An effect that drive of one of a first magnetic driving unit and a second magnetic driving unit prevents a movement of the other magnetic driving unit is not generated to appropriately control movements of first opening and closing blades and second opening and closing blades. A blade opening and closing device includes a base body which includes an opening for transmitting light, a first magnetic driving unit which includes a first magnet and a first coil, a second magnetic driving unit which includes a second magnet and a second coil, first opening and closing blades which are moved by the first magnetic driving unit relative to the base body and to open and close the opening, and second opening and closing blades which are moved by the second magnetic driving unit relative to the base body and to open and close the opening. A magnetic flux direction of the first magnetic driving unit is opposite to a magnetic flux direction of the second magnetic driving unit.

In various image pickup devices such as a video camera and a still camera, an optical system including a lens group and an optical element and an image pickup element for photoelectrically converting light taken by the optical system are arranged. When an object is photographed, light enters the image pickup element via a focal plane shutter which functions as a blade opening and closing device.
There is a blade opening and closing device including first opening and closing blades, second opening and closing blades, a base body in which an opening has been formed, a first magnetic driving unit for moving the first opening and closing blades, and a second magnetic driving unit for moving the second opening and closing blades (for example, refer to Patent Document 1).
In such a blade opening and closing device, the first opening and closing blades and the second opening and closing blades are respectively moved by the first magnetic driving unit and the second magnetic driving unit in each mode in a predetermined state. A first magnet, a first coil, and a first yoke are provided in the first magnetic driving unit, and a second magnet, a second coil, and a second yoke are provided in the second magnetic driving unit. Currents are supplied to the first coil and the second coil, and the first opening and closing blades and the second opening and closing blades are separately moved.
When the object is photographed, a slit travel for moving the first opening and closing blades and the second opening and closing blades in the same direction is performed. At the time of the slit travel, the first opening and closing blades and the second opening and closing blades are moved in a state where a slit having a predetermined width is formed between the first opening and closing blades and the second opening and closing blades, and light passed through the slit and the opening enters from one of imaging surfaces of the image pickup element to the other imaging surface in order so that exposure is performed.
The light entered at the time of the slit travel is sequentially photoelectrically converted by the image pickup element to generate an image signal, and the generated image signal is transferred to a memory to generate an image of the object.

Blade opening and closing device and image pickup device


A floating vessel comprising: (a) opposing hulls; (b) a beam extending between and interconnecting the opposing hulls; and (c) a deck supported by the beam and positioned between the opposing hulls, wherein the floating vessel is modular and configured for easy assembly, disassembly, or both.

Floating vessels, such as fishing boats, pontoon boats, sailboats, and other types of floating vessels are frequently used in a variety of industries. For example, fishing boats may range in scale for both commercial fishing and leisure fishing activities. Frequently, boats will include a deck substantially disposed over a buoyant hull. The deck and the hull will often be constructed as separate components and then later substantially homogenously joined in a seamless manner. Therefore, the resultant vessel may often be free of any visible seams or joints.
However, as a result of conventional manufacturing processes, it is often difficult and/or costly to repair boats. For example, if a portion of the hull is damaged and needs repair, an operator may generally need to cut out the damages portion and patch the area. Alternatively, an entire hull may be replaced by complete disconnection and reassembly. In either case (and in most conventional repair methods), the boat will frequently have at least one point of weakness in the structure after repair due to the newly added joints or patches.
In addition to the difficulties repairing most boats, transportation and storage of the vessels may require extensive preparation and space. For example, most boats are not collapsible and require storage space substantially equal to or greater than an area of the boat. Additionally, most boats may often require a specific trailer to tow the boat from one desired location to another, thereby resulting in even further cost being incurred.
Thus, it would be attractive to have an easily repaired boat that minimizes points of weakness from joints or patchwork. What is needed is a floating vessel made from modular components that can be easily replaced if damaged. It would be attractive to have a vessel that is easily transportable, requires minimal storage space, or both. What is needed is a collapsible vessel that can easily be assembled and disassembled for use, storage, or both.


A computer-implemented method for recovering an application is described. A priority level is assigned to a process that interacts with the application. A state of the application is monitored. A determination is made that the state of the application is unstable. A first process that is assigned a first priority level is disabled. A determination is made as to whether the state of the application remains unstable.

The use of computer systems and computer-related technologies continues to increase at a rapid pace. This increased use of computer systems has influenced the advances made to computer-related technologies. Indeed, computer systems have increasingly become an integral part of the business world and the activities of individual consumers. Computer systems are used to carry out several business, industry, and academic endeavors.
One or more computer systems may be managed by a server. In some instances, a host computer software program may run on the computer system and provide the interaction between the server and the computer system. The host program may also interact with additional processes that are external to the computer system or that are executed on the computer system. For example, a host computer software program may interact with a plug-in process. A plug-in process may provide a certain function to the host program on demand. In some instances, the host software program provides services which the plug-in process can use. For example, the host program may provide a way for plug-ins to register themselves with the host program as well as a protocol for the exchange of data with the plug-ins.
Plug-ins and other components interacting with the host computer software program depend on the services provided by the host program. Open application programming interfaces (APIs) typically provide a standard interface, allowing third parties to create plug-ins that interact with the host program. However, third parties may create malicious plug-ins and other components that impede the performance of the host computer software program. In particular, these additional processes (such as plug-ins and external processes) may cause the host computer software program to crash or malfunction. As such, benefits may be realized by providing improved systems and methods for recovering a host computer program running on a computer system that interacts with a server managing the computer system.

Systems and methods for recovering an application on a computing device


An adjustable air pressure valve for placement in a compressed air hose. Positioning a knob determines the pressure exerted by a spring on a valve member which allows air above a predetermined pressure to escape from the hose to the atmosphere. The knob is incrementally moveable to provide incremental pressure changes.

There are two common methods for operating air compressors to obtain a desired output air pressure. In one method, an intermittently operated air compressor is mounted on or is connected to an air tank. Compressed air is supplied from the compressor to the tank and from the tank through a hose to an air consuming tool. A pressure switch cycles the air compressor on and off to limit the compressed air pressure in the tank to a predetermined range. The pressure switch is adjustable to obtain a pressure meeting the requirements of the tool or other appliance operated from the compressed air.
According to another method, an air compressor is continuously operated. The compressor output is applied directly to an air output line which connects to an air consuming tool or appliance, such as a paint spray gun. An air pressure regulator valve is mounted at the compressor for limiting the output pressure in the air line. The valve is adjusted to set the maximum line pressure and bleeds any excess compressor output air to the atmosphere once the set pressure is reached. This method is often used for smaller capacity "oilless" compressors which are designed for continuous operation and for operating tools having limited air volume requirements.
Improvements could be made in the pressure limiting valve used in the latter method. A tool may be connected through a relatively long air line or hose to the compressor. For example, a compressor sitting on the ground may be connected to a spray gun or to a pneumatic nailer being used on the roof of a building. When the air flow through the tool is changed, there will be a change in the pressure drop along the air supply hose connected to the tool. Since the pressure adjusting valve is mounted on the compressor, the operator must walk back to the compressor whenever adjustment of the operating pressure at the tool is needed. Further, when the valve is mounted on the compressor, the valve projects from a side or top of the compressor. There is a risk of damage to the rigidly mounted valve during shipment and use of the compressor.


A nutritional enteral composition intended for favoring the growth and maturation of non-mature gastro-intestinal tracts of young mammals, which contains as a protein source a mixture of dietary protein hydrolysates and intact proteins being partly in the form of bioactive peptides.

