A packaging container for a plurality of circular recording media is formed from substantially identical container parts which, after being combined, have a continuous longitudinal tooth system in the circumferential direction and at least one partial transverse tooth system in the radial direction. Toothed edge parts of the container parts engage one another. Stacking means are provided. Recording media to be packaged are any type of recording media in circular form, such as wound films, magnetic tapes or recording disks.

The present invention relates to a packaging container for a plurality of recording media which are stacked one on top of the other and are circular in form, in particular tape-like recording media wound as rolls of tape on annular hubs or flanged reels, a central holder being assigned to at least one of the hubs or flanged reels, and at least two bottom and lid parts which, in plan view, are slightly larger than the planview area of the full hubs or of the flanged reels and which are equipped with detachably connectable toothed edge parts being provided.
Recording media are understood as being any type of recording media in the form of a circle, for example recording media which can be wound up, in particular magnetic recording media, for example photographic films, magnetic films and magnetic tapes, and any type of recording disks, such as compact disks, gramophone disks, video disks and computer disks.
Magnetic tapes are commercially available wound on flangeless hubs or flanged reels according to DIN 45,517. The hubs or reels are flat on both end faces and can therefore be locked only by additional locking means when a plurality of the said hubs or reels are stacked one on top of the other. The roll of tape is usually despatched packed in a cardboard box having shell-like plastic liners. This packaging is uneconomical and inconvenient to handle. The use of liners made of polystyrene foam or similar foam materials is disadvantageous with regard to simple waste disposal.
German Utility Models 8034894 and 8109502 disclose cake box-like packagings for wound magnetic tapes or recording disks, which, however, have the disadvantage that the upper part and lower part differ in shape and are therefore expensive to produce.
German Laid-Open Application DOS 2,312,400 furthermore discloses transport protection for video disks, which consists of a shipment container formed from two combinable elements, the bottom surfaces having depressions in the region of the video disk information relief to be protected. The known shipment container has, for example, a roughly quadratic plan and a roughly rectangular or oblique separation line. For example, the shipment container possesses tooth systems even transverse to the wall and along the peripheral direction and the two elements may be identical in shape.
The arrangement of the separation lines is such that the video disks cannot enter between the container elements and open them. Since the video disks are not dust-sensitive, there is also no need to provide for a high level of protection from dust in the design of the separation lines.
German Utility Model 8229387 discloses a housing for compact cassettes, which has tooth systems on the peripheral edge which, however, are intended to increase the torsional rigidity of the housing. The upper and lower parts of the housing differ from one another, at least with respect to the tooth systems.
It is an object of the present invention to improve the packaging container of the type defined at the outset and to produce it more economically.

Packaging container for a plurality of recording media in the form of a circle


Methods for providing asymmetric control of process parameters are described. One such method includes receiving a data point for the process parameter relative to the wafer, selecting a first value for a process weighting factor when the data point is consistent with a first criteria, selecting a second value for the process weighting factor when the data point is consistent with a second criteria, where the second value is not equal to the first value, calculating an exponential weighted moving average of the process parameter based on the data point and the process weighting factor, updating the process parameter with the exponential weighted moving average, and using the updated process parameter to control the process and thereby treat the wafer. The methods can use one or more weighting factor switch limits to define different areas of risk associated with a target for the process parameter.

Many manufacturing processes have specification limits, or process parameters, that can be more important to enforce in one direction than in the other, relative to the specification limit. For example, a material removal process such as ion milling or chemical mechanical planarization (CMP) on a wafer can have a specification limit/target related to wafer thickness. If not enough material is removed to meet the specification target thickness, the wafer can be reworked to remove additional material. However, if too much material is removed, the wafer may need to be scrapped, which is far more expensive than removing less material than necessary to meet the target thickness. In this case, it makes sense to err on the side of removing less than the target thickness. At the same time, there is generally a requirement to keep the process centered on the specification limit/target.
Processes employing exponential weighted moving average (EWMA) type filters have been used in conjunction with run to run type control to track and adjust the critical process parameters if they drift. However, these known processes do not adequately address the above described problem of asymmetric risk for a process parameter.

Methods for providing asymmetric run to run control of process parameters


A new bushing removal tool for removing bushings from aircraft transparencies combines a U-shaped tool body, supporting base plates, a threaded shaft extending through the tool body, a large nut screwed on one end of the threaded shaft and a bushing puller on the other end of the threaded shaft. The bushing puller has a pivoting tip which, in one pivoted position, allows the bushing puller to fit through the bushing and, in another pivoted position, engages the bushing so that, when the large nut is rotated, the bushing puller is pulled up. The bushing is pulled up with the bushing puller. A hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder and piston can be used in place of the threaded shaft and large nut. A specially shaped shaft with a fixed tip can be used as the bushing puller for small or fragile bushings.

The present invention relates generally to bushing removal tools, and more particularly to a new bushing removal tool for removing bushings from an aircraft transparency without damaging the transparency.
Bushings are typically installed in aircraft windshields and canopies, generically called transparencies, at the time of manufacture. The bushings are installed inside transparency bolt holes. The edges of the transparency may also have a reinforcing edge member. Bolts inserted through the bolt holes attach the transparency to a frame or directly to an aircraft.
It is very difficult to inspect the area surrounding transparency bolt holes in the field for cracks or other defects. Adequate inspection requires removing the bushings without damaging the transparency. In addition, transparencies are often removed for other reasons, such as scratches or coating problems, and either returned to the factory or sent to a depot level repair facility. There the bushings similarly need to be removed to inspect the bolt holes. Often, at the factory or depot level, a crazed area surrounding a bolt hole can be removed by drilling out the hole and a larger outer diameter bushing inserted.
A proposed new transparency edge member design includes an option of transitioning to larger size attach bolts. The proposed new design includes a permanently installed large bushing surrounding a smaller, removable inner bushing. The smaller, inner bushing needs to be removed to transition to larger attach bolts.
Unfortunately, in the aircraft transparency art, bushings are most often removed by knocking out with a hammer and punch. This technique is simple and quick, but the risk of damage to a transparency is very high.
Thus it is seen that there is a need for a new bushing removal tool for removing bushings from aircraft transparencies and like structures, quickly, easily and without damage to the structure surrounding the bushing.
It is, therefore, a principal object of the present invention to provide a new bushing removal tool that can remove bushings from aircraft transparencies and the like using steady, even pressure while providing uniform support to the area surrounding the bushing so that the bushing is removed without damaging the structure into which the bushing is installed.
It is a feature of the present invention that it will permit inspection and repairs to be performed in the field.
It is an advantage of the present invention that it can be used to remove bushings which can only be reached from one side.
It is another advantage of the present invention that it is rugged and easy to use.
These and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent as the description of certain representative embodiments proceeds.

The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force


Technologies are described herein for an eye tracking that may be employed by devices and systems such as head mount display (HMD) devices. Light that is reflected from a user's eye may be specular or scattered. The specular light has an intensity or magnitude that may saturate the electronics. The presently disclosed techniques mitigate saturation by generating detected signals from an optical detector, evaluating the signal levels for the detected signal, and selectively gating the detected signals that have saturated. The remaining scattered signals can be combined to achieve a combined signal that can be converted into a digital signal without saturating the electronics, which can then be processed to form an image of the eye for identification purposes, for tracking eye movement, and for other uses. The described technologies provide a clear image without ambient light reflections or specular light interfering with the image.

Near-Eye-Display (NED) systems are designed to generate computer-generated images ("CG images") that are observable in a user's field of view. In one example, an augmented-reality (AR) system generates one or more hologram images that are rendered in the user's line of sight, where the hologram images are overlaid or combined with other objects present in the real world. In another example, a virtual-reality (VR) system creates a user's entire view such that the real world is completely obstructed by a virtual world.
The NED systems may often be referred to as a head-mounted display, hereinafter "HMD," since the NED system is typically worn as a headset that is located on the user's head about their eyes. An HMD can include cameras or video devices for capturing the real-world scenes and objects, as well as other devices such as gyroscopic sensors to sense motion and movement of the user's head. As a user moves their head during a session, the various sensors can detect motion and rendered the correct images and environment so that the user may be provided with a proper perspective and view of the virtual objects. In some instances, the HMD system may include additional devices to track the motion of a user's eye. By tracking motion of the eye, the HMD can determine the appropriate images to render based on the direction and focus of the user's gaze.
The disclosure made herein is presented with respect to these and other considerations.

Eye tracking imager with gated detectors receiving a specular reflection


A multiple bank memory device is described which can be tested by accessing the multiple memory banks simultaneously. The memory includes a test mode trigger which initiates a test which writes and reads from memory cells located in different memory banks. Error detection circuitry evaluates data read from different memory banks and determines if a defect is present in the memory cells. Different test patterns and techniques are described for identifying defective memories.

Integrated circuit memories such as dynamic random access memories have thousands of memory storage cells. These storage cells are typically fabricated as individual capacitors and arranged in rows and columns. The rows and columns of memory cells are referred to as a memory cell array. To insure that a memory device is fully operational, each of the individual memory cells is operationally tested. Further, the memory cells are tested in combination, or patterns, to identify possible failures due to coupling between adjacent memory cells or features.
As the population of memory cells in a memory device increase, the possibility of memory cell defects increase. Thus, more complex and time consuming tests are required for each memory device. In addition, some memory devices such as synchronous dynamic random access memories (SDRAMs) have multiple banks of memory cell arrays which must be tested.
For the reasons stated above, and for other reasons stated below which will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading and understanding the present specification, there is a need in the art for an economical method of testing memory devices. In particular, an economical way of testing multiple bank memory devices is needed.


