A collection of data processing algorithms which, used in concert, are suitable for use in place of a high pass filter stage in an eddy current inspection system and provide for a system optimized to inspect test pieces for elongated defects running parallel to the scan axis. The algorithms use mathematical techniques to eliminate baseline impedance offset between test pieces, correct for offset drift during a scan, and allow for system balancing using only a set of test pieces of unknown quality.

The present invention relates to the inspection of components employing eddy current techniques, and more particularly, to the processing of signals from an eddy current probe array.
Any discussion of the related art throughout the specification should in no way be considered as an admission that such art is widely known or forms part of the common general knowledge in the field.
Eddy current inspection is commonly used to detect flaws in manufactured components, such as tubes or billets. An inspection coil, typically referred to as an eddy current probe, is positioned near a piece to be inspected and driven with high frequency alternating electrical currents which, in turn, create an alternating magnetic field near the surface of the test piece. This magnetic field induces eddy currents in the conductive surface of the test piece which are sensed and measured by the eddy current probe. If a flaw or defect is present on the surface of the test piece, the flow of eddy currents will be altered, and this change will be readily detected by the eddy current probe. The amplitude and position of these current changes can then be analyzed and recorded, for example through visual inspection by a test operator or processed through an automated alarm algorithm, to determine the size and location of the defect or flaw. Eddy current array systems comprise of a plurality of inspection coils arranged in such a way as to be conducive to a particular inspection task.
Both single element and array probe eddy current inspection systems require probe balancing prior to scanning to ensure that flaw detection and sizing is accurate. Certain unavoidable variations, such as exact probe placement, manufacturing differences between coil assemblies, or environmental variables, make it impossible to predict the exact impedance readings sensed by the coil or coils in an eddy current probe for a given surface. Balancing is a process by which a reference reading for each coil in the eddy current probe is measured and recorded. This reference value is then subtracted from all subsequent measurements sensed by each coil, pulling the baseline, or null point, of each impedance reading to zero.
Complicating the issue of coil balancing in an eddy current probe is unit to unit variation among test pieces. Certain factors, such as metallurgic discrepancies or geometric variations, will affect the impedance of each test piece, and therefore result in different eddy currents for the same magnetic field. As a result, the baseline measurement will shift from test piece to test piece. This can be problematic for accurately detecting and sizing flaws.
A second complication concerning probe balancing in eddy current systems is what is typically referred to as baseline drift. In this case, metallurgic, geometric, or temperature variations, for example, along the scan path of a single test piece cause the baseline impedance reading seen by each eddy current coil in the probe to drift within the impedance plane. While these impedance variations are typically anticipated by and within the tolerance of the manufacturing process, they can limit the sensitivity of the eddy current inspection system and impede the detection of small defects.
In prior art systems, these baseline shifts—both those resulting from test piece variation and those resulting from baseline drift—were eliminated with the use of a high pass filter, which would eliminate the DC component of the measured eddy current signals, thus moving the null point of the test piece to zero regardless of the inherent impedance of the test piece, and only pass fluctuations in the measured eddy current signals, which would correspond to defects or flaws. The use of a high pass filter is an effective solution to these problems, but it also introduces a significant limitation. While brief fluctuations in the measured eddy current signal will pass through the high pass filter relatively unaltered, a significantly long defect, such as those likely to be present on a steel tube or bar, will undoubtedly be distorted. This can affect the accuracy and, in some cases, even the detection of a flaw or defect itself. Additionally, a high pass filter with a cut off frequency low enough to be of use, whether implemented digitally or in an analog circuit, would require significant resources and/or processing time.
A method proposed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,218,651 discloses a method which uses at least one eddy current probe fixed in a test head which allows the probe or probes to revolve around a test piece. This technique, and variations thereof, has become standard practice and should be well-known to those familiar with prior art. Using such a method, a defect parallel to the longitudinal axis of a test piece would be reliably measured even with a high pass filter being used to process the raw measurement data. However, such a method invariably requires a complex mechanical fixture, which will increase the cost and decrease the reliability of the test system and significantly limit the speed at which units can be tested. In addition, such a method is only useful for cylindrical test pieces.
Other related and background art can be found in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,152,302, 4,203,069, 3,906,357, 4,673,879, 4,965,519, and 5,371,462. The contents of the aforementioned patents are incorporated by reference herein.
Accordingly it would be advantageous to provide a method of processing signals from an eddy current array which eliminated the effects of differing baseline impedances between test pieces and those of baseline drift while not distorting actual defect data. Further, it would be advantageous if this method were mechanically simple to implement and conducive to high scan rates. It would also be advantageous if this new method were applicable to bars with cross sections of geometries other than round, such as, but not limited to, oval, rectangular, and hexagonal. It would also be advantageous if this new method could be implemented without using an exceeding amount of system resources or processing time.

Method and algorithms for inspection of longitudinal defects in an eddy current inspection system


A mechanism is provided for isolation of device namespace to allow duplicate or common names in root volume group workload partitions. The mechanism creates a scratch file system that contains enough information to create an execution environment for a workload partition and information about which physical volumes to use for the root volume group file systems. The mechanism then populates the root file systems on a disk in the global space. The mechanism boots the workload partition from the scratch file system and configures the devices to be exported to the workload partition based information in the scratch file system. The mechanism then renames the logical volume names to the traditional names. The mechanism then temporarily mounts the root volume group file system onto the scratch file system.

The present application relates generally to an improved data processing apparatus and method and more specifically to mechanisms for isolation of namespace to allow duplicate or common names in a root volume group workload partitions.
A software workload partition (WPAR) provides isolation of software services, applications, and administration utilizing flexible software-defined boundaries within a single instance of an operating system. A software partition has the look and feel of a stand-alone system. A WPAR can be booted, accessed and shut down like a stand-alone machine. The very first environment, the traditional operating system (OS), on top of which WPARs are created is called "the global," i.e. the global environment or the global operating system. Normally, for such partitions, the global stores the file system data and boot information on the local hard disks, and the global boots the WPARs from the local disks.
A WPAR shares the operating system and resources of the host data processing system. Resources accessible to the operating system of the host data processing system are said to belong to a "global space." An application executing in a WPAR may use the WPAR as if the WPAR were a complete data processing system. The application executes in the WPAR without the awareness that the WPAR, and consequently the application, is sharing resources in the global space of the host data processing system. More than one WPAR may share resources in the global space.
A WPAR is configured, started, operated, and eventually terminated in a host data processing system using resources in the global space. Resources utilized by the WPAR during these various stages remain visible, available, and accessible to the operating system of the host data processing system.
A WPAR should support physical storage devices. Once a device has been exported to a WPAR, the WPAR must have exclusive control over the device. The device can be "varied on" and "varied off" from within the WPAR without affecting the global. To "vary on" a device is to activate the device for use. Conversely, to "vary off" a device is to deactivate the device. New logical volumes can be created on the device.

Isolation of device namespace to allow duplicate/common names in root volume group workload partitions

International Business Machines Corporation


Continuous method for making a web of draw strip bags, comprising providing a film web (F) wherein a first portion (11) and a second portion (12) overlap each other with free longitudinal side edges (7, 7′) thereof being essentially aligned with each other, back folding a first part (13) having said free side edge (7) of the first portion (11) outwardly away from said second portion (12) along a first fold line (B) by a first hemmer (120), and by folding a first subpart (15) of said first part (13) along a second fold line (C) whereby the free side edge (7) of the first portion (11) is brought into near alignment with said first fold line (B) while a second subpart (14) of said first part (13) of the first portion (11) remains back folded, whereby said first and second subparts (14, 15) of the first portion define a first hem (H1).

Draw strip bags have been known for several years and are described in various references such as U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,624,654, 5,057,065, 4,832,507 and 4,558,463, FR patents no. 2,291,025 and 1,376,061 and DE patent application 4,244,024. Bags of this type have an opening or mouth at an edge, along which opening a tubular hem on each side of the bag is provided which contains a pliable thermoplastic strip or band. One or more holes in the hems expose the draw strip or strips, allowing it or them to be pulled through the opening and possibly used as a handle while simultaneously closing the open mouth of the bag.
One conventionally employed method of forming the hems and introducing the strip is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,624,654. A flat web of a thermoplastic film or foil with respective longitudinal side edges moves past a continuous draw strip string insertion station. The web of thermoplastic film has initially been folded lengthwise so as to have two opposed portions, which portions lie flatly against each other. By an inward folding along the two longitudinal side edges respective hems are formed, into each of which a continuous draw strip string defining the draw strips is introduced at the insertion station while being unwound from a reel. The continuous web of lengthwise folded film with hems and continuous draw strip strings is thereafter transversely heat sealed and provided with cross-wise perforations to form a web of bags, which web of bags is then rolled up and later severed along the perforations, such as by the end-user, for individualising the draw strip bags.
A distinct characteristic of this conventional method of manufacturing and the apparatus employed to practice it is that the opposed portions of the lengthwise folded film are parted completely such that they no longer contact each other, after which the inward folding along the two longitudinal side edges is carried out simultaneously, as shown in FIG. 3 of U.S. Pat. No. 4,624,654, to form the hems. This complete separation of the opposed portions from each other is required to provide space for the inward folding and the blades or plows, often also referred to as the "hemmers", used for bringing about the inward folding. A disadvantage of this complete separation is that air invariably becomes trapped as the two opposed portions are brought against each other again, as shown in FIG. 9 of that document, for carrying out the subsequent transverse heat sealing. The result is that the web of bags contains entrapped air between the aforementioned opposed portions of the film and cannot be wound up tightly.
It is noted that bags with outwardly folded side edges are also known, see by way of example U.S. Pat. No. 4,832,507. For many applications such bags may however not be desirable, such as where the thermoplastic film is a layered structure including a layer of a recycled thermoplastic material wherein one face of the film has a less aesthetically attractive appearance. This material then becomes visible from the outside of the bag on making the outward folding.

