There is disclosed an air conditioning unit for location in the wall of a room and which comprises a heat exchanger, an external supply fan operable to blow air into the room through the heat exchanger and an extract fan operable to draw air out of the room through the heat exchanger, in which the heat exchanger comprises a stack of thin flexible plates which are spaced apart from each other so as to define between opposed faces of adjacent plates extract air flow paths and supply air flow paths through the heat exchanger, with the spacing apart of the faces defining the extract air flow paths being greater than the spacing apart of the faces defining the supply air flow paths whereby the depth of the extract air flow paths initially is greater than the depth of the supply air flow paths, but during operation any tendency for the flexible plates to deform under differential pressure action results in the depths of the extract air flow paths and supply air flow paths being substantially equalized, which provides more efficient heat transfer between the air flow paths.

Air conditioning units of this type generally comprise two separate fans, namely a supply fan (blowing fan) and an extract fan (suction fan), and a heat exchanger through which the supply and extract air streams pass, generally in counterflow or cross flow fashion. Conventionally, heat exchangers for use in such air conditioning units comprise a stack of thin plates of metal such as aluminum or copper. Such heat exchangers have minimum resistance to air flow, thus allowing the size of the supply and extract fans, and thus the operating noise level, to be kept to a minimum. However, metal plate heat exchangers are heavy, expensive to manufacture, and the metal (especially aluminiun) can be damaged by corrosive environments such as swimming pools.
One approach to this problem has been to use very thin plastic plates which are light, cheap to manufacture, and still offer very good heat transfer, these plates generally being heavily ribbed to increase the total surface area available for heat exchange. The plastic plates, which may be made from "nylon", PVC or any other suitable plastics material, are also advantageous in that they are resistant to corrosion.
The use of plastic plates has forever created another problem. Because the plates are very thin they tend to flex easily, particularly about axes which are parallel to the ribs. When the plates are stacked together to form a heat exchanger, the plates define a plurality of supply flow paths an extract flow paths which are each made of narrow depth in order to maximise heat recovery i.e. only small spacing apart of the plates in the stack. The narrow flow paths and the flexibility of the plates (together with the differential pressure action of the supply and extraction fans) combine to result in the plate wall faces defining the supply flow path being blown wider apart and the faces defining the extract flow paths being drawn closer together during operation of the unit. This is thought to be due to the pressure differential between the supply and extract fans, and results in reduced extract flow rate and hence lower temperature efficiency. Usually, the supply and extract fans are both located on the outside of the heat exchanger, and one fan operates to blow air into the heat exchanger whilst the other fan operates to draw air from the heat exchanger. An attempt has been made to overcome the problem of the deformation of the flow paths, by placing the supply and extract fans one on either side of the heat exchanger. The supply and extract pressure are then much more balanced, since the two fans are each blowing air into the heat exchanger. However, this arrangement increases the total length of the unit which is unacceptable when the unit is designed to be installed in a wall, and also the location of a fan on the room side of the heat exchanger increases the operating noise level.
An alternative approach is to use a more powerful extract fan to overcome the resistance to flow produced by the narrowing of the extract flow paths. This approach is not acceptable as such an arangement would have a high noise level and higher power consumption, and in addition the stronger extract fan can cause the distortion of the flow paths to increase, thus exacerbating the problem.
It is therefore the aim of the present invention to provide an improved heat exchanger which overcomes the above-mentioned disadvantages.

Heat exchanger with flow passages which deform in operation towards equalization


Subject matter disclosed herein relates to a multi-level flash memory and a process flow to form same.

1. Field
Subject matter disclosed herein relates to a multi-level flash memory and a process flow to form same.
2. Information
Memory devices may be employed in many types of electronic equipment, such as computers, cell phones, PDA's, data loggers, games, and navigational gear, for example. Continuing demand for smaller and/or more capable electronic equipment may lead to a desire for smaller, higher density memory devices, which may involve small semiconductor feature sizes that approach lower boundaries associated with material and electronic behavior at atomic or molecular levels. Accordingly, approaches to increase memory density other than decreasing semiconductor feature sizes may involve new configurations, such as three-dimensional memory architecture. Such an approach, however, may involve a dramatic shift to new fabrication techniques and/or new process flows that may be relatively expensive to implement. Thus, there may be a desire for a three-dimensional memory architecture that may be fabricated using a process flow that is modified relatively little from that used to fabricate more familiar two-dimensional memory architecture.

Flash memory having multi-level architecture


A system for generating, on a user terminal, a user interface having at least two interface items, where the system is configured to store at least two sets of data each corresponding to the interface items. A first set of data includes data for generating and controlling the performance of an operation associated with a first of interface items, and a second said set of data includes data for generating and controlling the performance of an operation associated with a second of the interface items. When a user interacts with the first interface item, the system is configured to perform the action associated with the first interface item, independent of the second interface item and without performing any other action corresponding to the user interface.

Users typically interact with a computer system by using an application. An application is a set of instructions that controls the processing of data in accordance with pre-determined rules and in conjunction with interactions by the user. There are countless such applications currently being used, such as accounting applications, sales applications, etc.
There are numerous considerations to be made by a user when determining the desirability of deploying and using an application. One important consideration is the ease of distribution. Unless an application already resides on the computing device of a user, the application needs to be delivered to the user. Some of the ways that an application are currently delivered to a user is via CD-ROM (whereby the user installs the application software on the computing device), or via Internet (whereby the user interacts with a user interface which is supported by server software).
One factor which effects the case with which applications may be delivered to a user is the application's accessibility. An application should be globally accessible, e.g. —it should be accessible from any location, to any computer connected to a global network or to the internet. Another important consideration is the ease with which the application may be updated, e.g. —to a new version having new or improved features.
Another important consideration to be made by a user when determining the desirability of using an application is the functional richness of the application. The typical user of an application demands a high level of functionality, irrespective of the complexity that is required by the software manufacturer to accomplish this level of functionality. This is evident by the increasing number of features which are being implemented in new software applications. However, these increasingly complex software applications are difficult to develop, take a long time to bring to market, and require highly skilled technologists to develop. Of course, applications must also be compatible with the "corporate reality" of network bandwidth constraints, protocol choices, firewalls, language bathers, etc.
Several methods are currently being employed in order to create and deliver applications to a user. However, each of these methods fail to satisfy all of the above-stated criteria. For instance, one such method is the employment of JAVA™ applets. A JAVA applet can add additional features to a web browser. Examples include user interface elements for collecting data, drawing simple diagrams, and performing calculations. However, JAVA applets, although designed for use over the internet, are frequently difficult to distribute and use owing to non-uniformity of JAVA implementations in web browsers. They also tend to be large in size, requiring significant network bandwidth. In addition, they do not provide adequate functional richness (while they provide a variety of features, they don't approximate the quality or usability of traditional Windows interfaces), and they are difficult to develop since the programming is difficult to learn and thus programmers are expensive and tough to hire. In addition, JAVA applets are frequently incompatible with corporate reality because of their excessive network bandwidth requirements, are often unreliable, are complex to develop and frequently require special configuration.
Another method is the employment of CITRIX™′. CITRIX allows a user to see the Windows interface of a remote computer. When, for example, the user moves the mouse pointer, he is actually moving the mouse pointer of the remote computer at the same time as he moves his own. CITRIX provides a higher level of functional richness since applications look identical to locally installed software. Applications deployed using CITRIX are also somewhat easier to develop than JAVA applets. However, CITRIX based applications are completely unsuitable for wide spread distribution or use over the internet. They require a large amount of bandwidth, create security concerns since they require modification to a network firewall to run, and do not scale well since they tend to quickly consume all of the processing power of their host computer.
Still another method is the employment of Visual Basic™ and other equivalent application development tools. VB is a programming language that can be used to create almost any type of Windows application. These types of applications must be locally installed. Like CITRIX, Visual Basic applications provide a higher level of functional richness. VB is intended to be, and can be, used by relatively lower-skilled programmers. However, Visual Basic based applications are very difficult to distribute. These applications cannot be delivered on the fly, over the internet for example. Their installation requires that a user have disks or CD-roms containing the application. Distribution and updates to a wide audience therefore requires significant resources making them highly impractical for many applications.
One of the best and most popular methods currently being employed to deliver applications to a user is hyper-text mark-up language (referred to hereinafter as "HTML"). Applications created using HTML are easily distributed to users via the Internet. Furthermore, HTML is relatively easy to develop. In fact, one of the reasons for the explosive growth of the Internet is that HTML is readily understandable by a lay person—a person with virtually no knowledge of computer programming could use HTML to create a website.
Unlike the simple webpages of a layperson′ web site, however, which typically just delivers content to a user, more complex web sites deliver the user interface of a client server application, with access to a client server's database system. Thus, a web site not only provides a user with a web page which describes a new product for sale, but also provides a user with interface items so that the user can interactively communicate with the host server. For example, the web site may provide a user with a button that the user presses so as to place an order for the new product, data entry fields in which the user may enter his or her name, a credit card number, a billing or shipping address, etc. Alternately, the web site may provide the user with a button that the user presses in order to enter a review of the product, and further provides to the user space to enter comments about the product's quality, to rate the quality of the product, to read comments or rating that others have entered with respect to the same product, etc.
Though easy to develop and distribute, HTML does not provide a high level of functional richness. For one thing, the sophistication of the user interface is hampered by the limited choice of user interface controls. HTML applications have very few user interface controls, such as "forward", "back", "stop", etc. By contrast, Windows applications have dozens, and sometimes hundreds, of different controls, enabling a user to perform a myriad of different functions.
Furthermore, HTML is not suitable for highly interactive applications because it is a document centric model, e.g.: it delivers whole documents to a user. In order to change the user interface which is displayed to the user, the server delivers a new set of HTML which is employed to re-display the entire interface which is seen by the user. Likewise, in order to process data entered by a user in a field of the interface, the server is required to process the entire set of HTML associated with the interface.
Thus, there is a need for an improved system and method for creating and delivering applications and graphical user interfaces to a user.

