A continuous web splicing machine has supports for rotatably mounting two rolls of sheet material in tandem, guides for guiding the sheets along upper and lower paths to a splicing station, and an output loopholder for holding a loop length so that the web is supplied continuously even during the spicing operation. The splicing station has upper and lower upstream holders, upper and lower downstream holders, and upper and lower cutters at the splicing station. The cutters and holders are selectively operable in automatic sequences so that fresh sheets can be spliced to the spent sheets alternatingly from the two roll supports. The cutter is formed with knife parts having serrated edges with hooked teeth for improved cutting action. The holder assemblies may be oriented vertically or in other suitable orientations.

In the packaging, converting, and food processing industries, packaging or wrapping materials are supplied via a continuous web at high running speeds to food processing stations. The web is provided from rolls of continuous sheet material which has a width that is relatively narrow according to the dimensions of the wrapped products, thereby limiting the amount of linear footage of sheet material wound on each roll. Therefore, it is desireable in these industries to be able to splice the end of one roll with the beginning of the next roll without interrupting the running of the continuous web to the food processing stations.


A reinforcement system and method for a door having a window provides for a window shutter that slides into a position covering the window during a shooting incident. An elongated bar has one end pivotally supported by a securing bracket, which is attached to a wall adjacent the door. A release pin is attached to the securing bracket; it normally supports the bar in a vertical stored position. A holster is secured to the wall on the opposite side of the door in alignment with the securing bracket. The shutter, the securing bracket, and the holster are formed from a ballistic resistant material. During a shooting incident, the user moves the shutter to cover the window, removes the release pin and pivots the bar into a horizontal position barring the door. The free end of bar is received in the holster, thereby reinforcing the door independently of the door frame and door hinges.

This invention provides a retrofittable emergency barricade system to be used in conjunction with windowed school doors. This system closes off the line of sight and prevents entry and attack into the room through the door window, while also barring the door itself closed to entry in a manner not wholly dependent on door lock or hinge integrity.
In the United States, a school door is typically a door with a small vertical window at head height. The school window is shutterless and the door typically opens inward. The window on the door is a safety measure allowing the room to be checked while being used during the daily operation of the school. However, in the case of an active school shooter, the window becomes a danger. Suddenly, locking the door is not enough to prevent harm to the room, as a shooter may see the room filled with people or a specific person they are targeting through the window and be motivated to breach the window to reach the lock or to otherwise compromise the integrity of the lock. For instance, the Parkland, Fla. shooter at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shot through the windows at fellow students. Clearly, merely providing a barrier to entry, although important, is not enough to protect students in the case of a school shooting. Any barrier system must present an effective barrier, taking not only the door into account but the door window as well. It must not interfere with normal use of the door, and because of the quickness in which a situation can arise and the varying physical ability of the teachers and students inside the room, an effective barrier system must be quick and easy to operate across a high range of physical abilities without much forethought by the operator beforehand.
An emergency barricade system used as a barrier to prevent school shootings should be ballistic resistant. Although ballistic resistance varies, Underwriters Laboratories (UL), an independent standards developer and audited designator accredited by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), has defined eight levels of ballistic resistance for ballistic resistant products. Level 1 material survives at least three shots of 9 mm Full Metal Copper Jacket with Lead Core ammunition fired at up to 1293 feet per second. Level 2 material survives at least three shots with 158 grain 0.356 Magnum Jacket Soft Lead Point ammunition fired at up to 1375 feet per second. Level 3 material survives at least three shots of 240 grain 0.44 Magnum Lead Semi-Wadcutter Gas Checked ammunition fired at up to 1485 feet per second. Level 3 material is considered suitable for providing safety in industries susceptible to armed robberies such as banks and credit unions as it provides protection up to the level of resisting 0.44 magnum handguns. Level 4 material survives at least one shot of 180 grain 0.30 Caliber Rifle Lead Core Soft Point (0.30-06 Caliber) ammunition fired at up to 2794 feet per second. Level 5 material survives at least one shot of 150 grain 7.62 mm Rifle Lead Core Full Metal Copper Jacket, Military Ball (0.308 Caliber) ammunition fired up to 3025 feet per second. Level 6 material survives five shots of 124 grain 9 mm Full Metal Copper Jacket with Lead Core ammunition fired at up to 1540 feet per second. Level 7 material survives five shots of 55 grain 5.56 mm Rifle Full Metal Copper Jacket with Lead Core (0.223 Caliber) ammunition fired at up to 3388 feet per second. Level 8 material survives five shots of 150 grain 7.62 Rifle Lead Core Full Metal Copper Jacket, Military Ball (0.308 Caliber) ammunition fired at up to 3025 feet per second. Thus, the levels are determined by a mix of factors including ammunition type, feet-per-second, weight, and number of shots. A minimum of Underwriters Lab (UL) level 3 or an equivalent from a nationally accredited and audited designator should be provided in providing ballistic resistance to deter school shooters.
Although there are some barricade systems that were developed for use in schools for preventing intruder access through the door, the Parkland, Fla. shooter demonstrated the flaws in these systems by both identifying targets and shooting through windows. The previous systems rely on lock hinge or hinge integrity entirely or do not address the shooter's use of door windows and thus are not truly effective barriers to school shooters.
For example, U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2016/0281416 was published on Sep. 29, 2016. Applicant DAW Technologies, LLC applied for "Classroom Retrofit Barriers," as conceptualized by inventor Peter J. Spansy. Here, a ballistic door providing barrier-of-entry shielding blocks a doorway in certain emergency situations to shield against active shooters, while not inhibiting, impeding or changing the safe egress through the ballistic door. A ballistic assembly may be secured to the non-threat side of an existing door, by retrofit installation or by new construction installation. The ballistic assembly has a ballistic skin, a top ballistic skin clamp, and a bottom ballistic skin clamp. The top and bottom ballistic skin clamps secure the ballistic skin against the non-threat side of the door. The ballistic door has at least a N.I.J. Level IIIA of protection against gunfire. More particularly, it is disclosed that the classroom ballistic barriers provide barrier-of-entry shielding that may be retrofit to the existing classroom door by the school's own maintenance staff and will not inhibit emergency exits through the door. The system and method combine a minimally-thick ballistic skin with a solid-core wood as is typically used as a classroom door to create a shield equivalent to a N.I.J. Level IIIA ballistic panel. Hence, it is possible to retrofit a relatively thin ballistic skin onto an existing door to provide protection against multiple 0.44 magnum and 9 mm handgun blasts, as well as multiple 12-gauge shot gun blasts. The ballistic skin may comprise ballistic fiberglass reinforced plastic (FRP) material. For N.I.J. Level IIIA protection, the door and ballistic skin combination, constituting the ballistic door, must stop five rounds from a 0.44 magnum or five rounds from a 9 mm handgun within a 12″×12″ square shot 16 feet 4 inches away, with no penetrations. Normally, to achieve N.I.J. Level IIIA protection with this type of material, it would require a minimum of a ½″ thickness of FRP. Because FRP material weighs approximately 6 pounds per square foot, providing that thickness would add too much weight to the door, would make it difficult for a single maintenance person to install, and would add unnecessary cost. However, by applying the ballistic skin 18 of a ¼″ thickness to an existing door, the weight of the ballistic shielding is cut in half making it capable of installation by a single maintenance person, and the cost of the shielding is significantly reduced. Moreover, by using lightweight (thinner) ballistic material, the added weight will not fatigue the existing door, nor will the shielding protection provided be exorbitantly expensive for schools, offices, or the like. The use of lightweight (thinner) ballistic material, while not surrendering ballistic integrity for the door, is possible by always placing the ballistic material on the non-threat side of the door. This enables the solid core wood door to assist with and perform some of the work if stopping bullets.
U.S. Pat. No. 9,243,445 entitled "Protective Window Shutter," issued on Jan. 26, 2016, to inventor Stephen Beaudoin. Here, a protective window shutter is designed to cover and uncover a door mounted "peek through" metal framed window. The shutter is made up of two shutter sections, rotatable in relation to each other. The first shutter section is secured adjacent to the window's metal frame and the second shutter section is rotatable from a first position in which the two sections are folded on each other, to a second position in which the second section is extended out from the first section, over the window. The shutter sections are maintained in the closed position by the attraction of metal strike plates on the first shutter section and corresponding magnets encased within the second shutter. The second section is maintained over the window by the attraction of the magnets to the window's metal framing. The shutter sections are made of high strength, lightweight PVC or like material.
U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2008/0263958 was published on Oct. 30, 2008, disclosing a "Classroom Fortification System." Inventor Frederick Can Edson conceptualized a device and method for preventing entry into a room having an upper window such as a school classroom door. Specifically, the device is an entry resistant material positioned on the lower part of the inside of the classroom door which can be moved into position over the inside of the classroom door window and prevent or resist entry into the window and optionally restrict viewing into the classroom.
U.S. Pat. No. 9,644,408 for a "Method and Device for Barricading a Door," as issued on May 9, 2017, provides for a barricade device and a method of barricading a door, each conceptualized by inventor Michael Presutti. More specifically, the device and method may be used to barricade a door, and thereby prevent an intruder from entering a sheltering space, such as a classroom, storeroom, or hallway. The barricade-device may have a pivotable stop-device that is pivotable from a location adjacent to a door. The pivot-location may be at an elevation that is lower than a door handle on the door. The stop-device may be pivotable from a reserve-position to a stop-position. In the reserve-position, the stop-device does not barricade the door. In the barricade-position, the stop-device barricades the door.
U.S. Pat. No. 9,145,729 issued on Sep. 29, 2015 to assignee DAW Technologies, LLC for "Classroom Ballistic Barriers." Inventor Peter J. Spransy conceptualized a classroom barrier comprising a sliding panel or hinged panel designed to block a classroom door or window opening in certain emergency situations such as the presence of an armed assailant. The barrier is locked from the inside with no chance for it to be unlocked from the exterior. The classroom barrier is simple to operate, bullet resistant, and impenetrable for some predetermined length of time.
U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2015/0215755 for a "School-Wide Lockdown and Emergency Communication System" was published on Jul. 30, 2015 in relation to the system of inventor Joseph Bekanich. Here, disclosed is a multi-format emergency communication service for a school, office or home which allows for a non-law enforcement person to send a pre-defined location-based emergency digital message through a graphic user interface to a 911 emergency dispatcher or law enforcement individual and concurrently connect to the same 911 emergency dispatcher or law enforcement individual through a secure 2-way audio/video interface and messaging service. Additionally, a specially configured lockdown system/hardware will work in concert with the aforementioned emergency communication methods to lockdown and secure the door(s), window(s) or entry points at the said emergency location. More specifically, claimed is a hardware-implemented lockdown system that comprises a door bar system which secures or lockdown one or more doors, windows or entry points from entry during an emergency or crisis.
U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2017/0191306, entitled "Removable Ballistic-Resistant Door Barricade," published on Jul. 6, 2017, disclosing the door barricade of inventors Alex J. Falesch, Ryan Walsh, and Christopher LeClair. Here, provided is a door barricade configured to secure a door from an outside threat can include a ridged bulletproof plate. The door barricade can be connected to the door via a fastener. In some embodiments, the fastener is an L-bracket. In other embodiments, the fastener is a ballistic nylon mechanism. The door barricade can also include at least one crossbar and at least one foot to help prevent the door from being forced open. The door barricade can also include a carrying handle to allow for easier deployment of the barricade. In some embodiments, the plate can include a door handle notch that can be covered with a door handle cover. In other or the same embodiments, a door skirt is present. In some embodiments, side panels are attached to the barricade via mounting brackets.
Lastly, U.S. Pat. No. 8,850,949 was issued on Oct. 7, 2014 to inventor Lois A. Lopez for a "Safety Door for Classrooms and the Like." The '949 Patent discloses a door safety shield that completely overlies a door having a frame and a doorknob, replaceabley and slidably attaches to the frame of the door and not the door so as to eliminate damage to the door and prevents unauthorized opening of the door. The door safety shield includes a sheet and bolt assemblies. The sheet completely overlies the door. The bolt assemblies are affixed to the sheet, replaceabley and slidably attach to the frame of the door and not the door so as to eliminate the damage to the door and prevent the unauthorized opening of the door.
While the above discussed approaches may be beneficial in certain circumstances, there exists a need for an easy-to-operate, effective system of retrofitting classroom doors with a protective shield to restrict physical access of a potential criminal to the people in the classroom.