Method and apparatus for making draw strip bags


The electro-optical device having a driving circuit that detects the phase difference between a monitoring signal supplied in synchronization with a data signal and a reference pulse supplied in synchronization with an enable pulse. The driving circuit outputs the result as a phase difference signal. A first phase adjusting circuit roughly adjusts and a second phase adjusting circuit minutely adjusts the phase of the enable pulse. An adjustment control circuit, when the phase of the monitoring signal is delayed with respect to the reference pulse, controls the first circuit to advance the phase of the enable pulse and controls the second circuit to minutely adjust the phase to minimize the difference. When the phase of the monitor signal precedes that of the reference pulse, the adjustment control circuit controls the first circuit to delay the phase of the enable pulse and controls the second circuit to minutely adjust the phase to minimize the difference.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to an electro-optical device, a driving circuit of the same, a driving method of the same, and an electronic apparatus capable of preventing the deterioration of display quality.
2. Related Art
In recent years, a reduced image is formed by a display panel using, for example, liquid crystal, and projectors for projecting the reduced image onto a screen or a wall surface by an optical system have become widespread. The projector does not have a function for forming an image as is and is supplied with image data (or image signals) from a host device, such as a personal computer or a television tuner. Since the image data designates the gray-scale level (brightness) of a pixel and is supplied in a vertical and horizontal scanning manner to the pixels arranged in a matrix, it is preferable that the panel used for the projector be driven in the above-mentioned manner. As a result, the panel used for the projector is generally of a point-sequential type in which the scanning lines are sequentially selected, the data lines are sequentially selected for a period of time when one scanning line row is selected (one horizontal scanning period) and data signals supplied to an image signal line are sampled to the selected data line. Here, the data signal is a signal obtained by properly converting the image data so as to be suitable for driving the liquid crystal.
In addition, in order to cope with a high-definition display image, a driving method called a phase expansion driving method has been considered. During one horizontal scanning period, the phase expansion driving method simultaneously selects a predetermined number of data lines belonging to each group, for example, six lines belonging to one block, and expands the image signal to be supplied to the pixel corresponding to the intersection of the selected scanning lines and the selected data lines by six times along the time axis to respectively sample them to the six data lines corresponding to the selected block.
In both the point-sequential method and the phase expansion method, the same manner is used for sampling the data signal to the data lines.
Here, the data lines are selected by the sampling signal (pulse). Specifically, sampling switches are provided between the image signal line and each data line, and the data signal is sampled to the data lines when the sampling switch is turned on according to the sampling signal. According to this structure, when the pulse widths of the sampling signals corresponding to adjacent data lines (block) overlap with each other, a different data signal from the original data signal is sampled, so that display quality is deteriorated.
Further, in recent years, there has been proposed a technique in which the pulse width of the sampling signal is made smaller by an enable pulse, and the sampling signals output before and after the phase in time do not overlap each other.
Since the panel has a structure in which transistors and various wiring lines are formed on a substrate made of, for example, glass, it is easy for a parasitic capacitor to generate a signal delay due to the wiring resistance. In particular, since a supply path of the enable pulse is different from that of the data signal, although the enable pulse is supplied to the panel so as to be synchronized with the data signal, in the panel, the phase of the enable pulse is deviated with respect to the data signal, so that it is not possible to generate suitable sampling signals.
In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, there has been disclosed a technology in which the monitoring signal supplied in synchronization with the enable pulse is supplied to the panel, the delayed or advanced deviation in the panel is detected, the phase of the enable pulse is adjusted according to the deviation, and the phase deviation of the enable pulse is changed.
In this technology, the phase adjustment is performed by inputting the master clock signal to the delay circuits connected in a cascaded manner, by selecting any one of the outputs of the delay circuits according to the delay time of the enable pulse, and by generating the enable pulse based on the selected master clock signal.
However, since the phase deviation of the enable pulse degrades the display quality, it is preferable that the precision of the phase adjustment be improved as much as possible. In this technology, since the minimum adjustment unit of the phase of the enable pulse depends on the delay time in each delay circuit, shortening the delay time in the delay circuit improves the adjustment precision. However, when the delay time in the delay circuit is short, the phase adjustment range of the enable pulse is narrowed, so that it is difficult to cope with the deviation of the enable pulse. On the other hand, in order to improve the phase adjustment precision of the enable pulse and to ensure the phase adjustment range, it is necessary that a plurality of delay circuits be connected to each other in a cascaded manner. As a result, there is a problem in that the structure becomes complicated.

Electro-optical device, driving circuit of the same, driving method of the same, and electronic apparatus


This invention relates generally to an endoluminal prosthesis, and more particularly, to a stent graft assembly and method for treating branched vessels. The assembly comprises a first prosthesis having an overall shortened length comprising a main body formed of biocompatible graft material having a tapered proximal end. A bifurcated portion extends distally from the main body. The bifurcated portion comprises a first tubular portion defining a first lumen and a second tubular portion defining a second lumen. The assembly further comprises a second prosthesis having a tubular body of biocompatible graft material with a flared distal end portion. The flared distal end portion of the second prosthesis is configured to sealingly engage with the tapered main body of the first prosthesis.

This invention relates generally to medical devices, and more particularly, to endoluminal prostheses such as stent grafts and methods for treating branched vessels.
The functional vessels of human and animal bodies, such as blood vessels and ducts, occasionally weaken or even rupture. For example, a vessel wall can weaken, resulting in an aneurysm, or it may develop a tear in one of the layers of the wall resulting in a dissection.
One common surgical intervention for weakened, aneurysmal or ruptured passageways or ducts involves the use of an endoluminal prosthesis to provide some or all of the functionality of the original, healthy passageway or duct and/or preserve any remaining vascular integrity by replacing a length of the existing passageway or duct wall that spans the site of failure or defect. Endoluminal prostheses may be of a unitary construction or may be comprised of multiple prosthetic segments. They also may be a single tubular device or a bifurcated branching device depending on the desired application or the particular portion of the vasculature being treated.
In many cases, the damaged or defective portion of the vasculature may include a branch vessel extending from a main vessel. Fenestrated and/or branched endoluminal prostheses are known for treating such branch vessels. In one example, an iliac branch device may be placed in the common iliac artery. An iliac branch device generally consists of a main lumen which runs from the common iliac artery (CIA) to the external iliac artery (EIA) with a side branch extending from the main lumen and facing the internal iliac artery (IIA). The proximal end of the iliac branch device may connect directly to an AAA main body graft, or alternatively, the proximal end of the iliac branch device may be sealed to the AAA main body via an intermediate bridging limb.
Introduction of an iliac branch device and successful deployment of the iliac branch device may often depend upon a favorable layout of the arteries. However, the anatomy of the vasculature may be unique from one patient population to the next and also among individual patients. Anatomical limitations may restrict the patient base that is able to receive a branched graft, such as an iliac branch device, the chief limitation being the length of the common iliac artery (e.g. the measured distance from the main aortic bifurcation to the ostium of the internal iliac artery). In one example, branched stent grafts have been used to treat patients having common iliac arteries of a certain average length, such as approximately 40 mm in length or greater. The common iliac artery must be of a certain minimum length in order for the iliac branch device to seat properly, such that the fenestration and/or side branch is adjacent the ostium of the IIA while the proximal end of the iliac branch device does not extend above the aortic bifurcation, for example. However, the length of the common iliac arteries among certain patient populations, particularly in Asia, may be on average shorter, down to 20 mm in length or even less, such that treatment with a standard length iliac branch device may be difficult.


Manufacture of an electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding cover or other enclosure part for housing circuitry of an electronic device. The enclosure part has an exterior surface and an opposing interior surface metallized with an electrically-conductive EMI shielding layer. The layer is sprayed onto the interior surface in a molten state and is solidified to form a corrosion-resistant, self-adherent coating.