Internet interface and integration language system and method


A novel operation regime for capacitive micromachined ultrasonic transducers (cMUTs). The collapse-snapback operation in which the center of the membrane makes intermittent contact with the substrate. This combines two distinct states of the membrane (in-collapse and out-of-collapse) to unleash unprecedented acoustic output pressures into the medium. The collapse-snapback operation utilizes a larger range of membrane defection profiles (both collapsed and released membrane profiles) and generates higher acoustic output pressures than the conventional operation. Collapse-snapback operation meets the extreme acoustic transmit pressure demands of the ultrasonic industry.

Capacitive membrane ultrasonic transducers have a metal coated membrane such as silicon or silicon nitride supported above a substrate by an insulating layer such as silicon oxide, silicon nitride or other insulating material. The substrate may be a highly doped semiconductor material such as silicon or may be undoped silicon with a metal layer. The thin metal covering the membrane and the highly doped substrate or metal layer form the two electrodes of a capacitor. Generally the substrate, support and membrane form a cell which may be evacuated. Generally the transducers comprise a plurality of cells of the same or different sizes and shapes. In operation, the cells may be arranged in arrays with the electrical excitation generating beam patterns. Typically transducer cells have sizes ranging between 5 μm and 1000 μm in diameter.
The fabrication and operation of capacitive membrane transducers is described in many publications and patents. For example U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,619,476, 5,870,351 and 5,894,452, incorporated herein by reference, describe fabrication using surface machining technologies. Pending Application Ser. No. 60/683,057 filed Aug. 7, 2003, incorporated herein by reference, describes fabrication by using wafer bonding techniques. Such transducers are herein referred to a capacitive micromachined transducers (cMUTS).
The active part of a cMUT is the metal-coated membrane. A DC bias voltage applied between the membrane and the bottom electrodes creates electrostatic attraction, pulling the membrane toward the substrate. If an AC voltage is applied to a biased membrane, harmonic membrane motion is obtained. The DC bias voltage strongly affects the AC vibrational amplitude. As the DC voltage is increased, a larger sinusoidal membrane motion increases the transmitted acoustic pressure. To achieve maximum efficiency, the conventional operation of the cMUT requires a bias voltage close to the collapse voltage, the voltage at which the membrane contacts the substrate. In conventional operation the sum of the DC bias and the applied AC signal must not exceed the collapse voltage. Therefore, total acoustic output pressure is limited by the maximum allowed AC voltage.
If a biased cMUT membrane is subject to an impinging ultrasonic pressure field, the membrane motion generates AC detection currents. This current amplitude increases with increasing DC bias voltage. To maximize the receive sensitivity, the bias voltage is increased close to the collapse voltage. Again, it is required that the sum of the bias voltage and the received voltage due to the motion caused by the ultrasonic pressure field be less than the collapse voltage. In co-pending application Ser. No. 11/078,795 filed Mar. 10, 2005 there is described a method of operating the transducers with the membrane collapsed. In this regime, the membrane is first biased at a voltage higher than the collapse voltage, therefore initially collapsing the membrane onto the substrate. Then, the DC bias is changed to a level, which is larger than the snapback voltage to ensure the collapsed membrane state. At this operating DC voltage, the center of the membrane remains in contact with the substrate. By adding an AC voltage, harmonic membrane motion is obtained in a circular ring concentric to the center. In this regime, the ultrasonic transducer has a higher electromechanical coupling efficiency than it has when it is operated in the conventional pre-collapse regime.
There is nevertheless a need for a method of operating cMUTs to generate higher acoustic output pressures than either the conventional or collapsed method of operation. An ultrasonic transducer which produces high transmit pressures will meet the extreme acoustic transmit pressure demands of the ultrasonic industry.

Method and system for operating capacitive membrane ultrasonic transducers

Board of Trustees of the Deland Stanford Junior University


A computer system and method optimize feedstock selection planning for an industrial process by evaluating first and second stages at separate intervals throughout the planning process. Evaluating the first stage determines a set of robust feedstocks to procure on long-term contracts. The computer system and method solve, in parallel, multiple simulation cases of a non-linear model generated with different expectation values for uncertain input parameters related to selecting feedstocks to procure on long-term contracts. Probabilistic analyses on the solutions from the simulation cases, including the application of chance-constraints, determine the set of robust feedstocks to procure on long-term contracts. Evaluating the second stage determines a set of robust feedstocks to procure in the spot market, using the information from the first stage. Specifically, the computer system and method solve each of multiple new simulation cases of the non-linear model, generated with different expectation values for uncertain input parameters related to selecting feedstocks to procure in the spot market. Each simulation case is solved to determine breakeven prices for one or more available spot feedstocks, and probabilistic analyses are performed on the breakeven prices for these spot feedstocks to determine a set of robust feedstocks to procure in the spot market.

Process industries with variable feeds, including refineries and petrochemical plants, process feedstocks, such as crudes and chemicals, into a range of blended products, such as gasoline and diesel. The process industries (e.g., refineries) must plan and schedule activities in order to process feedstocks into the range of blended products. The planning of these activities, hereinafter referred to as "operations planning," includes deciding which blended products to produce, and selecting which feedstocks to procure to meet the specification and demand requirements for producing these blended products. The specific decisions involving selecting which feedstocks (and amounts of the feedstocks) to procure are made with the focus of optimizing the profitability and operation efficiency of producing the blended products, within the parameters of the specification and demand requirements for the blended products. As such, these feedstock selection decisions must consider the different sources of uncertainty (risk) related to procuring the feedstocks, including market conditions (e.g., price and supply and demand projections), operation conditions (e.g., storage and blending equipment availability and capacity), and other uncertain conditions (e.g., assay quality). To manage such uncertainties/risks, the feedstock selection decisions often include selecting feedstocks to procure both on long-term contracts and in the spot market.
Selection decisions regarding which feedstocks to procure on long-term contracts and which feedstocks to procure in the spot market are often made in different planning steps. For example, selection decisions to procure feedstocks on long-term contracts may be made in one planning step, months in advance of processing the procured feedstocks in blending operations. These selection decisions are often made with uncertain knowledge of the future conditions of the spot market, which is constantly fluctuating in price and availability based on the current state of the supply and demand in the market. This planning step often results in procuring a majority of the feedstocks for the blended products as a basic hedging strategy, since procurement of feedstocks on long-term contracts ensures: (i) feed availability, (ii) cost assurance, and (iii) a potential price discount. Further, operations planning often includes a second procurement step, in which feed selection decisions are made to procure some feedstocks in the short-term from the spot market, in order to include in the hedging strategy profits from upsides in the spot market. However, as these spot market decisions are made in the short-term, these decisions must be made with greater consideration of the uncertainties related to operation conditions, such as equipment availability for storing and blending the feedstocks. For operations planning to optimize profitability and operation efficiency in producing blended products, the feedstock selection decisions must be made in a manner that optimizes the combination of feedstock procurement on long-term contracts and feedstock procurement in the spot market based on the respective uncertainties in market, operation, and other conditions.
Operations planning in the process industries is typically modeled as a mixed-integer, non-linear optimization problem (MINLP), which may contain tens to hundreds of thousands of equations and variables. Note, these models include uncertain input parameters which represent market condition uncertainties (e.g., price and supply and demand projections), operation condition uncertainties (e.g., storage and blending equipment availability and capacity), and other uncertainties (e.g., assay quality) regarding feedstock selection. The little art that exists regarding modeling feedstock procurement in the process industries primarily focuses on traditional techniques, such as deterministic decision making, stochastic programming, and robust optimization; for example, Yang, Y., et al., "Integrated Crude Selection and Refinery Optimization under Uncertainty," AIChE Journal, 62 (4), 1038-1053 (2015), hereinafter referred to as "Yang," which considers uncertainty in crude-oil quality (specifically, vacuum residue yield and sulfur fraction of gas oil) and employs a two-stage stochastic programming approach in which all crude purchases are determined in the first stage and operating conditions are determined in the second stage. Note, the few other known publications include: Ji, X., et al., "Integrated Operational and Financial Hedging for Risk Management in Crude Oil Procurement," Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research, 54, 9191-9201 (2015), hereinafter referred to as "Ji" (one-stage stochastic programming approach to crude-oil procurement under raw-material price uncertainty); Oddsdottier, T. A., et al., "Procurement planning in oil refining industries considering blending operations," Computers & Chemical Engineering, 58, pages 1-19 (2013) (deterministic approach to procurement planning); Kallestrup, K. B., et al., "Decision support in hierarchical planning systems: The case of procurement planning in oil refining industries," Decision Support Systems 68, pages 49-63 (2014) (deterministic hierarchical structured approach to procurement planning); Zhang, J., "Simultaneous Optimization of Crude Oil Blending and Purchase Planning with Delivery Uncertainty Consideration," Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research, 51, pages 8453-8464 (2012) (flexibility analysis of crude delivery times), and Varvarezos, D. K., "Optimal Solution-Range Analysis in Production Planning: Refinery Feedstock Selection," Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research, 47, 8282-8285 (2008) (flexibility indices for evaluating refinery feedstocks). Note, none of these publications address the problem of feedstock selection under uncertainty using a quantitatively derived feed partitioning procedure of long-term and short-term feedstock selection based on uncertainty considerations. Further, none of these publications address the problem of feedstock selection under uncertainty using a probabilistic breakeven analysis procedure. Even further, none of these publications specifically address the problem of feedstock selection combining the above two procedures into a comprehensive sequence of steps that address both long-term and short-term feedstock selection.
Moreover, there are various issues associated with applying traditional techniques to operations planning models to optimize feedstock procurement. Deterministic techniques use a single set of expected values for input parameters, such as purchase price, equipment availability/capacity, and assay quality, which are rarely known with complete certainty. Such techniques based on a single set of uncertain outcomes do not hedge against the risks associated with these parameters when selecting feedstocks for procurement. More advanced techniques which hedge against uncertainty, such as stochastic programming, may be computationally impractical and infeasible in the modeling of complex, real-world problems due to the size and complexity of the complete model (e.g., a full refinery model in a stochastic-programming framework is likely to be computationally-intractable). In addition, stochastic programming techniques are often poorly understood by non-experts, and complex decomposition strategies, which often do not scale well in real-world use cases, must be applied to the model to attempt to obtain an optimal solution. For example, Yang considers 10 candidate crudes and 120 scenarios in a two-stage stochastic programming framework, and uses nonconvex generalized Benders decomposition to solve two example problems. In the case of a simplification such as the one used by Ji, the modeling of feedstock procurement as a single stage is inconsistent with real-world decision making, which, as described above, may make long-term contract decisions and spot market decisions for procuring feedstocks in different steps, each of which involves different considerations for risk (uncertainty). Note that Yang also only considers feedstock procurement in one stage of a stochastic programming model.
As such, there is a need in the process industry for a technique to optimize feedstock procurement decisions, which hedges against the risk of uncertainties, consistent with the real-world steps of feedstock decision making, and does so while maintaining computationally tractable modeling without the need for complex decomposition techniques.

