An electric stapler including tension springs which prevent a second staple from entering a staple supply position of a magazine when a first staple is jammed therein. The tension springs are connected between the arm of actuating links and connecting rods. The connecting rods connect the actuating links to the shaft of a motor. A clincher is provided which folds the legs of a U-shaped staple which have penetrated an article to be stapled against the article.

This invention relates to a power-driven stapler for performing stapling operations and more particularly to a power-driven stapler in which unformed staple elements are automatically fed successively by a power motor to a staple forming and driving unit so that each staple element is formed into a U-shaped staple and then is driven through an article to be stapled.
The type of power-driven or electrically-actuated stapler in which each unformed staple element is formed into a U-shaped staple and then is driven through an article such as sheets of paper is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,623,082, owned by the assignee of the present invention. Such conventional electric stapler employs an electric motor as drive means and actuating links which are driven by the motor. A staple forming and driving unit connected to one end of the actuating links through respective springs as well as a magazine are vertically moved so as to drive each staple through the article to be stapled. A predetermined number of unform staple elements are adhesively bonded together in the form of a sheet, and a plurality of such sheets are stacked one upon another within a staple cartridge. The stack of staple element sheets are sequentially fed toward the staple forming and driving unit by an endless belt serving as a staple feeder, with the lowermost sheet being fed out first, so that each staple element is formed into a U-shape and then driven through the article to be stapled. Then, the legs of the U-shaped staple extending through the work are folded by a clinching means.
The actuating links are pivotally mounted on a base of the stapler intermediate opposite ends thereof, and have a first end engaged with the magazine. A motor-driven cam plate acts on the second end of the actuating links so that the magazine is moved vertically, that is, upwardly and downwardly. When it is desired to increase the stroke of the vertical movement of the magazine to increase an insertion opening for insertion of the article to facilitate the insertion of the article in its stapling position, in this conventional construction, the stroke of the vertical movement of the second end of the actuating links needs to be correspondingly increased. As a result, the overall size of the stapler becomes large. To provide an overall compact construction of the stapler, it is necessary to either shorten the actuating links or decrease the size of the cam plate. However, if the actuating links are reduced in length, the cam plate needs to be larger, so that the eccentricity of the cam plate is correspondingly increased. On the other hand, of the cam plate is reduced in size, then the actuating links need be increased in length. Therefore, with these procedures, it has been difficult to provide a compact stapler.
Another dificulty with the above conventional stapler is that the staple forming and driving unit is forcibly returned to its upper dead point (i.e,. initial position) in accordance with the movement of the actuating links, so that even if a staple is jammed in a staple driver guide path, subsequent staples are sequentially fed to this driver guide path so long as the motor continues to rotate to actuate the actuating links. Thus, in the above conventional electric stapler, once a staple becomes jammed in the driver guide path, subsequent staples also become jammed successively, and the staples thus jammed and deformed give rise to damage to the driver guide path thereby preventing the proper movement of the stapler, and holding the staple driver against movement in the driver guide path which stops the rotation of the motor in its energized condition.
In conventional staplers of the type in which sheet-like staple elements are fed by an endless belt to the staple forming and driving unit from the staple cartridge, where a space or distance between an upper surface of the endless belt and a lower surface of a staple guide portion of the staple cartridge is almost equal to the thickness of the sheet-like staple element. The force under which the sheet of staple elements is urged against the upper surface of the endless belt is weak, and therefore the staple feed force is also weak. This may result in failure to properly feed the sheet of staple elements. If the above space between the upper surface of the endless belt and the lower surface of the guide portion is less than a half of the thickness of the sheet of staple elements, the sheet can not be discharged from the staple cartridge, thus failing to properly feed the sheet of staple elements. To overcome this difficulty, it has been necessary to keep the space between the upper surface of the endless belt and the lower surface of the guide portion in a range wherein at the low end the space is less than the thickness of the sheet of staple elements and at the high end more than half of this thickness. This requires high processing or machining precision.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,593,847 discloses a typical example of clincher devices of the type in which a pair of legs of a stapler extending through an article to be stapled are folded or bent against the back side of the article in parallel relation to each other. In such a clincher device, movable clincher members for pressing the staple legs against the back side of the article have recesses or grooves for receiving the staple legs. Therefore, the staple legs fail to be firmly pressed against the article at a final portion of the clinching operation, so that the folded or clinched staple legs are spaced from the back side of the article, which results in a relatively loose stapling.


A subsurface apparatus in the form a tractor is adapted for travel through a bore containing a moving fluid stream. The tractor comprises a body, a drive arrangement for moving the body in a desired direction, a member mounted on the body and adapted to be driven by the moving fluid, and a conversion arrangement for converting movement of the member to drive for the drive arrangement. The drive arrangement may include a contactless magnetic coupling and a harmonic drive.