The present invention relates broadly to electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding enclosures, such as cases, housings, or parts thereof such as covers, for mobile, i.e., cellular telephone handsets and other electronic devices, and particularly to the manufacture of such enclosures as having a metallized shielding layer which is both conformal and corrosion resistant.
The operation of electronic devices such as televisions, radios, computers, medical instruments, business machines, communications equipment, and the like is attended by the generation of electromagnetic radiation within the electronic circuitry of the equipment. As is detailed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,202,536; 5,142,101; 5,105,056; 5,028,739; 4,952,448; and 4,857,668, such radiation often develops as a field or as transients within the radio frequency band of the electromagnetic spectrum, i.e., between about 10 KHz and 10 GHz, and is termed xe2x80x9celectromagnetic interferencexe2x80x9d or xe2x80x9cEMIxe2x80x9d as being known to interfere with the operation of other proximate electronic devices.
To attenuate EMI effects, shielding having the capability of absorbing and/or reflecting EMI energy may be employed both to confine the EMI energy within a source device, and to insulate that device or other xe2x80x9ctargetxe2x80x9d devices from other source devices. Such shielding is provided as a barrier which is interposed between the source and the other devices, and typically is configured as an electrically conductive and grounded housing which encloses the device. The housing may be formed of a metal such as steel, aluminum, or magnesium, or alternatively, of a plastic or other polymeric material which is loaded with a metal or other electrically-conductive filler or which is provided with a metal or other conductive layer fastened, over-molded, spray painted, dip coated, clad, electrolessly or electrolytically plated, thermal or vacuum metallized, or otherwise generally applied or deposited across the interior surfaces of the housing. The conductive layer may be an electrically-conductive paint, a conductively-filled, molded elastomeric layer, a metal foil laminate, transfer, or liner, a metal plating, or a flame, arc, or other thermally-sprayed metal. A conductive gasket may be used to provide electrical continuity between the coating layers applied to the various mating housing parts. Such housings and methods are further described in commonly-assigned U.S. Pat. No. 5,566,055, in DE 19728839, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,847,317; 5,811,050; 5,442,153; 5,180,639; 5,170,009; 5,150,282; 5,047,260; 4,714,623; and WO 00/29635; 99/43191; 99/40769; 98/54942; 98/47340; 97/26782, and in the following publications of the Chomerics Division of Parker Hannifin Corporation (Woburn, Mass.): xe2x80x9cCHO-SHIELD(copyright) Conductive Compounds;xe2x80x9d xe2x80x9cCHO-SHIELD(copyright) EMI Shielding Covers,xe2x80x9d Technical Bulletin 22, (1996); xe2x80x9cCHO-VER SHIELD(trademark) EMI Shielding Plastic Cover with Molded Conductive Elastomeric Gasket,xe2x80x9d (1999); xe2x80x9cCHO-SHIELD(copyright) 2052 Conductive Coating,xe2x80x9d Technical Bulletin 48, (2000); xe2x80x9cCHO-SHIELD(copyright) 2054 Conductive Coating,xe2x80x9d Preliminary Product Data Sheet, (2000); and xe2x80x9cCHO-SHIELD(copyright) 2056 High Performance Conductive Coating,xe2x80x9d Preliminary Product Data Sheet.
As to thermal spray processes, such processes have been used to apply metal and other coatings to a variety of substrates including metal, ceramic, and plastic. In general, by heating and accelerating particles of one or more materials to form a high-energy particle stream, thermal spraying provides a method by which materials supplied in wire or powder form may be rapidly deposited on a substrate. While a number of parameters dictate the composition and microstructure of the sprayed coating or article, the velocity and temperature of the particles as they impact the substrate often are the determining factors controlling the density and uniformity of the deposition.
One thermal spray process known as xe2x80x9cflame sprayingxe2x80x9d or xe2x80x9cmetallizingxe2x80x9d employs a combustion flame to spray metals and other materials in powder, wire, or rod form onto a metal, plastic, or ceramic substrate. A mixture of a fuel gas such as acetylene, kerosene, propylene, or hydrogen, and an oxygen-containing gas (oxy-fuel) are flowed through a nozzle and ignited within a combustion chamber or at the nozzle tip. The material to be sprayed, which typically is zinc, steel, bronze, molybdenum, aluminum, nickel, or aluminum, but which may be a ceramic, cermet, or a thermoplastic, is metered into the flame where it is heated, and is then atomized using compressed air or another gas to form a fine, molten spray which is propelled to the surface of the substrate. The droplets solidify upon contact with the substrate to form a coating. In a wire spray technique, the feedstock comprises a metal rod or wire which is passed axially or tangentially into the center of the flame front. In a powder spray variation, a metal powder is injected axially into the flame front by means of a carrier gas or by a gravity feed.
Conventional flame spraying is typically a low velocity thermal spray process in the subsonic range and usually produces coatings which have a high degree of porosity. More recently, and as is further described in WO 00/29635, the use of a high velocity oxygen flame (HVOF) has been proposed to improve coating density by accelerating the spray to Mach speeds.
Another thermal spray process known as xe2x80x9cplasma sprayingxe2x80x9d utilizes a high-velocity gas plasma to spray a powdered or other particulate material onto a substrate. To form the plasma, a gas such as argon, nitrogen, hydrogen, or helium, is flowed through the nozzle of a plasma spray gun having an anode and cathode. A potential difference is applied to develop an arc between the electrodes. Resistive heating by the arc causes the gas to ionized into a high-temperature, e.g., 10,000xc2x0 C. or higher, plasma stream. The powder or other particulate to be sprayed is entrained in the plasma and accelerated towards the substrate at a high velocity which may exceed Mach 1.
In another thermal spray technique known as xe2x80x9carc sprayxe2x80x9d which is further described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,546,415 and 4,668,852, two consumable solid or composite wires are employed as electrodes. An electric arc developed in an xe2x80x9carc zonexe2x80x9d between the tips of the wires causes the wires to heat and melt. As the wires melt, the arc is maintained between the tips by the continuous feed of the wires. The molten metal at the wire tips is atomized by a one or more streams of compressed air or another gas, and is accelerated by the gas to a substrate. The molten particles impacting the substrate rapidly solidify to form a coating. Alternatively, the arc spay technique may use non-consumable electrodes and instead, with metallized material being introduced into the arc zone as a powder. Conventional arc spray coatings are known to be generally dense and free of oxide.
Heretofore, a number of approaches have been tried to solve the problem of applying metallized coatings onto metal or plastic housings and other enclosures for electronic device. A preferred method would be economical and reliable, and further would produce EMI shielding coatings which are both corrosion resistant and conformal for covering ribs, walls, and other structures, irregularities, or discontinuities which may be molded or otherwise formed in the enclosure.
The present invention is directed to an electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielded enclosure, such as a case, housing, or a part thereof such as a cover, for mobile telephone handsets and other electronic devices. More particularly, the invention relates to an electrically-conductive, metallic or xe2x80x9cmetallizedxe2x80x9d coating layer for such enclosures which is conformally applied by means of a thermal spray process to an interior surface of a metal or plastic enclosure or enclosure part, such coating layer providing EMI shielding and also corrosion protection.
In an illustrative embodiment, the coating layer is formed by the electric arc spraying of tin, nickel, or an alloy thereof onto the surface of a enclosure part which may be diecast, stamped, machined or otherwise formed of a metal such as aluminum, steel. zinc, or magnesium, or which may be molded of a plastic material such as a polycarbonate (PC), acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS), PC/ABS blend, polysulfone, acrylic, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyphenylene ether (PPE), polystyrene (PS), polyamide, nylon, polyolefin, or a copolymer or blend thereof. The coating layer so formed is self-adherent and conforms to ribs, wall, and other structures, irregularities, or discontinuities which may be formed enclosure part surface. An electrically-conductive gasket may be dispensed or molded onto the part as chemically-bonded or otherwise self-adhered to the coating layer. Alternatively, the gasket may be adhesively bonded onto the coating layer or mechanically fastened to the part over the coating layer.
Advantageously, the metallized coating layer may be formed by a electric arc thermal spray process which is well-characterized so as to be both economical and reliable. Moreover, by virtue of the use of tin, nickel, or an alloy thereof, the coating layer may afford the enclosure with increased corrosion resistance. The metallized coating layer also is compatible with convention EMI shielding gasket materials such as metal-filled urethanes, silicones, and other elastomeric resin which may be molded or dispensed on and self-adhered to the coating layer. These and other advantages will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art based upon the disclosure contained herein.

Manufacture of electronics enclosure having a metallized shielding layer


A method and apparatus for maintaining a determinate operational state for a controller is provided that involves supplying an input voltage to the controller via a main power supply and periodically supplying a voltage step pulse to the controller in addition to the input voltage being supplied to the controller by the main power supply so that the voltage step pulse does not affect the controller's operational state when that state is determinate and so that the voltage step pulse will cause the controller to enter a reset mode when its state is indeterminate because of a low input voltage level being supplied via the main power supply. The voltage step pulse is continuously and periodically supplied to the controller via a low voltage reset circuit regardless of the voltage level being supplied to the controller via the main power supply.

