A technique oversees data storage equipment power usage. The technique involves acquiring, by data storage equipment, power consumption data while the data storage equipment performs host data storage input/output (IO) operations on behalf of a set of host computers during a power consumption time period. The technique further involves storing, by the data storage equipment, the power consumption data in a local database during the power consumption time period. The technique further involves electronically providing, by the data storage equipment, the power consumption data from the local database to a remote power consumption analysis facility through a computerized communications medium to determine power consumption performance of the data storage equipment during the power consumption time period. Such operation alleviates the user from having to manually take measurements and perform calculations which would be burdensome and error prone.

A conventional approach to assessing power usage of a data storage array involves manually monitoring an external meter which feeds electricity (i.e., street power) to the power supply units of the data storage array. Along these lines, an operator of the data storage array may take readings from this external electricity meter before and after a period of use (e.g., several days, a month, etc.) to determine how many megawatts hours (MWHs) are used by the data storage array over that period of use.
If the cost of a megawatt hour is known, then the overall cost of electricity needed to operate the data storage array can be calculated. As a result, the operator may be able to estimate the overall cost of electricity which is required to operate the data storage array over a period of time in the future.

Overseeing data storage equipment power usage via local collection of power consumption data and remote evaluation and reporting of performance


A method for forming a patterned target layer from a blanket target layer employs a pair of blanket hard mask layers laminated upon the blanket target layer. A patterned third mask layer is formed thereover. The method also employs four separate etch steps. One etch step is an anisotropic etch step for forming a patterned upper lying hard mask layer from the blanket upper lying hard mask layer. The patterned upper lying hard mask layer is then isotropically etched in a second etch step to form an isotropically etched patterned upper lying hard mask layer. The method is particularly useful for forming gate electrodes of diminished linewidths and enhanced dimensional control within semiconductor products.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates generally to methods for forming patterned layers within microelectronic products. More particularly, the invention relates to methods for forming uniformly patterned layers within microelectronic products.
2. Description of the Related Art
Semiconductor products commonly employ field effect transistor devices as switching devices within logic products, memory products and embedded logic and memory products.
While field effect transistor devices are common within semiconductor products, they are nonetheless not entirely without problems. As semiconductor product integration levels increase and semiconductor device dimensions decrease, it becomes more difficult to form semiconductor devices with diminished dimensions and enhanced dimensional control. Since a gate electrode with a field effect transistor device defines a channel width and operational characteristics of the field effect transistor device, gate electrode linewidth control within semiconductor products is particularly important.
The present invention is thus directed towards forming patterned layers, such as gate electrodes, of diminished dimensions and enhanced dimensional control.
Various methods have been disclosed for forming patterned layers within microelectronic products.
Included but not limiting are methods disclosed within: (1) Tao et al., in U.S. Pat. No. 6,174,818 (a bilayer hard mask layer method for forming a gate electrode with enhanced dimensional control); (2) Foote et al., in U.S. Pat. No. 6,248,635 (a bilayer hard mask layer method for forming a metal-oxide-nitride-oxide-semiconductor (MONOS) structure with enhanced reliability); and (3) Liu et al., in U.S. Pat. No. 6,429,067 (a bilayer hard-mask layer method for forming gate electrodes of differing linewidths).
The disclosures of the foregoing references are incorporated herein fully by reference.
Desirable are additional methods for forming patterned layers with diminished dimensions and enhanced dimensional control within microelectronic products.
The present invention is directed toward the foregoing object.
A first object of the invention is to provide a method for forming a patterned layer within a microelectronic product.
A second object of the invention is to provide a method in accord with the first object of the invention, wherein the patterned layer is formed with diminished dimensions and enhanced dimensional control.
In accord with the objects of the invention, the invention provides a method for forming a patterned layer within a microelectronic product.
The method employs a substrate having formed thereover: (1) a blanket target layer, having formed thereupon; (2) a blanket first hard mask layer, having formed thereupon; (3) a blanket second hard mask layer, in turn having formed thereover; (4) a patterned third mask layer. Within the invention, the blanket second hard mask layer is first anisotropically etched within a first etchant to form a patterned second hard mask layer and then isotropically etched within a second etchant to form an isotropically etched patterned second hard mask layer of linewidth less than the patterned second hard mask layer. The isotropically etched patterned second hard mask layer is then used an etch mask with a third etchant for forming a patterned first hard mask layer from the blanket first hard mask layer. The patterned first hard mask layer is then used as an etch mask with a fourth etchant for forming a patterned target layer from the blanket target layer.
The method is particularly useful for forming gate electrodes within field effect transistor devices within semiconductor products.
The invention provides a method for forming a patterned layer with diminished dimensions and enhanced dimensional control.
The invention realizes the foregoing object within the context of a four step etch method that employs a pair of blanket hard mask layers and a patterned third mask layer for forming a patterned target layer from a blanket target layer. Within the four step etch method, an upper lying blanket second hard mask layer is first anisotropically etched to form a patterned hard mask layer and then isotropically etched to form an isotropically etched patterned hard mask layer of linewidth less than the patterned hard mask layer. The isotropically etched patterned hard mask layer may then serve as an etch mask when anisotropically etching layers therebelow.

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd


Disclosed is a labyrinth seal assembly for sealing an annular gap defined between a bore of a housing and an outer surface of a cylindrical shaft, wherein the housing and shaft are relatively movable. The seal assembly includes radially inner and radially outer shield rings. The radially inner shield ring has an inner surface which is adapted and configured for support by the shaft. The radially outer shield ring is partially disposed within the sealing channel of the inner shield ring. The outer shield ring includes a casing member, foam seal elements, and a shield element retainer. The foam seal elements depend radially inward into the sealing channel so as to form a circuitous sealing labyrinth therein. The seal elements are formed preferably from polyurethane. A highly viscous fluid is disposed within the circuitous sealing labyrinth.

