A method for maintaining a power source can include selecting, by a controller module, a rechargeable power storage device from a set of power storage devices arranged to selectively provide a summated output of the power source, and selectively enabling the selected power storage device to discharge its stored power at the output of the power source. The controller module can compare a sensed voltage of the selected power storage device with a minimum voltage threshold.

Electrical power distribution systems manage the allocation of power from energy sources to electrical loads that consume the distributed electrical power. For example, in an aircraft, one or more turbine engines provide for propulsion of the aircraft and can further provide mechanical energy that ultimately powers a number of different accessories such as generators, starter/generators, permanent magnet alternators (PMAs), fuel pumps, and hydraulic pumps, e.g., equipment for functions needed on an aircraft other than propulsion. Contemporary aircraft can utilize electrical power for electrical loads related to avionics, motors, and other electric equipment.
Energy storage packs, cells, or the like can provide electrical power for electrical loads, and can include one or more power sources or cell stacks configured in parallel and series combinations to achieve a desired operating voltage and a current capacity generally measured in amp-hours. Also, an increase in loading on the energy storage pack comprising healthy cells can drop the stack operating voltage below the minimum stack voltage due to the internal resistance of each battery cell.

System and method for maintaining power source


An oral tobacco product (1) has a pouch (2) made from a nonwoven fabric sheet and containing tobacco particles made from tobacco materials, for being designed to be put in a user's mouth to allow the user to absorb active constituents of tobacco from the tobacco particles via saliva, and a piece of string (6) with a flavoring added, disposed inside the pouch (2).

Cigarettes have long been enjoyed as articles of tasting. In recent years, however, smokeless tobacco, which users are allowed to use in places where smoking is prohibited, including airplane cabins and train compartments, has been attracting attention. With the smokeless tobacco, users can absorb active constituents of tobacco and enjoy the flavor of tobacco anywhere.
Snus, an oral tobacco product belonging to the class of smokeless tobacco, contains tobacco shreds, or finely-shredded tobacco materials. The tobacco shreds for snus have a high moisture content. Specifically, snus is classified into a loose type, which has non-packaged tobacco shreds, and a portion type called also a pouch type, which has tobacco shreds packaged in a pouch of a nonwoven fabric or other material. The pouch-type snus is designed to be placed between a user's upper lip and gum so that the user can absorb active constituents of tobacco extracted into saliva, through the gum into the body.
With this type of oral tobacco products, the user can enjoy the taste of tobacco shreds only after the user's brain perceives that the active constituents of tobacco have been absorbed in the body. Thus, in an initial stage of use, or stage immediately after putting an oral tobacco product in the mouth, the user feels short on the taste of tobacco shreds, compared with normal cigarettes with the tobacco shreds ignited.
To deal with this, oral tobacco products with a flavoring added to a wrapper from which the pouch is made (Patent documents 1, 2) and an oral tobacco product including capsules containing a flavoring, disposed in the pouch (patent document 3) have been proposed.


An endoscopic retractor instrument for retracting an internal structure is presented which permits atraumatic retraction. The instrument utilizes a pair of flat springs which have distal resilient engagement surfaces that are angularly displaced from the proximate regions of the springs such that the resultant restorting spring force acting on the distal region occurs in a different plane from the restoring spring force acting on the proximate region. The proximate regions are carried in fixed relationship to an extension member which is slideably carried by the housing. A pair of support links pivotally interconnect the distal regions of the flat springs and a resilient central support member has a distal end pivotally connected to the support links to form an engagement surface of enhanced bearing area. Upon extension from the housing, the proximate regions of the flat springs are internally biased to open the engagement surface while the distal region of the springs permit the engagement surface to resiliently support the internal structure.

In performing an endoscopic surgical operation in the abdominal cavity, the surgeon utilizes a laparoscope equipped with a television lens to permit the presentation of the operative region on a high definition video monitor. In some instances the operative region or site is obscured by the presence of an internal structure such as a body organ which must be retracted or held back in order for the surgeon to have a clear presentation on the video monitor of the operative site. The manipulation and stabilization of many of the body structures, for instance, intestines, are extremely slippery and difficult to manipulate and stabilize. To adjust to the various contours of various body structures, i.e. viscera, a spring wire construction has been used in the prior art which allows the retractor to adjust to these contours. However, the individual spring wires or fingers were incapable of transferring forces to the structure so that adequate manipulation could take place and stability during retraction achieved. In U.S. Pat. No. 5,113,846, an organ manipulator is disclosed where a retractor body is comprised of a multi-joint lever system of articulated arms which are connected to one another to be pivotably moveable and are brought into an open fixed and rigid position which forms a platform for bearing against the internal organ. The rigidity of the support platform of the organ manipulator described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,113,846 limits the even distribution of the retracting force and consequently the atraumatic retraction of delicate viscera or other internal structures. Thus, the organ manipulator of U.S. Pat. No. 5,113,846 while providing a support platform has insufficient flexibility to adjust to the contours of internal structures and consequently atraumatically retracting delicate viscera.

Surgical endoscopic retractor instrument


Systems and methods are disclosed for providing content in accordance with informational campaigns or advertisements administered by one or more distribution partners. the distribution partners typically revenue share with the system administrator (system owner), who coordinates the informational campaigns and sends electronic mails (e-mails) associated therewith. By applying a distribution optimization formula to various informational or advertising campaigns of the distribution partners, e-mails with links to these distribution partners will be sent to users, and each user who opens the e-mail and clicks on a portion of the e-mail over an underlying link, will be directed to the requisite distribution partner, typically the server associated therewith.

Electronic information distribution, for example, advertising, over networks, such as the Internet, continues to increase. This increase is expected to continue over the coming years, as increasing numbers of people have access to computers, and therefore, the World Wide Web (WWW). Accordingly, advertisers are allocating increasing amounts of resources, including manpower and money, into Internet advertising.
Contemporary Internet advertising takes various forms. For example, an advertiser may own or secure access to a web site or web page, collectively, a "web site" and post advertising on this web site. A user accesses this web site by obtaining the web site address, typically a uniform resource locator (URL), through general knowledge or a search engine. The user either manually enters the known address into his web browser, or clicks on a link that will direct his web browser to the web site.
The user may also enter words or groups of words into a search engine. The entered word or words may be keywords that are assigned to data objects for the desired products, services or other items of information. The user then receives listings for web sites with links, that when clicked, will direct the user's browser to the corresponding web site.
Alternatively, an advertiser will actively seek customers, who will respond to the advertiser by directing their web browsers to the advertiser's web site. For example, an advertiser may send an electronic communication, such as an electronic mail (e-mail), to a recipient, for example, a potential customer. Once the e-mail is opened, it includes a link, that when clicked, directs the user's browser to a particular web site.
Banner advertising involves banners that cover links for advertiser's targeted Web sites. The banners are either placed onto a web page and are part of the page, or are alternated over time. Banners can also pop-up, roll up or otherwise appear during the time the web page is on the screen (monitor) of the user. These banners are such that a user can click on the banner that is linked to a web site, and once clicked, the web browser of the user will be directed to the targeted web site.
Advertisers, or agents of advertisers, typically offer fees for placement of their advertisements on web pages or other electronic communications based on success of the advertisement. For example, an advertisement is considered a success when a user has clicked on the desired banner, or other component linked to the targeted web site, such that the click directs the user's browser to the targeted web site, associated with, owned or controlled by the advertiser.
Fees are also offered when keywords are used to obtain listings of advertisers. Listings of advertisers for each keyword are typically placed in a prioritized order, with the priority normally based on an amount that an advertiser will pay when a user clicks on the listing, and through a link associated with the listing, the user's browser is directed to the a targeted web site associated with, owned, or controlled by the advertiser. These listings are typically produced by Internet search engines. Advertising in this manner is commonly referred to as pay-per-click (PPC), cost per click, or PPC advertising.
These contemporary advertising methods exhibit drawbacks, in that they do not address methods for maximizing revenue in directing the recipient's or user's browser to a targeted web site. Moreover, each advertiser, or the agent of an advertiser, may offer a different fee and different terms for successful placement or distribution of its advertisement(s). The terms of advertising contracts in the Internet advertising industry may have a number of inputs which make assessment of multiple offers difficult, particularly where the volume of contracts and volume of advertisements displayed are all large, and decisions must be made very quickly.

Method and system for generating and distributing electronic communications for maximum revenue


A control device for controlling the position of a snowplow mounted on the front of a vehicle is disposed in the cab of the vehicle and is selectively mountable in any one of a plurality of locations in the cab to facilitate access to the control device in accordance with the preference of the vehicle and snowplow operator. The control device includes a housing supporting manually operable pushbutton switches which control the selectable plow positions. The housing is provided with one component of a two component separable fastening arrangement, the second component of which is mounted in the cab in one or more of a plurality of selectable positions, such as on the dashboard, armrest, console, gearshift lever or clothing worn by the vehicle operator, whereby the control device can be positioned in a location most convenient to the operator. The control device includes switches controlling solenoid actuated valves by which the position of the snowplow blade is adjusted and includes circuitry operable when the blade is lowered to contact ground to bypass the corresponding switch such that the blade is maintained in a floating mode.