A brace is provided for treating humeral fractures. The brace is secured to a patient's humerus and forearm. The brace utilizes a hinge system which enables the portion of the brace secured to the patient's forearm to rotate in a plurality of planes relative to the portion of the brace secured to the patient's humerus. The hinge system allows the brace to be adjusted to the most advantageous position for the patient. Once the brace has been adjusted to the most advantageous position, the hinge system can be locked so that the brace remains in that position.

The present disclosure relates to a device and method for non-surgical correction of humeral fractures.
Approximately 650,000 people suffer a humeral fracture in the United States each year. The distal third fracture of the humerus accounts for approximately 50,000 fractures yearly. Midshaft humeral fractures account for approximately another 200,000 fractures per year.
Many humeral fractures are treated surgically. For example, the large majority of distal third humeral fractures are treated surgically. The cost to surgically repair a humeral fracture ranges from approximately $10,000 to $30,000 per instance. Surgical morbidity is a significant concern, and other surgical risks can add to the cost of treating the fracture.
In contrast, non-surgical treatment is significantly less expensive and involves low or no risk. Distal third and midshaft humeral fractures have been treated non-surgically using known humeral fracture braces, such as a Sarmiento style brace. See Sarmiento A, Kirman P B, Galvin E G, Schmitt R H, Phillips J G, "Functional Bracing of Fractures of the Shaft of the Humerus," J. Bone Joint Surg. (Am) 1977; 59A; 596-601. However, it is difficult if not impossible to control the distal fragment using known humeral fracture braces. For example, known humeral fracture braces generally do not immobilize the joint above and below the fracture, a protocol often used in the treatment of other fracture types.
Also, humeral fractures often heal with significant angular deformity; the predominant deformity being varus angulation of the distal fragment. In the case of distal third humeral fractures, angular deformity cannot be corrected with existing humeral fracture bracing. In fact, the majority of braces currently available stop short of traversing the distal fragment and leave a long lever arm at the level of the fracture site, which can actually worsen the deformity.
For midshaft humeral fractures, use of known humeral fracture bracing fails to correct angular deformity with some patients. Failure of known methods is particularly common in overweight patients, where the upper arm tends to rest in an abducted rather than neutral position.
As such, there is a need for a device and method for non-surgical treatment of distal third and midshaft humeral fractures that results in reduced angular deformity. Specifically, there is a need for an adjustable rigid orthopedic brace for treatment of humeral fractures, including a means for correcting deformities including varus, valgus, rotational, anterior and/or posterior deformities.

Brace for correction of humeral fractures


Face detection is performed on a plurality of images to identify a plurality of faces. A subset of the plurality of faces is activated, including by loading into memory the subset of faces and/or data corresponding to the subset of faces. At least one of the plurality of faces is left un-activated. A distance for each pair of activated faces is calculated, wherein the distance is associated with a measure of a similarity between a first face and a second face. The activated faces are clustered into a plurality of groups based at least in part on the distances. A representative face is selected from each group resulting from the clustering and the representative faces are displayed.

Labeling faces in an image (also referred to as tagging a face) is a time-consuming task that many people are not interested in doing. For example, it may take hours to manually label some collections of photographs with people's names. To reduce the amount of time spent labeling faces in a collection of images, (semi) automated face tagging systems have been developed where a user tags some of the faces and the system suggests or in general assigns tags based on the user-assigned tags and face matching or recognition technology. In some cases, a collection of photographs is relatively large (e.g., thousands of images or more) and some of these (semi) automated face tagging systems slow down when operating on large collections of photographs. It would be desirable to develop systems that are scalable and do not significantly slow down when processing large collections of images.

Efficient and scalable face recognition in photo albums


A nozzle surface cleaning apparatus is configured to clean a nozzle surface of a droplet ejection head while moving relatively with respect to the droplet ejection head. The apparatus includes: a cleaning liquid deposition device which deposits cleaning liquid to the nozzle surface; a blade which is pressed against the nozzle surface to wipe the nozzle surface; a drip guiding member which guides waste liquid wiped by the blade to drip to a predetermined drip position set inside of the blade than an end of the blade; and a receptor which receives the waste liquid dripping from the drip guiding member.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a nozzle surface cleaning apparatus and a droplet ejecting apparatus, and more particularly to a nozzle surface cleaning apparatus and a droplet ejecting apparatus which apply cleaning liquid to a nozzle surface and then wipe and clean the nozzle surface with a blade.
2. Description of the Related Art
When a recording operation is carried out continuously in an inkjet recording apparatus, ink adheres and accumulates in the vicinity of the nozzles and blockages occur in the nozzles. The nozzle blockages greatly decrease the print quality and therefore in the inkjet recording apparatus, cleaning of the nozzle surface of the head is carried out periodically. The cleaning of the nozzle surface is performed by, for example, wiping the nozzle surface with a blade (wiper) (see, for example, Japanese Patent Application Publication Nos. 2009-137156 and 2001-063076).
When the nozzle surface is wiped with the blade, there is a problem in that waste liquid scraped off by the blade drips from the blade and stains surroundings. Hence, the inkjet recording apparatus which wipes the nozzle surface with the blade is provided with a receptor (as in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2009-137156) or an absorber (as in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2001-063076) under the blade.
It is preferable to arrange the receptor or absorber over a wide range so as to ensure that waste liquid is trapped; however, it disadvantageously increases apparatus size.

Nozzle surface cleaning apparatus and droplet ejection apparatus


A scanning device that scans a beam emitted from a light source, includes: a beam condensing unit that condenses the beam emitted from the light source; a beam diverging unit that is arranged on an output side of the beam condensing unit, and diverges the beam condensed by the beam condensing unit; a first scanning unit that is arranged between the beam condensing unit and the beam diverging unit, and scans the beam condensed by the beam condensing unit; and a moving unit that moves at least one of the beam condensing unit and the beam diverging unit along respective optical axis directions thereof, in accordance with a scan angle of the first scanning unit.

Conventionally, there is known a projection-type image display device that projects incoherent light that is emitted from a light such as a halogen lamp or a high-pressure mercury lamp onto a planar image display element such as a liquid-crystal light bulb, and enlarges and projects the emitted light from that image display element by a projection lens on a projection plane to display the image.
In this type of projection-type image display device, since incoherent light is used, there has been the problem of electricity consumption being great, and the problem of the brightness of the display image being low. Also, since the wavelength bandwidth of the incoherent light that is emitted from the light source is wide, it has been difficult to broaden the chromaticity range. Moreover, since a planar image display element is used as the image display element, reducing the size of the device has been difficult. Also, when a display image is not projected within the focal depth of the projection lens, the display image is not in focus. For that reason, there is a need for the user to adjust the focus in accordance with the position of the projection plane, and so there has been the problem of impairing convenience.
As a technique for solving the aforementioned problems, an image display device that uses a laser light source that emits laser light has been proposed or developed. Among such kinds of image display devices, there is a scanning-type image display device that displays an image by projecting laser light that is emitted from a light source onto a projection plane by two-dimensional scanning (horizontal scanning and vertical scanning) with a scanning unit.
In the aforementioned scanning-type image display device, in order to project a large screen in a short projection distance, a scanning unit with a large scan angle is necessary. As the scanning unit, it is possible to use a resonance-type micromechanical mirror or galvano scanner or the like. In this case, when the scan angle is increased, the driving current of the electrostatic actuator or electromagnetic actuator for driving increases, leading to the problem of power consumption becoming large. Also, when the scan angle of the resonance-type micromechanical mirror increases, the durability of the device falls, and there is the risk of the hinge member that rotatably supports the mirror breaking For this reason, obtaining reliability has been a problem.
As technology that solves the aforementioned problems and increases the scan angle of the scanning unit, for example there is the scanning device disclosed in Patent Document 1. FIG. 14 is a diagram for describing the scanning device described in Patent Document 1.
In the scanning device shown in FIG. 14, a scanning unit 131, a condensing lens G1 and a diverging lens G2 are arranged from the light source not shown to the emission side. These are arranged so that the focal position f1 of the emission side of the condensing lens G1 and the focal position f2 of the incident side of the diverging lens G2 agree. According to this constitution, the exit angle θ2 of laser light that is emitted from the diverging lens G2 can be made greater than the entry angle θ1 of the laser light that is incident on the condensing lens G1 from the scanning unit 131. As a result, it is possible to obtain a large scanning range on the projection plane (not shown).
Among such scanning-type image display devices, there is a constitution that has a beam waist arranged on the projection plane in order to broaden the range of adjusting the focus, and to display a high-definition image (for example, refer to Patent Document 2).

Scanning device, image display device, and method for controlling image display device


Method and apparatus for writing data to be stored to a predetermined memory area, the method comprising: reading stored data from the predetermined memory area, the stored data comprising a stored data block and an associated stored error detection value, manipulating, after reading the stored data, at least one of the stored data block and the associated stored error detection value in the predetermined memory area, and writing, after manipulating, the data to be stored to the predetermined memory area.