This invention relates to apparatus intended for use in subsurface or other inaccessible locations, and in particular but not exclusively to such an apparatus having the ability to convert energy in fluid flowing in a subsurface conduit to energy which may be utilised by the apparatus. One aspect of the invention relates to a tractor.
In the oil and gas exploration and extraction industry, there is widespread use of subsurface and subsea conduits, often of extended length: for example, well bores may extend for several kilometers from wellheads to remote hydrocarbon-bearing formations, and subsea pipelines may extend for many kilometers between, for example, subsea wellheads and support platforms, and between production platforms and onshore facilities. Over time, there tends to be a build up of material on the inner walls of such pipelines, which material may include wax, scale and various precipitates. Of course such a build up of material will reduce the flow capacity of the pipeline, and may ultimately result in the pipeline becoming blocked. Conventionally, such pipelines are periodically cleaned by passing a xe2x80x9cpigxe2x80x9d through the pipeline, the pig being launched into the pipeline at an appropriate upstream point, which may require production to be temporarily stopped. A pig is typically of cylindrical form, of slightly smaller diameter than the pipeline, and is carried through the pipeline by the flow of fluid in the pipeline. Dislodged material therefore builds up in front of the pig, and thus it is not unusual for pigs to become stuck in pipelines, which may bring production to a halt. Retrieval of a stuck pig requires the pig to be located, the pipeline opened to remove the pig, and the pipeline reinstated. As these operations may have to be carried out subsea, retrieval of a stuck pig is an expensive and difficult undertaking.
It is among the objectives of embodiments of the present invention to obviate or mitigate these disadvantages. In particular, embodiments of the present invention relate to a tractor which may convert energy in fluid flowing in a pipeline to energy which may be utilised to drive the tractor in the opposite direction to the direction of fluid flow; the tractor may be utilised to transport a pipeline cleaning tool or device through a pipeline.
According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided a tractor adapted for travel through a moving fluid stream, the tractor comprising
a body;
drive means for moving the body in a desired direction;
a rotatable member mounted on the body and adapted to be driven by moving fluid; and
conversion means for converting movement of the member to drive for the drive means, said conversion means comprising a contactless coupling between the rotatable member and the drive means.
Such an arrangement enables the tractor to move in a moving fluid stream, and to obtain its motive power from the moving fluid. In preferred embodiments of the invention, this allows the tractor to operate without requiring a link to a remote power source, and without the tractor having to carry its own power supply. The tractor may be arranged to be driven in the same direction as the fluid, but is preferably arranged to be driven in the opposite direction to the fluid flow, that is upstream or against the flow.
Preferably, the member is adapted to be rotated by the flow of fluid past the body, and may be in the form of a turbine blade arrangement. The rotatable member preferably rotates around the body, and the axis of rotation of the rotatable member is preferably coaxial with the body.
Preferably, the conversion means is adjustable to vary the coupling between the rotatable member and the drive means. In one embodiment, the degree of coupling is variable and, for example, the maximum torque or force transferred between the rotatable member and the drive means may be varied, and in another embodiment the gearing between the rotatable member and the drive means may be varied. In other embodiments the degree of coupling between the rotatable member and drive means may be fixed, for example the conversion means may comprise a non-adjustable gear train.
Preferably, the conversion means comprises a magnetic induction coupling. This facilitates sealing the various elements of the tractor against ingress of fluid and other materials which may be present in the environment of the tractor, and may reduce friction losses normally incurred by sliding seals. In the preferred magnetic induction coupling, the spacing between the driving and driven elements of the coupling is variable, to vary the degree of coupling between the elements. Most preferably, the elements are relatively axially movable. Thus, by varying the axial spacing and thus the degree of coupling between the elements it may be possible to, for example, reduce the power or torque transferred from the rotatable member to the drive means and thus reduce the speed of the tractor. Alternatively, the conversion means may comprise a mechanical drive link, although for most applications this would require provision of sliding seals and the like.
The tractor may carry cutting means for removing or dislodging material surrounding or adjacent the body, for example deposits on the inner wall of a conduit through which the tractor is travelling. The cutting means may comprise a blade having radially or axially extending blades, and the blades may be rigidly mounted or in the form of flails. Alternatively, the cutting means may be in the form of fluid jets, or an ultrasonic emitter. In such embodiments, energy from the fluid driven member may be utilised to drive a pump or power an ultrasonic source.
The conversion means may be linked to a coupling control, which may control the degree of coupling between driving and driven elements of the coupling. The coupling control may comprise a rotating blade, and on the blade speed slowing, indicative of the tractor encountering a restriction or obstruction and the blade having to make a xe2x80x9cheavyxe2x80x9d cut, the degree of coupling may be reduced, to slow the rate of advance of the tractor. In other embodiments the coupling control may include a gauge sensor, such as a gauge ring.
Preferably, the conversion means comprises reduction gearing for converting a high speed low torque input from the rotatable member to a relatively low speed high torque output to the drive means. For example, the rotatable member may rotate at 2000 rpm, and this rotation may be stepped down at a ratio of 80:1, to 25 rpm. Preferably also, the conversion means comprises an output shaft which is substantially coaxial with an axis of rotation of the rotatable member. Most preferably, the conversion means comprises a harmonic drive. A typical harmonic drive comprises three main parts, (1) an outer rigid ring with internal teeth, (2) a non-rigid, thin cylindrical cup with external teeth on a slightly smaller pitch diameter than the outer ring, and the cup fitting over and being held in an elliptical shape by (3) an elliptical plug carrying a thin raced ball bearing. The cup is slightly smaller in diameter than the outer ring and usually had two fewer teeth than the ring. The elliptical shape of the plug causes the teeth of the cup to engage the ring at two opposite regions across the major axis of the ellipse. As the plug rotates, the zone where the teeth of the ring engage those of the cup travels with the major elliptical axis. For each 180xc2x0 clockwise movement of the plug, the cup moves counterclockwise by one tooth relative to the outer ring. Thus, each complete clockwise rotation of the plug results in the cup moving counterclockwise by two teeth from its previous position relative to the outer ring.
In other embodiments, the conversion means may comprise an electric generator, such as a dynamo or alternator, and an electric motor coupled to the drive means. This arrangement offers the advantage that the torque output of the motor is relatively constant, irrespective of motor speed. There is also some flexibility in the relative locations of the generator and motor, as there is no requirement for a mechanical coupling therebetween. The conversion means may include a battery or other electrical energy storage arrangement, the battery being supplied with electrical energy by the generator. An advantage of this arrangement is that the battery may provide motive power for the tractor in the temporary absence of fluid flow.
The conversion means may comprise a hydraulic fluid pump and a hydraulic motor, or may comprise one or more of a combination of energy conversion and transmission arrangements, to suit the particular application of the tractor.
The drive means may take any suitable form, and may include wheels, legs, tracks, fluid impellers or the like. Most preferably, the tractor is adapted for use in conduits, and the drive means is in the form of a plurality of brush traction elements, such as described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,460,616 B1, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. The brush traction elements are oscillated or swashed backwards and forwards by cams mounted on a central drive shaft and derive traction from elastomer or otherwise resilient fingers which contact the inner wall of the conduit, which may be a pipe or a cased or uncased borehole. Altering the mounting position of the fingers with respect to the centre line of the bearings on which each brush traction element is mounted increases or decreases the amount of grip provided by the fingers by increasing or reducing the effective diameter of each traction element. A cyclic variation in the mounting position of a series of adjacent traction elements, and which allows the traction elements to drive the tractor, may be achieved by varying the angular offset of each traction element cam on the central drive shaft. For example, each cam may be mounted in the drive shaft to be 60xc2x0, 90xc2x0, 120xc2x0 and 180xc2x0 offset from an adjacent cam. Further, by moving the mounting position of the brush traction element from one side of a neutral centre line to the other it is possible to reverse the direction of traction. This is useful when it is desired to retrieve the tractor; by moving the mounting position the tractor may then be driven in the reverse direction, or where the tractor has been moving against the direction of flow the force produced on the tractor by the fluid may be sufficient to push or reverse the tractor. To facilitate such movement the tractor may further comprise a selectively actuatable fluid flow restriction adapted to interact with the flowing fluid to create a force on the tractor. The restriction may be in the form of a parachute or like arrangement, or radially extendable seals or the like.
The tractor may comprise a plurality of bodies, each provided with drive means, a member, and conversion means. Alternatively, individual tractor elements may be provided selectively on the bodies. The bodies may be coupled by any appropriate means, for example flexible cables, chains or universal joints, and where drive or other forces are to be transferred between bodies by, for example, constant velocity universal joints. The ability to form the tractor from a number of flexibly coupled or articulated bodies facilitates negotiation of tight bends, including 3D and 5D bends (that is tubes having a bend radius three or five time the tube radius) as often utilised in oil and gas exploration and production applications.
Preferably, the tractor includes an obstruction sensor operatively associated with one or both of the conversion means and the drive means and for reversing or uncoupling said means to permit the tractor to stop or move in an opposite direction. The sensor may comprise a probe at the leading end of the tractor for detecting solid obstructions, or detecting sharp turns in a tube in which the tractor is located; for example, the probe may be adapted to detect a 3D bend in a tube, that is a bend with a radius of three times the radius of the tube. Thus, the tractor may be adapted to travel through a tube until the tractor encounters a 3D bend at a known location, and on encountering the bend the tractor will reverse. Alternatively, the sensor may comprise a gauge ring or cutting blade.
The body preferably defines a housing accommodating the conversion means, and the housing is preferably pressure compensated.
According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a tractor adapted for travel through a moving fluid stream, the tractor comprising:
a body;
drive means for moving the body in a desired direction;
a rotatable member mounted on the body and adapted to be driven by moving fluid; and
conversion means for converting rotation of the member to drive for the drive means, said conversion means comprising a harmonic drive.
In other aspects of the invention, one or both of a harmonic drive and a contactless coupling may be provided in apparatus other than a tractor for converting or transferring movement of a fluid actuated member to another element of a tool or device, such as an electrical generator, a cutting blade or a pump.


An emitting apparatus emitting infrared ray including control information with respect to a light emitting device which is held by a spectator in a concert venue, and the like. The emitting apparatus includes a light source arranged with a plurality of light emitting diodes, and a front side of the light source is provided with a nozzle having an opening formed in a narrow shape in which a horizontal width is substantially greater than a vertical width. The emitting apparatus is formed such that infrared light is passed through the nozzle to be emitted. This configuration can perform a stage effect having an illumination effect in which, by using the emitting apparatus existing in the concert venue, a band-shaped light emitting area is formed to be moved like a wave.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to an infrared signal emitting apparatus.
2. Background of the Invention
A light emitting system and a light emitting instruction apparatus according to Patent document 1 have been known.
The system and apparatus employ light emitting instruction apparatus which uses infrared ray as a control signal and a light emitting device, which allow to perform a variety of stage effect operations at venues such as a concert. For example, an emitting apparatus (the light emitting instruction apparatus) is used to irradiates an infrared signal from a location where an entire venue can be seen to control light emission of the light emitting devices held by a large number of spectators in the venue.
The light emitting device is controlled by the control signal which includes an ID of the light emitting device so that the light emitting system can perform light emitting control individually with respect to each of the light emitting devices. In addition, as shown in FIG. 18B, the light emitting system allows the light emitting devices which exist solely in an area where infrared ray is irradiated by the emitting apparatus to emit light, thereby a stage effect can be perform in which the spectators can participate in a concert.


A low current substrate bias generator for regulating the voltage of a substrate layer of an integrated circuit includes a sense circuit having an input for sensing the voltage of the substrate and an output that is coupled to an inverter for providing a control signal. The control signal controls a charge pump that is coupled to the substrate layer or well that is desired to be regulated. The sense circuit includes a load element and a level shifting circuit having a predetermined standing current requirement that flows directly into the substrate. The current requirement of the bias generator is reduced by increasing the value of the load element and a reasonable delay time is maintained by coupling a capacitor across the level shifting circuit. Since the voltage across the capacitor cannot be changed instantaneously, changes in the substrate voltage are directly coupled from the input to the output of the sense circuit, triggering the charge pump. Regulation of the substrate voltage level proceeds with no corresponding increase in delay time.

This invention relates generally to bias generator circuits for generating a bias voltage for a semiconductor substrate layer of an integrated circuit, and more particularly to a circuit and method for reducing the amount of standing current required by the bias generator.
A technique for improving the performance of an integrated circuit formed on a substrate such as a memory device is to provide a separate bias voltage to the substrate instead of coupling the substrate to the five volt power supply (V.sub.DD) or ground, as appropriate. The value of the bias voltage is negative for P-type substrates or wells and is greater than V.sub.DD for N-type substrates or wells. The substrate bias voltage is typically generated with an on-chip circuit containing a charge pump. When the substrate or well voltage changes from a nominal value due to a change in the operating condition of the integrated circuit, a sense circuit provides a control voltage to turn on the charge pump. In turn, the charge pump pumps charge into or out of the substrate until the substrate or well voltage returns to the nominal value. The sense circuit then provides a control voltage to turn off the charge pump.
Prior art bias generator circuits draw a significant standing current that flows directly into the substrate. This standing current directly and indirectly increases the power requirements of the bias generator circuit. In the case of a P-type substrate or well, the additional current raises the substrate voltage. Therefore, the charge pump must be turned on more frequently to maintain a nominal substrate voltage. Since the charge pump is typically only 25-35% efficient, an additional 1 .mu.A of current flowing in the sense circuit translates to an additional 3-4 .mu.A of current that must be consumed by the charge pump. Typically, 5 .mu.A of current is required by the sense circuit to maintain a reasonably short delay time to respond to changes in the substrate voltage. Thus, a total of 20-25 .mu.A of additional standby current is consumed by the bias generator circuit.
One simple way to reduce the current requirements of the bias generator circuit is to decrease the current flowing through the sense circuit. Such a decrease in current, however, produces a corresponding undesirable increase in the delay time in response to changes in the substrate voltage. Thus, the accuracy of the regulated substrate voltage decreases resulting in decreased performance and, possibly, latch-up of the integrated circuit.
What is desired is a bias generator circuit for regulating the voltage of a substrate on an integrated circuit having a low standing current requirement yet maintaining a reasonable delay time in responding to changes in the substrate voltage.


