A model trading method, system, and computer program product include extracting a feature-model list from a first application and a feature-model list from a second application on a device, creating a price model for a price for each feature-model of the feature-model list of the second application that matches a feature-model of the feature-model list for the first application, and facilitating feature-model trading between the first application and the second application based on the feature-model list and the price model.

The present invention relates generally to a model trading method applicable to a cloud computing environment, and more particularly, but not by way of limitation, to a system, method, and computer program product for an Operating System (OS) driven technique that matches feature-models between applications on a device by accumulating feature-model lists from each application, pricing each feature-model based on user feedback, and facilitating the feature-model trading between applications by comparing feature-models.
Conventionally, users operate a number of applications for different purposes. For example, a first user can use a suite of applications for tracking their fitness, with one application specifically for tracking sleep and another application for step-counting. Instead of using these applications independently, it would be very helpful if the step-counting application could use the sleep-tracking feature to provide the first user with better fitness analytics. Similarly, it would be of benefit to the first user if the food-delivery application could get the calorie-counting feature from the other fitness applications that the first user uses to provide them with better food recommendations.
Instead of waiting for each individual application to get the desired features as in the conventional techniques, there is a need in the art for the applications to communicate with each other and trade each other's features automatically so they could provide users with an improved experience.

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION


A stereo camera is provided with two imaging units. A CPU detects a position of a CCD provided in each of the imaging units. Based on detection results, the CPU checks whether the CCD has reached an edge of a corresponding correctable area for each of the imaging units. The CPU starts to move the CCDs to their respective reference positions when one of the CCDs has reached the edge of the corresponding correctable area. The CPU controls actuations of CCD shifters such that the CCDs reach their respective reference positions simultaneously.

Digital cameras using plural imaging units are known. The digital camera or multi-eye camera obtains plural images with parallax and combines them into a stereoscopic (stereo) image or 3-D image in which illusion of depth is created. During image capture using such a digital camera, camera shake causes parallax deviations. To prevent such parallax deviations in stereo images, in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2003-092768, amounts of movements in plural images obtained with each of image units are calculated, and then each image is trimmed in accordance with the calculated amounts of movements.
However, the above described method results in poor pixel efficiency because apart of pixels is inevitably trimmed in each image, and therefore a stereo image using all the pixels obtained with imaging elements cannot be generated. Additionally, amounts to be trimmed vary according to the amounts of movements. As a result, the size of the generated stereo image may also differ from that intended.
To solve such problems, it is devised to provide an optical image stabilization mechanism or optical camera shake correction mechanism in each of the imaging units (see Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publications No. 11-183951 and No. 2002-359768). The optical image stabilization mechanism moves a shake correcting section or image stabilizing section, e.g. an image sensor or a correction lens, to physically adjust the optical axis. Thereby, parallax deviations caused by the camera shake are prevented. Trimming of the images obtained with the imaging units is no longer necessary. As a result, a stereo image using all the pixels is generated without unintended changes in the size of the stereo image.
For the optical image stabilization, it is required to return each of the shake correcting sections to a reference position (home position), e.g. an optical axis of the imaging unit, when the shake correcting section reaches an edge of a corresponding correctable area or the stereo camera is in the pan/tilt state, or when the power is turned on. In a case where the stereo camera uses an optical image stabilization mechanism, positions of the shake correcting sections during the shake correction may vary from each other. The shake correcting sections may return to their respective reference positions with different timings. As a result, a length of a stereo base may change, which causes the parallax deviations (errors in stereo matching). Such parallax deviations differ from those caused by operations of a user, e.g. camera shake, which may annoy the user in observing the stereo image.

Digital camera and method for controlling the same


Safety systems and methods are provided for use in a vehicle with a closure that defines a pivoting range when open. The safety system includes a sensor configured to collect data associated with an object in a target zone at least partially surrounding the vehicle; and a processor coupled to the sensors and configured to selectively operate in a first mode and a second mode based on a vehicle characteristic. The processor is configured to, in the first mode, detect the object and generate a first warning based on the object; and in the second mode, detect the object and determine a collision threat between the object and the pivoting range of the closure, and generate a second warning based on the collision threat.

Increasingly, vehicles are being equipped with sensors that generate data describing the surrounding environment and terrain. For example, some vehicles include sensor systems that provide images of the terrain and/or other objects in the vicinity of the vehicle. Further, other sensor systems, such as radar, have been used to detect the presence and position of objects in the vehicle's path. The data generated by these sensor systems may be utilized by various vehicular systems to provide vehicle control, collision avoidance, adaptive cruise control, collision mitigation, speed control systems, lane departure systems, parking assistance systems and other active safety features. As such, these active sensor systems are conventionally used to assist the driver while driving to intervene in the control of the vehicle, for example, by braking or providing braking assistance.
In contrast to the dynamic responses of conventional systems, another type of accident risk involves collisions with objects when the vehicle is stationary. For example, a cyclist riding past a car may be subject to injury if an inattentive driver opens the door in the cyclist's path. However, conventional active safety sensor systems do not contemplate non-moving or slow moving safety situations.
Accordingly, it is desirable to provide a vehicle safety system that prevents collisions, particularly door or other closure collisions when the vehicle is stationary. Furthermore, other desirable features and characteristics of the present invention will become apparent from the subsequent detailed description and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and the foregoing technical field and background.


Featured are systems, devices and apparatuses for use in minimally invasive surgical, diagnostic or therapeutic methods and/or techniques, in particular methods and/or techniques for a mammalian throat. In particular embodiments, a dexterity apparatus including one or more dexterity devices is featured, where each of the dexterity devices comprises surgical tools and each is configured and arranged with end-tip dexterity for enhanced manipulation. A portion of the dexterity devices is snake like, which is re-configurable (i.e., can be bent) so as to in effect maneuver the surgical tool and put the tool in a desired position with respect to the surgical site. Another portion of the dexterity device includes the surgical tool thereby providing the capability of performing surgical actions such as sewing, gripping, soft tissue manipulation, cutting and suction of saliva, blood and other materials from the surgical site.