1. Field of the Invention
The subject disclosure relates to unitized bearing seal assemblies, and more particularly to, a low torque seal assembly wherein open cell filter media is utilized to partially define a circuitous sealing labyrinth and to maintain lubricant within an interior bearing chamber and exclude contaminants therefrom.
2. Background of the Related Art
Ball and roller bearing assemblies are well known in the art and have been used for many years in applications such as railway cars, crane wheels and trucking. Bearing assemblies are typically provided as a self-contained unit and generally include a plurality of circumferentially-spaced balls or rollers confined between concentric outer and inner rings or cylinders. The concentric rings define an interior chamber for containing the rolling elements and supply smooth, hard, accurate surfaces for the balls or rollers to roll on. These surfaces are referred to as races or raceways. A uniform spacing is maintained between adjacent balls or rollers within the interior chamber by a cage or separator element and a lubricant such as grease is applied therein. The rolling elements are the most important component of the bearing assembly, because they transmit the loads from the moving parts of the machine to the stationary support. The balls are ideally uniformly spherical, but the rollers may be straight cylinders, or they may be tapered, cone-shaped or other forms depending upon the purpose of the design. Additionally, the balls or rollers can be provided in a single row or multiple rows.
Bearing assemblies are typically dimensioned and configured such that they can be installed by sliding the assembly over an axle journal and into a housing. The inner ring is typically engaged with the axle journal and the outer ring is engaged with the housing so as to enable the axle to rotate relative to the housing or vise versa. Bearing assemblies often operate in hostile environments, and this is particularly true when they are used in application such as railcars. As a result, the interior chamber which contains the rolling elements, must be sealed so that contaminants, such as dirt and water, are kept out and lubricant is kept in.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,770,548 to Otto discloses a hydrodynamic seal which is suitable for closing the end of a tapered roller bearing assembly. The seal includes a seal case which is pressed into a counterbore formed in the end of the outer ring (cup) and an elastomeric sealing element. The elastomeric sealing element has a primary lip and a secondary lip which cooperate with a sealing surface on a thrust rib on the inner ring (cone) to effect a live seal along the surface. The secondary lip is in direct contact with the sealing surface of the thrust rib with the primary lip being slightly offset therefrom.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,819,949 also to Otto discloses a seal assembly for closing the end of a tapered roller bearing. The seal assembly is a unitized assembly which includes interlocked seal and shield portions. The seal portion is a two-piece unit which consists of a rigid case and a flexible sealing element. The rigid case is mounted to the outer ring of the bearing and the flexible sealing element is bonded to the outboard end of the rigid case. The flexible sealing element has a dirt lip directed obliquely toward and contacting the shield portion, and a secondary lip also directed obliquely toward the shield portion, but it is not in contact with the shield portion.
Radial lip seals which contact the sealing surface, like those disclosed in the Otto patents, are common. Although contacting lip seals adequately perform the sealing function, the contact between the lip and the sealing surface causes seal wear and a loss of power in the rotating system due to friction between the two surfaces. In addition to the interference between the lip and the sealing surface, the elasticity of the rubber element and the spring force (if used) applied thereto creates a radial load which results in additional torque requirements and the generation of heat. Still further, while these lip seals adequately perform the sealing function, they do not provide a mechanism for exhausting the bearing chamber. More specifically, during operation of the bearing seal assembly, positive contacting lip seals do not provide for ventilation of the bearing chamber and therefore, the temperature within the bearing chamber increases and pressurized gases are created. Both of these conditions adversely impact the performance and wear of the bearing seal assembly.
There is a need therefore, for a seal assembly which excludes contaminants, such as water and dirt, from within the interior bearing chamber and retains the lubricant therein, while requiring less torque to rotate than a conventional radial lip seal and providing a mechanism for bidirectional movement of gases between the bearing chamber and seal exterior to equalize the pressure.
The subject disclosure relates to a labyrinth seal assembly for sealing an annular gap defined between a bore of a housing and an outer surface of a cylindrical shaft, wherein the housing and shaft are relatively movable. The seal assembly includes radially inner and radially outer shield rings. The radially inner shield ring has an inner surface which is adapted and configured for support by the shaft. The inner shield ring defines a sealing channel which includes at least one sealing surface.
The radially outer shield ring is partially disposed within the sealing channel of the inner shield ring. The outer shield ring includes a casing member, at least one foam seal element, and a shield element retainer. The casing member includes opposed first and second axially extending portions, the first axially extending portion adapted and configured for engagement with the housing. In a preferred configuration, the first axially extending portion is positioned axially offset from and radially outward of the second axially extending portion and the casing member further includes a radially extending shoulder portion which connects the first axially extending portion to the second axially extending portion.
The seal element retainer is engaged with the second axially extending portion of the casing member and the at least one foam seal element depends radially inward therefrom into the sealing channel so as to form a circuitous sealing labyrinth therein.
It is envisioned that the seal assembly further includes a highly viscous fluid disposed within the circuitous sealing labyrinth. In one embodiment, the highly viscous fluid is a water insoluble grease. Alternatively, the highly viscous fluid can be a ferrofluid. In this embodiment it is preferred that the at least one foam seal element include a conventional magnet.
Preferably, the at least one foam seal element is formed from polyurethane and includes first and second foam seals. It is presently envisioned that the first foam seal has a material density which is greater than a material density for the second foam seal. More specifically, the first foam seal element has a pore size of 20 pores per inch and the second foam seal has a pore size of 45 pores per inch.
The seal element retainer is engaged with the second axially extending portion by means of a press fit. Those skilled in the art will readily appreciated that alternative mechanisms for engaging the seal element retainer with the second axially extending portion of the casing member can be used without departing from the inventive aspects of the present disclosure. In a preferred embodiment, seal element retainer includes a first baffle ring which has an arm portion that depends radially inward into the sealing channel. It is presently envisioned that the seal element retainer is formed from a plastic material and the at least one foam sealing element is adhered thereto.
The seal assembly of the present disclosure can further include a second baffle ring which has a shoulder portion and an arm portion. The shoulder portion is engaged with the inner shield ring and the arm portion depends from the shoulder portion so as to extend radially outward into the sealing channel.
The present disclosure is also directed to a bearing assembly for placement between a bore of a housing and an outer surface of an elongated axle. The bearing assembly includes an outer cylinder, an inner cylinder, a plurality of bearings, and at least one labyrinth seal assembly.
The outer cylinder has axially opposed first and second ends and defines a first race surface on an inner diameter thereof and a central axis for the bearing assembly. The inner cylinder is coaxially positioned within the outer cylinder and defines a second race surface on an outer diameter thereof, wherein a bearing chamber is defined between the outer cylinder and the inner cylinder. The plurality of bearings are disposed within the bearing chamber and are in rolling contact with the first and the second race surfaces. Each bearing facilitates the relative rotational movement between the inner cylinder and the outer cylinder.
The labyrinth seal assembly is associated with the first end of the outer cylinder and seals the bearing chamber defined between the outer cylinder and the inner cylinder. The seal assembly includes radially inner and radially outer shield rings. The radially inner shield ring has an inner surface which is adapted and configured for support by the shaft. The inner shield ring defines a sealing channel which includes at least one sealing surface.
The radially outer shield ring is partially disposed within the sealing channel of the inner shield ring. The outer shield ring includes a casing member, at least one foam seal element, and a shield element retainer. The casing member includes opposed first and second axially extending portions, the first axially extending portion adapted and configured for engagement with the housing.
As before, it is envisioned that the seal assembly further includes a highly viscous fluid disposed within the circuitous sealing labyrinth. In one embodiment, the highly viscous fluid is a water insoluble grease. Alternatively, the highly viscous fluid can be a ferrofluid. In this embodiment it is preferred that the at least one foam seal element includes a conventional magnet or electromagnet.
The present disclosure is also directed to a labyrinth seal assembly for sealing an annular gap defined between a bore of a housing and an outer surface of an elongated axle, wherein relative rotational movement exists between the axle and the housing. The seal assembly includes radially inner and outer shield rings. The radially inner shield ring has an inner surface adapted and configured for support by the axle. The inner shield ring defines a sealing channel which includes at least one sealing surface.
The radially outer shield ring includes a casing member, a first baffle ring, and first and second foam seal elements. The casing member has axially opposed first and second end portions. The first end portion is adapted and configured for engagement with the bore of the housing and the second end portion is partially disposed within the sealing channel so as to form a first section of a circuitous sealing labyrinth. In a representative embodiment the first axially extending portion is positioned axially offset and radially outward of the second axially extending portion and the casing member further includes a radially extending shoulder portion which connects the first axially extending portion to the second axially extending portion.
The first baffle ring has a shoulder portion and an arm portion. The shoulder portion is engaged with the second end portion of the casing member. The arm portion depends radially inward from the shoulder portion into the sealing channel.
The first and second foam seal elements are disposed within the sealing channel so as to form a second portion of the circuitous sealing labyrinth. The first foam seal element is engaged with the first baffle ring and the second foam seal element is affixed to the second end portion of the casing member.
Preferably, the first foam seal has a material density which is greater than a material density for the second foam seal. In a representative embodiment, the first foam seal element has a pore size of 20 pores per inch and the second foam seal has a pore size of 45 pores per inch. It is envisioned that the foam seal elements are formed from polyurethane.
The first baffle ring is engaged with the second axially extending portion by means of a press fit. Alternative mechanisms of engaging the baffle ring with the second axially extending portion of the casing member can be used without departing from the inventive features and methods disclosed herein. Preferably, the first baffle ring is formed from a plastic material.
In a alternate embodiment, the seal assembly further includes a second baffle ring which has a shoulder portion and an arm portion. The shoulder portion is engaged with the inner shield ring and the arm portion depends from the shoulder portion so as to extend radially outward into the sealing channel.
Those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that the seal assembly of the subject disclosure excludes contaminants from within the bearing chamber and prevents lubricant from escaping therefrom while requiring less torque to rotate, thereby reducing power losses in the rotating system. Additionally, the open celled foam elements allow air to migrate between the bearings and the environment, while blocking contaminants such as dirt and water. These and other unique features of the unitized seal assembly disclosed herein will become more readily apparent from the following description, the accompanying drawings and the appended claims.

Low torque seal assembly with open cell filter media


An integrated circuit comprises a semiconductor substrate having a surface. A lateral resistor is arranged in a first plane parallel to the surface of the substrate. A vertical reference resistor comprises a layer arranged in a second plane parallel to the surface of the substrate and deeper than the first plane. This layer is doped to promote current flow in the second plane. The vertical reference resistor further comprises a first trench and a second trench coupled between the layer and the surface of the substrate. The first and second trenches are arranged in a vertical direction orthogonal to the first and the second planes and are doped to impede current flow in the vertical direction. A cross-section of the first and second trenches is two-fold rotationally symmetric around the vertical direction, and the lateral resistor and the first and second trenches have the same temperature coefficient.

Mechanical stress and temperature can cause changes to a semiconductor die, for example by changing the dimensions or mobility of devices on the die. Such changes can cause modifications to circuit parameters associated with the devices, such as the frequency of an integrated oscillator and resistivity of resistors, which in turn changes the behavior of the integrated circuits (ICs) including the devices. Some circuit parameters like bandgap voltage and oscillator frequency respond differently to stress in the x direction than stress in the y direction. Determining the magnitude and direction of stress components allows proper compensation for mechanical stresses on the chip, chip temperature, and the resulting influence on devices on the chip. Some stress sensing circuits include resistors in the x and y directions to determine stress components in each direction. The resistance from the sensing resistors is compared to the resistance from a reference resistor in the z direction. However, in some examples the reference resistor has a different temperature coefficient than the sensing resistors, which can cause improper adjustments due to confusion between temperature and stress effects. Further, in some examples the resistance of the reference resistor is influenced by in-plane stresses as well, masking the correct magnitude of stress components.