The invention relates to microcontroller-controlled electronic apparatuses, and more specifically to a microcontroller-controlled electronic apparatus utilizing a low voltage reset circuit to protect the microcontroller from operating in an indeterminate state.
There are a variety of known electronic apparatuses that utilize a microcontroller, e.g., a microprocessor, to control one or more associated current-consuming devices that are part of the apparatus. Power is supplied to the microprocessor in such an apparatus from a supply voltage source (designated herein as "VCC") to a voltage supply input pin on the microprocessor (designated herein as "VDD").
If the supply voltage fall's below the microprocessor's minimum acceptable level, the microprocessor will no longer operate properly. This minimum voltage level is the microprocessor manufacturer's minimum operating voltage specification for the microprocessor. When power to the microprocessor falls below this specified minimum operating voltage level, the microprocessor enters an indeterminate state (also known as a lock-up state or a brown-out state). When the microprocessor is in the indeterminate state, it will cease proper execution of its associated software program and predictable program control will no longer exist in the system. As a result, it is no longer possible to effectuate a definite control of the associated devices in the apparatus that the microprocessor otherwise properly controls when in its normal, determinate state.
To solve this problem, manufacturers of many of the more expensive microprocessors provide brown-out protection circuitry internal to the microprocessor chip that measures and monitors the supply voltage (VCC) and operates to shut down or reset the microprocessor to protect it against malfunction in the event of the supply voltage falling below the minimum operating level. A problem with many of these supply voltage level-detection arrangements is that transients in the supply voltage can lead to false resets of the microprocessor. This often results in a malfunctioning electronic apparatus. Further, the added electronic components needed to measure and monitor the supply voltage results in an increase in the cost of the overall integrated circuit. An example of such a microprocessor with brownout detection is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,606,511 to Yach. The Yach arrangement recognizes the false reset problem of supply voltage level detection arrangements and provides a discriminator circuit to distinguish between supply transients and an actual brown-out situation. The addition of this discriminator circuit contributes further to the design complexity and associated costs of the overall integrated circuit.
The field of microprocessor-controlled electronic apparatuses has expanded beyond the traditional uses in large appliances, industrial control applications and automotive arrangements, as discussed in the Yach patent. Those conventional uses generally involve systems having a controlled power supply. The expansion of the field has led to an increasing use of microprocessor-control arrangements in much smaller, portable devices, such as toys, that are battery-controlled. In these portable devices, a microprocessor lock-up situation can leave the device in a state in which power consuming components continue to draw current from the system batteries. Accordingly, the indeterminate state scenario may substantially reduce the product's battery life. The problem of excessive current draw in these portable battery-powered products generates a higher concern than in other arrangements such as AC-powered products because of the increased importance of conserving power in a battery-powered product.
Moreover, when the electronic apparatus is in an indeterminate state, current draw from the associated microprocessor-controlled devices may continue even though the series-connected battery cells in the supply voltage source are nearly depleted. This situation can result when the microprocessor-controlled associated devices were not properly set to an off-state because of the loss of predictable program control in the indeterminate state. As a result, the draining of the voltage supply's battery cells down to low voltage levels below their recommended cut off thresholds can lead to cell reversal and short circuits. In cell reversal, as the charge in a particular cell approaches zero volts, the positive and negative designations may switch to an opposite orientation. As a result, other battery cells in the voltage supply of the apparatus may begin to charge the lowest voltage cell and place energy into it due to the series arrangement of the battery cells within the power supply. Such a situation can lead to undesired and possibly dangerous electrolyte leakage in the portable battery operated products.
Another problem that exists when portable battery-powered microprocessor-controlled products enter an indeterminate state is that the loss of hardware control will often leave some of the microprocessor-controlled associated devices in an ON-state, while others will be turned OFF. This has the further disadvantage of giving the consumer the impression that the apparatus is defective because the entire apparatus is not operational.
In the field of portable, battery-powered microprocessor-controlled products, it is usually not cost-effective to use the more expensive microprocessors described above that have internal brown-out protection circuits. These high-end microprocessors often involve complex circuitry and design and are thus more costly. Thus, many industries manufacturing portable microprocessor-controlled products, such as the toy industry, which produces many battery-operated portable electronic products, put an emphasis on low production costs and simplicity in any necessary electronic circuit designs. The toy industry therefore typically utilizes inexpensive microprocessors in its products. However, these inexpensive microprocessors have no means for shutting down in a predictable manner when a low voltage situation causes the microprocessor to stop execution and enter an indeterminate state. As a result, the associated devices to be controlled by the microprocessor in the portable apparatus could remain in an undesirable state, resulting in the above-described problems that result in battery-powered devices.
It would therefore be desirable to provide a cost-effective apparatus arrangement and method to reset a microprocessor in a portable apparatus to a known state after a low supply voltage has caused the microprocessor to enter an indeterminate state.
It would also be desirable to provide a method for use with battery-powered products having multiple associated devices that will simultaneously shut down all of the devices at the end of battery life to prevent continued current draw as well as consumer perception of a defective product if the device is only partially functioning.
Finally, it would be desirable to provide a reset arrangement and method that also eliminates problems inherent in the prior art supply voltage level detection arrangements such as design complexity and high manufacturing costs, as well as supply voltage transients leading to false system resets.

Electronic apparatus having a low voltage auto-reset circuit


This invention relates to a soft coating for ferrous metal surfaces tanks, having a thickness of about 1-10 mils, comprising over-based alkaline aliphatic-aromatic organic sulfonate salt, an alkaline earth metal or zinc salt of a naphthalene sulfonate, a drying oil, a metal drier, and a paraffinic oil. The coating is particularly useful for coating ferrous metal surfaces, such as ballast tanks, which are exposed to seawater. The invention also relates to a process for inhibiting the corrosion of ballast tanks.

Corrosion of metals can be a significant problem where metal surfaces are exposed to water, air, inorganic metal salts, and the like. One of the most severe sources of corrosion is a seawater environment, that is, seawater itself, seawater mist or spray, or the salty air which can exist near bodies of seawater. A seawater environment can attack and corrode ferrous and non-ferrous metals.
A variety of equipment is subject to corrosion by seawater, including piping, dry-docks, steel cables, superstructures of an equipment on offshore drilling and production rigs, desalination plants, seawater mineral extracting plants, surfaces of ships and barges, and tanks subjected to seawater environment.
Such equipment is quite large in surface area, but is not subject to severe frictional and abrasive force. It requires an inexpensive, yet effective, coating to protect its ferrous metal from the seawater environment. Soft skin coatings which do not contain expensive pigments are useful for this purpose. Although such coatings are not hard, they do provide a "skin" which protects the metal surface from the seawater environment.
Many soft skin coatings are known, such as those disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,925,087, 4,495,225, 4,675,215, and 4,729,791, which provide corrosion protection from aqueous environments for metal surfaces. All of these patents describe soft skin coatings which contain specified combinations of (a) an overbased alkaline earth organic aliphatic or mixed one ring aliphatic-aromatic sulfonate salt, (b) a drying oil, (c) a metal drier, (d) a paraffinic oil, and possibly (e) a solvent. These coatings disclosed provide corrosion resistance for metals which are exposed to aqueous environments, particularly saltwater environments. The thickness of the coatings is usually no greater than 10 mils, but is typically, 1 to 3 mils.
A well known and commercially successful ballast coating within the scope of U.S. Pat. No. 3,925,087 is MAGNAKOTE.RTM. ballast tank coating. This commercial coating is highly effective in inhibiting the corrosion of ballast tanks and other large surface area equipment made of ferrous metals which is exposed to a seawater environment.
In general, a thicker coating will last longer and provide better corrosion resistance than a thinner coating of an equally effective substance, but is more expensive and takes longer to apply. Additionally, when a thicker layer is applied, the coating requires an inconveniently long period of time to cure. In addition, a thicker layer tends to flow, and a coating thickness of greater than about 3 or 4 mils generally cannot be maintained. Further, while these coatings are considered the best available from an economic level for inhibiting the corrosion of ferrous metal surfaces, they are typically useful for only a period of up to two years before a new coat is required. Consequently, longer-lasting corrosion protection is highly desirable.
Accordingly, a need exists for a corrosion inhibiting soft skin coating which will maintain a coating thickness of preferably 3 mils or less, which will cure rapidly, resist sagging, and exhibit exceptionally effective and long-lasting corrosion inhibition.


A floor coating, which is prepared from 55-70% by weight of an epoxy-modified polyurethane resin, 5-10% by weight of Al2O3, 10-25% by weight of SiC, 0.4-1% by weight of a leveling agent, 0.3-1% by weight of a dispersant, 5-10% by weight of a solvent and 0.2-0.8% by weight of a curing agent. A degree of polymerization of the epoxy-modified polyurethane resin is 80-100. A scratch-resistant floor and a preparation method thereof are also disclosed herein.

Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) floor is a lightweight floor decoration material, which is popular around the world, especially in Japan, South Korea, US and European countries. It was introduced in the Chinese market in 1980s, and has been widely used in many places, such as homes, hospitals, schools, office buildings, factories, supermarkets and shopping malls, in large and medium-sized cities in China.
However, the undesirable scratch resistance has always limited the application of the PVC floor. Currently, increasing the thickness of the PVC transparent film is a common way to improve the scratch resistance of the PVC floor; however, it fails to effectively improve the surface scratch resistance.

Scratch-resistant floor and method for producing same, and floor coating

CHANGZHOU BEMATE HOME TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.


