A method for liquefaction of coal or other solid carbonaceous material includes passing the material through a reformer having a temperature gradient therein, the temperature gradient generally increasing as the material flows down through the reformer. The more valuable volatile components of the material exit the material at their respective vaporization temperatures, and pass out of the reformer for processing in condensers. Some of each fraction of the volatile material flow is re-heated and recycled through the reformer to supply heat to maintain the temperature gradient, the recycling injection occurring at a level below that where the fraction exited the reformer so that the recycled fraction will again pass out of the reformer to be condensed. At the bottom of the reformer, the non-volatile portion of the carbonaceous material is removed from the reformer for further processing or sale.

This invention relates to an improved continuous-feed process for the liquefaction of coal (anthracite, bituminous, sub-bituminous), gob, bitumen, lignite, oil and tar sands, oil shale, and any solid carbonaceous material, including waste material and plastic material and for the distillation of the volatile matter within that solid carbonaceous material into high-value products.
Until recent decades despite voluminous amounts of CO2 emissions and other contaminants, coal providers have experienced very little ecological pressure from governments. While coal is cheap and produces significant quantities of power, it is also an international "necessity" because the world could not immediately replace this energy source. However, as the world has focused on environmental efficacy, better systems and methods of using the energy stored in coal become more important.
All coal contains varying concentrations of moisture, sulfur, hydrocarbon compounds (referred to as volatile matter), inorganic ash-forming components, and other components. Some of these components have value while other components are considered contaminants. Synthetic production of liquid fuels (i.e., gasoline and oil substitutes) in the United States has a long history. In the 19th century, dozens of facilities produced oil, gas, grease and paraffin from coal, but by 1873, cheap petroleum caused the last coal oil plant to close. In addition, commercial scale shale oil extraction began in 1857 at shale oil retorts retorting the Devonian oil shale along the Ohio River Valley. However, after crude oil discovery in Pennsylvania in 1859, oil shale industries found it difficult to compete and they were shut down by 1861.
Historically, economics has been a major impediment to coal liquefaction. Until recent years oil has been easy to find and produce. In addition, a powerful liquid oil industry has lobbied and maintained a unique control over domestic oil production. The international landscape is now aware of the imminent danger of deep water drilling for oil as evidenced by the British Petroleum oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico in April of 2010.
There are several processes used for coal liquefaction. For example, in the Bergius process, developed by Friedrich Bergius in 1913, dry coal is mixed with heavy oil recycled from the process. A catalyst is typically added to the mixture. The reaction occurs at between 400° C. (752° F.) to 5,000° C. (9,030° F.) and 20 to 70 MPa hydrogen pressure.
Chevron Corporation developed a process that involved close-coupling of the non-catalytic dissolver and the catalytic hydroprocessing unit. The oil produced was lighter and had far fewer heteroatom impurities than other coal oils. Apparently, the process was scaled-up to the 6 ton per day level, but has not been proven commercially.
The Karrick process is a low-temperature carbonization (LTC) and pyrolysis process of carbonaceous materials. Although primarily meant for coal carbonization, it also could be used for processing of oil shale, lignite or other carbonaceous materials. These are heated at 450° C. (800° F.) to 700° C. (1,300° F.) in the absence of air to distill out synthetic fuels-unconventional oil and syngas. The Karrick process may be used for coal liquefaction and for semi-coke production.
In the Karrick process, one short ton of coal yields as much as one barrel of oils and coal tars (12% by weight), 3,000 cubic feet (85 cubic meters) of coal gas and 1,500 pounds (680 kg) of solid smokeless char or semi-coke (for one metric ton, the results would be 0.175 m3 of oils and coal tars, 95 m3 of gas, and 750 kg of semi-coke). Yields by volume of approximately 25% gasoline, 10% kerosene and 20% fuel oil are obtainable from coal. Gasoline obtained from coal by the Karrick process combined with cracking and refining is equal in quality to tetraethyl lead gasolines. More power is developed in internal combustion engines and an increase in fuel economy of approximately 20% is obtainable under identical operating conditions. The syngas can be converted to oil by the Fischer-Tropsch process. Coal gas from Karrick LTC yields greater energy content than natural gas.
Compared to the Bergius process, the Karrick process is cheaper, requires less water and destroys less thermal value (one-half that of the Bergius process). The smokeless semi-coke fuel, when burned in an open grate or in boilers, delivers 20% to 25% more heat than raw coal. The coal gas should deliver more heat than natural gas per heat unit contained due to the greater quantity of combined carbon and lower dilution of the combustion gases with water vapor.
The cheapest liquid fuel from coal will come when processed by LTC for both liquid fuels and electric power. As a tertiary product of the coal distilling process, electrical energy can be generated at a minimum equipment cost. A Karrick LTC plant with one kiloton of daily coal capacity produces sufficient steam to generate 100,000 kilowatt hours of electrical power at no extra cost excepting capital investment for electrical equipment and loss of steam temperature passing through turbines. The process steam cost could be low since this steam could be derived from off-peak boiler capacity or from turbines in central electric stations. Fuel for steam and superheating would subsequently be reduced in cost.
Although a Karrick pilot plant was successfully operated in 1935, there is some question as to whether a modern commercial Karrick LTC process plant would fail due to mechanical problems, a postulation based on previous failures of other plants using different processes under different conditions. It is indeterminate as to how "scaleable" the technology is for large-scale production. When oil was significantly cheaper markets for the described coal products were limited, which made such a venture economically unsound.
Other methods of coal liquefaction involve indirect conversion. Perhaps the main indirect process is the Fischer-Tropsch process, in which coal is first gasified to make syngas (a balanced purified mixture of CO and H2 gas). Next, Fischer-Tropsch catalysts are used to convert the syngas into light hydrocarbons (like ethane) that are further processed into gasoline and diesel. This method was used on a large technical scale in Germany between 1934 and 1945 and is currently being used by Sasol in South Africa. In addition to creating gasoline, syngas can be converted into methanol, which can be used as a fuel or a fuel additive. Syngas may be converted to liquids through conversion of the syngas to methanol, which is subsequently polymerized into alkanes over a zeolite catalyst.
Unfortunately, each of the prior methods of coal liquefaction have disadvantages. The prior processes tend to focus on turning coal to liquid, with little regard for environmental implications. For example, Fischer-Tropsch produces toxic byproducts and consumes expensive catalysts during the process (cobalt, iron, ruthenium). The prior processes have often not been scalable, and thus were of limited viability. Many also had significant capital costs that tended to render the liquefaction economically suspect.

Method and apparatus for liquefaction and distillation of volatile matter within solid carbonaceous material


The present invention relates to a torque limiting device for use in the affixation of a halo-type traction tool to the skull of a person. The torque limiting device has a shaft or shank embedded in a handle member which rotatably engages a skull pin during the fixation of a halo-type traction device to an individual. The torque limiting device has a first shear point at a reduced shank intermediate portion which prevents rotational torque forces in excess of a predetermined level from being applied to a skull pin during the attachment procedure of a medical cervical traction brace or tool. The present invention also includes a second shear point at the shank-handle interface which acts as a second safety mechanism to ensure that excessive pressure is not applied, and undesirable skull penetration does not occur, during the attachment procedure of a skull pin and halo to an individual's skull. The torque limiting device further includes a skull pin engaging end. The handle encapsulates a substantial portion of the shank, including the first and second shear points, and a handle-shank interface retaining collar and groove arrangement from which the pin engaging end extends also from the handle. Upon release of the first shear point or the second shear point, the handle and skull pin engaging end may rotate free of each other without separation of the handle from the skull pin engaging end, thereby keeping the device in one piece for easy handling, loss prevention and protecting an individual from risk of injury.

