The present invention is to provide a light emitting device capable of obtaining a certain luminance without influence by the temperature change, and a driving method thereof. A current mirror circuit formed by using a transistor is provided for each pixel. The first transistor and the second transistor of the current mirror circuit are connected such that the drain currents thereof are maintained at proportional values regardless of the load resistance value. Thereby, a light emitting device capable of controlling the OLED driving current and the luminance of the OLED by controlling the drain current of the first transistor at a value corresponding to a video signal in a driving circuit, and supplying the drain current of the second transistor to the OLED, is provided.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an OLED panel having an organic OLED (OLED: organic light emitting device) formed on a substrate, sealed between the substrate and a cover material. Moreover, it relates to an OLED module having an IC, or the like including a controller packaged on the OLED panel. In this specification, both the OLED panel and the OLED module are referred to as the light emitting device. Furthermore, the present invention relates to an electronic appliance using the light emitting device.
2. Description of the Related Art
The OLED itself emits a light so as to provide a high visibility so that backlighting necessary for a liquid crystal display device (LCD) is not required, and thus it is suitable for providing a thin shape as well as the view angle is not limited. Therefore, recently, a light emitting device using an OLED attracts the attention as the display device for replacing the CRT and the LCD.
The OLED has a layer including an organic compound (organic light emitting material) for obtaining a luminescence (electroluminescence) to be generated by the application of the electric field (hereinafter referred to as an organic light emitting layer), an anode layer, and a cathode layer The luminescence in an organic compound include the light emission (fluorescence) at the time of returning from the singlet excitation state to the ground state, and the light emission (phosphorescence) at the time of returning from the triplet excitation state to the ground state. In the light emitting device of the present invention, either one of the above-mentioned light emissions may be used, or both of the light emissions may be used as well.
In this specification, all the layers provided between the anode and the cathode of the OLED are defined to be an organic light emitting layer. Specifically, the organic light emitting layers include a light emitting layer, a positive hole injecting layer, an electron injecting layer, a positive hole transporting layer, an electron transporting layer, or the like. Basically, the OLED has a structure with the anode, the light emitting layer, and the cathode successively. In addition to the structure, it may have a structure with the anode, the positive hole injecting layer, the light emitting layer, and the cathode, or a structure with the anode, the positive hole injecting layer, the light emitting layer, the electron transporting layer, the cathode, or the like in this order.
It has been problematic at the time of putting the light emitting device into practice that the luminance of the OLED is lowered according to deterioration of the organic light emitting material.
The organic light emitting material is weak with respect to the moisture content, the oxygen, the light, and the heat so that deterioration is promoted thereby. Specifically, the deterioration rate depends on the structure of the device for driving the light emitting device, the characteristics of the organic light emitting material, the material of the electrode, the condition in the production step, the driving method for the light emitting device, or the like.
Even in the case the voltage applied on the organic light emitting layer is constant, if the organic light emitting layer is deteriorated, the luminance of the OLED is lowered so that the displayed image is not sharp. In this specification, a voltage applied to the organic light emitting layer from a pair of electrodes is defined to be an OLED driving voltage (Vel).
Moreover, in a color display method using three kinds of the OLEDs corresponding to R (red), G (green), and B (blue), the organic light emitting material comprising the organic light emitting layer differs depending on the color corresponding to the OLED. Therefore, the organic light emitting layers may deteriorate by different rates according to the corresponding color. In this case, the luminance of the OLED differs per each color so that an image having a desired color cannot be displayed on the light emitting device.
Furthermore, the temperature of the organic light emitting layer depends on the heat of the external atmosphere, temperature of the heat generated by the OLED panel itself, or the like. In general, the OLED has the flowing current value changed according to the temperature. FIG. 26 shows the change of the voltage current characteristics of the OLED with the temperature of the organic light emitting layer changed. In the case the voltage is constant, if the temperature of the organic light emitting layer is raised, the OLED driving current is enlarged. Since the OLED driving current and the luminance of the OLED have a proportional relationship, the higher the OLED driving current is, the higher the luminance of the OLED is. Accordingly, since the luminance of the OLED is changed depending on the temperature of the organic light emitting layer, it is difficult to display a desired gradient so that the current consumption of the light emitting device is enlarged according to the temperature rise.
Moreover, in general, since the degree of the change of the OLED driving current by the temperature change differs depending on the kind of the organic light emitting material, the luminance of the OLEDs of each color may change independently by the temperature in the color display. In the case the luminance of each color is not balanced, desired color cannot be displayed.
Accordingly, in view of the above-mentioned circumstances, an object of the present invention is to provide a light emitting device capable of obtaining a constant luminance regardless of the organic light emitting layer deterioration or the temperature change, and further capable of providing a desired color display.
The present inventor has paid attention to the fact that the OLED luminance decline by the deterioration is smaller in the latter case in comparison between the light emission with the OLED driving voltage maintained constantly (the former case) and the light emission with the current flowing in the OLED maintained constantly (the latter case). In this specification, the current flowing in the OLED is referred to as the OLED driving current (Iel). Then, it is considered that the change of the OLED luminance by the OLED deterioration can be prevented by controlling the OLED luminance not by the voltage but by the current.
Specifically, in the present invention, a current mirror circuit comprising a transistor is provided in each pixel so that the OLED driving current is controlled using the current mirror circuit. Then, the first transistor and the second transistor of the current mirror circuit are connected such that the drain currents thereof can be maintained at the substantially equal value regardless of the load resistance value.
In this specification, a size of a current is an absolute value of a current.
The first transistor has the drain current I1 thereof controlled by a signal line driving circuit Since the size of the drain current I1 is provided always equal to the size of the drain current I2 of the second transistor regardless of the load resistance value, as a result, the drain current I2 of the second transistor is controlled by the signal line driving circuit.
The second transistor is connected such that the drain current I2 thereof flows into the OLED. Therefore, the value of the OLED driving current flowing in the OLED is controlled not by the load resistance but by the signal driving circuit. In other words, the OLED driving current can be controlled at a desired value regardless of the difference of the transistor characteristics, deterioration of the OLED, or the like.
In the present invention, according to the above-mentioned configuration, decline of the luminance of the OLED can be restrained even in the case the organic light emitting layer is deteriorated, and as a result, a sharp image can be displayed. Moreover, in the case of a color display light emitting device using the OLED corresponding to each color, even in the case the organic light emitting layers of the OLED are deteriorated by different rates per each corresponding color, a desired color can be displayed by preventing deterioration of the balance of the luminance among the colors.
Furthermore, even in the case the temperature of the organic light emitting layer is influenced by the external atmosphere temperature, the heat generated by the OLED panel itself, or the like, the OLED driving current can be controlled at a desired value. Therefore, since the OLED driving current and the luminance of the OLED are proportional, change of the luminance of the OLED can be restrained, and further, increase of the current consumption according to the temperature rise can be prevented. Moreover, in the case of a color display light emitting device, since change of the luminance of the OLED of each color can be restrained regardless of the temperature change, deterioration of the balance of the luminance among the colors can be prevented so that a desired color can be displayed.
Furthermore, in general, since the degree of the change of the OLED driving current in the temperature change differs depending on the kind of the organic light emitting material, the luminance of the OLED of each color can be changed independently in the color display. However, according to the light emitting device of the present invention, since a desired luminance can be obtained regardless of the temperature change, deterioration of the balance of the luminance among the colors can be prevented so that a desired color can be displayed.
Moreover, in an ordinary light emitting device, since the wiring for supplying the current to each pixel itself has a resistance, the potential thereof is slightly lowered depending on the length of the wiring. The potential decline differs largely depending also on the image to be displayed. In particular, in the case the ratio of pixels of a high gradient number is high in a plurality of pixels having the current supplied from the same wiring, the current flowing in the wiring is increased so that the potential decline becomes conspicuous. In the case the potential is lowered, since the voltage applied on the OLED Of each pixel becomes small, the current supplied to each pixel becomes small. Therefore, even in the case a constant gradient is to be displayed in a predetermined pixel, if the gradient number of the other pixel having the current supplied from the same wiring is changed, the current supplied to the predetermined pixel is changed thereby so that the gradient number is changed as a result. However, according to the light emitting device of the present invention, since the OLED current can be corrected by obtaining the measured value and the reference value for each image to be displayed, a desired gradient number can be displayed by the correction even in the case the image to be displayed is changed.
In the light emitting device of the present invention, the transistor to be used for the pixel may be a transistor using a single crystal silicon, or a thin film transistor using a polycrystalline silicon or an amorphous silicon.

Light emitting device and electronic appliance

Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.