A fusion power generating device is disclosed having a relatively small and inexpensive core region which may be contained within an energy absorbing blanket region. The fusion power core region contains apparatus of the toroidal type for confining a high density plasma. The fusion power core is removable from the blanket region and may be disposed and/or recycled for subsequent use within the same blanket region. The high density plasma produces a large radiation and particle flux on the first wall of the plasma core region thereby necessitating replacement of the core from the blanket region from time to time. A series of disposable and replaceable central core regions are disclosed for a large-scale economical electrical power generating plant.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention is in the field of fusion power generators, particularly those utilizing fusion reactors of the magnetic confinement type.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Prior art concepts with regard to utilization of fusion energy for the economic production of power have been premised upon an ultimate design of a large scale reactor able to produce the desired power and lasting a sufficiently long time to justify the large capital investment required to build the reactor. The economics of a large capital investment with a long reactor lifetime have been carried over from the fission reactor field as an inherent basis in the design of economic fusion power plants. Consequently, plasma temperatures and densities have been parameterized to yield a maximum wall loading of the first wall (vacuum wall surrounding the plasma) consistent with durability of wall materials and a long replacement time which is economically acceptable. Typically, a maximum wall loading of 1-3 MW/m.sup.2 has been thought reasonable with a minimum replacement time of approximately five years.
Consistent with the projected long life of the fusion reactor, the plasma core has traditionally been made large so as to allow large power output with low energy loadings on the first wall as well as for reasons of plasma confinement in the regimes of traditional interest. Furthermore, the plasma core has traditionally been surrounded directly with a thick material blanket region to absorb the plasma-generated neutron energy as well as to protect the large and expensive magnetic field windings surrounding the blanket. These large field windings, required to confine plasma in the plasma core, must be large enough to surround the plasma core. Traditionally, superconducting magnets have been utilized in order to reduce the power required to drive the magnetic coils, and the blanket thus served to remove the coils from the regime of high neutron fluxes and associated radiation damage to which the superconductors are susceptible. Such superconducting magnets have a limited magnetic field capability of between approximately 80 and 150 kilogauss. The maximum permissible density and temperature of the plasma is in turn dictated by the strength of the magnetic field possible which, because of the foregoing considerations has been limited to the maximum strength available from the superconducting magnets. Thus, traditional fusion device concepts have involved large plasma volumes, thick blankets of large volume, low first wall loadings, and the use of large, expensive superconducting magnets placed outside the regions of the blanket, plasma core, and any added auxiliary shielding.
In utilizing large volume experimental reactors of the tokamak-type, and in the conceptual design of practical large volume toroidal reactors, ohmic heating inherently plays a negligible role in the process of raising the plasma temperatures to values of thermonuclear interests. This is true because the current density which can be induced in any toroidal plasma configuration is proportional to the magnetic field divided by the major radius of the torus. For the fields attainable by superconducting magnets and the dimensions of traditionally envisioned toroidal devices, the current density is insufficient to yield significant ohmic heating of the plasma. Thus, in both the experimental and conceptual designs large sources of energetic beams of neutral particles have been utilized to provide power to the plasma on the order of tens to hundreds of megawatts. Neutral beam injection techniques require the utilization of large access ports to the plasma through the surrounding magnetic structure thus adding to the cost and complexity of any practical fusion power plant. Additionally, in order to ensure proper beam penetration to the center of the plasma column, operation of neutral beam injection devices has been limited to plasma densities the order of 10.sup.14 /cm.sup.3.
As experimental fusion devices, blankets have typically not been employed inasmuch as they are unnecessary to study many of the basic physical processes involved in the plasma such as plasma fusion ignition, confinement, plasma heating and fusion reaction studies. The tokamak has provided an experimental tool for testing the feasibility of plasma confinement and has been the subject of extensive experimentation, e.g., see "The Tokamak Approach in Fusion Research" by Bruno Coppi et al, Scientific American, July 1972, U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,778,343 and "Tokamak Experimental Power Reactor Conceptual Design", Vols. 1 and 2, ANL/CTR-76-3 (August 1976), all of which documents are incorporated herein by reference. One particular tokamak device, the Alcator, has been designed to achieve large plasma currents with high toroidal magnetic field strengths. Typically, plasma currents on the order of 100 kiloamps with field strengths up to 82 kilogauss have been obtained. In such experimental devices, plasmas with densities up to 9.times.10.sup.14 particles per cubic centimeter with temperatures up to 1 keV have been contained. However, the Alcator approach is not typical of the majority of prior art devices which have focused on toroidal devices of much lesser density, larger dimension, smaller magnetic fields and which require extensive auxiliary heating (generally by neutral beam injection) to strive for plasma ignition temperatures.
The approach of a very high yield, high density and a small compact device such as the Alcator has been considered in the prior art as limited to merely academic interest for purposes of physics studies of plasma behavior but has not been considered of interest for future applications to practical fusion power production.
Another experimental area that has been developed for the magnetic confinement of thermonuclear plasma is embodied in the stellarator concept. While in the tokamak, the confining magnetic field is partially produced by external coils and partially by the current induced in the plasma, in a stellarator, the confining field is produced only by external coils. Both the tokamak and the stellarator, however, may be considered forms of a toroidal plasma confinement device.

Modular fusion power apparatus using disposable core


Embodiments for enabling snapshot backups in a global name space of a cluster network, by representing the name space of cluster network in an MTree, storing data files organized in a B+ Tree format on one or more data nodes, storing name specific information of the data files in a B+ Tree format in a meta node, wherein a B+ Tree of the meta node accesses each corresponding B+ Tree in each of the one or more data nodes. The process takes snapshot backups of individual MTree limbs, and links the limbs of each snapshot into groups based on a cluster identifier and snapshot identifier.

Snapshot backups capture an entire instance or copy of an application, disk, or system to create a frozen image of a given file set at any given point of time. Different implementations of snapshot backups provide different levels of data capture. For example, some provide name space level snapshots, others provide block storage level point in time copies, while some others provide even individual file level versioning, and so on. Any snapshot backup implementation must first quiesce the affected file set or storage involved and stabilize the content to create the snapshot copy. In single node systems with a local name space, this step is typically manageable, however complex might be a given data storage implementation.
A distributed file system (DFS) or network file system is a file system that allows access to files from multiple hosts through a computer network, thus allowing multiple users on multiple machines to share files and storage resources. Distributed file systems have the advantage of being able to increase their capacity and capability through the incremental addition of compute and storage resources on a local area network. This is distinct from traditional file systems, such as the Linux EXT3 or Windows NTFS, that run on a single computer (or "node"), and maintain local name spaces.
While stabilizing a single storage node system for snapshot backups is relatively easy, a name space or the storage architecture that involves a distributed global name space poses greater challenges. In distributed file systems that provide a global name space where the affected name space spans multiple storage nodes, it becomes more complex to coordinate quiescing the affected limbs spread among the concerned storage nodes. In a clustered network using a distributed name space, there are thus significant challenges in taking snapshot backups across the cluster.
What is needed, therefore, is a system and method of creating a globally self-consistent point in time image of the file set to create the snapshot backup.
The subject matter discussed in the background section should not be assumed to be prior art merely as a result of its mention in the background section. Similarly, a problem mentioned in the background section or associated with the subject matter of the background section should not be assumed to have been previously recognized in the prior art. The subject matter in the background section merely represents different approaches, which in and of themselves may also be inventions. Dell, EMC, Networker, Data Domain, and Data Domain Boost are trademarks of Dell/EMC Corporation.

Global snapshot backups of a distributed name space


The present invention provides a digital television receiving antenna for a plug-and-play device. The digital television receiving antenna includes a first conducting portion; and a second conducting portion, coupled to the first conducting portion and having a resonance path, wherein the second conducting portion is position-adjustable relatively to the first conducting portion, and an effective length of the resonance path is greater than a straight-line distance between two end points of the resonance path.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an antenna, and more particularly, to a digital television receiving antenna for a plug-and-play device.
2. Description of the Prior Art
There are three main technical standards in ground digital television broadcasting technology globally: ATSC (Advanced Television Systems Committee) in America, DVB-T (Digital Video Broadcasting-Terrestrial) in Europe, and ISDB-T (Terrestrial Integrated Services Digital Broadcasting) in Japan. Distinct from the traditional analog television broadcasting system utilizing NTSC (National Television Standard Committee) standard, the digital television broadcasting system transfers television signals from an analog format to a digital format. After digitized, the television signals can be further compressed using an appropriate signal processing algorithm before transmission, and thus the transmission efficiency of the operating bandwidth can be enhanced. Moreover, noises in the digitized television signals generated during the transmission can be easily removed using an appropriate signal processing algorithm, thereby greatly improving signal quality at the user end. Compared with other systems, the DVB-T system not only has the advantage of mobile reception capability, but also effectively solves the multi-path interference problems utilizing the coded orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (COFDM) standard. Accordingly, the DVB-T system is utilized in Taiwan currently.
Presently, it is common to design a digital television signal receiving or demodulating module on a small-sized system ground component in a digital television receiving device. It is also common to utilize a universal serial bus (USB) interface in a desktop or notebook computer to connect with a plug-and-play digital television receiving device. Typically, the plug-and-play digital television receiving device utilizes an external antenna, and thus an additional transmission cord for connecting the antenna to the device is necessary. The additional transmission cord not only consumes excessive space, but also degrades the portability and the appearance of the whole device. Further, frequent attachment/detachment of the transmission cord to/from the device may cause the problem of contact failure between components of the device. For example, a telescopic monopole antenna is conventionally used as the external antenna. In such a case, the whole dimension of the conventional telescopic monopole antenna in use is comparatively large, and that is an obvious drawback in practical application.