Robust feedstock selection system for the chemical process industries under market and operational uncertainty


A cache is configured to have a first cache line allocation policy for a memory address. An instruction associated with the memory address is received and a second cache line allocation policy is determined based on the instruction. The cache is reconfigured to have the second cache line allocation policy in response to receiving the instruction. A data processor includes processor core to receive and execute an instruction associated with a memory address, a cache including a plurality of cache lines, and a cache allocation module to determine a cache line allocation policy based on the instruction and to reconfigure the cache to have the cache line allocation policy for execution of the instruction at the processor core.

Cache memories often are utilized in processing systems to store information such as operand data or instruction data to be utilized by a processor or to be subsequently stored in more permanent memory, such as system memory or a hard disk. In the event of a read operation or a write operation resulting from the execution of an instruction, a copy of the data read from memory or the data to be written to memory is provided to the cache for potential storage. The cache, in turn, determines whether to allocate a cache line for storage of the supplied data based on the cache line allocation policy for the memory address or memory region that is associated with the read operation or write operation. Typically, a cache implements a default cache line allocation policy for a particular memory address or memory region without regard to the particular characteristics or circumstances of the instruction being executed. However, the default cache line allocation policy may not be the most appropriate policy for a given application or instruction sequence. Accordingly, an improved technique for configuring cache allocations in a cache would be advantageous.

System and method for instruction-based cache allocation policies


The ability to capture an undistorted image of the foot or foot and ankle is essential to the production of effective custom orthotics and shoes. This patent solves the problem of providing an accurate three-dimensional measurement of an undistorted foot/ankle by using a system involving the automated and controlled orbit of a point cloud capture device around the foot/ankle with the foot/ankle in a non-weight bearing position so as to capture a three-dimensional image.

Typical foot orthotic fabrication methods involve making an impression of one's foot into a mold or cast by a professionally trained podiatrist. The podiatrist must physically examine the patient's foot, and place the foot in the mold, typically while standing. The impression is then manipulated and corrected in order to provide an orthotic that realigns one's foot. The impression of the foot in the mold or cast is then turned into an orthotic comprised of select materials using a milling machine. While this method, along with other existing methods, may be effective for some, they can be inaccurate in multiple disciplines. While the podiatrist is holding and bending the patient's foot into a corrected position (when necessary), the foot is tense, and thus highly susceptible to movement, causing the mold to be an inaccurate representation of the foot. If the impression in the mold is simply made without manipulation but in the standing position, the resulting impression of the foot is fundamentally inaccurate because the placing of the foot into a mold under weight-bearing conditions compresses the fat pads in the plantar surface of the foot and causes the lateral and medial arches of the foot to be stretched out of natural position. Considering that arch support is necessary for nearly all people, the disturbance of the shape of the arch of one's foot when placed in a weight-bearing condition (the mold), defeats the purpose of an arch-supporting custom orthotic. In addition to the mold-making method, some orthotics are made by use of a three-dimensional scanner wherein the patient places his or her foot on the transparent surface of a scanner in a semi-weight bearing condition. This method also produces an inaccurate measurement of the foot because the semi-weight bearing condition distorts the natural shape of the foot.
Furthermore, the basic method of making custom orthotics from a mold is expensive because it requires a professionally trained podiatrist to hold the foot in position during the mold. Medical insurance does not cover these causes in the absence of severe deformity or injury, and thus early use of customized orthotics for preventive health is not common due to the prohibitive cost. Additionally, the mold must be renewed for each patient, adding to the total cost of the orthotic. Lastly, the process is time-consuming, accounting for the examination of the patient's feet, the molding or casting, the manipulation of the mold or cast, and the development of the orthotic based on a negative impression of the mold.
The existing mold-making and three-dimensional scan methods of producing custom orthotics are also limited in the range of topography captured. Typically, these methods are only capable of capturing the plantar side of the foot, limiting the orthotic potential and range of use in different types of shoes and scenarios. Some types of specialized shoes, including medical and athletic shoes, such as ice skates, ski boots, and ballet shoes require customization of more than the planar aspect of the foot for optimization of the desired effect.