This invention relates to an enteral composition containing peptides in an adapted profile size, bioactive peptides, intact proteins, and free amino acids intended for specific gastro-intestinal maturation in premature mammals.
Nutritional compositions based upon hydrolysates of proteins such as milk or soy, are commonly used in infant and clinical nutrition and particularly in hypoallergenic formulas and, formulas for patients suffering from various intestinal absorption problems. It is also known to use free amino acids in nutritional compositions for example for patients suffering from particular diseases or conditions such as inflammatory bowel disease, intractable diarrhoea, short bowel syndrome, and the like. Accordingly, amino acids are used either alone or in combination with protein or protein hydrolysates. Protein hydrolysates or free amino acid mixtures are also mainly used in, particular cases such as allergy to whole proteins.
Another interest in using protein hydrolysates in nutrition is due to the fact that they are more rapidly absorbed in the intestine than whole protein or free amino acids. However, it is not clear whether this faster absorption translates into better nitrogen utilisation since studies carried out to date have provided conflicting results (Collin-Vidal et al; 1994; Endocrinol. Metab., 30, E 907-914). Further, this interest is in the sense of providing a source of amino acids to meet the general amino acids needs of the patient and not to specifically provide for the needs of individual gastro-intestinal maturation.
Accordingly, on one aspect, this invention provides a nutritional enteral composition intended for favoring the growth and maturation of non-mature gastro-intestinal tracts of young mammals, which contains as a protein source a mixture of dietary protein hydrolysates and intact proteins being partly in the form of bioactive peptides.
In this composition, the dietary protein hydrolysates are preferably in the form of a mixture of different size peptides, free amino acids or a mixture thereof. The dietary protein hydrolysates may be hydrolysates of animal proteins (such as milk proteins, meat proteins and egg proteins), or vegetable proteins (such as soy proteins, wheat proteins, rice proteins, and pea proteins). The preferred source is milk protein. The dietary protein hydrolysates can be used as such or like peptide fractions isolated from them.
The hydrolysed proteins may comprise at least 5% (by weight, of the total protein content calculated as Nitrogenxc3x976.25) of hydrolysate having a degree of hydrolysis of about 40 and at least 5% of hydrolysates having a lesser degree of hydrolysis. Free amino acids are preferably in an amount of about 0 to 20% by weight of the total protein content (Nxc3x976.25).
The intact proteins may be individual or enriched animal or vegetable protein fractions comprising whole milk, caseins, whey proteins, soy proteins or rice proteins, for example. They are preferably in an amount of at least about 5% of the total protein content Nxc3x976.25).
The intact protein fraction may contain bioactive peptides such as TGF-xcex22 or a source of bioactive peptides such as beta-casein liberated in the gut by enzymatic hydrolysis. The final TGF-xcex22 concentration may be in the range of 0.1 to 4 ng/mg total protein, preferably about 1 to 2.5 ng/mg.
The nutritional composition may also contain a source of fat and a source of carbohydrates. This composition preferably contains a source of protein providing 5 to 30% of the total energy, a source of carbohydrates which provides 40 to 80% of the total energy, a source of lipids which provides 5 to 55% of the total energy, minerals and vitamins to meet daily requirements.
In another aspect, this invention provides the use of a selected mixture of dietary protein hydrolysates and intact proteins being partly in the form of bioactive peptides for the preparation of a nutritional enteral composition for favoring the growth and maturation of non- or premature gastro-intestinal tracts of young mammals.
The nutritional composition also intends to cover very high nutrient needs for growth and development during that stage. It ensures optimal digestion and utilization (for tissue accretion) of the protein source and intends to minimize the nitrogen waste of the organism. Moreover, a mixture of intact protein, protein hydrolysates, bioactive peptides and free amino acids provides a better source of amino acids to meet the general amino acid needs of the patient in addition to specifically favor the maturation of individual organs.
Embodiments of the invention are now described by way of example only.
In the specification, the term xe2x80x9cdegree of hydrolysisxe2x80x9d (DH) means the percentage of nitrogen in the form of free alpha-amino nitrogen as compared to total nitrogen. It is a measure of the extent to which the protein has been hydrolysed.
The term bioactive peptide relates to i) a protein or peptide present as such in the preparation and demonstrating specific fictional properties or ii) a protein or peptide containing an amino acid sequence with specific properties, this sequence being liberated in the gastro-intestinal tract during the natural process of digestion.
According to a first aspect of the invention, the nutritional composition comprises as a source of protein a selected mixture of intact protein being partly in the form of bioactive peptides and dietary protein hydrolysates having a degree of hydrolysis in the range of about 5% to about 50% and free amino acids. The non-protein nitrogen concentration of the protein source can be comprised between 10% and 95% of the total nitrogen. Such protein source maximizes the area of the intestine in which the protein is digested and optimizes protein synthesis in the gut and peripheral tissues.
The nutritional composition can also contain a carbohydrate sources a fat source, vitamins and minerals.
The intact protein may be any suitable dietary protein; for example animal proteins (such as milk proteins, meat proteins and egg proteins); vegetable proteins (such as soy protein, wheat protein, rice protein, and pea protein); or combinations thereof. Milk proteins such as cased and whey protein are particularly preferred. They are preferably in an amount at least of about 5% of the total protein content (calculated as Nitrogenxc3x976.25). Dietary protein in the form of intact protein is found to increase the rate of muscle protein synthesis as compared to protein hydrolysates.
The dietary protein hydrolysates may come from any suitable dietary protein; for example animal proteins (such as milk proteins, meat proteins and egg proteins); vegetable proteins (such as soy protein, wheat protein, rice protein, and pea protein); or combinations thereof. Milk proteins such as casein and whey protein are particularly preferred. The hydrolysed dietary proteins may comprise at least 5% (by weight, of the total protein content calculated as Nitrogenxc3x976.25) of hydrolysate having a degree of hydrolysis of about 40 and at least 5% of hydrolysates having a lesser degree of hydrolysis. In particular, hydrolysates having a degree of hydrolysis of about 10% to about 15%, are found to increase relative weight of the liver as compared to free amino acid mixes. Hydrolysates having a degree of hydrolysis of about 15% to about 25% are found to increase the concentration of protein in the jejunum, the relative weight of the jejunum and the rate of protein synthesis in the jejunum. Highly hydrolysed protein which has a degree of hydrolysis of greater than 25% or which contains more than 25% by weight of di- and tri-peptides, more preferably greater than 30%, is found to increase the rate of protein synthesis in the jejunum and the duodenum; particularly the duodenum.
The diet, protein hydrolysates may be produced using procedures which are well known in the art or may be obtained commercially. For example, nutritional formulas containing hydrolysates having a degree of hydrolysis less than about 15% are commercially available from Nestlxc3xa9 Nutrition Company under the trade mark Peptamen(copyright). Hydrolysates having a degree of hydrolysis above about 15% may be prepared using the procedure described in EP 0322589.
The dietary protein hydrolysate source may also be in the form of a mix of free amino acids; preferably such that the mix provides a balanced amino acid profile. Free amino acids are preferably in an amount of about 0 to 20% by weight of the total protein content (calculated as Nitrogenxc3x976.25). Dietary protein in the form of a mix of free amino acids is found to increase the relative weight of the jejunum and the rate of protein synthesis in the jejunum.
The source of total proteins preferably provides about 5% to about 30% of the energy of the nutritional composition; for example about 10% to about 20% of the energy. The remaining energy of the nutritional composition may be provided in the form of carbohydrates and fats.
If the nutritional, composition includes a fat source, the fat source preferably provides about 5% to about 55% of the energy of the nutritional composition; for example about 20% to about 50% of the energy. The lipids making up the fat source may be any suitable fat or fat mixture. Vegetable fats are particularly suitable; for example soy oil, palm oil, coconut oil, safflower oil, sunflower oil, corn oil, canola oil, lecithins, and the like. Animal fats such as milk fats may also be added if desired. The lipids may also include medium-chain triglycerides; for example up to about 60% by weight of lipids as medium-chain triglycerides. Fractionated coconut oil is a suitable source of medium-chain triglycerides.
A source of carbohydrate may be added to the nutritional composition. It preferably provides, about 40% to about 80% of the energy of the nutritional composition. Any suitable carbohydrates may be used, for example sucrose, lactose, glucose, fructose, corn syrup solids, and maltodextrins, and mixtures thereof.
Dietary fibre may also be added if desired. If used, it preferably comprises up to about 5% of the energy of the nutritional composition. The dietary fibre may be from any suitable origin, including for example soy, pea, oat, pectin, guar gum, and gum arabic.
Suitable vitamins and minerals may be included in the nutritional composition in an amount to meet the appropriate guidelines.
One or more food grade emulsifiers may be incorporated into the nutritional composition if desired; for example diacetyl tartaric acid esters of mono-diglycerides, lecithin and mono- and di-glycerides. Similarly suitable salts and stabilisers may be included.
The nutritional composition is preferably enterally administrable; for example in the form of a powder, a liquid concentrate, a ready-to-drink, or a ready-to-administer beverage.
The nutritional composition may be prepared in any suitable manner. For example, it may be prepared by blending together the source of dietary protein, the carbohydrate source, and the fat source in appropriate proportions. If used, the emulsifiers may be included in the blend. The vitamins and minerals may be added at this point but are usually added later to avoid thermal degradation. Any lipophilic vitamins, emulsifiers and the like may be dissolved into: the fat source prior to blending. Water, preferably water which has been subjected to reverse osmosis, may then be mixed in to form a liquid mixture. The temperature of the water is conveniently about 50xc2x0 C. to about 80xc2x0 C. to aid dispersal of the ingredients. Commercially available liquefiers may be used: to form the liquid mixture. The liquid mixture is then homogenised; for example in two stages.
The liquid mixture may then be thermally treated to reduce bacterial loads, by rapidly heating the liquid mixture to a temperature in the range of about 80xc2x0 C. to about 150xc2x0 C. for about 5 seconds to about 5 minutes, for example. This may be carried out by steam injection, autoclave or by heat exchanger, for example a plate heat exchanger.
Then, the liquid mixture may be cooled to about 60xc2x0 C. to about: 85xc2x0 C.; for example by flash cooling. The liquid mixture may then be again homogenised; for example in two stages at about 7 MPa to about 40 MPa in the first stage and about 2 MPa to about 14 MPa in the second stage. The homogenised mixture may then be further cooled to add any heat sensitive components; such as vitamins and minerals. The pH and solids content of the homogenised mixture is conveniently standardised at this point.
If it is desired to produce a powdered nutritional composition, the homogenised mixture is transferred to a suitable drying apparatus such as a spray drier or freeze drier and converted to powder. The powder should have a moisture content of less than about 5% by weight.
If it is desired to produce a liquid composition, the homogenised mixture is preferably aseptically filled into suitable containers by pre-heating the homogenised mixture (for example to about 75 to 85xc2x0 C.) and then injecting steam into the homogenised mixture to raise the temperature to about 140 to 160+ C.; for example at about 150xc2x0 C. The homogenised mixture may then be cooled, for example by flash cooling, to a temperature of about 75 to 85xc2x0 C. The homogenised mixture may then be homogenised, further cooled to about room temperature and filled into containers. Suitable apparatus for carrying out aseptic filling of this nature is commercially available. The liquid composition may be in the form of a ready to feed composition having a solids content of about 10 to about 14% by weight or may be in the form of a concentrate; usually of solids content of about 20 to about 26% by weight. Flavours may be added to the liquid compositions so that the compositions are provided in the form of convenient, flavoursome, ready-to-drink beverages.
In another aspect, this invention provides a method for increasing protein concentration and synthesis in the small intestine, the method comprising administering to a pre-mature or non-mature mammal an effective amount of a nutritional composition containing a dietary protein hydrolysates having a degree of hydrolysis of less than 50% and intact proteins being partly in the form of bioactive peptides. Further, the dietary protein hydrolysate preferably has a non-protein nitrogen concentration of at least about 85% of total nitrogen. Non protein nitrogen is defined as the nitrogen fraction not recovered as a precipitate after acidification.
Preferably, the method may be used to treat premature or non-mature young mammals to promote growth and maturation of the gastro-intestinal tract. Additionally, the method can also apply to situations encountered in clinical nutrition when alterations of the normal growth or turnover of the gut mucosa occur, e.g. after long term total parenteral nutrition or malnutrition.
The nutritional enteral composition also intends to cover very high nutrient needs for growth, development and maintenance during those situations. It ensures optimal digestion and utilization (for tissue accretion) of the protein source and intends to minimize the nitrogen waste of the organism. The composition may also be used for patients with gut mucosa dammage.
The amount of the nutritional composition to be administered will vary depending upon the state of maturation or growth of the gut of the mammal.

