A semiconductor chip inspection supporting apparatus includes a data processing unit. To the data processing unit, an image data is supplied. The image data indicates a layout of a plurality of normal chips and a plurality of abnormal chip on a semiconductor wafer. The data processing unit includes a data processing unit and a search processing portion. The generation portion generates a connection propriety data indicating prohibition of each of the plurality of normal chips from being connected to adjacent one of the plurality of abnormal chips based on the image data. The search processing portion searches for a chip to be paired with the each of plurality of the normal chips for execution of paired measurement, based on the image data and the connection propriety data. The data processing unit outputs the search result.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a semiconductor chip inspection supporting apparatus for supporting a semiconductor chip inspection.
2. Description of the Related Art
In a semiconductor manufacturing process, a plurality of semiconductor chips (hereinafter referred to as "chips"), each of which includes circuit elements, is formed on a semiconductor wafer so as to build circuits thereon. The plurality of chips is inspected (measured) with a probe card and a measuring instrument for examination of electrical characteristics. Those chips judged as good through the inspection are shipped.
During the chip inspection, simultaneous measurements of multiple chips are performed in order to reduce the inspection time. In the simultaneous measurements of multiple chips, the number of chips to be measured simultaneously can be increased by performing paired measurement in which a measuring pin is shared between two chips. However, since the shape of a chip is typically quadrangular while the shape of a semiconductor wafer is generally a circular, a plurality of normal chips and a plurality of abnormal chips are formed on the semiconductor wafer. Here, the normal chip is a chip that builds a circuit on the semiconductor wafer. The abnormal chip is a chip that cannot build a circuit on the semiconductor wafer. The abnormal chip is formed, for example, near an end portion of the semiconductor wafer. This abnormal chip is separated from the semiconductor wafer to be used as one device in a later step.
In the paired measurement, with the probe card (probe) being set on the normal chip and the abnormal chip, a voltage may be applied from the measuring instrument in some cases. In this case, a current leakage occurs. This leakage causes a phenomenon such as a leakage trouble or voltage decrease in the measuring pin. This results in malfunction of the normal chips. Therefore, the following methods have been adopted in conventional practices:
(Method 1) Measurement time reduction based on simultaneous measurements of multiple chips is prioritized. Thus, the occurrence of malfunctions of some normal chips is abandoned;
(Method 2) Considerable manpower (including labor cost) and time are dedicated to determining chip combinations;
(Method 3) Simultaneous measurements of multiple chips are abandoned to eliminate the malfunction of some normal chips; and
(Method 4) Considerable manpower (including labor cost) is dedicated to taking countermeasures (disconnection between the Pad and the inside) against abnormal chips so as to achieve simultaneous measurement of multiple chips.
In conjunction with the chip inspection, the conventional techniques are disclosed as shown below.
Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application JP-A-Heisei, 04-133443 discloses a method for manufacturing a semiconductor device, which relates to a case where a plurality of chips are simultaneously measured in a wafer probing test. In order to enable the probing test to be performed easily, this manufacturing method prevents the probe of a probe card from selecting a section other than chips laid on the wafer.
Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application JP-A-Heisei, 06-168991 discloses a multi-probing semiconductor inspection method, which enables an inspection of a semiconductor chip with high inspection efficiency without causing an increase in the transfer range of a wafer transfer device.
Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application JP-A-Heisei, 09-270446 discloses a semiconductor inspection device, which is capable of inspecting a semiconductor device in which a plurality of product chips and one TEG chip are formed with the same shot.
Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application JP-P2004-55910A discloses a probe device, which is easily adaptable to a change in the layout of a probe card or the arrangement of an identification number.
Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application JP-P2000-40720A discloses an IC test system, which is capable of reading even location data to be specified at later time and also which operates by using new location data that permits reading the probe layout without a conversion table for each location data being provided to an IC test device.
Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application JP-A-Heisei, 10-160798 discloses an IC test method, which is capable of efficiently performing a test with a shorter measurement time even when only one measurement condition is provided at a time during simultaneous measurement of a plurality of ICs.
Japanese Patent JP-P3107798B discloses a semiconductor device inspection apparatus, which is capable of easily managing probe card usage history data at low costs.
Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application JP-A-Heisei, 07-169800 discloses a method of determining a probe card regular inspection period, which automatically judges a regular inspection period to be performed for a probe card that is used in semiconductor manufacturing, based on the time elapsed and the number of usage after the last regular inspection of the probe card, and then notifying the operator of this period.
Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application JP-P2001-230181 discloses a shot map creation method, which is capable of providing an improved throughput.

Semiconductor chip inspection supporting apparatus


A display includes a scan line, a data line, a pixel circuit, a compensation circuit, a voltage controller, and a data line driver. The data line forms a junction with the scan line. The pixel circuit is disposed at the junction of the scan line and the data line. When the scan line and the data line are driven, the pixel circuit generates a driving current. The compensation circuit generates a comparing signal and a positioning signal based on the driving current. The voltage controller generates a reference voltage that corresponds to the positioning signal with reference to the comparing signal. The data line driver corrects an image signal based on the reference voltage, and drives the data line with the corrected image signal. A compensation circuit for the display is also disclosed.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a display, and a compensation circuit therefor.
2. Description of the Related Art
FIG. 1 illustrates a conventional active matrix organic light-emitting diode (AMOLED) display that includes a display panel 95, a scan line driver 96, and a data line driver 97. The display panel 95 includes an array of pixel circuits 9. The pixel circuits 9 in each row are connected to a scan line 93, whereas the pixel circuits 9 in each column are connected to a data line 94. The scan line driver 96 is connected to the scan lines 93. The data line driver 97 is connected to the data lines 94. Each of the pixel circuits 9, as illustrated in FIG. 2, includes an OLED 91 and a driving member 92. The driving member 92 has a 2T1C structure, and includes first and second transistors 921, 922 and a capacitor 923.
When one of the scan lines 93 is driven by a scan voltage (VSCAN) generated by the scan line driver 96 and one of the data lines 94 is driven by a data voltage (VDATA) generated by the scan line driver 97, the pixel circuit 9, e.g., the pixel circuit 90, on a junction of the scan line 93 and the data line 93 is activated. That is, the first transistor 921 of the pixel circuit 90 is turned on, a capacitor voltage, which corresponds to the data voltage (VDATA), appears across the capacitor 923 of the pixel circuit 90, the second transistor 922 of the pixel circuit 90 is biased into the saturated region by the capacitor voltage and a supply voltage (VDD) and generates a driving current, and the OLED 91 of the pixel circuit 90 is driven by the driving current to emit light. The driving current (IDRIVE) is computed as
      I    DRIVE    =            1      2                                    k          922                                  (                                    V                              C                ,                923                                      -                          V                              TH                ,                922                                              )                    2      where k922 is a device trans-conductance parameter of the second transistor 922 of the pixel circuit 90, VC,923 is a capacitor voltage across the capacitor 923 of the pixel circuit 90, and VTH,922 is a threshold voltage of the second transistor 922 of the pixel circuit 90.
The aforementioned conventional AMOLED display is disadvantageous in that, since the threshold voltage of the second transistor 922 differs from one pixel circuit 9 to another due to manufacturing drift and operating conditions, the driving current generated by the second transistor 922 also differs from one pixel circuit 9 to another. As such, the intensities of light emitted by the OLEDs 91 of the pixel circuits 9 are not uniform. In order to minimize the effect of the threshold voltage on the driving current, it has been proposed to add transistors and capacitors to the driving member 92 of each of the pixel circuits 9. This, however, reduces an aperture ratio of the conventional AMOLED display.
Moreover, since the length of a line through which the supply voltage (VDD) is applied increases with the number of the pixel circuits 9, the supply voltage is severely attenuated, particularly for a large size conventional AMOLED display. This also reduces uniformity in the intensities of light emitted by the OLEDs 91 of the conventional AMOLED display.
Furthermore, a voltage across the OLED 91 of each of the pixel circuits 9 of the conventional AMOLED display increases over time. This undesirably affects current flowing through the OLED 91, and thus reduces the light-emitting efficiency of the OLED 91.

Display and compensation circuit therefor


The present invention relates to a tamper evident closure in which the outer portion (10) rises upon first opening, and having means that prevent such outer portion from falling back to the original position once it has risen. Therefore, the tamper evident effect is given by the misalignment of the outer portion and the central portion (8). The closure may be made of cork, possibly of synthetic nature, or of screw type, adapted to be tightened to a threaded pouring device applied to the neck of the bottle.

