The working electrode in the flow channel of a flow-through electrolytic detection cell is preconditioned by flowing a preconditioning electroplating solution with preconditioner species through the flow channel while applying a negative potential. Flow of liquid through the flow channel is rapidly switched from preconditioning solution to a target solution containing an organic target solute to be measured. The transient response of the system resulting from exposure of the working electrode to organic target solute is detected by measuring current density during an initial transient time period. An unknown concentration of target solute is determined by comparing the transient response with one or more transient responses characteristic of known concentrations. A preferred measuring system is operable to switch flow from preconditioning solution to target solution in about 200 milliseconds or less.

Integrated circuits are formed on wafers by well-known processes and materials. These processes typically include the deposition of thin film layers by sputtering, metal-organic decomposition, chemical vapor deposition, plasma vapor deposition, and other techniques. These layers are processed by a variety of well-known etching technologies and subsequent deposition steps to provide a completed integrated circuit.
A crucial component of integrated circuits is the wiring or metallization layer that interconnects the individual circuits. Conventional metal deposition techniques include physical vapor deposition (e.g., sputtering and evaporation) and chemical vapor deposition techniques. Integrated circuit manufacturers have also developed electrolytic and electroless plating techniques to deposit primary conductor films on semiconductor substrates.
Wiring layers traditionally contained aluminum and a plurality of other metal layers that are compatible with aluminum. Around 1997, new technology facilitated a transition from aluminum to copper wiring layers. This technology demanded corresponding changes in process architecture towards damascene and dual damascene architecture, as well as new process technologies.
Copper damascene and dual damascene circuits are produced by initially forming trenches and other embedded features in a wafer, as needed for circuit architecture. These trenches and embedded features are formed by conventional photolithographic processes in a nonconductive substrate, such as a silicon oxide. Usually, a barrier layer, for example, of silicon nitride or tantalum, is deposited next. An initial seed or strike layer, (e.g., a copper or ruthenium layer having a thickness of about 5 nanometers (nm) to 200 nm) is then deposited by a conventional physical or vapor deposition technique. The seed layer is used as a base layer to conduct current for electroplating thicker films. Thinner seed layers are preferred to reduce overhang and closure of very small features by metal from the seed layer. The seed layer functions as the initial cathode of an electroplating cell. Electrical contacts to the wafer are normally made at its edge.
In electroplating processes, it is generally desirable to control the thickness profile of the deposited metal to be as uniform as possible. A uniform profile is advantageous in subsequent etchback or polish removal steps, as well as in uniform void-free filling of vias and trenches. Prior art electroplating techniques are susceptible to thickness irregularities. Factors contributing to these irregularities include the size and shape of the electroplating cell, electrolyte depletion effects, hot edge effects, and the terminal effect.
A conventional electroplating bath typically contains the metal to be plated together with associated anions in an acidic solution. Copper electroplating is usually performed using CuSO4 and a chloride dissolved in an aqueous solution of sulfuric acid. In DC electroplating, additives such as accelerators, suppressors, and levelers are typically included in the electrolytic plating solution to improve electroplating behavior by, among others, enhancing chemical reactions, improving surface deposition, improving thickness uniformity, and enhancing filling of high aspect ratio features. Sulfuric acid provides high conductivity to the electrolyte, and chloride ions enhance additive performance.
Three types of electroplating bath additives are in common use, subject to design choice by those skilled in the art. A suppressor additive is used to decrease the current density, and thus the deposition rate on the surface of the wafer at a given applied voltage. This allows differentiation in deposition rate between the wafer surface and the inside of high aspect ratio features, thereby enhancing the void-free fill of high aspect ratio features. Typical suppressors are large molecules, typically having an average molecular weight (MW) in a range of about from 2,000 to 6,000 that increase the surface polarization layer and prevent copper ion from readily adsorbing onto the surface. Thus, suppressors function as blockers. Suppressors cause the resistance of the surface to be very high in relation to the electroplating bath. Trace levels of chloride or other ion may be required for suppressors to be effective.
Accelerator additives accumulate within the high aspect ratio features to increase the local current density relative to the suppressed field and thus aid in void free filling. Accelerator additives are normally catalysts that accelerate the plating reaction. Accelerators typically are rather small molecules (e.g., 300 MW) that normally contain sulfur, and they need not be ionic. Accelerators adsorb onto the surface and increase the flow of current. Accelerators may occur not as the species directly added to the electroplating bath, but as breakdown products of such molecules. In either case, the net effect of accelerators is to increase current flow and accelerate the reaction when such species are present or become present through chemical breakdown.
A leveler additive is present to improve overall deposit planarity and increase the ease of subsequent CMP processing. Levelers behave like suppressors, but tend to be more electrochemically active (i.e., are more easily electrochemically transformed) than suppressors. Levelers are typically consumed during electroplating. Levelers tend to supress plating on raised regions of the surface undergoing plating, thus, tending to level the plated surface.
In conventional electroplating solutions, the additive components are designed to provide ideal characteristics for bottom-up fill of trenches and vias, as well as planarization of plating above filled features. Organic additives are present in an electroplating solution in low concentrations, usually measured in parts per million (ppm). The low concentrations of organic additives must be closely controlled to achieve desired deposition behavior and desired properties of deposited metal.
Cyclic voltammetric stripping (CVS) is a widely used method for monitoring and controlling plating bath additives. CVS involves cycling the potential of an inert electrode (e.g., Pt) in a cleaning solution between fixed potential limits so that metal is ultimately plated onto the electrode and then stripped from the electrode surface. The cycling of potential is designed to establish a steady state for the electrode surface so that reproducible results are obtained. Accumulation of organic films or other contaminants on the electrode surface is avoided by periodically cycling the potential of the electrode in a plating solution without organic additives and, if necessary, polishing the electrode. Cyclic pulse voltammetric stripping (CPVS), also known as cyclic step voltammetric stripping (CSVS), is a variation of the CVS method that employs discrete changes in potential during the analysis to condition the electrode to improve measurement precision. A rotating disk electrode is typically employed for both CVS and CPVS analysis to provide controlled hydrodynamic conditions. A limitation of techniques using a rotating disk electrode is that the solution studied cannot be changed while a measurement is being completed.
In CVS and CPVS analyses, a metal deposition rate is determined from the current or charge passed during metal electrodeposition. Typically, the charge associated with anodic stripping of the metal from the electrode is measured. Various techniques involving cyclic voltammetry are described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,186,326, issued Mar. 6, 2007, and U.S. Pat. No. 7,270,733, issued Sep. 18, 2007, which are hereby incorporated by reference. Other less common techniques for monitoring the concentration of organic additives in electroplating solutions that do not involve CVS are described briefly in U.S. Pat. No. 7,270,733.
Currently used techniques for monitoring the concentration of organic additives are typically characterized by one or more of the following shortcomings. A common problem is the large size and large footprint associated with detection and analysis equipment. Another problem is the large amount of reagents used in analysis, and the corresponding high expense. Additionally, some techniques have demanding equipment requirements; for example, some techniques use expensive and unreliable syringe pumps, while others use complex frequency response locks in amplifiers and power supplies. Some techniques are suitable for measuring one type of organic additives, but are less suitable or unsuitable for measuring other types of organic additives. Further, commonly used techniques generally require complicated calibration and analysis. More importantly, the accuracy, precision and reliability of the measurements of some commonly used monitoring devices are often unsatisfactory.
Therefore, there is a need, particularly in the field of integrated circuit fabrication, for systems and methods useful for monitoring and controlling the concentrations of organic additives in electroplating solutions.