Nutritional composition intended for specific gastro-intestinal maturation in premature mammals


In a casting device for the continuous production of metal strip using an endless cooling and transport belt; a distributor is constructed as twin chamber with an entrance and charge chamber, and an exit and discharge chamber communicating with the entrance chamber, a nozzle is provided at the exit and discharge chamber, the distributor, at least in the range of the discharge chamber, is gas tightly closed and is mounted in an inclination-adjustable frame; a gas pressure controllable source is connected to the discharge chamber and controlled in response to thickness variations of the strip; a distance measuring device (ram pressure) is arranged at the casting nozzle for measuring the distance of the casting nozzle from the casting belt; a controller responds to the measuring output of the distance measuring device and provides for controlling the elevational and vertical disposition of the distributor within said frame; another controller varies elevation of the upper belt stringer, also in response to thickness variations of the strip being made.

The present invention relates to continuous casting of metal strip, particularly steel strip wherein the molten metal is discharged from a nozzle having preferably a width that corresponds to the width of the strip to be made and the metal is being deposited onto a continuously moved cooled transport belt, strip or the like and wherein the nozzle extends in a plane oriented with respect to the thickness of the metal strip to be made; it is arranged at an acute angle thereto.
Devices of the kind to which the invention pertain are shown e.g. in German patent application No. 37 07 897 corresponding to U.S. Pat. No. 4,836,271.


A method and system for providing a semiconductor device is disclosed. The method and system include providing a semiconductor substrate and providing a plurality of lines separated by a plurality of spaces. Each of the plurality of spaces preferably has a first width that is less than a minimum feature size. In one aspect, the method and system include providing a reverse mask having a plurality of apertures on an insulating layer. In this aspect, the method and system also include trimming the reverse mask to increase a size of each of the plurality of apertures, removing a portion of the insulating layer exposed by the plurality of trimmed apertures to provide a plurality of trenches and providing a plurality of lines in the plurality of trenches. In a second aspect, the method and system include providing a reverse mask on the insulating layer and removing a first portion of the insulating layer exposed by the plurality of apertures to provide a plurality of trenches. The reverse mask includes a plurality of apertures having a first width. Each of the plurality of trenches has a width. In this aspect, the method and system also include trimming a second portion of the insulating layers to increase the width of each of the plurality of trenches and providing a plurality of lines in the plurality of trenches.

The present invention relates to memory devices, and more particularly to a method and system for decreasing the spaces between word lines.
Flash memory devices are currently a popular form of storage. In certain flash memory devices, such as in NAND technology, an asymmetric pitch is desired. For example, FIGS. 1A and 1B depicts such a flash memory device 1. Referring to FIG. 1A, the flash memory device 1 includes gate stacks 10 and 20 on a substrate 2. The gate stacks 10 and 20 share a source 6 and each have a drain 4 and 8, respectively. A thin insulating layer 9 also covers the semiconductor substrate 2. The gate stack 10 includes a floating gate 12, an insulating layer 14 and a control gate 16. Similarly, the gate stack 20 includes a floating gate 22, an insulating layer 24 and a control gate 26. The insulating layers 14 and 24 typically include an ONO layer, which has two oxide layers separated by a nitride layer. The floating gates 12 and 22 and the control gates 14 and 24 are typically formed using first and second polysilicon layers, respectively.
Referring to FIG. 1B, a plan view of the flash memos device 1 is show. Lines 30 and 32 are formed from the first polysilicon layer. The lines 30 and 32 form the floating gates at intersections between the lines 40, 42 and 44 and the lines 30 and 32. Similarly, the word lines 40, 42 and 44 form the control gates at the intersections between the lines 40, 42 and 44 and the lines 30 and 32. Word lines 40, 42 and 44 are formed from a second polysilicon layer. Typically, the portions of the lines 30 and 32 are removed using a self-aligned etch after the word lines 40, 42 and 44 are formed. This allows the floating gates for different memory cells to be electrically insulated in the case where the lines 30 and 32 are made of semi-conductive material such as polysilicon. In the flash memory device 1 shown, the pitch of the word lines 40, 42 and 44 is asymmetric. In other words, the width of the word lines 40, 42 and 44 is different from the width of the spaces 50 and 52 between the word lines 40, 42 and 44. In general, the word lines 40, 42 and 44 are desired to be slightly wider than the spaces 50 and 52 between the word lines 40, 42 and 44. Typically, the gate stacks 10 and 20 are desired to be closely spaced. Similarly, the word lines 40, 42 and 44 are desired to be as close as possible. Furthermore, the word lines are desired to be slightly larger than the spaces between the word lines. Thus, the smallest feature is generally the spaces 50 and 52 between the word lines 40, 42 and 44.
FIG. 2 depicts a conventional method 60 for providing the conventional flash memory device 1 in which the pitch of lines, such as the word lines 40, 42 and 44, is asymmetric. A polysilicon layer from which the word lines will be formed is deposited, via step 62. The polysilicon layer typically covers the ONO layer 14 and 24 for the gate stacks 10 and 20. A layer of photoresist is provided, via step 64. The photoresist is then exposed to print the desired asymmetric pattern onto the photoresist, forming an asymmetric mask, via step 66. Apertures in the asymmetric mask expose portions of the polysilicon to be etched and thus correspond to spaces 50 and 52 between the polysilicon lines 40, 42 and 44. Areas which the asymmetric mask covers will become the polysilicon lines 40, 42 and 44. Thus, the asymmetric mask has an asymmetric pitch that matches the desired asymmetric pitch of the word lines 40, 42 and 44.
The polysilicon is then etched to transfer the pattern on the asymmetric mask to the polysilicon, via step 68. Thus, the portions of the polysilicon exposed by apertures in the asymmetric mask are removed in step 68. Thus, polysilicon lines, such as the word lines 40, 42, and 44, are formed in step 68. The asymmetric mask is then stripped, via step 70. A layer of insulator is then deposited on the polysilicon lines, via step 72. The insulator fills the spaces 50 and 52 between the polysilicon lines.
Using the method 60, word lines 40, 42 and 44 having an asymmetric pitch can be formed. The width of the word lines 40, 42 and 44 as well as the spaces 50 and 52 between the word lines 40, 42 and 44 are defined by the asymmetric mask formed in steps 64 and 66. Thus, as discussed above, the asymmetric mask has the same asymmetric pitch as the word lines 40, 42 and 44. In other words, the width of the apertures in the asymmetric mask matches the width of the spaces 50 and 52 between the word lines 40, 42 and 44. Similarly, the portions of the asymmetric mask which cover the polysilicon have the same width as the word lines 40, 42 and 44. Thus, transferring the pattern of the asymmetric mask to the polysilicon layer in step 68 results in word lines 40, 42 and 44 having the desired asymmetric pitch.
Because the word lines 40, 42 and 44 are desired to be wider than the spaces between the lines, the areas in the asymmetric mask which cover the polysilicon layer are wider than the apertures in the asymmetric mask. Thus, the smallest feature in the asymmetric mask are the apertures and the smallest feature on the flash memory device 1 are the spaces 50 and 52 between the word lines 40, 42 and 44.
Although the method 60 functions, one of ordinary skill in the art will realize that the word lines 40, 42 and 44 cannot be packed closely together. The pitch of the word lines 40, 42 and 44 is limited by the spaces 50 and 52. The spaces 50 and 52 are the smallest feature on the flash memory device 1. Thus, the spaces 50 and 52 correspond to the apertures in the asymmetric mask. The size of the apertures is limited by the smallest feature that can be reliably printed on the asymmetric mask in step 66 and transferred to the polysilicon layer in step 68. The smallest feature that can be reliably printed is also known as the minimum feature size and is determined by resolution limit of the manufacturing tooling. The resolution limit of the manufacturing tooling is determined by the lens, the photomask and the light source used in the manufacturing tooling. Using certain current conventional techniques and certain manufacturing tooling, the minimum feature size for the asymmetric mask is approximately 0.15 micron. Note, however, that for other manufacturing tooling, the resolution limit and, therefore, the minimum feature size may be a different value. For the current conventional techniques and manufacturing tooling, the minimum feature size for the spaces 50 and 52 is approximately 0.15 micron. Consequently, for the flash memory device 1 to have an asymmetric pitch, each of the word lines 40, 42 and 44 must have a larger width than the spaces 50 and 52 and, therefore, must be greater than 0.15 micron in width. At the same time, the word lines 40, 42 and 44 are desired to be packed together as closely as possible. However, the widths of the spaces 50 and 52 are limited by the minimum feature size possible for the asymmetric mask. Thus, the packing of the word lines 40, 42 and 44 is also limited by the minimum feature size that can be printed on the asymmetric mask, typically approximately 0.15 microns. Thus, the pitch of the word lines is limited by the minimum feature size for printing the asymmetric mask.
Accordingly, what is needed is a system and method for decreasing the space between word lines, allowing the word lines to be packed more closely together and thus have a decreased pitch. The present invention addresses such a need.
The present invention provides a method and system for providing a semiconductor device. The method and system comprise providing a semiconductor substrate and providing a plurality of lines separated by a plurality of spaces. Each of the plurality of spaces preferably has a first width that is less than a minimum feature size. In one aspect, the method and system comprise providing a reverse mask having a plurality of apertures on an insulating layer. In this aspect, the method and system also comprise trimming the reverse mask to increase a size of each of the plurality of apertures, removing a portion of the insulating layer exposed by the plurality of trimmed apertures to provide a plurality of trenches and providing a plurality of lines in the plurality of trenches. In a second aspect, the method and system comprise providing a reverse mask on the insulating layer and removing a first portion of the insulating layer exposed by the plurality of apertures to provide a plurality of trenches. The reverse mask includes a plurality of apertures having a first width. Each of the plurality of trenches has a width. In this aspect, the method and system also comprise trimming a second portion of the insulating layers to increase the width of each of the plurality of trenches and providing a plurality of lines in the plurality of trenches.
According to the system and method disclosed herein, the present invention provides a semiconductor device in which the word lines can have an asymmetric pitch and in which the spaces between the word lines can be smaller than the resolution limit of the apparatus used to fabricate the semiconductor device. Therefore, word lines can be more closely spaced allowing for a higher density of memory cells in the semiconductor device.

