Devices and method for effectively filtering a signal, particularly for a communication system, are disclosed. In this regard, an exemplary embodiment of the present invention may be construed as an AFE that includes a high-pass receive filter for a communication system. The filter includes an AC-coupled capacitive input and a plurality of RC integrators. At least one of the plurality of RC integrators includes a damping resistor in parallel with a feedback capacitor and a switch for enabling the damping resistor, such that when the damping resistor is enabled, the at least one RC integrator is damped so as to reduce DC instability.

The present invention generally relates to xDSL communications. More specifically, the invention relates to active filters for analog front ends (AFEs) of XDSL communication systems.
With the advancement of technology, and the need for instantaneous information, the ability to transfer digital information from one location to another, such as from a central office to customer premises, has become increasingly important.
In a digital subscriber line (DSL) system, data is transmitted from a central office to customer premises via a transmission line, such as a two-wire pair, and is transmitted from the customer premise to the central office as well, either simultaneously or in different communication sessions. The same transmission line might be utilized for data transfer by both sites or the transmission to and from the central office might occur on two separate lines. In its most general configuration, a DSL card at a central office is comprised of a digital signal processor (DSP) which receives information from a data source and sends information to an AFE. The AFE serves as the interface between an analog line, such as the two-wire pair, and the DSP. The AFE functions to convert digital data, from the DSP, into a continuous-time analog signal when processing downstream data. Conversely, the AFE serves to convert an analog signal to digital data when processing upstream data.
As an important part of the aforementioned system responsible for proper transmission and reception of data in a broadband network, the AFE performs multiple functions in addition to converting a digital signal into a continuous-time analog signal, and vice versa. However, the functionality of the AFE is particular to the specific DSL application considered, wherein factors such as signal bandwidth, data rate, data reach, signal quality, power budget, and different applicable standards determine the optimum AFE.
In the receive path of the AFE, one fundamental component is a receive filter that may be configured to attenuate a strong echo signal so that the weaker receive signal may be later amplified without amplifying the noise produced by the echo. Unlike the transmit filter, the cut-off frequency of the receive filter is not extremely critical as the sole purpose of the receive filter is to attenuate the echo signal. What is critical however, is the attenuation in the stopband and the SNR in the passband. The specific configuration of the receive filter may vary with the particular application that will be utilized such as ADSL or VDSL.
Asymmetrical DSL (ADSL) is a popular service provided for residential customers, due to the asymmetrical nature of data usage, wherein more data flows towards the customer in the downstream direction, in comparison to the upstream data flow. The larger downstream data flow is generally attributed to accessing Internet Web sites. When a Web site is accessed, a relatively large amount of data related to the Web page is transmitted downstream to a browser located in a customer""s PC. The bulk of the upstream data is generally attributable to e-mail traffic directed towards other Internet users, and this constitutes a smaller data volume than the one traveling downstream.
Very High bit-rate DSL (VDSL) is similar to ADSL but provides large amounts of bandwidth with speeds up to about 52 Mbps. In order to provide such high speeds, a large bandwidth, as mentioned, is required. Typically, the VDSL frequency band ranges from 25 or 138 kHz to up to about 12 MHz. Unfortunately, the trade-off with high frequencies is the distance the signals can travel along a copper line. The development of Fiber to the Curb (FTTC) and/or Fiber to the Neighborhood (FTTN) provides for the use of VDSL by, essentially, reducing the length of the copper loop. Fiber cables, which can support high bandwidths over long distances, are provided from the CO to Optical Network Units (ONUs) located either at the curb of residences or the gateway to a neighborhood. The ONUs can convert the optical signals into electrical signals downstream and viceversa upstream. With the use of FTTN and or FTTC, the effective copper loop is reduced to below 4000 ft, which is the upper limit of VDSL. VDSL, for example, provides for the transmission of video signals over copper lines, which leads to applications such as digital television, Video-on-Demand, etc.
For VDSL applications at the CO, the receive filter must be high-pass to keep in line with the receive bandwidth. Based upon other considerations, such as ADC requirements, system requirements, etc., a 3rd order elliptic high-pass filter may suffice for VDSL applications at the CO. This type of filter has been used before but can be improved.
One aspect that can always use improvement in filter design is the power in which the filter requires (provided an active filter) to perform the necessary operations. Minimizing power consumption is often desirable because it can reduce the operating cost of the communication services provider utilizing the equipment. Another aspect of filters, particularly receive filters in DSL communication systems, that can be improved is the level of attenuated noise. The more noise that is filtered out, typically, the better the filter. Noise, such as echo, is often detrimental to the ADC and the DSP of an xDSL communication system.
Therefore, there exists a continual need for improved active filters, particularly for receive filters for communication systems, that consume less power and can simultaneously provide better performance.
The present invention relates to improved filters and methods of filtering a signal for, in particular, communication systems. The filters in accordance with embodiments with the present invention can operate at a lower power level and perform better than presently known filters.
In this regard, a first embodiment of the present invention may be construed as an active filter that includes a summing amplifier having an input and an output, wherein the output of the summing amplifier provides the output of the filter. The filter also includes a first RC integrator having an input and an output and configured to emulate a first capacitance, wherein the output of the first RC integrator is coupled to the input of the summing amplifier, a second RC integrator having an input and an output and configured to emulate a second capacitance, and a third RC integrator having an input and an output and configured to emulate a third capacitance, wherein the output of the third RC integrator is coupled to the input of the summing amplifier. A fourth RC integrator is also included in the filter and has an input and an output and is configured to emulate an inductance. The input of the fourth RC integrator is coupled to the outputs of the first and second RC integrators and the output of the fourth RC integrator is coupled to the inputs of the first and second RC integrator. Finally, the filter also includes a selectable input stage having a first state and a second state. In the first state the input stage is configured to provide a DC-coupled non-capacitive input and in the second state the input stage is configured to provide an AC-coupled capacitive input.
In another embodiment, an AFE includes a high-pass receive filter for a communication system. The filter includes an AC-coupled capacitive input and a plurality of RC integrators. At least one of the plurality of RC integrators includes a damping resistor in parallel with a feedback capacitor and a switch for enabling the damping resistor, such that when the damping resistor is enabled, the at least one RC integrator is damped so as to reduce DC instability.
Yet another embodiment may be construed as a DSL interface card that includes an active high-pass filter located in an AFE of the DSL interface card. The filter includes a summing amplifier having an input and an output. The output of the summing amplifier provides the output of the filter. The filter also includes a first RC integrator having an input and an output and configured to emulate a first capacitance, wherein the output of the first RC integrator is coupled to the input of the summing amplifier, a second RC integrator having an input and an output and configured to emulate a second capacitance, and a third RC integrator having an input and an output and configured to emulate a third capacitance, wherein the output of the third RC integrator is coupled to the input of the summing amplifier. The filter also includes a fourth RC integrator having an input and an output and configured to emulate an inductance, wherein the input of the fourth RC integrator is coupled to the outputs of the first and second RC integrators and the output of the fourth RC integrator is coupled to the inputs of the first and second RC integrators. Finally, the filter also includes a capacitive AC-coupled input stage.
Another embodiment of the invention may be construed as an active high-pass filter that includes a summing amplifier having an input and an output. The output of the summing amplifier provides the output of the filter. The filter also includes an inductive RC integrator configured to emulate an inductor and a plurality of capacitive RC integrators configured to emulate capacitors of various capacitances. The plurality of capacitive RC integrators are selectively coupled to the summing amplifier and the inductive RC integrator so as to produce a desired transfer function. The damping coefficients of the plurality of capacitive RC integrators are selectively controlled to reduce DC instability in the filter.
Another embodiment of the present invention may be construed as an active high-pass filter for a communication system. The filter includes a selectable input stage having a first state and a second state. In the first state, the input stage is configured to provide a DC-coupled non-capacitive input and in the second state, the input stage is configured to provide an AC-coupled capacitive input. The filter also includes a plurality of RC integrators.
A representative method for effectively filtering a signal in accordance with embodiments of the present invention includes: providing an active filter configured with a first RC integrator, wherein the first RC integrator comprises a damping resistor for reducing the DC gain of the first RC integrator; and controlling the damping resistor, such that the damping resistor is either enabled or disabled.