A moving mechanism according to the present invention includes a fixed base, a moving member movably provided with respect to the fixed base, a driving motor mounted on the moving member, a driving shaft rotatably supported by the moving member and rotated by the driving motor, a pair of driven wheels to be brought into rolling contact with the driving shaft, a unit for simultaneously bringing the driven wheels into rolling contact with the base, and an abutting unit for causing the driving shaft to abut against the driven wheels so that they are frictionally engaged with each other, and causing the driven wheels to abut against the fixed base so that they are fictionally engaged with each other, wherein the driven wheels are rotated on the fixed base to move the moving member with respect to the fixed base in accordance with rotation of the driving shaft. The moving mechanism further includes a slip detecting unit for detecting slip generated in a driving power transmitting system from the driving shaft to the fixed base, an abuting force adjusting unit, connected to the abutting unit, for adjusting the abutting force of the abutting unit, and a slip control unit for adjusting the abutting force adjusting unit in a direction of eliminating the slip on the basis of the detection result of the slip detecting unit.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a moving mechanism and, more particularly, to a moving mechanism optimal for a moving system for use in a shuttle and the like moving between industrial robots or NC machine tools and requiring a precise linear motion.
2. Related Background Art
Examples of a moving mechanism for use in machines of this type are a mechanism in which a rod member is sandwiched and moved by a combination of a plurality of friction rollers as disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 61-117043, and a mechanism in which a nut member threadably engaged with a ball bearing screw is mounted on a moving member side and the ball screw is rotated to move the moving body along the ball screw.
As a feed apparatus of a machine tool, apparatuses for friction-driving a moving body along a guide bar by using friction rollers are disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 58-54948 and Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 61-230835. In addition, a device according to the prior application of the present inventor is disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Application No. 62-113867.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 63-132316 is a prior art reference concerning a countermeasure against sliding of a friction-driving apparatus. This patent specification discloses a friction-driving apparatus comprising a slider, a driving roller, abutting against the slider, for driving it by a friction, an adjusting mechanism for adjusting an abutting force between the slider and the driving roller, a speed detector for detecting a moving speed of the slider, a rotational speed detector for detecting a rotational speed of the driving roller, and a controller for arithmetically processing signals from the speed detector and the rotational speed detector, and controlling the adjusting mechanism on the basis of a difference signal.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 63-132317 as a related patent application discloses a friction-driving apparatus comprising a slider, a driving roller, abutting against the slider, for driving it by a friction, an adjusting mechanism for adjusting an abutting force between the slider and the driving roller, a displacement detector for detecting a displacement of the slider, a rotational angle detector for detecting rotational angle of the driving roller, and a controller for arithmetically processing signals from the displacement detector and the rotational angle detector to calculate a displacement between the driving roller and the slider, and controlling the adjusting mechanism on the basis of a difference signal.


A circuit for processing radio frequency signals. The circuit includes a substrate where the circuit can be placed. The substrate can be a meta-material and can incorporate at least one dielectric layer. A four port circuit and at least one ground can be coupled to the substrate. The dielectric layer can include a first region with a first set of substrate properties and a second region with a second set of substrate properties. Substrate properties can include permittivity and permeability. A substantial portion of the four port circuit can be coupled to the second region. The permittivity and/or permeability of the second region can be higher than the permittivity and/or permeability of the first region. The increased permittivities and/or permeabilities can reduce a size of the four port circuit and effect a change in a variety of electrical characteristics associated with the four port circuit.

1. Statement of the Technical Field
The inventive arrangements relate generally to methods and apparatus for providing increased design flexibility for RF circuits, and more particularly for optimization of dielectric circuit board materials for improved performance in four port circuits such as four port branch line couplers.
2. Description of the Related Art
RF circuits such as quarter-wave transformers and four port branch line couplers are commonly manufactured on specially designed substrate boards. For the purposes of RF circuits, it is important to maintain careful control over impedance characteristics and electrical length. If the impedances of different parts of the circuit do not match, this mismatch can result in inefficient power transfer, unnecessary heating of components, and other problems. A specific type of transmission line structure often used to match the impedances of different parts of the circuit is a quarter-wave transformer. Hence, the performance of quarter-wave transformers in printed circuits can be a critical design factor.
As the name implies, a quarter-wave transformer typically has an electrical line length of xcex/4, where xcex is the signal wavelength in the circuit. As is well known by those skilled in the art, the proper characteristic impedance of a quarter-wave transformer is given by the formula Z0={square root over (Z1Z2)}, where Z0 is the desired characteristic impedance of the quarter-wave transformer, Z1 is the impedance of a first transmission line to be matched, and Z2 is the impedance of a second transmission line or load being matched to the first transmission line.
Printed quarter-wave transformers used in RF circuits can be formed in many different ways. Three common implementations are described below. One configuration known as microstrip, places the quarter-wave transformer on a board surface and provides a second conductive layer, commonly referred to as a ground plane. A second type of configuration known as buried microstrip is similar except that the quarter-wave transformer is covered with a dielectric superstrate material. In a third configuration known as stripline, the quarter-wave transformer is sandwiched within substrate between two electrically conductive (ground) planes.
Two critical factors affecting the performance of a substrate material are permittivity (sometimes called the relative permittivity or ∈r) and the loss tangent (sometimes referred to as the dissipation factor). Another critical factor is the permeability (sometimes called the relative permeability or xcexcr). The relative permittivity and relative permeability determine the speed of the signal, and therefore the electrical length of transmission lines and other components implemented on the substrate. The loss tangent characterizes the amount of loss that occurs for signals traversing the substrate material. Accordingly, low loss materials become even more important with increasing frequency, particularly when designing receiver front ends and low noise amplifier circuits.
Ignoring loss, the characteristic impedance of a standard transmission line, such as stripline or microstrip, is equal to {square root over (L1/C1)} where L1 is the inductance per unit length and C1 is the capacitance per unit length. The values of L1 and C1 are generally determined by the physical geometry and spacing of the line structure as well as the permittivity and permeability of the dielectric material(s) used to separate the transmission line structures. Conventional substrate materials typically have a relative permeability of approximately 1.0.
In conventional RF design, a substrate material is selected that has a relative permittivity value suitable for the design. Once the substrate material is selected, the line characteristic impedance value is exclusively adjusted by controlling the line geometry and physical structure.
The permittivity of the chosen substrate material for a transmission line, passive RF device, or radiating element influences the physical wavelength of RF energy at a given frequency for that line structure. One problem encountered when designing microelectronic RF circuitry is the selection of a dielectric board substrate material that is optimized for all of the various passive components and transmission line circuits to be formed on the board. In particular, the geometry of certain circuit elements may be physically large or miniaturized due to the unique electrical or impedance characteristics required for such elements. Similarly, the line widths required for exceptionally high or low characteristic impedance values can, in many instances, be too narrow or too wide respectively for practical implementation for a given substrate. Since the physical size of the microstrip or stripline is inversely related to the relative permittivity of the dielectric material, the dimensions of a transmission line can be affected greatly by the choice of substrate board material.
Still, an optimal board substrate material design choice for some components may be inconsistent with the optimal board substrate material for other components, such as antenna elements. Moreover, some design objectives for a circuit component may be inconsistent with one another. Accordingly, the constraints of a circuit board substrate having selected relative substrate properties often results in design compromises that can negatively affect the electrical performance and/or physical characteristics of the overall circuit.
An inherent problem with the foregoing approach is that, at least with respect to the substrate material, the only control variable for line impedance is the relative permittivity, ∈r. Changes in the relative permittivity affect C1, the capacitance per unit length. This limitation highlights an important problem with conventional substrate materials, i.e. they fail to take advantage of the other material factor that determines characteristic impedance, namely the relative permability, xcexcr. Changes in the relative permeability affect L1, the inductance per unit length of the transmission line.
Yet another problem that is encountered in RF circuit design is the optimization of circuit components for operation on different RF frequency bands. Line impedances and lengths that are optimized for a first RF frequency band may provide inferior performance when used for other bands, either due to impedance variations and/or variations in electrical length. Such limitations can reduce the effective operational frequency range for a given RF system.
Conventional circuit board substrates are generally formed by processes such as casting or spray coating which generally result in uniform substrate physical properties, including the permittivity. Accordingly, conventional dielectric substrate arrangements for RF circuits have proven to be a limitation in designing circuits that are optimal in regards to both electrical and physical size characteristics.
The present invention relates to a circuit for processing radio frequency signals. The circuit includes a substrate where the circuit can be placed. The substrate can include a meta-material (which are described in more detail later) and can incorporate at least one dielectric layer. A four port circuit and at least one ground can be coupled to the substrate.
The dielectric layer can include a first region with a first set of substrate properties and at least a second region with a second set of substrate properties. The substrate properties can include permittivity and permeability. The second set of substrate properties can be different than the first set of substrate properties. In one embodiment the permittivity and/or permeability of the second region can be higher than the permittivity and/or permeability of the first region. Further, the first and/or second set of substrate properties can be differentially modified to vary a dielectric permittivity or magnetic permeability or both over a selected region. The dielectric layer can further include other regions with different sets of substrate properties.
At least a portion of the four port circuit can be coupled to the second region. The increased dielectric permittivities or permeabilities or both can reduce a size of the four port circuit. The increased permittivities or permeabilities or both also can effect a change in at least one of a impedance, an inductance, a capacitance, a quality factor (Q) and a voltage associated with the four port circuit.