Method and system for decreasing the spaces between wordlines


A flow modulator for a fuel nozzle, including: a fixed outer tube, the fixed outer tube including a set of apertures; a movable inner tube concentrically positioned within the fixed outer tube, the movable inner tube including a set of apertures; and a pneumatically actuated component for displacing the movable inner tube within the fixed outer tube to selectively align the set of apertures of the fixed outer tube with the set of apertures of the movable inner tube.

The disclosure relates generally to gas turbines, and more specifically, to a pneumatically-actuated air flow modulator for a fuel nozzle in a gas turbine.
Gas turbines typically include a compressor, a combustor section including one or more combustors, and at least one turbine section. Compressor discharge air is channeled into each combustor where fuel is injected via a plurality of fuel nozzles, mixed with air, and burned. The combustion gases are then channeled to the turbine section which extracts energy from the combustion gases.
Gas turbine combustion systems typically operate over a wide range of flow, pressure, temperature, and fuel/air ratio operating conditions. Controlling combustor performance is required to achieve and maintain satisfactory overall gas turbine system operation and to maintain acceptable emissions levels (e.g., NO and CO levels).
With conventional combustion systems, it is very difficult to meet emissions limits when even one fuel nozzle of a combustor is turned off. This is because the air that continues to flow through that fuel nozzle quenches the reactions of fuel and air in the flames from the remaining operating fuel nozzles, thereby preventing complete burnout of CO.

Pneumatically-actuated fuel nozzle air flow modulator


A method for dynamically creating and routing custom network records with a server system on a service provider network before session timeout is disclosed according to an embodiment. The server system assembles a custom mapping from a mapping data store, determines that a request corresponds with a quantity of event instances in a network record that exceeds a calculated threshold, and creates the custom mapping within each event instance of a network record while the network record is stored in a records data store. The method includes the server system generating the hierarchy within the custom mapping created at each event instance of the network record, initiating a plurality of threads, and determining, using the plurality of threads, a plurality of event instances based on the request and hierarchy generated. A plurality of custom network records are generated in a staging table stored outside of the records data store.

Virtual private networks (VPN) based on MPLS (Multiple Protocol Label Switching) technology can be hosted by a service provider to multiple customers. An MPLS VPN network hosted by a service provider may allow for confidential communication between clients and across remotely located computing locations. While traversing the network, communications may travel via different paths through different network nodes and devices, depending on the availability of a given device at a given time. Network equipment, such as probes, may gather and/or generate raw data used to create a recording of events occurring on a network, which in turn can be used in the determination of charges and invoices related to a network subscription.
A subscriber may be billed according to their subscription for the services and/or equipment in use on the network. The subscription can be defined, at least in part, by a service level agreement (SLA). Information generated from network usage is analyzed to determine conformance with the SLA and this information may be requested by the subscriber. The SLA may define thresholds and information related to class of service (CoS) parameters, QoS parameters, a specification of network resource allocation, network service availability guarantees, time to identify the cause of a client-affecting malfunction, historic record keeping, downtime thresholds to repair malfunctions, service and equipment provisioning time, and/or network metrics (such as latency, jitter, etc.). An electronic device's use of a network may cause the generation of a records and data structure, which presents technical computing challenges as the quantity of data increases. A service provider may provide a history of parameters and records to a client for the duration of their subscription, thus contributing to the amount of data handled by a finite amount of back-end computing resources of a network.

Dynamically creating and routing network records for dispatch prior to session timeout


A machine is provided for cutting oval shapes in planar workpieces, wherein the blade is dynamically oriented so as to maintain its cutting axis constantly tangent to the line of cutting. It utilizes a pivotably mounted cutter head, to which is attached an orienting arm that is arcuately reciprocated by an element moving unidirectionally in a circle, the direction of circular movement being opposite to that in which the cutting head proceeds.

Sheets of cardboard mat, glass and other materials are frequently cut to provide components having openings and/or perimeters of circular or elliptical (generally referred to as "oval") configuration. Such components are widely used for mounting and framing of pictures and the like.
Machines are known in the art, and are commercially available, for cutting planar workpieces to such shapes; exemplary is the device described in Pierce U.S. Pat. No. 4,112,793, issued Sept. 12, 1978. Although the device of the Pierce patent is highly effective for its intended purposes, it has an inherent drawback, attributable to the manner by which the cutting blade is mounted.
As is true of virtually all machines of the kind described in the Pierce patent, the blade, supported to permit it to freely swivel, is positioned to trail slightly behind the axis of pivoting, thereby enabling it to seek an appropriate approach angle. This arrangement is disadvantageous for several reasons.
Most significantly, such machines are not capable of cutting perfect ovals because the blade has a tendency to proceed in a straight line; the deviation from a true elliptical path is particularly noticeable when the minor axis of the shape is relatively small compared to its major axis. Secondly, the trailing blade tends to produce an oval that "leans"; that is, the major and minor axes are tilted slightly from those of a true Cartesian oval. Finally, such an arrangement results in indefiniteness in the starting and finishing points of the blade, often causing those points to be noncoincident, ultimately producing imperfections along the cut.
It is recognized that at least certain of the foregoing deficiencies can be overcome by dynamically orienting the blade so as to maintain its cutting axis constantly tangent to the elliptical path that is generated. A commercially available device that is intended to operate in that general manner utilizes a control arm, attached at one end to a pivotable cutter head, which rotates about and follows, at its opposite end, an oblong cam. The mechanism does not however produce true tangency at all points of the oval, and it is unsatisfactory for other reasons as well; perhaps most notably, it employs no associated support, instead being positioned for use simply by fastening it to a base board through the workpiece itself.
Accordingly, it is the broad object of the present invention to provide a novel combination, machine and method for cutting oval shapes in planar workpieces, which shapes are virtually free of distortion and of imperfections along the line of cutting.
A more specific object is to provide such a combination, machine and method in which the cutting axis of the blade or wheel employed is dynamically oriented so as to maintain true tangency to the cut line or score at all points therealong.
Another object of the invention is to provide a novel machine for cutting shapes in planar workpieces, which permits facile and effective clamping, and precise positioning, of the workpiece, and which permits accurate cutting of bevels from either the front or back of the workpiece, and convenient and accurate V-grooving thereof.
Another more specific object is to provide a novel clamping system affording the foregoing benefits, which is, in addition, of relatively uncomplicated design and construction, which does not intrude into the cutting space, and which imposes no load on the cutting mechanisms or on the support structure therefor.
An additional more specific object is to provide a novel cutting head and head assembly affording the foregoing benefits, which is, in addition, of relatively uncomplicated design and construction, and which is capable of readily disposing either of two blades in an optimal position for effective cutting of the workpiece.