Individuals may receive severe head and spinal cord injuries necessitating the use of halo-type traction tools, braces and devices for the treatment of their injuries. The use of halo-type cervical traction devices is known and described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,072,118 to R. G. Standerwick, et al.
Generally, a plurality of anchoring devices are required to be attached to the halo-type traction tool or brace which typically is anchored to the bone of an individual's skull, during the treatment of spinal fractures or injuries and facial reconstruction surgery. Various types of halo and anchoring tools and devices are known, an example of which includes U.S. Pat. No. 4,838,264 to Bremer, et al. Generally, anchoring bone-penetrating skull pins are set in the halo and rotatingly driven axially into the skull bone with a torque device in order to affix a halo-type traction tool to an individual's skull for anchoring further devices.
It is important to note that severe injury may occur if the skull pin goes into the skull too far. Bremer's skull pins have attempted to implement a torque sensitive safety feature which includes the shearing of the handle from the pin engaging cap upon reaching to a predetermined level of torque. This shearing action results in two pieces of the torque limiting device.
There is a need for a torque limiting device for use and in combination with skull pins and halo-traction tools which has not one, but two, shear safety features to prevent skull penetration by the pin or screw causing severe injury. Such a torque limiting device should also remain in one piece for easy handling by the surgeon and also to prevent lose of component parts which is problematic with the prior art.


A system for treating an ocular condition of a patient includes an electrically powered ocular implant sized for placement within an eye and includes a transmitter sized to be carried on or adjacent the head of the patient for disposal adjacent the eye. The transmitter includes a transmission antenna that emits an electromagnetic flux field sufficient to energize the ocular implant and includes a flux shunt disposed within the electromagnetic flux field. The transmission antenna may be disposed between the flux shunt and the implant.

The present disclosure relates generally to systems and methods for powering ocular implants for use in ophthalmic treatments.
Glaucoma, a group of eye diseases affecting the retina and optic nerve, is one of the leading causes of blindness worldwide. Most forms of glaucoma result when the intraocular pressure (IOP) increases to pressures above normal for prolonged periods of time. IOP can increase due to high resistance to the drainage of the aqueous humor relative to its production. Left untreated, an elevated IOP causes irreversible damage to the optic nerve and retinal fibers resulting in a progressive, permanent loss of vision.
FIG. 1 is a diagram of the front portion of an eye that helps to explain the processes of glaucoma. In FIG. 1, representations of the lens 110, cornea 120, iris 130, ciliary body 140, trabecular meshwork 150, and Schlemm's canal 160 are pictured. Anatomically, the anterior segment of the eye includes the structures that cause elevated IOP which may lead to glaucoma. Aqueous fluid is produced by the ciliary body 140 that lies beneath the iris 130 and adjacent to the lens 110 in the anterior segment of the eye. This aqueous humor washes over the lens 110 and iris 130 and flows to the treatment system located in the angle of the anterior chamber. The angle of the anterior chamber, which extends circumferentially around the eye, contains structures that allow the aqueous humor to drain. The trabecular meshwork 150 is commonly implicated in glaucoma. The trabecular meshwork 150 extends circumferentially around the anterior chamber. The trabecular meshwork 150 seems to act as a filter, limiting the outflow of aqueous humor and providing a back pressure that directly relates to IOP. Schlemm's canal 160 is located beyond the trabecular meshwork 150. Schlemm's canal 160 is fluidically coupled to collector channels (not shown) allowing aqueous humor to flow out of the anterior chamber. The two arrows in the anterior segment of FIG. 1 show the flow of aqueous humor from the ciliary bodies 140, over the lens 110, over the iris 130, through the trabecular meshwork 150, and into Schlemm's canal 160 and its collector channels.
One method of treating eye disease such as glaucoma includes implanting a treatment device in a patient's eye. Such a treatment devices can allow fluid to flow from the interior chamber of the eye to a drainage site, relieving pressure in the eye and thus lowering IOP. These devices however, are passive, unpowered devices and therefore, do not allow monitoring or interactive control of the treatment device. Therefore, responding to particular conditions does not occur.
Accordingly, there exists a need for a powered system or implant that may be utilized to treat eye diseases such as glaucoma for example. The system and methods disclosed herein overcome one or more of the deficiencies of the prior art.

System and method for powering ocular implants


A liquid cooled radiation module for servers is installed in a server to directly dissipate heat from a central processing unit through a liquid cooling fashion. The module includes a body which has a housing compartment to house a liquid tube and a radiator. The radiator has an air sucking section to draw heated air in the housing compartment and an air discharge section to discharge heat through an air vent. The liquid tube has a water delivery device driven magnetically by the radiator to form liquid circulation to continuously disperse heat from the CPU. The module thus made is compact and adaptable to servers of 1U or 2U specifications.

The present invention relates to a liquid cooled radiation module for servers and particularly to a liquid cooled radiation module adopted for use on computer hosts housed in servers of general industrial 1U or 2U standards that otherwise are not suitable to apply liquid cooling due to space constraint.
Concentration of central processor unit (CPU) has been grown constantly, and the frequency of CPU also increases as well. The heat being radiated is very hot and in some cases can even boil water. Following the existing trend, the present air cooled radiation fins cannot fully dissipate the thermal energy generated by the modern CPUs. Experts predict that in the future 3 to 5 years all CPUs in the world have to use liquid cooled apparatus. The liquid cooled apparatus have many advantages such as strong thermal energy carrying capability and desirable controllability. And thermal energy may be transferred in a selected direction. Liquid circulation may be achieved by a smaller amount of power consumption. Radiation may be accomplished in various forms. The curve of CPU operation temperature is smooth and formed in a gradual shape. And operation noise of the equipment is lower. Typical liquid cooled apparatus now available on the market can be summed up as follows:
1. External liquid cooled apparatus. It includes a water tank equipped with a pump located outside a computer host. The water tank is connected to the CPU through a water pipe. Heat generated by the CPU is carried by the liquid to the external water tank in a close loop manner. Heat dissipation is performed in the external water tank. This type of heat dissipation is most effective. However, the external water tank and the radiation module are quite bulky and take too much space. It is suitable only to large size computer hosts, and is not suitable to the general personal computers or servers.
2. Modular liquid cooled apparatus. Such type is designed based on 5.25xe2x80x3 slot. The apparatus includes radiation fins made by aluminum extrusion and air fans. The radiation fins has four straight water passages on the bottom and two transverse water passages. The water passages are sealed by waterproof silicon paste to form a M-shaped water passage to allow water to circulate inside. It can increase contact surface and effectively transfer heat to the bottom of the radiation fins. However, as the fins have a lower height, the air fans experience a clear static pressure during operation. Such a design has the advantage of requiring only one optical disk slot. It is suitable for personal computers. However, to servers, because the space for hard disk and optical disk drive is limited, to allocate extra space is not easy. Hence for the servers that conform to industrial 1U or 2U standards, the liquid cooled apparatus that can be directly installed in the servers is still not available.
3. Moreover, liquid circulation of the present liquid cooled radiation modules mostly have a water delivery device connecting to a liquid pipe that is driven by a pump and motor. The pump and motor generate noise during operation. It is an annoyance not well accepted by many users.
Therefore the primary object of the invention is to resolve the aforesaid disadvantages and overcome the drawbacks of the prior art. The invention is installed in a server to directly provide liquid cooled heat dissipation for the CPU. The module includes a body which has a housing compartment to contain a liquid tube and a radiator. The radiator has an air sucking section to draws heated air in the housing compartment and an air discharge section to discharge through an air vent. The liquid tube includes a water delivery device to form a liquid circulation loop to continuously disperse heat for the CPU. The liquid cooled radiation module thus made is compact and may be adopted on servers of 1U or 2U standards, and coupled with the operation of the water delivery device which is driven synchronously by magnetic force of an impeller of the radiator, it can achieve heat dissipation effect through liquid circulation without the need of using a conventional, motor-driven pump.
The foregoing, as well as additional objects, features and advantages of the invention will be more readily apparent from the following detailed description, which proceeds with reference:to the accompanying drawings.

Liquid cooled radiation module for servers


Provided herein are pharmaceutical formulations and pharmaceutical compound salts which utilize complexing agents as counterions. Such formulations and salts are useful for treating a variety of disease and disorders.

Pharmaceutical compounds and their derivatives, such as ketamine, methoxetamine, deschloroketamine, dextromethorphan, tryptamines, phenethylamines, opioid compounds, cathinones, 3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamines, alkylamino-substituted benzofurans, amphetamines, aminoindanes, and stimulants, are useful for a variety of medicinal purposes. These compounds can be used to treat, for example, pain, depression, dysthymia, PTSD, compulsivity and impulse control disorders, personality disorders, cognitive disorders, sleep, inflammatory disorders, and numerous other psychiatric and physical disorders. However, the compounds may possess many physico-chemical properties that make suitable formulations for widespread use as pharmaceutical agents difficult, including the presence of basic amines, limited solubility, hydrophobicity, and inherently ionic functional groups.