Provided are a wireless charging method and a wireless charging apparatus for a handheld mobile terminal. The method includes: detecting a state of an earphone cord of the handheld mobile terminal in real time (S101); when it is detected that the earphone cord is in the to-be-charged twisted state, connecting the earphone cord, as an electricity receiving coil, to a charging apparatus (S102); after the earphone cord is connected as the electricity receiving coil to the charging apparatus, placing the handheld mobile terminal on or near a charging plate provided with an electricity transmitting coil to enable electromagnetic coupling (S103); and obtaining electric energy, by the handheld mobile terminal, through the electromagnetic coupling between the electricity transmitting coil and the electricity receiving coil, to wirelessly charge a battery of the handheld mobile terminal (S104). Convenience can be brought to a user and the user experience can be improved.

Through wireless technology, various functions can be realized on digital products such as mobile phone, for example, Bluetooth headset, Wireless Fidelity (Wi-Fi) Internet access and the like. With the increasing development and improvement of technologies, wireless technologies in the related art can now realize more complicated functions, for example, wireless charging.
The wireless charging technology transfers charges over air between a charger and a device by virtue of magnetic resonance. Specifically, a coil and a capacitor form a resonance between the charger and the device, so as to realize the efficient electric-energy transfer.
At present, wireless charging apparatuses available on market refer to wireless chargers, which charge devices by the electromagnetic induction principle and of which the principle is similar to a transformer. One coil is deployed at the transmitting end and the receiving end respectively; the transmitting end coil is connected with a wired power supply to generate an electromagnetic signal, and the receiving end coil senses the electromagnetic signal from the transmitting end and generates a current to charge a battery.
Nowadays, handheld mobile terminals used by users include mobile phone, touch, tablet computer and so on. Wireless chargers only charging matched mobile phones cannot meet users' requirements. How to provide a more convenient use and an improved user experience is a problem to be solved.

Wireless charging method and apparatus for handheld mobile terminal


A compressible and expandable stent assembly for implantation in a body lumen such as a mitral valve, the stent assembly including at least one stent barrel that is shaped and sized so that it allows for normal operation of adjacent heart structures. One or more stent barrels can be included in the stent assembly, where one or more of the stent barrels can include a cylinder with a tapered edge.

One of the two atrio-ventricular valves in the heart is the mitral valve, which is located on the left side of the heart and which forms or defines a valve annulus and valve leaflets. The mitral valve is located between the left atrium and the left ventricle, and serves to direct oxygenated blood from the lungs through the left side of the heart and into the aorta for distribution to the body. As with other valves of the heart, the mitral valve is a passive structure in that it does not itself expend any energy and does not perform any active contractile function.
The mitral valve includes two moveable leaflets that open and close in response to differential pressures on either side of the valve. Ideally, the leaflets move apart from each other when the valve is in an open position, and meet or "coapt" when the valve is in a closed position. However, problems can develop with valves, which can generally be classified as either stenosis, in which a valve does not open properly, or insufficiency (also called regurgitation), in which a valve does not close properly. Stenosis and insufficiency may occur concomitantly in the same valve. The effects of valvular dysfunction vary, with mitral regurgitation or backflow typically having relatively severe physiological consequences to the patient. Regurgitation, along with other abnormalities of the mitral valve, can increase the workload placed on the heart. The severity of this increased stress on the heart and the patient, and the heart's ability to adapt to it, determine the treatment options that are available for a particular patient. In some cases, medication can be sufficient to treat the patient, which is the preferred option when it is viable; however, in many cases, defective valves have to be repaired or completely replaced in order for the patient to live a normal life.
One situation where repair of a mitral valve is often viable is when the defects present in the valve are associated with dilation of the valve annulus, which not only prevents competence of the valve but also results in distortion of the normal shape of the valve orifice. Remodeling of the annulus is central to these types of reconstructive procedures on the mitral valve. When a mitral valve is repaired, the result is generally a reduction in the size of the posterior segment of the mitral valve annulus. As a part of the mitral valve repair, the involved segment of the annulus is diminished (i.e., constricted) so that the leaflets may coapt correctly on closing, and/or the annulus is stabilized to prevent post-operative dilatation from occurring. Either result is frequently achieved by the implantation of a prosthetic ring or band in the supra annular position. The purpose of the ring or band is to restrict, remodel and/or support the annulus to correct and/or prevent valvular insufficiency. Such repairs of the valve, when technically possible, can produce relatively good long-term results.
However, valve repair is sometimes either impossible or undesirable or has failed, such as in cases where dilation of the valve annulus is not the problem, leaving valve replacement as the preferred option for improving operation of the mitral valve. In cases where the mitral valve is replaced, the two general categories of valves that are available for implantation are mechanical valves and bioprosthetic or tissue valves. Mechanical valves have been used for many years and encompass a wide variety of designs that accommodate the blood flow requirements of the particular location where they will be implanted. Although the materials and design features of these valves are continuously being improved, they do increase the risk of clotting in the blood stream, which can lead to a heart attack or stroke. Thus, mechanical valve recipients most take anti-coagulant drugs for life to prevent the potential of blood clots. Further, mechanical valves can sometimes suffer from structural problems that may force the patient to have additional surgeries for further valve replacement. On the other hand, the use of tissue valves provides the advantage of not requiring anti-coagulant drugs, although tissue valves do not typically last as long as mechanical valves. Thus, tissue valves may wear out and need to be replaced after a number of years. The surgical procedure for implantation of many of these mechanical and tissue valves typically involves opening the patient's chest to access the mitral valve through the left atrium, and sewing the new valve in position.
To simplify surgical procedures and reduce patient trauma, there has been a recent increased interest in minimally invasive and percutaneous replacement of cardiac valves. Replacement of a heart valve typically does not involve actual physical removal of the diseased or injured native heart valve. Rather, the replacement valve is delivered in a compressed condition to the native valve site, where it is expanded. One example of such a valve replacement system includes inserting a replacement pulmonary valve into a balloon catheter and delivering it percutaneously via the vascular system to the location of a failed pulmonary valve. There, the replacement valve is expanded by a balloon to compress the native valve leaflets against the right ventricular outflow tract, thereby anchoring and sealing the replacement valve. In the context of percutaneous pulmonary valve replacement, U.S. Patent Application Publication Nos. 2003/0199971 A1 and 2003/0199963 A1, both filed by Tower, et al., describe a valved segment of bovine jugular vein, mounted within an expandable stent, for use as a replacement pulmonary valve. As described in the articles; "Percutaneous Insertion of the Pulmonary Valve", Bonhoeffer, et al., Journal of the American College of Cardiology 2002; 39: 166-1669 and "Transcatheter Replacement of a Bovine Valve in Pulmonary Position", Bonhoeffer, et al., Circulation 2000; 102: 813-816, the replacement pulmonary valve may be implanted to replace native pulmonary valves or prosthetic pulmonary valves located in valved conduits. Other implantables and implant delivery devices also are disclosed in published U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2003/00:36791 A1 and European Patent Application No. 1 057 460-A1.
There is a continual desire to be able to be able to improve mitral valve replacement devices and procedures to accommodate the physical structure of the heart without causing undue stress to the patient during the operation on the heart, such as providing devices and methods for replacing the mitral valve percutaneously.

Stented heart valve devices and methods for atrioventricular valve replacement


A vehicle body composite coating, comprising, in succession, a polyurethane finishing coat, a polyurethane intermediate layer, a polyester putty and a micro-arc oxidation ceramic layer undercoat, wherein the micro-arc oxidation ceramic layer undercoat is on an aluminium substrate of the vehicle body. The design method of the vehicle body composite coating includes establishment of a physical model, selection of an optimal thickness ratio, preparation of the vehicle body composite coating and an erosion test. The vehicle body composite coating enhances the binding force between the whole coating system and the aluminium alloy substrate, reduces the possibility of shedding of the coating as a whole, and improves the anti-erosion performance of the vehicle body composite coating.

Erosion and particle invasion will occur when the surface of a motor train unit head is impacted by fine particles in a high speed, both of which would roughen the vehicle body surface. This would not only increase the air friction resistance of the railway vehicles during running, but also enhance the absorption capacity of the vehicle body surface, such that living beings (such as mosquitoes, etc.) are easier to be adsorbed, and the surface materials on the railway vehicles have a reduced lifetime and are difficult to be cleaned.
The composite coating in the prior art is a coating system of a polyurethane topcoat, a polyurethane intermediate layer, a polyester putty and an epoxy resin primer, in which the superficial coat is easily to be destroyed and the coating is easily to be shed as a whole when the coating system is impacted by fine particles. Accordingly, there is a need for a novel coating system to improve the anti-erosion performance.

