A power supply circuit includes a printed circuit board (PCB), and a transformer coupled to the PCB. The power supply circuit also includes a first inductor assembly coupled to the PCB and electrically connected to the transformer, and a second inductor assembly coupled to the PCB and electrically connected to the transformer. The first inductor assembly has an inner edge and an opposite outer edge, and the second inductor assembly has an inner edge and an opposite outer edge. The inner edge of the second inductor assembly is spaced apart from the inner edge of the first inductor assembly by a gap. The power supply circuit also includes a first magnetic shunt coupled to the outer edge of the first inductor assembly, and a second magnetic shunt coupled to the outer edge of the second inductor assembly.

The field of disclosure relates generally to a power supply circuit and method of manufacturing the same. More particularly, the field of disclosure relates to an inductively balanced power supply circuit that includes a first current doubling circuit and a second current doubling circuit.
Power supply circuits, such as DC-DC converters, are used throughout the electronics industry and are designed to convert an input direct current (DC) voltage to a higher or lower output DC voltage. For example, many modern microprocessors, such as those installed in power-dense rack-mounted server systems, require extremely low input voltages and high input currents. Common conversion ratios are, for example, in the range of 48:12, with currents ranging in the fifties or hundreds of amps. In addition, because input voltage requirements have trended into such low ranges, modern converters must be able to constrain ripple voltages to very minimal levels (e.g., typically, less than 100 millivolts).
To accommodate these power requirements, various converter architectures have been developed. One such architecture, commonly referred to as a "current-doubler," has been extensively used in many converter topologies. In general, current-doublers may include two diode-inductor pairs coupled in parallel and connected to a secondary winding of a converter transformer. Advantages include ripple voltage cancellation, high current handling capability, and doubled current on the converter output.
Notwithstanding these advantages, however, increased power demands have led to the development of various so-called "double current-doublers." As the name suggests, a double current-doubler is a power supply circuit that includes a pair of current doubling circuits connected in parallel, such that an input current is effectively quadrupled on the output side of the converter. Drawbacks associated with many common double current-doublers include, for example, that the inductors of each current-doubler are disposed in close proximity (e.g., to accommodate a power dense converter architecture) and tend to magnetically couple during operation, such that ripple current on the output side of the converter is disadvantageously increased. One solution has been to physically separate the current-doublers, one from the other, by a substantial distance, that prevents, or at least substantially limits, magnetic coupling between the current-doublers. However, this solution results is a less power dense converter architecture and is therefore undesirable.
An inductively balanced power supply circuit is therefore desirable. More particularly, an inductively balanced double current-doubler is desirable, in which each current-doubler is positioned in relatively close proximity to the other to maintain a power-dense converter architecture without sacrificing a low, stable, low-ripple, output voltage and high output current.

Inductively balanced power supply circuit and method of manufacture


The present disclosure includes apparatus (e.g., computing systems, memory systems, controllers, etc.) and methods for providing data integrity. One or more methods can include, for example: receiving a number of sectors of data to be written to a number of memory devices; appending first metadata corresponding to the number of sectors and including first integrity data to the number of sectors, the first metadata has a particular format; generating second integrity data to be provided in second metadata, the second integrity data corresponding to at least one of the number of sectors (wherein the second metadata has a second format); and generating third integrity data to be provided in the second metadata, the third integrity data including error data corresponding to the second integrity data and the at least one of the number of sectors.

Memory devices are typically provided as internal, semiconductor, integrated circuits in computers or other electronic devices. There are many different types of memory including volatile and non-volatile memory. Volatile memory can require power to maintain its data and includes random-access memory (RAM), dynamic random access memory (DRAM), and synchronous dynamic random access memory (SDRAM), among others. Non-volatile memory can provide persistent data by retaining stored data when not powered and can include NAND flash memory, NOR flash memory, read only memory (ROM), Electrically Erasable Programmable ROM (EEPROM), Erasable Programmable ROM (EPROM), and resistance variable memory such as phase change random access memory (PCRAM), resistive random access memory (RRAM), and magnetoresistive random access memory (MRAM), among others.
Memory devices can be combined together to form a storage volume of a memory system such as a solid state drive (SSD). A solid state drive can include non-volatile memory, e.g., NAND flash memory and NOR flash memory, and/or can include volatile memory, e.g., DRAM and SRAM, among various other types of non-volatile and volatile memory. Flash memory devices, including floating gate flash devices and charge trap flash (CTF) devices using semiconductor-oxide-nitride-oxide-semiconductor and metal-oxide-nitride-oxide-semiconductor capacitor structures that store data in charge traps in the nitride layer, may be utilized as non-volatile memory for a wide range of electronic applications, Flash memory devices typically use a one-transistor memory cell that allows for high memory densities, high reliability, and low power consumption.
An SSD can be used to replace hard disk drives as the main storage device for a computer, as the solid state drive can have advantages over hard drives in terms of performance, size, weight, ruggedness, operating temperature range, and power consumption. For example, SSDs can have superior performance when compared to magnetic disk drives due to their lack of moving parts, which may avoid seek time, latency, and other electro-mechanical delays associated with magnetic disk drives. SSD manufacturers can use non-volatile flash memory to create flash SSDs that may not use an internal battery supply, thus allowing the drive to be more versatile and compact.
An SSD can include a number of memory devices, e.g., a number of memory chips. A memory device can include a number of dies and/or logical units (LUNs). Each die can include a number of memory arrays and peripheral circuitry thereon, and the memory arrays can include a number of blocks of memory cells organized into a number of physical pages.
An SSD can receive commands from a host in association with memory operations such as read and write operations to transfer data (e.g., user data and associated integrity data such as error data and address data, etc.) between the memory devices and the host. It can be beneficial to provide end-to-end integrity of the data transferred between the memory devices and the host in association with such operations in order to provide confidence that the data has not been corrupted during the transfer, for instance.

Apparatus and methods for providing data integrity


A method of raising the flash point of a green solvent includes adding from about 0.05 to 5.0 wt. % of at least one terpene alcohol, based on the weight of the at least one terpene alcohol and the green solvent. Green solvents are derived from organic matter, such as plants. They are not the product of petroleum feed stocks. Preferably, two terpene alcohols are added to the green solvent. Further, the addition of at least one terpene alcohol improves both the freeze resistance and the shelf life of the final green solvent solution.

