A wrench comprises a handle and a head extended from the handle. A web is defined between the handle and the head. The head includes a compartment in which a drive member is rotatably received. The web includes a transverse through-hole having an intermediate portion communicated with the compartment. A cavity is defined in the web and communicated with the transverse through-hole. A switch member is mounted in the cavity and rotatable relative to the handle between two positions corresponding to two opposite ratcheting directions of the handle. A pawl is slidably mounted in the transverse through-hole for engaging with the drive member. The pawl remains in the transverse through-hole during operation. A pin and a coil spring are provided to retain the pawl in place.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an easy-to-operate and easy-to-assemble ratcheting-type wrench.
2. Description of the Related Art
Several factors are considered in designing wrenches and spanners, including improving the torque-bearing capacity, providing as many teeth as possible for the drive member, and providing an easy-to-manufacture structure. FIG. 14 of the drawings illustrates a conventional wrench of the type having a handle Bxe2x80x2 and a head in which a drive member Axe2x80x2 is rotatably received. A pawl Dxe2x80x2 is slidably received in a transverse through-hole Cxe2x80x2 in a web between the handle Bxe2x80x2 and the head. However, an end of the pawl Dxe2x80x2 extends beyond the transverse through-hole Cxe2x80x2 and thus adversely affects operation of the wrench when used in a limited space. A two-pawl type wrench was proposed to solve this problem. As illustrated in FIGS. 15 through 17, the two-pawl type wrench includes a handle 1xe2x80x2 and a head 11xe2x80x2 extended from the handle 1xe2x80x2. A drive member 2xe2x80x2 is rotatably received in the head 11xe2x80x2, a receptacle 12xe2x80x2 is defined in a web between the handle 1xe2x80x2 and the head 11xe2x80x2, and a spring-biased switch member 4xe2x80x2 is mounted in a cavity 13xe2x80x2 in the web. Two spaced pawls 3xe2x80x2 are received in the receptacle 12xe2x80x2 and are biased by two springs 6xe2x80x2, respectively. A threaded end cap 5xe2x80x2 is engaged with a threaded outer end 121xe2x80x2 of the receptacle 12xe2x80x2 to enclose the pawls 3xe2x80x2 and springs 6xe2x80x2. As illustrated in FIGS. 16 and 17, the switch member 4xe2x80x2 is turned to bias one of the pawls 3xe2x80x2 to engage teeth 31xe2x80x2 thereof with the drive member 2xe2x80x2 to thereby change the ratcheting direction of the wrench. However, it was found that the switch member 4xe2x80x2 cannot be reliably retained in place and thus tends to disengage from the cavity 13xe2x80x2. In addition, the pawl 3xe2x80x2 engaged with the drive member 2xe2x80x2 is not engaged with an inner longitudinal wall that defines the transverse through-hole and that faces the drive member 2xe2x80x2. As a result, the torque-bearing capacity of the wrench is poor. Furthermore, the outer pawl 3xe2x80x2 (FIGS. 16 and 17) tends to get stuck when the threaded end cap 5xe2x80x2 is mounted too close to the switch member 4xe2x80x2. On the other hand, if the threaded end cap 5xe2x80x2 is too far away from the switch member 4xe2x80x2, the pawl 3xe2x80x2 cannot be firmly engaged with the drive member 2xe2x80x2. Further, the threaded end cap 5xe2x80x2 tends to be disengaged from the web between the handle 1xe2x80x2 and the head 11xe2x80x2, as the former is in threading engagement with the threaded outer end 121xe2x80x2 of the receptacle 12xe2x80x2.
FIGS. 18 through 20 illustrate another conventional wrench having a substantially V-shape transverse through-hole 25xe2x80x2 in a web between a handle 20xe2x80x2 and a head 21xe2x80x2 thereof. The head 21xe2x80x2 includes a compartment in which a drive member 22xe2x80x2 is rotatably received. A spring-biased pawl 23xe2x80x2 is received in each limb of the V-shape transverse through-hole 25xe2x80x2. A switch member 30xe2x80x2 includes a stem 35xe2x80x2 pivotally received in a cavity 24xe2x80x2 in the web and a thumb-piece 32xe2x80x2 extending from the stem 35xe2x80x2 for manual operation, thereby switching the switch member 30xe2x80x2 between two positions corresponding to two opposite ratcheting directions of the wrench. The thumb piece 32xe2x80x2 of the switch member 30xe2x80x2 includes a downwardly facing receptacle 36xe2x80x2 (FIG. 20) for receiving a spring 37xe2x80x2 and a ball 38xe2x80x2 that is biased by the spring 37xe2x80x2 to be positioned in one of two positioning recesses 281xe2x80x2 (FIG. 19) in a sector-like recessed area 28xe2x80x2 (FIG. 18) of the web. The switch member 30xe2x80x2 may be retained in place reliably. However, a C-clip 33xe2x80x2 is required for mounting the switch member 30xe2x80x2 in place. In addition, processing of the sector-like recessed area 28xe2x80x2 in the web and the V-shape transverse through-hole 25xe2x80x2 is difficult. Mounting of the switch member 30xe2x80x2 as well as the pawl 23xe2x80x2 and associated springs 26xe2x80x2 and threaded end caps 27xe2x80x2 are troublesome and time-consuming. The sector-like recessed area 28xe2x80x2 in the web results in an increase in the overall thickness of the wrench, which limits application of the wrench in limited spaces.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,282,991 discloses a biasing arrangement for a pawl of a reversible ratchet-type wrench. However, the pawl protrudes beyond the handle during change in the ratcheting direction and thus adversely affects operation of the wrench in a limited space, as the protruded portion of the pawl tends to impinge on an object in the limited space.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an easy-to-operate and easy-to-assemble ratcheting-type wrench.
In accordance with a first aspect of the invention, a wrench comprises:
a handle comprising a first lateral side and a second lateral side opposite to the first lateral side;
a head extended from the handle, a web being defined between the handle and the head, the head including a compartment, the web including a transverse through-hole having an intermediate portion communicated with the compartment, the transverse through-hole extending from the first lateral side to the second lateral side of the handle, a cavity being defined in the web and communicated with the transverse through-hole;
a drive member rotatably mounted in the compartment of the head and including a plurality of teeth on an outer periphery thereof;
a switch member mounted in the cavity and rotatable relative to the handle between two positions corresponding to two opposite ratcheting directions of the handle; and
a pawl mounted in the transverse through-hole and slidable along a lengthwise direction of the transverse through-hole, with the pawl remaining in the transverse through-hole during operation, the pawl including a first lateral side facing the compartment and a second lateral side facing away from the compartment, the first lateral side of the pawl including a first toothed portion and a second toothed portion that are selectively engaged with the teeth of the drive member according to one of the positions of the switch member relative to the handle, a groove being defined in the second lateral side of the pawl and including a first corner and a second corner;
the handle including an upper side, the cavity including a vertical portion extending to the upper side of the handle, the switch member including a column rotatably received in the vertical portion of the cavity, the column having a transverse hole that faces the groove of the pawl;
a coil spring mounted in the transverse hole of the column and having an enlarged portion abutting against an outer periphery of the column and surrounding the transverse hole of the column; and
a pin having a first end received in the coil spring and a second end received in the groove of the pawl, the second end of the pin being biased by the coil spring to be selectively, securely engaged in one of the first corner and the second corner of the groove of the pawl that corresponds to said one of the positions of the switch member relative to the handle.
In accordance with a second aspect of the invention, a wrench comprises:
a handle comprising a first lateral side and a second lateral side opposite to the first lateral side;
a head extended from the handle, a web being defined between the handle and the head, the head including a compartment, the web including a transverse through-hole having an intermediate portion communicated with the compartment, the transverse through-hole extending from the first lateral side to the second lateral side of the handle, a cavity being defined in the web and communicated with the transverse through-hole;
a drive member rotatably mounted in the compartment of the head and including a plurality of teeth on an outer periphery thereof;
a switch member mounted in the cavity and rotatable relative to the handle between two positions corresponding to two opposite ratcheting directions of the handle; and
a pawl mounted in the transverse through-hole and slidable along a lengthwise direction of the transverse through-hole, with the pawl remaining in the transverse through-hole during operation, the pawl including a first lateral side facing the compartment and a second lateral side facing away from the compartment, the first lateral side of the pawl including a first toothed portion and a second toothed portion that are selectively engaged with the teeth of the drive member according to one of the positions of the switch member relative to the handle, a groove being defined in the second lateral side of the pawl and including a first corner and a second corner;
the handle including an upper side, the cavity including a vertical portion extending to the upper side of the handle, the switch member including a column rotatably received in the vertical portion of the cavity, the column having a transverse hole that faces the groove of the pawl;
an elastic element mounted in the transverse hole of the column and having an end abutting with an inner peripheral wall defining the vertical portion of the cavity;
a pin having a first end that is received in the transverse hole of the column and that has a receptacle for receiving another end of the elastic element, the pin further having a second end received in the groove of the pawl, the second end of the pin being biased by the elastic element to be selectively, securely engaged in one of the first corner and the second corner of the groove of the pawl that corresponds to said one of the positions of the switch member relative to the handle.