Emergency school door barricade retrofit system apparatus and method


A system and method for implementing an electronic programming guide that allows a television viewer to access and interact with television scheduling information. The electronic programming guide provides the viewer with a grid which lists channels, titles and show times. To help the viewer locate information about shows the viewer is interested in, the guide can filter the data prior to display. Only the data that meets certain filter criteria will be displayed. The filter criteria are set by the viewer. The filter criteria can be changed by manipulating a variable selection element such as a slider.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is directed to a system for filtering information.
2. Description of the Related Art
As the number of television stations provided on a cable system increase and satellite antennas become more popular, the multitude of television programming available to the viewer is increasing at a significant rate. Viewers must consult lengthy program guides in order to select programs for viewing. For example, if the viewer is interested in watching a particular set of programs, the viewer may need to read a multitude of program listings in order to learn when and on what channels those particular programs are being broadcast. In some cases, the viewer does not have a particular program in mind but is still interested in watching television. That viewer would need to sort through a large magnitude of information, including information relevant to shows that the viewer would never be interested in watching. A more efficient method for the viewer to find a suitable program or scheduling information would be able to filter all the scheduling information so that the viewer could restrict the viewer's searching to a manageable subset of information.
Electronic program guides are available that can be used to display television scheduling information. Some of these electronic program guides include filters. However, existing filters are only "all or nothing" filters where the user can select one criteria and the data will be filtered to find shows meeting that one criteria. There is no concept of any continuum of criteria. Furthermore, prior filters do not allow changing the filter criteria without performing a cumbersome profile set up routine.
Therefore, a system is needed that allows the user of a program guide to quickly filter a large set of information into a subset of information that is of potential interest to the user.


The invention relates to an end wall module for a transport vehicle. The inventive end wall module having a first wall and the second wall arranged at a distance therefrom. The first wall is embodied in the form of a first corrugated structure and the second wall is embodied in the form of a second corrugated structure. Said corrugated structures are embodied in such a way that they are distanced from each other when the end wall module is mounted without being deformed and are engaged into each other by the shape thereof when the end wall module is at least in the first deformation stage.

The present invention relates to an end wall module (also known as "front wall module" or "bulkhead module") for a motor vehicle wherein the end wall module includes a first wall spaced from a second wall.
End wall modules for motor vehicles are known in principle. The main function of such an end wall module is the separation of the motor space to the vehicle interior with motor vehicles. This end wall module in particular must meet the particular demands with modern high-quality motor vehicles. These demands on the one hand include a good sound insulation from the motor space to the motor vehicle interior and furthermore an as good as possible stiffening of the [car]body for reducing the torsional oscillation about the vehicle longitudinal axis. Despite these demands, the end wall module should only have a small weight.
It is known to provide end wall modules or end walls which at least in regions have a sandwich structure. I.e. that a first wall is provided as well as a second wall distanced to this. These walls are connected via a relatively "hard" foam layer.
This design, although ensuring a relatively high stiffness of the complete design, the properties with regard to the sound transmission however are inadequate. The relatively "hard" foam effects a direct structure-borne sound transmission of vibrations from the motor space into the vehicle interior. The provision of a relatively "soft" foam reduces the stability of the design, particularly in the case of a collision, to the extent that an inadequate protection of the vehicle occupants is given.


A method of joint restriction on resource selection and data multiplexing over sidelink transmission is proposed. The joint restriction method includes four steps of A, B, C, D, and the order of the steps can be different depending on different scenarios. In step A, UE selects a resource pool that satisfies certain configuration. In step B, UE determines resource for transport block (TB) transmission. In step C, UE performs logical channel prioritization (LCP) procedure. In step D, UE provides information of the TB to receiver UE(s) if needed. Under this generic model, the selecting of resource and data are jointly considered to satisfy both resource restriction and data QoS requirements.

Third generation partnership project (3GPP) and Long-Term Evolution (LTE) mobile telecommunication systems provide high data rate, lower latency and improved system performances. In 3GPP LTE networks, an evolved universal terrestrial radio access network (E-UTRAN) includes a plurality of base stations, e.g., evolved Node-Bs (eNBs) communicating with a plurality of mobile stations referred as user equipment (UEs). Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA) has been selected for LTE downlink (DL) radio access scheme due to its robustness to multipath fading, higher spectral efficiency, and bandwidth scalability. Multiple access in the downlink is achieved by assigning different sub-bands (i.e., groups of subcarriers, denoted as resource blocks (RBs)) of the system bandwidth to individual users based on their existing channel condition.
To meet the demand of this exponential increase in communications, additional spectrum (i.e. radio frequency spectrum) is needed. The amount of licensed spectrum is limited. Therefore, communications providers need to look to unlicensed spectrum to meet the exponential increase in communication demand. An established communication protocol such as 4G LTE and 5G New Radio (NR) can be used over the licensed spectrum to provide a first communication link, and LTE/NR can also be used over the unlicensed spectrum to provide a second communication link. In New Radio-Unlicensed (NR-U), any downlink and uplink access have to follow the listen-before-talk (LBT) channel access procedure, as unlicensed frequencies are also used by other networks such as WiFi.
For in-coverage UEs, a base station can schedule the data traffic over Uu link. For out-of-coverage UEs, UE can schedule the data traffic over PC5 (or sidelink). As compared to WiFi and NR unlicensed spectrum operation, a PC5 link (or sidelink) based mobile device potentially possesses the following features: 1) deployment by both operator can user; 2) operation in both unlicensed spectrum and licensed spectrum; 3) similar protocol stacks complexity to WiFi; 4) better multiplexing efficiency than WiFi; 5) better mobility support than WiFi, e.g., service continuity; 6) larger maximal TX power than WiFi for larger coverage: 7) support multi-hop relay.
In sidelink communication, there are two scheduling mode, i.e. for a UE, the transmission resource for sidelink communication can be selected by NW (mode-1) or selected by UE itself (mode-2). Regardless of which scheduling mode a UE is operating on, UE should first select sidelink resource, and then select data to be transmitted on the sidelink resource. The selected sidelink resource may determine/restrict what kind of data (traffic characteristic) can be transmitted by the selected resource, while the selected data to transmit would further determine/restrict what kind of resource can be used to deliver these data. That is, there is some restriction on the transmission resource (e.g. whether a resource pool has HARQ feedback resource, how much power can be used to transmit), and some restriction on the sidelink data (e.g. QoS and latency requirement, priority, requirement of HARQ feedback for re-transmission). UE needs to schedule resource and data so that restriction on both sides can be satisfied.
In legacy LTE specification, UE first selects SL resource, and then selects SL data to be multiplexed into the SL data. However, the selected data would impact what kind of transmission resource can be selected. As a result, the order of selecting resource and selecting data may be different depending on the specific kind of resource or data restriction. Therefore, a more general model is desired to handle the joint problem of selecting resource and data. In addition to radio resource restriction and data QoS restriction, another restriction is the hardware, i.e. limited number of HARQ process to handle transmission and reception. It is still not clear how UE should handle the issue of HARQ process/buffer shortage.
A solution is sought.