Digital television receiving antenna for plug-and-play device


A method for automated classification of curve patterns associated with dynamic image data of a lesion in a subject in order to determine characteristics of the lesion. The method comprising the steps of loading the image data into an electronic memory means, producing a plot of signal intensity profile, converting the signal intensity profile into a contrast enhancement profile, detecting a reference enhancement profile having a highly positive slope over an initial enhancement period followed by a decreasing profile portion, deriving signature curve types based on the reference enhancement profile, classifying an enhancement curve for each pixel in a selected ROI into one of the derived signature curve types using all available time points and displaying a grid-plot of the classified enhancement curves for all pixels in the selected ROI, wherein the overall display of curves and heterogeneity provides visual indication of the characteristics of the lesion.

The process of measuring functional information such as blood flow within a body of a subject non-invasively is useful in diagnosing and treating the subject. This is particularly the case where a part of a subject or patient, such as a tissue or organ, suffers from diseases due, for example, to cancer or malfunction. Identifying and analysing the characteristics of blood passing through such a tissue or organ can provide important information to medical personnel in order to determine an appropriate treatment regime for the patient.
Existing systems pertaining to the obtaining of blood flow information in vivo have been disclosed. In general, the systems involve a contrast agent that is delivered as an intravascular bolus during a dynamic imaging session such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computerized tomography (CT), nuclear medicine (NM) or positron emission tomography (PET). The temporal profile of the image intensity in a pixel or region of interest (ROI) reflects the characteristics of the contrast agent and hence the blood passing through the tissue.
For example, a typical breast MRI study involves at least one baseline scan before the contrast agent is injected and at least two post-contrast scans after the injection. A commonly used method for diagnostic screening of breast cancer is based on a subjective evaluation of the signal intensity time-curve of a ROI using a visual classification system. FIG. 1 shows a classification system for visual evaluation of five types of enhancement curves of signal intensity as a function of time, where the higher numbered curves are interpreted as representing more aggressive tumor types. The initial sharp rise in plots III, IV and V is due to rapid contrast enhancement. Such a classification scheme was used to achieve very good diagnostic performance in differentiating malignant from benign breast lesions (Daniel, et al. "Breast disease: dynamic spiral MR imaging", Radiology 209, pp 499-509, 1998).
A breast MRI study usually generates many hundreds of images, it can be very time consuming for medical personnel to review all the images. Methods using computer algorithms have been disclosed in an attempt to automatically detect and characterize lesions into malignant or benign classes with dynamic MRI images (see U.S. Pat. No. 6,353,803 and United States Patent Application Nos 20050074149, 20060018548 and 20060110018). In addition, lesion morphology such as architectural features identified on high spatial resolution images may reflect the underlying pathology and hence may be used to characterize lesions as benign or malignant. Methods combining kinetic and morphologic information in order to provide optimal discrimination between benign and malignant disease have also been disclosed (see U.S. Pat. No. 6,317,617 and United States Patent Application No 20060245629). However, existing methods used for classifying the enhancement curves are based on arbitrary selection of a limited number of time points, and subsequent classification based on calculated descriptive parameters are more sensitive to image noise fluctuations. Further, these methods provide no statistical significance information associated with the classification for the enhancement curve of each pixel.
Although specialist tools providing automated detection and classification of abnormalities can potentially help ease many of the image reviewing challenges, such tools are not widely available, and the reliability of such tools is yet to be validated. Most commonly used tools available from either commercial or academic software for dynamic enhancement analysis include simple subtraction, maximum intensity projection (MIP), multi-planar reconstruction (MPR) and signal intensity time-curve analysis. The time-curve analysis in everyday practice uses the region of interest (ROI) method, where the subtraction images are used to guide the ROI placement over the suspected lesion by the user, while the time-curve of the ROI average signal intensity is presented for visual evaluation and classification.
However, it should be noted that heterogeneity of curve shapes within a lesion is also diagnostically informative. A malignant tumor may well enhance with different types of curve shapes in different anatomical areas, which is a strong indicator of malignancy. The commonly used ROI method in everyday practice is prone to partial volume effects and could not effectively present such heterogeneous information to the user for detailed analysis. It is desirable for a system to provide automated classification of curve patterns with statistical significance information using all available time points of the data, coupled with simultaneous visualization of detailed spatial and temporal information in a real time fashion, which is particularly useful in a busy clinical environment.
The present invention seeks an improved method to substantially overcome or at least ameliorate any one or more of the above-mentioned disadvantages associated with automated classification and visualization of both morphologic and kinetic information in order to assist medical personnel to most efficiently characterize the lesion for optimal discrimination between benign and malignant disease.

Identification and analysis of lesions in medical imaging

APOLLO MEDICAL IMAGING TECHNOLOGY PTY. LTD.


A storage device has a storage medium, a controller, and a session manager. The storage medium is partitioned into one or more security partitions. The controller is adapted to read and write data to and from the storage medium and to enable security sessions over an interface between one or more host systems and one or more security partitions. The session manager within the storage device is adapted to monitor parameters associated with the one or more security sessions.

Disc drives and other storage subsystems, including flash memory devices and removable storage devices, typically have a processor (sometimes called a microprocessor) in their built-in electronics. Computing devices offer more and more security features every day, from improved encryption technologies to personal firewalls and the like. Recently, storage devices (both internal and external to host computer systems and stand-alone storage systems) have been designed and/or configured to offer some level of additional security.
One security technique is described in co-pending application Ser. No. 09/912,931, filed on Jul. 25, 2001, entitled "METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR PROMOTING SECURITY IN A COMPUTER SYSTEM EMPLOYING ATTACHED STORAGE DEVICES ", which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Another technique is described in co-pending application Ser. No. 10/984,368, filed Nov. 9, 2004, entitled "SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DELIVERING VERSATILE SECURITY, DIGITAL RIGHTS MANAGEMENT, AND PRIVACY SERVICES FROM STORAGE CONTROLLERS", which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
One type of security technique uses security partitions of a storage device to host security provider applications and files. Security sessions can be initiated with the security provider applications and files on the storage device over an interface. As used herein, the term "session" refers to an interaction between system entities (such as a host computer and a storage device), sometimes involving a user, wherein a selected state is maintained for the duration of the interaction. Such an interaction may not be limited to a single connection between the system entities. Generally, a security session comprises a secure interaction with data and/or computer readable instructions stored, for example, in one or more security partitions implemented on the storage device.
Conventionally, sessions are terminated by the host system. However, there are instances where system security or system priorities dictate a need to terminate a session before the activity occurring within the session is complete or before the session terminates due to completion. Unfortunately, the host system is ill-equipped to detect such scenarios.
Therefore, there is an ongoing need for a means for detecting a termination condition and for terminating the security session. Embodiments of the present invention provide solutions to these and other problems, and offer other advantages over the prior art.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