Minimally invasive surgery is a surgical approach aimed at reducing the healing time and trauma to a patient as a result of performing surgery on internal organs. In this approach, the treated internal organs are accessed through a small number of incisions in the patient's body. In particular, cannulas or sleeves are inserted through small incisions to provide entry ports through which surgical instruments are passed. Alternatively, access to the area to be treated is obtained using a natural bodily opening (e.g., throat, rectum), a cannula or sleeve is inserted into the bodily opening and the surgical instruments are passed through the cannula/sleeve or the bodily opening and the operable end localized to the treatment site.
The surgical instruments are generally similar to those used in open surgical procedures except they include an extension (e.g., a tubular extension) between the end of the tool entering the surgical field (i.e., the operable end of the tool, instrument or device) and the portion gripped by the surgeon. Because the surgical site or treatment site is not directly visible to the surgeon or other medical personnel when performing a minimally invasive procedure, a visualization tool/guide (e.g., endoscope, laparoscope, laryngoscope, etc.) also is inserted along with the surgical instruments so that, as the surgeon manipulates the surgical instruments outside of the surgical site, he or she is able to view the procedure on a monitor.
The limited motion available at the operable end of current devices, however, creates limitations that necessarily limit that which can be accomplished with the methods and procedures using current devices and systems. Most instruments or devices are rigid and are limited to motions of four (4) degrees of freedom of motion or less about the incision point and in/out translation. Further, the instruments can limit the surgeon's ability to accurately perceive the force/interaction between the instruments and tissues/organs. Some techniques have been established whereby the location of the incision(s) is optimized so as to in effect counter the limitations imposed by the available movement of a given instrument. This approach, however, does not work for all surgical techniques such as those surgical techniques in which access to the treatment or surgical site is accomplished using an existing bodily opening, such as the throat.
Several approaches to distal tool dexterity enhancement have been reported including designs for catheters or surgical tool manipulation devices based on articulated designs.. Many systems and actuation methods are mainly based on wire actuation or use of wire actuated articulated wrists [G. Guthart and K. Salisbury, "The Intuitive' Telesurgery System: Overview and Application," IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation, pp.618-621, 2000; M. Cavusoglu, I. Villanueva, and F. Tendick, "Workspace Analysis of Robotics Manipulators for a Teleoperated Suturing Task," IEEE/RSJ International Conference on Intelligent Robots and Systems, Maui, HI, 2001] and by using Shape Memory Alloys (, bending SMA forceps were suggested for laparoscopic surgery, Y. Nakamura, A. Matsui, T. Saito, and K. Yoshimoto, "Shape-Memory-Alloy Active Forceps for Laparoscopic Surgery," IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation, pp.2320-2327, 1995]; an SMA actuated 1 degree of freedom planar bending snake device for knee arthroscopy was described, P. Dario, C. Paggetti, N. Troisfontaine, E. Papa, T. Ciucci, M. C. Carrozza, and M. Marcacci, "A Miniature Steerable End-Effector for Application in an Integrated System for Computer-Assisted Arthroscopy," IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation, pp.1573-1579, 1997; and a hyper-redundant SMA actuated snake for gastro-intestinal intervention was described;[D. Reynaerts, J. Peirs, and H. Van Brussel, "Shape Memory Micro-Actuation for a Gastro-Intesteinal Intervention System," Sensors and Actuators, vol. 77, pp. 157-166, 1999). A two DoF 5 mm diameter wire-driven snake-like tool using super-elastic NiTi flexure joints also has been described [J. Piers, D. Reynaerts, H. Van Brussel, G. De Gersem, and H. T. Tang, "Design of an Advanced Tool Guiding System for Robotic Surgery," IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation, pp.2651-2656, 2003]. Also described is actuation methods and systems that use Electro-Active Polymers (EAP) (e.g., see A. Della Santa, D. Mazzoldi, and DeRossi, "Steerable Microcatheters Actuated by Embedded Conducting Polymer Structures," Journal of Intelligent Material Systems and Structures, vol. 7, pp. 292-300, 1996). These designs however, have a number of limitations. The articulated designs limit downsize scalability and complicate the sterilization process and wire actuation limits the force application capability since the wires can apply only pulling forces (i.e.,buckle when pushed). SMA suffers from hysteresis and low operation frequency due to the time necessary for temperature changes to affect its martensite/austenite change. Also, the various designs of catheters do not meet the force application capabilities required for surgical tool manipulation.
Other approaches have been reported describing snake robots using a flexible backbone for snake-like robots (e.g., see I. Gravagne and I. Walker, "On the Kinematics of Remotely-Actuated Continuum Robots," IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation, pp. 2544-2550, 2000; I. Gravagne and I. Walker, "Kinematic Transformations for Remotely-Actuated Planar Continuum Robots," IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation, pp. 19-26, 2000; C. Li and C. Rhan, "Design of Continuous Backbone, Cable-Driven Robots," ASME Journal of Mechanical Design, vol. 124, pp. 265-271, 2002; G. Robinson and J. Davies, "Continuum Robots—a State of the Art," IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation, pp. 2849-2853, 1999). These efforts, however, focused on large scale snake-like robots that used one flexible backbone actuated by wires (see S. Hirose, Biologically Inspired Robots, Snake-Like Locomotors and Manipulators: Oxford University Press, 1993). Also, these designs have a number of limitations including that wire actuation in only a pull mode does not allow for large force actuation once the diameter of the snake is downsized to diameters less than 5 mm Further, when the diameter of the snake like unit is downsized, the stiffness of the snake-like unit is relatively low because it relies only on one central backbone supported by wires. This is strongly seen in the tensional stiffness.
Alternative designs of a 3 DoF wrist for MIS suturing were analyzed and a method was proposed to determine the workspace and to optimize the position of the entry port in the patient's body to provide optimal dexterity [M. Cavusoglu, I. Villanueva, and F. Tendick, "Workspace Analysis of Robotics Manipulators for a Teleoperated Suturing Task," IEEE/RSJ International Conference on Intelligent Robots and Systems, Maui, HI, 2001]. Also, three architectures of endoscopic wrists: a simple wire actuated joint, a multi-revolute joint wrist, a tendon snake-like wrist; have been analyzed and these joints compared in terms of dexterity and showed the superiority of the snake-like wrist over the other two wrists in terms of dexterity [A. Faraz and S. Payandeh, "Synthesis and Workspace Study of Endoscopic Extenders with Flexible Stem," Simon Fraser University, Canada 2003].
In chest and abdomen minimally invasive surgery, the entry portals for surgical instruments are usually placed some distance apart, and the instruments approach the operative site from somewhat differing directions. This arrangement makes it possible (though sometimes inconvenient and limiting) for telesurgical systems, such as the DaVinci or Zeus, to use rather large robotic slave manipulators for extracorporeal instrument positioning. The optimal placement of entry portals based on dexterity requirements for particular procedures is an important subject and has recently been addressed by several authors [L. Adhami and E. C. Maniere, "Optimal Planning for Minimally Invasive Surgical Robots," IEEE Transactions on Robotics and Automation, vol. 19, pp. 854-863, 2003; J. W. Cannon, J. A. Stoll, S. D. Sehla, P. E. Dupont, R. D. Howe, and D. F. Torchina, "Port Placement Planning in Robot-Assisted Coronary Artery Bypass," IEEE transactions on Robotics and Automation, vol. 19, pp. 912-917, 2003]. In contrast, with minimally invasive surgery of the throat, the size and location of the entry port is pre-determined and no such optimization is possible.
The upper airway of the throat is a long, narrow, and irregularly shaped organ that includes the pharynx (throat), hypopharynx, and larynx, commonly referred to as the voice box. These areas are subject to a variety of benign and malignant growths, paralysis, and scar tissue formation requiring surgical interventions for excision and/or reconstruction. These procedures also often must be performed past the vocal cords closer to the lungs. In order to maintain the voice characteristics, it is very important to be able to reconstruct the vocal cord region as accurately as possible. These procedures (e.g., partial or total laryngectomy, vocal fold repositioning, and laryngotracheal reconstruction) are routinely performed using open surgical techniques at the expense of damaging the integrity of the framework supporting the laryngeal cartilage, muscle, and the connective tissue vital to normal function. A minimally invasive endoscopic procedure is generally preferred over the open procedure, as it would preserve the laryngeal framework integrity, promote faster recovery and frequently overcome the need for tracheostomy.
There is shown in FIGS. 1A, B a conventional minimally invasive system that is used for the performance of laryngeal surgery. As illustrated, the internal regions of the airway are accessed through the use of an array of long instruments (usually ranging between 240 to 350 mm long) through a laryngoscope that is inserted into the patient's mouth and serves as a visualization tool and a guide for surgical instrumentation. The laryngoscope is typically 180 mm long with an oval cross-section usually ranging between 16-20 mm in width at its smallest cross section.
This surgical setup involves the surgeon manipulating several long tools, instruments or devices (for example, one tool for suction and another for tissue manipulation). The conventional instruments or devices, as indicated herein, are constrained by design to provided four (4) degrees of freedom of motion (or less) and also are characterized as lacking tool-tip dexterity. Consequently, such instruments or devices do not provide the surgeon with the required tip dexterity to allow the user to perform delicate and accurate surgical procedures such as for example, soft tissue reconstruction and sewing. Further, the vocal folds preclude the performance of surgical procedures past them using such instruments or devices.
Consequently, and due to these limitations, laryngeal minimally invasive surgery is currently limited to simple operations such as microflap elevation, excisional biopsies, and removal of papilloma using laser or powered microdebrider.
Functional reconstructive procedures (e.g., tissue flap rotation or suturing), are not performed in throat minimally invasive surgery, although, reconstruction of the vocal fold structures as accurately as possible is crucial for maintaining the voice characteristics. Suture closure of surgical defects has been shown to reduce scar tissue, shorten healing time, and result in improved laryngeal function and sound production (D. J. Fleming, S. McGuff, and C. B. Simpson, "Comparison of Microflap Healing Outcomes with Traditional and Microsuturing Techniques: Initial Results in a Canine Model," Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol., vol. 110, pp. 707-712, 2001; P. Woo, J. Casper, B. Griffin, R. Colton, and C. Brewer, "Endoscopic Microsuture Repair of Vocal Fold Defects," J. Voice, vol. 9, pp. 332-339, 1995). This seemingly simple operation is very difficult, if not impossible, to perform in laryngeal minimally invasive surgery.
Although laryngeal surgery is exemplary, many other minimally-invasive surgical procedures have similar needs for precise, high dexterity motions in confined spaces within a patient's body. Further, it is often necessary to operate multiple instruments in close proximity to each other, where the instruments are inserted into the body through roughly parallel access paths in confined spaces such as the throat. Further, the physical size of the instruments is often a significant factor in determining the feasibility of procedures. Further, as instruments are constructed to be smaller-and-smaller, designs using conventional approaches involving complicated linkages become more and more difficult and costly to fabricate and are increasingly susceptible to limitations due to backlash and other factors.
It thus would be desirable to provide improved methods and devices for minimally invasive surgeries. It also would be desirable to provide new devices and systems particular suited and adaptable for use with a wide range of minimally invasive surgical techniques that provide a similar freedom of motion at the treatment site as would be experienced using open surgical procedures or techniques. It also would be desirable to provided such minimally invasive devices and systems that provide such motion in a constrained surgical environment such as that presented in the throat and sinus. It also would be desirable to provide methods for treating any of a number of organs or areas of a body, more specifically the throat and sinus, using such devices and systems. It would be desirable to provide methods and devices that are capable of performing surgery on particularly challenging sites such as the throat. It would be highly desirable to provide methods and devices that are configurable to operate at multiple physical scales, ranging from small to extremely small, without requiring fundamental changes in the design concept approach. Such methods and devices should overcome the deficiencies of the presently available methods and devices.

