An electronic component and housing interlocking system is provided. The system includes a device housing configured to hold a printed circuit board. The printed circuit board includes a projection from a side of the printed circuit board. The system also includes a locking member having a tab coupled at a first end of the tab to a side wall of the device housing and free at a second end of the tab such that the tab is configured to flex about the first end when the printed circuit board is slid into the device housing and the projection is pushed against the second end of the tab. The tab includes an opening configured to receive the projection after being slid past the second end such that the tab engages the printed circuit board within the device housing in a locked position.

The invention relates generally to printed circuit boards, such as those used in components of industrial automation and control systems. More particularly, embodiments of the present invention relate to techniques for securing a printed circuit board with a related device housing.
Industrial automation and control systems are known and are in use for controlling factory automation and the like. Such systems include various components such as programmable logic controllers, semiconductor power electronic circuits, power supplies, motor starters, relays, and so forth that are utilized to monitor and control a process/system. Typically, in operation, the programmable logic controller examines a series of inputs reflecting the status of a controlled process and changes outputs affecting control of the controlled process.
In general, components such as programmable logic controllers, input/output modules, and the like often utilize one or more printed circuit boards. Typically, these printed circuit boards include power modules which house electrical devices such as resistors and semiconductors, logic or customer interface circuit boards (e.g., motherboards) which house microprocessors or other logic devices for performing control functions, and storage or capacitor circuit boards which house charge storage devices and direct current (DC) power busses. Each of the various types of circuit boards typically supports components and conducting paths for accomplishing various functions in an associated completed device.
In traditional automation and control systems, various system components, such as controllers and input/output modules include a printed circuit board within a housing of the system component. The printed circuit board is typically inserted within the housing during assembly of the system component, and may be removed for maintenance or the like. It is now recognized that traditional arrangements and configurations of features of a printed circuit board and/or device housing can lead to damage to the housing based on actions taken during insertion and/or removal of the printed circuit board.

Interlocking system for securing a printed circuit board

Rockwell Automation Asia Pacific Business Center Pte. Ltd.


A first linearly polarized bundle of rays of incident rays is converted by optical modulation with an input video signal into a second linearly polarized bundle of rays orthogonal to the first rays in polarization. The first rays pass through a polarizer before optically modulated. A second linearly polarized bundle of rays originally involved in the incident rays is reflected by the polarizer in a first direction. The second rays obtained by the optical modulation are reflected by the polarizer in a second direction. The second rays reflected in the second direction pass through another polarizer. A first linearly polarized bundle of rays involved in the reflected second rays is reflected by the other polarizer. The reflected first rays is detected by an optical sensor that is positioned outside an optical path of the second rays originally involved in the incident rays and reflected in the first direction.

The present invention relates to a light modulator, a projection display apparatus and an image projection method that achieve higher image quality for images projected onto a screen while restrict flickers that occur due to asymmetric waveforms of AC voltages applied to electrodes that face each other in a liquid crystal display device.
Projection display apparatuses have a mechanism in which light is emitted from a light source to a liquid crystal display device that forms an optical image corresponding to an input video signal, which is then projected onto a screen.
One factor that affects the quality of images projected onto a screen in projection display apparatuses is the electro-optical conversion performance of a liquid crystal display device driven by input video signals.
A liquid crystal display device is equipped with: a common electrode; a large number of pixel electrodes arranged as facing the common electrode and each being controlled by an associated drive transistor; and a liquid crystal filled between the common electrode and each pixel electrode. A voltage to be applied across the common electrode and each pixel electrode is an AC voltage that is reversed in polarity per frame or line period.
The AC voltage waveform, however, suffers asymmetric deformation between the positive and negative polarities when applied across the common electrode and each pixel electrode. The following are several factors related to the asymmetric deformation: variation in the characteristics of drive transistors used in driving pixel electrodes; variation in the electro-optical characteristics of liquid crystals; variation in the condition of liquid crystals in alignment; and contamination of impurities to liquid crystals; and difference in materials between the common electrode and the pixel electrodes that face each other.
Such an asymmetric-waveform AC voltage causes a common-electrode voltage to be shifted from the center voltage of the AC voltage that is being alternately reversed in polarity with respect to the center voltage. The common-electrode voltage (referred to as Vcom, hereinafter) is a DC voltage to be applied to the common electrode. The shifted DC voltage is then supplied to the liquid crystal display device, thus resulting in flickers occurring on projected images.
When flickers occur on projected images, they cause the images to suffer higher black levels which lead to lower contrast and narrower display gradation. Moreover, while flickers are occurring, DC voltages being supplied to the liquid crystal display device cause ionic substances involved in liquid crystals to be pulled to either of the common or pixel electrode. Such a phenomenon leads to burning on the liquid crystal display device, resulting in lower operational reliability of the display device.
In order to overcome such problems, the US patent application publication No. 2006/0231794 A1 (referred to as Citation 1, hereinafter) discloses a technique to restrict occurrence of flickers with adjustments to the voltage Vcom (referred to as V com-adjustments, hereinafter) to be applied to the common electrode.
A projection display apparatus disclosed in Citation 1 is equipped with: a light source; liquid crystal display devices for forming an optical image in accordance with an input video signal when light is emitted thererto from the light source; an optical system with a projection lens for enlarging and projecting the optical image onto a screen (each liquid crystal display device being installed in the optical system); an optical sensor for detecting the intensity of the light after emitted to each liquid crystal display device; a drive circuit for driving each display device; and a control circuit for controlling the drive circuit based on the detected intensity.
Such an optical sensor is used for detecting flickers, or an unsteady light that goes on and off quickly. In Citation 1, the optical sensor is provided at an outer edge of the screen or in the optical system.
The projection display apparatus disclosed in Citation 1 displays optical images on a screen, as explained below.
When light is generated from the light source and emitted to each liquid crystal display device, an optical image is formed at each display device in accordance with an input video signal. The optical image is supplied to the optical system through which the image is enlarged and projected onto a screen provided at a specific location including a focal point.
When Vcom-adjustments start to restrict flickers, a raster test pattern signal pre-stored in the drive circuit is supplied to each liquid crystal display device which forms a raster pattern image. The raster pattern image is then projected onto the screen via the projection lens of the optical system.
The variation in intensity of light that carries the raster pattern image is detected by the optical sensor provided at the outer edge of the screen or in the optical system. The detected variation in intensity indicates flicker leveles on the projected raster pattern image, which enables calculation of a Vcom level to be applied to the common electrode of each liquid crystal display device at which level flickers are restricted. The voltage Vcom is then adjusted to the calculated Vcom level by the control circuit so that flickers cannot be observed on the projected images.
However, the known projection display apparatus of Citation 1 has the following disadvantages due to the optical sensor provided at an outer edge of the screen or in the optical system.
When the optical sensor is provided at an outer edge of the screen, it cannot detect enough optical intensity for Vcom-adjustments because the outer edge of the screen is always at a black level during image projection. Higher accuracy of the Vcom-adjustments requires several optical sensors to be provided at outer edges of the screen with integration of signals detected by the optical sensors to give larger amplitude to the detected signals or a longer measuring period at the optical sensors to gain higher accumulated optical intensity. The arrangements of several optical sensors, however, require wider space at the outer edges of the screen and the integration of detected signals causes a longer Vcom-adjustment period. A longer measuring period also leads to a longer Vcom-adjustment period.
Moreover, when the known projection display apparatus is reinstalled in another place, the optical sensor provided at the outer edge of the screen is also required to be reinstalled at other parts of the outer edges of the screen. Thus, reinstallation cannot be done easily.
When the optical sensor is installed in the optical system of the known projection display apparatus, it must be located on the optical path from the liquid crystal display device in the optical system to the screen, which may result in the shade of the optical sensor being projected onto the screen.
Moreover, installation of the optical sensor in the optical system causes a higher cost for the optical system. Because the installed sensor requires reinstallation when the projection lens is replaced with another one depending on the installation space for the known projection display apparatus.
Furthermore, the known projection display apparatus has to perform the Vcom-adjustments with sequential irradiation of R-, G- and B-rays onto the optical sensor if only one sensor is installed or with irradiation of white light if the optical sensors for the colors of R, G and B are installed. The single optical sensor requires three times of irradiation of R-, G- and B-rays, which results in a longer Vcom-adjustment period. Installation of the optical sensors for the colors of R, G and B causes increase in the number of sensors and the installation space, which results in difficulty in reinstallation of the optical sensors when the projection display apparatus is moved to another place.
Furthermore, the known projection display apparatus requires the optical sensor(s) to be located in the optical path as being apart as much as possible from the center of the optical path in the optical system so that no adverse effects of the shade of optical sensor(s) are given to the projected images. Thus, the Vcom-adjustments must be performed with measurements of optical intensity at an outer edge of a projected image and hence cannot restrict flickers over the entire projected image when flickers irregularly occur over the display area of each liquid crystal display device.
Moreover, flickers that occur on projected images involve a flicker so-called a lamp flicker of light discharged from the light source depending on the temperature of the electrode of the light source and the surface conditions of the electrode, in addition to an unadjusted Vcom level. The known projection display apparatus inevitably performs excessive Vcom-adjustments to the flickers involving the lamp flicker, which may result in failure of the Vcom-adjustments, or incomplete flicker elimination.

