Several methods of forming an integrated circuit package by ultrasonically welding a thermal plastic material which joins two housing portions together in such a fashion as to seal an integrated circuit within the two housing portions is described along with the resulting structures of those methods.

This invention relates in general to semiconductor packages and packaging techniques and in particular, to semiconductor packages suitable for housing high density integrated circuits ("ICs") having large input-output ("I/O") connection requirements, and high volume production methods for assemblying those packages.
Current methods for packaging high density ICs having large I/O connection requirements are generally unsuitable for volume manufacturing. For example, numerous methods are used for sealing a lid over a high density IC in a high-performance, plastic pin-grid-array ("HP-PPGA") package. One method attaches a ceramic or metal lid to a package body by utilizing an epoxy seal ring. After the lid, seal ring, and package body are carefully aligned and clamped together, the entire structure is then placed in an oven at 100.degree.-225.degree. C. for 30- 90 minutes, depending upon the epoxy used. In this method, outgassing of the epoxy during the curing period has been a major problem and consequently, a sealing dam is typically needed in the package to match the seal ring. Other methods include placing a ceramic or metal lid with a flange over the package body, and back filling the package with liquid epoxy to effect the sealing upon curing of the structure; placing a ceramic or metal lid with a flat flange inside a dam ring of the package body, and covering the flange with liquid epoxy to effect the sealing upon curing; and placing a lid on top of the package body with some adhesive material, placing the entire structure in a cavity mold, and transfer molding the enclosed structure with epoxy.
In addition to HP-PPGA packages, other techniques for packaging high density ICs having large I/O connection requirements include cavity quad-flat-pack packages, also known as "clam shell" packages. These packages are typically made of either metal or plastic, containing two halves. A lead frame is either attached to one of the package halves or molded into the other. The two halves are then brought together and "glued" together. The "glue" typically used for this purpose is a thermal set epoxy which requires a long curing period of 30-90 minutes, depending upon the epoxy used. In this method, outgassing of the epoxy during the curing period has been a major problem and consequently, a vent hole in one of the package halves is often needed. In addition, proper alignment of the two package halves and the lead frame sandwiched in between them, can pose additional manufacturing problems.
Automated manufacturing of both the HP-PPGA and "clam shell" type of packages is difficult, because both require an oven bake and long, 30 to 90 minute curing time for their thermal set epoxy sealing materials to set. Further, both types of packages also experience outgassing problems during the epoxy bake.
In addition to being generally unsuitable for volume manufacturing, current methods for packaging high density ICs having large I/O connection requirements are also generally unsuitable for disassembly and subsequent reassembly of the packages. Disassembly or "decapping" of plastic packages is frequently desired for failure analysis purposes. It is especially desirable where a significant set of common failures are detected that can be remedied by incorporating corrective actions in the manufacturing process. For example, "open" circuits on leads may be caused by bonding wires pulling away from their contact points on either the bond pads on the semiconductor die or attachment points on the package leads. In either case, better bonding techniques might be employed to correct the problem. Also, "short" circuits between leads may be caused by adjacent bonding wires touching. In such a case, re-layout of the bond pad patterns on the semiconductor die may eliminate the problem by spacing further apart, the bond pads corresponding to the two touching bonding wires.
Reassembly of a disassembled plastic package would also be desirable if the originally failed part could be reworked and made functional. Referring back to the previous examples, if the "open" leads can be corrected by rebonding the bonding wires to their attachment points, then the reworked part would be functional and reassembly of the reworked part would be desirable. Also, if the "short" circuits between leads can be corrected by simply spreading the touching bonding wires apart, then the reworked part would be functional and reassembly of the reworked part would be desirable.
In the past, the cost of disassembling, reworking and reassemblying failed parts when compared to the ultimate selling price of those parts, made such reworking activity commercially impractical. Today, however, such reworking activity is commercially practical in certain situations, and certain technology trends which are leading to costlier packaged parts, indicate that the number of such situations will grow in the future. Included among these trends, several of which are interrelated, are larger semiconductor die both in terms of physical size and number of transistors, increased number of input/output connections between the die and external package leads, more complex and expensive packaging techniques and materials, and increased usage of multichip modules to enhance circuit performance by combining multiple chips in one package to reduce transmission delay times between chips and to allow different portions of the circuit to be partitioned into different chips so that those portions can be fabricated by the optimal process technology suitable for the functional purpose of that portion of the circuit.

Design and sealing method for semiconductor packages


Embodiments are directed to identifying entities in content, highlighting the identified entities, and displaying an interactive chat session based on a selected entity. The interactive chat session and the content may be displayed in the same browser window. The interactive chat session may be overlaid on top of the content, inserted inline into the content, or otherwise embedded within the content. The content and the interactive chat session may both remain active in the browser window, enabling a user to conveniently read and chat about the content. The topic of the interactive chat session may be automatically selected from a hierarchical taxonomy of chat session topics, or the user may select the topic from one or more provided taxonomies.

Computer networks, such as the internet, provide users with a large amount of content about a variety of topics. Typically, this content is generated in a web server and displayed in a web browser application. While viewing the content, the user may like to retrieve more information about an entity identified in a piece of content. One method of providing this additional information is with a traditional hyperlink that navigates the user to a different piece of content. This traditional web content is often static, and navigating between multiple pages can be cumbersome and time consuming to the user.
Static information pertaining may become stale, and in some cases completely irrelevant. Also, static content may not be very engaging. Therefore, it is with respect to these considerations and others that the present invention has been made.

Generating a live chat session in response to selection of a contextual shortcut


A coaxial heat sink connector for providing a thermal path from the conductors associated with a coaxial cable connector to a heat sink includes a center conductor, an outer conductor, an insulative layer, TNC connector(s) and a thermal element. The outer conductor is positioned around the center conductor and the insulation layer is positioned between. The insulation layer has high thermal conductivity to provide substantial heat transfer between the center and outer conductors. TNC connector(s) are positioned at the end(s) of the connector and electrically coupled to the center and outer conductors. The thermal element is coupled to the outer conductor to conduct heat from the outer conductor to the heat sink. Heat sink connector providing transfer paths for bolted together RF components as well as individual RF power components.