Easy-to-operate and easy-to-assemble ratcheting-type wrench


A manure processing apparatus which has a circular processing bin and a plurality of augers, with the augers arranged vertically and adapted to move in a circular path within the processing bin, and to raise and mix the manure continuously. The apparatus further comprises an air conditioning system to compost the manure and to dry the manure to produce feed.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to an apparatus for processing chicken manure and more particularly to an apparatus for homogenizing and drying chicken manure to produce fertilizer and animal feed.
2. Technical Background
Animal waste is converted into compost by the process of fermentation. Composting of manure requires continuous circulation of air homogeneously through the manure with control of temperature and moisture content. If the manure is not mixed with air, ammonia can accumulate and produce increased protein breakdown. The process includes at least three operations: agitation of the manure, homogenization, and simultaneous aeration to provide oxygen for aerobic decomposition by micro organisms. The compost is then dried to a moisture content of no more than 45%.
In the conventional process for composing chicken manure, the general practice has been to store or pile the organic materials to be composted for a certain period and to periodically turn them over at a proper time interval to promote aerobic fermentation, a proper amount of air being preferably fed to the stored materials from the bottom thereof during the storage. Plowing or turning the piled materials over is indispensable in order to uniformly mix the materials as well as to fractionalize the materials so as to substantially increase the total area of the surface of the materials exposed to air. The material is dried in the sun or in a drum-type drier heated by means of oil burners. Belt type driers can also be used in place of a drum-type drier. Attempts have also been made to perform these operations by means of indirect driers, such as, for example, tube-type driers, but these resulted in operational malfunctions due to clogging.
Prior use of poultry manure as a fertilizer material has been somewhat restricted by low nitrogen content and the often accompanying malodor. Preparation of the raw manure invariably leads to unwanted decomposition and loss of nitrogen. Malodor is not surprising and something of a byproduct of the decomposition process. Other drawbacks to wider use of this material as a fertilizer are evident from an overview of the prior art.
Fermentation is an aerobic thermophilic reaction wherein heat is generated as the mixture decomposes and the temperature of the mixture progressively rises to an optimum value. The mixture remains at this elevated temperature while the decomposition process continues for a period of time, depending upon such variables as moisture content, manner and extent of aeration, and the nature of the mixture ingredients. Thereafter the mixture gradually cools and the production of aerobic bacteria ceases. The aerobic thermophilic reaction is maximized when all portions of the mass are slowly aerated uniformly and to the proper extent. In order to aerate the mixture properly it is necessary to agitate the whole mass slowly in such a manner that substantially all portions of the material are exposed to an optimum amount of air for an optimum period of time. If the mass is agitated too violently or if the amount of air is excessive, the mixture will be dried and cooled. On the other hand, if the air supplied is less than the optimum amount required or if the mass is not agitated properly the bacterial activity will not reach its maximum potential and the composting process will require an unduly long period of time.
Many devices are known which combine agitation, homogenization, and aeration. Agitation and homogenization have used a variety of means such as rotating milling mechanisms and augers, conveyors with agitators, horizontally reciprocating or linearly moving rakes or plows, and rotary drums with or without baffles or radial fingers projecting into the mixture. With such types of equipment the proper aeration has not been achieved because homogenization is not complete and uniform. For example, with rakes it is impractical, if not impossible, to agitate the mass so that the oxygen in the air will come into intimate contact with all portions of the material for the required time interval. In the case of rotary drums, some portions of the mass remain stagnant for an unduly long period of time while other portions are caused to fall or tumble rapidly through the air stream directed through the drum In either case, substantially all portions of the mixture in the drum are not uniformly exposed to the air for the required period of time to achieve the optimum operating conditions to allow the reaction to progress at its maximum potential rate and to produce the maximum nutrient content.
Besides providing an excellent fertilizer, chicken manure can serve as a high grade food supplement comprising as much as 40% of the finished feed for chickens, having a protein value as high as 20% by weight. Chicken manure processed as feed can result in longer life of the animal as well as increased egg production. Chicken manure must be dried to about 10-17% moisture content and sterilized to be used as feed without composting. However, without complete composting or addition of unacceptable chemicals such as formaldehyde and urea, the final feed product will have an unacceptable odor.
At the present time there are no known chicken manure processing devices for practical commercial use which can produce compost or feed that is devoid of objectionable odor. This is because existing devices cannot adequately homogenize and aerate an entire mass of manure without expensive, complicated, and impractical devices.
The present invention processes chicken manure to produce animal feed and compost for fertilizer. The apparatus agitates, homogenizes, composts, and dries the manure to produce fertilizer, and agitates, homogenizes, and rapidly dries the manure to produce feed. Both the compost and feed have no objectionable odor. The apparatus uses a system of augers arranged vertically so that the manure is continuously raised, from the bottom of the processing bin to the top, from one end of the processing bin to the other end, and from one side of the processing bin to the other side. The augers thereby agitate and homogenize large quantities of manure, allowing air and heat from an air conditioning system to be distributed uniformly through the entire mass of manure. The thorough composting and/or the thorough drying create a fertilizer or feed that is devoid of objectionable odor.


A patient irradiation treatment plan verification system, the system constituted of: a treatment irradiation source arranged to output a treatment irradiation beam; a first detector; and a patient support member arranged to support a patient, the patient support member positioned between the treatment irradiation source and the first detector, wherein the first detector is arranged to detect the output treatment irradiation beam after the output treatment irradiation beam has irradiated the supported patient and output information regarding the detected irradiation beam.

The invention relates generally to the field of teletherapy and in particular to a patient irradiation treatment plan image adjustment system and method.
Teletherapy is defined as a treatment methodology in which an irradiation source is at a distance from the body to be treated. X-rays and electron beams have long been used in teletherapy to treat various cancers. Unfortunately, X-rays exhibit a linear energy transfer approaching an exponential attenuation function, and are therefore of minimal safe use for deeply embedded growths. The use of heavy particles, particularly hadrons and more particularly protons, in teletherapy has found increasing acceptance, due to the ability of heavy particles to penetrate to a specific depth without appreciably harming intervening tissue. In particular, the linear energy transfer of hadrons exhibits an inversed depth profile with a marked Bragg peak defined as the point at which the hadrons deposit most of their energy, and occurs at the end of the hadrons path. As a result of this effect, increased energy can be directed at an embedded growth as compared to X-rays and electron beams, which particularly harm intervening tissues. While the term hadrons include a wide range of particles, practically, protons and various ions are most widely used in therapy. For clarity, this document will describe treatment as being accomplished with protons, however this is not meant to be limiting in any way.
The protons or ions can be focused to a target volume of variable penetration depth. In this way the dose profile can be matched closely to the target volume with a high precision. In order to ensure complete irradiation of the target growth, a plurality of beams arriving at the embedded growth from several different directions is preferred. The point at which the plurality of beams intersects, whether they are beamed sequentially or simultaneously, is termed the isocenter, and to maximize biological effectiveness the isocenter must be precisely collocated with the target growth.
Irradiation treatment is performed on a target tissue in a well defined process. In a first stage, known as the treatment planning stage, the target tissue is imaged and a treatment plan comprising dosage, patient position, and irradiation angles are defined. Furthermore, placement markers are defined, so as to ensure that subsequent irradiation sessions are properly targeted. Irradiation is then performed, responsive to the developed treatment plan, at a plurality of treatment sessions over a period of time, each session being known as a fraction. At each such fraction, care must be taken to ensure proper patient positioning, responsive to the placement markers, so as to avoid damage to organs in vicinity of the target tissue. Positioning of the patient responsive to the markers is performed based on visualization of the patient, responsive to the defined markers.
Particularly, during each fraction, the patient is positioned on a patient support member, such as a bed, in a setup position. The setup position is identical to the patient position during the imaging of the treatment planning stage, except that is in the treatment room and the center of the growth mass is positioned at the isocenter of the irradiation source. The setup position of the patient is typically verified by imaging and/or positioning devices. U.S. patent application publication S/N US 2015/0238779, published Aug. 27, 2015 to Marash et al., the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference, is addressed to a method of evaluating a change in radiation within a target tissue of a patient in accordance with an updated image of the patient. Although this provides a simulated verification of the irradiation dosimetry, the simulation may not be completely accurate, due to errors in conversion between the x-ray energy of the CT image and the proton energy of the treatment beam. Thus, a more accurate dosimetry verification technique is desired.