There is provided a graphics processor comprising a programmable execution unit operable to execute programs for respective execution thread groups. An eviction checking circuit is provided that is configured to check instructions as they are being fetched for execution from an instruction cache to determine whether the instruction includes any conditional eviction conditions that if not met indicate that the program to which the instruction relates should not continue to be executed for the group of execution threads. The eviction checking circuit is then configured to check whether any conditional eviction conditions are satisfied at this point and either allow the execution unit to continue program execution or cause the thread group to be evicted.

The technology described herein relates generally to the operation of graphics processors (graphics processing units, GPUs), and in particular to the operation of graphics processors that include a programmable execution unit (e.g. shader) operable to execute a set of instructions in a program to perform data processing operations.
Many graphics processors now include one or more processing (shader) cores, that execute, e.g., programmable processing stages, commonly referred to as "shaders", of a graphics processing pipeline that the graphics processor implements. For example, a graphics processing pipeline may include one or more of, and typically all of: a geometry shader, a vertex shader and a fragment (pixel) shader. These shaders are programmable processing stages that execute shader programs on input data values to generate a desired set of output data, such as appropriately shaded and rendered fragment data in the case of a fragment shader, for processing by the rest of the graphics processing pipeline and/or for output.
It is also known to use graphics processors and graphics processing pipelines, and in particular the shader operation of a graphics processor and graphics processing pipeline, to perform more general computing tasks, e.g. in the case where a similar operation needs to be performed in respect of a large volume of plural different input data values. These operations are commonly referred to as "compute shading" operations and a number of specific compute APIs, such as OpenCL and Vulkan, have been developed for use when it is desired to use a graphics processor and a graphics processing pipeline to perform more general computing operations. Compute shading is used for computing arbitrary information. It can be used to process graphics-related data, if desired, but is generally used for tasks not directly related to performing graphics processing.
A graphics processor shader core is thus a processing unit that performs processing by running (typically small) programs for each "work item" in an output to be generated. In the case of generating a graphics output, such as a render target, such as a frame to be displayed, a "work item" in this regard is usually a vertex or a sampling position (e.g. in the case of a fragment shader). In the case of compute shading operations, each "work item" in the output being generated will be, for example, the data instance (item) in the work "space" that the compute shading operation is being performed on.
In graphics processor shader operation, including in compute shading operation, each work "item" will be processed by means of an execution thread which will execute the instructions of the shader program in question for the work item in question.
In some cases, execution threads (where each thread corresponds to one work item) are grouped together into "groups" or "bundles" of threads, where the threads of one group are run in lockstep, e.g. one instruction at a time. In this way, it is possible to share instruction fetch and scheduling resources between all the threads in the group, and thus can improve shader program execution efficiency.
The Applicants believe that there remains scope for further improvements in efficiency when executing (shader) programs within a graphics processor.

Graphics processing systems with conditional evictions


An improved design for a high density thin film inductive write head assembly is provided. A pedestal and back flux closure of ferromagnetic material are formed on opposite ends of a planarized first pole piece. A plurality of coils of conductive material are deposited on top of the first pole piece between the pedestal and back flux closure. The coils comprise a plurality of loops or turns having voids between the coil loops. A photo resist material is deposited in the voids between the coils and the back flux closure, which is hard baked. A layer of alumina is deposited over the coils and hard baked photo resist material. The pedestal, back gap, coils, photo resist, and alumina are planarized by using a chemical mechanical polishing process. The thickness of the photo resist material relative to the coils is reduced using an O2 reactive ion etching process. A hard carbon or alumina filler is applied to fill the gaps between the coils and the photo resist. A CMP process is performed to planarize the carbon filler, coils, back flux closure and the pedestal.

