A collapsible basket assembly includes a basket having a front wall, a rear wall, two opposite side walls interconnecting the front and rear walls, and a bottom wall. The side walls have top edges, and bottom edges connected releaseably and pivotally to the bottom wall. Each of the top edges of the side walls has two loops formed on opposite ends thereof. The front and rear walls have top edges, and bottom edges connected pivotally to the bottom wall. Each of the top edges of the front and rear walls has two protrusions extending in opposite directions from opposite ends thereof. Each of the protrusions extends through one of the loops on a respective one of the top edges of the side walls. Two locking members are connected removably to the protrusions to prevent disengagement between the protrusions and the loops.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a basket assembly, more particularly to a collapsible basket assembly for receiving tennis balls.
2. Description of the Related Art
Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a conventional basket assembly 10 is shown to comprise a basket 11 and a pair of U-shaped members 12. The basket 11 has grating walls that are formed of metal rods 111 and that are welded to one another to define a space for receiving tennis balls. Two horizontal pivot tubes 113 are fixed to front and rear walls of the basket 11. Each of the U-shaped members 12 is made of metal and has two arm portions with bent distal ends 121. The bent distal ends 121 are inserted into opposite ends of the pivot tubes 113 in order to connect pivotally the basket 11 and the U-shaped members 12. In use, each of the U-shaped members 12 is rotated downwardly to permit the arm portions thereof to be kept between two metal rods 111 and engage frictionally the same in order to support the basket 11, as best illustrated in FIG. 1. Alternatively, each of the U-shaped members 12 is rotated upwardly to serve as a handle, as best illustrated in FIG. 2. However, since the grating walls of the basket 11 are welded to one another, the volume of the basket 11 is fixed. The basket 11 is bulky and is difficult to store and transport. In addition, the arm portions of the U-shaped members 12 are liable to disengage from and move away from the opposite sides of the basket 11.


In general, in one aspect, the invention features a method for driving a droplet ejection device having an actuator, including applying a multipulse waveform that includes two or more drive pulses to the actuator to cause the droplet ejection device to eject a single droplet of a fluid, wherein a frequency of the drive pulses is greater than a natural frequency, fj, of the droplet ejection device.

Droplet ejection devices are used for a variety of purposes, most commonly for printing images on various media. They are often referred to as ink jets or ink jet printers. Drop-on-demand droplet ejection devices are used in many applications because of their flexibility and economy. Drop-on-demand devices eject a single droplet in response to a specific signal, usually an electrical waveform, or waveform.
Droplet ejection devices typically include a fluid path from a fluid supply to a nozzle path. The nozzle path terminates in a nozzle opening from which drops are ejected. Droplet ejection is controlled by pressurizing fluid in the fluid path with an actuator, which may be, for example, a piezoelectric deflector, a thermal bubble jet generator, or an electrostatically deflected element. A typical printhead has an array of fluid paths with corresponding nozzle openings and associated actuators, and droplet ejection from each nozzle opening can be independently controlled. In a drop-on-demand printhead, each actuator is fired to selectively eject a droplet at a specific target pixel location as the printhead and a substrate are moved relative to one another. In high performance printheads, the nozzle openings typically have a diameter of 50 micron or less, e.g., around 25 microns, are separated at a pitch of 100-300 nozzles/inch, have a resolution of 100 to 300 dpi or more, and provide droplet sizes of about 1 to 100 picoliters (pl) or less. Droplet ejection frequency is typically 10-100 kHz or more but may be lower for some applications.
Hoisington et al. U.S. Pat. No. 5,265,315, the entire contents of which is hereby incorporated by reference, describes a printhead that has a semiconductor printhead body and a piezoelectric actuator. The printhead body is made of silicon, which is etched to define fluid chambers. Nozzle openings are defined by a separate nozzle plate, which is attached to the silicon body. The piezoelectric actuator has a layer of piezoelectric material, which changes geometry, or bends, in response to an applied voltage. The bending of the piezoelectric layer pressurizes ink in a pumping chamber located along the ink path. Deposition accuracy is influenced by a number of factors, including the size and velocity uniformity of drops ejected by the nozzles in the head and among multiple heads in a device. The droplet size and droplet velocity uniformity are in turn influenced by factors such as the dimensional uniformity of the ink paths, acoustic interference effects, contamination in the ink flow paths, and the actuation uniformity of the actuators.
Because drop-on-demand ejectors are often operated with either a moving target or a moving ejector, variations in droplet velocity lead to variations in position of drops on the media. These variations can degrade image quality in imaging applications and can degrade system performance in other applications. Variations in droplet volume lead to variations in spot size in images, or degradation in performance in other applications. For these reasons, it is usually preferable for droplet velocity, droplet volume and droplet formation characteristics to be as constant as possible throughout the operating range of an ejector.
Droplet ejector producers apply various techniques to improve frequency response, however, the physical requirements of firing drops in drop-on-demand ejectors may limit the extent to which frequency response can be improved. "Frequency response" refers to the characteristic behavior of the ejector determined by inherent physical properties that determine ejector performance over a range of droplet ejection frequencies. Typically, droplet velocity, droplet mass and droplet volume vary as a function of frequency of operation; often, droplet formation is also affected. Typical approaches to frequency response improvement may include reducing the length of the flow passages in the ejectors to increase the resonant frequency, increase in fluidic resistance of the flow passages to increase damping, and impedance tuning of internal elements such as nozzles and restrictors.

High frequency droplet ejection device and method


An antifuse is disclosed which has an electrically-insulating region sandwiched between two electrodes. The electrically-insulating region has a single layer of a non-hydrogenated silicon-rich (i.e. non-stoichiometric) silicon nitride SiNX with a nitrogen content X which is generally in the range of 0<X≦1.2, and preferably 0.5≦X≦1.2. The breakdown voltage VBD for the antifuse can be defined to be as small as a few volts for CMOS applications by controlling the composition and thickness of the SiNX layer. The SiNX layer thickness can also be made sufficiently large so that Poole-Frenkel emission will be the primary electrical conduction mechanism in the antifuse. Different types of electrodes are disclosed including electrodes formed of titanium silicide, aluminum and silicon. Arrays of antifuses can also be formed.

Typical antifuse devices used in complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) technology utilize one or more layers of electrically insulating materials including undoped silicon (Si), stoichiometric silicon nitride (Si3N4 also referred to as SiN1.33) and silicon dioxide (SiO2). To maintain compatibility with standard CMOS circuitry, the write voltage used to program an antifuse by breaking down the insulating material therein should be less than 10 Volts, and preferably less than 5 Volts. Since the breakdown electric field EBD for stoichiometric silicon nitride can exceed 10 MV-cm−1, an overall layer thickness for the stoichiometric silicon nitride needs to be less than 10 nanometers (nm). At this layer thickness, electrical conduction in the stoichiometric silicon nitride is dominated by Fowler-Nordheim tunneling rather than by Poole-Frenkel emission. As a result, the onset of electrical breakdown in the thin stoichiometric silicon nitride insulating layer is not due to a well-defined threshold field phenomenon so that a breakdown electric field distribution becomes broadened. One effect of this is that a random occurrence of low-field electrical breakdown events is manifested with breakdown voltage values which can sometimes occur below a specified write voltage for the antifuse. This has obvious detrimental ramifications on circuit reliability.
The present invention overcomes the prior art by providing an antifuse in which the thickness of an electrically-insulating layer can be made sufficiently large for Poole-Frenkel emission to be the dominant mechanism for electrical conduction, while at the same time providing a breakdown electric field EBD which can be adjusted independently of the thickness of the electrically-insulating layer. According to the present invention, this can be done by providing in the electrically-insulating layer a single non-hydrogenated silicon-rich silicon nitride layer whose composition SiNX can be selected to provide a breakdown voltage of generally ≦10 Volts, and preferably ≦5 Volts. The non-hydrogenated silicon-rich silicon nitride layer used according to the present invention is a non-stoichiometric composition of silicon nitride which is essentially-hydrogen-free and which has a nitrogen content X which is generally in the range of 0<X≦1.2, and preferably in the range of 0.5≦X≦1.2.
These and other advantages of the present invention will become evident to those skilled in the art.