Patient irradiation treatment plan verification system and method


A base for a bicycle saddle comprises a load-bearing panel body and a rim surrounding the panel body. The rim includes a plurality of sections. One of said sections has a strip-shaped opening so that the section is more flexible than any other place of the rim.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to bicycle saddles and in particular to a load-bearing base for a bicycle saddle.
2. Description of the Related Art
It is well known that a conventional bicycle saddle generally comprises a rigid base, a padding and a cover. The base is made of rigid plastic materials for supporting the body weight of the rider. The padding is usually made of plastic foam materials and applied to the outer surface of the base. The cover, usually leather or cloths, is applied over the padding.
The primary drawback of such a prior art saddle is that the inside thigh areas of the rider, during pedaling, repeatedly contact the side edge of the rigid base, thereby causing periodic rubbing and consequent local irritations. Furthermore, in order to run through steep descents or avoid obstacles, riders would rather have their body only supported at the rear area of the saddle. As a result, the muscles of legs and buttocks of riders would directly contact the outer peripheral edge of the rigid base which thereby creates a localized pressure concentration which adversely affects rider comfort.
For reducing or avoid the drawback of the prior art saddle mentioned above, one possible solution is provided to use additional soft pads, fitted to the outer peripheral edge of the base of the saddle. However, such a solution will render the saddle being too heavy, require particular care in covering the cover to the padding and greatly change the aspect of the saddle.
A main object of this invention is to provide a new base for a bicycle saddle which is adapted to fit the muscles of legs and buttocks, and to provide more comfort during riding without increasing the weight of the saddle.
A further object of the invention is to provide an improved base for a bicycle saddle to which the padding and covering of a bicycle saddle are easily applied.


An image sensor packaging method, an image sensor package and a lens module are disclosed. In the image sensor packaging method, plural image sensor dies are formed within a molded layer, resulting in a package with a significantly reduced thickness which is favorable to the slimming of the package. The packaging method does not involve any wire bonding process. Instead, metal pads are led out through a thin metal film formed in non-photosensitive areas on the same side of micro lens surfaces of the image sensor dies. This approach has a less adverse impact on micro lens surfaces and, compared to the wire bonding process, allows a smaller spacing from metal pads to the micro lens surfaces with respect to a direction parallel to the micro lens surfaces, which enables more compact image sensor dies usable in a lens module for an optimized spatial design and ease of miniaturization.

An image sensor is a semiconductor device capable of sensing external light and converting it into an electrical signal. Current integrated circuit (IC) processes allow hundreds or even thousands of image sensor dies to be formed on the same wafer. These image sensor dies are then packaged into image sensor packages, bonded with terminal leads onto their metal pads and provided with lenses and lens holders to form lens modules which can be used in cameras, smart phones, digital cameras, automotive imaging systems, toys and other electronic devices.
A commonly-used conventional image sensor packaging method is known as chip-on-board (COB) packaging in which image sensor dies are bonded onto an printed circuit board (typically, a PCB) with a conductive or non-conductive adhesive and then wire bonding is carried out for their electrical connections. Subsequently, micro lens of the image sensor dies are provided with micro lenses surfaces, for example, by epoxy resin.
FIG. 1 schematically illustrates a cross section of an image sensor package resulting from a conventional COB packaging process. As shown in FIG. 1, the image sensor package includes, along a direction perpendicular to micro lens surfaces 11 of image sensor dies 10 (i.e., the areas for reception of external light and for photoelectric conversion), a PCB board 15, the image sensor dies 10 (each including a substrate 12, the micro lens surface 11 and the metal pads 13), a protective layer 14 (such as an anti-reflection layer and has a material of SiO2) over the micro lens surfaces 11 and metal leads 17 connecting the metal pads 13 to the PCB board 15. On the one hand, since the image sensor dies 10 reside on the PCB board 15, the sensor package has a relative great thickness (i.e., its longitudinal dimension as viewed in FIG. 1). On the other hand, the metal leads 17 are typically bonded to the metal pads 13 and the PCB board 15 by wire bonding, which usually requires the metal pads 13 to be spaced from the micro lens surfaces 11 by a distance d of 500 μm or larger (with respect to a direction parallel to the micro lens surface 11) due to process constraints. This is unfavorable to further shrinkage of the image sensor package. Moreover, these two disadvantages can both lead to dimensional limitations to the subsequent construction of a lens module from the package of FIG. 1.

Image sensor packaging method, image sensor package and lens module


A metal or wooden picture frame is provided with a traverse brace which comprises a channel having inward turned flange edges. A T-shaped fitting has means for attachment to the frame and a leg which is narrower than the space between the channel flanges but wider than the space between the inturned edges. A lock screw threaded through a tapped hole in the leg is tightened against the channel web, forcing the leg against the inner surfaces of the inturned edges and thus locking the brace to the frame. In one form of the invention the opposite end of the brace is locked to the opposite side of the frame by a similar fitting. Alternatively, a strap may be tightened to opposed brace sections. In a modification, an eye engageable with a picture hook may be locked to the brace. In another modification, an arm may be locked to the channel to extend laterally to receive a screw having a knob bearing against the back of a print, etc, within the frame to prevent sagging. A metal frame may be formed of channels secured together by angular fittings locked by similar means or channel sections may be attached to wooden frame members and secured by similar means.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a new and improved picture frame construction using a brace between opposed sides of the frame, the brace being connected to the sides of the frame by fittings of novel construction. In addition, the invention relates to the use of a strap between brace sections to apply tension to the opposed frame sides. A tightener to tighten a print or other pictorial representation against picture glass is likewise provided, as are means for hanging the picture and means for assembling metal frame parts.
2. Description of the Related Art
Metal frames and the use of tighteners or braces for wooden frames are known in the art, although the structure thereof is considerably different from the structure of the present invention. The present invention provides a much more rigid frame structure by reason of the improved means for attachment of the brace to the sides of the frame.

Picture frame construction and brace therefor


A complete document management system is disclosed. Accordingly, systems and methods for managing data associated with a data storage component coupled to multiple computers over a network are disclosed. Systems and methods for managing data associated with a data storage component coupled to multiple computers over a network are further disclosed. Additionally, systems and methods for accessing documents available through a network, wherein the documents are stored on one or more data storage devices coupled to the network, are disclosed.

Data protection systems contain large amounts of data. This data includes personal data, such as financial data, customer/client/patient contact data, audio/visual data, and much more. Corporate computer systems often contain word processing documents, engineering diagrams, spreadsheets, business strategy presentations, and so on. With the proliferation of computer systems and the ease of creating content, the amount of content in an organization has expanded rapidly. Even small offices often have more information stored than any single employee can know about or locate.
Some data protection applications provide functions for actively searching for files within the organization based on a previously created index of the information available in each file. A user can then search for and retrieve documents based on a topic. Typical search software operates on a single index of keywords derived from the data that has been copied for protection purposes. It is typical for an organization to maintain many secondary copies of its data and the various copies are typically stored in multiple formats in multiple devices. For example, when current copy of data is made, previous copies are often maintained so that an historical archive is created. Thus, if the most recent copy does not have the desired data for a restore operation, an older copy may be used. With the existence of multiple copies on multiple devices spanning weeks, months and even years, a search over this data can be complex and time consuming. A search over such a large amount of data can require separately searching content indices of all of the computer systems within an organization. This can put an unexpected load on already burdened systems and can require significant time on the part of a system operator.
Typical search systems also create problems when retrieval of the desired data is attempted. First, typical systems require that retrieval of the identified data be performed as a restore operation. The typical restore operation first identifies a secondary copy of the data in question on a secondary volume and copies the identified copy of the data back onto a production server (or other primary or working volume) and overwrites the existing data files. This can be inconvenient if it is desired to maintain the production copy or if it is merely desired to inspect the contents of a secondary data store. Second, typical systems are blind to the security rights of users and database operators. Typical systems do not have an integrated data rights security control that identifies the security privileges of the operator or user for whom the data is being restored and allows or denies the restore accordingly. Additionally, typical systems do not allow a user to promote and reapply search criteria throughout the data management system.
In the drawings, the same reference numbers and acronyms identify elements or acts with the same or similar functionality for ease of understanding and convenience.