Complexing agent salt formulations of pharmaceutical compounds


An object is to provide a vehicle heat-exchange module capable of optimizing the whole of a stator blade that deflects a flow in the swirling direction produced by a cooling fan, thereby reducing the work performed by the cooling fan and eventually reducing the input power to the cooling fan, and to provide a vehicle having the vehicle heat-exchange module. According to the vehicle heat-exchange module (10), the stator blade (30) arranged on the downstream side of the cooling fan (16) is divided by an intermediate ring (31) into inner-circumference-side stator blade members (32A) and outer-circumference-side stator blade members (32B), and the number of the inner-circumference-side stator blade members (32A) for installation is made smaller than that of the outer-circumference-side stator blade members (32B), thus setting the pitch/chord ratio within an appropriate range at each of the inner circumference side and the outer circumference side. As a result, a flow in the swirling direction produced by the cooling fan (16) is efficiently deflected by the whole of the stator blade (30), thereby reducing the work performed by the cooling fan (16) and eventually reducing the input power to the cooling fan (16).

A known conventional vehicle heat-exchange module includes a condenser (heat exchanger), a radiator (heat exchanger), a cooling fan that forcibly supplies external air to the condenser and the radiator, and a fan shroud that has an opening portion formed in a substantially circular shape in plan view and that guides external air heat-exchanged by the condenser and the radiator to the cooling fan through the opening portion.
In this vehicle heat-exchange module, a flow that has flown out through the rotation of the cooling fan contains a component traveling from the heat exchangers toward the downstream side and a component in a swirling direction of the cooling fan.
Of those components, the flow component in the swirling direction of the cooling fan does not contribute to the amount of air passing through the heat exchangers. Therefore, in order to reduce the flow component in the swirling direction, stator blades are disposed at the downstream side of the cooling fan.
When a flow passing through the cooling fan collides with the stator blades, the flow in the swirling direction is deflected to flow in the downstream direction, thus reducing the swirling components. As a result, the work performed by the cooling fan can be reduced, thereby eventually suppressing the input power required for rotating the cooling fan (for example, see PTL 1).

Vehicle heat-exchange module and vehicle having the same


An air pressure overall massage apparatus is provided having an air pressure supply, which includes a pump to generate air pressure and a functional can connected with the pump. The functional can is also connected with a pressure switch, an electromagnetic valve, an air delivery hole and a pressure controller individually. There is a time clock used for setting operation time and timing. When air pressure is conveyed through an air delivery hole, it can enter into an air delivery hose to fill massage clothes such as trousers. After the setting pressure imposed on the human body is reached at a setting time, the air will escape for a predetermined number of seconds and then fill again automatically. Thus the human body is repeatedly pressured and relaxed again and again to have overall massage effect.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention is directed to an apparatus for air pressure overall, or distributed massage, especially for making use of air pressure to fill user's tight massage clothes or trousers. After the setting pressure imposed on the human body reaches at the setting time, the air will escape for seconds and then fill again automatically. Thus the air repeatedly pressures and relaxes the human body again and again to have overall massage effect.
2. Prior Art
Presently, use of massage devices in the market can be divided into several types as a whole. One is a gravity type, which takes advantage of the gravity of the human body. Two feet step on the massage plates or the slippers covered with different sizes of convexities to massage the acupuncture points of the feet's bottom. However, only the bottom of the feet can be massaged, and it is operated by human force completely. The other is a dynamically continuously shocking type, which uses a motor to drive a shaft to go up and down continuously making shock against the bottom of the feet. Although it can be operated by dynamic, only the bottom of the feet has massage effect. Another is a vibration type. No matter what kind of the dynamic types it is to generate vibration, for example, the eccentric, electromagnetic type or supersonic waves, the operation can be by use of the manual massage or a massage chair. Although the former can massage every part of the human body by turns (In fact, some parts are difficult for the user to reach to massage.), it is still partially taking turns and can not massage the large or whole part of the body at the same time, which may influence massage effect. The latter is also a partial massage over the contacting position of the body and the massage chair.

Apparatus for distributed air pressure massage


A dispenser for maintaining light sensitive substances utilized in the practice of dentistry shielded from light and providing easy and convenient access by the dentist includes a container and a cover therefor with the cover being hingably attached to the container. The container includes a plurality of recesses for receiving one or more light sensitive substances. The container is provided with structure such as a finger hold on the bottom or an elastic band for maintaining the container on one or more digits of a hand and the cover is provided with a ring or other suitable structure for maintaining the cover in operable engagement with another digit of the hand, such as a thumb, whereby the dispenser may be held in one hand and readily opened and closed to provide easy, quick, convenient access to the light sensitive substances by the dentist.

This invention is directed to a dental dispenser for light curable substances. More particularly, the invention relates to a dispenser which will shield light curable resins and the like from light and enable convenient use of the same as needed.
Light curable resins and the like have become widely utilized in the practice of dentistry. It is necessary that these substances be made available to the dentist as needed in performing the dental operation and shielded from light as much as possible. The light sensitive substances should be shielded from light not only during extended periods, but even during the multiple periods of time between when the dentist actually needs access to the light curable resin or the like during the dental operation.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,822,280-Rider discloses a dispenser for light curable substances wherein a box like dispenser is provided with a slidable lid for closing off the dispenser to isolate the light curable substance contained therein. This patent further discloses that the dispenser is provided with a syringe inserted into the side for the injection of the light curable substance into the container.

Dental dispenser for light curable substances


A three-dimensional puzzle which consists of several mutually permanently connected puzzle bodies which result in a regular tetrahedron in the assembled state. All puzzle elements consist of truncated pyramids of different sizes which are disk-like. All puzzle elements are combined to a chain, in which each puzzle element is connected with the next-larger one along an edge in such a manner that they can be folded about these edges with respect to one another. In this chain, the individual puzzle elements are arranged such that they form a band which winds helically about an imaginary vertical center axis.

The invention is a three-dimensional puzzle game for adults and children which results in a regular tetrahedron in the assembled state. It is used for entertainment and for demonstrating a specific geometrical principle.
The main game value of known puzzles is the achieving of the more or less tricky task of creating an order out of disorder. The disassembling or mixing-up does not have any special appeal. This has the disadvantage that the interest in the puzzle will wane as soon as it is determined how it can be assembled correctly and can be solved.
The tetrahedron puzzles known from U.S. Patent Documents U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,565,442 and 4,323,245 as well as the tetrahedron puzzle known from German Design Patent G 88 08 167.2 also have this disadvantage. In the case of the latter, this disadvantage is compensated by the fact that it can also be used for various purposes that are not game-related.
Another disadvantage of the known puzzles is that, even when they have a regular design, not much attention is paid to the geometrical principles on which the puzzles are based because the "pile of rubble" of the individual pieces stimulates thoughts on how the destroyed whole can be restored and not on according to which principle the individual pieces were shaped.
In addition, familiarity alone is a disadvantage in the case of puzzle games, and there is always a demand for novel puzzles.
It is the object of the invention to provide a three-dimensional puzzle game which is surprising in its unfamiliar pattern and creates special interest. The puzzle is to be entertaining not only when it is assembled but also when it is disassembled. For this purpose, the special characteristic of the tetrahedron is to be demonstrated impressively which is that it can be divided by means of a plane cut into a "tetrahedron disk" and into a new tetrahedron.


In one embodiment, undo and redo operations of an application are implemented using patchsets or changesets. When changes are made by the application, a transaction is performed against a relational database including one or more changes to reflect the changes made by the application. The one or more changes are tracked to produce a set of tracked changes. In response to detecting the transaction is to be committed, the set of tracked changes is converted to a patchset or changeset. The patchset or changeset is stored to a transaction table and the transaction committed. In response to a request to undo the changes made by the application, the one or more changes of the patchset or changeset are inverted to produce an inverted patchset or changeset, that is then applied. In response to a request to redo the changes made by the application, the patchset or changeset is applied as is.