When a content write unit records a content on a medium, a control unit controls to record a dummy license which is generated by a dummy license generation unit and an expiration time limit is set into a past time, into the medium. When a recording of the content on the medium is completed, the control unit controls to delete the dummy license recorded on the medium and to record a normal license into the medium.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a content record terminal, a content record/reproduction system, a content recording method and the like for storing a video image content, a sound content or the like in a medium connected to a video image recording terminal.
2. Related Art of the Invention
In recent years, a video image distribution service which uses a communication network (communication line) has spread. In such a video image distribution system which includes a video image distribution server distributing a video image content or the like, a communication network consisting of a network outside a house, such as an Internet, and a network in the house, a video image receiving terminal apparatus connected to the network in the house (hereafter, expressed as a "video image receiving terminal"), and the like, a user can use a VOD (Video On Demand) service, IP (Internet Protocol) broadcasting, a video image download service and the like which are provided from a video image server of a communication enterprise or a video image distribution enterprise, by operating the video image receiving terminal used for viewing the video image.
FIG. 8 shows a diagram for describing processing details of the video image content, in a conventional video image download service.
In a conventional video image download service, as shown in FIG. 8, a video image receiving terminal 200 downloads a video image content from a video image distribution server 210 and stores the content in the built-in HDD 201.
The video image receiving terminal 200 is permitted to reproduce the video image content by a viewing license which is acquired when the video image content is purchased. Then the video image receiving terminal 200 can decrypt and output the video image content stored in the HDD 201. The video image receiving terminal 200 outputs the video image content to a display 202 connected or the like, and the video image content can be viewed. When writing the video image content into another medium is permitted, the video image receiving terminal 200, after decrypting the video image content stored in the HDD 201 and encrypting the decrypted content to export, can also write the video image content into a removable medium 203.
When the video image download service is used, the video image content has to be managed.
For example, the video image distribution server 210 side which distributes the video image content has to recognize whether the video image content has been downloaded correctly or not for permitting the video image receiving terminal 200 to reproduce the video image content. For a video image content in a rental service in which a viewing term is limited, the video image receiving terminal 200 side performs deleting of the video image content promptly when a viewing expiration time limit expires.
As explained above, rights of a service enterprise and a user can be protected by managing the video image content appropriately.
A method, in which the video image distribution server checks a completion of download of the video image content by acquiring another different license from a viewing license from the video image distribution server before the download service is performed for managing the video image content appropriately, is disclosed (see, for example, Patent Document 1 (International Publication No. 2008-146913)).
In the check method of the completion of download of the video image content in the Patent Document 1, first, the different license from the viewing license is acquired before the download of the video image content is started. Since a time short enough is set up as an expiration time limit of the license, the license cannot be used for reproducing the video image content. When the video image receiving terminal completes the download of the video image content, the video image receiving terminal requests to acquire the viewing license to a DRM (Digital Right Management) server of the service enterprise by using the license. The DRM server can recognize the completion of the download of the video image content in the video image receiving terminal by the request to acquire the viewing license.
As described above, a check of the completion of the download of the video image content is realized at the server side.
However, in the above conventional download service, there is a problem that a part that is downloaded of the video image content remains in a recording medium to record in the video image receiving terminal when the download of the video image content is interrupted.
The download of the video image content has a high possibility of being interrupted. External factors such as power discontinuity or internal factors such as starting of another application can be considered as causes of the interruption.
When the download is suddenly interrupted due to such causes, an incomplete video image content which has not been downloaded completely remains in an HDD or a removable medium which is a recording medium in the video image terminal side. Such an incomplete video image content may remain in the recording medium as what is called a garbage file.
Such a garbage file presses the capacity of the recording medium. Furthermore, an opportunity of analyzing the video image content is given to a malicious user or a malicious terminal. The expiration time limit of the license, which is used in the check method of the completion of download of the video image content in the Patent Document 1, is set as a time short enough because the license is used to manage the completion of the download. Therefore, when the expiration time limit of the license expires, some video image receiving terminals delete only the licenses, and so that data of the video image content may remain as it is.
When especially the video image content is recorded on the removable medium, carrying to other terminals is easy and it becomes easy for the malicious user to analyze the video image content.
In view of the above-described conventional problems, it is an object of the present invention to provide a content record terminal, a content record/reproduction system, a content recording method and the like, which can delete a garbage file having the incomplete video image content appropriately even when a recording process of a video image content to a recording medium is interrupted.

Content record terminal, content record/reproduction system, and content recording method


Methods and apparatus for a backside illuminated (BSI) image sensor device are disclosed. A BSI sensor device is formed on a substrate comprising a photosensitive diode. The substrate may be thinned at the backside, then a B doped Epi-Si(Ge) layer may be formed on the backside surface of the substrate. Additional layers may be formed on the B doped Epi-Si(Ge) layer, such as a metal shield layer, a dielectric layer, a micro-lens, and a color filter.

Complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) image sensors are gaining in popularity over traditional charged-coupled devices (CCDs). A CMOS image sensor typically comprises an array of picture elements (pixels), which utilizes light-sensitive CMOS circuitry to convert photons into electrons. The light-sensitive CMOS circuitry typically comprises a photo-diode formed in a silicon substrate. As the photo-diode is exposed to light, an electrical charge is induced in the photo-diode. Each pixel may generate electrons proportional to the amount of light that falls on the pixel when light is incident on the pixel from a subject scene. The electrons are converted into a voltage signal in the pixel and further transformed into a digital signal.
A CMOS image sensor, which may be referred as a CMOS sensor, may comprise a plurality of dielectric layers and interconnect layers formed on the substrate, connecting the photo diode in the substrate to peripheral circuitry. The side having the dielectric layers and interconnect layers is commonly referred to as a front side, while the side having the substrate is referred to as a backside. Depending on the light path difference, CMOS image sensors can be classified as front-side illuminated (FSI) image sensors and back-side illuminated (BSI) sensors.
In an FSI image sensor, light from the subject scene is incident on the front side of the CMOS image sensor, passes through dielectric layers and interconnect layers, and falls on the photo diode. In contrast, in a BSI image sensor, light is incident on the backside of the CMOS image sensor without the obstructions from the dielectric layers and interconnect layers. As a result, light can hit the photo diode through a direct path. Such a direct path helps to increase the number of photons converted into electrons, which makes the CMOS sensor more sensitive to the light source.
In order to improve quantum efficiency of BSI image sensors, the substrate of BSI image sensors may be thinned. In addition, through an ion implantation process, a thin P+ layer may be formed on the thinned substrate to further improve quantum efficiency. Subsequently, a laser annealing process may be performed to activate the implanted P+ ions as well as repair crystal defects caused by the ion implantation process. Such a laser annealing process may cause dark mode image stripe patterns due to laser scanning boundary effects on the image sensor. To avoid such dark mode image stripe patterns, a thin oxide layer may grow to protect the silicon surface. Such a sequence of process on the backside of the substrate is long and costly. Methods for reducing the processing sequence for the BSI sensors while improving quantum efficiency are of interest.
Corresponding numerals and symbols in the different figures generally refer to corresponding parts unless otherwise indicated. The figures are drawn to clearly illustrate the relevant aspects of the various embodiments and are not necessarily drawn to scale.

Method and apparatus for backside illumination sensor

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.


The present invention provides processing systems, apparatuses, and methods that access a scratch pad on-demand to reduce power consumption. In an embodiment, an instruction fetch unit initiates an instruction fetch. When a scratch pad is enabled, an instruction is retrieved from the scratch pad in parallel with a translation of a virtual address to a physical address. If the physical address is associated with the scratch pad, the retrieved instruction is provided to an execution unit. Otherwise, the scratch pad is disabled to reduce power consumption and the instruction fetch is re-initiated. When the scratch pad is disabled, an instruction is retrieved from another instruction source, such as an instruction cache, in parallel with the translation of the virtual address to the physical address. If the physical address is associated with the scratch pad, the scratch pad is enabled and the instruction fetch is re-initiated.

An instruction fetch unit of a microprocessor is responsible for continually providing the next appropriate instruction to an execution unit of the microprocessor. Generally, an instruction fetch unit computes a virtual address for the next instruction to be fetched, translates the virtual address to a physical address, retrieves an instruction corresponding to the physical address, and provides the instruction to the execution unit.
When multiple instruction sources such as an instruction cache and scratch pad are available, the instruction fetch unit may not be able to determine which instruction source to use to retrieve the desired instruction until the virtual address is translated into a physical address. Rather than waiting for the virtual address to be translated, a conventional instruction fetch unit may access all of the instruction sources simultaneously while the address is translated. After the address translation is completed, a conventional instruction fetch unit will inspect the retrieved instructions to determine if the desired instruction was retrieved by one of the instruction sources. If none of the instruction sources has retrieved the desired instruction, a conventional instruction fetch unit uses the translated address to target the appropriate instruction source to retrieve the desired instruction.
Although, accessing all the instruction sources simultaneously may reduce the time required to retrieve an instruction, it unnecessarily consumes a significant amount of the total power of a microprocessor. This makes microprocessors having conventional fetch units undesirable and/or impractical for many applications.
What is needed is a microprocessor that can access a variety of instruction sources while consuming less power than a microprocessor having a conventional fetch unit.

Processor accessing a scratch pad on-demand to reduce power consumption


A system and method for measuring viscosity of a layer of wet paint on a surface by deforming the layer of paint, measuring the response of the deformed layer of paint, and determining the viscosity based on the measured response.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a method for measuring the viscosity of paint. More particularly, the present invention relates to a system and method for measuring the viscosity of a layer of wet paint after it has been applied to a surface.
2. Description of Related Art
The measurement and control of paint viscosity is an important part of any paint application process. Viscosity measurements are especially important in spray painting systems where small variations in paint viscosity can drastically affect the quality, durability and appearance of the paint coating.
Typically, the viscosity of paint is monitored while the paint is still in a spray tank and prior to applying the paint to a surface. A standard liquid viscometer is utilized for this type of paint viscosity monitoring. The results of the paint viscosity monitoring are used to determine the propensity of the paint to run, sag, or peel.
The problem with measuring paint viscosity prior to application is that the actual viscosity of the paint layer on the painted surface is usually different from the viscosity measured in the spray tank. Accordingly, measurement of paint viscosity in the spray tank only provides an indirect indication of the actual viscosity of the paint at the application site. Changes in parameters which may occur during the operation of the painting system can result in the surface viscosity of the applied paint changing while the viscosity of the paint in the spray tank remains the same. Unfortunately, such variations are only noticed when the applied paint layer runs, sags or otherwise becomes unacceptable.
The most desirable method for measuring and monitoring paint viscosity would be to measure the viscosity of the paint after it has been applied to a surface. Direct viscosity measurement of the layer of paint after application is more meaningful because it provides a direct indication of the likelihood of the paint to run, sag or peel. Further, direct measurements of the viscosity of the applied layer of paint can be made at selected times after application to provide direct information on paint curing behavior. There are also numerous other advantages which are inherent in being able to directly measure the viscosity of paint once it is applied to a surface. As in any measurement or monitoring system, direct measurement of a parameter, such as viscosity, is preferable to indirect measurement.
Although there are numerous advantages inherent in measuring the viscosity of paint at the application site, a major problem involves being able to make such direct measurements without destroying or otherwise permanently disturbing the paint layer. Destruction or disturbance of the paint layer is especially undesirable for automobiles, airplanes, appliances, and the like, where a flawless finish is important.
As is apparent from the above, it would be desirable to provide a system and method for directly monitoring the viscosity of a layer of wet paint on a surface during the painting process. Further, the process must be non-destructive in that the disturbance or destruction of the paint is minimized. Such a non-destructive and direct testing method would enable one to more accurately control paint viscosity to avoid the running, sagging, and peeling of paint which may result when viscosity is measured only in the spray tank.