Light modulator, projection display apparatus and image projection method


A water slide is provided to for recreation and amusement. The water slide includes a plastic strip of sliding sheet material forming a sliding surface. The sheet material is configured so that a central curved region is positioned between an elongated entry and an elongated exit regions. The sliding surface has an inner and an outer periphery. A curved and outwardly extending banked obstacle region is positioned in the central curved region. The obstacle region includes a bottom wall, at least one outer load bearing side wall, and a top wall. The top wall is also of sliding sheet material and is contiguous with the sliding surface. The banked obstacle region forms a valley for interconnection with the elongated entry and exit regions. The bottom wall, side wall, and top walls further define at least one hollow inner chamber. A load supporting medium is contained in the hollow inner chamber so that the obstacle region bears a sliding load. A sprinkler tube is connected to the outer periphery of the sliding surface so that a spray of water is delivered to the sliding surface when coupled to a pressurized water supply.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to water slides for amusement and recreation. In particular, it relates to a water slide with a banked curved obstacle region.
2. Description of the Related Art
Toy water slides generally include an elongated strip of plastic sheet material which staked down on the lawn. These water slides also include a water sprinkler coupling which connects to a water sprinkler tube seam-welded to the plastic sheet along a peripheral edge so that a spray of water is directed to moisten the sliding surface, in order to make the surface slick. In use, a child runs toward the elongated strip of plastic sheet and flops on to it. The running inertia of the child causes the child to slide over the sliding surface and exit onto the lawn at the point where the plastic sheet terminates in length.
In order to add more amusement, a number of features have been added to prior art slides including the addition of hoops, shallow pools, and various forms of pillow like bumps to raise the child at different locations along the plastic sheet when sliding. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,551,922, to Katz et al, discloses a backyard toy slide that has a sliding sheet terminating in a pool. An inflatable side wall along the pool defines a serpentine pathway, through the pool, so that a child sliding on the slide follows a zig-zag path through the pool prior to sliding off the exit end of the slide. A water hose sprinkler attachment is included which, when coupled to a water supply hose, provides a spray of water to wet the slide and make the surface slick.
While the foregoing examples offer some utility, it is still desirably to provide a water slide which serves to add to the amusement of the user and to decelerate the running inertia prior to exiting the slide onto the lawn. The present invention satisfies these needs.

Water slide with banked curve obstacal region


A refrigerator door shelf arrangement wherein the door liner has opposing side panels with corresponding front to back slots or guide channels at a plurality of vertical positions. The slots are formed by a plurality of horizontal ribs, each of which has a laterally facing notch. Bucket shelves have lateral horizontal runners on the sides arranged to be received in sliding engagement in corresponding slots. Each side of a shelf has a flap that can bend inwardly. As the runners of the shelf are being inserted into corresponding slots, a ramp tab on each flap engages the rib above the runner thereby causing the flap to be bent away from the rib until the tab aligns with and enters the respective notch of the rib. Thus, in the fully inserted position, the shelf is securely mounted, and movement upward, downward, or frontward is prevented. Manual bending of the flaps away from the ribs permits the shelf to be removed for cleaning or to be mounted at an alternate vertical position.

The field of the invention generally relates to refrigerators, and more particularly relates to apparatus and method for attaching shelves to the door liner.
As is well known, refrigerators typically have shelves or buckets in the doors. Such shelves are popular because they generally increase the storage capacity of a refrigerator, and also there is convenient access to items stored in the door.
One prior art door shelf approach is to form a horizontal support surface in the door liner, and then affix a retainer bar across the front so that stored items such as bottles or milk cartons will not fall off the horizontal support surface. An advantage of this configuration is that it is relatively inexpensive to fabricate because the shelf support surface is formed when the liner is made by a vacuum form process. However, the height of such a shelf is not adjustable, and therefore the configurations of shelves is not versatile. That is, the owner cannot reconfigure the heights of various shelves to obtain an optimum arrangement for the food items that are typically stored. Further, such shelves typically will not contain spills because they don't have a water-tight bucket. Therefore, if milk or soft drinks are spilled, the liquid runs down over the entire door. Another disadvantage is that there are no serviceable parts. That is, if a portion of the support surface cracks or is broken, the entire liner must be replaced because there are not smaller integral parts that can be replaced.
Another door shelf approach is to use a door liner that has a vertical row of slots at each side, and provide a plurality of injection molded plastic bucket shelves each of which has hooks that insert into a respective pair of the slots. In an alternate embodiment of this approach, the slots can be formed in metal brackets that attach in front or behind the liner so as to provide increased strength. This general approach offers height adjustability, and also the bucket shelves has sealed bottoms that will contain spills. A further advantage is that the shelves can be removed for cleaning. However, with such shelves, the entire load of a shelf and its contents is carried by the hooks rather than being distributed over a relatively large area. Accordingly, relatively thick gauges of plastic must be used, and even then, the hooks are subject to breaking. Relatively thick material gauges are also required to minimize the flexing of the shelf. Also, consumers typically complain about the aesthetics because they don't like the rows of holes or slots in the liner. Another drawback of this approach is that if metal brackets and/or metal hooks are used so as to increase the strength, cost is greatly increased by the additional parts and labor to assemble them.
Still another door shelf approach is to use a door liner that has side panels or dikes with a structural geometry to support shelves. In one such arrangement, horizontal support slats or ledges are formed in the dikes, and ends of the shelf are seated or them. The support slats have upwardly extending bosses at the front to prevent a shelf from sliding forward. However, the shelf is not locked in place and is only maintained in position by gravity. Accordingly, when such a shelf is inadvertently bumped, it is easily knocked off the support slats and broken. Also, such a shelf does not contain spills. In another arrangement, short posts extend laterally inward from the opposing sides, and a shelf has corresponding recesses that are seated down onto respective posts. Because of the shape of the posts, they are independently fabricated and then attached to the vacuum formed liner. This fabrication process involves extra parts and additional labor. Also, the shelves are still supported by gravity, and therefore are subject to being inadvertently knocked off the posts. Further, because of liner dimension tolerances, these shelves are often difficult to insert and remove.


A magneto-optical thin film comprising a substrate having thereon at least two ferromagnetic thin layers alternating with at least two dielectric thin layers to form a laminate the ferromagnetic thin layers each having a thickness of from 30 to 260 .ANG..

Ferromagnetic materials that are known to be usable in magneto-optical recording media include amorphous alloys of a rare earth element and transition metal system such as TbFeCo and GdCo, polycrystalline alloys such as MnBi, MnCuBi and PtCo, and cobalt ferrite and iron garnet. The polycrystalline materials have not yet been commercialized because the grains in the thin film form are not small enough to suppress noise in read signals and because of their low recording sensitivity. Therefore, most of the efforts currently made to commercialize magneto-optical recording media are based on the use of thin films of amorphous alloys of the rare earth/transition metal system which exhibit superior overall characteristics. However, these amorphous alloys do not have sufficiently large magneto-optical effects to provide reasonably high signal-to-noise ratios. The Kerr rotation angles, for example, are small. Therefore, attempts are being made to enhance their magneto-optical effects of these amorphous alloys by various means, including forming a two- or three-layered structure containing not only the amorphous alloy layer but also a dielectric layer having an appropriate refractive index, as described, for example, in Ohta et al., Reference Material for the 27th Annual Meeting of The Magnetics Society of Japan, p. 57; and Inoue et al., Summary of the Proceedings of the 8th Conference of The Magnetics Society of Japan, p. 141.
In recent years, scientists have engaged in active studies on the physical properties of thin films in which two different materials form alternating ultrathin layers. Some of these studies have considered the magneto-optical approaches, as described, for example, in Katayama et al., The Proceedings of International Symposium on Physics of Magnetic Materials, 1987, p. 283; and Togami et al., The Proceedings of International Symposium on Physics of Magnetic Materials, 1987, p. 275). However, no magneto-optical thin film has yet been proposed that attains useful results such as an improvement in magneto-optical effects.
As already mentioned, thin films of amorphous alloys of the rare earth/transition metal system which are presently considered to be the best for use as ferromagnetic thin films in magneto-optical recording media have small Kerr rotation angles. In order to solve this problem, the Kerr rotation angles (.theta.k) of these films are increased by laminating them to dielectric layers whose thickness is adjusted to satisfy a near non-reflection condition. However, the reflectance of such laminates is then reduced. In magneto-optical recording, the play back signal to noise ratio is generally proportional to .sqroot.R.theta.k (R:reflectance), so reduction in reflectance is not desirable. Because of this problem, the magneto-optical thin films available today fall short of attaining commercially satisfactory C/N (carrier to noise) ratio. Therefore, a strong need exists for a magneto-optical thin film having a value of .sqroot.R.theta.k higher than those current available.


The invention relates to a method for removing sulfur from crude oils using a catalytic hydrotreating process operating at moderate temperature and pressure and reduced hydrogen consumption. The process produces sweet crude oil having a sulfur content of between about 0.1 and 1.0 wt % in addition to reduced crude density. The method employs least two reactors in series, wherein the first reactor includes a hydroconversion catalyst and the second reactor includes a desulfurization catalyst.