Technical Field
The present disclosure relates generally to undo and redo operations, and more specifically to techniques for implementing undo and redo operations using patchsets or changesets.
Background Information
Relational databases are electronic databases that store related data in tables of rows and columns, and allow links to be established between tables that have matching fields, such that multiple tables may be simultaneously queried. Many relational data-bases utilize a version of the SQL language, a special-purpose programming language adapted to manage data storage. SQL statements may be executed by a relational data-base system implemented by a self-contained programming library integrated within an application. For example, SQL statements may be executed by the SQLite® embedded SQL database system, available in the public domain. Alternatively, SQL statements may be executed by a relational database system that executes as a separate process and is accessed by an application. For example, SQL statements may be executed by a MySQL® database system available open source, an Oracle Database available from Oracle Corp., or a Microsoft SQL Server database system available from Microsoft Corp.
Among other uses, relational database systems (e.g., SQL database systems) may be used to store application data (e.g., computer aided design (CAD) data) for software applications (e.g., CAD applications), operating as a standardized persistence format for the application data. For example, in a CAD application, when a project is initially designed, the CAD application may create a set of tables having rows that store elements, models, and other information related to the project. In response to changes to the project by the CAD application, the rows of the data tables may be changed, for example, to add rows, remove rows or modify rows.
Storing application data using a relational database system may have advantages over other storage approaches. For example, by using a relational database as a standardized persistence format, independent from the particular memory layout employed by the application, greater interoperability and opportunity for data reuse may be provided. In particular, applications that store data originating from multiple domains (such as certain CAD applications) may especially benefit, as it may enable schemas to be created and modified independent of the application that originally created the data.
While storing application data using a relation database may have benefits, it does present various problems. Some of these problems stem from a difference between how application data is persistently stored to a relational database and how in-memory copies of the application data are maintained. An application may no longer have a complete view of how its data is written to persistent storage. One manifestation of this problem can be seen in the implementation of undo and redo operations.
Many applications (including many CAD applications) enable a user to undo (i.e. reverse) a recent set of changes by triggering an undo operation in the user interface of the application. Subsequently, if they so desire, the user may redo (i.e. reinstate) the set of changes by triggering a redo operation in the user interface. With conventional applications that manage their own persistent storage of data, undo and redo operations may be implemented rather simply. The application can journal each of the changes it writes to persistent storage in binary objects (e.g., "undo blobs" or "redo blobs"). To implement an undo or redo operation, the application interprets the appropriate blob, and reverses or reinstates the writes it made to persistent storage.
However, when a relational database (e.g., an SQL database) is used as the persistence format, these techniques are typically not available. The statements the application sends to the relational database system often do not describe all the modifications made by the relational database system to the data. For example, the application may send a statement to the relational database system to delete all rows of a particular table that are more recent than a particular date (e.g., in SQL, a statement such as DELETE FROM table 2 WHERE date>?). Such a statement may cause many rows (e.g., 1000's of rows) to be deleted from the particular table. However, if the application simply journals the statement, it will not retain a record of the actual modifications made by the relational database system (e.g., the actual rows deleted), and will not be able to reverse the changes.
Accordingly, there is a need for an efficient and effective technique for implementing undo and redo operations in an application that utilizes a relational database as its persistence format.

Techniques for application undo and redo using SQL patchsets or changesets


An active clearance control system for a gas turbine engine includes an intersegment seal engaged with each pair of a multiple of air seal segments.

The present disclosure relates to a gas turbine engine and, more particularly, to a blade tip rapid response active clearance control (RRACC) system therefor.
Gas turbine engines, such as those that power modern commercial and military aircraft, generally include a compressor to pressurize an airflow, a combustor to burn a hydrocarbon fuel in the presence of the pressurized air, and a turbine to extract energy from the resultant combustion gases. The compressor and turbine sections include rotatable blade and stationary vane arrays. Within an engine case structure, the radial outermost tips of each blade array are positioned in close proximity to a shroud assembly. Blade Outer Air Seals (BOAS) supported by the shroud assembly are located adjacent to the blade tips such that a radial tip clearance is defined therebetween.
When in operation, the thermal environment in the engine varies and may cause thermal expansion and contraction such that the radial tip clearance varies. The radial tip clearance is typically designed so that the blade tips do not rub against the BOAS under high power operations when the blade disk and blades expand as a result of thermal expansion and centrifugal loads. When engine power is reduced, the radial tip clearance increases. To facilitate engine performance, it is operationally advantageous to maintain a close radial tip clearance through the various engine operational conditions.
A "feather seal" seals inter-segment gaps of the segmented BOAS turbine hardware. For BOAS that are retractable, feather seals could be sheared if adjacent BOAS are not retracted at the same time.

Flexible feather seal for blade outer air seal gas turbine engine rapid response clearance control system


A manufacturing method of a flying magnetic head slider includes a step of providing a substrate with a plurality of inductive write head elements formed thereon, each head element having a pair of magnetic poles facing to each other via a magnetic gap, and with a protection layer covering the plurality of inductive write head elements, a step of cutting the substrate to separate into a plurality of bar members, each of the bar members having aligned inductive write head elements, a step of processing the protection layer of each bar member so that a distance from an end edge of the pair of magnetic poles to an edge of a bottom surface of the bar member becomes in a range of 1 to 15 μm, a step of lapping each bottom surface of the bar member, and cutting each bar member to separate into a plurality of individual magnetic head sliders.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a manufacturing method of a flying magnetic head slider provided with a thin-film magnetic head element.
2. Description of the Related Art
In a magnetic disk drive device, thin-film magnetic head elements for writing magnetic information into and/or reading magnetic information from magnetic disks are in general formed on magnetic head sliders flying in operation above the rotating magnetic disks. The sliders are supported at top end sections of suspensions, respectively.
Recently, a flying height of the magnetic head slider rapidly lowers to satisfy the requirement for ever increasing data storage capacities and densities in today's magnetic disk drive apparatus. Because of such lowered flying height, a possible protrusion of a protection layer of the slider at a corner portion between an air bearing surface (ABS) and a trailing surface, which corner is the lowest portion of the slider during the flying operations has not become negligible. Particularly, in the magnetic head slider with an inductive write head element, a protection layer may thermally expand and protrude due to the write current causing the protruded portion to come into contact with the magnetic disk surface during operations.
Known is a method of forming a step or recess at a corner edge between the ABS and the trailing surface of the magnetic head slider, by partially removing the protection layer during a patterning process of the ABS, to reduce the protrusion of the protection layer as small amount as possible.
In another known method disclosed for example in U.S. Pat. No. 6,428,715 B1, protrusion of a protection or overcoat layer made of a typical material of alumina (Al2O3) is reduced by immersing the overcoat layer in an alkaline solution and thus by etching the whole ABS of the overcoat layer to form a step.
However, according to the former known method, due to the limited resolution of a resist and the limited precision in an exposure equipment used for patterning the ABS, it is impossible to bring a starting point of the step close to a magnetic pole of the inductive write head element. Therefore, the protrusion amount cannot be reduced so much. If the step is formed over a part of the magnetic pole, a coating film such as a diamond like carbon (DLC) film is removed causing corrosion of the pole to occur.
According to the latter known method, it is ensured to etch the alumina and to form a step. However, if the magnetic pole contains a metal material easily etched by an alkaline, the pole itself is etched to deteriorate the characteristics of the write head element.

Manufacturing method of flying magnetic head slider


A Portable Maintenance Aid (PMA) having multiple applications for the electrical testing and data acquisition for various air/ground vehicle platforms is disclosed. The PMA includes an interface adapter that has a number of electrical testing interfaces and data collection ports in addition to a stray voltage detector. The portable testing aid also includes a user interface that transmits data to the interface adapter and a display that communicates the testing and maintenance information to the user. The portable testing aid also includes a communication system for transferring information between the user interface, the display, and the interface adapter. The PMA provides a preload tester/stray voltage tester that is sustainable, less replaceable and has capability of filling the test voids.

