In a nailing machine capable of feeding not only wire-connected nails but also nails connected by a plastic sheet into the nail ejecting opening of a nose portion, the nail shank of one of the wire-connected nails is supplied with shifting the nail shank toward the welded portion of the wire-connected nail with respect to the center of the nail ejecting opening. Further, depressions for containing cutoff pieces of the wire-connected nails are formed in the shifted side of the nail shank, and discharging opening for sheet leaves of the nails connected by the plastic sheet is shifted so that the front end of a driver is prevented from hammering the connecting sheet leaf by guiding the connecting sheet leaf in a direction opposite to the direction of shifting the nail shank of the wire-connected nail.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a nailing machine, in which connected nails are successively fed into an ejecting portion and the nail supplied into the ejecting portion is hammered by utilizing the power of compressed air after breaking the nail-to-nail connected condition. More specifically, the present invention relates to a nailing machine for both types of connected nails including the nails connected together by a metal wire and the nails connected by plastic sheets that are respectively formed into holding leaves by holding down both sides of the plastic sheets in order to hold and connect the nails.
2. Description of the Related Art
As connected nails for use in nailing machines driven by compressed air, there are known types of connected nails including wire-connected nails prepared by welding (fusion-bonding) a metal wire to nail shanks for the connecting purpose and nails connected by a plastic sheet prepared by forming a pair of bendable holding leaves integrally on both sides of the continuous plastic connecting sheet and inserting the nail shanks into the respective holding leaves for the connecting purpose. These types of connected nails are employed in different ways depending on the jobsite, and not only nailing machines capable of using both types of connected nails but also those adapted for alternately using both types of them have already been developed.
FIG. 6 shows the nail ejecting portion of a nailing machine for use in both types mentioned above. In a nose portion 20 provided in the lower portion of a nailing machine body, a nail ejecting opening 22 is formed for slidably guiding a driver 21 driven by a cylinder piston mechanism disposed within the body. An opening for introducing the front nail out of the connected nails in the nail ejecting opening 22 is formed in the nail ejecting opening 22. As shown in FIGS. 7(a) and 7(b), a nail feeding passage 25 is formed between a fixed guide wall 23 that is continuous to one side edge of the opening and used to guide the connected nails up to the nail ejecting opening 22 and a door member 24 that is openable with respect to the nose portion 20 and supported opposite to the fixed guide wall 23. A pressing plate 26 resiliently urged toward the fixed guide wall 23 is placed for the door member 24 whereby to maintain the space of the passage 25 for feeding wire-connected nails A and also to press nails B connected by a plastic sheet against the fixed guide wall 23. The nail feeding passage 25 is disposed on the line prolonged from the center line of the nail ejecting opening 22 so as to arrange each of the connected nails in the center of the nail ejecting opening 22.
When the front nail is hammered by the driver 21 in a case where the wire-connected nails A are used, a connecting wire 30 between the front nail 31 and the second nail 32 is cut, and the front nail 31 is hammered out of the nail ejecting opening 22 as the connected condition is removed. At this time, a cutoff piece 30a of the connecting wire 30 is formed on the front side of the shank of the second nail 32. Since the cutoff piece 30a is usually formed in the direction of the tip of the nail (downward) as shown in FIG. 6, it is hardly allowed to penetrate into a workpiece along the shank of the hammered nail. For this reason, the tip of the cutoff piece 30a comes into contact with the surface of the workpiece when the nail is hammered into the workpiece, and the cutoff piece 30a may be curved and separated from the wire-welded portion of the shank of the nail. This is dangerous because the cutoff pieces 30a may possibly fly in all directions.
In order to prevent the cut-pieces 30a from flying in all directions, depressions 27 for containing the front portions of the cutoff pieces 30a of the wire 30 are formed in the nail ejecting opening 22 of the nose portion 20 as shown in FIG. 6, so that each cutoff piece 30a attached to the shank of the hammered nail is formed upward. Since the tip of the cutoff piece 30a of the wire is received by the depression 27 when the nail is sent to the nose portion 20, the cutoff piece 30a is mated with the depression 27. Then the cutoff piece 30a is moved together with the shank portion of the nail when the nail is hammered out. Therefore, the cutoff piece 30a is directed upward and prevented from jumping up and down.
However, the depressions 27 for containing the front portions of the cutoff pieces 30a of the wire 30 are formed on the front side of the nail ejecting opening 22 of the nose portion 20 in the conventional art. Therefore, the tip of the cutoff piece 30a of the wire 30 may not be contained in the depression 27. This may happen in a case where the length of the cutoff piece 30a formed in front of the shank of the nail is short when connected nails have narrow connecting intervals or where the form of the cutoff piece 30a of the wire 30 becomes unstable. With respect to a special nailing machine for wire-connected nails A, the following technique has already been proposed as shown in FIG. 7(a): the depressions 27 formed in the nail ejecting opening 22 are formed in the side of the direction of supply to ensure that the cutoff pieces 30a are mated with the depressions 27 by eliminating the nonconformity stated above; moreover, the nails are supplied by shifting (offsetting) the nail feeding position in the direction in which the depressions 27 are formed to ensure that the cutoff pieces 30a are prevented from flying in all directions by allowing even the short cutoff pieces 30a to be contained in the depressions 27.
However, the introduction of the above technique into a nailing machine for use in both types results in placing a connecting sheet leaf 29 of the nail B connected by the plastic sheet closer to the center of the nail ejecting opening 22. Accordingly, the shoulder portion 29a of the connecting sheet leaf 29 is hammered by the driver 21 when the nail 31 is hammered as shown in FIG. 8. Consequently, the nail ejecting opening 22 may be clogged with the nail because the connecting sheet leaf 29 is crushed, and the supply of the nails B connected by the plastic sheet may also be impeded by the hammering trouble.
An object of the present invention is to provide a feeding mechanism for connected nails in a nailing machine for simultaneous use in hammering wire-connected nails A and nails B connected by a plastic sheet, wherein cutoff pieces of a wire can be effectively prevented from flying in all directions and wherein nails connected by the plastic sheet can also be supplied and hammered into a workpiece without impediments.
In order to solve the foregoing problems, there is provided a feeding mechanism for connected nails in a nailing machine capable of feeding not only wire-connected nails prepared by fusion-bonding a metal wire to the nail shanks but also nails connected by a long plastic sheet into the nail ejecting opening of a nose portion. The nails connected by the plastic sheet are prepared by inserting the nail shanks into the respective holding leaves formed along the extended direction of the plastic sheet. The wire-connected nail is supplied by offsetting the nail shank toward the wire-bonded portion of the wire-connected nail with respect to the center of the nail ejecting opening, and depressions for containing cutoff pieces of the wire-connected nails are formed in the offset side of the nail shank in the nail ejecting opening. A discharging opening for sheet leaves of the nails connected by the plastic sheet is offset so that the front end of a driver is prevented from hammering the connecting sheet leaf of the nail connected by the plastic sheet by guiding the connecting sheet leaf in a direction opposite to the direction of offsetting the shank of the wire-connected nail.

Feeding mechanism for connected nails in nailing machine


Embodiments of the present invention are directed to heteroarylamine compounds and organic luminescence devices including the heteroarylamine compounds. The organic luminescence devices using the heteroarylamine compounds have high-efficiency, low driving voltages, high luminance and long lifetimes. The heteroarylamine compounds are represented by the following formula:

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to heteroarylamine compounds and to organic luminescence devices including the heteroarylamine compounds.
2. Description of the Related Art
Electroluminescent (EL) devices are self-emission type display devices having wide viewing angles, high contrast ratios, and short response times. Due to these characteristics, EL devices are drawing more attention. Such EL devices can be roughly classified into inorganic EL devices (which include emission layers containing inorganic compounds), and organic EL devices (which include emission layers containing organic compounds). Specifically, organic EL devices have higher brightness, lower driving voltages, and shorter response times than inorganic EL devices, and can produce multi-colored displays. Thus, much research into organic EL devices has been conducted.
In general, an organic EL device has an anode/organic emitting layer/cathode structure, but can include at least one additional layer selected from hole injection layers and hole transport layers formed between the anode and the emitting layer, and electron injection layers formed between the emitting layer and the cathode. For example, an organic EL device can have an anode/hole transport layer/organic emitting layer/cathode structure or an anode/hole transport layer/organic emitting layer/electron transport layer/cathode structure.
Organic EL devices including hole injection layers and/or hole transport layers using known materials have unsatisfactory lifetime, efficiency, and power consumption. Thus, there is a need to improve these characteristics.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Heteroarylamine compound and organic luminescence device using the same


An inverted-phase detector is implemented in a system including a first clock circuit that provides a first clock signal and a delayed clock circuit that outputs an delayed clock signal. A reference circuit outputs a reference signal. A feedback circuit generates a feedback signal that is one of greater than and less than the reference signal when the first clock signal changes state before the second clock signal, and that is the other of greater than and less than the reference signal when the first clock signal changes state after the second clock signal.