Method of capturing a non-distorted image of the foot


Provided is a memory system having a multi-drop bus structure. The memory system includes a bus, a memory controller in which a port connected to the bus is terminated by a resistor having a first impedance value, a connector connected to a point having the first impedance value from the memory controller on a bus line, and a memory module connected to the connector. The memory module includes a first load connected to the connector and having the first impedance value, a second load connected to the first load and having a second impedance value, a first chip in which a port connected to the second load is terminated by a resistor having the second impedance value, a via hole penetrating a printed circuit board of the memory module between the first load and the second load, a third load connected to the via hole and having the second impedance value, and a second chip in which a port connected to the third load is terminated by a resistor having the second impedance value. The first load, the second load, and a first chip are formed on a first surface of the memory module while the third load and the second chip are formed on a second surface thereof.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a semiconductor memory system, and more particularly, to a memory module having a multi-drop bus structure having multiple termination resistors, and to a memory system having the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
A DRAM uses a multi-drop method in which a plurality of chips are simultaneously connected to a single channel to increase data capacity in a data transmission method. According to the channel in the multi-drop method, as shown in FIG. 1, a plurality of chips 120 through 130 are connected to a single signal line 100. A T-shaped connection portion where lines are connected in three directions exists on the signal line 100 connected to the chips 120 through 130. When data is transmitted, a reflected wave is generated because impedance of the signal line 100 varies at the T-shaped connection portion. Since the reflected wave is generated at each of nodes where the chips 120 through 130 are connected, the total amount of the reflected waves increases as the number of chips connected to a single signal line increases. The reflected wave has a great influence on a transmitted signal as a data transmission speed increases so that the transmission speed of data is limited.
FIG. 2 is a view illustrating a configuration of a bus used for a DDR-II memory system. Referring to FIG. 2, in a DDR-II memory system 200, a DRAM controller 210 and dual in-line memory modules (DIMM) 230 and 260 are connected to a single bus line 220. The DDR-II memory system 200, unlike an SSTL bus used for a DDR SDRAM, has termination resistors 211, 212, 241, 242, 271, and 272 which are arranged in the DRAM controller 210 and the DRAMs 240, 250, 270, and 280. These termination resistors 211, 212, 241, 242, 271, and 272 are referred to as on-die termination (hereinafter, referred to as "ODT"). The ODT resistors 211, 212, 241, 242, 271, and 272 reduce influence generated due to loads by parasite capacitance and inductance existing in the DRAM chips 240, 250, 270, and 280 to improve preservation of a signal, compared to the SSTL bus.
For the maximum signal preservation on the bus line 220, the ODT resistors 211, 212, 241, 242, 271, and 272 are controlled as shown in FIG. 3. in FIG. 3, "Write" signifies storing data on the DRAMs 240, 250, 270, and 280 while "Read" signifies reading data from the DRAMs 240, 250, 270, and 280. During a write operation, when data is stored on a DRAM1 240, for example, the ODT resistors 271 and 272 existing on the DIMM2 260 are turned on while the ODT resistors 241 and 242 existing on the DIMM1 230 are turned off. In this case, the reflected wave is continuously generated from the DIMM2 (260) so that influence on the DIMM1 230 is prevented. Meanwhile, when the data is stored in the DRAM3 chip 270, the ODT resistors 241 and 242 of the DIMM1 230 are turned on while the ODT resistors 271 and 272 of the DIMM2 260 are turned off. Thus, the reflected wave is continuously generated from the DIMM1 230 so that influence on the DIMM2 260 is prevented.
During a read operation, the ODT resistors 211 and 212 of the DRAM controller 210 are turned on. When the data is read from the DRAM1 240, the ODT resistors 271 and 272 of the DIMM2 260 are turned on while the ODT resistors 241 and 242 of the DIMM1 230 are turned off. In contrast, when the data is read from the DRAM3 270, the ODT resistors 241 and 242 of the DIMM1 230 are turned on while the ODT resistors 271 and 272 of the DIMM2 260 are turned off.
Although the bus line 220 of the DDRII memory system 200 enables data transmission at an operation speed less than 1 Gb/s, the data transmission at a speed higher than 1 Gb/s is limited because the influence by the reflected wave increases. Even when the ODT resistors 211, 212, 241, 242, 271, and 272 are on, reflection is continuously generated at a lot of the T-shaped connection portions. That is, considering that the data is stored on the DRAM1 240, since the ODT resistors 271 and 272 of the DIMM2 260 are terminated, the reflected wave is not generated from the DIMM2 260. In the DIMM1 230, however, since input nodes of the DRAM chips 240 and 250 are open, the reflected wave is generated. The reflected wave generated from the DIMM1 230 passes through a connector of the DIMM1 230 again. Since the connector is the T-shaped connection portion, the reflected wave is regenerated and works as a signal interference ISI in storing data in the DRAM1 240 so that the signal preservation is deteriorated. Also, the signal among the reflected wave generated from the DIMM1 230 which proceeds toward the DRAM controller 210 regenerates the reflected wave so as to influence the DRAM1 240 as the ISI.
In the operation of storing or reading data with respect to the DRAMs 270 and 280 in the DIMM2 260, the reflected wave by the ODT resistors 271 and 272 which are in an "OFF" state influences the DIMM2 260 as the ISI. Also, In the DIMM1 230 in which the ODT resistors are in an "ON" state, since the ODT resistors 241 and 242 of the DRAM1 240 which is one of the two chips are in the "ON" state, the reflected wave is generated from the DRAM2 250 including the ODT resistors which are in the "OFF" state.
Thus, a multi-drop bus having a new structure which can reduce the generation of the reflected wave and increase the operation speed up to 3 Gb/s by improving the bus structure used in the DDR-II memory system is demanded.

Memory system having multi-terminated multi-drop bus


According to the present disclosure, a propulsion system is provided to assist a caregiver in moving a patient support about a care facility. The propulsion system is detachably coupled to patient support to permit storage of the propulsion system or use of propulsion system on multiple patient supports.

This invention relates to patient supports, such as beds. More particularly, the present invention relates to devices for moving a patient support to assist caregivers in moving the patient support from one location in a care facility to another location in the care facility.
According to the present invention, a patient support apparatus is provided that is configured to support a patient. The patient support system includes a patient support including a bedframe and a mattress supported by the bedframe and a propulsion system. The propulsion system includes a propulsion device configured to contact the floor to power movement of the patient support and a coupler configured to pivotably and detachably couple the propulsion device to the bedframe of the patient support.
According to another embodiment of the present invention, a propulsion system is provided that is configured to move a patient support. The propulsion system includes a propulsion device adapted to contact the floor to power movement of the patient support and a coupler configured to detachably couple the propulsion device to the patient support. The coupler includes a first member adapted to couple the patient support at first distance from the floor and a second member adapted to couple the patient support at a second distance from the floor that is greater than the first distance.
According to another aspect of the present invention, a propulsion system is provided that is configured to move a patient support having a patient restraint board. The propulsion system includes a propulsion device configured to contact the floor to power movement of the patient support and a coupler configured to couple the propulsion device to the patient support. The coupler is adapted to be coupled to the patient restraint board.
According to another embodiment of the present invention, a propulsion system is provided that is configured to move a patient support having a bedframe and mattress supported by the bedframe. The propulsion system includes a propulsion device adapted to contact the floor to power movement of the patient support, a coupler configured to move between a coupled position coupling the propulsion device to the bedframe and an uncoupled device permitting movement of the propulsion device away from the bedframe, and a vertically extending handle coupled to the coupler and configured to move the coupler between the coupled and uncoupled positions.
Additional features of the disclosure will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.


A digital signal processing apparatus including a graphic template display including an input circuit for sampling, digitizing and storing successive samples of an input signal, a signal processor for scaling the sampled signal data, a buffer for storing the scaled signals, a copy memory for storing a copy of the scaled signal data, a template memory for storing template data, an image retrieval circuit for accessing and reading out the stored signal and template data, a data mapping circuit for reformatting the stored image data, a display memory for holding the reformatted image data for cyclical display, a memory access circuit for accessing and combining the reformatted image data and the display memory data, and for providing the timing necessary for presentation of the combined data, and display apparatus for displaying the combined data in an original format.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to signal analyzing methods and apparatus and more particularly to an improved method and apparatus for acquiring, processing, and displaying in real time a continuously changing, periodically recurrent electronic signal. A specific example of a signal to be analyzed is the synchronizing "S" signal used in an ISDN communication network.
2. Brief Description of the Prior Art
In order to make a stream of analog or digital data intelligible, it is necessary that some type of reference component be inserted into the data stream so that it can be detected and then used as a benchmark from which to interpret the information content of the stream. A classical example of such a data stream in the analog domain is a television signal which includes sync pulses used to identify the start of each scan line. In the digital world, synchronizing frame bits are used to identify the beginning and ending of data words or frames containing a plurality of digital bits of data.
In communications networks, the accuracy and efficiency of the medium is directly related to the ability of the network to faithfully communicate the synchronizing signals. In an attempt to standardize digital communications links, media and interfaces, the CCITT, a communications standard group that is part of the United Nations, has defined a recommendation for a worldwide Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) capable of handling voice and data over copper wires, fiberoptics, satellite channels and other implementations of future technologies.
Because such a system must encompass high-level data such as video images, computer messages, voice communications, and other information, and must also specify low-level data concerning wires, connectors, frequencies, voltages, etc., the system has been designed in "layers" with the bottom layer (layer 1) representing the physical phenomenon, and the top layer (layer 7) representing user applications. In between are layers that partition the network in terms of well-defined interfaces that range from the interface at the bottom (physical) layer, over which physical signals are passed, up an increasingly abstract hierarchy to the most general, "application" layer which represents the user's desired task or application that makes use of the digital (ISDN) communications network. The CCITT layers are rigorously defined at the interfaces between layers, and the messages that flow between the layers are also specified.
It is important to note that the implementation of the layers is not specified, leaving complete freedom to the designer of the layered communication system. In use, messages flow down from the top layers to the physical layer, across the network, and up to the "peer" layer at the destination.
while the seven-layer scheme is designed to allow any computer to communicate with any other computer, regardless of make or manufacture, the top layers are not absolutely essential to successful communications across the network. The bottom three layers, i.e., the Physical (1), Data Link (2), and Network (3) layers, are essential, and must exist where any device or system is capable of communicating across the ISDN.
The ISDN network recommended by the CCITT committee uses a four-wire connection from the network to the subscriber defined as the "S" interface. The signals flowing between the Subscriber (S) and the Network Terminator (T) points are depicted in FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawing.
According to the CCITT recommendation, and as particularly depicted in FIG. 1, a pseudo-ternary code with 100% pulse width is used on the "S" interface. An example of pseudo-ternary code is shown at 10. A logical 1 corresponds to a neutral level (no current), whereas logical O's are coded as alternating positive and negative pulses.
The frame structures of the signals flowing from network to subscriber, and from subscriber to network are shown in FIG. 2. One S-frame consists of 48 bits at a nominal bit rate of 192 kbps. Thus, each frame carries two octets of data corresponding to a first channel B1, two octets of data corresponding to a second channel B2, and four channel identifying D-bits, according to the B1+B2+D structure defined for the ISDN basic access (total useful data rate: 144 kbps). The start of a frame is marked using a code violation in the form of a framing bit "F" which, because of its shape, is referred to herein as the "S" bit or S-signal.
Signals such as the S-signal are sometimes defined using a template that delineates the allowed tolerance limits of the signal. Valid signals are those that fall within the limits imposed by the template. Although an acceptable S-signal shape may be defined by a "template" including framing limits that bracket the tolerance limits of the S-shaped pulses, most such pulses have heretofore been measured and displayed in terms of "eye" diagrams. This is partly due to the fact that since there is no CCITT-defined method of implementing the waveform; there is no standard way to synchronize to the S-signal for measurement purposes. However, from the Frame Structure diagram shown in FIG. 2, it can be determined that one of the 48 bits, i.e., the "F" bit 12, crossing the "S" interface every 250 microseconds (i.e. 8,000-48 bit frames/sec) has a defined transition, all other bit transitions depending on B-channel, D-channel, balance bits and other bits preceding the transition.
Because the frame balancing begins anew with each frame, the balance bit (L) that immediately follows the "high" frame sync bit (F) must be "low" to balance the DC charge build-up on the line. The voltage waveform at the framing bit, as received at the subscriber-receiver terminal, will therefore have the forms illustrated in FIG. 3. Note that on each side of the framing bit "F" a DC balancing bit "L" is depicted, the polarity of which will change dependent upon the data that appears in the D and B channels. If no data appears within the frames, the states of the balance bits will alternate, as depicted at 14 and 16, in order to maintain DC balance on the line. The alternating "fat top" "thin top" "fat top" . . . characteristic makes it difficult to use a simple oscilloscope-type technique to lock onto and display the condition of the framing bit, hence the prior art use of the "eye" diagram detectors.