Tracking temperature compensation of an x/y stress independent resistor


A driving circuit for an organic light emitting diode comprises the following elements. A driving transistor has a control terminal, a first electrode and a second electrode, wherein the first electrode and the second electrode are connected to a power line and the organic light emitting diode. A first switch device can be turned on by a scan signal to electrically conduct the power line and the control terminal of the driving transistor for maintaining the control terminal at the voltage level of the scan signal. And a second switch device can be turned on by the scan signal to electrically conduct a data line and the second electrode of the driving transistor for transferring the data signal to the second electrode and maintaining the second electrode at the voltage level of the data signal. Thus, by maintaining the control terminal of the driving transistor and the second electrode at the certain levels the operation current of the driving transistor will not affected by the voltage difference between two electrodes of the organic light emitting diode.

The present invention relates to a driving circuit for organic light emitting displays (OLEDs), and more specifically, to a driving circuit applied to drive organic light emitting diodes and amorphous silicon thin film transistors (a-Si TFT) in a unit pixel to prolong lifetime of the OLEDs.
With the advance of techniques for manufacturing integrated circuits, the development and progress of electronic science cause various electronic products fabricated with digital and complicated designs. And for the conveniences of portability and utility, these electronic products are designed with smaller appearances, multiple functions and rapid processing rates. Thus, the products of new generation are easy to carry and fit modern life. Especially because the powerful processing ability of multimedia products can handle easily the audio, visual and graphical digital data, the visual displays are widely researched and developed. No matter what kind of electronics, such as PDAs, laptops, walkmans, digital cameras or mobile phones, all need the display panels for viewing and browsing.
In conventional manufacturing processes of displays, because the techniques of thin film transistors are mature, the liquid crystal displays with the advantages of lightweight, lower consumption and non-irradiation are favored and widely used by consumers. However, with the research and development of organic light emitting diodes, the new generation of organic light emitting displays have further advantages of high light-emitting efficiency, high responding rate, power saving, no limitation of viewing angle, lightweight, thinness, brightness and all colors. And by applying the OLEDs the portable electronic products are manufactured with smaller sizes and finest graphic displaying effects.
Please refer to FIG. 1, a circuit 10 of unit pixel for OLEDs in the prior art is illustrated. The circuit 10 is defined on an amorphous silicon substrate and has two thin film transistors 12, 14 and a storage capacitor 16 so as to drive an organic light emitting diode 18. The transistor 12 is briefly served as a switch device of which a drain electrode is connected to a data line, a gate electrode is connected to a scan line and a source electrode is connected to both one terminal of the storage capacitor 16 and the gate electrode. On the other hand, a drain electrode of the transistor 14 is connected to a power line (Vdd). And a source electrode of the transistor 14 and another terminal of the storage capacitor 16 are both connected to a positive terminal of the organic light emitting diode 18. With regard to a negative terminal of the organic light emitting diode 18 is connected to a power line (Vss).
Thus, the signal from the scan line can turn the transistor 12 on to transfer image data of the data line to the unit pixel. When the transistor 12 is turned on, the data signal on the data line can transfer to the gate of the transistor 14 and be stored in the capacitor 16. This data signal can also turn the transistor 14 on to transfer the voltage signal of the power line (Vdd) to the positive terminal of the organic light emitting diode 18 for luminescence. The data voltage stored in the capacitor 16 can be applied to keep the transistor 14 turned on while the signal on the scan line turns the transistor 12 off so as to maintain the organic light emitting diode 18 at a certain current level.
However, it is noted that in the above circuit design, the voltage difference VOLED between two terminals of the organic light emitting diode 18 will affect the gate-to-source voltage (Vgs) and the drain current (Id) of the transistor 14 due to the organic light emitting diode 18 is connected directly to the source electrode of the transistor 14. The current formula is shown as follows:       Id    =                            1          2                *                              K                                      (                              Vgs                -                Vth                            )                                2
                          xe2x80x83            =                        1          2                *                              K                                      [                                                V                                    data                                -                                  (                                                            V                      OLED                                        -                                          V                      SS                                                        )                                -                Vth                            ]                                2                      ,
In above formula, K is a constant, Vdata is the voltage signal on the data line, and Vth is the threshold voltage of the transistor 14. After a long time of operation, the voltage difference VOLED between two terminals of the organic light emitting diode 18 will increase so as to reduce the drain current (Id), to decrease the lightness of the organic light emitting diode and to shorten the lifetime of the displays.
A purpose of the present invention is to provide a unit pixel circuit for OLEDs to prevent the voltage difference between two terminals of the organic light emitting diode from varying and to avoid of reducing the operating current of the driving transistor.
Another purpose of the present invention is to provide a circuit design to prevent from reducing the brightness of the OLEDs and to prolong the lifetime of the displays.
The present invention discloses a driving circuit of an organic light emitting diode. The driving circuit comprises the components as follows. A driving transistor has a gate, a source and a drain, wherein the drain is connected to a power line and the source is connected to the organic light emitting diode. A first switch transistor has a first gate, a first drain and a first source, wherein the first gate is connected to a scan line, the first source is connected to the power line, and the first drain is connected to the gate of the driving transistor. When the first switch transistor is turned on by the scan signal on the scan line, the voltage signal on the power line will turn the driving transistor on. A second switch transistor has a second gate, a second drain and a second source, wherein the second gate is connected to the scan line, the second drain is connected to a data line and the second source is connected to the source of the driving transistor. When the scan signal on the scan line turn the second switch transistor on, the data signal on the data line can transfer to the source of the driving transistor.

Driving circuit for unit pixel of organic light emitting displays


An internal combustion engine cam drive arrangement and coolant manifold. The engine comprises an engine body that is formed with an coolant opening that is circumscribed by a flexible transmitter that drives cam shafts from the engine crankshaft. A coolant manifold communicates with this opening and overlies in part the flexible transmitter. At least a major part of the remaining portion of the flexible transmitter is covered by a timing cover. The timing cover and the coolant manifold each may be removed from the engine body independently of the other.

This invention relates to an internal combustion engine and more particularly to an improved coolant manifold for such engine.
As is well known, internal combustion engines generally comprise an engine body that defines one or more combustion chambers in which combustion occurs. The combustion chambers are defined by a movable element, such as a piston, that is connected to an output shaft, such as a crankshaft, by a suitable mechanism for providing a power output from the engine. A load may be either driven directly from this engine crankshaft or from an auxiliary shaft that is driven from the engine crankshaft.
Normally, at least an intake air charge is delivered to the combustion chambers of the engine through an induction system and the combustion products are discharged from the combustion chambers through an exhaust system. Some type of valving mechanism is employed for controlling the communication of the combustion chamber with the intake system and the exhaust system and this frequently involves a valve actuating shaft that is driven by the engine output shaft. Many times, the valve actuating shaft comprises one or more camshafts which operate poppet type valves through a suitable follower mechanism for controlling the communication.
Most conveniently, the drive for the valve operating shaft is located at one end of the engine and frequently employs a flexible transmitter such as a chain or belt. By positioning this valve actuating driving mechanism at one of the engine, servicing is facilitated.
In most applications, the engine is also watered cooled and hence, the engine body is formed with one or more cooling jackets which communicate with an external heat exchanger. This involves the provision of coolant inlet and outlet openings in the engine body for deliver and discharging the coolant from these cooling jackets.
Quite often, at least one of these passages is disposed at an end of the engine and many times at the same engine where the valve actuating shaft is driven. In fact, it is not uncommon for the flexible transmitter to circumscribe an area around this coolant opening.
It is desirable if the valve operating drive and particularly the flexible transmitter is covered by some form of cover. Thus, the conduitry for conveying coolant to or from the coolant opening in the engine body is also circumscribed by the flexible transmitter. This gives rise to certain problems both in connection with coolant sealing, containment of the flexible transmitter in a protected relationship and also servicing the various components.
Normally, the flexible transmitter is substantially or primarily enclosed by a belt or chain cover and the conduit for communicating the coolant with the engine cooling jacket passes through this cover. This means that the coolant must be drained and the flexible connections to the cooling system removed in order to facilitate servicing of the flexible transmitter. This obviously makes servicing more difficult.
Also, this type of arrangement, as should be readily apparent, requires sealing around not only the coolant passages but also the area surrounding them so as to prevent foreign materials from entering in the valve actuating shaft drive.
It is, therefore, a principal object of this invention to provide an improved coolant manifold arrangement for an engine that will cooperate with the flexible transmitter drive for the valve actuating shaft to permit coolant interchange without requiring removal of the coolant connections for servicing of the flexible transmitter.
It is a further object of this invention to provide an improved coolant manifold for an engine that is juxtaposed to the flexible transmitter drive of the engine and which, itself, functions at least in part as a cover for the flexible transmitter.
It is a further object of this invention to provide an improved flexible transmitter drive cover arrangement for an engine that is associated with the engine cooling system and which has a coolant manifold that covers part of the flexible transmitter and a drive cover that covers the remainder of the flexible transmitter so that either the coolant manifold and/or the drive cover can be removed independently of the other for servicing of the appropriate components.