In many digital communications applications, it is necessary to sample an input signal to recover data. For example, in high frequency DDR (double data rate) link interfaces, it is necessary to sample the input signal at an optimum time. In some applications, the ideal sample point occurs at a midpoint of a high or low state. Therefore, dividing a cycle accurately is necessary to identify the optimal sampling point.
One conventional sampling circuit determines the sampling points using a fixed time delay. In other words, a sample is taken at a time corresponding to 90 degrees, which is the equivalent of a quarter cycle, after a falling edge or a rising edge of the clock signal. However, this approach does not take into account the fact that clock signals are not ideal.
In some applications, system imperfections may cause the clock signal to be asymmetrical. For example, the high state may be shorter than the low state. If the high state is only 150 degrees instead of 180 degrees, the determination of the midpoint of the high state may be incorrect if the fixed time delay is used. In this case, the midpoint of the high state is 75 degrees rather than 90 degrees after the rising or falling edge of the clock signal. If the sample is taken at 90 degrees from this rising or falling edge, the sample is not taken at the midpoint. In this example, the sample is taken 90 degrees from the rising or falling edge and 60 degrees from the next falling or rising edge, respectively.
One possible inverted-phase detector incorporates a flip-flop circuit that identifies the relative timing of the clock signal and a delayed clock signal. The flip-flop circuit is triggered by the delayed clock signal. For example, if the output of the flip-flop circuit is a "1," the delayed clock signal is changing state too early with respect to the clock signal. Conversely, if the output of the flip-flop is a "0," the delayed clock signal is changing state too late with respect to the clock signal.
Flip-flops that are used in this manner have an accuracy within 50-100 picoseconds. The relatively low accuracy of this phase detection circuit typically increases the requirements on other system circuits, which increases the overall cost of system and may reduce yields.


A wearable garment pattern template configured to be worn by a person includes a plurality of detachably coupled sections each having a plurality of flexible segments which are coupled at pivot points. The adjustable segments include at least two strips which are longitudinally slidable relative to each other such that the segments are adjustable in length and can also be fixed in length. The segments define a framework of either triangles with sides of a particular length (as adjusted on the wearer), or quadrilaterals having sides of a set length (as adjusted on the wearer) and at least one fixed angle between two of the sides. In either instance, after adjustment, each triangle or quadrilateral can be only in one configuration, and is not subject to distortion due to rotation about pivot points. The garment pattern template can be used as a template to cut fabric for a garment.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates broadly to geometrical instruments used in the manufacture of apparel. More particularly, this invention relates to a wearable adjustable garment pattern template.
2. State of the Art
A pattern piece used for making garments is a template, and is used to cut fabric into a particular shape. A template""s shape and ability to permit recordation of measurements (e.g., side lengths, areas defined by particular portions, and dart lengths and angles) are its most important qualities. If a template cannot maintain its shape, it is useless.
Referring to prior art FIG. 1, U.S. Pat. No. 2,869,236 to Franklin (hereinafter xe2x80x98the Franklin patentxe2x80x99) discloses a wearable template 10 comprising a plurality of strips 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26 and 28 arranged in a grid-like manner with pivots 30 at intersections of the strips. The pivots 30 can be adjustably located along the length of the strips to effectively adjust the lengths of the strips to fit the template to a wearer of the template. However, the template 10 is not adapted to maintain its shape after it is removed from the wearer. This is because the strips of the template form a plurality of freely pivoting parallelograms that can easily pivot out of shape, as shown in prior art FIGS. 2 and 3.
Franklin partially addresses the out-of-shape pivoting of the template, and teaches that a separate garment pattern positioner device, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 2,716,817 also to Franklin, be used to hold a front xe2x80x98neckxe2x80x99 strip 16 and xe2x80x98centerxe2x80x99 strip 18 in angular relation during adjustment of the template relative to a pattern sheet. However, there is no teaching or suggestion to use such a pattern positioner to hold the xe2x80x98bust linexe2x80x99 strip 24 perpendicular to the front xe2x80x98centerxe2x80x99 strip 18. Moreover, even if such a pattern positioner where used in this manner, distortion in the pattern will nevertheless occur at the dart strips 32 (FIGS. 4 and 5).
Darts are basically stitched tapering folds in fabric required to make two dimensional fabric fit over a three dimensional form, such as a human body. The Franklin patent asserts that the template described therein provides dart measurements. However, the only dart measurement provided by the Franklin template is length; there is no manner of providing the important intake measurements for the darts. In fact, referring to prior art FIGS. 4 and 5, experimentation on a mock-up of a right front bodice template manufactured according to the Franklin reference shows that the bust dart 32 on this template can be moved from 12xc2x0 (FIG. 4) to 58xc2x0 (FIG. 5), all at the same dart length. There is only a 10xc2x0 difference between cup sizes in a female bodice garment. As such, failure to properly account for the dart intake can introduce a large amount of distortion in a template. Moreover, this distortion can happen even if the front neck strip 16, center strip 18, across chest strip 22 and bust line strip 24 are all held rigidly in position. Another problem with respect to dart measurements provided by the template of the Franklin patent is that particular strips, without being split, cut through the space of the darts and prevent proper measurement of the dart intake as well as the line crossing the dart and/or transfer of the recorded measurement to fabric or paper.
The Franklin template has several others problems as well. For example, particular strips of the Franklin template are too long, and must curve along shaped areas of the body such as the high hip. This introduces additional distortion in the recorded measurements of those strips. In addition, the apex of particular darts (mainly on the skirt) are free to pivot a full 180xc2x0 and sufficiently distort to become indistinguishable from the waist strips. Furthermore, the pattern template is being built one strip at a time on a person. It would be faster to take all the measurements using a tape measure. Moreover, it is taught to connect the strips with paper fasteners extending through holes in the strips. Not only would it be awkward to use paper fasteners to adjust strips while a person is wearing them, it would also be very time consuming. For example, if one is fitting a bodice and skirt template on a person, there would be as many as six holes to line up and couple with paper fasteners therethrough while the person is wearing the pattern template. In addition, the strips extend past the perimeter of the piece. These extensions interfere with fitting other template sections (e.g., sleeves to bodice, bodice to skirt, etc.) together. Also, the extensions must be very long and unwieldy in order to accommodate people of various sizes. As a result of several of the above reasons, it would not be possible to fit the Franklin template to one""s self, which may be desirable.
It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a wearable garment pattern template.
It is another object of the invention to provide a wearable garment pattern template which maintains its shape.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a wearable garment pattern template that provides proper dart intake and length measurements.
It is also an object of the invention to provide a wearable garment pattern template that is easily adjustable for use by persons of different sizes.
It is still another object of the invention to provide a wearable garment pattern comprised of interchangeable sections that can be easily fit together.
It is still a further object of the invention to provide a wearable garment pattern template that is rapidly adjustable to the shape of the wearer.
It is yet another object of the invention to provide a wearable garment pattern template comprised of strips which are not individually separable from the pattern.
Still yet another object of the invention is to provide a wearable garment pattern template that can be used by the wearer to fit his or herself.
In accord with these objects, which will be discussed in detail below, a wearable garment pattern template configured to be worn by a person, and adapted to permit adjustments to the pattern template during the wearing, is provided. According to one preferred aspect of the invention, the pattern template preferably includes a plurality of detachably coupled sections that are easily snapped or otherwise coupled together. According to another preferred aspect of the invention, each section of the template is a framework comprised of a plurality of flexible segments many of which are coupled at pivot points. The adjustable segments are preferably comprised of at least two strips which are longitudinally slidable relative to each other such that the segments are adjustable in length. Once a segment is adjusted in length, the strips of the segment can be locked relative to each other to fix the length of a segment.
In accord with the invention, the segments of the framework define either triangles with sides of a particular length (as adjusted on the wearer), or quadrilaterals having sides of a set length (as adjusted on the wearer) and at least one fixed angle between two of the sides. In either instance, after adjustment, each triangle or quadrilateral can assume only a single configuration, and is not subject to distortion due to rotation about pivot points as the angles between the sides will not change with the individual segments being locked at their respective lengths.
It is noted that every pivot point on the perimeter of the sections of the garment pattern template (with the exclusion of dart leg points which are already connected to the interior) is connected by a flexible segment to an interior point or another pivot point on the perimeter. As such, the garment pattern template, once removed from the person and laid flat, maintains its shape without distortion. The garment pattern template can then be used as a template to cut fabric for a garment.
Furthermore, indicia are provided on the segments to facilitate fitting the garment pattern template to a wearer, and further permit the garment pattern template to be easily fit to oneself while using a mirror. That is, the indicia preferably permit the wearer (or the tailor) to rapidly determine that the pattern is being symmetrically fit to the body without requiring reference to small, difficult to read numeric measurements.
Additional objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reference to the detailed description taken in conjunction with the provided figures.

Wearable adjustable garment pattern template


The current invention is a method and a system for analyzing templates of queries, with different levels of precision. When the system of the current invention takes a decision to arrange data, these templates are used, and a single data arrangement object (HRBlob) is designed which may serve a single template or several templates and not just a single query. This approach has an important impact on data arrangement performance and on queries performance, since this approach may help many more queries to be handled using less data arrangement objects.