Combat forces use many different types of weapons from small field artillery to large ballistic missiles. Weapons may be fired from ships, planes, and ground stations. Most modern weapons have electronic components and systems that assist in locating targets, aiming weapons, and firing them. Weapons maintenance technicians maintain and repair weapons used by combat forces.
There are many kinds of weapons. For example, weapons include bombs, rockets and missiles. Weapons are fired from, or launched from, weapons platforms. One type of weapons platform is an aircraft. Another type of platform is a vehicle or a rocket or missile launcher.
Both weapons and weapons platforms have electrical circuits. The electrical circuits perform a variety of functions such as firing the weapons. For example, an aircraft may be loaded with the rockets. When the aircraft is on the ground, the rockets are disarmed and safed, so as to prevent accidental firing. In flight and after a target has been identified, the pilot or weapons officer fires one or more rockets electrically. A common firing mechanism involves providing electrical current to an igniter, which igniter initiates the rocket propulsion system.
The individual weapons are electrically connected to the platform circuits by way of connectors. The weapons systems circuits on platforms are checked to insure safe and reliable operation. Safe operation insures that a weapon will not accidentally fire unless and until the weapon is pointed at a target. Reliable operation insures that once properly aimed and fired, the weapon will release and fire as intended.
Prior art weapons circuits test systems for aircraft utilize an analog voltage detector and a kit of various connectors and test cables. The appropriate connector is selected and coupled to the aircraft connector. The appropriate test cable extends between the test connector and the voltage detector. The test systems test for stray voltage on the aircraft weapons circuit to prevent accidental firing. The test system also tests for the presence of voltage on the aircraft weapons circuit to insure sufficient voltage for firing. An electro-explosive device load test, continuity in the weapons circuit and a self test of the test circuit are also performed.
Currently, the F-16 aircraft utilizes an Armament Circuits Preload Test Unit (AKA Stray Voltage Tester). The Armament Circuits Preload Test Unit is a single input handheld device that is limited capability. The Stray Voltage Tester (SVT) is not sustainable, has Diminishing Manufacturing Sources (DMS) issues, no growth allowance for additional testing modules and is of vintage 1980's technology. The current SVT has calibration and alignment requirements that needs additional test equipment. Also, the backshop maintainer requires many operational hours to perform the test. It also has test voids due to modern weapons being added to the F-16 aircraft.
Upgrading the existing SVT to meet current needs would be prohibitively expensive. A need therefore exists for improved preload tester/stray voltage tester that is sustainable, less replaceable and capable of filling the test voids for various air/ground vehicle platforms.

Portable maintenance aid based preload test unit and stray voltage detector

BAE Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration Inc.


A heat resistance cooking apparatus. The heat resistance cooking apparatus including a cooking section, a handle section and a middle section coated with acrylic elastomeric compound providing: (1) an insulating thermal coating reducing heat absorption on the coated middle section from the cooking section that is placed in contact with a cooking heat source such as stove, grill, camp fire, fire pit, etc., (2) resistance to cracking including a flexible surface layer expandable and contractible with changes in temperature, (3) resistance to thermal shock; (4) water resistance, (5) fade resistance, (6) providing a textured surface on the middle section for easy, non-slip gripping, and (7) dishwasher safe.

There are many types of metal cooking apparatus that are used on stoves, grills, in campfires, etc. When such metal cooking apparatus come in contact with a heat source such as an electric burner, a gas burner, an actual fire in a campfire, the metal heats up.
The temperature of a metal cooking apparatus can actually become hot enough to cause minor injuries up to severe injuries to a person touching it, in the form of thermal burns. Thermal burns occur when hot metals, scalding liquids, steam, or flames come in contact with the skin of a human.
Thermal burns includes first, second or third degree burns. First-degree burns, called superficial burns, cause pain and reddening of the epidermis (i.e., an outer layer of the skin) Second-degree burns, called, partial thickness burns, affect the epidermis and the dermis (i.e., a lower layer of skin). They cause pain, redness, swelling, and blistering. Third-degree burns, called full thickness burns go through the dermis and affect deeper tissues. They result in white or blackened, charred skin that may be numb.
According to the National Institute for Standards and Technology (NIST), human skin begins to feel pain at a temperature of about 111 degrees)(° Fahrenheit (F) (43° (Celsius). At about 118° F. (48° C.) human skin sustains first-degree burns. A second-degree burn injury typically occurs at a temperature of about 131° F. (55° C.) on human skin.
According to the University of Wisconsin Engineering Physics Department—Laboratory and Workplace Safety—High Temperature Safety Publication, third degree thermal burns occur in humans when hot metals come in contact with the skin of humans in about fifteen seconds at 133° F. (56° C.), in about five seconds at 140° F. (60° C.), in about two seconds at 149° F. (65° C.) and in about one second at 156° F. (69° C.).
According to the National Burn Repository, fire causes about 50% of all cases of thermal burns in the United States. The color of a fire is a rough gauge of how hot it is. Deep red fire is about 1112-1800° F. (600-800° C.), orange-yellow fire is about 2012° F. (1100° C.), and a white flame is hottest, ranging from about 2400-2700° F. (1300-1500° C.).
There are many problems associated with cooking utensils. Most cooking utensils are made from metal. As a result, when they are exposed to a heat source they become hot, very quickly and can quickly cause thermal burns.
One problem is that, when metal on a metal cooking utensil comes in contact with a heat source on a kitchen stove, it becomes very hot, very quickly and can quickly cause thermal burns.
Another problem is that when metal on a metal cooking utensil comes in contact with a heat source in on a grill, it becomes very hot, very quickly and can quickly cause thermal burns.
Another problem is that when metal on a metal cooking utensil or a marshmallow fork comes in contact with a heat source in a camp fire, it becomes very hot, very quickly and can quickly cause thermal burns.
In all such instances, it is difficult to remove food items or desert items such as marshmallows, etc. without suffering from thermal burns.
In many instances, accidental thermal burns also occur because the user touches a component of the cooking utensil, such as a shaft or handle that has also become very hot from exposure to the heat source.
There have been some attempts to solve some of the problems associated with such cooking utensils.
One solution is to put a handle on the cooking utensil that is not a conductor of heat such as wood, plastic, etc. However, such a solution does not solve the problem of suffering from thermal burns by touching a shaft or end piece (e.g., fork, metal points, etc.) of the cooking utensil while removing the food or desert items.
Another solution is to make a cooking utensil with just a metal end and a handle and shaft made of non-metal materials. However, such a solution results in a cooking utensil that is difficult to clean (e.g., wood, etc.), may not be useable at higher temperatures as it may burn itself (e.g., wood, plastic, etc.), may melt (e.g., plastic, etc.) or become weak, which may also cause thermal burns or other injuries from the failure of such materials.
Another solution is to create a cooking utensil made out of a substance other than metal that does not conduct heat at all (e.g., wood, plastic, etc.). However, such a solution also may not be useable at higher temperatures as it may burn itself (e.g., wood, plastic, etc.), may melt (e.g., plastic, etc.) or become weak, which may also cause thermal burns or other injuries from the failure of such materials.
These solutions still do not solve all of the problems associated with metal cooking apparatus. Thus, it is desirable to solve some of the problems associated with metal cooking apparatus.


An electric power steering apparatus comprises a steering shaft including an input shaft connected to a steering wheel, an output shaft connected to a steering gear device, a torsion bar for transferring torque to the output shaft from the input shaft, the steering shaft being rotatably supported in a steering column, torque detection coils disposed outwards along an outer periphery of the steering shaft, and a worm wheel meshing with a worm rotationally driven by a motor driven corresponding to detected torque and fixed to the output shaft in terms of its rotation, wherein the steering shaft is rotatably supported via a bearing provided between the worm wheel and a column-sided member on the front side of the vehicle.