A pump assembly for a penile implant is provided having a mechanism which prevents spontaneous inflation of the cylinders implanted within the patient. The pump assembly has an actuating bar with ribs to enhance the spring force applied to a flow valve, a support structure to support and appropriately position the actuating bar, and a check valve made of metal with a segment covered with a plastic material. The preventative mechanism uses overpressure generated by the reservoir during unintentional compression to effectively seal the cylinders from unintended fluid flow. The prevention mechanism itself creates all necessary forces to prevent the undesired fluid flow to the cylinders. This is accomplished by incorporating appropriate mechanisms within the pump itself.

This invention generally relates to a pump and valve assembly for inflating a prosthesis. More particularly, the invention relates to pressure based mechanisms that inhibit spontaneous inflation of the prosthesis, including stiffening and support mechanisms that also improve the function of the valve.
One common treatment for male erectile dysfunction is the implantation of a penile prosthesis. Such a prosthesis typically includes a pair of inflatable cylinders which are fluidly connected to a fluid (typically liquid) reservoir via a pump and valve assembly. The two cylinders are normally implanted into the corpus cavernosae of the patient and the reservoir is typically implanted in the patient""s abdomen. The pump assembly is implanted in the scrotum. During use, the patient actuates the pump and fluid is transferred from the reservoir through the pump and into the cylinders. This results in the inflation of the cylinders and thereby produces the desired penis rigidity for a normal erection. Then, when the patient desires to deflate the cylinders, a valve assembly within the pump is actuated in a manner such that the fluid in the cylinders is released back into the reservoir. This deflation then returns the penis to a flaccid state.
With inflatable penile prostheses of current designs, spontaneous inflation of the cylinders is known to occasionally occur due to inadvertent compression of the reservoir, resulting in the undesired introduction of fluid into the cylinders. Such inadvertent inflation can be uncomfortable and embarrassing for the patient. This undesirable condition is further described below with reference to a particular prosthetic design.
With reference to FIG. 1, a known pump and valve assembly 8 for use in a penile prosthesis includes a fluid input 10 that is coupled at one end to a reservoir (not shown) and to a housing 12 at its opposite end. Also connected to the housing 12 is a fluid output 14 which, in turn, is connected at its other end to a pair of cylinders (not shown). Linking the fluid input 10 and the fluid output 14 to each other is a common passageway 33, which itself contains a valve assembly that is described in greater detail below. Common passageway 33 is also in fluid communication with a pump bulb 18 that is used to move fluid from the reservoir (not shown) to the cylinders (not shown) in order to inflate the cylinders. The valve assembly located within common passageway 33 includes a reservoir poppet 20 which is biased against a valve seat 24 by a spring 28 and a cylinder poppet 22 which is biased against a valve seat 26 by a spring 30. The springs 28 and 30 are sized so as to keep the reservoir poppet 20 and the cylinder poppet 22 biased against each respective valve seat 24 and 26 under the loads that are encountered when the reservoir is pressurized to typical abdominal pressures.
When the patient wishes to inflate the cylinders, pump bulb 18 is squeezed so as to force fluid from the pump bulb 18 into the common passageway 33. The resulting fluid flow serves to reinforce the force from the spring 28 urging the reservoir poppet 20 against valve seat 24 while at the same time causing compression of the spring 30, and thereby opening cylinder poppet 22. As a result, the fluid travels out through fluid output 14 and into the respective cylinders.
When the patient releases the pump bulb 18 a vacuum is created, thus pulling the poppet 22 back against valve seat 26 (aided by spring 30) and simultaneously pulling the reservoir poppet 20 away from its valve seat 24, against the spring 28. As a result, fluid from the reservoir is thus allowed to flow through the fluid input 10 and into the common passageway 33 passing around the reservoir poppet 20 and into the vacuous pump bulb 18. Once the pump bulb 18 has been filled, the negative pressure is eliminated and the reservoir poppet 20 returns to its normal position. This pumping action of the pump bulb 18 and valve assembly is repeated until the cylinders are fully inflated.
To deflate the cylinders, the patient grips the housing 12 and compresses it along the axis of reservoir poppet 20 and cylinder poppet 22 in a manner such that the wall 13 of the housing 12 contacts the protruding end 21 of the reservoir poppet 20 and forces the reservoir poppet 20 away from valve seat 24. This movement, in turn, causes the reservoir poppet 20 to contact cylinder poppet 22 and force cylinder poppet 22 away from valve seat 26. As a result, both poppets 20 and 22 are moved away from their valve seats 24 and 26 and fluid moves out of the cylinders, through the fluid output 14, through common passageway 33, through the fluid input 10 and back into the reservoir.
Although the springs 28 and 30 are sized to provide sufficient tension to keep poppets 20 and 22 firmly abutted against valve seats 24 and 26 under normal reservoir pressures, it is possible that pressure that exceeds the force provided by the springs could be exerted upon the reservoir during heightened physical activity or movement by the patient. Such excessive pressure on the reservoir may overcome the resistance of the spring-biased poppets 20 and 22 and thereby cause a spontaneous inflation of the cylinders. After implantation, encapsulation or calcification of the reservoir may occur. Encapsulation or calcification of the reservoir can lead to additional problems. In particular, the encapsulation could lead to a more snugly enclosed reservoir, thus increasing the likelihood of spontaneous inflation.
In previous attempts to reduce or eliminate the occurrence of spontaneous inflation, different types of spontaneous inflation preventing valves have been introduced into the pump and valve assembly. Such previous valves are intended to permit the positive flow of fluid to the cylinders only in those circumstances when the patient has forcibly manipulated the valve.
Although such previous valve designs reduce the frequency of spontaneous inflation, several drawbacks do exist. For example, such valves are typically complex, requiring two-handed operation which is a serious drawback to elderly or severely ill patients. Some spontaneous inflation preventing valves also require the application of excessive force in order to manipulate the valves; which may be too demanding for some patients. Furthermore, such valve designs may cause patient discomfort due to the valve size or shape, because of increase in the overall volume of the implant within the patient. This increased size can also lead to interference with the patient""s normal bodily functions. Such previous valve designs typically add undesirable cost to the device as well as increase the complexity of the surgical implantation procedure.
A solution to the above-identified drawbacks is disclosed in co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/749,292 entitled xe2x80x9cPRESSURE BASED SPONTANEOUS INFLATION INHIBITORxe2x80x9d which is assigned to the Assignee of the present invention and is incorporated herein by reference. However, the operational efficiency of the prosthesis pump could be further improved by optimizing the operative manipulation of the assembly.
Presently, the pump and valve assemblies used in implantable prostheses share certain characteristics. A compressible pump bulb is attached to the housing and is in fluid communication with the various fluid pathways. In order to inflate the cylinders, the compressible pump bulb is actuated by the patient, thereby urging fluid past the poppets into the cylinders. In order to deflate the cylinders, the valve housing is grasped and squeezed (through the patient""s tissue), causing the poppets to unseat and allow fluid to flow back to the reservoir.
Since the pump and valve assembly is positioned within the patient""s scrotum, the various components of the assembly must be small. As a result, manipulation of the pump and valve assembly is sometimes difficult. For example, patients requiring the use of a penile prosthesis are oftentimes elderly and have a reduced dexterity as a result of aging. Thus, in some instances, even locating the device within the tissue can be a challenge, let alone identifying the correct portion of the assembly to actuate. More specifically, with some patients it may be difficult to determine whether the housing portion of the assembly that leads to release or deflation of the cylinders is being grasped, or whether the bulb portion which would be used to inflate the cylinders is being grasped.
Notably, the length of the valve assembly is determined (at least in one direction) by the size of the various poppets and the distance such poppets must move in order to open and close the various fluid passageways. As a result, such a pump and valve assembly typically is longer in a direction parallel with the poppets. Moreover, in order to release the poppets in an assembly configured in this manner, the patient must grasp the narrower, shorter sidewalls of the assembly and compresses them together. Such a configuration can present challenges insofar as the spring tension of the poppets at the time of desired deflation is typically at a maximum while the surface area of the assembly which must be compressed in order to cause such deflation is at a minimum. This condition can lead to a situation where the patient has difficulty actually compressing the assembly, or in extreme circumstances, actually loses grip of the assembly during such attempts at deflation.
There exists a need for an improved prosthetic penile implant having a spontaneous inflation prevention mechanism that affords convenient operative manipulation by a patient.
The present invention includes a penile pump having a dual poppet arrangement wherein the poppets act as check valves or flow valves. Each poppet is spring-biased against a valve seat, and under normal circumstances, only allows positive fluid flow when a pump bulb is operated, thus causing an increase in fluid pressure which is transferred to the inflatable cylinders. To prevent spontaneous inflation when an overpressurization occurs in the reservoir, the same reservoir pressure is utilized to seal the fluid output against itself or to seal one or both of the poppets against the valve seat. Thus, the fluid is prevented from reaching the cylinders and creating a spontaneous inflation. When the movement or activity generating the overpressure in the reservoir is released, the system should return to equilibrium. Even if overpressurization of the reservoir is occurring, the pressure generated by compressing the pump bulb will far exceed the level of overpressure. Thus, the poppets will open in the normal way, allowing fluid to flow to the cylinders. The use of the overpressure in the reservoir itself to prevent fluid flow to the cylinders can occur in a variety of formats.
In still another embodiment, the reservoir poppet is actually coupled to an outer wall defining a portion of the fluid input. When an overpressurization in the reservoir occurs, this outer wall is forced to expand which simultaneously causes the reservoir poppet to be pulled firmly against the valve seat. This effectively prevents fluid flow from reaching the cylinders and causing a spontaneous inflation.