The discussion of documents, deeds, materials, devices, papers and the like is only incorporated in this specification to provide some context for the present invention. These materials shall not be deemed or intended to be wholly or partially part of the prior art, or to be of general knowledge in the field of the present invention, as existing before the priority date of any claim of this application.
WO03/066467, for instance, discloses a closure assembly for pharmaceutical applications which has both tamper evident and child proof features: the tamper evident feature is provided by a first portion of the outer surface of the closure assembly, which creates a step with respect to a second portion of the same outer surface, whereas the child proof feature is provided by forcing the user to an opening movement that shall necessarily involve two distinct directions. This closure assembly has the undoubted drawback of simple opening, which is inherently disadvantageous in the pharmaceutical field, that requires child proof closure assemblies.
WO2005/021400, by Guala Closures S.p.A. discloses a tamper evident closure assembly that is opened by a movement that shall not necessarily involve two distinct directions (hence defining a non child proof closure), in which an internal element is broken and moved to expose a surface underneath it, to show that first opening has occurred. The main drawback of this closure assembly consists in the need for internal breakable elements as well as a relatively complex system for breaking them.
EP1511677B1, granted to Guala Closures UK Limited discloses a tamper evident closure assembly, in which the opening movement exposes a counteracting annular element, the closure of the closure element being unable to be restored to the starting position after first opening. Nevertheless, the simple construction of the structure of this closure unit is a limit to tamper evident features, which necessarily rely on the size of the annular element to be exposed during first opening.
The above discussion of the prior art shows that there is still a need for a closure assembly that can combine both features of simple construction and effectiveness of the above described tamper evident systems.
In view of the above prior art, the object of the present invention is to at least partially fulfill the above need, while at least partially obviating prior art drawbacks.
Furthermore, the present invention provides a closure assembly having advantages in terms of simple fabrication, greater strength, more compact design and/or higher versatility.


A gap sub assembly and methods for using the gap sub provide an electrical isolating joint that is mechanically strong enough to withstand the rigors of drilling environments, resistant to environmental effects (heat, corrosive liquids and gases, and high pressures), and maintainable. The gap sub assembly provides a male member and a female member that may be connected together, wherein a non-conductive material is applied between the two at the attachment points. A locking ring or collar affixes to both male and female members to prevent back off while drilling and preserving the electrical isolation of the gap joint. Non-conductive material may be injected between the locking ring and one or more of the male or female members.

Modern drilling techniques employ sensors downhole and broadcast this sensor information to surface using Measurement While Drilling (MWD) telemetry. One variety of MWD telemetry, Electromagnetic (EM) telemetry, sends data to the surface using low frequency radio waves generated by producing a voltage across an insulated gap sub in a drill string or assembly. In EM telemetry applications, a carrier signal is produced by applying an alternating voltage across the insulating gap or electrical isolation in the drill string. This mechanism responsible for providing the insulated gap or electrical isolation may be referred to in the art as a gap sub-assembly or gap sub. As such, the terms insulated gap, isolation sub, and gap sub may be used interchangeably herein. This EM carrier signal can be received at the surface and decoded as EM telemetry, or it can be broadcast into a formation and measured to determine EM resistivity.
An electrical isolation or gap sub must be robust and predictable, as well as, provide high mechanical strength in various drilling environments and drilling conditions. This has been difficult to obtain simultaneously in a gap sub.
An improved gap sub assembly and method for making the gap sub provide a low cost, high strength, easily maintainable and reliable isolation sub to be used as a downhole gap sub assembly.

System and method for manufacturing electrically isolated connection for electromagnetic gap sub assembly


An ATM switch includes a first stage, a second stage and a third stage each of which stages includes at least one basic switch, wherein the first stage, the second stage and the third stage are connected. The basic switch includes a part which refers to time information written in a header of an input cell and switches cells to an output port in an ascending order of the time information. In addition, the ATM switch includes a cell distribution part in the basic switch of the first stage. The cell distribution part determines a routes of a cell to be transferred such that loads of routes within the ATM switch are balanced. The ATM switch further includes an adding part which adds arriving time information to an arriving cell as the time information.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to a technique for switching a cell, which is a fixed length packet, represented by an ATM cell. Particularly, the present invention relates to a technique incorporated in a large-sized ATM switch which is used for an ATM exchange and which demands high throughput. More particularly, the present invention relates to a technique of cell switching using cell-based routing while preserving cell sequence, and to a technique of distributing cell traffic effectively.
Further, the present invention relates to a technique of forming ATM switch hardware improving the efficiency of LSI circuits in the ATM switch so as to reduce to a minimum the number of the LSI circuits necessary for the ATM switch.
In the specification, a basic switch is used as a component of the ATM switch. In addition, a cell which is generated by dividing a cell will be called a short cell.
2. Description of the Related Art
In terms of ATM (asynchronous transfer mode), fixed-length cells are switched at high speed using a simplified protocol by hardware rather than by software. Thus, high-speed controllability and high-speed switching capability are required for the ATM switch in the ATM exchange. Thus, it is not enough to expand the switch size by expanding each basic switch for realizing a required switch size which increases. The required switch size increases as the number of lines to be accommodated increases. Therefore, a multi stage switch configuration in which the basic switches are connected to each other in a multi stage manner is necessary.
A conventional multi stage switch will be described with reference to FIG. 1. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the conventional multi stage ATM switch. The first stage has n n×m switches, the second stage has m n×n switches, and the third stage has n m×n switches. Conventionally, it has been known that a cross architecture in which three stages of basic switches are connected is effective for expanding the switch size.
The routing algorithm in the cross architecture can be classified as a connection-based routing or a cell-based routing. In terms of the connection-based routing, cells which constitute a same VC (Virtual Connection) are routed through the same route in a switch. On the other hand, in terms of the cell-based routing, cells which constitute the same VC are routed through different routes in the switch.
Cell routing examples are shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 showing the case of the connection-based routing and the cell-based routing respectively. In the following, problems in using the routing algorithms will be described with reference to FIG. 2 and FIG. 3.
As shown in FIG. 2, in the case of the connection-based routing, cells constituting the same VC which are input in the ATM switch are switched through the same switching route. In the cross architecture having three-stages, traffic distribution is carried out by basic switches in the first stage and the second stage, and switching is carried out by the basic switches in the second stage and the third stage.
Thus, it is necessary to distribute traffic on a connection level in the ATM switch in order to distribute the load of the basic switches equally in the second stage. For this purpose, resource management of the basic switches in the second stage is necessary. In the resource management, for example, a basic switch in the second stage is determined for connections to route through. The connections go to the same switch in the third stage.
If the resource management is not carried out effectively, the load of the basic switches in the second stage gets out of balance resulting in generating some basic switches of a high-load condition. As a result of this, a link block occurs continually in the high-loaded switches and a state in which QOS (quality of service) is not satisfied occurs in the ATM.
FIG. 2 shows an example of the above-mentioned state. In FIG. 2, the load of the basic switch in the second stage gets out of balance in a connection route going to a basic switch OSW#1 so that the load of the basic switch TSW#1 becomes low and the load of the basic switch TSW#n becomes high resulting in cell discarding at the output link. In order to prevent such a load unbalance, intelligent resource management needs to be carried out. In the resource management, a statistical characteristic of link-level multiplexed VCs is predicted in consideration of temporal variation of the VCs, then the load balance is ensured probabilistically. There are various methods for the resource management. One such method is to monitor the load state of each link and determining a connection route on the basis of the load state. Another such method is to obtaining the load state of a link by calculating a characteristic of multiplexed data of each output link of the basic switch in the second stage on the basis of a reported parameter of a connection, and determine a route of the VC on the basis of the load state information.
However, in terms of the large-sized ATM switch, which is the target of the present invention, which switch has many high-speed links exceeding several tens of gigabits per second, the above-mentioned methods are not effective because the cost for the resource management increases in the ATM switch as a whole. Specifically, since the large-sized ATM switch has a large number of connections, the algorithm for calculating routes for cell transmission becomes very complicated. Therefore, the hardware for the route calculation increases and it becomes difficult to realize the large-sized ATM switch.
In addition, it may be considered that the ATM switch allows load unbalance by speeding up the inside of the ATM switch in order to avoid the complicated resource management. However, it is necessary to speed up the link speed of the ATM switch to a speed 3 times the input/output line speed. This is not a cost effective method because it is very difficult to form such a high-speed link between the basic switches.
As shown in FIG. 3, as for the cell-based routing, since it is possible for the cells to take different routes, the load distribution in the ATM switch can be realized without concern regarding the characteristic of multiplexed data. That is, as shown in FIG. 3, the internal block can be prevented in the routing network if the cells which are input to the ATM switch are distributed to each input port of the routing network with equal probability. In this case, a distribution network in the ATM switch is used.
However, since cells which form the same VC are switched through multiple routes in the ATM switch according to the cell-based routing, cells which have routed through different routes may have different delays depending on the load applied to each buffer on the route. Thus, the time of the cell transfer delay may vary from route to route, thereby a cell-sequence disorder may occur at the output of the ATM switch. Therefore, cell-resequencing is necessary for ensuring the cell sequence order.
For example, Gigabit switch carries out the cell resequencing in the output port (Turner DESIGN OF A GIGABIT ATM SWITCH, IEEE INFOCOM'77). FIG. 4 shows the configuration. As shown in FIG. 4, a time stamp is added to an incoming cell by a time stamp part. Then, the cells are switched, and the cell waits in a buffer of the output port. The cell resequencing is carried out by sorting cells in the buffer. FIG. 5 shows cells waiting in the buffer as cells in a sorting range.
However, in order to carrying out the above-mentioned sorting, it is necessary to provide a large-scale sorting circuit at each output port of the ATM switch for sorting switched cells based on the time information. Since the ATM switch which has high-speed links needs to carry out the sorting on many routes, the size of the ATM switch should be limited, thereby scalability of the ATM switch can not be obtained. In addition, as for system construction, the ATM switch is not economical since it is necessary to provide a high-speed switching function in a switch function part and a sorting function on every output port separately.
Further, the above-mentioned cell sequence ensuring method has a disadvantage as mentioned below. FIG. 6 shows load dependence of a cell transfer delay distribution. In FIG. 6, the horizontal axis shows the delay time, and the vertical axis shows probability of the cell frequency corresponding to the delay time. As shown in the figure, as the load in the ATM switch increases, the distribution shifts to the direction of increasing delay time. The figure shows that a cell which is transferred with an infinite delay time exists in a finite probability. However, it is physically impossible to provide a sorter with an infinite window size, resulting in carrying out the cell sequence sorting by a sorter with a finite window size in consideration of economy. Thus, the window size ΔT, which defines a sorting range of the sorter, is determined probabilistically, giving up cell resequencing for cells with delay below a probability. Therefore, the sorter in the sorting part carries out cell resequencing with the window size ΔT.
However, an old cell out of the finite window may arrive depending on a load state in the ATM switch. In such a case, the sorter can not ensure the cell sequence. The reason for this is that the cell resequencing is carried out after switching, that is, after the cell sequence disorder occurs. That is to say, the cell resequencing method which uses the sorter at the output of the switch has a disadvantage that the cell sequence can not be ensured 100%.
Moreover, another method for preventing the cell sequence disorder is proposed in M. Collivignarelli et al., "System and Performance Design of the ATM Node UT-XC," IEEE ISS'94, pp. 613-618, in which maximum delay time is added.
According to the method, the cell delay time is equalized for each cell by adding a predefined maximum delay time D to every cell input in the switch, thereby ensuring the cell sequence. Specifically, according to the method, when assuming D1 as the switching delay of a cell at the output of the switch, an additional delay time D2=D−D1 is added to the cell at the output. Thus, the cell sequence is ensured.
However, according to the above-mentioned method of adding maximum delay time, since the predefined worst delay time D is added to every input cell, a good delay characteristic can not be obtained even if an input load of the ATM switch is low. In addition, it is necessary to set the absolute delay time to the ATM switch in the order of several hundreds when an allowed input load is 0.9. Therefore, the hardware block for adding the maximum delay time becomes complicated so that it becomes difficult to realize the hardware. Further, it is necessary to measure the switching delay time of each cell at the input/output part with precision in order to add the delay time to a transferred cell accurately, resulting in complicating a cell delay time measuring circuit and a delay time adding circuit which are provided in the input/output part. The complexity is a disadvantage for realizing the hardware.
Moreover, it is a problem to accommodate a large number of input/output lines in such a high-speed ATM switch. FIG. 7 shows an example of an ATM switch of a 16×16 switch size. For example, when realizing the ATM switch which has the 16×16 switch size and 160-Gbit/s switching throughput (the highway speed is 10-Gbit/s which is 622 Mbit/s×20) and the number of high-speed input/output lines of an LSI chip for the ATM switch is limited to 300 pins at the maximum, an LSI chip of a 4×2 ((4+2)×2×20=240, with 50 control lines) can be realized when inputting high speed signal in parallel to the ATM switch. Therefor, 32 chips are necessary in order to realize a 160-G bit/s cross-point switch.
FIG. 8 shows an LSI chip configuration when transferring cells by splitting cells spatially. As shown in FIG. 8, when cells are split spatially by using a bit slicing technique, 160G/3 throughput can be realized by one chip (16×2×(20/3)≈230, with 50 control lines). Therefore, a 160-G bits/s throughput can be realized with 3 chips at the minimum. In addition, hardware logic in the chip is used effectively since high speed lines for interconnecting between chips can be eliminated.
FIG. 9 shows an example of a cross-point switch using parallel inputs and FIG. 10 shows an example of a cross-point switch using the bit slicing. In the case of the cross-point switch using parallel inputs shown in FIG. 9, the LSI chip in the center of the cross-point handles relaying signals in higher proportion than switching signals. Therefore, there is a problem that an integration degree of the logic used for switching is low.
On the other hand, as for the example shown in FIG. 10 using the bit slice technique, it is possible to integrate the switching logic effectively because most hardware is used for switching.
When expanding the ATM switch size by using the bit slicing method, basic switches are connected, each basic switch having a cell splitting function and a cell synthesizing function. Therefore, the ATM switch can not make the most of the merit of the bit slicing method. In addition, since cell splitting and synthesizing are repeated in the ATM switch, the amount of overhead circuits for cell splitting and synthesizing increases, thereby control becomes complex and hardware increases. Therefore, the method is not an economical approach.

Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation


A device for infusing of at least one medicament includes at least two actuators configured to cause at least two medicaments to be infused; at least one sensor configured to measure a value of at least two parameters; and a controller configured to control the at least two actuators, wherein the controller is programmed to activate the at least two actuators depending on the values of each of the at least two parameters, and wherein the controller is arranged so as to consider a dependency of the at least two medicaments.

In patients undergoing surgery, because of vasodilation induced by anesthetic agents and hypovolemia induced by surgical bleeding, hypotension is frequently observed during the surgical procedure. Prolonged hypotension may lead to organ hypoperfusion and at the end organ failure. Prompted therapeutic intervention to normalize blood pressure is therefore expected, and is based on volume loading and/or the administration of vasoactive or/and inotropic agents.
In some instances, anesthesiologists may be interested not only in maintaining blood pressure but also in maximizing stroke volume (or increasing stroke volume until stroke volume reaches a plateau). Indeed, in patients undergoing high-risk surgery, either because of chronic disease state (e.g. hip surgery in a patient with chronic heart failure) or acute disease state (e.g. peritonitis surgery in a patient with septic shock) or/and because of the surgical procedure itself (e.g. spine hemorrhagic surgery), it has been established that maximizing stroke volume by the mean of fluid administration may decrease the incidence of postoperative complications and reduce the length of stay in the intensive care unit and in the hospital (cost saving strategy).
In patients undergoing surgery, the identification of hypotensive patients who may benefit from volume loading and of those who may benefit from vasoactive or/and inotropic agents is very difficult. For example, vasoplegic states (which may benefit from vasoactive drug administration) can be identified by evaluating systemic vascular resistances but cardiac output—a parameter necessary for the calculation of systemic vascular resistances—is usually not measured during the surgical procedure.
Hypovolemic states can be identified by assessing blood volume, or cardiac dimensions, but it is usually not the case nor possible during the surgical procedure.
In patients undergoing high-risk surgery, maximizing stroke volume implies to measure stroke volume, which is not always the case or possible and requires the use of a specific and more expensive cardiac output monitoring technology.
Even when stroke volume and cardiac output can be measured and monitored during the surgical procedure, there is no system allowing the automatic control of fluid administration and vasoactive or/and inotropic agents administration, minimizing the duration of systemic hypotension, preventing the development of organ failure, and improving the outcome of patients undergoing surgery.

Device for infusion of at least two medicaments


An apparatus, includes an interconnect, including a conductive material, above a substrate and a resistive random access memory (RRAM) device coupled to the interconnect. The RRAM device includes an electrode structure above the interconnect, where an upper portion of the electrode structure has a first width. The RRAM device further includes a switching layer on the electrode structure, where the switching layer has the first width and an oxygen exchange layer, having a second width less than the first width, on a portion of the switching layer. The RRAM device further includes a top electrode above the oxygen exchange layer, where the top electrode has the second width and an encapsulation layer on a portion of the switching layer, where the switching layer extends along a sidewall of the oxygen exchange layer.