The present invention relates to the art of snowplows for automotive vehicles and controls therefor and, more particularly, to the manually operable control device located in the cab of the vehicle and by which the position of the plow blade is controlled.
The present invention finds particular utility in conjunction with a snowplow and control system of the character disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,706,144 to Miceli which is owned by the assignee of the present invention and the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference. Accordingly, the invention will be disclosed and described in detail herein in conjunction with a plow and control system according to the latter patent. At the same time, however, it will be appreciated that the invention is applicable to other snowplow and control system arrangements.
In a snowplow and control system arrangement of the character disclosed in the Miceli patent, the snowplow blade is mounted on the front of a car, small truck, or the like, together with hydraulic cylinders by which the blade is elevated and lowered relative to the vehicle and the underlying ground and by which the blade is angled to the left or right relative to the vehicle and ground. The plow and control system further includes solenoid operated valves by which the flow of hydraulic fluid to and from the cylinders is controlled to achieve the various positioning functions. Selective positioning of the plow blade through control of the solenoid valves and an electric motor driven hydraulic pump in the system is achieved through a control device mounted in the cab of the vehicle such as on the dashboard thereof for operation by the vehicle operator, whereby only an electrical cord of sheathed conductors extends from the cab of the vehicle to the operating components of the system. In the Miceli patent, the control device includes a pair of pivotal operating switch levers which serve to control the electrical system and, in turn, the hydraulic system of the plow. Each lever has a neutral or hold position to which the lever has to be manually returned, and one of the levers is pivotal relative to the hold position to selectively achieve raising and lowering of the blade while the other lever is pivotal from its hold position to selectively achieve left or right angling of the blade.
Heretofore, the control device has been mounted in the cab of the vehicle in a location fixed relative thereto, generally at the time of installation of the system. When mounted, the electrical cord leading from the device to the solenoid valves and pump extends under the dashboard of the vehicle and through the fire wall. The control device is generally mounted on the dashboard so as to minimize the length of cord exposed in the cab. However, the control device is often permanently mounted on a console of the vehicle between the front seats, whereby the cord runs across the floor of the vehicle to the fire wall.
Permanent mounting of the control device either on the dashboard or console minimizes or undesirably limits convenience and efficiency with respect to the vehicle operator's control of both the vehicle and the snowplow during a snowplowing operation. In this respect, it will be appreciated that the vehicle operator must steer the vehicle with one hand and manipulate the components on the control device with the other to adjust the position of the plow blade during a snowplowing operation. Depending on the make of the vehicle and the physical size of the operator, dashboard mounting may require the operator to lean forward in the driver's seat to manipulate the control device components, and such body motion or movement can detract from the operator's efficiency in controlling steering of the vehicle and manipulation of the floor pedals. Moreover, a given snowplow vehicle may be driven by several operators each having different physical characteristics, and this too can lead to inconvenience and discomfort for the operator in driving the vehicle and manipulating the snowplow control components during a snowplowing operation. For example, if the control device is mounted on the dashboard to the right of the steering wheel of the vehicle, or on the console, and the vehicle operator is left handed, and not particularly ambidextrous, manipulation of the control device components with the operator's right hand may be awkward as well as difficult for the operator. It will be appreciated, therefore, that the mounting of the control device in a fixed location on the dashboard, console or elsewhere in the vehicle cab area is extremely limiting with respect to convenience of the operator and, in turn, the latter's efficiency in operating the vehicle and snowplow. This can lead to operator fatigue and, more importantly, the potential danger of operating the vehicle with less than a desirable degree of control thereof.
Yet another problem exists with respect to the potential inadvertent and unintended displacement of the snowplow blade during non-snowplow operation of the vehicle in, for example, moving from one snowplow operating location to another. More particularly in this respect, the control device is connected to the vehicle battery through the vehicle ignition system, whereby the control device and thus the electrical components in the system are in an operable mode whenever the vehicle ignition switch is turned on. Thus, for example, if the snowplow is in an elevated position and the vehicle is being driven in a non-snowplowing operation, unintentional or accidental contact with a control component on the control device can result in undesirable movement of the plow blade relative to the vehicle and the underlying roadway. The potential for damaging the snowplow unit and/or the vehicle and/or injuring the vehicle operator will be appreciated simply by imagining what would happen if the plow blade was lowered to engage the underlying roadway while the vehicle was being operated at a high rate of speed, such lowering being possible by inadvertent actuation of the down component on the control device.


A method for automatically scheduling tasks in whole-body computer aided detection/diagnosis (CAD), including: (a) receiving a plurality of tasks to be executed by a whole-body CAD system; (b) identifying a task to be executed, wherein the task to be executed has an expected information gain that is greater than that of each of the other tasks; (c) executing the task with the greatest expected information gain and removing the executed task from further analysis; and (d) repeating steps (b) and (c) for the remaining tasks.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to whole-body computer aided detection/diagnosis (CAD) scheduling.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
Recently, emerging whole-body imaging technology has paved the way to scale up medical image-based diagnosis to a whole-body level. Whole-body computed tomography (CT)/positron emission tomography (PET)/magnetic resonance (MR) scanning help radiologists in various diagnostic problems, including assessment of cancer metastasis in lymph (D. Visvikis and P. J. Ell, "Impact of technology on the utilisation of positron emission tomography in lymphoma: current and future perspectives", European Journal of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging 30, pp. 1619-1670, 2002) or bones (M. Niitsu and T. Takeda, "Solitary hot spots in the ribs on bone scan: value of thin-section reformatted computed tomography to exclude radiography-negative fractures", J Compu Assis Tomogr. 27, pp. 469-474, 2003), evaluation of the extent and distribution of polymyositis (M. O'Connell, T. Powell, D. Brennan, T. Lynch, C. McCarthy and S. Eustace, "Whole-body mr imaging in the diagnosis of polymyositis", AJR Am J Roentgenol. 179, pp. 967-971, 2002), and detection of ankylosing spondylitis (U. Weber, C. W. Pfirrmann, R. O. Kissling and J. H. M. Zanetti, "Whole body mr imaging in ankylosing spondylitis: a descriptive pilot study in patients with suspected early and active confirmed ankylosing spondylitis", BMC musculoskeletal disorders 8, 2007). However, the vast amount of image data in whole-body scans (more than 400 slices) makes the detection of potential disease a burdensome and tedious task for radiologists. Accordingly, CAD becomes more desirable for whole-body scans to provide a useful "second opinion" for radiologists.
As a whole-body CAD system often involves multiple organs that have strong anatomical or functional dependency, it is actually a multi-task system where different tasks are highly dependent. One way to exploit task dependency is to execute the tasks in a schedule such that outputs of some tasks can be used to guide the others. For example, the relatively easy task of femoral head localization in CT (bone is very bright in CT) will facilitate a quick and accurate localization of the iliac bifurcation of the aorta, which in turn greatly helps the detection and identification of abdominal lymph node clusters (see FIG. 1). However, while the idea of executing multiple tasks of whole-body CAD in a particular order has been accepted, whole-body CAD is usually scheduled heuristically and the scheduling method (how to determine the schedule?) has not been well investigated.
In the past decades, scheduling topics have been extensively studied in the areas of operation research (P. Brucker, "Scheduling algorithms", 4th edition, Springer, 2004) and theoretical computer science (K. Pruhs, J. Sgall and E. Torng, Handbook of Scheduling: Algorithms, Models, and Performance Analysis, CRC Press, 2003). Many scheduling rules/methods were proposed to deal with scheduling problems in various applications, including manufacturing, service industries, transportation and practical computer systems, etc. While earlier studies (J. E. Kelley, "Critical-path planning and scheduling: Mathematical basis", Operations Research 9, pp. 296-320, 1961) mainly focus on deterministic systems, more researchers have recently moved to flexible and stochastic systems. In Nam's work (I. hyun Nam, "Dynamic scheduling for a flexible processing network", Operations Research 49, pp. 305-315, 2001), the scheduling policies for flexible systems were investigated. This work analyzed an open processing network model with discretionary routing and showed, in general, that unbalanced workload routing with priority sequencing gives better performance than a balanced one. Chou et al. (M. C. Chou, H. Liu, M. Queyranne and D. Simchi-Levi, "On the asymptotic optimality of a simple on-line algorithm for the stochastic single-machine weighted completion time problem and its extensions", Operations Research 54, pp. 464-474, 2006) studied a stochastic single machine problem, where the actual processing time of tasks are not known until processing is complete. They proved that when task weights and processing times are bounded and task processing times are mutually independent random variables, a weighted shortest expected processing time among available jobs (WSEPTA) heuristic is asymptotically optimal for the single-machine problem. Cres et al. (H. Cres and H. Moulin, "Scheduling with opting out: Improving upon random priority", Operations Research 49, pp. 565-577, 2001) studied the problem where agents can opt out. They showed that the familiar random priority (RP) mechanism can be improved upon by another mechanism dubbed probabilistic serial (PS). Gilland et al. (W. G. Gilland, "Effective sequencing rules for closed manufacturing networks", Operations Research 49, pp. 759-770, 2001) developed a method for determining sequencing policies to effectively control a multi-station closed queuing network. Here, a Brownian control problem that approximates the original queuing network is formulated and used to develop a dynamic sequencing policy that seeks to prevent idleness, unless the system is at a face of a workload imbalance polytope that arises in the Brownian formulation.
Although the aforementioned scheduling problems have been successfully applied to various industrial areas, they have limitations in CAD scheduling, due to the unique characteristics of whole-body CAD summarized as follows.
First, the schedule of whole-body CAD is highly flexible. The accuracy and speed of CAD systems, however, is significantly different with different schedules. Second, due to missing data, artifacts or diseases, the scheduler of whole-body CAD must be an active one. In other words, the scheduling must be adaptive to the specific patient data at the runtime. Refer to the previous example, in general cases, the detector of iliac bifurcation should be fired next to the "femoral head localization". However, for a patient who has an artificial mental femoral head, the femoral head detector might not detect it correctly and usually return a result with very low confidence. In this situation, instead of firing the "iliac bifurcation detector", the scheduler should trigger the detectors of other organs, e.g., kidneys, which can be localized accurately without the inference of femoral heads. Third, multiple tasks are often statistically dependent. Refer to the previous example, "iliac bifurcation localization" is statistically dependent on "femoral heads localization", as the relative locations of the iliac bifurcation with respect to the femoral heads are not deterministic. Finally, the outcome of tasks usually embeds uncertainties. Since tasks are mutually dependent, uncertainties in one task might influence the speed and accuracy of other tasks.
Accordingly, there exists a need for scheduling tasks in whole-body CAD at high speeds and with great accuracy.