Digital signal processing method and apparatus including a graphic template display


A transmission device drives a fuel pump for a turbomachine using a drive shaft of said turbomachine. The transmission includes a planet reduction gearing with three elements: a central planet gear, an outer ring gear and a planet carrier. A first of the three elements connects to the drive shaft and a second of the three elements couples to a shaft of the pump. The three elements can be rotated about a shaft of the reduction gearing. First electrical means rotatably drive the third element to modify a rotational speed ratio between the first and second elements. Second electrical means are coupled to the first or the second element. The first and second electrical means are arranged to transfer electrical power reversibly from one to the other.

Known references to similar devices include patent applications published under the numbers FR-A1-2934 321, EP-A1-1 359 299, US-A1-2016/186670 and EP-A2-2 088 302.
Turbomachines installed on an aircraft are equipped with a fuel supply circuit, delivering fuel to the combustion chamber, which must be adjusted as required according to flight conditions. With reference to FIG. 1, the fuel circuit generally includes a main high-pressure pump 1 of volumetric type that sends fuel to a hydromechanical group 2 before the injection to combustion chamber 3. The assembly is designed to ensure, at the exit to the combustion chamber, a fuel flow rate adapted to the requirement. A control box 4 generally controls the hydromechanical group 2 so that it can adapt the flow rate sent from the pump 1 to the requirement of combustion chamber 3.
In general, the pump 1 is driven by an output shaft of the accessory box 5 of the turbomachine, itself driven by an axis of the primary body of the turbomachine, not shown in FIG. 1. A transmission device 6 is generally installed between the shaft of the accessory relay box 5 and the pump 1 to adapt the rotational speeds between these two sets of equipment. This device determines a ratio K between the speed of the pump 1 and the rotational speed w of the turbomachine drive shaft. This device generally also drives a supplying means 7 of the circuit from the fuel tanks 8.
The linear characteristic Cyl of the pump 1 between the fuel flow rate and its driving speed depends in particular on its displacement. The pump 1 must be dimensioned in such a way that this displacement allows to deliver the required flow rates for all operating speeds of the turbomachine, and therefore the speed of the output shaft of the accessory relay box 5, both at low speed and at high speed.
As shown in FIG. 2, representing the flow rate variations F as a function of the rotational speed ω of the drive shaft of the turbomachine, the fuel requirement F1 varies non-linearly as a function of the turbomachine speed. The rotational speed ω of the drive shaft of the turbomachine varies between a minimum value ωmin, for the ignition of the turbomachine, and a maximum value ωmax for the take-off. The regime corresponding to a cruise flight falls between these two extremes.
According to the application, the crucial point is located either at the low speed ignition or the high speed take-off. In FIG. 2, this crucial point is located at the ignition, the displacement of the pump must be chosen so that its linear characteristic is equal to the value of Cyl1, to ensure enough flow rate during all flight conditions. This value of Cyl1 can be significantly higher than the minimum value of Cylmin required under certain flight conditions, or even the value of Cyl2 required during take-off.
According to this dimensioning, the flow rate provided by the pump therefore follows the line L1 on the flow rate/rotational speed diagram in FIG. 2. During a large phase of driving speed, in particular in cruise flight, the pump thus delivers a flow rate higher than the fuel flow rate requirement, thus an excess F2 of fuel.
The hydromechanical group 2 must therefore return to the pump, through a recirculation loop 9, the excess F2 of fuel in relation to the requirement.
This fuel flow rate adjusting problem is further emphasized when the fuel circuit is used, as shown in FIG. 1, to actuate variable geometries 10 of the turbomachine. The actuation of variable geometries 10 creates variations in fuel requirement in the circuit that must be considered in the dimensioning of the pump 1, in the operation of the hydromechanical group 2 and in the characteristics of the recirculation loop 9.
This architecture of the fuel supply system has several disadvantages. The excess flow rate injected by the pump 1 induces an excess of power collection on the accessory relay box 5 compared to the requirement, which is detrimental to the performance of the turbomachine. The excess mechanical power is transformed into high thermal power dissipated in the recirculation loop 9, which must be evacuated. This has a negative influence on the size and mass of the fuel circuit, in particular for unrepresented heat exchangers placed to dissipate heat in this circuit.
The purpose of the invention is to remedy at least some of these disadvantages.

Device for driving a fuel pump for a turbomachine


An automatic method for processing a color form includes: a) scanning the color form in color space, forming a digital color image, and converting the digital color image into a two-dimensional binary image in chrominance space; and b) conducting a color form dropout process. Also, an automatic color dropout system includes: 1) a color detection system, including means for: (1a) scanning a color document and providing a digital image; (1b) converting the color digital image into luminance-chrominance space; (1c) detecting a background gray level, and assigning it to a Background Value; (1d) measuring color distribution; (1e) detecting the colors present; (1f) generating a color dropout table for each color; and 2) a color dropout system, including means for: (2a) scanning a color form document and providing a digital image; (2b) converting the digital image into luminance-chrominance space; (2c/d) storing and accessing the color dropout table; (2e) applying a color dropout map to the digital image; and (2f) replacing a pixel value with the Background Value.

