A flashlight includes a body, a flashlight head assembly, and a switch assembly. The body includes a first end securable to the flashlight head assembly, a second end, and a substantially cylindrical portion between the first end and the second end. The switch assembly, which is located at the substantially cylindrical portion of the body adjacent the second end, electrically connects with the flashlight head assembly to regulate the delivery of power thereto. The flashlight head assembly includes a first end and a second end securable to the body, a lens disposed in the flashlight head at the first end, a reflector disposed in the flashlight head adjacent the lens, a heat sink disposed in the flashlight head adjacent the reflector, and an LED assembly disposed within the heat sink such that the heat sink substantially completely surrounds the LED assembly. The flashlight further includes a clip disposed at the second end of the body and a hitch ball securable to the second end of the body such that the hitch ball fastens the clip to the body. The flashlight may further include a baton securable to the second end of the body.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to flashlights and, more particularly, but not by way of limitation, to a flashlight incorporating light emitting diode (LED) technology.
2. Description of the Related Art
The majority of flashlights currently marketed employ an incandescent bulb to supply the light beam. Incandescent bulbs operate adequately; nevertheless, such bulbs suffer certain disadvantages. Incandescent bulbs are fragile and often break when a flashlight is jarred. Incandescent bulbs further are inefficient in that batteries utilized to supply power are typically drained after less than an hour of continuous use. Incandescent bulbs still further allow leakage from the batteries such that the batteries are drained even when a flashlight is off.
To overcome the aforementioned problems associated with incandescent bulbs, flashlights employing LED technology have been introduced. With proper heat rejection, LED technology flashlights provide light beams comparable to the light beam from an incandescent bulb flashlight. LED technology flashlights however do not suffer the disadvantages of incandescent bulb flashlights. LED technology flashlights are rugged and not prone to break when a flashlight is jarred. LED technology flashlights further provide as much as three times the amount of battery life and do not cause leakage from the batteries. Accordingly, a flashlight employing LED technology that includes improved heat rejection will improve over both existing LED technology flashlights as well as incandescent bulb flashlights.


An imaging apparatus receives a signal regularly transmitted from a control apparatus, determines whether or not the imaging apparatus is disconnected from the network based on a status of the reception of the signal, transmits a request for participation in the network to the control apparatus according to a determination that the imaging apparatus is disconnected from the network to notify the control apparatus that the imaging apparatus is disconnected from the network, and participates in the network after the control apparatus receives the request for participation.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a technique for controlling an imaging apparatus equipped with a wireless communication means.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, there has been a camera system in which cameras having different photographing conditions to a subject and different angles set thereto are configured so that they can operate in a coordinated manner with use of a communication means such as a communication cable or a wireless communication apparatus.
For example, "Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2005-252568" discusses a camera system in which a plurality of imaging apparatuses can be operated to capture a subject image with use of a single control apparatus through wireless communication, and the captured image data can be displayed at the control apparatus.
However, although the system discussed in "Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2005-252568" is easy to handle since the apparatuses therein do not have to be connected through a communication cable, a situation causing an increase in the distance between the apparatuses often occurs, which may result in a wireless communication failure therebetween despite the user's intention.
When wireless communication becomes impossible in this way, it is troublesome for a user to operate all of the remotely deployed apparatuses to reestablish a wireless network.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Imaging apparatus, control apparatus, control method therefor, and recording medium


The disclosure relates to a vane arrangement with a vane carrier, an array of rocking first stage vanes, and an array of frame segments for axially receiving aft ends of a combustor transition pieces. The frame segments comprise an I-beam with an upper horizontal element, a lower horizontal element, a vertical web, a radially outer fixation to the vane carrier, and an arm extending from the lower horizontal element in axial direction below the inner rim segment for supporting the inner platform of the vane and for sealing a gap between the inner platform and the lower horizontal element. Besides the vane arrangement the disclosure relates to a method for assembly of such an arrangement as well as to a gas turbine comprising such a vane arrangement.