Machine and method for cutting oval shapes


A computer program product is provided for efficiently managing storage in a multi-tiered storage system. The computer program product comprises a computer readable storage medium having program instructions embodied therewith. The program instructions are executable by a processor to cause the processor to receive a command from an application, where the command is directed to at least one object. The program instructions are further executable by the processor to cause the processor to determine storage for the at least one object in a multi-tiered storage system based on the command, and store the at least one object in accordance with the determined storage.

The present invention relates to data storage systems, and more specifically, this invention relates to efficiently moving object data in a storage hierarchy.
Cloud storage is primarily comprised of object storage at a massive scale. Object storage provides very little control over optimizing retrieval of large amounts of data. For example, OpenStack Swift only provides for bulk delete of containers, or of accessing data in a single container. This may be a problem because, at the massive scale, such data may be stored hierarchically across multiple storage tiers, such as flash storage, disk storage, and tape storage. For example, data that hasn't been read for a few hours may be moved from flash storage to disk storage, and data that hasn't been read for a few weeks may be moved to tape storage. Each of these storage tiers has different performance latencies, throughput characteristics, and cost points.
Object storage services do not provide a way to specify object movement. For example, object storage services do not provide a way to expedite the bulk movement of data from the lowest cost storage tier. Furthermore, when an application needs to immediately retrieve a large amount of data, the data may reside on the slowest storage tier, such as tape. Still yet, if the data is on tape as a part of a near-line object storage service, the object storage service may hide the mapping of objects to tape, making it impossible for the user of the object storage service to know how to optimally recall those objects. If the application requests a sparse data set across many tapes randomly, the recall time for the data set may be orders of magnitude slower than if the data set has been requested optimally.
Similarly, when reading large numbers of blocks of data out of object storage systems, the read may be performed in a non-optimal way. For example, multiple copies of the data may be put out on disk in a way that can exaggerate seek times and negatively impact performance. Additionally, requests may come in for each block, file, or object individually, and each request may be handled individually with no attempt to re-order requests to minimize read seeks.
Finally, for large scale-out storage solutions, load balancing across several nodes may help handle the high bandwidth needs of such services. These services may be designed to be multi-tenant and scale to very large sizes, sometimes with global geographic distribution of a service. Load balancing may require that all data enter through a single point before being distributed to the node actually processing the data.

Efficiently managing movement of large amounts object data in a storage hierarchy

International Business Machines Corporation


A bicycle disc brake caliper is provided with a cooling system that transfers heat away from the actuating fluid. Basically, the bicycle disc brake caliper has a housing and a piston unit, with a coolant member of the cooling system attached to the housing. The housing has a frame mounting member sized to be coupled to a portion of a bicycle frame. The piston unit is movably coupled to the housing between a release position, in which the piston unit is spaced from a brake disc mounted to a wheel of a bicycle, and a braking position, in which the piston unit engages the brake disc of the bicycle wheel. The coolant member has a coolant area for receiving coolant to create a coolant heat sink that transfers heat from the housing. The housing has an actuating passage in fluid communication with the piston unit to move the piston unit via an actuating fluid. In one embodiment, the cooling system includes a pump and a reservoir. In another embodiment, a coolant or water bottle is attached to the coolant member for manually adding coolant thereto. In another embodiment, the coolant member is filled with a high specific heat gel.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention generally relates to disc brakes for stopping rotation of a wheel of a bicycle. More specifically, the present invention relates to a fluid cooling system for cooling a bicycle disc brake.
2. Background Information
Bicycling is becoming an increasingly popular form of recreation as well as a means of transportation. Moreover, bicycling has become a very popular competitive sport. Whether the bicycle is used for recreation, transportation or competition, the bicycle industry is constantly improving their components. One particular component of the bicycle which has been extensively redesigned over the past years is the braking systems of bicycles.
There are several types of bicycle brake devices, which are currently available on the market. Examples of some types of common bicycle brake devices include rim brakes, caliper brakes and disc brakes. If a rider wants a very high performance brake system, then the rider typically wants a disc brake system. Disc brake systems provide a substantial braking power in relationship to the amount of braking force applied to the brake lever. Moreover, disc brake systems typically provide a high level of consistency in all types of weather and riding conditions. However, one problem with disc brakes is that the hydraulic or actuating fluid can become overheated such that vapor-lock occurs. In other words, the heat generated by braking results in the hydraulic fluid increasing in volume so as to cause the brake pads to engage the brake disc even when the brake lever is in the release position. When vapor-lock occurs, the bicycle wheels can lock up and throw the rider off of the bicycle.
In the prior art disc brake systems, several methods have been utilized to avoid vapor-lock. For example, the caliper housing can be made larger to absorb more heat. Another method has been to make a larger brake disc with a wider surface area. Also, vapor-lock can be suppressed by utilizing high quality hydraulic fluid. Yet another method to avoid vapor-lock has been to use brake or friction pads which do not transfer the heat to the brake housing as readily as conventional friction pads. These prior art methods of avoiding vapor-lock have many problems. One particular problem, is that these solutions often are expensive to manufacture. Also, some of these prior art solutions are not completely effective.
In view of the above, there exists a need for a fluid cooled disc brake for a bicycle which overcomes the above-mentioned problems in the prior art. This invention addresses these needs in the prior art as well as other needs, which will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this disclosure.


Examples herein relate to identifying a placement of a virtual network function (VNF) to increase a network affinity index. For example a method, executable by a network controller, determines for the VNF the network affinity index over a period of time. The network affinity index identifies a number of packets received by the VNF from a data locality corresponding to a processing unit hosting the VNF. The method proceeds to identify a placement of the VNF extrinsic to the processing unit hosting the VNF to increase the network affinity index.

Network Functions Virtualization (NFV) involves replacing expensive and inflexible network hardware with network services that operate virtually on commodity hardware. NFV increases resource efficiency usage and deployment of new services in a network. The deployment of these new services within the NFV system refers to the implementation of virtualized network functions (VNFs) using software decoupled from the underlying hardware. The VNFs are responsible for handling specific network functions that run on a virtual machine in the NFV system.

Hewlett Packard Enterprise Development LP


An image forming apparatus includes a effective resolution determinator for forming a plurality of patch patterns different in resolution by the output engine, checking by sensor whether or not the patch patterns formed by the output engine are developed with developer, and determining that a resolution of the patch pattern with highest resolution recognizable by the sensor is an effective resolution which can be outputted by the output engine; and a dot counter for counting number of dots constituting an image of not less than effective resolution in the printing data, by which an error in estimated toner consumption, caused by dots too small to be developed, is reduced.

The present invention relates to an electrophotographic-type image forming apparatus.
The electrophotographic-type image forming apparatus is composed of an output engine for charging a photoconductor, selectively exposing the charged photoconductor to form an electrostatic latent image while scanning the charged photoconductor, and feeding a developer to the electrostatic latent image so as to develop it, and a controller for converting image data received from an external or other component to printing data consisting of data sets continuing in a main scanning direction of the output engine and inputting the image data into the output engine for image output.
The output engine applies a laser beam to the photoconductor to lower its potential, so that toner is adsorbed and hence a toner image is developed. Accordingly, nominal resolution of the output engine is determined by the diameter of a laser beam which exposes the photoconductor. However, while the resolution in a sub scanning direction depends on the diameter of the laser beam which exposes the photoconductor, the resolution in the main scanning direction depends on a travel distance of a laser beam, corresponding to a time during which an applied amount of the laser beam, sufficient enough to lower the potential of the photoconductor to the level of the toner adsorption, can be secured when the focus of the laser beam moves at a specified speed on the photoconductor.
Thus, the controller of a conventional image forming apparatus converts the image data to printing data having the nominal resolution of the output engine with respect to the sub scanning direction and having upper limit resolution with respect to the main scanning direction.
More specifically, the output engine attempts to apply a laser beam in compliance with high-definition data in the main scanning direction to be inputted and to develop dots with definition higher than the nominal resolution. However, independent dots of high definition cannot secure an enough application amount even when the laser beam is applied, which causes insufficient attachment of the toner, resulting in substantial failure of development.
In the field of image forming apparatuses, a technology is publicly known, in which the number of dots to be outputted based on the printing data is counted by a dot counter to estimate the consumption of toner. When a conventional image forming apparatus outputs, in the main scanning direction, an image containing a number of small independent dots which cannot be developed by their output engines, the toner consumption estimated based on an integrated value from the dot counter sometimes becomes larger than actual toner consumption, and thereby issues a toner empty alert regardless of the presence of enough remaining toner.
Disclosed in JP 2001-147563 A and US 2005/0025509 A1 is a technology in which a patch image is formed so as to check the concentration of developed toner by a sensor so that laser beam outputs are adjusted and corrected in order to correct changes in image concentration attributed to changes in laser output caused by contamination.
Disclosed in JP 2005-43617 A is a technology in which a patch pattern is outputted so as to check the concentration of developed toner by a sensor and to correct printing data in order to achieve appropriate tone reproduction.
Although these technologies increase the accuracy in estimation of toner consumption in halftone, they cannot eliminate estimation error in toner consumption caused by inability to develop the aforementioned fine dots.

Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.


A system is provided for communicating energy from one device, such as the rotating frame of a CT scanner, to another device, such as the fixed frame of a CT scanner, where the two devices are capable of movement relative to one another. A plurality of transmitting elements are mounted on one of the devices and a plurality of receiving elements are mounted on the other device, spaced equidistantly around the perimeters of the respective devices. The number of receiving elements is one different than the number of transmitting elements, and the range of operation between a transmitting element and a receiving element is sufficient to assure an operative relationship between at least one of the transmitting elements and one of the receiving elements upon the relative movement of the devices.

This invention relates to a system for communicating energy between two devices capable of relative linear or rotary motion, and more particularly, to a system for communicating data or power between a rotating frame and a fixed frame of a computed tomography ("CT") scanner.
With a conventional X-ray CT scanner, an X-ray tube is mounted on a rotating frame having a large diameter for the insertion of a patient. A radiation detector is set on the rotating frame opposite the X-ray tube to detect the radiation beams permeating the patient. The rotating frame is rotatably mounted on a fixed frame so that during operation the rotating frame and the fixed frame are in relative motion.
High-voltage power needed to operate the X-ray tube must be transmitted from the fixed frame to the rotating frame. Likewise, data collected by the radiation detector must be transmitted back from the rotating frame to the fixed frame. In addition, it is desirable that the rotating frame be able to rotate continuously.
The conventional solution is to interpose mechanical slip rings between the rotating frame and the fixed frame. Brushes mounted on the rotating frame contact the slip rings mounted on the fixed frame to allow electrical transmission of power or data. This mechanical interface, however, is subject to problems of wear and intermittent electrical contact. Furthermore, if data is transmitted at a high transmission rate, noise introduced by the electrical contacts may cause transmission errors.
An alternative solution is to use a single transmitter mounted on one of the devices, for example, the rotating frame, and a single reCeiver mounted on the other device, for example, the fixed frame, as shown in commonly-assigned application Ser. No. 07/316,991 entitled "Communication System for Transmitting Data," filed Feb. 28, 1989, and commonly-assigned application Ser. No. 07/317,026 entitled "Communication System for Transmitting Data," filed Feb. 28, 1989. With these arrangements, however, the path length between the input and the output may vary by half the circumference of the rotating frame. When transmitting data from the rotating frame of a CT scanner to the fixed frame of the CT scanner, the transmission rate may be so high that this variation in path length will cause phase errors to occur.
Multiple transmitters and receivers may be used, but this can be expensive. If many transmitters or receivers are needed, or if the effective range of operation of such transmitters and receivers must extend completely around the circumference of the rotating frame or the fixed frame, the cost is increased. Furthermore, there is a possibility of phase interference if two or more transmit-receive pairs are operating at the same time.
Similar problems arise when the transmitters and receivers are on two devices which must move laterally with respect to each other.

System for communicating energy between relatively moving devices


An automated quilting and tufting system for application of tufts at selected locations along a web of material, including a sewing head receiving a series of tufts or rosettes from a supply. The tufts are removed from their supply and are placed at selected locations on the web of material for attachment to the web of material by the sewing head. Thereafter, the web of material can be cut to form a panel of a desired size.

In recent years, mattresses and other bedding materials have been evolving from simple cushioned spring frames to more complex sleep systems in order to meet changing consumer needs and demands. For example, various type or style pillow top mattresses and mattresses using visco-elastic materials, such as "memory-foam" or other similar materials, are becoming increasingly popular with consumers as consumers have begun to demand more variations in comfort to fit their differing needs and preferences. In addition, demand has increased for more decorative or aesthetically pleasing appearances for mattresses, box springs and other bedding materials, especially for higher-end, more expensive bedding materials. Mattress manufacturers have begun to recognize that purchasers of such expensive, higher-end mattresses and other, similar bedding materials also are looking for more aesthetically pleasing or decorative looks for such mattresses, especially when they are paying higher prices for such mattresses and bedding materials.
An increasingly popular style of mattress being sold today is the so-called "tufted" mattress in which a mattress, with or without decorative stitching or scrollwork patterning, will have a series of tufts or "rosettes" affixed or inserted at spaced locations across the top of the mattress. These rosettes can be formed from loops of yarns, from buttons, or other decorative materials and generally are punched into the mattresses. Such tufted mattresses generally have been viewed as being in a category of higher-end, more expensive types of mattresses, due to the much more labor intensive and thus more expensive process of manufacture for such tufted mattresses.
In the past, such tufted decorations typically have been applied to mattresses by hand, by an operator physically punching or inserting the rosette, or a thread or yarn attached to the rosette, through the mattress after the mattress has been assembled, using a hand tool and one or more series of clamps to hold and compress the mattress. More recently, machinery has been developed to help clamp and compress substantially the entire mattress, with the mattress in a substantially uniformly compressed state for application of the tufts or rosettes thereto. However, even with the use of such machinery or systems for clamping and compressing the mattresses for application of tufts, the actual insertion of the tufts still generally is required to be a manual operation with an operator physically inserting each tuft or rosette into/through the mattress by hand. As a result, while some of the labor and associated costs therewith have been reduced by such equipment, the production of tufted mattresses and other, similar tufted bedding articles still remains a largely manual or labor intensive operation, which limits production and keeps the cost of such tufted bedding at a generally higher level.
Accordingly, it can be seen that a need exists for automated systems and methods for application of tufted decorations to mattresses and other, similar bedding materials that addresses the foregoing and other related and unrelated problems in the art.


