The drink is then delivered to the consumer. The cold drink cup machines typically use a timing motor and rotating cam plate arrangement to control the various dispensing times. However, none of the previous automatic systems are suitable for dispensing beverages from a soda fountain dispensing line with remote dispensing stations wherein the consumer handles the cup and interacts with the system at different stations.
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a money activated, beverage dispensing line having a series of remote stations operated by a consumer in an automated manner to provide a quality drink with reduced waste.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a money activated beverage dispensing line of the soda fountain type which is automatic but allows the consumer to have some interaction so that consumers feel they have some control over the dispensing of the beverage and that the beverage is self-made.
Another object of the invention is to provide an automated Beverage dispensing line of the soda fountain type which can be operated by a consumer whom interacts with the system to control the dispensing of a cup, ice, and beverage syrup in a manner that controls waste and quality.


An apparatus renders a plurality of graphical objects of an image on a scanline basis, with each scanline including at least one run of pixels, and each run of pixels being associated with at least one of the graphical objects such that the pixels of the run are within the edges of the at least one graphical object. The apparatus includes a decomposer for decomposing each of the graphical objects into at least one edge representing the corresponding graphical objects, a sorter for sorting one or more arrays containing the edges representing the graphical objects of the image, at least one of the arrays being sorted in an order from a highest priority graphical object to a lowest priority graphical object, and a determining device for, using the one or more arrays, determining edges of the graphical objects defining a run of pixels of at least one of the scanlines, graphical objects contributing to the run of pixels and edges of the contributing graphical objects. In addition, a generator generates the run of pixels by halftoning fill data within the edges of a highest priority contributing graphical object, if the highest priority graphical object contributing to the run of pixels is opaque, and the determining device determines a tiled representation of a portion of the highest priority contributing graphical object using the halftone fill data, wherein the tiled representation is used to generate subsequent runs of pixels corresponding to the highest priority contributing graphical object. Otherwise, the generator generates the run of pixels by compositing data associated with the highest priority contributing graphical object and one or more of further contributing graphical objects and halftoning the composited data.

1. Technical Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to computer graphics and, in particular, to rendering graphical objects. The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for rendering graphical objects. The invention also relates to a computer program product including a computer readable medium having recorded thereon a computer program for rendering graphical objects.
2. Field of the Invention
Many conventional printing systems, such as those based on ink-jet technology, print an image by forming extremely small droplets (dots) of ink onto a page. Most of these conventional printing systems do not utilise continuous-tone printers, as known in the relevant art. That is, dots that form an image printed by one of these conventional printing systems, are either fully present or fully absent. To achieve a wide range of colors, such printers use conventional dithering or halftoning methods that approximate a desired color with a pattern of dots in two or more available colors.
One known method of rendering pages using a printer, includes the steps of generating an image of a page in a frame buffer configured within a computer memory connected to the printer, and then performing a halftoning operation on the image after the image is fully generated for every pixel of the page. In order to then print the image, the arrangement of dots representing the image of the printed page needs to be calculated. Such a calculation is a computationally intensive process particularly if the calculation has to be performed for every pixel on the output page. This problem is further exacerbated if the printer device has a high output resolution.
Another known method of rendering pages on a printer, seeks to reduce memory usage by performing halftoning on each graphical object of an image before the graphical objects are rendered into a frame buffer, thus allowing the frame buffer to be much smaller. However, this method suffers from two major disadvantages. Firstly, graphical objects may overlap, requiring a great deal of work to be done in halftoning areas of graphical objects that will never be printed. Secondly, if graphical objects are not fully opaque (ie possess some transparency) and/or are rendered using logical raster operations, then graphical object data that is below the transparent objects on a page can be destroyed, producing incorrect results in an output image.
Thus, a need clearly exists for an improved rendering method, which provides improvements in both speed and memory usage when rendering opaque and overlapping objects.

System and method for optimising halftoning printer performance


Certain embodiments of the invention may include apparatus, systems and methods for efficient implementation of energy-recapture farms for conditioning electrical power from energy-recapture sources of vehicular mechanical energy, which would otherwise be dissipated, as exemplified by farms for energy-recapture that provide available electrical energy for commercial distribution. Said farms may include one or more energy-recapture sources. One method for aggregation may include a plurality of mechanical energy-recapture devices comprising individual source energy output of one or more energy-recapture sources, measuring conditions of one or more energy-recapture sources via a controller that facilitates communication with one or more energy-recapture sources, and managing the distribution of the conditioned electrical energy to the national electrical grid.

Energy conservation and climate change mitigation have fostered the development of alternatives to the direct use of fossil fuels. Light to electrical energy conversion in the form of solar panels is one alternative. Electrical energy generated by conventional wind turbines is another alternative. In both of these cases, a large area often in a remote geographical location is required so that many solar panels or wind turbines can be assembled into farms to provide significant generation from renewable resources. Among other challenges, the remote location results in power transfer loss when connecting to the National Power Grid.
An alternative [see U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/135,493] that takes advantage of existing real estate to generate power close to potential usage sites and users on the National Power Grid is the harvesting of otherwise dissipated energy from the movement of vehicular traffic.
Just as farms of solar panels and of wind turbines require control systems (addressed in previous patents listed), so do farms of modules engaged in energy harvesting from vehicular traffic given the following special characteristics:                1. Mechanical energy conversion modules are subject to abrasion        2. Modules are exposed in a public space to road traffic and weather hazards rather than confined in fully secured areas        3. Modules not in a protected area so are exposed at night in isolation to human and animal vandalism        4. Modules operation and maintenance must minimize traffic interruptions        5. Module operation must continually maintain and assist vehicular safety
Having noted the common challenges, a need will likely arise for a central system to engineer the energy recapture modules for power-generating efficiency, long-term reliability and sustainable power generation. For example, a utility may monitor the grid power demand and may need to communicate with the energy-recapture farm to determine if the farm has the capacity to meet some or all of the power demand. As the number of energy-recapture modules increases it is important that the collection of inverters appears to the grid as if it was the same as for other power plants. As an energy-recapture farm can include many mechanical-to-electrical energy conversion modules with power inverters there is a need for a centralized control to collectively manage the inverters along with all of the supporting energy farm data as one cohesive system. Such a control system must take into account that the Energy Recapture Modules are in relatively close proximity for a given installation and vehicular traffic flow varies over a 24-hour period. As more energy farms become operational, the communication, coordination, and control among the plurality of farms becomes more and more critical. However, coordination also becomes more difficult when the multiple energy farms (with their multiple associated controllers) are tied together in ad-hoc systems. Therefore, a need exists for systems and methods for controlling power in recapturable energy sources and a means of commercially distributing such power.
An alternative [see U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/136,764] describes the application of advanced technologies to the control of power generated by otherwise dissipated energy from the movement of vehicular traffic.
An energy recapture module for recapturing energy from vehicular traffic and converting it into electrical power and its associated farm control system for conditioning the electrical power for entry into the National Power Grid is faced with challenges for efficient manufacture, for long term sustainability and for optimal distribution to meet energy needs.


A guide blade for a gas turbine is disclosed. The guide blade includes a blade leaf having a receptacle in which at least one sealing element is arranged, where the sealing element is movable relative to the blade leaf between a sealing setting, in which the sealing element is at least partially moved out of the receptacle, and a storage setting, in which the sealing element is moved back into the receptacle. The guide blade further includes at least one fluid channel by which fluid under pressure can be routed into the receptacle in order to move the sealing element from the storage setting into the sealing setting. An inlet opening of the fluid channel is formed on a pressure-side surface of the blade leaf. A housing as well as a gas turbine having at least one guide blade is also disclosed.