Method to handle joint restriction of transmission resource and data QoS requirement


A hole cutting device for forming and relocating holes in the ground includes a hollow cylindrical cutting head with a lower cutting edge surrounding an open bottom, a tubular shaft extending upwardly from the cylindrical head and a handle portion on an upper end of the shaft. Upon forcing the cutting head downwardly into the ground, a turf and soil plug fills the interior of the head. An air delivery system, operable at the handle portion, injects a charge of air at the bottom of the soil plug upon removal from the ground, thereby eliminating vacuum suction and allowing the soil plug to be removed intact without breaking or disintegrating. Once the cutting head is removed from the formed hole, a hinged lever on the shaft forces a push plate within the cutting head downwardly towards the open end to eject the plug therefrom. If desired, the plug may be deposited into a previously formed hole.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a turf and soil hole cutter and, more particularly, to a hole cutting device for forming and relocating holes, such as in a putting green, and including means for preventing vacuum suction from hindering removal of the soil plug from the ground.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
Golf cup hole cutters of various types and construction are well known in the art. Of particular relevance to this invention is the well known and widely used lever extraction hole cutter which includes a cylindrical cutting head, an elevated T-shaped handle and a pivoting lever assembly for urging a push plate downwardly through the interior of the cylindrical cutting head to forcibly eject a soil plug from the open bottom end of the cutting head. The use and operation of conventional hole cutters of this type are accompanied by various drawbacks. In particular, an airlock or vacuum suction is often created between the bottom of the plug and the surrounding earth as the plug is withdrawn from the ground. When this happens, the soil plug may partially crumble or disintegrate, causing a portion of the soil plug to remain in the hole when the cylindrical cutting head is removed from the ground. The remaining soil from the unremoved portion of the plug must then be scooped out by hand using a small shovel or scooping tool. The need to remove the remaining portion of the soil plug from the hole by hand increases the degree of human error as well as the amount of time and labor required to perform the task of cutting and relocating holes in the putting greens of a golf course.
Once the hole is cut and the plug is removed from the ground, a cup that supports the flagstick is placed in the hole. The proper depth measured between the top edge of the cup to the top of the ground surface (i.e. the top turf putting surface) is xc2xe of an inch. If the plug is not removed intact, requiring removal of the remaining soil plug by hand, the proper hole depth is difficult to achieve. For instance, if too much soil is removed by hand, the cup that is placed in the hole will be too deep, leaving a large gap between the top edge of the cup and the turf surface. This results in poor support around the edge of the hole. Without sufficient support from the cup, the soil is prone to break apart around the top of the hole, below the turf, making the hole larger and out of shape. On the other hand, if not enough soil is removed by hand, the top of the cup will be too close to the turf surface edge surrounding the hole. This causes the golf ball to hit the top edge of the cup or a raised lip in the turf and either bounce back away from the hole or roll around the outside of the lip rather than rolling smoothly and dropping into the hole.
In an attempt to introduce air under the soil plug to prevent vacuum suction, maintenance workers using the conventional lever extraction hole cutter often move the hole cutter from side to side in order to create an airway from the top of the hole and down along the outer side of the cylindrical cutting head to the bottom of the plug. This causes the soil around the top surface edge of the hole to be pushed up, resulting in the golf ball ringing around the hole instead of rolling smoothing and dropping into the hole. Moving the hole cutter from side to side also increases the size of the hole and prevents the cup from fitting tightly into the cut hole. As a result, the cup is unable to support the flagstick properly. Moreover, when the flagstick is lifted and removed in order to putt, the loose fitting cup is often pulled out of the hole along with the flagstick.
Considering the foregoing problems associated with the use of conventional hole cutters, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide a hole cutting device for forming and relocating holes and which includes means to eliminate vacuum suction below the resultant soil plug, thereby allowing the soil plug to be removed from the ground intact and without breaking or disintegrating.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a hole cutter device which delivers air to the bottom of a soil plug being removed, thereby eliminating the need to move the hole cutter from side to side and allowing easy formation of a uniform diameter hole having a desired predetermined depth.
It is still a further object of the present invention to provide a hole cutter device for forming and relocating holes in a putting green which reduces labor and human error.
It is yet a further object of the present invention to provide a hole cutting device for forming and relocating holes in a golf putting green which cuts and forms a uniform hole of desired depth, thereby allowing the cup to fit properly in the hole, and further allowing a golf ball to roll smoothly and drop into the hole without interference or misdirection.
It is yet a further object of the present invention to provide a hole cutting device for putting greens which reduces the number of golfer complaints concerning irregularities and imperfections on putting greens.
It is still a further object of the present invention to provide a hole cutting device for golf putting greens which cuts and forms a uniform hole of desired diameter and depth, and which thereby allows a cup to be securely and accurately set within the hole at the desired depth.
It is still a further object of the present invention to provide a hole cutting device for golf greens which eliminates vacuum suction upon removal of a soil plug, thereby allowing holes to be cut and relocated in putting greens in wet conditions.
It is still a further object of the present invention to provide a hole cutting device for golf putting greens which saves time and reduces the number of tools necessary to cut and relocate holes in a putting green.
It is still a further object of the present invention to provide a hole cutting device for putting greens which is simple to use by less skilled maintenance workers, thereby making it easier to train new employees of a greens keeper crew on a golf course.
These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will be more readily apparent with reference to the following detailed description and accompanying drawings.
The present invention is directed to a hole cutting device for forming and relocating holes in the ground includes a hollow cylindrical cutting head with a lower cutting edge surrounding an open bottom, a tubular shaft extending upwardly from the cylindrical head and a handle portion on an upper end of the shaft. Upon forcing the cutting head downwardly into the ground, utilizing handgrips on the handle portion, a push plate within the cylindrical cutting head is forced upwardly to an elevated position as the resultant turf and soil plug fills the interior of the head. An air delivery system, operable at the handle portion, injects a charge of air at the bottom of the soil plug upon removal from the ground, thereby eliminating vacuum suction and allowing the soil plug to be removed intact without breaking or disintegrating. Once the cutting head is removed from the formed hole, a hinged lever on the shaft forces the push plate downwardly towards the open end of the cutting head to eject the plug therefrom. If desired, the plug may be deposited into a previously formed hole to fill the hole.


A system and method in a computing network for generating an integrated circuit (IC) tapeout file at a remote client workstation by transmitting prompted IC technical data to the mask manufacturer. The process validates that the tapeout file is complete and accurate prior to generating the final IC tapeout file to be archived in the mask manufacturer""s database.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a networked, technical data gathering and storing system. More specifically, the present invention relates to an integrated circuit technical data gathering system which provides a client with methods of gathering, editing and analyzing the technical data to produce a tapeout file for a mask.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventional semiconductor mask manufacturing requires efficient design and testing of integrated circuits (IC) that is often an extremely complex and time-consuming task due to the large number of electrical components and separate electrical circuits contained in the integrated circuit chip. The complexity of the IC design procedure presents a substantial number of obstacles to successfully produce a final product that performs with minimal errors which is discussed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,185,726. Final steps of the IC design process prior to mask fabrication include creating and sending a packaged and complete IC chip design file. This is commonly referred to as xe2x80x9ctapeoutxe2x80x9d file process, or xe2x80x9crelease information filexe2x80x9d (RIF) process. The tapeout file is typically referenced and cataloged in an archival data base at the semiconductor manufacturer. The RIF is a text document that contains information pertaining to the technical data of an IC design being sent from a client to the mask manufacturer.
FIG. 1 shows one known xe2x80x9ctapeoutxe2x80x9d process, which does not necessarily constitute prior art and may not be generally known to those ordinarily skilled in the art at the time of filing this application. This process includes a client 10 who sends a final tapeout file to the semiconductor mask manufacturer (MM) 20. During this process, a client packages xe2x80x9ctechnical dataxe2x80x9d files that can exceed several gigabytes in size, which are manually sent via an electronic file transfer protocol (FTP). This process often has errors in the final tapeout file sent to the MM since data is frequently entered manually or electronically, and sent 15 without being checked or verified as a final xe2x80x9ctapeoutxe2x80x9d file. Such events often result in the MM 20 having to check and reverify 17 data once received 18 by the MM. Normally, this requires that the MM check the data as to being complete and accurate. If not, the data is sent back to the client 16. When and if the tapeout is finalized, it is then FTP""d to the MM archival database 19 and normally an electronic-mail acknowledgment 21 is sent to the client.
There are many problems with this process. First, because there is no single and consistent method for sending the tapeout file to MM 18, a manual process has to be in place to review and verify 17 that the tapeout file is accurate. Second, this review process necessitates the need for a rework process 16 whereby the tapeout file can be sent back to the client to be corrected and then resent to MM where it will be reviewed again. Third, this process requires that the tapeout file be sent via FTP, a minimum of two times: first to MM 15 and second to the archival database 19. This increases each time the tapeout file is sent back through the rework process. These problems add labor, expense, cycle time and additional computer network traffic.
Thus, there is need for a system and method that minimizes manual intervention, and standardizes the gathering, editing, and analyzing of technical data related to producing a tapeout file that is complete, accurate and valid prior to archival storage by an MM.
In view of the foregoing and other problems, disadvantages, and drawbacks of the conventional tapeout process, the present invention has been devised, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a system and method which allow clients of a semiconductor mask manufacture (MM) to submit standardized technical data (e.g., design data, test data, design preparation instructions, etc.) from their workstation directly to the MM""s archival data base, in a network process that gathers, edits and analyzes technical data of a particular IC design.
To attain these objectives according to one aspect of the invention, a networked system and method for clients is provided to communicate authenticated, validated and standardized technical data at a reduced expense. The invention automatically checks for accuracy and verifies a tapeout file at the client""s workstation prior to sending to the MM server to be archived. The invention facilitates the sending of very large electronic files automatically using FTP format from a client""s workstation to the MM, thus reducing by over half the volume of data transfers on the MM""s network. Additionally, the invention reduces cycle time required to produce the tapeout file, which in turn also reduces expense in receiving, validating, and archiving a client""s tapeout file. Thus, the method and system of the invention in a computing network generates an integrated circuit (IC) tapeout file at a remote client workstation and transmits prompted IC technical data to the MM. The process validates that the tapeout file is complete and accurate prior to generating the IC tapeout file and archiving in the MM""s database.