One of the most important assets of an organization is its information. One of the most common forms to keep this asset today is using a Data Warehouse. The term Data Warehouse was coined by Bill Inmon in 1990. He defined it in the following way: "A warehouse is a subject-oriented, integrated, time-variant and non-volatile collection of data in support of management's decision making process". The fundamental goals of the Data Warehouse:                To make an organization's information accessible;        To make the organization's information consistent;        To be an adaptive and resilient source of information;        To be a secure bastion that protects the organization's information;        To be the foundation for decision making.
Data warehousing has not always delivered on the promise. There is a range of unmet challenges when dealing with data warehouse:                Identification of reporting needs by subject area and organization role;        Bridging the gap between reporting needs and technical specifications;        Meeting the expectations of the time it takes to implement        Defining an effective implementation strategy;        Measuring the impact goals, which have been too broadly defined;        Providing all the benefits promised, notably, e.g. easy end-user access to corporate data.
These problems have been further compounded because IT departments operate under pressure driven by quarterly corporate fiscal goals. This outlook is not conducive to the long-term process of fully implementing a data warehouse, which in some cases can take 18 months to three years. End users are hindered in their acceptance of data warehousing because they do not understand how it applies to their business and everyday jobs. They're not getting what they want or what they need. The problem lies in the lack of an adequate Customer Adoption Process: understanding the end users and their real needs, providing adequate resources to support their selection process and offering the follow-through implementation necessary to provide them with what they need, when they need it.
Despite the problems, as demand for responsive Business Intelligence (BI) and Business Performance Management (BPM) grows, global enterprises are still turning to data warehouses as their preferred source of data for analysis. The principle of gathering corporate data into a single, consistent store remains perfectly valid, but as businesses are constantly changing, the practice of traditional data warehousing can prove complex, costly and prone to failure. The fundamental problem is that traditional data warehousing methodology promotes stasis of the business model, but businesses thrive on change. The difficulty of reconciling these opposites is a major contributor to the fact that four in every ten data warehouse implementations are expected to fail. Conventional data warehousing wisdom says that you should plan for a lengthy and expensive implementation, that you will need an army of skilled project managers and technicians, and that you can forget about trying to reflect the changing state of your business: a data warehouse is static data in a static model, custom-built to meet fixed user requirements. However, in order to be able to adapt intelligently and at high speed to new competitive challenges, business users need access to information that remains consistent however much their organization is changing. The cost and time overheads of re-coding a conventional data warehouse to track every change in the business are prohibitive, so reporting in such an environment will always be delayed or inaccurate, and Business Intelligence initiatives will not deliver actionable conclusions.
Companies are moving to larger data warehouses and giving access to more internal and external users. With more people accessing more data, issues like scalability and performance are driving larger data warehouse investments. There is a lot of attention being focused on BI and its promise. Delivering on this promise requires sophisticated data warehousing strategies.
When the underlying data changes, then the data warehouse structure needs to change with it in such a way as to guarantee flexibility, consistency and synchronization. Therefore a valid question for a manager faced with the problem of choosing a data warehouse system for his company is: "Will your data warehouse technology choice be flexible and easily configurable to accommodate changes in business rules, requirements and data flow?"
A data warehouse requires a considerable amount of time to fully develop. In other words, it takes a long time to gain experience with the usual problems that develop at different phases of a data warehousing effort. Despite the best efforts to architect a data warehouse so "maintenance" demands are minimized, many data warehouses by their very nature require a great deal of care and feeding once they are in "production". It is important to note that successful data warehouse requires a lot of maintenance. Organizations that cannot or will not staff to meet these maintenance demands should think twice before they jump into the data warehousing business.
A data warehouse cannot be static. New business requirements arise. New managers and executives place unexpected demands on the data warehouse. New data sources become available. At the very least, a data warehouse needs to evolve as fast as the surrounding organization evolves. Dynamic, turbulent organizations make the data warehouse task more challenging. Given the churning, evolving nature of the data warehouse, expectations and techniques from the original idealistic static view must be adjusted. Flexible and adaptive techniques need to be designed into it.
One of the prior art solutions that attempts to provide solution to the aforementioned problems is called data warehouse appliance. This one, as its name suggests, is a preconfigured stack of hardware and software that includes an operating system, a dedicated storage platform, a relational database and a parallel processing engine. A data warehouse appliance derives its processing power from parallel architecture. These appliances have evolved to allow administrators to scale processing and data store size on demand, but not be subjected to the diminishing returns as the system is scaled out. Specifically MPP (Massive Parallel Processing) based appliances, also commonly referred to as shared nothing systems, are designed around the concept that data warehousing workloads and queries can be cleanly divided into separate independently executable and parallelized operations across a federated system. MPP systems are clusters of two or more Symmetric Multiprocessing (SMP) server nodes, where each node has its own operating system, memory and exclusive access to a partitioned data set. Queries sent to the data warehouse are de-constructed into parallel queries that are executed by individual nodes. The results of these parallelized queries are rolled up and summarized after each node completes it processing. Traditionally, MPP systems have offered near unlimited scalability, but this has come at the cost of high overall management and OPEX (Operating Expenses) cost to maintain a MPP system of significant scale. Typically, the setup for a MPP system is more complicated, requiring thought about how to partition a common data store among processors and how to assign work among the processors. Moreover, once partitioned, administrators must engage in ongoing tuning to ensure that data is redistributed and partitioned optimally across all nodes in the MPP system. This re-partitioning can be quite challenging if the data warehouse is growing rapidly and users are performing new and different types of queries periodically. As a result, the implementation and ongoing management costs of a MPP data store can run in the tens of millions of dollars. The drawback of data warehouse appliances is that they do not utilize main stream data store engines and do not integrate easily into existing environments, and often impose a rigid partitioning scheme on the data that limits the types of queries for which they deliver optimal results.
Typically, prior art systems expose limitations in queries processing since they do not adapt to changes both in queries and also to metadata and data properties changes (density, correlations etc.). These systems are not effectively "self-learning". Today, most of the systems use calculation on the fly and do not pre-aggregate the data. If they do pre-aggregate the data, it is on a very limited scale (i.e. selectively on specific queries) due to performance issue. Different systems of the prior art use "typical" queries, i.e. pre-defined queries (template reports) which support very narrow range. When a new (not pre-defined) query arrives, the prior art systems will use on the fly aggregation to answer them. This means that in the best case, costly full data scans and calculations will be processed each time a new query arrives, even if the query repeats. In the worst case this process may be very lengthy and many times will cause the users to abort the query before an answer is provided. In order to fix the situation, the system's supervisor takes an action and solves the problem by creating an appropriate summary table to deal with a new query. This is not a satisfactory solution since summary tables which are good for today's queries stream might become useless for the queries stream of tomorrow due to the highly dynamical nature of activities of information systems.
A very good summation of the development for the expectations of users of data warehousing systems is the following remark by IBM's Marc Andrews, program director of data warehousing for Big Blue. "We would characterize BI as having three generations. The first generation was about understanding the past. The second was about analyzing why things happened and making recommendations about the future. That's better than first, but I still liken this to driving a car by looking in the rear view mirror. The new, third generation is about making information available to the people in front of the customer."
This is a truly significant shift in the way enterprises use data warehouses. First- and second-generation systems needed to support a limited number of people who ran large, complex analytical queries.
If a system that is based on the assumptions that both the business model and reporting requirements are ever-changing were available, Enterprise leaders, seeking to improve the Return Of Investment of their management information initiatives, would no longer need to feel that BI/analysis reporting holds them back.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,438,537 describes a system which treats a query as it arrives into the system, including all specific parameters of the query. This approach may be useful in small systems with a low rate of arriving queries. Applying the method of query treatment taught in U.S. Pat. No. 6,438,537 to real world systems, in which queries arrive at the rate of tens or even hundreds a second, will result in poor performance in the best case and won't be possible in the worst case. This prior art system is able to set a parameter that indicates to the system to capture one out of every X queries. Working in this manner important information about the queries stream content may be lost and the effectiveness of the whole system workflow is reduced.
It is therefore a purpose of the current invention to provide a complementary system to an existing data store system that overcomes the deficiencies of prior art regarding BI and analysis by providing a system that is based on the assumption that both the business model and reporting requirements are ever-changing.
It is a purpose too of the current invention to enable data store users not only to obtain up to date business intelligence, but also to compare present, past and predicted performance, no matter what the business structure is at any given time.
It is yet purpose of the current invention to deliver a consistent view of the past and the present without requiring any costly changes to existing source systems.
It is a further purpose of the current invention to provide a system and method for more efficient data arrangement and queries management.
It is another purpose of the current invention to provide a system and method for automatic dynamic update of arranged data for effective execution of continuously changing queries.
Further purposes and advantages of this invention will appear as the description proceeds.