The present invention relates to a guide blade for a gas turbine, particularly of an aircraft engine.
Guide blades for gas turbines in various designs are known from the prior art. Guide blades are mounted in a housing of a gas turbine such that the blade leaf of each guide blade is arranged in a flow channel of the housing of the gas turbine and modifies the flow of a downstream rotor. This can increase the efficiency of the gas turbine. One problem here is the gaps between the blade leaves and the neighboring housing components adjoining the flow channel or the annular space. These gaps lead to flow losses that can even completely offset the potential increase in efficiency.
Thus, U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2009/0074563 A1 discloses guide blades equipped with respective sealing elements. The sealing elements are arranged in front receptacles of the blade leaves and can be adjusted between a sealing setting, in which the sealing element is moved out of the receptacle, at least in certain areas, to reduce flow leaks between the blade leaf and an adjacent housing part, and a storage setting, in which the sealing element is moved back into the receptacle opposite the sealing setting. Guide blades are formed to be hollow on the inside, and cooling air flows through them during operation of the assigned gas turbine. A partition wall, breached by a plurality of fluid channels, is located between the interior hollow space of the guide blades and the front receptacle. Part of the cooling air is routed into the receptacle via these fluid channels, whereby the sealing element is moved radially to the outside from the storage setting into the sealing setting in order to reduce the so-called flag gap between the blade end of the blade leaf and the adjacent housing component.
What can be considered disadvantageous with the known guide blades is the fact that only hollow or internally cooled guide blades can be equipped with movable sealing elements in this manner. Furthermore, the cooling air used exerts comparably high pressure, as a matter of principle, on the sealing element, whereby it is subjected to unnecessarily high wear.
The object of the present invention is to provide a guide blade of the aforementioned type that enables more flexible and improved sealing of the gap. Additional objects of the invention are to provide a housing for a gas turbine with at least one such guide blade as well as a gas turbine with at least one such guide blade.
A guide blade enabling more flexible and improved gap sealing is obtained according to a first aspect of the invention in that an inlet opening of the fluid channel is formed on a pressure-side surface of the blade leaf. In other words, according to the invention, the fluid channel does not extend within the blade leaf between a cooling space and the receptacle but rather the fluid channel fluidly connects the receptacle to the pressure-side surface of the blade leaf. This means that guide blades both cooled on the inside and not cooled can be equipped with the adjustable sealing element. Furthermore, previously existing guide blades without such type of receptacles and sealing elements can also be retrofitted easily, because only the receptacle is placed into the guide blade and connected with the pressure-side surface of the blade leaf via the fluid channel. During operation of an assigned gas turbine, a flow of fluid is driven out within the receptacle of the blade leaf, and this fluid also works against the force of gravity from the receptacle to move the sealing element into the sealing setting or in contact with an adjacent component and thus leads to a reduction in or even a complete sealing of the flag gap with a corresponding increase in efficiency. Due to the comparatively low press-on forces that result only from the pressure difference via the guide blade itself, the wear of the sealing element in this case is additionally significantly reduced. The sealing element in this case is preferably formed as a sealing plate.
Other advantages result from the guide blade being formed as a variable guide blade. Variably adjustable guide blades, that is guide blades that can be adjusted opposite the housing or rotated around a rotational axis of the guide blade, enable particularly the optimizing of the absorption capacity of the gas turbine for different operating points, whereby the fuel consumption can be greatly reduced for a task, that is for the sequencing of different operating points. Due to the comparatively low press-on forces on the sealing element that result only from the pressure difference via the guide blade itself, the wear of the sealing element in this case is particularly significantly reduced for a guide blade formed as a variable guide blade. In comparison to conventional, adjustable guide blades, which do not have a moving sealing element, the guide blade according to the invention has significant advantages. With a conventional adjustable guide blade, special contours or recesses must be placed in that section of wall of the flow channel opposite the flag of the adjustable guide blade in order to keep the flag gap for each setting of the adjustable guide blade within an acceptable range.
Such type of contours or recesses in the wall of the flow channel, however, represent a deviation from the ideal wall profile for the flow of the operating medium of the gas turbine and thus lead to a reduction in the efficiency of the gas turbine. Due to the adjustable guide blade according to the invention, such type of contours or recesses can be dispensed with advantageously, because the movable sealing element can, at least to a great extent, always be placed at the contour of the adjacent wall of the flow channel optimum for the flow. Furthermore, with the adjustable guide blade according to the invention, it does not matter whether the size of the flag gap changes due to changing thermal conditions in the gas turbine. The movable sealing element can be placed, at least approximately, at the adjacent wall of the flow channel, independently of the size of the flag gap, and thus, at least to a great extent, close the flag gap.
In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is provided for the inlet opening of the fluid channel to be formed, when considered in the flow direction, downstream of a rotational axis of the variable guide blade. This ensures sufficient press-on forces for the sealing element in all operating positions of the guide blade.
A particularly high sealing effect is enabled in a further embodiment of the invention in that the receptacle, when considered in the flow direction, is downstream of a pin adjoining the blade leaf in the radial direction.
Further advantages result when the receptacle is designed such that an outlet opening of the fluid channel feeding into the receptacle cannot be fully covered by the sealing element. In other words, a provision is that the receptacle and the sealing element are adapted to one another such that the sealing element cannot prevent a flow of the fluid under pressure from the fluid channel into the receptacle, regardless of its setting. This ensures that the sealing element is always subject to a certain amount of minimum pressure during operation of the assigned gas turbine. For example, the sealing element or the receptacle may be roof-shaped for this or have a projection, so that the outlet opening of the fluid channel cannot be completely closed off by the sealing element. Alternatively or in addition, the sealing element may have a recess, which comes to rest in the area of the outlet opening of the fluid channel when the sealing element is moved into the storage setting.
Further advantages result in that a main axis of the fluid channel is arranged at least essentially at a right angle to a main axis of the receptacle. In other words, a provision is that the fluid channel and the receptacle are arranged relative with respect to one another such that the fluid under pressure flows through the fluid channel into the receptacle and is diverted in the receptacle at an angle of about 80°-100°. This ensures the most even impact of pressure possible of the sealing element arranged in the receptacle.
Further advantages result in that the guide blade according to the invention is formed as a compressor blade and/or as a turbine guide blade. In other words, the sealing design according to the invention can be implemented in a compressor or in a turbine of a gas turbine.
A further aspect of the invention relates to a housing for a gas turbine, in which the housing has a flow channel, in which a blade leaf of at least one guide blade is arranged, in which at least one sealing element is arranged, which can be moved, relative to the blade leaf, between a sealing setting, in which the sealing element is moved out of the receptacle, at least in certain areas, to reduce flow leaks between the blade leaf and an adjacent housing part bordering the flow channel, and a storage setting, in which the sealing element is moved back into the receptacle opposite the sealing setting of the adjacent housing component, and in which the guide blade includes at least one fluid channel, by which fluid under pressure can be guided into the receptacle in order to move the sealing element out of the storage setting and into the sealing setting. According to the invention, a provision is that the at least one guide blade be formed according to the first aspect of the invention. The resulting features and the advantages thereof are contained in the descriptions of the first aspect of the invention, in which advantageous embodiments of the first aspect of the invention can be considered advantageous embodiments of the second aspect of the invention. On the other hand, advantageous embodiments of the second aspect of the invention can be considered advantageous embodiments of the first aspect of the invention.
In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, a provision is that the sealing element of the guide blade be formed such that the sealing element makes contact with an adjoining housing component in the sealing setting and is arranged underneath the outlet opening of the fluid channel feeding into the receptacle, in the radial direction of the guide blade. During operation of an assigned gas turbine, it is hereby ensured that the sealing element in the sealing setting is subjected to a defined minimum pressure and is reliably maintained in the sealing setting. In this context, the term "makes contact with" can also be understood to mean that a very small residual gap remains between the sealing element and the housing component bordering it, through which a small amount of leakage flow can exit. In this case, the sealing element would not completely seal off the gap, but the flow would be significantly throttled by the flag gap. The residual gap in this case probably has a gap height that is no more than a fourth, or more preferably no more than an eighth, or even more preferably no more than a tenth the gap height of the flag gap that would exist without the presence of the sealing element according to the invention between the guide blade and the housing component opposite the guide blade. Due to the fact that a small residual gap remains, the sealing element quasi-floats on an air cushion, which means that direct friction contact is prevented between the sealing element and the housing component when the guide blade is adjusted, which facilitates the adjustment process and prevents wear caused by friction.
A third aspect of the invention relates to a gas turbine, particularly an aircraft engine, for example for an airplane, a helicopter, a drone, or another flying device, having at least one guide blade according to the first aspect of the invention, and/or with at least one housing according to the second aspect of the invention. The resulting features and the advantages thereof are contained in the descriptions of the first and/or the second aspect of the invention, in which advantageous embodiments of the first and/or of the second aspect of the invention can be considered advantageous embodiments of the third aspect of the invention.
Additional features of the invention result from the claims, the exemplary embodiment, and the drawings. The features and feature combinations listed previously in the description as well as the features and feature combinations listed in the exemplary embodiment in the following can be used not only in the respectively indicated combinations, but also in other combinations, without going beyond the scope of the invention.