For the past several decades, the scaling of features in integrated circuits has been a driving force behind an ever-growing semiconductor industry. Scaling to smaller and smaller features enables increased densities of functional units on the limited real estate of semiconductor chips. For example, shrinking transistor size allows for the incorporation of an increased number of memory devices on a chip, lending to the fabrication of products with increased functionality. The drive for ever-more functionality, however, is not without issue. It has become increasingly significant to rely heavily on innovative fabrication techniques to meet the exceedingly tight tolerance requirements imposed by scaling.
Non-volatile on-chip embedded memory with resistive random access memory (RRAM) devices can improve energy and computational efficiency of a system on chip (SOC). However, the technical challenges of creating an appropriate stack for fabrication of RRAM devices with high device endurance, high retention and operate at low voltages and currents present formidable roadblocks to commercialization of this technology. Specifically, the objective of memory technology to control tail bit data in a large array of memory bits necessitates tighter control of the variations in switching layer break down and switching events in individual bits. In filamentary RRAM systems, engineering a switching layer that results in lower break down voltages and in high device endurance is highly advantageous. As such, significant improvements are still needed in switching layer stacks, which rely on material advancements, fabrication techniques, or a combination of both. This area of process development is an integral part of the non-volatile memory roadmap.

Resistive random access memory device and methods of fabrication


A water-based coloring material which colors a medium and which is to be used together with water, the water-based coloring material includes a colorant and polyetheramine represented by chemical formula (1):

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a water-based coloring material, a water-based ink for ink-jet recording, an ink-jet recording method, and an ink-jet recording apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
In the ink-jet recording based on the use of a water-based ink, the curl arises on the recorded matter in some cases. In order to solve this problem, a water-based ink, which is blended with trimethylolpropane (TMP) capable of suppressing the curl, has been suggested. Further, an ink, in which the blending amount of water is decreased, has been suggested to suppress the curl.
However, the curl is not suppressed sufficiently in the case of the water-based ink in which TMP is blended. Further, a problem arises in relation to the increase in viscosity in the case of the ink in which the blending amount of water is decreased. The water-based ink for ink-jet recording is a kind of the water-based coloring material which colors the medium and which is to be used together with water. The problem of the curl of the colored medium (recorded matter) is the problem which is common to the water-based coloring materials.

Water-based coloring material, water-based ink for ink-jet recording, ink-jet recording method, and ink-jet recording apparatus

Abstract: wherein R1 is a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group which has 1 to 4 carbon atoms and has a straight chain or a branched chain; R2, R3, and R4 are substituted or unsubstituted alkylene groups each of which has 1 to 4 carbon atoms and has a straight chain or a branched chain, and R2, R3, and R4 are identical with each other or different from each other; and each of m, n, and o is an integer of 1 to 5.


The present disclosure relates to a display control method, an electronic device, and a storage medium. The method includes: obtaining at least one frame of sensing data representing motion of a target object relative to an electronic device; predicting a to-be-identified region on the electronic device according to the sensing data; and displaying preset information in the to-be-identified region. The preset information is configured to indicate to input biometric information of the target object.

At present, with the development of OLED (organic light emitting diode) technology, more and more electronic devices adopt an in-display fingerprint unlocking function. In an always-on mode, a fingerprint icon is always displayed on a designated position of the display screen, the designated position corresponding to a central area of a fingerprint sensor. A user may press a finger on the above fingerprint icon. After the electronic device detects that the finger is pressed on the fingerprint icon, a light spot is displayed on the designated position of the display screen, and then steps such as fingerprint entry and unlocking are performed.
However, in the way of displaying the fingerprint icon and lighting up the light spot at the designated position 11 as shown in FIG. 1, the user may be required to move his or her finger to the designated position, or the user may be even required to repeatedly adjust his or her finger position when the deviation is large, which compromises the fingerprint unlocking experience.

Display control method, electronic device, and storage medium

BEIJING XIAOMI MOBILE SOFTWARE CO., LTD.


A servo spot welding control system and method to efficiently weld a pair of workpieces together. The system includes a robot movable about the workpieces, a weld gun, servomotors, a transformer, and a controller. The weld gun is mounted on the robot and includes at least two pairs of electrodes. Each pair of electrodes includes a stationary electrode and a moveable electrode. The servomotors are operatively connected to the movable electrodes. The controller actuates the robot to move the robot into position. The controller also actuates the servomotors to clamp the workpieces and to selectively sequence electric current from the transformer to form multiple spot welds on the workpieces.

1. Field of the Invention
The subject invention relates to a servo spot welding control system including a robot and multiple electrodes for efficiently welding a pair of workpieces together. The subject invention also relates to a method for welding the pair of workpieces together.
2. Description of Related Art
Various welding control systems are known in the art. One example of a welding control system is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,111,019. More specifically, the ""019 patent discloses a welding control system for resistance spot welding. A pair of transformers and a pair of spot welding guns are attached to a wrist of a robot. Each welding gun has a pair of electrodes, a fixed electrode and a movable electrode. A fluid-activated cylinder, such as an air cylinder, is used to actuate movement of the movable electrode during welding.
The ""019 patent does not disclose the use of servomotors to actuate the movable electrodes. Servomotors are more desirable than cylinders for several reasons. First, the pressure on the workpieces can be controlled more accurately, allowing higher quality welds and less damage to the workpieces. Furthermore, servomotors typically operate more quickly than cylinders, which reduces overall cycle time. Yet another reason is that servomotors are quieter than air cylinders since there is no pneumatic exhaust associated with the servomotors. The ""019 patent also does not disclose the use of a single transformer and a controller to sequence electric current between the electrodes. A single transformer reduces weight on the robot arm and cost of the overall system.
Another example of a welding control system is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,313,040. The ""040 patent also discloses a welding control system for resistance spot welding. Multiple weld guns are mounted in fixed locations. Only one weld is created at one time. The ""040 patent does not disclose a weld gun with multiple welding electrodes that is mounted on a robot that can be controlled and manipulated in many different positions and orientations. Mounting the weld gun on the robot provides greater flexibility than multiple weld guns that are mounted in fixed locations.
A final example of a welding control system is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,340,960. The ""960 patent also discloses a servo weld control system for resistance spot welding. The system includes a robot, a welding gun, a robot controller, and a servomotor. The welding gun has a single pair of electrodes, a fixed electrode and a movable electrode. The servomotor actuates the single movable electrode. The ""960 patent does not disclose multiple pairs of electrodes on one weld gun or a controller and method to sequence electric current to the multiple pairs of electrodes. Having multiple pairs of electrodes can improve cycle time since the robot need not always move to accomplish multiple spot welds. In addition, having multiple pairs of electrodes on one weld gun can reduce the dependence on multiple weld control systems at a single location.
Due to the deficiencies in the welding control systems identified above, there remains an opportunity to introduce a welding control system with faster cycle times, less equipment costs, greater flexibility, improved weld quality, and reduced damage to workpieces.
The invention provides a servo spot welding control system and method for efficiently welding a pair of workpieces together. The system includes a robot and a weld gun. The weld gun is movable about the workpieces, and the weld gun is mounted to the robot. The weld gun includes at least two pairs of electrodes, each pair including a stationary electrode and a movable electrode. A first servomotor is operatively connected to one of the movable electrodes and a second servomotor is operatively connected to the other of the movable electrodes. This arrangement allows for independent control of each movable electrode. The first servomotor clamps the workpieces between one of the pairs of electrodes and the second servomotor clamps the workpieces between the other of the pairs of electrodes. The system also includes a transformer. The transformer supplies electric current that flows through the pairs of electrodes for welding the workpieces together. The system further includes a controller to sequence the electric current between the pairs of electrodes.
The method of the subject invention utilizes the servo spot welding control system to weld the workpieces together. The method includes the step of moving the robot to dispose the weld gun about the workpieces. Electrical current is supplied to the first and second movable electrodes from the transformer. The workpieces are clamped between the first pair of electrodes on the weld gun. This allows the electric current to flow through the first movable electrode, the workpiece, and the first stationary electrode to create a first spot weld. The workpieces are released from the clamp of the first pair of electrodes. Upon release, the electric current is prevented from flowing. The workpieces are clamped between the second pair of electrodes on the weld gun. The clamping of the workpieces between the second pair of electrodes is done without additional movement of the robot. The clamping then allows the electric current to flow through the second movable electrode, the workpiece, and the second stationary electrode. As a result, a second spot weld is created, and the workpieces are then released from the clamp of the second pair of electrodes to prevent the electric current from flowing. It is to be appreciated that the robot could move the weld gun slightly between the first spot weld and the second spot weld. This may occur, for example, when a curved workpiece is to be welded.
The servo spot welding control system and method of the subject invention provide several advantages over the related art. This system and method provide faster cycle times than robot-mounted servo weld guns having only one pair of electrodes. Faster cycle times are accomplished because the robot does not have to reposition itself between each individual spot weld. The system and method also provide less equipment costs. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that it often takes two complete prior art spot welding systems, with two robots and one pair of electrodes per robot, to perform spot welds within an allotted cycle time. In the present invention, only one servo spot welding control system is necessary to accomplish the same number of spot welds as two systems of the prior art. The system and method also provide improved weld quality and less damage to the workpieces. The servomotor driven electrodes provide very accurate and controlled pressure to the workpieces. This results in better quality spot welds as compared to spot welds that are provided by electrodes that are driven by fluid-actuated cylinders. Also, servomotor driven electrodes can provide position and force feedback, synchronization with robot movement, and a complete range of electrode movement. Finally, having electric current supplied to multiple electrodes by a single transformer reduces the payload of the robot and allows the robot to move with faster accelerations between spot welds. These faster accelerations allow short cycle times for better productivity.