Devices, systems and methods for minimally invasive surgery of the throat and other portions of mammalian body


A reset mechanism for a random access memory array comprises an auxiliary reset circuit, which does not require modification of the contents of the memory itself. For a random access memory capable of storing M, N-bit words, the auxiliary mechanism includes a plurality of M reset state circuits that are respectively associated with the M words of memory. The reset state circuit preferably comprises an additional `resetable` memory cell for each word of memory, which is integrated within the structure of the memory itself. In order to reset one or more words of memory, the associated reset state circuits are placed in a reset state-representative condition. The state of each reset state circuit is used to controllably mask (e.g. is logically ANDed with) the contents of its associated word of memory, whenever that word is read out. If the reset memory cell has been cleared, then regardless of the contents of its associated word in memory, the mask will cause the addressed memory word to be output as all zeros. Whenever a new word value is written to memory, its associated reset state circuit is simultaneously accessed and a valid or non-reset representative `1` bit is stored in that reset state circuit. Subsequently, when that word is read out from memory, the (`1`) value of the mask bit stored in its associated reset cell will cause the contents of the word to be output as is.

The resetting of a random access memory customarily involves clearing or `zeroing` the contents of all of the storage locations or cells of the memory, typically by addressing each storage location and writing a `0` into each cell in response to the occurrence of a reset control signal. Because the transient peak current required to clear the entire memory array is quite large and may entail several clock cycles of the memory access clock, such a mechanism is undesirably slow and necessitates a substantial amount of semiconductor real estate in which to form the attendant current driver.
One approach to solve this problem, described in the U.S. Pat. No. to Liou et al 4,789,967, is to segment the resetting process into sub-portions or blocks of memory, in an effort to provide some degree of reduction in both reset current requirements and to provide a degree of improvement in reset speed (by resetting only selected portion or portions of memory of interest). Unfortunately, the resetting mechanism described in the Liou et al patent still requires applying a reset current directly to the memory itself, so that even though less than the entire memory may be selectively accessed, the reset operation still involves modifying the contents of a plurality of memory cells in each of the blocks of memory to be reset.

Flash-clear of ram array using partial reset mechanism


The present invention provides a process for the production of calcium salts of hydantoic acids and which comprises the steps of reacting a hydantoin with a calcium base material such as calcium hydroxide in an aqueous medium at a sufficient temperature and for a sufficient period of time to form the calcium salt of the corresponding hydantoic acid and then separating the calcium salt of such acid from the reaction mass. This separation can include the further steps of cooling the reaction mass down to facilitate the precipitation of the acid/salt crystals and then separating the precipitate by means of filtering or centrifugating. These acids can then be subjected to a HNO.sub.2 -mediated decarbamoylation process followed by an optical resolution step to thus provide high yields of D-p-hydroxyphenylglycine which is a key synthetic immediate or building block for semi-synthetic penicillin and cephalosporins.

The present invention is directed to a process for the production of calcium salts of hydantoic acids and specifically relates to the preparation of such acids from the corresponding hydantoin by treatment of the latter with a calcium base material.
D-p-hydroxyphenylglycine (DpHPG) is a key synthetic intermediate or building block for semi-synthetic penicillin and cephalosporins. There are various routes to prepare DpHPG and those include using hydantoins as an intermediate to the final DpHPG material. Such processes and other genetic processes for preparing glycines from hydantoins are generally disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,147,664; 5,120,855; 4,960,932; 4,716,246; 4,621,153; 4,518,801; 4,436,910; 4,069,251; co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 07/649,782 filed Jan. 31, 1991, entitled, "Precipitation-Induced Asymmetric Transformation of Chiral Alpha-Amino Acids and Salts Thereof", and which is assigned to the same Assignee as the present application; and Japanese patent application 55/104890 filed Aug. 11, 1980, and all of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.
Some of the major problems with the processes disclosed in the prior art as exemplified by the above-identified patents and patent applications are the low yields of the desired end product and the formation of troublesome and unwanted by-products.
The disadvantages of the prior art are overcome by the present invention wherein there is provided a process for preparing hydantoic acids from their corresponding hydantoins by a very efficient and low cost method. The resultant hydantoic acids can then be subjected to a HNO.sub.2 -mediated decarbamoylation process followed by an optical resolution step to thus provide high yields of DpHPG.

Process for the production of calcium salts of hydantoic acids


The present invention relates to a work machine, in particular to an excavator, having a boom, an extension element and a piece of working equipment, wherein the extension element is attached to a pivotal connection axle of the boom via a first gimbal mounting and bears the piece of working equipment, wherein the piece of working equipment is attached to a pivotal connection axle of the extension element via a second gimbal mounting.

The present invention relates to a work machine, in particular to an excavator, having a boom, an extension element and a piece of working equipment, wherein the extension element is attached to a pivotal connection axle of the boom via a first gimbal mounting and bears the piece of working equipment.
The work machine is in this respect in particular a hydraulic excavator to whose arm a gripper is attached via which bulk goods can be loaded. To increase the working range of such a work machine, extension elements are known which can be screwed between the mechanical gripper system and the gimbal gripper mounting. However, the gripper with the attached extension element has a very large lever length. This can also have a disadvantageous effect on the mechanical gripper system and can in particular result in damage to the ship's floor in port transfers.


An active matrix substrate is provided which does not cause reductions in the brightness of electroluminescence elements, and which comprises appropriate peripheral circuitry occupying a small area. The active matrix substrate comprises peripheral circuits to supply current to EL elements provided for each pixel, and corresponding to EL elements, and further comprises a holding element (C) which holds a control voltage, a first active element (T1) connected to the holding element (C) and which supplies current to a light-emitting portion (OLED) based on a control voltage, and a second active element (T2) connected to the holding element (C) and which controls the charging and discharging of the holding element. In particular, the second active element (T2) is configured as a multiple-control-terminal type active element. As a result, there are no fluctuations in the programmed current.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an active matrix substrate suitable for electro-optical devices, an electro-optical device, and electronic device.
2. Description of the Related Art
The active matrix driving method is one method of driving electro-optical devices comprising liquid crystal elements, organic electroluminescence (EL) elements, electrophoretic elements, electronic emission elements, and similar. In an electro-optical device driven by the active matrix driving method, a plurality of pixels are arranged in a matrix on the display panel. Each of the plurality of pixels comprises a pixel circuit, in turn comprising an electro-optical element and a driving transistor which supplies driving power to the electro-optical element. Each of the plurality of pixel circuits is arranged to correspond to the intersection of a data line and a scan line (see, for example, patent reference 1: Internationally disclosed pamphlet no. WO98/36407).
In order to precisely control brightness in an electro-optical device, the amount of power supplied to electro-optical elements must be precisely controlled. In particular, because organic EL elements are current-driving type electro-optical elements, the brightness is directly affected by the current. Hence there is a need to precisely supply the desired current to organic EL elements; and in addition to optimizing the driving circuit and driving method, the pixel layout must also be optimized. Problems encountered in actual pixel layouts include, for example, contact between pixel electrodes and peripheral circuitry, stability of holding capacitances, and transistor turn-off currents.
The present invention was devised in light of the above circumstances, and has as an object the provision of an active matrix substrate, electro-optical device, and electronic device comprising an optimal pixel layout for the stable driving of electro-optical elements.