Method and system for searching stored data


An apparatus for refractive ophthalmic surgery by laser radiation including a source of radiation which emits a processing beam a beam path for focusing and scanning. The beam path focuses the processing beam into a cornea of an eye and shifts a position of a focus therein. A beam splitting device generates several foci in the cornea and divides the processing beam into a primary beam and at least one secondary beam. The primary and secondary beams have substantially the same cross section as the processing beam which is incident on the beam splitting device and the beam-splitting device introduces a separation between the primary and secondary beams. The primary and secondary beams expand in the beam path. A contact glass induces a pre-defined geometric boundary surface at the cornea.

The processing of material by laser radiation is known. A particular application for processing transparent materials, where a processing effect is obtained by a non-linear interaction of the laser radiation with the per se transparent material, is refractive ophthalmic surgery. For surgery, the laser radiation is focused into the eye's cornea, and the focus is shifted along a cut surface to be generated.
Of course, the processing time depends on how long the interaction in the focus lasts. An acceleration can be achieved by working with several focus spots at a time.
Therefore, EP 1279386 A1, which discloses an apparatus of the above type, describes how to shorten the treatment time by multiplying the spots, allowing the simultaneous processing of larger partial areas. The presented solution has several disadvantages. According to FIG. 4 of this publication, a beam 38 is split into partial beams 44 a . . . c by lenses 42 a . . . c. The diameter the beams 44 a . . . c have directly at the lenses 42 a . . . c is smaller than the diameter of the beam 38. This is a disadvantage, because a smaller beam cross section at the lenses 42 a . . . c causes the beams 44 a . . . c to be have an inferior focusing ability as compared to the beam 38. That is, either larger spots result or the cross sections have to be adapted. After interaction of the near-parallel beam 38 with the lenses 42 a . . . c, convergent beams 44 a . . . c form so that foci are located within the optical system. This is disadvantageous because it may cause high field strengths with undesired effects within the optical system, for example an energy-consuming optical breakthrough at a position in the optical beam path other than the target position in the material to be treated. Moreover, any focusing element always generates a need for adaptation to the subsequent optics, e.g. by collimation. This accordingly results in additional complexity.
Also, in the state of the art, a scanning element is positioned directly in the intermediate image, i.e. conjugated to the actual processing plane. Although the beams would be deflected when using a galvanometer scanner, there would be no change of location. Therefore, the spots would rest in the processing volume despite any deflections of the galvanometer scanner. Further, the design according to DE 60208968 additionally uses an active mirror having 40,000 active facets, which is complex and expensive.
A further problem of the known arrangement is that a fixed offset between the individual spots is generated anterior to the scanner. A spiral scan will then result in points of intersection between the spot paths in the processing volume. This leads to a non-concentric course of the paths, especially for a small number of spots.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Multiple-spot laser refractive ophthalmic surgery


Provided is a wearable device that is worn on a human ear and mainly outputs or inputs sound. The outer casing 110 is formed into an elongated shape so as to fit the cymba conchae 306 formed between the antihelix inferior crus 302b and the crus helicis 309. The sound generating unit 120 includes a vibration element 121 and a weight 122. The vibration element 121 has an elongated shape along the longitudinal direction of the outer casing 110, and has one end fixed to the inner wall of the outer casing 110, and the other end to which a weight 122 is attached, the other hand being an open end. By applying an alternating electric field to the vibration element 121, vibration corresponding to audio is generated.

A compact sound transducer, that is, an earphone, which converts an electric signal output from a reproducing device or a receiver into a sound signal by a speaker close to an ear or an eardrum, has been widespread. Since this type of sound reproducing device emits sound so that the sound can be heard only by a listener wearing the sound reproducing device, this type of sound reproducing device is being used in various environments.
Many of the earphones which are now in widespread use are shaped to be inserted into the ears of the listener. For example, an inner ear type earphone is a shape that is hung by an auricle of the listener. Furthermore, a canal type earphone has a shape used by being inserted deeply into the hole of the ear (ear canal), and since the canal type earphone is often structurally sealed type and the sound insulation performance is relatively good, there is merit such that music can be enjoyed even in a place where the noise is slightly large.
In general, the canal type earphone generally includes a speaker unit that converts an electric signal into a sound signal, and a speaker unit is attached to one end of the housing (outside of the ear canal) with a substantially cylindrical housing (housing) also serving as a sound tube as a basic component. The housing has a radiation outlet that radiates air vibrations generated by the speaker unit to the ear canal and transmits the air vibrations to the eardrum. In addition, an earpiece (detachable component) having a shape conforming to the ear canal is usually attached to the other end (insertion portion of the ear canal) of the housing when the listener wears the canal type earphone. For example, proposals have been made for a canal type earphone device that can accommodate a sound tube up to an ear canal entrance while storing the housing in a cavum conchae by disposing the sound tube obliquely from a position deviated from the center of the housing (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
Even while the listener wears the earphone and listens to a presented audio, it is necessary to listen to ambient sound at the same time, for example when people around the world speak. It is a dangerous situation that ambient sound cannot be heard, for example, when sports are conducted outdoors and indoors, including walking, jogging, cycling, mountain climbing, skiing, snowboarding, and during driving or navigation. Furthermore, the inability to listen to the ambient sound during communication or presentation causes a decline in service. However, most of the conventional earphones such as a canal type earphone are structured to close an ear hole almost completely in a wearing state, so that it is extremely difficult for the listener to hear ambient sound while listening.
Furthermore, the surrounding people view the listener as if the ear holes of the listener wearing the conventional earphone is blocked, which therefore gives the impression that it is difficult to talk to the wearer of the earphone, and also interferes with communication between people.


A direct feedback isolated power converter can include a transformer with primary, secondary, and bias windings. A main switch can selectively enable and disable current flow through the primary winding. A controller coupled to the bias winding may be configured to generate a gate drive signal for the main switch responsive at least in part to free ringing of the transformer. The controller may detect the free ringing via the bias winding. An auxiliary switch coupled across the secondary winding may be configured to selectively short circuit the secondary winding, responsive to feedback circuitry, to control when free ringing is established. The feedback circuitry may include a proportional, proportional integral, or proportional-integral-derivative control loop, a hysteretic control loop, or other controller type. The controller may operate at a variable or fixed frequency. The direct feedback isolated power converter may be a flyback converter or other type of isolated converter.

Switching power supplies, also known as power converters or switching converters, often use one or more magnetic elements, such as transformers or inductors, to process power or energy from an input source and deliver it to an output load. In many applications, isolated converters, which provide electrical isolation between the input source and output load, are desirable or required by various regulations. In isolated converters, a transformer may be used as the isolation element (i.e., an isolation transformer). In such applications the transformer provides electrical isolation between the input/primary side of the transformer and the output/secondary side of the transformer. In many applications, the isolation transformer may also serve as the magnetic element of the converter. Examples of such converters include flyback converters and isolated forward converters.
In any power converter, power is transferred forward from source to load. Effective control of the converter may also require a feedback loop from load to source so that appropriate output electrical characteristics, e.g., voltage and/or current, can be maintained. Thus, a feedback loop may be established between the load and input to control and adjust the power flow as required. This results in what is known as closed loop operation, and many control techniques for closed loop operation are known in the art. In general, these closed loop control techniques include a reference device that sets a desired value for a regulated output parameter (such as an output voltage setpoint), a sensor that senses the value of the output parameter to be regulated, and a mechanism for comparing reference to the sensed value and altering operation of the converter to make the sensed value match the reference. Exemplary closed loop controllers include, proportional controllers, proportional-integral (PI) controllers, proportional-integral-derivative (PID) controllers, hysteretic controllers, digital controllers, etc.
For non-isolated switching converters closing the feedback control loop is straight-forward. A direct electrical connection can suffice because the input and output are referred to the same electrical ground, and the switching controller (PWM controller) and the feedback reference and network are all in the same place. However, for isolated converters, feedback control requires a mechanism for safely getting the sensed output signal across the isolation barrier provided by the transformer. Two common solutions are magnetic coupling (using an additional signal transformer or one or more auxiliary windings of the power transformer) and optical coupling. Both techniques have drawbacks. With respect to magnetic coupling, separate signal transformers are bulky, expensive, and complicate controller design because of the impacts their performance has on the feedback signal. Auxiliary windings may complicate as well as compromise design of the power transformer while also causing controller complication issues similar to a separate signal transformer. Although opto-couplers are usually cheaper and smaller, they are bandwidth limited, subject to high levels of variation with response to temperature, and subject to wide variations in gain and other performance metrics from piece-to-piece, lot-to-lot, and vendor-to-vendor.
Because of these and other limitations in providing feedback loops in isolated power converters, isolated converters to date have largely used relatively straightforward PID loop control, which has limited the ability of power converter designers to adopt higher performing control techniques that could potentially maximize power converter performance. Thus, what is needed in the art are improved feedback techniques for isolated power converters.