"Green" solvents, such as certain alcohols, acetates, esters, etc. are regarded as such because of their sources of origin (non-petroleum based) and the fact that they biodegrade readily after use without environmental damage. All solvents are classified as Volatile Organic Compounds due to their photo-reactive qualities and Hazardous Air Pollutant (HAPS) status. They are further sub-classified based upon their vapor pressures, boiling points and flash points. The flash point is significant because it is the point at which the liquid becomes a volatile vapor, mixes with oxygen and thereby acquires its most combustible or flammable state. In the United States, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Department of Transportation (DOT) have classified such compounds based on their volatilities or "flash points".
The EPA and DOT Volatile Organic Compound ("VOC") classifications are as follows:
Class I liquids (flammable)flash point at or below 100° F.Class II liquids (combustible)flash point from 100° F. to below 140° F.Class III liquids (combustible)flash point above 140° F. to below 200° F.
Obviously, the more flammable a solvent, the more restrictions exist on its use. The Federal Government has classified such solvents as Hazardous Materials or "HAZMATS". Further, manufacturers that utilize solvents must handle the more volatile liquids more carefully and have to address issues involving atmospheric volatility, shelf life and worker health concerns from prolonged exposure to these chemicals. "Green" solvents are usually more costly than petroleum based solvents and may be less effective as solvents than those based on petroleum hydrocarbon stock. However, if these solvents can be modified so that their flash points can be raised, this would result in significantly more uses for these compounds as well as increasing their shelf lives. It is desirable therefore to raise the flash points of a variety of green solvents without substantially increasing the cost of these solvents. This would expand the range of potential uses for and improve the overall solubility of the green solvents.
Some examples of green solvents include, but are not limited to, alcohols such as methanol, ethanol, benzyl alcohol, and turpentine. The problem with these alcohols, however, is that due to their high VOC, they are considered HAPS which violate Federal and State emissions regulations.
Green solvents include, for example, ethyl lactate, with a flash point of 115° F., which although not considered a Class I VOC, still places limitations on their potential uses. Green esters, such as N-butyl propionate, ethyl lactate, methyl soyate, and terpene alcohols, are considered combustible, having flash points ranging from 115° F. up to 250° F. However, they are slow to evaporate and exhibit good solvating characteristics when used in blended compounds. Nonetheless, they are considered environmentally clean and would be utilized more extensively if their volatilities can be reduced.
Many terpene alcohols have the chemical formula: C10H18O. Terpenoid is the name given to the more general class of compounds which are characterized by a repeating carbon skeleton of isoprene. Terpenoids are derived from plants, trees, flowers, and other vegetation which allows their classification as "green compounds". They come in the form of liquids, solids, waxes, oils, and alcohols. Terpenoids are divided into groups determined by the number of carbon atoms and repeating isoprene units. They may be formed as acyclic, monocyclic, or polycyclic structures.
Terpene alcohols in various forms have been used for centuries in fragrances due to their compatibility with other compounds and their minimal negative environmental impact. The flavor and fragrance industries divide terpineols, which are a type of terpene alcohol, into alpha-, beta- or gamma-terpineols, with Beta-Terpineol being non-naturally occurring. Terpene alcohols have been used for other purposes, such as disinfectants, cleaning compounds, soaps, cosmetics and colognes. They are also known to add, enhance or mask the odor of products which perhaps might be offensive to humans or animals.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,273,839 B2 discloses the use of an alpha terpineol with petroleum based organic solvents and blends of solvents to increase the flash points of these solvents. The patent discloses that the addition of at least 10%, by weight, of an alpha terpineol to a single solvent or combination of solvents increases the flash point of the blended compound. They show examples and claim that at least 5% of one alpha terpineol increases the flash points of specific solvents to useful levels. In one example, they claim that by adding 18 wt % of alpha terpineol to acetone, they increased the solvent's flash point from 0° F. to 143.6° F. However, excessive alpha terpineol loadings (10-18%) cause rapid settling and poor shelf life which substantially adds to the cost of a solvent or combination of solvents. This is therefore a rather costly means to raise flash points.
The excessive loading (i.e., in excess of 10-15% by weight) of a single alpha terpineol results in paint and adhesive formulating problems due to incompatibility with some key resins that shows up during film formation and drying. The formulation often separates, leaving the terpineol behind. The terpineol acts as a diluent, phase separates, perhaps forming under the film, within the film, and upon the surface. The result for fast drying lacquers, vinyls, and similar coatings was complete rejection of the coating by the substrate. After 2-3 days of drying time, the stressed films lifted and floated, exhibiting no ultimate adhesion or bond strength. Vinyls heavily loaded with terpineol perform the worst, because they are in a ketone solvent solution and exhibit a low molecular weight during application. As soon as the ketone based solvents evaporate, the film becomes stressed due to the higher molecular weight of the vinyl resin and the film simply delaminates from the surface. In this instance, a heavy loading of the terpineol acts like a parting agent (or wax) thus preventing permanent adhesion of the vinyl film to the substrate.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Method of raising the flash points and improving the freeze resistance of volatile green solvents


A system evaluates occurrences of low level electrostatic discharge events in a manufacturing or processing environment or the like by encapsulating each of a plurality of a MOSFETs in a corresponding package having conductive first and second groups of leads coupled to the gate and source and/or drain electrodes of the MOSFET, respectively. The encapsulated MOSFET then is moved through the environment, wherein an electrostatic discharge causes current to flow into the first external electrode, stressing the gate oxide of the MOSFET and producing a permanent low resistance condition therein. The encapsulated MOSFET then is removed from the environment and tested by measuring an electrical parameter indicative of the low resistance condition between the first and second electrodes of the MOSFET. A statistical analysis then is performed on the data obtained by testing all of the MOSFETs to determine how to reduce or avoid ESD in the environment.

The invention relates to a method and apparatus for evaluating electrostatic discharge (ESD) conditions in a particular environment, and particularly to encapsulating electrostatic discharge sensors in packages which are exposed to that environment and then testing the encapsulated sensors to evaluate the ESD environment.
It is well known that electrostatic discharge occurs in many industrial processes, such as in manufacturing processes, assembly processes, electronic testing process and the like. For example, in manufacture of semiconductor devices, electrostatic charge builds up and is discharged during various human or machine workpiece handling operations wherein semiconductor wafers are processed and tested, and wherein individual chips are packaged and further probed, tested, etc. The amount of electrostatic charge accumulated and discharged during handling of workpieces is sufficient to cause a significant number of component failures, reducing the yield of various manufacturing/testing/handling operations and substantially increasing the overall product cost.
Furthermore, low level electrostatic discharge sources in assembly processes, semiconductor manufacture processes, electronic testing processes etc. are particularly important to detect, since such low level electrostatic discharge sources can cause latent damage in a manufactured product, reducing the reliability thereof.
In the past it has been very difficult to reduce workpiece damage caused by electrostatic discharge. Most prior electronic equipment for measurement of electrostatic discharge is very expensive. Use of floating gate field effect transistors has been proposed for measurement of electrostatic discharge events that often occur in manufacture, processing, testing, packaging, and shipping of semiconductor devices. The articles "Novel Test Structure for the Measurement of Electrostatic Discharge Pulses" by Lendenmann, Schrimpf and Bridges, published both in the proceedings of the IEEE 1990 International Conference on Microelectronic Test Structures, Volume 3, March 1990 and the IEEE Transactions on Semiconductor Manufacturing, Volume 4, No. 3, August 1991 disclose results of experiments showing that the shift of floating gate field effect transistor characteristics following exposure to an electrostatic discharge event can be used to measure electrostatic discharge pulse magnitude. However, use of floating gate field effect transistors as electrostatic discharge detectors has the disadvantages of high costs, the need for a specially designed and laid out chip, and a complex processing sequence.
Thus, there is an unmet need for a technique and equipment for accurately and economically evaluating various environments to characterize the extent of electrostatic discharge events therein, including relatively low level (eg, less than 200 volts) electrostatic discharge events.

Method and apparatus for evaluating electrostatic discharge conditions


A sign of character and figure which, in addition to using the AC power supply, is particularly suitable for use with a solar energy means, comprising a solar cell for supplying the electrical energy converted from the solar energy; a battery means for receiving the electrical energy from the solar cell and supplying the stored electrical energy; a circuit means for automatically illuminating the character and figure display in the dark; a lighting means comprising a light bulb or light emitting diode as the light source; a very thin refracting plate wound within the body, the outer surface thereof having strips which are serrated at right angle and the inner surface being a smooth face through which the light from the light source is refracted into extremely uniform light rays to be emitted from the outer surface; the body comprising on the surface a figure display having a plurality of figures, each being composed of seven segments of " ", the desired figure being produced by means of strip shaped shades, and the body further comprising a character display with dots arranged in matrix, each dot comprising a large and a small holes with a " " shaped shade disposed therebetween for producing the desired character.

The solar energy is an effective source of energy. Even in areas where there is no sufficient sunshine, the solar energy can still be used for light emitting means which need only low power (in places with sufficient sunshine, there is no problem at all). In addition to using the AC power source, the present invention is particular suitable for using the electrical energy converted from the solar energy which, through the control of a control circuit, automatically produces uniform and bright illuminating light with very low power for a character and figure display.


The disclosure provides a method and system of coupling end-to-end at least two existing mooring lines (12A, 12B) that are already deployed from the floating platform (56) to the seabed or other connecting structure to create a single shared line from the two lines. The shared lines then form a single looped line with both ends deployed to the subsea connections. The shared length provides enough payout of line to loosen one line sufficiently, while the other line becomes correspondingly tighter using the catenary length of the tight line. In part, the line can be loosened while the other is tightened because the lines are generally in the same overall direction to the seabed, such as in a same quadrant around the platform. Thus, the lines share their available lengths to provide the necessary payout for the repairs.

1. Field of the Invention
This disclosure relates to a method and system of securing floating platforms and other vessels. More specifically, the disclosure relates to a method and system for securing the floating platforms and other vessels with shared mooring lines.
2. Description of the Related Art
Deep-water offshore platforms, including Spars, are generally moored to the seabed through catenary mooring lines, such as chains and cables. These mooring lines are connected between the platforms on one end and structures on the seabed on the other end. The lengths can be significant and in many cases exceed one or more kilometers (or miles).
Movement of the offshore platform relative to the seabed is generally accommodated and factored into the weight, strength, length of the lines and seabed structures, and other parameters, so that under normal conditions, the system remains connected between the platform and seabed. However, there are sometimes unforeseen events that can cause an overload condition. It is known that an overload condition can break or otherwise destroy at least a portion of the connections, including the lines and anchors holding the lines to the seabed, at considerable expense.
When repairs are required to a connection, it is sometimes necessary to loosen the tension on the line to be able to cut or generally disassemble the connection, so that the repairs can be accomplished. However, due to the significant length and size of a typical mooring line, there is generally insufficient payout of line available to be able to adequately loosen the line.
One option is to specially attach additional line to the end of the existing mooring line to be able to payout the line farther. While in the abstract, such a remedy would seem natural, the size and length of the lines does not make this option particularly suitable. For example, a typical 60 feet of chain weighs about 2,500 kilograms and about 00 feet can be needed for one line for sufficient payout of line. Loading 12,500 kilograms of large size chain for each mooring line needing repair down into the depths of a floating platform that is in production with explosive hydrocarbons is risky at best.
Another option is to move the floating platform closer to the seabed connection to provide more payout of the line. However, movement in one direction presupposes that there is enough payout in the opposite direction, which is generally insufficient as discussed above. Further, the floating platform is generally connected to multiple production risers. A large movement of the platform can disrupt the connections and is generally not a satisfactory solution.
Therefore, there remains a need for a method and system for providing an increased payout of a mooring line without necessitating supplying additional quantities of lines to the existing lines on the floating platform.