Active matrix substrate, electro-optical device, and electronic device


A drive system for a motor vehicle is provided. The drive system has a drive assembly, at least one power transmission unit that is coupled with the drive assembly and an electrical machine coupled at least indirectly with the drive assembly. The power transmission unit has at least one starting element with a hydrodynamic clutch and a bridging clutch. A rotor or armature of the electrical machine is arranged coaxially to the hydrodynamic clutch and can be coupled with it in a torsionally rigid manner.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention concerns a drive system, particularly for motor vehicles, specifically with the features taken from the preamble of claim 1.
2. Description of the Related Art
Drive systems, particularly mechanical drive systems with an integrated electrical machine functioning as a starter generator, are known in a plurality of designs. Reference is made by way of example to a compilation of Dr.-Eng. Wolfgang Reick, LuK & Co, Bühl, "Startergenerator im Antriebsstrang" [Starter Generators in the Drive Train"], published at http://www.luk.de/Bibliothek/Vortraege.html. A starter generator of this kind is understood here to refer to an electrical machine, the rotor of which is mounted directly on the crankshaft or else is arranged parallel to the latter and which can work both as a generator and as a motor. The electrical machine is employed for starting the internal combustion engine and, further, as a generator for energy recuperation from the drive system. In particular, the recuperation of energy in, for example, the coasting or decelerating mode is gaining ever increasing importance owing to the constant increase in the number of electrically driven components. In order to provide these functions, a certain dimensioning of the electrical machine is necessary and thus the system cannot be offered at an especially favorable price; therefore, additional functions are being increasingly assigned to this unit. Such additional functions are: start/stop function for soft start, direct start, impulse start, booster, energy recuperation in coasting, active synchronization, and damping. The electrical machine can be disposed here coaxially or eccentrically for the coupling between the internal combustion engine and the drive train, usually a transmission. Depending on the arrangement, the electrical machine is arranged through one or two clutches so that it can be disengaged from the drive train. A design of a starter generator for automatic transmissions with converter may be found on page 53 of the above article. In it, the starter generator is adjoined to the hydrodynamic speed/torque converter. In the structural space designed for the current lockup clutch, only one further second clutch is integrated, which can disengage the motor from the pump case. The first clutch serves here to make a connection between the crankshaft and the rotor and the second clutch represents the usual lockup clutch. If the first clutch is opened, the internal combustion engine can be stopped and the electrical machine will continue to operate. Accordingly, this allows all states that are possible with a two-clutch solution to be provided, that is, particularly the function as a booster and as a starter and the recuperation of energy. An important drawback of the use of a converter in the automatic transmission consists of the fact that, also particularly at low temperatures, in spite of the possibility of the direct start or of an impulse start via the electrical machine, the power transmission via the hydrodynamic converter is thereby very unsatisfactory, especially in low gear. The advantages that ensue through the use of the starter generator are in turn eliminated by the poor cold start behavior in this state, which, particularly for use in automatic transmissions or automated shift transmissions, can be problematic at corresponding latitudes with at times very low temperatures. Further, the complete unit consisting of electrical machine and starting component has a very wide construction in the axial and radial directions. The necessary structural space is defined here essentially by the structural space required for installing the hydrodynamic speed/torque converter and thus the still remaining possibilities available for integration of the electrical machine. A further important drawback consists in the nonexistence of a possibility for adjusting the power input and for control of the power input of the hydrodynamic speed/torque converter. Accordingly, in all operating states, the maximum power possible is immediately taken up by the latter and this can lead, under certain circumstances, to an undesired driving response during starting operation and possibly also to a sudden stalling of the driving engine.

Hybrid drive system comprising a hydrodynamic clutch particularly for motor vehicles