This invention relates to coaxial cable equipment and more particularly to a coaxial heat sink connector.
The power handling capability of radio frequency (RF) components is significantly affected by the design of interconnecting coaxial RF cables (xe2x80x9ccoaxxe2x80x9d), which are widely used to connect RF components due to their large bandwidth capabilities. Heat dissipated in RF cables is generally transferred to the environment through radiation from the RF cable, and through conduction from the ends of the RF cable to the cable-connected RF components. In ground applications, convection helps reduce cable temperatures and accordingly, center conductor temperatures. In the case of electronic components for use in space applications, since there is no mechanism for convective heat transfer from the outer cable surfaces, other means of providing heat dissipation must be considered.
Generally, the length, design, and power level of the RF cables have a significant impact on the power-handling capability of RF components. This is especially the case in the thermal design of RF components for space applications, as the worst-case temperatures, de-rated power levels and worst-case dissipation specifications combine to ensure that temperature predictions bound any kind of flight applications. Fault conditions become especially difficult to design for, as typical fault scenarios result in full reflection of RF power through the RF cables, the RF cable connectors and the RF components. This full reflection can result in almost twice the rated power passing through an RF cable.
As shown in FIG. 1, RF cables 10 which are used in space applications are conventionally clamped to a heat sink (not shown) using a cable clamp 12. A heat sink is a device that is attached to heat generating equipment to prevent overheating by absorbing heat from the equipment and dissipating it into the immediate environment. This kind of assembly as shown in FIG. 1 provides a conduction point (i.e. at the cable clamp 12) for heat transfer from RF cable 10 and also ensures that RF cable 10 structurally adheres to a support structure. However, since the ends of RF cable 10 are too rigid to make suitable physical contact with cable clamp 12, cable clamp 12 must be positioned near the center of RF cable 10. Accordingly, this arrangement does not consistently sink heat from the center conductor of RF cable 10 and RF components.
In space applications, it is desirable to reduce the mass and equipment footprint of RF component assemblies and to reduce RF losses generally. By what is conventionally known as xe2x80x9cboltingxe2x80x9d together high power components using connectors instead of intermediate RF cables, several improvements can be realized. First, there is a substantial reduction of mass when components are bolted together as compared to when they are RF cabled together. As shown in FIG. 2, RF power components (e.g. circulators 14 and switches 16) are typically connected by long sections of RF cable 10 as long sections are required to minimize the thermal stress on RF cable 10 for durability and long life. Typically, each RF cable 10 is at least 6 inches (15.3 cm) long with each pair of cables having a typical mass of 45 grams. Moreover, when several pairs of these cables are used the cumulative mass can be appreciable. Also, there is an improvement in RF performance due to the absence of RF losses associated with an intermediate cable.
Further, when RF components are bolted together, the equipment footprint of the complete assembly is slightly larger than the cumulative footprint of the individual components (due to the short length of TNC connectors). In contrast, when RF cables are used between components, a suitable spacing is required to house the lengthy RF cables, and as a result the assembly has a larger overall footprint. Accordingly, the RF-cabled assembly takes up more room on a spacecraft, has a higher overall mass, and has a higher overall cost. FIG. 2 illustrates a spacecraft panel comprising of circulators 14 and switches 16 using RF cables 10 to interconnect flight components that could otherwise be bolted together. As shown, the width of a cable-connected panel layout is 16 inches (40.7 cm). In this case, the RF cables 10 that are used to attach circulators 14 to switches 16 are 5 inches (12.7 cm) long, and accordingly are a critical limiting factor for the overall panel width. Without the interconnecting cables, the width of this panel can be reduced by approximately 4 inches (10.2 cm).
However, when RF components are directly connected through connectors without the need for cables, the power-handling capability of the components is substantially reduced. First, when two high power components are bolted to each other, they interact with each other thermally (i.e. one component heats up the other). Also, RF cables provide radial heat transfer from the center conductor to the outer sheath, and when this radial thermal heat path is absent, the center conductors of the individual components become hotter than they would otherwise be, thus further limiting the power-handling capability of multiple power component assemblies. Also, conventional RF cable connectors are not designed to provide heat sinking functionality between RF components. Rather, RF cable connectors typically use a Teflon-based insulation layer between the center and outer conductors, which does not promote conduction of heat from the center conductor to the outer conductor due to its poor thermal conductivity.
The invention provides in one aspect, a heat sink connector for providing a heat transfer path from the conductors of a first coaxial cable connector to a heat sink, said heat sink connector comprising:
(a) a body comprising:
(i) a center conductor;
(ii) an outer conductor disposed around said center conductor;
(iii) an insulation layer positioned between said center conductor and said outer conductor, said insulative layer being selected to have a substantially high degree of thermal conductivity such that a substantial amount of heat is conducted from the center conductor to the outer conductor;
(b) a first connector positioned at one end of said body, said first connector being electrically coupled to said center conductor and said outer conductor, said first connector being adapted to electrically couple said center and outer conductors to the conductors of the first coaxial cable connector; and
(c) a thermal element coupled to the outer conductor, said thermal element having a surface adapted to be coupled to a heat sink such that said heat sink connector provides a heat transfer path from the conductors of the first coaxial cable connector to the heat sink through said center and outer conductors.
Further aspects and advantages of the invention will appear from the following description taken together with the accompanying drawings.


A packing system includes a conveyor configured to transport one or more containers. Two or more printers are disposed along the conveyors. The printers are configured to print printed material. Each of the printers has a tray upon which the printed material is deposited from the printer. A robotic arm is disposed proximal to the conveyor and the printers. The robotic arm has an end of arm tool configured to pick the printed material from the tray of each printer. A controller is operatively connected to the printers and the robotic arm. The controller is configured to send one or more print instructions to one or more of the printers to print the printed material. The controller is configured to instruct the robotic arm to place the printed material from the tray into the container.

In most warehousing, manufacturing, and/or shipping environments, paperwork, such as invoices, packing slips, manuals, and other printed material, typically need to be packed within a box, carton, or other container along with the box's contents. Packing printed material within boxes can be a laborious and tedious process that is fraught with mistakes. Automated systems have been developed for packing the printed material, but these automated systems, as a practical matter, have several significant drawbacks. For example, traditional automated systems for placing printed material into boxes, such as in-line print feeder machines, require a series of belts that accumulate and queue the printed material. Typically, such machines have long queue times that require 15 seconds for the printed material to accumulate before being placed in the box. With these prior systems, the belts also create significant maintenance issues and usually have an uptime of no more than about 70%. Any time there is a failure, the long line of accumulated boxes have to be cleared before the machine, which in turn detrimentally impacts throughput and quality.
Thus, there is a need for improvement in this field.

Robotic system for placing printed material into boxes


A holographic projector comprises an image processing engine arranged to, a hologram engine and a display engine. The image processing engine is arranged to receive a source image for projection. The source image comprises a first colour component and a second colour component. The image processing engine is further arranged to form a first colour secondary image from the first colour component by nulling alternate pixel values of the first colour component in accordance with a first checkerboard pattern. The image processing engine is further arranged to form a second colour secondary image from the second colour component by nulling alternate pixel values of the second colour component in accordance with a second checkerboard pattern. The first checkerboard pattern is opposite to the second checkerboard pattern. The hologram engine is arranged to determine a first colour hologram corresponding to the first colour secondary image and a second colour hologram corresponding to the second colour secondary image. The display engine is arranged to form a first colour holographic reconstruction from the first colour hologram and a second colour holographic reconstruction from the second colour hologram.

Light scattered from an object contains both amplitude and phase information. This amplitude and phase information can be captured on, for example, a photosensitive plate by well-known interference techniques to form a holographic recording, or "hologram", comprising interference fringes. The hologram may be reconstructed by illumination with suitable light to form a two-dimensional or three-dimensional holographic reconstruction, or replay image, representative of the original object.
Computer-generated holography may numerically simulate the interference process. A computer-generated hologram, "CGH", may be calculated by a technique based on a mathematical transformation such as a Fresnel or Fourier transform. These types of holograms may be referred to as Fresnel or Fourier holograms. A Fourier hologram may be considered a Fourier domain representation of the object or a frequency domain representation of the object. A CGH may also be calculated by coherent ray tracing or a point cloud technique, for example.
A CGH may be encoded on a spatial light modulator, "SLM", arranged to modulate the amplitude and/or phase of incident light. Light modulation may be achieved using electrically-addressable liquid crystals, optically-addressable liquid crystals or micro-mirrors, for example.
The SLM may comprise a plurality of individually-addressable pixels which may also be referred to as cells or elements. The light modulation scheme may be binary, multilevel or continuous. Alternatively, the device may be continuous (i.e. is not comprised of pixels) and light modulation may therefore be continuous across the device. The SLM may be reflective meaning that modulated light is output from the SLM in reflection. The SLM may equally be transmissive meaning that modulated light is output from the SLM is transmission.
A holographic projector for imaging may be provided using the described technology. Such projectors have found application in head-up displays, "HUD", and head-mounted displays, "HMD", including near-eye devices, for example.
A holographic projector projects an image onto a replay field on a replay plane. When using the described technology, the projected image is formed from a hologram displayed on pixels of the SLM, herein referred to as "SLM pixels". Thus, the SLM pixels display pixels of the hologram, herein referred to as "hologram pixels". The projected image is formed of "image spots" which are also referred to herein as "image pixels". The image pixels have a finite size and adjacent image pixels in the replay field can interfere or blur together. In particular, since the light is coherent, interference may occur between adjacent image pixels of the same wavelength if they are close enough (i.e. the separation between adjacent image pixels is too small). This is referred to herein as pixel crosstalk or pixel interference. The problem of pixel crosstalk or pixel interference leads to reduced image quality.
Furthermore, a hologram engine takes time to determine a hologram for display from a source image. For example, the hologram may be a Fourier hologram calculated using at least one Fourier transform. The time taken to calculate the hologram can therefore limit the rate at which holograms can be written to the SLM and thus the rate at which a sequence of source images can be projected as a video stream, herein called the "frame rate". Thus, it can be difficult to project images at acceptable video frame rates.
The present disclosure concerns techniques for implementing time interlacing of a single colour component of a source image to optimise the resolution of the holographic reconstruction of the source image on the replay plane. The present disclosure further concerns techniques for colour blending of image spots formed by two single colour holographic reconstructions.
There is disclosed herein an improved holographic projection system and method.