Vehicle body composite coating and design method thereof


A single-handle faucet includes a faucet body which has an open top and which is formed with a spout, an upright water pipe provided inside the faucet body, and a cartridge stem extending slidably into the upright water pipe and being movable between a first position, in which water flow from the water pipe to the spout is permitted, and a second position, in which water flow from the water pipe to the spout is not permitted. A cover unit is mounted on the open top of the faucet body and has an apex that is formed with a curved slit. A driving piece has a pair of opposite pivot arms which extend downwardly through the curved slit and which have lower ends pivoted to the cover unit, and a curved extension which extends downwardly through the curved slit and which is in sliding contact with an inner wall surface of the cover unit. The curved extension is formed with a toothed inner surface. A driven piece is connected to a topmost end of the cartridge stem and has a rack formed thereon. A pinion is mounted rotatably within the cover unit and interengages the rack and the toothed inner surface. A lever has one end extending above the apex of the cover unit and is connected to the driving piece.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to as single-handle faucet, more particularly to a single-handle faucet with improved water flow control.
2. Description of the Related Art
FIG. 1 is an illustration of a conventional single-handle faucet. The faucet includes a hollow faucet body (14') which is formed with a spout (16'), an upright water pipe (1') which is provided inside the faucet body (16'), and a cartridge stem (11') which extends slidably into the water pipe (1'). The cartridge stem (11') is movable between a first position, wherein water flow from the water pipe (1') to the spout (16') is permitted, and a second position, wherein water flow from the water pipe (1') to the spout (16') is not permitted. A bent lever (12') has one end connected to a top end of the cartridge stem (11'). The other end (121') of the bent lever (12') extends out of the faucet body (14'). The bent lever (12') has an intermediate bent portion which is connected pivotally to the faucet body (14') by means of a pivot unit (13') on one side of the faucet body (14'). The other end (121') of the bent lever (12') is pivoted upwardly or downwardly so as to move the cartridge stem (11') vertically between the first and second positions within the upright water pipe (1') in order to adjust the amount of water flow through the spout (16').
Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, when the other end (121') of the bent lever (12') is operated, the pivot unit (13') is shifted slightly from a first position to a second position (131') in order to permit vertical movement of the cartridge stem (11'). The shifting movement of the pivot unit (13') prevents smooth operation of the bent lever (12').
In addition, the bent lever (12') applies a horizontal force on the cartridge stem (11') when the bent lever (12') is operated. Unstable movement of the cartridge stem (11') thus occurs, thereby resulting in deformation of a sealing ring (15') around the cartridge stem (11') and in the generation of a large resistance to movement of the cartridge stem (11'). Thus, the useful life of the conventional single-handle faucet is relatively short.


An improved handle and latch assembly for a portable personal computer. The computer includes a cover. To open the cover, the user grasps the handle and pushes it a slight distance toward the computer. The handle is slideably coupled to the cover of the personal computer. A locking member is moveably disposed within the cover. A pair of locking hooks extend out of the cover and engage with slots in the keyboard section of the computer. When the handle is moved inward, it contacts the locking member and moves it, thereby releasing the hooks, and allowing the cover to be opened.

A. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the field of latching devices, and more particularly to an improved handle and latch assembly for a portable personal computer.
B. Art Background
In the field of personal computers, computers which are portable and may easily be carried from place to place are commonly referred to as "lap-top" computers. Typically lap-top computers are compact in size and relatively light in weight. Because of their portable nature, lap-top computers are usually configured differently then most other personal computer systems. A lap-top computer is usually a single, integrated, unit. All of the elements of the computer are placed within one housing. This is in contrast to most personal computer systems where the elements of the system, such as the keyboard, video display, and Central Processing Unit (CPU) are physically distinct entities. The integrated nature of lap-top computers is desirable because it enhances their portability.
Most lap-top computers have a main body section which contains all of the essential circuitry of the computer such as the CPU, the power supply, and data storage devices, such as a floppy or hard disk. Attached to the front of the main body section is a keyboard unit which allows a user to communicate with the computer. There is a top cover section which is placed over the keyboard unit. The cover section is connected to the main body section by a hinge. The hinge allows the cover to be opened upwards, revealing the keyboard.
The top cover performs several functions. First, when closed, it covers the keyboard, thus protecting the keys while the computer is being transported. The cover also usually holds the display unit of the lap-top. When the cover is lifted upwards, the display unit is visible to the user. In this manner, the display unit is also protected. The display unit can be a video monitor, a liquid crystal display, or any other equivalent device. Often, when the cover is rotated upwards the computer is turned on.
The cover is typically held in a closed position by means of a latch assembly. This latch locks the cover in the closed position. When the latch is manually released, the cover can be opened. In prior art devices, the latch assembly consists of two separate locking elements. These locking elements are most often located on the top of the cover, near the left and right edges of the computer. Typically, the locking elements must be released simultaneously to release the cover. In prior art devices it is not possible for a user to reach both locking elements with one hand. Thus, it is necessary for the user of a lap-top computer to use both hands to open the cover. At times, this may prove to be inconvenient. Another drawback of prior art latch assemblies is that having two separate locking elements adds to the overall complexity of the latch assembly and increases the manufacturing costs associated with the computer.
Since lap-top computers are by their very nature portable, they include a handle with which the user can pick up the computer. However, in prior art devices, the handle does not have any other functional use. It is simply "dead weight" which adds to the total weight of the computer. This extra weight is undesirable because lap-top computers are designed to be as light as possible so that they may be carried more easily.


Some embodiments include a system for delivery of binaural audio to a consumer including a computing device with a processor, a non-transitory computer readable medium having stored instructions that when executed by the computing device, cause the computing device to perform operations for delivery of the binaural audio to the consumer through the consumer device. The operations can enable a delivery server to associate the consumer device with a binaural audio file associated with the event attended by the consumer. The operations can enable the consumer device to retrieve and download a binaural audio file from the delivery server, and to receive synchronization information associated with the event and the binaural audio file. The operations can also include processing the binaural audio file and delivering audio through an audio emitting device coupled to the consumer device, where the delivered audio is synchronized with the event.

Conventional audio capture and reproduction approaches have remained, at the core, largely unchanged for an extended period of time. Audio data is captured via one or more microphones, stored on or in a recording medium, and then played back via one or more loudspeakers. While such systems and related technologies have become increasingly ubiquitous, powerful, compact, and energy-efficient, they have generally not allowed for simultaneous mass customization of audio, nor have they allowed for expanded approaches for interaction with an audience.
Theater-style surround sound systems offer only limited sound staging/sound localization capabilities due to incomplete sound isolation. For example, sound emanating from a loudspeaker on the left side of the theater will eventually reach both the left ear and the right ear of a moviegoer, with the sound arriving at the right ear after a slight delay as compared to the left ear. Binaural sound that is delivered via headphones offer significantly improved sound staging/sound localization potential, but has proven difficult and/or impractical to implement. Accordingly, the audio portion of many audiovisual (A/V) entertainment forms remains subject to significant improvement, where systems for obtaining, delivering, and synchronizing binaural audio remain desirable. The benefits provided by the functionality of such a system can include, for example, increased consumer immersion and interactivity with media, increased customer goodwill, decreased media development expenses, increased language localization capabilities in connection with media presentation, and the like. For example, a moviegoer can benefit from receiving audio presented in a more realistic manner and/or in a language preferred by the moviegoer. On the other hand, movie-industry organizations benefit from reduced expenses associated with recording and mixing of audio data associated with a movie, the ability to charge a premium price for an upgraded audio experience, the ability to more effectively target audience advertising, and so forth.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


An XML parsing system includes a pattern-matching system 1 that receives an input stream 2 of characters corresponding to the XML document to be parsed, and provides an output 3 for subsequent processing in software by a processor 4. The pattern matching system 1 includes two main components, a controller in the form of a programmable state machine 5, which is programmed with an appropriate state transition diagram 6, and a character processing unit 7 in the form of a token and character handler. The programmable state machine 5 controls the character processing unit 7 to, e.g., compare characters in the input character stream 2 with other received or stored characters. The character processing unit 7 then provides feedback to the programmable state machine controller 5, e.g., as to whether the compared characters match, so that the programmable state machine controller 5 can then parse the received document accordingly.