The removal of sulfur compounds from crude oil and its fractions has been of significant importance for several decades, but has become even more important in recent years due to tightening environmental legislation. While much of the prior art focuses on the desulfurization of individual crude oil fractions, a large segment of the art has addressed processes for the hydroprocessing of whole crude oil. The majority of the interest in recent years has focused on the upgrading of very heavy crude oil (i.e., API gravity<20), shale and tar-sands, to produce light sweet synthetic crudes. One major driving force for these processes is the demand for light crude oils in refineries and the low value of highly viscous feedstocks. Furthermore, refinery demands are shifting from high sulfur fuel oils to low- and ultra-low sulfur products, i.e., products containing about 1 wt % (LSFO) and about 0.5 wt % (ULSFO). Therefore, the ability to produce LSFO or ULSFO, instead of high sulfur fuel oils, is highly advantageous and desired.
One major technical challenge posed when hydrotreating heavy oil fractions or whole crude is the effect of small concentrations of contaminants, such as for example, organic nickel and vanadium compounds. These organometallic compounds and others have been proven to reduce the activity or lifetime of hydrotreating catalysts.
Another major challenge faced during the processing of whole crude oil is that the concentration of coke precursors can generally be very high. These coke precursors, such as for example, asphaltenic plates, can reduce the activity or lifetime of hydro-desulfurization (HDS) catalysts. This results in a decreased performance of a conventional process over time, thus requiring more frequent addition or replacement of catalyst to ensure continued operation. Catalyst replacement can be both costly and time consuming, thereby reducing the overall economic feasibility of the process.
Generally, deactivation of catalyst within a hydroprocessing unit typically occurs by one of two primary mechanisms: (1) metal deposition and (2) coke formation. For each mechanism, increasing the operating temperature of the hydroprocessing unit can help maintain catalyst performance; however, all process units have maximum temperature limits based upon the metallurgy of the process unit. These maximum temperatures limit the amount of time a catalyst can operate before requiring catalyst replacement, typically by either the regeneration of spent catalyst or the addition of fresh catalyst. Furthermore, the replacement of spent catalyst with fresh catalyst can require the complete shutdown of a process unit in order to unload the deactivated spent catalyst and load fresh catalyst into the unit. This process unit downtime reduces the on-stream time and negatively impacts the economics of the process.

Process for the sequential hydroconversion and hydrodesulfurization of whole crude oil


The present technology relates to a receiving device, a transmitting device, and a data processing method that can flexibly control operation of an application associated with content. Effective period information indicating a period in which an application associated with content can specify one of a first mode for controlling operation of the application according to the period and a second mode for controlling the operation of the application according to intention of an end user and, in a case where the second mode is specified as the effective period information, the operation of the application is controlled in response to an operation by the end user. The present technology can be applied to a television receiver or the like, which can receive terrestrial broadcast, for example.

It is known that application control information of an application information table (AIT) and the like is used in a distribution life cycle control of an application associated with content such as a program, a commercial, and the like (hereinafter, also simply referred to as the application) (see Patent Document 1, for example). Using the application control information, the receiver can control operation of activating and ending the application.

Receiving device, transmitting device, and data processing method


First and second memory cell arrays have their respective sides with first and second center circuit bands adjacent thereto, respectively, and provided therein with their respective address latch circuits, row predecode circuits and row decoders. The first and second memory cell arrays share a sense amplifier band having a side with a center cross circuit band adjacent thereto and provided therein with a column decode circuit and a sense amplifier control circuit controlling activating a sense amplifier. As such the number of signal lines between the second center circuit band and the center cross circuit band can be reduced to alleviate thick density of signal lines. Thus there can be provided a DRAM core with readily changeable memory capacity.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to semiconductor memory devices and particularly to semiconductor memory devices with a memory block mounted thereon together with a logic circuit and thus used.
2. Description of the Background Art
There is a system LSI developed with a large-capacity dynamic random access memory (DRAM) and a large-scale logic circuit mounted thereon in a mixed manner. Such a system LSI has been materialized attributed to the recent advance of semiconductor microprocessing technology. It can incorporate a DRAM therein and have a memory bus width in a chip thereof that is extended without any limitation imposed thereon by an external terminal. For example, a bus width extended from 16 bits, as conventional, to multiple bits of 128-256 bits allows data to be rapidly transferred and digital devices to provide high performance and operate with reduced power consumption.
Such a system LSI as described above is often produced as an application-specific IC (ASIC). For the ASIC, a DRAM incorporated therein is required to have a core having a different memory capacity depending on the application.
FIG. 12 illustrates an arrangement of a circuit block having arranged therein a conventional DRAM core's memory cell array and sense amplifier.
As shown in FIG. 12, on opposite sides of a memory cell array MA#2 there are provided sense amplifier bands SAB#2 and SAB#3. On a side of sense amplifier band SAB#2, memory cell array MA#2 and sense amplifier band SAB#3 there are provided a column select control circuit 502, a row select control circuit 504, and a column select control circuit 506, respectively. Sense amplifier band SAB#2, memory cell array MA#2 and sense amplifier band SAB#3 are adjacent to square regions, respectively, which will be referred to as a center cross circuit band CCCB#2, a center circuit band CCB#2 and a center cross circuit band CCCB#3,respectively. As such, column select control circuit 502, row select control circuit 504 and column select control circuit 506 exist internal to center cross circuit band CCCB#2, center circuit band CCB#2 and center cross circuit band CCCB#3, respectively.
FIG. 13 is a block diagram for illustrating a signal input to the FIG. 12 center cross circuit band CCCB#2.
With reference to FIG. 13, center circuit band CCB#1 includes a row predecode circuit 514, an address latch circuit 512, a row decoder 516 and a sense amplifier control circuit 518.
Center circuit band CCB#2 includes a row predecode circuit 524, an address latch circuit 522, a row decoder 526 and a sense amplifier control circuit 528. Row predecode circuit 524, address latch circuit 522, row decoder 526 and sense amplifier control circuit 528 correspond to the FIG. 12 row select control circuit 504.
Center cross circuit band CCCB#2 is provided with a row decode circuit 520. Row decode circuit 520 corresponds to the FIG. 12 column select control circuit 502.
Row decoders 516 and 526 output to their respective adjacent memory cell arrays a signal MWLD<m:0> driving a main word line to select a memory cell row. In response to signal MWLD<m:0>, a memory cell array has a word line activated.
In response to a memory cell row having been selected, sense amplifier control circuit 528 connects a sense amplifier to a bit line and activates the sense amplifier. As such, conventionally, together with row predecode circuit 524 and row decoder 526 which are common in providing a row address processing, sense amplifier control circuit 528 is arranged as the FIG. 12 row select control circuit 504 in center circuit band CCB#2 corresponding to a region adjacent to a memory cell array.
As such, sense amplifier control circuit 528 outputs a bit line equalization signal and a bit line isolation signal to both of sense amplifier band SAB#2 arranged between memory cell arrays MA#2 and MA#1 and a sense amplifier band SAB#3 (not shown). Furthermore, sense amplifier control circuit 528 outputs a sense amplifier activation signal SE, /SE to sense amplifier band SAB#2.
FIG. 14 is a circuit diagram showing a configuration of the FIG. 13 address latch circuit 522.
As shown in FIG. 14, address latch circuit 522 includes a latch circuit 532 latching a signal XBLK<n> in synchronization with a signal XLAT<bankn>, a latch circuit 534 latching a signal XBLK<n-1> in synchronization with signal XLAT<bankn>, and a latch circuit 536 latching a row address signal RA<k:0> in synchronization with signal XLAT<bankn>.
Latch circuit 532 outputs a signal XBLATL indicating that when memory cell array #n is selected, sense amplifier bands SAB#n and SAB#n+1 are connected to memory cell array #n to use a sense amplifier.
Latch circuit 534 outputs a signal XBLATR for activating a sense amplifier of sense amplifier band SAB#n when memory cell array #n-1 is selected.
Furthermore, latch circuit 536 holds and outputs a row address signal RALAT<k:0> input in response to a memory block having been selected. Row address signal RALAT<k:0> is input to and predecoded in the FIG. 13 row predecode circuit 524. The predecoded signal is fed to row decoder 136 to activate any one of signal MWLD<m:0> for driving a word line. Note that signal XBLK<n> corresponds to signal XBLK<2>.
Address latch circuit 512 is similar in configuration to the FIG. 14 address latch circuit 522 and a description thereof will thus not be repeated, although for address latch circuit 512, signal XBLK<n> corresponds to signal XBLK<1>.
FIG. 15 is a circuit diagram showing a configuration of the FIG. 13 row decode circuit 520.
As shown in FIG. 15, row decode circuit 138 includes an AND circuit 542 receiving a bank select signal YBANK<n> and a signal XBLATL output from address latch circuit 522, an AND circuit 544 receiving a bank select signal YBANK<n> and a signal XBLATR output from address latch circuit 522, an NOR circuit 546 receiving a signal output from AND circuit 542 and that output from AND circuit 544, an inverter 548 receiving and inverting a signal output from NOR circuit 546, an NAND circuit 556 receiving a column select signal CSLR<i:0> for read operation and a signal output from inverter 548, an inverter 558 receiving and inverting a signal output from NAND circuit 556, and an inverter 560 receiving and inverting a signal output from inverter 558 and outputting a signal CSLRD<i:0> driving a column select line.
Row decode circuit 520 also includes an NAND circuit 550 receiving a column select signal CSLW<i:0> for write operation and a signal output form inverter 548, an inverter 552 receiving and inverting a signal output form NAND circuit 550, and an inverter 554 receiving and inverting a signal output form inverter 552 and outputting a signal CSLWD<i:0> driving a column select line.
FIG. 16 is a circuit diagram showing a configuration of the FIG. 13 sense amplifier control circuit 528.
As shown in FIG. 16, sense amplifier control circuit 528 includes a level conversion circuit 572 receiving and inverting signal XBLATL for level conversion, a buffer circuit 574 receiving a signal output from level conversion circuit 572 and outputting a bit line equalization signal BLEQR#3, a level conversion circuit 576 receiving and converting signal XBLATL in level, and a buffer circuit 578 receiving a signal output from level conversion circuit 576 and outputting a bit line isolation signal BLIL#3. Although not shown, bit line equalization signal BLEQE#3 and bit line isolation signal BLIL#3 are transmitted to sense amplifier band SAB#3 arranged between memory cell arrays MA#2 and MA#3.
Sense amplifier control circuit 528 also includes a level conversion circuit 596 receiving and inverting signal XBLATL for level conversion, a buffer circuit 598 receiving a signal output from level conversion circuit 596 and outputting a bit line equalization signal BLEQL#2, a level conversion circuit 600 receiving and converting signal XBLATL in level, and a buffer circuit 602 receiving a signal output from level conversion circuit 600 and outputting a bit line isolation signal BLIR#2.
Sense amplifier control circuit 528 also includes an NOR circuit 580 receiving signals XBLATR and XBLATL, an inverter 582 receiving and inverting a signal output from NOR circuit 580, an NAND circuit 584 receiving a signal output from inverter 582 and a signal XSE indicative of a timing at which a sense amplifier is activated, an inverter 586 receiving and inverting a signal output from NAND circuit 584, a level conversion circuit 588 converting in level a signal output from inverter 586, a buffer circuit 590 receiving a signal output from level conversion circuit 588 and outputting a sense amplifier activation signal SE#2, a level conversion circuit 592 receiving and converting in level a signal output from NAND circuit 584, and a buffer circuit 594 receiving a signal output from level conversion circuit 592 and outputting a sense amplifier activation signal /SE#2.
Although not shown, bit line equalization signal BLEQR#2, bit line isolation signal BLIL#2 and sense amplifier activation signals SE#2 and /SE#2 are transmitted to sense amplifier band SAB#2 arranged between memory cell arrays MA#1 and MA#2.
Conventionally, such a DRAM core as described above has a memory capacity changed by increasing/decreasing the number of memory cell arrays MA#n, wherein n represents a natural number.
Referring again to FIG. 13, conventionally a circuit responsible for selecting a column is arranged in center cross circuit band CCCB#2 and that responsible for selecting a row is arranged in center circuit bands CCB#1, CCB#2. Thus, sense amplifier band SAB#2 receives bit line equalization signal BLEQR#2, bit line isolation signal BLIL#2 and sense amplifier activation signals SE, /SE from sense amplifier control circuit 528 arranged in center circuit band CCB#2. Furthermore, bit line equalization signal BLEQL#2 and bit line isolation signal BLIR#2 are output from sense amplifier control circuit 518 arranged in center circuit band CCB#1, and input to sense amplifier band SAB#2.
As such, as shown in FIG. 12, center cross circuit band CCCB#2 is heavily populated with signal lines. Since center circuit band CCB#2 and center cross circuit band CCCB#2 communicate a large number of signals therebetween, changing the number of memory cell arrays requires an effort in modifying the layout data indicative of an arrangement of circuits, interconnections and the like in designing the same, to change the memory capacity of interest.