Antifuse with a single silicon-rich silicon nitride insulating layer


In a configuration provided with routers 118-126and gateway device 130 connected above edge routers 102-116 provided in respective base stations in a hierarchical structure and configured to perform relaying of data to the base stations, a router 126 is specified as a relay router, which is a COR closer to a radio terminal unit out of CORs where all paths from an edge router 104 before movement of the radio terminal unit 100 and from each of all edge routers 102, 106 as destination candidates to CN 132 of a communication correspondent intersect. This makes it feasible to readily decrease the handover transaction time.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram for explaining the general handover operation in the conventional mobile communication systems.
This mobile communication system shown in FIG. 4 is comprised of a plurality of base stations 16, 18, 20, 22 for radio communication with radio terminal units 12, 14 such as cellular phones, a plurality of routers 24, 26 connected above each of the base stations 16-22, a gateway device 28 connected above each of the routers 24, 26, and a CN (Correspondent Node) 30 which is a communication terminal unit of a correspondent party connected through a communication network to the gateway device 28.
In this configuration, where there is an overlap zone, i.e., where radio zones overlap each other as in the case of a radio zone 32 formed by radio waves of the base station 16 and a radio zone 34 of the base station 18, the radio terminal unit 12 presently under communication with the base station 16 evaluates the condition of radio waves from the destination base station 18 and initiates a handover transaction.
First, the radio terminal unit 12 transmits a movement notification message, as indicated by an arrow Y1, through the destination base station 18, router 24, and gateway device 28 to the CN 30 of the communication correspondent. In response thereto the CN 30 transmits an acknowledgment as indicated by an arrow Y2 and the radio terminal unit receives the acknowledgment and thereafter receives data packets transmitted from the CN 30.
On the other hand, where there is no overlap zone, as in the case of a radio zone 36 of the base station 20 and a radio zone 38 of the base station 22, the radio terminal unit 14 first detects fade away of a radio link with the base station 20 where it is presently registered, and thereafter initiates a handover transaction.
First, the radio terminal unit 14 transmits a movement notification message, as indicated by an arrow Y3, through the destination base station 22, router 26, and gateway device 28 to the CN 30 of the communication correspondent. In response thereto the CN 30 transmits an acknowledgment as indicated by an arrow Y4, and the radio terminal unit receives the acknowledgment and then receives data packets transmitted from the CN 30 of the communication correspondent.
In the case where there exists an overlap zone as described above, if the handover transaction takes a long time and results in failure in handover within the overlap zone, there will occur a short break of communication because of failure in update of the path to the destination. In the case where there is no overlap zone, if the handover transaction takes a long time after the movement to the new base station 22, there will occur a short break of communication as long as the time taken. In either case, a significant element for improvement in performance is to keep the time for the handover transaction as short as possible. The time period of the handover transaction is largely dependent upon the time for detection of the new base station and the time for the update of the path to the communication correspondent.
Therefore, IETF presents the following technique of reducing the time period of the handover transaction, as shown in FIG. 5: relay routers 24a, 26a are introduced into the domain and movement under command of the relay routers 24a, 26a is supported by change of location registration in the relay routers 24a, 26a.
The operation in this case will be described. First, as indicated by an arrow Y10, suppose the radio terminal unit 12 has moved from the edge router 16a to the edge router 18a. In this case, since the previous and new edge routers 16a, 18a both are connected to the relay router 24a, the movement is one under command of the relay router 24a and thus the radio terminal unit 12 transmits a location update request to the relay router 24a as indicated by an arrow Y11.
In response thereto, the relay router 24a performs path rerouting. Namely, the relay router 24a performs path rerouting from a path 42 of connection between the relay router 24a and the edge router 16a to a path 44 of connection between the relay router 24a and the edge router 18a. At this time, no change is made in a path 46 of connection between the CN 30 and the relay router 24a.
Next, suppose the radio terminal unit 12 has moved from the edge router 18a to the edge router 20a as indicated by an arrow Y12. In this case, since there is the difference between the relay routers connected to the previous edge router 18a and to the new edge router 20a, i.e., between 24a and 26a, the radio terminal unit 12 notifies the CN 30 of the communication correspondent of the change of the relay router to 26a, as indicated by an arrow Y13.
In response thereto, the path from the CN 30 through the gateway device 28 to the relay router is rerouted from the path 46 of connection between the CN 30 and the relay router 24a to a path 48 of connection between the CN 30 and the relay router 26a, and a path from the relay router 26a to the radio terminal unit 12 has to be a path 50 of connection from the relay router 26a through the edge router 20a to the radio terminal unit 12. Namely, all the paths from the CN 30 to the radio terminal unit 12 need to be rerouted.
In the case of the conventional method, as described above, only when the radio terminal unit moves between the edge routers 16a, 18a under the same relay router 24a, there is no need for notification of update of location registration to the CN 30 of the communication correspondent and the time necessary for the handover transaction can be reduced thereby.

Handover control apparatus, radio terminal device, edge router, router, mobile communication system, and handover control method


An anode structure of an organic light emitting diode display device, includes an insulating interlayer disposed on a silicon substrate, a first metal layer pattern disposed on the insulating interlayer comprising a first metal to be configured to upwardly reflect light, a second metal layer pattern formed on the first metal layer pattern comprising a second metal having a work function of 4.0 eV or more, and a diffusion barrier layer pattern interposed between the first metal layer pattern and the second metal layer pattern for preventing elements of the first metal or the second metal from diffusing between the first metal layer and the second metal layer.

Flat panel display devices such as plasma display panels (PDP), liquid crystal display (LCD) devices, and organic light emitting diode (OLED) display devices have been widely studied and utilized.
OLED display devices are spontaneous light emitting devices. OLED display devices may therefore be downsized and lightened relative to LCD devices because an OLED display device may not require a backlight unit which has been normally implemented into LCD devices.
Further, OLED display devices have a better viewing angle and contrast ratio than LCD devices using liquid crystals. Furthermore, OLED display devices may have advantages in terms of power consumption, and may be driven by a relatively low DC voltage and with a quick response speed. OLED display devices may be resistant to external impact and may have a wide driving temperature range. In particular, since the manufacturing process is simple, there is an advantage that the production costs may be saved more than through the use of conventional LCD devices.
Organic light emitting diode display devices may include a signal control unit for controlling a signal for each pixel, an organic light emitting unit for generating light for each pixel using an organic material according to the signal, and an anode cell array unit being interposed between the signal control unit and the organic light emitting unit to define each of cells by isolating each pixel. The anode cell array unit may include an anode structure.
Anode cell array units may include an insulating interlayer formed on the signal control unit, and an anode structure configured to receive the control signal from the signal control unit.
It is often desirable for the anode structure to effectively reflect light emitted from the organic light emitting unit and to have excellent electrical characteristics in relation to anode current, hole-electron recombination, and the like.

Anode structure for an organic light emitting diode display device


Users can model changes to entities in large scale sets of data for various portfolio holdings in different respective sandbox caches. A method includes loading sets of data in a database and organizing the loaded data in entity caches according to an entity model, each entity cache corresponding to one or more entities associated with respective portfolio holdings. Further steps include creating an initial report of information drawn from the loaded data for manipulation by a user through a user-interface, storing information in the initial report in a respective sandbox cache having data organized according to the entity model, and enabling the user to manipulate the respective sandbox cache to change values in the data organized according to the entity model in the respective sandbox cache without changing values of data in other sandbox caches or in the database.

1. Field of the Invention
The technology described herein relates to processing information from a database, and more particularly relates to using such information to perform modeling.
2. Background Art
It is a common need among analysts, whether financial or technological, to create models based on data that may reside in a database. A financial analyst, for example, may rely on a database that contains information corresponding to one or more portfolios, each of which has some number of holdings. Each holding in turn may have some name, a related price per share, and an indication of the number of shares held. The analyst may then desire to take this information, and create one or more hypothetical portfolios. The analyst can then analyze the information, and manipulate it to vary holdings, amounts held, or prices. The analyst may then be able to project future performance, for example, or otherwise track changes to the model, based on particular performance parameters.
It may be undesirable, however, to make reflect such changes in the underlying database. The data therein may be needed by other analysts, or may otherwise be needed for future reference. Moreover, the information in the database may represent historical data that needs to be preserved. In addition, it would be undesirable to allow the manipulations performed on a given model to impact other models that may have been created by other analysts using the same database. Yet, it may also be desirable to share a given model with other analysts.
There are no available solutions that can deal with these problems, in a practical way. A simple spreadsheet may be used, for example. But if the amount of data is significant, scalability issues arise in light of the amount of memory and processing capability that would be needed. A given index fund, for example, may have thousands of records. This is compounded by the fact that there may be a need to model tens of thousands of portfolios.
While such a solution could be implemented using memory media, such as random access memory, it should also be kept in mind that most of the values that would be imported from a database will likely remain unchanged throughout the modeling process. This would represent a significant waste of memory for information that is never manipulated. Given the large amount of memory that may be required, and the possible need for multiple competing platforms on which to perform the modeling, such a solution is not realistic.
What is needed, therefore, is a solution that is scalable, not memory intensive, and does not impact the underlying database or modeling performed by other analysts.
Further embodiments, features, and advantages of the present invention, as well as the operation of the various embodiments of the present invention, are described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

System, method, and computer program product for modeling changes to large scale datasets


A planarization method of manufacturing a semiconductor component is provided. A dielectric layer is formed above a substrate and defines a trench therein. A barrier layer and a metal layer are formed in sequence in the trench. A first planarization process is applied to the metal layer by using a first reactant so that a portion of the metal layer is removed. An etching rate of the first reactant to the metal layer is greater than that of the first reactant to the barrier layer. A second planarization process is applied to the barrier layer and the metal layer by using a second reactant so that a portion of the barrier layer and the metal layer are removed to expose the dielectric layer. An etching rate of the second reactant to the barrier layer is greater than that of the second reactant to the metal layer.