Gas turbines with can combustors are known from various applications in power plants. Typically a plurality of combustors is disposed in an annular array about the axis of the turbine. Hot combustion gases flow from each combustor through a respective transition piece into the first stage vane. In addition to relative movement, e.g. due to dynamic pulsing between these components, the transition pieces and first stage vane are made of different materials and are subjected to different temperatures during operation, thereby experiencing different degrees of thermal growth. Support frames which support and guide the transition piece at the turbine inlet have been proposed to allow such a "mismatch" at the interface of the transition pieces and the first stage vane. To allow movement between the transition piece and the support frames the US 2009/0115141 A1 suggests the use of sealed slots. The described arrangement is intended to allow radial, circumferential and axial relative movements. However, radial, circumferential and axial relative movements of hot gas path sections relative to each other are difficult to seal and can lead to steps at the interface between the side walls of such an arrangement. These steps are detrimental to the aerodynamics of the turbine, they can cause local high heat loads due to turbulences they might induce in the boundary layer.


A device and a method for calculating a multiple of a point on an elliptic curve from the right to the left by repeated point doubling and point addition. Each point doubling is evaluated with an extended set of coordinates and each point addition is evaluated by taking as input a restricted set of the extended set of coordinates. The at least one coordinate of the extended set that is not part of the restricted set is stored in a memory between each iteration of the point doubling. This can enable speeding up the calculations as compared to prior art solutions. Also provided is a computer program product.

This section is intended to introduce the reader to various aspects of art, which may be related to various aspects of the present invention that are described and/or claimed below. This discussion is believed to be helpful in providing the reader with background information to facilitate a better understanding of the various aspects of the present invention. Accordingly, it should be understood that these statements are to be read in this light, and not as admissions of prior art.
Elliptic curve cryptography (ECC) is becoming more and more widespread, owing to, among other things, a key length that is significantly shorter than a Rivest-Shamir-Adleman (RSA) key for a corresponding security level. However, shorter key length is not the only factor to consider when choosing a cryptosystem; for example computation time must also be considered, as a relatively long wait may prove irritating to a user that uses a cryptographic system.
While elliptic curve cryptography may be used in practically any situation, it is particularly suitable for use in embedded devices as ECC requires less memory and computing capabilities than RSA-based cryptography.
The basic operation for elliptic curve cryptography is the scalar multiplication: given a point P on an elliptic curve and a scalar d, one has to compute point Q=dP (that is, P+P+ . . . +P, d times). There exist two main families of scalar multiplication methods, depending on in which direction the scalar d is scanned:                left-to-right methods, and        right-to-left methods.
Left-to-right methods are often used as they give rise to better performance, but they are also known to offer a lower security level.
Up until now, the skilled person has, to a certain extent, been forced to choose between performance and security. It can thus be appreciated that there is a need for a solution that overcomes at least some of the problems of the prior art. The present invention provides a solution that speeds up prior art right-to-left scalar multiplication so that the difference in performance between the two families decreases.
The classical prior art right-to-left based scalar multiplication methods will now be described.
Let E denote an elliptic curve over a field K of characteristic≠2, 3. Such an elliptic curve can be given by a Weierstrass equation:E/K:Y2=X3+aXZ4+bZ6.
The set of points (X, Y, Z) on the elliptic curve forms an abelian group where the neutral element, called the point at infinity, is O=(1, 1, 0). The projective point (X, Y, Z) corresponds to O if Z=0 and to the affine point (X/Z2, Y/Z3) otherwise. Note that the projective coordinates of a projective point are not unique because (X, Y, Z)=(t2X, t3Y, tZ) for every nonzero t in K.
The classical prior art right-to-left binary scalar multiplication method takes as input a scalar d≧0 and a point P=(X, Y, Z) on an elliptic curve E with parameters a and b, and outputs the point Q=dP.
Input: d, P=(X, Y, Z)
Output: dP=(X*, Y*, Z*)
Method:
1. If d=0 or Z=0 then return (1, 1, 0) and stop.
2. Set (X*, Y*, Z*)←(1, 1, 0) and (T1, T2, T3)←(X, Y, Z)
3. While (d≧1) do                a. If (d is odd) then                    i. d←d−1            ii. (X*, Y*, Z*)←Add[(X*, Y*, Z*), (T1, T2, T3)]                        b. d←d/2        c. (T1, T2, T3)←Double[(T1, T2, T3)]
4. Return (X*, Y*, Z*)
The classical prior art NAF (Non-Adjacent Form)-based scalar multiplication method takes as input a scalar d≧0 and a point P=(X, Y, Z) on an elliptic curve E with parameters a and b, and outputs the point Q=dP.
Input: d, P=(X, Y, Z)
Output: dP=(X*, Y*, Z*)
Method:
1. If d=0 or Z=0 then return (1, 1, 0) and stop.
2. Set (X*, Y*, Z*)←(1, 1, 0) and (T1, T2, T3)←(X, Y, Z)
3. While (d≧1) do                a. If (d is odd) then                    i. u←2−(d mod 4)            ii. d←d−u            iii. if (u=1) then (X*, Y*, Z*)←Add[(X*, Y*, Z*), (T1, T2, T3)]            iv. if (u=−1) then (X*, Y*, Z*)←Add[(X*, Y*, Z*), (T1, −T2, T3)]                        b. d←d/2        c. (T1, T2, T3)←Double[(T1, T2, T3)]
4. Return (X*, Y*, Z*)