Method and system for creation and dynamic updating of best data arrangement in digital data store system

Yanicklo Technology Limited Liability Company


Individual orthodontic bracket doses of bracket adhesive are dispensed onto a flat resilient card and enclosed under a vapor proof cover sealed to the card. The cover is peeled off at chairside and individual orthodontic brackets pick up the individual doses of adhesive by a wiping of the adhesive doses by the orthodontist as the brackets are mounted on a patient's teeth. The card deforms to conform to the curvature of the edge of the appliance to cleanly transfer all of the adhesive of a dose from the card to the appliance base. On dose of adhesive is preferably provided for each tooth of a patient receiving a full set of orthodontic appliances. The individual doses are preferably divided into a bead of a basic dose with two small fractional supplemental dose beads to provide the orthodontist with the option of increasing the amount of adhesive on a given appliance. UV curable adhesive is dispensed onto the card as a single continuous bead while two part chemically curable adhesive is dispensed as a pattern of separate dots which do not combine until scooped up with the base of the appliance at the time of application. A sealed primer compartment is also provided on or with the card. Pads are provided on the card for mounting the appliances adjacent a corresponding adhesive dose. The appliances may be premounted by an appliance manufacturer and provided as a complete appliance system. Preferably, premounted appliances are provided on a separate card part that is connected to the adhesive bearing card at the time of use.

With the development of orthodontic brackets such as those described, for example in U.S. Pat. No. 4,068,379, orthodontic brackets have replaced bands as the primary appliance for connecting orthodontic archwires to teeth. Unlike the banded appliances in which archwire supports mounted on bands that encircle teeth to hold the archwire supports in place on the teeth, brackets rely solely on an adhesive bond between the base or pad of the bracket and the surface of the crown of the tooth. Adequate bond strength between the teeth and the bracket bases has traditionally required the doctor or an assistant to dispense adhesive onto the bracket at chairside, using single or multiple part dental adhesives specifically developed for securing orthodontic appliances to teeth. Popular single part adhesives are cured by ultraviolet light, while multiple part adhesives cure chemically, following the mixing of the adhesive immediately preceding its use. The multiple part adhesives are often capable of producing bonds that are stronger than with the light cured adhesives.
The application of adhesives to brackets at chairside is a time consuming requirement. In preparing the adhesive at chairside, the quantity of adhesive dispensed must be carefully controlled by office personnel. Cleanup is required, which must be done by the doctor whose time is expensive. The handling of brackets during the application of adhesive can result in misorientation of the appliances and a mixup of the appliances, which are usually designed to fit specific teeth.
One attempt to minimize the chairside handling of adhesives in the application of orthodontic appliances to teeth has been the introduction of orthodontic brackets with light cured adhesive pre-applied to the bracket bases. While these brackets with pre-applied adhesive are attractive to orthodontists for their promise of convenience and ease of installation on the teeth of the patient, such brackets have been associated with an increased failure rate of the bond between the bracket bases and the teeth.
One cause of failures of the bonds between the bracket and a tooth is due to the use of an adhesive beyond its actual shelf life. The shelf life of adhesive that has been pre-applied to brackets is optimistically claimed to be twenty-four months. In practice, environmental factors, such as heat, humidity, etc., during transit and storage of the brackets having the pre-applied adhesives, shortens the shelf life of the adhesive. Furthermore, orthodontic brackets with adhesives pre-applied seldom reach the offices of orthodontists immediately following manufacture, so that some portion of the shelf life of the adhesive is already spent by the time the brackets are received by the orthodontist. In addition, careful records and careful inventory control by the doctor is required to insure that all adhesively pre-coated brackets are used in a FIFO basis and before the adhesive becomes too old.
Orthodontic brackets are often stocked by orthodontists in sufficient quantities so that the doctor has available appliances of various types and sizes to use on any common occasion in the treatment of patients. Maintaining appliance inventories necessarily requires that certain appliances will be in inventory longer than others. Ordinarily, orthodontic brackets are made of metal or other materials that have a shelf life that exceeds the technological life of the appliance, that is, the appliance can usually be stored until it is used or becomes obsolete, which can be many years from the stocking of the appliance by the doctor. Orthodontic brackets have a cost of several dollars to the doctor, for example, four U.S. dollars per bracket at the time of this patent application. The cost of the adhesive used to secure orthodontic brackets to teeth is substantially less expensive than the ordinary bracket, from a few cents to about a seventy-five cent per bracket price premium charged by an adhesively pre-coated bracket manufacturer. As a result, the application of a few cents worth of adhesive imposes a limited shelf life on a relatively expensive orthodontic appliance.
There are additional disadvantages to the adhesively pre-coated orthodontic appliances currently available on to orthodontists. The packaging of such appliances, for example, is quite expensive to produce and bulky. One hundred cases, for example, might occupy several cubic feet of space in a dentist office, equal, for example, to that of a small appliance or piece of furniture. Individual brackets are packaged in sealed packages which must be individually opened at chairside. Appliance delivery systems cannot readily accommodate these brackets or bracket packages, and separate systems for dispensing adhesive primer must be used. Only one part, light curable adhesives, can be pre-applied to brackets. Use of multiple part adhesives, which can be up to thirty percent stronger, are not practical with such brackets. Furthermore, when the amount of pre-applied adhesive appears to be incorrect in a particular situation, there is no easy way to adjust the quantity.
Accordingly, there is a great need on the part of orthodontic practitioners for a system for easily and conveniently applying orthodontic appliances to teeth with adhesive that does not have all of the disadvantages of the pre-adhesively coated orthodontic brackets of the prior art.

Individual dose adhesive delivery and orthodontic appliance system


A telescoping lever arm comprises a tube and a rod. The tube has an opening at one end thereof and has an inner circumferential dimension along the inside thereof. The opening is smaller than the inner circumferential dimension of the tube. The rod has an outer circumferential dimension that is smaller than that of the tube's opening. The rod resides partially in the tube and extends therefrom via the tube's opening. At least one annular flange is coupled to the rod at a portion thereof residing in the tube. Each such annular flange is defined by a circumferential dimension that is larger than that of the tube's opening and smaller than the inner circumferential dimension of the tube. The other end of the tube is configured to be coupled to a workpiece or an adapter that can be coupled to a workpiece.

Lever arms are used in a wide variety of applications to improve one's mechanical advantage for the tightening/loosening of couplings, bolts, nuts, etc. In most cases, a lever arm is a one-piece rigid bar or rod. However, some lever arms are constructed to telescope to provide a longer lever arm for greater mechanical advantage and to provide a shorter lever arm when there are space limitations.
Typically, a telescoping lever arm is moved to a desired position and is locked axially with respect to a handle to provide a desired lever arm length. Conventional locking has been accomplished by coupling the telescoping portion to the handle by using a removable pin or locking collar arrangement. However, these require the user to use both hands to make an adjustment. In addition, when used in confined spaces, the length of the lever arm may have to be adjusted during the use thereof. Such adjustment can be difficult or impossible if one must get both hands on the lever arm to make the adjustment.