With the development of semiconductor industry, sizes of semiconductor components have been in nanometers. Thus, a gate dielectric layer of a metal oxide semiconductor (MOS) transistor becomes thinner and thinner with the decrease of a size of a channel. However, if a thickness of the gate dielectric layer is too thin, a current leakage will generated badly, thereby affecting the performance of the MOS transistor and increasing power energy consumption. Therefore, currently, a gate structure including an insulating layer with high dielectric constant (high-K) has been widely used. Such gate structure can reduce a current leakage, thereby improving the performance of the MOS transistor. Additionally, the insulating layer with high dielectric constant is generally cooperated with a metal gate so as to reduce a resistance of the gate structure. In order to improve the thermal stability of the gate structure and to prevent a reaction of the metal gate and the insulating layer with high dielectric constant, a barrier layer is generally disposed between the metal gate and the insulating layer with high dielectric constant. For example, the barrier layer can be made of titanium nitride (TiN). However, during manufacturing the gate structure with the barrier layer, the non-planarity of a surface of the gate structure will occur, thereby affecting the quality of the MOS transistor.
Therefore, what is needed is to a planarization method applied in a process of manufacturing a semiconductor component to overcome the above disadvantages.

Planarization method applied in process of manufacturing semiconductor component


Method for operating a storage device with a tape and a head wherein the head comprises a first and a second read element. Each read element is operable to detect servo-pattern of a particular servo band. The first and the second read element are arranged such that the tape at first passes one of both read elements and subsequently passes the other of both read elements when the tape moves in a predetermined longitudinal direction. A tape transport direction of the tape along the longitudinal direction is determined. The first read element is selected dependent on the determined tape transport direction, when the determined tape transport direction represents a direction where the tape at first passes the first read element and subsequently the second read element. Otherwise the second read element is selected. A position error signal is determined dependent on the selected read element.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,690,531 B2 discloses a data recording tape passing along guides and past a read/write head. Sensors detect the position of the tape and adjust the guides and the head as a function of the position. If the tape deviates from the target tape path, a controller moves a guide to steer the tape back to the target tape path, using the sensor signals.
US 2008/0117543 A1 describes that data bands are becoming increasingly smaller and closer together in order to increase the data band density and thereby increase data capacity of a given tape. Hence, it has become desirable to place the longitudinal defined servo bands at various locations across the full width of the tape, separated by groups of data bands. This allows the servo bands to be close to the data bands and limits offsets due to tape stretch, etc. This also allows a greater number of bands to be employed due to the greater precision of the relationship between the servo bands and the data bands. In this context, a tape drive is described including a head with a first and a second servo read element configured to detect transition stripes of a servo pattern on tape media. The first servo read element is configured to detect at least two transition stripes of an even servo band on the tape media at a first time. The second servo read element is configured to detect at least two transition stripes of an odd servo band on the tape media at a second time, wherein the second time is a time delay after the first time corresponding to a distance. A timing of at least two transition stripes of the even and of the odd servo band on the tape media is detected. The head is positioned laterally with respect to the tape media in response to the timing of the at least two transition stripes of the even and the odd servo band on the tape media.

Method and apparatus for operating a storage device

International Business Machines Corporation


Various embodiments are disclosed that relate to detecting mobile operator networks. For example, one disclosed embodiment provides a method of operating a catalog server to which a mobile computing device connects via a computer network path that traverses a mobile operator network. The method may include receiving data from a mobile device, the data including a locale and a mobile operator identifier stored in memory on the mobile device; searching a database to find a store based on the mobile operator identifier and the locale; if a store is found, populating settings based on the store; and sending configuration information to the mobile device based on the settings.

Digital assets and content, e.g., applications, music, videos, games, etc., may be offered to users of computing devices such as cell phones, PDAs (personal digital assistants), mobile devices, personal computers, etc., by third-party publishers. Mobile operators, which operate the access networks to which mobile computing devices wirelessly connect to enable them to communicate with the Internet, may also in some instances desire to make content available to their user base as third-party publishers. Additionally, manufacturers of operating systems running on the computing devices may provide access to general content for users of the devices, and may operate an online marketplace from which content from the operating system manufacture itself, as well as from the third party publishers, may be downloaded by users.
One drawback of these online marketplaces, however, is that when a vast array of content is made available, it can sometimes be difficult for a user to locate relevant content from a particular third-party publisher of relevance to the user, such as from the user's mobile operator. Due to this difficulty, the user may be unaware of content offers to which the user is entitled. Further, the mobile operators cannot effectively utilize the application catalog to present valuable content to their users.
Detecting mobile operator networks is useful in activating features such as mobile operator billing, and in enabling a mobile operator to offer exclusive content to its users. However, without having in-depth knowledge of specific, encrypted keys, it may be difficult to determine what mobile network a specific mobile device is using to access the Internet, particularly given the many different mobile network providers.


A circuit board includes layers, a pair of vias filled with a conductive material and extending through the layers, first and second pairs of conductive signal paths, and holes extending at least partially through the layers and located between the pair of vias. The first pair of conductive paths is connected to the pair of vias within a first layer; the second pair of conductive paths is connected to the pair of vias within a second layer. The pair of vias has a pair of via stubs defined between the second layer and a bottom layer. A differential signal is to be transmitted between the first and second pairs of conductive signal paths via the pair of vias. The holes have a lower dielectric constant than the layers to increase a resonant frequency of the pair of via stubs beyond the frequency of the differential signal.

Complex circuit boards can have a number of different layers. Typically the layers include signal layers and power/ground layers, where each power/ground layer is a power layer or a ground layer. The signal layers are generally interleaved with the power/ground layers, so that no two signal layers are immediately adjacent to one another, and so that no two power/ground layers are immediately adjacent to one another. To interconnect two signal layers, vias extending through the layers and filled with a conductive material can be employed. Each such signal layer is electrically connected to the vias so that the two signal layers become electrically interconnected to one another.

Method for manufacturing circuit board having holes to increase resonant frequency of via stubs

Lenovo Enterprise Solutions (Singapore) PTE. LTD.


A steering assembly including an electric motor, and a motor shaft coupled to and extending from the electric motor to an end. The motor shaft is rotatable about a motor shaft axis by the motor. The steering assembly further includes a friction pad at the end of the motor shaft, where the friction pad has a coefficient of friction configured to resist rotation of the motor shaft.

As technology advances in the vehicle industries, direct mechanical linkages between the steering wheel and tires are being replaced with steer-by-wire (SbW) assemblies. SbW assemblies may include a hand-wheel actuator (HWA) and road-wheel actuator (RWA) which cooperate with one another, through electrical communications (e.g., wires, sensors, and a central processing unit), to control steering of the automobile. More specifically, sensed movement of and between a hand-wheel and/or tires is translated through electrical communication between the HWA and the RWA. In turn, the respective HWA and RWA cause or restrict steering movement of the respective hand-wheel and/or tires. Some HWAs and RWAs may include a worm/worm gear reduction assembly which cause or restrict movement of the respective hand-wheel and/or tires. In certain instances, the worm/worm gear reduction assembly may include a cantilevered worm.
Low coefficient of friction bushings or bearings are primarily designed for use in prior art electronic power steering (EPS) systems, where an assist torque is applied. In EPS systems, a low friction bushing or bearing is advantageous as it increases the efficiency in the EPS system. The low friction bushings or bearings, however, are not advantageous in SbW systems where a resistive torque is typically used. SbW system employing such low friction bushing require a larger motor to apply a resistive torque and resist rotation of a hand-wheel and/or tires. Currently, these SbW systems require increased power and packaging space in a vehicle. The present disclosure relates to a SbW system that utilizes less power and packaging space in a vehicle.

Cantilevered worm gear assembly with brake bushing

Steering Solutions IP Holding Corporation


A process for the preparation of linear alkyl pentenoates by reacting butadiene, carbon monoxide and an alkyl alcohol in an organic solvent with a homogeneous catalytic mixture containing five components namely, palladium, chloride, a strong acid, an aryl monodentate phosphine, and a N-heterocyclic base.