Semiconductor memory device with readily changeable memory capacity

Mitsubishi Electric Engineering Company Limited


A high resolution optical encoder with an angular collimated light beam. The optical encoder includes a source, a collimator, a reflective surface and a receiver. The light beam is collimated using a collimator and/or source at an angle to the plane of the reflective surface.

The invention relates to the field of optical encoders, and more particularly to an angular collimated reflective optical encoder.
There are a number of types of optical encoders available on the market today. Optical encoders are particularly useful for scanning information or movements and recording or transmitting such information. For instance, optical encoders have been used extensively on automation lines or in conjunction with robots to determine movement or actions in the assembly process. Each of the optical encoders on the market generally includes a source, a reflective code wheel and a receiver. A problem with these designs concerns the fact that the light beam in certain instances is out of phase or dispersed as it passes from source to reflective code wheel to receiver. This leads to lower overall signal and signal contrast that is detectable by receiver and may provide poor results or operation depending upon how the optical encoder has been used. Certain applications require improved resolution in order to take advantage of the optical encoder devices. Furthermore, it is desirable to have a design in which all components are present on the same platform so that a common surface mount may be employed. These and other problems of the art have been obviated by the present invention.
The invention provides an angular collimated reflective optical encoder. The angular collimated reflective optical encoder comprises a source for providing a light beam, a collimator adjacent to the source for collimating the light beam at a defined angle, a reflective surface adjacent to the collimator for reflecting the light beam collimated by the collimator, and a receiver for receiving the reflected and collimated light beam.

High resolution optical encoder with an angular collimated light beam


A process for producing spin-oriented continuous filaments at a draw-off speed of more than 2400 m/min, whereby the filaments extruded through the spinnerets of the spinning heads are cooled in cooling shafts by the ambient air entrained as a result of the suction action of the filaments and the filaments leaving the cooling shafts enter a chamber that is separate from the intake environment where the air pressure is regulated at a lower pressure in comparison with the air pressure in the intake environment.

This invention concerns a process for spinning and cooling spin-oriented multifilaments by means of a spinning apparatus having spinning heads containing spinnerets and cooling shafts with an air-permeable wall through which a stream of air is sucked into the interior of the cooling shaft solely by the frictional entrainment of air by the filaments.
Multifilament continuous filaments of synthetic polymers are produced from a melt at the spinning temperature by means of a spinning device. The melt is forced through boreholes in a spinneret. The resulting melt streams are then cooled and combined to form a filament bundle, which is treated with a spin finish oil, then drawn off with a fiber draw-off device and finally wound onto tubes to form a bobbin.
Cooling is especially important here. The uniformity of cooling has a direct influence on the physical characteristics of the filaments such as uniformity of the Uster-value or dyeing receptivity. Trouble is caused by nonlaminar or turbulent flow of the cooling air. Before the melt streams which arc extruded at a high spinning temperature have cooled below the solidification point, contact with each other or with the thread guides have to be avoided because they would stick.

Process for producing synthetic filaments


A new roofing system (14) for installation on a structure (2) whose existing roof deck (6) and membrane (12) may include depressed regions (8, 10) compensates for the depressed regions with contour cut compensation panels (18). Filler panels (20) are placed atop the roof deck, membrane and any required compensation panels, with opposed perimeter edges (64) of adjacent filler panels abutting. The filler panels are secured to the underlying roof deck with anchor plates (22) and screws (70), one anchor plate preferably securing four adjacent filler panels at the junction of their corners. The filler panels may have uniform thickness (58) or, if a sloped roofing system is to be fabricated, they may have non-uniform thickness (60, 62). Lengths (82, 88) of roofing material (76), such as galvanized metal, are laid atop the upper surface (72) of the filler panels and anchor plates and are secured to the anchor plates with screws (92). A coating (110) is applied to the upper side of the roofing material to seal the installation and to encapsulate any asbestos contained in the existing deck.

This invention relates to roofing systems, and more particularly to prefabricated roof systems for installation on structures with substantially flat (horizontal) roof deck surfaces.
Flat roof installations present many problems not found with structures having inclined roof deck surfaces. In such installations the deck surface is typically not uniformly flat, but exhibits some depressed areas. Unless these areas are compensated for, installation of a conventional prefabricated roof system over such a deck surface may result in the collection or pooling of rain water in the locations of the depressions.
In the prior art, rapid installations of roof systems is rarely possible because substantial on-site construction is often called for. For example, where depressions in the roof deck are present (often indicated by leaks in the previous roof), it is common to construct a gabled structure atop the deck to provide some inclination.
Installation around obstructions such as roof mounted fixtures, vent pipes and the like, is time consuming and the resulting roof-fixture or roof-vent interface is often the site of future water leaks due to relative movement between the roof and the fixture or vent.
Frequently the new roof system is installed atop the pre-existing roof material without removing the same. In the past, the pre-existing roof material often included asbestos for fire retardation. Today it is generally required that the new installation encapsulate the asbestos for reasons of health and safety.


A Machine for preparing coffee comprising a infusion chamber to house at least a coffee dose, and means for feeding pressurized water to said infusion chamber, said means comprising a cylinder and plunger assembly, said plunger defining inside the cylinder a chamber to house a preset quantity of water, and said plunger being able to accumulate, in an active position, potential energy capable of being transmitted as a pressure to the water of said chamber, when said plunger contacts, in said active position, with the water of said chamber. It is characterized in that said infusion chamber is placed adjacent below the water chamber of said cylinder, both chambers including at least one hole through which, once opened, passes the pressurized water to said infusion chamber, said plunger moving back to the rest position inside said chamber as pressurized water is fed through said hole.