Apparatus and a method for calculating a multiple of a point an elliptic curve


Provided is a radiation-tolerant 3D unit MOSFET having at least one selected from a dummy drain (DD), an N-well layer (NW), a deep N-well layer (DNW), and a P+ layer to minimize an influence by a total ionization dose effect and an influence by a single event effect.

Embodiments of the inventive concepts described herein relate to radiation-tolerant 3-dimensional unit metal-oxide field-effect transistors (3D unit MOSFETs) and more particularly, relate to 3D unit MOSFETs having radiation-tolerant characteristics hardened against single event effects and total ionization dose effects.
Radiation is referred to the flow of energy emitted from atomic or molecular components when the atomic or molecular components are unstable at higher energy levels. The radiation is represented in the radiation form of an X-ray, a gamma ray, an alpha ray, a beta ray, neutrons, or protons. The radiations are classified into a particle form or an electromagnetic-wave form. The particle form is referred to as a particle radiation, and the electromagnetic-wave form is referred to as an electromagnetic-wave radiation.
Although the radiations are different from each other, the intensity of the radiation or the influence exerted on an object may be estimated, based on the basic concept of energy flow, depending on the size of an amount of transmitted energy or the size of an amount of absorbed energy. The radiation may be incident to produce ions, which is called "ionizing radiation", and other radiations are called "non-ionizing radiations." In particular, the ionizing radiation causes the damage to a unit MOSFET constituting an electronic part by ionizing atoms of a semiconductor material of the unit MOSFET. Accordingly, the normal operation of the electronic part is not ensured and temporarily or permanently damages.
The damage to a semiconductor device by the incidence of the radiation is mainly classified into a total ionization dose effect and a single event effect.
If the width of the oxide film of a transistor is 10 nm or more, and if the ionizing radiation is incident to a part having an electric field, holes are trapped at the interface between the oxide film and the silicon. More specifically, if the ionizing radiation is incident in the state that a voltage is applied to the gate, hole trapping is caused at an oxide film interface between a source and a drain and thus channel inversion occurs, thereby forming a leakage current path that current flows. The leakage current path formed by the ionizing radiation causes an abnormal operation of the unit MOSFET, which is called the total ionization dose effect.
FIG. 1 is a view illustrating the configuration of a planer MOSFET according to the related art. FIG. 2 is view illustrating the configuration of a FinFet which is one of a 3D unit MOSFET. FIG. 3 is a view illustrating the configuration of a gate-all-around MOSFET (GAA MOSFET) which is one of the 3D unit MOSFET.
The planer MOSFET of FIG. 1 includes a gate to control the operation of the transistor, and a source, a drain, and a body through which a current flows by the gate.
The 3D unit MOSFET of FIGS. 2A and 2B and FIGS. 3A and 3B is configured in the shape of surrounding three planes (in the case of the FinFET of FIGS. 2A and 2B) or four planes (in the case of the GAA MOSFET of FIGS. 3A and 3B) of the gate. The source and the drain of the 3D unit MOSFET are positioned at both sides of the gate. Accordingly, the current signal by the gate flows to the source and the drain similarly to the conventional planer MOSFET.
The unit MOSFET illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3 is formed on a silicon substrate, and the source, the drain, and the body of each unit MOSFET includes PN junctions. For example, in the PN junction of the unit MOSFET, when forming a reverse bias that a positive voltage is applied to an N-type part and a negative voltage is applied to a P-type part, and when the ionizing radiation is incident, electron-hole pairs are produced and electrons and holes flow in a source-drain direction and a body direction by an electric field formed by the reverse bias.
In general, since a current pulse is higher than an equilibrium state of a built-in potential in the state that the reverse bias is applied to the PN junction, carriers may not move into an opposite region, and thus a current does not flow. In contrast, the current pulse, which is generated as the ionizing radiation is incident, affects a circuit including the unit MOSFET, thereby causing a problem of changing stored data. The phenomenon is called the single event effect. In particular, recently, as a process becomes smaller, a gate capacitance is reduced. Accordingly, the influence by the current pulse generated due to the single event effect is strongly represented.
The total ionization dose effect and the single event effect make it difficult to ensure the normal operation of the unit MOSFET under the radiation environment and make a circuit or a system, which includes the unit MOSFET, abnormally operating under the radiation environment.