Parsing and pattern-matching are important functions for many different applications, including compilers for programming languages, security, e.g., intrusion detection, virus scanning, etc., and data compression.
As is known in the art, parsing and pattern-matching typically involves testing an input document, in the form of an input stream of characters, to see if it meets or matches one or more conditions. Examples of such conditions include testing if a character is part of a reserved word or variable or attribute name, if the character obeys any defined naming conventions, e.g., what characters are allowed to be part of such a name, and/or if the character string obeys the relevant syntax rules, etc. The latter may also include checking the character string against certain document state information, such as, for example, testing a new variable name against a list of all previously processed variable names to determine if the new variable name is unique. Another example would be to test if a value assigned to a variable is in accordance with the type declaration of that variable.
These functions are typically implemented in software. However, the Applicants have recognized that the parsing and pattern-matching performance of existing, conventional software implementations can be limited, e.g., due to the way in which the processors implementing the software tend to operate.
Furthermore, newer applications that require parsing and pattern-matching functions that impose significantly higher processing throughput requirements regarding, e.g., the number of characters and/or documents that need to be parsed and/or searched for patterns per unit time, and/or that require significantly reduced latency in the parsing/pattern-matching process are becoming more commonplace.
An example of such applications is emerging applications based on the Extensible Markup Language (XML), which provides, as is known in the art, a standard format to exchange electronic documents. These applications of XML include web-pages, data storage and retrieval, communications protocols, e.g., XML-RPC and SOAP, object serialization, etc. These applications have in common that they require a high-performance parser function for processing the XML-based information.
The Applicants believe therefore that there will increasingly become a need for more efficient parsing and pattern-matching systems.
Objects and Advantages of the Invention
According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for pattern-matching characters in a stream of received characters, the apparatus comprising:    a character processing unit comprising means for storing characters, and means for comparing a received input character with one or more stored characters; and    a controller for controlling the character processing unit, the controller including means for receiving an input stream of characters to be pattern-matched and means for controlling the character processing unit to compare characters from the input stream with characters stored by the character processing unit.
According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of pattern-matching characters in a stream of received characters, the method comprising:    storing one or more characters in a character processing unit comprising means for storing characters;    selectively providing one or more characters from a received input character stream to the character processing unit; and    controlling the character processing unit to compare a received input character with one or more of the characters stored by the character processing unit.
The pattern-matching system of the present invention includes a character processing unit that is able to store and compare characters under the control of a controller of the system.
The Applicants have recognized that conventional parsing and pattern-matching systems that use general purpose processors can be restricted by the fact that conventional general purpose processors do not handle character and string functions very efficiently. This is because "basic" character handling functions such as encoding, combining characters in a string, string copy, and compare operations, etc., may each require a significant number of instructions to implement them, thereby resulting in decreased performance.
However, by providing a character processing unit that can store and compare characters and that can be used by a controller receiving the character stream, e.g., document, to be parsed or pattern-matched as in the present invention helps to alleviate and overcome these problems, because it allows the character handling functions to be offloaded to the character processing unit, rather than them having to be carried out in software on the main processor of the system such as would be the case with existing software implemented parsing and pattern-matching.
The character processing unit carries out character handling functions, including at least storing and comparing characters. Most preferably the character processing unit can store and retrieve (read and write) characters and character strings, and compare stored characters and/or character strings with input characters or character strings that it receives from the input character stream.
Thus, in a preferred embodiment, the character processing unit includes a memory into which it can write characters, and character strings, and from which it can retrieve characters and character strings for, e.g., comparison purposes.
The character processing unit is preferably able to store characters received in the input character stream for later retrieval, e.g., as those characters are provided to it by the controller.
In a particularly preferred embodiment, characters or character strings can also be pre-stored in the character processing unit, i.e., the character processing unit can be preloaded with characters and character strings as well as storing characters from an input character stream to be pattern-matched. Thus the character processing unit preferably stores one or more predetermined characters or character strings. This may be useful where, e.g., particular, known and predefined character strings may be expected in the input character stream and it is desired to identify such character strings in the input character stream, which, as is known in the art, is a relatively common occurrence in, e.g., programming language parsing.
The way that the character strings are preloaded in the character processing unit can be selected as desired. They could, for example, be stored by providing an appropriate input character stream containing the character strings in question to the character processing unit, or by writing them directly to the character processing unit, e.g., its memory, using a dedicated, e.g., memory, interface.
The character processing unit is preferably able to identify particular strings of characters that it has stored or is storing. Thus it is preferably able to "combine", e.g., stored, characters into strings. This is preferably done by storing information allowing the set of characters forming the desired character string to be identified. Most preferably, this is done by storing information identifying the boundaries of the character string, such as the start and end characters in the string, e.g., by storing the addresses of the start and end characters in the string. It would also, e.g., be possible to store the data identifying the characters forming a string at a certain memory location/address, and to then use that memory address directly or indirectly as the character string identifier.
Preferably each stored character string is given a unique identity that can be used to identify and retrieve the character string. Most preferably the character string identity is stored in association with the data, e.g., start and end addresses, identifying the characters forming the string. In a particularly preferred embodiment, individual character strings are associated with "tokens", with each token having a, preferably unique, identifier, thereby identifying the character string, and having stored associated therewith data identifying the stored characters forming the string, preferably in form of the start and end addresses for the character string.
Thus, in a particularly preferred embodiment, the character processing unit includes a memory that stores the character string information, e.g., start and end addresses, relating to each character string (token). As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, this "token" memory could be a separate memory device to the character-storing memory, or simply part of the same overall memory device.
The character processing unit is accordingly preferably able combine characters into an identifiable character string, e.g., by creating a new character token and storing the start and end address of the character string in the token memory, where provided.
The character processing unit can preferably also select and, e.g., read out, a stored character, character string or selected characters from a stored character string, etc. This is preferably be done by using the character string identifier, e.g., token, stored for the character string. In another preferred embodiment, character strings can also or instead be retrieved on a last-in, first-out (LIFO) basis. The Applicants believe that this latter arrangement may be particularly suited to situations such as can occur in, e.g., XML parsing, where it is desired to check that successive character strings in a given document match each other. Most preferably the character processing unit can also identify if the character it has currently retrieved from its memory is the last character of the current character string.
As discussed above, the character processing unit includes means such as suitable logic for comparing characters with one another. Most preferably a character of a stored character string can be compared with a "current" input character from the input character stream to be analyzed.
The character processing unit is preferably also able to provide an output that can then be used, e.g., as feedback, by the controller to further control the overall input character stream processing operation. Thus, for example, the character processing unit can preferably output the results of each character comparison, e.g., whether characters being compared match, indicate to the controller whether the current character being assessed is the last character of the current character string and/or provide other character or character string related feedback.
The character processing unit can preferably also output an indication of whether the characters being analyzed are of a particular type, e.g., whether a character is part of a certain, e.g., predefined, group of characters, such as "white space", e.g., space, carriage return, tab, or line feed characters, or if the character is a valid character for use in, e.g., an element, variable or attribute name or value. The character processing unit can also preferably determine, and provide feedback on, encoding of or in the input bit stream, and/or whether other conditions have occurred, such as the end of the input stream being reached, that there are no more character strings stored in its memory, etc.
In a particularly preferred embodiment, as well or instead of being able to provide feedback relating to characters in the input character stream as discussed above, the character processing unit can output characters themselves, e.g., for subsequent inclusion in an output character stream. This could be desirable where, e.g., it is desired to translate character strings in the input character stream into another form, e.g., from XML to HTML, to add new character strings to the input character stream, or to correct errors in the input character stream, etc. Thus in a particularly preferred embodiment the character processing unit can output characters and/or character strings. This could be the current input character or character string, a character or character string retrieved from the character processing unit memory, and/or a character or character string provided by the controller, e.g., as an operand value associated with a given command (see below).
The character processing unit is accordingly preferably able to carry out character and/or character string conversion operations. This could be, e.g., to convert a hexadecimal string representation of a number into the actual number (integer), e.g., to convert, e.g., 0x12AB″into the actual hexadecimal value, and/or, e.g., to convert character encoding, e.g., UTF-8 into UTF-16.
The character processing unit is preferably implemented, so far as possible, in hardware, although it could still be implemented or at least partially implemented in software, where appropriate or desired. Thus in a particularly preferred embodiment, the character processing unit includes a memory unit, character comparison logic and appropriate control logic. It is preferably implemented on a single chip (silicon substrate), although that is not essential.
As discussed above, the system of the present invention also includes a controller that receives the input character stream to be pattern-matched or parsed, and then controls the character processing unit to carry out character comparisons, store and retrieve characters, etc.
Thus the controller can preferably send commands or instructions to the character processing unit, e.g., to command the character processing unit to write and read characters and/or character strings to and from its memory, to compare stored characters or character strings with the input character stream, and/or to output, e.g., stored, characters or character strings. This is preferably done, where appropriate, by the controller providing to the character processing unit the identity of the character string, e.g., token identifier, in question.