The invention relates to a system and method of digital image processing; more particularly, to automatic color dropout using luminance-chrominance space for high speed document scanning.
In document image processing there is a need to extract textual information from an image that has color content in the background. Removal of certain color content is useful in specific applications, such as forms processing, where the color content on the form, which is used to facilitate data entry, adds no value to subsequent data processing. Color dropout reduces the image file size, eliminates extraneous information, and simplifies the task of extracting textual information from the image for the reader or processing system.
One application where color dropout is important is in the field of optical character recognition (OCR). The electronic color form dropout is a desired feature in form processing because it eliminates the interference of form structure from the text of interest, which reduces the complication of optical character recognition (OCR) application. In the OCR process, a document is scanned electronically, which converts the data on the form to a digital image. Once the data is captured in electronic form, the information to be read is separated from the background information, such as boxes and text with instructions on how to complete the form. This process results in the elimination of all but the desired information. Once this separation is accomplished, the text fields of the image are extracted and processed by an OCR algorithm.
A scanning system capable of capturing an image in color produces a digital image file with three color components, such as red, green and blue (xe2x80x9cRGBxe2x80x9d). The number of pixels in the color image depends on the resolution of dots per inch resolved by the camera optics and detector. The numerical value at each pixel of a color component represents the amount of the particular primary color detected at that pixel. In cases where all three color components have the same value, the resultant image is said to be a shade of gray. As the intensity of each color component is reduced, the gray appearance turns black.
Business forms are often printed with some background color, for example, a pastel color. One way of eliminating this background color is to use an optical filter in the electronic scanner, matched to the background color to be eliminated. The color filter prevents the scanner detector from discerning information printed in that particular color, therefore, the pastel background appears white to the scanner. The text printed in black or any color other than the filter color is captured by the scanner. This system limits the dropout colors to the particular filter installed on the scanner, which must match the background color on the forms. In other words, this system requires different filters for different color forms and is limited to dropping a single color.
Other available systems and methods that automatically identify the color of the desired data and eliminate background colors do not address certain needs. One such system/method for extracting data from business forms is automatic color dropout using luminance-chrominance space. Typically, the digital image generated is bi-tonal, such as black and white, or two different grayscale values. However, special problems are created by business forms that have been typed on various brands and styles of typewriters. Also, people use different types of pens and inks, such as dark blue ink, to fill in and sign business forms. This can also create problems in character and color recognition. Colors may vary from form to form. Also, achieving high resolution occurs at the expense of document scanning throughput.
Another problem with conventional systems and methods is that they do not address the adverse effects of inherent color noises on the precision and reliability of electronic color dropout. Inherent color noises are frequently induced in a scanning process by chromatic aberration and mis-registration of red, green, and blue (RGB) signals. A business form normally contains a finite number of uniform colors. Analysis of an electronic version of a business form that has been captured by flatbed scanners or rotary-type scanners reveals thousands of extra colors on the edges of image objects, such as lines and characters. These extra colors are called color fringes. Color fringes do not exist in the original business form documents. The occurrence of these false colors results in confusion of color dropout algorithms based on the minimum distance measures adopted in certain conventional methods, as described in commonly owned U.S. Pat. No. 6,035,058, Savakis et al, issued Mar. 7, 2000. For example, the color of an image pixel near an edge to be retained may be identical to the color of interest to be dropped out. These extra colors generated in a scanning process illustrate the difficulty in attempting to achieve perfect color dropout without losing some edge pixels of image objects. The color dropout technique of the present invention minimizes image information loss while eliminating the color of interest. In addition, the present invention supports dropping multiple colors and is even capable of determining the colors to be dropped.
The method of the present invention includes a color dropout technique suitable for high speed document scanning, which minimizes image information loss while completely eliminating the color of interest, even given a wide variety of color business forms. The present invention allows color dropout in two or, if desired, three dimensions. The two dimensional system allows simplification of the hardware required to achieve consistently clear images of data on a variety of business forms. With the present invention, hardware and look-up tables are smaller when compared to other available systems, and system implementation is simpler. In the method of the present invention, a stack of documents is distinguished, colors are selected based on the particular form, colors are detected by original scanning of the form in a color space, and then the image is processed to obtain two-dimensional color maps.
The present invention is an automatic method for processing a color image, comprising the steps of:
a) detecting color in a color form by scanning the color form in color space, preferably in red, green, and blue (RGB) color space, forming a digital color image, and converting the digital color image to a two-dimensional binary image in chrominance space, and, optionally, a three-dimensional binary image in luminance-chrominance space to determine the color or colors to be dropped; and
b) conducting a color form dropout process.
An image processing system for automatic color dropout is also included herein. It includes:
1) a color detection system, comprising:
(1a) a color scanner for scanning a color document and providing a digital image;
(1b) a means for converting the color digital image into luminance-chrominance space;
(1c) a means for detecting a background gray level, and assigning it to a Background Value;
(1d) a means for measuring color distribution;
(1e) a means for detecting the number of colors and their distributions;
(1f) a means for generating a color drop table for each color present; and
2) a color dropout system, comprising:
(2a) a color scanner for scanning a color form document and providing a digital image;
(2b) a means for converting the color digital image into luminance-chrominance space;
(2c) a means for storing the color drop table;
(2d) a means for accessing the color drop table;
(2e) a means for applying a color dropout map to the digital image; and
(2f) a means for replacing a pixel value with the Background Value based on the color drop table.

System and method for image processing by automatic color dropout


A system and method for programming both sides of the non-volatile portion in a semiconductor memory is disclosed. The present invention erases and then programs the memory stacks in the non-volatile portion of an nvSRAM.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is generally directed to memory, and more particularly to programming both sides of the non-volatile section in a non-volatile Static Random Access Memory (nvSRAM) cell.
2. The Relevant Technology
Semiconductor memory devices are widely used in the computer and electronics industries as a means for retaining digital information. A typical semiconductor memory device is comprised of a large number of memory elements, known as memory cells, that are each capable of storing a single digital bit. The memory cells are arranged into a plurality of separately addressable memory locations, each being capable of storing a predetermined number of digital data bits. All of the memory cells in the device are generally located upon a single semiconductor chip which is contacted and packaged for easy insertion into a computer system.
Currently, it is possible to erase the SONOS transistors on both sides of an nvSRAM cell, however, a method of simultaneously programming both the SONOS transistors is not known. Among the many advantages, simultaneously programming both the SONOS transistors in an nvSRAM can significantly reduce the time needed for endurance testing since both SONOS transistors may be endurance tested at the same time.

Method and apparatus to program both sides of a non-volatile static random access memory


An airbag and horn switch module, for use in a vehicle, is provided and includes an inflatable airbag cushion configured to provide restraint to the occupant, an inflator configured to inflate the airbag cushion, and a housing having a base and a plurality of walls extending from the base thereby forming a cavity configured to house the airbag cushion. At least one wall of the housing has at least one tab protruding therefrom. The module also includes a switch assembly including an electronic switch and an actuator, and a cover having a wall with at least one opening configured to receive the tab of the housing to thereby slideably couple the cover to the housing. The cover is configured to slideably couple to the housing prior to installation of the electronic switch by aligning the tab of the housing with the opening in the cover. The cover is configured to slide relative to the housing when the cover is depressed by the occupant, whereby the cover displaces the actuator into engagement with the electronic switch thereby activating the horn assembly of the vehicle.

The present application relates generally to the field of airbag modules configured for use in vehicles, such as motor vehicles, to provide restraint to an occupant of the vehicle. More specifically, the present application relates to an airbag module having an integrated switch assembly and cover, whereby depressing the cover, such as by the driver, activates the switch assembly and activates the horn of the vehicle.

Airbag and horn switch module and method of assembly of the module


A bonded body 10 includes a plate-shaped alumina or aluminum nitride ceramic member 12 and a Mo or Ti terminal 14 having a Ni coating, a Au coating, or a Ni—Au coating (Au on Ni) and joined to a recess 12a in the ceramic member 12 with a joint layer 16 therebetween. The joint layer 16 contains Au, Ge, Ag, Cu, and Ti and is in contact with at least part of the side surfaces (herein the entire side surfaces) and the bottom surface of the recess 12a. Ti is rich in the joint interface between the joint layer 16 and the ceramic member 12. The percentage (porosity) of the sum of the cross-sectional areas of pores to the cross-sectional area of the joint layer 16 in a cross-section taken across the thickness of the bonded body 10 is 0.1% to 15%.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to bonded bodies of a ceramic member and a metal member and methods for manufacturing such bonded bodies.
2. Description of Related Art
Bonded bodies of a ceramic member and a metal member are known, among which is a bonded body of an end of a metal member and a ceramic member joined with a joint (see Patent Literature 1). The joint of the bonded body includes a metallized layer formed on the ceramic member and a brazing layer disposed between the metallized layer and the end of the metal member. This bonded body is manufactured as follows. Specifically, a ring-shaped first brazing material containing Cu—Al—Si—Ti is first placed on a joining surface of a disc-shaped ceramic member made of sintered AlN. The first brazing material is heated at 1,050° C. in a vacuum atmosphere for 5 minutes to form a metallized layer. A ring-shaped second brazing material containing Ag—Cu is then placed on the metallized layer, and an end surface of a cylindrical metal member is placed thereon, with a weight placed on the metal member. It is heated at 800° C. in a vacuum atmosphere for 5 minutes to form a brazing layer. The bonded body thus manufactured has substantially no helium leak and is also not cracked and has substantially no helium leak after thermal cycling.

Bonded body of ceramic member and metal member and method for manufacturing the same


A polyester resin composition is calendered to produce a film or a sheet. The polyester resin composition is a polyester having a crystallization half time from a molten state of at least 5 minutes combined with an additive for preventing sticking of the polyester to calendering rolls.