Radiation-tolerant unit MOSFET hardened against single event effect and total ionization dose effect

Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology


A copper-based catalyst which is suitable for converting ammonia of high concentration and with better selectivity, thereby solving a problem of pollution and toxicity due to nitrogen oxides by a conventional catalyst reacting under high temperature is disclosed. The copper-based catalyst comprises: a porous oxide support and a low valent copper compound mixing with the porous oxide support by an acid hydrothermal method; wherein the low valent copper compound with is Cu and Cu2O.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to a copper-based catalyst for converting ammonia (NH3) into nitrogen and, more particularly, to a copper-based catalyst with better selectivity and suitable for converting ammonia (NH3) of high concentration.
2. Description of the Related Art
Waste resin generated by industries can be wet treated to produce ammonia with concentration up to 66.7%. Ammonia can be decomposed by a catalytic decomposition method. There are two kinds of catalytic decomposition methods for ammonia, which are reduction reaction and oxidation reaction. The reduction decomposition method mainly produces hydrogen and nitrogen, but is energy-waste due to its high reaction temperature. The oxidation decomposition method mainly produces nitrogen and water. Nitrogen produced by the oxidation decomposition method may react with oxygen, convert into nitride oxides as nitric oxide, nitrogen dioxide, or nitrous oxide, thereby becoming a pollution source of the natural environment.
To solve the problems resulting from the catalytic decomposition of ammonia, industries make an utmost effort to develop various catalysts. For instance, a conventional platinum/copper oxide/aluminum oxide (Pt/CuO/Al2O3) catalyst with selectivity is used in a decomposition process of ammonia, by which produces vapor mainly containing nitrogen and water. However, as long as the reaction temperature of the process increases, nitrogen produced in the process tends to react with oxygen, thereby converting into nitride oxides as nitric oxide, nitrogen dioxide, or nitrous oxide. In addition to nitride oxides as the pollution sources produced in the process, the conventional platinum/copper oxide/aluminum oxide, catalyst is also a catalyst with higher cost. Therefore, it is necessary to further improve the conventional platinum/copper oxide/aluminum oxide catalyst.
In Taiwan patent No.I259782, an activated fiber, a furnace stone or a furnace stone powder is used as a porous support. The porous support has a copper or a cuprate as a catalytic center, and is converted into a conventional catalyst by ion exchange and calcination. Although the conventional catalyst has decomposition conversion of ammonia up to 90%, only 85% of nitrogen produced by the conventional catalyst can be exhausted as nitrogen form. As a result, the remained nitrogen will convert into nitride oxides, thereby becoming pollution sources and generating awful effect to natural environment.
Moreover, noble metal as platinum, palladium, ruthenium, iridium or silver is used as a conventional catalyst. The easily oxidized noble metal converts ammonia into nitrogen under lower temperature. However, the conventional catalyst with noble metal has a higher cost, thereby decreasing the economic benefit of processing the waste.
In light of this, it is necessary to develop a copper-based catalyst differing from the conventional catalysts and suitable for selectively decomposing ammonia into nitrogen to solve the problems discussed above.

Copper-based catalyst for converting ammonia into nitrogen


The present invention relates to the unexpected discovery of systems for capturing carbon dioxide and producing hydrogen gas. In certain embodiments, the system treats wastewater. In certain embodiments, the system captures and sequesters CO2 as carbonate salts.