Embodiments relate to an apparatus and a method for writing data to be stored to a predetermined memory area, which may, for example, be applied for detecting cryptographic attacks.
In cryptographic systems, so-called side channel attacks may be performed in order to gain cryptographic information from the crypto system. For example, fault analysis is one type of various possible side channel attack in the field of cryptography. The principle here is to induce faults into cryptographic implementations in order to reveal internal states from a processor or an associated memory.
For example, a smart card containing an embedded processor might be subjected to high temperature, unsupported supply voltage or current, excessively high over-clocking, strong electric or magnetic fields or even ionizing radiation to influence the operation of a central processing unit (CPU) or associated periphery like, for example, a main memory (e.g. a random access memory, RAM). Here, due to such an attack, write-operations for writing back data to the main memory may be corrupted such that, e.g., data is written back to wrong memory addresses.
Hence, it is desirable to provide a concept to detect such wrong memory write-operations, possibly due to malicious side-channel attacks.

Apparatus and method for writing data to be stored to a predetermined memory area


A method for operating a non-volatile memory device, which is applicable to an n-channel non-volatile memory device, wherein a positive voltage is applied to the control gate, a negative voltage is applied to the drain region while the source region is floating. Furthermore, a negative voltage is applied to the substrate to program to the n-channel memory device by the channel Fowler-Nordheim tunneling effect. To erase the n-channel non-volatile memory device, a negative voltage is applied to the control gate, a positive voltage is applied to the drain region, and the source region is floating. Moreover, a positive voltage is applied to the substrate to erase the n-channel memory device using the channel Fowler-Nordheim tunneling effect.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to a method for operating a non-volatile memory (NVM). More particularly, the present invention relates to a method for operating an n-channel non-volatile memory.
2. Description of Related Art
A stacked gate memory has the property of permanently storing information that can be repeatedly read, written or erased. Moreover, the stacked gate memory also has the advantage of retaining information even when power is interrupted. Stacked gate memory is thus a type of non-volatile memory device that is widely used in personal computer and electronic systems.
A typical stacked gate memory comprises a doped polysilicon floating gate and a doped polysilicon control gate. The programming and the erasing of this type of stacked gate memory is accomplished by applying appropriate voltages to the source/drain regions and to the control gate; thereby causing electrons to inject into and to eject from the polysilicon floating gate.
In general, the common modes for the stacked gate memory to inject electron include the channel hot-electron injection and the Fowler-Nordheim tunneling. The programming or the erasing of the device depends on an injection or an ejection of electrons.
Additionally, a stacked gate memory device can further divide into a p-channel stacked gate memory device and an n-channel stacked gate memory device. Since the n-channel stacked gate memory device has a higher carrier mobility, a higher reading current and a faster reading speed are provided. Moreover, the programming of the n-channel stacked gate memory device is normally accomplished by the channel hot-electron injection while the erasing is accomplished by ejecting electrons to the source side by the Fowler-Nordheim tunneling effect.
Referring to FIG. 1, FIG. 1 is simplified circuit diagram for a conventional n-channel stacked gate memory device array. A plurality of memory cells Qm1 to Qm4, a plurality of bit lines BL1, BL2 and a plurality of word lines WL1, WL2 are shown in FIG. 1. The drain regions of the memory cells Qm1 and Qm3 are coupled to the bit line BL1 and the drain regions of memory cells Qm2 and Qm4 are coupled to bit line BL2. The control gates of the memory cells Qm1 and Qm2 are coupled to the word line WL1, and the control gates of the memory cells Qm3 and Qm4 are coupled to the word line WL2. The source regions of the memory cells Qm1 to Qm4 share a common source line (SL).
Referring to Table 1 and FIGS. 2A to 2B, FIGS. 2A to 2B demonstrate the programming (FIG. 2A), the reading and the erasing operations (FIG. 2B) of an n-channel stacked gate memory device. Table 1 summarizes the appropriate voltages that are applied for the various operations of the memory cell Qm1.
As shown in Table 1, FIGS. 2A and 2B, 9 to 12 volts of bias Vcg is applied to the word line WL1 (control gate 208) and 5 to 7 volts of bias Vd is applied to the bit line BL1 (drain region 202) during the programming of the memory cell Qm1. The source line SL (source region 204) and the P-well (or substrate) 200 are at 0 volt. Under such a bias condition, a large channel current (0.25xcx9c1 mamp/memory cell) is generated, and electrons then travel from the end of the source region 204 to the end of the drain region 202. Hot electrons, which have sufficient momentum to overcome the energy barrier of the tunnel oxide layer, are generated when the electrons are accelerated by the high channel electric field at the end of the drain region 202 to generate hot electrons. Additionally, a high positive bias is applied to the control gate 208 causing the hot electrons to inject into the floating gate 206 from the drain region 202 as shown in FIG. 2A. After the programming operation, the threshold voltage (VT) of the memory cell increases due to the residual negative charges in the floating gate 206. These charges would remain in the floating gate 206 for a long period of time (for example, approximately for ten years at room temperature), unless they are removed intentionally.
As information is being read from the memory cell Qm1, a bias of Vd volt is applied to the bit line BL1 (drain region 202), a bias Vcc is applied to the word line WL1 (control gate 206), a bias of 0 volt is applied to the source line SL (source region 204) and a bias of 0 volt is applied to the P-well. Since the channel of such a memory cell is closed and the current is low when electrons are present in the floating gate 206, and the channel of the memory cell is opened and the current is high when electrons are absent in the floating gate, the logic xe2x80x9c1xe2x80x9d or the logic xe2x80x9c0xe2x80x9d stored in the memory cell is determined by the opening/closing of the channel and the size of the current flow.
To erase the memory cell Qm1, it is conventionally accomplished by the Fowler-Nordheim tunneling effect from the source side. A negative bias xe2x88x92Vcg of about xe2x88x928 volts to about xe2x88x9212 volts is applied to the word line WL1 (control gate 208), a bias Vs of about 4xcx9c6 volts is applied to the source line SL (source region 204). Moreover, the bit line BL1 (drain region 202) is floating while a bias of 0 volt is applied to the P-well 200. Consequently, a great electric field is formed between the floating gate and a portion of the source region that is overlapped with the floating gate. Electrons are thus tunneled to the source region 204 from the floating gate 206 by the Fowler-Nordheim effect as shown in FIG. 2B.
The programming of the above stacked gate memory device is based on the channel hot electron, wherein electrons are injected from the drain side. The effectiveness of electron injection is thereby very low. A higher voltage is thus required to provide a higher current during programming to improve the programming speed. A higher voltage, however, reduces the reliability of electronic devices and limits the size reduction of the device.
Moreover, based on the bias setups (WL1 as xe2x88x92Vcg, SL as +Vs) shown in FIG. 1 and table 1, when Qm1 is erased, the memory cell Qm2 is also erased. Therefore, when a stacked gate memory device is erased according to the prior art, a sector of memory cells is erased rather than a single memory cell. Many limitations are imposed on the programming and erasing of such a device. In other words, the conventional stacked gate memory device must perform the erasing and the coding actions to complete the writing of new information. Therefore, writing of new information requires a writing of all information every time (because it needs to erase the existing information first before any coding can be done). The operational speed for the writing operation of a stacked gate memory device is thus limited.
The present invention provides a method for operating a nonvolatile memory device, where the memory device can program or erase cell-by-cell, by byte, by sector and by block.
The present invention provides a method for operating a non-volatile memory device, wherein the current flow of the memory device is lowered to increase the operating speed of the memory device.
The present invention provides a method for operating a non-volatile memory device, wherein to program the memory cell by the channel FN tunneling effect, a positive voltage is applied to the control gate, a negative voltage is applied to the drain region, the source region is floating and a negative voltage is applied to the substrate. Moreover, a negative voltage is applied to the control gate, a positive voltage is applied to the drain region, the source region is floating and a positive voltage is applied to the substrate to erase the memory cell by the channel FN tunneling effect.
According to the present invention, the channel FN tunnel effect is used for the coding and the erasing of the non-volatile memory device. A deep doped drain is also obviated from forming at the vicinity of the overlapped region between the floating gate and the source/drain region. The distance between the source region and the drain of the present invention can thus decrease without the short channel effect. In other words, the floating gate length can be reduced to increase the integration of the device without intensifying the short channel effect. Additionally, the FN tunneling effect is used for the coding operation, the effectiveness of electron injection is higher, and the current flow (about 10 nA/cell) of the memory cell during the coding operation is lower to reduce the power consumption and improve the operation speed. To program and to erase a flash cell using the FN tunneling effect, the cell current is small during operations. It implies that the power consumption of the whole chip can be significantly reduced by this invention.
The method for operating the nonvolatile memory device of the present invention, which is applicable on a memory cell array that includes a plurality of memory cells, a plurality of word lines, a plurality of bit lines and a plurality of source lines, wherein the memory cells are arranged in rows and columns. The drain region of each memory cell in every row is coupled with a corresponding bit line. The source region of each memory cell in every row is coupled with a corresponding source line. The control gate of each memory cell in each row is coupled with a corresponding word line. The method for operating the nonvolatile memory device according an embodiment of the present invention comprises applying a first positive voltage to the word line that is coupled to a selected memory cell, a first negative voltage is applied to the bit line that is coupled to the selected memory cell, and a second negative voltage is applied to the substrate of the memory cell array. The source line that is coupled to the selected memory cell is floating and the bit lines that are coupled to all other memory cells that share a common word line with that selected memory cell are grounded. The non-selected memory cells that share a common word line with the selected memory cell are thus prevented from being programmed. When the nonvolatile memory device is erased, a third negative voltage is applied to the word line that is coupled to the selected memory cell and a second positive voltage is applied to the bit line that is coupled to the selected memory cell. A third positive voltage is also applied to the substrate of the memory cell array, and the source line that is coupled to the selected memory cell is floating, while the bit lines that are coupled to the other non-selected memory cells which share a common word line with the selected memory cell are grounded. The non-selected memory cells that share a common word line with the selected memory cell are thus prevented from being erased.
In another aspect of the present invention, the memory cells that are connected by the same bit line may also have a common well line. During the programming of the selected cell, the second negative voltage is applied to the well line that is coupled to the selected memory cell, while the well lines that are coupled to all other memory cells that share a common word line with the selected memory cell are set floating. During the erasing of the selected cell, the third positive voltage is applied to the well line that is coupled to the selected cell, while the well lines that are coupled to all other memory cells that share a common word line with the selected memory cell are floating.
The nonvolatile memory device of the present invention is programmed or erased cell-by-cell in an array of memory cells. Unlike the conventional electrically erasable and programmable read only memory (EEPROM), two transistors are required to accomplish the cell-by-cell programming and erasing. The space between the device is thereby reduced and the integration of the device is correspondingly increased. Moreover, the complexity of the process is decreased.
Additionally, the nonvolatile memory device according to the present invention can also program and erase by byte, by sector or by block simply by controlling the bias at the various word lines and bit lines.
It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary, and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed.