Exemplary systems and methods for server management are provided. An exemplary system comprises a plurality of servers, with each server having the ability to access a database or, in some embodiments, be configured to perform a calculation, computation or make a determination of a particular value, values or other information. A communications network delivers queries to each server whereby a look-up table directs query processing by the servers. Further embodiments of the system feature a program logic controller for rebalancing the workload of the network servers. Exemplary methods of processing queries on the system comprise submitting a query to the network, communicating the query to each server in the network and each server looking-up on a look-up table the processing responsibilities of the servers in the network. The query is processed by the server having primary responsibility for processing the query while other the servers monitor query processing. Transmission of a query result to a user typically completes the process.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to computer networks, and more particularly to network server balancing and redundancy.
2. Description of Related Art
FIG. 1 shows a simplified architecture 100 for a prior art approach to network server management. Three servers are illustrated: server 110 containing a first segment of a database; server 120 containing a second segment of the database; and server 130 containing a third segment of the same database. Also illustrated in FIG. 1 is communications network 140 responsible for transferring information between users 150 through 170 and one of the three servers responsible for responding to a particular query.
The prior art approach to server management illustrated in FIG. 1 suffers from several drawbacks.
First, the entire database in FIG. 1 is divided between three separate servers. No single server contains the entire database nor do segments of the database overlap amongst the servers. For example, in the case of a phone book database, server A (110) may comprise entries A thru H, server B (120) may comprise entries I through Q, and server C (130) may comprise entries R-Z. Accordingly, in the event one of the three servers illustrated in FIG. 1 experiences a delay or failure, the other servers in the network are unable to respond on behalf of the failed server, because they lack the requisite data. As a result, certain responses to queries may be delayed or go unprocessed.
Second, even if all of the servers in the illustrated network of FIG. 1 stored the requisite data and received all queries, there is no mechanism for one server to monitor whether another server with responsibility for processing a query is actually processing the query. As a result, one server may have available processing capability going unutilized as that server is under the misconception that another server is processing the request.
Third, the prior art architecture illustrated in FIG. 1 is not scalable. Server limitations (e.g. processor speed or storage capacity) dictate the number of queries a server can process. Installation of additional servers to store additional information and process additional queries often requires shutting down an entire network. Additional downtime is often imposed by rearranging data on existing servers. Consequently, as evidenced by the prior art architecture illustrated in FIG. 1, there is a need for improved systems and methods of server management.

Systems and methods for server management


A flow control valve is made from a one-piece housing which defines a substantially linear flow path. The housing comprises deformable portions coupled to a valve seat and a poppet to allow relative motion therebetween for opening and closing the valve. The deformable portion may comprise a thinned section of a side wall of the housing.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to flow valves. More particularly, the invention relates to valves for use in applications where high purity and low turbulence fluid flow is desirable.
2. Description of the Related Art
In many industrial applications, the control of fluid flow is necessary, and a wide variety of valve designs for performing this control are well known. In some applications, the dispensing of well controlled volumes of pure chemical reagents in liquid or gaseous form is required. Such applications include chemical and pharmaceutical processing, semiconductor manufacture, as well as many others. In these applications, low turbulence and minimal contamination in the fluid distribution process are significant concerns.
Currently available valves, however, generally include internal seals, non-linear flow pathways, and other features that increase the potential for contamination and turbulence. Although a linear fluid path valve without internal seals is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,848,780 to Miller et al., this valve includes a large number of parts, and requires magnetized metallic elements in the fluid flow stream. Thus, the Miller et al. valve design results in a high manufacturing cost, increased maintenance, and internal components which may be incompatible with the fluid in the valve. Accordingly, what is needed in the art are fluid flow valves which are inexpensive to manufacture, which allow low turbulence flow, and which are less susceptible to leakage or contamination of the flowing fluid.


An animal feeder and assembly method is provided wherein a removable top cover has a feeder bowl opening. A feeder bowl is aligned with the opening in the top cover and is pressed against the top cover by a suspension system. A sidewall is provided to which the removable top cover is secured at a top of the sidewall. A bottom cover is secured at a bottom of the sidewall.

It is known in the prior art to provide various types of equipment for feeding livestock animals in a farm environment, or feeding animals in a zoo environment. It was previously known to provide different kinds of baskets for holding hay such as for horses, or to provide containers for feed grains. More particularly, it was known to provide a cast aluminum corner feeder having two surfaces for corner mounting and a rounded peripheral surface. Such bowls were made of cast aluminum and/or plastic, steel, or other materials.
With such prior art devices, such as containers holding feed grain, they are not easily cleaned, and are also subject to damage by the animal being fed, such as in a horse stall environment for example, where the horse might kick or bump the feeder container.


A separating wall having a valve opening is disposed between a chamber holding a high pressure and a chamber holding a low pressure. The valve seat is closed by a ball acting as a valve body. For a quick opening of the valve, an actuating member imparts a lateral impact to the ball, thereby lifting the ball off the valve seat. Setting the ball back onto the valve seat is effected under the influence of the gas flow passing through the valve opening. The valve has extremely short switching times and allows for a high repetition frequency.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a quick acting ball valve.
2. Description of the Related Art
For specific applications, quick acting ball valves are needed which are able to allow a sudden passage of a fluid flow and which have a high switching rate. One such application is the time-of-flight spectroscopy in a molecular-ray-apparatus. In time-of-flight spectroscopy, a gas ray is released for a short time and the time the gas atoms take to travel a predetermined path is determined. The interval-like gas flow, interrupted by the quick acting valve, reduces the surplus gas and the necessary power of the pump. Presently, a gas ray is continuously introduced into the apparatus and released intermittently for the path by an interrupting valve.
Valves are known in which a spring-biased bolt is pressed against a valve seat. In order to open the valve, the bolt can be lifted from the valve seat by means of a solenoid. Such valves have the disadvantage of a low repetition frequency. The masses of both the bolt and the valve body have to be commonly accelerated, which causes a retardation.
It is the object of the present invention to provide a quick-action ball valve which can release a fluid flow in an impulse-like manner, which can be operated at a high repetition frequency and which has a high service life because of low wear.

Deutsche Forschungsanstalt fur Luft- und Raumfahrt e.V


The present invention relates an interactive media guidance application that provides channel groups. Channel groups may include media channels, such as television channels, radio stations, Internet web sites, etc. Channel groups may be organized around a common characteristic, by utilizing user profile information, and by human editorial selection (e.g., by a service provider or by a user). The guidance application provides information on the channel groups, including media listings, reminders, pending and completed recordings, purchased programs, and previously accessed programs for the channel group. The guidance application enables the user to focus a guidance application function on the channel group. In response to a user initiation to execute the function on the channel group, the function may be executed on all the media channels belonging to the channel group. Information on the channel group and access to functions that are executable on the channel group may be concentrated in a channel group portal screen of the guidance application.

This invention relates to interactive media systems, and more particularly, to interactive media guidance applications that provide a user interface for receiving information about and requesting access to media. In particular, the present invention relates to providing groups of media channels in an interactive media guidance application to enable improved user guidance and functionality in the guidance application.
Media delivery systems, such as cable, satellite, and broadcast television systems, the Internet, and satellite radio systems, provide users with a large number of media channels, such as television channels, radio stations, and Internet web sites. These media channels provide programming in a number of different media, such as video programming (e.g., broadcast television programming, on-demand video programming), audio programming (e.g., music channels, audio-on-demand programming), and interactive applications (e.g., games and shopping applications). In view of the myriad media channels provided to users, interactive media guidance applications are needed to provide a user-friendly interface that organizes information, such as media listings, enable access to the media programming, and provide other advanced functions that improve the user's media experience.
A common type of interactive media guidance application is a television program guide application, which is typically implemented on a user set-top box. Such program guides allow users to view program listings for multiple television channels in different display formats. For example, a user may instruct the program guide to display a grid or table of program listings organized in a channel-ordered or a time-ordered list. Users may also search and sort program listings by genre (e.g., movies, sports, etc.) or by title (i.e., alphabetically). A user may obtain additional information for a program by placing a highlight region on a desired program listing and pressing an information request button. The user may set a television channel as a favorite channel, lock access to a program or channel, and purchase a pay program or pay channel from the program guide. The user may select a program for recording or set a reminder to watch a program. However, with the advent of other types of platforms for accessing media programming (e.g., personal digital assistants, personal media players, cellular phones, personal computers, gaming platforms), the need for media guidance now extends beyond television and television program guides. Interactive media guidance applications are now implemented on any platform that enables the user to access media programming. Even in television systems, the type of media programming provided is no longer limited to television programming, and interactive television program guides now also provide guidance for other types of media programming (e.g., music programming, interactive gaming applications, etc.).
With so many media channels available to the user, what is needed is a sophisticated approach for organizing media channels, media listings, and descriptive information in an interactive media guidance application such that the user is more easily and naturally guided to media programming of interest to the user.
Therefore, it would be desirable to provide an interactive media guidance application that focuses the user's attention on a group of media channels, that provides focused information on a group of media channels, and that executes a function of the guidance application on a group of media channels.