Spar mooring line sharing method and system


Novel models of interactions of the Nonstructural Protein of influenza A and influenza B viruses (NS1A and NS1B, respectively) with dsRNA are presented. On the basis of the models, novel recombinant viruses and vaccines against influenza A and influenza B viruses are provided.

Influenza virus is a major human health problem. It causes a highly contagious acute respiratory illness known as influenza. The 1918-1919 pandemic of the "Spanish influenza" was estimated to cause about 500 million cases resulting in 20 million deaths worldwide (Robbins, 1986). The genetic determinants of the virulence of the 1918 virus have still not been identified, nor have the specific clinical preventatives or treatments that would be effective against such a re-emergence. See, Tumpey, et al., PNAS USA 99(15):13849-54 (2002).
Typical influenza epidemics cause increases in incidence of pneumonia and lower respiratory disease as witnessed by increased rates of hospitalization or mortality. The elderly or those with underlying chronic diseases are most likely to experience such complications, but young infants also may suffer severe disease.
Not surprisingly, there is significant concern of the potential impact of a re-emergent 1918 or 1918-like influenza virus, whether via natural causes or as a result of bioterrorism. Even in nonpandemic years, influenza virus infection causes some 20,000-40,000 deaths per year in the United States alone (Wright & Webster, (2001) Orthomyxoviruses. In "Fields Virology, 4th Edition" (D. M. Knipe, and P. M. Howley, Eds.) pp. 1533-1579. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Philadelphia, Pa.). In addition, there are countless losses both in productivity and quality of life for people who overcome mild cases of the disease in just a few days or weeks. Another complicating factor is that influenza A virus undergoes continual antigenic change resulting in the emergence of new strains each year.
Thus, there is a continuing need for new classes of influenza virus vaccines.

Compositions and vaccines against influenza A and influenza B infections

Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey


A computer-implemented method for assigning one or more conveyor belts to convey a plurality of items. The computer-implemented method determines an availability of one or more conveyor belts, determines a quantity of a plurality of items to be loaded onto the one or more conveyor belts, and assigns the one or more conveyor belts to convey the plurality of items, based on the determined quantity of the plurality of items to be loaded onto the one or more conveyor belts. The computer-implemented method further tracks a location of each of the plurality of items on the assigned one or more conveyor belts, associates each of the plurality of items with a user, and directs the user to the one or more conveyor belts based on the tracked location of each of the plurality of items associated with the user.

The present disclosure relates generally to the field of cognitive computing, data processing, and more particularly to optimizing the assignment of conveyor belts to convey a plurality of items.
Travelers oftentimes need to check in baggage prior to getting into their seat, especially on airplane rides. After reaching a destination, checked-in baggage is removed from the underbelly of an airplane and driven to the baggage claim area of the airport where all of the removed baggage is typically placed on a conveyor belt that transports the baggage in a continuous loop on one of several baggage carousels.
Depending on the size of the airport, the size of the baggage carousel, and the number of checked-in baggage on the flight, more than one carousel may be required. Travelers, more often than not, need to alternate back and forth between various baggage carousels in the hopes of sighting their baggage and making a speedy exit out of the busy airport.
Some travelers may just hope that the airline did not lose their luggage and, quite often, exhale a sigh of relief when their baggage is spotted on the baggage carousel. This uncertainty and stress in locating one's baggage after a long journey can leave travelers dissatisfied and wary of the idea of traveling, and checking in baggage, in the first place.

Optimized assignment of multiple conveyor belts

International Business Machines Corporation


A thermoconductive silicone composition comprising: (A) an organopolysiloxane (excluding component (C)), (B) a thermoconductive filler, and (C) at least two organopolysiloxanes as defined by the following general formula that have different values for the subscript n (I), wherein each R1 is independently selected from monovalent hydrocarbon groups; R2 is an oxygen atom or divalent hydrocarbon group; R3 is an alkyl, alkoxyalkyl, alkenyl, or acyl; n is an integer from 5 to 100; and a is an integer from 1 to 3

Thermoconductive silicone compositions have entered into use for the purpose of high-efficiency heat dissipation accompanying the higher densities and higher levels of integration seen in hybrid ICs and printed-circuit substrates carried by electronic components such as transistors, ICs, memory elements, and so forth. These thermoconductive silicone compositions take the form of, for example, thermoconductive silicone greases, thermoconductive silicone gel compositions, and thermoconductive silicone rubber compositions.
With the goal of improving the thermal conductivity of such thermoconductive silicone compositions containing a large amount of thermoconductive filler, for example, Japanese Laid Open (Unexamined or Kokai or A) Patent Application Number 2000-256558 discloses a thermoconductive silicone rubber composition comprising an organopolysiloxane, hydrolyzable group-functional methylpolysiloxane, thermoconductive filler, and curing agent. Japanese Laid Open (Unexamined or Kokai or A) Patent Application Number 2001-139815 discloses a thermoconductive silicone rubber composition comprising a curable organopolysiloxane, curing agent, and thermoconductive filler whose surface has been treated with oligosiloxane bearing Si-bonded alkoxy.
However, when these thermoconductive silicone compositions are subjected to still loaded with an even larger amount of thermoconductive filler, e.g., alumina, to raise the thermal conductivity, the viscosity of the resulting compositions undergoes a sharp increase and the handling and molding properties suffer from a substantial decline.
The object of this invention is to provide a thermoconductive silicone composition exhibiting good handling properties despite containing a large amount of thermoconductive filler in order to obtain a highly thermoconductive silicone composition.