Direct feedback for isolated switching converters


Article of jewelry includes a main frame defining a cutout in a medial portion thereof, a magnifying glass received within the cutout, and a light source configured to disperse light proximal to the magnifying glass. The main frame comprises a first configuration where the main frame is pivoted inwardly to form a bracelet orientation, and a second configuration in which the main frame is pivoted outwardly to form a magnifying orientation.

Jewelry generally constitute personal ornamental pieces such as rings, necklaces, earrings, and bracelets that are made of materials which may or may not be precious (such as gold, silver, glass, and plastic), are often set with genuine or imitation gems, and are worn for personal adornment. Jewelry is worn by both men and women across various cultures, ethnicities, nationalities and age groups.
Presbyopia is the normal loss of near focusing ability that occurs with age. Most people begin to notice the effects of presbyopia sometime after age 40, when they start having trouble seeing small print clearly—including text messages on their phone. People with poor eyesight, for example, due to presbyopia, may need a magnifying means to see small objects or to read small print, such as newspaper text, prayer book text, prices, menu items and similar other items. Often, people in need of such a reading aid may not wear or carry eyeglasses on a regular basis. A magnifying lens can be used instead of eyeglasses. A magnifying lens is used to enlarge the image of an object and to inspect small objects, regardless of the user's eyesight. However, it can be cumbersome to carry a magnifying lens in person at all times in order to have one readily available in the event that its services are needed, such as a reading the small menu print at a restaurant.
Accordingly, opportunities exist for providing a convenient solution for magnification of objects that overcomes the limitations noted above.


The invention concerns a program-controlled device with reloading possibility for and change-over possibility to a second operating system (GLS1, GLS2, GLS3, GLSx) without program interruption, with a processor and a program memory which the processor can address via address lines, where a switchable change-over switch is provided in the address lines whereby two memory areas (01xx, 10xx) can be exchanged with each other by means of translation.

Such devices are widely used. Reference to U.S. Pat. No. 5,452,339 is only made as an example in this case. It describes a course which ensures that no problems result from a defective change-over. The change-over possibility is stipulated in that case.
If a program-controlled device must be available practically without any interruption and still be able to be switched over to another operating system, it must be possible to reload the second program version during the operation and then switch over to it.
Processors which have an integrated solution for this problem can be found in the market. They also have other advantageous properties and are therefore respectively expensive. However, these other advantageous properties are not needed in every instance and the higher price is therefore not justified. The reloading of the new operating system into a still available memory area with its own address, and the subsequent change-over by considering this individual address are not feasible in practice, because a restart is never fully connected and different addresses cannot be taken into consideration during a restart. In contrast, the use of two switchable parallel memory blocks with the same addresses results in that the respectively inactive memory block cannot be addressed by the same processor and thus the reloading of the new operating system only becomes possible to a limited degree.

Program-controlled device with reloading possibility for and changeover possibility to a second operating system without program interruption by exchanging two address lines each other


A quantum supermemory is based on the cells of nanostructured material. The nanostructured material includes consists of clusters with tunnel-transparent coatings. The clusters have sizes at which resonant electron features are manifested. The size is determined by the circular radius of the electronic wave, according to the formula r0=/(meα2c)=7.2517 nm, where  is the Plank contstant, me is the electron mass, α=1/137,036 is the fine structure constant, c is the speed of light. The cluster size is set within the range r0=4r0, and the width of the tunnel-transparent gap is less than r0=7.2517 nm. The nanostructured material stores energy (charge) uniformly along its whole volume with the specific density of 1.66*103 J/cm3. Based on this material energy-independent rewritable memory is obtained with the writing density up to 28 Gbyte/cm2, the maximum working temperature being 878° C. and the maximum timing frequency being 175 Ghz.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to the field of electronic components and informatics and can be used in production external and operative memory, computing and every possible information device.
2. Background Art
In the near future, the main problem of the development of multimedia technology will become processing and accumulating terabit volumes of information. Carriers of information, existing at present, like magnetic, optical and silicon carriers, nearly run out all possibility, both in physical, and in economic plan. Known methods of recording information are based on the principle of modulation of the electron or photon stream, interacting with a medium—a carrier of information.
A prevalent method of information storage is information storage on an electric capacitor or information storage directly in the dielectric of the capacitor on introduced defect—an electron traps [1].
In connection with an advanced stage of development of silicon technology usually for information storage capacitors with dielectrics from SiO2, Si3N4 and so on are used. They have low permittivity ε=4 but high field strength E under which the dielectric breakdown occurs. The field strength will reach E=3*107 V/cm in the thin 15 nm film due to decrease of defects [1, chapter 7.3.4]. In such capacitors, specific density of energy of information storage is of the order W=3.5*102 J/cm3. However, it is really impossible to achieve such energy density because of the oxide film is directly found on the semiconductor.
For instance, in the system Si—SiO2, when the field in silicon reaches the value to be typical of avalanche breakdown 3*105 V/cm, the corresponding field in oxide approximately is three times more (˜106 V/cm) because εSi/εSiO2=11.7/3.9 [1, chapter 7.3.4]. This effect at least reduces density of energy accumulated in the capacitor to one order. High energy density of information storage allows the ratio of the useful signal to noise to increase and, consequently, the record information density to increase to 1 Gbit/cm2. However, high leakage currents are formed because of small film thickness.
For instance, under the field E=6* 106 V/cm the density of the leakage current is ˜4*10−11 A/cm2. Note that leakage currents depend on operating temperature of the instrument exponentially. Besides, the decreasing of the film thickness below 8 nm results in tunnel current appearance in the capacitor. Consequently, these effects limit the time of the charge storage and operating temperature range. So during process of information storage, for instance, in temporary memory, it is necessary to restore the charge periodically—to regenerate. In such mode the dead time necessary on charge regeneration appears, and power consumption of operating memory sharply rises. Besides, such memory loses information when power is off.
To make the energy-independent memory semiconductor FET with enough thickness dielectric layer of control gate are used. The dielectric is made as multi-layer one or defects or additional electrodes are introduced in it. Special control impulse being applied, the dielectric is disrupted and charges are carried in it. They are trapped in the dielectric and can be stored quite long. This charge changes the static properties of the transistor that is used for identification of information in each cell. However, such cells appear to be quite large. This limits the possibility of the making the integrated circuit of large capacity [1,2].
The analog memory with serial access on the base of charge-coupled devices (CCD) is broadly used except in digital integral circuits with random access. They are usually used in photo and television detectors for transformation of the image in digital form. The metal-oxide-semiconductor (MOS) capacitor working in the mode of deep carrier depletion is the main element of a charge-coupled device. This device includes a semiconductor substrate covering by uniform layer of the insulator (the oxide), on which gates—transfer electrodes are located quite close to each other.
Here information as charge packet moves consecutively from cell to cell along the surface under the action of clock pulses applied to transfer electrodes. However, the number of the information shifts is limited by several thousand. In future charge packet degrades. With the clock rate being increased over 107 Hz, the charge packets also degrade. As a result, analog information is lost. If charge-coupled devices are used in the mode of digital information storage, connected information in charge-coupled devices, it is possible to recover periodically the charge as "1" and "0". Clear the presence of one fault cell in the memory line falls out of the whole line. Therefore, the process of production charge-coupled devices is quite expensive.
Besides, charge in charge-coupled devices is kept in quite a large area—in the depletion located under oxide layer of the semiconductor. This reduces the specific energy of information storage in several orders in contrast with temporary memory with random access, that does not allow the cell size to decrease and the recording density of information above 10 Megabit/cm2 to be achieved. As the result, these devices have not found wide application for making the external memory because of high cost of the unit information storage [1].
To increase the density of recording of information over 1 Gbit/cm2 it is necessary to reduce the size of a storage cells up to sizes, allowing to keep one electron [3,4]. However, experiments have shown that miniaturizing of the cell results in decreasing of the working temperature less than 4K. This is related with that fact that the miniaturizing of the cells of active element simultaneously increases stray permittivity of control electrodes. This accordingly increases the stray noise charge, which destroys useful information keeping in a cell [5].
In this regard, the question, whether it is possible to create the energy-independent memory on capacitor with large specific energy of information storage for obtaining high writing density of information, simultaneously working in wide temperature range and fast response, arises.
The electric capacitors on the base of solid dielectrics, having large specific capacity are known, for instance, capacitors on BaTiO3 dielectric have large permeability ε>1000 and specific capacity on the order of 0.3 F/cm3. Different methods are used for increasing of specific capacity. The most efficient is the nanostructuring of dielectrics of the type BaTiO3 by way of the creation of nanosize clusters with shell [6], or the creation of thin nanosize films with doping by metal [7].
By means of such approach, as the authors confirm, it was managed to increase permittivity up ε=105-106 and to reach specific capacity 100-1000 F/cm3. As the result, it was managed to obtain the specific energy, accumulated in the capacitor on the order of 102−1.3*104 J/cm3. In the capacitor, made on the enumerated above patent, barium titanate is used with a high degree of metal doping. This results in transformation of dielectric to semiconductor. As the result, large leakage currents appear resulting in quick loss of the accumulated energy. Besides, the process of the cracking 100 nm film begins after increasing the energy density over 103 J/cm3. Consequently, the use of such capacitors for long-term keeping of the energy is not effective.
In the solid-state capacitors enumerated above, ion transfer mechanisms are used. So, in BaTiO3, ions are shifted relatively to the crystal lattice. Such process of the heavy ion moving limits the speed properties. So, it is impossible to use such capacitors in memory elements of very-high-speed integrated circuits.