Wastewater treatment is essential for preventing disease and protecting the environment, but current treatment processes are energy intensive and emit greenhouse gas (GHG) due to fossil fuel use and organic degradation. Every year, approximately 12 trillion gallons of municipal wastewater are treated by publicly owned treatment works in the U.S., and this consumes about 15 GW, or 3% of the total electricity produced in the U.S. In the meantime, approximately 0.73×109 ton (Gt) of carbon dioxide-eq/yr emission is attributed to the degradation of organics in wastewater, equivalent to nearly 1.5% of the GHG emissions of 49 Gt carbon dioxide-eq/yr. These numbers are even larger when industrial and agricultural wastewater treatment industries are included. Great progress has been made to increase energy efficiency and recover renewable energy from wastewater using technologies such as anaerobic digestion and bioelectrochemical systems, because the chemical energy content embedded in wastewater is estimated to be multiple times that required to treat the wastewater. However, these methods reduce only fossil fuel consumption and its associated carbon emission.
Point-source carbon dioxide (CO2) mitigation, in particular carbon capture and storage (CCS), has been a main strategy for reducing industrial and energy-related CO2 emissions (e.g., power plants, cement and petrochemical industries, and so forth), which account for approximately 60% total CO2 emission due to fossil-fuel use. Conventional CCS consists of energy-intensive and costly CO2 separation, purification, compression, transportation, and injection underground. A power plant equipped with CCS incurs at least a 10-40% energy penalty primarily due to the high-energy-demand solvent/sorbent regeneration process. Emerging membrane technologies minimize regeneration process and reduce environmental impacts, but system scale-up has been a challenge. Related CCS technologies have been explored to capture much more dilute CO2 from the atmosphere, either in combination with biomass combustion/energy production, bioelectrochemical carbon capture and storage (BECCS) or using base solvent absorption or solid sorbent adsorption. Generally, these are even more energy intensive and costly than point-source CO2 mitigation. However, a variety of potentially cheaper and high capacity air CO2 removal strategies have been proposed. For example, algae were used in bioelectrochemical systems to capture CO2 discharged from the anode in a microbial carbon capture cell, and recent studies found that the acids normally produced in the anolyte during the electrolysis of saline water can be reacted with carbonate or silicate minerals to generate strongly alkaline, CO2-absorptive solutions. This in effect greatly accelerates mineral weathering. When powered by non-fossil energy, the system is strongly CO2-emissions negative. However, the process is energy consumptive, with non-optimized, experimental systems using 426 to 481 kJ per mole of CO2 consumed and stored. When seawater or saline ground water is used, the geographic location of the operation is limited, and toxic Cl2 and halogenated organic compounds can be generated during electrolysis, posing environmental and health risks.
Despite the progress, most current CO2 capture studies have been conducted on either pure or highly concentrated CO2, which inherently limits the technology to CO2 generated from point sources such as power plants or refineries. It also limits the applicability of CO2 capture to new emissions without tackling the over 1,000 Giga tons of cumulative anthropogenic CO2 emissions since 1970, which has already posed great threat to the climate. It is estimated that even if 90% of CO2 emitted from 90% of the point sources is captured, 50% of the total anthropogenic CO2 emission will still be unaccounted for. This stresses the importance of ambient CO2 capture in meeting the grand carbon management goals. Currently, feasible ambient CO2 capture technologies are hampered by the high energy requirements of the process, and the lack of safe carbon storage options.
There is a need in the art for novel inexpensive and safe methods of capturing carbon dioxide. Additionally, there is a need in the art for novel methods of wastewater treatment and processing, especially methods that are able to transform and capture latent chemical energy contained within the wastewater. The present invention addresses these unmet needs.

Carbon dioxide capture and storage electrolytic methods

The Regents of the University of Colorado, a body corporate


A well annulus pressure control system includes a reservoir in fluid communication with a well annulus, a control valve disposed on a fluid coupling between the reservoir and well annulus, a sensor disposed in the well annulus that detects a well annulus pressure, a controller that is operatively coupled to the control valve and sensor. The controller detects the well annulus pressure of the fluid in the well annulus based on sensor data from the sensor, controls the control valve to release the fluid from the well annulus into the reservoir in response to determining that the detected well annulus pressure is higher than a normal operating range of pressure in the well annulus, and controls the control valve to refill the fluid from the reservoir back into the well annulus in response to determining that the detected well annulus pressure is lower than the normal operating range.