Method for operating a non-volatile memory


A first amplification section and a second amplification section included in an amplification apparatus amplify two constant amplitude signals generated by vector decomposition. An impedance inverting circuit inverts the impedance of the signal amplified by the second amplification section. A combining circuit corrects the phases of the signal amplified by the first amplification section and the signal whose impedance is inverted by the impedance inverting circuit, and combines and outputs these signals. The combining circuit includes a line which is (λ/4)+γ in length and which is an asymmetrical circuit element and a line which is (λ/4)−δ in length and which is an asymmetrical circuit element.

Constant envelope amplification apparatus (also referred to as outphasing amplification apparatus) have traditionally been known. In order to improve efficiency, a constant envelope amplification apparatus generates two constant amplitude signals from an input signal by vector decomposition and amplifies the two constant amplitude signals.
A linear constant envelope amplification apparatus which performs lossy combination of two amplified signals (vectors) by the use of a resistance element or a highly efficient constant envelope amplification apparatus which performs lossless combination of two amplified signals (vectors) without using a resistance element is known as a constant envelope amplification apparatus. Highly efficient constant envelope amplification apparatus are of two types according to the structure of an output combining circuit: offset type and Chireix type.
A highly efficient, highly linear power amplification apparatus using a 4-terminal power combining circuit the loss of which is reduced was provided in the past (see, for example, Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2000-349575).
With constant envelope amplification apparatus, however, higher efficiency and a flat phase characteristic in an amplification band are required.


A soft X-ray microscope includes a table (10); a housing (20) installed to the upper side of the table (10) and having a partition (22); a light source chamber (30) installed lower than the partition (22) of the housing (20) to project a light to liquid jetted under a high pressure to generate plasma; a mirror chamber (40), installed above the partition (22) of the housing (20), in which first and second mirror (410 and 430) are respectively installed to upper and lower sides of a holder (420) for storing a living sample, the soft X-ray generated by the plasma generated in the light source chamber (30) illuminates the living sample, and the soft X-ray penetrated the living sample is amplified to obtain an image in an image capturing chamber; and an image capturing chamber (50) installed to the upper side of the housing (20) to amplify a light image signal amplified through the mirror chamber (40) and to capture the light image on an external screen to allow distinguishing the light image from exterior.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a soft X-ray microscope, and more particularly, to a soft X-ray microscope that uses a liquid target that is not affected by target fragments and that has excellent monochromaticity so that the soft X-ray microscope can be easily used in a laboratory and has spatial resolution of no more than 100 nm.
2. Description of the Related Art
In general, a microscope refers to an apparatus for enlarging a minute part of an object (hereinafter, referred to as a sample) to observe the minute part and may include an electronic microscope that uses electrons as a light source or an optical microscope that uses visible rays as a light source.
In the case of the electronic microscope, since the sample must be put under vacuum and must be physically and chemically pre-processed, it is not possible to observe a living sample such as the cells of an organism. In the case of the optical microscope, it is possible to observe a living sample; however, since the visible rays are used as the light source, the resolution is limited to about 200 nm due to the diffraction limitation of the light source according to the current technology.
Recently, a soft X-ray microscope using an X-ray wavelength region referred to as window of water (λ=2.3 to 4.4 nm) has been studied. In the region of the window of water, since there exists large X-ray absorption differences between water and protein that constitutes the living sample, it is possible to observe protein through a water layer of a thickness of several microns and to observe the inside of the living sample due to the permeability of X-ray.
The above-described soft X-ray microscope includes a light source chamber in which a solid target made of tantalum is provided, a light source for focusing pulse light on the solid target to generate X-ray so that the X-ray is radiated onto the living sample, a sample chamber in which the living sample is provided, a mirror chamber for leading the X-ray that transmits the sample to capturing device, and the capturing device for capturing the X-ray image that is scattered by the living sample or that transmits the living sample.
The operation of the soft X-ray microscope having the above structure will be described as follows. When the pulse light is emitted from the light source to the solid target, the pulse light collides with the target to generate a predetermined X-ray. The generated X-ray is radiated onto the living sample provided in the sample chamber to be scattered by the living sample and to transmit the image of the living sample. The capturing device captures the light that is scattered by the living sample and that transmits the image of the living sample so that the living sample can be observed.
However, since the target onto which the pulse light is radiated is solid, minute pieces are generated in the part onto which the pulse light is radiated and the generated pieces are attached to the internal surface of the light source chamber that remains vacuous in which the solid target is provided so that the vacuum degree is damaged. In particular, the pieces attached to the internal surface of the light source chamber prevent the X-ray from being precisely generated so that it is difficult to repeatedly use the soft X-ray microscope for a long time.
Furthermore, the solid target damaged by the radiation of the pulse light must be frequently exchanged in order to precisely generate the X-ray so that the light source chamber in which the solid target is provided must be released and reset under vacuum. Therefore, work time and maintenance and repair expenses increase.
The mirror chamber that leads the X-ray generated by the light source chamber to pass through the living sample includes mirrors on both sides of the living sample, that is, an illuminating mirror for illuminating the living sample before the pulse light passes through the living sample and an amplifying mirror for enlarging and amplifying the light that passed through the living sample illuminated by the illuminating mirror by the capturing device. The X-ray generated by the light source chamber is illuminated and enlarged by the mirrors and passes through the living sample and the capturing device captures the X-ray image to obtain an image.
However, in the above case, in order to enlarge and photograph the light that passed through the living sample by the capturing device in accordance with the optical enlargement magnification formula, the distance between the sample chamber and the capturing device is 3 to 4 m on the average, the magnification is about 286, and resolution is about 200 nm, which is similar to the resolution of the optical microscope.
As described above, the soft X-ray microscope in which the distance between the sample chamber and the capturing device is 3 to 4 m on the average in order to obtain an image of high magnification as mentioned above is preferably horizontally installed rather than vertically installed so that the use area of the soft X-ray microscope increases and that the space efficiency of a work place deteriorates.
Therefore, a work place for the exclusive use of the soft X-ray microscope must be additionally provided, which causes inconvenience and inefficiency.

Wonkwang University Center for Industry-Academy Cooperation


A crane includes i) a lower structure comprising ground engaging members ii) an upper structure rotatably connected to the lower structure such that the upper structure can swing with respect to the lower structure, wherein one of the lower structure and upper structure comprises a first structure having a ring gear having teeth on a surface thereof, and the other of the lower structure and upper structure comprises a second structure; and iii) a boom pivotally mounted on the upper structure. The crane further includes a drive system comprising at least two pinion gears mounted on a common frame and in driving contact with the ring gear teeth; and a link connecting the frame to the second structure with two pivot axes between the frame and the second structure.