In yet another embodiment of the present invention, the valve seat is provided with a flexible valve which cooperates with the first poppet to prevent spontaneous inflation which could be caused by excessive pressure in the reservoir. Specifically, pressure in the reservoir and associated valve input is presented to the flexible valve and thus causing the valve to be further forced against the poppet, thus sealing off the input. When inflation is desired however, the negative pressure pulling the first poppet away from the valve seat will allow the desired fluid flow.
In yet still another embodiment, a tapered poppet is utilized in conjunction with a tapered valve seat. Each of these tapers do not exactly match each other, thus providing variable reactions to pressure signals.
In a further embodiment, a section of the reservoir poppet protrudes into the reservoir chamber. This protruding section of the reservoir poppet is coupled to the outer wall of the reservoir chamber. The poppet is coupled to the wall with a connecting spring that permits relative movement between the poppet and the outer wall. The tension of the spring is selected so that it approximates the forces generated by pressurized fluid acting on the wall of the reservoir chamber. However, the spring force is not so great as to prevent the vacuum generated by the pump bulb from opening the poppet. Thus, when the pump bulb is compressed and released, the vacuum forces generated are sufficient to unseat to the reservoir poppet despite its connection to the outer reservoir chamber wall.
In yet still a further embodiment, a relatively large and powerful biasing spring is coupled with the reservoir poppet to exert a relatively large force against the reservoir poppet forcing it into a sealing or closed position. Due to the strong biasing forces of the spring, overpressurization forces generated in the reservoir chamber are insufficient to unseat the reservoir poppet. Simply using such a spring will make it difficult for the vacuum forces generated by compression of the pump bulb to unseat the reservoir poppet. To eliminate this problem, the face of the reservoir poppet, which forms a fluid-tight seal when the reservoir poppet is in a closed position, is made relatively large. That is, the diameter of the face approaches the diameter of the chamber containing the reservoir poppet. Thus, the vacuum forces generated will act over a larger surface area thereby exerting a larger degree of force, which permits the unseating of the reservoir poppet despite the opposing force of the biasing spring.
Because it is difficult to fabricate a housing having a planar wall that interacts with the planar poppet face to form a sufficiently fluid-tight seal, the portion of the housing holding the reservoir poppet contains a pair of spaced lip seals. The position of the lip seal serves two distinct purposes. The first is to prevent fluid pressure generated during over pressurization of the reservoir from engaging a large portion of the poppet face, which would in effect defeat the added strength provided by the biasing spring. The outer seal is also provided so that when a vacuum force is generated, the vacuum cannot act on the front surface of the poppet face which would, in effect, hold the reservoir poppet in a closed position.
In another embodiment of the present invention, the reservoir poppet is configured with a throughbore at a rear portion of the reservoir poppet that is in fluid communication with a passageway and an outlet adjacent to the cylinder poppet. A sliding valve seal is positioned over this section of the reservoir poppet. The sliding valve seal is held against the back wall of the chamber by a spring positioned between the front face of the sliding valve seal and the back face of the suction poppet valve seal. The arrangement of the valve sleeve on the rear of the reservoir poppet is such that fluid is only able to flow through the throughbore and out of the outlet when the valve sleeve is positioned near the rear of the chamber and the front face of the reservoir poppet is firmly seated. In a reservoir overpressurization situation, the valve sleeve is again pressed against the rear of the chamber. However, the reservoir poppet is also forced backwards into the chamber, forcing the throughbore to be occluded by the valve sleeve. This prevents fluid from flowing towards the cylinder poppet which could ultimately lead to spontaneous inflation.
In yet another embodiment, the portion of the housing between the cylinder poppet and the reservoir chamber has been modified. In addition, the reservoir poppet is provided with a unique configuration to interact with the housing structure. The reservoir poppet has a face, similar to the other embodiments, that is spring biased towards a matching valve seat. An annular ring is molded into the housing just behind (towards the cylinder poppet) the valve seat and is sized to interact with the face.
The pump assembly of this embodiment has two states, activated and deactivated. In the activated state, the reservoir poppet is positioned so that the face is between the annular ring and the valve seat. When so positioned, the pump assembly functions as previously described with reference to the other embodiments. A compression of the pump bulb force the face against the valve seat and causes the cylinder poppet to open. A release of the pump bulb generates a vacuum which removes the reservoir poppet face from the valve seat and allows fluid to flow from the reservoir and into the pump bulb. Thus, the activated state is used when actively inflating the cylinders and while it is desired to maintain the cylinders in an inflated state.
In the deactivated state, the reservoir poppet is positioned so that the face moves through the annular ring. In this position, the face will be between the cylinder poppet and the annular ring and the reservoir poppet spring will bias the face so that it abuts the annular ring. In other words, the face is displaced from the valve seat, and a gap exists between the valve seat and the annular ring. The stem of the reservoir poppet extends from the face towards the cylinder poppet. The stem is a cylindrical member having a generally V-shaped groove extending about its circumference near the middle of the stem. The stem interacts with a flexible conical lip seal molded within the housing. When in the activated state, the conical lip seal is positioned near the V-shaped groove so that fluid flow is essentially unhindered. When in the deactivated state, the conical lip seal is caused to engage the cylindrical portion of the stem. Thus, a fluid tight seal can be formed.
When in the deactivated state, the reservoir poppet can be moved to engage and release the cylinder poppet, leading to a deflation of the cylinders. During this time, the conical lip seal continues to be located near the cylindrical portion of the stem; however, the flexible nature of the conical lip seal allows fluid flow in a direction from the cylinders to the reservoir. The pump assembly must be placed in the deactivated state to prevent spontaneous inflation. When in this state, the conical lip seal engages the cylindrical portion of the stem. If overpressure is generated, the reservoir poppet can be displaced towards the cylinder poppet. As this occurs, the increased fluid pressure levels force the conical lip seal to firmly abut the cylindrical portion of the stem, preventing increased pressure levels from reaching and displacing the cylinder poppet. Thus, spontaneous inflation is prevented.
To further improve the operational efficiency of the pump and valve assembly, in yet still another embodiment, a reservoir poppet is made of a metal material with a plastic member disposed over a segment of the metal material. The plastic segment of the reservoir poppet prevents undesired frictional contact (metal on metal) with other metal members, and prevents premature wearing of the contact point of the two components.
In another embodiment, a pump and valve assembly includes a pump bulb that is differentiated from the valve housing when inflation of the cylinders is desired. To supplement differentiation between the bulb and the valve housing, the valve housing is provided with a textured surface so that even through tissue the patient is able to readily discern which area comprises the pump bulb and which area comprises the valve housing. This is important in that the pump bulb is compressed for inflation while the valve housing is compressed for deflation.
The pump assembly is configured such that it has a length longer than its width, with its internal poppets running parallel with the length. To release fluid from the inflated cylinders, the internal poppets are actuated so that they move in a direction parallel to the length, until they open. To achieve this action directly, the opposing sides of the width of the valve housing are compressed. This compression causes actuation of the internal poppets.
In addition, an actuating bar is positioned within the valve housing parallel with and extending along at least one of the sides of the length. An arm attached to the actuating bar extends along a portion of one of the sides of the width in close proximity to the tip of one of the poppets. Thus, the configuration of the actuating bar causes it to engage and open the poppet allowing fluid to flow from the cylinder to the reservoir. Furthermore, the patient can grasp the valve housing in virtually any orientation and when pressure is applied, the actuating bar will act either directly or indirectly to open the appropriate poppets. Thus, so long as the patient grasps any portion of the pump and valve assembly other than the pump bulb, compression will result in the desired opening of the poppets which allows the cylinders to deflate.
Furthermore, since the patient can grasp the valve housing along the sides of the length, i.e., surfaces with larger surface area, less pressure need be applied to achieve the successful opening of the poppets. In other words, by increasing the surface area that is engaged by the patient""s fingers and appropriately positioning the actuating bar, less force need be exerted by the patient to achieve the desired result.
The textured surface of the valve housing not only helps the patient identify the correct portion of the pump and valve assembly to actuate, it also serves to prevent slippage once the patient begins to compress the housing. Thus, what is achieved is an efficient and ergonomic pump and valve assembly for an implantable prosthesis. The pump and valve assembly can advantageously be formed from a minimal number of components. That is, all that need be molded are a valve block and a corresponding pump bulb which surrounds the valve block. The various poppets can be inserted into the valve block and then placed within the interior of the pump bulb, thus forming a completed assembly. This results in certain manufacturing efficiencies, thus reducing both cost and time of production.
To prolong the life of the valve assembly, ribs are added to the actuating bar. The ribs increase the strength and stiffness of the actuating bar and prevent deflection during actuation. Permanent deformation of the actuating bar is prevented when normal deflection occurs during actuation. As a result, full axial motion of the poppet is ensured. Another rib is disposed along an actuation face of the actuating bar to also limit deformation during actuation.
To improve the ease of deflation, a stiff poppet support wraps around the valve body and rests against a portion of the check valve. The poppet support has a shelf that provides a smooth surface for a portion of the check valve to slide. The poppet support contacts the check valve and prevents undesirable sideways movement of the check valve against the valve body. The positioning and configuration of the poppet support thus allows the check valve to easily move axially into the valve body to an open position. This results in improved operational efficiency of the prosthesis pump and an extended operating life.
In most of the embodiments, the force generated by an overpressurization of the reservoir is used to prevent fluid flow into the cylinders.