This invention relates to magnetic head assemblies applicable to magnetic disk drive systems. More particularly this invention relates to high data rate, high efficiency, inductive, thin film heads.
Magnetic transducers (read-write heads) are used for reading and writing magnetically coded data stored on a magnetic storage medium such as a magnetic tape or magnetic disk. In a disk drive system 8, as seen in FIG. 1, a magnetic read-write head 10 is attached to an actuator 12 that flies above a rotating magnetic disk 14. A voice coil motor (VCM) 16 pivots the actuator to position the head 10 over selected circular tracks on the disk 14. The actuator rides on an air-bearing surface over the rotating disk. The disk 14 is attached to a spindle 18 that is rotated by a spindle motor. The disk 14 comprises a substrate having a plurality of thin films deposited thereon. The thin films include ferromagnetic material that is used to record the magnetic transitions, written by the magnetic transducer 10, in which information is encoded. A tape based storage system uses a magnetic transducer in essentially the same way as a disk drive with the moving tape being used in place of a rotating disk.
The magnetic transducer is composed of elements that perform the tasks of writing magnetic transitions and reading the magnetic transitions. In that way, the magnetic transducer is composed of a write-head and a read-head. The electrical signals to and from the read and write heads travel along conductive paths, which are attached to or embedded in the actuator.
A thin film recording head (write head) includes first and second pole pieces that are magnetically coupled together at the xe2x80x9cpole tip regionxe2x80x9d and the xe2x80x9cback gapxe2x80x9d. In the pole tip region, the first and second pole pieces provide first and second pole tips. The pole pieces are typically fabricated using plating techniques. A thin insulative, nonmagnetic gap layer separates the pole tips. The pole tip region is defined by a head surface in what is referred to as the xe2x80x9czero throat heightxe2x80x9d between the air bearing surface (ABS) and the back gap. A yoke, or body portion of the head lies between zero throat height and the back gap. The term back gap is used in the art to mean the back of the yoke. Historically, there was a gap in the back of the yoke and the term back gap continues to be used even though the back of the yoke is now continuous. The back gap is also, more accurately, referred to as the xe2x80x9cback flux closure.xe2x80x9d The body portion of the head contains one or more layers of pancake coils and plurality of insulation layers. The pancake coils couple flux into the pole pieces and/or receive flux there from. Each layer of the head is applied using photolithographic techniques such as photo-resist exposure systems.
There is a continuing strong felt need to increase the data storage density in magnetic storage media. Most efforts to increase magnetic storage density involve techniques for increasing the aerial bit density of the magnetic medium.
In rotating magnetic disk drive systems, the aerial density is the product of the number of flux reversals per millimeter along a data track and the number of tracks available per millimeter of disk radius. Thus, a high aerial data storage density requires recording heads with high linear resolution and a narrow track well.
The thickness of the gap layer at the head""s air-bearing surface determines the linear density of the head, namely how many bits per linear unit length along a data track of a magnetic medium the head can write. The width of the second pole tip determines head track width. The head track width establishes how many data tracks across the width of a magnetic medium per unit length the head can write. The product of these two factors is aerial density.
One way to increase the data rate of a head is to decrease the pitch of the coil layer. The pitch is the distance across one turn of the coil plus one space between the turn and the next turn. It would be desirable for the coil to have a pitch of 1 micrometer (um) or less. Unfortunately, when the data rate is increased with a low pitch coil, the head suffers from an increase in heat and an increase in eddy currents between the first and second pole pieces. Eddy currents reduce the write current, which in turn reduces the write signal across the write gap. One way to reduce eddy currents in the write head is to employ two coil layers which are stacked one above the other, which allows for a shorter write head. However, when designing a head with two layers of coils certain extra steps need to be taken in order to minimize increased sensitivities inherent in such a structure. For example, there is an increased need to planarize and protect the coil layers.
Inductive heads, especially the ones having very high recording densities, have to use full planarization techniques when manufacturing the thin film layers in order to obtain maximum efficiency from the imaging systems used to produce the heads. Independent of the photo-resist exposure system used in the fabrication of the critical photo-resist layers, each layer needs to have a reproducible photo-resist coating thickness as well as a very tight focal plane (which means a small total indicated run-out). Such basic requirements are in order to produce a tight control and resolution. Two of the most critical structures for effectiveness of the inductive head are the magnetic pole (which defines the track width available for the magnetic recording media) and the inductive coil system. While the poles control the aerial recording densities, the size and shape of the coils, together with the basic head design, control the efficiency and speed of the recording head.
There is a need for a head design and a method to produce such a head, which produces a high-density, high data rate head with high magnetic recording efficiency. Such a design can be used with heads designed having a pedestal to improve efficiency as disclosed in commonly owned U.S. Pat. No. 6,259,583, hereby incorporated by reference.
Inductive head designs need to use planarization techniques in order to produce high-resolution coils and poles. The pole fabrication process does not face planarization issues since the pole piece is an isolated structure. However, there are basic problems that arise in planarizing the coils since the coils comprise a plurality of metalized lines.
FIG. 2 illustrates an example of the problems that arise in providing planarization of the already formed coil structure during the manufacturing of a readwrite head. The read portion of the head 20 comprises a first shield (S1) 21, insulation layers 23 that surround a sensor element 22, and a second shield (S2) 24. In the merged head that is shown, the second shield also serves as a first pole piece (P1) 24 (referred to as S2/P1). A coil 26 is deposited on a layer of Al2O3, referred to as alumina (or sapphire) 28, which is used to insulate the coil from P1. The coil comprises a plurality of loops or turns 29 of conductive material (such as copper) with voids 30 in between the loops. Referring to FIG. 2b, the next step in the manufacturing process is the fabrication of the pedestal 31 (when used) and back flux closure (back gap) 32 using NiFe (or other ferromagnetic material) atop the S2/P124 after etching the alumina layer 28.
As shown in FIG. 2c, prior art head designs use alumina (Al2O3) 34 as the filler for the coils 26. Alumina is preferred because it provides good thermal conductivity as well as structural rigidity. Alumina also provides minimum protrusion and has a small expansion coefficient. However, the preferred high data rate head designs call for a very small separation for the high-resolution coil metal loops. For 1-micrometer pitch coils, the separation between loops can be as small as 0.2 micrometers. For such coils where the filler had been just alumina, the alumina sputtering system is incapable of completely filling the voids between the loops and instead, produces smaller voids 35 between the loops. Such voids are unwanted because it delays the thermal dissipation of working heat from the coils. Also, in multi-layer coil system heads (which provide an advantageous high density capability), there is a poor bonding ability between the coil layers in the presence of such voids.
The aspect ratio of the coils, the width versus thickness, is preferred very aggressive to accommodate as many turns per unit area as possible. That reduction of footprint enables the increase of efficiency as well as the reduction of inductance needed to produce a nominal recorded bit in a high coercivity medium.
There is a need for a method of fabricating coils having a coil pitch of 1 micrometer, where the separation of the metal coils is 0.2 micrometers, while the thickness of the metal coils is 2 micrometers. Due to the 10 to 1 aspect ratio between the loops, it is impossible to sufficiently fill the gaps between the loops by known prior art alumina deposit techniques.
An alternate method of manufacturing the coil structure is shown in FIGS. 3a through 3c. The copper coils 26 are fabricated on the alumina layer 28 atop the S2/P124. Next, a hard baked photo-resist material 38 is applied to the coils (FIG. 3b). The pedestal 31 and back gap 32 are fabricated (from NiFe) on top of the S2/P1. Referring to FIG. 3c, more hard-baked photo-resist material 82 is deposited over the coils, and between the coils and back gap, at a thickness of 1.0 micrometer. Applying a hard baked photo-resist material accomplishes the sealing of the voids. The span of the S2/P1 from the first coil loop to the pedestal can be left open and later filled with alumina, since the aspect ratio between the first coil loop and pedestal is not as aggressive as the distance between the loops (the distance from the first coil loop to the pedestal being 4 um). However, if this were all that was done to fill the voids, there would be problems that arise during subsequent manufacturing processes.
It is very difficult for the chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) step, which is used to planarize the head, to planarize the hard-baked photo-resist material while missing the coils by stopping in the hard baked photo resist. Problems in the head arise if the CMP process exposes the copper coils and all of the other materials that are present. More particularly, the CMP process that planarizes the coil structure leaves small recesses along the copper/resist interface. Such recesses are in the order of 0.1 to 0.15 micrometers in depth and width, and are located at the copper side of the interface. It is believed that the amines present in the photo-resist material modify the copper material making it more prone to be etched and eroded. For very high-resolution coils, the voids prove to be almost as wide as the separation between the metal loops. If the quality of the subsequent planarization process is not of significant importance to the head design, simply using a hard baked photo-resist material to cover the coils can be used. However, for high performance heads, as previously described, the planarization of the coil structure is very important.
Alternatively, the coils can be plated very thinly (1.2 micrometers) with alumina wherein the CMP process exposes only alumina and NiFe (or metal of choice for the pedestal and pole piece). However, this process also results in coil resistance and plating uniformity problems.
Therefore, there is a need to be able to fill the voids between the coils and be able to planarize the coil without producing any voids or gaps.
There is a need for a method of planarizing the coils which can be done efficiently and without producing any voids and which would also enable proper insulation for placement of the second layer of coils.
More particularly, there is a need for an efficient and consistent way of planarizing the coil structure in a high efficiency thin film head so that there is proper insulation between the layers of coils even if there are imperfections such as minor grooving or defects on the first layer of coils.
One or more of the foregoing problems are solved and one or more of the foregoing needs are filled by the invention described herein.
It is an object of the preferred embodiment of the invention to provide a planarized coil formation without any gaps or voids, or wherein any minor gaps or voids do not effect a second layer of coils.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a method for planarizing the coils without defects. The absence of the defects permits the further fabrication of other structures on top of the coils without electrical problems such as shorting or optical problems during a subsequent photo exposure reflective notching process.
A thin film inductive head design is provided wherein the head has bi-layer coils, a pedestal and a stitched yoke where the first layer of coils that are on the same plane as the pedestal are filled with hard baked photo resist. The top of the photo resist is removed via an O2 reactive ion etching (RIE) step to reduce its thickness in relation to the adjacent pedestal and coils. The resulting voids are filled with alumina or a hard carbon. A subsequent chemical mechanical (CMP) polishing process is used to planarize the exposed material (Cu, NiFe, and alumina).
A method is provided for manufacturing a thin film inductive write head. A pedestal and back flux closure of ferromagnetic material are formed on opposite ends of a planarized first pole piece. A plurality of coils of conductive material are deposited on top of a layer of alumina deposited on top of the first pole piece between the pedestal and back flux closure. The coils comprise a plurality of loops or turns having voids between the coil loops. A hard-baked photo resist material is deposited in the voids between the coils and the back flux closure. A layer of alumina is deposited over the coils and hard baked photo resist material. The pedestal, back gap, coils, photo resist, and alumina are planarized using a chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) process. The thickness of the photo resist material relative to the coils is reduced using an O2 reactive ion etching process. A hard carbon filler is applied to fill the gaps between the coils and the photo resist material. A CMP process is performed to planarize the carbon filler, coils, back flux closure and the pedestal.
To complete the fabrication of the head, a write gap and track width defining pole are fabricated. For a dual layer coil head design, the second layer of copper coils are fabricated and planarized in the same fashion exposing, after the CMP, the tops of the NiFe poles, alumina, hard carbon or alumina filler, and copper coils. The coils are then insulated from the subsequent ferromagnetic yokes and the ferromagnetic yokes are fabricated.
In the preferred embodiment the coil pitch is 1 um and the separation of the metal coils is 0.2 um and the thickness of the metal coils is 2 um.

High density thin film inductive head structure having a planarized coil insulation structure including hard baked photoresist and a filler material

Hitachi Global Storage Technologies Netherlands B.V.