Many processes have been disclosed in which transition metal catalysts are used to carbonylate olefins. In particular, palladium-catalyzed carboalkoxylation reactions have been studied for many years as a means of converting butadiene to adipic acid precursors. Catalyst systems for such processes which comprise palladium and monodentate or multidentate Group V ligands are disclosed in: German Offenlegungsschrift No. 2410246; EP 55,875; EP 273,489; EP 284,170; and U.S. Pat. No. 3,887,595. Catalyst systems which comprise palladium, a Group V ligand, and an acid promoter are disclosed in: U.S. Pat. No. 3,437,676; U.S. Pat. No. 3,501,518; U.S. Pat. No. 4,414,409; U.S. Pat. No. 4,786,443; G.B. 1,110,405; EP 43,382; EP 106,379; EP 198,521; EP 227,160; EP 235,864; EP 271,145; and EP 279,477.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,172,087 discloses a palladium catalyst system consisting of: (a) one or more palladium halide salts in combination with one or more monodentate tertiary phosphorus containing donor ligands, or one or more palladium halide free salts in combination with one or more multidentate, tertiary phosphorus containing donor ligands; (b) at least one molar equivalent of a hydroxyl group containing co-reactant; and (c) a nitrogen-containing base. The preferred starting material is 1,3-butadiene. Pyridine, alkylated pyridines, quinoline, lutidine, picoline, isoquinoline, alkylated quinolines and isoquinolines, acridine, N,N-dimethylaniline, N,N-diethylaniline, N,N-diethyltoluidine, N,N-dibutyltoluidine, N,N-dimethylformamide and N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone can be used as the nitrogen-containing base.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,437,676 discloses a carbonylation process in which an olefinically unsaturated compound is reacted with carbon monoxide and an alcohol to produce a carboxylic acid ester, the reaction being carried out under the influence of a complex palladium salt as a catalyst in an amount of 0.01 to 1% by weight with reference to the olefinically unsaturated compound. Triphenylphosphinepyridine palladium dichloride is a suitable catalyst (Col. 4, lines 3-4). The reaction may be carried out in the presence of an organic or inorganic acid, including sulfuric acid, phosphoric acid, boric acid, acetic acid, propionic acid, other carboxylic acids, or halogen hydracids in amounts up to 10% by weight with reference to the whole of the initial materials (Col. 4, line 63-Col. 5, line 1).
The reactions disclosed in the prior art for the carboalkoxylation of butadiene often proceed at moderate temperatures and pressures, and thus provide attractive routes to dimethyl adipate, a precursor to adipic acid. However, the selectivity to the desired linear products (dialkyl adipates) achieved by these reactions is usually less than 75%, and hence there is a need to develop more selective processes for the carboalkoxylation of butadiene.
It has now been found that a catalyst comprising palladium, chloride, a strong acid, an aryl phosphine, and a N-heterocyclic base can be used in the carboalkoxylation of butadiene to give higher butadiene conversion and greater selectivity to the desired pentenoate esters.

Palladium catalyzed carboalkoxylation of butadiene


A method of operating a plasma processing device includes outputting a first RF power having a first frequency and a first duty ratio, and outputting a second RF power having a second frequency higher than the first frequency and a second duty ratio smaller than the first duty ratio. The outputting of the first RF power and the outputting of the second RF power are synchronized with each other.

Example embodiments of inventive concepts relate to a method of generating plasma, and more particularly to a plasma processing method which may stably generate plasma, and devices using the method.
The plasma may be divided into capacitively coupled plasma (CCP) and inductively coupled plasma (ICP). The CCP means plasma generated by supplying a radio frequency (RF) power used as an energy source to between parallel electrodes facing each other, and the ICP means plasma generated by supplying the RF power to a coil disposed outside a plasma chamber.

Method of plasma processing and apparatuses using the method


Charge-transfer materials are demonstrated to be useful for generating femtosecond holographic gratings. Using semiconducting polymers sensitized with varying concentrations of C60, absorption holographic gratings with diffraction efficiencies of 1.6% were recorded with individual ultrafast laser pulses; the diffraction efficiency and time decay of the gratings were measured using nondegenerate four-wave mixing. High quantum efficiency for electron transfer reduces the effects of early recombination which otherwise limits the density of excitations in pure polymers, and the metastability of the charge transfer enables tuning of the decay dynamics by controlling the concentration of acceptors in the mixture.

The present invention relates generally to the application of charge-transfer materials to nonlinear optics and, more particularly, to femtosecond nondegenerate four-wave mixing in donor-acceptor material blends for generating ultrafast holographic effects. This invention was made with government support under Contract No. W-7405-ENG-36 awarded by the U.S. Department of Energy to The Regents of the University of California and under Contract No. F49620-95-0395 awarded by the Air Force Office of Scientific Research to The Regents of the University of California. The government has certain rights in the invention.
Holographic gratings are a principal component of dynamical optical systems based on nonlinear optical materials, and are useful in a variety of optical applications, including interconnection networks, optical memories, and optical computing. Inorganic photorefractive crystals have been the most widely studied materials for such applications. For descriptions of applications of holographic nonlinear optical materials, see, e.g., E. S. Maniloff and K. M. Johnson, xe2x80x9cMaximized Photorefractive Holographic Storagexe2x80x9d, J. Appl. Phys. 70, 4702 (1991). Recently, however, organic holographic materials such as photorefractive polymers, photochromic molecules, and semiconducting polymers, have received considerable attention. See, e.g., W. E. Moerner and S. M. Silence, xe2x80x9cPolymeric Photorefractive Materials,xe2x80x9d Chem. Revs. 94, 127 (1994), for a discussion concerning slow photorefractive polymeric materials. One of the major problems constraining the practical use of holographic materials has been the trade-off between speed and diffraction efficiency inherent in many classes of materials. The class of materials with the highest diffraction efficiencies has been photorefractives; however, the response time of these materials has been limited by diffusion (or drift) rates. Third-order ("khgr"(3)) nonlinear optical materials can have essentially instantaneous response times, but have low diffraction efficiencies.
The optical properties of semiconducting polymers are significantly changed with the addition of buckminsterfullerene, C60. After photoexcitation across the xcfx80-xcfx80* gap, an electron transfers from the polymer (as donor) to the C60 (as acceptor). The charge-transfer process is ultrafast, occurring within 300 fs, with a quantum efficiency approaching unity. See, e.g., N. S. Sariciftci et al., Science 258, 1474 (1992) for a discussion of donor-acceptor photoinduced charge transfer. As a result of the efficient photoinduced intermolecular charge transfer, the photoinduced absorption (PIA) and photoinduced reflectance (PIR) spectral features of the composite films can be significantly enhanced in magnitude over those in either of the component materials. The corresponding changes in the complex refractive index, xcex94N=xcex94n(xcfx89)+"igr"xcex94xcexa(xcfx89), imply that charge-transfer mixtures offer promise as nonlinear optical materials, i.e., as holographic materials with absorption gratings in spectral regions where xcex94xcexa(xcfx89) dominates and as holographic materials with index gratings in spectral regions where xcex94n(xcfx89) dominates. Holographic recording using photoinduced charge transfer has a number of characteristics which distinguish it from other materials discussed in the literature: 1) The materials respond on a femtosecond timescale, 2) A larger diffraction efficiency is achieved than any previous report using ultrafast materials, and 3) Control of the holographic relaxation rate is achieved by use of a two-component recording mechanism.
A comparison of the maximum diffraction efficiency or the response time of different materials does not allow an adequate evaluation of their relative merits, since rapid data processing requires having both a large response and a rapid recording rate. As a figure-of-merit for comparing previous research, the temporal diffraction efficiency (TDE) is defined as xcex7/xcfx84, with xcex7 being the diffraction efficiency and xcfx84 being the time constant governing the holographic buildup. The TDE gives a measure of how fast and how strongly a material responds to the recording waves and, therefore, of how rapidly the material can be expected to be used for data processing. When using this figure of merit, it is important to note the intensity at which the measurement is made as well as the saturation diffraction efficiency, since increasing the recording intensity will affect the rate at which a grating is recorded, and a high value of the TDE does not necessarily imply that a material has sufficiently high maximum response for a particular application. As an example, photorefractive materials have large efficiencies (approaching unity), but because they respond on timescales xe2x89xa71 s, they have TDE values xe2x89xa61 sxe2x88x921, for intensities of approximately 1 W/cm2.
A large number of materials that undergo photoisomerization have recently been reported, and suggested as possible elements for dynamic holographic processing. The TDE of these materials is in the range of 10xe2x88x921-10xe2x88x926 sxe2x88x921, with recording intensities typically in the range of 10-50 mW/cm2. For example, V. Pham et al., in Opt. Mat. 4, 467 (1995), report the maximum diffraction efficiency as 5%, with a recording time constant of 3.2 s for an intensity of 19 mW/cm2, corresponding to a TDE of 1.6xc3x9710xe2x88x922. Studies of photoisomerization has shown that by using nondegenerate four-wave mixing (NDFWM) leads to a significant improvement in diffraction efficiencies.
Third-order nonlinearities have been extensively used for degenerate four-wave mixing in organics and for demonstrations of optical processing. Because of the ultrafast response of these materials, TDE values as high as 109 sxe2x88x921 (xcex7≈10xe2x88x924 in 160 fs) have been reported for pulse energies of ≈5 xcexcJ (500 xcexcJ/cm2). As a mechanism for incoherent third-order nonlinearity, "khgr"inc(3), the photoinduced electron transfer of semiconducting polymer/C60 mixtures offers two important advantages: the metastability of the charge transfer enables control of the grating decay dynamics by varying the concentration of acceptors in the mixture, and the photoinduced charge transfer enhances the magnitude of the modulated changes in the complex index of refraction at certain wavelengths.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to photoinduce large changes in the complex index of refraction for mixtures of donor and acceptor charge-transfer species such that ultrafast holographic gratings are generated.
Another object of the invention is to photoinduce large changes in the complex index of refraction of mixtures in blends of semiconducting polymers with C60 such that ultrafast holographic gratings are generated.
Additional objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon examination of the following or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objects and advantages of the invention may be realized and attained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims.
To achieve the foregoing and other objects, and in accordance with the purposes of the present invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, the method for nondegenerate four-wave mixing in charge-transfer materials of this invention includes the steps of preparing a mixture of charge-donor species capable of absorbing light within a first wavelength region with charge-acceptor species, such that charge transfer occurs between the charge-donor species and the charge-acceptor species in the absence of an externally applied dc electric field when the mixture is excited by light in the first wavelength region; exciting the mixture with two light beams within the first wavelength region, the two light beams overlapping in the blend and further having an angle therebetween, whereby a holographic grating is formed in a region of the mixture surrounding the overlapping of the two light beams; passing light within a second wavelength region through the holographic grating region of the mixture, wherein the second wavelength region is chosen such that light therein is not absorbed by the mixture in the absence of charge transfer; and detecting the diffracted light within the second wavelength region.
Benefits and advantages of the invention include enhancement of the magnitude of modulated changes in the complex index of refraction at certain wavelengths, and control of the decay dynamics through variation of the concentration of acceptors in the mixture.