A mobile banking vehicle including wheels supporting a chassis, an engine and an office area at a floor height supported by the vehicle chassis. An exterior door provides access to the office area. A drive-up teller area is provided, preferably at the rear of the vehicle, and having a floor height which is lower than the office area floor height and, hence, closer to the ground surface. Steps are provided between the teller area lower and the office area higher floor surfaces. A teller window and transaction drawer are provided through the vehicle rear wall and adjacent the lowered floor at a height comfortable for use in both drive-up and walk-up customer banking transactions and which is comfortable for use by the bank teller. A drive-up lane is provided at the ground surface outside of the vehicle teller window and transaction drawer for allowing customers to drive their vehicle thereupon and next to the teller window and drawer. A bumper extends from the rear wall below the teller window and transaction drawer for helping banking customers locate their vehicle on the drive-up lane and at a proper distance from the banking vehicle. An intercommunication system is also provided whereby verbal communication is selectively provided between the bank teller and the banking customer at the teller window. A selectively extendible canopy is also provided on the rear wall over the teller window and the drive-up lane for protecting the transaction drawer and window from the weather during use.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention related to mobile bank vehicles and, more particularly, relates to a self powered self contained mobile bank vehicle functioning in substantially all respects similar to a regular fixed banking building and including, among other capabilities, drive up lane and teller window, lobby, automated teller machine (ATM), and security features.
2. Description of Related Art
Banks and fixed bank buildings or structures have been in use for centuries. For decades, fixed bank structures have been equipped with drive-up teller windows and transaction drawers whereby customers can drive their vehicle in close proximity thereto, speak to a teller who is visible through the window and conduct their banking business by passing or moving their financial documents through the transaction drawer. The teller window is typically equipped with bullet resistant glass. The transaction drawer can be a more simple opening below the lowermost edge of the window glass wherethrough financial documents can be passed, or a more secure sliding drawer having a drawer door which is coupled to and adapted to open and close with the drawer for providing access to the drawer by only one of the teller or customer at any time. An intercommunication system is typically also provided for verbal communication between the teller and banking customer.
More recently, mobile banking vehicles have been devised for selectively bringing the bank to the customer. Large tractor trailers have been modified to include an office area accessible by steps and a door and wherein the office area includes a lobby and teller area adjacent one another, an administration area, a conference room and a private office. Small trucks have also been equipped as mobile banking vehicles by providing a teller window on a side wall thereof, whereby customers can walk up to the vehicle and conduct their banking business therethrough. Similarly, trailers and engine driven vehicles not having an office area therewithin have been equipped with ATM's on their side wall, whereby banking customers can walk up and use the ATM.
Of the existing mobile banking vehicles which are equipped with office areas for banking personnel and/or customers, steps are required between the ground surface and the higher floor of the office area. This is because the floor of the office area must be supported by and set on the chassis of the vehicle, and the chassis is supported by the vehicle wheels, axles and suspension system. The office area floor height also dictates the location of any windows relative to the ground surface and, placement of windows at a proper usable height relative to the office area floor places the window at an unusable or improper height for those on the ground surface outside of the office area. Currently, therefore, banking vehicles equipped with teller windows place such windows at a compromised height which is relatively low with respect to the office area floor height and relatively high with respect to the ground surface, but which thereby places such window at a height allowing customer walk-up transactions therethrough. Unfortunately, bank personnel are uncomfortable when working through such teller window because they must sit and work generally downwardly. Such compromised teller window locations are also relatively high with respect to the ground surface and are, hence, limited to substantially only customer walk-up transactions.


A cockpit yoke assembly adapted for mounting on top of a RC transmitter for controlling the operation of a model airplane. The yoke assembly includes a first control arm with a throttle knob. The first control arm is attached to a first ball and socket linkage adapted for attachment a first joystick on the transmitter. A rudder control lever is attached to the first control arm. The yoke assembly includes a second control arm with an elevator knob. The second control arm is attached to a second ball and socket linkage adapted for attachment to a second joystick on the transmitter. An aileron control lever is attached to the second control arm. The first and second ball and socket linkage are used for moving the first and second joysticks fore or aft and left or right during the operation of the model airplane.

(a) Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a mechanical device for an operation of a standard radio controlled transmitter or RC transmitter used for controlling a model airplane during take off, in flight and landing, and more particularly, but not by way of limitation, to a portable, cockpit yoke assembly adapted for mounting on top of the RC transmitter. The yoke assembly provides for positive control of the airplane and eliminates a model airplane operator or pilot using his or her thumbs for operating a pair of joysticks on the RC transmitter.
(b) Discussion of Prior Art
In U.S. patents, U.S. Pat. No. 4,386,914 to Dustman, U.S. Pat. No. 5,878,981 to Dewey, and U.S. Pat. No. 6,331,114 to Massey, three different types of mechanical and electrical transmitter extension apparatus and flight console are described to operate a remote controlled model airplane. These apparatus and console are large and complex in design and similar to an actual aircraft flight simulator used for training commercial and military pilots. Also, the prior art simulator-like apparatus are floor mounted, they are not portable nor are they adapted to be hand carried and mounted on top of a standard RC transmitter.
In the hobby of flying a model airplane, a RC transmitter is used for controlling and flying the airplane. A receiver is mounted in the airplane for receiving commands from the transmitter operated by a model airplane operator or pilot. Today, a standard RC transmitter, which can operate on any number of selected radio channels, uses a pair of joysticks to send commands to the airplane. The left joystick is moved fore or aft by the pilot's left thumb for operating the plane's throttle and applying power thereto. Also, the left thumb is used to move the left joystick left or right for operating the plane's rudder and changing the direction of the plane. The right joystick is moved fore or aft by the pilot's right thumb for operating the plane's elevators and climbing or descending the plane. Also, the right thumb is used to move the joystick left or right for operating the plane's ailerons and banking the plane.
A key problem with operating the two joysticks is a novice or inexperienced model plane pilot will often move, for example, the left joystick with his or her thumb and cause the plane to speed up or slow down and then inadvertently slip into turning the plane's direction at virtually the same time. Also, the pilot will often move the right joystick with his or her thumb and cause the plane to climb or descend and then inadvertently slip into banking the plane at virtually the same time. The subject invention is designed to prevent this operator error by eliminating the control of the two joysticks by the model plane pilot.

Portable cockpit yoke assembly for mounting on a radio controlled transmitter used with a model airplane


The present invention relates to a method for determining a synchronization accuracy of a time synchronization of a first communication unit. A time request is sent via a communication channel at a corresponding instant of time of transmission from the first communication unit to a second communication unit. The method comprises receiving a time response at the first communication unit, the time response providing a synchronization time information for the second communication unit. The synchronization accuracy is determined based on the instant of time of transmission and the instant of time of reception.

This background section is provided for the purpose of generally describing the context of the disclosure. Work of the presently named inventor(s), to the extent the work is described in this background section, as well as aspects of the description that may not otherwise qualify as prior art at the time of filing, are neither expressly nor impliedly admitted as prior art against the present disclosure.
In communication systems or information systems, it may be necessary to implement trustworthy time synchronization between distributed components or communication units of the respective system in order to ensure system functionality. It may be necessary to implement the time synchronization in a trustworthy manner with regard to functional security or manipulation security. For example, it is possible to achieve reliable or trustworthy time synchronization with a communication channel that has at least one automotive safety integrity level (ASIL) ASIL B (or a higher level). A communication channel used in a communication system, via which the time synchronization between communication units takes place, may however not be implemented in a trustworthy manner, for example it does not meet the ASIL B requirements.
A communication system may be used in vehicles, e.g. for the area of automated driving with corresponding sub-functions such as sensor data fusion. Communication units that synchronize in time may e.g. be control units or sensors of the vehicle.
One possibility of realizing trustworthy time synchronization would be to implement every communication channel used between the communication units in a consistently trustworthy manner (for example in accordance with ASIL B). However, this option is costly and may be uneconomical. For some areas of application, there may be no suitable hardware components for implementing a communication channel that is trustworthy in terms of functionality security. A communication channel with low trustworthiness can, for example, have an undue time delay or latency at random points in time, with which no trustworthy time synchronization is possible.

Method for determining a synchronization accuracy, computer program, communication unit and motor vehicle


Data paths extending to a first receiver from a plurality of data supply sources are each capable of supplying the same stream data. When providing the stream data to the first receiver rate-distortion of the data paths is optimized. Clocks asynchronous with each other per data path are set so as to attain the rate-distortion optimization.

Over the recent years, there have been increasing demands for a high-quality and broadband video stream via a wireless network. Because of the essence of the wireless network, however, there arise problems that have occurred in the case of transmitting the same multimedia content via a conventional wired network. Among others, a serious problem is that video quality undergoing an end-to-end observation largely fluctuates due to time-varying channel fading and a relatively high bit error rate. Moreover, access speeds from clients vary widely.

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.