A dew formation testing device has an adjustment tank capable of adjusting the temperature and humidity of air to predetermined temperature and humidity, a testing tank installed separately from the adjustment tank and having a sample base that has a mounting surface, onto which a testing sample W can be placed, and that is capable to cool the mounting surface, and ducts that link the adjustment unit and the testing tank. The testing tank is provided with an air guide member that, when air flowing into the testing tank through the duct flows onto the sample base from a side of the sample base, guides the air in the direction tilted downward at a predetermined angle, the guidance being performed at a position right above the sample base at an end thereof which is on the upstream side of the air flow.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a dew formation testing device and a dew formation testing method.
2. Description of the Related Art
Dew formation testing devices that can perform dew formation testing have been known, as described in JP 2007-271551, JP 3113823 and JP 5-164684.
The dew formation testing device disclosed in JP 2007-271551 has a full-body tank constituted by thermally insulating panels. A testing chamber, a low-temperature adjustment tank, and a high-temperature adjustment tank are included in the full-body tank. The low-temperature adjustment tank is provided below the testing chamber, and low-temperature and low-humidity air is generated in the low-temperature adjustment tank. An introducing port damper and a discharge port damper for performing/stopping the circulation of the air between the testing chamber and the low-temperature adjustment tank are provided in the floor panel of the testing chamber. The high-temperature adjustment tank is provided at a back surface side of the testing chamber and generates high-temperature and high-humidity air. An introducing port damper and a discharge port damper for performing/stopping the circulation of the air between the testing chamber and the high-temperature adjustment tank are provided in the back panel of the testing chamber. In the dew formation testing device, the interior of the testing chamber is adjusted to the condensation environment by adjusting the timing for introducing the air generated in each adjustment tank into the testing chamber.
The dew formation environment testing device disclosed in JP 3113823 has a device main body. The interior of the device main body is partitioned into an air conditioning chamber and a testing chamber by a partition plate. A humidifier, an evaporator, and a heater are provided in the air conditioning chamber, and a cooler is provided at a sample base of the testing chamber. An introducing port for introducing, into the air conditioning chamber, the air adjusted to the predetermined temperature and humidity in the air conditioning chamber and a discharge port for returning the air from the testing chamber into the air conditioning chamber are provided in the partition plate. In such a dew formation environment testing device, dew formation can be generated on a testing sample located on the sample base by controlling the humidifier and the cooler and also controlling the evaporator and the heater with a dew formation controller.
Further, in the dew formation testing device disclosed in JP 5-164684, the interior of the device main body is partitioned into a testing chamber and an air conditioning chamber. A constant dew point generation device and a cold air flow generator are provided inside the device main body. The humid air generated in the constant dew point generation device and the low-temperature air generated in the cold air flow generator are introduced by ducts into the testing chamber. As a result, dew formation can be generated on the testing sample placed on the sample base inside the testing chamber.
In the testing devices described in JP 2007-271551 and JP 3113823, the air circulates between the testing chamber and the air conditioning chamber (or the adjustment tank). However, in such testing devices, it is difficult to control accurately the flow of air inside the testing chamber and therefore the dew formation on the testing sample is difficult to maintain in a substantially uniform state.
In the testing device described in JP 5-164684, the air with adjusted temperature and humidity flows inside the duct and is guided on the sample base located inside the testing chamber. Therefore, the air that has flown through the duct can directly fall on the testing sample. For this reason, the temperature of the testing sample can be made lower than the temperature of the entire testing chamber and dew formation can be generated on the testing sample. However, since the outlet port of the duct is positioned right above the testing sample, water of condensation generated inside the duct can fall on the testing sample. As a result, it is difficult to maintain the dew formation on the testing sample in a substantially uniform state.
Further, all of the testing devices described in JP 2007-271551, JP 3113823 and JP 5-164684 have a configuration in which the testing chamber is formed integrally with the air conditioning chamber. Therefore, vibrations of the air conditioning chamber are transmitted to the testing chamber. As a result, condensation droplets are caused to merge or flow, thereby affecting the condensation state on the testing sample. Because the testing sample is thus affected by vibrations, it is also difficult to maintain a substantially uniform state of dew formation on the testing sample.

Dew formation testing device and dew formation testing method


A position sensitive illumination system for a patient includes an illumination source and at least one sensor structured and configured to selectively activate the illumination source in dependence of movement of the patient. Illumination source and/or sensor may be provided to one or more portions of a patient interface, e.g., a mask assembly, to thereby allow automatic activation of the illumination source when the patient moves to a predetermined position. Illumination source provides a directed lighted path for the patient as the patient moves about, e.g., during nocturnal visits to the bathroom, thereby avoiding the awakening of a bed partner.

1. Field of the Invention
This application is directed to a position sensitive illumination system.
2. Description of Related Art
Typical patients with sleeping disorders, such as obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), and even people (also referred to herein as "patients") without sleep breathing or other disorders can remain in an awake state lying in bed prior to going to sleep. Some patients may prefer to read a book or relax before going to sleep.
The bedroom environment at night and during sleep is typically poorly lit or not illuminated at all. The patient may therefore use a room light or switch on a bedside lamp to read. Bedside lamps typically throw stray light in most directions and may disturb a sleeping bed partner.
Another problem is that occasionally patients at night find need to get up and visit the bathroom or kitchen, or the need to otherwise arise. Typically, such a patient will switch on a light by fumbling in the dark for a light switch or search for a nearby flashlight.
A patient's travel or walking path during such visits should preferably be lit, therefore either room lighting or a flashlight is required, the latter to prevent disturbing a bed partner.
Some patients may also use a light-activated lamp or "night light" that plugs into a general purpose power outlet in the home. The lamp illuminates a space in the adjacent vicinity when ambient light levels fall. The space remains illuminated whether the patient or bed partner is awake or asleep. This stray light can disturb patients and bed partners when they wish to sleep. They also illuminate only a defined space, rather than the intended path of movement for a patient, e.g., the path from the bed to the bathroom.
Further, switching on of room lights can have a negative effect on circadian rhythms. Strong illumination especially reflected into the eyes is known to wake up patients, e.g., to a level of alertness that may diminish their ability to fall asleep again.
Therefore, a need has arisen to develop a system to allow for convenient and automated lighting of a patient's intended path, while preferably providing minimal disturbance to a patient and the patient's bed partner.


A system includes a server environment and a management station. The server environment includes hardware servers. At least some of the servers can be characterized by a hierarchy of partitions. The management station provides an administrative interface. The administrative interface provides a display that displays alternate views of a graphical representation of the server environment. Each of the views has graphical partition elements corresponding to at least some of the partitions nested with graphic server elements corresponding to at least some of the hardware servers. At least some of the graphical partition elements include links that, when activated, cause the graphical representation to switch to another of its views in which is highlighted a graphical partition element that was not highlighted in the previous view.

Servers are computers that provide services to other computers. At a minimum, a server includes a data processor, memory, and input/output (I/O) devices. However, to respond effectively with services in demand, some severs include many instances of each. For convenient upgrading and repair, the multiple processors can be arranged in cells, e.g., physical modules with their own processor(s), memory, and I/O devices. To reduce downtime due to repair or upgrading, the cells can be grouped into hardware partitions, each of which can be repaired or upgraded without disturbing the functioning of the other hardware partitions.
To minimize downtime when a partition is repaired or upgraded, hardware partitions can be arranged in clusters, so that the functions of a partition being repaired or replaced can be transferred to another partition in the cluster, at least until the repair or upgrade is complete. Clusters can include partitions of different servers so that even if one server fails completely, a partition's functions can be continued by other partitions in the cluster. Hardware partitions can also be arranged in resource domains, which permit computing resources to be shifted among included hardware partitions.
Hardware partitions can be further divided into virtual partitions, each of which runs software independently of other virtual partitions in a hardware partition. However, the hardware on which that software runs cannot be changed without affecting the software on the virtual partition. Hardware and virtual partitions can be further divided into resource partitions. For example, one application program may be assigned to a first resource partition that is allotted 60% of the computing resources assigned to the incorporating virtual partition, while another application or process may be assigned to a second resource partition that is allocated 40% of the computing resources available to the incorporating virtual partitions. There are also virtual machines, which are basically software that allows one operating system to run on top of another operating system (instead of directly on hardware).
Each server entity, e.g., hard partition, virtual partition, cluster, etc., corresponds to a "technology" for which there is a dedicated management tool, e.g., a hard partition management tool, a virtual partition management tool, a cluster management tool, etc. Administrators dealing with complex systems employing multiple technologies often go beyond these tools to see how the technologies interact. For example, some administrators employ spreadsheets or other form of documentation to piece together the disparate technology elements of their system.
For an example of the peer-to-peer aspect of coordinating technologies, consider Serviceguard (available from Hewlett-Packard Company), which allows multiple servers to be joined together in a cluster to provide highly available applications. In this case, two hardware partitions can be joined in a cluster; for applications to be highly available, the partitions should be on different servers, preferably located remotely of each other so that it is not likely that a single cause of failure (e.g., a data-center power or cooling failure) would shut both partitions down.

Graphical interface for managing server environment

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.


A light emitting device including a voltage source, a light emitting unit, and a current source is provided. The voltage source is coupled to the light emitting unit for supplying a voltage. The light emitting unit includes n light emitting diodes (LEDs) and n current control switches, wherein n is greater than or equal to 3. The LEDs are respectively coupled to the current control switches in series. The current control switches are turned on and off according to a current threshold. The current source is coupled to the light emitting unit for supplying a fixed current. Thereby, the luminous intensity of the light emitting device remains stable even when some of the LEDs fail.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to a light emitting device, and more particularly, to a light emitting device having a light source composed of light emitting diodes (LEDs).
2. Description of Related Art
Nowadays, light emitting diodes (LEDs) are increasingly adopted in various products as the light sources thanks to the small volume, low power consumption, long lifetime, and low cost of the LEDs. In addition, LED requires a very low operating voltage (only 1.5-3V), spontaneously emits light, and offers certain luminous intensity that is adjustable through the voltage or current. Besides, LED offers high shock resistance and long lifetime (100,000 hours). Thus, LED is broadly used in various terminal equipments, such as vehicle headlamps, traffic signal lamps, text displays, signboards, large-screen video displays, normal lightings, building lightings, and LCD backlights.
In an application wherein a plurality of LEDs is used as a light source, the LEDs are connected with each other in series so that the same current flowing through each LED and accordingly each LED has the same luminous intensity. However, when one of the LEDs is open-circuited, all the LEDs stop emitting light since the current cannot pass through. On the other hand, the LEDs may also be connected with each other in parallel. However, in this case, when one of the LEDs is short-circuited, almost all the current passes through the short-circuited LED. As a result, the other LEDs cannot emit light anymore due to the extremely low driving current.
FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram of a conventional light emitting device. Referring to FIG. 1, the light emitting device 100 includes a voltage source 110 and a plurality of LEDs 120, wherein these LEDs 120 present a series-parallel connection. The voltage source 110 supplies an operation voltage Vcc for driving the LEDs 120 to emit light. When one of the LEDs 120 is open-circuited, the current can still pass through other LEDs 120 connected in parallel so that the other LEDs 120 can still emit light. When one of the LEDs 120 is short-circuited, those LEDs 120 connected in parallel are affected while those LEDs 120 connected in series can still emit light. Similar structures of the light emitting device 100 are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,490,049 and 6,095,661, and the details of the light emitting device 100 can be referred to these patents.
However, even though the light emitting device 100 can still emit light when one of the LEDs 120 fails (short-circuited or open-circuited), the electrical character (for example, the current or voltage) of the entire light emitting device 100 changes due to the change of circuit structure caused by the failure. In other words, the luminous intensity of the entire light emitting device 100 changes when one of the LEDs 120 fails. In particular, when one of the LEDs 120 is short-circuited, all those LEDs 120 connected in parallel are affected (i.e., the entire row of LEDs 120 stop emitting light). Thus, a short-circuited LED 120 brings a greater impact than an open-circuited LED 120.