A rock formation that resides under the Earth's surface is often referred to as a "subsurface" formation. A subsurface formation that contains a subsurface pool of hydrocarbons, such as oil and gas, is often referred to as a "hydrocarbon reservoir." Hydrocarbons are typically extracted (or "produced") from a hydrocarbon reservoir by way of a hydrocarbon well. A hydrocarbon well normally includes a wellbore (or "borehole") that is drilled into the reservoir. For example, a hydrocarbon well may include a wellbore that extends into the rock of a reservoir to facilitate the extraction (or "production") of hydrocarbons from the reservoir, the injection of fluids into the reservoir, or the evaluation and monitoring of the reservoir.
Well integrity refers to application of technical, operational and organizational solutions to reduce risk of uncontrolled release of formation fluids or hydrocarbons throughout the life cycle of a hydrocarbon well. One solution to preserve well integrity involves managing pressure within a well annulus of the hydrocarbon well. Annular pressure is generated when annular fluids are heated by production and expand, causing the pressure in the well annulus to rise. It is important maintain the annulus pressure within the well's mechanical design limits so as to ensure that the annulus pressure does not challenge or otherwise compromise the well's integrity during the life of the well. Allowing annulus pressure to go outside of acceptable operating limits may result in a variety of well integrity problems (e.g., tubing, casing, packer, or downhole equipment failure), which could have catastrophic consequences. Annulus pressure may be relieved by opening a valve coupled to the annulus and venting the pressure to outside of the annulus. However, conventional annulus pressure control techniques require costly human interaction and surveillance, resulting from scheduled or un-scheduled visits to remote wells or offshore platforms.

System and method for automated well annulus pressure control


A tamper-evident closure (101) for a container neck comprises a first portion (105, 106), a second portion (102, 104) comprising a window (103) through which a view of the first portion is visible, a locking mechanism, and an RFID device (107) associated with the first portion (105, 106). The second portion (102, 104) is rotatable relative to the first portion (105, 106) upon first opening of the tamper-evident closure (101) from a first position in which the first and second portions (105, 106; 102, 104) are in a first relative relation and the RFID device (107) is aligned with the window (103) and is readable, to a second position in which the first and second portions (105, 106; 102, 104) are in a second relative relation and the RFID device (107) is masked by the second portion (102, 104) and is not readable.

There is an increasing demand for tamper-indicating systems which ensure that a container is not re-filled with non-original contents. Whilst it is relatively easy to produce some form of tamper-evidence, it is much more difficult to provide a closure with tamper-evidence which cannot be either overcome without causing the tamper-evidence system to activate, or to be activated and then returned to a virtually visually identical state so as to appear non-activated.
A particularly useful method of providing tamper-evidence is to use a system in which a closure is initially located in a first position, but once removed can only be returned to a second position which is visually distinct from the first. Such tamper-evident systems are only effective if they cannot be reversed. For example, in systems which use an obstructing member to hold two parts apart it is possible to cut the obstruction to allow a gap to be closed.
International Patent Publication Nos. WO 2005/049443 and WO 2006/117505 describe closures which generate a gap upon first opening of the closure to indicate that the closure has been opened at least once. The closures generate unobstructed gaps following relative rotation of one part with respect to another. In other words, two parts of the closure are held apart without the requirement of an obstruction. The closures are provided with some internal mechanism for preventing the two parts from being rotated back to their original relative positions.
It is also known to provide a closure with a radio-frequency identification (RFID) tag, which contains electronically-stored information that can be ascertained using an appropriate reading device via radio waves. The stored data can be used to identify item details and/or in item tracking. RFID tags may be read only or read/write. RFID tags may be active, whereby the device is powered by a battery and actively transmits a signal for detection by a reading device, or passive, whereby the device is activated to transmit a signal upon receiving RF energy emitted by a reading device.
International Patent Publication No. WO 2006/120379 A1 discloses a metal closure and RFID device in combination, wherein the closure comprises an electrically-conductive shell, and the RFID device comprises a tag and antenna means, the tag comprises an RFID chip and the antenna means is one side of a dipole, the RFID device being entirely located within the metal closure and electrically coupled to the metal closure so that the metal closure becomes the other side of the dipole.
A type of RFID technology is near field communication (NFC), which is a set of communication protocols allowing short-range, low-power wireless connectivity between two electronic devices.
It is an object of the present invention to provide further improvements relating to a closure for a container neck.