An embodiment of the present invention is a luminaire for roughly uniform illumination of a square area without side glare. The luminaire uses a horizontally oriented arc tube lamp. A basket reflector surrounds the arc tube lamp and directs light out in a square pattern. A top aperture in the basket reflector is opposite to the illuminated square area. A bottom aperture, positioned in the basket reflector, permits light from the arc tube lamp to pass out to the illuminated square area. A center reflector is centrally positioned above the top aperture and has bow-tie shaped body and a pair of ends that are orthogonally oriented to the arc tube lamp. A pair of side reflectors with a plurality of faceted reflective surfaces receive light from the arc tube lamp that has been reflected from the center reflector. The side reflectors are positioned at opposite points outside the basket structure and are centered along a line perpendicular to the arc tube lamp. A pair of tertiary reflectors are respectively disposed between the basket structure and the side reflectors and each have two reflective surfaces for directing light from the middle faceted reflective surfaces of the side reflectors out along the axis of the arc tube lamp.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to lighting systems, and more specifically to luminaires for uniform intensity area lighting with controlled side glare.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Light intrusion has become an important concept in the lighting industry. Light from lamps must now be controlled so that only the area meant to be illuminated is illuminated by the lamp and outside area is not. For example, in a perfect street lamp implementation, no glow from a lamp should be visible from above or the sides of the designated area. Diffraction and scatter in prior art luminaires have allowed light, and thus the power to make the light, to be wasted by the inability to avoid direct light rays out the sides. Ordinances and industry practices frequently exist to prevent such side emissions for various reasons, for example, to make driving safer and to save on energy costs.
An improved roadway luminaire is described by the present inventor, Martin L. Lasker, in U.S. Pat. 4,651,260, (Lasker '260), issued Mar. 17, 1987. A source of light is reflected out from the luminaire by side-by-side reflectors, one of which is to one side of the light source. The light from the other reflector is adjusted to reinforce light coming from the second reflector in a preferred direction. Some prior art optical systems use a first reflector which surrounds a horizontal lamp in a standard Type II-III (roadway), "sharp cutoff" configuration. In Lasker '260, a part of this reflector causes an overly intense "hot spot", that increases in intensity as the angles of light move closer to the nadir at the base of the mounting pole. A subsequent redirection of the light escaping through this opening is accomplished by a second reflector which distributes otherwise wasted light at higher, more productive angles. The contour of the second reflector is such that no light above the cutoff angle of the first reflector occurs, so that the "sharp cutoff" of glare is retained. At least one lighting system described in the prior art uses a somewhat different approach to produce a Type V distribution with a vertical lamp, but both systems have the same basic problem. The high angle distribution from the second reflector has to pass through a clear side wall to keep the fixture within a practical size. Due to natural imperfections in the specular surface of the second reflector and in the material of the clear side walls, the luminaire appears to glow, despite is sharp cutoff of glare. It emits light at all angles, even those above 90.degree. from nadir.
FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate a pair of light distribution patterns 10 and 12, shown in plan view, for the industry standard classifications "type V" and "square type V", respectively. Both have a luminaire 14 and 16 positioned in the center of the light-pattern. The square type V distribution 12 bulges out at the corners to fill a more rectangular pattern.
FIG. 3 shows the light distribution pattern 12 superimposed-over a grid of squares each having a side equal to one "mounting height" (MH), where one mounting height is the height of a luminaire above ground. Pattern 12 extends out three mounting heights on all four sides of the luminaire, e.g., where the luminaire is mounted thirty feet above the ground and three mounting heights would be ninety feet. The luminaire 16 is represented with an oblong bar positioned as with an arc tube of a horizontally held lamp.
FIG. 4 shows four illuminated areas, such as pattern 12, abutting each other as is typical in a typical large parking lot application.
FIG. 5 is an elevation view of the luminaire 16 and a pole 18 beneath it. Vertical angles from nadir (Point N) are shown that are required to reach points A, B, C and V, where "V" includes a plurality of points V beyond point C, as in FIG. 3. An important function of an optical system in an area lighting application permits the widest spacing between poles while not exceeding a ratio of ten to one between the brightest and dimmest points on the ground. Such a ratio is considered to define the bounds of uniform illumination. A good optical system should also sharply reduce the intensity of light at angles above 80.degree. to eliminate glare that can impede vision, light intrusion onto nearby properties and other forms of light pollution.
Lamps with an elongated arc tube, e.g., high pressure sodium and metal halide lamps used for area lighting, direct their greatest intensity of light perpendicular to the axis of the arc tube, a direction referred to as "broadside". The intensity becomes progressively weaker as the lamp (arc tube) is viewed from an on-end angle. The light falling on a point "A" in FIG. 5 comes from the broadside of the arc tube and therefore is at its greatest intensity. Not much additional light from the reflector system is required to effectively illuminate point A. A pair of points "B" and "B1" represent the weakest, on-end view of the lamp, therefore most of the light required at these points must come from a reflector system. A point "C", in FIG. 5, views the arc tube in an intermediate, foreshortened position, with a light intensity level between that at broadside and on-end.
However, point C is more distant from the luminaire 16, compared to points A and B, further diminishing the light level. As a result a larger amount of reflected light is required at point C for effective illumination. In order to strike the ground at point C, light must be projected at a vertical angle of 77.degree., only a few degrees below the angle at which a viewer standing at a point "V" should see relatively little light from the luminaire 16. This requirement is termed glare cutoff. At a point "N" (nadir), the arc tube broadside is closest. This is usually the maximum point of illumination, e.g., a hot-spot, against which a minimum point, such as points B or C, is compared for the 10:1 maximum/minimum relationship. It is therefore preferable that no light from the reflector be aimed at or near this point.
FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrate the performance of the two best performing systems designed for use in an opaque housing (that is, a luminaire housing which blocks light on all sides except the bottom aperture). A horizontal lamp system 30 has an arc tube 32 in a horizontal position. Because of this horizontal positioning, the tube 32 can be completely recessed in a housing 34 with a reflector 36 to provide a cutoff of direct light at angles above 80.degree., yet still be sufficiently exposed to provide direct light at angles below 80.degree.. System 30 has a few shortcomings that include a weak on-end and foreshortened views.
FIG. 8 illustrates the relative directions to points B and C (as in FIG. 5). These directions also face the surfaces of the reflector 36 and so the reflector too contributes to the illumination of these points. No matter how much light is redirected by the reflector 36, there is simply not enough cumulative intensity to provide an adequate level of illumination at all of the minimum points to allow very wide luminaire-to-luminaire spacing. A hot-spot at nadir also results from an intense direct broadside of the arc tube 32. Point N therefore receives an excessive accumulation of stray light from the generally wasteful surface of the reflector 36 above the lamp, because it also sees the broadside of the tube 32. For these reasons, the horizontal lamp system 30 cannot produce uniform illumination when spaced apart on a grid much more than five mounting heights by five mounting heights.
In FIG. 7, a vertical lamp system 40 has a broadside and on-end orientation which is better adapted to the desired distribution. However, the vertical length of the arc tube works against the system in other ways. In order to expose a sufficient portion of the arc tube so that it shines directly on point C, the lamp has to be dropped below the aperture. This position creates excessive brightness above 80.degree. both directly from the arc tube and from unavoidable reflections. The only way to restore glare control is to raise the lamp back into the housing where it can no longer produce a wide throw of light. Because of this the vertical lamp system is commonly offered for sale in two mutually exclusive configurations; either for wide spacing (six mounting heights by six mounting heights) without glare controls, or for glare control with much narrower spacing capability.
Two United States Patents describe devices for solving the problem of providing both uniform illumination on wide spacing and glare control, the vertical lamp described by Contra/Cline in U.S. Pat. No. 4,096,555, and the horizontal lamp described by Strada in U.S. Pat. 4,651,260. Both of these systems require that some of the light be emitted through the sides of the luminaire enclosure and therefore can not work with an opaque housing. However, the Strada patent has a reflector configuration that is useful in an improved system.

Area lighting system for near uniform illumination of a square horizontal surface area without side glare and including a horizontally-oriented arc tube lamp


A method of forming a semiconductor device includes patterning a photoresist layer formed over a homogeneous semiconductor device layer to be etched; subjecting the semiconductor device to an implant process that selectively implants a sacrificial etch stop layer that is self-aligned in accordance with locations of features to be etched within the homogeneous semiconductor device layer, and at a desired depth for the features to be etched; etching a feature pattern defined by the patterned photoresist layer into the homogenous semiconductor device layer, stopping on the implanted sacrificial etch stop layer; and removing remaining portion of the implanted sacrificial etch stop layer prior to filling the etched feature pattern with a fill material.