Pressure based spontaneous inflation inhibitor with penile pump improvements


Embodiments of the present invention are directed to a method and system for optimizing mirror creation. The method includes receiving, within an electronic system, a request for creating a mirror of a portion of a volume and accessing a data structure comprising information about a plurality of regions of the volume. The method further includes determining a plurality of regions comprising non-zeros of the volume based on the data structure and copying only the plurality of regions comprising non-zeros to create the mirror.

As technology advances, data storage is increasingly important and data storage capacities are increasing rapidly. Correspondingly, the size of data storage arrays and their demands for storage have increased rapidly. Ever increasing amounts of data are required to be highly available and protected from corruption or damage that may be caused by any of a variety of factors, such as natural disasters and power failures, etc. As a result, increasingly complex data storage clusters are used to satisfy the demands for data storage and retrieval.
Similarly, virtualization of computers and/or operating systems has become increasingly important to enable server consolidation such that many small physical servers can be replaced by one larger physical server. This results in increased and more efficient utilization of costly hardware resources such as central processing units (CPU), thereby allowing power savings and hardware cost savings.
Virtual environments typically include virtualized computers and/or operating systems known as virtual machines which require access to storage. In one conventional setup, each virtual machine has a storage file allocated to it which acts as storage for the virtual machine. The storage for the storage file can be allocated for the virtual machine "on demand," such as in two megabyte chunks. However, the allocation of storage on demand causes fragmentation as repeated on demand allocations are performed thereby negatively impacting system performance. Conventional solutions thus allocate the storage for each virtual machine on a fixed basis even though a virtual machine may use much less than it is allocated. When a fixed storage file is allocated to a virtual machine, it is filled with zeros representing free space. Although fixed space allocation increases system performance, typical allocations may include 70% unused or free space.
Each of the fixed storage files may be allocated on one or more storage volumes large enough to host the fixed storage files for all the virtual machines running on a physical server. When a single virtual machine has many such fixed storage files, a single large volume may host only the files from that particular virtual machine. Thus, the storage volumes are large in size in general. The storage volume, with the fixed storage files, may need to be copied when the storage volume is migrated from one storage array to another or when adding a mirror volume for offhost backup. Copying the storage volume often can take large amounts of time as the each of the fixed storage files, e.g., terabytes, must be copied, including those portions that are filled with zeros representing free space. Copying the whole storage volume thus involves significant amounts of time and can also negatively impact system performance. Further, conventional systems require the virtual machine be taken offline while the copy operation is performed, resulting in expensive downtime. Therefore, while fixed allocation may increase system performance, it negatively impacts the storage copy function when the virtual machine's storage volume needs to be mirrored.
Thus, a need exists to copy the volume hosting virtual machine files in an efficient manner without requiring the virtual machines to be taken offline.

System and method for optimizing mirror creation


An electroplating apparatus applies an electroplated coating to a female thread formed on a pipe end portion of a steel pipe. The apparatus includes an inner seal member, a capsule, a discharge outlet, an opening, a cylindrical insoluble anode, a plating solution supply tube, and a plurality of nozzles. The seal member divides the interior of the steel pipe at a location longitudinally inward of a region on which the female thread is formed. The capsule is attached to the pipe end portion. The outlet is designed to discharge a plating solution inside the capsule therefrom. The opening facilitates discharge of the solution inside the capsule. The anode is disposed in the inside of the pipe end portion. The supply tube projects from an end of the anode. The nozzles eject a plating solution between the outer surface of the anode and the inner surface of the pipe end portion.

In oil wells, natural gas wells, and the like (hereinafter also collectively referred to as "oil wells"), oil country tubular goods are used for extraction of underground resources (e.g., petroleum, natural gas, etc.). Oil country tubular goods, which are steel pipes, are configured to be sequentially connected to each other, and threaded joints are used for the connection.
Such threaded joints are generally classified into two types, a coupling-type joint and an integral-type joint. A coupling-type threaded joint is constituted by a pair of tubular goods that are to be connected to each other, of which one is a steel pipe having a longer length and the other is a coupling having a shorter length. In this case, the steel pipe is provided with a male thread formed on the outer periphery at each end portion thereof, and the coupling is provided with a female thread formed on the inner periphery at each end portion thereof. The male thread of the steel pipe is screwed into the female thread of the coupling, thereby making up a joint between them. An integral-type threaded joint is constituted by a pair of steel pipes as tubular goods that are to be connected to each other, without a separate coupling being used. In this case, each steel pipe is provided with a male thread formed on the outer periphery at one of its opposite end portions and a female thread formed on the inner periphery at the other thereof. The male thread of one of the steel pipes is screwed into the female thread of the other of the steel pipes, thereby making up a joint between them.
In recent years, from the standpoint of improving the manufacturability of oil country tubular goods, there is an increasing need for using a threaded joint of the integral type. This is because no separate coupling is required.
When making up steel pipes, lubricating grease (dope) is applied to the male thread and the female thread. The purpose of this is to prevent galling in the threads and also to enhance the sealing performance of the threaded joint. Conventionally, as the lubricating grease, lubricants specified by API (American Petroleum Institute) standards (hereinafter also referred to as "API dope") are widely used. API dope contains heavy metals such as Pb (lead) and exhibits high lubricity.
In recent years, environmental regulations have become more stringent. Thus, the use of API dope has been restricted, and a need has arisen for use of lubricating grease free of heavy metals (hereinafter also referred to as "green dope"). However, green dope has lower lubricity than API dope. Because of this, in the case of using green dope, it is necessary to apply an electroplated coating such as a copper coating to the surface of at least one of the male thread and the female thread. The purpose of this is to prevent galling in the threads by compensating for the insufficient lubricity.
When applying an electroplated coating to a coupling-type threaded joint, the coating is applied to the female thread of the coupling. Threaded joints having an electroplated coating on the female thread of the coupling exhibit high reliability. Because of the high reliability, when applying an electroplated coating to an integral-type threaded joint, too, it is increasingly desired that the coating be applied to its female thread on the pipe end portion of the steel pipe.
Japanese Patent Publication No. S63-6637 (Patent Literature 1) discloses an apparatus for applying an electroplated coating to a male threaded region formed on one of the pipe end portions of a steel pipe, i.e., to the outer peripheral surface at a pipe end portion of a steel pipe.

Electroplating apparatus for steel pipes

NIPPON STEEL & SUMITOMO METAL CORPORATION


A method of treating nail units of animals including humans in which a preparation containing tretinoin is topically applied to the nail to promote growth of the nail unit.