Nondegenerate four-wave mixing using photoinduced charge-transfer materials


A cutting tool (10) for removing metal tubular members held in stationary position downhole from a well bore and adapted to be inserted within a well. The cutting tool (10) includes a plurality of elongate blades (32,34) on the cylindrical body (22) of the cutting tool (10) which extend below the bottom of the tool body (22). Cutting elements (42) of a predetermined size and shape are arranged in a symmetrical predetermined pattern on the lower portion of each blade (32,34) in a plurality of predetermined transversely extending rows below the tool body (22). The cutting elements (42) in adjacent transverse rows for each blade (32) are staggered horizontally and have different concentric cutting paths. Preferably, the cutting elements (42) in corresponding transverse rows on adjacent blades (32,34) are staggered and have different concentric cutting paths. Each cutting element (42) has a groove (42F) for receiving and directing forwardly the extending end of a metal shaving (S) to facilitate breaking thereof from the upper end of the tubular member (14) being cut away. A high strength tungsten carbide alloy material (41) is secured to the trailing surface of the blades (32,34) to reinforce the blades in addition to assisting the cutting action.

This invention relates generally to a cutting tool for removing stationary man-made objects or tubular materials downhole from a well bore, such as packers stuck downhole, cemented casing, cemented tubing inside casing, cement aggregates, jammed tools or the like, and more particularly, to such a cutting tool having at least a portion of the blades extending from the bottom of the tool body and being inserted within a well bore for removing the members by first reducing the members to turnings or small chips for removal from the well by drilling fluid.
Heretofore, cutting tools have been provided with blades having at least a portion of the blades extending from the bottom of the tool body for cutting away a stationary object in a well bore such as a packer or cemented casing. However, such prior blades have been formed with tungsten carbide cutting fragments or chips embedded in a random pattern in a matrix formed of a suitable powder metallurgy composite material such as sintered tungsten carbide in a cobalt matrix to provide the cutting surface, and the cutting elements heretofore have not been arranged or constructed to provide a "chip breaker" action. As an example of such a cutting tool, rotary shoes having blades extending from the bottom and side of the tool body and utilizing crushed tungsten carbide particles in a matrix have been used in cutting away packers stuck downhole in a stationary position. However, particularly when the packers have been formed of a high strength corrosion resistant alloy steel, a glaze or work hardened surface is formed when being cut by such rotary shoes which is difficult to cut further and results in an abnormally low rate of penetration for the cutting tool.
Milling or cutting tools heretofore having blades extending from the tool body and formed with the tungsten carbide chips embedded in a matrix have normally utilized blades for taking a relatively small thickness bite from the man-made stationary metal object to be removed which provides a conglomeration of shapes and sizes of metal turnings ranging from fine hair-like turnings to curlings of around 6 inches in length, for example. Such turnings tend to curl and internest with each other to provide a so-called "bird nest" or mass which is difficult to remove from the well bore by drilling fluid after being cut from the metal object. The critical factor in obtaining a high rate of penetration is in the removal of the metal scrap material and oftentimes the limiting factor in the cutting operation is the rate of removal of the metal scrap material. Long relatively thin turnings or shavings tend to restrict such removal rates by internesting and wrapping around the drill string. The utilization of cutting elements or chips in a random pattern provides a non-uniform cutting action and this likewise tends to restrict the rate of cutting or milling away of the stationary object downhole.

Cutting tool for removing man-made members from well bore


Provided is a terminal allowing a user to easily search for and execute an application, and a method of controlling the terminal. The method includes displaying a first output screen including a screen of an application; receiving a first gesture; displaying a second output screen including a keyboard interface, according to the received first gesture; receiving a search word via the keyboard interface; displaying a third output screen including a list of applications searched by using the received search word; receiving a second gesture; and executing at least one application from among the applications, according to the received second gesture.

Since communication technologies are developed and electronic devices have become smaller, personal terminals are being widely supplied to general users. Recently, personal devices such as smartphones, smart tablets, portable consoles, or the like have become widespread.
Various programs may be executed in a terminal. The program that is executed in the terminal is referred to as an application. Due to the widespread use of smartphones, various applications that are executable in the smartphones are being developed. A user of the terminal installs several tens to several hundreds of applications in the terminal and uses them.
Therefore, the user may experience difficulties in searching an application to be executed from among many applications installed in the terminal. In addition, while the user uses an application, if the user attempts to refer to information that is obtainable from another application, the user may experience difficulties in switching between the applications.
For example, it is assumed that the user attempts to refer to contents of a mail while the user types a text message. The user may type the text message by using a short message service (SMS) application. The user may make a home screen be displayed on the terminal by pressing a button of the terminal. The user may search for a mail application from among the applications installed in the terminal and may execute the mail application. The user may check the contents of the mail and then may allow a screen of the SMS application to be displayed again on the terminal.

Terminal and method for controlling terminal


A mounting apparatus for mounting a hard disk drive backplane to a side of a bracket in a chassis includes a first mounting member, a second mounting member, a pivot member, and a locking member. The bottom and opposite ends of the backplane are clipped to the bracket. The second mounting member is fixed to a top side of the backplane and is locked to a top plate of the bracket. The first mounting member is fixed to a bottom side of the backplane. The first mounting member includes an engaging portion. The locking portion is fixed to the chassis. A first end of the pivot member is pivotably mounted to the chassis. A second end of the pivot member is locked to the locking member. A pressing portion extends down from a middle of the pivot member to press the engaging portion on the chassis.

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to an apparatus for mounting a backplane.
2. Description of Related Art
An electronic device, such as a server, is generally equipped with a plurality of hard disk drives (HDD). The HDDs are connected to a backplane for connection to a motherboard. If the backplane is not stably fixed to an HDD bracket, the backplane will easily loosen when hot-plugging the HDDs.