This invention relates to a kind of C- aryl glycoside derivatives, its pharmaceutical compositions, preparation methods, and uses thereof. The preparation method comprises: method 1: in a solvent, deprotecting the acetyl protecting groups of compound 1-f in the presence of a base; method 2: 1) compound 2-g reacts with

Diabetes is a metabolic disorder characterized by high blood sugar and its global incidence is increasing. About 90% of diabetes is type II diabetes due to excessive hepatic glucose caused by peripheral insulin resistance and high blood sugar (Pharmaceutical Development, 2003, 27: 88-91). Currently, the most commonly used drugs for type II diabetes including sulfonylurea, biguanides, α-carbon glucosidase inhibitor and insulin have good blood glucose control and lowing effect. However, they have many drug-related side effects, such as weight gain, reduced insulin secretion, hypoglycemia, and gastrointestinal adverse reactions. Therefore, there is unmet medical need to develop safer and more efficacious oral anti-diabetic drugs.
The sodium-glucose co-transporters (SGLTs) plays an important role in maintaining stable blood glucose level. SGLT-1 is mainly expressed in small intestine, kidney, heart and brain. In contrast, SGLT2's major physiological function is absorption of glucose in the small intestine. SGLT-2 is specifically distributed in the kidney proximal convoluted tubule 51 segment, and is responsible for the reabsorption of 90% glucose. The remaining 10% is carried out by SGLT-1 in the proximal convoluted tubule S3 segment. Therefore, the re-absorption of glucose can be specifically reduced by inhibiting SGLT-2's activity in the kidney resulting in excretion of excessive glucose in the urine without body weight increase or hypoglycemia. Therefore, SGLT2 inhibitor represents highly promising anti-diabetic drug (Handlon, A. L., Expert Opin. Ther. Patents 2005, 15(11):1531-1540; Am J Physiol Renal Physiol 2001, 280: 10-18).
Multiple SGLT2 inhibitors have been disclosed as published in Handlon, A. L., Expert Opin. Ther. Patents 2005, 15(11):1531-1540; Nature Reviews Drug Discovery, 2010, Vol. 9, No. 7, 551-559; WO01/27128, WO02/083066, WO03/099836, US2003/0114390, WO 04/063209, WO2005/012326, US2005/0209166. The FDA approved SGLT2 inhibitors include Jansen's Canagliflozin (approved on Mar. 29, 2013), AstraZeneca and BMS's Dapagliflozin (approved on Jan. 8, 2014), Boehringer Ingelheim's Empagliflozin (approved by CHMP on Mar. 21, 2014).

C-aryl glycosid derivatives, pharmaceutical composition, preparation process and uses thereof

Abstract: via Mitsunobu reaction; 2) deprotecting the acetyl protecting groups of compound 2-f obtained from step 1; method 3: 1) compound 2-g reacts with

Abstract: via nucleophilic substitution reaction; 2) deprotecting the acetyl protecting groups of compound 3-f obtained from step 1. The pharmaceutical composition comprises a kind of C- aryl glycoside derivatives; it's pharmaceutically acceptable salts and/or prodrugs thereof and excipient thereof. This invention relates to a kind of C- aryl glycoside derivatives, it's pharmaceutically acceptable salts or compositions thereof for preparing a SGLT inhibitor. The C- aryl glycoside derivatives of this invention provides a new direction for SGLT inhibitors.


Embodiments disclosed herein may be directed to the intelligent distribution, redemption, and tracking of coupons. Modernized couponing processes described herein may provide meaningful synergy between three different parties, namely the shopper, the retailer, and the product supplier. For example, while shopping at a retailer, a shopper may use their device to scan a barcode of a product that they wish to purchase. Based on the scanned barcode, relevant coupon offers associated are identified and presented to the shopper on the user device. The shopper may then select one or more coupon offers to be redeemed at the point of sale.

The present disclosure relates to systems and methods for coupon distribution, redemption and tracking.
From a shopper's perspective, clipping coupons out of a newspaper or magazine is time-consuming and produces an unnecessary amount of waste. Product suppliers and retailers may be disinterested in processing paper coupons because tracking them throughout the redemption and clearing phases is cumbersome and expensive in both time and money.
From a retailer's perspective, at the end of every day, each store has to balance the value of each register, collect the coupons and prepare them for redemption. Manufacturer coupons typically include a physical mailing address, but with thousands and thousands of coupons to process each week, few stores have the time or staff to sort through them all and send coupons back to individual manufacturer. Thus, clearing houses are typically used to take on the hard work of processing coupons.
The clearing house acts as the middle man for reimbursement, issuing invoices to manufacturers for coupons submitted for their products during the specified period. Some clearinghouses receive the reimbursement back from the manufacturer and then send payment to the retailer while others invoice on behalf of the retailer with the manufacturer reimbursing the retailer directly.
The clearing house process has significant issues when the clearinghouse processes expired, counterfeit or fraudulent coupons. If a store accepts many fraudulent coupons, it may not receive reimbursement for them or a manufacturer may request an audit of the store to determine whether it can prove that it stocked and sold the number of items for the corresponding coupons processed.
Attempts have been made to address the problems of the clearinghouse process but they have not been effective often focusing only on the electronic processing of the clearing house function and not addressing the user experience. As such, there is need for efficient and environmentally-conscious modernization of coupon redemption processes.

Systems and methods for intelligent coupon distribution, redemption, and tracking


The flow of electricity to the case (4) of an electrically heated catalyst (1) is inhibited. The heating element (2), the case (4), and the electrically insulating inner pipe (3) provided between the heating element (2) and the case (4) and inner mats 51 and 52 that are shorter in the direction of the flow of exhaust gases than inner pipe (3) that are provided in a compressed condition between heating element (2) and inner pipe (3), and outer mats 53 and 54 that are shorter in the direction of the flow of exhaust gases than inner pipe (3) that are provided in a compressed condition between inner pipe (3) and case (4) are provided and the load per unit area acting upon inner pipe (3) at the contact surface between inner pipe (3) and outer mats 53 and 54 is larger than the load born per unit area of acting upon the heating element (2) at the contact surface between the inner mats 51 and 52 and heating element (2).

Technology providing an insulating mat between a catalyst carrier heated by electrical conduction and a case containing the carrier of the said catalyst is known (For example, refer to Patent Reference 1). It is possible to inhibit the flow of electricity by means of this mat in the case where electricity is conducted through the catalyst carrier.
However, because moisture is contained in engine exhaust gasses, water sometimes condenses in the case or the like. This water flows inside the case, attaches to the mat and is then absorbed in the mat. Water absorbed in the mat migrates to the center of the mat, and then, because the water in the mat is vaporized by the heat of the exhaust gas and the heat of the heating element, it is removed over time. However, if the engine is started and stopped repeatedly within a relatively short time, the quantity of condensed water increases, and removal of the water within the mat becomes difficult. Because the humidity in the vicinity of the electrodes increases as a result, and the insulation resistance between the electrodes and the case decreases, there is the concern that electricity will flow from the electrodes to the case.


A robot end effector exchange system comprises a movable robot arm and an end effector. Connecting structure on each of the arm and end effector are operable for releasably attaching the arm and end effector in an operative relationship. A fixture supportably receives the end effector attached to the robot arm and includes restraining structure operable for holding the end effector on the fixture to permit attachment and detachment of the end effector and the arm. Hydraulic actuators on the fixture selectively operate the connecting structure and the restraining structure.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to robotic devices, and more particularly to the interchange of robot end effectors utilized with a robot arm.
2. Description of Related Art
A robot system typically includes a robot arm attached to a robot base, the end of the arm having an end-effector attached to a gripper or some other tool. In a conventional robot system, the robot arm is remotely controlled, often automatically by a predetermined program. The performance of certain tasks by an industrial robot may require sequential use by the robot of a plurality of different tools or grippers to accomplish a wide range of actions involving the manipulation of workpieces in a manufacturing setting. For efficient use of the robot, it is important to provide for automatic interchange of desired tools or grippers selected from an array of tools and grippers. Such interchange should be performed rapidly, and without the need for human intervention.
Prior art systems suffer from the shortcoming that the end effector assemblies, although removably attached to the robot arm, require a separate control unit and corresponding umbilicals (e.g., electrical and/or pneumatic conductors) distinct from that of the robot arm, resulting in a cumbersome duplication of control input conduits. Related disadvantages of such systems include inefficient interchange of end effectors, limited mobility of robot arms, and the need for human intervention to attach the end effector to its control unit.
The present invention provides a robot end effector exchange system which permits the rapid and automatic attachment and detachment of a robot arm from an end effector.
The robot end effector exchange system permits use of a plurality of different end effectors during the working cycle of a given workpiece.
Advantageously, in the robot end effector exchange system, energy may be readily and reliably transmitted to activate the gripper or tool mechanism of the end effector without the need for duplicate control umbilicals between the robot arm and the end effector.
The robot end effector exchange system also permits attachment and detachment of the end effector as a result of simple linear motion of the robot arm.


A solid catalyst having a close-packed structure has basic structural units present in the surface of the solid catalyst, the basic structural units including (i) a triangular lattice constituted of atoms of platinum, ruthenium, and at least one additional element which are disposed at the vertexes in the triangular lattice so that each atom of one of the elements adjoins atoms of the other elements or (ii) a rhombic lattice constituted of atoms of platinum, ruthenium, and at least one additional element which are disposed at the vertexes in the rhombic lattice in an atomic ratio of 1:2:1 so that each ruthenium atom directly adjoins a platinum atom and an atom of the additional element; and a fuel cell includes either of the solid catalyst as an anode-side electrode catalyst.