Information-theoretic view of the scheduling problem in whole-body computer aided detection/diagnosis (CAD)


Aspects of the invention relate to compositions comprising one or more live bacterial strains for topical administration to the skin, wherein the one or more live bacterial strains are Propionibacterium acnes (P. acnes) bacterial strains, and methods for use.

The human body is host to a highly complex and rich microbial community. These microorganisms are generally harmless and contribute to a healthy state by producing vitamins, cooperating with digesting food, or stimulating the immune system. The human microbiota mainly resides on the surface and in deep layers of skin, in the saliva and oral mucosa, in the conjunctiva, and in the gastrointestinal tracts.
It has been demonstrated, primarily in the gut, that human microbiota have fundamental roles in human health and disease. The skin is colonized by a large number of microorganisms, most of them are beneficial or harmless. However, the skin microbiome has specific compositions in diseases states of skin that are different compared to healthy skin. Diseases such as acne vulgaris are associated with strong alterations of the microbiome.

Methods and compositions for changing the composition of the skin microbiome using complex mixtures of bacterial strains


Disclosed is an improved method, system, and computer program product for preparing multiple levels of semiconductor substrates for three-dimensional IC integration. Some embodiments utilize the process and design models to check and fabricate the insulating dielectric layer (IDL) separating the first and the second film stacks on separate substrates and then prepare the surface of the IDL to receive an additional layer of semiconductor substrate for further fabrication of the chips. Yet some other embodiments further employ the design and process models to ensure the IDL and the semiconductor substrate are sufficiently flat, or are otherwise satisfactory, so the three-dimensional integrated circuits meet the reliability, manufacturability, yield, or performance requirements. Yet some other embodiments further employ design and process models to place the vias connecting the multiple film stacks.

The ever-growing demand for more functionality and higher performance has caused increased complexity in integrated circuit (IC) designs requiring more yet smaller transistors to be closely packed. As a result, the integrated circuit chip size has continually increased to accommodate the ever-increasing number of transistors. This continual demand for smaller features improves the performance of integrated circuits but also adversely impacts the interconnect performances. Smaller wire sizes and spacing and longer lines to traverse larger chip areas have increased the resistance, capacitance and, as a result, the R-C delay. Moreover, this interconnect delay becomes more significant and can no longer be ignored as the feature sizes continue to shrink into the deep submicron regime.
Another adverse impact of this continual increase in chip size as a result of the demand for more functionality and higher performance is the number of chips per wafer decreases and thus increases the manufacturing cost as well as the cost of ownership of integrated circuits.
Thus there arises the development of three dimensional integration of chip design and manufacturing to create multiple levels of Silicon ICs to reduce the size of the integrated circuits and to improve interconnect delays and feature packing density by vertically stacking multiple dies and interconnecting these multiple dies with interconnects such as a high density, low latency interconnect interface.
Several approaches have been investigated, yet various limitations have been identified for each approach. For example, one method of three dimensional integration of integrated circuits is to bond two or more pieces of fully processed wafers with vias or interconnections electrically connecting the integrated circuits on both wafers. Furthermore, the backside of the these wafers may be etched away for bonding additional pairs of wafers. The advantage of this method is in that it preserves all the material properties known today, with the exception of the bonding layer between the wafers. However, the limitation on this method is the precision, or lack thereof, of overlaying two processed wafers each of which has been manufactured with extremely high precision atop each other. Typically, the best alignment techniques today may only bring the two wafers within +/−2 microns, which is far less precise than what is required for integrated circuits. Such an misalignment may cause great difficulties in the interconnects between the two pieces of wafers being bonded or glued together. Moreover, the variation in the flatness of the processed wafers may prohibit such bonding. This effect of varying curvature of the processed wafers is especially profound as the pair of wafers are usually bonded in opposite directions with the silicon substrate facing outwards. Additional problems introduced by the different quality of the back side of the wafer as well as the typical high particle count on the back side and the lack of effective mechanisms to control the particle problems further exacerbates the practicability of these approaches.
Traditional epitaxial growth of single crystal silicon through CVD processes has been known for its high temperature (˜1000 degrees Celsius) and thus cannot be used in three-dimensional integration because it violates the thermal budget of an integrated circuit. Recent development of ultra-high vacuum CVD low temperature epitaxial processing technique has substantially reduced this thermal budget problem although manufacturability still has room for improvement.
Another method for forming a thin film transistor (TFT) is to deposit a thin film of polycrystalline silicon atop a substrate and then uses an intense energy source such as an electron beam or a laser to induce re-crystallization of the polysilicon film. This method may be improper for three-dimensional chip integration due to its high temperature process characteristics that may most likely exceed the thermal budget of a semiconductor device. It is not until the recent development of low temperature processing which has successfully demonstrated the fabrication of single crystal silicon TFTs.
Although the above technologies may be utilized for three-dimensional integrated circuit (IC) integration, they still have certain limitations and may even produce unsatisfactory results. For example, the resultant single silicon layer may not be sufficiently flat to accept subsequent semiconductor layers, and while it is theoretically possible to employ subsequent planarization processes to flatten the single silicon layer. The epitaxial growth process and the high energy re-crystallization process are known to be sensitive to, if not conformal to, the underlying interlayer dielectrics.
Other low temperature crystallization processes such as the metal induced lateral crystallization and low temperature deposition and crystallization of amorphous silicon may also be used in certain three-dimensional chip integration such as deep sub-micron polysilicon TFTs, stacked SRMA cells, and EEPROM cells have been successfully demonstrated.
However, all the above methods are sensitive to the topographical variations of the underlying film stack or even the substrate and thus severely limit the applicability and utility of three-dimensional integration. For example, the second semiconductor substrate atop the first film stack would limit the types of IC blocks because of the topographical variations/micro-roughness of the top surface of the second semiconductor substrate. Similarly, the variations in the flatness or the micro-roughness of the substrate may also cause problems in the fabrication and integration of modern integrated circuits. The surface variations or the micro-roughness will also continue to be a perturbation to lithographic tools.

Method, system, and computer program product for preparing multiple layers of semiconductor substrates for electronic designs


In a stabilizer control apparatus for transmitting a power through a speed reducing mechanism, a rolling motion of a vehicle body is restrained smoothly and rapidly, without being affected by transmitting efficiency of the speed reducing mechanism. As for a stabilizer (SBf) including a pair of stabilizer bars (SBfr, SBfl) disposed between a right wheel and a left wheel, and a stabilizer actuator (FT) driven by an electric motor disposed between them, the electric motor M is controlled in response to a turning state of a vehicle, to control a torsional rigidity of the stabilizer. Furthermore, the apparatus comprises relative position detection means for detecting the relative position of the pair of stabilizer bars (for example, obtained from a relationship between a rotational angle of the electric motor and a reducing speed ratio), and it is so constituted that the electric motor is controlled in response to the detected result.