Servo spot welding control system and method of welding workpieces


A system is disclosed for managing service interactions in a combined service. The system includes a first aspect of service delivery for providing a first service, a second aspect of service delivery for providing a second service, a combined aspect of service delivery for providing a combined service capable of associating the first service to one of the second service. The combined service is implemented using a combined state model, which includes a predetermined number of combined states formed on the basis of the states of the first and the second service and armed detection points for detecting predetermined transitions between the combined states. The combined aspect of service delivery further includes a combined state manager adapted to transmit a control signal to the first and/or the second aspects of service delivery for inducing a predetermined state transition in the respective first and/or the second service in response to the activation of an armed detection point.

IP Multi-Media Subsystem (IMS) defined by the 3GPP and 3GPP2 standards open the door to a whole new range of new multi-media technologies, such as Voice over IP (VoIP) and IPTV. The IMS service architecture enables to combine services of various platforms to combined services. These combined services make use of the functionalities of various platforms to which end-terminals are connected to and are also referred to as blended or composite services.
WO2007/070652 describes an example of a blended or combined service allowing the caller ID information of the calling party to be displayed on the TV system of a subscriber. This caller ID service is implemented in the standard IMS services architecture. Interaction between the telephone and television services is managed by means of a central service broker referred to in IMS as the "Service Capability and Interaction Manger" (SCIM). The SCIM is implemented in the session control layer between the application server layer and the transport and end point layer as defined in the IMS architecture.
The service broker will receive incoming requests of services and processes these requests on the basis of a predetermined scheme such as first come first serve, priority or another predetermined sequence. Such schemes are known from service interactions in Intelligent Networks (IN), IMS, Parlay, etc. The service broker functions as a central gateway and thus requires all information traffic from and to the services to be led via the service broker. Such centralized scheme has disadvantages.
A first problem relates to the scalability of a central system. Increasing the number of services and combined services greatly increases the complexity of the central service manager. Further, increasing the number of end-terminals will greatly increase the data traffic to be controlled. The central service manager will become a bottleneck in scaling the system to large-scale applications.
A second problem relates to the fact that addition of a new service to an existing service system managed by a central broker will require to configuration and adaptation of the central broker. Frequent adaptation of the central broker bears the risk of a major failure of the whole service delivery.

System for managing service interactions

Nederlandse Organisatie voor Toegepast-Natuurwetenschappelijk Onderzoek TNO


A semiconductor light source for transmitting light signals of digital or analog data having a laser diode and a photodiode for monitoring the output power of the laser diode. The driving current of the laser diode is adjusted by the photocurrent of the monitoring photodiode. The photodiode has a light receiving region at a center enclosed by an annular electrode and a light non-receiving region outside the annular electrode. If leak light beams entered the non-receiving region, delayed photocurrent is produced. The delayed photocurrent misleads the control of the laser diode. This invention provides a non-receiving region of the photodiode with a dielectric layer for reflecting or absorbing light beams in order to preventing the light beams from producing the delayed photocurrent.

Optical communication system transmits information from a transmitter having a light source to a receiver having a photodetector via an optical fiber. A semiconductor light source comprises a semiconductor laser diode chip (1), a photodiode chip (2), a header (3) on which the laser diode chip (1) and the photodiode chip (2) are mounted, leads (4) fixed to the header (3), a cap (5) with a window fitted on the header (3), and a spherical lens (6) fixed to the window of the cap (5). The laser diode chip (1) emits modulated light beams bearing signals. The photodiode chip (2) monitors the output power of the laser diode by detecting backward light emitted from the laser diode chip (1). The lens (6) converges the light beams from the laser diode chip (1) on a core of an optical fiber (9) with high efficiency. The leads (4) are connected to both electrodes of the laser diode chip (1) and the monitoring photodiode chip (2) for introducing a driving current onto the laser diode chip (1) and for extracting a photocurrent from the monitoring photodiode chip (2). The cap (5) has another object of sealing an inner space airtightly besides of supporting the lens (6).
The output power of a semiconductor laser diode is varied owing to functional degeneration and change of the atmospheric temperature, even if the driving current is kept to be constant.
Therefore, the monitoring photodiode chip (2) is installed behind the laser diode chip (1). The laser diode chip (1) emits light beams both to a front side (7) and a rear side (8). The front beams are converged on the optical fiber (9) to transmit information signals. The rear beams enter the photodiode chip (2) which monitors the output power of the laser diode chip (1). Since the ratio of the front beams to the rear beams is constant, irrespective of the fluctuation of the output power of the laser diode, the photocurrent of the photodiode is proportional to the front light beams bearing information signals. Therefore, if the driving current of the laser diode is controlled so as to keep the photocurrent of the monitoring photodiode to be constant, the front beams of the laser diode can be maintained to be constant.
However, current digital optoelectronic communication transmits digital signals by representing "0" and "1" by changing the output of the laser diode in square waves. An increase of sending information per second raises the frequency of the change of the light intensity emitted from the laser diode (1). For example, when one billion bit / sec (10.sup.9 bit/sec) of information signals are transmitted, the length of a bit signal is shorter than 1 us (nanoseconds). Such high speed transmission will incur the difficulty of deformation of square pulses. In the case, the rising time or falling time of a pulse becomes the focus of attention.
The case where the response time is as short as the order of 1 ns will be considered now. The light intensity emitted from the laser diode changes in one ns. The photocurrent of the monitoring photodiode must change in accordance with the rapid change of the light intensity. If the delay of the function of the monitoring photodiode were left untouched, the following malfunctions would occur.
Owing to the delay of response of the photodiode, the rising of a square pulse would be sometimes delayed and the falling of a square pulse would also be delayed to the change of the light intensity. At the earliest stage of a light pulse, no photocurrent would flow in the photodiode, although the light enters the photodiode. At the moment, the feedback circuit would make an erroneous judgement that no light would now be emitted from the laser diode, and would increase the driving current for the laser diode, because the photodiode did not seem to feel light beams entering therein. The erroneous increase of the driving current of the laser diode would lead to surplus of the light intensity beyond the allowed scope. On the contrary, at the final stage of a pulse, some photocurrent would still flow in the photodiode owing to the delay of the photocurrent generation, although light emission of the laser diode has already been ended. The feedback circuit would again misunderstand the state of the light emission and would reduce the driving current below the pertinent level, since it still receives a photocurrent from the monitoring photodiode. In such a case, a reverse current may flow in the laser diode, depending on the structure of the electronic circuits. The excess current at the early stage and the reverse current at the final stage of a pulse may injure or destruct the laser diode. Such malfunctions result from the delay of the monitoring photodiode.
Suppression of the delay of the monitoring photodiode will solve the difficulty of malfunctions of the driving circuit. The reason why the delay of the photodiode chip is induced is now briefly explained. A conventional photodiode chip (2) has a semiconductor substrate (11), epitaxial layers (12) deposited on the substrate (11), a diffusion region (13) produced at the center of the epitaxial layers (12), an annular electrode (14) formed on the diffusion region, and a planar electrode (15) formed on the bottom side of the substrate (11). If the substrate is n-type, the diffusion region is p-type. If the substrate is p-type, the diffusion region is n-type. The substrate (11) and the diffusion region (13) have reciprocal conduction properties. A dish-like boundary between the diffusion region (13) and the epitaxial layers (12) is a pn-junction (18). The central part enclosed by the annular electrode (14) is now called a receiving region for light. Light beams (16) which enter the receiving region will generate rapid photocurrents owing to the strong electric fields acting on the region. The strong electric fields carry electrons and holes excited by the light beams with high velocities to the electrodes.
The peripheral part outside the pn-junction (18) is now called a non-receiving region. If the light beams (20) entered the non-receiving region, slow photocurrents would be induced, because weak electric fields would drag the electrons and the holes slowly into the electrodes. These slow flows of carriers in the non-receiving region cause the delay of the photodiode. Thus, elimination of the light entering the non-receiving region will prevent the photodiode function from delaying.
In order to avoid the delay of the monitoring photodiode, a prior light source has strictly determined the position of the monitoring photodiode (2) so as to forbid light beams entering the non-receiving region. The position of the laser diode (1) must also be strictly determined in order to prevent the rear light beams from entering the non-receiving region of the photodiode (2).
Another prior light source employs the feedback circuit which controls the average of the light intensity of the laser to suppress the delay of the photodiode monitoring signals. In this case, the photocurrent of the photodiode is averaged by using, e.g. a capacitor. Since the driving currents are determined on the basis of the averaged photocurrents, the delay of the photodiode response becomes insignificant. The delayed parts are cancelled by taking an average.
However, such an average photocurrent method would suffer from another difficulty. Transmitting signals have various kinds of sequences of levels "0" and "1" in digital communication. Sometimes only level "0" continues, other times only level "1" continues. Otherwise, levels "1" and "0" repeat in turn many times. Therefore, the averages of light intensity would vary to a great extent according to the behavior of the sequences of levels.
For example, a simplified case wherein the level "0" is designated by 0 mW of light power and the level "1" is designated by 1 mW of light power is now assumed to clarify the difficulty. When only the low level "0" continues in the signal, the average of light power becomes 0 mW. When the high level "1" continues alone, the average of light power becomes 1 mW. When both levels "0" and "1" repeat in turn with the same probability, the average of light power is 0.5 mW. The driving circuit has adjusted to supply currents to the laser diode for ensuring average light power of 0.5 mW. If only the low level "0" continues, the diving circuit will supply surplus current for keeping the average light power to be 0.5 mW. But in this case, the light power must maintain 0 mW, because the signals are a sequence of "0"s. On the contrary, if the high level "1" continues alone, the driving circuit will send insufficient currents for keeping the average light power to be 0.5 mW. In this case, the light power must hold 1 mW, because the signals are a sequence of "1"s. The method of the average power control is suitable for the reciprocating sequence of "0" and "1" of signals ( mark rate is 0.5 ) but is erroneous for long sequences of only "0"s or only "1"s.
A prior method of the average power control has made efforts to maintain the mark ratio to be about 0.5 at all times by giving digital signals a scramble or eliminating the time of no signal transmission to avoid malfunctions.
However, a recent tendency of optoelectronic communication requires such a flexible system that can deal with the time change of information quantity. The average power control cannot satisfy the requirement. The main stream of the communication system is turning from the average power control to a peak-holding type which can control individual pulse power. The tendency also demands a monitoring photodiode which is suitable for the peak-holding type control.
Semiconductor light sources are indispensable for optoelectronic communication. But the difficulty and high price of current light sources impede wide prevalence of the optoelectronic communication. One purpose of this invention is to provide a semiconductor light source which can be assembled without difficult adjustment of positions of laser diode and the photodiode. Another purpose of this invention is to provide a semiconductor light source which is suitable for the peak-holding control. The other purpose of this invention is to provide a semiconductor light source which will contribute rapid pervasion of optoelectronic communication systems by supplying inexpensive light sources.