Calendering is an economic and highly efficient means to produce film and sheet from plastics such as plasticized and rigid poly (vinyl chloride) (PVC) compositions. The films and sheets usually have a thickness ranging from about 2 mils (0.05 mm) to about 45 mils (1.14 mm). They are readily thermoformed into various shapes and are used for a wide variety of packaging applications. Calendered PVC film or sheet can be used in a wide range of applications including pool liners, graphic arts, transaction cards, security cards, veneers, wall coverings, book bindings, folders, floor tiles and products which are printed or decorated or laminated in a secondary operation.
Japan Application No. Heisei 7-197213 (1995) to E. Nishimura et al. and European Patent Application 0 744 439 A1 (1996) to Y. Azuma et al. disclose the state of the art with regard to polypropylene resin compositions used in calendering processes.
In a typical calendering process line, the plastic resin is blended with specific ingredients such as stabilizers to prevent thermal degradation; modifiers for clarity, heat stability or opacity characteristics; pigments; lubricants and processing aids: anti-static agents; UV inhibitors; and flame retardants. The mixed ingredients are plasticized in a kneader or extruder. Through heat, shear and pressure, the dry powders are fused to form a homogeneous, molten material. The extruder feeds the molten material in a continuous process to the top of the calendering section of the calendering line in between first and second heated calender rolls. Typically, four rolls are used to form three nips or gaps. The rolls are configured in an "L" shape or an inverted "L" shape. The rolls vary in size to accommodate different film widths. The rolls have separate temperature and speed controls. The material proceeds through the nip between the first two rolls, referred to as the feed nip. The rolls rotate in opposite directions to help spread the material across the width of the rolls. The material winds between the first and second, second and third, third and fourth rolls, etc. The gap between rolls decreases in thickness between each of the rolls so that the material is thinned between the sets of rolls as it proceeds. After passing through the calender section, the material moves through another series of rolls where it is stretched and gradually cooled forming a film or sheet. The cooled material is then wound into master rolls. General descriptions of calendering processes are disclosed in Jim Butschli, Packaging World, p. 26-28, June 1997 and W. V. Titow, PVC Technology, 4th Edition, pp 803-848 (1984), Elsevier Publishing Co., both incorporated herein by reference.
Although PVC compositions are by far the largest segment of the calendered film and sheet business, small amounts of other thermoplastic polymers such as thermoplastic rubbers, certain polyurethanes, talc-filled polypropylene, acrylonitrilelbutadienelstyrene terpolymers (ABS resins) and chlorinated polyethylene are sometimes processed by calendering methods. Attempts to calender polyester polymers such as poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) or poly(1,4-butylene terephthalate) (PBT) have not been successful. For example, PET polymers with inherent viscosity values of about 0.6 dL/g have insufficient melt strength to perform properly on the calendering rolls. Also when the polyester is fed to the rolls at typical processing temperatures of 160° C. to 180° C., the PET polymer crystallizes causing a non-homogeneous mass which is unsuitable for further processing. The non-homogeneous mass causes undesirable high forces on the calender bearings. The tendency of polyester polymers to hydrolyze during processing in the molten or semi-molten state on rolls open to ambient conditions is also a concern. Typical PET polymers without the inclusion of process lubricants or internal release additives, also have a tendency to stick to the calendering rolls at typical processing temperatures.
Conventional processing of polyesters into film or sheet involves extruding a polyester melt through a manifold of a flat die. Manual or automatic die lip adjustment is used to control thickness across a web of material. Water-cooled chill rolls are used to quench the molten web and impart a smooth surface finish. A typical die extrusion process is shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B. Extrusion processes while producing film and sheet of excellent quality do not have the throughput and economic advantages that are provided by calendering processes.
Thus, there exists a need in the art for an efficient and economic process to manufacture polyester films and sheets as an alternative to extrusion processes. Accordingly, it is to the provision of such that the present invention is primarily directed.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Polyester resin compositions for calendering


A plasma processing apparatus includes a chamber, a substrate support, a radio-frequency power supply, and a controller. The substrate support includes a lower electrode and is disposed in the chamber to mount a focus ring to surround a disposed substrate on the substrate support. The radio-frequency power supply supplies a bias radio-frequency power to the lower electrode. The controller causes specifying a power level of the bias radio-frequency power corresponding to a specified value of the DC potential of the focus ring by using a table or a function that defines a relationship between the power level of the bias radio-frequency power and the DC potential of the focus ring generated by supplying the bias radio-frequency power to the lower electrode, and controlling the radio-frequency power supply to supply the bias radio-frequency power having the specified power level to the lower electrode during a plasma generation in the chamber.

In manufacturing electronic devices, plasma etching is performed on a substrate. The plasma etching is performed by a plasma processing apparatus. The plasma processing apparatus includes a chamber, a support, and a radio-frequency power supply. The support includes a lower electrode and is disposed in the chamber. The radio-frequency power supply is configured to supply a bias radio-frequency power to the lower electrode. The plasma processing apparatus described above is disclosed in, e.g., Patent Documents 1 and 2.
In plasma etching, the energy of ions attracted from plasma to the substrate is adjusted by a power level of the bias radio-frequency power. Therefore, an etching rate is adjusted by the power level of the bias radio-frequency power.

Plasma processing apparatus and method for controlling radio-frequency power supply of plasma processing apparatus


A method for forming a container (7) starting from a web (3) of heat-bondable material wound on a reel (4) comprises the following operations: forming a tubular element (5) of predetermined diameter and height; mounting the tubular element (5) over a support (16); closing one end of the tubular element (5) to form the open container (7); inserting the container (7) into a mould (12) after heating if necessary; forcing the walls of the container (7) against the inner walls of the mould (12); opening the mould and withdrawing the container (7) from the support (16).

1. TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention falls within the technical sector concerning devices and methods for forming containers for liquid, granular and powder materials, for example for drinks, solid or semi-liquid foods, cleaning products and others.
In particular, the invention relates to a machine and method for forming a container starting from a reel of thermally bondable material in web form, such as polyethylene, polypropylene and all plastic materials, including those bonded to each other and/or to paper or aluminium.
2. PRIOR ART
Devices are known which, starting from one or more shaped flat sheets of material of the so-called bonded type, are able to form a flat walled container, for example of parallelepiped or tetrahedron shape, such as those widely used for containing still drinks.
Devices are also known for forming flat walled containers provided with opening tabs, stoppers or spouts for pouring out the container contents.
The main drawback of known devices is the fact that they can form only flat walled containers generally of parallelepiped shape, and hence very similar to each other, so preventing characterisation and differentiation of the contained product, as instead the industry requires.
A further drawback of known devices is the fact that the flat walls easily deform when internal or external pressures are present, so preventing packaging of products which generate even small pressures, for example moderately sparkling drinks, and leading to undesirable escape of the product from the opened container if gripped too strongly.
The main object of the present invention is to propose a machine and method for forming a container starting from a reel of material in web form which are able to give the container different shapes, including curved walls.
Another object is to propose a machine and method for providing the containers with at least a moderate rigidity to resist at least moderate internal and external pressures.
Another object is to propose a machine and method for forming containers from continuous webs of synthetic materials bonded to aluminium or paper, or from continuous webs of single-layer synthetic materials.
A further object of the present invention is to propose a machine which is of simple construction and maintenance, of high reliability and economically advantageous.
The objects of the invention are attained by a method consisting of folding, and bonding together the edges of, a web unwound from a reel to form a tubular element which is cut into parts of equal length which are mounted over a preferably cylindrical support.
The tubular element is then bonded transversely to its axis to form a closed base, or alternatively a separate base is applied to the end of the tubular element, to hence form an open container.
This latter, still mounted over the respective cylindrical support, is inserted into a mould which is closed about the cylindrical support, and here subjected to internal pressure after heating.
The open container hence assumes the shape of the walls of the mould to which it adheres, and after opening the mould and after suitable cooling it is removed from the tubular support.
According to the invention, the heating temperature is between 30xc2x0 C. and 60xc2x0 C., whereas the cooling temperature is between 5xc2x0 C. and 30xc2x0 C.
The open edge of the container mounted over the cylindrical support can be subjected to an operation for forming a flat flange before its insertion into the mould.
The invention also comprises a machine for forming containers starting from a web wound on a reel, comprising a station in which the web is folded into two, bonded along its facing longitudinal edges and cut into tubular elements of equal length.
An endless conveyor supporting a series of identical cylindrical supports arranged to receive said tubular elements conveys them to the various processing stations.
The first of these is a bonding station arranged to close one end of the tubular element to form a container.
The next station is the forming station in which a mould composed of several mutually movable parts is closed about the cylindrical support to create a sealed chamber; suitable means for heating a compressed gas and feeding it into the container inflate the container to force it against the mould walls from which it assumes its shape.
The mould is then opened and the shaped container withdrawn from the respective cylindrical support.

Machine and method for forming a container starting from a reel of material in web form

Societa""per Azioni Curti-Cosruzioni Meccaniche


An operating method of an electronic control device for performing at least one program including a plurality of functions includes: recognizing a function call depth of the plurality of functions; inserting a probe code into an interrupt service routine (ISR) and a maximum depth function with a maximum function call depth; calculating a use amount of a memory area when the maximum depth function with the probe code inserted into the maximum depth function is performed; and when the probe code is executed, outputting the maximum function call depth or the function call depth of the plurality of functions and the use amount when the ISR is performed.

A vehicle for providing convenience of a driver or a passenger includes a plurality of electronic control devices. An eco-friendly vehicle such as a hybrid vehicle, an electric vehicle, and a hydrogen vehicle includes a larger number of electronic control devices than a vehicle operated by an engine using a fossil fuel.
An electronic control device or also known as "ECU" included in a vehicle may include an embedded system with a microprocessor installed therein. The embedded system refers to an application system including hardware and software for performing a specific function and the embedded system may be used in a field such as electric component control, robot control, and process control of a vehicle.
Since a control system for an eco-friendly vehicle is driven using driving force of a motor other than an engine, the system includes various controllers such as a motor controller for controlling a motor, an inverter, and the like, and a hybrid control unit (HCU) for controlling an overall operation of various electrical components of a vehicle, and thus, overall driving performance of a vehicle may be maintained when a real time operating system (RTOS) of each controller is managed without any problem.
When a program is executed in a control system of a vehicle, a memory required to execute a program may be allocated. The memory allocated for a program includes a code area (or a text area), a data area, a heap area, and a stack area. The stack area is a temporary memory area that is automatically used by a program and stores data that is temporarily used and then disappears, such as a local parameter, parameter, and a return value. While a vehicle travels, a control system needs to monitor, control, and manage electronic devices in a vehicle in response to a vehicle driving environment, a user/driver input, manipulation, and so on in real time. For example, a real-time operating system (RTOS) for managing a control system of a vehicle may be used in a STACK area in a memory.
In a procedure in which a plurality of programs or a plurality of functions are executed, in a stack area allocated for each program, each function, and each parameter, a program, a function, and a parameter use all areas allocated thereto and invades an area that is not allocated thereto to store information thereof. This case is referred to as stack overflow. Stack overflow may cause a problem such as program crash and stack overflow in a vehicle control system may adversely affect driving safety.