1. Field
The present invention relates to solid catalysts and a fuel cell.
2. Description of the Related Art
Solid polymer type fuel cells, which are characterized by having a high current density, are known as one kind of fuel cells. Of these, direct-methanol fuel cells (DMFCs), which are preferable for size reduction, are being developed enthusiastically.
The reactions occurring on the anode side in a direct-methanol fuel cell (DMFC) are methanol decomposition reactions which proceed in steps on the surface of the metal catalyst. Namely, an anode reaction represented by the following scheme 1 proceeds on the anode side.CH3OH+H2O→6H++6e−+CO2  (scheme 1)
The carbon dioxide generation reaction which is the final step in this anode reaction is one of the reaction-rate-determining steps. The fact that this step is a rate-determining step is generally known to be attributable to "carbon monoxide poisoning" in which the carbon monoxide generated by the proton elimination reaction of the methanol as a fuel is tightly adsorbed onto the platinum surface to thereby reduce the catalytic activity.
In this connection, it is known that the value of active current is greatly improved by replacing the platinum catalyst with a platinum-ruthenium alloy catalyst. This improvement is thought to be attained by the following mechanism. The carbon monoxide generated on the platinum surface is rapidly oxidized by the ruthenium, which has the higher ability to oxidize carbon monoxide than platinum. Because of this, the carbon monoxide poisoning of the platinum surface, which is important for the methanol decomposition reaction, is reduced (see H. A. Gasteiger, N. Markovic, P. N. Ross, E. J. Cairns, J. Phys. Chem., 98, 617 (1994) and S. Wasmus and A. Kuver, J. Electroanal. Chem., 461, 14 (1999)).
Many attempts have been made to improve catalytic activity and heighten the value of active current by reducing the carbon monoxide poisoning of platinum in a higher degree than in the case of using a platinum-ruthenium alloy catalyst.
One of approaches to the poisoning reduction is a "multinary alloy catalyst" obtained by adding one or more other elements to a platinum-ruthenium alloy. However, since there is no clear guideline for design in catalyst composition screening, the method in general use is to experimentally investigate each of many catalyst compositions.
On the other hand, besides composition, it is important to regulate a surface structure so as to have high activity in a desired reaction. However, there are few patent documents concerning a technique for positively controlling the surface structure of an electrode catalyst.
JP-A 2003-157857 (KOKAI) proposes a fuel cell cathode (air electrode) which has a catalyst surface including a large proportion of exposed platinum (001) faces, which have higher activity, to thereby have improved activity. JP-A 2007-220654 (KOKAI) proposes an anode which has a catalyst-alloy surface including exposed (100) faces, (010) faces, and (001) faces to thereby have improved catalytic activity as in the technique described above.
However, in the case of the platinum-ruthenium alloy catalyst containing one or more additional elements, the correlation between the state of distribution of the atoms in the catalyst surface and catalytic activity is not clear.
As described above, the conventional solid catalysts for use in direct-methanol fuel cells (DMFCs) have had a problem concerning carbon monoxide poisoning.

Solid catalysts and fuel cell employing the solid catalysts


An integrated circuit processes communication packets and comprises co-processor circuitry and a core processor. The co-processor circuitry is configured to operate in parallel with the core processor. The co-processor circuitry receives and stores the communication packets in data buffers. The co-processor circuitry also determines a prioritized processing order. The core processor executes a packet processing software application that directs the processor to process the communication packets in the data buffers based on the prioritized processing order.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention is related to the field of communications, and in particular, to integrated circuits that process communication packets.
2. Statement of the Problem
Communications systems transfer information in packet streams. The packets in the streams each contain a header and a payload. The header contains control information, such as addressing or channel information, that indicate how the packet should be handled. The payload contains the information that is being transferred. Some packets are broken into segments for processing. The term xe2x80x9cpacketxe2x80x9d is intended to include packet segments. Some examples of packets include, Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) cells, Internet Protocol (IP) packets, frame relay packets, Ethernet packets, or some other packet-like information block.
An integrated circuit known as a stream processor has been developed recently to address the special needs of packet communication networking. Traffic stream processors are designed to apply robust functionality to extremely high-speed packet streams. This dual design requirement is often in conflict because the high-speeds limit the level of functionality that can be applied to the packet stream.
Robust functionality is critical with today""s diverse but converging communication systems. Stream processors must handle multiple protocols and interwork between streams of different protocols. Stream processors must also ensure that quality-of-service constraints are met with respect to bandwidth and priority. Each stream should receive the bandwidth allocation and priority that is defined in corresponding service level agreements. This functionality must be applied differently to different streams-possibly thousands of different streams.
To provide such functionality, a RISC-based core processor was developed with its own network-oriented instruction set. The instruction set is designed to accomplish common networking tasks in the fewest cycles. The core processor executes software applications built from the instruction set to apply the robust functionality to high-speed packet streams.
Unfortunately, the core processor must constantly determine which packet stream to handle next. Given the high-speeds of the packet streams, this function places a heavy burden on the core processor and expends critical processing capacity. Instead of providing additional quality-of-service processing, the core processor spends time deciding which packets to process.
The invention helps solve the above problems with an integrated circuit that processes communication packets and can function as a traffic stream processor. The integrated circuit uses co-processor circuitry to establish a prioritized work queue for the core processor. The core processor can simply process packets from the work queue and avoid expending capacity to determine a prioritized processing order. The capacity savings can be used to handle higher-speed streams or increase the available functionality.
The integrated circuit comprises co-processor circuitry and a core processor. The co-processor circuitry is configured to operate in parallel with the core processor. The co-processor circuitry receives and stores the communication packets in data buffers. The co-processor circuitry also determines a prioritized processing order. The core processor executes a packet processing software application that directs the processor to process the communication packets in the data buffers based on the prioritized processing order.
In some examples of the invention, the co-processor circuitry determines the prioritized processing order based on an availability of resources required by the core processor to process the communication packets or external requests to process the communication packets. The co-processor circuitry may select scheduling algorithms based on an internal scheduling state bits and use the selected scheduling algorithms to determine the prioritized processing order.
In some examples of the invention, the co-processor circuitry determines priorities for the communication packets, places entries in priority queues based on the priorities, and arbitrates the entries to establish the prioritized processing order. The co-processor circuitry may determine the priorities based on an individual weight for each of the priority queues that guarantees a percentage of core processor bandwidth. The co-processor circuitry may determine the priorities based on a number of outstanding requests for processing from individual ones of the priority queues.
In some examples of the invention, the co-processor circuitry includes data buffers and context buffers. The co-processor circuitry correlates the communication packets with channel descriptors, transfers the channel descriptors from off-chip memory to the context buffers, and determine associations between the data buffers and the context buffers to maintain the correlation between the communication packets and the channel descriptors. The core processor processes the packets in the data buffers based on the prioritized processing order and the associations between the data buffers and the context buffers. The data buffers may each be of a fixed size that is small enough to hold only a single ATM cell, packet, or packet segment. The co-processor circuitry selects correlation algorithms based on an internal correlation state bits and uses the selected correlation algorithms to correlate the communication packets with the channel descriptors.

Integrated circuit that processes communication packets with co-processor circuitry to determine a prioritized processing order for a core processor


The present invention refers to method for producing a transgenic plant with increased herbicide tolerance or resistance as compared to a corresponding non-transformed wild type plant, comprising transforming a plant cell or a plant cell nucleus or a plant tissue with a nucleic acid molecule encoding a mutated HPPD polypeptide, as well as to the nucleic acid, and plants with increased HPPD-inhibiting herbicide tolerance or resistance comprising the nucleic acid of the invention.