System and method of preparing data for a semiconductor mask manufacturer

International Business Machines Corporation


Several embodiments of induction systems for two cycle, crankcase compression, internal combustion engines employed for powering outboard motors. The outboard motor is supported for tilt and trim movement and the induction system is designed so as to extend from the intake ports of the engine in a generally rearward direction so as to be substantially unaffected by changes in trim angle and acceleration. The invention is described in conjunction with both V-type and inline type of engines.

This invention relates to an outboard motor and more particularly to an improved induction system for an outboard motor.
It is well known that outboard motors normally have their powering internal combustion engines disposed so that the engine crankshaft rotates about a generally vertically extending axis. Conventionally, the internal combustion engine is disposed so that the crankshaft is relatively closely positioned to the transom and the cylinders extend rearwardly from the crankshaft. When the powering internal combustion engine is of the two cycle type, as is conventional with outboard motor practice, the intake charge is delivered to the crankcase chambers of the engine. This means that the induction system extends forwardly from the crankcase chambers and this gives rise to certain problems.
Specifically, it is well known that an outboard motor is mounted on the transom for tilt and trim movement and the trim angle of the outboard motor relative to the transom is changed depending upon the running speed of the engine. Hence, if the outboard motor is operated in a trimmed up condition, the induction passages will be generally upwardly inclined from their inlet ends to their discharge ends where they communicate with the crankcase chambers. This upward inclination can have a tendency to cause fuel which may condense and collect in the induction system and to flow forwardly toward the inlet opening. Hence, when the outboard motor is trimmed down or if acceleration occurs from an idle condition, this forwardly collected fuel will run rearwardly into the engine and cause a temporary overrich condition. This can provide, at the minimum, a problem with hydro carbon emissions and at the worst, plug fouling, irregular running and in extreme cases even stalling.
It is, therefore, a principal object to the invention to provide an improved induction system for an outboard motor.
It is a further object to this invention to provide an induction system for the crankcase compression, two cycle internal combustion engine of an outboard motor wherein the effects of trim adjustment or acceleration will not significantly change the fuel/air ratio delivered to the engine, particularly during transient conditions.


A bone densitometer accepts inputs of non-bone density patient information to provide a measure of absolute fracture risk to provide a more accurate and personal assessment of osteoporosis. A simple graphical output compares this risk to standard populations.

The present invention relates to diagnostic medical equipment and in particular to a bone densitometer providing an output indicating absolute risk of bone fracture.
Bone densitometers provide a measurement of bone mineral density (BMD) typically using x-ray or ultrasound measurement. Normally this BMD value is an areal density measurement, e.g., g/cm2, however, volume density measurements, e.g. g/cm3, may also be provided using, for example, tomographic reconstruction.
BMD measurements may be made at various locations on the body but are most frequently conducted on the bones of the lumbar vertebra, the femoral neck, or the os calcis of the heel.
X-ray and ultrasound densitometers are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,438,201, 6,364,837, 6,277,076, 6,246,747, 6,215,846, 6,160,866, 6,081,582, 6,038,281, 6,027,449, RE361 62, 5,841,833, 5,840,029, and 5,748,704, among others, assigned to the assignee of the present invention and hereby incorporated by reference.
A raw BMD value has limited meaning to a physician or patient and so current densitometers normally provide a comparison of the measured BMD value to an established reference. One such reference is a T-score, which compares the patient""s BMD value to the expected value of BMD for a young adult of the same gender. The T-score provides a qualitative indication of risk of fracture in that the greater the negative value of the T-score, the greater the risk of fracture.
Alternatively, a logistic regression analysis may be used to determine a quantitative relationship between BMD and relative fracture risk based on a recognized mathematical relationship between decline in BMD and increased risk of fracture. This relationship has been determined prospectively in empirical studies of elderly populations and considers the difference between the patient and someone of the same age and gender.
Desirably, bone densitometry equipment would provide an indication of the patient""s absolute fracture risk. In this respect, T-scores and relative risk measurements are inadequate. For example, a 70 year old patient with a T-score of xe2x88x922 and relative risk of 4 has much greater absolute fracture risk than a 50 year old patient with the same T-score and relative risk.
The present inventors have recognized that measurement of BMD produced by densitometry equipment, cannot alone provide an indication of absolute fracture risk. To the contrary, current studies show that absolute fracture risk is strongly dependent on factors that are independent of BMD, in particular, age and gender. Other factors which affect absolute fracture risk include: whether the patient is a smoker, the amount of exercise the patient gets, how much the patient is on his/her feet, the patient""s history of fractures, the patient""s family history of fractures, and the long axis length of the patient""s hip (hip axis length). It is likely that additional risk factors will be discovered.
The present invention therefore provides a bone densitometer that accepts additional patient data to produce an output measurement of absolute fracture risk. The physician and patient are presented with this absolute fracture risk contemporaneously with the measurement of BMD, reducing patient confusion about T-scores and relative risk, and eliminating the need for cumbersome additional calculations by the physician.

Bone densitometer providing assessment of absolute fracture risk

GE Medical Systems Global Technology Company, LLC


The clamping apparatus comprises a chuck member and a pallet releasably attachable thereto. The chuck member has four centering grooves, arranged offset to each other by 90° around the central Z-axis, while the pallet has four correspondingly located centering pins. In each of the four centering grooves, one of the groove flanks serves for centering the associated centering pin of the pallet, while the other groove flank is constituted by a clamping member. Upon clamping the pallet to the chuck member, the associated clamping member engages a recess provided on the centering pin and pulls the latter one in Z-direction into the centering groove of the chuck member. Simultaneously, the clamping member also presses the centering pin against the other groove flank. Thereby, the pallet is positioned relative to the chuck member in X-, Y- and Z-directions and clamped to the chuck member.

The present invention relates to a clamping apparatus comprising a chuck member and a pallet member adapted to be releasably fixed to the chuck member. The chuck member has at least three centering grooves, and the pallet member has a corresponding number of centering pins arranged and shaped to correspond to the centering grooves. The chuck member further comprises clamping means for clamping the pallet to the chuck member.
Clamping apparatuses of the kind mentioned above are mainly used to fix work pieces in a positionally well defined manner in the machining area of a machine tool. Thereby, the work piece first is fixed to a pallet and the pallet is to be releasably attached to the chuck member. In most cases, the chuck member itself is fixedly attached to the machine tool.
In known clamping apparatuses of this kind, usually the chuck member is provided with four centering pins, each having two opposed, conically shaped side surfaces. The pallet is provided with four grooves, corresponding in location and shape to the afore mentioned centering pins. The pallet comprises a centrally located clamping bar by means of which it can be clampingly fixed to the chuck member. Upon clampingly fixing the pallet to the chuck member, the centering pins enter the centering grooves and align the pallet with regard to the chuck member in X- and Y-directions as well as with regard to its angular position.

Clamping apparatus with a chuck and a pallet releasably attachable thereto


An apparatus and a method for warning in a vehicle generates a warning based on a distance in order to avoid a problem that may occur when a collision warning is generated based on only a time required for a collision. The method of generating a warning in a vehicle includes: obtaining a distance and a relative speed of the vehicle to a target vehicle ahead; obtaining a time required for a collision with the target vehicle from the distance and the relative speed; and generating a warning when at least one of a first condition in which the time required for the collision is equal to or less than a predetermined warning generation time and a second condition in which the distance is equal to or less than a predetermined warning generation distance is satisfied.