In general, a stabilizer control apparatus for a vehicle is adapted to apply an appropriate roll moment to the vehicle from outside thereof according to an action of a stabilizer, while the vehicle is traveling with a turning operation, to reduce or restrain a rolling motion of a vehicle body. In order to achieve this function, in Non-Patent document 1 as cited hereinafter, for example, a system called "Dynamic Drive" has been proposed to stabilize the rolling motion of the vehicle actively by making use of hydraulic pressure. That is, a tandem pump actuated by an engine is used as a power source, and sensor signals • CAN signal are input, so that a lateral kinetic signal is determined on the basis of logical or mathematical combination of those signals. On the basis of those signals, a proportional pressure control valve for setting an active pressure and a directional control valve for ensuring the direction of oil are controlled. Two pressure sensors for front and rear axle stabilizers are provided in a valve block, and the detected pressures are fed back to a control unit, in the same manner as the direction control valve.
Also, there is known an active roll restraining control apparatus using an electric system. For example, in Patent document 1, proposed is an apparatus for controlling efficiency of a stabilizer to vary an apparent torsional rigidity of the stabilizer by driving and controlling an actuator in response to a turning level of a vehicle. In practice, it is so constituted that driving force of an electromagnetic linear actuator is calculated on the basis of signals of various sensors, and converted into electric value to provide a desired electric value for performing a PID control. And, it is described that the actuator is actuated to enlarge or shorten the stabilizer, so as to provide an appropriate torsional rigidity for it, by feeding exciting current to a stator having laminated plates with coils connected together in a three-phase delta circuit, in response to a synchronous signal based on the output of position detecting means, and feeding actual current back to it.
Furthermore, in Patent document 2, there is proposed a side roll stabilizing apparatus provided with the stabilizer bars divided into two portions and an electromechanical slewing actuator arranged between halves of the stabilizer bars. That is, in the Patent document 2, the electromechanical slewing actuator which is used for creating an initial stress torque, is constituted by three basic components, namely an electric motor, a step-down gear and a brake disposed between them. The torque generated by the electric motor is converted by the step-down gear into the torque needed for the initial stress of the stabilizer. One stabilizer half is supported directly by the electromechanical slewing actuator or housing via a bearing mount, and the other stabilizer half is connected to the output end (high torque end) of the step-down gear and is mounted in the bearing mount.    Patent document 1:    Japanese Patent Laid-open Publication No.2000-71739    Patent document 2:    Japanese Patent Laid-open Publication No.2002-518245    Non-Patent document 1:    Dynamic Drive. Technology. [online]. BMW Group, 2002.    [retrieved on 2003-12-08]. Retrieved from the Internet: <URL:http://www.bmwgroup.com/e/0—0_www_bmwgroup_com/713 innovation/7—3_technologie/7—3—4_dynamic_drive.shtml>


A touch panel includes a substrate defining thereon a touch sensing region; a sensor array formed in the touch sensing region; and connecting lines arranged on the substrate and corresponding to the sensor elements one on one. The sensor array consists of sensor elements separately positioned on the substrate, and defined as a plurality of groups, wherein the sensor elements in the same group include a central sensor element and a plurality of surrounding sensor elements. Each of the connecting lines is connected to one and only one of the sensor elements corresponding thereto. The surrounding sensor elements are defined as a plurality of sets of surrounding sensor elements, which are respectively driven with corresponding connecting line or lines, and return signals for determining which part of the central sensor element is touched.

Capacitive sensing is a technology based on capacitive coupling which takes human body capacitance as input. The capacitive touch sensor has been widely used in smart phones, tablets and even in the IT displays up to 23 inches, e.g. Notebooks, laptop trackpads, digital audio players, computer displays, ALL-in-one PCs, with the multi-touch features.
More and more design engineers are selecting capacitive sensors for their versatility, reliability and robustness, unique human-device interface and cost reduction over mechanical switches.
Capacitive sensors detect anything that is conductive or has a dielectric different than that of air. While capacitive sensing applications can replace mechanical buttons with capacitive alternatives, other technologies such as multi-touch and gesture-based touchscreens are also premised on capacitive sensing.
Capacitive sensors are constructed from many different media, such as copper, Indium Tin Oxide (ITO) and printed ink. Copper capacitive sensors can be implemented on Printing Circuit Boards (PCBs) as well as on flexible material. Indium Tin Oxide allows the capacitive sensor to be up to 90% transparent for one layer solutions, such as touch phone screens.
There are two types of capacitive sensing system: mutual capacitance, where the object (finger, conductive stylus) alters the mutual coupling between row and column electrodes, which are scanned sequentially; and self- or absolute capacitance where the object (such as a finger) loads the sensor or increases the parasitic capacitance to ground. In both cases, the difference of a preceding absolute position from the present absolute position yields the relative motion of the object or finger during that time.
FIGS. 1A and 1B show the structures of the traditional two-dimensional sensor arrays (1010, 1020). To have better coordination accuracy of the touched locations, the touch sensors often come with two-dimensional sensor arrays, including Double-sided Indium Tin Oxide (DITO) or Single-sided Indium Tin Oxide (SITO). The size of the sensor element from the sensor array is about the finger size (5-8 mm). The patterns of the sensor elements are mostly as the bar shape, the diamond shape or other polygon shape. For example, FIG. 1A shows that the pattern of the sensor elements (1018, 1016) in a two-dimensional sensor array 1010 is the bar shape and the two-dimensional sensor array 1010 includes a bottom layer 1012 and a top layer 1014, and FIG. 1B shows that the pattern of the sensor element 1022 in a two-dimensional sensor array 1020 is the diamond shape.
By referring to FIG. 1B, the connecting line "Xm" attaches to the m-th electrode in the horizontal axis, and the connecting line "Yn" attaches to the n-th electrode in the logitudinal axis. Thus, the trace routing for the two-dimensional sensor array 1020 whose number of traces is the number of electrodes in the horizontal axis plus the number of electrodes in the longitudinal axis, i.e., m+n, is easier than the one-dimensional sensor array.
FIGS. 2A and 2B show the structures of the traditional one-dimensional sensor arrays (2010, 2020). As the cost is concerned, especially the touch panel module takes a certain amount of total system cost, the one-dimensional sensor array came up, however, with the compromise of lower coordination accuracy. In order to have the multi-touch features on the one-dimensional sensor, the pattern design of sensor element becomes crucial. For example, FIG. 2A shows that the pattern of the sensor elements 2012 in a one-dimensional sensor array 2010 is the triangle shape, and FIG. 2B shows that the pattern of the sensor elements 2022 in a one-dimensional sensor array 2020 is the saw-tooth shape.
The sensor elements should be normally small while maintaining the touch accuracy or the resolution. This makes the trace routing difficult for the individual sensor element under the defined active area of the touch sensor. For example, FIG. 2B illustrates that the trace routing of the circuit 2024 for the individual sensor element 2022 is difficult under the defined active area of the one-dimensional sensor array 2020.
In general, the two-dimensional sensor array constructed as a matrix-like or keyboard-like structure has less constraint on the trace routing and provides much better touch accuracy comparing to the one-dimensional sensor array for multi-touch applications. The major drawback is the high cost in the manufacture.
On the other hand, one-dimensional sensor array is bounded by the routing space providing barely satisfied touch accuracy, but with the advantage from the cost. Under the limitation of touch accuracy, the size of one-dimensional sensor array for multi-touch is limited under 5 inches.
Currently, the capacitive touch panel with the sensor elements composed of a single material layer transmits signals from each sensor element by a separate connecting line, and determines the occurrence of the touch on the basis of the change of the singles from each sensor element directly. Thus, although the fabrication cost and working hours are reduced, it requires much more connecting lines to achieve the sensing accuracy, and results in difficulties on the design of wiring and connecting interface. On the other hand, when reducing the number of connecting lines, it will reduce the number of sensor elements and thus the sensing accuracy. Therefore, it is desirable to create a sensor array to resolve the above-mentioned issues.


A particulate suspending agent may be useful for mitigating particulate settling in wellbore applications with high-temperature and/or at near-neutral and higher pH values. Methods of treating a wellbore may include providing a treatment fluid comprising an aqueous liquid, a plurality of particulates, and a particulate suspending agent, wherein the particulate suspending agent comprises a crosslinked polymer particulate formed by a reaction comprising a first monofunctional monomer and an orthoester crosslinker, the orthoester crosslinker comprising an orthoester linkage and at least two crosslinking moieties; and placing the treatment fluid in a wellbore penetrating a subterranean formation.

The present invention relates to particulate suspending agents for use in high-temperature and/or at near-neutral or higher pH (e.g., greater than about 5) wellbore applications, and methods relating thereto.
Subterranean operations often involve fluids that include particulates. For example, cement slurries include hydraulic cement particulates, and drilling fluids often include particulate weighting agents. To maintain particulates in suspension, the fluids are often viscosified. As the bottom hole circulating temperature of a wellbore increases, the viscosity of a fluid decreases, which is known as thermal thinning, which can cause undesirable settling of the particulates from the fluid.
Particulate settling can cause the density of the fluid to change, which can lead to, inter alia, an influx of formation fluids. To inhibit settling, suspending agents, e.g., crosslinked polymers, can be added to fluids. As the fluid temperature increases, the suspending agent is thought to increase the viscosity of the fluid, for example, by breaking crosslinks to release a polymer into the fluid. One important feature of a suspending agent is that it not adversely affect low-temperature rheology.
Existing suspending agents, e.g., guar or guar derivatives crosslinked with borate, delay crosslink breakage sufficiently to allow mixing and pumping of a fluid without imparting an excessively-high viscosity. However, existing suspending agents are known to degrade above 300° F. This temperature limitation makes these suspending agents more impractical for use in higher temperature applications. Synthetic polymers crosslinked with esters or amides are effective at temperatures in excess of 400° F., but the crosslinks may not be degraded rapidly enough at near-neutral pH values (e.g., about pH 5 to about pH 8) to offset thermal thinning as the fluid heats up in the wellbore.

Thermally-activated, high temperature particulate suspending agents and methods relating thereto


A compact Wankel expander-alternator combination is provided. The combination includes a stationary outer housing that has embedded stator coils and a rotating inner housing having corresponding magnets disposed around the housing with the magnet/coil interaction generating power. Within the rotating housing, a three-sided rotor turns within a two lobed Wankel cavity, powered by working fluid acting on the rotor. The rotating housing and the rotor each circumscribe a stationary shaft. The shaft has an eccentric lobe about which the rotor turns on a bearing disposed between the rotor and the lobe. The rotating housing turns on bearings supported by the stationary shaft. The rotor and rotating housing are linked so that as the rotor turns in response to the working fluid force, the housing turns at a higher speed the speed ratio being preselected to achieve the desired output energy.