Systems and methods for providing channel groups in an interactive media guidance application


A method and apparatus is provided for transmitting feedback information by each of user terminals in a communication system including the user terminals with different numbers of antennas. A multicast data packet is received from a base station through a downlink multicast transmission channel. If the multicast data packet has never been successfully decoded before, the multicast data packet is decoded and the success/failure in decoding the multicast data packet is determined. Upon the failure in decoding the multicast data packet, a NACK signal indicating the failure in decoding the multicast data packet is generated with sequences, the number of which is equal to the number of antennas of the user terminal. The NACK signal is transmitted to the base station through a shared feedback channel. If the user terminal has at least two antennas, sequences corresponding to the at least two antennas are orthogonal to each other and constitute sequence signals.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for transmitting and receiving feedback information of a user terminal in a communication system including user terminals with different numbers of antennas.
2. Description of the Related Art
With the recent increasing demand for services that transmit the same multimedia data packets to multiple user terminals, communication-broadcasting convergence technologies and services are under scrutiny, which take advantage of merits and make up for defects of communication networks and broadcasting networks. Technologies for improving the efficiency of broadcasting and multicast transmission in the communication network may include Multimedia Broadcast and Multicast Service (MBMS) which has been standardized in 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), and Multicast and Broadcast Service (MBS) which has been standardized in IEEE 802.16.
MBMS is a service of simultaneously transmitting the same data packets to multiple user terminals. That is, multiple user terminals using MBMS simultaneously transmit the same data packets through one link. MBMS is similar to Cell Broadcast Service (CBS). While CBS is a low-speed message-based service, MBMS is a service aimed at high-speed multimedia data packet transmission based on Internet Protocol (IP) multicast transmission. Advantageously, therefore, MBMS can increase the efficiency of resource use, and user terminals using the same can use multimedia services on the cheap.
MBMS can be divided into multi-cell based MBMS and single-cell based MBMS.
In multi-cell based MBMS, multiple base stations transmit the same data packets based on a Single Frequency Network (SFN). Then, user terminals can obtain a macro diversity gain by soft-combining the data packets received from the multiple base stations. Due to these characteristics, multi-cell based MBMS is advantageous for data packet transmission of a broadcast type that uses only the downlink. Disadvantageously, however, multi-cell based MBMS can hardly guarantee Quality of Service (QoS) on a user terminal basis. Therefore, multi-cell based MBMS is not often used for transmitting different multicast data packets on a region basis.
Single-cell based MBMS has emerged to make up for defects of multi-cell based MBMS, i.e., to guarantee QoS of individual user terminals. Single-cell based MBMS guarantees QoS of each of user terminals included in a multicast group by applying Hybrid Automatic Retransmit ReQust (H-ARQ) or the like. To this end, a base station should receive feedback information from individual user terminals included in the multicast group. The feedback information is an ACK/NACK signal indicating the success/failure in decoding a data packet multicasted from the base station. Accordingly, there is a need for a feedback channel over which the user terminals included in the multicast group can transmit the feedback information to the base station.
An individual allocation method of allocating an ACK/NACK channel for unicast transmission to respective terminals and a shared feedback channel method of using an On-Off Keying (OOK) modulation technique may be considered as a method of allocating the feedback channel. In the shared feedback channel method, user terminals in a group share one feedback channel. Therefore, even if the number of user terminals increases, the required feedback channel resource does not increase.
Meanwhile, it is general that in OOK modulation, an ACK signal is not separately transmitted, since it is considered an Off signal of a NACK signal.
The base station, which has received feedback information, is interested only in determining whether at least one of user terminals included in the multicast group has failed to succeed in decoding the multicasted data packet, rather than in determining whether the individual user terminals have succeeded in decoding the data packet. That is, the base station only needs to know whether there is any user terminal that transmitted a NACK signal, in the multicast group. Therefore, each user terminal does not transmit an ACK signal upon successful decoding, and transmits a NACK signal only upon decoding failure. The base station synthesizes NACK signals that are received from the user terminals through the shared feedback channel, using the OOK modulation technique. The signal synthesized by means of the OOK modulation technique is used to determine the presence of any user terminal that transmitted a NACK signal, using an energy detection technique.
Since the foregoing shared feedback channel method uses one shared feedback channel based on the OOK modulation technique without allocating individual feedback channels to user terminals, there is no additionally required resource despite an increase in the number of user terminals. In addition, since the increase in the number of user terminals increases energy of the synthesized signal, miss detection of a signal may be reduced. Hence, the shared feedback channel method is superior in efficiency compared to the individual allocation method as the number of user terminals in the multicast group increases.
The shared feedback channel method can get a good performance when orthogonal sequences are used in a communication system using multiple antennas. Actually, when the shared feedback channel method is used, user terminals with a single antenna and user terminals with multiple antennas may be used in a mixed way due to, for example, the price issues of user terminals in the cell group. In the worst case, only one user terminal with a single antenna may exist in the group. The base station, however, may not determine whether the one user terminal has a single antenna or multiple antennas. Therefore, the base station requires performance of a specific level or more, just in case of existence of only the user terminal with a single antenna.
Specifically, if a base station constructed to receive feedback information in the form of orthogonal sequences receives the feedback information from only one user terminal with a single antenna, its performance may degrade significantly.
Conversely, even when a base station configured to receive feedback information from only the terminals with a single antenna receives the feedback information from user terminals with multiple antennas, the base station may suffer from performance degradation.

Method and apparatus for transmitting and receiving feedback information in a communication system including user terminals with different numbers of antennas

Industry University Cooperation Foundation—Korea Aerospace University


Disclosed are an analog-to-digital converter (ADC), an electronic device including the ADC, and an operating method of the ADC. The ADC includes a first stage that includes a plurality of channels, generates a first sampling signal by sequentially sampling a first analog signal based on time interleaving, and generates a first digital signal and a first residual signal corresponding to the first analog signal by performing analog-to-digital conversion based on the first sampling signal, an amplifier that amplifies the first residual signal, and a second stage that includes a plurality of channels, generates a second sampling signal by sequentially sampling the amplified first residual signal based on time interleaving, and generates a second digital signal and a second residual signal corresponding to the first analog signal by performing analog-to-digital conversion based on the second sampling signal. The number of the plurality of channels included in the first stage is odd-numbered.

Embodiments of the present disclosure described herein relate to a time interleaving pipelined bandpass noise shaping successive approximation register (SAR) analog-to-digital converter, an electronic device including the analog-to-digital converter, and an operating method of the analog-to-digital converter.
An analog to digital converter (ADC) may convert an analog signal expressed by continuous values into a digital signal (e.g., a string of an integer number of bits) expressed by discrete values. The ADC may include a delta-sigma ADC, a successive approximation register (SAR) ADC, etc. To secure a high resolution and a fast operating speed, a time interleaving ADC including a plurality of ADC channels connected in parallel, a pipelined ADC including ADC stages connected in series, etc. are being used.
To implement a resonator with a high Q-factor, a bandpass ADC may include a plurality of operational transconductance amplifiers (OTAs) or one OTA consuming a lot of power. As such, the level of difficulty of implementation of the ADC may increase, the area occupied by the ADC may increase, and power consumption of the ADC may increase.

Analog-to-digital converter, electronic device including the same, and operating method of analog-to-digital converter

Konkuk University Industrial Cooperation Corp.


A cracker dispenser for dispensing individual crackers in a sanitary manner such as at public cooking events and at wine and cheese tasting events. The cracker dispenser includes a plastic housing for receiving a plurality of stacked crackers from a standard size roll of crackers. The housing is of elongate rectangular shape with a horizontal lower wall of a rectangular shape slightly larger than the individual crackers. Three upstanding walls include a rear wall and opposing side walls which extend from the lower wall to retain the plurality of crackers into a cracker receiving interior chamber defined by the housing in a stacked position. A movable door in the form of a sliding door or a latching hinged door is connected to the housing to selectively cover a cracker roll receiving opening formed at the front of the housing between the two side walls to admit crackers from the roll thereof and closing to cover the cracker roll receiving opening. A finger receiving slot through the lower wall extends forwardly from adjacent the rear wall to a cracker dispensing opening formed between a lower edge of the movable door and the lower wall. The housing mounts to a vertical surface using a pair of mounting holes or hangs using a wire hanger. A lowermost cracker may be removed from the inner chamber by engaging the lowermost cracker by finger and sliding outwardly from said interior chamber. A next lowermost cracker then becomes the lowermost cracker for subsequent removal.