An autonomous emergency braking (AEB) system is very effective in avoiding or mitigating crashes including a collision with a pedestrian. The AEB system is a safety device officially included as an item for the safety assessment by European New Car Assessment Program (Euro NCAP) from 2014. The AEB system operates when a preceding vehicle slows down or stops, or when obstacles such as pedestrians suddenly appear. The AEB system avoids collisions or minimizes the damage by generating a warning to a driver or activating the brake on its own without a driver's instruction. There is a statistical result that about 90% of traffic accidents on the road are caused by the driver's concentration loss or carelessness. Experiments have shown that the AEB system can reduce collisions by up to 27% and significantly reduce degrees of injuries even in unavoidable accidents.
Currently Euro NCAP divides the AEB system into three categories. One of the three categories is an AEB system for downtown area, which is used to monitor a distance of less than 10 m from a preceding vehicle in a slow driving mode with the speed of about 20 kilometers per hour (km/h) or less. Another category is an AEB system for suburban area, which mainly monitors the distance of about 200 m in a driving mode with the speed of about 50-80 km/h and significantly reduces risk of accidents even in the slow driving mode in the downtown area. The last category is a pedestrian AEB system, which stops the vehicle when a weak obstacle such as a pedestrian is detected.
If an obstacle is detected, the AEB System prepares to stop the vehicle by, e.g., increasing pressure of a brake system in advance to reduce a gap between a brake pad and a brake disc so that maximum braking performance can be achieved even if the driver steps on a brake pedal late in time. The AEB system has a warning function to draw the driver's attention with a warning sound or an alert first, if there is no action taken from the driver despite the prediction of an accident in advance.

Apparatus and method for generating warning in vehicle


A display panel and a display apparatus are provided. An exemplary display panel includes a display area; a non-display area; a plurality of pixels, including a plurality of edge pixels and a plurality of compensation pixels, arranged as an array along a row direction and a column direction and having a plurality of pixel rows and a plurality of pixel columns; and a light shielding layer. At least portions of transmission areas of the edge pixels are disposed in the display area; entire transmission areas of the compensation pixels are disposed in the non-display area; and a distance d between a first compensation pixel in a first pixel row and a second compensation pixel in a second pixel row is smaller than a distance D between a first edge pixel in the first pixel row and a second edge pixel in the second pixel row.

With the continuous development of display technology, the traditional rectangular display panel has been unable to meet the diverse needs of users, and the special-shaped display panel has become one of the research directions in the field of display technology.
Unlike the rectangular display panel, the boundary area of the active area of the special-shaped display panel and the boundary of the RGB color filter area do not coincide. Because the display pixels are mostly rectangular-shaped, if a certain compensation method is not used, zigzag shapes can be very obvious at the boundary area, and the display condition at the boundary area is deteriorated.
Therefore, there is a need to improve the display effect of the display area near the special-shaped edge area (i.e., boundary area). The disclosed display panel and display apparatus are directed to solve one or more problems set forth above and other problems in the art.

SHANGHAI TIANMA MICRO-ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.


A seal assembly (10) includes a first seal element (12) defining a fist sealing surface (14); displacement means including at least one electromagnet (20) operatively coupled with the first seal element (12), the displacement means being operable to displace the first seal element (12) via the, or each, electromagnet (20); and a second seal element defining a second sealing surface (28) associated with the first sealing surface (14), the first and second seal elements providing a seal. The invention extends to a combination comprising a gas turbine and a seal assembly. The invention further extends to a method of controlling a spacial relationship between respective sealing surfaces of two seal elements.

This invention relates to a seal. In particular the invention relates to a seal assembly. The invention further relates to a method of controlling a spacial relationship between two sealing surfaces. Still further, the invention relates to a machine incorporating a seal assembly.
According to a fast aspect of the invention there is provided a seal assembly which includes
a support member;
a first seal element defining a first sealing surface;
a second seal element which is rotatable relative to the support member and the first seal element, the second seal element defining a second sealing surface which together with the first sealing surface forms a seal; and
displacement means including at least one electromagnet acting between the first seal element and the support member to permit displacement of the first seal element relative to both the support member and the second seal element.
The seal assembly may include a sensor means for sensing a displacement of the second seal element from a first datum position.
The seal assembly may include control means operably connected to the sensor means and the displacement means, the control means being operable to control the displacement means to maintain the first sealing surface in a predetermined spacial relationship with the second sealing surface.
The seal assembly may include a biasing means for biasing the first seal element in a predetermined direction. The biasing means may bias the first seal element towards the second seal element. Instead, the biasing means may bias the first seal element away from the second seal element. The biasing means may be configured to exert a force which is a function of a displacement of the biasing means from a second datum position.
The displacement means may include a plurality of electromagnets in spaced relationship with respect to one another and the control means may be operable to control each of the electromagnets. Then, the sensor means may include a plurality of sensors, a sensor being associated with each of the electromagnets. The control means may be operable to control each of the electromagnets independently. Instead, the control means may be operable to control sub-sets of the electromagnets in unison.
The first seal element may comprise an annular ring defining an annular first sealing surface and the second seal element may define an annular second sealing surface. Then, the seal assembly may include a rigid carrier member on which the first annular seal element is mounted, the electromagnets being operatively coupled with the carrier member and angularly spaced with respect thereto to permit displacement of the carrier member relative to the support member.
Further, each of the electromagnets of the displacement means may have a core element displaceable with respect to a coil, one of the core element and the coil being connected to the carrier member of the first seal element and the other of the core element and the coil being connected to the support member.
In one embodiment of the invention the seal assembly may provide a seal on a rotating element of a machine. Then, the first seal element may comprise an annular ring defining an annular first sealing surface. The second element may be the rotating element of the machine and may define a second sealing surface which also comprises an annular ring. The first annular seal element may be mounted on a rigid carrier member. The displacement means may include a plurality of electromagnets coupled with the carrier member and angularly spaced on the carrier member. The electromagnets of the displacement means may have a movable core element. The movable core element may be attached to the carrier member of the first seal element. The coils of each electromagnet may be attached to a support member which may be fixed in position. It will be appreciated that by controlling the current in the coil of each electromagnet the magnetic flux of the electromagnet may be selectively varied thereby selectively varying the force on the core element of the electromagnet. Thus, a lateral force of a preselected strength may be applied to the first seal element at the position of each electromagnet. It will further be appreciated that by selectively varying the lateral force of each electromagnet the entire annular first seal element may be displaced so that a plane defined by the first seal element is displaced in a direction perpendicular to the plane. Instead, the plane may be tilted in a preselected direction with respect to a symmetrical axis of the first seal element.
In a particular embodiment of the invention, the second seal element may comprise a downstream portion of a power generator gas turbine. It will be appreciated that a turbine rotating on a shaft about a rotation axis may move on its bearings both axially and radially. In addition, the longitudinal axis of the turbine may precess. It will further be appreciated that the gap between a downs sealing surface defined on a downstream end of the turbine rotor (providing the second seat element) and a sealing surface of an annular seal element (providing the first seal element) sealing on the said downstream sealing surface will vary with the displacement of the turbine rotor. Accordingly, if the said gap is to be maintained within predetermined limits, the first seal element must be allowed to move in a manner related to the movement of the rotating second sealing surface of the turbine rotor. The sensing means may be operable to sense displacement of the turbine shaft or any rotating components rotatably fixed to the shaft, such as the downstream sealing surface of the turbine rotor. Instead, the sensing means may comprise a plurality of sensors which sense the distance between the first and second sealing surfaces at preselected locations.
According to a further aspect of the invention there is provided a combination comprising a gas turbine including a turbine rotor having a downstream end and a seal assembly as hereinbefore described, the second sealing surface of the seal assembly being arranged on the downstream end of the turbine rotor.
Then, the sensor means of the seal assembly may sense displacement of the second seal element from the first datum position directly. The sensor means of the seal assembly may include a plurality of sensors, each of which being operable to sense a distance between the first and second sealing surfaces at a respective preselected location, the position of the first sealing surface at the said location defining the first datum position.
Instead, the sensor means of the seal assembly may sense displacement of the second seal element from the first datum position indirectly by sensing a displacement from a datum position of a component of the gas turbine mechanically fast with the rotor thereof.
The combination may include biasing means for biasing the first seal element in a predetermined directions the at least one electromagnet being configured to displace the first seal element relative to the support member in a direction opposite to the predetermined direction.
Further, the biasing means may comprise an annular gas impermeable bellows arranged between the carrier member and the support member.
According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a method of controlling a spacial relationship between respective sealing surfaces of two seal elements, the method including the steps of sensing a displacement of one of the seal elements, which seal element is rotatable relative to a support member and to the other seal element, from a datum position; and displacing the other of the seal elements by means of a displacement means including at least one electromagnet acting between the other of the seal elements and the support member, the said other seal element being operatively coupled with the displacement means via the, or each, electromagnet to maintain a preselected spacial relationship between the two sealing surfaces.
The datum position may be defined by the sealing surface of said other seal element, and the method may include sensing the distance between the two sealing surfaces and displacing the said one seal element to maintain a preselected distance between the two sealing surfaces.
The displacement means may include a plurality of electromagnets and the method may include selectively varying the magnetic flux in each of the electromagnets.