A replacement filter deployed within a flow channel with a housing having a first frame member and a second frame member that are detachable with an exposure slot formed within the housing. A filter media storage area is within the housing, having unexposed, folded, pleated filter media stored therein. The unexposed folded, pleated filter media is compactly held within the filter media storage area. A motor is coupled to a power supply and in communication with a controller. The motor moving a movement member that advances an unexposed portion of the stacked pleated filter media into the exposure slot, expanding and exposing the unexposed portion of the media to the flow channel while retaining pleats and creating an exposed portion of the filter media. A containment area is provided where the exposed portion of the pleated filter media is collected folded, restacked and compactly stored and retained.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention is directed to a gas or liquid agent filter, in an exemplary embodiment having a cartridge replaceable media. The housing having a standard width for such filters so as to be a replacement for existing standard filters and future filters or as a pre-filter. The housing contains a movement member, a motor, a power source, a controller and a filter media cartridge. The exemplary product strives to be both directly replaceable with a filter and disposable with minimum modification to existing equipment and minimum environmental impact. The replacement filter being further located within a flow channel in the filter unit wherein the agents being filtered is passed within the flow channel and passed through the filter media. The replacement filter having a compacted or stored portion of the filter media that is removed as an at least one filter media stack out to replace the initial and subsequent sections of filter media being exposed by the invention to agent within the filter unit. This stack or set of stacks being replaceable in and of themselves as a prefolded, pre pleated, filter media cartridge system. Additional aspects of the invention include remote monitoring and communication with the filtration unit, enabling monitoring and alert for replacement of the Filter. Additionally, the filtration unit may be enabled to monitor and communicate flow qualities, including for instance contaminants, and to take further actions in response to alerts sent through a network.
2. Background of the Invention
An important component in almost all filtration units in general is a filtration mechanism for removal of particulates and contaminants from the flow of the agent. In Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning systems (HVAC), for instance, this is preferably before or sometimes after or even both before and after coming into contact with heat exchanging elements. The removal of the contaminants helps prevent reduction in heat transfer associated with accumulation of the contaminants on the heat exchanger elements. Additionally, the removal of these contaminants also improves the quality of the air circulated by the HVAC air handling system. Similarly, in computers, filtration of air used for cooling the electronic elements requires filtration before coming into contact with the electronic elements. Similarly, in pools, the water in the pools requires filtration before being returned to the pool by a circulating system. In some pool systems further filtration is required before chlorination of the pool water. In a host of other industrial and commercial applications, effective media filtration is necessary. The timing for replacing or renewing these filtration mechanisms is therefore important in both improving efficiency and reducing wear and tear in the filtration units in most filtration applications.
In most systems a filter is used through which the media is passed. Dirty filter media result in lower flow rates of the agent in the system which translates to lower efficiency in filtration, especially in HVAC systems where it equates to less heat exchange in the HVAC equipment. The equipment must run longer to accomplish the intended goals, for example contaminant filtration and/or temperature control. In HVAC for instance, air conditioning equipment may freeze up due to such inefficiencies. Additionally, the motors and other components must run longer and harder resulting in increased wear on the entire system, reducing its useful life. Thus, the filtration systems require constant attention and maintenance.
In commercial and industrial applications, it is often the case that the air handling functions are monitored by a control center and maintained based on performance measurements. For example, when utilizing multiple refrigeration units in chemical processing the timing and performance of the cooling units is often integral to the manufacturing process, these systems are therefore monitored and maintained based on sensor reports, typically from within the system itself or based on hours of operation. Upon determination by the controller or by a set schedule, the filters on such systems are replaced.
Similarly, in residential settings, many HVAC companies sell maintenance contracts to residential clients, typically annual or bi-annual in nature, to address routine maintenance. Similarly pool companies regularly inspect and change water filters in chlorination systems and even in home residential water units in the case of hard water softeners for instance. However the removable, replaceable filters that are typically in these units require more frequent replacement by these clients.
Filters for most residential and commercial air filtration and air handling equipment are typically removable, replaceable, rigid, framed units. Rigid framed filters can be time consuming to replace or clean and often require frequent replacement, typically monthly in the case of residential applications. This also requires an added amount of attention by an industrial or commercial maintenance staff or residential unit owner. For instance, in a commercial setting the restaurant owner or similar commercial customer must provide an even greater amount of attention to cleaning and/or replacing these types of filters. The filters often go unchanged as users forget to change the filter regularly. This shortfall has been well known and several attempts have been made in the past to provide long lasting filters. Several attempts have been made to provide a reel system, see for example US Patent Application No. 2006/0102006, Japanese Patent No. JP06233945, German Patent No. DE19654844 A1, U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,168,646, 4,470,833, 6,152,998, 4,221,576.
Though these have extended lengths of service, in each instance, the resulting device requires modification of the HVAC unit or uses less efficient media shapes and sizes. This makes these existing devices impractical for easy use, installation and maintenance by a typical end user. For example, as seen in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,152,998, 6,632,269, 6,491,735, 6,402,822, and 6,743,282 and the commercially available OPTIMAIR system, often the reels are located outside the unit and are located in a reel storage area that does not easily fit within the confines of the existing filter system and is not easily scalable. This also prevents replacement of the existing filter with these types of units as the footprints are completely different and these systems are not replacements for the existing filter or an effective filter or pre-filter with pleated, replaceable media.
Other commercial applications use sheets that are stretched between rolls on either side of an air duct, see for example U.S. Pat. No. 6,632,269 to Najm, 4,331,576 to Phillips Jr., or U.S. Pat. No. 6,152,998 to Taylor. In each embodiment, significant modifications to the HVAC or cooling system would need to be made to install the devices or they use a non-standard footprint. The systems do not provide retrofitting the filter structure to existing HVAC equipment and moreover, they require significant installation steps as outlined above with respect to residential units that operate in a similar manner.
Additional attempts have been made to address the issue in a commercial HVAC application, for instance U.S. Pat. No. 7,186,290 to Sheehan. In U.S. Pat. No. 7,186,290, a stack of filters is cycled through the device. This system requires a large amount of modification to incorporate into existing devices, as with other existing designs. Additionally, the stacks of stored filters require a significant amount of space in or around the HVAC unit. Thus, to fit existing systems requires either significant additional modifications or additional space to operate and provide extended use filter systems. Moreover, no economical method of providing a self-renewing or extended use filter within the standard footprint of the existing filter housings has been provided.
An exemplary replacement filter would be one that fits into existing filter footprints as defined by the OEM. A uniform and industry standard width is provided in almost all residential and most commercial filters. Similarly, industrial applications, though often purpose built, have specific filter footprints after completion and replacement of these custom sizes is also contemplated. The filters shown in all of the above noted patents and publications require extensive modifications to fit in the place of the existing filters in these air handler and HVAC systems and lack the specified media stack. In addition, those systems do not provide for a media cartridge that provides for efficient removal and optionally sealing the exposed media stack. The provision of a compacted, pleated, folded media stack as a cartridge provides for the most efficient shape for most applications. In addition the existing media solutions cannot be used to provide side sealing in conjunction with the filter nor do the cartridges fully isolate and seal once spent. Further the installation of the systems would require additional wiring and would likely require professional installation. Additionally, little or no communications are provided at the source of filtration, therefore, these systems cannot effectively communicate the status of the air being handled or further communicate with machinery or other devices.
To date, no commercially successful system has been produced for use in conventional filtration systems without modification or extending beyond the footprint provided for the replaceable filter. An exemplary replacement filter having a footprint that fits in the standard width in an existing system that also has an extended use, while being more environmentally friendly and remaining sealed preventing re-exposure or re-admission of contaminants to the air and the system is needed. Moreover, no economical exemplary method of providing a self-renewing or extended use filter within the standard footprint of the existing filter housings and providing a compacted, pleated, folded filter media that can be expanded and then compacted again has been provided. Additionally, no filter to date with such extended use and standard footprints exists that can both store and communicate air quality through a sensor to a communications network and, based on that communication, prompt an alert to a user or control center.
There is, therefore, a need for a method and apparatus for providing for a self-renewing or extended use filter for filtration applications that has a standard footprint that fits within existing commercial and residential apparatus, provides extended useful life to the filter, requires little or not modification to install in existing equipment, facilitates and enhances communication of the air quality, communicates with other elements of the filter or a network, provides for replaceable media through a filter media stack cartridge, and has a minimal impact on the environment when discarded. Further, though the exemplary embodiments are shown for replacement air handler filters, in addition to air handlers and HVAC systems, the instant invention is adaptable to other filtration applications, some non-limiting examples being spray booths, computers, room and building air purification, gaming machines, clean rooms, electronics manufacturing, water filtration, pool and spa filtration, chemical and other liquid and gas filtration, and other applications utilizing filtration.

Replacement cartridge filter with pleated filter media, automatic filter media advance and wireless communications


Some embodiments include a device for managing end-to-end connections of a network including a plurality of end-to-end connections with assigned queues including a data flow having data packets to be transmitted collectively comprising: a processor; a state unit to provide a current status of a quality of service parameter of a queue to which a new data flow is to be allocated; a resource allocation unit to allocate the new data flow to the queue based on a threshold for the quality of service parameter for the queue and the current status of the quality of service parameter of the queue; and a routing unit to route the data packets of the new data flow based on the allocation.

In industrial communications, deterministic/stochastic guarantees may be needed for their end-to-end real-time requirements. To provide this, corresponding systems may use specialized forwarding hardware. In order to lower the cost of real-time communication systems, a centralized control plane mechanism may be used to provide Quality of Service (QoS) guarantees with off-the-shelf packet-switched Ethernet hardware.
Another approach is a function split concept which separates the resource allocation (e.g. buffer size and data rate) and the routing of a flow (real-time flow embedding) as two distinct sub-problems. Both, the resource allocation and the flow routing, are done on a queue-level basis. This means that a queue-level topology is used which defines queues per link. Resource allocation is done for each link of the queue-level graph and routing is done on the queue-level graph. That is, resources are allocated to queues and the routing of a flow consists in both choosing the physical links followed by the flow and, for each link, the queue at which the flow will be buffered. In order to be able to compute worst-case delays, a particular reservation of resources at the network queues is needed. As a result, the flow embedding relies on a resource-based access control mechanism, i.e. a mechanism deciding whether or not enough resources are still available at a queue in order to route a new flow through this queue. As multiple resources (e.g. buffer and data rate) influence the delay of a queue, solving the resource allocation problem in an optimal way is very challenging.

Device and method for managing end-to-end connections


The invention provides a switchable photomultiplier switchable between a detecting state and a non-detecting state including a cathode upon which incident radiation is arranged to impinge. The photomultiplier also includes a series of dynodes arranged to amplify a current created at the cathode upon detection of photoradiation. The invention also provides a detection system arranged to detect radiation-emitting material in an object. The system includes a detector switchable between a detecting state in which the detector is arranged to detect radiation and a non-detecting state in which the detector is arranged to not detect radiation. The system further includes a controller arranged to control switching of the detector between the states such that the detector is switched to the non-detecting state while an external radiation source is irradiating the object.

There is a requirement for screening of cargo items for detection of illicit materials and devices. Among these illicit substances are special nuclear materials such as Uranium and Plutonium.
It is known that such materials can be detected using radiation detectors operating in a pulse counting mode where the detector is selected for the measurement of gamma radiation, typically in the energy range 0.05 MeV to 2 MeV.
These devices are typically operated in a portal design 10 in which large slabs of radiation detector material 12 are suspended either side of a measuring area and an item 14 under inspection is driven between the radiation detectors as shown in FIG. 1, in order to attempt to detect any radiation source 16.


A multi-piece solid golf ball has a solid core, an envelope layer that encloses the solid core, an intermediate layer that encloses the envelope layer, and a cover that encloses the intermediate layer and has a plurality of dimples on a surface thereof. The diameter of the solid core, the center hardness, surface hardness and hardness difference between the center and surface of the solid core, the thickness and surface hardness of the envelope layer, and the thickness and surface hardness of the intermediate layer are each optimized within specific ranges. Moreover, the intermediate layer is formed so as to be harder than the envelope layer and the cover. In addition, the thickness and surface hardness of the cover, and the combined thickness of the envelope layer, intermediate layer and cover are each optimized within specific ranges. This golf ball is more advantageous than prior-art golf balls because it reduces the spin rate of the ball on full shots taken with a driver and increases the carry of the ball, in addition to which it provides a good performance on approach shots.