Tamper-evident closure comprising a RFID tag


A character recognition method includes the following steps. The first step is a step of provisionally selecting a segment position for dividing a character line image into image parts within a character recognition processing section in accordance with a condition with respect to widths of black and white regions exhibited in a vertical projection of the character line image within the character recognition processing section. The second step is a step of dividing the character line image into image parts at the segment position to thereby extract the image parts. The third step is a step of subjecting each of the image parts to character recognition. The fourth step is a step of determining an optimum segment position in accordance with results of character recognition. The fifth step is a step of outputting a result of character recognition associated with the optimum segment position.

The present invention generally relates to a character recognition method, and more particularly to a character recognition method capable of correctly identifying characters which are arranged on a document with an undefined character pitch.
Generally, in an optical character reader, image data read from a document are segmented into image data of individual character lines by horizontal projection of the image data. Then each of the segmented character line images is segmented into individual character images in accordance with a fixed character pitch.
However, the above segmentation cannot correctly segment a character line image into individual character images in case where two or more characters are contained in one pitch or one character extends outside the one pitch. These problems cause a decrease in a character recognition rate, particularly for a document on which characters are arranged with an undefined character pitch, such as a name card and a magazine. Further, the use of the conventional segmentation is limited to a specific document in which characters are arranged a fixed character pitch.


A bearing lubrication system for providing supplemental lubrication to a bearing mounted within a bearing housing may include a pump having an inlet and an outlet. The inlet of the pump is fluidically connected to a lubricating fluid sump, whereas the outlet of the pump is fluidically connected to the bearing. A pump control system operatively connected to the pump operates the pump on an intermittent basis to provide a controlled amount of lubricating fluid to the bearing.

Sleeve bearing systems are well-known in the art and are used in a wide variety of machine systems to support rotating shafts. A typical sleeve bearing installation is a hydrodynamic system, in which a thin film of lubricating fluid, typically a petroleum-based or synthetic oil, forms a thin film or fluid "wedge" that provides support for a shaft rotating within the sleeve bearing. In a passively lubricated sleeve bearing system, a sump provided in the bearing housing contains the lubricating fluid (e.g., oil) for the bearing. One or more oil rings encircling the shaft are caused to rotate by the rotation of the shaft in the sleeve bearing. As the oil ring rotates, its lower portion dips into the oil contained in the sump. Continued rotation of the oil ring carries some of the lubricating oil to the top of the sleeve bearing, where it is deposited at or near the bearing/shaft interface. Thus, the oil ring provides the sleeve bearing with a continuous supply of lubricating fluid so long as the shaft is rotating.
While ring oiling systems of the type described above work well and are widely used, they only supply lubricant to the sleeve bearing when the shaft is rotating. The bearing is not supplied with lubricant during those times when the shaft is not rotating.


A method and apparatus for melting aluminum uses a dense metal salt of Rubidium, Cesium, or Strontium. The salt is melted by a stinger and then superheated by AC applied to electrodes immersed in the salt. Aluminum in contact with the salt melts and floats on the salt. In continuous scrap melting, inflows and outflows of aluminum are comparable and may be shielded by inert gas. The superheated salt may be purified and may be heated in a separate reservoir and pumped to and from another reservoir containing salt and/or metal. The salt may be used to supplement the heating of an existing furnace.

The melting of aluminum with gas or oil-fired reverberatory furnaces typically has an energy efficiency of 25% to 40% and produces significant emissions of CO2, and NOx compounds. Melting aluminum with electrical induction furnaces reduces emissions, but the energy efficiency is reduced by the need to cool the induction coil. Induction melting also requires significant electric supply power infrastructure. Electrical resistance furnaces may also be used to melt aluminum using radiation from electrical resistance elements, but the rate of melting is low. Another attribute of hydrocarbon-fired reverberatory furnaces and electric resistance furnaces is significant melt loss, e.g., ranging from 1 to 5%, attributable to oxidation.