The present invention relates generally to semiconductor device manufacturing techniques and, more particularly, to self-aligned patterned etch stop layers for semiconductor devices.
Metallization patterns on integrated circuits may be formed by depositing a dielectric layer, patterning the dielectric layer by photolithography and reactive ion etching (RIE) to form a groove or trench, and depositing a metal layer that fills the trench in the dielectric layer. The metal layer typically not only fills the trenches but also covers the entire semiconductor wafer. Thereafter, the excess metal is removed using either chemical-mechanical polishing (CMP) or an etch back process so that only the metal in the trenches remains. This technique, also referred to as "damascene" processing in the art, thus forms inlaid conductors in the dielectric layer. Damascene processing (an additive process) avoids the problems associated with metal etching (a subtractive process), such as, for example, the lack of suitable dry-etch plasma chemistries, problems in dimension control, the formation of small gaps that are difficult to fill with the subsequent dielectric layer, and the entrapment of impurities in inter wiring spaces.
In a dual damascene process, a monolithic via/line structure is formed from the repeated patterning of a single thick dielectric layer, followed by metal filling and CMP. First, a relatively thick dielectric layer (e.g., oxide, low-K material) is deposited on a planar surface. The dielectric thickness may be slightly larger than the desired final thickness of the via and line, since a small amount of dielectric material is removed during CMP. Via recesses are formed in the dielectric layer using photolithography and RIE that either partially etches through the dielectric or traverses the dielectric and stops on the underlying metal to be contacted. The line recesses (trenches) can then be formed using a separate photolithography step and a timed etching step. In lieu of forming the via recesses first, the trenches may be formed first followed by via recess formation.
In either instance, the via/line metallization is then deposited, and thereafter planarized using CMP. The resulting interconnects are produced with fewer process steps than with conventional single damascene processing. Moreover, with a dual damascene process, two layers of metal are formed simultaneously (e.g., a wiring line and contact stud vias), thus avoiding an interface therebetween.
On the other hand, existing dual damascene integration schemes with a homogeneous dielectric material (i.e., without buried etch stop layers therein) generally suffer from through-pitch dependent RIE lag, and pattern density dependent trench depth control. One common method to reduce these effects is to utilize buried etch stops within the dielectric layer. However, such a solution involves materials that typically hurt the overall effective dielectric constant of the material due to the nature of the materials that are required for the process. Alternatively, the benefits of dual damascene processing may be surrendered by reverting to single damascene processing.

Self-aligned patterned etch stop layers for semiconductor devices

International Business Machines Corporation


An extruded or molded elastomeric (e.g., rubber) or polymeric multi-piece (e.g., two-piece) modular pipe support system utilizes a wide base with protrusions and/or recesses, and a separate top with recesses and/or protrusions that engage the protrusions and/or recesses of the top. The tops are configured to securely capture a pipe/conduit without any additional parts, straps, etc. The top may have one or more pipe-receiving recesses for receiving the pipes (conduits).

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to the rooftop pipe supports.
2. Description of the Related Art
There is a general need to provide support for rooftop piping systems such as electrical conduits, natural gas piping and condensate drain lines. The supports must elevate the piping or equipment high enough to clear common rooftop obstacles (like expansion joints and seams). The elevation also serves to keep the piping from lying directly in standing water or to provide the necessary slope for drain or condensate lines. In addition, the supports often need to be free-floating to avoid penetrating the roof membrane, as well as to accommodate movement in the piping system due to expansion or contraction in the piping due to extreme temperature fluctuations. Currently, the most common method of providing support uses short lengths of pressure-treated lumber (typically a nominal 4″×4″) as a support, with the pipe held in place using commonly available 1 or 2-hole pipe straps.
There are a number of issues with this method of support: the wood will eventually rot to the extent that it is no longer providing the necessary support, the hardware will rust, splinters or sharp edges on the wood can penetrate the roof membrane, etc. In addition, the wood is heavy and difficult to move, and additional tools (saw and screwdriver or socket wrenches) are required for installation. More recently, quasi-engineered rooftop pipe supports have been introduced into the market. These products, while overcoming many of the issues associated with the lumber method, may have their own shortcomings, as most require the use of strut hardware to secure the pipe, and most do not offer the ability to accommodate elevation changes. Further, some of these products are very light, leaving them prone to movement by wind and errant workers.


A self-aligned contact hole is formed in a cell area of a semiconductor device, and then a polysilicon layer is formed on both the cell area and a peripheral circuit area. A first etch back process is performed using a reactant etching gas, such as Cl.sub.2 gas, having a high etching rate with respect to the polysilicon layer. This first etch back process on the polysilicon layer is stopped before exposing the top surface of a capping layer in the peripheral circuit area, thereby leaving a thin polysilicon film on the capping layer. A second etch back process is then performed to form a polysilicon node filling the self-aligned contact hole in the cell area. In the second etch back process, an etching reactant gas, such as HBr gas, is used, which has a high etching selectivity of polysilicon with respect to the capping layer.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a semiconductor device having a cell area and a peripheral circuit area, and more particularly, to a method for manufacturing a semiconductor device in which a polysilicon node is formed in a cell area without decreasing the thickness of a gate electrode capping layer formed in a peripheral circuit area.
2. Description of the Related Art
Due to the increased integration density of semiconductor devices having a cell area and a peripheral circuit area, conventional photo-lithographic methods have come to exhibit certain shortcomings. For example, fabrication limitations arise when forming contact holes for a bit line connection plug, which connects an active area (such as a source and a drain) with bit lines. Limitations also arise when forming a storage electrode connection plug, which connects an active area and a storage electrode of a capacitor.
In forming a contact hole, an interlayer insulating layer (e.g., an oxide layer) covers a gate electrode structure, including a spacer formed on a side wall of a gate electrode, and a capping layer formed on the top surface of the gate electrode. The spacer and capping layer are formed of a substance (e.g., nitride) which has a high etching selectivity with respect to the oxide layer.
Active areas between two adjacent spacers are exposed through a self-aligned process. In forming a self-aligned contact hole, an etching process is performed with a peripheral circuit area being masked by a contact-type self-aligned photoresist mask pattern, which exposes a portion of a cell area where the contact hole will be formed. If the contact-type self-aligned photoresist mask pattern is misaligned, a bridging phenomenon may occur in which a bit line contacts other adjacent bit lines, eventually resulting in a short-circuit between the bit lines and a gate electrode under the bit lines. In an attempt to overcome this problem, the contact-type self-aligned photoresist mask pattern may be replaced with a line-type photoresist mask pattern. The line-type photoresist mask pattern exposes an area where a contact hole will be formed and a gate electrode placed on both sides of the area is used.
The contact hole, formed by the line-type photoresist mask pattern, exposes the active area between gate electrodes in the cell area. The photoresist mask pattern is then removed. During this process, the capping layer in the cell area is damaged or reduced in thickness to a depth of 600-700 .ANG..
After a polysilicon layer is formed on the entire surface of the cell area and the peripheral area, a polysilicon node of a cell is formed of chemical mechanical polishing (CMP). During the CMP process, the capping layers in the cell area and the peripheral area are additionally damaged to depths of about 200 .ANG. and 400-600 .ANG., respectively.
The decrease in thickness of the capping layer is undesirable and reduces the reliability of the semiconductor devices. During the process for forming self-aligned holes in a peripheral area, the possibility arises of a short circuit between a gate electrode and a bit line connection plug or an interconnection connection plug, or between a gate electrode and a bit line or an interconnection.

Method for forming a polysilicon node in a semiconductor device


A method includes determining that a token associated with a customer is present in a store; and sending, to a mobile device associated with the customer, a signal to prepare the mobile device to be able to receive a marketing offer.

A retailer, for example, can administer a customer loyalty program to provide marketing offers, such as discounts, rebates, promotions, or other offers, to customers enrolled in the customer loyalty program. The marketing offers provided to each customer can be customized, e.g., based on the purchase history of the customer. Typically, marketing offers based on a customer loyalty program are provided when the customer leaves a store (e.g., checkout coupons provided with a register receipt) or when the customer is outside the store (e.g., newspaper or online advertisements of discounts available to members of the customer loyalty program).


A device and method of correcting a spinal defect in a patient employs the use of shape memory material in a spinal correction device. The shape memory material may be transitioned between a flexible martensitic state to allow shaping of the spinal correction device and a rigid austenitic state to apply corrective forces to the spine. The shape memory material may be transitioned to the flexible martensitic by applying a coolant, such as cold gas, directly or indirectly to the shape memory material to transfer heat away from the material. The cooling device and method may allow for in-vivo shaping of the spinal correction device while inserted in the body and attached to bone anchors by cooling the spinal correction device after insertion.