The nail unit in humans is a cutaneous structure located on the distal aspect of the digits of the upper and lower extremities. It is present on the dorsal surface and overlies the distal phalanx. Animals have related structure analagous to nails made up predominantly of keratin and known as hoofs, claws or talons. The nail plate constituting the cosmetic component of the nail unit is manufactured, in humans, predominantly by the nail matrix by a process of keratinization and condensation of specialized epithelial cells.
The nail plate, hereafter referred to simply the "nail" is, in the case of animals, in contact with the environment and therefore is subject to a variety of trauma. These include physical and chemical insults which have a deleterious effect, thus making it desirable to improve their flexibility, reverse brittleness and thickness, improve strength and obviate photo damage. It is also advantageous to improve the cosmetic appearance, particularly for humans, and animals produced for show purposes.
Nail units are also susceptible to a number of infections and diseases, cutaneous and/or systemic, which may require removal (evulsion). Thus, an agent capable of enhancing growth in such situations is greatly desired and would be helpful in general usage. Up to the present, no effective scientific modality exists for influencing the growth rates of nails in humans or reversing photodamage and the aging process. Consequently, the art seeks a method which will satisfy the above needs and which would provide a significant advance in the field of medicine, cosmetics, and veterinary science.


The present disclosure describes methods, devices, and systems for generating, adjusting, and using cardiac waveform morphology templates. The morphology templates include target regions associated with features of cardiac waveforms. The target regions may be adjusted based on relationships between the target regions and features of detected cardiac waveforms associated with the target regions. The templates may be used to analyze cardiac waveforms to classify or monitor various waveform morphologies. Templates may be created or eliminated, for instance, based on a frequency of use. According to one approach, template creation involves providing target regions defined by one or more characteristics. The target regions are adjusted based on detected cardiac waveform features having similar characteristics. A template may be created using the target regions adjusted by this process.

Proper cardiac function relies on the synchronized contractions of the heart at regular intervals. When the heart is functioning normally, synchronized cardiac contractions are initiated at the sinoatrial node and the heart is said to be operating in normal sinus rhythm. However, if contractions of the heart become irregular or uncoordinated, or if the contraction rate is too fast or too slow, the heart rhythm is described as arrhythmic. Cardiac arrhythmia may be caused, for example, by disease processes or from aberrant electrical conduction patterns occurring in the heart tissue. Cardiac arrhythmia impairs cardiac pumping efficiency and some types of cardiac arrhythmia can be life threatening.
A cardiac arrhythmia that originates in an atrial region of the heart is denoted a supra-ventricular tachyarrhythmia (SVT). Atrial fibrillation and atrial flutter are examples of SVT. Both conditions are characterized by rapid, uncoordinated contractions of the atria resulting in hemodynamically inefficient pumping action.
Cardiac arrhythmias originating in a ventricular region of the heart are denoted ventricular tachyarrhythmias. Ventricular tachycardia (VT) is characterized by rapid ventricular contractions and can degenerate into ventricular fibrillation (VF). Ventricular fibrillation produces extremely rapid, non-coordinated contractions of the ventricles. Ventricular fibrillation is fatal unless the heart is returned to sinus rhythm within a few minutes.
Implantable cardiac rhythm management (CRM) devices, including pacemakers and implantable cardioverter/defibrillators (ICDs), and have been used to deliver effective treatment to patients with serious cardiac arrhythmias. Cardiac rhythm management devices may treat cardiac arrhythmias with a variety of tiered therapies. These tiered therapies range from delivering low energy pacing pulses timed to assist the heart in maintaining pumping efficiency to providing high energy shocks to terminate fibrillation. To effectively deliver these treatments, the CRM must first identify the type of arrhythmia that is occurring, after which appropriate therapy may be delivered to the heart.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Cardiac waveform template creation, maintenance and use


An electrophotographic apparatus having a process cartridge for placing a photosensitive drum capable of rotating on a rotational shaft is detachably provided in a housing containing a photosensitive drum driving mechanism and having an opening formed at the top of the housing openable by a cover for detaching and attaching the process cartridge. A positioning mechanism for positioning the rotational shaft of the photosensitive drum is attached through the opening at a predetermined position and is capable of transmitting the drive of the driving mechanism. Thus, the process cartridge can be detached or attached from or to the housing elevationally with respect to the housing and the cartridge can be attached or detached while an operator stands still.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an electrophotographic apparatus for forming an image by an electrophotographic system in a printer, such as a laser printer, an LED printer, a liquid crystal printer, etc. used as the terminal equipment of a computer, a facsimile or the like and, more particularly, to an electrophotographic apparatus adapted for so-called "a personal use" to be easily handled.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In a conventional electrophotographic apparatus, a periodic inspection and a replacement of necessary components have been performed by a special maintenance technician except for the supply of toner.
However, as this electrophotographic apparatus is brought into personal use, a problem occurs in the necessity of periodic inspection in terms of expense and rapidity. In order to cope with the problem, a process cartridge in which a charger, a cleaner, a developing unit, a waste toner storage unit and the like are integrally associated, in addition to a photosensitive drum, in a cartridge as required is constructed and delivered in the market.
Since a general user can easily replace components in a component replacing system using the process cartridge, a special maintenance technician is not required except for an accidental trouble, which contributes to the popularization of the personal use electrophotographic apparatus.
A conventional electrophotographic apparatus using the above-described process cartridge is disclosed, for example, in Japanese Patent Laid-open No. 34545/1984 entitled "A Copying Machine". In this copying machine, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, an opening 3 is formed at the front wall 2 of a housing 1, and the opening 3 is openably formed by a front cover 4 supported by the bottom of the housing 1. A process cartridge 5 which can be laterally drawn from the opening 3 is arranged in the housing 1, and in the process cartridge 5 are arranged a photosensitive drum 7 rotatably provided through a rotational shaft 6, a charger 8 for uniformly applying charge to the photosensitive drum 7, a developing unit 9 for depositing toner T on an electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 7, and a cleaner 10 for removing the remaining toner on the drum 7.
On the other hand, in the housing 1 are arranged a light source 12 for scanning an original on a contact glass 11 on the upper surface thereof, an optical system 13 for forming the electrostatic latent image based on image information of the original scanned by the light source 12, a transfer unit 14 for transferring the toner image formed on the drum 7 by the developing unit 9 to a sheet, and a fixing unit 15 for fixing the toner image transferred to the sheet to the sheet by means of heat and pressure.
However, according to the electrophotographic apparatus (copying machine) described above, the front cover 4 is opened to detach or attach the process cartridge 5. In this case, since a structure that the process cartridge 5 is horizontally drawn from the opening 3 is employed, a new process cartridge 5 must be placed on a table or on an exclusive base for placing it, and the process cartridge 5 must be detached and alternatively attached in a bent waist attitude to causing the operability to be reduced.

Electrophotographic apparatus having positioning mechanism for detachable process cartridge


A method of reusing an expression in a hand-held calculator and corresponding apparatus therefore are described. At least one user-entered expression is received and displayed. The user-entered expression is evaluated and the result displayed. A first user input requesting reuse of one of the previously displayed expressions is received and one of the previously displayed expressions is displayed for editing by the user. A second user input requesting reuse of one of the previously displayed expressions is received and one of the previously displayed expressions is displayed for editing by the user at the same time as the previously displayed expression responsive to the first user input.