An animal feeder includes a housing including a bottom wall and a peripheral wall. A cover is removably positionable over an opening defined by an upper edge of the peripheral wall for selectively opening or closing the housing. Each of a pair of mounts is positioned on the peripheral wall. A funnel is positioned in the housing and includes a spout extending outwardly through the bottom wall. A plate has an upper side that has a central area having a raised portion thereon. Each of a plurality of rods has a first end attached to the bottom wall and a second end attached to the plate such that the spout is vertically aligned with the raised portion. A limb mounting assembly includes a pair of male couplers for attaching to the mounts and a tether for selectively hanging the housing.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to animal feeding devices and more particularly pertains to a new animal feeding device for effectively holding and distributing animal feed.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The use of animal feeding devices is known in the prior art. While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the need remains for a device that holds animal feed and dispenses it in such a manner as make it easily accessible by large animals such as deer while retaining the remaining feed within a housing to protect it from the elements. Such a device should also have multiple mounting variations.
The present invention meets the needs presented above by including a plate onto which the feed is dispensed for spreading out the feed so that it is easily accessible to deer and other animals.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a new animal feeding device that includes mountings for mounting the device on a limb or on a post.
To this end, the present invention generally comprises a housing including a bottom wall and a peripheral wall that is attached to and extends upwardly from the bottom wall. The peripheral wall has an upper edge defining an opening into an interior of the housing. A cover is removably positionable over the opening for selectively opening or closing the housing. Each of a pair of mounts is positioned on the peripheral wall. A funnel is positioned in the housing and includes a spout extending outwardly through the bottom wall. The funnel has an upper perimeter is abutted against and extending along an inner surface of the peripheral wall. A plate has an upper side that has a central area having a raised portion thereon. Each of a plurality of rods has a first end attached to the bottom wall and a second end attached to the plate such that the spout is vertically aligned with the raised portion. A limb mounting assembly includes a pair of male couplers and a tether. Each of the male couplers is selectively coupled with one of the mounts and the tether is attached to the male couplers for selectively hanging the housing.
There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.
The objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure.


A semiconductor device having reduced contact region area achieved at least in part by forming pad portions of the word lines using an asymmetric stair shape separately formed in first and second pad structures. Contact region area is reduced when compared with manufacturing processes known in the art. This leads to an increase in device integrity and a less complex manufacturing process.

1. Field
The present invention relates generally to a semiconductor device and a method of manufacturing the same, and in particular to a three-dimensional semiconductor device and a method of manufacturing the same.
2. Discussion of Related Art
A non-volatile memory device is a memory device in which stored data is retained even after power is removed. Recently, a three-dimensional non-volatile memory device, where memory cells are vertically stacked on a silicon substrate, has been developed in response to the perception that two-dimensional memory devices are pushing the boundaries of device integrity. Memory cells are formed with one layer on a silicon substrate in the two-dimensional memory device.
The three-dimensional non-volatile memory device accesses a desired memory cell by supplying appropriate biases to word lines stacked on the substrate. When the memory device is manufactured, pad portions of respective word lines are defined by patterning a contact region of stacked word lines in a stair configuration, and then connecting contact plugs to the pad portions of the word lines. During manufacture, an etching process is iteratively performed by reducing one mask pattern so as to pattern the stacked word lines in the desired stair configuration. Consequently, the process of manufacturing the memory device is complex and difficult to implement successfully. Since contact region area within the memory device is high, it is difficult to enhance the integrity of the memory device. Specifically, it is difficult to increase memory capacity while retaining high levels of performance and reliability.

Semiconductor device and method of manufacturing the same


This disclosure is directed to a computer-implemented method, systems, and devices to migrate a virtual fibre channel (VFC) connection from a first hardware communication path to a second hardware communication path within a fibre channel (FC) network prior to failure of a device in the first hardware communication path. For example, a hypervisor database may contain health status with respect to recoverable failure incidents across host bus adaptor (HBA) ports for a source HBA port and a target HBA port associated with a first VFC connection using the first hardware communication path. If it is determined that a number of recoverable failure incidents on at least one component in the first hardware communication path has occurred, migration of the first VFC connection from the first hardware communication path to a second hardware communication path may be initiated prior to actual hard failure.

In the field of network computing, multiple computers or systems may be designed to work as a group to provide functionality and redundancy for a distributed network application or environment. Network attached storage may be used to allow different network servers (and applications running on those servers) to have access to shared high capacity storage. One such implementation is referred to as a storage area network (SAN). Fibre Channel (FC) is an example of a protocol that may be used to provide high speed access and reliable data exchange between devices and a SAN. FC is a high-speed network technology (commonly running at 1, 2, 4, 3, 16, 32, and 128 gigabit per second rates) providing in-order, lossless-delivery of raw block data, primarily used to connect computer data storage to servers. Fibre. Channel may be used in SANs in commercial data centers.
FC networks may form what is referred to as a "switched fabric" because they operate in unison as one big switch. FC typically runs on optical fiber cables within and between data centers but may also run on copper cabling for shorter distances. Fibre Channel Protocol (FCP) is a transport protocol that predominantly transports commands of a higher level protocol (e.g., SCSI—"Small Computer System Interface" for distributed systems, FICON—"Fibre Connection" for mainframe systems) over FC networks, SANs are often designed with dual fabrics to provide fault tolerance. In a fault tolerant implementation example, two (or more) completely separate fabrics may be operational and if the primary fabric fails, then a second fabric becomes the primary. FC topologies include a number of ports that are connected together, A "port" in FC terminology is any entity that actively communicates over the network, not necessarily a hardware port. This port may be virtualized (e.g., because it is not physical hardware) and may be implemented in a device such as disk storage, a Host Bus Adapter (HBA), or a Converged Network Adaptor (CNA) to provide a network connection on a server or an FC switch. A CNA is a single Network Interface Card (NIC) that contains both an FC host bus adapter (HBA) and a TCP/IP Ethernet NIC. A CNA may be used to connect servers to both FC-based storage area networks (SANS) and Ethernet-based local area networks (LANs).

Hewlett Packard Enterprise Development LP


A magnetic filtration system includes one or a plurality of collection units (1) comprising a magnet (4) disposed between a pair of plates (2, 3), one plate being magnetized North, the other, South. The plates are provided with facing apertures and facing pole pieces so that particles entering the recesses are both repelled from the apertures and attracted towards and retained in collecting regions between exposed facing plate portions.