Paint viscosity monitoring system and method


The present invention broadly relates to a tail cone assembly for a helicopter. The tail cone assembly includes a monocoque shell formed from a composite material. The composite material preferably comprises a non-metallic matrix, such as an epoxy resin matrix, having fibers, such as graphite fibers, embedded therein. The fibers may be oriented along a single axis or along multiple axes. Other components of the tail cone assembly may also be formed from composite materials, which composite materials may be the same as or different from the composite material forming the shell.

The present invention relates to a tail cone formed from a composite material. The tail cone has particularly utility on helicopters.
Conventional tail cones on helicopters are formed from metallic materials such as aluminum and aluminum alloys. As a result, these tail cones are heavy and expensive to produce. There is a need for tail cone assemblies formed from lightweight, inexpensive materials which have strength properties similar to, or better than, conventional metal tail cone assemblies.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a tail cone which is lighter in weight and less expensive than conventional tail cone assemblies.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a tail cone as above which has particular utility on helicopters.
The foregoing objects are attained by the tail cone of the present invention.
In accordance with the present invention, a tail cone broadly comprises a monocoque shell formed from a composite material. The composite material preferably comprises a non-metallic matrix, such as an epoxy resin matrix, having fibers, such as graphite fibers, embedded therein. The fibers may be oriented along a single axis or along multiple axes. Other components of the tail cone assembly may also be formed from composite materials, which composite materials may be the same as or different from the composite material forming the shell.


A diverter valve for an appliance such as a washing machine or the like provides a valve plate that can be moved by a DC motor both rotationally about an axis and axially along the axis to allow the valve plate to be retracted from engagement with a valve seat before rotation and reengaged after rotation permitting operation with a low-power DC motor.

Modern appliances can provide improved efficiency in water usage and cleaning material usage by timing the introduction of cleaning materials at different points during the cycle. Handling different cleaning materials, such as soaps, bleaches, and softeners, is most conveniently done by preloading the materials into dedicated chambers which are then flushed by the incoming wash water directed through the chamber at specific times. Control of multiple streams of wash water for this purpose can be performed by a diverter valve array typically being multiple solenoid-driven valves receiving water from a common conduit and directing it along multiple different pathways. The solenoids of the valves used for this purpose usually employ line voltages to actuate requiring additional measures to be taken to ensure a high degree of electrical insulation and isolation from the water supply. The use of different independently operable solenoids introduces multiple possible single point failures which could independently lead to flooding. These valve systems are also large and relatively costly.
Because the diverter valve can be used for the release of cleaning materials, it is important that the diverter valve operate to fully block water flow between those outlets not in use so as to prevent minor water flow from releasing cleaning materials prematurely.

Single actuator multiple position appliance diverter valve


Ion exchange membranes or films are made from a solution of perfluorinated cycloalkanes, perfluorinated aromatic compounds and perfluorotrialkyl amines having a critical temperature greater than 150.degree. C. and certain carboxylic fluorinated polymers having an equivalent weight greater than 900. A process for repairing ion exchange membranes and films by spray coating the surface of the membrane or film with the solution is also claimed. The ion exchange membranes and films are useful in chloroalkali cells or fuel cells.

1. Field of the Invention
A process for making or repairing ion exchange membranes from a solution of fluorinated polymers is disclosed. The solution comprises perfluoro cycloalkane, perfluorinated aromatic compounds or perfluorotrialkyl amine solvents and fluorinated polymers having carboxyl groups and an equivalent weight greater than 900. The solvents have a critical temperature greater than 150.degree. C.
2. Technical Background
The present invention relates to electrolytic cells and particularly to electrolytic halogen generating cells in which a ion exchange membrane separates the anode and cathode within the electrolytic cell. Specifically, this invention relates to methods for making and for repairing these ion exchange membranes. More specifically, this invention concerns a process for making ion exchange membranes from solutions of fluorinated polymers having carboxyl groups and an equivalent weight greater than 900. The solutions are made from novel solvents which dissolve certain alkyl carboxylate forms of fluorinated polymers which are copolymers of tetrafluoroethylene ("TFE") and certain perfluorovinylether comonomers. The solvents readily dissolve such polymers more completely and at lower temperatures than previously disclosed solvents, an advantage in equipment utilization and other manufacturing concerns. The ion exchange membranes are particularly useful in an electrolytic cell such as a chloralkali cell or a fuel cell. The solutions are also useful as corrosion resistant spray coatings for a multitude of materials.
The prior art generally discloses the solubility of certain fluorinated polymers but there is no mention of full solutions of carboxylic fluorinated polymers having high equivalent weights in this class of inventive solvents, particularly at low temperatures. There is also no mention of a process to make or repair ion exchange membranes from such solutions.
Generally, ion exchange membranes are between 0.5 and 150 mil in thickness. Being thin, these membranes, while strongly resistant to the chemical environment within the electrolytic cell or fuel cell, are often subject to physical damage: tears, punctures and flex fatigue cracking. One past proposal has been to repair this physical damage using low equivalent weight copolymer solvated with an alcohol. It is difficult to fully dissolve the polymers in an alcohol solvent. In addition, the repaired areas have not offered desirable membrane performance characteristics normally associated with higher density copolymeric material, resulting in decline of the overall performance of the membrane. These repairs often have achieved less than desirable adhesion to the membrane because mechanical bonding not solvent molding is a significant factor in adhesion.
The use of alcohols to solvate particularly low equivalent weight perfluorocarbon copolymers is known. However, as yet, proposals for formation of perfluorocarbon composite electrodes and for solvent welding the composites to perfluorocarbon membranes where the perfluorocarbons are of relatively elevated equivalent weights desirable in, for example, chlorine cells, have not proven satisfactory. Dissatisfaction has been at least partly due to a lack of suitable techniques for fully solvating these higher equivalent weight perfluorocarbons.
Some solvents are known in the prior art for this class of carboxylic fluorinated polymers; however, some of the solvents are very expensive or require high temperature to dissolve the polymer. The prior art teaches solvents for carboxylic fluorinated polymers with equivalent weights below about 900 and solvents for such polymers which require elevated temperatures or pressures. There is no teaching of a solvent for the ester form of carboxylic fluorinated polymers with an equivalent weight greater than 900 at low temperatures.
For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,650,551; 4,778,723 and 4,784,900 disclose solutions near room temperature of highly swollen dispersions of resins which are copolymers of TFE and perfluorovinylether comonomers with acidic end groups having low equivalent weights less than 850. Heavily fluorinated alkanes, like 1,2-dibromotetrafluoroethane and 1,1,2-trichlorotrifluoroethane were used as "solvents". Examples of room temperature solutions were also given using polyhalogenated alkyl ethers with boiling points less than 190.degree. C.; the equivalent weight for these resins was exceedingly low at 690 or lower.
Fluorinated polymer resins commercially known as NAFION.RTM. (available from E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company) with an equivalent weight greater than about 1000, must be dissolved at elevated temperatures and pressures due to the presence of crystallinity. U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,266,036; 4,272,560 and 4,298,697 discuss the use of high boiling perhalogenated alkyl ethers and perhalogenated alkanes as solvents at elevated temperatures. The examples describe the dissolution of 1050 to 1200 equivalent weight resins in oligomers of chlorotrifluoroethylene ("CTFE") at temperatures of about 225.degree. to 250.degree. C.; however, the polymers are more likely to decarboxylate at high temperatures. Chemical degradation of the polymer may occur in solutions of CTFE oligomer at 200.degree. C.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,535,112 describes a method of repairing ion exchange membranes using dispersions or partial solutions of 1050 to 1200 equivalent weight polymers in a wide variety of heavily fluorinated liquids for purposes of repairing cation exchange membranes. These liquids include perfluorodecanoic acid, perfluorotributylamine, pentafluorophenol, pentafluorobenzoic acid, perfluoro-1-methyldecalin and decafluorobiphenyl. There is no mention of full solutions of carboxylic fluorinated polymers having high equivalent weights at low temperatures.
An article entitled "Solubility Characteristics of Perfluorinated Polymers with Sulfonyl Fluoride Functionality" by McCain and Covitch discusses the solubility of so-called sulfonyl fluorinated polymers, but does not mention alkyl carboxylate forms of fluorinated polymers.

Process for making and repairing ion exchange membranes and films