A method of calibrating a glucose sensor, which method comprises:                (a) preparing a first glucose-containing calibration solution by combining water or an aqueous solution with alpha and beta glucose, the alpha and beta glucose being provided in solid form;        (b) exposing a glucose sensor to said first glucose-containing calibration solution and determining the sensor output;        (c) exposing the glucose sensor to one or more further calibration solutions having different glucose concentrations from each other and from said first glucose-containing calibration solution and determining the sensor output for the or each calibration solution; and        (d) determining a calibration curve from the sensor output data collected in steps (b) and (c).

The use of glucose sensors in the medical field is widespread. The regular monitoring of blood glucose levels of diabetic patients at home as well as the use of glucose monitoring in intensive care units are two primary examples. The usual aim in developing a glucose sensor is to produce a digital electronic signal, which is proportional to the glucose concentration. The sensor usually comprises two main components, a chemical or biological part that reacts or complexes with the glucose (ideally specifically) to form new chemical or biological products or changes in energy that can be detected by means of the second component, a transducer. The chemical/biological component can be said to act as a receptor/indicator for glucose. A variety of transduction methods can be used including electrochemical (such as potentiometric, amperometric, conductimetric, impedimetric), optical, calorimetric and acoustic. After transduction the signal is usually converted to an electronic digital signal.
Since the signal generated by the chemical/biological reaction with the analyte is usually dependent not only on the concentration of the analyte but also on the characteristics of the sensor itself, such sensors usually require calibration before they can be utilised quantitatively. The way in which the signal varies with the analyte concentration determines the shape of the calibration curve (signal versus analyte concentration) and may define the number of calibration points. Typical calibration curves can be straight line, exponential, s-shaped etc and the principal of calibration applies to all methodologies of transduction for chemical or biological sensors.
Ideally, the sensor should be calibrated just before its use since some sensor characteristics that can affect the calibration curve vary with time (ageing effect). It is often the case that the time between sensor manufacture and use can be many months, so calibration at the point of manufacture can lead to inaccuracies in the end result. This means that the attendant clinician or nurse, or the home user, will be required to perform the calibration themselves. In order to maximise user compliance, the calibration process should be simple to perform, ideally invisible to the person performing the calibration, and be quickly completed.
Typical calibration techniques currently in use require the sensor to be inserted into three solutions having differing, but known, glucose concentrations (one of which may be zero), a reading to be taken for each solution, and a calibration curve to be generated. Since glucose has a tendency to degrade when sterilised in an aqueous solution, commonly the glucose solutions must be made up at the time of calibration by the addition of solid glucose to water or a solution such as saline. The entire calibration process is therefore both complicated and time consuming. Calibration of many currently available glucose sensors could 25 minutes or more to complete. There is therefore a need for a more rapid calibration technique for a glucose sensor, in order to improve user compliance.


A work machine includes a chassis, a boom coupled to the chassis, and a work implement coupled to the boom and movable relative to the chassis. In system may further include dynamic payload weighing system configured to measure the payload weight on the work implement. The system may also include an electrohydraulic system controller in communication with the dynamic payload weighing system and an electrohydraulic control valve electrically coupled to the electrohydraulic system controller and moveable to a plurality of weight-specific valve positions based on the measured payload weight on the implement.

Various machines or vehicles, for example those equipped with a boom and work implement, may include a several systems in communication with one another. The systems may include, for example, electrohydraulic components, engine components, transmission components, or all of the above. In some situations these components may operate differently based on the weight of a payload in the work implement.
It would be desirable for the functions of these components to be optimized based on known parameters, such as, for example, a determined payload weight in the work implement. This may present challenges, especially when attempting to measure a dynamic, or constantly changing, payload weight.

Load-based adjustment system of implement control parameters and method of use


A protective device for a liquid crystal display has a protective plate, a plate holder, a holding block, a strip and a clamping device. The plate holder has a groove on a top, a flange extending backward and an abutting recess defined under the flange. The holding block combines with the plate holder and has a channel for receiving the strip. When the protective device mounts on a monitor of the liquid crystal display, the flange rests on a flat top of an outer frame of the monitor to make the abutting recess snugly combine with the outer frame. When the protective plate engages the groove and erects in front of a screen panel of the monitor, the strip ties the protective plate and the monitor together and the clamping device holds the plate and the outer frame of the monitor to keep the protective plate steady.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a protective device for a liquid crystal display and, more particularly, to a protective device that can be conveniently attached to a liquid crystal display, has a simple structure and keeps the appearance of the liquid crystal display neat to view the full screen on the liquid crystal display without obstruction.
2. Description of Related Art
A liquid crystal display is a planar and thin monitor and has various types such as twisted nematic (TN), super twisted nematic (STN), thin film transistor (TFT) and metal/insulator/metal (MIM). Taking TFT as an example, a TFT liquid crystal display. has basic elements including a glass substrate, color filters, polarizers, driving integrated circuits, a liquid crystal layer, isotropic membranes, backlighting modules, ITO conductive membranes and a frame enclosing other elements inside. The TFT liquid crystal display has now been widely substituted for the conventional cathode ray tube (CRT). Because each unit on a panel of the liquid crystal display has even distances to other adjacent and surrounding units, pixels in line do not have differences or deformation. Moreover, the liquid crystal display has diminished size, high mobility, zero radiation, no pollution problem, and excellent energy-saving capability and then gradually substitutes the conventional CRT display to become the main current of display products. However, the panel of the liquid crystal display is soft and easily penetrated by sharp objects so that the panel needs a protective device.
A conventional protective device on the market is a hanging-type protective glass that covers adjusting buttons on the liquid crystal display and has an outer frame combined with glass and multiple securing devices. When the protective glass mounts on the liquid crystal display, the multiple securing devices attach to a top of the frame of the liquid crystal display and the outer frame produces an inharmonious appearance to the liquid crystal display, especially when the liquid crystal display has a special design. When the hanging-type protective glass does not have securing devices attached below, the glass will swing easily, bump the panel and cause noise. Moreover, the hanging-type protective glass has a high manufacturing cost and can not be modified easily because its structure is complex.
Another protective device is a protective membrane made of acryl that directly attaches to the panel of the liquid crystal display with adhesive or a double-sided tape at corners. However, the adhesive or the double-sided tape easily deteriorates and then loses its adhesive capability so that the protective membrane can easily fall from the panel suddenly. Therefore, the protective membrane is not durable. Additionally, when the size of the protective membrane does not correspond to the screen of the panel, the protective membrane must attach to the screen directly and the adhesive will consequently stain the screen.