The present invention relates to a magnetic filtration system for filtering ferrous and some non-ferrous material from a fluid in which said material is in suspension.
The magnetic filter device of a previous application (9515352.4) (WO97/04873) (MARLOWE) comprises an annular magnet disposed between a pair of annular metal plates. Fluid flows into the device through recesses in the metal plates, and returns through the centre of the device when used in conjunction with a conventional filter.
Another device (FREI) (U.S. Pat. No. 2,149,764) uses a series of cylindrical magnets separated by a series of metal baffle plates, which are magnetised through contact with the magnets. The flux fields generated are designed to collect particles on the plates themselves and also around the edges of the perforations in the plates. A metal screen abuts the edges of the plates and is therefore magnetised through contact with it. The screen forms an envelope around the arrangement and is designed to increase the magnetised area in the actual flow path. Disadvantageously, however, the metal particles, which build up on the screen, form an ever-increasing obstruction to flow. In addition, any particles collected on the plates are exposed to the flow, and are in danger of being washed off. In the present invention, the magnetic flux direction and properties are used to advantage as described later herein.
A magnetic filtration system for filtering ferrous and some non-ferrous material from fluid, in which said material is in suspension, comprises inlet and outlet means. The system can advantageously be inserted at almost any point in a fluid system. The filtration system comprises one or a plurality of collection units that can be disposed in a housing. Magnetisable material, in particular ferrous particles and some non-ferrous particles drawn along with the ferrous particles can be collected in the collection units. Particles are advantageously magnetically held out of the flow path, and therefore do not result in obstruction of flow. The collection units can be readily removed from the housing, to be dismantled, cleaned of any material collected and re-installed for re-use in the system. In an embodiment where the magnet is an electromagnet, when the electromagnet is active, material can be collected from the fluid, and when the electromagnet is deactivated, the material collected can be removed from the units and disposed from the system.
The present invention is applicable to fluid systems that are subject to high flow rate and pressure.
In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a magnetic filtration system for filtering magnetisable material from a fluid in which said material is in suspension comprising inlet means and outlet means, in which one or a plurality of collection units is disposed, each collection unit comprising one or a plurality of plates or plate arrays disposed either side of one or a plurality of magnets so that the plates or plate arrays have opposing polarities, wherein portions of the plates or plate arrays extend beyond part or all of an edge or edges of one or a plurality of said magnets, facing plates have one or a plurality of apertures, and wherein facing apertures define a region of magnetic repulsion, and facing plate portions define therebetween, a region of magnetic attraction and magnetisable material collection, such that the magnetic flux fields thus created facilitate preferential collection of magnetisable materials in the collection region between facing portions rather than in the region between said facing apertures.
It is an advantage that the facing collecting regions alternate with facing apertures such that the attractive flux fields generated in the collection regions and the repulsive fields disposed either side thereof facilitate collection in a volume sandwiched between exposed facing plate portions. Particles can thus be retained in three-dimensional space rather than on merely the magnetised surface area that is exposed to fluid flow. Each collection unit thus offers greater capacity for debris than that possible with the exposed surface area of its component parts when disassembled. The repulsive forces in the apertures of each collection unit divert magnetisable material from the apertures so that they collect preferentially between facing plate portions rather than in the apertures, to thus allow fluid to continue to flow through the unit even at capacity.
Advantageously, the respective plates of adjacent collection units having like polarity are disposed adjacent to one another so as to substantially restrict the collection of magnetisable particles to the collection regions substantially within the interior of the collection units. An individual collection unit will have its own distribution of magnetic flux, part of which are regions of magnetic attraction between the facing plate portions of the unit. If another unit is disposed so that the respective neighbouring plates have unlike polarity, one North, the other, South, the flux existent within the collection unit (as an individual) will be dispersed through the generation of further magnetic fields of attraction between adjacent collection units. If the collection unit is disposed beside another so that like poles of adjacent plates are facing, then the repulsive forces thus created between adjacent collection units will condense the attractive magnetic flux towards the region between facing plate portions, more so than when there are no further adjacent units.
Advantageously, there is provided a housing made of a non-magnetisable material. This limits magnetisable material collection to the collecting regions within the collection units if the collection units are disposed in close proximity to the interior of said housing. The housing can be made of a magnetisable material if said collection units still facilitate fluid passage therethrough even when filled with contaminant.
It is an advantage that there is provided a housing integral to a fluid flow system, said filtration system still permitting fluid flow the through even at capacity.
In one embodiment, each collection unit can be further separated from an adjacent collection unit by a spacing member. This allows for the better utilisation of the available magnetic flux density.
It is an advantage that the spacing member is non-magnetic. It is also an advantage in certain instances that the spacing member is magnetic. The magnetisation or non-magnetisation of the spacing member is discussed later.
It is an advantage that the apertures in respective collection units, which are in closer proximity to the inlet means, are larger than those of units disposed nearer the outlet means. This provides collection units of varying magnetic strength along the direction of flow and alleviates any collection bias on the collection units closest to the inlet.
It is preferred that alignment means is provided for disposing the apertures and plate portions in facing plates of a collection unit in substantial axial alignment. As fluid flows more smoothly through apertures that are aligned, regions of particle collection surrounding the apertures are thus exposed to a minimum of fluid turbulence, thus aiding in the retention of material collected. The presence of an aperture on a plate creates adjacent plate regions of like polarity, which thus generate between them, an axial region of magnetic repulsion. By aligning a pair of apertures of facing plates, the region of magnetic repulsion extends through an axial length of the collection unit. As the apertures are also the means for fluid flow through the collection unit, the path of fluid flow is also the region from which magnetisable particles, suspended in the fluid, will be repelled. As the repulsive force acts radially, particles will tend to be redirected from the fluid flow path and repelled towards the adjacent region between the plate portions either side of the axial region of repulsion. The plate portions have between them, an attractive magnetic force acting substantially orthogonally to that of the repulsive flux field. Particles entering the axial recess between facing apertures are thus both repelled from the axial recess and attracted towards the attractive flux field of the gap or collecting region. Furthermore, as each collecting region has apertures either side of it, the attractive flux lines in the collecting region are further condensed by the repulsive flux lines extending orthogonally on either side. Condensing the flux lines increases the magnetic field strength in that region. It is the combined actions of these two fields that enables the apertures to be kept free of magnetisable particles and that enables particles to be held in the collecting region despite high fluid flow (for example 400 liters/minute) and fluid pressure (for example 7000 psi).
It is an advantage that further alignment means is provided for disposing the apertures of respective collection units in substantial axial alignment. This too will minimise the fluid turbulence between collection units, to any particles held magnetically in respective collection units.
Advantageously, said alignment means and further alignment means comprise a tab of given dimension on an internal edge of the plate and an axial unit having a groove of corresponding dimension to that of the tab, into which groove said tab can locate to provide a chosen axial and radial alignment of the facing plate portions and apertures of a collection unit and/or those of an assembly of collection units.
Preferably, the magnetic filtration system is further provided with flow directing means for directing fluid flow from the inlet means towards the apertures in said plates. The internal surface of the housing of the filtration system can be contoured into a conical shape and the upper portion of the axial unit provided with a conical portion so that fluid from said inlet means is radially dispersed towards the apertures in the more or most proximal collection unit. Alternatively, a unit separate from the housing and the axial unit may be included between the inlet means and the first collection unit, with an annular conical channel for directing fluid flow in the same manner.
Preferably, further slot-like apertures are provided in facing apertures and facing plate portions to further enhance the magnetic flux density between the facing plates of each collection unit. The provision of slot-like apertures, which are aligned in facing plate portions, creates regions of magnetic repulsion, which are closer together than those of the first-mentioned apertures. The closer like poles are disposed to one another, the more intense the forces of magnetic repulsion between them will be. The inclusion of such regions, for instance, in the middle of a collecting region further focuses the attractive flux fields in these regions. The repulsive magnetic forces acting radially further condense the flux density of the attractive flux lines, between facing plate portions, acting axially.
Advantageously, facing pole piece pairs are curved towards one another to further enhance the magnetic flux fields therebetween. As one pole piece is magnetised North and the other, South, the closer they are disposed to one another, the stronger the flux between them will be, up until a point where the plates are saturated with magnetic flux from the magnet. In addition, as flux is dispersed through the edges of the plates, curving the edges of facing pole pieces towards each other redirects the flux to an axial region between the plates. If the plates are left uncurved, the flux fields will extend radially from the edge of the plate. A field of attraction will still be generated between facing pole pieces, but of lesser strength than where they are curved towards one another, where the flux fields emerging from facing pole pieces are substantially directed towards one another.
Advantageously, facing plates/plate arrays are separated by a distance which best utilises the magnetic flux emergent from the edges of said facing plates to attract and retain magnetisable material in the fluid and which also provides the collection capacity required. The larger the collection capacity of the unit, the less frequently it will need cleaning. Thus the separation of the plates can be varied to determine the required capacity for material as well as the magnetic flux intensity distributions in the collecting regions and in the apertures. The plates are brought together in close enough proximity to enable axial collection, in the collecting region between the internal portions of each plate pair, of magnetisable particles, as small as one micron in size, despite high fluid flow (for example 400 liters/minute) and high pressure (for example, up to 7000 psi).
Advantageously, that the attractive flux lines between facing plate portions are substantially orthogonal to the repulsive flux lines in the apertures, such that magnetisable material entering the apertures, is subject to the influence of both attractive and repulsive flux fields.
Advantageously, internal surfaces of the housing are disposed in close proximity to the outer portions of the plate/plate array pairs in order to substantially constrain fluid flow in the filtration system to regions in which magnetic flux fields generated by plate/plate array pairs facilitate the attraction and retention of the size range and type or types of non-magnetisable particle input to the filtration system, for example, ferrous particles smaller than one micron.
Alternatively, where the housing is substantially larger than the diameter of the plates, the clearance between the collection units and the housing may encompass regions beyond the efficient magnetic range of the collecting region. In such an instance, it is preferable to include one or a plurality of distribution plates having further apertures in substantial axial alignment with said plate apertures, which can be disposed either side of one or more of the collection units to ensure that all fluid is exposed to regions having magnetic flux density, similar to, or greater than a threshold required for particle attraction. The different sizes of particle and the type of particle in suspension in the fluid will have different such thresholds. These threshold intensities also depend on the size and type of other material in suspension as well as fluid flow and pressure. For instance, the threshold intensity required to attract a particle which of a given size, for example 1 micron, will rise if other forces acting on the particle are increased, as when fluid pressure is increased or if fluid flow is increased.
Preferably, the housing comprises one or a plurality of sealable sections with interlockable threaded portions that enable said sections to be readily assembled or dismantled. The sections of the housing screw apart to facilitate insertion or removal of the collection unit assembly into or from the housing, and screw together to encase the assembly. When required, the assembly can be removed from the housing, cleaned of any magnetisable material debris present and replaced inside for re-use.
Preferably, the housing is further provided with means for attachment to a fluid system.
Advantageously, isolation means may be provided for isolating (blanking off) fluid flow to and from the filtration system to facilitate its removal from and insertion into the fluid system.
Advantageously, monitoring means for monitoring the presence and/or amount of material collected is disposed in the filtration system, so that particle collection and therefore wear can be assessed without dismantling the system.
It is preferred that close down means is provided for enabling a system, of which said filtration system is a part, to be closed down if a pre-determined level of debris collected is reached. If the wear of a component can be assessed at an early stage, other components sharing the same fluid will be less likely to wear and complete system failure, perhaps involving substantially accelerated wear of several components and/or mechanical seizure, is thus less likely.
Advantageously, conventional filter media is disposed in the housing to remove non-magnetisable particles input to the system.
Advantageously, the magnet or magnets in the collection unit(s) is/are electromagnet(s) having switch means for activating the electromagnet(s) to collect particles and for de-activating the electromagnet(s) to facilitate release of any particles collected. This will facilitate more convenient removal of any material accrued in the collection unit before its re-use. The switch means, disposed outside the housing for manual access, is used to activate or de-activate the electromagnet depending on whether the collection unit is in a filtration mode or in a cleaning mode. Alternatively, the switch means can be disposed inside the housing if external remote means of its operation are provided.
A further advantage of the present invention resides in the fact that the magnetic elements can impart some magnetism to the fluid flowing therethrough and this can be used in a manner well known to those skilled in the art and therefore not described in more detail herein.
It is preferred that conventional cellulose fibre, metal or other filter material is disposed in the magnetic filtration system to remove non-magnetisable material input to said system. Advantageously, the filter material is placed downstream of one or a plurality of collection units.
In accordance with a further aspect of the present invention a method of operating a system for the removal of magnetisable particles from a fluid system in which said particles are in suspension, includes providing an apparatus comprising inlet means and outlet means, in which one or a plurality of collection units is disposed, each collection unit comprising one or a plurality of plates or plate arrays disposed either side of one or a plurality of magnets so that the plates or plate arrays have opposing polarities, wherein portions of the plates or plate arrays extend beyond part or all of an edge or edges of one or a plurality of said magnets, facing plates have one or a plurality of apertures, and wherein facing apertures define a region of magnetic repulsion, and facing plate portions define therebetween, a region of magnetic attraction and magnetisable material collection, passing fluid through said apertures, retaining said particles in said regions of magnetic attraction and repelling particles from said apertures.
Advantageously, said method of operating the system includes the steps of detaching the plates from the magnets and then wiping off debris from the plates and the magnet, or alternatively, blowing the debris off the undismantled collection unit assembly with an air line. Particles are easier to blow off if the air line is directed across the flux lines of attraction rather than parallel to them.
In accordance with a still further aspect of the present invention, a method of operating a system for the removal of magnetisable particles from a fluid system in which said particles are in suspension, includes the steps of providing an apparatus comprising inlet means and outlet means, in which one or a plurality of collection units is disposed, each collection unit comprising one or a plurality of plates or plate arrays disposed either side of one or a plurality of electromagnets so that the plates or plate arrays have opposing polarities, wherein portions of the plates or plate arrays extend beyond part or all of an edge or edges of one or a plurality of said magnets, facing plates have one or a plurality of apertures in axial alignment, and wherein facing apertures define a region of magnetic repulsion, and facing plate portions define therebetween, a region of magnetic attraction and magnetisable material collection, passing fluid through said apertures, activating the electromagnet to retain said particles in said regions of magnetic attraction and repel particles from said apertures, de-activating the electromagnet to release the particles from said regions of magnetic attraction and disposing of said particles from said fluid system.
Advantageously, the method for activating and de-activating the electromagnet includes passing current through coils of the electromagnet.
Advantageously, monitoring the quantity and/or type of debris collected includes the steps of providing detection means for detecting the presence of particles collected between facing plate portions, part of which detection means extends in the collecting region of one or more collection units, monitoring the type or quantity of material present, providing alarm means, setting off the alarm if material quantity rises beyond a pre-determined rate or amount, providing closing down means for the fluid system and closing down the fluid system if the quantity of material rises beyond a further pre-determined rate or amount.