Herbicides that inhibit 4-hydroxyphenylpyruvate dioxygenase (4-HPPD; EC 22.214.171.124), a key enzyme in the biosynthesis of the prenylquinones plastoquinone and tocopherols, have been used for selective weed control since the early 1990s. They block the conversion of 4-hydroxyphenylpyruvate to homogentisate in the biosynthetic pathway (Matringe et al., 2005, Pest Manag Sci., vol. 61:269-276; Mitchell et al., 2001, Pest Manag Sci. vol 57:120-128). Plastoquinone is thought to be a necessary cofactor of the enzyme phytoene desaturase in carotenoid biosynthesis (Boeger and Sandmann, 1998, Pestic Outlook, vol 9:29-35). Its inhibition results in the depletion of the plant plastoquinone and vitamin E pools, leading to bleaching symptoms. The loss of carotenoids, particularly in their function as protectors of the photosystems against photooxidation, leads to oxidative degradation of chlorophyll and photosynthetic membranes in growing shoot tissues. Consequently, chloroplast synthesis and function are disturbed (Boeger and Sandmann, 1998). The most important chemical classes of commercial 4-HPPD-inhibiting herbicides include pyrazolones, triketones and isoxazoles. The inhibitors mimic the binding of the substrate 4-hydroxyphenylpyruvate to an enzyme-bound ferrous ion in the active site by forming a stable ion-dipole charge transfer complex. Among 4-HPPD-inhibiting herbicides, the triketone sulcotrione was the first example of this herbicide group to be used in agriculture and identified in its mechanism of action (Schulz et al., 1993, FEBS Lett. Vol 318:162-166) The triketones have been reported to be derivatives of leptospermone, a herbicidal component from the bottlebrush plant, Callistemon spp (Lee et al. 1997, Weed Sci. Vol 45, 162-166).
Three main strategies are available for making plants tolerant to herbicides, i.e. (1) detoxifying the herbicide with an enzyme which transforms the herbicide, or its active metabolite, into non-toxic products, such as, for example, the enzymes for tolerance to bromoxynil or to Basta (EP242236, EP337899); (2) mutating the target enzyme into a functional enzyme which is less sensitive to the herbicide, or to its active metabolite, such as, for example, the enzymes for tolerance to glyphosate (EP293356, Padgette S. R. et al., J. Biol. Chem., 266, 33, 1991); or (3) overexpressing the sensitive enzyme so as to produce quantities of the target enzyme in the plant which are sufficient in relation to the herbicide, in view of the kinetic constants of this enzyme, so as to have enough of the functional enzyme available despite the presence of its inhibitor. The third strategy was described for successfully obtaining plants which were tolerant to HPPD inhibitors (WO96/38567). US2009/0172831 discloses nucleotide sequences encoding amino acid sequences having enzymatic activity such that the amino acid sequences are resistant to HPPD inhibitor herbicidal chemicals, in particular triketone inhibitor specific HPPD mutants.
To date, the prior art has not described HPPD-inhibiting herbicide tolerant plants containing microorganism-derived mutated HPPD nucleic acid according to the present invention. What are also needed in the art are crop plants and crop plants having increased tolerance to herbicides such as HPPD-inhibiting herbicide and containing the microorganism-derived mutated HPPD nucleic acid according to the present invention. Also needed are methods for controlling weed growth in the vicinity of such crop plants or crop plants. These compositions and methods would allow for the use of spray over techniques when applying herbicides to areas containing crop plant or crop plants
The present inventors have characterized various microorganism and plant species utilizing a mechanism of conferring resistance or tolerance to herbicides. Furthermore, the inventors have generated and characterized the novel herbicide-resistance conferring mutated HPPD from these microorganisms.
TABLE 1KEY TO SEQUENCE LISTINGNucleicAminoacidacidSEQSEQOrganismID NO:ID NO:AccessionScenedesmus obliquus12Scenedesmus obliquus [short]34Helianthus WT56Helianthus mutant78Lemna910Belliella1112I3Z863_BELBDNitritalea1314I5C6V4_9BACTPontibacter1516J1FG23_9BACTFerroplasma1718ZP_05569916Microscilla1920A1ZF21_9BACTAlgoriphagus2122A3HSH6_9BACTFrankia2324A8L2Y6_FRASNHerpetosiphon2526A9B1W0_HERA2Mucilaginibacter2728H1Y6Y7_9SPHIAcidobacterium2930C1F681_ACIC5Geodermatophilus3132D2SEF7_GEOOGScenedesmus codon-optimized33Scenedesmus short codon-34optimizedLemna codon-optimized35Scenedesmus codon-E. coli36expressionHelianthus codon E. coli37expressionHelianthus mutant codon E. coli38expressionHordeum vulgare3940Arabidopsis thaliana4142

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


In a weaving machine with a cam mechanism for forming the shed a heddle frame levelling apparatus includes rocking levers which are pivoted about a pin which is urged against a fixed bearing surface on the frame of the machine during weaving by elastically deformable elements. In a first embodiment the movement of the pivot pin is effected by the rotation of an eccentric bearing whereas in a second embodiment this movement is caused by a jack.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to cam mechanisms used for forming the shed in weaving machines.
2. History of the Related Art
The term "cam mechanism" is known generally to designate an assembly comprising a series of rocking levers, in a number equal to that of the heddle frames mounted on the weaving machine. Each rocking lever, coupled to one of the frames, is provided with two rollers which cooperate with the two sectioned tracks of a complementary cam driven in rotation by a common shaft connected to that of the corresponding weaving machine. It will be understood that the drive of these cams, which are suitably offset angularly with respect to one another, on the common shaft, ensures control of the levers and the reciprocating vertical displacement of the heddle frames.
Experience has shown that, whenever the weaving machine stopped, either at the end of work or for the purpose of a momentary intervention on the machine or the cam mechanism, all the heddle frames had to be brought to the same height. To that end, the mechanisms are generally provided with a so-called "levelling" device which may take different forms, but of which the most current structure is that schematically shown in FIG. 1 of the drawings accompanying the present specification.
In this FIG. 1, reference 1 designates one of the rocking levers coupled to one of the heddle frames CL of the weaving machine, while reference 2 corresponds to the two rollers which are offset laterally with respect to each other to cooperate with the two tracks of a complementary cam 3, fitted on a drive shaft 4. The different rocking levers 1 of the mechanism are mounted idly on a common pin 5 oriented parallel to the shaft and it will be observed that each of the small-diameter ends 5a of this pin 5 is supported by an eccentric 6 of circular profile, housed in a cylindrical bore of a bearing 7 secured to the frame of the mechanism.
It will be readily appreciated that if, after the drive shaft 4 has stopped, the two eccentrics 6 are rotated in their bearings 7, the common pin 5 on which all the levers 1 pivot moves in the direction of the arrow appearing in FIG. 1. This recoil movement of the pin brings all the levers 1 in abutment against a fixed stop 8 of the frame 9 of the mechanism.
Consequently, all the rocking levers 1 are brought to the same angular orientation, whatever, at the moment of stop, the orientation of their complementary cam 3.
The present invention is based on the observation that the assembly of the ends 5a of the pin 5 inside the eccentrics 6 and the maintenance of the latter in the bearings 7 were detrimental to the rigidity of the point of fixation of the pin. During normal operation (weaving) of the mechanism, this pin is subjected to very high forces and to considerable vibratory effects. These forces and vibrations rapidly wear the pieces which support the pivot pin, generating the formation of rust in the bearings 7, as well as the appearance of a residual clearance detrimental to correct functioning of the mechanism assembly.
It is a principal object of the present invention to overcome this drawback.

Heddle frame levelling apparatus for a rocking lever cam drive


A mold for a plastic grip of a portable tool has two halves with depressions forming the negative. The base body has a top grip extending, when mounted, across the topside of the housing perpendicularly to a longitudinal axis of the tool and a lateral grip connected to the top grip extending therefrom, when mounted, laterally downwardly. The top grip has a first end and the lateral grip has a second end for connecting to the housing. Top and lateral grips have identical elliptical cross-sections rotated to one another in the circumferential direction of the grip by an angle of rotation. Cross-sections have a first diameter larger than a second diameter. Mold depressions have recesses for molding elongate, raised portions in the longitudinal direction. Recesses are adjacent circumferentially and extend spirally. Separation surfaces of mold halves are positioned in a longitudinal center plane of a recess adjacent the first diameter.

The present invention relates to a grip for a portable, hand-guided working tool, especially a motor chainsaw, hedge clippers, a trimmer or cutoff device etc. with a base body molded in a two-part mold from a plastic material. The grip is positioned transversely to a longitudinal direction of the working tool at a distance above the housing. It has a top grip portion and a lateral grip portion connected thereto that extends laterally at a sidewall of the housing. The two ends of the base body are provided with connecting portions for securing the grip at the working tool. The grip portions have a substantially identical elliptical cross-section with a large and a small diameter. The cross-section of the top grip portion is positioned rotated in the circumferential direction of the base body relative to the cross-section. of the lateral grip portion so that the large cross-sectional diameter of the lateral grip portion is positioned in a different plane than the diameter of the cross-section of the top grip portion.
Such a grip is known from U.S. Pat. No. 5,245,757. It is comprised of a hollow base body with an elliptical cross-sectional shape which has a greater and a smaller cross-sectional diameter. In order to provide optimized gripping conditions for the user, the position of the cross-section is rotated along the length of the grip. Accordingly, the greater cross-sectional diameter of the lateral grip portion is positioned substantially perpendicularly to the plane which is defined by the guide rail of the motor chainsaw, while the cross-section of the upper grip portion is rotated relative to the cross-section of the lateral grip portion such that the greater cross-sectional diameter is positioned at an acute angle to the top side of the working tool. Such grips are produced in a two-part mold from plastic material and have been successfully used in practice. For providing sufficient grip, the mantle surface of the grip is roughened.
From U.S. Pat. No. 4,964,217 it is known to provide a plastic grip with an outer fluting in order to increase grip for the user. The fluting, however, can be embodied only relatively shallow because the grip otherwise could not be removed from the mold.
From German Gebrauchsmuster 94 11 866 a grip consisting of a profiled aluminum tube is known whereby the deep fluting insures good grip without negatively affecting comfort for the user.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to improve a grip of the aforementioned kind such that, while allowing easy removal from the two-part mold, a pronounced fluting is provided for increasing grip.
The inventive grip for a portable, hand-guided working tool according to the present invention is primarily characterized by:
a plastic base body molded in a two-part mold:
the base body comprising a top grip portion extending, when the grip is mounted on the working tool, across the top side of the housing of the working tool perpendicularly to a longitudinal axis of the working tool at a spacing to the top side of the housing so as to allow a user to grip the top grip portion;
the base body comprising a lateral grip portion connected to the top grip portion and extending from the top grip portion, when the grip is mounted on the working tool, laterally downwardly at a spacing to a sidewall of the housing so as to allow a user to grip the lateral grip portion;
the top grip portion having a first connecting end for connecting the grip to the housing;
the lateral grip portion having a second connecting end for connecting the grip to the housing;
the top grip portion having a first elliptical cross-section and the lateral portion having a second elliptical cross-section, wherein the first and second cross-sections are identical;
the cross-sections having a first and second diameter, the first diameter being larger than second diameter;
the first cross-section rotated relative to the second cross-section in a circumferential direction of the grip by an angle of rotation;
the base body having integral, elongate, raised portions, extending in a longitudinal direction of the grip and positioned adjacent to one another in the circumferential direction of the grip;
the raised portions extending slightly spirally along the top grip portion and the lateral grip portion;
wherein the two-part mold has mold seams, resulting from molding in the two-part mold, positioned within a longitudinal center plane of a respective one of the raised portions neighboring the first diameter.
Advantageously, the raised portions have a first end at the lateral grip portion and a second end at the top grip portion. The angular distance between the first and second ends measured in the circumferential direction of the grip is identical to the aforementioned angle of rotation.
The raised portions have a rounded outer contour in the circumferential direction of the grip.
The raised portions have different radii of curvature.
The raised portions neighboring the first diameter have a smaller radius than the raised portions neighboring the second diameter.
The raised portions in the circumferential direction are spaced at a small distance from one another.
The raised portions have different angular distances in the circumferential direction.
The angular distance is preferably 24xc2x0 to 34xc2x0.
The raised portions neighboring the first diameter have a smaller angular distance than the raised portions neighboring the second diameter.
Advantageously, the respective raised portion neighboring the first diameter has a flattened part extending over the length of the respective raised portion.
The flattened part preferably extends to the end face of the first connecting end and to the end face of the second connecting end.
The flattened part is preferably positioned centrally relative to the respective raised portion.
Advantageously, the mold seam extends perpendicularly to the flattened part. The mold seams preferably extend in parallel planes.
Relative to the mounted position of the grip, one of the mold seams faces the working tool and another mold seam faces away from the working tool.
The base body is hollow and has a uniform minimum wall thickness in the circumferential direction.
The rotational change of the first cross-section into the second cross-section is uniform in the longitudinal direction of the grip.
Since the raised portions, that provide the profiling or fluting of the grip and extend in the longitudinal direction of the grip, are simultaneously being rotated over the length of the grip in a spiral, it is possible to position the mold seams of the mold, despite the rotating cross-section in the longitudinal direction, at the highest point of the cross-section. Thus, the mold seams of the mold (parting line of the mold) extend also in the form of a spiral in the longitudinal direction of the grip whereby the grip halves defined by the parting line or separation surfaces of the mold are free of an undercut. By separating the mold such that it has two slightly spirally extending mold joints or separation surfaces, an easy removal of the grip, despite the pronounced fluting of the elliptical grip with a cross-section that is rotated in the longitudinal direction of the grip, is possible. Preferably, the angular distance of the beginning point of a raised portion to the end point of a raised portion corresponds substantially to the rotational angle of the cross-section within the respective grip portions. Such an embodiment has been proven to be successful with respect to easy removal from the mold.
For increasing the comfort of the user, the raised portions have a rounded outer contour in the circumferential direction whereby the raised portions, depending on their position about the periphery, have different radii of curvature. Depending on their position about the periphery, the angular distances of the raised portions are also different in the circumferential direction in order to provide a comfortable grip fluting with good grip in any grip position.
Preferably, the projection or raised portion that is positioned in the parting plane of the mold is provided over its length with a narrow flattened part so that in the area of the mold joint the mold and the base body extend at a right angle to one another.

