A method for sanitation and preservation of foodstuffs includes the following steps. A container containing a foodstuff is provided. A non-thermal plasma is introduced to an interior of the container. The container is sealed.

According to estimates from the U.S. Centers for Disease and Controls (CDC), food born pathogens account for 756 million illnesses, 325,000 hospitalizations, and 5000 deaths each year in the U.S. Moreover, fresh produce is catching up with ground beef as a major source of E. coli 0157 H7 and with chicken as a major source of Salmonella. Fresh-cut produce is one of the fastest growing sectors of the fresh produce industry. Processing produce into fresh-cut form increases the risk of bacterial contamination and growth because the natural external barrier of the produce is broken by peeling, slicing, coring, trimming, and mashing.
This is also true for Ready-to-Eat (RTE) products for which starting from generally a stabilized raw material, more than 60% of the lifespan of the product can be lost because of these preparation and repackaging steps. For example, a raw block of ham packed under vacuum generally has a lifespan of 90 days whereas sliced ham stored under similar conditions seldom reaches more than 30 days even by following all the hygienic conditions. Hence there is a need for a process which can be applied after the food is processed to reduce or destroy microorganisms just before it is packaged for the preservation of the quality and shelf-life.
The importance of preserving food quality while providing safety is well known and has led to increased interest in nonthermal processing of meat, poultry, and dairy products, produce and beverage. Some of the nonthermal based technologies include high presses processing (HPP), treatment with electric pulse field, irradiation, ultrasonic, etc.
In recent years, nonthermal plasma (also referred to as so-called "cold plasma" or "non-equilibrium plasma") has been investigated to sanitize food products. A plasma is an ionized gas which is formed by the passage of energy, for example by applying a high continuous or alternative voltage to it, or by providing energy in other forms such as microwave, radiation, laser light, or by other means. Compared to gas in its natural state, plasma contains free charged particles, electrons and ions, although it is overall electrically neutral. A nonthermal plasma is in general any plasma which is not in thermodynamic equilibrium, either because the ion temperature is different from the electron temperature, or because the velocity distribution of one of the species does not follow a Maxwell-Boltzmann distribution. As opposed to thermal plasmas where all particles of the medium (neutral molecules, atoms and radicals, ions and electrons have roughly the same energy distribution (meaning a common temperature), in nonthermal plasma electrons have a much higher average energy than heavy species. A limit to such a situation is with the so called cold plasma, corresponding to gas temperature (meaning average energy of the heavy species) is close to ambient. However there may exist plasmas that are nonthermal but not cold, with heavy species temperature less than one order of magnitude below electron temperature. In general such plasmas are sustained by electrical discharges in a gas close to atmospheric pressure and must be distinguished from other mature, industrially applied plasma technologies like welding, cutting and thermal spraying.
For nonthermal plasma, free electrons are excited by the means described above, namely acceleration by the electric field imposed by the external source of excitation. In parallel to this acceleration, electrons undergo random frequent elastic collisions with the molecules and ions, also called heavy particles. Thus electrons continuously gain energy over time in the form of a disordered motion that has similarities with thermal agitation, but is "forced" by electrical energy input and much more intense. The average electron energy corresponds to an equivalent temperature of the order of tens of thousands of degrees. The average energy of electrons is much higher than the heavy particles. If the collisions are not too frequent, in the case of a rarefied gas, for example, they transfer only little energy to the heavy particles and preserve their movement of thermal agitation corresponding to the ambient. If the electrons acquire a very high "temperature" (i.e. average agitation energy) of the order of 104 K they produce inelastic collisions with the heavy particles that produces excitation (in terms of electronic level or vibrational quantified level), ionization (that constantly replenishes the population of electrons and ions to sustain a steady plasma), or dissociation into smaller fragments, atoms and radicals. The excited particles conceal very high "chemical energy" and can be reactive enough to produce surface treatments to a material, without the need to heat the material.
In particular, it is known that cold plasma can destroy, or at least irreversibly inactivate microorganisms.
On the other hand, Modified Atmosphere Packaging (MAP) or controlled atmosphere packaging is a known technique used to extend the shelf-life of fresh or ready-to-eat food products. In this technique, the air surrounding the food in the package is removed partially or entirely and replaced by another gas or gas mixture. The effects of MAP are based on the often observed slowing of plant respiration in low O2 environment. The commonly used gases in MAP are N2, CO2 O2, rare gases (such as Ar), and their mixtures.
There is provided a method for sanitation and preservation of foodstuffs that comprises the following steps. A container containing a foodstuff is provided. A non-thermal plasma is introduced to an interior of the container. The container is sealed.
The method may include one or more of the following aspects:                the container is sealed while containing the non-thermal plasma or the non-thermal plasma in a de-excited state.        the non-thermal plasma is generated from a treatment gas selected from the group consisting of N2, CO2 O2, Ar, Xe, Kr, He, Ne, N2O, H2, H2O2, CO, NO, and mixtures thereof.        a secondary gas is introduced to the interior of the container without displacing all of the non-thermal plasma or all of the non-thermal plasma in a de-excited state, wherein the container is sealed while containing the secondary gas and non-thermal plasma or de-excited non-thermal plasma.        the non-thermal plasma is generated from a treatment gas selected from the group consisting of N2, CO2 O2, Ar, Xe, Kr, He, Ne, N2O, H2, H2O2, CO, NO, and mixtures thereof.        the secondary gas is selected from the group consisting of N2, CO2 O2, Ar, Xe, Kr, He, Ne, N2O, H2, H2O2, CO, NO, and mixtures thereof; and the secondary gas is compositionally different from the non-thermal plasma.        all of the non-thermal plasma or all of the non-thermal plasma in a de-excited state is removed and a shelf-life extending gas is introduced into the interior of the container, wherein the container is sealed while containing the shelf-life extending gas.        the shelf-life extending gas selected from the group consisting of N2, CO2 O2, Ar, Xe, Kr, He, Ne, N2O, H2, and mixtures thereof.        the non-thermal plasma or the de-excited non-thermal plasma is removed by application of vacuum to the container interior.        the non-thermal plasma or the de-excited non-thermal plasma is purged from the container interior by the introduction of the shelf-life extending gas.        the non-thermal plasma or the non-thermal plasma in a de-excited state is removed with application of vacuum to the container interior, wherein the container is sealed under vacuum.        moisture is combined with the non-thermal plasma.        the treatment gas is selected from the group consisting of H2, a mixture of H2 and He, a mixture of H2 and Ar, a mixture of H2 and CO, a mixture of H2 and H2O2, a mixture of H2 and air, and a mixture of H2 and N2O.        said step of introducing a non-thermal plasma to an interior of the container is performed inside a food packaging machine.        the food packaging machine is a flow pack type food packaging machine.        the food packaging machine is a tray type food packaging machine.        the non-thermal plasma is generated with a non-thermal plasma generation device located outside the food packaging machine and the non-thermal plasma is conveyed from the non-thermal plasma generation device to the interior of the container.        the food packaging machine is a flow pack type food packaging machine, the container is a thin plastic tubular film, and the non-thermal plasma is introduced into the interior of the tubular film with a nozzle.        the food packaging machine is a tray type food packaging machine.        the food packaging machine is a tray type food packaging machine and the non-thermal plasma is generated with a non-thermal plasma generating device comprising at least one planar microwave power applicator disposed in a lid of the tray type food packaging machine.        the food packaging machine is a tray type food packaging machine and the non-thermal plasma is generated with a non-thermal plasma generating device comprising at least one planar microwave power applicator disposed in or on the container.        the the non-thermal plasma generating device comprises at least one planar microwave power applicator        said non-thermal plasma is in sustained contact with the foodstuff for a period of time of 0.1 sec to 600 seconds.        said non-thermal plasma is in sustained contact with the foodstuff for a period of time of 5 to 60 seconds.        a vacuum is applied to an interior of the container before said step of introducing the non-thermal plasma.        a biocide is introduced into the container interior before, during or after the introduction of the non-thermal plasma into the container interior.        the biocide is particulate Silver.