In order to implement a solid-state imaging device with high photo-sensitivity that includes a light collecting part which can reduce undesired variations during manufacture and which has high light collection efficiency, the solid-state imaging device includes: a photodiode (8) which converts incident light (13) into electric charges; a convex lens layer (15) which is formed above the photodiode (8) and through which the incident light is transmitted; and a concavo-convex lens layer (11) which is formed on and around the lens layer (15) and which collects the incident light and outputs the incident light to the lens layer (15). A refractive index of the lens layer (15) is greater than a refractive index of the lens layer (11). A thickness and a width of the lens layer (15) are set to achieve a predetermined focal length for light of a predetermined wavelength range. The lens layer is made of one of boron phosphorous silicon glass, tetra ethoxy silane, benzocyclobutene, and polyimide resin.

Various technologies have been suggested for a solid-state imaging device (Patent Reference 1, for example).
FIG. 1 is a view of one example of a conventional solid-state imaging device. In the solid-state imaging device 110 in which unit pixels 1 are two-dimensionally arranged, a vertical shift register 2 selects a row of the unit pixels 1, a horizontal shift register 3 selects a column in the selected row, and then an output amplifier 4 outputs a color signal in the column for each pixel. A peripheral drive circuit 5 drives the vertical shift register 2, the horizontal shift register 3, and output amplifier 4.
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of pixels in the conventional solid-state imaging device. In a solid-state imaging device 100 (only tree pixels are represented in FIG. 2), a p-type layer 7 is formed on an n-type layer 6, and a photodiode 8 is formed in the p-type layer 7. A photo-shield film 9 which blocks light is formed above an isolation region 14 which isolates the photodiodes 8 from each other. Furthermore, on the photodiodes 8 there are formed: an interlayer insulating film 12; color filters 10a to 10c, each of which absorbs only one color of light corresponding to each pixel; and lens layers 21 which collect incident light 13.
As shown in FIG. 2, in the conventional solid-state imaging device 100, the incident light 13 is collected by the lens layer 21 which is formed above each photodiode 8, and from the collected light, only light which is transmitted through the color filters 10a to 10c is incident on the photodiode 8, and then the light is converted into electric charges in the photodiode 8.
Patent Reference 1: Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 06-61462 publication

Solid-state imaging device, method for manufacturing the same, and camera using the same


A fluid may include an aqueous based continuous phase, a pH adjusting additive, wherein the pH adjusting additive is formic acid, and a clay hydration suppressant agent having the formula H2NCH(CH3)CH2(OCH(CH3)CH2)xNH2, wherein x is a value less than 15.