A semiconductor wafer is provided with a substrate, a GaN type semiconductor film which is laminated on the substrate, a plurality of element regions which are provided on the GaN type semiconductor film, a dielectric film which is laminated on the GaN type semiconductor film, and a dicing region which has a dicing groove which is provided in a lattice form without passing through the dielectric film described above so as to partition the element regions described above. Then, an end on the element region side of the dicing groove is higher or lower than a central portion of the dicing groove in a width direction in a bottom surface of the dicing groove.

In recent years, power devices which have a high breakdown voltage performance and which are used in applications handling large electric currents have been actively developed. In the development of such power devices, nitride semiconductors which are materials which have a high dielectric breakdown electric field and a high saturated electron speed have recently attracted attention. Among these, GaN power devices which use gallium nitride (GaN) are expected to greatly contribute to energy saving in low loss and high speed power switching systems in the future.
In a case of using blade dicing which is generally used for silicon in the manufacturing of the GaN power device described above, since a GaN film is harder than silicon and nitride semiconductors such as GaN and silicon have different lattice constants, thermal expansion coefficients, and the like, a large amount of stress is generated in the vicinity of the interface between the silicon substrate and the GaN film at the time of dicing. Then, when a mechanical shock due to the dicing is imparted to a region in which stress is generated in the vicinity of the interface, cracks or the like are generated starting from the vicinity of the interface. In order to solve this problem, for example, laser dicing is used.
A semiconductor wafer in the prior art which uses laser dicing is, for example, described in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2006-222258 (PTL 1). In the semiconductor wafer in the prior art, the semiconductor wafer is cut by combining laser dicing and blade dicing.

Semiconductor wafer, semiconductor device diced from semiconductor wafer, and method for manufacturing semiconductor device


A method for communication includes routing a first packet, which belongs to a given packet flow, over a first routing path through a communication network. A second packet, which follows the first packet in the given packet flow, is routed using a time-bounded Adaptive Routing (AR) mode, by evaluating a time gap between the first and second packets, routing the second packet over the first routing path if the time gap does not exceed a predefined threshold, and, if the time gap exceeds the predefined threshold, selecting a second routing path through the communication network that is potentially different from the first routing path, and routing the second packet over the second routing path.

Various techniques for routing packets through communication networks are known in the art. Some known techniques select routing paths for packets based on the network state, e.g., traffic load or congestion. Such techniques are sometimes referred to as Adaptive Routing. AR techniques are described, for example, by Kim et al., in "Adaptive Routing in High-Radix Clos Network," Proceedings of the 2006 ACM/IEEE Conference on Supercomputing (SC2006), Tampa, Fla., November 2006, which is incorporated herein by reference.


A semiconductor IC device has an input/output circuit and an internal logic circuit connected with the input/output circuit formed in a main surface of a semiconductor substrate of a generally rectangular shape. The input/output circuit is divided into at least two input/output circuit blocks in such a manner that edges of the logic circuit blocks defined by the division on the main surface of the substrate extend in a direction substantially parallel with a pair of opposite sides of the substrate. The internal logic circuit is divided into at least three logic circuit blocks in such a manner that edges of the logic circuit blocks defined by the division on the main surface of the substrate extend in the above-mentioned direction. Each of the input/output circuit blocks is sandwiched by and electrically connected with adjacently arranged two of the logic circuit blocks.

The present invention relates to a semiconductor integrated circuit device. More specifically, the invention relates to a technology particularly effective in application for ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit or Application Specific Standard Product) device.
Designing theory of ASIC device covers all of semiconductor integrated circuit devices employing any of standard cell type, gate array type, custom type and so forth. ASIC devices are generally designed and developed in the aid of a design automation system (DA: Design Automation) typically using a computer. For example, in the case of the semiconductor integrated circuit device employing the standard cell system, it is typical process to store a plurality of macro-cells (functional circuit blocks) which are preliminarily designed with optimal designs, to arrange some macro-cells depending upon necessity, and to mutually connect these macro-cells. Accordingly, the semiconductor integrated circuit devices employing the standard cell system is featured in short turn around time and relatively high density and circuit performance, and thus is suitable for production in wide variety and small production amount.
The ASIC device is generally formed with a rectangular monocrystalline silicon substrate. In the central area on the main surface of the monocrystalline silicon substrate (semiconductor substrate), an internal logic circuit including a plurality of and a plural kinds of macro-cells is formed. On the peripheral portion of the internal logic circuit formed on the main surface of the monocrystalline silicon substrate, an input/output circuit including either of or both of an input circuit and an output circuit is formed. On the peripheral portion of the input/output circuit on the main surface of the substrate, a plurality of external terminals (bonding pads) are further arranged.
One or more ASIC devices, each of which is to be assembled in a large scale computer and thus required high arithmetic processing speed and high density, are mounted on a mounting board, such as mother board, testing board or so forth, utilizing face-down bonding. In the face-down bonding, soldering bump electrodes are interposed between external terminals of the ASIC device and terminals of the mounting board for mechanically and electrically connecting therebetween.
In the face-down bonding signal propagation paths and power supply paths between the external terminals of the ASIC device and the terminals of the mounting board are shorter than in the wire bonding. Namely, shortening of the signal propagation paths is expected to achieve higher signal propagation speed and thus to contribute to a higher speed circuit operation. On the other hand, shortening of the power supply paths is expected to achieve suppression of power source noise and to contribute to stability of the circuit operation. Therefore, improvement of the circuit operation speed of the ASIC device can be expected.
Also, the face-down bonding permits reduction of an occupation area and a high density since, when a plurality of ASIC devices are mounted on a single mounting board, a part of an encapsulating material for the ASIC device can be used in common by a plurality of the ASIC devices (known as a multi-chip module).
Furthermore, the face-down bonding permits forced cooling from the reverse side (other main surface of the monocrystalline silicon substrate, where no circuit is mounted). Namely, in the case of the ASIC device causing large heat generation, such as the ASIC device, in which the internal logic circuit is constituted principally with bipolar transistors, reliability of the circuit operation will certainly be assured.
JP-A-62-194640 (laid-open on Aug. 27, 1987) shows a semiconductor integrated circuit device employing bump-mounting technique, in which a number of bumps are arranged to be distributed all over the surface of a semiconductor chip, I/O gate cells in a gate array are arranged along the periphery of the chip and in boundary areas on the chip surface which divide the chip surface into regions, and internal gates are arranged in the regions.

Integrated circuit having alternate rows of logic cells and I/O cells


Systems, methods, and computer-readable media are disclosed for generating a test case based on valid function codes that have not been selected for test case generation bypassing. A test program is provided that allows a user to specify, for each instruction, one or more function codes that the user does not want to use to generate a test case (e.g., that should be bypassed). A test stream generator is provided that has knowledge of valid and invalid function codes for any given supported instruction. A test case generator is provided that compares the function codes selected for bypassing to the valid function codes to identify a valid non-bypassed function code, which is used to generate a test case. Systems, methods, and computer-readable media are also disclosed for generating an exception test case using only one or more invalid function codes that have not been selected for bypassing.

The present invention relates generally to software testing, and more specifically, to test case generation.
Software testing involves the execution of a software component or a system component to evaluate one or more properties of interest. In general, these properties indicate the extent to which the component or system under test meets the requirements that guided its design and development; responds correctly to all kinds of inputs; performs its functions within an acceptable timeframe; is sufficiently usable; can be installed and run in its intended environments; and achieves the general result its stakeholders desire.
All software testing uses some type of strategy to select tests that are feasible for the available time and resources. As a result, software testing typically (but not exclusively) attempts to execute a program or application with the intent of finding software bugs (errors or other defects). The job of testing is an iterative process in that when one bug is detected and corrected, other, deeper already present bugs can be illuminated or new ones can be created. Software testing can provide objective, independent information about the quality of software and risk of its failure.

Bypassing user-selected functions during test case generation

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION


A delivery mechanism for distributing media items to subscribers uses a timed based benchmark, or a triggering event, in lieu of or in addition to a conventional capacity driven model. In this manner, subscribers can temporarily have access to a number of titles exceeding a quota in some instances, in order to reduce monitoring requirements, or further some promotional interest. In other instances subscribers are consulted in advance before new titles are delivered, to give them an option of selecting their choice or a choice made automatically for them by a recommender system.