Spinal corrective systems may be used in orthopedic surgery to correct a deformity or misalignment in the spinal column, as well as stabilize and/or fix a desired relationship between adjacent vertebral bodies. Spinal corrective surgery may be used to correct a variety of defects in the spine, such as scoliosis, spondylosis, spondylolisthesis, vertebral instability, spinal stenosis, degenerated, herniated, or degenerated and herniated intervertebral discs, as well as injuries, including fractures and torn ligaments and surgical manipulations, including laminectomies.
In spinal corrective surgery, a spinal corrective device, such as a spinal rod, and bone anchors, such as screws, bolts, wires and/or hooks, may be used to stabilize the spine, repair a defect and/or bring misaligned vertebrae back into alignment and secure the aligned vertebrae in the aligned position. A standard surgical procedure for correcting spinal defects in the current state of the art involves first distracting the vertebrae, pulling the vertebra back into alignment with the spinal column, and then stabilizing the spine using posterior spinal implants consisting of anchoring devices and spinal corrective elements. An interbody fusion device may also be used to give further stability and correction of the disc height. Compression across the vertebrae may be applied across the construct to set the correct balance of forces in the region.
A spinal corrective device used in such systems is generally a relatively rigid fixation rod or plate that is coupled to a bone by attaching the element to various anchoring devices. The corrective device can extend between two bone regions to effect stabilization, positioning, reduction and/or fixation of the bones. The spinal corrective device can have a predetermined contour that has been designed according to the properties of the target implantation site and, once installed, the spinal corrective element holds the bones in a desired spatial relationship, either until desired healing or spinal fusion has occurred, or for some longer period of time.
Shape memory materials have been used in spinal corrective systems to apply corrective forces to the spine by transitioning a shape memory material in a spinal corrective device between a flexible martensitic state and a rigid austenitic state to generate corrective forces that are transferred to the spine. Shape memory materials are characterized by an ability to restore the material to a pre-selected shape of the austenitic state after plastic deformation. For example, in an austenitic state, the shape memory material is stiff, rigid and has a set, pre-selected shape. In a martensitic state, the shape memory material becomes flexible and deformable and may have any of a variety of shapes. The microstructure of the material in the martensitic state is characterized by "self-accommodating twins", having a zigzag arrangement, which allow for deformation of the material shape by de-twinning.
Generally, shape memory materials are induced to transition between the rigid austenitic state and the flexible martensitic state by changing the temperature, pressure, stress, chemistry and/or another parameter of the shape memory material. For example, a shape memory material may be cooled to make the material flexible in a martensite state, and subsequently heated to return the material to the original shape with the austenitic structure. The temperature at which a shape memory material starts transforming to austenite is known as the "austenite start temperature." Further heating increases the temperature of the shape memory material to induce a complete transformation to the austenitic state, setting the shape of the material in the pre-selected shape of the austenitic structure. The temperature at which a shape memory material finishes transforming to austenite is known as the "austenite finish temperature." A shape memory material can transition to the martensitic state to allow deformation and shaping of the spinal corrective device by changing the temperature of the material below a selected temperature (i.e., cooling the material). The temperature at which a shape memory material begins transformation to the martensite state is known as the "martensite start temperature". Further cooling decreases the temperature of the shape memory material to induce a complete transformation to the martensite state. The temperature at which a shape memory material finishes transformation to the martensite state is known as the "martensite finish temperature."
Performing cooling of shape memory material in spinal corrective devices, such as spinal rods, from an ambient or heated state prior to implantation or following implantation can be problematic. For example, the process of handling, manipulating and implanting the spinal corrective device may create a heating effect, causing the device to transition from the martensitic state to the austenitic state before it is desirable. Shape memory corrective devices should therefore be cooled thoroughly to give maximum useful operating time.

System and method for cooling a spinal correction device comprising a shape memory material for corrective spinal surgery


A wireless communications method is provided and applied to a communications system using a frequency domain resource with a specified bandwidth. The frequency domain resource is divided into at least two frequency domain resource groups, each frequency domain resource group includes at least one resource block, the at least two frequency domain resource groups belong to a same cell. The method includes: determining, from the at least two frequency domain resource groups, a target frequency domain resource group to be allocated to a target terminal device, where the target frequency domain resource group includes at least one frequency domain resource group; sending first indication information to the target terminal device, where the first indication information is used to indicate the target frequency domain resource group; and performing wireless communication with the target terminal device by using the target frequency domain resource group. Therefore, different user requirements can be flexibly met.

With development of mobile Internet technologies, a communications system such as a Long Term Evolution (LTE) system can provide a 100 megahertz (MHz) or even higher bandwidth.
In addition, communication services are increasingly diverse. For example, from a service type perspective, there is a conventional service such as a voice service or a short message service and also a big data service such as a video service or a high-definition image service. From a transmission rate perspective, there is a low-rate service and also a high-rate service. Different services have different requirements for a bandwidth of a frequency domain resource. For example, if a user has a relatively low bandwidth requirement, to reduce costs, there may be a terminal device with relatively low processing performance (for example, the terminal device can process transmission only on a frequency domain resource with a relatively low bandwidth). Consequently, the terminal device with relatively low performance cannot be used in the foregoing high-bandwidth system.
How to flexibly meet different user requirements in a high-bandwidth communications system becomes an urgent problem to be resolved in the industry.

Wireless communications method and apparatus


Memory systems include an array of storage cells arranged in a row and column arrangement. A plurality of data write lines coupled to the array are configured to supply data into a selected row of the array. A plurality of data read lines coupled to the array are configured to receive data from a selected column of the array in a single read operation. An arithmetic operation circuit coupled to the plurality of data read lines is configured to generate a result value based on data read from the storage cells of a selected column of the array. Methods of detecting a pattern, such as a color code pattern, are also provided.

The present invention relates generally to memory systems, and more particularly to memory systems with a row write, column read arrangement.
A variety of applications use memory in conjunction with other circuitry to provide different device functionality. In many cases, such memory is utilized by a processor device configured to execute software that may use the memory in connection with program execution. In other instances, specialized hardware may be used to provide logical operations and/or the like in a manner that may be faster than that provided by software executing on a general purpose processor. In addition, it is known to combine a general purpose processor with specialized hardware in some applications.
One area where such a combination of hardware and software is often used is in wireless communication devices, such as mobile terminals and position location receiver devices, such as Global Positioning System (GPS) receivers. There are a variety of applications in such devices where it may be important to recognize a pattern in received communication signals, such as transmissions from a base station of a wide area cellular mobile telecommunications network for a mobile terminal or from a GPS satellite for a GPS receiver. It may be desirable in such devices to recognize a pattern rapidly while the signal is being received or to acquire a service and/or position determination rapidly to provide greater perceived value to a user of the device. Accordingly, it is known to use digital signal processor (DSP) or the like in such devices.
The GPS location approach generally uses location services not associated with either the uplink or downlink signals used in the mobile telecommunications network. In a typical GPS application, the GPS receivers collect and analyze ranging measurements from signals transmitted by GPS satellites having known locations.
As illustrated in FIG. 1, GPS is a space-based triangulation system using satellites 42 and GPS control computers 48 to measure positions anywhere on the earth. GPS was first developed by the United States Department of Defense as a navigational system. The advantages of this navigational system over land-based systems are that it is not limited in its coverage, it provides continuous 24-hour coverage, which may be highly accurate regardless of weather conditions. In operation, a constellation of 24 satellites 42 orbiting the earth continually emit a GPS radio signal 44. A GPS receiver 46, e.g., a hand-held radio receiver with a GPS processor, receives the radio signals from the visible satellites and measures the time that the radio signal takes to travel from the GPS satellites to the GPS receiver antenna. By multiplying the travel time by the speed of light, the GPS receiver can calculate a range for each satellite in view. Ephemeris information provided in the satellite radio signal typically describes the satellite's orbit and velocity, thereby generally enabling the GPS processor to calculate the position of the GPS receiver 46 through a process of triangulation. It is known to include a GPS receiver 46 in a mobile terminal to provide position location functionality to the mobile terminal.
The radio signal 44 generally provides a location determination signal to a GPS receiver by including a unique color code pattern, referred to as a C/A code, that is associated with a particular GPS satellite 42. In other words, different GPS satellites 42 are provided different color codes. A time of flight of a radio signal 44 from a GPS satellite 42 to a GPS receiver 46 may be determined by determining a period and phase of the color code as received at the GPS receiver 46 when the GPS receiver 46 and GPS satellite 42 share a common time reference. Determining a time of flight typically includes determining a code period (i.e., a number of entire "chips" of the color code delay) and a code phase (i.e., the fractional part of a partial "chip" delay) based on characteristics of the C/A code, defined for GPS as 1023 chips/millisecond. However, doing so requires that a pattern associated with a GPS color code first be located and detected in a received signal before a time of flight can be estimated based on a determined delay. Operations for detecting a color code typically require that a plurality of samples be taken from a received signal and energies be accumulated in the process of detecting what color code pattern is present and where the repeating color code pattern starts in the received signal.
Pattern detection also may be used in other communication applications, such as code division multiple access (CDMA) communication systems, where signal energies are spread across a range of frequencies using a spreading code.

Memory systems with column read to an arithmetic operation circuit, pattern detector circuits and methods and computer program products for the same


The invention relates to tolan derivatives of the formula I ##STR1##. in which R.sup.1, R.sup.2, A, Z, L.sup.1, L.sup.2, L.sup.3, L.sup.4, L.sup.5, L.sup.6, Q, m and n are as defined herein.