During the drilling of a wellbore, various fluids are used in the well for a variety of functions. The fluids may be circulated through a drill pipe and drill bit into the wellbore, and then may subsequently flow upward through wellbore to the surface. During this circulation, a drilling fluid may act to remove drill cuttings from the bottom of the hole to the surface, to suspend cuttings and weighting material when circulation is interrupted, to control subsurface pressures, to maintain the integrity of the wellbore until the well section is cased and cemented, to isolate the fluids from the formation by providing sufficient hydrostatic pressure to prevent the ingress of formation fluids into the wellbore, to cool and lubricate the drill string and bit, and/or to maximize penetration rate.
The selection of the type of wellbore fluid to be used in a drilling application involves a careful balance of both the good and bad characteristics of the wellbore fluids in the particular application and the type of well to be drilled. However, historically, aqueous based wellbore fluids have been used to drill a majority of wells. Their lower cost and better environment acceptance as compared to oil based wellbore fluids continue to make them the first option in drilling operations. Frequently, the selection of a fluid may depend on the type of formation through which the well is being drilled.
The types of subterranean formations intersected by a well, include sandstone, limestone, shale, siltstone, etc., many of which may be at least partly composed of clays, including shales, mudstones, siltstones, and claystones. Shale is the most common, and certainly the most troublesome, rock type that is drilled in order to reach oil and gas deposits. The characteristic that makes shales most troublesome to drillers is its water sensitivity, due in part to its clay content and the ionic composition of the clay.
In penetrating through such formations, many problems may be encountered including bit balling, swelling or sloughing of the wellbore, stuck pipe, and dispersion of drill cuttings. This may be particularly true when drilling with a water-based fluid due to the high reactivity of clay in an aqueous environment. When dry, the clay has too little water to stick together, and it is thus a friable and brittle solid. Conversely, in a wet zone, the material is liquid-like with very little inherent strength and can be washed away. However, intermediate to these zones, the shale is a sticky plastic solid with greatly increased agglomeration properties and inherent strength.
When drilling a subterranean well, as the drill bit teeth penetrate the formation, drill chips are generated by the action of the bit. When these cuttings are exposed to conventional water-based muds, they imbibe water and are rapidly dispersed. However recent advances in wellbore fluid technology have developed highly inhibitive muds which appear to reduce the hydration of shale and in doing so produce sticky, plastic shale fragments. These fragments adhere to each other and to the bottomhole assembly and cutting surfaces of the drill bit, gradually forming a large compacted mass of clay on the drilling equipment. This process, or phenomenon, of accumulation and impacting is generally referred to as "balling" or "packing off" of the drilling equipment.
Clay swelling during the drilling of a subterranean well can have a tremendous adverse impact on drilling operations. Bit balling reduces the efficiency of the drilling process because the drill string eventually becomes locked. This causes the drilling equipment to skid on the bottom of the hole preventing it from penetrating uncut rock, therefore slowing the rate of penetration. Furthermore, the overall increase in bulk volume accompanying clay swelling impacts the stability of the borehole, and impedes removal of cuttings from beneath the drill bit, increases friction between the drill bit and the sides of the borehole, and inhibits formation of the thin filter cake that seals formations. Clay swelling can also create other drilling problems such as loss of circulation or stuck pipe and increased viscosity of the wellbore fluid that slow drilling and increase drilling costs. The downtime associated with either soaking the bit or tripping the bit can be very costly and is therefore undesirable.
Thus, given the frequency in which shale is encountered in drilling subterranean wells, there exists a continuing need for methods of drilling using aqueous based wellbore fluids that will reduce potential problems encountered when drilling through shales such as with dispersion of shales, cuttings accretion and agglomeration, cuttings build up, bit balling, and hole cleaning.


A method for fabricating salicide devices over a substrate is described. The substrate has a gate structure pair in which a first gate structure comprises a first gate and a first stuffed film located on the first gate, and a second gate structure comprises a second gate and a second stuffed film located on the first gate. A first spacer is formed on the sidewall of the first gate structure. A second spacer is formed at the sidewall of the second gate structure. The first and the second stuffed films are removed. The second spacer is etched back so as to form a third spacer lower than the second gate. Salicide layers are formed upon the first and the second gates.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a semiconductor device,, a process for manufacturing such a device, and more particularly, to a process for forming gate spacers.
2. Description of Related Art
In the fabrication of MOS devices on a substrate, the self-aligned silicide (SALICIDE) process is performed to decrease the sheet resistance of the MOS electrodes and the contact resistance of the contact regions between those electrodes.
For decreasing the above mentioned resistances well enough, the salicide process is performed at a high temperature. However, the salicide process cannot be performed as well as required at a temperature of more than about 750.degree. C., especially when the MOS devices comprises a P-type metal oxide semiconductor (PMOS). This is because at such a high temperature, the silicon material in the PMOS gate often oozes out to the spacer adjacent to the gate, and thereby transforms into salicide layers upon the spacer by reacting with the metal layer deposited on the spacer. The salicide layers upon the spacer undesirably, electrically connect the gate with the source/drain regions of the PMOS and often make the PMOS short during operation.
On the other hand, by lowering the temperature to less than about 750.degree. C., it is not easy for other devices, such as an N-type metal oxide semiconductor (NMOS), to form salicide layers upon them, especially when their gate widths are narrowed as the integration of the devices is increased. In addition, the above mentioned resistances cannot be decreased well enough by performing the salicide process at the above temperatures.


A Dynamic Storage Subsystem Morphing (DSSM) mechanism (40) is connected to a plurality of storage subsystem resources, which reserve some storage area each non-donor ECU (12), ready for a “slot-down/up” access by a respective non-donor ECU having a storage subsystem (24) breakdown. The slot-down process enables the use of a high physical address range by the non-donor processor provided with addressing capabilities sufficient only for addressing lower ranges.