A hand-held calculator is an important and useful device. Similar to a computer, the hand-held calculator has a processor, a memory, a display, and an input device; however, there are important distinguishing differences between the hand-held calculator and the computer.
The hand-held calculator is a specialized device and not a general purpose device, as is true of a computer. Because of this specialization, typically the hand-held calculator costs less, has a longer useful lifespan, and is more reliable and more portable than the computer.
Whereas a general purpose computer is capable of executing many different programs, a hand-held calculator typically executes a single program and less frequently supports execution of user-created programs. Normally, a hand-held calculator supports addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division of numbers, either integer-based or decimal-based, entered by a user and displays the results on a built-in display.
A graphical calculator is a further specialized version of a hand-held calculator having a display which is typically larger than a regular hand-held calculator display in order to enable graph output. In many instances, graphical calculator displays are liquid crystal displays for more accurate representation and enhanced readability of a graph output.
A graphical calculator is able to display a graph of a specific expression, e.g. a sine wave representing a sinusoidal function, entered by a user. Disadvantageously, graphical capabilities on hand-held calculators are only available as part of expensive and complex, "high end" scientific calculators. These graphical calculators are more expensive than other calculators, typically costing hundreds of dollars. These graphical calculators are more complicated to operate than other calculators because of the large amount of functionality incorporated therein.
The increased functionality has required a corresponding increase in the number of keys required for manipulating and using the calculator. For example, currently available graphical calculators have approximately fifty (50) keys including two (2) shift or modifier keys for a user to manipulate, e.g. a Texas Instruments (TI) 83 plus calculator has 51 keys and two (2) shift keys which can be used concurrently, enabling up to four functions to be assigned per the 51 remaining keys, and a Hewlett-Packard (HP) 48G+/GX calculator has 49 keys and three (3) shift keys, enabling up to six functions to be assigned per the remaining 49 keys.
Additionally, and in conjunction with the larger number of keys present, a user must contend with different modes of operation of the current graphical calculator. Different modes of operation, accessible via specific keys and/or key sequences, must be utilized in order to access specific calculator functionality, e.g. a graphical calculator may include a decimal mode, a binary mode, a hexadecimal mode, a finance mode, a statistics mode, and a graph mode.
Further, expression input requires increasingly complicated key manipulations and combinations. For example, in order to graph an expression, there are typically three combinations to be entered: a mode specifying combination, an expression entry combination, and a completion combination. The mode specifying combination may include manipulation of a graph key to instruct the calculator to graph the following expression entry. The expression entry combination may include manipulation of multiple keys to input the expression to be graphed and the completion combination includes manipulation of a key, e.g. an enter key, to instruct the calculator to perform the preceding operations, i.e. graph the entered expression.
Requiring a user to manipulate multiple keys increases the need for learning, the possibility of error and may lead to frustration on the part of the user. Also, requiring additional key presses by a user requires more time and slows the entry and use of the calculator by the user. The addition of multiple modes, complicated expression input combinations, and ever-increasing numbers of keys results in a very complicated device.
As further evidence of increasing complexity, the user manual for a currently available hand-held graphical calculator has dramatically increased in size in order to fully explain the use of the calculator. For example, the above-cited TI-83 plus calculator manual includes 269 pages and the HP 48G+/GX calculator manual includes 506 pages. These are very long documents which are typically not read by users. Further, users are likely to be deterred from reading the manual because of the imposing size of the manual.
Graphical calculators are very popular and effective educational aides. School students using graphical calculators can easily visualize complex functions; however, the complexity and cost of currently available graphical calculators deters many students and schools from making a purchase. Purchasers are dissuaded by the size of the manual, multiple modes of operation, and the number of keys and key combinations required for inputting expressions.
Prior hand-held calculators of which the inventor is aware, enable a user to edit a previous entry input to the calculator. For example, a user may input the following two expressions for calculation by the calculator:1+2*4/(5*6+4)  Expression A1*7/4+58−44/56  Expression B
In order to modify one of the Expressions A or B, the user manipulates, for example, an up and down key to cause the display of Expression A or B on the calculator. After displaying the Expression A or B, the user modifies the expression as desired and provides the expression as input to the calculator for calculation.
Disadvantageously, the above-described approach restricts the user's choice of expressions for editing to only one of Expression A or B. Even if the user has input more than one expression for calculation, the user is only able to select one of the input expressions for editing and reuse as a subsequent calculation.
If the user desires to combine both Expression A and B in a single calculation, the user may select one of the expressions for reuse, but the user is then forced to input again the expression which was not selected. Problematically, the user is likely to mis-key the second expression and, at a minimum, additional keystrokes are required to input both expressions. Additional keystrokes necessitates more complexity, more time for input, and increased chance of an input error and frustration for the user.
There is a need in the art for a method of and apparatus for previous calculation reuse in a hand-held calculator.

Previous calculation reuse in a calculator

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.


A display apparatus is provided. The display apparatus includes a display panel which displays an image, a LED module which provides backlight to the display panel, a LED driving unit which selectively uses current of an inductor to apply driving voltage to the LED module, a sensing unit which senses a current value of the inductor, and a switching control unit which adjusts the driving voltage according to sensing result by the sensing unit.

1. Field
Methods and apparatuses consistent with the exemplary embodiments relate to a Light Emitting Diode (LED) driving apparatus, a method for driving a LED, and a display apparatus thereof, and more particularly, to a LED driving apparatus providing backlight to a display which cannot emit light by itself, a method for driving a LED, and a display apparatus thereof.
2. Description of the Related Art
A LED has been widely used in various fields thanks to its excellent performance and longevity, and it is provided even as backlight of a display apparatus.
Meanwhile, there are various types of driving circuits to control driving of a LED to utilize it as backlight of a display apparatus. Some of the LED driving circuits which have been used widely include a boost type and a buck type.
In the case of a boost type, as a switching transistor is connected to ground, its operation is relatively easy. In addition, a transistor connected to ground may be further added and thus, high-resolution dimming can be simply realized. However, a boost type requires a considerable amount of input electric current, increasing overall system costs.
Meanwhile, in the case of a buck type, the costs involving a LED driving circuit may be reduced by applying a peak current control method without feedback if high-resolution dimming is not required. However, such method may have problems in that the average value of output current may be fluctuated to a great extent in accordance with changes of load or conditions of input and output.
Therefore, a method for realizing a LED driving circuit which may reduce the costs involving a LED driving circuit without significant changes in the average value of output current with respect to changes of load or conditions of input and output are required.

LED driving apparatus, method for driving LED, and display apparatus thereof


This invention permits an optimizing compiler to select optimal instruction sequences for handling the source level multi-way branch, commonly known as the case or switch statement. A costing heuristic is established, based on machine specific information, which weights the relative performance of instruction sequences used to perform statement selection from several available selection methods. The constants, which form the basis of the selection criteria, are then clustered into sets. This clustering is controlled by the costing heuristic. The resulting sets represent clusters of values for which a particular selection method is most appropriate. The invention is preferably implemented at the intermediate code level, and with appropriate preselection of parameters by the compiler builder, allows the invention to be used on any type of target machine. The use of the invention results in faster compilation and execution.

Most high level languages contain a language construct that is typically viewed as a multi-way branch, in which a runtime variable is compared with each of the members of a set of constants, and a statement selection is made based on the result of the comparisons. Such constructs are sometimes known as case or switch statements. The runtime variable, also known as the "case selector", which can be an expression, is tested against a set of specified constants, also known as "case items". As is well-known in the art, multi-way branches utilize various selection methods in order to perform the required logic, including range tests, jump tables, compare-and-branch sequences, address translation and arithmetic progression. The method which yields the best performance in execution varies greatly with the underlying architecture of the machine on which the compiled program is executed, and also with the distribution of the values in the selection set, that is, the set of constants against which the runtime variable is to be compared.
Known attempts to overcome the problem of producing the best performing code, have generally related to the particular machine architecture for which the program is being compiled, that is, the target machine. This has been done by including in the solving method, and in the heuristic information, assumptions about the code formats which are optimal for that machine. For example, since multi-way branching is a commonly used construct in high level languages, architects of some Complex Instruction Set Computer (CISC) Systems have built instructions into such computers which provide table indexed branching at relatively little cost. Implementers of multi-way branching logic for such architectures frequently tailor their solution method so as to always make use of this instruction, even though for some collections of data it is not the best performer. The known prior art methods produce code that is optimal for only one machine, and under one set of conditions of the selection set that is to be compared with the runtime variable.
R. Bernstein, "Producing Good Code for the Case Statement," IBM RESEARCH REPORT 10525, (#45755) Dec. 6, 1983, describes some considerations to be used in determining which test for a case statement is appropriate, where available tests include jump table, range test, binary search and linear search, and discloses a method of selection starting with all the case items as a single cluster, sometimes called a "set", and breaking into smaller and smaller clusters until each meets the minimum case-density requirements for a jump table solution. Then the several types of tests are performed in a predesignated sequence, always beginning with a jump table.
A very general discussion of optimization methods is given in Chapter 10 of Aho, Sethi and Ullman, COMPILERS: PRINCIPLES, TECHNIQUES AND TOOLS, Addison-Wesley (1988). Other relevant prior art references are L. Atkinson, "Optimizing Two-state Case Statements in Pascal", SOFTWARE--PRACTICE AND EXPERIENCE, 12:6 (1982), 571-581; and J. Hennessey and N. Mendelsohn, "Compilation of the Pascal Case Statement", SOFTWARE--PRACTICE AND EXPERIENCE, 12:9 (1982), 879-882.
Despite these attempts, there remains a need for an optimizing method for evaluating case statements at minimum cost of execution which not only handles all numbers and densities of case items likely to be encountered in compilation, but also is portable, i.e., which can be used on target machines having differing architectures.

Partitioning case statements for optimal execution performance

International Business Machines Corporation


Configuring software for a target comprises preparing a command file which specifies a subset of components selected from a group of components, and parameters for tuning at least some of the selected subset of components. The command file is written using a single programming language, capable of managing tree structures of objects, preferably an XML type language, having a Document Type Definition enabling it to work as a programming language. An image file is prepared from the command file, to be loaded on the target.

This invention relates to computer technology.
The operating system (OS) named ChorusOS™ ("ChorusOS" as used herein is a trademark of SUN MICROSYSTEMS, INC.) is a realtime embedded OS, flexible as to the hosting hardware. This implies that it has to be installed and configured on a variety of computer platforms.
For being installed on a particular machine ("target"), ChorusOS has to be configured, i.e. prepared depending upon the target characteristics, and the application software to be supported. After the preparation, the size of the program code may range from 10 kilobytes for a portable machine to several megabytes for a telecom switch, for example.

Preparation of a software configuration using an XML type programming language