A force measurement apparatus that provides means to compensate for thermal or other disturbances. The apparatus utilizes non-contact electron transfer mechanisms to provide indications of force sensed on a test mass. A plurality of electrodes are used in a differential measurement mode to provide self-zeroing and distortion compensation.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a family of transducers such as accelerometers and pressure transducers and more specifically to electromechanical sensors that utilize the principles of non-contact electron transfer mechanisms as the primary sensing element. The methods described herein are appropriate to the measurement of acceleration, pressure, force, torque and angular rate, and more generally to the measurement of any parameter where the input measured can be mechanically converted to a linear motion.
2. Description of the Related Art
As the modern technology of vehicles and moving machinery has advanced, it has become increasingly important to accurately measure the performance of such machinery. Feedback transducers are also employed in the automatic control of high performance machines. Furthermore, as the performance of such systems has increased, the demands on the sensors for accuracy and wide dynamic range have also increased.
Early sensors for measurement and control commonly employed mechanisms for converting the input parameter to a fairly large mechanical motion (e.g. spring mass systems for accelerometers and Bourdon tubes or diaphragms for pressure transducers) and a potentiometer or variable reluctance position sensor to detect the motion of the mass or Bourdon tube, thereby deriving an electrical signal proportional to the input measured. Later developments included the use of strain gages, both metallic and semiconductor, as the primary sensing mechanism, thus greatly extending the dynamic range of such systems. The introduction of closed loop or force balance sensors improved the accuracy of the sensors by orders of magnitude, but incur the penalty of decreased frequency response. Typical force balance sensors employ a sensitive motion detector (commonly a differential capacitor detector) and feedback of the amplified output to a force generating member (commonly a magnetic coil or solenoid) to balance the force created by the input measured. The principal advantage of closed loop sensors is their long term stability and inherent rejection of secondary inputs Since the restoring force acts to return the mechanism to near zero measured position, errors due to stability and linearity of the primary sensing mechanism are minimized.
Increasing sophistication of the apparatus employing sensing transducers, such as aircraft and space vehicles has placed heavy demands on the transducers for improved accuracy, precision and frequency response. In evaluating the relative "goodness" of various sensing mechanisms, it is convenient to examine a "figure of merit" which is the product of its sensitivity times the square of its frequency response. This figure of merit tends to be a constant for any given sensing system, thus it is possible to trade off sensitivity for frequency response and visa versa. To gain improvements in both sensitivity and frequency response it is necessary to innovate more efficient sensing mechanisms. In addition, the more stringent demands of the applications always tend toward to a "perfect transducer," that is, one that is perfectly accurate, has unlimited frequency response and that removes zero energy from the system being measured.
As the modern technology of vehicles and moving machinery has advanced, it has become increasingly important to accurately measure the forces experienced by systems and components. Furthermore, the performance of such systems has steadily increased, thereby placing greater demands on the accuracy and dynamic range of force measurement techniques. For example, the instruments developed to measure acceleration, generally designated as accelerometers, are a specific example of this class of instruments and have been designed in many different forms for various applications. Motion technology has developed the design of the accelerometer to meet the need for more reliable acceleration measurements, especially in dynamic ranges that were previously absent, unattainable or not of interest.
Among the practical applications of the accelerometer have been research into the dynamics of aircraft, spacecraft, and other higher performance moving vehicles to help understand the stresses and vibrations that can develop within the structures while undergoing acceleration. Other specifically designed accelerometers have been developed to detect earthquakes, control vibration test equipment, and instrument the test of products that are subject to sizable and often rapidly encountered accelerative forces. The accelerometer has also gained widespread use as an input source for advanced navigation and inertial guidance systems that utilize computers to determine guidance commands. In this application, the role of the accelerometer has changed from merely measuring acceleration for later analysis to actively forming a vital component in a system that controls the movement of a guided vehicle such as a missile, aircraft or spacecraft. In order to accommodate these and other demanding applications, the accelerometer must be rugged, accurate and have a large dynamic range while being capable of providing an output that can easily and accurately determine the acceleration of the test body or system.
While many accelerometers have been developed for a variety of applications, the most common designs utilize the same basic principles for measuring acceleration. An accelerometer is said to measure acceleration, but this statement is not quite true for methods commonly used to measure acceleration, since acceleration cannot easily be measured directly. Rather, an accelerometer usually measures the force exerted by restraints that are placed on a test mass that is subject to inertial forces when the accelerometer assembly is attached to an accelerating body. The acceleration can then be computed using the relationship between the restraint force and acceleration as defined by Newton's second law, namely F=Ma (force equals mass times acceleration). In most accelerometers, an electronic circuit is used to detect and measure the forces being exerted on the mass. Usually, the electric circuit is designed to measure the displacement of the test mass within its housing, since displacement of the mass restrained by an elastic member is proportional to the acceleration of the accelerometer system. For the most part, the design differences between most accelerometers are primarily the various ways in which the forces may be measured and converted to a proportional electrical signal.
Many accelerometer designs have been developed throughout the years due to the difficulty in adapting a particular design to the dynamic range and accuracy requirements of different applications. For example, some accelerometers may be used in extremely high-g ranges which would make highly sensitive accelerometers developed for other purposes, for instance, seismology unusable. When acceleration measurements are required for a system subject to many hundreds of times the force of gravity, or "g," piezoelectric accelerometers are often used. A piezoelectric accelerometer utilizes a test mass that is cemented to a piezoelectric crystal which is in turn cemented to a case or housing. The piezoelectric crystal supports the test mass and is strained in a predictable manner during acceleration. The stresses induced by the acceleration cause the crystal to generate a voltage which is proportional to acceleration.
Piezoelectric accelerometers are particularly noted for their small size and large dynamic range, which can be up to 5,000 g. For this reason, they are particularly useful in missile or spacecraft guidance systems that undergo very high accelerations.
While accelerometers are very useful for a wide variety of applications, there are a number of disadvantages associated with presently available instruments. For example, many of the electromechanical components used in accelerometers can be influenced by adverse ambient conditions, such as thermal fluctuations, which can alter the accuracy of the device and cause the accuracy to vary from 1 to 5%. Certain accelerometer designs can be made to have great sensitivity but because of this greater sensitivity, such accelerometers are susceptible to external, uncontrollable forces which may disable or reduce the accuracy of the device. In general, extremely accurate accelerometers are not readily used in applications which require the measurement of high-g accelerations. Therefore, the engineer or designer may have to use another, less sensitive accelerometer design in order to operate in a desired dynamic range.
Therefore, there is a need for a force sensing device which can operate at either a high or low acceleration environment and yet provide accurate measurements of forces experienced by a system or component. Such force measured devices would have wide application in modern systems, but would be particularly applicable to high performance accelerometers. Preferably, such an accelerometer must be rugged, durable, and small in size, especially if the accelerometer is to be used in applications involving guidance systems for missiles, spacecraft and other similar high-performance vehicles. The device must also preferably be relatively inexpensive to manufacture in order to reduce the total cost of any system of which it is a part. Additionally, the electronic circuitry needed to operate the device should be relatively simple to reduce the cost of manufacturing a commercial unit. Also, it would be desirable if the device could easily compensate for thermal expansion or contraction caused by temperature variations in the environment in order to eliminate errors in measurement associated with such thermal effects.


Systems and methods for secure transportation and safe deployment of unmanned aerial vehicles are disclosed herein. An example method includes performing a UAV preflight procedure that includes determining UAV startup sounds from sound signals received from a microphone positioned within a housing that houses the UAV, determining synchronized rotation of propellers of the UAV, determining that no obstructions are present above the housing based on range finder signals; and releasing the UAV after completion of the UAV preflight procedure.

UAVs can be transported and launched from mobile environments such as vehicles. Preflight checks are utilized to determine UAV suitability prior to UAV launch. These methods are time consuming and often require the participation of a UAV operator. Some preflight checks can take five to ten minutes to complete, and may be tactically disadvantageous when immediate UAV use is needed. Typically, a UAV pilot and navigator may be required to retrieve the UAV equipment from a transport vehicle, unpack, perform preflight checks prior to launching the UAV.


An improved key caddy device includes a rectangular strip of flexible sheet material that forms a case by overlapping the transverse edges and fastening them together with a first fastener assembly, e.g., a two-part snap button fastener, fixed to the strip. A key ring is carried, advantageously in a grommet, on the strip adjacent one of its longitudinal edges to receive one or more keys. A folded sheet bearing text, e.g., a printed road map, is enclosed within the flexible case and held therein by a second fastener assembly, e.g., two pieces of Velcro.RTM.. A user of the caddy device accesses the road map or like folded sheet by opening the case and disconnecting the second fastener assembly to free the text containing sheet from the case.

1. Field of the Invention
This application relates to key caddy devices. More particularly, it concerns such devices comprising a combination of a key ring with a pocket-size case housing a folded road map or other folded sheet bearing text in a manner allowing the user of the device to conveniently access the text when the need to do so may occur.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Key rings designed to store one or more keys frequently have attached thereto a fob, a tag, an ornament or similar item for identification, or other purpose. The present invention utilizes such known concept of attaching items in addition to keys to key rings in a unique way to provide new key caddy devices to provide key users a source of information, instruction or the like related to the utilization of a key attached to the device.


Embodiments are directed toward unified modeling of technology towers. Template information that corresponds to a technology tower may be selected by a user such that the template information identifies cost items, cost pools, and cost drivers. Cost information corresponding to the cost items may be determined from a dataset and mapped to the cost pools based on the template information. Cost driver information for the cost drivers may be determined from the information that was included in the dataset. A technology tower may be generated based on the cost pools and the cost drivers such that the cost pools and cost drivers correspond to the cost items. The technology tower may be provided to an application for generating one or more financial models. Key performance indicators for cost items may be generated based on the cost pools and the cost drivers.

Businesses that strive to remain viable and successful in today's competitive commercial environment are required to adopt accurate and responsive budgeting practices. To improve efficiency, businesses use financial models that apply modern budgeting, forecasting and cost accounting techniques. For some accounting techniques, the complexity of the financial allocation model may increase as the number of tracked activities and elements increases. Therefore, for larger organizations, sophisticated computer programs and computers are often required to assist in generating useful and relevant budgets based on financial allocation models.
In some cases, the large number of items and entities required for financial modeling can make development of modeling applications difficult. Further, the size and complexity of modern financial allocation models can make it difficult to design allocation rules for the cost allocations between groups and/or items within the model. Historically, the size and complexity of these financial allocation models have made it difficult to accurately ascertain a total cost of ownership for an offering such as a product and/or service. Thus, it is with respect to these considerations and others that the invention has been made.


A small table S is outer joined to a large table L on a join condition on a database system with a plurality B of parallel units (PUs). S and L are partitioned across the PUs. Each row in S has a unique row-id. Each row of S is duplicated on all PUs to form Sdup. On each PU, dangling rows in S that do not have a match in L under the join condition are identified and the row-ids of the dangling rows are saved in Tredis. Tredis is partitioned across the PUs. P is formed from dangling rows of S whose corresponding entries in Tredis appear in all PUs. A result is produced by unioning P and I. I is formed by inner joining non-dangling rows of S with L. The result is saved.