The Internet is now being used for a number of commercial purposes, including purchase and rental of movie films in different media formats. One such popular website is maintained by Netflix®, where subscribers can search, review and select movie titles (in DVD media format). If a particular title is available, the subscriber's choice is then placed into a rental selection "queue." During an interactive online session, a subscriber can select a number of titles, and then prioritize them in a desired order for shipment within the selection queue.
After the movie title selection session is over, the system proceeds to ship the desired tides in the order requested by the subscriber. The selections are mailed to the user in special packaging, which include return mailers pre-printed and adapted for such movie media. This minimizes the inconvenience to the subscriber, but there is an indeterminate processing and mailing delay therefore associated with each selection. In most instances, a selection is mailed the same day, but even in such cases, there is typically a three day transaction period associated between the selection, processing, shipment, mail transit and receipt of a particular title.
After shipment, these titles then appear in a list identified essentially as items that are outstanding (i.e., movies that have not yet been returned by the user) within a "titles out" queue. Under one option of the Netflix terms of service, the system places a limit on the number of outstanding titles that a subscriber may have at any one time (typically, a function of the level of service agreement, with more $$/month resulting in more titles). Thus, if the user selects more movies than they can acquire at one time, the remaining movie titles remain as un-shipped items in the rental selection queue. Additional titles in the rental selection queue are only shipped to the user after the system logs a returned item from that same user. This happens automatically, so the user does not need to return to the Netflix website to request the shipment. At the same time, however, the user is not consulted in the decision to ship the next item; it happens without his/her approval or advance notice.
The aforementioned system is further described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,584,450, which is hereby incorporated by reference. The '450 patent explains the above policy in terms of a "MAX" out approach for servicing rental customers. Notably, the aforementioned disclosure also mentions that the MAX out approach can only be altered under certain exceptions, such as where the customer agrees to pay a surcharge.
A limitation of the aforementioned system is that while the system automatically ships the next items in the rental queue it fails to consider whether the user may in fact want to "veto" the next item in the queue, either because their tastes have changed, or if they might have already seen the title. As users sometimes fill up their request queues months in advance with dozens of titles, and they typically only see 6-8 movies per month, there is a strong possibility that one more of such titles will be stale after several months.
A further limitation, of course, is that the user must always return another title before the next title in their queue is shipped to them. While this is somewhat useful for inventory tracking purposes, the user is handicapped by the fact that after they posit the returned title in the mail, they have little or no control over how quickly or accurately such return will be processed by the mail, or the rental service.
Finally, it is conceivable that on many occasions, from the perspective of the service provider, it will be desirable to ship another title to a customer, regardless of a status of their delivery queue, and without applying a surcharge. In other words, in order to promote certain titles, retain certain customers, or balance supply/demand, a service provider may want to automatically ship more than the "Max Out" figure to a particular customer, based on some triggering event.

Method of processing rental requests and returns


A well drilling system is provided that includes a choke manifold and a controller. The choke manifold includes at least one choke valve. The choke valve is actuable between fully open and closed choke positions. The choke valve has a Cv value for each choke position. The controller is in communication with the choke valve and a non-transitory memory storing instructions. The instructions relate Cv values to choke positions for the choke valve. The instructions when executed cause the controller to: a) determine a difference in pressure (ΔP); b) input or determine a density value; c) input or determine a Q value; d) determine a first Cv value using the ΔP, the density value, and the Q value; and e) actuate the choke valve to a first choke position associated with the first Cv value.

To produce oil and gas from a subterranean reservoir, a drilling operation is managed using drives, pumps and other equipment. A drillstring with the drill bit rotates and penetrates a formation (e.g., a seabed) by cutting rock formations, creating the well. While drilling, "mud" is pumped into the drillstring to the bottom of the well and returned through an annulus surrounding the drillstring. One of the main challenges related to drilling is to maintain the pressure in the well within certain pressure boundaries. These pressure boundaries (which collectively define a pressure window) are determined by the fracture pressure ("PF"; i.e., the amount of pressure a formation can withstand before it fails or splits) and the pore pressure ("PP"; i.e., the pressure exerted by fluids disposed within the pores of the formation). If the fluid pressure in the well (e.g., the bottom hole pressure, or "BHP") increases above the fracture pressure (BHP>PF), drilling mud may leak into the formation, causing fractions in the formation rock surrounding the well. If the pressure within the well drops below the pore pressure (BHP<PP), fluids and sediments may enter the well from the formation. Without sufficient control of the pressure in the well, a blowout could potentially occur, releasing uncontrolled oil and gas to the surface.
Managed Pressure Drilling (MPD) is a technology for controlling the annular fluid pressure within the well during drilling. In MPD controlled wells, the annular fluid pressure (e.g., the BHP) is typically defined as the sum of hydrostatic pressure ("PH"), the annulus frictional pressure ("PA"), and the back pressure ("PBP"); (i.e., BHP=PH+PA+PBP). Similar to conventional drilling practices, MPD is designed to control the well pressure between the pore pressure and the fracture pressure (i.e., PP<BHP<PF). By manipulating topside located chokes and pumps, MPD provides an improved means (relative to conventional drilling control techniques) of establishing well pressure and counteracting pressure disturbances that may occur.
The ability to quickly respond to a pressure variation in BHP is a key aspect of any MPD system. In many prior art MPD systems, one or more control valves (sometimes referred to as a "choke" or a "choke valve"; hereinafter referred to as a "choke") are utilized as an element to control pressure. Some chokes are fixed orifice and others are variable orifice. A variable orifice choke (i.e., an adjustable choke) may be actuated in a continuum of different states, from a fully open state (100% open) to a fully closed state (0% open), and a plurality of open states there between (e.g., 10% open, 20% open, 30% open, etc.). More specifically, a variable orifice choke typically includes a stationary member (e.g., a seat) and a translating member (a gate). Movement of the translating member relative to the stationary member varies the state of the choke (% open), either closing the choke or opening the choke. During operation, some prior art adjustable chokes are controlled using an iterative process, wherein the translating member of the choke is iteratively translated to change the pressure across the choke; e.g., move the translating member some amount relative to the stationary member, and then determine the change in pressure, and repeat the process as required. Iterative choke systems of this type are functional, but typically have a relatively slow response.
What is needed is an improved well drilling system that is an improvement over the prior art.

Well control system having one or more adjustable orifice choke valves and method


A display apparatus is disclosed. The display apparatus includes a transistor formed on a substrate; an interlayer insulator formed on the transistor; a pixel electrode formed on the interlayer insulator; a first partition located above a contact hole which penetrates the interlayer insulator; and a second partition which intersects with the first partition, or which is located on a straight line intersecting with the first partition, and which brings a width value of the pixel electrode to a predetermined value.