System and method for non-thermal plasma treatment of foodstuffs

L'Air Liquide Societe Anonyme pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude


A connector of upper contact type for an FPC comprising a cover housing constituted of synthetic resin alone. The housing includes first contacts and second contacts alternately arranged in parallel on a line. Each of the first contacts has an elastic arm coming into contact with an upper contact point of FPC when the cover housing is closed. On the other hand, each of the second contacts has a tuning-fork-shaped contact constituted of a pair of a short arm and a long arm, the short arm coming into contact with the upper contact point of the FPC so that the tuning-fork-shaped contact may exert a coupled force on the FPC when the cover housing is closed. With such a configuration, this connector reduces deformation of the cover housing while eliminating use of any reinforcing metal member in the cover housing.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a connector to be connected with a flat flexible cable such as an FPC (Flexible Printed Circuit) and an FFC (Flexible Flat Cable), which are generically called FPC in this specification, and particularly to a ZIF (Zero Insertion Force) type connector for a FPC which requires little force for insertion and removal of the FPC.
2. Related Art
A connector for an FPC to be surface-mounted on a printed circuit board, or a surface mount connector for an FPC has an insulated housing formed with an insertion portion for inserting the FPC and a plurality of contacts fitted onto the housing side by side in a line at predetermined pitches. To bring the FPC into touch with the contacts, for example, an opening and closing cover housing is provided at the insertion portion.
As such a connector for an FPC, there has been invented a connector for an FPC capable of attaining a stable pressing force against the FPC by increasing the strength of a cover housing pressing a plurality of contacts against the FPC and capable of being connected whether the conductor pattern of the FPC is in an upward or downward position. (For example, refer to Patent Documents 1 below.)
Furthermore, as such a connector for FPC, there has been also invented an upper contact type connector for an FPC capable of ensuring sufficient contact pressure against the FPC by preventing the contacts from being excessively deformed. (For example, refer to Patent Document 2 below.)
Patent Document 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. Hei 11-185896
Patent Document 2: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2001-126793
FIG. 13 is a longitudinal sectional view of a connector for an FPC according to Patent Document 1 illustrating a constitutional view including an FPC with a cover housing in an open position. FIG. 13 used herein corresponds to FIG. 4 in Patent Document 1.
As shown in FIG. 13, a connector 8 includes a housing 82, a plurality of contacts 83, a cover housing 84 and a plurality of cover contacts 820. The housing 82 is formed with an opening 87 open upwards. The plurality of contacts 83 are stored and retained in the housing 82 at regular pitches, and a contact portion 817 of an elastic contact beam 814 is disposed at the opening 87. The plurality of contacts 83 includes an arm 815 and an elastic contact beam 814, and the arm 815 is formed integrally with the elastic contact beam 814. The arm 815 extends to the opening 87 along an upper wall 86 of the housing 82, and the front end thereof is formed with a pivotal support portion 818. The pivotal support portion 818 faces the contact portion 817.
As shown in FIG. 13, the cover housing 84 is supported, engaged with the pivotal support portion 818 and moves between a pressure position in proximity to the contact portion 817 and an open position separated from the contact portion 817. When the cover housing 84 is moved toward a pressure position, FPC 1 disposed on the elastic contact beam 814 is pressed against the elastic contact beam 814. The plurality of cover contacts 820 are arranged on the inside of the cover housing 84, corresponding to the contacts 83, and are engaged with the pivotal support portion 818. The plurality of cover contacts 820 are pressed against FPC 1 for contact at a pressurizing position, and comes into contact with the pivotal support portion 818 for electrical continuity.
FIGS. 14A and 14B are longitudinal sectional views of a connector for an FPC according to Patent Document 2, and FIG. 14A is a longitudinal sectional view of the whole connector and FIG. 14B is an enlarged view of the principal part of FIG. 14A. FIGS. 14A and 14B used herein corresponds to FIG. 5 of Patent Document 2.
As shown in FIGS. 14A and 14B, a connector 9 includes a housing 94, a plurality of tuning-fork-shaped contacts 923 and a cover housing 97. A housing 94 is formed with an opening 96 open upwards. A plurality of contacts 923 are arranged so as to face the opening 96 in the housing 94. The contacts 923 includes an elastic piece 935 positioned on the upper side and a stationary piece 933 positioned on the lower side, the elastic piece 935 and the stationary piece 933 facing each other. The cover housing 97 is pivotally supported by the pivotal support portion (not shown) of the housing 94 or a member retained on the housing 94, and opens or closes the opening 96 with rotation thereof.
As shown in FIG. 14A or 14B, the free end of the elastic piece 935 has an upper branch piece 939 and a lower branch piece 941 branching in a roughly C shape. The lower branch piece 941 includes a contact 948 coming into pressure contact with FPC 1. One end of the cover housing 97 is disposed between the upper branch piece 939 and the lower branch piece 941 to regulate a displacement range of the elastic piece 935. The one end of the cover housing 97 includes a cam surface 959 pushing up the upper branch piece 939 so as to expand an insertion space 93 for FPC 1 below the contact 948.
As shown in FIG. 13, the cover contact 820 is produced by punching a metal sheet in the same way as for the contact 83 and is formed integrally with the cover housing 84 by means of insert molding at the time of forming the synthetic resin cover housing 84.
As shown in FIG. 14A or 14B, a pair of pivotal spindles (not shown) having a pivotal axial line A1 is provided on both ends of a metal wire 945 embedded in the cover housing 97. Moreover, a metal reinforcing wire 951 is embedded in the cover housing 97. To insert the metal wires 945, 951 into the synthetic resin cover housing 97 at the time of forming them into the synthetic resin cover housing 97 and embed them into a molded product of the cover housing 97, the metal wires 945, 951 are supported at a predetermined position within a metallic mold.
A connector for the FPC which has a FPC conductor pattern facing upwards or which is of an upper contact type, as shown in Patent Documents 1 and 2, prevents deformation of the cover housing by insert molding (integrally forming) a metal member into the synthetic resin cover housing.
However, such integrally molded products including metal members cause higher costs in production than molded products made of synthetic resin alone. As a matter of course, an increase in the number of components causes higher costs. This is because supporting a metal member in a predetermined position within a metal mold requires much production time per product and causes difficulty in simultaneously forming a plurality of products. An increase in the cost of a cover housing leads to a higher cost of the connector for an FPC.
Attainment of a molded cover housing made of synthetic resin alone by devising a structure of an upper contact type connector for an FPC can reduce the production cost of the connector. As a connector for an FPC having the multi-pin contacts and narrow pitches, a connector for FPC is required which has a structure capable of completely maintaining an open/closed position without deforming the cover housing. These are problems addressed by the present invention.


A circuit arrangement for supplying configuration data in an FPGA device includes a plurality of output flip flops allocated to respective configurable logic cells of the FGPGA device. Each output flip flop comprises at least one data input and one data output and a data input of a first output flip flop of the plurality of output flip flops is switchably connected to a data output of a second output flip flop of the plurality of output flip flops for forming a shift register by means of a switching device integrated in the FPGA device.

The invention relates to a circuit arrangement for supplying configuration data in FPGA devices.
FPGAs (field programmable gate arrays) are integrated electronic circuits which are completely programmable by the user ("in the field") and perform a multiplicity of logic functions desired by the user in accordance with their programming or their configuration, respectively. As a rule, configurable logic blocks and configurable wiring resources are provided for this purpose in an FPGA, the electrical interconnections of these with one another being determined by a multiplicity of switches which can be set by configuration bits. The logic functions of the configurable logic blocks, which, in turn, are configured of configurable logic cells, are also specified by configuration bits. The configuration or programming of an FPGA is thus performed by the writing-in and (volatile) storing of corresponding configuration data in memories kept available in the logic blocks. Thus, a complex logic chip is formed overall.
A number of logic cells and their associated wiring resources, that is to say prefabricated electrical connecting elements definable by the configuration bits, are combined as a configurable logic block or as a logic page. A corresponding logic page also exhibits a local configuration memory in which the required configuration bits are stored. In the text which follows, individual logic cells with configuration shift registers are mentioned in a simplified manner as local configuration memories.
Before an FPGA starts to operate, all configuration bits must be written into the local configuration memories from the outside. This must be done after each new start-up after the voltage supply has been switched off. However, it is frequently desired to keep the configuration data available in a nonvolatile manner in a memory integrated in the corresponding FPGA chip. In this case, the configuration data only need to be transported from the nonvolatile memory into the local configuration memory.
A so-called nonvolatile FPGA chip therefore has as basic elements the configurable logic cells mentioned initially and additionally a nonvolatile memory for storing configuration data. In this configuration memory, for example, the corresponding configuration bits are stored in suitably structured form "in the field" and when the FPGA is started up, they are first supplied as configuration bits to the settable switches present in the configurable cells. A respective configurable logic cell therefore has a configuration register which stores a respective configuration word of configuration bits in a volatile manner for the operation of the FPGA and individually provides the configuration bits which lastly determine the logic function of the configurable logic cell.
The configurable logic cells and the local configuration memory are typically implemented in the same production technology, for example CMOS, whereas the non-volatile configuration memory needs another technology, e.g. FLASH. For the circuit sections constructed in different technologies, different signal levels are then used. Matching the corresponding logic levels then increases the circuit expenditure.
A special feature in nonvolatile configuration memories is the verification of the configuration data written in. This can be done by reading out the information written in and comparing with the written data. This verification method can disadvantageously require a number of cycles.
FIG. 1 shows by way of example the structure of a configurable logic cell LC for conventional FPGAs as disclosed, for example, in published European application for patent EP 1 324 495 A1.
A correspondingly configurable logic cell LC is used for converting a logic function which receives the input data PD and outputs a corresponding logically combined result FFO. A configuration shift register CM is provided which stores configuration bits CB and provides them to the input of a first multiplexer MUX1. The first multiplexer MUX1 defines one of the configuration bits CB as output signal LTO in dependence on the input data PD. The multiplexer MUX1 with the configuration bits CB supplied by the configuration shift register CM can be understood to be a look up table LUT. It is possible, therefore, to perform a Boolean function with the input data PD as input variables and the output signals LTO of the multiplexer or the look up table LUT, respectively.
Furthermore, a D-type flip flop DFF with a data input D, a data output Q and a clock input CK is provided. The output signal LTO of the look up table is conducted to the data input D and a clock signal CLK1 is applied to the clock input CK. The output signal LTO of the look up table LUT is also conducted to an input of a second multiplexer MUX2 which also receives the output signal FFO of the D-type flip flop DFF. The second multiplexer MUX2 switches through either the output signal FFO of the flip flop DFF or the output signal LTO of the look up table LUT as output signal FFO′ of the configurable logic cell LC in dependence on one of the configuration bits CB′. If FPGA chips are used for applications in data processing, the clocked output signals FFO of the D-type flip flop DFF which, as a rule, is provided in a configurable logic cell LC for an FPGA chip, and in most cases used. The D-type flip flop DFF is then used for temporarily storing the output signal of the logic cell LC.
In FIG. 2 the basic elements of a conventional nonvolatile FPGA chip FPGA are shown diagrammatically.
The FPGA has configurable logic cells LC1, LC2, LCN in a column, wherein each configurable logic cell supplies a respective logic result FF0, FF1, FFN from the respect input signals PD1, PD2, PD3 to an output A1, A2, AN. The configurable logic cells LC1, LC2, LCN in each case have configuration shift registers CM1, CM2, CMN for storing and providing configuration bits for the respective logic cell LC1, LC2, LCN.
Before the FPGA starts up, in a configuration phase, the respective configuration bits are read out of a nonvolatile memory MCA as serial configuration data SCD1, SCD2, SCDN into the configuration shift registers CM1, CM2, CMN. The configuration memory MCA can have, for example, a memory cell array of nonvolatile memory elements such as, for example, MRAM or FRAM memory cells. The actual programming of the FPGA takes place in a read-in phase in which the configuration data are written into the memory cell array MCA. For this purpose, a further loading shift register ISR is provided, with a number N of shift register cells Z1, Z2, ZN which corresponds to the number of the bit lines BL1, . . . BLN coupled to the memory cell array MCA of nonvolatile memory elements.
The configuration data CD are read serially into this loading shift register ISR clock cycle by clock cycle with a clock CLK. Each of these shift register cells Z1, Z2, ZN is coupled to a bit line BL1, BL2, BLN. The respective bit lines BL1, BL2, BLN of the memory cell array MCA are crossed with word lines WL1, WL2, WLN, the number of word lines corresponding to the number of respective configuration bits for a configurable logic cell LC1. In the writing-in phase of the configuration data CD, all first configuration bits for the configurable logic cells LC1, LC2, LCN are first serially written into the nonvolatile memory cells NVMC. In a further step, second configuration bits are written until all configuration data CD are conducted into the memory cell array MCA. It is only then that the configuration shift registers CM1, CM2, CMN, with closed controllable switches SW1, SW2, SWN, are filled with the configuration bits stored in the nonvolatile memory cells NVMC of a respective bit line BL1, BL2, BLN in the configuration phase of the FPGA.
With an embodiment of the nonvolatile memory cells NVMC as FRAM cells, in particular, additional elaborate converter circuits, which are not shown here, are required for reading and writing the memory cell contents. A disadvantage of the solution in shown in FIG. 2 for writing configuration data CD into the nonvolatile memory MCA via a shift register ISR is also the additional wiring expenditure due to the coupling of the individual shift register cells Z1, Z2, ZN of the loading shift register ISR to the bit lines BL1, BL2, BLN and the increased circuit expenditure due to the shift register ISR itself.