Parallel processing continues to be important in large data warehouses as data warehouse demand continues to expand to higher volumes, greater numbers of users, and more applications. Outer joins are frequently generated by Business Intelligence (BI) tools to query data warehouses powered by parallel database management systems ("DBMSs"). Research has been done on some aspects of optimizing outer joins including outer join elimination, outer join reordering and view matching for outer join views. To the inventors' knowledge, little research has been done on outer join optimization in parallel DBMSs, probably because of the assumption that inner join optimization techniques can be largely applied to outer joins as well.

Performing an outer join between a small table and a large table


Wireless power transfer system include: a seat configured to support a human and including a first resonator featuring a conductive coil formed by a plurality of loops that each encircle a common first axis, a layer of magnetic material, and a conductive shield; an article of clothing featuring a second resonator having a conductive coil formed by a plurality of loops that each encircle a common second axis, so that when the article of clothing is worn by the human and the human is seated in the seat, the first and second axes are aligned; and a first electronic apparatus positioned in the seat and coupled to the first resonator, and configured to deliver electrical power to the first resonator so that during operation of the system, power is transferred wirelessly from the first resonator to the second resonator.

Energy or power may be transferred wirelessly using a variety of known radiative, or far-field, and non-radiative, or near-field, techniques as detailed, for example, in commonly owned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/613,686 published on May 6, 2010 as U.S. 2010/010909445 and entitled "Wireless Energy Transfer Systems," U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/860,375 published on Dec. 9, 2010 as 2010/0308939 and entitled "Integrated Resonator-Shield Structures," U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/222,915 published on Mar. 15, 2012 as 2012/0062345 and entitled "Low Resistance Electrical Conductor," U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/283,811 published on Oct. 4, 2012 as U.S. 2012/0248981 and entitled "Multi-Resonator Wireless Energy Transfer for Lighting," and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/534,966 published on Jan. 2, 2014 as U.S. 2014/0002012 and entitled "Wireless Energy Transfer for Rechargeable Batteries," the contents of which are incorporated by reference.
As advanced mobile communication, computing, and sensing devices become more essential, the burden of carrying, operating, and maintaining multiple batteries, fuel cells, and the like, increases. In both civilian and military scenarios, people are often required to carry and operate multiple electronic devices. One or more devices such as headlamps, portable computers, global positioning system devices (GPS), sensors, cameras, radios, flashlights, and the like may all be carried by a person. Each electronic device may require an energy source such as batteries, fuel cells, and the like to provide energy to each or a group of the devices. Large numbers of devices may mean a large number of batteries that may require management and/or monitoring by the user.
In systems where each device has its own energy source, i.e. batteries, the stored energy may be underutilized and may lead to significant or unnecessary extra weight that may need to be carried by the user. With each device or a group of devices having a separate energy source, the energy storage of each device may need to be large enough to power the device in the worst or maximum usage scenario, even if the device is typically used infrequently. As a result in many use scenarios, the user will be underutilizing the carried energy and perhaps carrying too much battery or stored energy capacity.
The underutilization of carried energy may be problematic for weight sensitive devices and applications. Underutilization of energy for a device attached to a helmet, for example, may mean a significant weight penalty that a user has to tolerate on their head. In many applications it is desirable to reduce or eliminate the weight attached to a person's head area since it may cause user discomfort, fatigue, or neck problems.
One way to reduce the burden of multiple batteries and improve their utilization is to use wearable battery packs and/or central energy generators that can provide power to various peripheral devices that are attached to or carried by a person. With one or several central batteries the potable energy may be shared and distributed to the devices that need the power. However, such devices may be tethered to the person's battery pack with cables. For devices such as headlamp, microphones, night vision goggles, and the like, that are carried on a person's head or helmet, the cables may be uncomfortable, limit movement, pose a safety risk (since cables may get snagged or caught on objects and obstacles), and reduce the reliability of the system.
Thus what is needed is a better way for energy distribution for person worn peripheral devices.

Wireless power transfer for a seat-vest-helmet system


A process for preparing transition metal particles with a gradient in composition from the core of the particle to the outer layers. In particular, the process involves contacting a first transition metal solution with a second transition metal solution to form a transition metal source solution under specific process conditions. The transition metal particles with desired composition gradients are precipitated from the transition metal source solution. The transition metal particles may be combined with metals such as lithium to form cathode active metal oxides.

Lithium-ion batteries have enjoyed commercial success over the last 20 years as the dominant technology for energy storage in consumer electronics. In recent years, an increase in global energy demand, rising and fluctuating crude oil prices, and environmental concerns have led to an increase in demand for lithium-ion batteries. In particular, lithium-ion battery technology is being developed for applications in hybrid and electric vehicles. For vehicle applications, the materials that comprise the cathode materials in lithium-ion batteries must provide high capacity, high power, improved safety, long calendar lifetimes, thermal stability, low cost, and low toxicity. Generally, cathode materials for lithium-ion batteries that are currently on the market are unable to meet all the requirements for vehicular applications.
The energy-storage component of a lithium-ion battery cathode includes solid, micrometer-sized particles. These particles are typically of the composition LiMO2, where M refers to a variety of transition metals both in isolation or in combination, commonly nickel (Ni), cobalt (Co), or manganese (Mn). LiCoO2 is the most common commercial cathode material. However, the toxicity and high cost of Co has encouraged the development of other cathode materials with Ni or Mn.

Methods for preparing materials for lithium ion batteries


Reliability of a semiconductor device is improved. A method for manufacturing the semiconductor device includes the steps of: providing a lead frame having a semiconductor chip mounted thereon; providing a heat radiating frame having a heat radiating plate; and resin sealing the semiconductor chip and the heat radiating plate with the lead frame and the heat radiating frame in a stacked state. The method further includes the steps of: separating a frame body of the heat radiating frame from the lead frame having a sealing body; and applying an inspection to detect resin-unfilled regions to the lead frame having the sealing body. Since the frame body of the heat radiating frame shielding an inspection region is removed before the inspection, it becomes possible to perform the inspection using transmitted light.

The present invention is concerned with a method for manufacturing a semiconductor device and, in particular, with a technique which can be effectively applied to a method for manufacturing a semiconductor device having a built-in heat radiating plate in a lower portion of a semiconductor chip.
Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2012-9470 (Patent Document 1) discloses a technique for an inspection to detect resin-unfilled errors in a resin molding process before a dam bar is cut off.
Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2010-56325 (Patent Document 2) discloses a semiconductor device provided with a heat radiating plate which is large to such an extent that it overlaps with a tip part of a lead in a lower portion of a semiconductor chip. In this regard, the heat radiating plate is coupled to a lead frame before a resin sealing process.

Method for manufacturing semiconductor device


A method of providing an underbalance in a wellbore that includes positioning a surge assembly within the wellbore; bypassing a differential chamber that extends along a portion of the length of the surge assembly when flowing fluid through a fluid passageway that extends along the length of the surge assembly; and placing the fluid passageway in fluid communication with the air chamber to create an underbalance in the fluid passageway.

During well completion operations, it is often beneficial to create an underbalance or at least a temporary reduction of fluid pressure within the wellbore. For example, a pressure underbalance allows perforations to surge and clean, and also lowers the skin effect due to damage in the formation. Generally, to create a pressure underbalance, a surge assembly that includes a differential chamber, such as an air chamber, is positioned within the wellbore. The differential chamber is flooded or surged via a valve with fluid from the wellbore to create the temporary pressure underbalance. Conventionally, the differential chamber is formed between two ball valves in tubing, which eliminates the ability to use the tubing as a conduit. As such, firing heads or other downhole tools that form a portion of the working string cannot be activated when the surge assembly is positioned between the downhole tool and the surface of the well. Thus, additional trips downhole are required to position the surge assembly after the downhole tools are activated. This requires additional time and expense during well completion operations.

Surge assembly with fluid bypass for well control


The invention relates to compounds, compositions, and methods for diminishing pain in a subject in need thereof comprising administering the compounds and compositions herein described.