(1) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an integrated Wankel expander-alternator pairing and more particularly to an expander-alternator combination that is more compact than a traditional, shaft-coupled engine-alternator pairing. This inventive concept permits the energy generated to be employed in a smaller, typically unmanned, submersible known in the underwater vehicle art as an Unmanned Undersea Vehicle (UUV).
(2) Description of the Prior Art
It is well known in the UUV art that undersea vehicles that operate independent of air must either employ thermal engines that burn air-independent fuels, or use electric powered motors with the energy delivered by primary batteries, secondary batteries, fuel cells, or the like.
The operating range of UUV vehicles could be increased significantly if an air-breathing engine were used to recharge the batteries which is the charging method used by most non-nuclear submarines. In such submarines, a diesel engine drives a generator that charges the submarine batteries. The air-breathing engine technique has not yet found favor in UUV designs. This is due in major part to the diesel engine and the generator occupying a large amount of space and weight; thereby, leaving little room for fuel storage and batteries. This is also due in part to the acoustic noise signature emanations produced by such an equipped vehicle.
In view of the generally small size of a typical UUV body; what is needed for UUV applications is a compact air-independent electrical power-generating source that takes up a relatively small proportion of the overall space and weight of the vehicle or UUV.

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


Methods of the present disclosure provide for detection of mutations and splice variants of the androgen receptor using a non-invasive approach, RNAseq, for examining circulating tumor cells.

The transcriptome is the complete set of transcripts in a cell, and their quantity, for a specific developmental stage or physiological condition. Understanding the transcriptome is essential for interpreting the functional elements of the genome and revealing the molecular constituents of cells and tissues, and also for understanding development and disease. The key aims of transcriptomics are: to catalogue all species of transcript, including mRNAs, non-coding RNAs and small RNAs; to determine the transcriptional structure of genes, in terms of their start sites, 5′ and 3′ ends, splicing patterns and other post-transcriptional modifications; and to quantify the changing expression levels of each transcript during development and under different conditions.
Recently, the development of novel high-throughput DNA sequencing methods has provided a new method for both mapping and quantifying transcriptomes. This method, termed RNA-Seq (RNA sequencing), has clear advantages over existing approaches and is expected to revolutionize the manner in which eukaryotic transcriptomes are analysed. It has already been applied to Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Schizosaccharomyces pombe, Arabidopsis thaliana, mouse and human cells.
Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed malignancy among men in the USA, and is the second most common cause of cancer mortality in that group. It is estimated that one in six American men will receive a diagnosis of prostate cancer at some point in their lives, at an average age of 68 years. In 2010, there were 217,730 newly diagnosed cases and 32,050 deaths from prostate cancer in the USA alone.
The management of advanced and metastatic disease, however, is more difficult and requires systemic treatment with either hormonal (i.e., androgen deprivation) therapy (ADT) or chemotherapy. Since androgens are the main regulators of prostate cancer growth, the rationale for ADT is that tumor cells deprived of key hormonal growth regulators will either undergo apoptosis or survive in an arrested state in the G1 phase of the cell cycle. The median duration of response to ADT is approximately 18-24 months, after which most patients progress to a more aggressive form of disease termed castration (hormone)-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC).
The outlook for patients with CRPC is quite grim. Several investigators have reported that, without treatment, median survival time ranges from 9.1 to 21.7 months. CRPC is now the second most common cause of male cancer-related mortality. However, recent discoveries pertaining to the biology and pathophysiology of the disease over the last two decades have enabled the development of new therapeutic modalities with the hope of improving those statistics. In recent years, a select few chemotherapy, hormonal, immunotherapy and palliative agents have gained US FDA approval for use in patients with CRPC. Additionally, many experimental anticancer drugs are in development, and there are numerous ongoing clinical trials seeking to elucidate optimal treatment regimens using existing modalities that maximize survival time while minimizing side effects.
Genetic profiling of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) in subjects with CRPC would greatly help diagnosis and identify specific treatment regimens for the subjects. The genomic profile of CTCs from prostate cancer (PCa) are poorly identified due to the rarity of CTCs and the challenge in isolating them.

Methods for identifying androgen receptor splice variants in subjects having castration resistant prostate cancer


An air dryer includes first and second flow paths. Each flow path includes a check valve that prevents fluid flow into the flow path and an exhaust valve having an open position that permits fluid flow out of the flow path and a shut position that prevents fluid flow out of the flow path. A diverter valve has a first position that provides fluid communication to the first flow path and a second position that provides fluid communication to the second flow path. An interlock operably connected to the diverter valve and the exhaust valves prevents positioning the diverter valve to the first position when the exhaust valve in the first flow path is in the open position and prevents positioning the diverter valve to the second position when the exhaust valve in the second flow path is in the open position.

Compressed air is commonly used to perform a myriad of functions. For example, compressed air may be used to displace water in submarine ballast tanks to increase the buoyancy of the submarine, to operate brakes on locomotives and trucks, or to pneumatically operate valves. In each case, the compressed air may include moisture and other particulate contaminates which, if not removed, may accelerate fouling, corrosion, and other interference with the equipment.
Various air dryers are known in the art to remove moisture and particulate contaminates from the compressed air. The air dryers typically include various combinations of filters and moisture separators to clean and dry the compressed air before it reaches the equipment. For equipment that requires a continuous supply of compressed air, the air dryers may include duplicate flow paths arranged in parallel so that one flow path may purify the compressed air while the other flow path is purged of the filtered moisture and particulates. However, previous air dryer designs may be susceptible to reduced effectiveness and/or complete failure in the event of improper valve alignment. Therefore, an improved air dryer that may continue to operate and supply compressed air in spite of a failed or misaligned valve would be useful.


In a CCD image apparatus in which an image section is horizontally divided into two areas, two horizontal CCDs are related to the two image areas with one-to-one correspondence and transfer the signal electric charges of the two image areas, and the two horizontal CCDs are driven in an identical direction by the same horizontal-driving pulses.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to solid-state image apparatuses, driving methods therefor, and camera systems, and more particularly, to a solid-state image apparatus having a plurality of horizontal transfer sections (horizontal transfer registers), a driving method therefor, and a camera system using the solid-state image apparatus as an image-pickup device.
2. Description of the Related Art
There have been known solid-state image apparatuses, such as charge-coupled-device (CCD) solid-state image apparatuses (hereinafter called CCD image apparatuses), in which an image section formed of pixels arranged two-dimensionally is divided, for example, into four areas, and each area is provided with a horizontal transfer register, in order to increase the number of pixels or to provide a higher electric-charge transfer speed (such apparatuses are disclosed, for example, in Japanese Unexamined Utility Model Publication No. Hei-1-175074 and Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. Hei-5-22667).
Specifically, as shown in FIG. 7, an image section 101 is divided, for example, into four areas 101A to 101D vertically and horizontally. Horizontal transfer registers 102A and 102B are provided above the image section 101 for the upper areas 101A and 101B, and horizontal transfer registers 102C and 102D are provided below the image section 101 for the lower areas 101C and 101D.
Signal electric charges in the upper areas 101A and 101B are vertically transferred to the upper direction to the horizontal transfer registers 102A and 102B, then, are horizontally transferred to the right and left directions by the horizontal transfer registers 102A and 102B, and are output through output sections 103A and 103B as output signals outA and outB. Signal electric charges in the lower areas 101C and 101D are vertically transferred to the lower direction to the horizontal transfer registers 102C and 102D, then, are horizontally transferred to the right and left directions by the horizontal transfer registers 102C and 102D, and are output through output sections 103C and 103D as output signals outC and outD.
In CCD image apparatuses for HDTV, two-channel horizontal transfer registers have already been implemented (they are disclosed, for example, in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. Sho-62-92587 and Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. Sho-63-117577). Specifically, as shown in FIG. 8, two horizontal transfer registers 112A and 112B are disposed in parallel for an image section 111, signal electric charges are horizontally transferred in parallel in units of two lines by the horizontal transfer registers 112A and 112B, and the charges are output as output signals outA and outB through two output sections 113A and 113B.
In the former conventional technology, that is, in the CCD image apparatus in which the image section 101 is divided, for example, into four areas and each area is provided with a horizontal transfer register, however, since the horizontal transfer registers 102A and 102B are driven in directions opposite to each other, and the horizontal transfer registers 102C and 102D are driven in directions opposite to each other, it is necessary to have at least two-way horizontal transfer pulses in four-phase drive, for example. In two-phase drive, since the horizontal transfer registers 102A and 102B need to have mirror-image structures, and the horizontal transfer registers 102C and 102D also need to have mirror-image structures, discontinuities occur at their boundaries, causing vertical-line noise.
Because the output signals outA and outB are output in different directions and the output signals outC and outD are also output in different directions, it is necessary to apply re-arrangement processing to the output signals outB and outD in a subsequent signal processing system, and the system becomes complicated. In addition, the image section 101 cannot be divided into three or more areas horizontally.
In the latter conventional technology, that is, in the CCD image apparatus having the two-channel horizontal transfer registers 112A and 112B, since signal electric charges in the image section 111 need to be transferred to the horizontal transfer register 112B through the horizontal transfer register 112A, the transfer electrodes of the horizontal transfer register 112A also serve as those used for transferring signal electric charges from the image section 111 to the horizontal transfer register 112B. Therefore, the channel width of the horizontal transfer register 112A cannot be extended. As a result, the amount of electric charges handled by the horizontal transfer register 112A cannot be increased. To obtain a sufficient amount of electric charges to be handled, it is necessary to make the amplitude of driving pulses for the horizontal transfer registers larger.