The present invention relates to a multi-piece solid golf ball having a solid core, an envelope layer that encloses the core, and also an intermediate layer and a cover. More specifically, the invention relates to a multi-piece solid golf ball which has a high rebound on full shots with a driver, thereby increasing the distance traveled by the ball, and which also has a good performance on approach shots and a good feel upon impact.
A variety of golf balls having multilayer constructions that include a core and a cover as constituent elements have hitherto been disclosed for the purpose of increasing the distance traveled by the ball. Many of these golf balls have a solid core of one or two layers made of a rubber composition and a cover of one or more layers which is made of a thermoplastic resin and encloses the solid core. These golf balls are described in the following U.S. patent specifications and Japanese Kokai publications.                JP-A 7-24085        JP-A 10-127819        JP-A 10-151226        JP-A 11-4916        JP-A 2002-315848        JP-A 2003-190330        U.S. Pat. No. 5,779,562 (corresponding Japanese application: JP-A 10-314342)        U.S. Pat. No. 6,213,895        U.S. Pat. No. 6,585,608        U.S. Pat. No. 6,638,185        U.S. Pat. No. 6,561,928        U.S. Pat. No. 5,688,595 (corresponding Japanese application: JP-A 8-336617)        U.S. Pat. No. 5,816,937 (corresponding Japanese application: JP-A 9-248351)        U.S. Pat. No. 5,772,531 (corresponding Japanese application: JP-A 10-127818)        U.S. Pat. No. 6,231,461 (corresponding Japanese application: JP-A 10-295852)        U.S. Pat. No. 6,123,630 (corresponding Japanese application: JP-A 10-328325)        U.S. Pat. No. 6,468,169 (corresponding Japanese application: JP-A 10-328326)        U.S. Pat. No. 6,045,460) (corresponding Japanese application: JP-A 10-328327)        U.S. Pat. No. 6,248,027 (corresponding Japanese application: JP-A 10-328328)        U.S. Pat. No. 6,117,026 (corresponding Japanese application: JP-A 11-151321)        U.S. Pat. No. 6,361,454 (corresponding Japanese application: JP-A 2000-140160)        U.S. Pat. No. 6,406,383 (corresponding Japanese application: JP-A 2000-153007)        U.S. Pat. No. 6,705,956 (corresponding Japanese application: JP-A 2000-245873)
To increase the distance traveled, which is the principal aim in a golf ball, it is necessary to increase the rebound of the ball. In order to obtain the rebound desired for this purpose, trial-and-error research is being carried out in which the hardnesses and thicknesses of the individual layers making up a golf ball are suitably adjusted and determinations are made of the degree of kinetic energy and the rebound performance that can be ultimately achieved from the impact energy generated when the ball is hit. Moreover, it is desired that golf balls not only have a good distance but also provide a good performance on approach shots (controllability on approach shots) and a good feel on impact; the pursuit of increased distance by itself often compromises the feel and controllability of the ball. In the foregoing prior-art multi-piece solid golf balls, there remains room for improvement in the distance, in addition to which the performance of the ball on approach shots and the feel on impact leave much to be desired. A need thus exists for golf balls having a better overall performance.
In light of the above circumstances, the object of the present invention is to provide a multi-piece solid golf ball which imparts a large rebound on full shots taken with a driver and thus increases the distance traveled by the ball, and which also has a good performance on approach shots and a good feel on impact.


A system for customizing signatures delivered and processed on a conveyor line according to coded information includes an arrangement for selectively diverting certain signatures on the line to a packaging station at which signatures are individually wrapped, and returning signatures selectively wrapped to the conveyor line in synchronism with other signatures delivered on the conveyor line according to the coded information.

Collating and binding systems for saddle stitchers are well known in the printing industry for mass producing booklets, magazines, catalogues, advertising brochures and the like. Typically, one or more sharply folded and generally pre-printed blanks or signatures are selectively and sequentially fed by a number of spaced signature feeders. The signatures are delivered such that the folded margins or spines of the signatures come to rest upon a collating conveyor line or chain which travels past the signature feeders. The conveyor gathers the signatures, one on top of the other, and moves them, through one or more on-line printing stations, to a stitching or binding station. The assembled signatures then are usually diverted to a trimming station and further led to a labeling station where mailing labels which are pre-printed or printed on-line are affixed. Thereafter, the assembled and labeled signatures are sorted, bundled and readied for distribution.
Prior art systems of this type contemplate the computer controlled production of various demographic editions of books or catalogues of internal and external signatures containing individually tailored information or customized printing on selected signatures. This flexibility is important in satisfying the demands of a particular market or geographical destination. For instance, it may be desirable to offer certain customers or subscribers various features or selected advertising depending upon their special interest, income or occupation. Likewise, it may be relevant to customize products or services contingent upon a customer's previous buying history. For example, a publication may issue one demo edition for parents of newborn children who have purchased baby products, another edition for farmers interested in the latest milking machines and still another edition for recent purchasers of exercise equipment. In each situation, a publisher may utilize various modes of customization such as blown-in card feeding, invoicing, advertising material insertion, renewal notices and tipping, as well as several types of contact or contactless printing.
To provide these demographic versions, the prior art commonly employs an information source which indicates the special interest of each subscriber within a common postal locale. Based on the information source, a controller selectively actuates the signature feeders to deliver certain signatures upon the conveyor to form one or more individualized editions of a booklet or magazine for each subscriber within the zip code area. Information in the source is generally arranged in sequential order so that the formed booklets or magazines leave the conveyor ready to be sorted into groups which qualify for postal rate discounts. As part of the collation process, the signatures are conveyed past one or more customizing stations typically including a label head, card inserter, and/or dot matrix ink jet print heads mounted in predetermined relation to a support for the signatures. Examples of such systems are described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,819,173 issued June 25, 1974 to Anderson et al., and U.S. Pat. No. 4,121,818 issued Oct. 24, 1978 to Riley et al.
In some instances, a machine for packaging each individual magazine or printed product on the conveyor line is also provided. One example of this type of demographic bindery system is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,790,119 issued to McDaniels on Dec. 13, 1988. In this arrangement, a computer controls the dispensing of publications onto a conveyor and selectively deposits appropriate inserts on the publications as they move along the conveyor. A wrapping machine operates independently of the computer on demand to place a polymer film (envelope) around each publication and its appropriate insert. The conveyor then carries the wrapped publication past a printing unit actuated by the computer to address the envelope. The conveyor thereafter deposits the wrapped publications in a stacking machine controlled by the computer to optimally sort the publications for distribution. Finally, the sorted publications are delivered to a binding machine which operates on demand to place straps around the stacks of individually wrapped publications. See also U.S. Pat. No. 4,484,733 issued to Loos et al. on Nov. 27, 1984.
In other instances, machines for encasing stacked, sorted and/or strapped bundles of unwrapped publications en masse are employed at the end of the conveyor line. Examples of these machines are shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,683,708 issued Aug. 4, 1987 to Linder and U.S. Pat. No. 4,831,809 issued May 23, 1989 to Ballestrazzi et al. These machines, known in the art as ideal wrappers, normally operate independently of a computer to place a protective plastic film around the entire bundle of publications before the publications are handled for distribution.
It is desirable that magazines be packaged to take maximum advantage of postal discounts. For example, bundles of six or more magazines to be sent by second class mail to subscribers having a common 3-digit zipcode prefix are entitled only to the basic or highest postal rate. However, a bundled group of six or more magazines sent to subscribers having a common 5-digit zipcode obtains a more favorable intermediate postal rate, and grouping six or more magazines sent to subscribers along the same carrier route, qualifies for a lower still postal rate. Accordingly, it is desirable that a bindery build magazines in an order that facilitates presorting and packaging to maximize postal discounts. In this regard, it would be advantageous in some instances if a plurality of magazines could be built and selectively custom packaged during a given production run, to facilitate grouping the various magazines destined for a given carrier route.
Prior art systems are disadvantageous primarily because of inflexibility. For example, even though wrapping each individual magazine prevents loss of inserts and preserves the appearance of the magazine, it may take too much time and money to wrap each individual magazine on the conveyor line. As a result, there can be a slowdown in production coupled with an attendant loss in selectivity in the customizing capability of the system. Absent the selective packaging of the magazine in accordance with the coded information used to assemble the magazine, there is no distinction between certain magazines which should be wrapped versus other magazines which should remain unwrapped yet be otherwise customized. Additional techniques of customizing selected magazines beyond the realm of conventional ink jet printing and/or supplementing devices need to be considered.
Accordingly, it is desirable that the demographic bindery system offer a greater degree of customization, improving upon the selectivity of the signatures to be personalized, and permit different magazines to be assembled during a single production run for subscribers in a given postal zone irrespective of varying points of customization.