United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy


Various techniques for controlling use of configuration data for and/or a design implemented as user logic in a configurable PLD (programmable logic device) include programming the configurable PLD using configuration data provided by a secure device. The programmed configurable PLD includes user logic, a configurable device authorization code generator and a comparator. The user logic is immediately disabled after it is loaded into the configurable device. A configurable device authorization code is generated in the configurable device authorization code generator in the programmed configurable PLD and is sent to the comparator. A secure device authorization code is generated by a secure device authorization code generator and also is sent to the comparator. The comparator compares the two inputs and, if the configurable device authorization code and secure device authorization code are identical, the user logic is then enabled. The configurable device authorization codes and secure device authorization codes may be generated in various ways, including using pseudo-random number generators, encryptors and/or decryptors in combination in the configurable device and the secure device. Various apparatus for implementing the present invention include a secure device configured to generate a secure device signal on which the secure device authorization code is based and a configuration data storage which provides programming instructions for controlling use of configuration data that generates the user logic and required functionalities in the configurable device.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to methods, systems, machine readable media and apparatus for protecting intellectual property ("IP"). More specifically, this invention relates to techniques for protecting designs and/or configuration data in SRAM-based programmable logic devices and similar configurable devices.
2. Description of Related Art
A programmable logic device (PLD) is a programmable integrated circuit that allows the user of the circuit, using software control, to customize the logic functions the circuit will perform. Examples of PLDs are FPGAs (Field Programmable Gate Arrays) and EPLDs (Erasable Programmable Logic Devices). The logic functions previously performed by small, medium and large scale integration integrated circuits can instead be performed by programmable logic devices. Programmable logic devices supplied by integrated circuit manufacturers like Altera Corporation of San Jose, Calif. (a more detailed description of these products can be found at "www.altera.com") are not inherently capable of performing any specific function. The user, in conjunction with software supplied by the PLD manufacturer, can program the PLD to perform the specific function or functions required by the user's application. The PLD then can function in a larger system designed by the user, just as though dedicated logic chips were employed.
A typical PLD consists of an array of logic cells that can be individually programmed and arbitrarily interconnected to each other to provide internal input and output signals, thus permitting the performance of highly complex combinational and sequential logic functions. The program is implemented in the PLD by setting the states of programmable elements such as memory cells. These memory cells may be implemented with volatile memories, such as SRAMs, which lose their programmed states upon termination of power to the system. If the programmable elements used are volatile memories, the memory cells must be configured upon each system power-up in order to configure the PLD.
In this disclosure, a "configurable device" or "configurable PLD" is defined to be a programmable device that ultimately contains the user logic (that is, the function(s) programmed and implemented in a PLD by a user). Typically, such a device has a volatile memory and must be programmed upon each power-up, though not every configurable device must possess these characteristics. Examples of configurable devices include SRAM PLDs and RAM-based PLDs (for example, Altera FLEX devices).
Moreover, in this disclosure, a "secure device" is defined to be a non-volatile programmable device, a custom logic device, a microprocessor or other similar device that is a secure device (that is, a device from which a design cannot be directly determined or read out of the device, such as an Altera MAX device) and which installs user logic and possibly other functionalities into a configurable device (as defined above) from a configuration data memory (a "storage device"). As noted below, a storage device may be a component separate and distinct from a secure device or the two devices may be integrated to some degree in a single component. Where a storage device and a secure device are distinct, the two devices may be connected by a secure link to prevent copying of data transferred between the two devices.
To use a configurable PLD (such as an SRAM-based FPGA), a user captures a circuit design using any of several design capture tools and then uses software tools to convert the captured design into a specific bitwise representation which can be stored in a storage device, such as an EEPROM. Upon startup, the storage device supplies the bitwise representation to the configurable PLD, typically under the control of a secure device, enabling the configurable PLD to perform the function of the programmed circuit design.
In some cases, the configuration data in a storage device is a bitwise representation that, when installed by a secure device, such as an EEPROM PLD, into a configurable device, such as an SRAM PLD, can implement user logic and possibly other functionalities to be used by the configurable device. However, the configuration data may also take on other formats and these are considered to be within the scope of the present invention. For example, either or both of the configurable device and the secure device might include an integrated microprocessor. Part of the configuration data would then be computer code that would be used by the microprocessors. The microprocessors could implement the functionality of random number generators, encryption and decryption circuits, and comparators that might otherwise be implemented with logic. The actual user logic in the configurable device would still be implemented in the normal fashion—just the configuration security circuits would be implemented with the microprocessors. Any appropriate manner of storing and using configuration data is deemed to fall within the a meaning of the term "configuration data" in this disclosure.
By the time a bitwise representation is created, it represents significant amounts of time, money and effort. To encourage individuals and companies to continue to invest in the research and development of new circuit designs, and to protect the investment represented by existing completed designs, it is desirable to provide some method of protecting the circuit designs from illegal or otherwise unauthorized copying and/or use.
To make an illegal copy of the circuit design, as implemented in a configurable logic device, one need only make a copy of the bitwise representation stored in the storage device. This can be done by copying the bitstreams transmitted externally between a configurable device and the device installing the configuration data and using the copies bitstream with a copied configurable device. Thus, the copied bitwise representation can be illegally used with other programmable logic devices. Therefore, it is desirable to make it more difficult to copy the bitwise representation of the circuit design.
Several techniques have been developed to address the illegal copying of PLD programming software by users. While these efforts have met with some success, they have some shortcomings.
As noted above, microprocessors can been used to configure PLDs prior to operation. However, implementing a microprocessor to configure the device does not address the security issue. A microprocessor must still externally transmit the configuration data to the configurable PLD. The configuration data is of finite length and can therefore be captured and used to configure another device without authority from the design's owner.
In another prior technique, a configuration of which is shown in FIG. 1, the device being programmed 110 sends a constant stream of data 120 to a control device 130. If the data stream is not correct, the control device 130 can assert a reconfiguration signal 140 and stop operation of the programmable device 110. The data stream 120 can be generated in a number of different ways to prevent decoding of the data stream's pattern. However, if the reconfiguration signal is disconnected, the control device loses power over the device being programmed. While some measures can be taken to try and monitor the status of the devices' link, unscrupulous users can still circumvent these protective measures. Furthermore, the configuration data that is driven to the configurable PLD could be captured and used to configure the configurable PLD without the control device 130.
Another technique for combating the theft of design software is found in U.S. Pat. No. 5,970,142. In that design, the configurable device generates an encryption key which is transmitted to the control device (also referred to as a storage device in the '142 patent). An encryption circuit in the control device encrypts all of the configuration data which is then sent to the PLD. The PLD subsequently decrypts the entire configuration data and uses the decrypted configuration data to program the PLD user logic. As will be appreciated, the system requires that all of the configuration data be encrypted and decrypted completely. This approach also requires either that special circuitry be incorporated into the PLD and the storage device or that unencrypted data be used to configure part of the configurable device before transfer of the encrypted configuration data. Configuration data cannot be used to create a decryptor in the configurable PLD since that data is encrypted before it is sent to the configurable PLD. As will be appreciated, this technique cannot be practically "retrofitted" into existing configurable PLD systems, due to the special circuitry and/or multiple configuration steps needed for its implementation.
Techniques that permit full use of designs and configuration data while protecting the proprietary interests of the owners of the intellectual property incorporated in such designs, systems and devices would represent a significant advancement in the art.

Method and apparatus for protecting designs in SRAM-based programmable logic devices


The present disclosure relates to an LED backlight structure having a backlight side and a light outgoing side opposite to each other, including: an LED array on a transparent substrate; a transparent encapsulation layer on a side of the transparent substrate with the LED array, and configured to encapsulate the LED array; wherein the LED array is configured to emit light, the LED backlight structure further includes: a reflection layer on a backlight side of the transparent substrate and configured to reflect light to the light outgoing side; and a first microstructure layer on the light outgoing side of the transparent substrate and the LED array, wherein the first microstructure layer is configured to scatter light incident on a surface of the first microstructure layer, so that a part of light passes through the first microstructure layer, and the rest of light is reflected by the first microstructure layer.

Because a utilization rate of a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) is poor and liquid crystals have light leakage in different degrees, the LCD has a low contrast and high energy consumption. The plurality of LEDs may be arranged in an array and used as a direct type backlight, and the contrast may be improved and better display effect may be obtained by controlling on-off of a single LED and therefore controlling light locally. In the related art, the direct type LED backlight adopts a solution in which the LEDs emit light directly upwards. An LED array is provided at the bottom of a backlight source. Light is emitted from LEDs, and finally exits the structure uniformly by a reflecting sheet at the bottom, a diffuser and a brightness enhancement film on a surface. A thickness of the backlight source mainly depends on an optical distance OD (the distance between a surface of an LED package and a lower surface of a lower diffuser). Theoretically, the larger the OD is, the better the uniformity of the emitted light is. Therefore, in general, the direct type LED backlight realizes uniform light emission by increasing the thickness of the backlight structure.

LED backlight structure and manufacturing method thereof


On a printed wiring board (13), switch parts (21 to 24) are disposed so as to correspond to four positions of corner parts in the side parts of a rectangular form of a pusher (20). A switch circuit member is provided. The switch circuit member includes the first to fourth switch parts and a plurality of resistances connected together between a pair of terminals and a resistance value between the pair of terminals is changed for each of different switch operation patterns of the switch parts in accordance with the pressing operations of the side parts of the pusher.