A region comprising a plurality of real pages in a part of a real storage unit is provided with a first key storage unit having a plurality of key storage entries each corresponding to one of the plurality of real pages, while a second region comprising a plurality of real pages in the second part of the real storage unit is provided with a second key storage unit having a single key storage entry. When a real address designated by an instruction to be executed belongs to the first region, an entry corresponding to this address is accessed by a storage protection control circuit. When this address belongs to the second region, the second key storage unit is accessed irrespective of the address. Further, a key within the accessed key information is compared with a key on a program status word (PSW) allocated to a program to determine whether the execution of the instruction is permitted.

This invention relates to a configuration for a real storage in a computer system, and more particularly to a method for allocating memories and a data processing apparatus therefor suitable for realizing a large capacity real storage unit.
In a conventional virtual storage type computer system, a real storage is divided into management units (real pages), each having the same size as a virtual page, and each of the management units is provided with a key storage entry for storage protection. The key storage entry for each management unit provides no problems for a real storage capacity which is in the order of several hundred megabytes (MB). However, a large capacity of real storage, for example, approximately 50 gigabytes (GB) requires a significant number of key storage entries, whereby the capacity of the whole key storage unit must be taken into account. Specifically, the key storage unit is referenced or updated each time a region on the real storage unit is accessed, therefore high speed access is required. For this reason, the key storage unit is generally composed of expensive high speed semiconductor devices, whereby an enormous increase in the capacity of the key storage unit will increase the cost of the whole system. As a more significant problem, the key storage unit, if the capacity thereof is excessively increased, cannot be packaged in a predetermined space of the system, which results in a longer access time of the key storage and, consequently, deterioration of the performance of the whole system. To cope with this problem, JP-A-63-289659 (the corresponding U.S. application thereof has been issued as U.S. Pat. No. 4,991,082 on Feb. 5, 1991) and JP-A-64-17138 discuss methods of setting a larger management unit for a real storage unit, by which the number of installed key storage entries is determined, to thereby reduce the number of key storage entries (the capacity of the key storage unit).
However, even with the management unit enlarged as disclosed in the above-mentioned prior art, if a larger number of storage units becomes necessary, the number of the key storage entries will have to be correspondingly increased.

Data processing apparatus having a real memory region with a corresponding fixed memory protection key value and method for allocating memories therefor

200;900
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FSS 425
FSS 4 MS File
FSS 382;431 MS File


An enhanced apparatus (10) for filling bags containing products, in particular fruit and vegetable products, arranged in first bags (16) having dimensions smaller than second bags filled with said first bags and comprising a feeding station (12) which feeds first bags (16) to a second bag filling station (18) which fills second bags with the first bags (16), a meshed material feeding station (20) to form bands of second bags, a closing and cutting station (22) which closes and cuts second bags filled with the first bags, said filling station (18) being an intermediate station between said meshed material feeding station (20) and said closing and cutting station (22), the apparatus comprising automatic sorting and selection means, integrated in the filling station (18), which automatically sort and select the first bags (16) fed by the feeding station (12) to transportation means suitable for moving said first bags (16), after being sorted, towards collection/accumulation means comprising unloading means providing for a centered downloading of said first bags into second bags.

More specifically, the present invention refers to an apparatus for filling bags, in particular with fruit and vegetable products (oranges, lemons, vegetables such as potatoes, onions or the like) and, more specifically, said fruit and vegetable products being pre-packaged loose and freely movable internally to further bags.
It is known that the products intended for large scale distribution and, in particular, the fruit and vegetable products are packaged in big-size bags, which operate as a packing for transportation and internally thereto contain a plurality of small-size bags containing fruit and vegetable products.
For explanatory purposes only, one big-size bag having a capacity of 25 kg can accommodate at least ten smaller bags (filled with fruit and vegetable products), complete with a label and having a weight ranging from 0.5 to 5 kg; this allows an easier transportation of the products.
This operation whereby smaller bags are accommodated in bigger bags can be performed manually, which entails a number of drawbacks bound to longer packaging times, counting errors made by operators and, consequently, longer production times which in turn result in high production costs.
Alternatively, packaging can take place automatically, which advantageously reduces the production times and consequently their respective costs.
However, the traditional automatic apparatuses suitable for this purpose also feature a number of major drawbacks, bound to the fact that the smaller bags containing the fruit and vegetable products, owing to the high speed of the packaging apparatuses, are fed to the bigger bags randomly, which results in frequent problems bound to the difficulty of filling such bigger bags more uniformly and to the need for accommodating a constant number of smaller bags in said bigger bags.
For instance, document WO2007/125411 describes an apparatus for filling bags with smaller-size bags, said smaller bags being moved on conveyor means the function of which is to convey said bags to a ramp-openable dispensing zone to make the small bags fall into the bigger ones; however, such solution features a number of drawbacks bound to the ramp in the dispensing zone, which entails a slowing down of the smaller bags during their fall and, also, it does not allow an optimal and centered fall of the bags and, consequently, it entails problems bound to the extended production times and associated costs.


A read/write head for use in recording and reading data on perpendicular recording media comprising a first elongate magnetic member and a second U-shaped member having a base member and two leg members, said base member being parallel to said elongate member and said leg members being supported by and integral with said base member and extending toward said elongate member, one of said leg members being longer than the other shorter of said leg members, whereby said first elongate magnetic member and said second U-shaped member are secured together with an open gap portion defined between the other shorter leg of said second U-shaped member and said first elongate magnetic member, said gap portion being adapted to be proximate to said recording medium during use of said read/write head,. said first elongate member comprising a magnetic member having an elongate layer of magnetic material carried on and extending longitudinally along a face of said first elongate magnetic member and terminating proximate said recording medium in a pole tip end having a width and thickness operable to establish the resolution of the head when said head is used for accessing said information, said first elongate magnetic member terminating in a region having a narrowed end slanted in part toward said pole tip, whereby when driven by a write current, said narrowed end of said first elongate magnetic member will saturate magnetically leaving said pole tip end as the only effective recording surface of said head.

generally to a magnetic head for a
This invention relates perpendicular- recording system, and more particularly to a thin film magnetic head which is especially adapted for recording on double-sided/double-layer disc or media, and a process for forming that head.
In conventional magnetic recording media, data is recorded by magnetizing the magnetic layer of the media in a longitudinal direction parallel to the direction of relative movement between the magnetic medium and the transducer, or head, positioned adjacent to the medium. In perpendicular recording, data is recorded by magnetizing the magnetic recording layer in the direction perpendicular to the surface of the medium.
Magnetic recording transducers generally fall into two classes: ring-type heads that employ magnetic material generally in the shape of a ring for defining a magnetic path, the ring having a gap therein for defining the location of the data recorded, and single pole piece heads that employ an elongated strip of high saturation flux density material to link the magnetic flux being sensed by the head with an operatively associated coil. In ring-type heads, as noted above, the resolution of the head is a function of the length of the gap, whereas in single pole piece heads, the resolution is a function of the thickness of the pole piece at its tip.
Ring-type heads have long been used in longitudinal recording and have also been proposed for use in perpendicular recording. However, since a major advantage of perpendicular recording is the ability to read and write data at high density, the use of ring-type heads in perpendicular recording has not been considered advantageous because the pulse widths obtained with ring-type heads tend to lead to peak shift problems at high density. Further, ring-type heads often provide asymmetric pulse shapes and in general give rise to difficulties in reading and writing at ultra high densities. Ring-type heads as now known cannot be used with all perpendicular recording media.
Single pole piece heads offer the advantage of high resolution if the pole piece is made by thin film deposition techniques. With thin film deposition, pole pieces of less than one micron thickness can be obtained, which would enable the head to read information stored at very high densities. However, there has not yet been developed commercially acceptable methods of making and using a high volume thin film single pole piece head for perpendicular recording.