It is known that to prepare express coffee it is necessary to pass hot water at a temperature above 80° C. through ground coffee, at a pressure above atmospheric pressure, preferably comprised between 7 and 9 atmospheres. Therefore, all the soluble components that provide the taste and flavor are extracted from the coffee.
The most characteristic component that differentiates the machines of express coffee from other machines for preparing coffee is the pressure pump, which permits to eject the water at the previously cited pressure, through the infusion chamber that comprises the dose of ground coffee.
Machines that present the particularity that the water pressure to obtain the express coffee is provided by alternative systems to the pressure pump have been developed for obtaining autonomous machines, in which the coffee can be prepared without consumption of electric energy.
International patent WO/2007/088309 discloses one of said machines, in which compressed gas is used instead of a pressure pump. Said compressed gas is injected on the hot water to force the passage of a preset quantity of said water through the infusion chamber. In this machine, that is marketed under the name of "Handpresso", the gas chamber is pressurized until it acquires the desired pressure by manual pumping of air contained in a cylinder. Then, the compressed gas is released to the receptacle that contains the water dose, to force the water passage through the infusion chamber.
In the machine disclosed in "Handpresso" patent, the pressure that the gas exerts on the water decreases during the distribution, as the water leaves space to the gas. Therefore, the pressure exerted by the gas on the water is not constant throughout the coffee distribution, resulting in a sub-extracted express or low density coffee, therefore of lower quality.
European patent EP0231156 discloses another machine for preparing coffee in which the pressure necessary to feed the water is obtained, in this case, from a plunger that accumulates elastic potential energy from the compression force of a spring placed at one end of the cylinder chamber defining said plunger.
The spring compression is carried out manually pumping water inside the chamber of the cylinder itself, with the objective of retracting the plunger to the active position. The reaction force of the spring on the plunger makes possible to keep a pressure on the water when the plunger moves inside the water chamber of the cylinder, to the rest position.
However, the configuration of the machine disclosed by said European patent has a lot of drawbacks.
One of said drawbacks is the fact that the water is fed through a tube network that connects the water chamber of the cylinder with the infusion chamber. In practice, the long path that the water must cover to reach the infusion chamber prevents the provision of a more or less constant pressure by said spring, which should have physical features to provide said pressure that would prevent it to be housed inside a device with reduced dimensions. Therefore, even in the case that it works, it would produce an express coffee of lower quality.
Another drawback is the fact that the cylinder-plunger assembly that feeds pressurized water is placed inside a deposit that stores the same water than afterwards is fed to the infusion chamber. This is not suitable from a sanitary point of view, and it affects negatively the maintenance of the coffee maker.
On the other hand, as a great number of elements are in contact with the water, even if boiling water is provided to said deposit, said configuration would prevent a suitable temperature of the water to be kept to obtain a coffee infusion in express quality.


DNA scientific evidences include analysis fact, principles, theories, and underlying data. Courtroom admissibility of DNA scientific evidence requires courts to scrutinize their quality and suitability. Expert witnesses must collect, understand science, and apply to the facts of the case. To uniformly and comprehensively present DNA scientific evidence generated by paper-based casework has been time-consuming, erroneous, and personal chores because of vast paper volume; the degree of courtroom admissibility is arbitrary assessment among courtroom parties. The inventive method employs computer network to gather DNA scientific evidence and retain them using Electronic Case Folder (ECF), database categorizing DNA scientific evidence in defined sequence with page number and time stamp. The goals of invention relates generally to courtroom admissibility, but specifically to presenting DNA scientific evidence based upon goals of DNA case and to enabling justice system to determine fact and legal issue using documenting, evaluating, and learning tool of ECF.