Protective device for a liquid crystal display


Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for location centric user profiling and services. In one aspect, a method includes accessing historical location data specifying physical locations at which user devices were detected; accessing network data for each of the users of the user devices, the network data for each user indicative of subjective preferences of the user; for each of the users, determining physical locations specified by the location data, determining entities from the physical locations and visited by the user, determining for each entity a satisfaction measure that is indicative of a satisfaction of the user with the entity, and generating a user profile for the user specifying topics that are of interest to the user, the entities having been determined to have been visited by the user, and the satisfaction measures of the entities.

This specification relates to user profile related services.
Gathering recommendation information about local entities, such as local businesses or local recreational areas, is very difficult as current systems typically rely on user reviews. Sometimes only highly trafficked businesses have a sufficient number of user reviews such that an unbiased rating of the business can be derived for making recommendations to users within the location of the local entity. For example, a local business may have a poor rating based on a single review from a first user. A second user cannot reasonably infer if the poor rating is due primarily to the reviewer's bias or due to the poor service from the local business.
Additionally, there are other data from which users may infer a rating. For example, web blogs that include conversation threads may be very informative of the quality of service and products provided by an entity. Likewise, the presence of many users at the entity over a period of time (e.g., heavy foot traffic relative to other the foot traffic of other entities over the same time period) may also be informative of the quality of service and products provided by the entity. However, each of the data sources—reviews, conversations, traffic, and other such data that may indicate the quality or interest of a location within an area—are disparate sources and not explicitly associated. Accordingly, recommendations and ratings cannot not be reasonably inferred, as users cannot associate this data.

Location-centric recommendation service for users


An object is to provide a technique capable of fixing a cover to a container body without using a dedicated fixation mechanism and fixation member. A semiconductor device includes: a container body having a space with an opening; a semiconductor element disposed in the space in the container body; a sealing member disposed in the space in the container body to cover the semiconductor element; and a cover covering the opening of the container body, wherein a convex portion protruding into the space is provided on the cover, and the cover is fixed to the container body only by embedding at least a tip portion of the convex portion in the sealing member which has been cured.

Conventionally, in a highly reliable semiconductor device, a cover is fixed to a container body, which is made up of a case housing, by a dedicated fixation mechanism and a fixation member while the container body is filled with a sealing resin. In a technique in Patent Document 1, for example, a convex portion provided on a lower surface of a cover along an edge portion of the cover is fitted in an inner side of an opening edge portion of a container body, thus the cover is fixed to the container body. In a technique in Patent Document 2, for example, an edge portion of a cover is fitted in a concave portion provided on an opening edge portion of a container body, thus the cover is fixed to the container body. In a technique in Patent Document 3, for example, a cover is fixed to a container body by an adhesive agent.

Semiconductor device and method of manufacturing semiconductor device, power conversion device, and moving body


A miniature circuit breaker is disclosed with a latch for continuously opening and closing a contact point with a contact lever on which the moving contact member is molded. A toggle lever gear with a link connected to a switching handle and a coupling element are provided, the coupling element connecting the link with the contact lever, which toggle lever gear can be brought from a first stable position (switched-on position) into a second stable position via a dead-center position by a tripping mechanism. The contact lever can be rotated and the contact point can be permanently opened. A compression spring is provided which acts on the link, the force of which acts approximately in a direction of the longitudinal extent of the link in the switched-off position, and thus at the beginning of the switching-on process, and transversely thereto in the switched-on position.

The invention relates to a miniature circuit breaker with a latch.
A miniature circuit breaker with a latch is known per se. The latch comprises a toggle lever gear which has a link which is in each case connected in an articulated manner with a switching handle and a coupling element; the coupling element connects the link with the contact lever also in an articulated manner. In the switched-on state, the gear is in a first stable position from which the gear can be brought into a second stable position via a dead-center position by means of a tripping mechanism; in this second position, the contact lever is rotated in the switched-off direction and the contact point is permanently opened. The tripping mechanism used could be an electromagnetic or thermal trip, the latter in the form of a thermal bimetallic strip or a strip of a shape-memory alloy.
So that the toggle lever gear can be moved from its first stable position to its second stable position, a specific force is applied which essentially depends on the force with which the coupling element acts on the contact lever.


A connector adapted to be disposed in a mobile device to electrically connect with a signal terminal of an electronic device is provided. The connector includes a casing, a tube, a pin and a terminal set. The casing has a first side, a second side and a through hole, and the tube is disposed in the second side. The pin has a first end and a second end. The first end is slidably disposed in the through hole and the second end protrudes out of the tube. The terminal set includes a first terminal and a second terminal, and the second terminal is movably connected with the first terminal. When the mobile device is assembled to the electronic device, the signal terminal of the electronic device leans against the pin, so that the pin leans against the first terminal to separate the first terminal and the second terminal.

1. Technical Field
The disclosure relates to a connector. Particularly, the disclosure relates to a connector having a pogo pin.
2. Related Art
Along with development of technology, a plurality of portable mobile devices are continually developed. For example, notebooks, smart phones and tablet personal computers (PCs), etc. are developed to facilitate modern people to communicate with each other at anytime anywhere, and meanwhile become indispensable tools in people's daily life. In recent years, smart phones with a large size, high resolution and high-definition screen are quickly developed. Although an appearance of such type of the smart phone is similar to that of a tablet PC, it keeps the communication function, and is popular among the consumers.
In order to execute an operation having a high performance requirement, the smart phone is generally assembled to an expansion device, for example, an expansion dock. For example, the smart phone may have a very small antenna clearance zone due to a size limitation thereof, which limits antenna performance, though the size limitation of the expansion dock is smaller, so that the antenna performance is improved.
Therefore, a user can assemble the smart phone to the expansion dock to improve the communication quality of the smart phone. When the smart phone is assembled to the expansion dock, an electronic switch or a mechanical switch (for example, a coaxial connector) is first used to implement signal switch, for example, to change from the antenna of the smart phone to the antenna of the expansion dock.
Thereafter, the smart phone can use a signal connector, for example, a high frequency pogo pin to perform signal transmission. However, a multi-transmission interface co-constructed by the mechanical switch and the pogo pin is liable to cause transmission loss of a radio frequency (RF) signal, and decrease instantaneity of signal transmission.


An advanced bookmark database system provides query, re-organization, information sharing, view, and access control capabilities to manage bookmarks. In one embodiment of the bookmark database system of the present invention, HTML document parsing, keyword extraction, and HTML/VRML document generation capabilities are provided, in addition to allowing comprehensive database query and navigation. The bookmark database system extracts document content semantics, intra-document structures, inter-document linkage, and useful metadata for users to allow query and organization based on various attributes, such as keywords, domains, and last visit times. Further, an access control capability allows sharing of bookmark databases among users. Multiple physical or logical bookmark databases can be merged to create new bookmark databases. Multiple bookmark databases can be organized as a hierarchical structure, to allowing grouping by individuals, projects, groups, departments, etc. Automated query dispatch and dynamic links capabilities are provided. Dynamic links cross references multiple bookmark databases according to bookmark content semantics or other criteria. A user interface provides visualizing models for organizing accessible physical or logical bookmark databases.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to automated tools for information management. In particular, the present invention relates database system for managing documents accessible locally (e.g., over an intranet) and remotely (e.g., over the Internet).
2. Discussion of the Related Art
Vast amount of information is published on the Internet or within the corporate intranets. Individuals and business organizations are increasingly relying on the Internet or corporate intranets for information retrieval and dissemination. For example, a research staff member at a major corporation may follow recent announcements about a particular product; a human resource staff member may post bulletins on an intranet, and retrieve labor regulation updates from government agency web sites.
To manage the information received and disseminated, users need tools which can provide more effective and reliable information organization, sharing, and management capabilities than those available from current search engines. For example, using a generic search engine to perform corporate tasks will result in a significant loss of productivity because finding relevant information via such a search engine, if not impossible, is a time-consuming process.
Thus, a need arises to provide services for efficient document management for the documents on the Internet and these intranets. In particular, efficient querying and retrieval tools are needed for locating information that exists in corporate networks. Generic search engines are inadequate for supporting complex queries against corporate data and lack information organization capabilities. Traditional database management systems(DBMS), which allow complex queries and support data management and organization, are inadequate to support the poorly structured and poorly organized documents and sources, such as those related by the World Wide Web (xe2x80x9cWebxe2x80x9d). Further, conventional database systems fail to take advantage of subscription-notification services, which notify and update subscribers as information is published, to customize Web access and to filter out irrelevant information.
Also, in a business environment, sophisticated access control to information is necessary. For example, control access to information by individuals, projects, and departments is desirable. In addition, it is also desirable to access information, not only on the basis of keywords, but also on the basis of other contents such as images, tables, forms, and link information. Such alternative access schemes require a comprehensive query support and effective data management. Further, people who work together may want their individual repositories of information shared and pooled in the form of a project repository.
In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, a document management system is provided for organizing, sharing and managing Web and intranet documents efficiently. In that document management system, users store documents in databases which can be queried based on both document content and intra-document structures and inter-document links. In addition, access control allows users to share databases, or to create additional databases by logically combining multiple physical or logical databases.
In one embodiment, the database of the present invention allows a hierarchical organization of information, based on semantics and corporate organizational structure. A user can query and navigate his or her own document databases and other accessible document databases using automated query processing and dynamic links facilities. Dynamic links cross-reference multiple document databases using content semantics or other criteria. Accordingly, efficient sharing of information in the work place is achieved.
The present invention can be carried out using various algorithms for query processing and access control. In addition, a document management system of the present invention integrates a subscription-notification service to update, in a timely manner, information received from the Internet and intranets. Further, the present invention also provides a tool which assists users in visualizing and organizing accessible Web document databases and their contents.
In one embodiment of the present invention, queries based on document metadata, intra-document structures, and inter-document links are supported. Query processing under the present invention provides performance and reliability far exceeding those attained by conventional Web search engines using keyword searches.
The present invention supports information sharing. To that end, a document management system of the present invention allows users to create and organize individual databases in a hierarchy fashion to reflect the organizational structure and to allow workspace collaboration.