The typical application fields of embedded processing systems and Electronic Control Units (ECUs) covered by the proposed invention is covering the major embedded systems market segments:    1. Automotive ECUs, Multi-Media Units, Telematics-Units    2. Industrial Control Units (machinery tool control, manufacturing-line control units)    3. Home-Appliance Electronic Control Units    4. Commercial and Industrial Diagnostics Equipment tools.
The term "embedded system" is to be understood as any computing system or computing device that performs at least one dedicated function or is designed for use with a specific software application, which forms part of any larger technical context "embedding" or surrounding said system, i.e., any technical unit, technical device, technical system, technical plant, as e.g. a car, an aircraft, an undustrial production line, etc. As the electronic systems built-in (embedded) into modern automobiles are characterized by significant rates of growth, the present invention is of significant value of this emerging market, directs a specific focus thereto, and is defined from prior art of this application field next below.
In the most recent years, the embedded electronics of automobiles increased dramatically. Due to this increase of the relevance of the embedded electronics of modern automobiles, the invention is advantageous to this industry sector. The aggregated value of electronics installed in today's high-end vehicle is already representing a value of 20% to 30% of the entire vehicle. This change in the 'nature' of today's automobiles is encountering various consequences.
Previously—typical to the mechanical nature of automobiles—the potential vehicle defects were normally dominated by mechanical wear out and associated malfunctions. Due to the described increase of electronics complexity and electronic component volume—the nature of vehicle failures is changing. As documented in vehicle breakdown statistics, the vehicle defects throughout the vehicle lifecycle is already dominated by electronic system failures.
Thus, in order to meet future requirements of this industry sector, the general requirements particularly relevant for future automotive embedded systems are the following:    1. Improved electronics reliability,    2. Cost effectiveness of the electronic components,    3. Fault tolerance for all safety related electronic systems and mechanical systems,    4. Autonomic system behavior for the major vehicle electronic subsystems,    5. Advanced diagnostic and maintenance capabilities,    6. System 'upgrade' and EC change capability (embedded software and firmware update).
Before discussing the disadvantages of prior art vehicle embedded systems, their basic structure and function will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 next below.
Prior art embedded automotive systems comprise a communication ECU 10 connecting the vehicle to external systems (WAN) via an interface to a wireless network, like GSM. Further, a plurality of real-time ECUs 12, 14, 16 is provided, each ECU being dedicated to perform a specific functionality in the vehicle. Examples are open/closing the doors, the windows, controlling the light, etc. They have specific I/O subsystems connecting to a variety of real-time buses 13, like CAN1, CAN2, CAN3, VAN, J1850, and the like. Further, a multimedia (MM) ECU 18 is provided, offering the human/machine-interface (HMI) and thus audio, video (multimedia, abbreviated herein as MM) capabilities to people using the vehicle. The multimedia ECU head unit 18 is thus provided with a specific multimedia supporting I/O bus 19, e.g. a MOST bus. The functional elements of the communication ECU 10, real-time ECU 12 and multimedia head unit 18, being in a respective broken line frame are often combined in prior art to a single functional unit, further called in here "automotive telematics ECU". The before-mentioned single ECUs are connected via an inter-ECU-bus having reference sign 11.
With further reference to FIG. 2 the before-mentioned automotive telematics ECU is described in more detail.
The real-time ECU 12 comprises a real-time processor (CPU (1)) 20, connected to a respective storage subsystem 24 and to a specific I/O subsystem 26 connecting to various sensor devices, and to the before-mentioned real-time bus, e.g. CAN, 13. An instruction sequence is processed in a processing branch 1, ie a processing element or processing subsystem having reference sign 22.
The before-mentioned multimedia ECU 18 comprises a respective, high performing main processor (CPU (2)) 28, connected to a respective storage subsystem 32 and to respective I/O subsystems 34 for providing multicolour display, voice driven system input, etc. The multimedia ECU is connected to the multimedia bus 19. Both ECU functions 12 and 18 are provided within a single housing, which plays, however, a minor role in the context of the present invention.
It should be noted that the real-time processor 20, herein referred to also as CPU (1), has less performance but should be able to quickly handle any necessary interrupts, and the storage subsystem 24 of the real-time ECU is considerably smaller than that of the multimedia ECU 18, for example 512 KB in relation to 64 MB. The two internal processing branches cooperate in a loosely coupled multiprocessing way. The typical functional services of processing branch 1, reference sign 22, are real-time related. Functions like unlock the vehicle-doors, start the engine, control the lights, etc. are processed. Typically, this processing branch requires a performance equivalent of 20 MIPS and a storage footprint of 500 KB. The processing branch 2, reference sign 30 is run by a respective high-performing multimedia processor 28—also referred to herein as main CPU(2)—representing the main processing system of the multimedia ECU 18, and is provided with the major processing performance and a respective large system storage, as mentioned above. Typical functions of the main multimedia processor are, for example, driver authentication, driver speech recognition, HMI facility in the field of audio, video and haptic capabilities.
A system fault handler 36 of the prior art system monitors the functionality of the components described above and detects error status situations of single functional units. If an error status is detected, the fault handler 36 switches to a redundantly provided "shadow system", depicted with reference sign 39, which continues operation after a respective reboot procedure.
In case of a CPU failure, the entire processing-branch related functionality will be lost, and in case of a storage subsystem failure, the entire processing-branch-related functionality will be lost.
Typical solutions to provide fault tolerance and increased reliability are typically realized applying massive redundant systems and subsystems. The drawbacks of this redundancy are:    high system costs,    increased physical dimensions in size and mass,    increased power dissipation,    increased electronic volume—and therefore increased potential for subsequent failures.
It is thus an objective of the present invention to provide an improved embedded system and a method to operate it, which requires less redundant components.

Autonomic embedded computing “dynamic storage subsystem morphing”

International Business Machines Corporation


A black-white liquid crystal display using a cholesteric liquid crystal material and a method for manufacturing such a liquid crystal display using polymerization/phase-separation, resulting in diffused polymeric molecules and polymeric cell walls, so as to minimize the manufacturing time, strengthen the polymeric wall and enhance the contrast ratio as well as the brightness.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to a black-white cholesteric liquid crystal display and a method for manufacturing the same and, more particularly, to a black-white liquid crystal display using a cholesteric liquid crystal material and a method for manufacturing such a liquid crystal display using polymerization/phase-separation, resulting in diffused polymeric molecules and polymeric cell walls, so as to minimize the manufacturing time, strengthen the polymeric cell walls and enhance the contrast ratio as well as the brightness.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In recent years, the development in flat panel displays such as "electronic papers" and "electronic books" has been tremendously growing. For use in the flat panel displays, there are several types of display cells including the liquid crystal display, the electrophoresis display, the electrochromism display, the electrolysis display, etc. Especially for use in electronic papers, the cholesteric liquid crystal display has advantages over others in brightness, contrast ratio and is easier to drive.
In the U.S. Pat. No. 5,847,798, entitled "Polymer Stabilized Black-White Cholesteric Reflective Display", Yang and Ma (Kent State University) disclose a cholesteric liquid crystal display. As shown in FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B, which are schematic diagrams showing respectively the planar state and the focal conic state of a conventional cholesteric liquid crystal display. The cholesteric liquid crystal display exhibits two stable states at zero electro field applied, namely, the planar state and the focal conic state. In FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B, the cholesteric liquid crystal display 10 comprises a substrate 11, on which is covered a transparent electrode 12 such as an indium-tin oxide (ITO) film or the like. The cholesteric liquid crystal display 10 is filled with a cholesteric liquid crystal material 13, which is mixed with dispersed phase-separated polymer domains 14. On one side of the substrate 11 is stacked an absorption layer 15, usually implemented as black. Furthermore, an AC voltage source 16 is connected to the electrodes 12 in order to switch the liquid crystal display 10 between different optical states.
In FIG. 1A, a predetermined voltage value 16 is applied to the cholesteric liquid crystal display 10 and then removed to place the liquid crystal material 13 in the planar state. When a cholesteric liquid crystal material 13 is in the planar state, the helical axes are more or less perpendicular to the surface of the crystal display 10. When an enviroment light 17, as seen by an eye, is incident on the cholesteric liquid crystal display 10, as represented by an arrow with the numeral designation 17, light is reflected as represented by an arrow with the numeral designation 18. The central or primary wave length of the reflection band depends on the pitch, average refractive index and birefringence of the cholesteric liquid crystal material.
In FIG. 1B, a predetermined voltage value 16 is applied to the cholesteric liquid crystal display 10 and then removed to place the liquid crystal material 13 in the focal conic state. When a cholesteric liquid crystal material 13 is in the focal conic state, the helical axes are more or less randomly arranged. When an enviroment light 17, as seen by an eye, is incident on the cholesteric liquid crystal display 10, as represented by an arrow with the numeral designation 17, little of reflected light as represented by an arrow with the numeral designation 18 goes through the upper substrate 11. Moreover, an absorption layer 15 with a black color can be used such that the polymer domains associated with the focal conic state appear black.
However, the above-mentioned invention has a problem in that it takes about 1.5 hours to form the dispersed polymer domains because the dispersed polymer domains are formed under relatively weaker UV light without masks.
Moreover, for the application of flexible displays, polymeric walls are popularly used to strengthen the cell gap. The polymeric walls are formed using polymerization/phase-separation as disclosed in the U.S. Pat. No. 5,473,450 filed by Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha (Japan). In order to further strengthen the cell gap, micro-capsules are formed by micro-encapsulating polymer molecules and liquid crystal molecules in the display cell, as described in the U.S. Pat. No. 6,120,701 and No. 6,203,723 filed by Hsu.
Therefore, there is need in providing a black-white liquid crystal display using a cholesteric liquid crystal material and a method for manufacturing such a liquid crystal display using polymerization/phase-separation, resulting in diffused polymeric molecules and polymeric cell walls, so as to minimize the manufacturing time, strengthen the polymeric cell walls and enhance the contrast ratio as well as the brightness.