Grip for a portable hand-guided working tool and molding same


A computer-implemented method, a system and a computer-readable medium provide for improved caching. A request key for information is received from a requestor and used to retrieve corresponding metadata from a metadata cache. The metadata is analyzed to determine if information related to the request key should be looked up in a primary cache. If so, the information is retrieved from the primary cache. If the metadata indicates against looking up the information in the primary cache, or if the information was not found in the primary cache, the information is loaded, the metadata is updated, and the information is added to the primary cache if analysis of the updated metadata indicates that adding the information is appropriate.

1. Field
Embodiments are generally related to improved caching.
2. Background
Caches are a specialized type of storage used to store information for accelerated subsequent access (also called caching) when the information is retrieved again. A cache may hold a copy of information (or a pointer to or address of the information) so that later requests for the information may be filled more quickly from the cached copy (a cache hit) rather than by fetching from a location with longer data access and retrieval times (a cache miss).
Caches are of limited size, yet receive a continuous flow of requests to insert new content. A cache must typically discard existing content to make room for new content. The decision of what to keep and what to discard is difficult.
One approach currently used to manage cache contents is the least recently used (LRU) approach. This approach provides that the contents of a cache are kept in order from most recently accessed to least recently accessed. When content must be discarded, the least recently accessed content is discarded first.
However, the LRU approach is not always optimal, in that certain useful pieces of data may be heavily used, but only sporadically. Also, the LRU approach only removes cached contents, to make room for new information, based on current requests made to memory. Caches managed under a LRU approach may consume considerable resources storing information that is loaded once, used once and never used again.
Hence, caching techniques in environments where memory and performance issues are important often use computing resources in a suboptimal manner.

Caching efficiency using a metadata cache


An apparatus for the program controlled longitudinal and transverse cutting of workpiece plates. A longitudinal cutting saw and a transverse cutting saw are arranged with an intermediate workpiece transport table in-between. Arranged on the intermediate workpiece support table is a lifting device for collecting and lifting end strips cut from workpiece plates by the longitudinal saw above the plane of transport of the cut plate sections, as the cut plate sections are transported onto the transverse saw.

The present invention relates to saws for workpiece plates, and in particular to an apparatus for the program controlled longitudinal and transverse cutting of workpiece plates.
When a workpiece plate or stack of workpiece plates is to be cut both longitudinally and transversely, typically, for example, a stack of plates would be presented first to a longitudinal saw. A trim cut would be executed to smooth and square the stack. If edge strips were to be cut from the stack of plates, which would be transversely cut in lengths different than those of the plate sections to be cut, the edge strips would be fed directly to the transverse saw in prior art apparata. Then plate sections would be longitudinally cut from the remaining stack, and fed to the transverse saw. The next stack would then be trimmed, the edge strips longitudinally cut and transversely cut, the plate sections longitudinally cut and transversely cut and so on. Such a process, using presently available equipment, is time consuming and inefficient. Further, the cutting of workpiece plates in this manner increases the likelihood that the end strips, since they are being cut in separate operations, may be cut to somewhat different lengths, taking into account the inconsistencies which naturally arise from cutting operation to cutting operation.
It is therefore an object of the invention to provide an apparatus for the program controlled longitudinal and transverse sectioning of workpiece plates having an improved efficiency.
It is a further object of the invention is to provide an apparatus which permits such described end strips to be cut simultaneously, and therefore with the same dimensions.
These and other objects of the invention will become apparent in light of the present specification, claims and drawings.

Apparatus for the program controlled longitudinal and transverse cutting of workpiece plates


An aspect of some embodiments of the present invention relates to a warning system for use in an emergency vehicle. The system comprises a tone generator, configured for generating an output alert signal, and a radio wave generator. The radio wave generator is configured for receiving the output alert signal and encoding the output alert signal into an electrical signal, and for converting the electrical signal into an electromagnetic wave configured for being received by a radio and/or a cellular communication device within a desired distance from the emergency vehicle, thus enabling the receiving radio and/or cellular communication device to convert the electromagnetic wave to an audio signal that can be emitted by the radio and/or cellular communication device to warn a user of a proximity of the emergency vehicle.