The substances employed hitherto for this purpose all have certain disadvantages, for example inadequate stability to the action of heat, light or electric fields, or unfavorable elastic and/or dielectric properties.
The compounds excepted by the proviso are compounds of the formula I without lateral fluorination in which m is 0. These bicyclic tolans which are disclosed, for example, in JP 040 216 40, have relatively low solubility and are therefore less suitable for practical applications.
Compounds of the formula I in which m is 0 are disclosed, for example, in JP 063 296 31, but this specification only mentions tolans which have alkyl or alkoxy terminal groups. Compounds of this type exhibit a relatively low optical anisotropy value and a relatively low clearing point and are likewise excepted by the proviso.
Although fluorinated compounds of the formula I containing terminal alkenyl radicals or polar radicals in which m is 0 are amongst the compounds covered by the very broad generic claims in EP 0 648 723 and JP 093 019 01, these documents make absolutely no mention of the advantageous specific lateral fluorination of the compounds of the formula I. EP 543 244, JP 080 601 58, JP 072 343 9 and JP 080 536 74 describe tricyclic fluorinated tolan derivatives, but these likewise differ from the compounds of the formula I according to the invention through the position of the lateral fluorination.

Tolan derivatives, and liquid-crystalline medium

Merck Patent Gesellschaft mit beschrankter Haftung


A display device includes a display unit configured to display a plurality of pieces of content received from a plurality of source devices connected to the display device; and a control unit configured to receive a control activation request for a first source device of the plurality of source devices from a remote control device, activate control of the first source device in response to the received control activation request, and control an operation of the first source device in response to the signal received from the remote control device.

Embodiments of the present invention relate to a display device, and in particular, a display device which selectively controls a plurality of source devices by using a remote control device when a plurality of pieces of content provided by the plurality of source devices are displayed, and a method of operating the display device.
A display device, such as TV, may be connected to various external devices, such as an antenna, a set-top box, a digital versatile disc (DVD) or blue-ray player, a game console, and a mobile terminal (for example, a smart phone or a tablet PC), and may receive and display content from the connected external devices.
Depending on cases, the display device may be simultaneously connected to a plurality of external devices and may display a plurality of pieces of content respectively received from the connected external devices on a single screen. In this case, a user may control the external devices by using a remote control device capable of controlling the external devices in a consolidated manner in order to control operations of the external devices which provide the plurality of pieces of content.
However, with respect to external devices which are non-controllable by using the remote control device, the user needs to control operations of the external devices by using a separate remote control device or directly manipulating each of the external devices.
In particular, a mirroring technology to display a screen of the mobile terminal on the display device as it is has emerged, but there is inconvenience that an operation of the mobile terminal that provides content through mirroring cannot be controlled by using the remote control device.

Display device and method of operating the same


Disclosed is the detection of emulsions and microdispersions with an optical computing device. One disclosed method includes emitting electromagnetic radiation from an electromagnetic radiation source, optically interacting the electromagnetic radiation with a fluid and thereby generating fluid interacted radiation, detecting a portion of the fluid interacted radiation with a reference detector arranged within an optical channel of an optical computing device, generating a reference signal with the reference detector, and determining an emulsive state of the fluid based on the reference signal.

The present disclosure generally relates to systems and methods of optical computing and, more specifically, the detection of emulsions and microdispersions with an optical computing device.
In the oil and gas industry, the collection and sampling of underground fluids contained in subterranean formations is well known. Samples of formation fluids are collected and analyzed for various purposes, such as to determine the existence, composition and producibility of subterranean hydrocarbon fluid reservoirs. This aspect of the exploration and recovery process can be crucial in developing exploitation strategies and impacts significant financial expenditures and savings.
In a typical sampling procedure, a sampling tool is lowered to a predetermined depth or location within a wellbore on a conveyance, such as a wireline, slickline, coiled tubing, jointed tubing or the like. The sampling tool may include multiple sensors and/or gauges used to monitor and detect various parameters of the formation fluid. For instance, densitometers are often used to obtain mass and volume flow measurements, and fluid concentration measurements of formation fluids. Moreover, optical computing devices are sometimes used to detect concentrations of particular analytes or chemical compounds present within the formation fluids.
When the sampling tool reaches the desired depth, the sampling tool may be activated to pump or circulate formation fluid through the sampling tool so that the sensors/gauges can monitor the incoming fluids and "sample" the circulating fluid. While monitoring the formation fluids, however, the state of the formation fluids may change into an emulsive state due to, for example, fluid pumping parameters through the sampling tool, downhole environmental conditions (e.g., temperature, pressure, etc.), or a combination of both. As used herein the term "emulsive state" refers to the phase or state of a fluid, such as a formation fluid, and whether said fluid has formed an emulsion, a macroemulsion, a microemulsion, a dispersion, a microdispersion, a colloid, a stable micelle solution, or any combination thereof.
When a formation fluid forms an emulsion or microdispersion, for example, it can be quite difficult to accurately measure the properties or characteristics of the formation fluid, such as the concentration of a particular hydrocarbon present therein. In order to properly measure the properties of the formation fluid, the emulsion or microdispersion must first be broken, which can be done by adding heat, various chemicals, or slow stirring agents, which can take months and even years. Accordingly, for fluid sampling and testing purposes, it may prove advantageous to know when an emulsion is present downhole within a formation fluid being analyzed.

Emulsion detection using optical computing devices


A magneto-optic recording a reproducing apparatus including a magneto-optic information-carrying medium having three magnetic layers. A magnetic bias field is generatedd by a third layer which is premagnetized in the direction parallel to the thickness thereof. A second layer is magnetized by a magnetizing unit. The laser beam incident on the layers is controlled to three intensities for writing and reading information.