Pain is defined as an unpleasant sensory and emotional experience. However, pain can be informative and useful. For example, nociceptive pain is often indicative of injury (e.g., tissue damage) and such pain typically evokes escape or protective behaviors in animals or in a human in order to remove itself, or protect itself, from further exposure to the insult. However, inflammation, cellular and neuronal damage and other processes resulting from injury or disease can lead to states of chronic pathological pain and enhanced sensitivity called hyperalgesia, in which the perception of pain is exaggerated. In such cases, there is a need for new compounds, new methods and new inventions that treat pain and hyperalgesia.
In some cases, such as surgical procedures, the diminution or abolishment of nociceptive pain may be desired and the application of analgesia may be employed. A variety of compounds and medicines are known to be effective in alleviating nociceptive pain and some are analgesic such as opioids.
Post surgically, pain arising from the procedure, for example such as pain at or near the site of an incision, is common. In such cases, there is a desire to alleviate pain and thus there is a need for new compounds, new methods and new inventions that treat post-surgical and incisional pain.
The administration of opioids to treat pain is a well recognized and commonly employed therapy in medicine. Unfortunately, tolerance to opioids (tachyphylaxis) and opioid-induced hyperalgesia can often result during the course of therapy. In such patients, increasingly higher doses of opioids are needed to provide an acceptable level of pain relief. Administering these higher does, though, can cause adverse side effects implicating the safety concerns associated with opioids. Side effects associated with opioid administration may include respiratory depression, constipation, nausea, and vomiting. Safety concerns include the possibility of developing dependence, suffering withdrawal upon discontinuation of treatment, and the potential for abuse. Tachyphylaxis is a phenomenon in which the repeated administration of a drug, such as a narcotic analgesic, results in a rapidly appearing and marked decrease in the effectiveness of that drug. In opioid-induced hyperalgesia, prolonged administration of opioids also results in a paradoxical increase in pain, or a hypersensitivity to a stimulus that is thought to be unrelated to the original injury or insult. Opioid-induced tachyphylaxis and opioid-induced hyperalgesia have been well documented in animal models of nociception as well as in human clinical trials. These phenomena present significant clinical challenges for the treatment of pain and therefore new compounds, new methods and new inventions to treat pain and/or to alleviate hyperalgesia and tolerance are needed.
Reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS) are highly reactive small molecules that include, for example, oxygen ions and free radicals such as peroxide, hydroxyl radical and other species such as peroxynitrite (OONO−). Peroxynitrite is the product of the interaction between superoxide (O2−) and nitric oxide (NO). In cells, ROS and RNS form normally, as a by-product of normal metabolism, but they also play an important role in the pathogenesis of many disorders, including those affecting the lung, the central nervous system and skeletal muscle. In addition, during times of stress (such as, for example, hypoxia) ROS and/or RNS levels can increase significantly, which can lead to damage to cell components.
Peroxynitrite activity has been implicated in the development of opiate-induced antinociceptive (pain) tolerance (tachyphylaxis) (Muscoli et al., 2007, J Clin Invest 117:3530-3539). In 2007, Muscoli proposed that peroxynitrite formation is a key pathway in the development of narcotic analgesic tachyphylaxis. Previous attempts at reducing the damaging effects of peroxynitrite have been focused on flavonoids and simpler phenols, some of which have proven to be ineffective or toxic when administered to animals and man (Olmos et al., 2007, Med Res Rev 27:1-64; Choi et al., 2002, Phytother Res 16:232-235). Thus, collectively there exists a need for new compounds, new methods and new inventions that decrease the level or activity of reactive oxygen/nitrogen species, such as peroxynitrite.
Thus, there exists a need for compounds, compositions, and methods for preserving or extending opioid analgesia without opioid dose-escalation. Similarly, there exists a need for compounds, compositions, and methods that are dose-sparing with respect to opioid therapy. The current invention fulfills these needs.

Analgesic compounds, compositions, and uses thereof


The present invention relates to a polyurethane resin composition including a first polyurethane resin and a second polyurethane resin that are different from each other in their compositions, an organic solvent, and a surfactant, and a polyurethane mounting pad manufactured from the resin composition.

Since a fine and precise surface is required for a substrate that is used for a semiconductor device or a display device requiring a high degree of integration, various planarization methods are applied. Particularly, due to the trend of high integration and high performance of the semiconductor device or display device, a polishing method of relatively moving a polishing pad and a subject to be polished, while supplying a slurry composition including polishing particles and various chemical ingredients between the polishing pad and the subject to be polished, is generally used. In this polishing method, for more precise polishing, the subject to be polished is fixed on a mounting pad so as to maintain a constant location and position during the polishing or processing process.
Meanwhile, Japanese Patent Publication No. 2006-334745 discloses a polyurethane foam prepared by reacting and curing polyols, polyisocyanates, a foaming agent, a catalyst, and a water repellent, and a polishing pad obtained using the same. However, since this polyurethane foam is obtained by using a foaming agent such as water, methylene chloride, or carbon dioxide gas, it has a relatively high hardness or it is difficult to form uniform distribution of long and large internal pores, and to obtain high compressibility and compression recovery rate in the range of low hardness.
The previously known mounting pad has internal pores of different sizes and the distribution of the pores is irregular, and thus the cushion property and adsorption to a subject to be polished are poor. Further, a subject to be polished cannot securely contact the mounting pad during a polishing process, and thus precise polishing may not be achieved. In addition, since the previous mounting pad exhibits non-uniform size and distribution of internal pores, the physical properties such as compressibility and compression recovery rate are poor and water repellency is not sufficient, and thus a subject to be polished does not have uniform contact during a polishing or processing process.
Accordingly, there is a need to develop a novel mounting pad for more precise and efficient polishing of the substrate that is used in a semiconductor device or a display device.

Poly-urethane resin and poly-urethane absorbing pad using the same


A two-point modulation Phase-Locked Loop (PLL) has a gain-adjustable voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO). A digital data modulation signal is combined with a carrier and input to a feedback divider. The data modulation signal is also input to a Digital-to-Analog Converter (DAC) to generate an analog voltage to a second input of the VCO. A calibration unit divides the VCO output and counts pulses. During calibration, the data modulation signal is set to minimum and then maximum values and VCO output pulses counted. A count difference for the data modulation signal at maximum and minimum values is input to a Look-Up Table (LUT) to read out a gain calibration value. During normal operation mode, the gain calibration value from the LUT is applied to a second input of the DAC, which drives the VCO to adjust VCO gain. A switch before the VCO opens the loop for faster open-loop calibration.

Wireless communication systems often require precise clocks that may be modulated to carry data. A clock may be generated using a Phase-Locked Loop (PLL) that has a voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO) that converts an input voltage to an output clock with a frequency that depends on the input voltage.
Some communication standards employ high frequencies and may hop from one frequency channel to another to avoid interference or other impediments to transmission. The VCO may thus be required to operate over a wide range of frequencies, and require a large gain. Large VCO gains often require a large chip area and thus a higher cost of manufacture and power.
A PLL can be used to generate a clock, and then data can be mixed with the clock after the PLL output, such as by an up-conversion mixer and a Digital-to-Analog Converter (DAC). The DAC can introduce mismatches for both in-phase and quadrature signals (IQ mismatch). The chip area required for the DAC and mixer increases the cost and power requirements.
A two-point modulation PLL may also be used. Data is injected into the PLL itself so that the PLL outputs a data-modulated output rather than a fixed clock. The up-conversion mixer and its DAC are no longer required when a two-point modulation PLL is used. The two-point modulation PLL also can enhance noise performance. The pulling effect from a power amplifier to the VCO can be alleviated.
FIG. 1 shows a prior-art two-point modulation PLL. A Phase-Locked Loop (PLL) is formed by phase-frequency detector 42, charge pump 44, loop filter 46, adder 72, VCO 41, and multi-mode divider 52. The output clock FOUT from VCO 41 is divided by multi-mode divider 52 and compared to a reference clock FREF by phase-frequency detector 42. The comparison result causes charge pump 44 to charge or discharge loop filter 46, which adjusts the input voltage to VCO 41. VCO 41 responds to changes in its input voltage by adjusting the frequency of output clock FOUT.
Data is used to modulate or encode FOUT from VCO 41. Data is injected into the PLL at two points. Data IN1 is applied to multi-mode divider 52, while data IN2 is input to adder 72. The same data values are applied to IN1 and IN2, but IN1 may be a digital representation of the data while IN2 may be an analog voltage that represents the same data. IN1 causes multi-mode divider 52 to modulate its divisor, while IN2 directly adjusts the input voltage to VCO 41. Since IN2 is applied at the input of VCO 41, it has a high-pass characteristic, while IN1 is applied earlier in the PLL loop and has a low-pass characteristic. Modulations of the divisor in multi-mode divider 52 introduced by IN1 must pass through phase-frequency detector 42, charge pump 44, and loop filter 46 before reaching adder 72 where IN2 is injected, so IN1 has a greater inherent delay than does IN2.
FIGS. 2A-C show frequency response graphs that highlight gain mismatching in a two-point modulation PLL. Since IN2 does not pass through phase-frequency detector 42, charge pump 44, and loop filter 46, its frequency response is dominated by the gain of VCO 41.
FIG. 2A shows a graph for a well-matched two-point modulation PLL. The frequency response of IN1 drops off at higher frequencies due to the delays in multi-mode divider 52, phase-frequency detector 42, charge pump 44, and loop filter 46. These delays are not present for IN2, which has a very good response at high frequencies but less at low frequencies. Thus IN1 resembles a low-pass filter, while IN2 resembles a high-pass filter.
Since the same data is passed through both IN1 and IN2, the total frequency response is the sum of the frequency response curves of IN1 and IN2. This total response is relatively flat over all frequencies when gain is well-matched, as shown in FIG. 2A.
In FIG. 2B, the VCO gain, KVCO, is too high. The high gain of VCO 41 strongly impacts the high-frequency response of IN2, while IN1 remains about the same since multi-mode divider 52, phase-frequency detector 42, charge pump 44, and loop filter 46 are not altered by the change in gain of VCO 41. The total frequency response, which is the sum of IN1 and IN2's frequency response curves, rises after cross-over frequency FC. The jump in the total response curve at high frequencies can cause signal distortion.
In FIG. 2C, the VCO gain, KVCO, is too low. The low gain of VCO 41 reduces the high-frequency response of IN2, while IN1 remains about the same. The total frequency response drops off after cross-over frequency FC, since high-frequency response is dominated by data injected through IN2 and VCO 41.
The gain of VCO 41 is process-dependent, and varies from chip to chip. Process, power-supply Voltage, and Temperature (PVT) variations can strongly influence VCO gain and thus frequency response, resulting in signal distortion. During design, the circuit can be designed so that the low-frequency response of IN1 matches the high-frequency response of IN2 at the typical PVT condition.
Gain calibration is often used to adjust for PVT conditions, and to better match high and low frequency responses of a two-point modulation PLL. With good calibration of the gain of VCO 41, the low-frequency response of IN1 can fairly well match the high-frequency response of IN2 over a range of PVT conditions.
Sometimes large-area circuits are used for calibration, such as ADC's, analog comparators, and double-loop filters. High-frequency counters may be used, but these consume high power at the high frequencies they operate at. A single-input VCO has limitations on linearity and tuning range. Calibration units often use multipliers and dividers, which are large, complex circuits. Large circuits have a large die area, increasing cost and power consumption and are thus undesirable. Precision circuits such as analog comparators and ADC's may require large components to achieve a target precision.
As the system warms up, PVT may continue to vary, forcing re-calibration and more delays. Some systems are closed loop, where the PLL loop filter remains connected to the VCO input during calibration. This is undesirable due to the extra settling time for the loop. Open loop systems disconnect the PLL loop filter from the VCO input during calibration, resulting in faster calibration times.
What is desired is a two-point modulation PLL with an open-loop calibration system. A calibration system that does not use precision analog comparators is desirable. An all-digital calibration unit is desired for a two-point modulation PLL. A two-point modulation PLL that uses a two-input VCO is desirable to break the tradeoff between linearity and tuning range. A calibration unit that does not use multipliers and dividers is desired. A low-power and low area calibration unit is desired.