The present invention relates to a mirror switch device provided with four switch parts.
FIGS. 12 to 14 show a general mirror switch device 1. In this mirror switch device 1, the upper, lower right and left parts of an operating knob 2 are adapted to be respectively pressed and operated. On the back surface side of the operating knob 2, a substantially rectangular plate shaped pusher 3 (see a two-dot chain line in FIG. 13 and a solid line in FIG. 14) is provided. Further, on the back surface side of the pusher 3, a pressure member unit 4 made of rubber is provided. On the pressure member unit 4, six elastic pressure members 4a to 4f are formed by an integral molding. On the back surface side of the elastic pressure members 4a to 4f, a printed wiring board 5 is arranged. Switch parts 6A to 6F are respectively disposed so as to correspond to the elastic pressure members 4a to 4f. The switch parts 6A to 6F have the same structures. One of them, for instance, the switch part 6C is described. As shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, the switch part 6C comprises a movable contact 6Ca provided on the back surface of the elastic pressure member 4c and fixed contacts 6Cb and 6Cc provided on the printed wiring board 5.
In this switch part 6C, when the elastic pressure member 4c is pressed down, the movable contact 6Ca allows both the fixed contacts 6Cb and 6Cc to be electrically conducted (on) to each other, and when the elastic pressure member 4c is returned, the movable contact 6Ca allows both the fixed contacts 6cb and 6Cc to be disconnected (off) from each other.
When the upper part of the operating knob 2 is pressed and operated, the two elastic pressure members 4a and 4b are pressed down to turn on both the switch parts 6A and 6B. Thus, a mirror motor not shown in the drawing is energized and driven to move a mirror upward. When the right part of the operating knob 2 is likewise pressed and operated, the two elastic pressure members 4c and 4d are pressed down to turn on both the switch parts 6c and 6D. When the lower part of the operating knob 2 is pressed and operated, the two elastic pressure members 4d and 4e are pressed down to turn on both the switch parts 6D and 6E. When the left part of the operating knob 2 is pressed and operated, the two elastic pressure members 4f and 4a are pressed down to turn on both the switch parts 6F and 6A.
However, in the above-described structure, there is a disadvantage in which the number of the switch parts 6A to 6F is increased, and the number of the elastic pressure members is increased. Further, there is an inconvenience in which a certain switch operation is not obtained. That is, for instance, when an eccentric position designated by reference character Ph on the upper side part of the pusher 3 in FIG. 13 is pressed and operated, or when even a central position PO is slantingly pressed or operated, the switch parts 6A and 6B should be naturally turned on, however, the switch parts 6B and 6C are undesirably turned on, or the switch parts 6A, 6B and 6C are undesirably turned on.
The present invention is invented by considering the above-described circumstances and it is an object of the present invention to provide a mirror switch device in which the number of switch parts can be reduced as much as possible, a switch part can be assuredly turned on and the structure of a switch circuit member can be simplified.
The invention relates to a mirror switch device comprising:
a substantially rectangular pusher having four side parts pressed and operated;
first to fourth switch parts respectively disposed at four corner positions of side parts of a rectangular form of the pusher and two of the switch parts corresponding to each side part performing a switch operation when each side part of the pusher is pressed and operated; and
a switch circuit member having the first to fourth switch parts and a plurality of resistances connected together between a pair of terminals and changing a resistance value between the pair of terminals for each of different switch operation patterns of the switch parts in accordance with the pressing operation of each side part of the pusher.
According to the invention, since the switch parts are respectively disposed at the four positions of the corner parts in the side parts of the rectangular form of the pusher, the number of the switch parts can be reduced. In this case, when each side part of the pusher is pressed and operated, since the switch parts are located at both the end parts of each side part, both the switch parts are assuredly pressed and operated to certainly perform a switch operation.
Here, a switch circuit for outputting a signal for moving a mirror upward, downward, rightward and leftward to the four switch parts is required. In the above-described device, since the switch circuit member is provided for changing a resistance value between a pair of terminals for each of different switch operation patterns in accordance with the pressing operation of each side part of the pusher, four resistance value patterns can be obtained between a pair of terminals in accordance with the pressing operations of the four side parts of the pusher. Accordingly, a circuit structure can be made relatively simple.
In this case, the mirror switch device may be constructed in such a manner that the first switch part and the third switch part of the first to fourth switch parts are arranged diagonally and the second switch part and the fourth switch part thereof are arranged diagonally and the switch circuit member comprises a first series circuit connected between the pair of terminals and having the first switch part, a first resistance and the fourth switch part which are sequentially connected; and a second series circuit connected in parallel with the first series circuit and having a second resistance, the third switch part, a third resistance, a fourth resistance and the second switch part which are sequentially connected; and a node between the first switch part and the first resistance in the first series circuit is connected to a node between the third resistance and the fourth resistance in the second series circuit and a node between the first resistance and the fourth switch part in the first series circuit is connected to a node between the third switch part and the third resistance in the second series circuit.
In such a way, the four resistance value patterns can be assuredly obtained from between a pair of terminals in the structure in which two of the four switch parts are selectively turned on.

Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai Rika Denki Seisakusho


A system for distributing a reference oscillator signal includes a clock having a reference oscillator and a femtosecond laser stabilized by the reference oscillator. The system also includes at least one beamsplitter configured to split the femtosecond laser. The system further includes one or more remote nodes that are spaced from the clock. The remote nodes are configured to generate reference signals based on the split femtosecond laser.

This disclosure relates generally to timing synchronization. More particularly, this disclosure may relate to systems and methods of synchronizing remote clocks with sub-picosecond precision, and distributing such precision across remote devices and systems.
Early clocks utilized the constant movement of an object to mark the passage of time. Such movement could include the motion of the sun across the sky (or shadows formed from the same), or the flow of water or sand at a relatively constant rate. Modern clocks, however, are the product of two components: an oscillator and a time interval counter. The oscillator precisely demarcates intervals of time, while the time interval counter advances the interval of time based on the completion of a determined number of oscillations. Although the vibration of quartz crystals utilized in modern clocks for everyday use permits accuracy to within a minute each year, there are situations where even greater accuracy becomes important.
Atomic clocks, which rely on oscillation between energy levels of atoms when probed by microwaves, have greatly advanced timekeeping in the past fifty years. For example, the standard definition of a second utilizes probing the oscillation of cesium-133 with microwaves at a frequency of approximately 9.192×109 Hz. While the first atomic clock, which utilized a beam of hot cesium atoms, was stable to about one part in 1010, further developments such as progressing to a fountain of cold cesium atoms has allowed an average stability of about one part in 1013. However, the greater stability provided by cooling the cesium atoms is limited by the potential for collisions between the atoms in the fountain, which may shift the frequency of the atomic transition. From fountain clocks, the state of the art has progressed even further. By utilizing light as opposed to microwaves, optical clocks allow a much greater frequency for measuring the atomic transitions. For example, instead of the 1010 Hz frequency of microwaves, light has a frequency of about 1015 Hz, allowing potentially greater clock stability.
The distribution and synchronization of the precise timing signals of advanced clocks, such as optical clocks, is increasingly important when dealing with communication and data transfer of remote elements. For example, satellite networks, electrical grids, differing subsystems of airplanes, and scientific laboratories across the globe, may desire highly synchronized master clocks, or the ability to receive precision timing from a master clock. As one non-limiting example, synchronized clocks are utilized when dealing with satellite communication, both in the context of satellite to satellite, as well as satellite to ground. The immense speed of orbiting bodies adds to the desirability of knowing exactly when particular actions should take place in a first system, so as to be harmonious with actions in a remote second system. In some contexts, precision timing may relate to knowing when a particular system, such as a satellite, is within communications range for a transmitter, while in other contexts, this may relate to delaying communications for synchronous data transfers, such as between satellites in a constellation or array, or between satellites and the ground. Effects of synchronization error include limiting the navigation accuracy of global positioning systems (GPS), and less precise data correlation between different sources, and instabilities in electrical grids.
What are needed are systems and methods that permit enhanced distribution of precise signals from clock systems, and enhanced synchronization between clock systems.

Distribution system for optical reference


The present invention provides for a printing apparatus that includes an automatic backprinting assembly. The automatic backprinting assembly includes a movable ink jet printhead that is movable between at least a printing position to print on the backside of photographic media and a priming position where the printhead is pressurized to force a stream of ink through discharge jets of the printhead.

Photographic printers that include backprinting systems generally incorporate a drop-on-demand ink jet-type backprinting assembly that writes alphanumeric information on the backside of photographic media. While this system is inexpensive relative to a recirculating continuous ink jet system, it is best suited for continuous operations, rather than an intermittent operation of a photographic printer, to prevent the small diameter ink delivery jets of the printhead from clogging with dried ink. A drawback with a drop-on-demand ink jet backprinting system in a photographic printing environment is that the ink jet will generally clog with ink and thus, has to be manually removed from the printer to prime or clean the ink jet printhead. Further, in the environment of a photographic printer, the printer may start and/or stop at several intervals throughout the day which may lead to the clogging of the ink jet printhead during a down time of the printer. This also requires the manual cleaning of the ink jet printhead before a start up operation of the printer. A manual and/or frequent cleaning as discussed above, adds cost to the operation of the photographic printer and affects the efficiency of the printer.
Further, the manual cleaning of the ink jet printhead by actually removing the ink jet printhead from the printer also increases the likelihood of the ink spilling throughout interior of the photographic printer which thus necessitates the cleaning of the interior of the printer.

Backprinting assembly for a photographic printer


An alcohol/water fuel vaporizer for use in an internal combustion steam engine. The vaporizer comprises an exhaust gas chamber through which engine exhaust is passed and a vapor chamber for the generation and retention of pressurized fuel vapor. The exhaust gas chamber includes a plurality of baffles to direct the flow of the gas against a crown sheet, the latter sheet being heated thereby. The crown sheet forms the dividing partition between the vapor and exhaust gas chambers. A fuel preheater is positioned in the vapor chamber through which engine coolant is passed. A plurality of switchable fuel injectors in the vapor chamber controllably admit and spray fuel onto the preheater and crown plate in response to engine power demands and vapor chamber pressure.