These operations are preferably carried out by the controller in response to the characters received in the input character stream. Thus, the controller can preferably assess each character in the input character stream and then selectively, for example, on the basis of whether the input character is of a type that should be compared with a previously received or stored character, control and use the character processing unit on the basis of that assessment.
The controller also preferably receives the outputs from the character processing unit and processes and/or acts upon those outputs accordingly. Thus it can preferably evaluate the "feedback" or result information from the character processing unit, e.g., whether the input character matched a stored character or not, and react thereto.
The controller preferably also controls the overall output of system, e.g., whether the input character stream is simply output in the form that it is received, whether parts of the input character stream are deleted or replaced with other characters or character strings, whether characters or character strings stored by the character string processing unit are inserted in the output stream (as discussed above), etc. Thus in a particularly preferred embodiment the controller is operable to perform one or more of the following output functions: write the current input character to the output character stream; write a character or character string from the character processing unit, e.g., the "current" character in the character memory, to the output stream; output information otherwise generated by the controller, e.g., by writing it to the output character stream; and/or provide no output at all.
The controller also controls the provision of the input character stream to, e.g., the character processing unit and/or to the output of the system. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the controller is able to delay or pause the processing and input of the input character stream. This would make it possible, e.g., to process a single input character using a function that takes longer to execute and/or using multiple functions that are executed sequentially. It would also, e.g., facilitate the insertion of additional information within an input character stream that is, e.g., being "copied" to the output of the system.
The controller itself can be any suitable device, e.g., processor, that can control the operation of the character processing unit and operate as described above. It is preferably programmable. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the controller is a "fast" device that can control, and respond to, the character processing unit substantially in "real time", e.g., can preferably respond to outputs of the character processing unit within one or only a few clock cycles.
As discussed above, the controller receives the input character stream and operates to analyze and pattern-match it, using the character string processing unit where appropriate. It preferably does this by evaluating each character in the input stream in turn.
Most preferably the controller can evaluate multiple conditions for, e.g., a given character and then select a corresponding action all in a relatively short time period. Most preferably it can evaluate multiple conditions for, e.g., a given character, in parallel and/or simultaneously. This is all most preferably done within a single clock cycle.
This facilitates finer grain control of the "instruction execution flow", which the Applicants have recognized is desirable to allow more efficient evaluation of multiple conditions that can typically occur at the level of individual characters, as well as strings of consecutive characters, in the overall "stream" of characters that is to be parsed or pattern-matched. This should be contrasted with a more "conventional" software approach, in which conditions can typically only be evaluated one at a time and are typically used to control conditional branch functions, e.g., jump on zero, which means that conditions will typically only affect the "instruction execution flow" at a coarse granularity of multiple blocks of sequentially executed instructions.
In a particularly preferred embodiment, the controller is in the form of a programmable state machine. The use of a programmable state machine is advantageous, because, as is known in the art, a programmable state machine can evaluate multiple conditions in parallel and select a corresponding action, typically within a single clock cycle, which as discussed above is particularly advantageous for pattern-matching and parsing applications.
Indeed, the Applicants believe that the provision of a programmable state machine in combination with a character processing unit as in the present invention is particularly advantageous as this can provide a pattern-matching system that is both programmable and that can achieve high performance through tight control of the character and character string handling functions by supporting fast evaluation of multiple conditions in parallel and reaction thereto, which features are important for many parsing and pattern-matching applications.
Thus according to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for performing pattern matching of an input character stream, comprising:    a character processing unit that can store characters and compare characters provided to it with characters that it has stored; and    a programmable state machine for receiving the input character stream and for controlling the character processing unit to compare characters in the input character stream with characters stored by the character processing unit.
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of performing pattern-matching of an input character stream, the method comprising:    receiving the input character stream at a programmable state machine; and    the programmable state machine controlling a character processing unit that has stored one or more characters to compare characters in the received input character stream with a character or characters stored by the character processing unit.
These aspects and embodiments of the present invention can, as will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, include any one or more or all of the preferred and optional features of the invention described herein.
Where the controller is implemented as a programmable state machine then any suitable programmable state machine design can be used.
However, in a particularly preferred embodiment, the programmable state machine transition rules that include a ternary test vector, e.g., in the form of a test value/mask that tests for bit values "0", "1", or "wildcard" ("don't care"), that is compared against the current state register value and, optionally, e.g., other conditions, such as, e.g., the current (character) input value. The matching transition rule with the highest priority is then selected as the state transition to be triggered by the input character and used to determine the next state. In a preferred arrangement, plural so-called state spaces are used to facilitate the use of state registers with a limited fixed size, thereby increasing the efficiency of the implementation (this will be discussed further below).
Thus, in a particularly preferred embodiment of the present invention, the controller is in the form of a programmable state machine in which state transitions are represented as a list of state transition rules that involves match operators and priorities, with the next state and output being determined by searching the state transition rule list for the highest priority state transition rule that matches the current state and input. Preferably the state transition rules are in the form of ternary test vectors. Preferably the state transition rules involve wildcards, e.g., "don't care" conditions, and/or priorities. This arrangement provides a set of state transition rules for the programmable state machine that is more efficient than in conventional programmable state machines.
The highest priority state transition rule is preferably searched for using a form of the BaRT algorithm (as described, e.g., in J. van Lunteren, "Searching very large routing tables in wide embedded memory," Proceedings of the IEEE Global Telecommunications Conference GLOBECOM'01, vol. 3, pp. 1615-1619, San Antonio, Tex., November 2001). This further reduces the state transition rule storage requirements. Thus, in a preferred embodiment, the transitions (rules) are selected using a form of the BaRT algorithm.
Where the BaRT algorithm is being used, the encoding of the states, which will be discussed in more detail below, is preferably such that all the encoding bit positions that are part of the hash index determined using the BaRT algorithm are at consecutive positions in the encoding vectors for the states, as that allows the bits that form the hash index to be extracted more easily from the state vector, e.g., by performing a mask operation, e.g., bitwise AND operation with a vector, on the state value
It is also preferred to partition the state transition diagram into multiple smaller segments, i.e., to distribute the possible states over multiple state spaces implemented using separate state transition rule lists. In this case, each state-transition rule is, e.g., extended with the index mask and a base address pointer of the appropriate state transition rule list for the next state indicated by the state-transition rule.
The way that the controller operates to control and use the character processing unit in response to the input character stream can be selected as desired. As discussed above, the controller preferably "tests" or evaluates characters in the input stream (in turn) and operates and controls the character processing unit accordingly in response to the test result. Thus, for example, where the controller is in the form of a programmable state machine, the form of the input character could be used to trigger a particular state transition, as is known in the art. The input character can preferably also trigger the sending of a command, etc., to the character processing unit, if appropriate.
Thus, for example, where the controller is in the form of a programmable state machine, the state transition rules preferably additionally include, e.g., a command field that can be used to indicate a required operation of the character processing unit if, e.g., particular test criteria, such as a current state and input character conditions, are met. Thus, for example, the state transition rules preferably further include one or more of a test option field, command option field, e.g., for the character processing unit, and an operand field, to facilitate control of the character processing unit in response to the received input character stream.
It is believed that such arrangements may be new in the context of programmable state machines generally. Thus, according to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a programmable state machine in which one or more state transitions can cause the programmable state machine to send a command or instruction to a processing unit under the control of the programmable state machine.
According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of creating a data structure for a programmable state machine, comprising:    deriving and storing a set of state transitions for the state machine;    wherein one or more of the stored state transitions can cause the programmable state machine to send a command or instruction to a processing unit under the control of the programmable state machine.
This aspect of the invention can include any one or more or all of the preferred and optional features of the invention described herein. Thus, for example, the state transitions are preferably represented by state transition rules, with one or more of the state transition rules accordingly including a command field or portion that can be used to control the issuing of a command or instruction to an associated processing unit, such as a character processing unit in accordance with the present invention
It is also preferred for the controller to be able to control the input character stream, e.g., to "hold" or pause the input of characters to the controller. This would allow, e.g., the same input character to be processed in multiple consecutive cycles, or the input stream to be paused (held) while executing functions that last multiple cycles. Where the controller is in the form of a programmable state machine, this is again preferably facilitated by including an appropriate command field in the state transition rules.
Thus according to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided a programmable state machine in which one or more state transitions can cause the programmable state machine to pause the input of data to the programmable state machine.
According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of creating a data structure for a programmable state machine, comprising:    deriving and storing a set of state transitions for the state machine;    wherein one or more of the stored state transitions can cause the programmable state machine to pause the input of data to the programmable state machine.
This aspect of the invention can again include any one or more or all of the preferred and optional features of the invention described herein. Thus, for example, the state transitions are preferably represented by state transition rules, with one or more of the state transition rules accordingly including a command field or portion that can be used to pause or hold the input, e.g., of characters from the input character stream, to the programmable state machine.