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


A method and apparatus for determining fastener axial loading includes a fastener insert having an arched bottom surface, which deflects correlative to the level of axial loading. A load indicating mechanism determines axial loading by measuring the amount of deflection experienced by the arched insert. In addition, the arched insert stores elastic energy that is added to the overall elastic energy of the fastener, thereby aiding the fastener integrity during use. A graduated load gauge is moveable to engage a load reference pin with the degree of movement corresponding to the degree of loading experienced by the fastener insert.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention generally relates to load indicating fasteners, and more particularly, to a load indicating and energy-storing device adapted to visually indicate the load applied by a fastener.
2. Description of the Related Art
Fasteners are used in a wide variety of applications, such as motors, railroad tracks, flange assemblies, petrochemical lines, foundations, mills, drag lines, power turbines and studs on cranes and tractors. As is known in the use of such fasteners, as force is applied to a portion of the fastener, e.g. a head of a bolt or the like, the fastener experiences a strain described as the fastener load. As the fastener is tightened, this load increases to a maximum break point, where the fastener breaks or its integrity is otherwise compromised. Therefore, it is desirable that applied fasteners should be properly tightened to design load levels in order to ensure that secure joints are achieved without compromising the fastener viability. In many applications, however, achieving the proper fastener tightness and maintaining this tightness once the system is placed in service is problematic. For various applications, optimal loads are known and/or are obtainable, but currently available methods and apparatuses do not adequately enable reliable and repeatable determinations thereof.
During use, fasteners typically experience a loss of tension, e.g. tightness, due to, for example, a variety of in-service occurrences including: relaxation (thread embedment), vibration loosening, compressive deformation in the joint or flange, temperature expansion or contraction, etc. The loss of tension that results from these occurrences can cause premature wear in the assembly, leakage (in applications where the fastener is used for sealing), or critical joint failure due to excessively high loads on other members of the assembly. Such potential failures are catastrophic in systems where premature wear, leakage or joint failure may result in loss of life.
An apparatus and method is therefore needed that permits the accurate tightening of a fastener to optimal load levels and that permits the determination of the existing fastener load status.
It is well known that indicated tensile strain gives a true representation of the load induced in a fastener. Various prior art tensile strain indicators may concentrate on the tensile strain of the individual members of the fastener, such as for example, the fastener washer. One such indicator is described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,250,863, issued to Kamentser et al., which purportedly discloses a washer having a plurality of strain gauges integrated into the body of the washer. The Kamentser patent discloses two sets of strain gauges, at least one of which is positioned on a portion of the washer subjected to axial force, and at least one of which is positioned on a portion of the washer not subjected to axial force. The strain gauges are connected into a common bridge circuit that purportedly provides a signal indicating the axial stress applied to the washer body.
Several problems, however, are associated with the fasteners described in the Kamentser patent. For example, in most instances it is cost prohibitive to integrate the electrical measuring devices into the body of each individual washer. Additionally, the integrated instrumentation, which is placed in the body of the washer, compromises the overall integrity of the fastener and is thus not suitable for applications using fasteners in a rugged environment. Thus, a need exists for a device to measure tensile strain, is not cost prohibitive, and that additionally does not compromise the overall fastener integrity when used in a rugged environment.
Other prior art systems avoid the problems inherent in using integrated electrical components and instrumentation by using mechanical load indicators. For example, UK Patent Number GB-2-179-459-A, issued to Ceney, discloses an externally mounted mechanism for indicating the tightness of a fastener. This system includes a pin positioned in the bore of the fastener that extends out of the fastener end. Upon extension of the bolt, the pin applies pressure to fulcrumed levers positioned perpendicular to the axis of the bolt. The levers, which are acted upon by a compression spring, are then visible through a window cover for visually inspecting washer load levels.
Due to the complex arrangement of the levers, and position of the indicator window inherent in the design of this system, the indicator components typically must be positioned on the outside of the bolt. Since the indicator components are rather bulky relative to the washer, the use of the Ceney system is often not possible in fastener environments having space constraints. In cases where it is possible to use such a configuration, the elements of the instrument may be susceptible to outside forces and damage. Upon damage, no convenient method exists to verify whether the unit may still be calibrated.
Therefore, a need exist for a load indicating system that conforms to the space limitations of a fastener environment, and that includes means for readily identifying when the load indicator is not valid or the fastener is not at its desired load level.
It should be further noted that one of the main indicators of efficient clamp retention in a joint is the amount of elastic energy the bolt and other joint members can absorb. Regardless of the tightening technique used, when a bolt in a bolted joint is tightened, the bolt stretches elastically and stores energy. In this manner, the bolt acts as a spring and the stored energy facilitates the holding of the joint together at a specified load level.
To ensure that a fastener includes the highest amount of elastic energy, fastener designers typically focus on the grip length of the bolt used in the system. It is well known that the longer the grip length of a bolt, the more the energy the bolt will store in the fastener system. Consequently, a longer bolt having a longer grip length, will be able to store more elastic energy than a shorter bolt having a shorter grip length. Thus, the increased grip length of a longer bolt makes using the longer bolt in a fastener more preferable than using the shorter bolt. This is true because, the increased energy stored in the longer bolt is advantageous in that it enhances the integrity of the joint making the joint more tolerable to loosening or failure due to in-service loading.
In many fastener systems, however, the use of the longer bolt is prohibited by space limitations, requiring the system to use a shorter bolt. As noted, because of the shorter grip length, the shorter bolt stores less elastic energy than the longer bolt, which makes the fastener more susceptible to loosening or failure. It is well known, however, that the grip length of the shorter bolt can be made longer, through the use of washers or sleeves that cause the shorter bolt to elastically stretch further and store more energy.
Unfortunately, the bolt's shorter length puts an upper limit on the number of washers that may be used to increase the shorter bolt's grip length. This, in turn, means that, in general, a shorter bolt may only be made to store a limited amount of elastic energy to aid in holding the joint together. Therefore, where, as in many instances, there are space constraints requiring the use of the shorter bolt, a fastening system may be used that results in poorly designed joints, since the shorter bolt may store an inadequate amount of energy. This poor grip length bolt diameter-to-length ratio may inevitably lead to joint loosening or failure.
A fastener system is therefore desired that would allow use of a shorter bolt while not compromising the amount of energy stored in the fastener when a longer bolt is used. Such a fastener system may include the storage of additional elastic energy above that already stored in the bolt, and may additionally increase the effective grip length of the shorter bolt improving the fastener clamp retention property.
Consequently, presently known fasteners employing load indicators remain inadequate, particularly since these fasteners typically incorporate integrated electrical components, complex designs and/or are subject to loss of effectiveness do to loss of calibration or elastic energy over extended use. A need, therefore, exists for a load indicating fastener system that avoids the problems inherent in the prior art while providing an accurate reading of the tensile strain, e.g., load, being placed on the fastener system, and that stores additional energy allowing for the effective use of shorter bolts in a particular fastener system.


An improved technique involves providing a pair of inode numbers in a directory entry for a file in a directory of a target file system. Along these lines, the target file system writes a first inode number and a second inode number to the directory entry for the file. While the client has not yet remounted its file system, that client may continue to use the file handle provided for the original file system. The data storage system continues to refer to a mapping table that cross-references initial inode numbers to target ones, at some cost in performance. Nevertheless, the client has an option to remount the file system at a time that is convenient to the client, so that the client may obtain a new handle. The client may subsequently use the new file handle to access the file.

Data storage systems use file systems for organizing files stored on disks or electronic flash drives (EFDs). Each file system has an associated inode table, which stores block locations on the disks or EFDs where the files of the file system are stored. Each file or subdirectory has an inode number in the inode table. The inode number uniquely identifies the file in the file system. A file system may include multiple directories. A directory is a structure that provides mappings between the names of files and inode numbers. These mapping are stored in directory entries for the file, which, for any given file, store both the filename of the file and its inode number. When a client requests access to a file in a directory, the file system looks up the directory entry for the file and obtains the file's inode number. The file system can then access the contents of the file at the block locations designated by the file's inode.
When a client requests access to a file, the data storage system provides the client with an access handle that contains the inode number for the file. For example, in the Network File System (NFS), a file handle contains the inode number for the file, as well as a file system identifier and a versioning identifier that identifies the latest version of the file. The client uses the access handle for subsequent requests to access the file directly by inode number; in this way, the file can be accessed directly, without requiring a directory lookup.
At some point in time, an administrator of the storage system may need to migrate the file system from an initial file system to a target file system. In such a case, the newer file system typically uses different inode numbers for the files as were used in the initial file system. File handles obtained from the initial file system will thus not be able to locate file contents, as the inode numbers in the handles no longer point to the same files.
In order for a client to access files in the target file system using file handles, a conventional file system migration scheme involves rebooting the client. In this way, after rebooting, the client is able to receive new handles with valid inode numbers in the target file system. That is, when the client requests a new handle after migration, the operating system in which the target file system is installed looks up the file in the file's directory, locates the filename in the directory entry, and obtains the corresponding inode number. The data storage system then sends the client a new file handle with new the inode number as obtained from the directory entry.

Recovering performance of a file system post-migration


A control system for an internal combustion engine, which is capable of directly and properly calculating the most fuel-efficient torque according to operating conditions of the engine without setting or learning in advance operating lines indicative of the most fuel-efficient torques, thereby making it possible to reduce costs and enhance fuel economy. In the control system, when the engine is operated at a predetermined reference rotational speed, a plurality of fuel consumption ratio parameters associated with a plurality of estimated torques are calculated based on a provisional intake air amount-estimated torque relationship which is the relationship between provisional intake air amounts and estimated torques to be obtained when the provisional intake air amounts of intake air are supplied. Further, an estimated torque associated with a minimum value of the fuel consumption ratio parameters is calculated as the most fuel-efficient torque at the reference rotational speed.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a control system for an internal combustion engine, for controlling the engine based on the most fuel-efficient torque.
2. Description of the Related Art
A conventional control system for an internal combustion engine of this type is disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 2006-193137. This control system controls an internal combustion engine installed on a hybrid vehicle, based on operating lines which represent torque minimizing a fuel consumption ratio with respect to the rotational speed of the engine (most fuel-efficient torque), while performing control for learning and updating the operating lines. Specifically, the control system sets in advance an operating line for each set of environmental conditions, such as an outside air temperature, atmospheric pressure and humidity, on a coordinate plane in which the torque and rotational speed of the engine are set as coordinate axes, and stores each operating line as one of a plurality of predetermined operating lines. Further, during operation of the engine, the control system calculates the fuel consumption ratio based on detected torque of the engine and the rotational speed and fuel injection amount thereof. When the calculated fuel consumption ratio is smaller than a fuel consumption ratio indicated by an operating line associated with the set of environmental conditions at the time, the operating line is updated using the calculated fuel consumption ratio.
As described above, in the above conventional control system, the engine is controlled based the predetermined operating lines. Therefore, particularly when the operating lines are set on an environmental condition set basis, it is required to set in advance a large number of operating lines, which increases the number of setting steps to thereby increase costs of the control system. Further, unless the set of environmental conditions are met, an operating line associated with the set of environmental conditions is not learned, and hence the engine is sometimes controlled based on an unlearned operating line using the most fuel-efficient torque deviated from an optimum value. In this case, fuel economy is degraded.