Not applicable.
Not applicable.
The means of making physical evidence proof is forensic sciencexe2x80x94the application of science to legal processes, the application of science to crime fighting. The defense attorneys may persuade juries to find reasonable doubt, and suspects who had credible alibis. However, the physical evidence, DNA, is the silent, definite witness. Heralded as the most powerful and discriminating method of identifying the source of biological evidence available to the criminal justice system, forensic DNA testing has evolved both in the technologies it uses and its principles and theories to promote the reliability and courtroom admissibility. The development of DNA technology furthers the search for truth by helping police and prosecutors in the fight against the crime. Increasingly accepted, DNA technology is now widely used by police, prosecutors, defense counsel and courts in the United States.
To ensure the courtroom admissibility, DNA scientific evidence involves two general considerations: the acceptance of the science itself, called scientific validity, and the proficiency of expert witness. Furthermore, DNA scientific evidence must includes the analysis fact, principles, theories and the underlying data. Scientific facts, principles, and theories are presented and explained to the jury through expert testimony. Expert witnesses testify according to the Rules of Civil Procedure. Judges determine the scientific validity of scientific facts, principles, and theories. Judges are the gatekeepers to eliminate expert witnesses whose work is not scientific, peer reviewed, published, tested, or subjected to normal scientific scrutiny.
Forensic DNA testing properly applied is generally accepted as admissible under Fryel8 or Daubertl9 standards. As stated in the National Research Council""s 1996 report on DNA evidence, xe2x80x9cThe state of the profiling technology and the methods for estimating frequencies and related statistics have progressed to the point where the admissibility of properly collected and analyzed DNA data should not be in doubt.xe2x80x9d According to the Case Studies in Use of DNA Evidence, 46 States admit DNA evidence in criminal proceedings. In 43 States, courts have ruled on the technology, and in 3 States, statutes require admission. DNA Evidence Admission in Criminal Trials by State is as follows:
The courtroom admissibility of the DNA scientific evidence requires that courts scrutinize the proposed testimony to determine its suitability for use at trial. It is the responsibility of the litigators to help the trier of the fact to recognize the basis and reliability of the experts"" opinions.
The problems are that in a jury trial, the judge determines legal issues, and the jury determines the facts; in a non-jury trial, the judge determines both. The jury system relies on the common sense of the individual juror to balance the rational and emotional content of the information presented by the parties by comparing it on the basis of their personal life experience and their personal balance of rational and emotional factors.
As used in the legal phrase xe2x80x9cfinding of facts and conclusions of law,xe2x80x9d the term xe2x80x9cfactxe2x80x9d does not refer to the actual, underlying facts, but only to those facts that were presented by the parties as admissible evidence at trial. The judge uses these facts to make decisions.
Close cooperation between litigators and experts is crucial, because the litigators must determine what scientific information a party presents, and the expert determines how to explain it.
Thus, the expert witness needs not only understand the science that they wish to present, but they should be able to apply it to the facts of the case, understand the needs and viewpoint of their audience, translate scientific facts and opinions accurately from professional scientific terminology so that the trier of fact will comprehend it, and recall the testimony at the time of the decision making.
The underlying definition of the expert witness is provided in Sections 702 of the Federal Law of Evidence and in the corresponding definitions of the Law of Evidence in every State: (Revised) Rule 702. Testimony by Experts (Revised Aug. 8, 1998, by the National Commission on Uniform State Laws, and submitted to the Federal Judicial Council). If scientific, technical, or other specialized knowledge will assist the trier of fact to understand the evidence or to determine a fact at issue, a witness qualified as an expert by knowledge, skill, experience, training, or education, may testify thereto in the form of an opinion or otherwise.
(a) General rule. A witness may testify in the form of opinion or otherwise if the following are satisfied.
1. Basis for testimony. The testimony is based on scientific, technical, or other specialized knowledge.
2. Assistance to trier of fact. The testimony will assist the trier of fact to understand evidence or determine a fact at issue.
3. Qualification of witness. The witness is qualified by knowledge, skill, experience, training, or education as an expert in the scientific, technical, or other specialized field.
4. Reasonable reliability. The testimony is based upon principles or methodology which is reasonably reliable as established under subdivision (b), (c), or (e).
5. Reliably applied to facts of case. The witness has applied the principles or methodology reliably to the facts of the case
(b) Reliability deemed to exist. A principle or methodology is deemed reasonably reliable if its reliability has been established by controlling legislation or judicial decision.
(c) Presumption of reliability. A principle or methodology is presumed to be reasonably reliable if it has substantial acceptance within the relevant scientific, technical, or specialized community. A party may rebut the presumption by proving that it is more probable than not that the principle or methodology is not reasonably reliable as provided in subdivision (e).
(d) Presumption of unreliability. A principle or methodology is presumed not to be reasonably reliable if it does not have substantial acceptance within the relevant scientific, technical, or specialized community. A party may rebut the presumption if it is more probable than not that the principle or methodology is reasonably reliable as provided in subdivision (e).
(e) Other reliability factors. When determining the reliability of a principle or methodology, the court shall consider all relevant additional factors, which may include:
1. Testing. The extent to which the principle or methodology has been tested;
2. Research methods. The adequacy of research methods employed in testing the principle or methodology;
3. Peer review. The extent to which the principle or methodology has been published and subjected to peer review;
4. Rate of error. The rate of error in the application of the principle or methodology;
5. Experience of expert. The experience of the witness as an expert in the application of the principle or methodology; and
6. Acceptance within the field. The extent to which the field of knowledge has substantial acceptance within the relevant scientific, technical, or specialized community.
Expert witness needs to be able to communicate with at least five types of audiences: their clients"" attorneys, the opposing attorneys, the judge, the jury and with other experts for both sides. The present situation could be improved if professional experts would put more emphasis on scientific content than on adversarial rhetoric, and if counsel would more frequently use active scientists as scientific experts and for evaluating expert reports rather than specialists in persuasion.
Additionally, during a trial and the deliberations that follow it, jurors have two tasks: to understand and to evaluate the evidence. The jurors are expected to learn new information under the adverse conditions in a limited amount of time. The information is presented in a question and answer format between the attorney and the expert or witness, and the jurors are only observers of the interchange. They are not allowed to ask questions and may not be allowed to take notes. If a juror does not understand the information, did not hear something, or lost the train of thought, there is no opportunity to let the witness or attorney know. The information will be lost unless it is repeatable.
Expert witness must understand the science and apply to the facts of the case and to repeat DNA scientific evidence. These cover sample management, chain of custody, protocols, forms, laboratory casework, test results, quality issues, data interpretation, proficiency of laboratory scientists, security, privacy, review, reporting and archival. Errors include but not limited to incomplete chain of custody, wrong tests, scheduled procedure not performed, no testing chronology, no details of supervisory oversight, no signature, wrong samples used to test, samples contaminated or damage, improperly stored/handled, sample lost, test failure and lost/erased casework documents. DNA scientific evidence shall be collected and preserved from contamination. Most importantly, they shall be preserved from the DNA of the known blood sample of the defendants taken from them while in custody. To correctly, uniformly and repetitively validate and present DNA scientific evidence becomes difficult, time-consuming and personal chores. The degree of the admissibility of DNA scientific evidence becomes arbitrary assessment among the forensic community.
The proposal goal relates generally to courtroom admissibility, but specifically to electronic quality system to monitor and track where, who and when the quality deteriorates in forensic DNA laboratories.
Therefore, the invention provides a method to well structure DNA scientific evidence to reliably validate and to repetitively and systematically perform the following tasks:
Identify the issues
Provide relevant scientific information
Identify the relevant facts for the Jury
Provide opinions
Explain the basis of the opinions
Identify disagreements with the opposing opinions
Build credibility
This invention relates generally to the presentation contents of a courtroom testimony. The invention specifically enables an electronic record management (ERM) to reproduce the DNA scientific evidence to educate the litigators, to research the underlying facts, to re-construct the processes, to assert the reliability and credibility and to standardize the interface between the expert witnesses and the litigators.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a method to create and reproduce the DNA scientific evidence for the courtroom testimony. In order to achieve this object, the invented method involves both specially designed computer network architecture that includes at least a computer server and at least a computer client, and the software to execute on every computer client.
The design and function of the server and client software are based on the conception of Electronic Case Folder (ECF)xe2x80x94the organization of forensic DNA laboratory data in a logical sequence. ECF allows to store data and data processing informationxe2x80x94who, where, when, how and what was performed on data addition or modification. This conception is realized in both database design and application""s business rules that are generally implemented in a graphical user interface. ECF data are: initial package of forensic DNA samples, laboratory specimens, chain of custody, processing methods, Standard Operating Procedure (SOP), processing results, notes, reports and peer reviews. SOP is set of instructions of which text is for laboratory scientists and directives are commands to issue to computer. Major features of the ECF are the access rules, the rule of data classification, the rule of numerating ECF contents, the rules of the content modification and the rules of the data archiving/retrieving.
ECF archival and retrieval completes the life cycle of electronic records and enable the reproduction of forensic DNA scientific evidence.
The computer server has two databasesxe2x80x94the production database and archival database. Both databases have the same data structure in those parts concerning the ECF of the DNA scientific evidence, i.e. the informational schemas of the ECF are identical in both production and archival databases. The computer server performs the operations of data archiving and retrieving upon the request of the computer clients. Computer server is able to authenticate computer clients and to provide their interaction with the production database.
The computer client has user interface to allow users to log in and to be authenticated by the computer server. The user interface enables the collection of the DNA scientific evidence in integral, traceable, searchable and auditable form. It provides means to search, sort and analyze forensic DNA scientific evidence.
Further in accordance with this invention, user interface provide means to select the ECF of the DNA scientific evidence to archive or extract and then to initiate the server procedures of data archiving to or retrieving from the archival database.
Still further in accordance with this invention, the user interface allows to select and generate the printed output of text, number and images from the content of ECF for the courtroom testimony.
The primary object of this invention is to provide a method that enables the creation and the reproduction of forensic DNA scientific evidence to standardize the presentation of the courtroom testimony.
Other objects that this invention accomplishes:
1. Create the basis for testimony;
2. Provide validation method;
3. Facilitate trier to understand the DNA scientific evidence;
4. Qualify the knowledge, skill, experience and interpretation;
5. Define the reasonable reliability of the DNA scientific evidence;
6. Assist trier to apply the defined reliability of the DNA scientific evidence to the facts of the case;
7. Increase courtroom admissibility of forensic DNA scientific evidence;
8. Archive digital DNA case permanently.
Advantages
1. Document the research methods in testing the principle and methodology;
2. Establish a standard for the quality assurance that validates the scientific work;
3. Define goals, objectives, rules and procedures involving testing and modeling;
4. Evaluate and determine the performance and outcome of the research methods, the standard, goals, objectives, rules and procedures;
5. Enable the scientific work to abide by regulation;
6. Enable the repeatability of the scientific work;
7. Enable the design of the research methods, the standard, goals, objectives, rules and procedures to achieve the purposes of cost savings, risk management, safety, and quality.
Further objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from a consideration of the drawings and ensuing description.


Some described embodiments provide a system that performs stores in a memory system. During operation, the system receives a store for a first thread. The system then creates an entry for the store in a store queue for the first thread. While creating the entry, the system requests a store-mark for a cache line for the store, wherein the store-mark for the cache line indicates that one or more store queue entries are waiting to be committed to the cache line. The system then receives a response to the request for the store-mark, wherein the response indicates that the cache line for the store is store-marked. Upon receiving the response, the system updates a set of ordered records for the first thread by inserting data for the store in the set of ordered records, wherein the set of ordered records include store-marked stores for the first thread.

1. Field
The described embodiments relate to the design of processors within computer systems. More specifically, the described embodiments include a processor with a store queue that provides bounded-time responses to read-after-write (RAW) bypasses and forward-progress requests for threads.
2. Related Art
Advances in semiconductor fabrication technology have given rise to dramatic increases in microprocessor clock speeds. Unfortunately, this increase in microprocessor clock speeds has not been matched by a corresponding increase in memory access speeds. Hence, the disparity between microprocessor clock speeds and memory access speeds continues to grow, and is beginning to create significant performance problems. Execution profiles for fast microprocessor systems show that a large fraction of execution time is spent not within the microprocessor core, but within memory structures outside of the microprocessor core. This means that the microprocessor systems spend a large fraction of time waiting for memory references to complete instead of performing computational operations.
Efficient caching schemes can help reduce the number of memory accesses that are performed. However, when a load generates a cache miss, the subsequent access to level-two (L2) cache or memory can require dozens or hundreds of clock cycles to complete, during which time the processor is typically idle, performing no useful work. In contrast, cache misses during stores typically do not affect processor performance as much because the processor usually places the stores into a "store queue" and continues executing subsequent instructions. Existing store queue designs typically maintain an array of pending stores in program order.
Some existing store queue designs place a "store-mark" on a cache line to indicate that one or more store queue entries include pending stores that are to be committed to the cache line, and then delay accesses to the store-marked cache lines by other threads. In some of these designs, one or more of the pending stores can be directed to data-words in the same cache line. If consecutive stores are directed to data-words in the same cache line, these stores can be merged in the store queue without violating a conventional memory model, such as the Total-Store-Order (TSO) memory model. In this way, stores to a given cache line can be reordered, thereby allowing non-consecutive stores to be merged without violating TSO. This merging can reduce the memory bandwidth because the number of memory accesses is reduced.
When multiple threads are store-marking cache lines, some existing processors traverse a list of stores (e.g., the store queue) in order to respond to requests for cache lines by other threads, e.g., forward progress read-to-own (FPRTO) coherence requests and/or read-after-write (RAW) bypass requests. Traversing a list to locate data for stores can be time consuming.