In many countries, the law requires motorists to move to a side of the road when an emergency vehicle with an operating siren approaches, as soon as the motorists are able to do so in a safe manner. Often, emergency vehicles are slowed while en route to a dispatched location by motor vehicles the operators of which do not respond to the approaching emergency vehicle for reasons which might include lack of hearing the siren (i.e. windows rolled up) or distractions such as a radio playing, talking on a cell phone or listening to a CD/DVD player.
Many systems and methods have been devised to alert motorists of an approaching emergency vehicle en route to a dispatched location.
U.S. Pat. No. RE 38,763 discloses a system and method for alerting a driver of a motor vehicle of the approach of an emergency vehicle in an emergency state, comprising a transmitter in the emergency vehicle which produces and transmits a radio frequency signal having a unique audio encoded data signature modulated thereon when the emergency vehicle is in an emergency status, a receiver in a motor vehicle which receives the radio frequency signal, demodulates and decodes the radio frequency signal and produces a voltage output when the data signature is present; and an alarm producing device which produces an alarm in response to the voltage output warning the driver of the motor vehicle of the approach of the emergency vehicle.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,822,580 discloses a warning system for alerting the driver of a private vehicle that an emergency vehicle is approaching. The system includes a receiver and a display panel mounted in the private vehicle, and at least two infrared receivers mounted on the private vehicle. The display panel mounted in the private vehicle including indicating devices that allow the driver of the private vehicle to know of the approaching emergency vehicle as well as the direction to move in order to yield the right of way to an approaching emergency vehicle; and a warning signal emitting device mounted in the emergency vehicle, the warning signal emitting device providing signals that allow the components of the emergency vehicle warning system mounted in the private vehicle to know that the approaching vehicle is an emergency vehicle.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,252,521 discloses an emergency vehicle alert system that includes transmitter units mountable within emergency vehicles and receiver units mountable within civilian vehicles. The transmitter units and the receiver units via a mechanism within each receiver unit that provides each civilian driver with an indicator of the distance between his/her civilian vehicle and the emergency vehicle.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,959,551 discloses an invention for use in warning motorist, especially those who are hearing impaired, of an approaching emergency vehicle. The invention comprises a transmitter which is installed into an emergency vehicle and activated upon an emergency run. A low frequency signal is sent out over the emergency vehicles original equipment antenna system and is picked up by motorist having a receiver unit mounted to their dash panel. The signal is processed into visual and audio warnings whenever a transmitting emergency vehicle is within close proximity to the receiving vehicle. The receiver is on full time when the motor vehicle is in operation thereby allowing suitable response time for motorist to take appropriate action in yielding to the emergency vehicle. The transmitter does however have an on/off switch as well as a visual and audio means for monitoring the transmitted signal.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,160,493 discloses a low-cost and reliable radio warning system that alerts system users of potential hazardous conditions is disclosed. The system makes use of a transmitter and at least one receiver. The transmitter generates and transmits a radio warning signal that carries a digital data sequence that includes information concerning a particular potential hazardous condition from which the transmission was initiated, such as an approaching ambulance, fire truck, bus, train, or the like. Other information, such as GPS coordinates, may also be included. Through the use of digital encoding techniques, the system's susceptibility to false alarms or "false triggers" is minimized. The radio warning signal is transmitted in burst transmissions and may use a number of signaling techniques, including spread spectrum transmission, which increases system reliability and performance even in the presence of interference or multipath distortion. System users are equipped with a receiver that receives the radio warning signal and interprets the digital data and information carried by the warning signal. The receiver alerts the system user who has received the radio warning signal of the potential hazardous condition through the use of an audible, visual or tactile alarm.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,236,101 discloses a warning system for making known the presence of an emergency vehicle. A transmitter is mounted in an emergency vehicle that outputs a digital UHF/LMS signal that is detectable within a range. A receiver responds to the digital UHF/LMS signal from the transmitter and is mounted, most preferably to a dashboard of a motor vehicle. The receiver detects from the digital signal the type of emergency vehicle from which the digital signal is originating. In one embodiment the digital signal also includes a unique identifier for the transmitter rather than simply a generic discipline identifier such as police, fire, emergency etc. A visual indicator mounted to the motor vehicle is activated in response to the digital signal from the transmitter to warn a motorist in the motor vehicle of a presence of the emergency vehicle within the range of the transmitter and to warn the transmitting vehicle of the presence of other emergency vehicles within receiving range.

Emergency vehicle warning system and method


A retrofit grille frame for retrofitting an existing ventilation assembly used in security settings comprises a frame having an outer periphery sized larger than an opening for the existing ventilation assembly. The frame has at least one inner edge defining a vent opening in the frame. The vent opening is free of any projection of substantial length extending inwardly from any inner edge. The frame has a grille member receiving portion defined on an inner side for receiving a grille member and retaining the grille member in place when the frame is installed and at least one attachment portion capable of receiving a fastener for attaching the frame and a grille member to the existing ventilation assembly.

Conventional ventilation assemblies used in security settings typically have at least one grille (or grate) secured in place on a surface (such as, e.g., a wall or a ceiling) of the cell or other enclosed area where the occupant is being confined. The grille has openings to allow air in the cell to be exchanged, such as through ductwork connected as part of a ventilation system for the facility.
In conventional assemblies, the grilles often have a reinforced construction in an effort to prevent the occupant from accessing an area outside the cell, such as in an attempt to escape from the cell. These conventional grille and grille frame constructions, however, may allow occupants to hang themselves or be hanged.
Others have attempted to address this problem, such as by providing a grille with air passages that have substantial direction changes that make it difficult to thread through a rope or a belt. The passages in these grilles, however, increase the restriction to air flow and thus may be undesirable. Also, the prior approaches do not address the need to quickly and cost-effectively retrofit a large installed base of existing conventional ventilation assemblies.

Methods of retrofitting a ventilation assembly used in security settings and apparatus


Provided is a well pump system that includes a pressure pipe, a rotatable shaft surrounded by a plurality of bearings, a pumping mechanism mounted to the pressure pipe and having a plurality of pump impellers mounted to a second end of the shaft, a rotating mechanism mounted to a first end of the shaft and configured for rotating it within the bearings, thereby causing the pump impellers to move the fluid in the pressure pipe, and at least one non-return valve configured for assuming at least two states including a first, opened state, in which the second pipe chamber is in fluid communication with the first pipe chamber, and a second, closed state, in which the non-return valve obstructs the fluid communication between the first and the second pipe chambers, thereby lubricating them.

Deep well pumps were an important factor in increasing the water supply in remote areas. The invention of the deep well pump became a technological breakthrough in the water supply industry. Water from the well is necessary for individuals living in areas where communal water systems remain unavailable. A deep well pump must be used so that they can pump water from the ground. A deep well pump also called as vertical turbine pump can be a multistage centrifugal pump with a shaft operated by a surface motor that lifts water from small-diameter, deep wells. When the shaft is rotate by the motor, a pumping mechanism which is disposed within the fluid is rotated, and as a result of that, fluid is drawn upwards through a pressure pipe in which the shaft is rotated.
One known problem in the field of well pump systems is the need to periodically or constantly lubricate the bearings in which a shaft is rotated. Lubrication is a process, or technique employed to reduce wear of one or both surfaces in close proximity, and moving relative to each another, by interposing a substance called lubricant between the surfaces to carry or to help carry the load (pressure generated) between the opposing surfaces. The interposed lubricant film can be liquid, or any other suitable substance. One example of a lubricant used in well pump systems is oil (e.g., a machine oil) which is periodically or constantly provided into the clearance between the bearings and the rotating shaft.


A system and associated method for cross-guided data clustering by aligning target clusters in a target domain to source clusters in a source domain. The cross-guided clustering process takes the target domain and the source domain as inputs. A common word attribute shared by both the target domain and the source domain is a pivot vocabulary, and all other words in both domains are a non-pivot vocabulary. The non-pivot vocabulary is projected onto the pivot vocabulary to improve measurement of similarity between data items. Source centroids representing clusters in the source domain are created and projected to the pivot vocabulary. Target centroids representing clusters in the target domain are initially created by conventional clustering method and then repetitively aligned to converge with the source centroids by use of a cross-domain similarity graph that measures a respective similarity of each target centroid to each source centroid.

The present invention discloses a system and associated method for data clustering of a target domain that is guided by relevant data clustering of a source domain. Conventional k-means data clustering generates clusters based only on intrinsic nature of data in the target domain. Due to lack of guidance in clustering data in the target domain, conventional k-means data clustering often results in clusters that are not useful to human users in devising text analytics solutions.

Cross-guided data clustering based on alignment between data domains

International Business Machines Corporation


A wing holder is described that includes a pair of arms that are connected by a joint. The joint provides a flexible hinge for the movement of the arms between a first and second position for the seizing and engagement of appetizers, hors d'oeuvres, and other courses that include food pieces such as chicken wings and ribs. Jaws are positioned on the distal ends of the arms that include a distal first row of teeth and a second proximal row of teeth. The distal first row of teeth defines a notch for the retention of the food pieces during the eating process. The second row of teeth also engages and assists in the retention of the food pieces in the wing holder.

Tong devices are structured for the seizing and holding food. The typical tong structure includes a joint that connects a pair of arms that have opposed jaws. The jaws have a specialized structure for their intended function and can move between an open and a closed position.
The specialized structure of the jaw of each kind of tong provides functional advantages that can also limit that same tong in other applications. For example, ice tongs have sharp pointed teeth in each jaw and a length that is adept for seizing and transferring a cube of ice from an ice bucket to a glass. In contrast, barbecues tongs have an extended arm length and jaws with teeth for engaging and manipulating larger pieces of meat at a distance in an unconfined environment.
The popularity of appetizers, hors d'oeuvres, and other courses that include foods such as chicken pieces, chicken wings and ribs has also created less than favorable circumstances for consumers. These foods frequently have coatings to improve their flavor that can include oils, sauces, spices or dressings. Eating these foods commonly leaves the remnants of these coatings undesirably stuck to the hands of the consumer. Similar problems occur when pieces of food are dipped into a sauce, dip or melted butter, for example, and the dip drips on to the hand of the consumer. While a number of tong type devices exist, none of the devices combine a specialized jaw structure with the ability to clench and manipulate foods for the ease of consumption by the consumer.
A device is needed that can readily clench pieces of food within its jaws and manipulate the food pieces for ease of consumption.


A process for selectively etching a substrate 20 having a molybdenum silicide layer 25 with a resist material 26 on portions of the molybdenum silicide layer 25 is described. The substrate 26 is placed into an etch zone 54 and the process gas comprising SF.sub.6 and HBr is introduced into the etch zone 54. Preferably, the volumetric flow ratio of SF.sub.6 :HBr is from about 1:10 to about 1:1, and more preferably, an oxygen containing gas such as O.sub.2 is added to the process gas. A plasma is generated in the etch zone 54 to form an etch gas from the process gas that anisotropically etches the MoSi.sub.x layer 25 with good selectivity and reduced profile microloading.