Circuit arrangement for supplying configuration data in FPGA devices


The present invention relates to a multi-chip device comprising a plurality of chip stacks each including a plurality of single chips stacked on each other, wherein the stacked single chips are electrically interconnected by one or more through-chip-connection extending through at least one of the single chips and a substrate providing one or more first contact elements each of which is in contact with one of the through-chip-connections and providing one or more second contact elements being in electrical contact with the first contact elements, wherein the plurality of chip stacks are stacked onto each other and wherein the second contact elements of one of the chip stacks each being arranged to be in contact to one or more third contact elements of an adjacent one of the chip stacks.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a multi-chip device including a plurality of chips. The present invention further relates to a method for producing a multi-chip device comprising a plurality of chips.
2. Description of the Related Art
Market requirements demand constantly increasing storage capacity of memory modules. In practice, however, the rate of increase in capacity dictated by the market is not achievable. Consequently, there is a technological gap which is nowadays filled by stacking memory chips onto each other to provide sufficient memory capacity on a memory module.
A number of stacking technologies are known. In one stacking technique, a two or more memory chips are stacked upon each other, each chip being separated by a spacer. Each of the memory chips is separately wire-bonded onto a common substrate which provides an electrical redistribution to, e.g., solder balls and the like by which the stacked chip device can be attached to the memory module board.
Furthermore, it is well known to stack a number of memory chip packages onto a package stack as, e.g., Ball Grid Array (BGA) packages and the like by providing additional contacting pads on a substrate surface of the BGA opposing the surface on which the solder balls are arranged. In this way the ball grid arrays can be soldered onto each other to produce a memory chip stack.
In another technology, memory chips may be provided with through-chip-connections which are used to provide an electrical interconnection between two contact elements on different main surfaces of the chip. The electronic circuit of one chip can be connected to the electronic circuit of an adjacent chip by adjoining the contact elements, wherein the memory chips are stacked without providing a spacer between them such that a high storage density per volume unit can be achieved.
One problem with manufacturing stacked memory chips, is that the manufacturing yield decreases substantially. This is due, at least in part, to the number of manufacturing steps between the providing of the single bare chips and the completing of the multi-chip package, each step having a certain likelihood of a failure. The decrease of the manufacturing yield is substantially independent from the stacking technology used.
Therefore, there is a need for a yield-efficient multi-chip device and a method of manufacturing the same.

Multi-chip device and method for producing a multi-chip device


A resistive memory device and method of initialization are provided. The resistive memory device includes a first group of resistive memory cells connected between bit lines and a first plate and a second group connected between bit lines and a second plate. First and second initialization voltages are respectively applied to the first and second plates outside a normal path associated with a normal operation of the resistive memory cells.

Embodiments of the present inventive concept relate to resistive memory devices, and more particularly, to a resistive memory device initializing a resistive memory cell using at least one initialization path without affecting a normal path. Embodiments of the inventive concept also relate to initialization methods for resistive memory devices and electronic devices including resistive memory devices.
The resistance of a resistor element within a resistive memory cell (a "memory resistor") may be varied in accordance with a voltage or current supplied to the memory resistor. Using this resistance variability, a resistive memory cell may be adapted to store information correlated with different memory resistor states. The Phase change Random Access Memory (PRAM) uses one or more constituent phase change materials and particular applications of voltage/current to define two or more resistance states, where each resistance state is indicative of a corresponding stored data value.
The Magneto-resistive Random Access Memory (MRAM) uses a difference between magnetic spin directions for a magnetic pinned layer and a magnetic free layer to define an aligned state or an unaligned state. These differing magnetically induced resistance states may be correlated with respective data values.
Oxide semiconductors, such as the nickel oxide (NIO) semiconductors, analogously define resistance differences related to a thin filament formed inside the oxide, and the Conductive Bridging Random Access Memory (CBRAM) defines resistance difference related to an accumulation of ions.
In each of the foregoing memory technologies, a particular memory cell may be variously placed into one of a number of possible states (e.g., a set state, reset state, program state, erase state, etc.) Corresponding memory system operations (e.g., a program operation, erase operation, write operation, etc.) are used to create the voltage/current conditions necessary to place the resistive memory cell into the desired state. As is conventionally understood, many resistive memory cells may be placed into a so-called "initialization state." In the context of binary resistive memory cells, the initialization state is a third type of state different from the high resistance state or a low resistance state used to store data.
For example, the filament type resistive random access memory (RRAM) varies memory cell resistance according to the placement of a filament within an oxide. In order to initialize the filament type RRAM for use, the filament must be initially formed inside the oxide after fabrication. To do this, an initialization operation (or a "forming") is executed on the RRAM. However, as provided from the manufacturer, and prior to memory cell forming, the resistance of memory cells in the RRAM is much greater than the high resistance state thereafter used to indicate a particular data state. Hence, before the forming or initialization operation is executed, resistive memory cells will be in an initialization state and will exhibit corresponding operating characteristics. Thus, the execution of one or more initialization operations must necessarily occur prior to the delivery of a memory system including resistive memory cells.
The foregoing examples (PRAM, MRAM, RRAM, CBRAM) are just that—examples. Those skilled in the art understand that considerable research is on-going in the field of resistive memories and it is highly likely that other types of resistive memories will emerge in the near future. However, despite the fact that resistive memories will vary by structure and operating principles, initialization will remain an essential part of the processes required to provide a working resistive memory system.
This being the case, it should further be noted that the initialization of a resistive memory typically requires a voltage/current (e.g., around 3V) that is much greater than the voltage/current (e.g., around 1V) used during a program or write operation. This unique initialization operation requirement is particularly burdensome from a design standpoint, since initialization will usually be performed only once during a testing phase for the resistive memory prior to customer delivery. In addition to using a much greater "initialization voltage" (as compared with a program voltage), the initialization operation applies the initialization voltage to resistive memory cells for a time period much greater than a normal programming time period. In combination, these operating requirements singularly driven by the one-time-executed, but essential initialization operation tend to force an over-design of the constituent resistive memory and otherwise consume memory system resources, both hardware and software.