The present invention relates to a swing drive system for cranes, particularly useful on mobile lifting cranes.
A typical crane includes a lower structure that is supported on ground engaging members, an upper structure rotatably connected to the lower structure such that the upper structure can swing with respect to the lower structure about a vertical axis, and a boom pivotally mounted on the upper structure. To produce swing torque, a swing drive system exerts a moment between the upper and lower structures. This is usually accomplished by mounting a drive gear, commonly known as a pinion gear, offset from the centerline of rotation, to produce the moment. Either the lower structure or the upper structure will usually have a ring gear having teeth on a surface thereof, and the other structure will include the pinion gear that meshes with the teeth on the ring gear to provide the swing torque. If the crane is positioned such that the axis of rotation is not completely vertical (such as a mobile lift crane positioned on sloped ground), the swing drive system also has to provide a holding force to keep the upper structure from rotating when rotation is not wanted and the center of gravity of the combined crane and any load attached thereto is not at the "bottom" of its swing path.
Mobile lift cranes typically include a carbody having moveable ground engaging members, such as tires or crawlers; a rotating bed rotatably connected to the carbody such that the rotating bed can swing with respect to the ground engaging members; a boom pivotally mounted on a front portion of the rotating bed, with a load hoist line extending there from; and counterweight to help balance the crane when the crane lifts a load. Since the crane will be used in various locations, it needs to be designed so that it can be transported from one job site to the next. This usually requires that the crane be dismantled into components that are of a size and weight that they can be transported by truck within highway transportation limits. The ease with which the crane can be dismantled and set up has an impact on the total cost of using the crane. Thus, to the extent that fewer man-hours are needed to set up the crane, there is a direct advantage to the crane owner.
For some very large cranes, the torque needed to swing the crane is very large, particularly when a large load is suspended from the load hoist line. Thus the size of the ring gear and its teeth, and the size of the pinion gear, must be large enough to generate the required torque at a reasonable size ring gear diameter. In large cranes it is typical to include multiple pinion gears that each mesh with the same ring gear, so as to be able to generate the required force. However, utilizing multiple pinion gears complicates features of the crane design, particularly when it is recognized that the ring gear and pinion gear need to mesh with a tight tolerance, taking into account the needed "backlash" in the drive system. Backlash is a term that describes the amount of free play that exists between the gear teeth—the amount that one gear can turn before it starts to turn the other gear. If there is not enough backlash, the gear teeth will wear out too fast, as there will be unnecessary contact between parts of the teeth. If the backlash is too large, there will be high impact forces on the teeth when the rotating bed starts to swing, or changes its direction of swing.
Since the ring gear is not perfectly round, and since the structure making up the rotating bed (especially if it has multiple pieces that are transported separately and then pinned together at a job site) may have tolerances associated with the connection between the rotating bed and the carbody, and tolerances in the swing drive system, getting multiple pinion gears so that they can all provide torque simultaneously and with a proper amount of backlash is problematic. Of course if all of the pinion gears could be mounted to the rotating bed so that their points of contact with the ring gear formed a perfect circle, the same diameter as the ring gear, that would help lessen the problem, but this design criteria makes manufacture of the crane very expensive. The problem increases with a greater number of pinion gears. One solution is to have a thick ring gear, so that the engaged length of each gear tooth is higher, and thus more force can be transmitted through each tooth. While cutting down on the number of pinion gears, this solution increases the weight of the ring gear.
One solution is to have multiple pinion gears all connected to the rotating bed in a manner that they are independently forced into contact with the ring gear by a structure that is pivotally mounted to the rotating bed. This makes it simple to accommodate for tolerances and free play in the connection between the rotating bed and the carbody, and tolerances in the swing drive system. However, it makes for a large number of independent components that have to be disassembled, stored, transported and reassembled each time the crane is moved. Thus it would be a great advantage if a drive system could be developed that allowed such very large cranes to utilize multiple pinion gears without needing precision in the mounting of the pinion gears and minimizing the number of independent components that have to be transported and assembled to construct the crane.


A battery pack includes: a plurality of secondary batteries; a housing for containing the secondary batteries; and at least one heat insulating layer for separating the secondary batteries from one another. The at least one heat insulating layer includes a foam material capable of foaming at a first predetermined temperature of 110° C. or more and less than 200° C. When the foam material foams, gas bubbles are produced in the heat insulating layer, so that the thickness of the heat insulating layer increases. The battery pack thus has excellent safety, exhibiting a high heat insulation effect in the event of abnormal heat generation of the batteries.

Recently, portable appliances such as notebook personal computers and cellular phones have become widely used, and there is thus an increasing demand for batteries as the power source for portable appliances. In particular, there is an increasing demand for secondary batteries that are compact and light-weight, have high energy density, and can be repeatedly charged and discharged.
To meet such demand, non-aqueous electrolyte secondary batteries are being actively studied and developed. Since non-aqueous electrolyte secondary batteries contain large energy due to an increase in the functionality of portable appliances, they generate large amounts of heat in the event of abnormal conditions.
Thus, proposals have been made on the structure of a battery pack containing such batteries, in order to suppress, when one of the batteries generates abnormal heat for some reason, the conduction of the heat to adjacent batteries.
PTL 1 proposes separating batteries by a partition plate comprising a flame-retardant resin.
In order to make the partition plate more flame-retardant, PTL 2 proposes using inorganic refractory materials such as mica and ceramics.

Battery pack having a heat insulating layer


Methods for measuring c-Met levels in urine and blood samples are provided. Methods for diagnosis and prognosis evaluation for cancer are also provided.

Many transmembrane proteins are proteolytically released from the cell surface by a process known as ectodomain shedding. Shedding occurs under normal physiologic conditions and can be increased in certain pathologies. Among the many receptors for which ectodomain shedding has been demonstrated is c-Met, the hepatocyte growth factor ("HGF") receptor tyrosine kinase (Komada et al., FEBS Lett 1993; 328:25-9, Wajih et al., Circ Res 2002; 90:46-52). HGF is a pleiotropic heparin-binding protein identified and isolated based on observations of its mitogenic activity on hepatocytes and epithelial cells, and independently identified and isolated based on observations of its ability to stimulate cell motility (scatter factor or SF). (Comoglio et al., Semin Cancer Biol 2001; 11:153-65, Funakoshi et al., Clin Chim Acta 2003; 327:1-23). HGF is typically produced by cells of mesenchymal origin and acts in a paracrine manner on a variety of cellular targets including epithelial and endothelial cells, hematopoietic cells, neurons and melanocytes during embryonic development and throughout adulthood, in normal and pathological processes (Birchmeier et al., Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol 2003; 4:915-25). HGF is essential for embryonic development, where it is involved in somite migration, limb bud and limb skeletal muscle formation, placenta formation (Schmidt et al., Nature 1995; 373:699-702, Uehara et al., Nature 1995:373:702-5) and later in organogenesis (Rosario et al., Trends Cell Biol 2003; 13:328-35), in neural development (Birchmeier et al., Trends Cell Biol 1998:8:404-10) and in tissue repair and regeneration (Jin et al., J Pharmacol Exp Ther 2003; 304:654-60, Huh et al., Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 2004; 101:4477-82). While the role of HGF in adult homeostasis is not yet completely understood, a growing body of evidence suggests that it is an endogenous tissue protective factor for several major organs and has potent antifibrotic activity (Liu, Am J Physiol Renal Physiol 2004; 287:F7-16).
The MET oncogene was isolated from a human osteogenic sarcoma cell line that had been chemically mutagenized in vitro. Transforming activity was due to a DNA rearrangement where sequences from the TPR (translocated promoter region) locus on chromosome 1 fused to sequences from the MET locus on chromosome 7 (TPR-MET) (Furge et al., Oncogene 2000; 19:5582-9). This rearrangement has been found in patients with gastric carcinoma (Yu et al., Cancer 2000; 88:1801-6). Isolation of the full-length MET proto-oncogene coding sequence revealed structural features of a membrane spanning receptor tyrosine kinase (Furge et al., Oncogene 2000; 19:5582-9). The identification of HGF as the natural ligand for c-Met and the identity of SF and HGF united a collection of findings demonstrating that a single receptor transduced multiple biological activities including motility, proliferation, survival and branching morphogenesis (Birchmeier et al., Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol 2003; 4:915-25). Activation of the c-Met intrinsic tyrosine kinase (TK) activity was required for all of these activities. Consistent with its relationship with HGF, c-Met is widely expressed early in development, deletion of the gene is embryonic lethal in mice, and widespread expression persists throughout adulthood (Birchmeier et al., id). Both HGF and c-Met are upregulated after kidney, liver or heart injury, suggestive of a general mechanism of protection against tissue damage, as well as one of tissue repair and regeneration (Matsumoto et al., Kidney Int 2001; 59:2023-38, Michalopoulos et al., Science 1997; 276:60-6, Nakamura et al., J Clin Invest 2000; 106:1511-9).
HGF and c-Met are implicated in a wide variety of human malignancies including colon, gastric, bladder, breast, kidney, liver, lung, head and neck, thyroid and prostate, but also sarcomas, hematological malignancies, melanoma and central nervous system (CNS) tumors (Birchmeier et al., Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol 2003; 4:915-25, Birchmeier et al., Ciba Found Symp 1997; 212:230-40). Through paracrine signaling, overexpression of ligand and/or receptor, autocrine loop formation and/or receptor mutation and gene rearrangement, this signaling pathway can enhance tumor cell growth, proliferation, survival, motility and invasion. Inappropriate c-Met signaling in disease can resemble, at least in part, developmental transitions between epithelial and mesenchymal cell types normally regulated by HGF. Among the many genes upregulated in response to activation of this pathway is that of the receptor itself, creating the potential for c-Met overexpression in otherwise normal target cells through persistent ligand stimulation; consistent with this, c-Met overexpression is widely observed in cancers of epithelial origin where paracrine delivery of HGF results in dysregulated signaling, whereas cells of mesenchymal origin that normally express HGF often acquire c-Met expression, and several sarcomas display autocrine c-Met signaling (Furge et al., Oncogene 2000; 19:5582-9). Importantly, the c-Met pathway activates a program of cell dissociation and increased cell motility coupled with increased protease production that has been shown to promote cellular invasion through extracellular matrices, and that closely resembles tumor metastasis in vivo (Birchmeier et al., Ciba Found Symp 71p 1997; 212:230-40). In addition, pathway activation in vascular cells stimulates tumor angiogenesis, facilitating tumor growth for cancers that are growth limited by hypoxia, and promoting tumor metastasis. Hypoxia alone upregulates c-Met expression and enhances HGF/SF signaling in cultured cells and mouse tumor models (Pennacchietti et al., Cancer Cell 2003; 3:347-61).
Early diagnosis is a key strategy in cancer treatment. Although it is known that c-Met is overexpressed in certain cancers, a need exists for a screening test for c-Met that is sensitive, cost-efficient, and can be used for diagnosis, determining stage of disease, prognosis, and/or assessing the efficacy of therapeutic intervention. The invention is directed to this and other ends.