Store queue supporting ordered and unordered stores


A phosphine-based catalyst composition suitable for the telomerization of butadiene to produce 1-octene includes palladium and one of a class of novel phosphine ligands characterized by two potentially functionalized phenyl rings and cyclized 5- or 6-member alkoxy groups that, together, bridge the two potentially functionalized phenyl rings. In these groups the alkoxy moiety of each is located ortho to at least one functionalizing moiety, if any, on the phenyl rings. The catalysts including this class of phosphine ligands may exhibit higher catalytic activity and selectivity, and may be used at lower temperatures, than many other phosphine ligand catalysts, reducing costs. Palladium precipitation may also be reduced.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to the field of phosphine-based catalysts. More particularly, it relates to new phosphine-based ligands that are useful in preparing catalysts that show improved performance in the telomerization of butadiene.
2. Background of the Art
It is generally known that 1-octene may be efficiently prepared via the telomerization of butadiene. This telomerization is typically done in the presence of methanol, and the catalyst is frequently a combination of a Group VIII metal, such as palladium, and a known phosphine ligand. The telomerization is frequently a three-step process. In the first step, butadiene is telomerized together with methanol to yield 1-methoxy-2,7-octadiene ("MOD-1"). In the second step, MOD-1 is hydrogenated to yield methyloctylether. In step three, the methyloctylether undergoes ether cleavage to yield 1-octene and methanol.
One known method of accomplishing the telomerization step uses a catalyst that is a combination of a palladium salt and triphenylphosphine (TPP). However, less than desirable yields of 1-octene are encountered when using this phosphine. This appears to be due, at least in part, to side reactions that lead to formation of 3-methoxy-1,7-octadiene ("MOD-3") and 1,3,7-octatriene.
Another approach is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,425,658, which teaches a method for producing 1-octene from butadiene by dimerizing and alkoxylating butadiene in the presence of one or more alkoxy-substituted phosphine ligands. This is done under alkoxydimerization conditions with an alkoxydimerization catalyst. Illustrative phosphine ligands include tris(2,4,6-trimethoxyphenyl)phosphine and tris-(4-methoxyphenyl)phosphine.
Co-pending International Application No. PCT/US09/051,347, filed on Jul. 22, 2009, teaches telomerization of 1,3-butadiene in the presence of an organic hydroxyl compound, a palladium (Pd) catalyst and at least one of a group of novel phosphine ligands. Illustrative phosphine ligands include tris-(2-methoxyphenyl) phosphine, tris-(2,4-dimethoxy-phenyl)phosphine, bis-(2-methoxyphenyl)phenylphosphine, tris-(2-methoxy-4-fluorophenyl)-phosphine and tris-(2-methoxy-4-chlorophenyl)phosphine.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,026,523 discloses a method for telomerizing non-cyclic olefins that includes use of a Pd-carbene complex as a catalyst.
Unfortunately, none of the known methods appears to satisfactorily achieve the goals of increased levels of catalytic activity and yield, combined with reductions of undesired side products. Because of this, producers of 1-octene via the butadiene telomerization route continue to search for new catalysts that offer improvements in any or all of these goals. The present invention addresses this need.

Phosphine-based catalysts useful for the telomerization of butadiene


The present invention relates to flares and other solid propellant devices, rockets or the like, equipped with an igniter or igniter system which is based in whole in part on an extruded igniter stick.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to extrudable igniter compositions, and extruded ignition sticks therefrom, in combination with flares or other solid propellant devices, such as rockets or the like.
2. Background Information
Igniter compositions ought to satisfy a number of design criteria. The igniter composition, when formed, should be sufficiently robust to remain in operable form prior to deployment of the device to be ignited, such as a flare or other device.
One of the commonly proposed igniter systems uses solid particles consisting of B/KNO.sub.3 which, when ignited, initiate combustion of the specified gas generant composition.
Other recent efforts in the civilian market have focused on developing alternative cost-effective igniter compositions or igniter compositions which are more easily manufactured. These efforts have included proposals to use a hot-melt thermoplastic resin matrix together with a particular igniter composition, such as KNO.sub.3. This effort sought to marry a commercially available hot melt adhesive, such as one designed for so-called "glue-guns", with a common alkali metal oxidizer. This effort to improve performance was less than satisfactory. Extrudability and igniter performance proved difficult to control, and the repeatable ballistic performance desired has not yet been demonstrated.
Accordingly, despite these and still other efforts, relevant objectives remain unattained. A simpler, more cost-effective igniter composition for flares and decoys or other devices remains desired. In particular, efforts are still on-going towards providing an igniter composition which avoids the need for hot melting so-called adhesives, and thus the consequent risks associated with processing a pyrotechnic material at an elevated temperature, but which is facile to manufacture and would be sufficiently robust.
It would, therefore, be a significant advance to provide igniter compositions capable of being used as an igniter which satisfactorily address these concerns in the industry.

Flares having igniters formed from extrudable igniter compositions


In part, and in addition to apparatus and methods presented, an expansion board to be connected/disconnected to/from its mother board easily is provided. A face of a CDC (Communication Daughter Card), which is an expansion board to be connected to the mother board of a computer system is covered by an insulating sheet. In the CDC, an edge of one end of this insulating sheet is extended so as to form a projection. A user can take this projection with fingers, thereby carrying and connecting/disconnecting the CDC to/from the mother board easily.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an expansion board, expansion board for communication, insulating film for expansion board, computer system, expansion board removing method, and electronic circuit board, and more particular to apparatus and method for such to be employed with computer systems.
2. Description of Related Art
In recent years, so-called PCs (personal computers) have come to be provided with more and more diversified functions. For example, many of those PCs are provided with functions for communicating with external just by connecting such an expansion device as a modem board, a LAN board, etc. to them. Those expansion devices are classified into two types; built-in type and external type. The built-in type device is installed inside the subject PC while the external type device is connected to the subject PC from outside. Users often select and install necessary expansion devices by themselves according to their requirement. For a built-in type device, the user is required to expose the PC by removing the case and connect the board type expansion device to the connector of the mother board inside the PC.
However, some expansion devices cannot be installed by users. Concretely, those devices are small expansion devices for lap-top PCs. Because portability is an very important item for lap-top PCs, those expansion devices are limited in size. Consequently, parts are packed at a high density thereon, so that the lap-top PCs become complicated in internal structure. In addition, expansion devices must be installed/removed very accurately and carefully. This is why usually the PC makers install those small expansion devices in lap-top PCs; no consideration is given to the installation of those devices by users from the beginning.
In spite of this, year after year there have increased users who want to expand the capability of their lap-top PCs more freely and accordingly, those users come to desire to install those small expansion devices by themselves. It would therefore be a significant advantage for those users if they could install/remove those expansion devices that are comparatively expensive small expansion devices and mother boards etc. by themselves.
Under such circumstances, it is an object of the present invention to solve the above conventional technical problems and provide an expansion board, which enables users to connect/disconnect expansion devices to/from mother boards of those lap-top PCs.
In order to attain the above object, in one aspect, the expansion board of the present invention, connected to the mother board of the subject computer system, is intended to expand the functions of the computer system. The expansion board of the present invention comprises a first face facing the mother board; a second face that is the back of the first surface; and a projection formed by a flexible sheet extended from the second face so as to be separated therefrom. The user can connect/disconnect the small expansion board to/from a predetermined position inside the subject PC smoothly by taking this protruded sheet with fingers. The shape of the flexible sheet is not limited specially; it is just required for the user to be able to take it with fingers. For example, the flexible sheet may be a narrow strap-like one.
Furthermore, in another aspect, the expansion board of the present invention to be employed for computer systems includes two surfaces; face and back. On the back is provided a connector used to connect the mother board of the subject computer system and on the face is provided a grip used to take the expansion board with fingers.
The present invention, in a further aspect, may also be considered as a communication expansion board. In this case, the communication expansion board comprises a board provided with a primary area used to connect an external network and a secondary area used to connect a portion inside the subject computer, an insulating film used to cover at least the primary area, and a projection provided with a fixed end fixed to the face of the insulating film and a free end formed so as to be separated from the insulating film.
The projection may be formed by extending the insulating film. In such a case, the insulating film is wound on the communication expansion board in the width direction and the projection is extended in the longitudinal direction of the board so as to cross the width direction. The projection may also be formed by a dedicated sheet separately from the insulating film. In such a case, the fixed end of the projection may be formed by connecting one end of the dedicated projection sheet to the insulating film. The projection may also be formed by winding the dedicated projection sheet on the communication expansion board, then connecting both ends of the sheet to each other.
The present invention in still a further aspect may also be considered as an insulating film for the communication expansion board. The insulating film used for the communication expansion board includes a cover portion used to cover the face of the communication expansion board and a projection extended from the fixed end on the face of the cover portion to external and enabled to be taken with fingers.
Furthermore in another aspect, the present invention may be considered as a computer system. The computer system comprises accepting means for accepting an expansion board removably; processing means for processing data of the expansion board connected to the accepting means; board holding means located on the face of the expansion board and enabled to be held by the user so as to connect/disconnect the board to/from the accepting means. This board holding means is preferably configured so that the user can remove the board from the accepting means easily.
The computer system of the present invention also includes a mother board and an expansion board connected to the mother board. The mother board includes processing means and an expansion board connector used to connect the board and send/receive data to/from the processing means. The expansion board includes a mother board connector used to connect the mother board and an extended sheet extended from the face of the expansion board.
In the computer system, the communication channel used for the communication with an external network is extended from the processing device and connected to the expansion board connector. The communication channel may include one of a modem channel, a LAN channel, and a wireless LAN channel.
Furthermore in another aspect, the present invention may also be considered as a method for disconnecting the expansion board from the mother board connector. According to the method, the user takes grip of the expansion board with fingers and pulls it so as to disconnect and remove the board from the mother board connector connected to the back of the board.
Further, for another aspect, the present invention may also be considered as an electronic circuit board. The electronic circuit board comprises first and second main faces that face each other; a connector located on the first main face and enabled to connect an external device; and a flexible sheet located on the face of the electronic circuit board. Part of the flexible sheet is connected to the electronic circuit board and another part thereof is extended so as to be separated from the second main face. When an electronic circuit is mounted on this electronic circuit board, at least part of the electronic circuit can be covered by the flexible sheet.