An apparatus for allocating communication channels in a manner that increases network efficiencies or operator revenue includes a resource manager that accepts and stores (forms a queue) resource requests for a period of time. Thereafter, the resource manager allocates resources according to specified criteria. The computer instructions stored within the resource manager includes logic to prompt it to allocate communication channel resources according to the size (in order of smallest to largest) of the requested resource, or to the unit value of the requested resources. The communication channels are characterized by a time slice of a signal transmitted at a specified frequency range. Prior to allocating new non-CBR communication channel resources according to size or to unit value, the communication channels are first allocated to legacy continuous bit rate (CBR) subscribers, then to legacy non-CBR subscribers, then to new CBR subscribers.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates generally to wireless communication networks, and more particularly, to controlling call scheduling in satellite and land based wireless communication networks.
2. Related Art
Wireless networks typically comprise a plurality of switching centers, base stations and mobile stations all coupled through wireline and wireless communication links to create communication channels from an originating unit to a terminating unit. Moreover, these cellular networks themselves are coupled to a plurality of wireline networks including the public switched telephone network (PSTN), the Internet, local area networks (LANs) and private branch exchanges (PBXs). The Internet itself is a plurality of data networks coupled together.
An increasing trend includes coupling each of these and other networks through gateway systems, as they are developed to allow any one device to communicate with any other device to exchange communication signals. Accordingly, the various networks are being developed to provide interface ports to create signal paths and communication links from points to other points. Thus, in the context of creating cellular networks, several issues are presented that affect how well a wireless terminal can communicate effectively with these other networks.
One issue is a basic one; namely, there is a need for data streams and, more generally, communication signals to be transported through the cellular network in a reliable manner. In addition to communication signals being transported reliably, there also exists a need to maximize communication network throughput so that a subscriber""s communication signals will have the opportunity to be transported reliably, especially at times of peak usage. There is a continuous need, therefore, to maximize communication network efficiencies.
Whether the wireless communication network is a type of land based (terrestrial) network, for example North American Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) or Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM), or a satellite based communication network, the need for maximizing the networks"" efficiency and throughput exists. Along these lines, as some of these wireless networks age and become somewhat less capable in relation to newer networks having higher throughput capacity, there will be a need to extend their capacities to extend their useful lives.
The motivation to increase capacity is not limited to older communication networks. There is an ongoing need to maximize return on investment in infrastructure because communication networks are very expensive. Thus, there exists a need to maximize efficiency even in the newer, higher capacity networks. Moreover, the implementation of efficient systems reduces, in some cases, the size or amount of circuitry required to handle the communication throughput requirements.
In the context of maximizing efficiency in a wireless communication network, there exists a need to maximize the number of subscriber requests granted. To meet this need, the subscribers are ranked based on the requested number of time periods, or time slices, at a given frequency (hereinafter, xe2x80x9ccommunication channelsxe2x80x9d). In current systems, resource allocation is relatively simple but inefficient. Simply described, subscribers are assigned resources on a first-come-first-served-basis if the resources are available and easily identified.
Accordingly, two basic types of inefficiencies are introduced with this approach. First, with sessions continually coming into and terminating from the network, the available pool, hereafter called the xe2x80x98Resource Allocation Tablexe2x80x99 (RAT), of communication channels becomes increasingly fragmented. This will be demonstrated later. When this happens, it becomes more difficult to identify available communication channels when subscriber requests are made for multiple communication channels. The problem of how to optimally assign resources for each successive request for service can be solved using an Operations Research technique called xe2x80x9cInteger Programmingxe2x80x9d (IP). However solving IP problems are very time consuming and are generally not solvable in real time (as required in this environment). Consequently, there will be requests that are rejected when resources may be available but not easily identified.
The second type of inefficiency in current systems comes from the fact that resource allocation decisions are being made with incomplete information. In the Operations Research discipline called xe2x80x98Scheduling Theoryxe2x80x99, xe2x80x9conline schedulingxe2x80x9d is characterized by the first-come-first-serve approach described above. Decisions are made whether to accept a request for communication channels, and which specific channels to assign to the request, as soon the request is received without knowledge of requests which will arrive later during the predefined period.
What is needed, therefore, is a system that minimizes the problem of communication channel fragmentation and that improves allocation efficiencies.
To overcome the shortcomings of the prior systems and their operations, the present invention contemplates an apparatus and a method for allocating communication channels in a manner that increases network efficiencies and operator revenue by implementing offline scheduling. Offline scheduling is the task of assigning communication channel resources only after complete knowledge of the requests made during a predefined period of time, tp. Requests for communication channels are formed in a queue for a specified time period (tp). Thereafter, notification of communication channel assignments are returned to the requester. By utilizing a resource manager that waits until all information is available before allocating resources, communication channel allocations may be made more efficiently and, at the same time, may minimize the fragmentation problem described above.
Stated simply, a resource manager accepts and stores (forms a queue) resource requests for a brief period of time and then allocates resources according to specified criteria. The invention herein may be used in any wireless communication network including satellite-based communication networks. Accordingly, the throughput of any network may be increased thereby increasing its useful life and increasing the short and long term revenue for the given network.
After creating a queue of resource requests, the resource manager. (RM) allocates communication channels in a manner that maximizes the number of requests for communication channel resources that are satisfied by giving priority in reverse order of the size of the request. In some embodiments, the RM alternately evaluates the value of connection requests, and allocates communication channels in a manner that increases revenue.
By forming a queue of resource requests before assigning communication channels, the RM is able to select a combination of communication channel assignments that improves efficiency and that increases either the number of requests that are filled or the revenue according to the objective of the network operator.
As will be detailed below, after forming a queue of resource requests for time period tp, the RM allocates communication channels in the following order:
(a) to legacy continuous bit rate (CBR) subscribers;
(b) to ongoing legacy non-CBR; and
(c) to new CBR subscribers.
This will be done in such a way as to leave a single contiguous range in the RAT for the assignment of the new non-CBR subscribers. After complementing the resource allocations as described in (a) through (c) above, the RM will then:
(d) allocate communication channels to the new non-CBR subscribers requesting communication channels in such a way as to either maximize the number of connections, the revenue to be realized from the connection requests granted or the throughput efficiency of the communication channels.
In one embodiment of the invention, communication channel resources are allocated to the new non-CBR requests according to a priority value based upon joint consideration of the revenue to be realized by accepting the connection request and the amount of requested resources. In this embodiment, a revenue ratings is assigned to each request for resources. Additionally, the number of requested communication channels is calculated. Thus, after the CBR requests and legacy non-CBR requests for signal resources are satisfied, requests are ranked by unit revenue value. A quotient of the revenue rating divided by the quantity defines the unit revenue. The unit revenue is used for determining priority.
This problem is recognized in Operations Research as a computationally complex problem called the xe2x80x98Knapsack Problemxe2x80x99 where the task is to select the combination of connections that maximize the sum of the revenues represented by the accepted connections without violating the limit represented by the number of available communication channels in the RAT. A heuristic algorithm is used to determine a near optimal solution to this Knapsack Problem in linear time, thereby making it practical to use in making real time resource allocation decisions.
In another embodiment of the invention, communication channel resources are allocated according to a priority value based only upon the amount of requested resources. In this embodiment, the number of requested communication channels is calculated. Thus, after the CBR requests and legacy non-CBR requests for signal resources are satisfied, new non-CBR requests are assigned based on the signal resources requested.
This problem is recognized in Operations Research literature, as a xe2x80x9cJob-Shop Scheduling Problemxe2x80x9d with the objective of minimizing the number of xe2x80x98tardy jobsxe2x80x99. This involves only the need to rank the requests in increasing order of the quantity of resources that are requested in real time. In yet another embodiment, the requests are ranked in order of decreasing request size in view of remaining resources to maximize throughput efficiency.
Other aspects of the present invention will become apparent with further reference to the drawings and specification that follow.

Method and apparatus for scheduling call admission control in satellite and wireless networks


A system and method are disclosed that allows a practitioner to rotate a human subject in three different axes of rotation, independently from one another and without limitation on the degree of rotation, which allows for the treatment of various systems of the human subject.

Technical Field
The present invention relates to a three-axis rotation system and method, and more particularly a system and method that allows a practitioner to position or rotate a human body along three axes, independently from one another, in order to diagnose or treat at least one system of the human body.
Description of Related Art
Many patients with brain injuries, neurodevelopmental disorders, or neurodegenerative disorders have impaired motor and cognitive capabilities. It is well evidenced that basic and complex motor and cognitive functions have direct and indirect dependencies on head, neck, and ocular movements. The vestibular and ocular organs are primary sensors, which help our brain understand our spatial orientation and how to interact in our environment. The ability to measure head, neck, and eye movements and quantify deficiencies enables an opportunity to therapeutically rehabilitate these organs and improve human performance.
Systems for rotating a human body for the purpose of diagnosing and treating the human vestibular system are known in the art. U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,800,062, 7,559,766 and 8,702,631 all describe such systems. However, none of those systems are capable of rotating the human body in three different axes, which are perpendicular to one another and allow for rotation or positioning about each the three different axes independently of one another, and without limitation on the degree of rotation or position. As described below in the detailed written description, the system of the present invention implements several different features and technologies that differentiate it from the prior art.


Restrictions on the frequency of a carrier signal are removed. This invention comprises a power section for receiving the carrier signal and creating an internal voltage, a clock-generating section for creating an internal clock based on a clock pulse that is carried by the carrier signal, a memory section, a writing section for storing data that is carried on an optical signal in the memory section, and an output section for reading the data in the memory and load-modulating the carrier signal.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an IC chip for wireless identification that is used for identifying various types of objects, persons, and the like, and to methods for reading and writing data from/to the IC chip.
This application is based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2003-319280, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
2. Description of the Related Art
Many kinds of IC cards and IC tags have been developed, and they are widely used for identifying various types of objects, persons, and the like. IC cards and IC tags may be contacting or non-contacting, but the non-contacting type that incorporates an IC chip for wireless identification is superior, since it is more convenient to use. In addition to incorporating the wireless IC chip in an IC card or an IC tag, it may be incorporated directly in various types of objects, including paper money and the like, and used in identifying them.
A conventional wireless IC chip for identification supplies electrical power by using carrier waves from the outside (e.g. see Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 10-145443). That is, when carrier waves from an external reader/writer are received via an on-chip antenna, they are rectified to create an internal power source, so that data that has been superimposed on the carrier waves can be read, and the required data can be transmitted by radio.
According to the conventional art, carrier waves from the outside are used not only in creating an internal power source for the IC chip but also as carrier waves for carrying data; one problem is that, in order to accurately demodulate the superimposed data, the carrier wave frequency must be kept constant, which tends to limit the range of application. That is, since the characteristics of the on-chip antenna mounted on the IC chip are affected by the properties of the item that incorporates the IC chip, fixing the carrier wave frequency makes it necessary to adapt the characteristics of the on-chip antenna to each individual item.

IC chip for identification, data-reading method, and data-writing method


A storage system comprises a storage device from which a physical storage area is created for storing data processed in an external apparatus, a thin provisioning controller creating a physical storage area pool with a plurality of unit physical storage areas from the physical storage area, and creating a logical volume from the physical storage area pool, and a snapshot controller designating the logical volume as a primary volume, defining a secondary volume which is a partner of the primary volume as a combination of the primary volume and difference data, assigning unused one of the unit physical storage areas to the area into which the difference data is to be stored, and setting a volume pair created with the primary volume and the secondary volume into a synchronizing state and a non-synchronizing state.