In an electric power steering apparatus according to the prior art shown in FIG. 8, a lower column 102 is fitted in a vehicle-front-sided portion of an upper column 101 of a steering column, and an upper shaft 103 and a lower shaft (input shaft) 104 of a steering shaft that are spline-fitted to each other are rotatably supported in these columns 101 and 102.
An output shaft 105 is connected via a stopper portion 106 to a vehicle-front-sided portion of the lower shaft (input shaft) 104. A steering gear (unillustrated) is connected via a universal joint (unillustrated), etc. to a vehicle-front-sided portion of this output shaft 105.
The output shaft 105 is supported in housing 109 and in housing 110 through a pair of bearings 107, 108. A proximal end of a torsion bar 111 is fixedly press-fitted in a vehicle-front-sided portion of the lower shaft (input shaft) 104. This torsion bar 111 extends through an interior of the hollowed output shaft 105, and its front end is fixed to an end portion of the output shaft 105 by a fixing pin 112.
Torque detection grooves 113 are formed in the vehicle-rear-sided portion of the output shaft 105. A sleeve 114 of a torque sensor is disposed outwards in a radial direction of these grooves 113. A vehicle rear-sided end portion of this sleeve 114 is fixed to the vehicle-front-sided end portion of the lower shaft (input shaft) 104 by caulking or the like. Coils 115, a board, etc. are provided outwards in a radial direction of the sleeve 114.
The output shaft 105 is fitted with a worm wheel 118 meshing with a worm 117 defined as a drive shaft of an electric motor 116.
Accordingly, a steering force generated when a driver steers the steering wheel (unillustrated) is transferred to unillustrated steered travelling wheels via the input shaft 104, the torsion bar 111, the output shaft 105 and a rack-and-pinion steering gear device. Further, a rotational force of the electric motor 116 is transferred to the output shaft 105 via the worm 117 and the worm wheel 118. An adequate amount of steering auxiliary torque can be applied to the output shaft 105 by properly controlling the rotational force and a rotational direction of the electric motor 116.
As described above, in the electric power steering apparatus shown in FIG. 8, the sleeve 114 takes a structure that the vehicle rear-sided portion of the sleeve 114 is fixed to the vehicle front-sided end portion of the lower shaft (input shaft) 104, and hence axis-directional lengths of the housing 109 and of the housing 110 for the electric power steering are comparatively taken long.
As a result, the axis-directional lengths of the housing 109 and of the housing 110 specify a collapse/stroke quantity of the upper column 101 when a secondary collision of the vehicle happens. Therefore, the collapse/stroke quantity can not be increased over the stroke quantity shown in FIG. 8 in spite of a demand for increasing this stroke quantity.
Further, in the electric power steering apparatus, the steering auxiliary torque of the electric motor 116 is applied to the output shaft 105 via the worm wheel 118, and consequently larger torsional torque than on the input shaft 104 disposed on the rear side of the vehicle occurs on this output shaft 105 when in a steady state.
Moreover, if a reverse input, e.g., an impact force generated as when a tire collides with a curbstone acts on the output shaft 105 from the steering gear side, the worm wheel 118 has motor inertia that increases with a square of a gear ratio, and hence the extremely large impact torsional torque occurs on the output shaft 105.
The electric power steering apparatus according to the prior art shown in FIG. 8 has the hollowed structure that the torsion bar 111 extends through within the output shaft 105, and the torsion bar 111 is fixedly press-fitted in the end portion of the output shaft 105. Hence, if a small-diameter portion 105a of the output shaft 105 connected to a universal joint of the steering gear is twisted by the aforementioned torsional torque to an extremely slight degree in excess of an elasticity limit, its torsion (rotation) is detected by a torque sensor and appears to be an output deviation of the torque sensor, wherein this output deviation might induce self-steering. It is therefore required that strength of the small-diameter portion 105a of the output shaft 105 be improved by effecting a thermal treatment upon this small-diameter portion 105a.


A method that simplifies the exchange of data to facilitate delivery of data that relates to operation of a valve assembly to a Web-based user interface over a network. In one embodiment, the method configures an apparatus to receive data about the valve assembly in a first format and to generate an output in a second format, e.g., JavaScript Object Notation (JSON) format. The method may also configure the device with an architecture with multiple layers, wherein the architecture can exchange data in the JSON format between a first layer and a second layer. This architecture is configured to be lightweight as compared to the SOAP/HTTP architecture found in conventional techniques, typically deploying a Representational State Transfer (REST) structure that permits use of JavaScript Object Notation (JSON) format to communicate among the architecture layers and with the web-based user interface.

The subject matter disclosed herein relates to process automation and device diagnostics with particular discussion about device architecture to efficiently exchange diagnostic data with remote devices via a network.
Industrial factories and like facilities operate process lines that may include many varieties of flow controls. Examples of these flow controls include pneumatic and electronic valve assemblies (also "control valves") that regulate a flow of process fluid (e.g., gas and liquid). In conventional configurations, these valve assemblies have a number of components that work together to regulate flow of process fluid through the valve assembly. These components include a stem, a closure member, a seat, and an actuator that couples with the stem to change the position of the closure member relative to the seat. Examples of the closure member may embody a plug, ball, butterfly valve, and/or like implement that can contact the seat to prevent flow. The components can also include various linkages and springs that ensure proper movement, e.g., of the stem and/or the closure member. In some constructions, the valve assembly incorporates a valve positioner with electrical and/or electro-pneumatic components. During operation, the valve positioner receives control signals from a controller that is part of a process control system (also "distributed control system" or "DCS"). These control signals define operating parameters for the valve assembly, namely, a position for the closure member relative to the seat. In response to the control signal, the valve positioner delivers a pneumatic signal that regulates instrument gas to pressurize the actuator in order to regulate this position.
Problems with devices on the process line may disrupt the process and/or prevent the process line from achieving the necessary process parameters. The resulting disruptions can lower yields and reduce quality. In large refineries, chemical plants, and power plants, disruptions can also lead to significant expense from process downtime that is necessary to troubleshoot and repair the problematic devices. Plant operators therefore have an interest to detect problems at the device-level before problems manifest in ways that can hinder sustainable operation of the process line.
Conventional technology for monitoring operation of process lines can interface with the DCS to retrieve data that relates to the process devices. This technology also incorporates features to process the data. For example, data processing features are available that generate information that is useful for quantitative and/or qualitative diagnostics to address operation of the individual devices. In many implementations, the technology also makes the information readily available; for example, software packages can provide user interfaces that offer data presentation features that present the information to an end user on a comprehensive display.
The advent of software service platforms that offer cloud-based and/or remotely-supported software packages often require monitoring solutions that can provide end users access to information on Web-based interfaces via a network. Unfortunately, many conventional techniques deploy architecture that exchange data using Web services that rely on Extensible Markup Language (XML) as a message format and Simple Object Access Protocol (SOAP) and HTTP for enveloping and transporting of the messages. These techniques, for the most part, require lengthy coding that needs to be parsed for appropriate use and processing of the data encoded therein.

Method for transmitting data for device diagnostics and implementations thereof


A transducer assembly may comprise a thickness-mode piezoelectric ceramic body, a pair of foil conductors with mesh end portions, and a coupling medium used to fill in the interstices in the meshes. The foil conductors are held in contact with the electrode layers by a selected combination of adhesive mechanical clamping forces. One of the conductors is placed between one face of the ceramic body and a window that separates the transducer assembly from a fluid to be measured. The other conductor is held between the other face of the ceramic body and a backing body, which may be an acoustic isolator or a resonant isolating structure comprising a resonant body and an acoustic mass that is substantially heavier than the ceramic element. The structure may additionally comprise isolating sheets of material, which may be polymeric, that are positioned on either side of the resonator so that one of them is between the resonator and the backing body and the other is between the resonator and the surface with the foil conductor.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to piezoelectric transducers and particularly to those transducers in apparatus for determining the rate of flow of a fluid in which the propagation times of ultrasonic signals transmitted through the fluid are detected to determine flow rate.
2. Background Information
Ultrasonic transit time flow sensors, also known as "time of flight ultrasonic flow sensors", detect the acoustic propagation time difference between ultrasonic signals transmitted upstream and downstream through a flowing fluid and process the time difference information to derive the fluid flow rate. The propagation time difference is usually very small and must be detected with high resolution and stability for the sensor to be practical. These sensors typically use piezoelectric transducer elements to generate and detect the acoustic signals. The acoustic coupling of these elements to the fluid, which is complicated by the need to attach electrical connections to the acoustically active transducer surfaces, is generally the major source of sensor instability and error. There is a long-standing need to minimize this problem in a practical and cost effective way.
In U.S. Pat. No. 6,739,203 Feldman et al. teach an approach to making time of flight transducers using piezoelectric ceramic elements in which a metallization layer on the piezoelectric ceramic is wrapped around an edge so that both of the two necessary electrical contacts can be made on the same side of the ceramic body.
In U.S. Pat. No. 6,822,376 Baumgartner describes a contacting arrangement for a piezoelectric element in which a metal mesh is clamped between a metallization layer on the piezoelectric and a metal contact pad on a circuit board.
In U.S. Pat. No. 6,570,300 Riedel et al teach the use of a mesh conductor that is adhered to a surface to make an electrical contact to a piezoelectric bender element.