The present invention relates to a method for etching molybdenum silicide in semiconductor processing.
Reactive ion etching processes are used to fabricate devices having submicron sized features, such as semiconductor integrated circuit chips. These processes are used to selectively etch a substrate, where portions of the substrate are protected by a patterned etch resistant "resist" material, such as photoresist or oxide hardmask. The resist protected portions form "features" on the substrate which become part of the integrated circuit being processed. Etching is effected by introducing a process gas into a chamber and generating a plasma in the chamber to create an etch gas from the process gas. The etch gas etches the substrate to create volatile etch byproduct compounds, which are then removed from the chamber.
Typically, the process gas is a mixture of gases such as for example a mixture of Cl.sub.2 or CCl.sub.4, O.sub.2, and an inert gas such as He or Ar. Often a chloroflurocarbon gas is added to the process gas. However, there are several problems with these process gases. One problem is that chloroflurocarbon gases are environmentally toxic. Thus, processes using these gases are subject to strict environmental regulations.
Another problem is that these gases chemically react with the resist on the substrate, and cause relatively thick residues or deposits to form on (i) the chamber walls, (ii) the sidewalls of the etched features, and (iii) the resist material. This deposit or residue layer can flake off and form particles that contaminate the wafers. The contaminant particles are not detected until the wafer is fully processed and can results in loss of the entire wafer at a cost of $5,000 or more.
Another problem with these gases is that they etch features having "reentrant" profiles. By reentrant profiles, it is meant that the sidewalls of the features are inwardly sloped, forming angles of less than 85.degree. with the substrate. Reentrant profiles are caused by isotropic etching or undercutting, which occurs when etching proceeds horizontally below the resist layer, instead of vertically through the uncoated portions. It is preferable to have features having vertical sidewalls with angles close to 90.degree., which occur when the process gas anisotropically etches the substrate and etching proceeds vertically through the uncoated portions of the substrate.
Typical reactive ion etching systems can also result in high profile microloading. High profile microloading occurs when the cross-sectional profile of the features vary as a function of the spacing between the features on the substrate. It is desirable to have an etching process that provides features with uniform cross-sections regardless of the distance between the features, or the density of features.
It is also desirable to obtain high etch rates and a high etching selectivity ratio for process efficacy. The etch selectivity ratio is the ratio of the MoSi.sub.x etch rate to the resist etch rate. A high selectivity ratio is desirable to avoid excessive etching of the resist layer that can result in etching of the substrate below the resist layer.
Accordingly, there is a need for a method for selectively etching molybdenum silicide on semiconductor substrates that minimizes deposits on chamber walls; provides substantially anisotropic etching; and provides reduced profile microloading. It is also desirable to obtain high etch rates and high substrate to resist etch selectivity ratio for process efficacy.
The present invention is directed to a method that satisfies these needs. The method allows substantially anisotropic etching of substrates, reduced residue deposition, reduced profile microloading, high etch rates and a high etch selectivity ratio.
The method of the present invention comprises selectively etching a substrate having a molybdenum silicide layer with a resist material on portions of the molybdenum silicide layer. The method comprises the steps of:
(a) placing a substrate into an etch zone;
(b) introducing a process gas comprising SF.sub.6 and HBr into the etch zone, the volumetric flow ratio of SF.sub.6 :HBr being from about 1:10 to about 1:1; and
(c) generating a plasma in the etch zone to form an etch gas from the process gas, wherein the etch gas selectively etches the molybdenum silicide layer on the substrate.
Preferably, the process gas further comprises an oxygen containing gas. Preferably, the volumetric flow ratio of SF.sub.6 :HBr:oxygen containing gas is selected so that the sidewalls of the etched features are smooth and form angles of at least about 85.degree. with the substrate. More preferably, the flow ratio is selected so that the molybdenum silicide to resist etching selectivity ratio is greater than about 0.6, and most preferably, the flow ratio is selected so that molybdenum silicide etch rate is greater than about 500 .ANG./minute.

Etching MoSi.sub.2 using SF.sub.6, HBr and O.sub.2


A rotation speed control circuit for controlling a rotation speed of a fan includes: a rotation speed detector, for generating a rotation speed voltage according to a rotation speed signal corresponding to the rotation speed; a sample and hold element, coupled to the rotation speed detector, for sampling and storing the rotation speed voltage; an error amplifier, coupled to the sample and hold element, for controlling a voltage of a filter capacitor according to the rotation speed voltage and a reference voltage, to adjust an error voltage; and a pulse width modulation signal generator, coupled to the filter capacitor, for generating a pulse width modulation signal according to the error voltage and a triangle wave.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a rotation speed control circuit, rotation speed control method, and a fan system, and more particularly, to a rotation speed control circuit, rotation speed control method, and a fan system capable of stabilizing a rotation speed.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Computer systems are essential information tools for most people. For a personal computer, a laptop, or a server, etc., an operating clock of a central processing unit has become higher, as has heat emission, such that requirements of heat dissipation have become more essential as well.
Prior art computers utilize a fan with a steady rotation speed to dissipate heat. However, when a system voltage varies, or the fan is affected by a background pressure, i.e. air pressure, in a closed environment, the rotation speed may vary as well. Therefore, the prior art usually needs to utilize a rotation speed control circuit to perform negative feedback according to the rotation speed, so as to control the rotation speed and prevent the rotation speed from becoming too fast or too slow.
Please refer to FIG. 1, which is a schematic diagram of a conventional fan system 10. The fan system 10 includes a fan 102, a fan driving circuit 104, a rotation speed determination device 106 and a rotation speed control circuit 108. The rotation speed control circuit 108 controls the fan driving circuit 104 to drive a rotation speed RS of the fan 102 at a target rotation speed RS_Tar. The rotation speed control circuit 108 includes a rising edge trigger 110, an external RC pin 112, a pulse width modulation (PWM) signal generator 114 and a first-order integrator 116. In short, the rotation speed determination device 106 generates a rotation speed signal FG according to the rotation speed RS of the fan 102. The rising edge trigger 110 is triggered at a rising edge of the rotation speed signal FG, to start charging the external RC pin 112 until a charging voltage Vc equals a specific voltage. During the time the external RC pin 112 performs charging operations, the PWM signal generator 114 sets an outputted PWM signal Sig_PWM as off-time. The first-order integrator 116 performs integration according to the PWM signal Sig_PWM, to generate a driving voltage Vd, such that the fan driving circuit 104 drives the fan 102 according to the driving voltage Vd.
For further details, please refer to FIG. 2, which is a schematic diagram of the rotation speed signal FG, the PWM signal Sig_PWM and charging voltage Vc of the fan system 10 shown in FIG. 1. As can be seen from FIG. 2, since the charging time of the external RC pin 112 is fixed, i.e. the off-time of the PWM signal Sig_PWM is fixed, the on-time of the PWM signal Sig_PWM can be taken as a period of the rotation speed signal FG minus the fixed charging time. In such a situation, if the rotation speed RS equals the target rotation speed RS_Tar, the period of the rotation speed signal FG is fixed, and thus the on-time of the PWM signal Sig_PWM, i.e. the period of the rotation speed signal FG minus the fixed charging time, is fixed as well. Therefore, the driving voltage Vd integrated by the first-order integrator 116 is also fixed, such that the fan driving circuit 104 can maintain the rotation speed RS at the target rotation speed RS_Tar.
If the rotation speed RS is less than the target rotation speed RS_Tar, the period of the rotation speed signal FG increases, and thus the on-time of the PWM signal Sig_PWM, i.e. the period of the rotation speed signal FG minus the fixed charging time, increases as well. Therefore, the driving voltage Vd integrated by the first-order integrator 116 also increases, such that the fan driving circuit 104 can increase the rotation speed RS to reach the target rotation speed RS_Tar. Similarly, if the rotation speed RS is greater than the target rotation speed RS_Tar, the period the rotation speed signal FG decreases, and the on-time of the PWM signal Sig_PWM decreases as well, such that the driving voltage Vd decreases as well. Therefore, the fan driving circuit 104 can decrease the rotation speed RS to reach the target rotation speed RS_Tar. As can be seen from the above description, the rotation speed control circuit 108 can perform negative feedback to stabilize the rotation speed RS.
The above prior art method, however, needs to utilize the external RC pin 112 and the first-order integrator 116 which includes two resistors and one capacitor to generate the driving voltage Vd. Therefore, when a user intends to adjust the target rotation speed RS_Tar, the user needs to consider complex calculations for the first-order integrator 116 and the external RC pin 112, and thus can not intuitively modify the target rotation speed RS_Tar to meet system requirements. Thus, there is a need for improvement of the prior art.

Rotation speed control circuit, rotation speed control method and fan system


A washing machine having separate washing arrangements, comprising a housing (1), and, arranged within said housing (1), a first automatic washing system (2) and a second automatic washing system (3). The housing (1) contains a first washing area (4) for accommodating the first automatic washing system (2) and a second washing area (5) for accommodating the second automatic washing system (3), said first washing area (4) and second washing area (5) being arranged one on the left and the other on the right. The vertical plane upon which are located the axis of the first automatic washing system (2) and the axis of the second automatic washing system (3) and the vertical plane of the center line of the top of the present washing machine form an angle. Arrangement of the first automatic washing system (2) and the second automatic washing system (3) within the housing (1) provides a single washing machine with separate washing functions, and a user may choose according to need whether to operate one automatic washing system or both automatic washing systems at the same time. An auxiliary functional area (6) provided within the housing (1) makes more rational use of the space within the housing (1), and allows for a more compact arrangement of the two automatic washing systems, which reduces the volume of the housing (1).