Black-white cholesteric liquid crystal display and method for manufacturing the same

Industrial Technology Research Institute


A system includes a first and a second hand tracking device, the first and second hand tracking devices being configured to provide position information associated with hands of a user; hardware processors; a memory; and a temporal manipulation module. The temporal manipulation module is configured to perform operations including recording changes made in a virtual reality (VR) environment involving the user, thereby creating a recorded content, detecting a first revolution gesture performed by the user with the first and second hand tracking devices, the first revolution gesture including the first and second hand tracking devices revolving in a circular motion about a common axis, stopping the recording based on detecting the first revolution gesture, rewinding through the recorded content based on the first revolution gesture and, during the rewinding, displaying the recorded content in the VR environment, the displaying including altering the VR environment based on the recorded content.

Various tools exist to allow software users to undo previous actions when using software on traditional computers with two dimensional (2D) (e.g., flat screen) display devices. Typically, a user is presented with an 'undo' button in a 2D user interface, or the user can program an 'undo' button on a device such as a mouse. Users that use creation software within a virtual reality environment make mistakes within creation software. However, in virtual reality (VR), where users are immersed in a virtual world while using software (e.g., during development), aspects of known 2D interface mechanics, such as the projection of such buttons in the virtual surroundings, may be undesirable.
The headings provided herein are merely for convenience and do not necessarily affect the scope or meaning of the terms used. Like numbers in the Figures indicate like components.
In the description below, the term "module" refers broadly to software, hardware, or firmware (or any combination thereof) components. Modules are typically functional components that can generate useful data or other output using specified input(s). A module may or may not be self-contained. An application program (also called an "application") may include one or more modules, or a module can include one or more application programs.

System and method for temporal manipulation in virtual environments


A multifunctional sealing device for a valve structured for opening of a discharge conduit by virtue of upstream-directed movement of a sealing body relative to the discharge direction. The distinctive characteristic of the invention is that the sealing body is of a radially flexible arrangement; wherein the discharge conduit is provided with at least one storage seal seat for sealing reception of the sealing body when the valve is in a storage mode, and also at least one utility seal seat for sealing reception of the sealing body when the valve is in a closed utility mode; wherein the at least one utility seal seat is provided upstream of the at least one storage seal seat; and wherein both the storage seal seat and the utility seal seat are structured for sealing against the sealing body during downstream-directed movement of the sealing body.

The invention springs out of a need in the industry for providing a valve sealing device that is multifunctional and simple to produce, and which is safer and more versatile than known valve sealing devices for drinking receptacles. This need is particularly aimed at providing a sealing device exhibiting a safer sealing function when the valve is in the storage mode.
There is also a need for providing a sealing device that prevents unintentional opening of the valve for undesirable invasion of an aseptic solution, which otherwise is used for bactericidal treatment of the valve and associated components. In this connection, and for hygienic reasons, the downstream side of the valve may be sealingly connected to, and is enclosed by, a protective cover or similar. During the aseptic treatment process, the valve and the protective cover is normally immersed into a heated aseptic solution containing a bactericide. An air cushion, which is located between the protective cover and the valve, will thus be heated so as to increase the pressure in the air cushion. If the sealing device of the valve is inadequately gas-tight, the increase in air pressure will ensure that air leaks out of the air cushion via the valve, which reduces the amount of air in the air cushion. Subsequently, when the aseptic treatment is ended and the reduced amount of air in the air cushion is cooled, an underpressure will form in the air cushion. Insofar as the sealing device of the valve is inadequately gas-tight, this underpressure may cause air to be sucked unintentionally back and into the protective cover via the valve. This air flow through the valve may then entrain liquid residues from the aseptic solution and onwards into the protective cover where the liquid residues may be deposited as droplets and/or solid deposits on the cover and the valve. Such droplets and/or solid deposits are visually unappealing and may inflict foul taste in the beverage during consumption thereof. Such an effect is therefore undesirable.
Accordingly, there is a need for providing a sealing device that functions satisfactorily under different conditions to which the valve is exposed during its operating lifetime.

Multifunctional seal device for a valve for a drinking receptacle


The present invention provides a system and method for controlling review of large documents. Purchasers who use computers to place orders may review a subset of selected items within the orders to ease review. The system may detect orders having items that exceed a specified threshold. The system may allow an operator to search for a subset of one or more items to review if the number of items exceeds the threshold. For example, an operator may search for a particular product using a product code or may search for a group of products using search terms. The system will then display the search results, rather than the entire order. The system may display the specified threshold number of items, if the search results exceeds the threshold. Thus, the system eases navigation within large documents, such as purchase orders and other sales documents that may contain many line items.

Companies that engage in commercial transactions often communicate to each other to negotiate terms of their transactions. For example, purchasers who wish to purchase an item may send a purchase order to a supplier. The purchase order may set forth the number of items that are requested, the price, and a requested delivery date. The supplier may respond with a confirmation or with an alternate proposal setting forth items that can be delivered, a price and dates that the supplier is able to deliver these items.
Businesses are using computer technology to improve their operations. For example, suppliers may allow purchasers to place electronic orders for goods or services using their computer terminal. These electronic orders may be placed via an information network such as the World Wide Web ("WWW"). The supplier's computer system may support portal-based communication with a browser at the purchaser's computer system. The purchaser may be presented with information via a web page, which can be modified as requested.
Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) may be used to communicate business transactions, such as orders, confirmations and invoices, between organizations electronically. Exemplary EDI protocols include protocols standardized by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) such as X.12, UN/EDIFACT, and VDA/ODETTE. An EDI protocol may transfer data in files by synchronizing the time of transfer of the files between the system that is sending the data and the system that is receiving the data.
Some orders that are placed are large and may include, for example, thousands of line items where each line item specifies a product to be ordered, a quantity and other conventional commercial terms. Orders may be reviewed and revised by a purchaser while the order resides on a supplier's computer system awaiting fulfillment. Browsing through an order that contains thousands of line items is labor-intensive and arduous. A less difficult user interface is needed for browsing large orders.

Sales support method and system facilitating document modification


A carbon porous body (ICY) includes a carbon skeleton containing carbon atoms, wherein the carbon skeleton includes carbon main sections and carbon linking sections mutually linking the carbon main sections; a distance D1 between adjacent carbon main sections and a distance D2 between adjacent carbon linking sections satisfy the relationship of D1<D2; the carbon main sections are arranged three-dimensionally, regularly and symmetrically; and a specific surface area of the carbon porous body is not less than 1,300 m2/g and/or the pore capacity of the carbon porous body is not less than 1.5 cm3/g.

Research efforts have been and being made on porous materials for the purpose of adsorption and removal of harmful substances, adsorption and collection of useful substances and fixation of biological substances. Particularly, carbon porous bodies (meso porous carbon) that are stable under hydrothermal conditions (e.g. in hot water) are attracting attention. Techniques for manufacturing such carbon porous bodies by means of molds have been proposed (see, inter alia, Patent Document 1).
FIG. 12 of the accompanying drawings is a flowchart of a known method of manufacturing a carbon molecular body. This manufacturing method will be described below on a step by step basis.
Step S1210: A mold having gas holes (air holes) (meso porous silica) is impregnated with a mixture containing a silica oligomer, a carbon precursor substance that is a carbon-containing compound liable to be subjected to condensation polymerization and a liquid carrier. The mold has a structure where gas holes are irregularly three-dimensionally linked to each other or a structure where medium gas holes are linked to micro gas holes. The carbon precursor substance is a carbohydrate or a monomer. The silica oligomer is contained in order to raise the gas hole ratio in the obtained carbon molecular body. The liquid carrier accelerates the impregnation of the mixture to the mold.
Step S1220: The carbon precursor substance contained in the mixture with which the mold is impregnated is polymerized. The polymerization is realized by means of a heat treatment to produce a carbon precursor substance polymer that is formed in the gas holes of the mold. The liquid carrier is dried by the heat treatment.
Step S1230: The carbon precursor substance polymer formed in the gas holes is pyrolyzed and carbonized. The remaining liquid carrier is also removed by the pyrolysis.
Step S1240: The mold and the silica oligomer are treated by a solution that selectively dissolves them and removed. As a result, a carbon molecular body having micro gas holes is obtained.

Carbon porous body and adsorbent using the same

National Institute for Materials Science