Methods for diagnosing and monitoring the progression of cancer by measuring soluble c-Met ectodomain

The United States of America, as Represented by the Secretary, Department of Health and Human Services


A method and apparatus for parting a deck of amorphous alloy ribbons in one operation is disclosed. Force is applied to a deck of ribbons to place it under tension. A localized zone in the deck is compressed and rapidly heated to the softening temperature of the amorphous alloy. The deck separates along a seam within the zone due to the tensile force and localized rapid heating. A high quality edge is produced where the separated ribbon edges are free of burrs, meltbeads or substantial cracking and chipping.

Amorphous alloys exhibit a number of differences in their properties from the normal crystalline form of the same alloys which make them especially suitable for certain applications. Amorphous alloys are harder, more abrasive and more sensitive to mechanical stresses and have higher mechanical strength, flexibility and electrical resistivity than the crystalline forms of the same alloys. Some amorphous alloys exhibit the softest magnetic characteristics of any known materials. This latter property is especially desirable for magnetic core materials since the ease with which the material can be magnetized and demagnetized controls the hysteresis losses experienced. This becomes important where the magnetic material is repetitively magnetized in opposite directions as is, for example, the case in magnetic cores of the type used in AC machinery.
Because of the way amorphous alloys are formed, only thin ribbons can be produced and such ribbons have a maximum thickness of about 0.076 mm. Typical thicknesses are from about 0.015 mm to about 0.05 mm. By contrast, transformer core laminations are normally about ten times thicker. Thus, about ten times as many layers of amorphous metal ribbons are required to form a transformer core structure of a given cross section as are required to form the same structures using prior art transformer materials.
An important consideration in many applications where magnetic cores are used is the space factor. The space factor may be defined as the ratio of the volume of core material within the built up core to the volume of the built up core itself. The space factor is important because if the layers making up the core do not lie flat upon each other but remain separated by air or other non-magnetic material, the volume of the core will increase without a corresponding increase in its desirable magnetic properties. Ribbon irregularities decrease the space factor. Thus, if burrs or irregularities are present on the edges of the core laminations, the laminations will not lie flat and consequently the space factor is degraded. The thinness dictated by the way amorphous metals are made adds to the problem. For example, edge or surface irregularities which are small enough to be ignored in conventional core laminations, may cause severe degradation of the space factor when ten or more times as many layers are used.
The deformation of any material requires the material to flow as it is forced or worked. At low temperatures the flow of amorphous alloys is governed by an inhomogeneous deformation mechanism characterized by high stress. The high stress causes two problems: a high rate of tool wear and loss of magnetic properties. If subjected to high stress, the tools used in the forming operations of articles that consist of such alloys will have only short useful lives. It is also known that inhomogeneous deformation of amorphous alloys can be detrimental to the soft magnetic properties of the alloys. It is therefore desirable to avoid such high stress in deforming or working amorphous alloys.
As disclosed in Japanese patent application No. 32288 to T. Masumoto, published Nov. 5, 1976, some of the difficulties in forming amorphous alloys can be overcome or reduced by performing the forming operations at elevated temperatures. As set forth in that publication, forming processes should be applied to the amorphous alloy only at temperatures above the "ductile transition temperature", herein designated T.sub.p. This same temperature, which is regarded as critical for working amorphous alloys, is also referred to as the "plastic transition temperature" in an article by Liebermann, in Mat. Sci. Eng. Vol. 46, Pg. 241 (1980). It is known that amorphous alloys can be deformed above this plastic transition temperature at low stresses to a high degree of straining. Such hot forming of a metallic glass at low stress is reported in D.H.R. "Proceedings Third International Conference on Rapidly Quenched Metals", by J. Patterson, A. L. Greer, J. A. Leake (Chameleon Press, 1978), pg. 293 and was demonstrated by drawing a cup from a ribbon of amorphous alloy. As reported in Scripta Met. Vol. 14, Pg. 1331 (1980), strains approaching 100% in an amorphous alloy ribbon of PdFeSi were produced at stresses as low as 150 Mpa when deformation of the ribbon was carried out at high temperatures.
In none of the foregoing studies, nor in the methods developed from the studies, was any concern given to the effect of the rate of heating on the forming of the amorphous article. Primary consideration in each prior instance was given to the crystallization kinetics of the alloy. The object in these prior efforts was to effect the working of the alloy without imparting significant degrees of crystallinity to the article being formed and to retain the amorphous character of the alloy. The avoidance of crystallization was recognized in these prior efforts as a primary consideration in preserving the properties of the amorphous alloys.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,584,036, assigned to the present assignee, discloses a relationship between the softening and increase in workability of an amorphous alloy article and the rate at which the article is undergoing heating. As set forth in that patent, the heating history of the article, that is the heating or rate of heating to a certain temperature prior to working, must be distinguished from the effective rate at which an article is being heated at the time the working or forming of the article is taking place. This patent further discloses that amorphous alloys undergo a softening during the time when they are being heated at a relatively high heating rate. Further, the variation of the softening temperature with, or as a function of, the heating rate was determined in a quantitative manner.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,715,906, which is likewise assigned to the assignee of the present application, discloses a slightly different heating regimen. According to this regimen for heating rates of 1000.degree. C./min. or higher, the viscosity of the alloy is so low that the softening window is enlarged in a temporal sense. The softening window is the difference between the temperature at which the alloy softens and that at which it crystallizes. When the heating rate is high enough this window is large enough for the amorphous alloy to retain its ability to be worked in an apparent "soft" state, even though the alloy is experiencing an isothermal hold of one to several seconds. Generally, the higher the rate of heating above 1000.degree. C./min., the longer the isothermal hold which can be tolerated by the amorphous alloy article without loss of its favorable magnetic properties. These findings and the quantitative relationships developed that define the isothermal window, are all set out in the last-mentioned patent.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,670,636, assigned to the present assignee, discloses how the softening technique can be utilized to provide a method for parting a bundle of amorphous alloy articles. This is done by applying a tensile force to the article while rapidly heating a seam of the top article to be cut. The top article separates into parts and the separated parts of the top article are then withdrawn and the next article is exposed to the applied heat. It is known that heating of an amorphous alloy strip in a narrow region causes buckling and distortion of the strip, even though the heating is not sufficient to melt or even soften the material of the narrow region. Therefore, heating under the influence of tension is helpful in minimizing this property to keep the ribbon flat.
In comparison to their properties before heating amorphous alloys become more brittle upon subsequent cooling. Therefore, heating of amorphous alloy ribbons causes undesirable embrittlement of the ribbons that can lead to cracking and chipping of the ribbons when they are stressed. Additionally, amorphous alloy ribbons separated under tension in a heated region, neck in the heated region. As a result, excessive necking in the heated region can cause an undesirable reduction in the thickness and width of the ribbon at the separated edge.
Accordingly, it is one object of this invention to provide a method which permits a deck of amorphous alloy ribbons to be separated without the use of cutting tools in one operation.
Another object is to avoid and prevent the formation of meltbeads, burrs, or any substantial cracking or chipping at an edge formed by separation, thereby improving the stackability of the severed edges of cut ribbon.
Another object is to provide a method for separating a deck of amorphous alloy ribbons without significantly detracting from the beneficial magnetic properties of the alloy.
Another object is to provide a method for separating a deck of amorphous alloy ribbons while minimizing the portion in the ribbons that is heated and necked.

Method and apparatus for parting a deck of amorphous alloy ribbons


A method for searching across instant message systems and an interconnecting server are disclosed. The method includes the steps of searching in a SIMPLE IM system by a WV-IMPS user, and searching in a WV-IMPS system by a SIMPLE IM user. The interconnecting server includes a message input/output module and a message processing and converting module. The technical solution of the present invention seamlessly connects the search services of the WV-IMPS instant message system and the SIMPLE instant message system, and thus solves the problem on interconnecting search functions between different types of instant message systems.