An organic EL (Electro Luminescence) device, which has a structure such that a cathode, an organic light emitting layer, and an anode are laminated, is a device such that a positive hole injected from the anode and an electron injected from the cathode are re-coupled at an organic light emitting layer, so that excitation energy is released as light emission.
The related art techniques are primarily of a bottom emission type such that a switching device such as a TFT (Thin Film Transistor), etc., is formed on a glass substrate; an organic EL device which has laminated an ITO (Indium Tin Oxide) electrode, an organic light emitting layer, and a metal cathode in that order is arranged adjacent to the switching device; and light is taken out through a transparent substrate.
There is a problem with the bottom emission type that the TFT and the organic EL device need to be lined up on the glass substrate, so that an aperture rate remains around 10-30%, as it is not possible to increase the aperture rate theoretically.
Thus, a top emission type is being zealously studied such that the TFT is covered with an interlayer insulator, on which an organic EL device is formed.
The top emission type has an advantage that the aperture rate may be made greater relative to the bottom emission type as the TFT and the organic EL device are connected through a contact hole provided at the interlayer insulator; on the interlayer insulator, individual layers are laminated in the order of the cathode, the organic light emitting layer, and an transmissive anode; and light is taken out through the transmissive anode on the top layer.
Moreover, low molecular type organic light emitting layer is formed by vacuum deposition method in the related art, and when the display size is larger, a low level of efficiency of use of material, generation of particles from a mask, and an alignment error of a shadow mask are severer. Therefore a high molecular type organic EL device such that a high molecular type organic light-emitting layer is formed by an inkjet method is attracting special attention.
In present inkjet devices, it is difficult to properly print a different high molecular organic light-emitting material of R, G, and B only on a predetermined cathode separately, so that a method is used of providing a partition (bank) around the cathode formed on the interlayer insulator, and making the partition water-repellent using CF4 plasma processing to control wettability, thus dropping the high molecular organic light-emitting material into an aperture within the partition.
In the top emission type, a contact hole is needed to connect the TFT and the organic EL device. When a cathode material is deposited, using sputtering and vacuum deposition, on the interlayer insulator on which the contact hole is provided, and the cathode is formed using photolithography, a dent is produced due to the contact hole on the cathode surface being directly above the contact hole. Thus, when the high molecular inorganic light-emitting material is printed on the cathode using the inkjet method, the film thickness of the organic light-emitting layer increases due to the dent of the cathode that is formed directly on top of the contact hole, so that uniformity of the film thickness is reduced. Thus, light emission becomes non-uniform within pixels surrounded by partitions, so that a good image quality is not obtained with the display device using the organic EL device.
In order to obtain good image quality, it is important to planarize the contact hole and the cathode. Thus, various proposals are being made in this regard.
For example, in Patent document 1, a contact hole is arranged to be provided beside a pixel electrode (a cathode), and a connecting wiring with the contact hole filled with an electro-conductive material is used to connect the TFT and the pixel electrode, and to have a part of a partition arranged on the contact hole.
In such a structure, the dent of the connecting wiring due to the contact hole is covered with the partition, so that it is separated from a light-emitting region, making it possible to form a flat cathode at least within an aperture surrounded by the partition.
Patent document 1 adopts a method of forming the partition having an aperture after forming a connecting wiring and a pixel electrode (cathode) in order to implement the above structure.
In a case of a low molecular organic EL device, a structure is already disclosed in Patent document 2 which provides a part of a partition on a contact hole. Moreover, in Patent document 3, a method is disclosed such that, a pixel electrode (cathode) is formed on the contact hole, then a dent of the pixel electrode is implanted with an insulator within a hole that has a liquid material filled in and cured, and then a partition is provided such that one part of the partition is arranged on the contact hole, or in other words, on the insulator within the contact hole. In the method of Patent document 3, the dent due to the contact hole is filled in with the insulator within the hole, so that a certain level of flatness is obtained, and the insulator within the hole is covered with the partition so that there is separation from a light-emitting region; therefore, the interior of the aperture surrounded by the partition becomes a flat cathode. In order to achieve the structure of Patent document 3, the method must be adopted which forms the partition having the aperture after forming the insulator within the hole and the pixel electrode (cathode).
A different method is disclosed in Patent document 4, for example. In Patent document 4, there are disclosed a first method of implanting a contact hole with an electro-conductive material, then flattening using polishing (a Damascene process), and then forming a pixel electrode (cathode) on the contact hole; and a second method of forming the pixel electrode on the contact hole, and then filling a dent produced on the pixel electrode with an insulating material such as silicon oxide, etc. Patent document 4 discloses that a method is adopted of forming a partition having an aperture on an interlayer insulator, and then forming a pixel electrode (cathode) in the aperture.
Moreover, compared to a photolithography method such that a resist pattern is formed on a film deposited by sputtering or vacuum deposition, an inkjet method is low cost, so that forming a high molecular organic EL device using the inkjet method contributes to a decreased cost of a display device. Moreover, a proposal is being made to seek a further decrease in cost by not only forming a high molecular organic EL device by the inkjet method, but also to form, by a printing method, a cathode formed by the photolithography method according to the related art.
For example, Patent document 5 discloses a method of applying by a printing method, as an electrode, a high molecule material, which is an electro-conductive fine particle such as indium, carbon, etc., dispersed. Patent document 6 discloses providing between a light-emitting layer and a main cathode, an electron injecting layer which includes metal complexes, applying, as the main cathode, PEDOT-PSS.
Various proposals are also made of a method of forming a contact hole by an inkjet method. For example, Patent document 7 discloses applying, by an inkjet method, a dot-shaped liquid repellant material to a location where a contact hole is to be formed to form a liquid-repellent section and then applying an insulating material around the liquid repellant section. The insulating material is repelled by the liquid repellant section to become a contact hole. Such a method as described above can be adopted to further decrease the cost of a top emission organic EL device.
However, Patent document 5 only discloses the structure of the organic EL device, and does not disclose the structure of the contact hole and a method of connecting with the TFT at all. Moreover, Patent document 6 discloses substrates using top emission type, but refers to related art cases which are all related to a bottom emission type, and does not disclose flattening of contact holes and cathodes at all.
Thus, when manufacturing the display device using the top emission type organic EL device, even when the cathode could be formed using Patent document 5 or 6, flattening of the contact hole and cathode that is important in top emission types is difficult, so that a method of flattening the contact hole and cathode of Patent documents 1, 3, and 4, etc., must be adopted.
Moreover, when the cathode is formed by the inkjet method, it is difficult to make the minimum space small because of curving of a head, meandering of the head, and ejection variation. In other words, a highly fine fabrication is difficult. In general, when forming the cathode by the inkjet method, the minimum space is 30-50 μm.
On the other hand, printing of a high molecular-type organic light-emitting material using the inkjet method uses a liquid-repellant partition to respond to the highly fine fabrication, so that, taking into account the process complexities, the method of using the previously-described partition is most desirable.
In the method as disclosed in Patent documents 1 and 3, the partition needs to be formed such as to cover the contact hole after forming the cathode and the connecting wiring on the contact hole, so that the partition for separating the high molecular organic light-emitting layer cannot be used when printing the cathode. Therefore, the minimum space of the cathode is determined by the resolution of the inkjet method. Thus, when the cathode is flattened by the methods disclosed in Patent documents 1 and 3, there is a disadvantage that the minimum space of the cathode cannot be reduced, so that the resolution of the cathode cannot be improved. In particular, in the method in Patent document 3, the process of forming the insulator within the hole is required, leading to an increased cost in the organic EL device.
Moreover, when flattening the contact hole and the cathode by the first method disclosed in Patent document 4, the electro-conductive material is filled into the contact hole, flattening is made by the Damascene method, then the partition is formed, and then the cathode is formed, so that it is possible to print the cathode by using the partition for separating the high molecular organic light-emitting layer; in other words, a highly fine fabrication of the cathode may be realized using the printing method. However, in order to flattering the contact hole by the Damascene method, a polishing machine, a machine for depositing an electro-conductive material to be filled, and a cleaning machine after the polishing is necessary. The polishing process causes dust emission therefrom so that separation from other areas becomes necessary, making an increased cost such as an additional clean room required, etc., so that it is difficult to manufacture the display device at low cost.
Moreover, when the cathode is flattened by the second method disclosed in Patent document 4, the insulating material which is filled in the dent of the cathode does not function as an electrode, so that the area of the cathode becomes substantially small, decreasing the uniformity within in the pixel area and the brightness of the display device. Moreover, a difference occurs in the density of electric currents which flow through individual organic EL devices, leading to decreasing the long-term reliability of the overall display device.
Furthermore, even when the contact hole is formed by a printing method by the method in Patent document 7, flattening of the contact hole and the cathode that is important in the top emission type cannot be realized, so that the method of flattening of the contact hole and the cathode of Patent documents 1, 3, and 4, etc., must be adopted. Moreover, in the method in Patent document 7, it is common for the insulating material not to stop at the edge of the liquid repellant section, and partially run onto the edge of the liquid repellant section, so that the bottom part of the contact hole is likely to become inversely tapered after removing the liquid repellant section. In particular, there is a disadvantage that, if the film thickness of the liquid repellant section is large, in case the contact hole is filled with the electro-conductive material, a void may occur in an inversely tapered portion, decreasing the long-term reliability of the contact hole.
As described above, in the top emission type organic EL device which forms the cathode and the high molecular organic light-emitting layer by the printing method, a technique of making the flattening of the cathode and the highly fine fabrication of the cathode compatible is yet to be proposed; thus, in order to realize, at low cost, a display device with a high aperture rate and a uniform image quality, the printing technique of the cathode that makes it possible to make the flattening of the cathode and the highly fine fabrication of the cathode compatible is becoming very important. Moreover, for a further decrease in cost, development of a printing method which makes it possible to form a contact hole having long-term reliability is also important.    Patent Document 1 JP2004-119219A    Patent Document 2 JP2001-148291A    Patent Document 3 JP2009-36948A    Patent Document 4 JP2005-197027A    Patent Document 5 JP2002-237389A    Patent Document 6 JP2005-79064A    Patent Document 7 JP2009-21552A

Display apparatus, manufacturing method thereof, and electronic equipment


Apparatuses and methods related to an internal combustion engine are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, the apparatuses and methods include modifying a conventional internal combustion engine to enhance an operating efficiency. In other embodiments, an internal combustion engine of enhanced operating efficiency is disclosed.

An internal combustion engine (ICE) converts energy into work. Indeed, these engines are used to power many of the devices we benefit from every day, including, but not limited to, automobiles, airplanes, and electric generators. In other words, the internal combustion engine quite literally drives the world's economy.
As used herein, the terms "engine" or "internal combustion engine" include, for example, without limitation, any device that converts energy, released by the combustion of a fuel, into mechanical energy in an output shaft or the like of the engine, regardless of size, application, or type of fuel. As also used herein, the terms "fuel" or "hydrocarbon fuel" include, for example, without limitation, any substance or material, organic or inorganic, which may be burned to release energy. Such substances or materials include, but are not limited to, crude oil, gasoline, diesel, kerosene, bio-diesel, heavy oil, or other fuel oil or any mixture thereof in any form. Although many of these fuels are considered to be nonrenewable natural resources, the principles of the present disclosure may be utilized with internal combustion engines running on fuels derived from renewable resources.
In today's society, it has become increasingly important to conserve energy and, in particular, hydrocarbon fuels. Societal and governmental pressure is causing many automobile and other manufacturers to rethink and redefine the definition of fuel economy. Even with improvements in fuel economy, however, many of the automobiles being manufactured and in use today continue to be powered by internal combustion engines. In addition, the average individual is driving more frequently and longer distances, which in itself tends to offset the gains achieved by improved fuel economies. Thus, because of the enormous amount of fuel converted into energy by internal combustion engines, even a small improvement in fuel efficiency can be a significant step towards energy conservation goals.
Improved fuel efficiency can also provide substantial environmental benefits. Since less fuel is being converted into energy, a proportionately smaller amount of harmful emissions is being produced. Again, because of the sheer number of internal combustion engines in use, this can create a significant overall improvement. Additional benefits may be obtained if the process of converting fuel into energy itself may be improved to produce cleaner exhaust.
Of course, the use of the internal combustion engine is not restricted to the automotive field. Diesel engines, for example, power many of the world's trains, and turbine engines power a majority of the world's commercial airplanes and electric power generating stations. In many cases, internal combustion engines are also used to power agricultural and construction equipment.
Accordingly, there exists a need for an apparatus and methodology for improving the overall performance and efficiency of internal combustion engines.