1. Field
The present invention relates to receptacles or dispensers for individually dispensing small flat items and more particularly to dispensers for dispensing crackers.
2. State of the Art
Crackers are a widely enjoyed food item which are often eaten with various cheeses and spreads. The crackers, which can be rectangular, round, oblong, or other such shape, are typically packaged together in a stacked configuration and heat sealed within a thin plastic wrapper to form cracker rolls which are packed together in cardboard boxes. The consumer subsequently opens the cardboard box and removes a single cracker roll, which is opened to expose a plurality of the crackers for use directly from therefrom, or for placement on a cracker tray surrounding a bowl containing a spread for use on the crackers. This exposure of the crackers to handling by multiple persons, possible coughing and sneezing, and other forms of contamination is usually acceptable to small groups of people whom know each other such as at social occasions. However, this exposure is generally not acceptable for public gatherings wherein people are present whom are strangers to each other and wherein state and federal laws may govern sanitation. Various types of public gatherings wherein crackers might be used include seminars wherein food is prepared with subsequent tasting of the prepared foods, and wine and cheese tasting events. Crackers are necessary for these types of gatherings for tasting of some types of foods such as for applying spreads, cheeses, and for xe2x80x9ccleansing the pallettexe2x80x9d between tasting of various wines. At such public gatherings, open cracker rolls or open stacks of crackers are undesirable since the crackers can be handled by multiple persons.
Various dispensing devices have been developed particularly designed for dispensing crackers. For example, in U.S. Pat. No. 2,148,382 issued to Stevens is disclosed a sanitary receptacle for crackers which rests on a flat horizontal surface such as a table top. The receptacle includes a curved body having an arcuate bottom and sides. the highest point of the bottom being at the center of the receptacle. Two ends of the body extend upwardly at an angle off vertical from respective upwardly curved portions of the bottom wall bottom. Respective upper corners of the sides are provided with cut-out portions to expose the upper side edges of several of the crackers when placed within the body. A top lid fits to arcuate upper edges of the sides and includes a pair of grooves which fit over the edges of the sides to mate with the body. A knob is provided for grasping the lid. Crackers placed within the body are gravity fed toward one of the ends of the body, with the leading cracker at each end being forced by the weight of the subsequent crackers to follow the curvature of the bottom and slightly elevate the leading cracker. This allows a person to grasp a cracker more easily from the receptacle.
In U.S. Pat. No. 2,226,626 issued to Mann is disclosed a cracker dispenser for dispensing up to four crackers simultaneously. The dispenser comprises a casing having four sheet metal corner posts of right-angle cross-section which are held in a rectangular spaced apart relationship at respective upper ends thereof by a band and at respective lower ends thereof by a square wooden bottom. The four corner posts extend below the wooden bottom to provide legs for supporting the dispenser. The casing is divided into four vertically disposed cracker receiving compartments which extend the length of the casing using a pair of metal partitions. A pair of metal guide strips are disposed in each respective lower portion of the vertical compartments with upper ends thereof secured to the partitions. The guide strips are curved, being slanted downward and outwardly to respective forward and rear edges of the bottom. A pair of glass side plates extend from the top of the casing, with a pair of front and rear glass plates which terminate just short of the bottom to leave openings for removing crackers from the casing. A removable top lid fits over the casing to form an enclosed container for the crackers. A weight is suspended by a spring from the lid at the center of each compartment resting on stacks of crackers disposed in the respective compartments. The weight forces the crackers downwardly such that when inner edges of the crackers contact the curved guide strips and outer edges of the cracker reach the openings, the crackers are caused to slant downward and are impelled outwardly of the casing whereby they may be grasped in hand using one""s fingers. The dispenser is for keeping the crackers fresh, clean and sanitary with the crackers therein visible through the glass sides and ends.
In U.S. Pat. No. 2,247,834 issued to Davis, Jr. et al. is disclosed a cracker dispenser which comprises a casing of rectangular cross-section with an open top. A top lid is frictionally engagable a with the casing to close the open top thereof. The casing includes a plurality of openings which extend through the bottom of the casing for removing crackers. A base is attached to the bottom of the casing which is hollow, open at the bottom, and of a frusto-pyramidal shape. The casing is subdivided into a pair of individual cracker storage compartments by an integrally formed, slotted dual upright partition and cracker supporting platform made of a single sheet of material. The partitions diverge slightly from top to bottom with the cracker supporting platforms being in a common plane. A pair of slotted ejector grids are each of a rectangular shape being made of a sheet of material. A pair of upright lugs are formed on a rear edge of each ejector grid and a handle is formed on a front edge of each ejector grid. The ejector grids are slidably mounted beneath the cracker supporting platforms whereby respective slots of the cracker supporting platforms are disposed in registry with the upright lugs of the ejector grids. Therefore, the upright lugs can ride in the slots of the respective cracker supporting platform during sliding motion of the ejector grids, the handles facilitating gripping of the ejector grids. A hook is mounted on each of the ejector grids which is connected to a common spring therebetween for holding the grids in a retracted position within the casing. When crackers are stacked within the two compartments of the casing, the crackers rest against the partition elements and upon the cracker supporting platforms. Individual crackers are ejected from the respective compartment by gripping in hand and pulling horizontally outwardly on the handle of one or both ejector grids. As the ejector grid slides outwardly, the upright lugs engage with a back portion of the lowermost cracker from the stack whereby the cracker is moved outwardly through the ejector port. Upon release of the handle the grid moves back to a retracted position under the bias of the spring with an outwardly projecting portion of the cracker being held in place between the stack of crackrs and the cracker supporting platform. The cracker may then be grasped in hand and pulled from the dispenser.
Dispensers for individually dispensing items other than crackers have also been developed. For example, in U.S. Pat. No. 1,576,010 issued to Swartz is disclosed a package dispensing container having a body in the form of an upright chute made of sheet metal. The chute includes a back, a pair of sides, and a pair of front flanges disposed in a spaced relationship to define a central upright opening. The upright opening is covered by a strip of transparent glass wherein respective side edge portions of the glass are slidably held by respective folded edge portions of the front flanges with a bottom edge of the glass engaging respective inwardly bent lips of a lower portion of the respective folded edge portions to provide a stop for the bottom edge of the glass short of the bottoms of the sides and the back to provide an open mouth. A pair of forwardly projecting arms extend from a bottom portion of the back, each arm being horizontal with downwardly angled forward end portions. A central deflecting tongue also extends from the bottom portion of the back between the arms, being split upward from its bottom and bowed forwardly, a forward portion of the tongue extending downwardly though a space between the arms, forward of the plane of the back. The top of the chute is inclined and provided with yoked cover to cover the open upper end of the chute. The cover can be opened forward to an approximately horizontal position abutting the forward portion of the chute such that the chute can be refilled with packages to be dispensed, and the portion of the cover when in the swung position serves as a shelf for temporarily supporting the packages to permit the use of both hands to insert the packages into the chute through the open top. Once filled, the weight of the stacked packages in the chute causes the rear lower edge of the lowermost package to engage the tongue at a position adjacent the back such that the weight causes the lowermost package to be projected forwardly until it rests upon and is supported only by the arms with the front thereof projecting through the mouth in a position where it can be grasped in hand and removed from the dispenser. The process continues as more packages are removed sequentially from the dispenser, those packages above fall due to the weight of the stacked packages, the lowermost package is projected forwardly by the tongue.
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,170,325 issued to Pawlowski et al. is disclosed a dispensing carton for flat, rectangular items. Comprising a carton of generally rectangular cross-sectional shape which includes a pair of compartments each of generally rectangular cross-sectional shape and defined by elongate side walls in combination with the end walls. A stack of rectangular items such as paper pouches containing tea bags are stacked in each compartment of the carton. The cross-sectional area of the compartments is less than that of the item, with one dimension thereof being about the same as the corresponding dimension of the item and in one direction, and is less than the corresponding dimension of the item in the other direction. Therefore, the items stack within the compartments at an angle slightly off horizontal. A slot is provided in a lower region of one side wall to remove the items one by one, with central upper and lower edges of the slot being notched to facilitate grasping the items. The lowermost item for dispensing lies horizontally and the adjacent item immediately thereabove lies at an angle off horizontal as do the other items, being retained by the side walls such that lowermost item for dispensing contacts the adjacent item immediately thereabove only at a rear edge of each. This designed permits grasping and removal of lowermost item for dispensing through the slot to cause the adjacent item immediately thereabove to move and pivot downwardly to the lowermost position for removal through the slot. This design assures one-at-a-time dispensing of the items and ease of item removal due to minimal friction between the lowermost item being dispensed and the adjacent item immediately thereabove, with essentially a line contact between the item being dispensed and the adjacent item immediately thereabove.
There is a need for a rack or dispenser in which a stack of crackers may be positioned and sequentially removed one by one from the lower end of the stack, particularly for the food preparation gatherings wherein only a single cracker is typically needed by each person.
The present invention is a cracker dispenser which includes a housing adapted to receive a plurality of stacked crackers from a roll thereof. The housing has a generally horizontally disposed lower wall with a finger receiving slot and at least one upstanding wall adapted to retain the plurality of crackers in a stacked position. The housing includes a cracker dispensing opening is disposed adjacent the lower wall for slidably dispensing the crackers. The housing has a cracker roll receiving opening for admitting crackers from the roll thereof into a cracker receiving interior chamber defined by the housing. The cracker dispenser further includes a movable door operatively connectable to the housing for selectably opening to admit crackers from the roll thereof and closing to cover the cracker roll receiving opening. A lowermost cracker may be removed from the inner chamber by engaging the lowermost cracker by finger and sliding outwardly from said interior chamber. A next lowermost cracker then becomes the lowermost cracker for subsequent removal. It should be noted at the outset that the word xe2x80x9ccrackerxe2x80x9d or xe2x80x9ccrackersxe2x80x9d as used herein is intended to cover other edible items such as cookies and other generally flat food products.