In a particularly preferred embodiment where a programmable state machine is being used, a mechanism is provided whereby the process can be sent from one or more states to a subset or subroutine of state transitions that may be common to different "locations" within the overall state diagram. Thus preferably there is a common set of states/transitions that can be invoked from different locations within the state diagram, with the system then returning to its original location, or, indeed, a different location, once the subset of state transitions has been completed. This provides a form of procedure call and return mechanism for common sets of states/state transitions that would otherwise have to be "stored" for multiple different locations within the overall state diagram.
This function is preferably achieved by using a stack for state space addresses in which the current state space address and a state register value can be stored ("pushed") for later retrieval ("popping") once the invoked subset (subroutine) of states/transitions has been completed to allow the system to return to the desired part of the overall state diagram. In a preferred such embodiment, a "state space" identification, e.g., identifying the relevant part or segment of the overall state diagram (as discussed above), and a corresponding mask are pushed/popped onto/from the state stack.
In these embodiments, the return state from the procedure call, i.e., the state that is returned to, could, e.g., be the location from which the procedure originally jumped, i.e., from where the procedure call was made In a preferred embodiment it would also or instead be possible to select a different location for the system to return to. Thus, preferably, the system provides a means of selecting or varying the return location. It would also instead be possible to, e.g., fix the return state, e.g., to state SO, for some or all "procedure calls". In this latter case, there would be no need to store the "return" state in the state block.
It is again believed that these arrangements may be new in the context of programmable state machines generally. Thus, according to a ninth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a programmable state machine comprising means for invoking a single common set of state transitions from more than one location in the state diagram that the state machine is programmed to represent.
According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of creating a data structure for a programmable state machine, comprising:    deriving and storing a set of state transitions for the state machine; and    deriving and storing a plurality of other state transitions that will invoke the stored set of state transitions.
These aspects and arrangements of the present invention can again include any one or more or all of the preferred and optional features of the invention described herein. Thus, for example, the state transitions are preferably represented as (sets of) state transition rules, preferably involving wildcards and/or priorities, and, most preferably, the BaRT algorithm is used for searching the state transitions (rules).
Such arrangements involving "procedure calls" and a state stack could also be viewed as the system comprising multiple finite state machines that each, e.g., implement a given procedure, with one finite state machine being active at any given time. A different finite state machine could then be activated (called) from the "current" finite state machine by a given state transition.
In this case, a "procedure call" would accordingly involve calling another finite state machine while the current active finite state machine and a local return state within that current finite state machine would be stored for later retrieval, i.e., pushed on the state stack
Then, when the new, called finite state machine reaches the "return" state transition, the stored finite state machine identity and local state can be retrieved (popped) in order to return the system to the original, calling finite state machine and a desired local state within that finite state machine. In another such arrangement, the return state within the "calling" finite state machine could, e.g., be predetermined or fixed, in which case would not be necessary to store the local return state in the state stack.
Where the controller is in the form of a programmable state machine that uses state transition rules to represent state transitions, then in a particularly preferred embodiment, the state transition rules can be of a plurality of different types, with each type of rule involving different test conditions. For example, one type of rule could involve test conditions relating to the current state and input character (as discussed above), and another type of rule could instead relate, e.g., to error conditions such as memory overflow situations, that may, e.g., not be particular to any given state or input character In such an arrangement, the highest priority matching transition rule is again preferably determined, but in order to determine if a rule is matching, different conditions will be evaluated, depending on the test conditions of each rule An arrangement in which one set of rules relates to error conditions could be used, e.g., to make a transition into a certain error state upon the occurrence of an error, irrespective of the current state and input.
It is again believed that such an arrangement may be new and advantageous in the context of programmable state machines more generally. Thus, according to an eleventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided a programmable state machine in which state transitions are represented by state transition rules, wherein one or more of the state transition rules include one set of test condition types, and one or more other of the state transition rules include a different set of test condition types.
According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of creating a data structure for a programmable state machine, comprising:    deriving and storing a set of state transitions for the state machine that include one set of test condition types; and    deriving and storing another set of state transitions for the state machine that include a different set of test condition types.
These aspects of the present invention can again include one or more or all of the preferred and optional features of the invention described herein. Thus, for example, one of the sets of test condition types is preferably dependent on the current state and/or current input value, and the other set of test condition types is preferably additionally or instead dependent on an error condition.
This arrangement of the state transition test conditions facilitates in particular the use of state transition rules that can be considered to be "global" in nature, i.e., that, in contrast to "normal" state transition rules that are specifically related to a particular state space, and can accordingly be regarded as "local" rules, are not related to a specific state space, but instead apply more generally across the state diagram, together with more "local" rules that are dependent on a particular state. An example of a more "global" rule, might be error condition dependent rules, as discussed above.
The use of such global state transition rules avoids, e.g., the need to store each "global" rule multiple times, once for each state space where it might apply, which might otherwise particularly be necessary where the state machine uses plural state spaces as discussed above. The global transition rules are accordingly preferably only inserted once in the state diagram data structure. The use of global transition rules in this way also facilitates more flexible and storage-efficient implementation of programmable state machines.
Thus, according to a thirteenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a programmable state machine which includes state transition rules that are specifically related to particular states and state transition rules that do not relate to any particular state.
According to a fourteenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of creating a data structure for a programmable state machine comprising:    deriving state transition rules that are specifically related to particular states; and    deriving state transition rules that do not relate to any particular state.
In the above aspects and arrangements of the invention, the two or more different types of state transition rules, e.g., "global" and "local" rules, are preferably evaluated in parallel, and are preferably evaluated separately.
As discussed above, a priority scheme arrangement is preferably further used for selecting which rule is to be used to control the transition to a new state, in the event that two or more of the different rule types, e.g., both a "global" transition rule and a "local" transition rule, are found to be matched. For example, "error condition" rules could be given the highest priority so as to ensure that an error condition is always responded to.
Thus the programmable state machine preferably includes some form of rule selector for supporting the multiple types of transition rules. This could, e.g., be in the form of separate transition rule memories and rule selectors which operate in parallel, with a multiplexer then selecting between, e.g., the highest priority matching transition rule or rules found for each transition rule type by each (individual) rule selector. Additionally or alternatively, if the number of transition rules of a certain type is relatively small, for example covering a limited set of error conditions, then that set of rules could, e.g., be implemented directly in a set of registers with corresponding comparator functions.
In use of the present invention, the input character stream, e.g., document to be parsed, will be provided to the controller which will then assess each received character and carry out operations in response to the character, such as, for example, providing it to the character processing unit for storage and/or comparison, performing another operation, or providing the input character to the output character stream, etc. It will also monitor any feedback signals from the character processing unit and operate accordingly, for example to accept or reject the input document, cause the character processing unit to write characters to the output character stream, etc. The controller preferably also carries out a lexical analysis of the input character stream to, e.g., divide it into selected character strings.
The present invention can be implemented as desired. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, it will find particular application in servers and network systems, particularly where, e.g., it is desired to, e.g., parse many XML documents in quick succession. Thus the present invention also extends to a computer system and to a server including any of the above aspects of the present invention.
The present invention can be used whenever it is desired to carry out pattern-matching a stream of characters, such as for parsing. As discussed above, it is believed that the present invention will be particularly, but not exclusively, useful for parsing of XML documents. Thus the present invention also extends to the use of the methods and apparatus of the present invention for XML parsing.
The methods in accordance with the present invention may be implemented at least partially using software e.g., computer programs. It will thus be seen that when viewed from further aspects the present invention provides computer software specifically adapted to carry out the methods hereinabove described when installed on data processing means, and a computer program element comprising computer software code portions for performing the methods hereinabove described when the program element is run on data processing means. The invention also extends to a computer software carrier comprising such software which when used to operate a pattern-matching or parsing system comprising data processing means causes in conjunction with said data processing means said system to carry out the steps of the method of the present invention. Such a computer software carrier could be a physical storage medium such as a ROM chip, CD ROM or disk, or could be a signal such as an electronic signal over wires, an optical signal or a radio signal such as to a satellite or the like.
It will further be appreciated that not all steps of the method of the invention need be carried out by computer software and thus from a further broad aspect the present invention provides computer software and such software installed on a computer software carrier for carrying out at least one of the steps of the methods set out hereinabove.
The present invention may accordingly suitably be embodied as a computer program product for use with a computer system. Such an implementation may comprise a series of computer readable instructions either fixed on a tangible medium, such as a computer readable medium, for example, diskette, CD-ROM, ROM, or hard disk, or transmittable to a computer system, via a modem or other interface device, over either a tangible medium, including but not limited to optical or analogue communications lines, or intangibly using wireless techniques, including but not limited to microwave, infrared or other transmission techniques. The series of computer readable instructions embodies all or part of the functionality previously described herein.
Those skilled in the art will appreciate that such computer readable instructions can be written in a number of programming languages for use with many computer architectures or operating systems. Further, such instructions may be stored using any memory technology, present or future, including but not limited to, semiconductor, magnetic, or optical, or transmitted using any communications technology, present or future, including but not limited to optical, infrared, or microwave. It is contemplated that such a computer program product may be distributed as a removable medium with accompanying printed or electronic documentation, for example, shrink-wrapped software, pre-loaded with a computer system, for example, on a system ROM or fixed disk, or distributed from a server or electronic bulletin board over a network, for example, the Internet or World Wide Web.