A driving assistance device includes: a surrounding-vehicle-information acquisition device for sequentially acquiring vehicle information for specifying a position and a travelling direction of a surrounding vehicle; a position acquisition device and a direction acquisition device for a host vehicle; a display controller for controlling a display device to display an image indicative of a current position of the surrounding vehicle relative to the current position and the travelling direction of the host vehicle; a surrounding-vehicle-track generation device for generating a surrounding vehicle track, which is at least one of a previous track and a future track of the surrounding vehicle; and a track display determination device for determining whether it is necessary to display the surrounding vehicle track. The display device further displays the surrounding vehicle track when it is necessary to display the surrounding vehicle track.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2004-77281 discloses a navigation system which displays the positions of a host vehicle and its surrounding vehicle on an electronic map based on information on the position of the surrounding vehicle and the direction thereof which has been obtained from the surrounding vehicle by vehicle-to-vehicle communication and shows the travelling directions of the host vehicle and the surrounding vehicle with the points of arrows.
However, in the technique disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2004-77281, when the navigation system is to be applied to a device which does not or cannot use an electronic map, the problem arises that it is difficult for the user thereof to recognize the relationship between the surrounding vehicle and the host vehicle of which the positions and travelling directions are displayed. The details are as follows.
If the positions of the host vehicle and the surrounding vehicle and the travelling directions thereof are displayed without displaying an electronic map, the user cannot recognize the relationship between the host vehicle and the surrounding vehicle such as the read/follow relationship therebetween or the relationship which will cross the host vehicle and the surrounding vehicle in the future based on the shapes of roads on an electronic map. As a result, the user has difficulty in recognizing the relationship between the host vehicle and the surrounding vehicle.
For example, a surrounding vehicle corresponding to a vehicle preceding a host vehicle on a curved road has the lead-follow relationship with the host vehicle. However, depending on the position thereof on the curved road, the travelling direction of the preceding vehicle may be greatly different from that of the host vehicle. In this case, if there is no display of an electronic map, the user has difficulty in recognizing that the host vehicle is following the foregoing preceding vehicle.


A game system includes a game apparatus and a controller, and the controller is furnished with an acceleration sensor. For example, a player performs a boxing game according to an acceleration input by throwing a hook or straight punch while holding the controller. When it is determined that an acceleration input is started, it is assumed that the kind is a straight although the kind of the input has not been identified yet, and a drawing of a glove object moving along a path of a straight is started. When it is determined that the kind is a hook on the basis of the acceleration acquired thereafter, the glove object moving along a hook path is drawn.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a storage medium storing a game program, a game apparatus, and a game controlling method. More specifically, the present invention relates to a storage medium storing a game program, a game apparatus, and a game controlling method for executing game processing according to a motion of a player detected by means of an acceleration sensor.
2. Description of the Related Art
One example of a game apparatus for executing a boxing game according to a punch motion detected with an acceleration sensor by a player is disclosed in Document 1 (Japanese Patent Laying-open No. 2002-153673). In the related art described in Document 1, an acceleration sensor for detecting accelerations in three-axis directions, such as back and forth (Y), right and left (X) and up and down (Z) directions is provided to a glove unit as a controller. By analyzing an output waveform of the acceleration sensor, the kind of punch is identified. More specifically, the section from the start of throwing a punch to the end of throwing the punch is detected from a waveform of the Y-axis acceleration. Next, from the waveform of each of the X-axis acceleration and the Z-axis acceleration within the section from the start of throwing a punch to the end of throwing the punch, data, such as a maximum value and a minimum value, amplitude, a peak appearing count, an integration value, etc. is extracted. Then, the kind of the punch is determined on the basis of each extracted data and each waveform pattern for each kind of punches (straight, hook, and upper punch). When the kind of the punch is identified, game processing corresponding to the kind of the punch is performed.
However, in the art described in Document 1, after completion of a punch motion by the player, the kind of the punch is determined to execute game processing according to the kind, and therefore, it is impossible to draw an image showing the punch motion by the player. That is, in the art described in the Document 1, even if an image showing a punch motion by the player, such as an image showing that the player character is throwing a punch, an image showing that an object representative of the first of the player is moving is drawn, the image is displayed on the screen only when the player finishes performing the punch motion. In such a game of this kind, like an action game, a match-up game, etc. requiring a high response speed to a player's input, the low response is a problem and decreases amusement of the game. Thus, in the art in Document 1, a drawing utilizing a first-person perspective is basically adopted. That is, when it is determined that a punch is hit to an enemy character, an image showing that the enemy character is damaged is suddenly displayed without drawing an image showing a punch motion by the player.

Storage medium storing a game program, game apparatus, and game controlling method


A stacked structure includes a first die bonded over a second die. The first die has a first die area defined over a first surface. At least one first protective structure is formed over the first surface, around the first die area. At least one side of the first protective structure has at least one first extrusion part extending across a first scribe line around the protective structure. The second die has a second die area defined over a second surface. At least one second protective structure is formed over the second surface, around the second die area. At least one side of the second protective structure has at least one second extrusion part extending across a second scribe line around the protective structure, wherein the first extrusion part is connected with the second extrusion part.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to semiconductor structures and methods of forming the semiconductor structures, and more particularly to stacked structures and methods of forming the stacked structures.
2. Description of the Related Art
With advances associated with electronic products, semiconductor technology has been widely applied in manufacturing memories, central processing units (CPUs), liquid crystal displays (LCDs), light emission diodes (LEDs), laser diodes and other devices or chipsets. In order to achieve high-integration and high-speed goals, dimensions of semiconductor integrated circuits continue to shrink. Various materials and techniques have been proposed to achieve these integration and speed goals and to overcome manufacturing obstacles associated therewith. In order to achieve these targets, stacking technology has been applied to assemble two or more dies together, thereby providing multi-function chips and reducing chip dimensions.
FIG. 1A shows top views of two wafers. Different dies 103 and 113 are formed over wafers 100 and 110, respectively. Bonding pads (not shown) are formed in the dies 103 and 113. The wafers 100 and 110 are can be assembled into stacked structures by bonding the pads formed thereon. In each wafer, the dies 103 and 113 are separated by scribe lines 105 and 115, respectively. After the formation of the dies 103 and 113, the wafer 110 is bonded over the wafer 100 by a bonding step before singulation of the dies along the scribe lines.
FIG. 1B shows a cross-sectional view of the bonded wafers taken along a section line (not shown) which passes through one of the scribe lines 105, 115 shown in FIG. 1A. As shown in FIG. 1B, the wafers 100 and 110 are bonded at the bonding pads 107 and 117 formed over the wafers 100 and 110, respectively. After the formation of the stacked wafers 100 and 110, the backsides of the wafers 100 and 110 are subjected to grinding steps for reducing thicknesses of the wafers 100 and 110. The ground wafers are then subjected to a sawing (singulation) step for obtaining individual stacked dies.
As shown in FIG. 1B, no isolation material is filled between the bonded wafers 100 and 110. When the bonded wafers 100 and 110 are subjected to the grinding steps, such as chemical mechanical planarization (CMP) processing steps, chemicals or particles 109 may flow into the gap between the wafers 100 and 110, to the pads 107 and 117 or die areas (not shown) along scribe lines, resulting in shorts between devices or circuits (not shown) formed in the die areas. In order to solve the problem, some protective structures have been proposed.
FIG. 1C shows top views of two wafers upon which different dies are formed. FIG. 1D shows enlarged dies 123 and 133 shown in FIG. 1C.
Referring to FIG. 1C, dies 123 and 133 are formed over the wafers 120 and 130, respectively. In addition, protective structures 125, 127, 135 and 137 are also formed over the wafers 120 and 130, respectively. The protective structures 125 and 135 are formed, surrounding the dies 123 and 133, respectively. The protective structures 127 and 137 having patterns different from the dies 123 and 133 are formed over the peripheral areas of the wafers 120 and 130, where no integrated circuit, i.e., functional circuit, is formed.
As shown in FIG. 1D, each of the protective structures 125 and 135 comprises a plurality of rings. When the wafer 130 is bonded over the wafer 120, the rings of the protective structures 125 are also aligned and bonded to the corresponding rings of the protective structures 135, and the protective structures 127 are aligned and bonded to the corresponding protective structures 137. By the bonding step, the peripheral areas of the bonded wafers 120 and 130 are divided into many isolated areas separated by the protective structures 127 and 137, each of which is isolated or sealed by the protective structures 127 and 137. Accordingly, when the bonded wafers 120 and 130 are subjected to a CMP step, the protective structures 127 and 137 block chemicals at the circumference of the bonded wafers 120 and 130 and prevent penetration of chemicals to the dies 123 and 133 through the scribe lines. In addition, the bonded protective structures 125 and 135, i.e., rings, surround and individually seal the dies 123 and 133. Therefore, even if the bonded protective structures 127 and 137 fail to properly prevent penetration of chemicals at the peripheral area of the wafers, the bonded protective structures 127 and 137 around individual dies provide another shelter for blocking chemicals.
However, the protective structures 125, 127, 135 and 137 have some shortcomings. As shown in FIG. 1C, the patterns of the protective structures 127 and 137 are different from those of the dies 123 and 133. In other words, at least one additional photo reticle should be provided for patterning the protective structures 127 and 137, and the protective structures 127 and 137 must be formed by processing steps different from those of forming the dies 123 and 135. Accordingly, manufacturing costs and cycle time are increased. In addition, the rings of the protective structures 125 and 135 must be well aligned; otherwise, the rings of the protective structures 125 and 135 cannot connect to each other, and desirably sealed spaces between the rings cannot be formed. Accordingly, misalignment of the protective structures 125 and 135 adversely affects the function of the bonded protective structures 125 and 135.
From the foregoing, stacked structures and methods of forming the stacked structures are desired.