Stereoscopic display system assemblies may be configured to have optimal performance with passive, circular analyzing, cinema eyewear. They may comprise non-twisted electrically controlled birefringent liquid crystal modulators oriented at ±45° to the polarizer orientation of the eyewear. Exemplary embodiments may include single half-wave modulators with a crossing (i.e. negating) quarter wave films. The natural polarization state of the LCD may be rotated and cleaned-up when necessary to cross with the horizontal eyewear polarizer orientation. In an embodiment, the LC modulator substrate is positioned outermost for anti-reflection coating tolerance, durability and touch sensitivity.

Stereoscopic, or stereo, 3-D displays enhance the perception of images presented on a 2-D screen by presenting different images to each eye of the viewer. The viewer's visual system fuses these disparate images in such a way as to create a sensation of depth. To create 3-D effects, conventional approaches have used eyewear to determine which image data goes to the left or right eye. One conventional 3-D system is the RealD cinema system that uses passive circularly polarized glasses to separate time-sequentially projected circularly-polarized images.

Stereoscopic liquid crystal display systems


A modular electric axle head assembly for a vehicle. An axle assembly of the vehicle includes a banjo portion with a first opening extending from an inner surface to an outer surface of an inboard side of the banjo portion. At least a portion of a differential assembly disposed within at the banjo portion of the axle assembly and is drivingly connected to at least a portion of a gear assembly. The gear assembly is also drivingly connected to a motor output shaft. At least a portion of the gear assembly is disposed within a hollow portion of a gear assembly housing. An outboard portion of the gear assembly housing has a mounting flange that is integrally connected to the inboard side of the banjo portion. A first and second protruding portion extends from the axle assembly mounting flange and provides rotational support for the differential assembly.

In recent years' considerable attention has been given to producing vehicles with increased fuel efficiency to reduce the overall fuel consumption of motorized vehicles all over the world. Additionally, in light of increasingly stringent emission controls considerable attention has been given to producing vehicles that produce fewer emissions. As a result, considerable attention is being given to producing hybrid vehicles and all electric vehicles that have a reduced fuel consumption and produce fewer emissions. Hybrid vehicles typically use two or more distinct power sources to provide the power necessary to drive the vehicle.
Many conventional hybrid vehicles incorporate the use of an internal combustion engine and an electric motor to provide the rotational power necessary to drive the vehicle. The electric motor of the hybrid vehicle alone or in combination with the internal combustion engine provides the rotational power necessary to drive a front or rear axle system of the vehicle. Additionally, the internal combustion engine of some hybrid vehicles is used to provide the rotational power necessary to drive the front axle system, the rear axle system or a tandem axle system of the vehicle. These vehicles require the use of specialized drive-line and axle system components that are expensive to manufacture and maintain. It would therefore be advantageous to develop a modular electric axle head assembly that can be attached to and used in combination with a conventional axle assembly.

Modular head assembly for an electric axle


An intraluminal medical device comprises a stent having a coating applied to at least part of an interior surface, an exterior surface, or both. The coating comprises a sustained release formulation of a combination of pharmaceutical compounds dispersed within a biologically tolerated polymer composition. The choice of the combination of pharmaceutical compounds are intended to reduce neointimal hyperplasia restenosis.

A stent is a generally longitudinal tubular device formed of biocompatible material, preferably a metallic or plastic material. Stents are useful in the treatment of stenosis, strictures or aneurysms in body vessels, such as blood vessels. It is well-known to employ a stent for the treatment of diseases of various body vessels. The device is implanted either as a "permanent stent" within the vessel to reinforce collapsing, partially occluded, weakened or abnormally dilated sections of the vessel or as a "temporary stent" for providing therapeutic treatment to the diseased vessel. Stents are typically employed after angioplasty of a blood vessel to prevent restenosis of the diseased vessel. Stents may be useful in other body vessels, such as the urinary tract and the bile duct.
A typical stent includes an open flexible configuration. The stent configuration allows the stent to be configured in a radially compressed state for intraluminal catheter insertion into an appropriate site. Once properly positioned within the lumen of a damaged vessel, the stent is radially expanded to support and reinforce the vessel. Radial expansion of the stent may be accomplished by an inflatable balloon attached to the catheter, or the stent may be of the self-expanding type that will radially expand once deployed. An example of a suitable stent is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,733,665, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
Stents find various uses in surgical procedures. For instance, stents are widely used in angioplasty. Angioplasty involves insertion of a balloon-tipped catheter into an artery at the site of a partially obstructive atherosclerotic lesion. Inflation of the balloon can rupture the intima and media, dramatically dilating the vessel and relieving the obstruction. About 20 to 30% of obstructions reocclude in a few days or weeks, but most can be redilated successfully. Use of stents significantly reduces the reocclusion rate. Repeat angiography one year after angioplasty reveals an apparently normal lumen in about 30% of vessels on which the procedure has been performed.
Angioplasty is an alternative to bypass surgery in a patient with suitable anatomic lesions. The risk is comparable with that of surgery. Mortality is 1 to 3%; myocardial infarction rate is 3 to 5%; emergency bypass for intimal dissection with recurrent obstruction is required in <3%; and the initial success rate is 85 to 93% in experienced hands.
Stents are also used in percutaneous endovascular therapy. Many new treatments for vascular disease (occlusions and aneurysms) avoid open surgery. These treatments may be performed by interventional radiologists, vascular surgeons, or cardiologists. The primary approach is percutaneous translumninal angioplasty (PTA), whereby a small high-pressure balloon is used to open an obstructed vessel. However, because of the high recurrence rate of obstruction, alternative methods may be necessary.
A stent, such as a metallic mesh-like tube, is generally inserted into a vessel at an obstructed site. As stents can be very strong, they tend to keep vessels open much better than balloons alone. Moreover, the recurrence rate of obstruction is reportedly lower when stents are used. Stents work well in larger arteries with high flow, such as iliac and renal vessels. They work less well in smaller arteries, and in vessels in which the occlusions are long. Stents for carotid disease are being studied.
There are at least two known causes of post-operative restenosis—elastic recoil, wherein the vessel contracts due to the natural elasticity of the vessel walls, and neointimal hyperplasia, wherein medial cells proliferate in response to immune system triggers. Stents have proven useful in reducing the incidence and/or severity of post-operative elastic recoil restenosis, as they resist the tendency of blood vessels to restenose after removal of the balloon. Stents have proven less useful for treatment of neointimal hyperplasia, which arises out of a complex immune response to expanding and fracturing the atherosclerotic plaque. In the case of neointimal hyperplasia, the initial expansion and fracture of the atherosclerotic lesion initiates inflammation, which gives rise to a complex cascade of cellular events that activates the immune system, which in turn gives rise to the release of cytokines that stimulate cell multiplication in the smooth muscle layers of the vessel media. This cell stimulation eventually causes the vessel to restenose.
Various approaches to the problem of neointimal hyperplasia have been attempted. Among these approaches are: subsequent stent placement, debulking, repeat angioplasty, and laser treatment. Another recent approach has been to coat the stent with an immunosuppressant or a chemotherapeutic drug. Immunosuppressant drugs, such as rapamycin, target cells in the G1 phase, preventing initiation of DNA synthesis. Chemotherapeutic drugs, such as paclitaxel (Taxol—Bristol-Myers Squibb) and other taxane derivatives, act on cells in the M phase, by preventing deconstruction of microtubules, thereby interrupting cell division. While these approaches present some promise, they also suffer certain limitations, such as the tendency for rapamycin and taxanes to quickly disperse from the stent site, thereby both limiting the drugs' effective duration in proximity to the stent and also risking undesirable systemic toxic effects.
There is therefor a need for an improved stent that will provide sustained-release of pharmaceutically active compounds, such as immunosuppressant, antiproliferative, chemotherapeutic, and anti-inflammatory drugs, at or near the site of stent implantation that alleviates or avoids the problem of rapid depletion of drug from the stent site. There is also a need for an improved drug that may be employed in such a stent.
There is furthermore a need for an improved stent that will provide sustained-release of pharmaceutically active compounds, such as immunosuppressant, chemotherapeutic, and anti-inflammatory drugs, at or near the site of stent implantation that does not suffer the drawbacks of causing systemic toxic effects of the immunosuppressant, chemotherapeutic, and anti-inflammatory drugs. There is also a need for an improved drug that may be employed in such a stent.