Resistive memory devices, initialization methods, and electronic devices incorporating same


A direct positive color light-sensitive material is disclosed, which comprises a support having thereon at least one internal latent image-forming silver halide emulsion layer containing non-prefogged silver halide grains and which contains at least one color image-forming coupler capable of producing or releasing a non-diffusible or diffusible dye upon oxidative coupling with a color developing agent, with at least one layer different from the internal latent image-forming silver halide emulsion layer containing a surface latent image-forming, negative-working silver halide emulsion and with at least one of the negative-working silver halide emulsion layer and an interlayer adjacent thereto containing at least one compound capable of releasing a fogging agent, a fogging agent precursor, a development promoter or a development promoter precursor in proportion to the amount of developed silver of the negative-working silver halide emulsion upon development processing using an aromatic primary amine developing agent.

Photographic processes for obtaining a direct positive image without reversal processing or without the use of a negative-working film have been well known.
Conventionally known processes of forming positive images using direct positive silver halide photographic light-sensitive materials can be classified into two main types from the standpoint of practical usefulness, excluding special types.
One type of such processes employs a previously fogged silver halide emulsion, in which fogging nuclei (latent image) in exposed areas are destroyed by solarization or the Hershel effect to obtain a positive image after development processing.
Another type uses an internal latent image-forming silver halide emulsion not having previously been fogged, in which, after imagewise exposure, surface development is conducted after or simultaneously with fogging processing to obtain direct positive images.
The above-described internal latent image-forming silver halide photographic emulsion is a silver halide photographic emulsion of the type which contains light-sensitive nuclei mainly within the interior of silver halide grains and forms a latent image mainly within the interior of grains upon being exposed to light.
The latter processes generally give a higher sensitivity than the former processes and are therefore suited for uses requiring high sensitivity. The present invention relates to a process of the latter type, using a non-prefogged internal latent image-forming silver halide emulsion.
In this technical field, various techniques are known, as described in, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,592,250, 2,466,957, 2,497,875, 2,588,982, 3,317,322 2,497,875, 3,761,266, 3,761,276, and 3,796,577 and British Pat. Nos. 1,151,363, 1,150,553, and 1,011,062.
Photographic direct positive light-sensitive materials having comparatively high sensitivity can be prepared by employing these known techniques.
Detailed descriptions of the mechanism by which direct positive images are formed are described in, for example, T. H. James; The Theory of the Photographic Process, (4th ed.), chap. 7, pp. 182-193 and U.S. Pat. No. 3,761,276.
That is, it is believed that fogging nuclei are selectively formed only on the surface of those silver halide grains in unexposed areas by surface-desensitizing action due to an internal latent image formed by the first imagewise exposure within the interior of silver halide grains, and that a photographic image (direct positive image) is formed in unexposed areas by subsequent ordinary "surface development processing".
As is described above, two processes are generally known for selectively producing fogging nuclei: one being a process of giving a second exposure all over the light-sensitive layer, which is referred to as a "light-fogging process" (described in, for example, British Patent 1,151,363); and the other being a process of using a nucleating agent, which is called a "chemically fogging process". The latter process is described in, for example, Research Disclosure, vol. 151, No. 15162 (Nov., 1976), pp. 72-87.
Formation of direct positive color images may be attained by subjecting an internal latent image-forming silver halide light-sensitive material to surface color development processing after or simultaneously with fogging processing, then bleaching and fixing processings or bleach-fixing processing, after which the material is usually washed with water and/or subjected to stabilization processing.
Many conventional processes have been disclosed for enhancing the interlayer effect in surface latent image-forming, negative-working color photographic light-sensitive materials to thereby improve color reproducibility.
The interlayer effect is described in, for example, Hanson; Journal of the Optical Society of America, Vol. 42, pp. 663-669, and A. Thiels; Zeitschrift fur Wissenschaftliche Photographie, Photophysicue und Photo-chemie, Vol. 47, pp. 106-118 and 248-255.
One process for enhancing the interlayer effect is a process of using DIR couplers capable of reacting with an oxidation product of a developing agent to release a development inhibitor. The DIR couplers are couplers having at the coupling-active site thereof a group which is to be released to form a development inhibitor or a precursor of such a group. Specific examples are described in, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,227,554, 3,701,783, 3,615,506, and 3,617,291.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,536,486 describes the introduction of a diffusible 4-thiazoline-2-thione into an exposed color reversal photographic element, and U.S. Pat. No. 3,536,487 describes the introduction of diffusible 4-thiazoline-2-thione into an unexposed color reversal photographic element, to obtain an interlayer effect.
JP-B-48-34169 (The term "JP-B" as used herein means an "examined Japanese Patent application") discloses that a remarkable interlayer effect is obtained by allowing an N-substituted-4-thiazoline-2-thione compound to be present upon development of color photographic materials whereby silver halide is reduced to silver.
In addition, (Research Disclosure, No. 13116 (Mar., b 1975) describes providing a colloidal silver-containing layer between a cyan layer and a magenta layer of a color reversal photographic element for obtaining an interlayer effect.
Further, U.S. Pat. No. 4,082,553 describes a technique for obtaining an interlayer effect by incorporating latent image-forming silver haloiodide grains in one layer of a color reversal photographic material having a layer structure which permits iodide ions to migrate therethrough during development, and incorporating in another layer latent image-forming silver halide grains and silver halide grains having been surface-fogged so as to be developed regardless of imagewise exposure.
However in direct positive light-sensitive materials, the above-described process using DIR couplers has the serious defect that color development is extremely delayed, and the other processes described above fail to provide satisfactory interlayer effect.

Direct positive color light-sensitive material


A string for a musical stringed instrument includes (a) a core wire and (b) a wrap wire coiled tightly around the core wire. The wrap wire is an aluminum-copper alloy having between about 2 wt % and about 10 wt % aluminum.

Wrapped musical instruments strings typically employ a core wire principally comprised of spring tempered high-carbon steel. (Typically, such wrapped strings ["wound strings"] are used for strings providing the lower notes on the instrument. For example, wrapped strings are typically used on all strings of a bass guitar, the four bass strings of a steel-string acoustic guitar, the three bass strings of a six-string electric guitar, and the four bass strings of a seven-string electric guitar.)
For users of stringed musical instruments, there is a continual need for wrapped musical strings which provide increased and fuller clarity and brightness.

Aluminum copper wrap wire for musical instruments


A device for removing coatings from granular materials such as hull-encased meats of grains. The device includes a housing within which is journaled a rotatably disposed drum. A wall is also mounted within the housing, the wall angling downwardly and being spaced at a distance from an outer surface of the drum to define a processing space therebetween. Typically, the processing space narrows downwardly within the housing. The drum is disposed for rotation so that any material fed into the housing through a hopper mounted on the top thereof will be drawn along the drum surface into the processing space. The processing space narrows sufficiently so that an abrasion is effected upon the material as it is deposited within the processing space because of the relative movement of the outer surface of the drum and the downwardly extending wall.

Various organic products, in order to facilitate recovery of desired portions thereof, are processed such that outer encasements, known as hulls, are removed from inner portions of the material, known as the meats. Typically, such processing involves the separation and removal of the hull from the meats so that the meats can be further utilized. One example of an organic granular material which is so processed is soybeans. In the case of this oilseed, it is desirable to remove the hulls from the meats prior to recovering oil from the meats.
Strong interest has been generated in effecting efficient removal because of the necessity of reducing costs in the soybean processing industry. These costs include various components, among them being labor and energy. These two particular costs tend to be increased above what might otherwise be incurred because of inefficient removal of hulls from soybean meats.
Various considerations bear upon how hulls are removed from soybean meats. Some of these include the desire to minimize the time involved in removing the hulls, and the need to minimize damage to the meats in the removal process. Certainly, apparatus which would enable minimization of time and, concurrently, maximization of protection of the meats be a significant advance. That is, if hull removal could be expedited without incurring greater risks of damaging the meats during hull removal, the process could be performed much more efficiently. The costs discussed above would, thereby, be reduced.
It is to these problems and desirable features dictated by the prior art that the present invention is directed. It is a device which improves over all known devices which seek to accomplish the goals of the present invention.

Coating removal device for granular materials


A Long Term Evolution (LTE) network receives a registration request from User Equipment (UE) and responsively identifies a mobile data Access Point Name (APN) and an Internet Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) APN for the UE. The LTE network establishes a mobile data bearer and an IMS bearer responsive to APNs. The LTE network receives a user instruction to disable the mobile data service for the UE and responsively releases the mobile data bearer and disables the mobile data APN for the UE. An IMS server system exchanges messages with the UE over the IMS bearer when the mobile data service is disabled. The LTE network receives a user instruction to enable the mobile data service for the UE and responsively enables the mobile data APN for the UE.