Solid-state image apparatus including a plurality of horizontal transfer registers for transferring image signals from an imaging area


The techniques and/or systems described herein are configured to determine a set of update operations to transition a network from an observed network state to a target network state and to generate an update dependency graph used to dynamically schedule the set of update operations based on constraint(s) defined to ensure reliability of the network during the transition. The techniques and/or systems dynamically schedule the set of update operations based on feedback. For example, the feedback may include an indication that a previously scheduled update operation has been delayed, has failed, or has been successfully completed.

As electronic services (e.g., search services, electronic mail services, social networking services, cloud computing services, etc.) continue to expand, providers of the electronic services operate networks of devices to provide the electronic services. A provider or a manager of a network maintains the network by continuously updating inter-connected devices within the network. However, network service interruptions and/or failures often occur when implementing a network update across multiple devices at least because the network update is unable to adapt to run-time differences related to an amount of time it takes individual devices to apply and complete an update. For example, an update to a first device may take a longer amount of time than expected (e.g., more than an average amount of time) because of a current load on hardware resources of the first device. In another example, an update to the first device may not be completed at all. Consequently, an update to a second device may be affected by the unsuccessful or delayed update to the first device, and therefore, the network may experience a service interruption or a failure.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


A stator includes a stator coil formed of electric wires which include a joined pair of first and second electric wires. The first electric wire has a lead portion led out from the radially inner periphery of a first slot of a stator core and including a crossover part. The crossover part crosses over an axial end face of an end part of the stator coil from the radially inside to the radially outside of the axial end face; the end part protrudes from an axial end face of the stator core. The second electric wire has a lead portion led out from the radially outer periphery of a second slot of the stator core. The lead portions of the electric wires are joined together with a joint formed therebetween. The joint is positioned closer to the axial end face of the stator core than the crossover part is.

1. Technical Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to stators for electric rotating machines that are used in, for example, motor vehicles as electric motors and electric generators.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, there are known stators for electric rotating machines which include a hollow cylindrical stator core and a stator coil mounted on the stator core.
The stator core has a plurality of slots that are formed in the radially inner surface of the stator core and spaced in the circumferential direction of the stator core. The stator coil is formed by joining a plurality of electric wires. Each of the electric wires includes a plurality of in-slot portions, each of which is received in a corresponding one of the slots of the stator core, and a plurality of turn portions each of which connects an adjacent pair of the in-slot portions and is located outside the slots of the stator core.
Moreover, each corresponding pair of the electric wires forming the stator coil may be joined together by, for example, a method disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2009-219343. According to the method, for each corresponding pair of the electric wires, one of the electric wires has an end portion led out from the radially inner periphery of one slot of the stator core, while the other electric wire has an end portion led out from the radially outer periphery of another slot of the stator core. The end portions of the electric wires are joined together at a position above a coil end part of the stator coil which is located outside the slots of the stator core.
Furthermore, each of the electric wires forming the stator coil is generally comprised of an electric conductor and an insulating coat that covers the outer surface of the electric conductor. In joining each corresponding pair of the electric wires, the insulating coats are first stripped from both the end portions of the electric wires. Then, the stripped end portions of the electric wires are welded together, forming a joint (i.e., weld) therebetween. Thereafter, an insulating material (e.g., a powder resin) is applied to form an insulating layer that covers both the stripped end portions of the electric wires.
However, the thus-formed insulating layer is weaker than the insulating coats of the electric wires which are formed on the electric conductors in the manufacture of the electric wires; therefore, it is easier for the insulating layer to be peeled off from the electric wires than the insulating coats.
Consequently, referring to FIG. 21, when the joint 50B between the electric wires 50A interferes with the inner surface of a housing 10 of the electric rotating machine after mounting the stator in the housing 10, the insulating layer 50C may become peeled off from the joint 50B, resulting in an insulation failure of the joint 50B.


An apparatus and method for automatically mixing a phosphor are provided, which are capable of automatically supplying accurate quantities of a phosphor and silicon to a mixing container using a phosphor supply unit and a silicon supply unit.

1. Field
Example embodiments of the following description relate to an apparatus and method for automatically mixing a phosphor, capable of mixing the phosphor automatically and accurately.
2. Description of the Related Art
In general, a light emitting diode (LED) refers to a device that converts an electric current to light. The LED has a long lifespan, a low power consumption, a fast response time, and an excellent initial driving characteristics. Therefore, the LED is being widely applied, for example, to a lighting device, an electric sign, a backlight unit of a display device, and the like.
Recently, a package type LED where phosphors are disposed around an LED has been developed to obtain white light from ultraviolet (UV) or a blue LED. Specifically, lights emitted from UV or the blue LED are partially color-converted by phosphors having colors of red, green, blue, yellow, and the like. The white light is achieved by mixing the converted lights.
Manufacturing processes of the LED package include forming of a passivation layer, for a wire connected to an LED chip of a substrate which is passed through wire bonding, and dispensing for electrically insulating the wire. The dispensing is performed in order of 'mixing→discharging→curing.'
Among the processes of dispensing, the mixing is an important procedure that determines an emission color of the LED package by adjusting a mixing ratio of phosphor and silicon according to characteristics of the LED chip. However, such an important procedure, that is, the mixing of the phosphor and the silicon has generally been performed by a manual operation.

Apparatus and method for automatically mixing phosphor


An apparatus and method for providing timing recovery under conditions of low signal to noise ratios (SNRs) is disclosed herein. A preliminary phase error signal is generated by comparing an input signal with a preliminary estimation of an output signal corresponding to the input signal. A correction signal is generated as a function of the output signal, input signal, and preliminary phase error signal. The preliminary phase error signal and the correction signal are combined to generate a final phase error signal.

The present invention relates to signal detection and correction in the presence of noise. More particularly, the present invention relates to signal detection and correction in the presence of noise using phase locked loops.
When there is low signal to noise ratio (SNR), achieving accurate detection of signals is difficult due to significant amount of noise present with the signals. Typically under these conditions, error correction coding (ECC) can be used to recover the signals. However, timing recovery is a prerequisite for effective implementation of ECC. Phase locked loops (PLLs) provide timing recovery.
PLLs correct for timing phase error using a feedback loop, which permits timing recovery and synchronization for use of ECC. PLLs that are decision directed derive a reference signal from the detected information in order to perform phase error detection. The longer the wait for the reference signal, the more accurate the reference signal, and hence more accurate the phase error detection. However, too long of a wait for an accurate reference signal creates a large delay in the loop, which leads to performance loss. As a balance between relatively long delays in the feedback loop and accuracy of final output, conventional PLLs use a preliminary or early decision signal to form the reference signal. This preliminary decision signal is not as accurate as the final decision signal but is available sooner to minimize loop latencies. When the SNR is relatively high, the higher error rate typical in the preliminary decision signal (as opposed to the final decision signal) is not detrimental and the PLL provides adequate timing recovery. However, as the SNR decreases, the higher error rate typical in the preliminary decision signal results in the PLL losing phase lock, at which point the PLL is unable to provide phase error detection.
As the SNR decreases, the phase error or jitter increases, degrading PLL performance. As an example, when the noise level is high enough such that an error exists for approximately every 1,000 bits in the detected signal, conventional PLLs lose phase lock.
Thus, it would be beneficial for a PLL to minimize loop latencies. It would be beneficial for a PLL to use an early decision signal having characteristics of a later decision signal. It would be beneficial for a PLL to maintain phase lock at low SNRs. It would be beneficial for a playback device of a data storage unit to permit use of ECC at low SNRs by providing time recovery under a range of SNR conditions.


The present invention relates to techniques for synchronization of state changes in elements within electronic messages with the playback state of multi-media content. A method and system applying these techniques to tracking, animations, and controlling a display state of elements are disclosed.

Electronic messages such as email may contain HTML as well as multi-media content. It would be advantageous to have, for example, an animation start to play together with music when a user presses a play button. However due to the lack of the capability to execute scripts, such as Javascript, within email, there is a lack of means to synchronize an animation and the playback of multi-media content in messages such as those in an email.
It would be useful to have a method to execute animations and changes in states of elements within messages together with an initiation of playback content of multi-media such as an audio file or video.