Apparatus and method for selectively packaging magazines


A sludge dehydrating apparatus (200) according to the present invention is configured such that power is provided at opposite sides of a rotating rod (243) of movable disks (230) so that even if the apparatus is comparatively large or is operated at low speed, the rotating rod of the movable disks (230) can be prevented from being deformed. Thereby, the movable disks (230) can be smoothly rotated at the same time, thus enhancing the efficiency of the dehydration operation. Furthermore, because power is provided on the opposite sides both of the rotating rod (243) of the movable disks (230) and of the drive shaft of a screw (210), even if the screw (210) is comparatively long, the drive shaft of the screw (210) can be preventing from bending, thus preventing malfunction of the apparatus such as deformation of a fixed disk or a movable disk.

The amount of waste water is rapidly increasing every year causing environmental pollution problems to become a major issue. Different kinds of efforts to effectively process waste water are ongoing.
As a representative example of such efforts, techniques used on a sludge dehydrating apparatus which removes water from sludge and makes sludge a cake of dehydrated sludge were proposed in Korean Patent Laid-open Publication No. 2002-0038426, No. 2002-0038427, No. 2003-0000984, No. 2003-0000985, etc.
FIG. 1 is a conceptual view of a conventional sludge dehydrating apparatus disclosed in the above-mentioned techniques. As shown in FIG. 1, in the conventional sludge dehydrating apparatus 100, fixed disks 110 and movable disks 120 are arranged in a row with gaps defined between the plates. A rotating rod 130 connects the movable disks 120 to each other. The movable disks 120 are rotated at the same time by the rotating rod 130 so that water is removed from sludge through the gaps. A screw 140 moves the sludge and compresses it, thus dehydrating the sludge. Here, the movable disks 120 use the power of a drive source 150 of the screw 140 to rotate.
However, in the conventional sludge dehydrating apparatus 100, the drive source 150 that drives the screw 140 is provided on only one side of the screw 140. In addition, the drive source 150 not only rotates the screw 140 but also rotates the movable disks 120 around the screw 140. Therefore, the torsion stress that is applied to a start point of the rotating rod 130 at which the power of the drive source 150 is applied to the rotating rod 130 differs from that applied to an end point of the rotating rod 130 which is the final recipient of the power.
If the sludge dehydrating apparatus 100 is small, in other words, is comparatively short, the possibility of the rotating rod 130 undergoing bending deflection is low. Thus, the movable disks 120 can be rotated at the same time without causing any problems so that the dehydrating operation can be carried out smoothly.
However, if the sludge dehydrating apparatus 100 is large and thus comparatively long, the rotating rod 130 may bend, thus making it difficult to smoothly dehydrate sludge. In detail, with the passage of time, the rotating rod 130 that was up to that point straight may bend at its portion that is far from the drive source 150. Hence, as distance from the drive source 150 increases, the efficiency of power transmission is reduced. As a result, the movable disks 120 that are positioned far from the drive source 150 cannot rotate normally resulting in the gaps possibly not being reliably defined between the plates, thus making the dehydration of sludge inefficient.
Furthermore, if the sludge dehydrating apparatus 100 is comparatively long and thus the screw 140 is also long, the drive shaft of the screw 140 may bend. Thereby, malfunction of the apparatus such as deformation of the fixed disks 110 and the movable disks 120 may result.
In the operation of the sludge dehydrating apparatus 100 which dehydrates sludge, if the screw 140 is rotated at low speed in order to enhance the efficiency of dehydration, a large load is applied not only to the screw 140 but also to the rotating rod 130, thus causing bending deflection of the rotating rod 130 that results in the above-stated problems.


A life jacket includes a hood and a hydration pack. The hood may be neoprene protecting the head from the water. The hydration pack may be insulated. The hydration pack may include a flow tube with a filter providing clean water to the user. The life jacket may include waterproof insulated pockets protecting contents therein.

The present invention generally relates survival gear and more particularly, a life jacket.
The use of emergency position indicating radio beacons for locating personnel stranded at sea or on land are well known in the prior art. Typically, the device is battery powered, compact, and when turned on, a device will transmit radio waves at predetermined frequencies, typically 121.5 MHz and 243 MHz, which are guard channels that are listened to for emergency situations. By sending out an emergency signal at these frequencies, the Coast Guard and other surrounding people who are alerted to the guard channels are aware of the emergency and can use the frequency transmissions for locating the downed personnel.
However, transmission of the beacon merely provides a signal that requires triangulation by emergency craft. The need to hone-in on a signal, without further information, may cause delay because of the lack of more exacting location information.
Additionally, when stranded at sea, one is exposed to a multitude of environmental hazards. Aside from drowning, a stranded individual may risk harm from being exposed to the water itself. Hypothermia can set in when extremities are exposed to water temperatures below cord body temperature over a prolonged period. Additionally, salt water may draw water from exposed skin leading to potential dehydration.
As can be seen, there is a need for a more exacting location system for water-born survivors, and a hydration system. It can also be seen that a need exists for a life jacket that protects an individual from prolonged exposure to the elements.


An electronic storage device (320) for connecting with a host system (100) includes a storage unit (360) including at least one memory segment which has at least one physical block, a memory unit (350) receiving access commands sent from the host system, and a control unit (340) connecting with said memory unit. Each of the access commands contains at least a logical address which corresponds to a physical block. The control unit determines the command execution order of the access commands according to adjacent extent of the physical blocks in said memory segment to which the logical addresses of said access commands correspond. A control method of the electronic storage device is also disclosed in the present invention.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an electronic storage device and the control method thereof, more particularly to a non-volatile solid-state electronic storage device and the control method thereof.
2. Description of Related Art
NAND-type flash memory is widely used in consuming products to be served as storage media because of rapid access speed and high reliability. Conventional solid-state data storage devices are Solid-Stage Disk (SSD), USB Flash Drive (UFD), memory cards etc. In particular, NAND-Type Flash Memory is mainly served as storage media.
FIG. 1 is a function schematic chart of a solid-state disk. The solid-state disk 120 connects with a host system 100 through disk drive interface 130. A control unit 140 executes commands of the host system 100 through system interface 110 and writes data into a storage media 160 or reads data from the storage media 160 according to logical addresses appointed by the commands. For realizing this function, the control unit 140 must be equipped with logical-to-physical address mapping function and the solid-state disk 120 should be equipped with the storage media 160 for storing logical-to-physical Address Mapping Tables which record relationships between the logical addresses and physical addresses. Since the logical-to-physical address Mapping Table needs large storage space, for saving storage space to simplify the mapping program and decrease cost of the control unit 140, the physical storage space will be divided into many memory segments with equal or unequal contents. Each memory segment stores the logical-to-physical Address Mapping Table thereof. Please refer to FIG. 2, when the host system 100 sends commands for reading or writing data in particular logical addresses, the control unit 140 determines the physical memory segment to which the logical address belongs according to the logical-to-physical Address Mapping Table. If the logical-to-physical Address Mapping Table of the particular memory segment was not loaded into the memory unit 150 of the control unit 140, then an unused table which is originally stored in the control unit 140 will be written back to the memory media 160 and the table needed by the command will be loaded from the memory media 160.
If the addresses appointed by the commands of the host system 100 are sequential, that is the addresses range from large to small or from small to large, the access speed of the storage device will not be influenced seriously. However, when the addresses appointed by the commands of the host system 100 are not sequential, then different memory segments should be visited. Thus, the access speed of the storage device will be influenced seriously because the logical-to-physical address mapping tables should be switched frequently by writing back to the memory media 160 and reloaded to the control unit 140.
Although memory capacity of the control unit 140 can be increased for accommodating the mapping tables, and more than two mapping tables of the memory segments can be permitted to be visited at the same time for avoiding switching the mapping tables too frequently, the method is still restricted by the capacity of the memory unit 150 of the control unit 140. Hence, it is desirable to design an improved structure to address problems mentioned above.