Expansion board apparatus and removing method

International Business Machines Corporation


A capacitor containing a solid electrolytic capacitor element having a porous anode body and an anode lead assembly is provided. At least one wire of the lead assembly is electrically connected to the anode body for connection to an anode termination. The lead assembly contains first and second lead wires embedded within the anode body and extending therefrom in a longitudinal direction. The first and second wires are bonded/fused together during sintering of the anode body (i.e., “sinter bonded”). The bond may be metallurgical, covalent, electrostatic, etc. Sinter bonding of the wires reduces the path length and resistance for current flow within the anode body, thus reducing ESR. This is particularly useful for anode bodies formed from powders of a high specific charge, which tend to shrink away from the wires after sintering. The sinter bonded wires also result in a lead assembly that is more robust and mechanically stable.

Solid electrolytic capacitors (e.g., tantalum capacitors) have been a major contributor to the miniaturization of electronic circuits and have made possible the application of such circuits in extreme environments. The anode of a typical solid electrolytic capacitor includes a porous anode body, with a lead wire extending beyond the anode body and connected to an anode termination of the capacitor. The anode can be formed by first pressing a tantalum powder into a pellet that is then sintered to create fused connections between individual powder particles. One problem with many conventional solid electrolytic capacitors is that there is resistance to current flow from the anode termination to the lead wire attached to or embedded in the anode body, which contributes to the equivalent series resistance (ESR) of the finished device. Resistances inside the body of the anode generate parallel resistances that also contribute to the ESR of the finished device. The current travels from the point of lead wire egress to the anode body to all points of the anode body through the path(s) of least resistance. The current must pass from the lead wire into the anode body through points of contact between the lead wire and the particles of the anode body. The current must then travel through the porous anode body, through small necks of the sintered particles.
Increasing the lead wire diameter decreases resistance in the wire itself and between the wire and the anode body. Unfortunately, increasing the wire diameter also reduces the capacitance by displacing porous anode body material that would otherwise contribute to capacitance. In attempt to solve this problem, attempts have been made to employ multiple lead wires based on the theory that the path length from points in the porous body become closer to at least one anode lead wire. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 7,116,548 to Satterfield, Jr., et al. and U.S. Patent Publication No. 2005/0237698 to Postage, et al. each describe various different configurations of multi-wire capacitors. Unfortunately, however, these solutions are still not fully satisfactory in achieving ultralow ESR levels. This is particularly evident in capacitors that employ high specific charge ("CV") powders. Namely, such powders tend to shrink away and separate from an embedded anode wire during sintering, which can reduce the degree to which the wire is bonded to the particles of the anode body and increase ESR. This problem is actually compounded when multiple anode wires are employed because the total area of poor bonding increases.
As such, a need currently exists for an improved solid electrolytic capacitor that can exhibit a low ESR.

Solid electrolytic capacitor containing multiple sinter bonded anode leadwires


A system for analysis of vent gas of a urea plant, comprising: a Raman spectroscope; a sampling conduit that connects the spectroscope to a main pipe of the urea plant configured to convey a sample stream to be analysed to the spectroscope; and a temperature-adjusting device, operated by a temperature controller and acting on at least one thermal treatment portion of the conduit configured to adjust the temperature of the sample stream circulating in the conduit.

As is known, urea is produced on an industrial scale via processes based on the reaction, under relatively high-temperature and relatively high-pressure conditions, between carbon dioxide and ammonia to form ammonium carbamate, and the subsequent decomposition reaction of the ammonium carbamate to provide urea and water.
These processes are carried out in plants (urea plants) that generally comprise: a synthesis reactor, in which the reaction between carbon dioxide and ammonia takes place; purification and recovery sections, in which the aqueous urea solution produced in the reactor is progressively concentrated, with the recovery and recycling of unconverted reagents; and a finishing section, where the urea is solidified (for example, in a granulator or prilling tower).
However the urea plant is configured, the urea plant generates continuous vent gas, containing inert unconverted substances and also small quantities of unreacted ammonia. Depending on the process used in the urea plant, this vent gas may also contain oxygen, introduced for passivation in particular.
For example, a urea plant that adopts the technology known as "Snamprogetti" discharges, more specifically from a so-called medium-pressure recovery section, a continuous gas stream typically containing nitrogen, oxygen, argon, methane, ammonia, hydrogen and water.
The need arises to monitor vent gas of the urea plant, especially when this vent gas contains hydrogen and oxygen, in particular for meeting safety requirements and, specifically, for remaining outside of the ignition limits.
If a risk situation is detected, action is taken on the vent gas stream, for example, by adding steam or another control fluid (inert gas, natural gas or the like) so as to avoid the formation of an explosive mixture.
It is also necessary to check when the risk situation has passed, so as to interrupt injection of the control fluid (steam or the like) in safe conditions.
The use of a gas chromatograph has been proposed for the analysis, with the plant running, of a vent gas stream coming from a urea plant and containing ammonia.
Gas chromatographic analysis is often used for monitoring processes as it enables identifying and quantifying a relatively large number of components simultaneously. The individual sample components pass through a column at different speeds and are registered in succession by a detector. The time lapsing between introduction of the sample and the registration of a substance by the detector (retention time) is characteristic of the substance and is used to identify it. The magnitude of the detector signal is a measurement of the volumetric concentration of the component in the analysed fluid.
However, the use of a gas chromatograph has some drawbacks in the specific application of urea plant vent gas analysis.
First of all, the presence of condensing steam or another control fluid in the gas stream to be analysed (a situation that occurs following injection of steam or another fluid to move outside the ignition limits) undermines the gas chromatography measurement of the gas mixture's components, especially the quantitative analysis of ammonia.
Furthermore, the phenomena associated with the condensation-evaporation of steam (or any other fluids) in the gas chromatograph can compromise the mechanical integrity of the instrument.
In addition, a gas chromatograph is a relatively bulky instrument, also because it must be conditioned, and so, in general, a gas chromatograph cannot be placed directly on the main pipe in which the gas stream to be analysed circulates, but must be placed in a suitable structure in a remote position and be connected to the main pipe by a specially provided line, which can also be relatively long. All of this, apart from complicating the installation of the equipment, can also compromise measurement accuracy.

System and a method for analysis of vent gas of a urea plant


A mobile communication device includes a first radio frequency (RF) transceiver and a second RF transceiver. The first RF transceiver is operative for communications in accordance with a first radio protocol (e.g. BLUETOOTH®) using a first set of RF channels, and the second RF transceiver is operative for communications in accordance with a second radio protocol (e.g. IEEE 802.11) using a second set of RF channels. The mobile device identifies a list of noisy RF channels in the first set of RF channels, detected through operation of the first RF transceiver in accordance with the first radio protocol. The mobile device selects one of the RF channels from the second set based on the identified list of noisy RF channels. The mobile device then controls operation of the second RF transceiver in accordance with the second radio protocol for communicating data to another communication device over the selected RF channel of the second set.

1. Field of the Technology
The present disclosure relates generally to radio communications, and more particularly to techniques for communicating data which include the selection of an RF channel for communications.
2. Description of the Related Art
Mobile communication devices configured to operate in accordance with IEEE 802.11 standards or the like may communicate in wireless local area networks (WLANs). It is desirable for such mobile devices to be able to communicate one or more files, such as one or more documents, images, or video files, etc., to/from other communication devices.
Today, such mobile devices may be configured to enter into an access point (AP) mode of operation, so that other communication devices may associate with them for direct communications therebetween. This AP mode of operation, which may be referred to as a "Micro-AP mode", provides a benefit due to the high data rates available over WLAN links. This mode is intended to replace the "ad-hoc mode" offered by the IEEE 802.11 standard.
Unfortunately, the Micro-AP mode results in relatively higher power consumption from use of the WLAN radio and its associated host activities, even during idle state. To offset this negative tradeoff, there are initiatives which plan on using a co-located, low-power, radio operative in accordance with BLUETOOTH® standards. BLUETOOTH® is a registered trademark of Bluetooth SIG, Inc. Examples of such initiatives include standards which include IEEE 802.11 CLPP and IEEE 802.11 AMP. The WLAN connection and its parameters would be negotiated between the mobile devices over the BLUETOOTH® radio prior to powering up the WLAN radio.
However, the interference resulting from Micro AP mode may have a negative impact on existing WLAN deployments. It would be desirable to choose an operational frequency of the Micro AP such that the added interference to the existing deployment is minimized. Deciding the minimum interference operational frequency by performing WLAN scanning may significantly increase power consumption. Further, the concurrent BLUETOOTH® connection may be terminated due to co-channel interference resulting from WLAN radio scanning, which in many cases is performed as an atomic operation.

Methods and apparatus for use in communicating data which includes the selection of an RF channel for communications