Torque-calculating control system for an internal combustion engine


Numerous embodiments are disclosed for providing temperature compensation and leakage compensation for an analog neuromorphic memory system used in a deep learning neural network. The embodiments for providing temperature compensation implement discreet or continuous adaptive slope compensation and renormalization for devices, reference memory cells, or selected memory cells in the memory system. The embodiments for providing leakage compensation within a memory cell in the memory system implement adaptive erase gate coupling or the application of a negative bias on a control gate terminal, a negative bias on a word line terminal, or a bias on a source line terminal.

Artificial neural networks mimic biological neural networks (the central nervous systems of animals, in particular the brain) and are used to estimate or approximate functions that can depend on a large number of inputs and are generally unknown. Artificial neural networks generally include layers of interconnected "neurons" which exchange messages between each other.
FIG. 1 illustrates an artificial neural network, where the circles represent the inputs or layers of neurons. The connections (called synapses) are represented by arrows, and have numeric weights that can be tuned based on experience. This makes neural networks adaptive to inputs and capable of learning. Typically, neural networks include a layer of multiple inputs. There are typically one or more intermediate layers of neurons, and an output layer of neurons that provide the output of the neural network. The neurons at each level individually or collectively make a decision based on the received data from the synapses.
One of the major challenges in the development of artificial neural networks for high-performance information processing is a lack of adequate hardware technology. Indeed, practical neural networks rely on a very large number of synapses, enabling high connectivity between neurons, i.e. a very high computational parallelism. In principle, such complexity can be achieved with digital supercomputers or specialized graphics processing unit clusters. However, in addition to high cost, these approaches also suffer from mediocre energy efficiency as compared to biological networks, which consume much less energy primarily because they perform low-precision analog computation. CMOS analog circuits have been used for artificial neural networks, but most CMOS-implemented synapses have been too bulky given the high number of neurons and synapses.
Applicant previously disclosed an artificial (analog) neural network that utilizes one or more non-volatile memory arrays as the synapses in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/594,439, which is incorporated by reference. The non-volatile memory arrays operate as an analog neuromorphic memory. The neural network device includes a first plurality of synapses configured to receive a first plurality of inputs and to generate therefrom a first plurality of outputs, and a first plurality of neurons configured to receive the first plurality of outputs. The first plurality of synapses includes a plurality of memory cells, wherein each of the memory cells includes spaced apart source and drain regions formed in a semiconductor substrate with a channel region extending there between, a floating gate disposed over and insulated from a first portion of the channel region and a non-floating gate disposed over and insulated from a second portion of the channel region. Each of the plurality of memory cells is configured to store a weight value corresponding to a number of electrons on the floating gate. The plurality of memory cells is configured to multiply the first plurality of inputs by the stored weight values to generate the first plurality of outputs.
Each non-volatile memory cells used in the analog neuromorphic memory system must be erased and programmed to hold a very specific and precise amount of charge, i.e., the number of electrons, in the floating gate. For example, each floating gate must hold one of N different values, where N is the number of different weights that can be indicated by each cell. Examples of N include 16, 32, 64, 128, and 256.
One challenge of implementing analog neuro memory systems is that extreme precision is required for erase, program, and read operations of each cell, as each floating gate in each cell may be required to hold one of N values, where N is greater than the conventional value of 2 used in conventional flash memory systems. However, the characteristics of each device, such as its current-voltage response characteristic curve, will change as its operating temperature changes. In addition, leakage in the device will further affect its characteristics.
What is needed is a system for providing temperature compensation and leakage compensation for memory cells in an analog neural memory system used in a deep learning neural network, to ensure that precision and accuracy is maintained in the operation of each memory cell as the operating temperature of the cell changes.

Temperature and leakage compensation for memory cells in an analog neural memory system used in a deep learning neural network


A towed implement for use with a work machine includes a main frame having a pivot hole and at least one hitch mounting hole. A hitch frame is coupled with the main frame and includes a towed end. The hitch frame is pivotable relative to the main frame about a pivot axis at the pivot hole. The hitch frame includes a chamber having an interior periphery with a plurality of notches. A height adjustment arrangement is associated with the main frame and the hitch frame for adjusting a height of the hitch frame. The height adjustment arrangement includes a stop key positioned within the chamber of the hitch frame. The stop key has a hole arranged for receiving a fastener associated with the at least one hitch mounting hole, a cam surface, and at least one tooth extending from the cam surface. Each tooth is received in a corresponding notch.

Work vehicles can be used in the agricultural, construction, industrial and forestry technology sectors. A work vehicle typically is used to perform some type of work, such as baling, excavating, dozing, plowing, harvesting, etc. An agricultural baler can be variously configured, such as a round baler, large square baler or small square baler. In the case of a round baler, hay is fed into the bale chamber from a pickup unit at the front of the baler and rolled into a bale within the bale chamber. When the bale reaches a predetermined or desired diameter, the forward movement of the baler is stopped and the bale is wrapped and ejected from the back of the baler.
It may be desirable for certain applications to have an adjustable height of the hitch at the front of the baler. This allows the horizontal orientation of the baler (i.e., pitch) to be adjusted, which in turn provides for better pickup of crop material by the pickup unit. Known designs for adjusting the hitch height may include an index ring having a plurality of axial teeth on the hitch which engage with axial teeth on the main frame. While such index rings are effective to adjust the hitch height relative to the main frame of the implement, they may not provide height adjustment in incrementally small steps, which can be desirable for some applications. For example, most known index rings used with round balers only provide height adjustment in increments of about 7 to 10° stepwise rotations of the index ring.

Towed implement with height adjustable hitch


A display device including a display region and a frame region and configured to display an image by causing first light-emitting elements provided in the display region to emit light, the display device includes: a plurality of data lines to which data signals are supplied; a plurality of control lines arranged to intersect the plurality of data lines; a plurality of pixel circuits including the first light-emitting elements, each of the first light-emitting elements being provided at each of intersection points of the plurality of data lines and the plurality of control lines; a control circuit configured to activate the plurality of corresponding control lines; and second light-emitting elements provided in the frame region, wherein electrical signals flowing through the plurality of control lines or electrical signals flowing through nodes provided in the control circuit are input to the second light-emitting elements.

A display device in which a light-emitting element such as an organic EL element constitutes a pixel includes a control circuit configured to perform electrical control on the pixels to display an image. The control circuit includes, for example, a scanning line drive circuit, and these control circuits require precise action. Therefore, there is a need to inspect whether or not a fault has occurred in the control circuit. As a known inspection means, an electrical signal is measured by bringing an inspection probe into direct contact with an internal node of interest from above a sealing resin (PTL 1).

Display device and manufacturing method therefor


An elongated, generally strip-like shade visor device is removably attachable to the front frame section of a pair of eyeglasses to shade the wearer's eyes from overhead glare. Support tab portions of the visor project downwardly from its bottom side surface adjacent downturned opposite ends of the visor, each of the support tab portions having a resilient attachment loop removable secured thereto. To install the visor, the outer ends of the eyeglass temple bar members are inserted into the attachment loops, the visor is moved forwardly along the temple bar members, and the attachment loops are stretched diagonally around the outer top corner portions of the front frame section. With the visor mounted in this fashion, a rear side edge of the visor extends above and generally parallel to the top side edge of the front frame section, the front side edge of the visor extends forwardly of the front frame section, and the support tab portions and opposite ends of the visor are pressed rearwardly against the top side of the front frame section to resiliently hold the visor in place.

The present invention relates generally to shade visor devices which may be removably attached to eyeglass frames to shield the eyeglass wearer's eyes from overhead glare. In a preferred embodiment thereof, the present invention more particularly provides a shade visor which may be easily and quickly mounted on eyeglass frames of widely varying sizes and shapes, without contacting or interfering with the temple portions of the frame, using resilient attachment loops.
Shade visor devices in a variety of shapes and sizes have been previously designed for removable attachment to a top front portion of an eyeglass frame to project forwardly therefrom and shield the wearer's eyes from the glare of overhead sunlight or the like. Numerous attachment structures have been used to removably mount the visor on the eyeglass frame including visor loops which extend around the temple portions of the frame, jaw-type resilient clip members which may be clamped onto an upper front portion of the frame, and interengageable mounting members separately secured to the frame and the visor.
All of the known eyeglass shade visor devices of which the current applicant is presently aware are subject to various limitations and disadvantages, particularly with respect to their frame mounting structures. For example, when attachment loops or other visor mounting structures are secured to the temple portions of the frame, the inward storage folding of the temple members is impeded, thereby making it difficult or impossible to fold up the eyeglasses with the shade visor secured thereto. When jaw-type resilient clip members are secured to the visor for attaching it to the eyeglass frame, the clip members can mar the eyeglass frame if sufficiently tight thereon, or may permit the visor to slide along the frame if it has a very thin configuration. The use of interengageable mounting members separately secured to the eyeglass frame and the shade visor is particularly undesirable due to the necessity of securing one or more of the mounting members directly to the eyeglass frame. This necessity substantially impedes the ability of the particular shade visor to be mounted on another pair of eyeglasses.
In view of the foregoing, it is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide eyeglass shade visor apparatus which eliminates or minimizes the above-mentioned and other limitations and disadvantages of conventional eyeglass shade visor devices.