Stent coated with a sustained-release drug delivery and method for use thereof


A test system for testing an electronic device is deployable in two basic configurations. In one of the configurations, a load board (62) that receives a unit (60) of the device is directly attached to a test head (16). In the other configuration, the same load board or one having largely the same pattern of test-head signal transmission positions is coupled through an interface apparatus (66) to a test head. A probe system (64) contacts that load board or/and the interface apparatus. The interface apparatus is normally configured to largely prevent test-head vibrations from being transferred to the probe system. Additionally or alternatively, the load board is vacuum attached to the interface apparatus.

This invention relates to test equipment and test techniques, especially equipment and techniques for testing electronic devices such as integrated circuits.
Integrated circuits (xe2x80x9cICsxe2x80x9d) can be tested in various ways. One test technique is to electrically stimulate an IC and then monitor its electrical response, typically by comparing the actual response to a reference response. The stimulation/response-monitoring technique is commonly performed with automated test equipment connected to the external electrical leads, commonly referred to as pins, by which the IC interacts with the outside world. The test equipment stimulates the IC by providing electrical signals to the IC""s pins and then monitoring the resultant electrical signals provided from the IC on its pins.
Another test technique involves probing an IC, especially when the IC has failed and it is desirable to determine the reason(s) for failure. The probing technique can be done by directing radiation, such as light or electrons, toward parts of the IC.
FIG. 1 illustrates a conventional test system that combines a stimulation/response-monitoring technique with an electron-beam probing capability for testing an integrated circuit 10 referred to generally as a device under test (xe2x80x9cDUTxe2x80x9d). The test system in FIG. 1 consists of core automated test equipment 12, manipulator 14, test head 16, tester load board 18, interface module 20, device-side load board (or card) 22, and electron-beam probe system 24 which contains an electron-beam probe (not separately shown). DUT 10 is situated in probe system 24 and attached to device-side board 22 also situated in probe system 24.
Interface module 20 interfaces between probe system 24 and test head 16. Module 20 consists of tester-side body 26, device-side body 28, and flexible electrical cables 30 which pass through openings in bodies 26 and 28 to connect tester board 18 to device-side board 22. Tester board 18, which electrically connects head 16 to electrical cables 30 along tester-side body 26, is customized to match head 16. Different implementations of board 18 permit interface module 20 to be utilized with different versions of head 16. Device-side board 22, which connects cables 30 to the pins of DUT 10, is similarly customized for testing DUT 10. Different versions of board 22 enable module 20 to be employed with different types of DUT 10.
During test operation, test equipment 12 generates electrical signals which are supplied through components 14, 16, 18, 20, and 22 to stimulate DUT 10. The resulting electrical response from DUT 10 is then furnished in the other direction through components 22, 20, 18, 16, and 14 to test equipment 12 for evaluation. The electron-beam probe in probe system 24 probes DUT 10 to form an image of a portion of DUT 10. The probing may be done as test signals generated by equipment 12 are used to stimulate DUT 10. The flexible nature of cables 30 in interface module 20 substantially prevents vibrations in test head 16 from being transmitted through module 20 to probe system 24.
Production units of an IC are commonly tested with automated test equipment in which a unit of the IC is attached to a production load board mounted directly on the test head of the automated test equipment. When the IC is also to undergo composite electrical testing/electron-beam probing using the test system of FIG. 1, device-side load board 22 is an additional load board that must be provided. That is, testing the IC entails designing two different types of custom load boards, device-side board 22 and the production load board mounted directly on the test head.
Rincon et al (xe2x80x9cRinconxe2x80x9d), xe2x80x9cA Custom Direct Dock High Speed Load Module and Lid for IDS Diagnostic Systemsxe2x80x9d, IDS User Conf. Advanced Training, Aug. 14, 1997, pages 1-5, describes how production testing of an IC and composite electrical testing/electron-beam probing of the IC can be done with only one custom load board. FIG. 2 illustrates a somewhat simplified version of part of the test system employed by Rincon for performing composite electrical testing/electron-beam probing. Heat-exchange equipment, alignment features, and attachment hardware (bolts and screws) are not shown in FIG. 2 to avoid illustration complexity.
For composite electrical testing/electron-beam probing, Rincon employs interface apparatus 32 for connecting electron-beam probe system 24, a lid-modified variation of the Schlumberger IDS 10000(copyright) electron-beam probe system, to test head 16 of a Texas Instruments V-Series tester. The components of interface apparatus 32 include (a) main body 34, (b) spring-loaded probes 36 that extend through openings in main body 34, (c) vacuum seal board 38 that contacts test head 16, and (d) vacuum seal ring 40 for hermetically sealing main body 34 to seal board 38 so as to maintain DUT 10 in a high vacuum provided by probe system 24. Main body 34 is formed with three plates (not separately shown) bolted to each other. Spring-loaded probes 36 electrically connect seal board 38 to customized production load board 42 that receives DUT 10 along an opening in board 42.
Lock ring 44 locks main body 34 of interface apparatus 32 to test head 16. Another lock ring (not shown) locks load board 42 to main body 34 situated on lid 46 of probe system 24. Item 48 in FIG. 2 is a vacuum seal ring for hermetically sealing main body 34 to lid 46. Item 50 is a column of the electron-beam probe. Opposite to what is illustrated in FIG. 2, DUT 10 can be mounted on the bottom side of load board 42. In that case, spacers are placed between lid 46 and main body 34 to adjust the position of DUT 10 above probe column 50.
By utilizing production load board 42 in the test system of FIG. 2, Rincon provides an economic advantage because only one type of custom load board needs to be designed to perform both production testing and composite electrical testing/electron-beam probing. However, vibrations can occur in test head 16. These vibrations can be readily transmitted through lock ring 44 and main body 34 to probe system 24. While the vibrations may not seriously impair the performance of the electron-beam probe, such vibrations can significantly impair the performance of certain other types of probes such as optical probes.
It is desirable to have a capability for performing electrical testing/probing with a composite test system in which the transmission of test-head vibrations to the probe is substantially avoided and in which units of the device under test are mounted on a load board that can be directly attached to the test head for additional, typically production, testing.
The present invention provides such a test capability. In accordance with the invention, a system for testing an electronic device contains one or more test heads, one or more load boards for receiving units of the electronic device, a probe system having a probe, and an interface apparatus. When there are two or more load boards, the load boards have largely identical patterns of test-head signal transmission positions.
The test system is deployable in a direct configuration and in an interface configuration. In the direct configuration, one such load board is attached directly to one such test head for transmitting test signals through that board""s signal transmission positions. One or more test operations are performed according to the invention as the load board receives a unit of the electronic device.
In the interface configuration, one such load board is coupled through the interface apparatus to one such test head for transmitting test signals through that board""s signal transmission positions. The probe system contacts the interface apparatus or/and the load board. One or more test operations are performed according to the invention as the load board receives a unit of the electronic device. Importantly, the interface apparatus is configured to largely prevent vibrations in the test head from being transferred through the interface apparatus to the probe system. As a result, the probe can be an optical or other probe highly sensitive to vibrations of the type that occur in the test head. The probe can, of course, also be an electron-beam or other probe of lesser sensitivity to such vibrations.
The isolation of the probe system from vibrations that occur in the test head is preferably achieved by configuring the interface apparatus to include a tester-side structure, a device-side body, and a vibration isolation system. The tester-side structure is attached to the test head. The device-side body is attached to the load board. The vibration isolation system, typically implemented with electrical cables, flexibly connects the tester-side structure to the device-side body while largely preventing vibrations in the tester-side structure from being transferred through the isolation system to the device-side body. Vibrations transferred from the test head to the tester-side structure are largely prevented from reaching the device-side body and thus are largely prevented from being transferred to the probe system.
In addition to, or as an alternative to, isolating the probe system from vibrations that occur in the test head, a substantial vacuum typically provided through the test head is employed to attach the load board to the interface apparatus and typically also to attach the interface apparatus to the test head. As used here, vacuum attachment of two bodies situated in an environment at some pressure external to the bodies means that the two bodies are attached to each other along a region at a pressure below the external pressure, typically 1 atmosphere, such that the external pressure exerted elsewhere on the bodies holds them in largely a fixed positional relationship to each other. The pressure in the vacuum-attachment region can be a substantial fraction of the external pressure and thus need not be at a high vacuum level such as that in free space.
In contrast to the electrical testing/electron-beam probing configuration of Rincon in which the interface apparatus and production load board are mechanically attached to the test head, the present vacuum attachment capability avoids the use of mechanical attachment equipment and thus is relatively simple. Also, vacuum attaching the load board and interface apparatus to the test head in the present invention takes advantage of the vacuum capability provided in certain test heads for vacuum attaching load boards directly to the test heads.
Regardless of whether one, or more than one, load board is employed in testing an electronic device according to both configurations of the present test system, the present invention only requires that one type of load board be designed because, in the case where two or more load boards are employed, the load boards have substantially the same pattern of test-head signal transmission positions. The invention thereby achieves the load-board economic advantage of Rincon""s test system while simultaneously going beyond Rincon by allowing a vibration-sensitive probe, such as an optical probe, to be employed in the interface configuration of the present test system. Accordingly, the invention provides a significant advance over the prior art.