A forming fabric is formed by repeat units, being determined by a paper side weave and a wear side weave, the paper side weave having first yarns being interwoven with second yarns extending in cross direction relative to the first yarns. The first yarns passing over one or more consecutive second yarns define over-floats and first yarns passing under one or more consecutive second yarns define under-floats. Each weave repeat unit has at least two like floats having different lengths and forming part of the paper side weave, wherein floats are like floats if all of the floats are either over-floats or under-floats. A “float” as used herein is defined as being either an over-float or an under-float, an over-float being defined by a yarn weaving over one or more consecutive yarns extending in cross direction relative thereto, an under-float being defined by a yarn weaving under one or more consecutive yarns extending in cross direction relative thereto.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to forming fabrics for use in the forming section of a paper machine to manufacture board and packaging paper.
2. Discussion of Background Information
Various styles of forming fabrics are known in the art. Forming fabrics known in the art offer a monoplane forming surface to the paper furnish laid down. The monoplane forming surface can lead to a sheet being formed in a layered manner having minimal fibre bonding in vertical direction leading to unsatisfactory mechanical properties of the paper sheet, like e.g. tensile strength. Especially board and packaging paper must have mechanical strength.

Compound forming fabric with additional bottom yarns


Detecting physical random access channel (RACH) preambles is accomplished by computing a correlation power profile based on received RACH preambles, where the correlation power profile values may be sorted. A weight factor is computed for each of the correlation power profile values based on a normalized RACH detection threshold. Outlier peaks of the correlation power profile values are selected based on the weight factor. The outlier peaks to the first set of RACH signatures are mapped in order to identify a user equipment (UE) that is associated with one of the received RACH preambles. Network traffic is then controlled for network communications associated with the identified UE.

Field of the Invention
Example embodiments relate generally to a system and method for controlling network traffic using improved preamble detection and an automation of determined random access channel parameters.
Related Art
FIG. 1 illustrates a conventional 3rd Generation Partnership Project Long-Term Evolution (3GPP LTE) network 10. The network 10 includes an Internet Protocol (IP) Connectivity Access Network (IP-CAN) 100 and an IP Packet Data Network (IP-PDN) 1001. The IP-CAN 100 generally includes: a serving gateway (SGW) 101; a packet data network (PDN) gateway (PGW) 103; a policy and charging rules function (PCRF) 106; a mobility management entity (MME) 108 and E-UTRAN Node B (eNB) 105 (i.e., base station, for the purposes herein the terms base station and eNB may be used interchangeably). Although not shown, the IP-PDN 1001 portion of the EPS may include application or proxy servers, media servers, email servers, etc.
Within the IP-CAN 100, the eNB 105 is part of what is referred to as an Evolved Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) Terrestrial Radio Access Network (EUTRAN), and the portion of the IP-CAN 100 including the SGW 101, the PGW 103, the PCRF 106, and the MME 108 is referred to as an Evolved Packet Core (EPC). Although only a single eNB 105 is shown in FIG. 1, it should be understood that the EUTRAN may include any number of eNBs. Similarly, although only a single SGW, PGW and MME are shown in FIG. 1, it should be understood that the EPC may include any number of these core network elements.
The eNB 105 provides wireless resources and radio coverage for one or more user equipments (UEs) 110. That is to say, any number of UEs 110 may be connected (or attached) to the eNB 105. The eNB 105 is operatively coupled to the SGW 101 and the MME 108.
The SGW 101 routes and forwards user data packets, while also acting as the mobility anchor for the user plane during inter-eNB handovers of UEs. The SGW 101 also acts as the anchor for mobility between 3rd Generation Partnership Project Long-Term Evolution (3GPP LTE) and other 3GPP technologies. For idle UEs 110, the SGW 101 terminates the downlink data path and triggers paging when downlink data arrives for UEs 110.
The PGW 103 provides connectivity between UE 110 and the external packet data networks (e.g., the IP-PDN) by being the point of entry/exit of traffic for the UE 110. As is known, a given UE 110 may have simultaneous connectivity with more than one PGW 103 for accessing multiple PDNs.
The PGW 103 also performs policy enforcement, packet filtering for UEs 110, charging support, lawful interception and packet screening, each of which are well-known functions. The PGW 103 also acts as the anchor for mobility between 3GPP and non-3GPP technologies, such as Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX) and 3rd Generation Partnership Project 2 (3GPP2 (code division multiple access (CDMA) 1X and Enhanced Voice Data Optimized (EvDO)).
Still referring to FIG. 1, eNB 105 is also operatively coupled to the MME 108. The MME 108 is the control-node for the EUTRAN, and is responsible for idle mode UE 110 paging and tagging procedures including retransmissions. The MME 108 is also responsible for choosing a particular SGW for a UE during initial attachment of the UE to the network, and during intra-LTE handover involving Core Network (CN) node relocation. The MME 108 authenticates UEs 110 by interacting with a Home Subscriber Server (HSS), which is not shown in FIG. 1.
Non Access Stratum (NAS) signaling terminates at the MME 108, and is responsible for generation and allocation of temporary identities for UEs 110. The MME 108 also checks the authorization of a UE 110 to camp on a service provider's Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN), and enforces UE 110 roaming restrictions. The MME 108 is the termination point in the network for ciphering/integrity protection for NAS signaling, and handles security key management.
The MME 108 also provides control plane functionality for mobility between LTE and 2G/3G access networks with an interface from the SGSN (not shown) terminating at the MME 108.
The Policy and Charging Rules Function (PCRF) 106 is the entity that may access subscriber databases, make policy decisions and set charging rules for the subscriber.
FIG. 2 illustrates a conventional E-UTRAN Node B (eNB) 105. The eNB 105 includes: a memory 225; a processor 210; a scheduler 215; wireless communication interfaces 220; radio link control (RLC) buffers 230 for each bearer; and a backhaul interface 235. The processor 210 may also be referred to as a core network entity processing circuit, an EPC entity processing circuit, etc. The processor 210 may consist of one or more core processing units, either physically coupled together or distributed. The processor 210 controls the function of eNB 105 (as described herein), and is operatively coupled to the memory 225 and the communication interfaces 220. While only one processor 210 is shown in FIG. 2, it should be understood that multiple processors may be included in a typical eNB 105. The functions performed by the processor may be implemented using hardware. Such hardware may include one or more Central Processing Units (CPUs), digital signal processors (DSPs), application-specific-integrated-circuits, field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) computers or the like. The term processor, used throughout this document, may refer to any of these example implementations, though the term is not limited to these examples. With a Virtual Radio Access Network (VRAN) architecture various functions eNB components may be distributed across multiple processing circuits and multiple physical nodes within VRAN cloud.
The eNB 105 may include one or more cells or sectors serving UEs 110 within individual geometric coverage sector areas. Each cell individually may contain elements depicted in FIG. 2. Throughout this document the terms eNB, cell or sector shall be used interchangeably.
Still referring to FIG. 2, the wireless communication interfaces 220 include various interfaces including one or more transmitters/receivers connected to one or more antennas to transmit/receive wirelessly control and data signals to/from UEs 110. Backhaul interface 235 is the portion of eNB 105 that interfaces with SGW 101, MME 108, other eNBs, or interface to other EPC network elements and/or RAN elements within IP-CAN 100. The scheduler 215 schedules control and data communications that are to be transmitted and received by the eNB 105 to and from UEs 110. The memory 225 may buffer and store data that is being processed at eNB 105, transmitted and received to and from eNB 105.
Scheduler 215 may make physical resource block (PRB) allocation decisions based upon a Quality of Service (QoS) Class Identifier (QCI), which represents traffic priority hierarchy. There are nine QCI classes currently defined in LTE, with 1 representing highest priority and 9 representing the lowest priority. QCIs 1 to 4 are reserved for Guaranteed Bitrate (GBR) classes for which the scheduler maintains certain specific data flow QoS characteristics. QCIs 5 to 9 are reserved for various categories of Best Effort traffic.
A random access channel (RACH) enables user equipments (UEs) 110 to perform tasks such as initially accessing the communication network 10, uplink synchronization, handovers between cells, and recovery from failed links. Therefore, an achievement of an optimal random access performance through an efficient RACH signature detection algorithm, and use of a correct configuration of the RACH parameters, is crucial to optimizing performance of the communication network.
Conventional random access channel (RACH) preamble detectors, which takes place in the wireless interface 220 of an eNB 105, relies on an estimation of a noise floor in order to set a preamble detection threshold. Because of the non-stationary nature of signals involved in RACH preamble detection due to random RACH transmissions, unpredictable scheduling decisions and non-Gaussian interference, sufficiently accurate estimation of the noise floor may be an unachievable task and this may lead to an underperforming cellular system.
Conventional solutions for configuring RACH parameters generally consist of static parameter settings based on engineering best practices. That is to say, these static parameter settings may be performed via link-budget, traffic engineering calculations and/or field performance measurements. However, a static parameter configuration solution may experience several shortcomings. First, static parameter configurations may not have the ability to overcome possible mismatches between the calculations used to set the parameters and the realities of a real-world deployment. Second, static configurations may not adapt to changing conditions in a cellular network, especially with regard to interference and traffic intensity. Third, static configurations may not autonomously tune the RACH parameters to reflect changes in the network architecture over time, such as cell splitting and the insertion of small cells.
Conventional solutions do not efficiently avoid interference of communication channels, optimize RACH coverage, minimize delays related to call setup and handover, reduce network signaling overhead, and obtain an optimal resource allocation balance between random access and other network communication needs. Additionally, high operational expenditures are often experienced in order to maintain communication networks when the RACH parameters are statically configured because frequent human intervention is generally required.