Removable eyeglass shade visor apparatus


A method and system for transferring telephone calls and data between computer programs in a call center. Flow connection modules associated with call center application programs allow data and telephone calls to be transferred from one computer program to another in the call center. The flow connection modules may be combined with a locator program such that the combination replaces the automatic call distributor (“ACD”) in a call center. The flow connection modules enable development of modular call centers, allowing call center agent workstations to be easily increased or decreased. In operation, an application notifies its flow connection module that a call on a telephone in the workstation should be transferred to another application. The flow connection module establishes a data connection with a flow connection module associated with the other application. The flow connection module sends call-related data to the other flow connection module which then returns the telephone extension associated with the other application. The flow connection module requests a computer telephony interface (“CTI”) link associated with a phone switch to transfer the call to the other application's telephone. The CTI link directs the phone switch to transfer the telephone call from the original application's workstation to the telephone of the other workstation. Having received notification of the transferred call, the other flow connection module informs the original flow connection module that the call has been successfully transferred, and the original flow connection module then disconnects the data connection.

A typical call center includes a number of agents who field inbound telephone calls and place outbound telephone calls. Call center telephone calls frequently have associated data, such as customer information. An agent may place outbound sales calls or field inbound calls (such as on 800 telephone numbers) from potential customers. The agents are organized into groups, known as Skill/Split Hunt Groups.
A conventional call center typically comprises either an Automatic Call Distributor ("ACD") or Private Branch Exchange ("PBX") which receives incoming calls through a Public Switched Telephone Network ("PSTN") and routes the calls to a group of ACD agents having like skills, the Skill/Split Hunt Group, rather than to a specific agent. An ACD typically contains a superset of the functions provided by a PBX. Specialized telephones, known as ACD/PBX feature phones, interface with a specific manufacturer's ACD/PBX and provide the agents with an array of advanced telephony functions.
In recent years, call center telephony has begun moving from proprietary ACD/PBX feature phones designed for a specific ACD/PBX to software-controlled telephony applications ("Softphones") that can either co-exist with a proprietary ACD/PBX feature phone or can utilize telephone sets not necessarily designed for any particular ACD/PBX. To equip a call center with ACD/PBX proprietary feature phones typically costs three to four times as much as equipping with Softphones associated with a non-proprietary phone. In addition, the ACD/PBX itself is also quite costly. A conventional ACD/PBX call center not only requires a proprietary ACD/PBX feature phone, but also requires ACD/PBX interface line cards utilizing a proprietary protocol. Softphones provide a less expensive means for attaining many of the capabilities of an ACD/PBX feature phone while using only software in combination with a "plain-old-telephone set" ("POTS") and an associated and less expensive line card. A Softphone call center equipped with Softphones and POTS is considerably less expensive to establish and to maintain with the latest upgrades than a call center configured with ACD/PBX feature phones. A Softphone has the added advantage that persons who are not permanent call center agents may be provisioned with call center telephone capabilities without the need for an expensive upgrade to an ACD/PBX feature phone.
The software-controlled application that drives a Softphone call center generally provides the call center agent with a graphical user interface ("GUI") that replaces the function control buttons on an ACD/PBX feature phone used by the agent to control telephony functions. While interacting with a caller over the Softphone, the agent uses hot keys or an electronic mouse to select telephony functions on a workstation screen. A hot key is a keystroke or combination of keystrokes that sends a command to the computing system that provides the Softphone capability. Softphone telephony features emulate the feature buttons on an ACD/PBX feature phone and are supported via a Computer-Telephony Integration ("CTI") link to an ACD or a PBX. The CTI link allows the Softphone system to control telephone call handling operations in the ACD/PBX such as answering a call, making a call, transferring a call, and making a conference call, by sending requests and receiving event messages over the CTI link. An event message is an action or occurrence to which the Softphone may respond. Software client/server CTI Middleware products interface to the ACD/PBX proprietary CTI link and simplify the application programming interface ("API") needed by the Softphone to communicate with the ACD/PBX.
FIG. 1 illustrates a conventional Softphone-configured call center. In this Softphone call center, an ACD 102 interfaces between client telephone calls 100 and an agent telephone 108 in an agent workstation 120. The clients typically place telephone calls to the agent telephones 108 via a Public Switched Telephone Network ("PSTN") 101. When a client telephone call 100 arrives at the ACD 102, the call is received by an ACD route point 103. The PSTN calls are generally forwarded to a group of ACD agents having like skills (the ACD Skill/Split Hunt Group) rather than to a specific agent. The ACD 102 routes incoming calls through the ACD route point 103 which typically comprises a phone number in the numbering plan of the ACD 102 that works in conjunction with a routing program 104 that provides a call-handling instructions script. An ACD vector 105, typically a computer program, controls the routing program 104 to enable customized call processing specifications in the ACD 102. The routing program 104 tells the ACD's call processing software how to treat the client's call 100. The routing program 104 typically includes at least one announcement and at least one queue statement. The ACD vector 105 and the routing program 104 may be combined in some conventional ACDs. The queue statement directs the call to a specific ACD Skill/Split Hunt Group 106. The ACD Skill/Split Hunt Group 106 has a single phone number, a Pilot Directory Number ("Pilot DN") 107 that subsequently directs the client telephone call directly to one of the available agent telephones 108 within the ACD Skill/Split Hunt Group 106. As shown in FIG. 1, the ACD 102 may have multiple route points 103, multiple routing programs 104, multiple ACD vectors 105, and multiple ACD Skill/Split Hunt Groups 106. Each ACD Skill/Split Hunt Group 106 will usually include multiple agent workstations 120.
Each agent workstation 120 has an agent telephone 108 that receives calls directed to either of two numbers. The first number is the telephone number for the telephone instrument itself at the agent workstation 120, or the Phone Directory Number ("Phone DN"). The second number is a telephone number corresponding to the agent, i.e., an Agent Directory Number ("Agent DN"). The Agent DN follows an individual call center agent. Thus, the agent may switch from one agent workstation 120 to another agent workstation 120 and still retain the same Agent DN. The Agent DN constitutes a personal telephone number for the agent and returns a busy signal if the agent is not logged into the ACD 102. The Agent DN connects the call to the agent if the agent is available when the call arrives. If the agent is busy on another call, the caller hears a ringback tone until the agent is free. If the agent is not working on a particular day, or has not otherwise logged into the call center, then the Agent DN will not be active, and a party calling the Agent DN will receive a message to that effect.
A Call Control application server 110 communicates with the ACD 102 through a Computer Telephony Integration ("CTI") link 109. The Call Control application server 110 comprises a standard computing system, such as a PC, and a CTI server application which processes calling information for an agent via a Softphone application 111 in the agent workstation 120. Each agent typically has a terminal that provides a GUI to the Softphone application 111. The Softphone application 111 emulates the button functions of a conventional ACD/PBX feature phone. The Call Control application server 110 synchronizes the Softphone application 111 with the ACD 102 by sending event messages to the Softphone application 111 pertaining to the set of Agent DNs and Phone DNs that have been provided with the Softphone capability. The Call Control application server 110 services telephony commands from the Softphone application 111 to provide the agent with a Softphone. The combination of the agent workstation 120 utilizing a POTS such as the telephone 108 and the Softphone application 111 provides the agent with the features available on more expensive ACD/PBX feature phones.
A Softphone application's requirements resemble those of a robotic call-handling application. The primary difference is that the Softphone manages calls arriving at a specific Phone DN while a robotic application manages calls arriving at a specific Route Point DN. A robotic application may communicate with both the route point 103, the ACD Skill/Split Hunt Group 106, and the Agent DN and the Phone DN at the agent's workstation 120. Some robotic applications may receive information from the client calls 100 and may, in some instances, handle a call in a manner much like that of a call center agent. As robotic technologies grow more sophisticated, robotic applications may even begin replacing many, or in some instances all call center agents. A Robotic application can therefore be considered a robotic call center agent having many similar needs to a human call center agent or as a robotic application that replaces many of the aforementioned ACD capabilities. In many instances, robotic applications require capabilities beyond those required by human call center agents, such as handling many more calls than would a human agent.
While call centers equipped with Softphones have provided a degree of modularity beyond that of a conventional call center equipped with ACD/PBX feature phones, Softphone call centers nevertheless still rely upon the presence of an ACD/PBX. A conventional ACD performs important call routing tasks in the call center but does not route data, including call-related data. In some conventional call centers, a computing system external to the ACD may monitor the ACD to determine where the ACD has routed a call, e.g., an agent workstation. The external computing system may then forward call-related data to the agent workstation that received the call routed from the monitored ACD. Moreover, agent workstations do not have the ability to transfer directly messages, including calls and data, to other agent workstations. As discussed above, a conventional ACD is an inflexible and costly piece of equipment that thwarts the attainment of true modularity in call center design. Accordingly, call center design would be improved by a decreased reliance upon or outright replacement of the conventional ACD.

Call center telephone and data flow connection system