Washing machines have become our necessities of life at present, and generally each family has a washing machine. However, in our daily life, it is suggested that different types of clothes should not be washed together. Clothes should be sorted and washed separately: coat and underwear should be washed separately; baby's clothes and adult's clothes should be washed separately; and all clothes should be sorted with colors, soil levels and materials. Apparently it takes a long time to run wash progress multiple times after sorting, especially if there are more clothes needs to be washed. Moreover, a preferred washing machine has not been provided for the requirement that only small items, underwear or baby's clothes to be washed. In consideration of space, people are reluctant to buy another washing machine, however it takes more time and efforts to wash part of them by hand, especially clothes is hard to rinse clean by hand-washing.

Washing machine having separate washing arrangements


A switch or circuit board having a first conductive area on a first side of the board, a second conductive area on a second side of the board, several tiny holes running through the board from the first side to the second side, and a conductive material substantially filling the holes by capillary force, where the conductive material forms an electrical connection between the first conductive area and the second conductive area.

Electronic printed circuits board (PCB) and flexible printed circuits (FPC) are known. High component density is available through the use of fine line lithography and multi-layer PCB. Generally, the cost of manufacturing lithography based PCB's is substantial. However, there are applications in which high component density is not desired, but the cost of manufacturing the FPC is critical to the commercial success of the product. In some applications, the size of the FPC is determined by the shape of the product and not by the area needed to position the few electronic components. Examples for such products are toys, electronic books and other consumer products. Cheap flexible circuits may be used, among other uses, in alarm systems for card holders as is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,373,283 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,652,865, and in electronic books disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,041,215.
Various inventions concerning electronic books are cited in U.S. Pat. No. 6,041,215 disclosed by Maddrell et al. A reader may use an electronic book and is able to select an answer, for example out of a possible choice of four answers to a question in the text, by depressing a switch. The response of the user is relayed from the switch by electrically conductive leads to an electronic module, which operates a feedback unit, such as a loudspeaker, to emit a feedback signal to the user in response to a correct answer. Usually, the electronic module includes a processor, a feedback device, and a battery for power.
Most often, production of such a consumer electronic product demands intricate manufacturing techniques for inserting components in between the thickness of a sheet, the removal of special cutouts, the addition of spacers and unusual bookbinding methods. Therefore, the cost of these devices may be high due to the cost of the added electric and electronic components and to the increased costs of the manufacturing techniques employed.
To make these devices more available, it would be advantageous to reduce the cost by saving on the components and on the sophisticated printing and processing methods.
In the production of PCB and FPC it is often necessary to have an electrical connection bridging conductive lines on opposite sides of the printed circuit. The art of rigid printed circuit production has advanced to the point of making multi-layered board with highly dense and elaborate connection between layers. In simple form, as depicted in FIG. 1, a method is depicted in accordance with the prior art of creating via connection 10 between a first conductive line 12A and a second conductive line 12B on opposite sides of a rigid non-conductive board 14. The method may include drilling a via hole 10 in a location where the two conductive lines 12A and 12B overlap, and plating the drilled hole with a conductive material 16. This method may not suitable for some production of low cost FPC.
Another method in the prior art for creating via connection between conductive lines on opposite sides of thin flexible sheet is depicted in prior art FIG. 2. This method may include providing a thin flexible non-conductive sheet 20 with a first conductive line 22 and a second conductive line 24 printed on first and second surfaces, and inserting a rivet 26 made of conductive material to create an electrical connection between the line 22 and line 24 on opposite sides of the sheet 20. This method may suffer from several disadvantages: Reliability of the connection is low as the rivets may tear the thin sheet if too tight or create intermittent electrical connection if too loose; long term durability is low, specifically when the mechanical strength of the thin sheet is poor; and the rivet gives extra bulk to the circuit.

Flexible printed circuits with many tiny holes


The thermosetting powder coating composition which has good stability and good physical properties, such as appearance, flexibility, hardness, solvent resistance and corrosion resistance, is disclosed. The composition comprises a co-reactable particulate mixture of a carboxylic acid group-containing polymer, a polyepoxide, and a beta-hydroxylalkylamide.

The present invention relates to thermosetting powder coating compositions and, more particularly, to powder coating compositions employing a co-curing system.
Powder coating compositions for use in painting are extremely desirable. Such coating compositions greatly reduce and can even eliminate organic solvents used in liquid paints. When powder coating compositions are cured by heating, little, if any, volatile material is given off to the surrounding environment. This is the significant advantage over liquid paints in which organic solvent is volatilized into the surrounding atmosphere when the paint is cured by heating.
Powder coating compositions can be formulated with a carboxylic acid-functional acrylic polymer or a carboxylic acid-functional polyester. With such acid-functional polymers, the curing mechanism can be based upon one or more epoxy functional materials, e.g., a diglycidyl ether of a bisphenol or a glycidyl ether of a novolac resin. Although powder coating compositions using these materials give coatings with good properties, those including a novolac epoxy are expensive to formulate. Further, novolac epoxies tend to have low glass transition temperatures and, as a result, those powder coating compositions often have poor powder stability. Finally, novolac epoxies tend to result in yellowing of the powder coating compositions due to the action of heat and/or light.

Beta-hydroxyalkylamide cured acid polymer/polyepoxide powder coating


An apparatus and method for implementing a heterogeneous memory subsystem is described. For example, one embodiment of a processor comprises: memory mapping logic to subdivide a system memory space into a plurality of memory chunks and to map the memory chunks across a first memory and a second memory, the first memory having a first set of memory access characteristics and the second memory having a second set of memory access characteristics different from the first set of memory access characteristics; and dynamic remapping logic to swap memory chunks between the first and second memories based, at least in part, on a detected frequency with which the memory chunks are accessed.

Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to the field of computer processors. More particularly, the invention relates to an apparatus and method for implementing a heterogeneous memory subsystem.
Description of the Related Art
Recent technology advancements allow for the integration of large memory structures on-die or as a die-stacked dynamic random access memory (DRAM). Such structures are much faster to access than off-die memory. Prior work has investigated using these large structures as a cache, or as part of a heterogeneous memory system, sometimes referred to as a non-uniform memory architecture (NUMA), under management of the operating system (OS).
Using this memory as a cache would waste a significant fraction of total memory space, especially for mobile systems where stacked memory may be as large as off-die memory. An OS-managed NUMA system, on the other hand, requires usage monitoring hardware to migrate frequently-used pages, and is often unable to capture pages that are highly utilized for short periods of time.

Method and apparatus for implementing a heterogeneous memory subsystem


A bidirectional current sensing circuit includes: a sensing resistor coupled between a load and a reference ground, a first and second auto-zero amplifiers coupled to the sensing resistor to sense the voltage across the sensing resistor, and an output transistor. One of the first and second auto-zero amplifiers operates in an output mode and the other of the first and second auto-zero amplifiers operates in a zeroing mode according to a polarity of a voltage across the sensing resistor. The output transistor has a first terminal providing a current sensing signal indicating a load current, a second terminal electrically connected to an inverting terminal of the one of the first and second auto-zero amplifiers operating in the output mode, and a control terminal electrically connected to an output terminal of the one of the first and second auto-zero amplifiers operating in the output mode.

An H-bridge circuit is powered by a single supply and is generally used to drive a motor or another load with bidirectional operation. FIG. 1 schematically illustrates an H-bridge circuit. As shown in FIG. 1, the H-bridge circuit comprises a first switch pair (M1 and M4) and a second switch pair (M2 and M3). When the first switch pair is turned ON, and the second switch pair is turned OFF, and the voltage at the terminal A is higher than the voltage at the terminal B, a positive current is flowing through the load with a direction (e.g. clockwise). When the second switch pair is turned ON, and the first switch pair is turned OFF, then the voltage at the terminal B is higher than the voltage at the terminal A, a negative current is flowing through the load with the opposite direction (e.g. anticlockwise).
The H-bridge circuit typically requires a load current to be sensed in some way, and the sensed load current is provided to a controller of the H-bridge circuit. Conventionally, the load current is sensed in a way that connects a sensing resistor RSENSE in series in the H-bridge, thereby the voltage across the sensing resistor RSENSE is used to indicate the load current iLOAD.
FIGS. 2-4 schematically illustrate current sensing circuits that are used to sense the load current of H-bridge circuit, respectively. A low side current sensing circuit is shown in FIG. 2, a sensing resistor RSENSE is coupled between a load and a reference ground. A high side current sensing circuit is shown in FIG. 3, a sensing resistor RSENSE is coupled between a load and an input supply VIN. FIG. 5 schematically illustrates waveform of the current sensing circuit shown in FIG. 3. Since the load current flowing upon the sensing resistor RSENSE are in opposite directions, a voltage across the sensing resistor RSENSE are discontinuous AC pulses. It would be difficult and complex to process the sensed result for a following work.
In prior art, a current sensing circuit shown in FIG. 4 is used to sense a bidirectional load current. As shown in FIG. 4, a sensing resistor RSENSE is coupled in series with a load. A differential amplifier AMP is used to amplify a voltage across the sensing resistor RSENSE. However, this differential sensing way that introduces a significant amount of common mode noise into the sensing result, thereby producing a low signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) which is undesirable.
Thus, it would be advantage to provide a current sensing circuit which is capable of sensing a bidirectional current with a much higher SNR than conventional circuits.

H-bridge bidirectional current sensing circuit

Chengdu Monolithic Power Systems Co., Ltd.