Long Term Evolution (LTE) wireless communication networks exchange wireless data with User Equipment (UE) to provide mobile data services to users. When a UE registers with the LTE network on behalf of a user, the LTE network queries a Home Subscriber System (HSS) database to obtain information related to communication services for the UE. In particular, the HSS yields Access Point Names (APNs) that initiate default bearers for the communication services. The APNs initiate communication services, such as Internet access, Voice over LTE, user provisioning, live video streaming, and the like. In some cases, the user provisioning service allows for user control based on the Extensible Mark-up Language Configuration Access Protocol (XCAP).
The HSS is used to block the communication services by disabling the APN for a blocked service. If a user fails to pay for past network usage, then the APNs for non-emergency services such as Internet browsing, are typically disabled in the HSS for that user's UE. When the UE subsequently registers with the LTE network or visits another network, the HSS does not yield any APNs that would initiate a blocked service.
In some wireless communication networks, the user's wireless device has control settings for mobile data services. For example, a user can operate their device to turn off mobile data services while retaining voice calling services. In particular, the user may specify a device setting to disable mobile data when roaming. Unfortunately, the ability of the user to control mobile data services in LTE networks is not efficient or effective.
Overview
A Long Term Evolution (LTE) network receives a registration request from User Equipment (UE) for a user and accesses a data structure to identify a mobile data Access Point Name (APN) and an Internet Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) APN for the user. The data structure may reside in a Home Subscriber System (HSS). The LTE network establishes and maintains a mobile data bearer responsive to the mobile data APN. The LTE network establishes and maintains an IMS bearer responsive to the IMS APN. The LTE network receives a first user instruction to disable the mobile data service and responsively releases the mobile data bearer and modifies the data structure to disable the mobile data APN. An IMS server system exchanges messages with the UE over the IMS bearer when the mobile data service is disabled. The LTE network configured receives a second user instruction to enable the mobile data service and responsively modifies the data structure to enable the mobile data APN for the UE.

Mobile data service control for a wireless communication device


The disclosure relates to an electrical drive device having: an inverter including an inverter unit for each phase; a control unit configured to control the inverter units by application of vector control; and a rotating electrical machine having a stator that includes a plurality of phase windings connected to the inverter units. Each of the phase windings includes a first part-winding and an electrically isolated second part-winding. The inverter units include a first phase module and a second phase module. The phase modules deliver the electrical phase assigned to the respective inverter unit in a separate and a mutually electrically isolated manner. The first part-winding is electrically connected to the first phase module and the second part-winding is electrically connected to the second phase module.

Electrical drive devices of the generic type, and methods for the operation thereof, are extensively known from the prior art, such that no separate published evidence hereof is required. An electrical drive device is a device, the function of which is to provide a mechanical drive function, (e.g., a mechanical movement or the like), by the use of electrical energy. The drive function may be provided as a motor function and as a generator function.
To this end, the electrical drive device may include at least one electrical machine, (e.g., a rotating electrical machine), which is electrically connected to an inverter and, by the inverter, is energized with an AC voltage in an appropriate manner. In some specific cases, the rotating electrical machine may also be energized with an appropriate DC voltage, wherein the inverter is then configured as a DC/DC converter.
By the control unit, the inverter may be controlled in an appropriate manner, such that the rotating electrical machine executes the desired drive functionality. The drive functionality may be a rotary motion, in the case of which the rotating electrical machine delivers a torque in a predeterminable manner.
The function of electrical drive devices is the delivery of drive functionalities of various types. Thus, electrical drive devices may be employed, for example, for the propulsion of motor vehicles. Moreover, however, electrical drive devices may also be employed in industry, (e.g., in production lines, in construction machinery, or the like). Meanwhile, moreover, electrical drive devices are also under consideration in air travel, for example, for the propulsion of propellers, by which an aircraft is driven, or the like.
In particular, special measures are required for applications in air travel, on the grounds that the latter, in addition to a requirement for the lowest possible weight, simultaneously is also to dictate a particular requirement with respect to reliability in regulation operation. Thus, inter alia, in the event of a short-circuit in part of a winding of the electrical machine, a total failure should be prevented, insofar as possible. Moreover, in the event of such an occurrence, the overall impact on the electrical drive device, in particular on the rotating electrical machine, should of course be able to be kept as low as possible.


A memory controller includes a sorting determination circuit which activates a sorting signal when an access request address for wrapping access to at least one memory block of a semiconductor memory is different from a first leading address of the at least one memory block, an address conversion circuit which sets the first leading address to an access starting address when the sorting signal is activated, a first data sorting circuit which sorts, when the sorting signal is activated, data sequentially read from the semiconductor memory in accordance with the access starting address starting from data corresponding to the access request address and a first output circuit which outputs the sorted data to an external bus.

1. Field
Embodiments discussed herein relate to a semiconductor memory.
2. Description of Related Art
Semiconductor memories such as SDRAMs (Synchronous Dynamic Random Access Memories) have burst transmission functions in order to improve access efficiency. In an incrementing burst transmission, a burst operation is performed by successively incrementing an access address. In a wrapping burst transmission, a burst operation is performed by generating access addresses within a given range in a circulating manner.
Related art is discussed in Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2006-172240 or the like.

Memory controller, system, and method for accessing semiconductor memory


According to an example aspect of the present invention, there is provided a device for separating materials in the form of particles and/or drops from a gas flow, especially particles and/or drops the diameter of which varies from one nanometer to a few dozen nanometers, the device comprising an inlet for incoming air to be purified, a collection chamber, an outlet for the purified air, a voltage source with actuators, an fastening column to which ion yield tips have been coupled, the device is configured to direct high tension to the ion yield tips providing ion beams from the ion yield tips to the collection surface, the collection surface conducting electricity is electrically insulated from the outer wall of the collection chamber by an electrical insulation, and the device is configured to direct voltage of opposite sign to the ion yield tips than the voltage directed to the collection surface, wherein ion yield tips are arranged directly on a surface of the fastening column having a length, wherein the ion yield tips protrude from the surface of the fastening column into a cavity of the collection chamber.

At present, filters, cyclones, or electrical methods, such as electric filters or an ion blow method, are used in gas purification systems and for separating particles from a gas flow. Methods and devices for separating particles or drops from a gas flow are e.g. known from DE 1471620 A1 and DE 19751984 A1.
Air purifiers that are currently being used have moved away from the conventional method of using filters in order to mechanically extract unwanted particles from air. Such conventional filtration systems suffer from the disadvantages that the air flow has to be limited to a slow flow stream and that the filter has to be periodically removed for cleaning. In addition, it is not possible to achieve good cleaning results with the known techniques, when the particles have a diameter in the range between a nanometer and a few dozen nanometers.
The operation of the cyclones is based on the decrease in the gas flow speed so that the heavy particles in the gas flow fall down into the collection organ. Cyclones are thus applicable for separating heavy particles.
In electric filters, the separation of particles from gas is carried out onto collection plates or to interior surfaces of pipes. The speed of the flowing gas in electric filters has to be generally under 1.0 m/second, manufacturer's recommendations being about 0.3-0.5 m/second. The reason for a small gas flow speed is that a higher flow speed releases particles accumulated onto plates, thus decreasing reduction efficiency considerably. The operation of electric filters is based on the electrostatic charge of particles. However, it is challenging to electrically charge particles in the nanometric category. In addition, all materials are not charged electrically. Low gas flow speed has to be used also because of the cleaning stage of the collection plates. When cleaning the plates, a blow is directed to the plates, releasing the collected particle material. The intention is that only the smallest possible amount of particle material released from the plates during the purification stage would get back to the flowing gas. With a small gas flow speed it is possible to achieve tolerable particle passing throughs.
Further, electric air purifiers exploit the properties of charges in ionised gas and use electrostatic means to extract the charged particles from a directed airflow. This method of extraction improves efficiency not only in terms of overall amount of particles being extracted but also the types of particles. An air purifier would typically exploit the properties of positively or negatively charged particles where an electric field would interact with these charged particles. The charged particles would respond to the electric field and be pulled towards the ion blow onto a collection surface.
Document EP 1165241 B1, for example, discloses a method and device for separating materials in the form of particles and/or drops from a gas flow, in which method the gas flow is directed through a collection chamber the outer walls of which are grounded, and in which high tension is directed to the ion yield tips arranged in the collection chamber, thus providing an ion flow from the ion yield tips towards the collection surface, separating the desired materials from the gas flow. It is characteristic of the invention that the collection surface conducting electricity are electrically insulated from the outer casings, and that high tension with the opposite sign of direct voltage as the high tension directed to the ion yield tips is directed to the collection surface. According to an embodiment of the invention the electrical insulation is made of ABS, and the surface conducting electricity comprises a thin chrome layer arranged on the insulation layer. The ion yield tips are arranged in rings, with the help of which the distance between the ion yield tips and the collection surface is made shorter. Thus, some particles contained in the slow gas flow do not pass through the ion beams, but instead between the fastening rod and the ion yield tips.
In view of the foregoing, it would be beneficial to provide a method and a system further improving reduction efficiency. The system should be capable of being manufactured in industrial scale.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Device and method for separating materials


A diagnostic system and method for a field device in a process plant is provided. The diagnostic apparatus includes a processor operatively connected to the field device and a calendar having a proscribed period stored in memory. A diagnostic check is executed on the field device if an occurrence of a diagnostic event is detected and execution of the diagnostic check does not coincide with the proscribed period.