This invention relates to a magneto-optic recording and reproducing apparatus wherein new information can be overwritten directly on old information.
FIGS. 3A and 3B illustrate the principle of the prior art of magneto-optic information recording and reproducing as shown in "Single Beam Over Write Method Using Multilayered Magneto Optical Media," 28p-ZL-3, Extended Abstracts (The 34th Spring Meeting, 1987); The Japan Society of Applied Physics and Related Societies. FIG. 3A shows an oblique view; FIG. 3B is a cross-sectional view showing the main parts. The apparatus in these drawings comprises a magneto-optic information-carrying medium 1, which in turn comprises a glass or plastic substrate 2 and two ferromagnetic layers: a first layer 3 and a second layer 4. The apparatus also comprises an objective lens 5 for focusing a laser beam onto the information-carrying medium 1, where it forms a focused spot 6. Reference numeral 7 designates a region on the first layer 3 where binary data "1" is recorded by magnetization in the upward direction in FIG. 3B. The apparatus also comprises two magnets: an initializing magnet 8 for creating an initial magnetic alignment in the second layer 4; and a bias magnet 9 located opposite the objective lens 5 on the other side of the information-carrying medium 1.
This apparatus operates as follows. A support and drive mechanism not shown in the drawings turns the information-carrying medium 1 in a fixed direction (indicated by arrow a in the drawing). The first layer 3, which is positioned on the incident side of the laser beam, has properties similar to those of the recording layer of the information-carrying media used in ordinary magneto-optic discs, and also operates as a recording layer in the apparatus under discussion. The second layer 4, called the supplementary layer, is provided to enable overwriting; that is, to enable new data to be written over old data directly. Let Tc1 and Tc2 be the Curie temperatures of the first layer 3 and second layer 4, and let Hc1 and Hc2 be the coercive forces of first layer 3 and second layer 4, respectively. These parameters of the two layers satisfy the following relationships: EQU Tc1<Tc2 EQU Hc1>Hc2
Let us first consider the reading of information recorded on the recording layer, that is, the first layer 3. The objective lens 5 is driven by a driving mechanism not shown in the drawings in the direction of its optic axis and in a direction perpendicular to its optic axis (the radial direction of the information-carrying medium) so as to keep the spot 6 in focus and on the track on the recording layer.
As shown in FIG. 3B, the recording layer is magnetized parallel to its thickness direction. The magnetic alignment is either up or down in the drawing, these two directions corresoponding to "0" and "1" of binary codes. Magnetization in the up direction in the drawing represents "1." When the information is read, the spot 6 is focused onto the first layer 3. The magnetic alignment of the first layer 3 is converted to optical information through a well-known magneto-optic effect (such as the Kerr effect); thus the information on the information-carrying medium 1 is detected. The intensity of the laser beam on the information-carrying medium 1 in this reading operation is controlled by a controller 21 to an intensity equivalent to a in FIG. 4. At this intensity the temperatures of regions of the first layer 3 and second layer 4 illuminated by the focused spot 6 do not reach their Curie temperatures Tc1 and Tc2, so the focused spot 6 does not erase the recorded information, that is, the magnetic alignment.
Information is overwritten as follows. The information-carrying medium 1 is subject to an external magnetic field Hini (indicated by arrow b in the drawing) generated by initializing magnet 8 in FIG. 3B. The external magnetic field is related to the coercive forces of the first layer 3 and second layer 4 as follows: EQU Hini<Hc1 EQU Hini>Hc2.
As the information-carrying medium 1 rotates in direction a in FIG. 3B, when the second layer 4 passes over the initializing magnet 8 it is uniformly magnetized in the up direction, regardless of the magnetic alignment of the first layer 3. At room temperature the first layer 3 retains its existing magnetic alignment, being unaffected by the magnetic field generated by the initializing magnet 8 or the magnetic field generated by the magnetization of the second layer 4.
To write the information "1," that is, to magnetize the first layer 3 in the up direction, the laser beam is modulated by the controller 21 to an intensity equivalent to b in FIG. 4. The temperature of the region of the first layer 3 where the spot 6 is focused by the objective lens 5 then rises until it exceeds the Curie temperature Tc1 of the first layer 3, destroying the magnetic alignment of the first layer 3. The second layer 4, however, remains below its Curie temperature Tc2, so it retains the upward magnetic alignment given it by the initializing magnet 8. When the region of the first layer 3 illuminated by the focused spot 6 cools, it therefore acquires the upward magnetic alignment in accordance with that of the second layer 4.
To write the information "0," that is, to magnetize the first layer 3 in the down direction, the laser beam is modulated by the controller 21 to an intensity equivalent to c in FIG. 4. In this case the temperatures in the regions illuminated by the focused spot 6 on the first layer 3 and the second layer 4 rise until they exceed the Curie temperatures Tc1 and Tc2, respectively, causing both layers to lose their magnetic alignment. Due to a weak external magnetic field Hb, with magnetic alignment indicated by arrow c in the drawing, generated by the bias magnet 9 located opposite the objective lens 5 on the other side of the information-carrying medium 1, however, the second layer 4 is remagnetized in the direction of the magnetic field Hb, namely the down direction. When the first layer 3 cools, it acquires the downward magnetic alignment of the second layer 4. In this way the first layer 3 is magnetized in the down direction. The intensity of the external bias field Hb is weak but within the range consistent with the above operation.
As described above, new information can be overwritten directly on old information by modulating the laser beam between intensities b and c in FIG. 4 in accordance with the binary codes "1" and "0".
Since the information-carrying medium according to the prior art is structured as described above, two external magnets, an initializing magnet and a bias magnet need to be provided. Especially in principle, the bias magnet has to be placed opposite the objective lens on the other side with respect to the information-carrying medium. Aa a result, the magneto-optic recording and reproducing apparatus becomes large in size and complex in structure.
Also because the distance between the bias magnet and the information-carrying medium varies due to undulation of the surface of the information-carrying medium, the effect of the magnetic bias filed Hb on the second layer is unstable.

Magneto-optic recording and reproducing apparatus including a multiple layer recording medium having a premagnetized bias layer replacing an external bias magnetic


In some embodiments, techniques include identifying a plurality of tasks associated with an identifier corresponding to an electronic device. A task series is generated so as to include the plurality of tasks, where each task in the series is associated with a performance time. When it is determined that the task has not been completed by the performance time, the task series is updated.

Frequently, it is desired that a set of tasks be performed via use of one or more resources. In various instances, the tasks may need to be performed in a particular order and/or completed by a particular time. Further, configurations, specifications and characteristics of particular devices may make some tasks suitable to be performed on some devices while not on others. The reliability at which tasks are performed may be sub-optimal and inconsistent. Further, the reliability may depend on factors, such as which devices are assigned to handle the tasks.


A method of recovering carbon dioxide, includes bringing gas to be processed containing carbon dioxide (CO2) and oxygen into contact with the CO2-absorbing solution in an absorption column to form a CO2-rich solution; circulating the solution in a regeneration column to thermally release and recover CO2 and recirculating the absorbing solution as a CO2-poor solution inside the absorption column; and performing heat exchange between the solution being delivered from the absorption column to the regeneration column and the solution recirculated from the regeneration column to the absorption column, wherein an alkanolamine aqueous solution containing a silicone oil and/or an organosulfur compound is added to the solution inside the absorption column and/or the solution recirculated from the regeneration column to the absorption column to adjust the composition of the absorbing solution inside the absorption column.

In thermal power plants, for example, carbon dioxide (hereinafter, referred to as CO2) is produced with combustion of fossil fuels such as coal to increase the CO2 concentration in the atmosphere. It has been said that this is accompanied by an increase in temperature which causes various environmental issues. Since Kyoto Protocol has been adopted at Kyoto Conference of Parties to the Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP3) in December, 1997 in order to prevent global warming, countermeasures for reducing the amount of CO2 emission have been conducted in each country. Among methods recovering CO2 from combustion exhaust gas containing oxygen (O2) and sulfur oxides (SOX) discharged from thermal power plants, etc., absorption by an alkanolamine solution is most likely to be put into practical use at present (Patent Literature 1). Regarding this method, types of alkanolamines suitable for CO2 recovery (e.g., Patent Literature 2) and conditions for applying the method to exhaust gas containing sulfur oxides (e.g., Patent Literature 1) have been studied. These alkanolamines are harder to be oxidized with oxygen contained in combustion exhaust gas than conventionally used monoethanolamine, however, in light of long period of use longer than several thousand hours, a problem of replacement amounts of these solutions due to oxidative degradation occurs. Against this problem, oxidation of an alkanolamine in the absorbing solution can be considerably inhibited by adding to the solution an organosulfur compound, such as a mercaptoimidazole or a mercaptobenzimidazole, as an oxidation inhibitor for the alkanolamine (e.g., Patent Literature 3).
In a method of recovering CO2 contained in combustion exhaust gas from a boiler, CO2 is recovered by bringing the gas to be processed containing CO2 into contact with an absorbing solution of an alkanolamine inside an absorption column to give a CO2-rich solution and subsequently circulating the solution in a regeneration column to thermally release CO2 (e.g., Patent Literature 1).

Carbon dioxide-absorbing solution and method of recovering carbon dioxide


A method for forecasting hotspots is provided. The method may include the steps of receiving input data at an input of the computational device, generating a temporal prediction based on the input data, generating a geospatial prediction based on the input data, and generating output data based on the time series and geospatial predictions. The output data may be configured to display at least one user interface at an output of the computational device.

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure generally relates to predictive visual analytic tools, and more particularly, to systems and methods for generating predictive models of spatiotemporal events.
2. Description of the Related Art
Visual analytic systems are commonly used in the art to provide analysts with the ability to study trends in various data using interactive visual interfaces. Moreover, visual analytic systems allow analysts to interactively explore the collection of any data through linked windows or views, temporal histories, document aggregations and numerous other displays. The linked views and interactive displays provide insight to otherwise substantially hidden correlations between space, time, events, people and places. Specifically, analysts can search for particular events of interest through statistical tools that are linked to the visual displays, so as to analyze the data at a deeper level and form hypotheses based upon the available information. Although currently existing visual analytic systems may allow analysts to generate some hypotheses with respect to future events, there is still much room for improvement.
As applied today, the primary use of analytic systems is purely reaction-based, or operates only in response to an event that has already occurred. More specifically, analytic systems are typically directed toward temporal alert generation, wherein an algorithm monitors for unexpected events and triggers an alert in response to an unexpected event that is detected by the algorithm. While this allows analysts to better respond to events and redistribute resources in an effort to minimize the effects of the events, these analytic systems are still unable to help analysts predict and deter such events. Furthermore, many of these analytic systems have been found to become intractable as the data set grows.
Some analytic systems exist for use in the realm of syndromic surveillance. Such systems include the Early Aberration Reporting System (EARS) and the Electronic Surveillance System for the Early Notification of Community based Epidemics (ESSENCE). Although these systems provide analysts with some means of monitoring events, data exploration and associated analytic capabilities offered by such systems are limited to reactive rather than proactive alerts. These systems are additionally known to generate too many false positives for epidemiologists to analyze.
Therefore, there is a need for systems and methods which provide comprehensive analyses of current and past events, but also provide more comprehensive predictions for future events. Moreover, there is a need for systems and methods which indicate regions of space and time with unusually high incidences of events or hotspots, predict the growth of such regions so as to plan resource allocation and preventative measures, and further, predict where future hotspots may occur. There is also a need for systems and methods that are able to process a collection of substantially large data sets efficiently and with greater degree of accuracy.

Forecasting hotspots using predictive visual analytics approach