System and method for triggering state changes in content with initiation of multi-media playback


A radio-frequency module includes a first transmitter-and-receiver that transmits and receives a signal in a first band, and a second transmitter-and-receiver that transmits and receives a signal in a second band higher than the first band. The first transmitter-and-receiver includes a first amplifier circuit and a first separator circuit and the second transmitter-and-receiver includes a second amplifier circuit and a second separator circuit. The first separator is located on a substrate between the first amplifier circuit and the second separator circuit, such that the first separator circuit is spatially interposed between the first amplifier circuit and the second separator circuit.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a radio-frequency module which wirelessly transmits and receives signals of different bands at the same time.
2. Description of the Related Art
As an example of recent communication methods for wirelessly transmitting and receiving signals of different bands at the same time, carrier aggregation is known. In a radio-frequency module supporting carrier aggregation, an antenna, a receive circuit, an amplifier circuit for amplifying a transmitting signal, and a separator are required for each band.
If the size of a radio-frequency module implementing carrier aggregation is reduced, isolation characteristics of each band are decreased. More specifically, if the size of a radio-frequency module is reduced, harmonic components of a transmitting signal amplified in a low-band amplifier circuit are more likely to leak into a high-band receive circuit.
Accordingly, in the radio-frequency module disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2007-124202, a matching circuit included in a low-band amplifier circuit is not connected to a ground pattern within a substrate, but is connected to a ground terminal on the back surface of the substrate, so as to suppress a leakage of harmonic components of a transmitting signal into a high-band receive circuit via a ground pattern within the substrate.
However, the radio-frequency module disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2007-124202 is effective in suppressing a leakage only via a ground pattern, and is not effective in suppressing a leakage via paths other than a ground pattern. This will be explained more specifically. In a radio-frequency module, electromagnetic coupling and electrostatic coupling (hereinafter simply referred to as "coupling") may occur between devices or between transmission lines. If the size of the radio-frequency module is reduced, coupling is more likely to occur between the devices or between the transmission lines, and, due to this coupling, a path is more likely to be formed. In the radio-frequency module disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2007-124202, it is not possible to suppress a leakage via a path formed by this coupling.


A solid state electronic spin system contains electronic spins disposed within a solid state lattice and coupled to an electronic spin bath and a nuclear spin bath, where the electronic spin bath composed of electronic spin impurities and the nuclear spin bath composed of nuclear spin impurities. The concentration of nuclear spin impurities in the nuclear spin bath is controlled to a value chosen so as to allow the nuclear spin impurities to effect a suppression of spin fluctuations and spin decoherence caused by the electronic spin bath. Sensing devices such as magnetic field detectors can exploit such a spin bath suppression effect, by applying optical radiation to the electronic spins for initialization and readout, and applying RF pulses to dynamically decouple the electronic spins from the electronic spin bath and the nuclear spin bath.

Understanding and controlling the coherence of quantum spins in solid-state systems is crucial in areas such as precision metrology, quantum information science, and quantum many-body dynamics. A main source of decoherence for solid-state spin systems, such as defects in diamond, donors in silicon, and quantum dots, is the uncontrolled spin bath environment. Control of spin bath dynamics is a key challenge in practical applications, which include magnetometry and room temperature quantum computing.
For precision coherent measurements with ensembles of quantum spins the relevant Figure-of-Merit (FOM) is the product of spin density and coherence lifetime (T2), which is generally limited by the dynamics of spin coupling to the environment. Significant effort has been invested in understanding the causes of decoherence in a diverse range of spin systems in order to increase the FOM and improve measurement sensitivity.

Use of nuclear spin impurities to suppress electronic spin fluctuations and decoherence in composite solid-state spin systems

PRESIDENT AND FELLOWS OF HARVARD COLLEGE


A testing machine and method are provided for simulating cornering loads on at least a vehicle component. This testing machine and method includes an actuator having an actuator rod oriented at an angle with respect to a level support surface, the angle being selected as a function of a cornering angle of the vehicle during operation.

The present invention relates to testing apparatuses used to simulate forces exerted upon a vehicle as it is operated. More particularly, the present invention relates to a testing apparatus used to simulate cornering loads experienced by a cycle such as a motorcycle or bicycle.
Testing apparatuses or systems used to simulate loads upon a vehicle as it is operated are well known. Commonly, actuators, struts and/or bell cranks are operably connected to the test vehicle in order to simulate loads exerted thereon. For example, actuators, struts and/or bell cranks are commonly connected to apply vertical and longitudinal loads to the test vehicle. In other embodiments, lateral loads (perpendicular to the vertical and longitudinal loads) can also be applied.
Some vehicles, such as motorcycles, have unique operating characteristics that affect the loading on the vehicle when operated under certain conditions. For instance, it is quite common to lean a motorcycle when executing a turn. The extent of lean can vary depending upon the speed of the motorcycle, and can be quite extensive under race conditions. Although testing apparatuses have been advanced to simulate loads upon a motorcycle, proper simulation of loads while the motorcycle is leaning through a turn have not been advanced.
There is thus an ongoing need to improve testing apparatuses used to simulate loads upon a vehicle in the laboratory. In particular, there exists a need for providing proper simulation of cornering loads on vehicles such as motorcycles or bicycles.
A testing machine and method are provided for simulating cornering loads on at least a vehicle component. This testing machine and method includes an actuator having an actuator rod oriented at an angle with respect to a level support surface, the angle being selected as a function of a cornering angle of the vehicle during operation.
The testing machine is particularly well suited for simulating cornering loads on a cycle such as a motorcycle or a bicycle. As another aspect of the present invention, the testing machine includes a first actuator couplable to a front suspension of the cycle through, for example, a front wheel thereof to impart forces therein, while a second actuator is couplable to a rear suspension of the cycle through, for example, a rear wheel thereof to impart forces therein. The vertically oriented actuators are rotated about an angle corresponding to the cornering angle of the cycle.
As a further aspect of the present invention, a method for simulating cornering loads on a cycle is provided. The method includes supporting the cycle in a substantially upright position and imparting loads to the cycle wherein the loads are directed at an angle with respect to a level support surface. The angle is selected as a function of a cornering angle of a cornering angle of the cycle during operation.
In yet another aspect of the present invention, a testing machine for simulating cornering loads on a cycle includes a first support for supporting a front portion of the cycle and the second support for supporting a rear portion of the cycle. Each support includes an inclined member oriented at an angle selected as a function of a cornering angle of the cycle during operation. An actuator is further coupled to the cycle and oriented to apply a force in a direction parallel to the weight of the cycle.


A bleacher seat cover and a bleacher seat containing same are disclosed. The bleacher seat cover is of a resilient polymeric material such as an extruded thermoplastic material. The profile of the bleacher seat cover is formed such that the profile of the cover can be distorted from its original shape to a tensed shape, to allow it to be slid over a bleacher seat. Once released from the tensed shape, the resilience of the cover allows it to exert a spring static force against the side(s) and bottom of the bleacher seat to hold the cover in place. In a preferred embodiment, the cover member has a profile that defines a figure wherein the top portion is represented by a straight line; each side portion is represented by a straight line extending at least ninety degrees therefrom; and each bottom portion is represented by a straight line extending at less than ninety degrees from the side from which it extends.

The present invention relates to a cover piece for the seat member of a bleacher seat unit. Such cover pieces can be used on outdoor or indoor bleacher seat units such as those found in gymnasiums, sports arenas and fields, outdoor and indoor swimming pools and similar spectator facilities. The invention can also be used on telescoping bleacher seat units such as those normally found in indoor settings.
Although many of the more modern bleacher seat units are made with plastic seat members, wood has been and continues to be used in the construction of bleacher seat units, including the seat member portion. Because the seat portions of the units must be long and straight, it is necessary to use select cuts of wood, such as dense, tough Southern Pine. Also, for increased longevity and durability, the wood must be treated to resist scratching, scuffing and staining. From the standpoint of appearance, original manufacturers generally prefer cuts of wood which do not contain unattractive artifacts, such as knotholes, unsightly grain lines, etc. This causes manufacturers to reject otherwise structurally suitable cuts of wood, with rejection rates commonly reaching as high as thirty percent.
Because bleacher seat units are generally prepared as complete assemblies, it is often difficult and expensive to replace individual seat portions as they become worn through normal use, or abuse.
More modern bleacher seat units that use specially manufactured plastic seat portions are commercially available. However, it is not economically feasible to retrofit the all wooden units with the more durable plastic seating.
Accordingly, it is desirable to provide the benefits of cover pieces to seat portions of bleacher seat units which presently use wooden seat portions, whether at the point of original manufacture or as a retrofit item. These benefits include greater durability, greater stain and marring resistance, and greater slip resistance, with reduced danger from splintering or cracking. Another benefit to the original manufacturer is that wood cuts that would ordinarily be rejected as unattractive can be used. Likewise, it is also desirable to be able to use other building materials in bleacher seats which otherwise would be unacceptable. One example of such a material is aluminum which in sheet form is very uncomfortable for seating.
Another problem posed by many telescoping bleacher seat units is that their complex construction makes them difficult to retrofit with plastic overlays. This is particularly true in bleacher seat assemblies that have facing, vertical kick panels which are attached so as to reside in close proximity to and descending from the front edge of the seat portion members. It is therefore difficult to provide a plastic sheathing for the seat portion which will completely clad the wood seat member in situ. Accordingly, it is desireable to produce a plastic seat cover which will allow one to cover the seat portion of a bleacher seat unit without requiring special tools or disassembly of the seat portions from the bleacher seat unit.
The foregoing objectives and advantages are provided by the present invention. Other advantages and the solutions to other problems may become apparent to one of ordinary skill in light of the present disclosure.