The present invention relates generally to an internal combustion steam engine that operates with an alcohol fuel and, in particular, to an alcohol/water fuel system for supplying a vaporized fuel to the engine. Upon combustion, superheated steam is generated within the cylinders to produce an elevated pressure and temperature. More specifically, the present invention pertains to a unique combination of internal combustion and external burner steam technologies particularly adapted for recirculation of heat energy to produce a highly efficient engine adapted for automotive, farm, and other uses.
The present invention is further directed to an improved vaporizer for use in connection with the above-described water/alcohol internal combustion steam engine. Such an engine was fully described in the prior U.S. Pat. No. 4,509,464 to the present inventor, Hansen. Therefore, the construction and operation of the engine itself will not be considered in detail herein except as it relates to the implementation of the present vaporizer.
Indeed, the earlier '464 Hansen patent relates to improved vaporizer technology, specifically, to a dual-chamber vaporizer construction adapted to minimize the adverse effects of fractional distillation. The vaporizer of the '464 patent has been found to perform satisfactorily for alcohol/water fuels down to about 90 proof, particularly where the fuel is of substantially pure quality, that is, uncontaminated by foreign solutes. In this connection, as water and alcohol are both excellent solvents, keeping the fuel free of solutes has proved to be a problem of non-trivial proportion.
This problem of solutes or fuel contamination has been found to be of substantial importance in connection with the commercial exploitation of internal combustion steam technology. Although high purity alcohol fuels are readily available, the cost of these fuels can range from twice to as much as ten times that of fuels produced under less exacting and controlled conditions.
The impact of the solutes problem is further accentuated when it is realized that many of the potential users of the alcohol-based internal combustion steam engine, e.g. farmers, are persons who have ample access to the recyclable waste or home-produced agricultural base stock from which alcohol may be produced. Such consumers, therefore, can be expected to manufacture fuel for their consumption as well as others in their locale. Fuels from such indigenous and varied sources characteristically contain higher impurity concentrations.
Even where uncontaminated fuel is available, the problems of fractional distillation again surface when operating with fuels of super-low proofage, i.e. generally below about 90 proof. For such fuels, the residual affinity of the alcohol molecules (for water) is insufficient `to bring` or capture the increasingly greater proportion of water molecules as the alcohol is vaporized. This problem is particularly acute at lower vaporizer temperatures which, as noted below, have been found to track reductions in alcohol concentrations.
It will be appreciated, therefore, that the improvements in vaporizer technology described herein are directed, first, to minimizing or totally eliminating the problems associated with fuel impurities and, second, to permitting the use of alcohol-based fuels of yet lower alcohol concentrations, for example 80 proof.
Importantly, and directly associated with obtaining this latter objective, the present invention results in yet another improvement in the overall efficiency of the internal combustion steam engine. Efficiencies of approximately 60 percent are now obtainable which, in turn, result in typical fuel economies of between 20 and 40 miles per gallon of 80 proof alcohol-based fuel--such fuel being obtainable for as little as ten cents per gallon.
The internal combustion steam engine described in the Hansen '464 patent requires no radiator as the waste heat collected in the engine's liquid cooling system is routed to the fuel vaporizer where it is converted into useful energy in the processes of vaporizing the alcohol based fuel. In this manner, one significant source of engine inefficiency, the dissipation of engine heat by the radiator, has been largely eliminated.
The Hansen '464 engine also reduced a second major source of engine inefficiency by converting the otherwise wasted exhaust gas heat energy into useful work by preheating the incoming carburetor combustion air.
As noted, certain difficulties were experienced with the engine configuration of Hansen '464 as the proofage of the fuel was reduced, that is, as the ratio of water to alcohol was increased. More specifically, it has been found that the amount of waste engine heat available in the cooling system generally decreases as the fuel proofage is reduced.
Coupled with this reduced waste heat generation is the counterproductive requirement that the fuel itself requires more heat energy to vaporize at these higher water concentrations--this by reason that water requires more energy per pound to vaporize than, for example, ethanol. Thus, even with the improved two-chamber vaporizer described in Hansen '464, fractional distillation was again found to be a problem for alcohol fuels of very low proofage.
With respect to the second source of waste engine heat discussed above, it was discovered that the exhaust gas heat energy actually increases as the fuel proofage is lowered due, principally, to the increased steam content of the engine exhaust. The available exhaust gas heat energy significantly exceeds the combustion air preheat requirement.
Unlike the vaporizer of Hansen '464, the present vaporizer has been substantially reconfigured to facilitate collection and conversion of waste heat energy from both the engine coolant and exhaust systems. In this manner the unused exhaust heat energy is meaningfully recycled thereby correcting inadequacies in vaporizer operation at lower proofages while, importantly, raising the overall efficiency of engine operation.
The vaporizer preferably defines a generally enclosed rectangular volume having a form-factor adapted to fit into, and replace, the radiator of a conventional internal combustion gas engine. More specifically, the vaporizer comprises respective air-tight `exhaust gas` and `vapor` compartments and chambers vertically separated by a `crown sheet` barrier. The lower or exhaust gas chamber has inlet/outlet ports at opposed ends thereof and interior baffles whereby the flow of exhaust gas is routed through this lower chamber in proximity to the crown sheet--such sheet defining a shared common wall between the two chambers.
Particularly significant to the performance of the present vaporizer (especially where low proofage and contaminated fuels are used) is its efficacious utilization of the excess exhaust gas energy. These exhaust gases are employed, not merely as a supplemental source of heat energy, but as an energy source at substantially greater temperature, typically between 500.degree.-600.degree. F., than available using the engine coolant approach of Hansen '464.
The vaporizer crown sheet is heated by passage of the exhaust gases to substantially the temperature of the gas itself. As discussed in more detail hereinafter, vaporization is achieved herein by spraying liquid fuel onto the crown sheet which, as noted, has been raised to a temperature several hundred degrees above the vaporization temperature of either water or alcohol (ethanol). It will be appreciated, therefore, that the fuel instantaneously vaporizes upon contacting the crown sheet without regard to the proofage or solutes contained therein.
The upper vaporization region of the Hansen '464 vaporizer, by contrast, receives the engine coolant at its hottest temperature, typically 260.degree. F.--well above the 212.degree. F. vaporization temperature of the hardest-to-vaporize fuel constituent, water. For this reason, the Hansen '464 vaporizer operated well.
Problems with this prior art vaporizer, however, are found where engine operations are attempted with alcohol fuel concentrations below about 90 proof. As previously noted, such operation is associated with a corresponding reduction in the available coolant system heat energy resulting, in turn, in lowered coolant temperatures. As coolant temperatures approach the vaporization temperature of water, fractional distillation is again seen.
The present vaporizer does not, however, sacrifice the efficiency advantages achieved through the recycling of waste engine heat. In conformity with the teachings of Hansen '464, no radiator is employed. Instead, a network of copper tubes defining a fuel preheating heat exchanger is positioned in the vapor chamber above the crown sheet through which the engine coolant is passed. Fuel is sprayed onto this heat exchanger which, in turn, lowers the coolant temperature and heats and/or vaporizes the fuel. The unvaporized fuel thereafter contacts the crown sheet where complete vaporization is assured.
A further advantage of the present vaporizer relates to its ability to handle the wide fuel vaporization demands associated with corresponding engine load changes. It will be appreciated that substantially greater vaporization is required for high vehicle speeds or uphill travel as compared with idle or low speed operations.
Accommodation of these ranging load demands is achieved through the use of a plurality of spray nozzles or injectors in the vapor chamber, each injector being gated-on in response to predetermined vapor chamber pressures. Two injectors have been found to be sufficient for most applications.
Thus, at vapor pressures in excess of about 3.5 psi all fuel spray injectors are off--the engine is operating from the residual volume of pressured fuel vapor in the vapor chamber and from any vapor being generated by the engine coolant heat exchanger. As the vapor pressure drops below about 2.5 psi, the first vapor spray injector is enabled. This injector, be placed in proximity to the hottest region of the crown sheet, ordinarily provides sufficient fuel vapor for continuing normal cruise vehicle operations. In fact, excess vaporization ordinarily will occur with this single injector resulting in the periodic shutting-off of the injector as, again, pressures in excess of 3.5 psi are achieved.
At ever increasing engine/vehicle loads, the proportion of time that the injector is "on" increases until the point is reached where the injector must remain "on" continuously to maintain sufficient operational vapor pressure. Under extreme load conditions, the vapor pressure may continue to decrease, notwithstanding that this first injector remains on continuously, thereby necessitating use of the second or auxiliary spray injector. This injector, like the first injector, is pressure controlled, being enabled when vapor chamber pressures drop below about 1.5 psi.
Advantageously the exhaust heat energy available to the vaporizer increases with increasing engine power loads thereby providing the necessary energy to vaporize the correspondingly increased fuel requirements. Crown plate temperatures remain relatively constant with changing engine loads. As a consequence, highly efficient vaporization is realized under all load conditions.
And yet a further feature of the present vaporizer relates to the highly effective sound muffling characteristics associated with engine combustion. More specifically, the exhaust gas emitted by the present engine, particularly where low proofage fuel is used (e.g. 80 proof) contains a substantial percentage of superheated steam (e.g. 40%) at temperatures of between 500.degree.-600.degree. F. As the exhaust gas passes through the vaporizer, it is significantly cooled--exiting the vaporizer at temperatures around 200.degree. F. This cooling results in significant condensation and a corresponding drop in pressure.
As a consequence, "noise" pressure waves are substantially attenuated as the exhaust transits the vapor chamber thereby eliminating or significantly reducing the need for a separate noise reduction system. And due to the inherently pure, nonpolluting character of the internal combustion steam engine, mufflers and catalytic converters may be entirely avoided.
From the foregoing it will be appreciated that the vaporizer of the present invention exhibits startling improvements in a number of important categories critical to internal combustion steam engine operation. These improvements include full and complete vaporization, i.e. the elimination of fractional distillation, under widely varying engine load conditions and where impure and low proofage fuels are employed; the increase in engine efficiency by more effectively recycling engine waste energies; the elimination or reduction in the requirement for engine muffler systems; and control over the quantity of vapor production under extreme load variations.