A method and apparatus for the utilization of on-chip, programmable resources to implement a signal distortion characterization circuit. Programmable logic resources, such as programmable delay lines and phase shifting circuits, are utilized to obtain estimates of, for example, capacitive coupling of signal energy between various signal and clock routes within a programmable logic device (PLD). Progressively delayed/advanced samples are taken of a test signal transmitted through a victim net to form baseline test data. Samples of the test signal are then repeated in the presence of test signals transmitted through aggressor net(s) and compared to the baseline results to measure crosstalk distortion caused by capacitively coupled energy from the aggressor nets onto the victim net.

PLDs are a well-known type of integrated circuit that may be programmed to perform specified logic functions. One type of PLD, the Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA), typically includes an array of programmable tiles. These programmable tiles can include, for example, Input/Output Blocks (IOBs), Configurable Logic Blocks (CLBs), dedicated Random Access Memory Blocks (BRAM), multipliers, Digital Signal Processing blocks (DSPs), processors, clock managers, Delay Lock Loops (DLLs), Multi-Gigabit Transceivers (MGTs) and so forth.
Each programmable tile typically includes both programmable interconnect and programmable logic. The programmable interconnect typically includes a large number of interconnect lines of varying lengths interconnected by Programmable Interconnect Points (PIPs). The programmable logic implements the logic of a user design using programmable elements that may include, for example, function generators, registers, arithmetic logic, and so forth.
The programmable interconnect and the programmable logic are typically programmed by loading a stream of configuration data into internal configuration memory cells that define how the programmable elements are configured. The configuration data may be read from memory (e.g., from an external PROM) or written into the FPGA by an external device. The collective states of the individual memory cells then determine the function of the FPGA.
Another type of PLD is the Complex Programmable Logic Device, or CPLD. A CPLD includes two or more "function blocks" connected together and to Input/Output (I/O) resources by an interconnect switch matrix. Each function block of the CPLD includes a two-level AND/OR structure similar to those used in Programmable Logic Arrays (PLAs) and Programmable Array Logic (PAL) devices. In some CPLDs, configuration data is stored on-chip in non-volatile memory. In other CPLDs, configuration data is stored off-chip in non-volatile memory, then downloaded to volatile memory as part of an initial configuration sequence.
For all of these PLDs, the functionality of the device is determined by the data bits used to configure the reconfigurable resources of the device. The data bits can be stored in volatile memory (e.g., static memory cells, as in FPGAs and some CPLDs), in non-volatile memory (e.g., FLASH memory, as in some CPLDs), or in any other type of memory cell.
Some PLDs, such as the Xilinx Virtex® FPGA, can be programmed to incorporate blocks with pre-designed functionalities, i.e., "cores". A core can include a predetermined set of configuration bits that program the FPGA to perform one or more functions. Alternatively, a core can include source code or schematics that describe the logic and connectivity of a design. Typical cores can provide, but are not limited to, DSP functions, memories, storage elements, and math functions. Some cores include an optimally floor planned layout targeted to a specific family of FPGAs. Cores can also be parameterizable, i.e., allowing the user to enter parameters to activate or change certain core functionality.
Demand for increased operational frequency and increased PLD density has contributed to shrinking geometries of the configurable resources used within the PLDs. Accordingly, more compact routing and interconnect layouts are used to interconnect the configurable resources to achieve a particular design goal. As such, the opportunity for capacitive coupling between the components and their respective interconnections may increase.
The ability to measure such capacitive coupling is often required to ensure proper functionality and speed performance. Current techniques utilize circuit simulations to predict the capacitive coupling between adjacent nets, or signal routes, of a particular design. Circuit simulations, however, employ circuit models of PLD resources to predict their performance under simulated operating conditions. Such circuit models may inject a certain amount of error into the simulated test results, due to the inability of the circuit models to capture actual circuit behavior as they are implemented on a silicon based electronic device, such as a PLD.

Method and apparatus for measuring crosstalk on a programmable logic device


A process for regulating stopping of an engine during a typical traffic idling event in order to reduce fuel consumption. There is an interactive process between the engine and the transmission involving shutting down the engine when the driver has braked to a stop and restarting upon release of brake pressure. The transmission input elements are clamped during the engine shut down to minimize transient torque disturbance and the vehicle is restarted when motion is detected. The process involves pressurizing of first gear friction elements during the stop period using an auxiliary pump so that the transmission will be ready to transmit torque on restart. Restart surge is avoided by transmitting a limited amount of torque in a controlled manner during a restart.

The present invention is addressed to a process for assuring smooth and expected torque transitions for an automobile whose engine is stopped during traffic idling in order to reduce fuel consumption.
One of the primary goals of the automotive industry is to reduce fuel consumption and one of the methods being employed is stopping the engine during a typical traffic idling event. Such systems are currently in use in hybrid vehicles. In order to emulate conditions to which consumers have become accustomed with automobiles whose engines remain running during idling, it is necessary to take into account the xe2x80x9cfeel,xe2x80x9d responsiveness and smoothness of the start-stop operation of the engine during traffic stops.
Prior art addressed to automatic engine start and stop systems include systems which address undesired torque shock upon restart in a mode or in the motor driven in accordance with a target speed while holding the transmission in an unchanged state as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,275,759 B1. Other attempts at improved hybrid vehicle operation having automatic engine stop systems include U.S. Pat. No. 6,390,947 B1 which provides a hydraulic circuit for controlling oil pressure supplied to the automatic transmission so that the speed of the rise of the oil pressure can be increased when the engine is restarted in order to decrease the response time for starting the vehicle.
The present invention provides an interactive process involving communication and control between the transmission and the engine in order to overcome any smoothness problems occurring during engine shut-off and also to provide the expected torque response on re-starting the engine subsequent to a shut-off.
According to present invention, an engine is not shut down until the vehicle has stopped. The engine is restarted if the braking action is relaxed. Additionally, transmission elements are clamped during engine shut-down to minimize any transient torque disturbances. Furthermore, the present interactive process maintains application of the first gear friction elements during the stop period with a minimum possible energy from an auxiliary pump so that the transmission is ready to transmit torque immediately on restart. Furthermore, a limited amount of torque on restart is applied in a controlled manner to avoid any surge.
The present invention is. addressed to an automotive system which employs a modified alternator which functions to not only maintain the charge of the battery but also to start the engine after a traffic idle stop. Additionally, the present invention contemplates the use of an auxiliary transmission pump which is in addition to the normal transmission pump. This auxiliary electric pump functions to maintain transmission oil pressure when the engine is stopped for short periods of time as in the idle stop-start mode. Additional interactive process requires communication between the transmission controller and the engine controller.
Other objects, advantages and novel features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Interactive process during engine idle stop mode


In a motor control device that controls a sensorless-type motor, a controller estimates an initial magnetic pole position of a rotor of a motor by an inductive sensing scheme while sequentially setting a plurality of energization angles. At each of the set energization angles, the controller converts peak values of currents flowing through a plurality of phases of a stator winding into a first current component having an electrical angle that is equal to a corresponding one of the set energization angles and a second current component that is different in electrical angle by 90 degrees from the first current component, to correct the first current component based on the second current component. The controller estimates the initial magnetic pole position of the rotor based on the corrected first current component that is obtained at each of the set energization angles.

Technological Field
The present disclosure relates to a motor control device, a method of estimating an initial position of a magnetic pole of a rotor, and an image forming apparatus, and is used for controlling an alternating-current (AC) motor such as a sensorless-type brushless direct-current (DC) motor (also referred to as a permanent magnet synchronous motor).

Motor control device, method of estimating initial position of magnetic pole of rotor, and image forming apparatus


An electronic device comprises a main body and a limiting mechanism. At least one clasp is mounted on the inner surface of the main body. The limiting mechanism comprises a locking portion and a blocking portion. The at least one clasp is capable of being hooked to the opening and engaged with the locking portion to secure the limiting mechanism to the main body. The blocking portion abuts the at least one clasp for preventing the at least one clasp from disengaging from the locking portion after the at least one clasp is hooked to the locking portion.