International Business Machines Corporation


A release device for a friction clutch includes a guide tube, a sliding sleeve mounted on the guide tube, and a release bearing mounted coaxially to the sliding sleeve, the bearing including a first bearing race, rolling elements, and a rotating second bearing race. The second bearing race supports a connecting element, which establishes the working connection between the release bearing and the ends of spring tongues of a diaphragm spring, which serves as the actuating element of the friction clutch. The connecting element has a receiving section, which holds the ends of the diaphragm spring tongues and can shift position in the radial direction in opposition to a restoring force, and a retaining section for the second bearing race. Radial is placement of the ends of the diaphragm spring tongues which occurs upon axial actuation of the releasing device can be absorbed by the connecting element with essentially no friction.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention pertains to a release device for a friction clutch of a motor vehicle, having a diaphragm spring with spring tongues having radially inner ends which can be moved axially in opposition to a restoring force in order to release the clutch, the spring tongues pivoting so that the inner ends move radially as they move axially. The device includes a guide tube; a sliding sleeve received on the guide tube and movable axially with respect to the guide tube; a release bearing mounted coaxially to the sliding sleeve, the release bearing having a first bearing race which is fixed against rotation with respect to the sliding sleeve, a second bearing race which is rotatable with respect to the first bearing race, and a plurality of rolling elements between the bearing races; and a connecting element which is located between the second bearing race and the inner ends of the spring tongues.
2. Description of the Related Art
A release device of this type serves to actuate a vehicle clutch equipped with a release element in the form of a diaphragm spring, where the free, radially inward-directed ends of the diaphragm spring rest against a roller bearing mounted on a sliding sleeve. To perform a release movement, a release crank or actuator acts on the sliding sleeve. Thus, if the clutch is of the push type, the sliding sleeve moves axially toward the clutch, and the tongues of the diaphragm spring, which are supported on the release bearing by way of a connecting element, undergo some deformation initially and then become essentially rigid. They thus act now as levers, which pivot around a center of rotation on the clutch housing, as a result of which the load being exerted on the pressure plate of the clutch is released. The means that, in the contact area between the releasing device and the diaphragm spring, the initial axial movement of the clutch release bearing is converted into a more-or-less circular pivoting movement of the diaphragm spring. The ends of the diaphragm spring tongues are therefore shifted radially inward, which is necessarily accompanied by friction between the ends of the diaphragm spring tongues and the axial contact surface of the releasing device. It is therefore necessary to apply not only the releasing force itself but also the effective frictional force, and this is expressed as a hysteresis in the characteristic force curve of the clutch pedal and leads as a consequence to an increase in the pedal force. The longer the vehicle is in service, the greater the wear at the contact point, which leads to an even greater increase in the frictional losses.
To improve the clutch-release properties, it is known from DE 101 36 424 C1, for example, that a plastic disk can be installed axially between the tongues of the diaphragm spring and the co-rotating ring of the clutch release bearing, as a result of which the frictional losses can be reduced. Systems of this type are subject to wear, however, and become ineffective after the releasing device has been in operation for a certain period of time.


Systems and methods of providing intelligent handset testing are disclosed. The system performs tests on handsets using customized scripts to analyze the handset on a variety of performance metrics while the handset is optionally running on an active telecommunications network. The system allows a user to “teach” a device to the system by interacting with virtual keys on an image of the hand held device and thus calculates the actual position on the hand held device by way of mathematical algorithms, taking into account any camera distortion at different heights and angles. Thus, the user can manipulate the subject test handset via the testing “fingers” using commands entered through the standalone unit to actuate, for example, any push buttons, slide buttons, recessed sensors, or screen touches. Additionally, the user can compare recorded images and sounds against expected images and sounds to validate tests.

Electronic devices such as handsets, mobile phones, cellular phones, personal digital assistants (PDAs), and other hand held electronics devices (sometimes collectively referred to herein as "handsets") require testing and other compliance and quality checks by the manufacturers, regulatory boards, service providers, and others before being released as a final product or product line. There is a need for systems and methods for providing intelligent handset testing.


A building panel has an outer skin spaced from an inner skin, sandwiching an insulation material. A first end of the outer skin includes a step portion, an indented fastener receiving portion and a first flange. The first flange extends outwardly toward a surface of the outer skin. A seal is mounted on the first flange. The inner skin includes a first end. The inner skin first end includes a shelf and a second flange extending from the shelf. A second seal is positioned on the second flange. A second end of the outer skin includes a portion to receive an outer skin first end of an adjoining panel. A second end of the inner skin includes a portion to receive an inner skin first end of the adjoining panel.

Various types of building panels exist in the art. These building panels are utilized for exterior walls to form a building by bolting the panels onto a frame structure. Ordinarily, the panels include an inner skin and an outer skin with an insulated material bonded in between the two skins. The building panels are stacked one upon the other until the desired height of the building is achieved.
Different types of ends have been utilized to join the panels together. Ordinarily, some type of mating arrangement is provided on both ends of the panel. The ends are mated with reciprocal ends of an adjoining panel. Thus, the building can be constructed in a relatively expedited fashion.
The building walls include various types of sealing arrangements at the ends. The sealing arrangements may include seals, caulking or the like positioned between adjacent panels. The sealing arrangements have been satisfactory. However, designers are always striving to improve the art.
The present disclosure provides the art with a building panel including mating ends. The building panel includes a bump out to conceal the fastener head from view. Additionally, the building panel includes an indented portion to receive a fastener head. The seals are spaced from the insulated material.


A method includes bonding an antenna substrate to a redistribution structure. The antenna substrate has a first part of a first antenna, and the redistribution structure has a second part of the first antenna. The method further includes encapsulating the antenna substrate in an encapsulant, and bonding a package component to the redistribution structure. The redistribution structure includes a third part of a second antenna, and the package component includes a fourth part of the second antenna.

Built-in antennas are widely used in mobile applications such as cell phones. Conventionally, antennas may be formed to have some portions in redistribution lines, and other portions in printed circuit board. This scheme posts a problem for multi-band applications since the bandwidth of the resulting antenna, which is associated with the distance between the printed circuit board and the redistribution line, is fixed.

Heterogeneous antenna in fan-out package

TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.


A wind turbine alternator module having an enclosure, turbine and rotor assembly with peripheral magnets and multi-phase stator for the production of energy from air movement. A bi-directional symmetrical vane turbine and rotor assembly is suspended in the enclosure by guide bearings around the periphery to permit operation in all wind conditions. One or more wind turbine alternator modules are combined in a polygonal housing with bottom inlets and attached to a roof vent structure to generate power from wind and/or rising heated air. A low temperature heating circuit is used for protection in cold conditions. One or more wind turbine alternator modules are combined in a manually portable polygonal housing with storage batteries, charging circuit, inverter circuit, power connectors and ancillary convenience apparatuses such as lighting, radio, tv, and emergency locator.

Existing wind turbine power generation systems rely on traditional turbine assemblies having a central axis for support. Such assemblies experience large stresses under heavy wind conditions and are subject to failure. Therefore, it is impractical to build or use such turbines safely in varying wind conditions, particularly in urban and suburban and heavily trafficked areas. Needs exist for improved turbine assemblies for wind power generation.