Method and apparatus for monitoring memory and for displaying use in electronic control device


A merchandise attachment incorporating an RFID transponder may be described herein. The merchandise attachment may include a pliable, elongated panel member adapted for wrapping around the neck of a bottle or similar container. The panel member may be formed from a unitary blank having score lines that divide the blank into a plurality of panel sections. The panel member, when folded along the score lines with its end sections in overlapping relationship, may form a packaging sleeve in the shape of a tapered rectangular prism. The exterior surface of the panel member may be provided with informational material regarding the merchandise, such as branding, promotional offers, and the like. The RFID transponder, affixed to an interior surface of the panel member, may be adapted for wirelessly communicating information in radio-frequency signals.

Radio frequency identification (RFID) tags and labels (also known as "RFID transponders") use electromagnetic fields to exchange digital data, and specifically to associate a particular object with an identification code. RFID transponders generally include an antenna and an integrated circuit having, for example, communications electronics, data memory, and control logic. In particular, RFID transponders are designed to both store pertinent data relating to an object and, when induced, generate a radio frequency signal relating to said data which is in turn propagated by the antenna. A RFID reader (also known as a "RFID interrogator") is a network-connected device used to wirelessly obtain data (e.g., such as the aforementioned identification code) communicated from an RFID transponder, and deliver said data to operating-system software in order to identify, categorize, and/or track objects. Accordingly, RFID technology has become increasingly widespread in supply chain and retail environments, amongst others, to regulate products and inventory.
A RFID transponder is categorized by its mode of communication, as either a passive device, an active device, or a semi-passive device. Passive RFID devices, for example, do not have an internal power source and thus only transmit a signal upon receiving electromagnetic energy from a RFID reader in proximity. Semi-passive and active RFID devices, on the other hand, are provided with an onboard power source, such as a battery. RFID transponders also can be characterized as to those to which information is written only once (although the information may be read repeatedly), and those to which information may be written during use. For example, RFID tags may store environmental data (that may be detected by an associated sensor), logistical histories, state data, etc.
Current RFID tags and labels are constructed from an RFID inlay, which includes an integrated circuit or microchip that is used to carry the coded information and an antenna that is used to transmit and receive radio frequency signals. The RFID inlay is then incorporated into a single tag or label that can be applied to items or item packaging either directly (e.g., through the use of adhesive) or indirectly (e.g., through a fastener, string, plastic tie, etc.).
The sensitivity of an RFID tag can depend on the contents of the container to which it is attached. For example, conductive materials or materials having a high dielectric constant, for example, liquids or metals, can detune or substantially interfere with an RFID tag. Consequently, radio frequency communication is often difficult. What is needed, therefore, is an RFID tag that can be applied to products that have previously been difficult to label with RFID tags due to these performance issues.

Merchandise attachment with RFID transponder

Avery Dennison Retail Information Services LLC


The invention relates to a retaining work (12) in ground (S), the work having a vertical front portion and separating a first portion of ground (S1) from a second portion of ground.

The present invention relates to retaining works made in ground, and in particular to works that are to form the walls of wharves.
More particularly, the invention relates to a retaining work in ground having a front portion extending substantially vertically while separating a first portion of ground from a second portion of ground.
The invention is particularly advantageous when the levels of the first and second portions of ground are substantially different, e.g. when the difference in height between the first and second portions of ground is of the order of 15 meters (m) to 30 m.
This applies when the first portion of ground is situated under a body of water, the front portion of the retaining work then constituting a wharf wall also separating the body of water from the second portion of ground.
Traditionally, the front portion of such a retaining work is a plane wall, and part of the forces exerted by the second portion of ground on the front portion are taken up by elongate metal ties connecting the plane wall to a rear anchor curtain that is parallel to the plane wall and that is situated in the second portion of ground at a distance from the plane wall, thereby stabilizing the work. The rear anchor curtain may be situated at more than 50 m from the plane wall, and the metal ties may be positioned at a depth of about 5 m. Conventionally, work begins by making the plane wall and the anchor curtain in the second portion of ground. Thereafter, the volume of ground that extends over the distance between the plane wall and the rear curtain is dug out to the depth at which the metal ties are to be positioned.
It can thus be understood that the volume of ground that needs to be dug out in order to be able to put the metal ties into place is very large, particularly since the plane wall is of great length. Furthermore, after the metal ties have been put into place, it is necessary to put back the volume of ground that was previously dug out. In general, underground water is present, and its level needs to be lowered while the work is taking place.
Those successive operations of lowering the underground water and of moving earth, which require very large volumes of earth to be moved, are particularly lengthy, tedious, and expensive.

Wharf constituted by arched walls and plane ties

Abstract: The front portion (14) is in the form of juxtaposed arched walls (16), each arched wall (16) presenting a concave side facing the first portion of ground and a convex side facing the second portion of ground, and the retaining work (12) further includes a rear portion (20) comprising a plurality of wall elements (22) having their largest faces extending vertically in the second portion of ground (S2), each wall element (22) being arranged between two adjacent arched walls (16) and extending transversely relative to the front portion (14).


A hydraulic cylinder assembly for use in a variable external pressure envnment is provided. A hydraulic cylinder exposed to the variable external pressure environment has two chambers separated from one another by a piston. Hydraulic fluid fills each of the two chambers. In an "at rest" mode, the hydraulic fluid in the two chambers is pressurized to the variable external pressure. In an "at work" mode, pressure of the hydraulic fluid is selectively varied from the variable external pressure in one of the two chambers such that the piston moves. The entire assembly can be installed between the pressure and outer hulls of a submarine and utilize seawater to equalize the pressure in a balanced power stroke circuit.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to hydraulic cylinder assemblies, and more particularly to a hydraulic cylinder assembly that may be used in variable external pressure environments such as found on a submersible vehicle.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Commercially available hydraulic cylinders generally are designed to accommodate high internal pressure and, thus, are configured with seals designed to withstand such internal pressure. However, if used in an undersea, or other high external pressure environment, the seals tend to fail inwardly. Even if a commercially available hydraulic cylinder were adjusted to accept seawater as the operating fluid, problems related to material corrosion and seal contamination would likely develop. Thus, commercially available hydraulic cylinders are not currently considered for variable depth, deep sea applications. In deep sea applications, high cost, specially designed hydraulic cylinders are the only cylinders available.

Hydraulic cylinder assembly for use in variable external pressure environments

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


An improved electrical filter connector comprises a capacitor sub-assembly including an insulative substrate, a plurality of capacitors soldered thereto and a ground spring. The ground spring is soldered to the ground terminations of the capacitors, the ground spring having a resilient portion for electrical engagement with conductive ground traces on a system circuit board. First terminations of the capacitors are electrically individually connected to respective contacts of the electrical connector. Second capacitor terminations are electrically connected to the ground strip. The capacitors are preferably of the discrete, monolithic chip type, having a dielectric body spaced between the electrical terminations thereof. A quantity of curable dielectric material is disposed on the dielectric bodies between each of the capacitor terminations to provide an enhanced dielectric medium to increase the capability of the connectors to withstand higher voltages during power surges.

Electrical filter connectors for filtering electronic equipment from electromagnetic interference (EMI) and radio frequency interference (RFI) are well known in the electrical connector art. Such electrical filter connectors may utilize monolithic chip capacitors as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,500,159 (Hogan et al.), thick film capacitors as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,791,391 (Linell et al.) or ferrite materials as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,761,147 (Gauthier), to identify several known examples.
While there are many applications for electrical filter connectors, increasing need has developed for use of such filter connectors in telecommunications and data-processing systems. In such systems, in addition to protecting the electronic equipment against EMI and RFI interference, there is also need to protect the equipment against electrical power surges that result from electro-static discharges caused, for example, by a lightning strike. While various of the known filtering devices as identified hereinabove, have been used to provide such filtering capability, size and cost are placing further demands upon the design of such electrical filter connectors. For example, enhanced filtering effectiveness can be achieved by smaller size devices due to a short conduction path from the capacitors to the ground plane on system circuit boards. Such size demands for reduced electronic devices, including connectors, presents a difficult problem in providing a filtering device capable especially of meeting the higher voltages experienced in power surge conditions without breakdown of the filtering device. One known technique of increasing the dielectric strength of the filtered connector is to cover the capacitors with dielectric oil. Such a technique disadvantageously requires some physical constraint for containing the oil and in some instances, depending upon the type of oil used, is hazardous. Accordingly, there is present need for an electrical filter connector that includes filtering devices enabling the connector to be constructed in the desired size and to meet the higher voltage demands occasioned by power surges as well as to be cost effective in its construction for manufacture.