Process control systems and safety instrumented systems (SIS) typically include one or more controllers communicatively coupled to one or more field devices via a communication bus. The controllers of each of these systems use the field devices to perform a variety of control functions within the control environment. For example, the field devices may be used to open or close valves, increase or decrease fluid flow, and measure process parameters, such as temperature, pressure, or fluid flow rate.
Maintaining the process control system and the SIS of a process plant is an ongoing process that includes monitoring the operation of the field devices, periodically testing the field devices, and repairing or replacing the field devices as needed. To maintain the performance of the field device, plant personnel may periodically perform a diagnostic check on the field device. The diagnostic check may also be scheduled or automatically executed by the process control system, SIS, or field device in response to an occurrence of predetermined diagnostic event that is used as a triggering event. The predetermined diagnostic event is typically associated with the field device and may correspond to the field device reaching a pre-determined time limit of operating use, or the failure of a component of the field device to attain a specified position, for example.
One particular field device used in an SIS to maintain the safe operation of a process control system is an emergency shutdown (ESD) valve. In one example implementation, the ESD valve is an actuated valve designed to stop the flow of a fluid upon the detection of a dangerous event. Because the ESD valve is normally in an open position, there is a concern that a buildup of foreign substances may cause the ESD valve to stick or otherwise inhibit the valve's drive mechanism, preventing the ESD valve from functioning properly in an emergency situation. However, fully cycling the ESD valve to check its operability is generally not feasible because fully closing the valve will essentially shut down the process control system.
A partial stroke test (PST) is a standard automated diagnostic check commonly used by plant personnel to test a percentage of the possible failure modes of the ESD valve without having to fully close the valve. To perform the PST, an actuator is activated to partially close the ESD valve, typically by moving the valve approximately 30% of a full stroke. Thereafter, the ESD valve is returned to its fully open state. By moving the ESD valve as far as the process would safely permit, the PST can diagnose operational concerns of the ESD valve without interrupting the control process. Regular use of the PST generally provides for longer intervals between full stroke tests (which does requires a plant to be shut down), thereby reducing plant downtime. The PST is therefore considered to be a sufficient test to exercise the ESD valve during its use, thereby ensuring proper operation of the ESD valve.
There are, however, some valid concerns with using the automated PST. One significant concern is the time at which the PST is eventually executed, most notably in regard to automatically "scheduled" events, such as in response to an occurrence of a diagnostic event. The diagnostic event may correspond to a time or an event. For example, the diagnostic event can relate to a particular time, such as every Monday at 3 pm, or the diagnostic event can relate to a particular event, such as reaching a pre-established limit of operating hours or reaching a pre-established amount of time since the last PST of the ESD valve was performed. Therefore, because the time when a diagnostic event occurs may not always be known, the time when a PST executes in response to the occurrence of a diagnostic event may also not be known. This uncertainty may present a problem to plant personnel if the PST executes during a time when plant personnel are not able to sufficiently support the PST or are not able to respond to an adverse PST result. For instance, if a problem arises during a PST automatically run on an off-shift or holiday, fewer plant personnel may be available to respond if needed, which can have a severe negative impact to plant productivity and personnel safety.
There may also be times when the occurrence of a diagnostic event may not be relevant and a responsive action may therefore be unnecessary. For example, the detection of a valve's position being outside a desired range may usually be reported to plant personnel in accordance with defined protocols. However, should such a variance occur during a plant start-up when the control system is incompletely configured, automatically reporting the variation in this instance may be distracting to plant personnel. It is during plant start-up, for example, that "disabling" the reporting of an occurrence of a diagnostic event trigger would perhaps be desirable and beneficial to plant personnel.
While there are benefits to automatically executing a diagnostic check in response to detecting the occurrence of a diagnostic event, it is possible for the automated diagnostic check to adversely affect the operation of the control system. Because automated diagnostic checks can occur at indeterminate times and perhaps without much advance notice, which may unfavorably affect plant personnel's perceived sense of control with respect to managing the control system, plant personnel may therefore prefer not to use automated diagnostic checks and tests in some instances.

Method and apparatus for configuring a blackout period for scheduled diagnostic checks of a field device in a process plant


A process for quantifying the amount of unbound metal and bound metal in solution is provided. A process for quantifying the amount of bound metal amino acid chelate and free ligand in a solid (e.g., dry mixture such as an animal feed) is also provided.

Metal amino acid chelates and other essential metal/mineral organic sources offer benefits and greater differential bioavailability compared to inorganic sources in animal and human nutrition. The reaction of metals and amino acids to form chelate molecules is a complex reaction. Frequently, manufacturers or commercial synthesizers of these molecules, due to incomplete understanding of chelation chemistry, do not fully apply any analysis to their synthesis processes which results in a complex set of non-stable commercial organic type molecules that are categorized as chelates. The requirement of the heterocyclic ring structure is not reached, and, instead, a series of complexes are obtained due to uncontrolled reaction between the amino acid and the metal salts or minerals. The result is the formation of other types of complexes that may differ in their chemical structure and therefore in their bioavailability or diffusion through the small intestine. As result of the dose given, the effectiveness may vary according with the synthesis products obtained in different batches in the absence of complete characterization of the synthesis products. (Ashmead, 2012).
There exists a need for methodologies for the synthesis of metal amino acid chelates and the establishment of analytical controls that allow monitoring, characterization, evaluation of comparative stability and continuous improvement of the synthesis process to achieve the chemical structure desired to ensure an effective, high concentration dose of bound metal/mineral to an animal. To ensure an effective, high concentration of bound metal/mineral, the amino acid chelate must exhibit less reactivity with other antagonistic metal/mineral sources of the diet. Due to the unpredictability and lack of stability of amino acid chelates, production costs remain high. The ability to quantify and asses the stability of amino acid chelates will decrease the cost of formulations by the inclusion of them in a lower quantity and allow for greater performance of the animal. Additionally, antagonistic reactions may be avoided allowing for greater solubility of these compounds at the different physiological conditions (e.g., pH) and avoiding putting at risk the stability of the premixes due to the inclusion of a highly reactive species from an unbound metal/mineral source. The has been an exhaustive search for a lower interaction and reactivity of sources of calcium, zinc, and copper with other chelating and/or sequestering sources such as phytic acid present in the cereals of the animal's diet. The metal amino acid chelates are be good alternatives of greater bioavailability, solubility and less reactivity due to the fact that they act as coordination compounds. Thus, the amino acid chelates can be evaluated against a competitor (i.e., exerted by phytic acid) and the structural stability assessed in solution under simulated physiological conditions media.
Phytic acid has the ability to form complexes with essential trace metals or mineral (Cu, Cr, Zn, Co, Mn, Fe, and Ca), which decreases their intestinal absorption and bioavailability in monogastric animals because such animals are not provided with sufficient endogenous phosphatases that are capable of releasing the metals/minerals from the phytate structure. In addition, phytates interact with basic protein residues forming complexes, such as protein-phytate and phyto-metal/mineral protein. (NADA M. TAMIM AND ROSELINA ANGEL 2003).
The reaction between phytic acid and an essential trace metal or mineral favors the formation of highly stable complexes that precipitate in basic media (e.g., at intestinal pH). As consequence of precipitation, proteins transport located in the intestinal cells for the metallic metal cannot act because the metal is not in the ionic form or soluble form. The same principle is applicable to other substances commonly found in the diet such as oxalates and phosphates. In fact, calcium, magnesium, zinc, iron and aluminum, react with dietary phosphates to form insoluble precipitates. The basic environment of the intestine reduces the tendency of the solubility of these when entering into this environment. When the metal/mineral is trapped in a compound of insoluble type, there is a small probability of a significant absorption of the precipitated salt. Thus, there exists a need for analytical testing methods that validate and quantify bound and unbound metal or mineral content under in vitro conditions.

Process for quantification of metal amino acid chelates in solutions and solids


A permanent magnet-less, brushless synchronous system includes a stator that generates a magnetic rotating field when sourced by an alternating current. An uncluttered rotor disposed within the magnetic rotating field is spaced apart from the stator to form an air gap relative to an axis of rotation. A stationary excitation core spaced apart from the uncluttered rotor by an axial air gap and a radial air gap substantially encloses the stationary excitation core. Some permanent magnet-less, brushless synchronous systems include stator core gaps to reduce axial flux flow. Some permanent magnet-less, brushless synchronous systems include an uncluttered rotor coupled to outer laminations. The quadrature-axis inductance may be increased in some synchronous systems. Some synchronous systems convert energy such as mechanical energy into electrical energy (e.g., a generator); other synchronous systems may convert any form of energy into mechanical energy (e.g., a motor).

1. Technical Field
This disclosure relates to electric machines, and more specifically to synchronous motors and generators.
2. Related Art
Due to advances in form and performance demand for motors is increasing. Reduced sizes and improved reliability have broadened the acceptance of electric motors to industries that include transportation, aerospace, robotics, and healthcare.
Some motors use permanent magnets to generate torque. Because the properties of these materials may vary in time and the raw material costs may be excessive, such materials may be unsuitable for some applications. In vehicles, for example, fuel efficiency may be compromised when a permanent magnetic motor is not actuated to drive a vehicle. The continuous fields of the permanent magnets may resist the driving torque of a vehicle and generate core losses.

Permanent-magnet-less machine having an enclosed air gap


A magneto-resistive (MR) transducer is capable of reading data signals magnetically recorded on a tape. The transducer includes a head-tape interface (HTI) and a MR sensor adjacent to the HTI. An electro-static discharge (ESD) element is coupled to the MR sensor, which is adapted to provide an electrical path from the MR sensor to a lower potential structure.