System and method of controlling network traffic using preamble detection and automated optimization of random access channel parameters


A grave marker assembly that can be removably mounted and secured to a support surface such as a lawn crypt lid. The grave marker assembly has a fastening system that is not exposed to view and yet allows the grave marker to be easily installed and removed. The fastening system includes a channel and interior opening formed on a base member that is adapted to receive a fastener. The fastener in turn is adapted to be inserted into an opening formed on the crypt lid or other support surface. The assembly further includes a multi-function frame disposed along the outer periphery of the memorial marker that can serve as a decorative feature and draining functions.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to grave site markers, and more particularly, to a grave marker assembly that can be removably mounted and secured to lawn crypt lids or other support surfaces.
2. Description of the Related Art
In an effort to conserve cemetery space, the traditional practice of excavating individual grave sites for interment of each casket has been gradually replaced by the use of lawn crypts. Lawn crypts generally refer to an array of burial vaults installed below ground and positioned side-by-side in rows. Each crypt is typically a rectangular, concrete enclosure that may be of single or double depth and configured to enclose one or more caskets therein. The crypts are usually spaced in close proximity to one another to provide efficient use of cemetery space.
The lawn crypts are typically covered by concrete lids configured to fit over the opening of the crypt. The crypt lids are in turn covered by soil and lawn that are flush with the ground. A double depth lawn crypt is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,746,030 to Sannipoli, while a modified lid for such a crypt, incorporating a headstone support, is described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,243,997. A lawn crypt covering system is described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,530,149 and 7,337,585. The entirety of each of these patents is hereby incorporated by reference.
Grave markers such as memorial plaques are usually used to mark grave sites and identify the deceased who are buried at the site. Grave markers for lawn crypts are typically horizontal tablets or slabs engraved with the names, dates of birth and death, and other information of the deceased. The tablets or slabs can be made of a variety of different materials, such as granite, marble, stone, or concrete. They are usually set on a thick concrete block and anchored in the ground with the upper surface of the marker exposed. In order to add additional names to or change the marker, the marker must be removed by excavating the surrounding earth. Because the grave marker is set in soil with no securing mechanism, vandals and thieves can easily remove the grave marker by simply digging it out of the ground.
In view of the foregoing, there is a need for an improved grave marker assembly that can be removably mounted and secured to lawn crypts and other support surfaces.


A process is disclosed for obtaining octafluorocyclobutane of increased purity from a mixture comprising (a) octafluorocyclobutane and (b) at least one halocarbon impurity which is difficult to separate from octafluorocyclobutane by distillation (e.g., azeotropes of octafluorocyclobutane with such halocarbons). The process involves (1) contacting the mixture with a catalyst in the vapor phase in the presence HCl and/or HF at a temperature sufficient to react component (b) impurity with HCl and/or HF to provide a product mixture comprising halogenated product which is more easily separated from octafluorocyclobutane by distillation than the unreacted impurity; and (2) separating halogenated product obtained in (1) from octafluorocyclobutane by distillation.

Perfluorocyclobutane (c-318 or octafluorocyclobutane, b.p. -6.degree. C.) is a valuable material which can be used as a propellant, etch gas, and fire extinguishant. This compound is typically made by cyclodimerization of tetrafluoroethene (TFE) or is recovered as a co-product from the manufacture of TFE. As a result c-318 may be contaminated with unsaturates such as E- and Z-perfluoro-2-butene (i.e., CF.sub.3 CF.dbd.CFCF.sub.3 or PFC-1318my). These compounds are toxic and must be removed prior to commercial use. PFC-1318's are difficult to separate from c-318 by distillation as the boiling points are similar.
Saturated by-products are also typically produced during the c-318 manufacturing process. These include isomers of compounds of the formula C.sub.2 Cl.sub.2 F.sub.4, C.sub.2 HClF.sub.4 and C.sub.2 H.sub.2 F.sub.4. Some of these impurities form azeotropes with the c-318 and some have similar boiling points. Hence, separation of c-318 from saturated by-products can also be challenging.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,001,287 discloses a process for treating an impure mixture consisting essentially of at least one olefinic impurity and at least one saturated halocarbon by contacting the mixture with a source of hydrogen in the presence of a hydrogenation catalyst (e.g., a catalyst containing a Group VIII metal or rhenium). Perfluorocyclobutane is included among the examples of saturated halocarbons.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,763,698 discloses a process for reducing the fluorine content of hydrochlorofluorocarbons and hydrofluorocarbons by reacting these compounds with HCl in the vapor phase at an elevated temperature in the presence of a catalyst.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,345,017 discloses a process for reducing the fluorine content of acyclic fluorocarbons and chlorofluorocarbons by reacting these compounds with HCl in the vapor phase at an elevated temperature in the presence of a catalyst. In Example 8, a linear perfluorocarbon, perfluoropropane is converted to chlorofluoropropanes.
There is a need for alternative methods of purification.

Process for perfluorocyclobutane purification


A cleaning control apparatus capable of performing a cleaning process efficiently regardless of qualities and thicknesses of films formed in a process tube and a gas supply nozzle. The cleaning control apparatus employs cleaning request signal output units configured to output cleaning request signals requesting cleaning processes of a silicon-containing gas supply system and nitriding source gas supply system when accumulated amounts of the molecules of the silicon-containing gas and the nitriding source gas exceeds preset values.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a cleaning control apparatus and a substrate processing apparatus capable of cleaning inside thereof. More particularly, the present invention relates to a cleaning control apparatus and a substrate processing apparatus capable of cleaning inside thereof by supplying a cleaning gas into a process chamber and a gas supply system thereof to remove deposition substances attached to an inside thereof after forming a film on a substrate.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In a conventional substrate processing apparatus, when a process gas is supplied, the process gas is distributed not only to the surface of a substrate but also to other parts (for example, the inside of a process chamber), and thus unnecessary films may be accumulated and deposited as attached substances. Such attached substances may include impurities harmful for a substrate processing process, and thus, substrates may be contaminated due to the attached substances.
Therefore, so as to prevent or suppress such a problem, in addition to the supply of a process gas to the process chamber, a cleaning gas is also supplied to the inside of the process chamber (particularly, parts where it is expected that substances are attached) so as to remove substances attached to the inside of the process chamber by converting the substances into harmless gas and then discharging the harmless gas. That is, self-cleaning is performed (for example, refer to Patent Document 1).

Substrate processing apparatus capable of cleaning inside thereof and cleaning control apparatus for controlling cleaning process of substrate processing apparatus


A new electrical junction box in which even if a plurality of bolts are connected to external electrical cables, an external electrical power supply cable from a jump starter can be surely connected to a target connecting bolt, thereby avoiding a problem of an error in coupling by a simple structure. A coupling error check wall is provided around an alternator connecting bolt. An alligator clip for jump starting is prevented to be connected to the alternator connecting bolt. The alligator clip for jump starting is permitted to be connected to a battery connecting bolt.