As the virtualization technique for computer resources improves, a server virtualization which enables a plurality of virtual machines operated on a single physical server to concurrently execute a plurality of tasks is being used widely. Similarly, a capacity virtualization is widely being used, in which when an external apparatus such as a host computer demands a data storing area, unit physical storage areas are provided from a pool consisting of a plurality of the unit physical storage areas, each of which being created by dividing a physical storage area of a storage device. This capacity virtualization is generally known as a "thin provisioning."
The virtual machine of the server virtualization each uses a logical volume (Logical Unit, LU) as a dedicated logical storage area for a data storage area. Such a configuration is usually employed that, where a snapshot pair is created with two LUs, a primary volume (PVOL) and a secondary volume (SVOL), the SVOL is assigned to the LU for the virtual machine. In this configuration, not an ordinary LU but a virtual volume (VVOL) is usually used for the SVOL. The VVOL is constructed from data stored in a PVOL and difference data from the data in the PVOL. When the VVOL is used for a data storage area of the virtual machine, the LU is not necessarily provided to each virtual machine and the storage device is efficiently utilized. The difference data is stored in an LU dedicated for storing only the difference data. A snapshot pair of the PVOL and the VVOL is created for each virtual machine and the snapshot pair is subject to a split status, then the VVOL can be used for a data storage area of the virtual machine to which the above VVOL is assigned. Using the function of the snapshot pair, data processing such as backup and restoration of data can be timely carried out.
In order to apply the snapshot function effectively, the technique disclosed, for example, in PTL 1 is proposed. PTL 1 discloses, for example, a storage system having a physical snapshot executing part writing updated data into both a primary storage device and a secondary storage device, a logical snapshot executing part writing input data into the primary storage device and difference data of difference between the input data and data prior to update into the secondary storage device, an update data determination part that, when creation of snapshot data is requested by an upper apparatus, determines whether or not there exist data to be updated in the primary storage device with respect to the creation request, a data update amount determination part that when the update data determination part detects presence of the updated data in the primary storage device, determines whether or not the data update amount in the primary storage device is larger than a predetermined amount, and a snapshot executing part selector that, when the data update amount determination part determines the data update amount in the primary storage device is larger than the predetermined amount, selectively drives the physical snapshot executing part, and, when the data update amount determination part determines the data update amount in the primary storage device is smaller than the predetermined amount or the data to be updated does not exist in the primary storage device, selectively drives the logical snapshot executing part. PTL 1 describes when creating snapshot data in the storage system, it can be prevented that a data space for saving data prior to update is filled with saved data from the primary (logical) volume and the process of creation of the snapshot data is abnormally aborted.

Storage system using thin provisioning pool and snapshotting, and controlling method of the same


A polyvinyl chloride composition having polyvinyl chloride resin and a plasticizer ester selected from di-butyl terephthalate, di-isobutyl terephthalate, or mixtures thereof.

Polyvinyl chloride (commonly referred to as "PVC") has been used for a number of years in the manufacture of soft, flexible films for food packaging, in molded rigid products (such as pipes, fibers, upholstery and bristles), and in a variety of other products, including electric wire and cable-coverings, film finishes for textiles, raincoats, belting, gaskets and shoe soles. A variety of plasticizers have been used to produce flexible PVC articles. The plasticizer compounds differ in many respects but all of them must possess certain characteristics. For example, the plasticizer compound must be compatible with the PVC resin and render the PVC more flexible and/or softer. In PVC, the plasticizer also assists in the fusion of the PVC formulation to produce the final article. In the typical fusion process, the PVC resin particles dissolve and/or break apart, intermingle with all the other additives to produce the final homogenously mixed material. Plasticizers that have a high affinity for PVC resin resulting in very quick fusion are called high-solvating plasticizers. Fusion in dry blends is accomplished by a combination of stress and temperature. Fusion in plastisols occurs mainly by temperature. There are a number of chemical classes of high-solvating plasticizers such as benzoates, butyl benzyl phthalate, dihexyl phthalate, and others. High-solvating plasticizers provide faster fusion allowing fusion to occur at lower temperatures or to occur faster at a given temperature. A disadvantage for plastisols is high solvating plasticizers are typically not as stable to viscosity increases as general purpose plasticizers.


A method and apparatus of transmitting a reference signal in a time division duplex (TDD) system is provided. A base station (BS) generates a plurality of demodulation reference signals (DMRSs) for respective layers, maps the plurality of DMRSs to a downlink pilot time slot (DwPTS) region for downlink transmission within a special subframe and transmits the plurality of DMRSs through a plurality of antennas. The special subframe is a subframe for separating uplink and downlink between an uplink (UL) subframe and a downlink (DL) subframe within a frame.

Effective transmission/reception methods and utilizations have been proposed for a broadband wireless communication system to maximize efficiency of radio resources. An orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) system capable of reducing inter-symbol interference (ISI) with a low complexity is taken into consideration as one of next generation wireless communication systems. In the OFDM, a serially input data symbol is converted into N parallel data symbols, and is then transmitted by being carried on each of separated N subcarriers. The subcarriers maintain orthogonality in a frequency dimension. Each orthogonal channel experiences mutually independent frequency selective fading, and an interval of a transmitted symbol is increased, thereby minimizing inter-symbol interference.
When a system uses the OFDM as a modulation scheme, orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) is a multiple access scheme in which multiple access is achieved by independently providing some of available subcarriers to a plurality of users. In the OFDMA, frequency resources (i.e., subcarriers) are provided to the respective users, and the respective frequency resources do not overlap with one another in general since they are independently provided to the plurality of users. Consequently, the frequency resources are allocated to the respective users in a mutually exclusive manner. In an OFDMA system, frequency diversity for multiple users can be obtained by using frequency selective scheduling, and subcarriers can be allocated variously according to a permutation rule for the subcarriers. In addition, a spatial multiplexing scheme using multiple antennas can be used to increase efficiency of a spatial domain.
MIMO technology can be used to improve the efficiency of data transmission and reception using multiple transmission antennas and multiple reception antennas. Schemes to implement transmission diversity in MIMO system include space frequency block code (SFBC), space time block code (STBC), cyclic delay diversity (CDD), frequency switched transmit diversity (FST), time switched transmit diversity TSTD), precoding vector switching (PVS), spatial multiplexing. An MIMO channel matrix according to the number of reception antennas and the number of transmission antennas can be decomposed into a number of independent channels. Each of the independent channels is called a layer or stream. The number of layers is called a rank.
In wireless communication systems, it is necessary to estimate an uplink channel or a downlink channel for the purpose of the transmission and reception of data, the acquisition of system synchronization, and the feedback of channel information. In wireless communication system environments, fading is generated because of multi-path time latency. A process of restoring a transmit signal by compensating for the distortion of the signal resulting from a sudden change in the environment due to such fading is referred to as channel estimation. It is also necessary to measure the state of a channel for a cell to which a user equipment belongs or other cells. To estimate a channel or measure the state of a channel, a Reference Signal (RS) which is known to both a transmitter and a receiver can be used.
A subcarrier used to transmit the reference signal is referred to as a reference signal subcarrier, and a resource element used to transmit data is referred to as a data subcarrier. In an OFDM system, a method of assigning the reference signal includes a method of assigning the reference signal to all the subcarriers and a method of assigning the reference signal between data subcarriers. The method of assigning the reference signal to all the subcarriers is performed using a signal including only the reference signal, such as a preamble signal, in order to obtain the throughput of channel estimation. If this method is used, the performance of channel estimation can be improved as compared with the method of assigning the reference signal between data subcarriers because the density of reference signals is in general high. However, since the amount of transmitted data is small in the method of assigning the reference signal to all the subcarriers, the method of assigning the reference signal between data subcarriers is used in order to increase the amount of transmitted data. If the method of assigning the reference signal between data subcarriers is used, the performance of channel estimation can be deteriorated because the density of reference signals is low. Accordingly, the reference signals should be properly arranged in order to minimize such deterioration.
A receiver can estimate a channel by separating information about a reference signal from a received signal because it knows the information about a reference signal and can accurately estimate data, transmitted by a transmit stage, by compensating for an estimated channel value. Assuming that the reference signal transmitted by the transmitter is p, channel information experienced by the reference signal during transmission is h, thermal noise occurring in the receiver is n, and the signal received by the receiver is y, it can result in y=h·p+n. Here, since the receiver already knows the reference signal p, it can estimate a channel information valueĥusing Equation 1 in the case in which a Least Square (LS) method is used.ĥ=y/p=h+n/p=h+ĥ  [Math. 1]
The accuracy of the channel estimation valueĥestimated using the reference signal p is determined by the value{circumflex over (n)}
To accurately estimate the value h, the value{circumflex over (n)}must converge on 0. To this end, the influence of the value{circumflex over (n)}
has to be minimized by estimating a channel using a large number of reference signals. A variety of algorithms for a better channel estimation performance may exist.
LTE rel-9 and LTE-A support dual layer beam-forming, and LTE-A supports up to eight transmission antennas in order to improve the throughput. Accordingly, there is a need for a pattern of a reference signal for supporting them. Further, a reference signal can be mapped to a Downlink Pilot Time Slot (DwPTS) region for downlink transmission within a special subframe of a TDD system, and the length of the DwPTS region can be changed according to a configuration of the special subframe. Accordingly, there is a need for a method of mapping a reference signal according to a regular reference signal pattern irrespective of the length of the DwPTS region.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Method and apparatus for transmitting reference signal in time division duplex system


A computing device including a mounting component at a panel of the computing device to couple with a docking stand for a removable battery of the computing device to electrically couple and receive power from the docking stand and the removable battery supplies power to the computing device if the computing device decouples from the docking stand.

When powering a computing device, a user can access a power source and couple the power source to a power port of the computing device with a power cable. If the computing device includes a battery, the battery can be charged while the computing device is coupled to the power source. The power cable, the power port, and/or the power source can be damaged if a person steps on or trips over the power cable. Further, the computing device can be damaged or the person can be injured if the person trips over the power cable.

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.