Tape drives are being improved in order to accommodate increased tape cartridge capacities and data rates. Increases in tape cartridge capacities are achievable by increasing the linear data density and the number of data tracks written across the width of tape. Increases in data rates are achievable by increasing the number of parallel data channels and the tape velocity.
Increases in tape cartridge capacities and data rates are limited by the available read back signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). This limitation results because the physical read width in linear flexible media recording systems is proportionally smaller than the physical write width in order to provide the servo system with sufficient margin to correctly position the read sensor within the previously written track during read-back operation. Thus, as the track pitch is reduced, the physical read width is proportionally reduced resulting in a decrease in the read signal and thereby a loss in SNR.
Certain read sensors use the anisotropic magneto-resistance (AMR) effect. The AMR effect causes the intrinsic resistance of an AMR sensor to be a function of the relative angle between the direction of the electric current flow in the sensor and its magnetic moment. The AMR effect has a maximum amplitude of roughly 2.5% of the intrinsic resistance of the sensor. The available signal can be increased somewhat by reducing the thickness of the sensor in order to increase its resistance or by increasing the electric current flow in the sensor. However, the absolute amplitude of the read-back signal is limited by both the maximum current density achievable without damaging the sensor film stack and the temperature rise of the sensor.
These issues can be mitigated by using read-back sensors which use the giant magneto-resistive (GMR) effect. The GMR effect results in sensor resistance changes of more than 10%. However, GMR sensors are formed from extremely thin films (<5 nm) of which several of these films (e.g., Cu, NiMn, PtMn) may have significant corrosion issues. As flexible media systems read with the sensor essentially in contact with the surface of the tape this inevitably exposes the sensor to corrosive agents, in addition to abrasion and smearing of the film stack at the sensor edge exposed to the tape. An additional drawback of GMR based devices is the adverse effects of electro-static discharge (ESD). During an ESD event, a charge build-up is rapidly dissipated through the sensor and other components of the GMR based device. The damage results in catastrophic changes such as device melting or evaporation, and/or the magnetic integrity of the device.
The above disadvantages result in significant processing and reliability issues which currently limit the use of MR (including GMR and AMR) read-back sensors in a flexible media environment such as magnetic tape.

Magneto-resistive (MR) transducer having an electrostatic discharge (ESD) element and separation structure in contact with magnetic media


A system includes a time of flight (TOF) camera or similar device, a processor coupled to the TOF camera, and a sensor. The processor receives TOF data from the sensor. The TOF data is related to an object within range of the TOF device. The processor calculates dimensions of the object using the time of flight data.

Shipping and delivery companies handle transportation, shipping, and distribution of a large volume of goods. Efficient asset management and unambiguous billing are two important aspects for high productivity and customer satisfaction for these companies. To satisfy these aspects, companies adopt automation at several stages throughout the supply chain to stay in this highly competitive business. For example, wider application of barcode technology for asset management has yielded higher productivity for these companies. However, certain aspects of billing procedures still require human intervention, such as the measurement of the size of consignment goods. Current generation image-based Automatic Identification and Data Capture (AIDC) devices don't support the measurement of such goods. A non-contact, automated measurement of size of goods and other objects would achieve higher productivity, unambiguous billing, and increased customer satisfaction.
Similarly, in the automotive and other manufacturing industries, dimensional error margins during the assembly process result in reduced product quality and, subsequently, lengthy corrective actions. To avoid this, accurate and efficient metrology solutions on components and assembly geometry are needed.
Today, the object metrology task required for asset management in the above-identified markets such as shipping and manufacturing are performed with a large amount of human effort, or simply estimated by an operator, and this leads to loss of revenue, poor productivity, ambiguous billing, and poor customer satisfaction.


FMCW radar sensor for motor vehicles, having at least one antenna element and a modulation device for feeding the antenna element using a frequency-modulated transmission signal, whose frequency periodically sweeps a frequency band, characterized in that the antenna element has multiple subelements, which are positioned in a vertical column and fed serially, and the modulation device is implemented for the purpose of variably setting the frequency position of the frequency band.

In conventional FMCW radar sensors (frequency modulated continuous wave), the frequency is modulated in the form of a ramp within a fixed frequency band, for example alternately using a rising frequency ramp and a falling frequency ramp.
The received radar echo is mixed with a component of the transmission signal, so that an intermediate frequency signal is obtained, whose frequency corresponds to the frequency difference between transmission signal and received signal. A located object is shown in the spectrum of the intermediate frequency signal in the form of a peak, whose apex frequency is a function of the signal runtime and thus the distance of the object and, because of the Doppler effect, also the relative velocity of the object. By comparing the apex frequencies of two peaks, which originate from the same object and of which one was obtained on the rising frequency ramp and the other on the falling frequency ramp, the distance and the relative velocity of the object may be determined.
A monostatic antenna concept is common, in which the antenna elements are used both for transmitting and also for receiving.
Multiple antenna elements are typically positioned in the horizontal adjacent to one another in front of a shared microwave lens. The radar radiation of each antenna element is bundled by the lens and emitted in an established main emission direction, which is a function of the location of the relevant antenna element. In this way, a multibeam radar is obtained, which covers a larger angle range in the horizontal, i.e., in the azimuth, and allows the azimuth angle of the object to be determined by comparing the amplitudes and phases of the radar echoes received by various antenna elements.
Fundamentally, instead of a microwave lens or in combination therewith, group antennas may also be used for beam shaping and for establishing the emission direction, the group antennas having multiple individual antennas, which are actuated using different phases, so that the desired emission characteristic results from interference effects.
For example, German Patent Application No. DE 196 38 149 describes a group antenna, using which the emission direction may be influenced not only in the azimuth, but also in the elevation (in the vertical). The use of antenna elements having multiple subelements which are positioned in the vertical and serially fed is also described, whereby an antenna characteristic which varies as a function of the frequency of the transmission signal is obtained in the elevation.


A device for smoothing pressure fluctuations from a liquid pump, the device having a liquid chamber connectable to the pump and having an air chamber connectable to a source of pressurized air through an internal valve, the liquid chamber being separated from the air chamber by a diaphragm, the diaphragm connected to the valve, to permit pressurized air to equalize liquid pressure surges and to supplement liquid pressure drops, and to automatically adjust for changes in average liquid pressure delivery conditions.

The present invention relates to an apparatus for smoothing pressure pulsations in fluid flow lines. The invention finds particular application when used in conjunction with a liquid pump which is driven by a reciprocable air motor, wherein the air motor reciprocates through a predefined stroke and reverses direction through the same stroke in the other direction; a liquid pump is typically mechanically linked to this motion, thereby causing pressure fluctuations at each of the reciprocation changeover points. The effect of this operation on the fluid being pumped is to cause periodic pressure fluctuations in the fluid delivery lines. Such fluctuations are undesirable when smooth fluid delivery is desired, and are also undesirable because they may create undue wear on the delivery system. Under typical operating conditions a reciprocable pump is set to deliver liquid at some average pressure value under nominal flow rate conditions. Under these conditions, the instantaneous pressure of liquid delivery from the pump may exceed the average value by 10%-20% during one portion of the pump piston stroke, and may drop below the average pressure value by 10%-20% during another portion of the pump piston stroke.
Devices for minimizing pulsations in liquid delivery lines are known in the art. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 1,893,685, issued Jan. 10, 1933, discloses a diaphragm air chamber connected to a liquid delivery line, wherein liquid pressure surges are absorbed in the diaphragm chamber by displacing a volume of pressurized air. U.S. Pat. No. 1,767,100, issued Jun. 24, 1930, discloses a liquid chamber in combination with an air chamber for absorbing pulsations in a liquid delivery line. U.S. Pat. No. 4,445,829, issued May 1, 1984, discloses an enlarged chamber downstream of a liquid delivery pump, coupled with a gas-filled bladder for dampening pressure pulses which pass through the chamber. U.S. Pat. No. 3,188,975, issued Jun. 15, 1965, discloses a hydraulic piston connected to an air piston, wherein the hydraulic piston is responsive to hydraulic impulses, and causes the air piston to act against an air cushion, thereby diminishing pressure surges.

Dynamic surge suppressor for fluid flow lines


There is disclosed a plugged honeycomb structure 1 having: partition walls 2 arranged in such a manner as to form a plurality of cells 3 extending from one end face 42 to the other end face 44 through an axial direction; an outer peripheral wall 7 which surrounds an outer periphery of the partition wall 2; and plugging portions 4a, 4b disposed in such a manner as to plug the cell 3 in either end face 42, 44. In the plugged honeycomb structure 1, at least some of plugging portions 4a arranged in at least the vicinity of the outer peripheral wall protrude from the end face 42 or 44. Alternatively, there are provided a plugged honeycomb structure 1 in which a tip of the protruding portion 4a is substantially flat or has a moderate curved face, and a method of manufacturing the structure. The plugged honeycomb structure 1 does not easily break, is capable of enhancing durability, and is preferably usable in a filter such as a diesel particulate filter (DPF).