Magnetic head for perpendicular magnetic recording system and process


A rule learning method in machine learning includes distributing features to a given number of buckets based on a weight of the features which are correlated with a training example; specifying a feature with a maximum gain value as a rule based on a weight of the training example from each of the buckets; calculating a confidence value of the specified rule based on the weight of the training example; storing the specified rule and the confidence value in a rule data storage unit; updating the weights of the training examples based on the specified rule, the confidence value of the specified rule, data of the training example, and the weight of the training example; and repeating the distributing, the specifying, the calculating, the storing, and the updating, when the rule and the confidence value are to be further generated.

Various machine learning algorithms are known including machine learning algorithms known as "boosting" algorithms. A learning method based on an AdaBoost method, which is a type of boosting algorithm, is outlined below. Hereinafter, unless otherwise described, boosting refers to AdaBoost.
The related documents in this field include the following: Y. Freund and L. Mason, 1999, "The alternating decision tree learning algorithm", In Proc. of 16th ICML, pp. 124-133; R. E. Schapire and Y. Singer, 1999, "Improved boosting algorithms using confidence-rated predictions", Machine Learning, 37 (3): 297-336; R. E. Schapire and Y. Singer, 2000, "Boostexter: A boosting-based system for text categorization", Machine Learning, 39 (2/3): 135-168; and Gerard Escudero, Llu'is M'arquez, and German Rigau, 2000, "Boosting applied to word sense disambiguation", In Proc. of 11th ECML, pp. 129-141.
In the boosting, a plurality of weak hypotheses (i.e., rules) are generated from training examples with different weights with the use of a given weak learner. While changing the weight of the training example, the weak hypotheses are repeatedly generated from the training examples, and thus a final hypothesis, which is a combination of the weak hypotheses, is finally generated. A small weight is assigned to a case which can be correctly classified by a previously learned weak hypothesis, while a large weight is assigned to a case which cannot be correctly classified.
This description is based on a boosting algorithm using a rule learner as the weak learner. Hereinafter, such an algorithm is described as a boosting algorithm. The premise of the boosting algorithm will be hereinafter described.
First, a problem addressed by the boosting algorithm will be described. Here, x is assumed to be a set of examples, and a treated label set is assumed to be y={−1, +1}. The object of learning is to derive a mapping F: x→y from learning data S={(x1, y1), . . . , (xm, ym)}.
Here, |x| is assumed to be a kind of feature included in a case xεx. xiεx (1≦i≦m) is assumed to be a feature set comprising |xi| kinds of features. The feature set comprising "k" features is described as "k−feature set". Further, yiεy is a class level of the i-th feature set of S.
FT={f1, f2, . . . , fM} is assumed to be "M" kinds of features which are the objects of the boosting algorithm. Each feature of each case xi is xi,jεFT (1≦j≦|xi|). The boosting algorithm can handle a binary vector; however, in the following example, each feature is represented by a character string.
A case where a feature set includes another feature set is defined as follows:
Definition 1:
In two feature sets x and x′, when x′ has all features of x, x is called a partial feature set of x′, and is described as follows:x⊂x′
Further, the rule is defined based on the concept of real-valued prediction and abstaining (RVPA) used in "Boostexter: A boosting-based system for text categorization", Machine Learning, 39 (2/3): 135-168, 2000 by R. E. Schapire and Y. Singer. In RVPA, when an input feature set fits the conditions, a confidence value represented by a real number is returned; but when an input feature set does not fit the conditions, "0" is returned. The weak hypothesis for classification of the feature sets is defined as follows:
Definition 2:
A feature set "f" is a rule, and "x" is the input feature set. When a real number "c" is the confidence value of the rule "f", the application of the rule is defined as follows:
            h              〈                  f          ,          c                〉                        (      x      )        =      {                            c                                      f            ⊆            x                                                0                          otherwise
In the rule learning based on the boosting, a combination of "T" kinds of rule feature sets and the confidence value (<f1, c1>, . . . , <fT, cT>) are obtained by learning using the weak learner in "T" number of Boosting rounds, and thus "F" is defined as follows:
      F              (      x      )        =      sign    (                  ∑                  t          =          1                T                                    h                      〈                                          f                                  t                  ,                                                                          c                t                                      〉                                            (          x          )                      )
wherein, when "x" is not less than 0, sign (x) represents a function of 1, and in other cases the sign (x) represents a function of −1.
The weak learner derives a rule "ft" and the confidence value "ct" with the use of the learning data S {(x1, y1) (1≦i≦m) and the weight {wt,1, . . . , wt,m} of each training example at the "t"-th boosting round, wt,1(0<wt,1) is the weight of the "t"-th (1≦t≦T) boosting round in the "i"-th (1≦i≦m) case (x1, y1).
The weak learner selects, as the rule, the feature set "f" and the confidence value "c" minimizing the following formula based on the given learning data and the weight of the training example:
                                                        ∑                              y                ∈                                  {                                                            -                      1                                        ,                                          +                      1                                                        }                                                                                W                                      t                    ,                    y                                                                                (                  f                  )                                            *                              exp                                                  (                                                            -                      y                                        *                                                                  h                                                  〈                                                      f                            ,                            c                                                    〉                                                                                (                                                  x                          i                                                )                                                                              )                                                              +                                    W              t                                                  (                              ⫬                f                            )                                                                                W                              t                ,                y                                                                (              f              )                                =                                    ∑                              i                =                1                            m                                                                  w                                  t                  ,                  i                                                                          [                                  [                                                            f                      ⊆                                                                        x                          i                                                ⋀                                                  y                          i                                                                                =                    y                                    ]                                ]                                                                                W              t                                                  (                              ⫬                f                            )                                =                                                    ∑                                  i                  =                  1                                m                                                          w                                  t                  ,                  i                                                      -                                          W                                  t                  ,                                      +                    1                                                                                (                f                )                                      -                                          W                                  t                  ,                                      -                    1                                                                                (                f                )                                                                        (        1        )
wherein, when a proposition π is satisfied, [[π]] is 1, and [[π]] is 0 otherwise.
The formula (1) is used as the reference of selection of the rules, because the upper bound of training error of the learning algorithm based on the boosting is associated with the sum of the weights of the examples.
When the formula (1) is minimized by a certain rule "f", the confidence value "c" at that time is as follows:
                    c        =                              1            2                                          ln                                      (                                                                    W                                          t                      ,                                              +                        1                                                                                (                    f                    )                                                                                W                                          t                      ,                                              -                        1                                                                                (                    f                    )                                                              )                                                          (        2        )
The formula (2) is substituted into the formula (1), whereby the following formula is obtained:
                                          ∑                          i              =              1                        m                                          w                          t              ,              i                                      -                              (                                                                                W                                          t                      ,                                              +                        1                                                                                (                    f                    )                                                              -                                                                    W                                          t                      ,                                              -                        1                                                                                (                    f                    )                                                                        )                    2                                    (        3        )
Based on the formula (3), the minimization of the formula (1) is understood to be equivalent to selecting the feature set "f" maximizing score to be defined as follows:
                              score                                (            f            )                                            =          def                                                                                                        W                                      t                    ,                                          +                      1                                                                                (                  f                  )                                                      -                                                            W                                      t                    ,                                          -                      1                                                                                (                  f                  )                                                                                                  (        4        )