Instant message service has been applied to mobile communication networks and the Internet. The mobile communication networks may include the existing 2nd Generation Network (2G), 2.5 Generation Network (2.5G), the developing 3rd Generation Network (3G), and the IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS), etc.
Instant message service is known as a kind of mobile data service for person-to-person or person-to-group messages based on Presence service.
The Open Mobile Alliance (OMA) institutes standards for the mobile instant message. Two types of instant message systems exist in the current specifications. One is the instant message system based on the Wireless Village (WV), which is based on protocols carried by Hyper Text Transport Protocol (HTTP)/Wireless Access Protocol (WAP)/Short Message Service (SMS) Protocol. This system is capable of supporting 2.5G/3G network, and is mainly applied to the traditional communication networks. The other is the instant message system based on the Session Initiation Protocol (SIP)/SIP Instant Messaging and Presence Language Extensions (SIMPLE), which is based on protocols carried by SIP/SIMPLE and is mainly applied to the next generation IP network based on the IMS. For an end-user, the above WV and SIMPLE protocols are transparent, that is, no matter you are a WV user or a SIMPLE user, you cannot tell any differences while using the services in the two instant message systems.
Search function, also called search service, is an important character of the instant message system. Both the WV-Instant Message & Presence Service (WV-IMPS) instant message system and the SIMPLE IM system need to support the search function, and thereby from the aspect of the user, it is desired to use the search function of either system seamlessly.
In the related prior art, the user of a WV-IMPS instant message system (referred to as an "IMPS user" for short) can only search for either a chat room, a member in the chat room, or a chat history, etc. in the WV-IMPS instant message system, whereas the user of a SIMPLE IM system (referred to as an "SIMPLE IM user" for short) can only search for a chat room, a member in the chat room, or a chat history, etc. in the SIMPLE IM system.

Method for searching across instant message systems and interconnecting server


Disclosed is a synthetic silica glass optical material having high resistance to optical damage by ultraviolet radiation in the ultraviolet wavelength range, particularly in the wavelength region of less than about 250 nm and particularly, exhibiting a low laser induced density change. The synthetic silica glass optical material of the present invention contains at least about 0.1 ppm of aluminum and H2 concentration levels greater than about 0.5×1017 molecules/cm2. Additionally, the synthetic silica optical material of the present invention exhibits an H2 to Al ratio of greater than about 1.2, as measured in ×1017/cm3 molecules H2 per ppm Al.

As practiced commercially, fused silica optical members such as lenses, prisms, filters, photomasks, reflectors, etalon plates and windows, are typically manufactured from bulk pieces of fused silica made in large production furnaces. Bulk pieces of fused silica manufactured in large production furnaces are known in the art as boules or ingots. Blanks are cut from boules or ingots, and finished optical members are manufactured from glass blanks, utilizing manufacturing steps that may include, but are not limited to, cutting, polishing, and/or coating pieces of glass from a blank. These optical members are used in various apparatus employed in environments where they are exposed to high-power ultraviolet light having a wavelength of about 360 nm or less, for example, an excimer laser beam or some other high-power ultraviolet laser beam. The optical members are incorporated into a variety of instruments, including lithographic laser exposure equipment for producing highly integrated circuits, laser fabrication equipment, medical equipment, nuclear fusion equipment, or some other apparatus which uses a high-power ultraviolet laser beam.
In overview, boules are manufactured by reacting silicon-containing gas molecules in a flame to form silica soot particles. The soot particles are deposited on the hot surface of a rotating or oscillating body where they consolidate to the glassy solid state. In the art, glass making procedures of this type are known as vapor phase hydrolysis/oxidation processes, or simply as flame deposition processes. The term "boule" is used herein with the understanding that the term "boule" includes any silica-containing body formed by a flame deposition process. Multiple blanks are cut from such boules and used to make the various optical members referred to above.
As the energy and pulse rate of lasers increase, the optical members which are used in conjunction with such lasers, are exposed to increased levels of laser radiation. Fused silica members have become widely used as the manufacturing material of choice for optical members in such laser-based optical systems due to their excellent optical properties and resistance to laser induced damage.
Laser technology has advanced into the short wavelength, high energy ultraviolet spectral region, the effect of which is an increase in the frequency (decrease in wavelength) of light produced by lasers. Of particular interest are short wavelength excimer lasers operating in the UV and deep UV (DUV) wavelength ranges, which includes lasers operating at about 248 nm and 193 nm wavelengths, respectively. Excimer laser systems are popular in microlithography applications, and the shortened wavelengths allow for increased line densities in the manufacturing of integrated circuits and microchips, which enables the manufacture of circuits having decreased feature sizes. A direct physical consequence of shorter wavelengths (higher frequencies) is higher photon energies in the beam due to the fact that each individual photon is of higher energy. In such excimer laser systems, fused silica optics are exposed to high energy photon irradiation levels for prolonged periods of time resulting in the degradation of the optical properties of the optical members.
It is known that laser-induced degradation adversely affects the performance of fused silica optical members by decreasing light transmission levels, altering the index of refraction, altering the density, and increasing absorption levels of the glass. Specifically, the two main types of laser-induced degradation that can occur are induced absorption and induced index change as a result of density change.
Given the semiconductor industry reliance on excimer lasers and materials that transmit that energy to make integrated circuit chips and other products and the constant drive towards decreased line width and the necessary wavelength of the incident light and the resultant increase in the laser energy level, it follows that the fused silica material requirements have become much more stringent. The new generation material must be as inert as possible with respect to the incident energy. Many other researchers have tried to make a material that does not interact with the light, however they have been unsuccessful. Accordingly, it would be desirable and is an objective of the present invention to provide fused silica glass articles that exhibited improved resistance to laser induced index/density change.

Synthetic silica glass optical material having high resistance to optically induced index change


Example systems and methods are described for validating a manufacturing tolerance of a structure. A method includes receiving a digital image of a cross-section of the structure at an interface of a computing device, identifying an outer boundary of the structure from the digital image, selecting a region of the outer boundary based on changes in a first derivative or a second derivative of points of the outer boundary, identifying a geometry feature of the region of the outer boundary by comparison to stored templates of geometry features of the structure, making a comparison of the geometry feature of the region of the outer boundary to a manufacturing specification for a corresponding portion of the structure, and determining whether the structure is within a manufacturing tolerance based on the comparison of the geometry feature to the manufacturing specification.

Validation of manufacturing processes often requires destructive inspection of a part of interest. In this validation, typically a representative part will be manufactured and several physical cuts will be made throughout the part. A number of cuts can be on the order of thousands depending on a size of the part. The cuts are recorded in a form of high resolution optical images. These images, called photomicrographs, are typically then viewed by a human and conclusions on quality of the part are made based on human measurement of various features, such as wrinkles or radii in the images.
Manual measurements of various features in the images have several drawbacks including training employees on how to make the measurements, as well as variability in measurement consistency and quality by different people or the same person. Furthermore, manually assessing the images to determine conformance of surface contours of a part to a specification is both subjective and labor intensive.
What is needed is a process for analyzing the photomicrographs that can reduce an amount of time associated with human interpretation of the photomicrographs, and also remove the variability in the measurements that can arise with human interpretation.

Methods and systems to analyze optical images for quantification of manufacturing part quality


A power supply apparatus that can achieve preferable holding and fixing of components constituting the power supply apparatus and can preferably prevent a liquid short-circuit and a leakage of current due to condensed water. The power supply apparatus includes a power supply unit having a plurality of power supply elements stacked with each other, an upper case and a lower case which house the power supply unit. The power supply further includes an auxiliary fastening portion which is fixed to the lower case and provides a space S between a lower surface of the power supply unit and the lower case, and fastening portions that are placed on the left and right of the power supply unit when viewed in a direction in which the power supply elements are stacked. The fastening portions fastening the power supply unit to the upper case.

In conventional power supply apparatuses such as power storage apparatuses including secondary batteries and electric double layer capacitors and fuel cells, a power supply unit including a plurality of power supply elements (battery cells) stacked with each other is housed in a case formed of an upper case and a lower case. The power supply unit (assembled battery, battery module) is secured to the lower case by a fastening member such as a bolt.
The power supply apparatus including the power supply unit housed in the case is fixed to a vehicle body (floor) with the lower case (and/or the upper case) for mounting on the vehicle.
FIG. 8 is a section view showing the conventional power supply apparatus which is formed of a case member including an upper case 10 and a lower case 20 and a power supply unit (power supply module) 30 including a plurality of power supply elements (battery cells, power storage cells, fuel cells or the like) 35 stacked with each other and housed in the case member. The power supply unit 30 is fastened and fixed to the lower case 20, and an extending portion formed in each of the upper case 10 and the lower case 20 is fastened and fixed to a vehicle body 1, thereby mounting the power supply apparatus on the vehicle. Each of the plurality of the power supply elements 35 constituting the power supply unit 30 is formed of a power generation (power storage) element (diagonally shaded area in FIG. 8) and a resin member covering the power generation element. A fastening portion 34 formed in the power supply unit 30 is secured to the lower case 20 by a fastening member 40 in a vertical direction of the power supply unit 30.
Patent Document 1 has described a battery pack in which, in view of the effect of stress from thermal expansion of a power supply unit on a case, the power supply unit is fastened to a lower case by interposing an end plate. In the battery pack described in Patent Document 1, the lower case is not directly fastened to the end plate but is secured thereto with a rail member interposed therebetween.    [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2005-141036 (FIGS. 1, 2, and the like)    [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Laid-Open 2004-071281