When a honeycomb structure is used as a filter such as a DPF, in general, as shown in FIGS. 11(a) to (c), the structure is used in the form of a plugged honeycomb structure 1 having: porous partition walls 2 arranged in such a manner as to form a plurality of cells 3 each extending from one end face 42 to the other end face 44 in an axial direction; an outer peripheral wall 7 which surrounds outer peripheries of the partition walls 2; and plugging portions 4 which are arranged in such a manner as to plug the cells 3 in either end face. By this configuration, a fluid to be treated flows into the cell from one end face 42, and is discharged from the other end face 44 via another cell 3 through the porous partition wall 2. In this case, the partition wall 2 constitutes a filter to capture particulate matters.
Moreover, as shown in FIG. 12, the plugged honeycomb structure is stored in a can member 20 formed of a metal in a state in which a mat 24 formed of a ceramic is wound around an outer peripheral wall of the structure. The structure is fixed by an annular fixing member 22 disposed in the can member and formed of a metal, attached to an automobile or the like, and used in some case (see, e.g., Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 8-281034).
The plugged honeycomb structure for use in this application has requirements that the structure does not easily break by vibration, pressure loss is small, and resistance to thermal shock is satisfactory.
In a case where the plugged honeycomb structure is used for the DPF, a plugged honeycomb structure has been proposed in which a protruding portion is formed on plugging portions, protruding in a tapered shape toward an upstream side from the end face of the cell, as a method of preventing rapid increase of the pressure loss by deposition of the particulate matters (see, e.g., Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-309922).

Plugged honeycomb structure and method of manufacturing the same


A photoacoustic device comprises a light source configured to generate first and second lights; an irradiation unit configured to generate a first acoustic wave from an object including a contrast agent by irradiating the object with the first light, and then bleach the contrast agent by irradiating the object with the second light and generate a second acoustic wave from the object by irradiating the object with the first light after bleaching; a receiving unit configured to output a first signal upon receiving the first acoustic wave and output a second signal upon receiving the second acoustic wave; and an acquisition unit configured to acquire first information based on the first signal, and acquire second information based on the second signal.

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a photoacoustic device.
Description of the Related Art
The research of optical imaging devices in which a living body is irradiated with light from a light source such as a laser, and information on the inside of the living body which is obtained on the basis of the incident light is represented as an image has been actively advanced. Photoacoustic tomography (PAT) is one of such optical imaging techniques. In the photoacoustic tomography, a living body is irradiated with pulsed light generated from a light source, and a photoacoustic wave (typically, ultrasonic wave) generated from a living body tissue which has absorbed the energy of the pulsed light propagated and diffused inside the living body is detected. The obtained signals are subjected to mathematical analysis processing (image reconstruction processing) with an information processing device, and information relating to optical property values of the object interior is visualized. As a result, it is possible to obtain information on the object interior, for example, the initial sound pressure, optical property values (in particular, the light energy absorption density and absorption coefficient) and distributions thereof, and this information can be used for specifying the distribution of absorbents in the living body and locations of malignant tumors.
In PAT, the initial sound pressure P0 of the acoustic wave generated from a light absorbent inside an object can be represented by the following mathematical formula (I).P0=Γ·μa·Φ  (I)
In this formula, Γ is a Gruneisen parameter, which is obtained by dividing the product of the volume expansion coefficient β and the square of the speed of sound c by the heat capacity Cp at constant pressure. Γ is known to have a substantially constant value for the same object. Further, μa is the absorption coefficient of a light absorber, and Φ is the quantity of light at the position of the light absorber (quantity of light by which the light absorber is irradiated; also referred to as "light fluence"). The initial sound pressure P0 generated by the light absorber inside the object propagates as an acoustic wave inside the object and is detected by an acoustic detector arranged on the object surface. Changes with time of the detected sound pressure of the acoustic wave are detected, and the initial sound pressure distribution P0 can be calculated from the measurement results by using an image reconstruction technique such as back projection. By dividing the calculated initial sound pressure distribution P0 by the Gruneisen parameter Γ, it is possible to obtain the distribution of the product of μa and Φ, that is, the light energy density distribution. Further, where the light quantity distribution Φ inside the object is known, the absorption coefficient distribution μa can be obtained by dividing the light energy density distribution by the light quantity distribution Φ. Thus, where an absorber having known optical properties with respect to the light by which the object is irradiated is introduced as a contrast agent, an ultrasound signal corresponding to the amount of the contrast agent present can be acquired.
Assuming that a living body is the object, blood (hemoglobin) is an absorber with a high degree of absorption of near-IR radiation. Thus, where measurements on a living body are performed by PAT using near-IR radiation, information relating to spatial distribution of blood can be obtained. However, when a sufficient signal contrast (S/N) cannot be obtained only with the amount of hemoglobin present, where a light absorber is further introduced as a contrast agent, it is possible to obtain a PAT image with the S/N enhanced according to the concentration at which the light absorber is present. Contrast agents for blood vessels, which can be used in a living body, are required to be safe with respect to the living body and to have optical properties enabling effective absorption of light in a wavelength region with a high transmissivity in the living body.
For example, Indocyanine Green (abbreviated hereinbelow as ICG) is a contrast agent for blood vessel imaging that demonstrates the above-described performance. Since ICG is a light absorber that produces little adverse effect when a human body is irradiated and that effectively absorbs light in a near-IR wavelength region where high transmissivity in a living body is demonstrated (Gilbert R. Cherrick, Samuel W. Stein, Carroll M. Leevy, Charles S. Davidson, "INDOCYANINE GREEN: OBSERVATIONS ON ITS PHYSICAL PROPERTIES, PLASMA DECAY, AND HEPATIC EXTRACTION", J Clin Invest., 1960 April; 39 (4): p. 592-600; referred to hereinbelow as Cherrick et al.), it can be advantageously used as a contrast agent in a PAT device.
In this respect, the problem which remains to be solved is that it is difficult to distinguish between an image signal component based on a photoacoustic wave from hemoglobin and an image signal component based on a photoacoustic wave from a contrast agent, and only information in which the two image signal components are mixed can be acquired.
With the foregoing in view, it is an objective of the present invention to provide a photoacoustic device that can acquire more accurate object information.


A disk drive is disclosed wherein N data wedges of write data are buffered in a buffer. After writing at least two of the data wedges to the disk including a first data wedge and a second data wedge, a first servo metric value is measured when reading a first servo sector, and a second servo metric value is predicted based on the first servo metric value, wherein the second servo metric value corresponds to a second servo sector following the first servo sector. When the first servo metric value indicates a safe write condition and the second servo metric value indicates an unsafe write condition, the first data wedge is released from the buffer, and when the first servo metric value indicates a safe write condition and the second servo metric value indicates a safe write condition, the first and second data wedges are released from the buffer.

Disk drives comprise a disk and a head connected to a distal end of an actuator arm which is rotated about a pivot by a voice coil motor (VCM) to position the head radially over the disk. The disk comprises a plurality of radially spaced, concentric tracks for recording user data sectors and embedded servo sectors. The embedded servo sectors comprise head positioning information (e.g., a track address) which is read by the head and processed by a VCM servo controller to control the actuator arm as it seeks from track to track.
FIG. 1 shows a prior art disk format 2 as comprising a number of servo tracks 4 defined by servo sectors 60-6N recorded around the circumference of each servo track. Each servo sector 6, comprises a preamble 8 for storing a periodic pattern, which allows proper gain adjustment and timing synchronization of the read signal, and a sync mark 10 for storing a special pattern used to symbol synchronize to a servo data field 12. The servo data field 12 stores coarse head positioning information, such as a servo track address, used to position the head over a target data track during a seek operation. Each servo sector 6, further comprises groups of servo bursts 14 (e.g., N and Q servo bursts), which are recorded with a predetermined phase relative to one another and relative to the servo track centerlines. The phase based servo bursts 14 provide fine head position information used for centerline tracking while accessing a data track during write/read operations. A position error signal (PES) is generated by reading the servo bursts 14, wherein the PES represents a measured position of the head relative to a centerline of a target servo track. A servo controller processes the PES to generate a control signal applied to a head actuator (e.g., a voice coil motor) in order to actuate the head radially over the disk in a direction that reduces the PES.
An air bearing forms between the head and the disk due to the disk rotating at high speeds. Since the quality of the write/read signal depends on the fly height of the head, conventional heads (e.g., a magnetoresistive heads) may comprise an actuator for controlling the fly height. Any suitable fly height actuator may be employed, such as a heater which controls fly height through thermal expansion, or a piezoelectric (PZT) actuator. A dynamic fly height (DFH) servo controller may measure the fly height of the head and adjust the fly height actuator to maintain a target fly height during write/read operations.
Certain conditions may affect the ability of the VCM servo controller to maintain the head along the centerline of a target data track and/or the ability of the DFH servo controller to maintain the target fly height. For example, an external vibration applied to the disk drive or degradation and/or malfunction of the spindle motor that rotates the disks may induce a disturbance in the servo systems that cannot be adequately compensated. This is of particular concern during write operations when an off-track write may erase data in adjacent tracks, or an excessive fly height may render the written data unrecoverable due to under-saturation of the magnetic media. Accordingly, a disk drive will typically abort a write operation when the position error signal of the VCM servo controller or the fly height measurement of the DFH servo controller exceeds a write unsafe limit.

Disk drive releasing variable amount of buffered write data based on sliding window of predicted servo quality