Next, a processing for updating the weight of each case with the use of (ft, ct) will be described. There are two cases where the weight is normalized so that the sum of all weights is 1, and where the weight is not normalized.
When the weight is normalized, a weight wt+1, i in the "t+1"-th round is defined as follows:
                                          w                                          t                +                1                            ,              i                                =                                                    w                                  t                  ,                  i                                                                          exp                                                  (                                                            -                                              y                        i                                                                                h                                                  〈                                                                                f                                                              t                                ,                                                                                c                              t                                                                                〉                                                                                (                                                  x                          i                                                )                                                                              )                                                                    Z              t                                                                                Z            t                    =                                    ∑                              i                =                1                            m                                                                  w                                  t                  ,                  i                                                                          exp                                                  (                                                            -                                              y                        i                                                                                h                                                  〈                                                                                f                                                              t                                ,                                                                                c                              t                                                                                〉                                                                                (                                                  x                          i                                                )                                                                              )                                                                                (        5        )
When the weight is not normalized, the weight wt+1, i in the "t+1"-th round is defined as follows:wi+1,i=wt,iexp(−yihft,ct(xi)  (6)
An initial value w1, i of the weight to be normalized is "1/m" (where m is the number of the training examples), and the initial value w1,i of the un-normalized weight is 1.
When the appearances of the feature are sparse (the feature appears in few examples), Wt,+1(f) or Wt,−1(f) is a very small value or 0. In order to avoid that, a value ε for smoothing is introduced.
Namely, the formula (2) is transformed as follows:
                    c        =                              1            2                                          ln                                      (                                                                                W                                              t                        ,                                                  +                          1                                                                                (                      f                      )                                                        +                  ɛ                                                                                W                                              t                        ,                                                  -                          1                                                                                (                      f                      )                                                        +                  ɛ                                            )                                                          (        7        )
For example, ε=1/m or ε=1 may be used.
In the basic boosting described above, when the number of candidates of the rules (that is, the number of features) and the generation frequency of the rules (that is, the number of rounds of repetition processing) are large, the learning time becomes very long, leading to a problem.
Therefore, a method where learning is performed using only a part of the rule candidates has been considered. For example sets of rule candidates (also called buckets) are previously generated on the scale of frequency and entropy, and one rule is selected from one set in each round. Hereinafter, the processing contents of this method will be described using FIGS. 1 to 11.
First, the learning data "S" including "m" number of examples, which are combinations of the feature set "xi" including one or more features and a label "yi" of −1 or +1: S={(x1, y1), (x2, y2), . . . , (xm, ym)}, an initial value DI(i)=1 (1≦i≦m) of "m" number of weights corresponding to "m" number of examples, an iteration frequency "N", a variable I=1 for counting the frequency of iterations, the number of buckets "M" (set of rule candidates), and a variable b=1 (1≦b≦m) of a bucket ID are set (at S101). In order to promote understanding, an example of processing the learning data in FIG. 2 will be described. FIG. 2 includes four training examples. The first training example includes the feature set including features "a", "b", and "c" and a label +1, and the weight of the first training example is 1. The second training example includes the feature set including features "c" and "d" and the label −1, and the weight of the second training example is 1. The third training example includes the feature set including features "a" and "c" and the label +1, and the weight of the third training example is 1. The fourth training example includes the feature set including features "a" and "b" and the label +1, and the weight of the fourth training example is 1.
Next, the features included in the learning data "S" are extracted as the rule candidates. The weight of each of the features is calculated from the weight of the associated training example, and the features are distributed to "M" number of buckets (B[1], . . . B[M]) based on the weight of the relevant feature (at S103). The feature "a" is included in the feature set in the first, third and fourth training examples. The weights in those training examples are added to each other, whereby the weight of the feature "a" equals 3. Likewise, the feature "b" is included in the feature set in the first and fourth training examples. The weights in those training examples are added to each other, whereby the weight of the feature "b" equals 2. The feature "c" is included in the feature set in the first, second, and third training examples. The weights in those training examples are added to each other, whereby the weight of the feature "c" equals 3. The feature "d" is included in the feature set in the second training examples. The weights in those training examples are added to each other, whereby the weight of the feature "d" equals 1. These results are compiled so that the features and the weights of the features depicted in FIG. 3 are obtained. The features are sorted in descending order based on the weights of the features, and the result depicted in FIG. 4 is obtained. Thus, the order of "a", "c", "b", and "d" is obtained. If M=2, the features "a", "c", "b", and "d" are alternately distributed to the buckets 1, 2, 1, and 2 respectively. Thus, as depicted in FIG. 5, the bucket 1 includes the features "a" and "b", and the bucket 2 includes the features "c" and "d".
Next, a gain of the rule candidates (that is, the features) included in a bucket B[b] is calculated according to a weight "DI(i)", and the rule candidate with a maximum gain value is selected as a rule "hI" (at S105). The gain is defined as follows with respect to a rule candidate "f":gain(f)=|sqrt(W(f,+1),sqrt(W(f,−1))|
Here, "W(f, LABEL)" is the sum of the training examples, where the rule candidate "f" appears and the "LABEL" is +1 or −1. "sqrt(x)" represents x1/2, and |x| represents an absolute value of "x".
For example, when the rule candidates "a" and "b" included in the bucket 1 are processed, according to FIG. 2, gain(a)=|sqrt(3)−sqrt(0)|=31/2. Likewise, gain(b)=|sqrt(2)−sqrt(0)|=21/2. These results are compiled as depicted in FIG. 6. Thus, the rule candidate "a" with a gain larger than the gain of the rule candidate "b" is selected as the rule "hI".
Next, a confidence value "αI" of the rule "hI" is calculated using the weight "DI(i)", and the rule "I" and the confidence value "αI" are registered in a rule data storage unit (at S107). The confidence value "αI" is calculated based on the formula (7); however, c=αI. For example, the confidence value of the rule "a" is calculated to be "1.28".
Further, the weight "DI(i)" is updated to a weight "DI+1(i)" based on the rule "hI" and the confidence value "αI" (at S109). The weight for the next stage is calculated by the formula (5) or (6). When the formula (6) is used, the weights depicted in FIG. 2 are updated to the weights depicted in FIG. 7. Also, wt,i=DI(i). The weights in the first, third, and fourth training examples are updated to 0.27.
Then, "I" is incremented by one (at S111), and "b" is incremented by one (at S113). However, when "M" is less than "b", "b" is returned to 1.
Thereafter, whether "I" is smaller than "N" or not is judged (at S115). If "I" is smaller than "N", the processing returns to S105. Meanwhile, if "I" is larger than "N", the processing is terminated.
In the above example, after shifting to the processing of B[2], when each gain of the rule candidates "c" and "d" included in the bucket 2 is calculated, the values depicted in FIG. 8 are obtained. Gain(c)=|sqrt(0.54)−sqrt(1)|=0.25, and gain(d)=|sqrt(0)−sqrt(1)|=1. According to this result, the rule candidate "d" is selected as a rule "h2".
Next, the confidence value of the rule "d" is calculated in accordance with the formula (7), whereby −0.81 is obtained. When the weight of the training example at the next stage is calculated in accordance with the formula (6), using the rule "d" and the confidence value of −0.81, the value depicted in FIG. 9 is obtained. Only the weight of the second training example including the feature "d" is updated to 0.44.
Further, after shifting to the processing of B[1], when each gain of the rule candidates "a" and "b" included in the bucket 1 is calculated, the values depicted ins FIG. 10 are obtained. Also in this case, the feature "a" has a larger gain, and therefore, the feature "a" is selected as the rule. The confidence value of the rule "a" is calculated in accordance with the formula (7), whereby 0.73 is obtained.
According to the above processing, pairs of the rule and the confidence value registered in the rule data storage part are depicted in FIG. 11.
When the learning is finished, and in the classification (that is, in the judgment determining whether a case is −1 or +1), the following processing is performed. Namely, when "a b e" is input as an input example, the sum of the confidence values=1.28+0.73=2.01 is obtained from the first and third records of FIG. 11. When the sum of the confidence values is positive, "abe" is classified as +1.
Meanwhile, when "d e" is input as the input example, the sum of the confidence values=−0.81 is obtained from the second record of FIG. 11. When the sum of the confidence values is negative, "de" is classified as −1.

Rule learning method, program, and device selecting rule for updating weights based on confidence value


A plastic squeeze container for dispensing a fluid carrying a turret member rotatably mounted to the container for movement to a plurality of different rotational positions with the turret member carrying an outlet through which fluid may be dispensed generally along an outlet axis and with rotation of the turret member the outlet axis varying as to the angles it assumes relative to a vertical axis of the container.

Plastic squeeze bottles for dispensing cleaners are known which have a gooseneck appearance and are adapted to be held when inverted such that the nozzle will direct fluid upwardly as under the rim of a toilet bowl. One problem with such gooseneck bottles is that the filling neck of the bottle is disposed at an angle to the vertical when the bottle is standing on its base. This has been appreciated by the inventors of the present application to present problems during filling operations since many assembly lines for automated filling require the filling neck to be disposed vertically.
Known squeeze bottles for dispensing cleaners when inverted suffer the disadvantage that typically the nozzle at which fluid is to be directed is fixed relative to the reminder of the contain and that manual dexterity of a user is required to permit dispensing in a variety of directions.