Cover piece for seat member of bleacher seat unit


The present invention provides an image forming apparatus with a sheet supply cassette which can contain a plurality of recording members and can be removably mounted within the image forming apparatus, an image forming device for forming an image on the recording member with toner to form a toner image, fixing rollers having a heater for thermally fixing the toner image on the recording member, remaining amount detecter means for detecting the remaining amount of the recording members in the sheet supply cassette or/and a remaining amount of the toner and generating a detection signal, and energization stopping control for stopping the energization of the heater on the basis of the detection signal.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to an image forming apparatus such as an electrophotographic apparatus, electrostatic recording apparatus and the like, and more particularly it relates to an image forming apparatus having a thermal fixing device.
2. Related Background Art
Conventionally, thermal fixing devices, particularly fixing devices of heat roller type, have been widely used as fixing devices for image forming apparatus. A fixing device of heat roller type comprises a heat roller having a heater therein for maintaining a temperature of a surface of the heat roller at a predetermined fixing temperature and a pressure roller for cooperating with the heat roller to form a nip therebetween, and is designed so that, while a recording sheet on which a non-fixed toner image is born passes through the nip, the toner image is fixed to the recording sheet with heat and pressure.
The heater is energized at the same time when a main power source of the image forming apparatus is turned ON, and is disenergized when the main power source is turned OFF. Meanwhile, the surface temperature of the heat roller is adjusted to a predetermined fixing temperature or stand-by temperature.
Further, the image forming apparatus normally includes a removable sheet supply cassette. When the recording sheets in the cassette are used up, the image forming operation cannot be performed. In this case, an operator must remove the empty cassette from the image forming apparatus, and re-insert the cassette into the image forming apparatus after new recording sheets are loaded in the cassette. During this operation, the main power source is maintained to the ON condition to continuously energize the fixing heater.
The shock or vibration due to the mounting and dismounting of the sheet supply cassette sometimes acts on the image forming apparatus while the heater is being energized, causing the heater to be damaged or to deteriorate. Particularly, this may occur when a halogen lamp is used as the fixing heater. If the shock or vibration acts on the halogen lamp which is being energized, a tungsten coil in the halogen lamp will easily be deteriorated. Further, regarding the halogen lamp, since the outage of the tungsten coil is increased as the cumulative energizing time of the lamp is increased, when the halogen lamp is used as the fixing heater, the outage of the heater is increased.
Further, when the amount of toner remaining falls below a predetermined amount, the image forming operation cannot be effected either. If the shock or vibration due to the replenishment of toner acts on the image forming apparatus, the breakdown of the heater also sometimes occurs.


In executing an EEPROM emulation by a flash memory incorporated in a semiconductor device, there is a problem that the data holding period of the flash memory is shorter than the EEPROM. The flash memory manages data by block unit. Therefore, it is required to securely perform a block change before the specification of the data holding period of the flash memory passes. For satisfying this problem, for an EEPROM substitution area in a flash memory, a data level check voltage is set between an internal verification voltage and a read-out voltage. When data level becomes below the data level check voltage, the block change is performed.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a semiconductor device and an EEPROM emulation method using the semiconductor device, and in particular relates to a semiconductor device with a built-in flash memory and an EEPROM emulation method using the semiconductor device.
2. Description of Related Art
In order to rewrite and store data, the EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory) has been used as an externally attached device. For the same purpose, the flash memory is used more frequently today, which can be integrated in semiconductor devices such as microcomputers and can be handled easier than the EEPROM. To be more specific, a flash memory incorporated in a semiconductor device such as a microcomputer is used to emulate the EEPROM so as to rewrite and store data.
In relation to the above technique, for reference, the Patent Document 1 (Japanese Patent Application Publication JP-P2005-92659A) discloses a control device to write/read data. FIG. 1 is a block diagram to explain the configuration of a data writing/reading control device 10 according to the reference technique.
The data writing/reading control device 10 is provided with a flash memory 11, a CPU 12 and a ROM 13. The CPU 12 is connected to the flash memory 11 and the ROM 13 in the data writing/reading control device 10.
Here, the memory is divided into a plurality of blocks. When data is written in one of the plurality of the blocks, writing means is used to compare a free region capacity in the block and an amount of data to be written. If the amount of data to be written is larger, the writing means erases entire data written in the block, followed by writing data sequentially from the head or tail of the block. If the amount of data to be written is smaller, the writing means writes data sequentially from the region next to the region in which data is written in the block. When data is read from the block, the reading means is used to search for the region in which data is written lastly from the head or tail of the block sequentially so as to read data written in the region.
As a further reference technique, Patent Document 2 (Japanese Patent Application Publication JP-P2006-260468A) discloses a semiconductor device. FIG. 2 is a block diagram to explain the configuration of the semiconductor device 20 according to the reference technique.
The semiconductor device 20 is provided with a CPU 21, a flash memory 22, a flash controller 25, a RAM 26, and a peripheral macro 27. The flash memory 22 includes a program area 23 and an EEPROM substitution area 24.
The CPU 21 is connected to the program area 23 and the EEPROM substitution area 24 in the flash memory 22, the flash controller 25, the RAM 26 and the peripheral macro 27. The flash controller 25 is connected to the EEPROM substitution area 24 in the flash memory 22 and the RAM 26.
The program area 23 is used to store a flash operation program. The EEPROM substitution area 24 is used to store various kinds of data. From the program area 23, the CPU 21 reads the flash operation program which is executed to control the flash controller 25. The flash controller 25 updates data in the EEPROM substitution area 24 in accordance with a control performed by the CPU 21.
FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram to explain a further detailed configuration of the flash memory 22 in FIG. 2.
A flash memory 30 includes a data length storage area 31 and a data storage region 32. The flash memory 30 in FIG. 3 corresponds to the flash memory 22 in FIG. 2.
The data storage region 32 includes a plurality of sections 32a to 32g. A part of the plurality of the sections 32a to 32g in FIG. 3 corresponds to the data length storage area 23 in FIG. 2 and the remaining parts thereof correspond to the data storage region 24 in FIG. 2.
The EEPROM substitution area 24 uses a part of the flash memory 30 as the data length storage area 31 and the data storage region 32. Data updating by an EEPROM emulation function is realized by additionally writing data while updating an address in the data storage region 32.
Next, explanation will be made for a case in which, for example, a block Bm included in the data storage region 32 is brought into a data full state due to additional writing. In this case, a block subjected to write data is changed to a next block which is a block Bm+1 in order to maintain data updating by EEPROM emulation.
A data holding period in the block Bm is applied to while whose starting point is at the timing of the writing in the section 32a which is an initial data writing in that block. Note that, also for a data holding period disclosed in the Patent Document 1, the timing at which data is written initially in a block subjected to write data is used as a starting point.
Next, the principle of the operation of the general flash memory is described. FIGS. 4A and 4B are cross-sectional views to explain a configuration of an MOS transistor which is used as a flash memory. FIG. 4A is a cross-sectional view to explain an initial state in the flash memory. FIG. 4B is a cross-sectional view to explain a written state in the flash memory.
The MOS transistor is provided with a control gate 41a or 41b, a floating gate 42a or 42b, a source 43a or 43b, and a drain 44a or 44b. In other words, the MOS transistor includes a two-layer polycrystalline silicon gate which is made of the floating gate 42a or 42b and the control gate 41a or 41b.
The MOS transistor in the initial state as shown in FIG. 4A does not have an electric charge in the floating gate. In contrast, the MOS transistor in the written state as shown in FIG. 4B has electrons in the floating gate.
FIGS. 5A and 5B are diagrams to explain the relationship between a voltage applied to a control gate and a current flowing as a result thereof in the MOS transistor used as a flash memory. FIG. 5A is a schematic diagram of the MOS transistor used as a flash memory. FIG. 5B is a graph to explain a change in the relationship between the voltage and the current under the initial state and the written state.
As shown in FIG. 5A, if a voltage VCG is applied to a control gate 51 with a voltage VD being applied to a drain 53 and a voltage VS (=0V) being applied to a source 52, a current ID is made to flow from the drain 53 to the source 52. The drain voltage VD is assumed to be constant.
In the graph of FIG. 5B, the lateral axis indicates the voltage VCG applied to the control gate 51 and the vertical axis indicates the current ID. Here, the first graph 55 shows an initial state and the second graph 56 shows a written state. In this example, the current ID starts flowing when the voltage VCG applied to the control gate 51 exceeds 1V in the initial state 55 without electrons in a floating gate. In other words, a threshold voltage is 1V in the initial state.
Next, a case is explained in which the voltage VCG is applied to the control gate 51 in the written state 56 with electrons in the floating gate. In this case, the current ID is prevented from flowing due to electrons in the floating gate when the voltage VCG is low and finally starts flowing when the voltage VCG exceeds 6V.
Accordingly, the MOS transistor can be used as a semiconductor nonvolatile memory with 1 bit by determining the initial state 55 as "1" and the written state 56 as "0".
Next, operations to read, erase and write data in the semiconductor nonvolatile memory will be explained.
First of all, as explained above, as operation to read data, whether a bit is "0" or "1" can be read by determining whether or not the current ID is made to flow on a data line, namely, between the drain 53 and the source 52.
Next, as an operation to erase data, electrons can be extracted from the floating gate by applying a positive voltage to the source and the drain. That is, a bit can be turned into "1".
Lastly, as an operation to write data, an erased state is realized in advance as a prerequisite.
That is, immediately before an operation to write data, there is nothing to execute when "1" is written because a bit is already corresponding to "1". Only when "0" is written, a positive voltage is applied to the control gate 51 so as to inject electrons to the floating gate before reaching a threshold range in which a bit is determined to "0".