This invention relates to an electrical junction box to be mounted on a motor vehicle, and more particularly relates to an electrical junction box provided with connecting bolts to which electrical power supply terminals are coupled.
Heretofore, an electrical junction box such as a fuse box, to which electrical power supply terminals from a battery are connected, is installed in an engine room in a motor vehicle to obtain good maintenance of electrical power supply paths in the motor vehicle and to efficiently branch an electrical power source.
When a battery becomes a superdischarged condition in a motor vehicle, the electrical junction box provided with a relief hardware structure has been proposed so that the battery under the superdischarged condition receives electrical power supply from a battery in another motor vehicle or an emergency potable electrical power source (hereinafter referred to "a jump starter") to start an engine. Such a relief terminal hardware structure has been disclosed in, for example, JP 2004-134278 A and JP 2008-123928 A. In particular, in a current hybrid type motor vehicle or the like, since it is difficult to install an upsized battery in an engine room, the battery can be disposed in a trunk room or the like different from the engine room. In this case, if an electrical junction box provided with the relief terminal hardware structure is installed in the engine room, it will be possible to deal with the discharged battery merely by opening a hood of the engine room. Accordingly, such electrical junction box has been available.
However, in the above electrical junction box, a relief terminal must be specially made of a bus bar, and in addition, a distinguishable cover member that protects the relief terminal must be provided in the electrical junction box in order to prevent an error in coupling. Accordingly, this will increase the number of parts and will involve complicated steps in production.
It may be considered that an external electrical power supply cable is connected to a connecting bolt, to which a feeder from a battery is connected, to receive an electrical power supply from the jump starter in the electrical junction box. However, the electrical junction box such as a fuse box that receives the electrical power supply from the battery is provided with a plurality of connecting bolts such as a starter connecting bolt to which a feeder to a starter is connected, and an alternator connecting bolt to which a feeder from an alternator is connected, as well as a battery connecting bolt to which a feeder from a battery is connected. Accordingly, there is a possibility that an external electrical power supply cable from the jump starter may be connected to another connecting bolt by mistake. Particularly, if the external electrical power supply cable from the jump starter is connected to the alternator bolt connected to a feeder from the alternator, a load is applied to the alternator and its function will be lowered.
The exemplary embodiments of the invention address the above problems and other problems by, for example, providing a new electrical junction box in which even if a plurality of bolts are connected to external electrical cables, an external electrical power supply cable from a jump starter can be surely connected to a target connecting bolt, thereby avoiding a problem of an error in coupling by a simple structure.
In an exemplary embodiment an electrical junction box includes: a battery connecting bolt to which a feeder from a battery is connected, and an alternator connecting bolt to which a feeder to an alternator is connected. A coupling error check wall is provided around the alternator connecting bolt to restrain a space around the alternator connecting bolt. A feeder terminal to an alternator and a fixing nut are permitted to be mounted on the alternator connecting bolt and an alligator clip for jump starter is prevented to be connected to the alternator connecting bolt. A space around the battery connecting bolt is set to be larger than the space around the alternator connecting bolt to permit the alligator clip for jump starter to be connected to the battery connecting bolt.
When the battery reaches a superdischarged condition, an external electrical power supply cable (an alligator clip for jump starter) is connected to the battery connecting bolt to which a battery terminal is attached so as to supply an electrical power to the superdischarged battery in the electrical junction box installed in the engine room. Accordingly, it is possible to supply an external electrical power to the superdischarged battery merely by connecting the alligator clip for jump starter to the conventional battery connecting bolt without providing any special relief terminal for the superdischarged battery.
In addition, since the coupling error check wall is provided on the space around the alternator connecting bolt, it is possible to prevent the alligator clip for jump starter from being connected to the alternator connecting bolt by mistake and to avoid a lower performance of the alternator based on excessive load to the alternator upon an error in coupling. It is preferable that the coupling error check wall is provided on each of opposite sides of the alternator connecting bolt. It is more preferable that the coupling error check wall is provided to surround three sides of the alternator connecting bolt.
Particularly, because the coupling error check wall is provided on the space around the alternator connecting bolt so that the feeder is permitted to be connected to the alternator connection bolt and the alligator clip for jump starter is prevented from being connected to the alternator connecting bolt, it is possible to easily connect the feeder terminal to the alternator and to completely prevent the alligator clip for jump starter from being connected to the alternator connecting bolt.
In an exemplary embodiment, the coupling error check wall protrudes over an end of the alternator connecting Thus, it is possible to prevent the protruding end of a shaft portion of the alternator connecting bolt from protruding outward (upward) from a protruding end of the coupling error check wall.
Because the coupling error check wall is provided around the alternator connecting bolt, it is possible to positively connect the external electrical power supply cable from the jump starter to the target battery connecting bolt, thereby avoiding the error in coupling.


A method for controlling a plurality of Wi-Fi clients and a plurality of Wi-Fi Access Points (APs) is provided. The method receives M1 and M2 for the Wi-Fi clients and M3 for the Wi-Fi APs. For a respective Wi-Fi client configured to operate on a channel, M1 is a Received Signal Strength Indication (RSSI) from a serving Wi-Fi AP and M2 is an aggregated level of interference from other than the serving Wi-Fi AP. For a respective Wi-Fi AP, M3 is a level of interference received from other of the Wi-Fi APs operating on the channel. The method generates distributions of M1, M2 and M3, sets a Clear Channel Assessment-Energy Detection (CCA-ED) threshold and a Clear Channel Assessment-Carrier Sense (CCA-CS) threshold based on the distributions of M1, M2 and M3, and transmits the thresholds to the Wi-Fi clients and Wi-Fi APs.

Field
This application relates generally to communication systems, and, more particularly, to Wi-Fi communication systems.
Related Art
Wi-Fi networks are very challenged in open, high density traffic areas, and in general, in environments requiring high capacity, where a large number of Access Points (APs) need to be deployed in close proximity to each other for capacity reasons. Moreover, the high level of resulting interference pollution is further amplified when some users decide independently to configure their Wi-Fi enabled devices as temporary APs.
This is because the 802.11 Medium Access Control (MAC) with Carrier Sensing Multiple Access and Collision Avoidance (CSMA/CA) is a distributed access mechanism that is known not to perform well in highly congested areas, which are areas in which the medium is almost continuously busy. Highly congested areas are typical to public venues (e.g., airports, concert arenas, stadium environments during sport events).
Optimization of Wi-Fi technologies based wireless access systems typically consists of the performance of Radio Frequency (RF) planning and channel assignment to minimize the likelihood that Wi-Fi APs in proximity of each other select the same channel and create strong interference to each other. While RF planning and channel assignment is a very critical optimization procedure, it has limitations that are easy to understand in open public spaces, such as stadiums during sporting events. Even with a large number of independent non-overlapping channels (e.g., as permitted in the 5 GHz spectrum), the high capacity requirements call for a very tight Wi-Fi AP-to-AP spatial separation, which combined with reflection and bouncing of radio signals may result in significant co-channel interference. The combination of heavy traffic (high activity) and radio pollution drive the Wi-Fi operation towards a less efficient regime (e.g., lower achievable rates and poor overall system performance).

Method and apparatus for Wi-Fi access optimization


A tipping apparatus for a sortation conveyor of the type having a plurality of tiltable tray assemblies and an extended track along which such assemblies are conveyed. The tipping apparatus includes a mounting panel having a flipper arm attached at one end to the mounting panel. An actuator is attached to the mounting panel and a crank arm is attached between the flipper arm and the actuator. The flipper arm is movable between a first "cocked" position and a second "fired" position in engagement with the tray assembly for tilting the tray assemblies. In the preferred embodiment, the apparatus includes a support for mounting the mounting panel to the track.

(1) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to tilt tray conveyors of the type used to sort packages or parcels and, more particularly, to an apparatus for tipping the trays of such a conveyor system.
(2) Description of the Prior Art
Tilt trays conveyor systems are shown, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,945,485 and 4,102,448, issued to Speaker, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,635,785, issued to Prydtz. The general arrangement of such systems include a track and a conveying chain on which are mounted a plurality of carriages spaced along the chain. Each carriage has a tray which is mounted for normal positioning and for tipping for one, the other or both sides of the direction of movement of the chain. Parcels or the like to be sorted are carried on the trays and transported by the conveyor to a location where sorting is to occur. At the sorting location the trays are tipped to one side or the other to discharge the transported article from the conveyor. Typically, control over the tipping is exercised by some sortation controlling means such as a computer which sequentially controls the tipping device. Prior tipping devices have been pneumatically actuated cylinder devices in which some striker element is moved upwardly into the path of an advancing carrier to engage an actuating cam on the carrier and cause tipping.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,982,828 and 4,856,642, issued to Nicholson, are drawn to an improved lever arm for a tilt tray sortation conveyor having a formula defined unlatching and tipping cam section. FIG. 2 in both of these patents shows a conventional tipping apparatus which includes a tipping arm and wheel mounted to a bracket attached adjacent to the conveyor track and a pneumatic actuator. However, as can be seen, a substantial amount of the force impact onto the tip-up wheel is transmitted to the pneumatic cylinder.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,174,773, issued to Venzke, discloses a tip-up and mounting apparatus in a sortation conveyor which includes a support angle, upstanding mounting angles, mounting brackets, and a tray engaging roller mounted on crank arms pivoted to the mounting brackets. The mounting angles are disposed of their apices facing outwardly of the conveyor, thus providing a mounting surface at 45 degrees to the conveyors machine direction for the mounting bracket. The crank arms are pivoted to the mounting bracket which provides an in and out component of motion to the rollers during the movement to and away from the sortation tray engagement, thereby maintaining a short roller dwell time and the tray interfering position. However, such an arrangement has a large mass located on the crank arm and roller which requires a correspondingly large pneumatic actuator. In addition, significant amounts of force may be transmitted from the crank arm through the actuator, resulting in a shortened life of the actuator assembly.
Thus, their remains a need for a new and improved tipping apparatus which is operable to reliably engage and tip the appropriate carriage on the track, while, at the same time is inherently stable and requires a much smaller pneumatic actuator for operation.

Tipping apparatus for a sortation conveyor