A renewable energy system is disclosed for generating electricity that is self-sustaining. In accordance with an important aspect of the present invention, the system takes advantage of the stack effect to create a natural updraft in at least one vertical air column based on the temperature differences of the air in the vertical air column and the temperature of the ambient air adjacent the exhaust port of the vertical column. A wind generator is located in fluid communication with the vertical air column. Once the updraft is created, the blades of the wind generator rotate which causes electricity to be generated.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a renewable energy source for building structures and more particularly to building structures that are configured to take advantage of differences of the temperatures of air in a vertical air column and the ambient air to generate electricity based upon the so-called stack effect.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The stack effect is well known and relates to a natural updraft that is created based upon a difference in temperatures between air masses at different elevations. In industrial applications, the byproducts of industrial processes performed in furnaces result in flue gases at relatively high temperatures. These flue gases are known to be vented to the atmosphere by way of a stack. A stack is a relatively tall hollow vertical structure which is open to the atmosphere on an upper end and receives the flue gases on an lower end.
The flue gases can be 1000° F. or more while the temperature of the atmosphere can vary, for example, between −25° F. and 105° F. depending on the location. In such an application, the hot flue gases will be less dense the ambient air. As such, the flue gases will flow naturally toward the atmosphere creating a natural updraft or pressure difference between the bottom of the stack and the top of the stack. The magnitude of the pressure difference is a function of the temperature difference between flue gases and the ambient temperature.
The stack effect is also found in residential structures. For example, many residential structures are known to have supplemental heating units, such as fireplaces and wood burning stoves, which supplement the heat supplied by forced air gas furnaces. These supplemental heating units include a fire box for burning wood or other combustibles and a chimney or stack for venting flue gases resulting from the combustion process to the atmosphere. Since the temperature in the fire box of the supplemental heating unit will always be hotter than the outside ambient temperature when wood is burned in the fire box, a stack effect will be created and the flue gases from the combustion process will be vented to the outside ambient air.
Recent attempts have been made to harness the energy created by the stack effect in order to create a renewable energy source. For example, French Patent Publication No. FR2956427 A1 discloses a "solar chimney". The solar chimney includes a stack this is juxtaposed from the ground level to the top of a high rise building. The solar chimney also includes a "collector" and a wind generator. Two embodiments of the solar chimney are disclosed. In one embodiment, the stack is located outside the building and attached to a façade, In this embodiment, the solar chimney appears to have a metal frame attached to one façade of a high rise building that is covered by a polyester material covered on both sides with polyvinyl chloride. In the alternative embodiment, the solar chimney is located inside the building. In both embodiments, a wind generator is located at the base of the solar chimney for converting wind energy created by the stack effect to electricity. A solar collector, formed as a greenhouse is formed with a diameter of 3-4 kilometers surrounds the solar chimney. The greenhouse is formed at the base of the building with a transparent roof for collecting solar, i.e. heat energy from the sun. As such, the air temperature in the greenhouse will generally be much hotter than the ambient air temperature adjacent the solar chimney on the roof, This difference in temperature will result in a stack effect and cause the hotter air in the greenhouse to rise to the top of the solar chimney. This action, in turn, will cause the blades of the wind generator to spin and generate electricity.
The greenhouse is formed as part of the vestibule of the building and is open to pedestrian traffic. As such, any pedestrians in the greenhouse will be fairly uncomfortable due to the high temperature caused by the greenhouse effect in the greenhouse.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,122,675 discloses a system for a high rise building for implementing the stack effect in order to generate electricity by way of wind generators. In particular air ducts are provided on opposing sides of the building. These air ducts extend from a location spaced above the base of the building and converge at the top of the building in a manifold. A wind generator is located in the manifold, strategically located to receive the air drafts created by the stack effect from both air ducts. Outwardly projecting air inlets in fluid communication with the air ducts are provided at spaced apart vertical locations from the bottom of the air ducts to just below the manifold where the air ducts converge. An air plenum located above the wind generator is provided with opposing horizontal openings for exhausting the air from the air ducts. Such a configuration is used to potentially take advantage of ambient wind currents adjacent the top of the building that can potentially lower the pressure in the air plenum in order to increase the speed of the air flow from ducts and consequently increase the electricity generated by the wind generators.
The configuration of the building disclosed in the '675 patent is not well suited for taking advantage of the stack effect. In particular, the ambient air temperature at the various vertical air intakes may not vary sufficiently to cause a stack effect. However, the structure disclosed in the '675 patent is configured to take advantage of ambient winds in order to cause the blades of the wind generator to rotate.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,757,490 discloses a bio-tower which includes a vertical air duct or chimney extending from ground level to the top of the tower. A lower level glass roof surrounds the bio-tower and provides a covered area for various purposed. An ambient air intake is provided to be in fluid communication with the chimney and is located just below the glass roof. In addition, waste heat from adjacent buildings is channeled so as to be in fluid communication with the chimney. The ambient air intake is provided with a controllable air inlet device, such as a damper or louver, in order to close the air intake when the waste heat is being supplied from the air conditioning units in adjacent buildings. A wind generator is disposed to be in fluid communication with the chimney. An air outlet is provided on top of the chimney.
As stated in the '490 patent, air flow in the chimney is driven by the waste heat from air conditioning systems. The ambient air intake is for capturing wind to further augment the stack effect created by the waste heat from the air conditioning systems from adjacent buildings.
The system disclosed in the '490 patent has several drawbacks. One drawback is the cost of providing the waste heat from adjacent buildings to take advantage of the stack effect. Such an undertaking would be relatively expensive. Additionally, the building implementing the system disclosed in the '490 patent would not be self-contained and would be dependent on the operation of the air conditioning systems in adjacent buildings. The system disclosed in the '490 patent could only likely be implemented if all of the buildings involved are commonly owned and built at the same time.
Thus, there is a need for a renewable energy system that takes advantage of the stack effect to generate electricity that does not suffer from the problems identified with the prior art.


This invention relates to a polyolefin blend composition comprising a polyolefin base polymer component and a functionalized polybutadiene component. The polyolefin blend exhibits both i) an increased melt flow and ii) an increased impact toughness and/or melt elasticity, as compared to the same composition without the functionalized polybutadiene. This invention also relates to a method of increasing the melt flow of a polyolefin and simultaneously increasing the impact toughness and/or the melt elasticity of the polyolefin by blending a polyolefin base polymer component and a functionalized polybutadiene component.

Polyolefins such as polypropylenes have gained wide commercial acceptance and usage in numerous applications because of the relatively low cost of the polymers and the desirable properties they exhibit. For instance, polypropylene has been used extensively in automotive and packaging industries. For these applications, it is desirable to increase the melt flow (decrease the viscosity) of the polypropylene so that it can fill the plastic mold more easily during the injection or blow-molding production process.
To increase the melt flow of polypropylene, certain additives, such as an organic peroxide, can be added during compounding. However, as the melt flow increases (lowering the molecular weight), some physical properties, like impact toughness, will typically decrease.
This can be offset to some degree, by adding a traditional impact modifier such as ENGAGE™ 7467 and Vistamaxx™ 6202fl, which can increase the impact strength of the polymer. However, adding the impact modifier then decreases the melt flow of the polymer.
There thus remains a need in the art to develop a polyolefin composition that has a high melt flow while maintaining the impact toughness.

Blends of polyolefins with functionalized polybutadienes