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to electronic devices.
2. Description of Related Art
Electronic devices, such as DVD players, include a main body, a cover rotatably secured to the main body, and a limiting mechanism for buffering the rotation of the cover. The main body includes a clasp perpendicularly set on the inner surface of the main body. The limiting mechanism is mounted on the inner surface of the main body via the clasp. However, the clasp is deformed to disengage with the limiting mechanism. As a result, the limiting mechanism is easily separated from the main body, and is unable to buffer the rotation of the cover.
Therefore, there is room for improvement in the art.

Hong Fu Jin Precision Industry (ShenZhen) Co., Ltd.


One embodiment of the present invention provides a system for detecting a valid clock signal at a clock receiver. The system operates by receiving a clock signal at the clock receiver, and directing the clock signal into a control input of a voltage-controlled variable resistor. Next, the system uses the voltage-controlled variable resistor to control a first current. A current mirror is then employed to create a second current from the first current. This second current passes through a resistor to produce a control voltage, which is amplified to produce a validity signal indicating whether or not the clock signal is valid. In one embodiment of the present invention, the system additionally uses at least one capacitor to filter out periodic fluctuations in the validity signal.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to clock signals and clocking circuitry in a digital system. More specifically, the present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for detecting valid clock signals at a clock receiver circuit.
2. Related Art
New systems for transferring data between computer system components have recently been developed to keep pace with processor clock speeds that continue to increase at an exponential rate. New xe2x80x9csource synchronousxe2x80x9d data transfer systems send a clock signal from a transmitting circuit to a receiving circuit along with accompanying data bits. This clock signal is used to clock the accompanying data bits into the receiving circuit. Note that using a source synchronous data transmission system allows the transmitting circuit and the receiving circuit to reside in different power and clock domains.
Unfortunately, sending a clock signal along with the data can make the data transfers susceptible to interruptions in the clock signal. Interruptions in the clock signal can occur in a number of ways. For example, interruptions in the clock signal can arise when a board is removed from a computer system, either accidentally or during a hot swap operation; when a clock wire is broken; or when power is interrupted.
Interruptions in the clock signal can cause a number of problems. If a clock line for some reason becomes disconnected, differential noise at the clock receiver can cause spurious oscillations in the received clock signal. This can cause invalid data values to be latched into the receiving circuit. Moreover, if these spurious oscillations occur high frequencies, the rapid switching of the associated clocking circuitry can cause power consumption at the receiving circuit to be extremely high, which can potentially damage the receiving circuitry.
Some existing system employ a clock receiver circuit with input hysteresis to prevent a clock receiver from misinterpreting noise as a valid clock signal. However, clock receivers with input hysteresis can introduce phase errors, which can adversely affect data transfer performance. Furthermore, conventional receiver circuits with input hysteresis cannot detect an interrupted clock signal, and consequently cannot generate a logic signal to indicate an interrupted clock signal. Hence, these system cannot take actions to mitigate the effects of an interrupted clock signal.
What is needed is a method and an apparatus for detecting an interrupted clock signal at a clock receiver circuit.
One embodiment of the present invention provides a system for detecting a valid clock signal at a clock receiver. The system operates by receiving a clock signal at the clock receiver, and directing the clock signal into a control input of a voltage-controlled variable resistor. Next, the system uses the voltage-controlled variable resistor to control a first current. A current mirror is then employed to create a second current from the first current. This second current passes through a resistor to produce a control voltage, which is amplified to produce a validity signal indicating whether or not the clock signal is valid.
In one embodiment of the present invention, the system additionally uses at least one capacitor to filter out periodic fluctuations in the validity signal.
In one embodiment of the present invention, the clock signal is a differential clock signal that includes a first clock signal and a second clock signal. In this embodiment, the voltage-controlled variable resistor includes a first variable resistor in parallel with a second variable resistor, wherein the first clock signal is directed into a control input of the first variable resistor, and the second clock signal is directed into a control input of the second variable resistor.
In one embodiment of the present invention, the current mirror includes a first P-type transistor with a drain coupled to VDD, and a source and a gate coupled to a first end of the voltage-controlled variable resistor, so that the first current flows through the first P-type transistor. The current mirror also includes a second P-type transistor with a drain coupled to VDD, a gate coupled to the first end of the voltage-controlled variable resistor, and a source coupled to a first terminal of the control voltage and then to ground through a first resistor. In this embodiment, the second current flows through the second P-type transistor and is proportionate to the first current.
In one embodiment of the present invention, the current mirror includes a first N-type transistor with a drain coupled to ground, and a source and a gate coupled to a second end of the voltage-controlled variable resistor, so that the first current flows through the first N-type transistor. The current mirror also includes a second N-type transistor with a drain coupled to ground, a gate coupled to the second end of the voltage-controlled variable resistor, and a source coupled to a second terminal of the control voltage and then to VDD through a second resistor. In this embodiment, a third current flows through the second N-type transistor and is proportionate to the first current.
In one embodiment of the present invention, amplifying the control voltage to produce the validity signal involves using a differential receiver with a first input coupled to the first terminal of the control voltage and a second input coupled to the second terminal of the control voltage. The validity signal is the output of the differential receiver.
In one embodiment of the present invention, the first resistor and the second resistor are sized so that validity signal is asserted when both the first clock signal and the second clock signal are valid.
In one embodiment of the present invention, the first resistor and the second resistor are sized so that validity signal is asserted when at least one of the first clock signal and the second clock signal is valid.
In one embodiment of the present invention, the voltage-controlled variable resistor is implemented using at least one P-type transistor, wherein a gate input of the P-type transistor functions as the control-input of the voltage-controlled variable resistor.
In one embodiment of the present invention, the system additionally uses the validity signal to disable a data receiving circuit associated with the clock signal if the clock signal is not valid.
One embodiment of the present invention provides a system for detecting a valid clock signal at a clock receiver. This system operates by receiving a clock signal at the clock receiver, and directing the clock signal into a control input of a voltage-controlled variable resistor. Note that this voltage-controlled variable resistor is configured to remain in a high impedance state if the clock signal is floating. Next, the system uses the voltage-controlled variable resistor to control a first current, which is used to produce a control voltage. This control voltage is amplified to produce a validity signal indicating whether the clock signal is valid. The system additionally uses at least one capacitor to filter out fluctuations in the validity signal at the frequency of the clock signal.

Method and apparatus for detecting valid clock signals at a clock receiver circuit


A system is described for predictive text entry. Initially, the items that may be entered by the user are displayed. The user can navigate through these items and enter one of them to a text string (130). A predictive text entry algorithm is used, which depending on the previously entered item, determines items, which are likely to be entered next. A plurality of these items (140), for example two or three, is displayed. The user can then select any one of these items without navigating through the displayed items.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a system and method for entering text items, such as characters.
2. Description of Related Art
The rapid increase in the number and capacity of broadband Internet connections has lead to the introduction of new Internet-based services. One of these novel services is Internet Protocol Television (IPTV). The introduction of IPTV reduced the gap between TV and personal computers, since many features that were only available on a personal computer became accessible on a TV. The question is, however, how to make these new features easily accessible to users. Conventional remote controls fail to provide an easy and enjoyable interaction since they are not designed to support these new features, while on the other side a keyboard and mouse that can support these new features are not desired in the living room. One of the new features is the ability to search media content provided by service provider or search for particular program in a program guide. This search is often done by means of a text entry. As, the conventional remote control is not well suited for text entry, currently the most often used method for text entry is by using a screen keyboard operated by arrow keys.
Over the recent years, devices, in particular mobile phones have become available using predictive text entry methods. Such predictive text entry methods attempt to predict which letter mapped to a particular key of the keypad is most likely to be selected when the key is pressed during text entry. In this manner, the number of key taps required to enter non-numeric text is reduced compared to conventional multi-tap text entry.
Furthermore, hand-held communication devices have become available with small form factors or aesthetically pleasing shapes. In such hand-held communication devices, the provision of a conventional numeric keypad is often either impossible or undesirable. Consequently, the hand-held communication devices typically rely on menu driven displays and voice-recognition technologies such as voice-dialing and voice-entered commands in combination with a simple navigation key assembly instead of a full numeric keypad. However, in such devices, text messaging, if supported, requires extensive scrolling through a fixed character menu, and repeated keystrokes to select characters for a text message being composed.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,218,249 B2 discloses a hand-held communication device providing navigation key-based predictive text entry. It includes a display disposed for displaying characters selectable for entry in a character position of a text string being entered and a navigation key assembly for scrolling through and selecting from the characters displayed on the display. The characters displayed during text entry are arranged according to the probability of selection of each character for entry in the character position so that the character with the highest probability of selection is selected with a single input from the navigation key assembly.
However, with this device it will relatively often happen that the user does not wish to select the character with the highest probability but another character. It will then be necessary to scroll to this other character in order to enter it.