A method and apparatus for direct anonymous attestation from bilinear maps. In one embodiment, the method includes the creation of a public/private key pair for a trusted membership group defined by an issuer; and assigning a unique secret signature key to at least one member device of the trusted membership group defined by the issuer. In one embodiment, using the assigned signature key, a member may assign a message received as an authentication request to prove membership within a trusted membership group. In one embodiment, a group digital signature of the member is verified using a public key of the trusted membership group. Accordingly, a verifier of the digital signature is able to authenticate that the member is an actual member of the trusted membership group without requiring of the disclosure of a unique identification information of the member or a private member key to maintain anonymity of trusted member devices. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

For many modern communication systems, the reliability and security of exchanged information is a significant concern. To address this concern, the Trusted Computing Platform Alliance (TCPA) developed security solutions for platforms. In accordance with a TCPA specification entitled "Main Specification Version 1.1b," published on or around Feb. 22, 2002, each personal computer (PC) is implemented with a trusted hardware device referred to as a Trusted Platform Module (TPM).
During operation, an outside party (referred to as a "verifier") may require authentication of the TPM. This creates two opposing security concerns. First, the verifier needs to be sure that requested authentication information is really coming from a valid TPM. Second, an owner of a PC including the TPM wants to maintain as much privacy as possible. In particular, the owner of the PC wants to be able to provide authentication information to different verifiers without those verifiers being able to determine, that the authentication information is coming from the same TPM.
The REAL ID Act of 2005 is Division B of an act of the United States Congress titled Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act for Defense, the Global War on Terror, and Tsunami Relief, 2005, Pub. L. No. 109-13, 119 Stat. 231 (May 11, 2005). The Real ID Act of 2005 creates a standard for the issuing of state driver's licenses. The Real ID Act is a law imposing federal technological standards and verification procedures on state driver's licenses and identification cards, many of which are beyond the current capacity of the federal government, and mandating state compliance by May 2008. One attempt to implement the Real ID Act on state driver's licenses generally exposes privacy sensitive information of the holder of the card. Unfortunately, such security information is often sold, without the owners consent, and used to conduct fraudulent transactions in the owner's name but without the owner's consent. Such activity is generally known as identity theft, which is a widespread phenomenon that is destroying the credit of innocent victims on a daily basis.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Apparatus and method for direct anonymous attestation from bilinear maps


A method of controlling a supply of a fuel to a combustor of a gas turbine having a compressor upstream of the combustor is provided. The method includes: supplying the fuel to the combustor; obtaining a property value of at least one physical property (PT8, PT7, Tinlet, THBOV) of air used for burning the fuel in the combustor; estimating a heat input (HIengmodel) of the fuel supplied to the combustor based on the property value; measuring a Caloric Value (LCVmea) of the fuel upstream of the combustor; adjusting the estimated heat input (HIengmodel) based on the measured Caloric Value (LCVmea); and controlling a fuel valve regulating the supply of the fuel to the combustor based on the adjusted estimated heat input (HIexpected) and a demanded heat input (FFDEM).

US 2009/0071118 A1 discloses a method and a system for modulating the modified Wobbe index (MWI) of a fuel which is supplied to a gas turbine, wherein a heat exchanger is used to preheat the fuel and the MWI of the incoming fuel is monitored, wherein the MWI considers the temperature of the fuel.
US 2010/0275609 A1 discloses a hybrid Wobbe control during rapid response start-up, wherein a temperature of a fuel to be ignited within a combustor of a gas turbine is determined and an additive is introduced into the combustor of the gas turbine when the temperature of the fuel is less than the target temperature.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,490,867 B2 discloses a method of operating a burner and burner configuration, wherein a calorific value of the fuel is determined and the degree of opening of a control element is calculated and directly set using the output and the calorific value resulting in a variable output control that is operationally reliable with respect to perturbations.
Thereby, the calorific value of the fuel is determined from the mass flow and the calorific value of the water and the mass flow and the calorific value of the heating oil.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,854,110 B2 discloses an integrated fuel gas characterization system for determining the amount of energy provided by the fuel prior to combustion of the fuel in the combustion stage, wherein the integrated fuel gas characterization system can include a Wobbe Meter for measuring the Wobbe index of fuel gas before the fuel gas is combusted in the gas turbine and wherein the control system may be designed to adjust one or more operating parameters of the gas turbine engine based on the rate of change of the Wobbe index.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,950,216 B2 discloses a gas turbine engine fuel control system, wherein a controller calculates a desired flow rate based at least on the combustive energy value of the fuel which has been determined by a combustive energy value evaluator, wherein the energy value evaluator determines an energy value of the fuel mixture either directly by measurement or by reference to tables based on mixture ratios.
Thereby, the LHV of the fuel can be determined using the measured temperatures and air mass flow rates of the engine.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,565,805 B2 discloses a method for operating a gas turbine engine system, wherein a processor is programmed to receive a signal indicative of a heating value of the fuel and automatically controls a fuel split between the fuel injection points on the combustor using the determined heating value, wherein fuel nozzles are designed to operate within a limited range of pressure ratios and changes in heating value and fuel gas temperature are accommodated for by increasing or decreasing the fuel nozzle gas passage area. The modified Wobbe index (MWI) represents a measure of the energy injected into the combustor for a given upstream and downstream pressure across a given fuel nozzle gas orifice and is calculated using the fuel lower heating value, the specific gravity with respect to air and the fuel temperature. Further, automatically modulating fuel gas splits in combustor using measured or calculated fuel gas MWI is disclosed.
EP 2 450 551 A2 discloses systems and methods for compensating fuel composition variations in a gas turbine, the method including monitoring at least one fuel parameter associated with a turbine combustor; monitoring one or more combustion dynamics characteristics associated with the turbine combustor; monitoring one or more performance and emissions characteristics associated with the turbine; estimating fuel composition based at least in part on the at least one fuel parameter, the one or more combustion dynamics characteristics, and the one or more performance and emissions characteristics, and adjusting at least one fuel parameter based at least in part on the estimated fuel composition.
Calorimeters may have been used for monitoring fuel properties where gas fuel composition varies, but the slow update rates may have made it difficult to produce effective control loops which maintain stable engine operation. Limiting the allowable rate of change of the fuel properties may help to remedy this problem but this may be often an unacceptable constraint for a particular operation condition or user application. Further, determination of the fuel property purely based on estimation using an engine model may lack accuracy.
It has been observed that conventional methods for controlling a supply of a fuel to a combustor of a gas turbine may not in all circumstances or operating conditions address the issue for maintaining a desired operation of the gas turbine or a stable operation of the gas turbine, when the kind, type or composition of the supplied fuel changes. Further, it has been observed that calorimeter measurements of fuel properties may be too slow in situations of rapidly varying gas composition. Further, conventional methods for estimating of properties of the fuel from engine parameters has been observed to be fast but may be prone to inaccuracies and drift problems.
Thus, there may be a need for a method and for an arrangement for controlling a supply of a fuel to a combustor of a gas turbine, wherein situations in which fuel changes can be handled, in order to provide a stable operation of the gas turbine.

Method and arrangement for controlling fuel supply for a gas turbine


The topography of a surface is measured by utilizing a probe (10, 20) having a variable flexibility and a conductive tip (14, 16). Using the conductive tip (14, 16), a first tunneling current is measured at a first point (36). The tip (14, 16) is moved to a second point (37) and a deflection force is measured. The measurements from the different points (36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41) are combined to provide composite images of the surface's topography and material composition.

The present invention relates, in general, to measuring the topography of surfaces, and more particularly, to measuring the topography of a surface by using a combination of atomic force microscopy and scanning tunneling microscopy.
In the past, a variety of techniques have been utilized to determine the topography of a surface, such as the surface of a semiconductor device. Scanning tunneling microscopy and atomic force microscopy represent two imaging techniques used for such purposes. Scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) is a technique of determining a surface's topography by plotting the value of tunneling current that flows between various points on the surface and an STM probe positioned near the surface. The tunneling current's value is inversely proportional to the work function of the material underlying the probe, the higher the work function the lower the tunneling current. Consequently, STM typically is not suitable for surfaces having a variety of materials because the different work functions of the different materials affect the tunneling current thereby causing inaccurate measurements. Additionally, STM cannot be used for insulating surfaces such as silicon dioxide. Since semiconductor devices typically include a layer of silicon dioxide covering a variety of other materials, STM generally cannot be used to accurately determine the topography of a semiconductor device's surface.
Atomic force microscopy (AFM) is a technique commonly utilized to determine the surface topography of materials, including insulating materials. Although AFM is suitable for measuring the topography of conductors and insulators, AFM cannot determine whether a material is a conductor or an insulator. Consequently, AFM cannot accurately delineate between different materials on the surface.
Accordingly, it is desirable to have a method of using a combination of AFM and STM to provide an accurate representation of a surface's topography and material composition, and a method that performs both AFM and STM measurements using the same probe.

Method and apparatus for measuring the topography of a semiconductor device