Gain calibration for direct modulation synthesizer using a look-up table searched by a reduced count from an overflow counter

Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute Company, Limited


A hydraulic actuating apparatus for sensing hydraulic pressure and producing an output signal representative of the sensed hydraulic pressure includes a base portion, a case, and a variable resistor unit. A slider is movably connected to the variable resistor unit, and the variable resistor unit is connected to the base, the slider being movable relative to the variable resistor unit by an amount proportional to the hydraulic pressure applied to the slider. The variable resistor unit has a resistance which changes in response to movement of the slider. A resilient member is provided which is resiliently deformable by movement of the slider relative to the variable resistor unit, the resilient means exerting a restoring force on the slider opposing the movement of the slider caused by the hydraulic pressure. An adjusting mechanism is provided for setting an initial resistance value of the variable resistor unit, the variable resistor unit having a portion which is in contact with the adjusting mechanism.

The present invention relates to hydraulic actuating apparatus for cars in which a fuel pump switch and an oil pressure sensor are integrally assembled into the same case. More particularly the present invention is directed to a hydraulic actuating apparatus which has an adjusting means to set the initial resistance value between the slider which slides responsive to hydraulic pressure and a variable resister unit which alters the resistance value responsive to the movement amount of said slider.


A content control device includes: a plurality of controls to which a plurality of parameters for controlling properties of a content containing at least one of sound and video are respectively assigned, each of the plurality of controls outputting a first indicated value in accordance with an operation amount of the control; and a processor configured to previously create setting information used to determine respective values of the plurality of parameters in accordance with the second indicated value; determine the values of the plurality of parameters corresponding to the second indicated value respectively in accordance with the second indicated value and the setting information; and revise each of the values of the parameters to be determined in accordance with the first indicated value outputted for the control assigned to the parameter.

Conventionally, for example, there is known a musical sound control device capable of periodically changing timbre of musical sound being generated, as described in the following PTL1. In this musical sound control device, the timbre of the musical sound is periodically changed by changing a cut-off frequency of a filter by using a low frequency signal. This musical sound control device includes a control, and a parameter defining a frequency of the low frequency signal is assigned to the control. That is, a value of the parameter is corresponded to an indicated value of the control. When the indicated value of the control is changed by a user operating the control, the frequency of the low frequency signal is changed in accordance with the indicated value.

Content control device and storage medium


The present invention relates to alginase produced by bacteria belonging to the genus and a process for production thereof and bacteria as well as a method for decomposing alginic acid.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to alginase produced by bacteria belonging to the genus Enterobacter and a process for production thereof and bacteria used, as well as a method for decomposing alginic acid.
The alginase of the present invention can be produced in remarkable quantities by Enterobacter cloacae M-1 strain. Therefore, alginic acid can be partially decomposed or fully decomposed using this enzyme to modify its physical properties, whereby new products of alginic acid can be prepared or such is helpful for studies on the structure of alginic acid; etc. Thus, the present invention is extremely useful.
2. Prior art and Problem
It is heretofore known that alginase can be produced by bacteria belonging to the genus Flavobacterium, bacteria belonging to the genus Pseudomonas (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 59-143597), bacteria belonging to the genus Vibrio (Nippon Suisan Gakkaishi, 55(4), 709-713 (1989)), etc.
However, a demand for alginase is recently increasing in processing, treatment, etc. of alginic acid and an improved method for the production of alginase in a large scale has been desired.

Production of alginase from Enterobacter cloacae M-1 (FERM BP-2577)


A microwave oven includes an inverter inducing a high frequency oscillating current at a primary winding of a transformer via a switching element turned on and off, a magnetron to which a high voltage is applied by the transformer, a temperature sensor sensing the temperature of heat generated by the switching element to thereby generate a temperature signal, and a microcomputer compensating "on" and "off" periods of the switching element in response to the temperature signal from the temperature sensor so that an increase in an amount of an anode current in the magnetron is restrained with an increase of the temperature sensed by the temperature sensor. The microcomputer also functions to deenergize the switching element when the temperature of the switching element sensed by the temperature sensor exceeds a predetermined value.

This invention relates to a high frequency heating apparatus wherein a DC voltage obtained by rectifying in a rectification circuit a high frequency voltage produced by an inverter circuit is applied to a magnetron, thereby driving the same, and more particularly to such a high frequency heating apparatus provided with compensation means for compensating an anode current of the magnetron so that it is maintained at a predetermined value.
A conventional high frequency heating apparatus of the above-described type such as a microwave oven comprises rectification means for converting a commercial AC power supply voltage to DC voltage and inverter means including a switching element and a transformer which also serves as inductance coil means. The DC voltage from the rectification means is applied to the transformer through the switching element turned on and off so that a high frequency voltage is obtained at the inverter means. The high frequency heating apparatus further comprises a magnetron connected to a high frequency rectifying circuit through which the DC voltage from a transformer secondary winding is applied to the magnetron and a control circuit for controlling "on" and "off" periods of the switching element so that the magnetron anode current is controlled. The inverter means is provided for the purpose of reducing the size of the transformer employed to obtain a high voltage which is applied to the magnetron.
In accordance with the above-described high frequency heating apparatus, the magnetron is oscillated upon application of the DC voltage thereto. As a result, microwave energy is generated by the magnetron and radiated to foodstuff, which is cooked. When the magnetron is continuously driven, a permanent magnet of the magnetron is heated as the result of generation of heat by the magnetron. Consequently, the number of magnetic fluxes induced is reduced with the increase in the temperature of the permanent magnet. An amount of anode current of the magnetron is increased with the temperature increase of the permanent magnet and accordingly, an amount of the high frequency energy generated is also increased therewith. In order to prevent the amount of the magnetron anode current from being uselessly increased, a current transformer is conventionally provided at the primary winding side of the transformer for detecting a transformer input current and current control means is provided for controlling the switching element in response to a current detection signal from the current transformer so that the magnetron anode current is maintained at a predetermined value. Alternatively, the current transformer is provided at the secondary winding side of the transformer. However, these conventional arrangements for solving the above-described problem necessitates a current transformer which is expensive to be produced. Furthermore, the provision of the current transformer at the primary or secondary winding side of the transformer complicates the construction of insulation between the current transformer and transformer, which also increases the production cost of the high frequency heating apparatus.