Stacked structures and methods of forming stacked structures

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.


A method for manufacturing a one-piece shoe shell of a skate with different widths having acts of forming a shoe shell with a rudimentary mold assembly, ejecting the shoe shell from the rudimentary mold assembly and adjusting a width of the sole of the shoe shell before the shoe shell hardens. The sole of the shoe shell has at least one adjusting portion to allow the sole to expand or be compressed. With the acts, each size of the shoe shell needs only one rudimentary mold assembly that has complex structure and high cost to substantially form a basic shape of the shoe shell and multiple shaping molds of different widths that have simple structure and low cost are prepared to further adjust widths of the shoe shell. Consequently, total cost for manufacturing the shoe shell with different widths is effectively lowered.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a one-piece shoe shell of a skate, especially to a method for manufacturing one-piece shoe shells of different width for each size of the shoe shell at ball area and heel area.
2. Description of the Prior Art(s)
People wear shoes to protect their feet from injury. Different kinds of shoes are adapted for different uses. For instance, athletic shoes are adapted for walking, running, hiking, climbing and other athletic activities. As for some sports, such as ice skating, inline skating or the like, a skate with a rigid shoe shell is needed for sufficient protection.
A conventional method for manufacturing a one-piece shoe shell of a skate is preparing a mold assembly comprising an outer mold and an inner mold, and then injecting molten plastic material into a mold cavity defined between the outer mold and the inner mold. When the molten plastic material in the mold cavity hardens, a one-piece shoe shell is completed. However, since people have feet with different sizes and widths at ball area and heel area, a lot of mold assemblies in different sizes and having different widths for each size are required to manufacture the one-piece shoe shells with different sizes and widths to fit different shapes of feet and make it comfortable while wearing the skates. Thus, manufacturing costs for manufacturing the shoe shells are high.
To overcome the shortcomings, the present invention provides a method for manufacturing a one-piece shoe shell of a skate with different widths to mitigate or obviate the aforementioned problems.

Method and apparatus for manufacturing one-piece shoe shells having different widths


A method for reacting to disturbances that occur in industrial processes includes the steps of extracting information regarding occurrence of disturbances from an industrial process, transmitting the extracted information to a disturbance filter which includes a leaky bucket having a defined disturbance step and floor and ceiling height for the disturbances, and triggering an alarm when occurrence of disturbances in the industrial process falls without the defined disturbance step and floor and ceiling height. The present invention also provides a rigorous method of setting parameters within a leaky bucket algorithm.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to the supervision of errors (or "disturbances") in industrial processes and, more particularly, to disturbance supervision algorithms used in the operation of telecommunications exchanges.
2. History of the Prior Art
Errors periodically occur in virtually every industrial process known to man. Thus, most mechanized processes include some way to detect the occurrence of errors in order to call them to the attention of an operator when required. The significance of an error within a process is determined by the nature of the error as well as the frequency with which such errors occur. Moreover, in complex industrial complexes such as those performed by telecommunications switching exchanges and digital computers, such occurrences are generally referred to as a disturbance, simply indicating the occurrence of an anomalous event within the process. For example, a disturbance can be a parity error during the exchange of data, or a sporadic hardware fault within the system. Other examples of abnormal events within such systems referred to as disturbances include:
a. A cyclic redundancy check (CRC) error; PA1 b. Congestion within the system; PA1 c. The occurrence of a greater number of bit errors in a particular time frame than the bit correction algorithm can cope with; PA1 d. Software exceptions within the system; and PA1 e. Data inconsistencies detected during runtime. PA1 a. Paper getting stuck in a copying machine; PA1 b. The misfiring of cylinders in an engine; and PA1 c. The occurrence of a false result in a blood test. PA1 a. The mathematics for analyzing disturbances have a number of special characteristics at low disturbance frequencies; and PA1 b. The mathematics break down for high disturbance frequencies. PA1 a. The size of the bucket; PA1 b. The size of the hole in the bottom (which is generally normalized to one); and PA1 c. The size of the cup used in filling the bucket. The size of the bucket is the difference in height between the ceiling and the floor. The size of the step is called the disturbance step.
Single disturbances within such systems produce any need for the raising of an alarm; but when disturbances become too frequent within a system, a technician should generally be notified so as to be able to take remedial action to prevent system failure. Moreover, it is generally the number of disturbances as a proportion of the number of events during which a disturbance could possibly occur which is of most interest to an operator of a process, e.g., five disturbances within the sequence of one hundred events is of much greater interest than ten disturbances during the occurrence of a million such events. The monitoring and measurement of the number of disturbances which occur during a sequence of events and the production of an alarm when the number of disturbances become too great is known as disturbance supervision.
The concepts of disturbance and disturbance supervision are applicable to virtually all fields of industrial processing. In principle, any event, the occurrence of which is undesirable but not in itself sufficient reason to raise an alarm, can be classified as a disturbance. Only when the frequency of these undesirable events becomes "too high" in some sense or another is it desired to raise an alarm. Other examples of disturbances within industrial processors could include:
In general, however, the analysis of disturbance alarm supervision in accordance with the principle of the present invention relates principally to disturbance frequencies which are no greater than about one percent of the frequency of normal events. This restriction is for basically two reasons:

Leaky bucket for supervision in industrial processes


Micro devices having enhanced through printed circuit board (PCB) heat transfer are provided. In one example, a micro device is provided that includes a PCB, a thermal management device, a chip package, a bracket, and a plurality of extra-package heat conductors. The chip package has a first side facing the thermal management device and a second side mounted to a first side of the PCB. The bracket is disposed on a second side of the PCB that faces away from the chip package. The plurality of extra-package heat conductors are disposed laterally outward of the chip package and provide at least a portion of a thermally conductive heat transfer path between the bracket and the thermal management device through the PCB.

Micro devices, such as electronic devices, photonic devices, microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) and/or RF devices, often employ electronic components which leverage chip package assemblies for increased functionality and higher component density. Conventional chip packaging schemes often utilize a package substrate, often in conjunction with a through-silicon-via (TSV) interposer, to enable a plurality of integrated circuit (IC) dies to be mounted to a single package substrate. The IC dies may include memory, logic or other IC devices. These micro devices containing one or more chip packages are frequently utilized in advanced electronic computing systems, such as found in telecomm and datacomm equipment, cellular antennas, data centers and automotive electronics, among others.
In many chip package assemblies, providing adequate thermal management has become increasingly challenging. Failure to provide adequate cooling often results in diminished service life and even device failure. Thermal management is particularly problematic in applications where active components have high current and power usage, and correspondingly generate high heat loads. Where active components are mounted close to package substrates, it is challenging to route heat out of the chip package, especially since the area below the package must be preserved to accommodate the solder balls needed to provide power, ground and communication lines between the chip package and the printed circuit board.
Therefore, a need exists for a micro device having improved thermal management.