Electronic storage device and control method thereof


Provided is an e-fuse structure of a semiconductor device having improved fusing performance so as to enable a program operation at a low voltage. The e-fuse structure includes a first metal pattern formed at a first vertical level, the first metal pattern including a first part extending in a first direction and a second part extending in the first direction and positioned to be adjacent to the first part, and a third part adjacent to the second part, the second part being positioned between the first part and the third part, the first part and the second part being electrically connected to each other, and the third part being electrically disconnected from the second part; and a second metal pattern electrically connected to the first metal pattern and formed at a second vertical level different from the first vertical level.

1. Field of the Invention
The present disclosure relates to an e-fuse structure, and more particularly to an e-fuse structure of a semiconductor device.
2. Description of the Related Art
In semiconductor device technologies, fuses are used for a variety of purposes. For example, to improve chip yield, fuses of memory devices are typically used in a repair process in which a bad (defective) memory cell is replaced with a redundancy memory cell. As other examples, fuses may be used to customize and/or optimize chip characteristics after fab-out, and fuses may be used to record/identify chip information and/or fabrication histories.
Fuses may be classified as either laser fuses or e-fuses. Laser fuses are configured to be selectively programmed (that is, opened) by utilization of a laser, and e-fuses are configured to be selectively programmed by utilization of electric current.

E-fuse structure of semiconductor device

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


In one illustrative example, TV usage data associated with a residential set-top box (STB) are obtained and stored over a plurality of repeated (e.g. weekly) time periods. TV usage pattern data associated with the residential STB are derived based on the stored TV usage data. A suspected illegitimate use of the residential STB is identified based on identifying a match or correlation between the TV usage pattern data and one of a plurality of predetermined commercial TV usage patterns. Further, for each listing data of one or more published listings of business hours, types, and themes associated with one or more commercial establishments, a comparison or correlation is performed between the TV usage pattern data and the listing data. A commercial establishment associated with illegitimate use is identified based on identifying a match or correlation between the TV usage pattern data and the listing data associated with the commercial establishment.

Usage of residential set-top boxes (STBs) in commercial locations (RSiCLs) is a major problem for service providers (SPs).
As one simple example, a subscriber having a service agreement with an SP may lease or purchase an additional residential STB at a lower "residential" price, but make use of the additional residential STB at a commercial location for commercial use. Typically, commercial STBs command a much higher price than residential STBs. The illegitimate commercial use of the additional residential STB is a violation of the service agreement between the subscriber and the SP.
A typical mechanism for detecting such illegitimate use (sometimes referred to as "pub detection") is to send a multitude of operational security (OPSEC) workers simultaneously to a multitude of commercial establishments and use overt broadcast fingerprinting to display the IDs of the STBs. As is apparent, such a mechanism uses significant human resources and inconveniences both residential and commercial owners of legitimately used STBs.
In accordance with common practice the various features illustrated in the drawings may not be drawn to scale. Accordingly, the dimensions of the various features may be arbitrarily expanded or reduced for clarity. In addition, some of the drawings may not depict all of the components of a given system, method or device. Finally, like reference numerals may be used to denote like features throughout the specification and figures.

Method and device for identifying and verifying the illegitimate use of residential set-top boxes


Embodiments of an interpolator system and method are disclosed. One embodiment of an interpolator system, among others, includes an interpolator having first and second output terminals providing output signals; a comparator coupled to the first and second output terminals and configured to detect a peak voltage level of the output signals and compare the peak voltage level with a reference voltage level; and an impedance element coupled to the comparator and the first and second output terminals, wherein the comparator is configured to provide a control signal to the impedance element to change the impedance of the impedance element to set a voltage variation of the output signals.

An interpolator includes a category of circuits or systems that are typically used to adjust the phase of sampling clock signals in fine increments. An interpolator may be used in a receiver in a serial link, such as in a data recovery system, to adjust the phase of clock signals to enable alignment with data bit pulses included in an incoming asynchronous data stream. Another implementation may be for use in a microprocessor that receives input clock signals that have a frequency that differs from its core clock frequency. An interpolator in these implementations may be used to align the various clock signals to the core clock to provide for proper timing. An interpolator may be implemented according to several configurations, such as a current-controlled interpolator or voltage-controlled interpolator.
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an example interpolator 100. The interpolator 100 includes a differential amplifier 102 that receives a first clock input signal, clk1 (and its inverse or complement signal, clk1n), and a differential amplifier 104 that receives a second clock input signal, clk2 (and its inverse or complement. signal, clk2n). The differential amplifiers 102 and 104 are coupled in a wired-OR configuration. The differential amplifier 102 includes transistors 106 and 108. Although shown using n-channel, metal-oxide semiconductor (NMOS) transistors, other transistor types and configurations may be used. Transistor 106 is coupled to a current source 122, the latter configured in one example as a diode-connected, p-channel, MOS (PMOS) transistor. The current source 122 is supplied by a voltage source, Vs. The drain terminal of transistor 106 is coupled to output terminal 109a, on which a complementary clock signal clkn is provided. The drain terminal of transistor 108 is coupled to output terminal 109b, on which a clock signal elk is provided. The differential amplifier 102 is also coupled to a current sink 114. The current sink 114 may be comprised of a plurality of parallel-configured transistors (e.g., NMOS) 116. At any given time the total number of transistors 116 that are activated may vary from zero to a total of N transistors 116.
The differential amplifier 104 is configured similarly to the differential amplifier 102, and includes transistors 110 and 112. The transistor 112 is coupled to a current source 124, which is coupled to a voltage supply, Vs. The drain terminals of transistors 110 and 112 are coupled to output terminals 109a and 109b, respectively. The differential amplifier 104 is also coupled to current sink 118, which includes a plurality of parallel-configured transistors 120, similar to current sink 114.
In operation, the interpolator 100 receives clock signals from a clock source and shifts the clock signal phases in finite increments by adjusting the quantity of transistors 116 and 120 that are activated. For example, assuming input clock signals clk1 and clk2, clk2 being shifted 90-degrees in phase relative to clk1, the output clock signal clk on output terminal 109b would have a phase shift in the range of 0-90 degrees. The interpolator 100 accomplishes this function through the activation of a select quantity of transistors 116 and 120. For example, if all the transistors 116 of current sink 114 are activated (and transistors 120 are not activated), then the output clock signal elk on output terminal 109b will be equivalent in phase to clk1 (plus some fixed phase delay). If all the transistors 120 are activated (and no transistors 116 are activated), then the output clock signal clk on output terminal 109b will be equivalent in phase to clk2 (plus some fixed phase delay). Any other combination of activated transistors 116 and/or 120 results in an output clock signal clk that has a phase shifted somewhere between clk1 and clk2. Thus, the ability to shift the phase of the output clock signal clk to a phase ranging between that provided by clk1 and clk2 enables the output clock to be aligned with the incoming data.
One or more problems may arise with the interpolator architecture shown in FIG. 1. First, as the number of activated transistors 116 and/or 120 changes between current sinks 114 and 118, the gain of the differential amplifier transistor pairs changes, and hence the output swing varies. Additionally, as the number of activated current sink transistors 116 said/or 120 changes, the impedance to the rails varies. A variation in the impedance causes a shift in the output clock signal common mode. A common mode output refers to the average level round which the output swings. When the output swings, a stage that receives the output has some "trip-point." The stage is then effected by this shift, which can cause an error in the interpolated result. Also, there is a power supply sensitivity corresponding to the operation of the interpolator circuit. In other words, as the power supply varies, so does the output level. Finally, as the number of current sink transistors changes, so does the slew rate and hence the fixed phase delay through the interpolator 100. These three problems, alone or in combination, may cause non-linear operation of the interpolator 100, hence reducing the ability to accurately align the delayed clock to the incoming data stream. For example, non-linearity of the interpolator 100 may lead to compression of the interpolator range and introduce jitter.
Additional problems of conventional interpolator architectures include the fact that such architectures often have a process dependence. That is, each chip that is manufactured possesses different characteristics that are often referred to as process variations. These variations can introduce errors in the interpolator. For example, as a result of some process variations, the transistors of 116 and 118 may not be identical. Thus, the desired weighting performance may not be realized between the two differential amplifiers 102 and 104.

Interpolator systems with linearity adjustments and related methods

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.