High frequency heating apparatus with a temperature compensated switching element


An electronic apparatus is provided that can include a first downloader downloading a replacement control program from an external host computer by way of a first communicator under the control of a first communication program, in a case where a first inspector judges a control program is not normal and a second inspector judges the first communication program is normal. The apparatus can also include a second downloader downloading a replacement first communication program from an external maintenance computer by way of a second communicator under the control of a second communication program, in a case where a second inspector judges the first communication program is not normal, so that a first communication program stored in a rewritable flash ROM is rewritten with the replacement first communication program downloaded by the second downloader.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to an electronic device such as a printer and, more particularly, to an electronic device to be controlled on the basis of the operations of a control program (or a firmware program), and to an electronic device having a downloading function of the control program.
2. Related Art
In the conventional electronic device such as an ink Jet type printer, an actuator such as a sheet feeding motor or a recording head is controlled in its drive by executing a print control program (or a firmware program). In the electronic device of this kind, the specifications are frequently updated (or upgraded). With a view to giving a specific function of the user's need to the printer, the firmware program is often written in a nonvolatile memory so that an update to overwrite the firmware program of a new version In the nonvolatile memory is performed at the time of updating the specifications as disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 9-114614A (JP-A-9-114614), for example. In the nonvolatile memory, however, the program is erroneously erased or not rewritten at its portion when it is rewritten, so that the data such as the program is more frequently broken than the non-rewritable memory (or the read only memory) such as a mask ROM. When this abnormal program is executed to drive and control the actuator or the like, the electronic device may be left inactive, or its trouble may be induced, as the case may be, by an abnormal operation.
In Japanese Patent No. 3572861, for example, there is disclosed a method, in which a program inspecting function is provided to perform an inspection at an initial operation time so that the print control program is downloaded and updated in a case where the inspection discovers an abnormal state. According to this method, in a case where the abnormal state is discovered as the result of the inspection of the print control program, the print control program is downloaded from a host computer. In order to give the electronic device the download function, the memory has to be stored with a communication program for enabling the electronic device to communicate with the communicator of the host computer of a download source.
In a case where the downloading communication program fails, however, there arises a problem that the print control program cannot be updated.
Moreover, there is also conceived a configuration. In this configuration, in order that the download may be performed even in a case where the communication program fails, another program is stored with another communication program (or a second communication program), which can download the firmware program and the communication program. However, the communication program to perform communications by using the USB interface which is recently coming mainstream of the communication method between the printer and the host computer adopts the communication protocol, in which the USB communication method matches one-to-many communications so that it has a relatively large program data capacity. In other words, the USB communication method needs exchanges requesting the printer much intrinsic information so that the host computer may recognize the printer or its communication party. Therefore, the intrinsic information data or many processing procedures have to be contained in the program so that the data capacity of the communication program is liable to become relatively massive. The addition of this communication program occupies the wide recording area of another memory. As a result, there are invited situations requiring the treatments that the addition of another program to another memory is abandoned, that another memory is replaced by one having a larger storage capacity and a higher price, and that still another memory is added.


A door checker drive mechanism for use in automatically opening a door may include: a door checker that limits the motion of the associated door; a power source that rotates a shaft; and, a drive train that interconnects the power source to the door. The door checker drive mechanism may be adjustable between: a first condition where the power source causes the door to open or close with respect to the body; and, a second condition where the power source cannot cause the door to open or close and the door may be manually opened or closed.

A. Field of Invention
This invention generally relates to methods and apparatuses concerning vehicle doors and more specifically relates to methods and apparatuses concerning the automatic opening of a vehicle door.
B. Description of the Related Art
It is well known in the automotive industry to provide vehicle doors with a door checker to limit the motion of the door. It is also known to provide vehicle doors with a power source so that the door can be opened automatically. While known door checkers and automatically opening doors generally work well for their intended purposes, it is desirable to advance the technology and provide an integrated door checker drive mechanism.


At least one doped semiconductor material region is formed over a crystalline insulator layer. A disposable gate structure and a planarization dielectric layer laterally surrounding the disposable gate structure are formed over the at least one doped semiconductor material region. The disposable gate structure is removed selective to the planarization dielectric layer to form a gate cavity. Portions of the at least one doped semiconductor material region are removed from underneath the gate cavity. Remaining portions of the at least one doped semiconductor material region constitute a source region and a drain region. A faceted crystalline dielectric material portion is grown from a physically exposed surface of the crystalline insulator layer. A contoured channel region is epitaxially grown on the faceted crystalline dielectric material portion. The contoured channel region increases the distance that charge carriers travel relative to a separation distance between the source region and the drain region.

The present disclosure relates to a semiconductor structure, and particularly to a field effect transistor including a regrown contoured channel and a method of manufacturing the same.
Extremely thin semiconductor on insulator (ETSOI) devices have drawn attention for their enhanced electrostatic properties. At tight gate pitches and aggressively scaled gate lengths, short channel effects and multiple threshold voltages can be problems for field effect transistors including multiple channels.

Field effect transistor including a regrown contoured channel


The absorber for use in absorption chillers of the present invention comprises a plurality of cooling water pipes 2 extending horizontally in the interior of the absorber chamber. A plurality of flat heat transfer plates 1 are spaced apart from one another and arranged horizontally in a vertical position, and the plurality of cooling water pipes 2 extend through these heat transfer plates 1 perpendicular thereto. The pitch Pd of the plates 1 is 3 to 15 mm. Each heat transfer plate 1 is integrally formed on its upper end face with an absorbent receptacle 10 V-shaped in cross section and extending longitudinally of the upper end face. The bottom portion of the receptacle 10 is formed with two rows of absorbent holes 11 positioned upwardly of respective surfaces of the plate 1. The holes 11 of each row are spaced apart from one another longitudinally of the plate 1 and each have an outlet adjoining the surface of the plate 1. This enables an absorber to have a higher absorbing capacity than conventional absorbers.

With reference to FIG. 17, double-effect absorption chillers have a closed drum 3 provided in its interior with an eliminator 30, and an evaporator chamber 31 and an absorber chamber 32 which are arranged at opposite sides of the eliminator 30. An evaporator (not shown) is disposed in the evaporator chamber 31, and an absorber 50 in the absorber chamber 32. Connected to the bottom of the closed drum 3 is piping 62 extending to a high-temperature generator via a low-temperature heat exchanger and a high-temperature heat exchanger, with an absorbent pump 6 mounted on an intermediate portion of the piping 62.
The absorber 50 comprises an absorbent sprinkler 4 connected to one end of piping 61 extending from the low-temperature heat exchanger, and a cooling water piping system comprising a plurality of cooling water pipes 2 extending horizontally.
In the absorber 50, an absorbent (aqueous solution of lithium bromide) is scattered on the cooling water pipes 2 by the sprinkler 4 as indicated in broken lines. During falling, the absorbent absorbs a vapor of refrigerant produced by the evaporator, has its temperature raised by the heat of condensation and heat of mixing (heat of absorption) then generated, and is cooled with cooling water flowing through the pipes 2.
The absorbent scattered by the sprinkler 4 in the conventional absorber 50 first falls onto the outer peripheral surfaces of the cooling water pipes 2 at the uppermost stage, flows down the peripheral surfaces in the form of drops and thereafter falls onto the outer peripheral surfaces of the cooling water pipes 2 at the next lower stage. In this way, the absorbent is delivered in the form of drops to the pipes 2 from stage to stage downward. Accordingly, the absorbent not only falls at a relatively high speed under gravity but also fails to sufficiently spread over the outer peripheral surfaces of the pipes 2, and therefore has a small area for absorbing the refrigerant vapor and wets the pipe surfaces over small areas. The absorber consequently has the problem of being low in absorbing capacity due to insufficient absorption and heat exchange.
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an absorber having a higher absorbing capacity than conventional absorbers.

Absorber of absorption system refrigerator


A system and method are configured to provide print services for mobile printing to terminals. A subnet proxy discovers printers on one or more subnets of a network and advertises print services.

In the current information age, information technology (IT) tools play a significant role in our daily activities, and there are often discussions of the desirableness of a paperless society. However, notwithstanding such discussions, there remains a need by users of computers and other information terminals (such as smartphones, PDAs, other information appliances, etc.) for printing functionality. Therefore, devices having printing or plotting functionality, such as printers, copiers, multi-function devices, etc., continue to play a significant role at home, at work and even elsewhere.
In many cases, a mobile terminal is employed to access information, while the user is on-the-go, in an IT environment with which the user may not be familiar and/or in which the user is unaware of the IT resources available to the user in that environment. Further, the mobile terminal may not have appropriate driver software needed to submit a job to, for example, a printer that the user has found nearby (the user).
There remains a need for an improved approach that allows users to more conveniently print from a mobile device.

Access control system and method for mobile printing