Vaporizer for internal combustion steam engine


The present invention relates to a method and an arrangement for a mobile telecommunication network for selecting an antenna mode to be used for communication between a radio network and a mobile terminal operating in discontinuous reception mode. The arrangement comprises a determiner configured to determine a mode list comprising antenna modes both supported by the radio network and the mobile terminal, associating means configured to associate each antenna mode in the mode list with a degree of a pre-defined performance measure, retrieving means configured to retrieve information indicating the pre-defined performance measure for the mobile terminal, and a selector configured to select an antenna mode from the mode list at least based on the retrieved information.

Evolved UMTS Terrestrial Radio Access (E-UTRA) is expected to support several advanced antenna techniques. One advanced antenna technique is referred to as multiple input multiple output (MIMO). MIMO implies that both the base station and the UE has multiple antennas. There exist a variety of MIMO modes. Currently a number of MIMO modes are being evaluated such as Per Antenna Rate Control (PARC), selective PARC (S-PARC), transmit diversity, receiver diversity, D-TxAA (Double Transmit Antenna Array, an advanced version of Tx diversity).
The above mentioned MIMO modes provides different spatial processing which has the potential to contribute significantly to improve spectral efficiency, diversity, coverage, interference mitigation, etc. Each MIMO mode has a certain benefit. For example, PARC in principle can achieve high spectral efficiency by transmitting independent symbol streams; this means in a 2×2 PARC (2 transmit and 2 receive antennas), two independent data streams containing different information can be transmitted to the user equipment. On the other hand, receiver diversity (implying two receive antennas at the UE and one transmit antenna at the base station) increases link reliability by introducing redundancy in multiple dimensions at the receiver, but do not provide the spectral efficiency as PARC. This means receiver diversity would lead to good coverage but at the expense of lower spectral efficiency compared to PARC. In particular, spatial domain link adaptation for multi-antennas utilizes switching between different MIMO modes based on monitoring short-term characteristic of the radio channel.
Provided that the channel characteristics are known, a suitable MIMO mode may be selected. The selected criteria for selecting the MIMO mode may however differ. Based on measured transmission characteristic, different methods have been proposed to be used to determine the criteria for selecting the MIMO mode. In the prior art, the MIMI mode switching is only performed during an active connection between the UE (User Equipment) and the network. It should be noted that the UE is also referred to as terminal or mobile terminal.
During traffic inactivity the User Equipment (i.e. the mobile terminal) enters into a quasi-active state generally termed as idle state and utilizes the discontinuous reception (DRX) in order to save the power consumption of the UE battery. In the DRX mode the UE only monitors the network paging requests or performs certain types of measurements periodically. Due to user's mobility it is also important that the UE remains camped on the right cell. Therefore, the UE also measures the strength and/or quality of the downlink reference signals sent by the serving and target cells and re-selects the best cell. At cell reselection, the UE autonomously selects a new cell. However the reselection process can be partly influenced by the network, since the network can broadcast certain system parameters related to measurement thresholds, cell ranking etc. The cell reselection procedure should allow the network to identify the location of the UE on cell level or at least on some registration area level comprising of several cells. Thus in idle mode the network maintains the UE context, thus allowing the network to be able to locate the UE when sending the paging request. In case a new cell is reselected, the UE sends an update message to the network indicating the identity of the new cell. In addition the UE can also specify its capability, downlink measurement of serving and target cells etc. An appropriate cell reselection procedure is critically important for preventing new call blocking.
In the existing network, the network performs MIMO mode switching during the on going session. However, in idle state or any other low activity state (e.g. low Radio Resource Control (RRC) state) the UE may change cell and within the cell it may even change location. Thus a situation may arise when the UE does not start with the best possible MIMO mode and when it's RRC state changes from idle to active. This will lead to throughput loss until the network selects the correct MIMO mode. In some scenarios the connection can also be lost if the call is started with an inappropriate MIMO mode. It would therefore be advantageous to be able to exploit the benefits of mode switching also in idle state. However, the existing systems do not support a functionality whereby the UE and the network (e.g. associated Node B or RNC) are able to keep track of the best MIMO mode in idle state.

Method and arrangement for selecting an antenna mode in a mobile telecommunication network


Stress memorization techniques (SMTs) for fin-like field effect transistors (FinFETs) are disclosed herein. An exemplary method includes forming a capping layer over a fin structure; forming an amorphous region within the fin structure while the capping layer is disposed over the fin structure; and performing an annealing process to recrystallize the amorphous region. The capping layer enables the fin structure to retain stress effects induced by forming the amorphous region and/or performing the annealing process.

As the semiconductor industry has progressed into nanometer technology process nodes in pursuit of higher device density, higher performance, and lower costs, challenges from both fabrication and design issues have resulted in the development of three dimensional designs, such as a fin-like field effect transistor (FinFET). A typical FinFET is fabricated with a thin "fin" (or fin structure) extending from a substrate, for example, etched into a silicon layer of the substrate. The channel of the FET is formed in this vertical fin. A gate is provided over (e.g., wrapping) the fin. It is beneficial to have a gate on both sides of the channel allowing gate control of the channel from both sides. Advantages of FinFET devices include reducing the short channel effect and higher current flow.
Because of the complexity inherent in nonplanar devices, such as FinFETs, a number of techniques used in manufacturing planar transistors are not available in manufacturing nonplanar devices. For example, stress-memorization techniques (SMTs) are applied in high-performance environments to improve nMOS devices. By carefully controlling the amorphization and re-crystallization of a planar device channel, the effects of a stress force applied to the device will remain even after the stressor is removed. The stress effects improve charge mobility through the channel, thereby improving device performance. What is needed is a method of applying SMTs to three-dimensional devices to obtain similar improvements in device performance.

TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD


A grain transfer control system for automatically controlling relative positions of an unloading system discharge nozzle of a work machine and a receiving container based on a real time model of a fill level profile for regions of the receiving container, the profile being modeled using known or estimated rates of flow of grain and positions of the nozzle relative to regions of the receiving container as a function of time, the system adjusting the relative positions of the nozzle and the receiving container to effect a generally even fill of the receiving container.

Harvesting operations in a large field typically involve unloading grain from a harvester, such as a combine, to a receiving container, such as a tractor pulled grain cart, bin, or the like. Relevant information that should be considered during the unloading process includes, but is not limited to, crop type; weather conditions; topographical conditions; relative positions of the receiving container, the combine, and the discharge nozzle of the unloading system; grain level in the container from which the grain is being transferred, e.g., the grain tank of the combine; and fill status of the grain cart/receiving container, etc. During the unloading process, the combine operator and the tractor operator work together to fill the receiving container to capacity while minimizing loss of grain. In some instances, the receiving container is stationary and the combine operator approaches the receiving container several times during harvesting of a field and positions the combine and discharge nozzle relative to the receiving container to unload the grain into the receiving container and achieve a generally even fill without spillage.
To monitor the unloading process, the combine operator and the tractor operator, if the receiving container is mobile, must observe and adjust the flow of grain by adjusting the relative position and angle of the discharge nozzle and the receiving container to achieve an even fill the receiving container and prevent grain spillage. This situation is problematic because both operators typically must look backward towards the unloading tube while driving forward when unloading on the go. The combine operator cannot continuously monitor the field and machine conditions, resulting in a risk of deviation from the desired travel path or swath, collision with unexpected obstacles in front of the combine, and/or missing alarms or warnings displayed inside the combine. The tractor operator must also take care to maintain a safe distance from the header of the combine to prevent damage to either machine. In addition, neither operator is situated to readily view the inside of the receiving container so visually monitoring the fill level of the container is typically not possible.
Achieving an even fill of a stationary receiving container is problematic because of the increasing size of the receiving containers, which can typically hold several times the capacity of the combine grain tank. As a result, the combine operator approaches a partially full receiving container without the capability to view the fill level of various regions inside the receiving container. Achieving an even fill level becomes even more difficult to accomplish if the combine and the tractor pulling the receiving container are moving, and the difficulty increases further if the terrain is uneven and/or sloped, and/or a strong, gusting, and/or direction changing wind is present. The increased operator workload presented by any of these conditions which takes attention away from the forward field of view and the displays inside the combine and/or tractor and the inability to visually monitor the fill level of the receiving container makes a capacity fill of the receiving container without spillage difficult.
Thus, what is sought is a grain transfer control system which provides one or more of the capabilities, and overcomes one or more of the shortcomings and limitations, set forth above.

Automatic grain transfer control system based on real time modeling of a fill level profile for regions of the receiving container