An example method includes determining, without receiving explicit signaling, whether motion compensation for a current block of a current picture of video data is to be performed using a four-parameter affine motion model (AMM) defined by two motion vectors (MVs) or using a six-parameter AMM defined by three MVs; deriving values of predictors for MVs of the AMM of the current block; decoding a representation of differences between the values of the MVs of the AMM for the current block and the values of the predictors; determining the values of the MVs of the AMM for the current block from the values of the predictors and the decoded differences; determining, based on the determined values of the MVs of the AMM for the current block of video data, a predictor block of video data; and reconstructing the current block based on the predictor block.

Digital video capabilities can be incorporated into a wide range of devices, including digital televisions, digital direct broadcast systems, wireless broadcast systems, personal digital assistants (PDAs), laptop or desktop computers, tablet computers, e-book readers, digital cameras, digital recording devices, digital media players, video gaming devices, video game consoles, cellular or satellite radio telephones, so-called "smart phones," video teleconferencing devices, video streaming devices, and the like. Digital video devices implement video coding techniques, such as those described in video coding standards. The video devices may transmit, receive, encode, decode, and/or store digital video information more efficiently by implementing such video coding techniques.
Some video coding standards are defined by MPEG-2, MPEG-4, ITU-T H.263, ITU-T H.264/MPEG-4, Part 10, Advanced Video Coding (AVC) including its Scalable Video Coding (SVC) and Multiview Video Coding (MVC) extensions, ITU-T H.265, also referred to as High Efficiency Video Coding (HEVC), and extensions of such standards. Recently, the design of a new video coding standard, namely High-Efficiency Video Coding (HEVC), has been finalized by the Joint Collaboration Team on Video Coding (JCT-VC) of ITU-T Video Coding Experts Group (VCEG) and ISO/IEC Motion Picture Experts Group (MPEG). The latest HEVC draft specification, and referred to as HEVC WD hereinafter, is available at itu.int/rec/T-REC-H.265-201504-S/en. Range Extensions to HEVC, namely HEVC-Rext, are also being developed by the JCT-VC. A recent Working Draft (WD) of Range extensions, referred to as RExt WD6 hereinafter, is available from phenix.int-evey.fr/jct/doc_end_user/documents/16_San%20Jose/wg11/JCTVC-P1005-v1.zip.
Video coding techniques include spatial (intra-picture) prediction and/or temporal (inter-picture) prediction to reduce or remove redundancy inherent in video sequences. For block-based video coding, a video slice (e.g., a video frame or a portion of a video frame) may be partitioned into video blocks, which for some techniques may also be referred to as treeblocks, coding units (CUs) and/or coding nodes. Video blocks in an intra-coded (I) slice of a picture are encoded using spatial prediction with respect to reference samples in neighboring blocks in the same picture. Video blocks in an inter-coded (P or B) slice of a picture may use spatial prediction with respect to reference samples in neighboring blocks in the same picture or temporal prediction with respect to reference samples in other reference pictures. Pictures may be referred to as frames, and reference pictures may be referred to a reference frames.
Spatial or temporal prediction results in a predictive block for a block to be coded. Residual data represents pixel differences between the original block to be coded and the predictive block. An inter-coded block is encoded according to a motion vector that points to a block of reference samples forming the predictive block, and the residual data indicating the difference between the coded block and the predictive block. An intra-coded block is encoded according to an intra-coding mode and the residual data. For further compression, the residual data may be transformed from the pixel domain to a transform domain, resulting in residual transform coefficients, which then may be quantized. The quantized transform coefficients, initially arranged in a two-dimensional array, may be scanned in order to produce a one-dimensional vector of transform coefficients, and entropy coding may be applied to achieve even more compression.

Affine motion prediction for video coding


This invention relates to an apparatus and method for improved display of small dark structures such as in particular coronary blood vessels in digital X-ray images. A live image (S) is initially subjected to multiscale decomposition in which firstly multiple uses of low pass filtering with subsequent resolution reduction (RED), and secondly resolution increases using subsequent low pass filtration (EXP), give detailed images (D1, D2, D3, D4) of different resolution. In accordance with the first variant of the method, a mask (M) representative of the uninteresting image background is subtracted from the detailed image (D4) having the lowest degree of resolution. This ensures that the subtraction will only comprise correspondingly coarse structures with dimensions greater than the expected image motion. A further improvement can be achieved by applying a motion estimation (MOT EST) and motion compensation (MOT COMP) to the mask (M) and to the detailed image (D4) of the lowest degree of resolution. The detailed images (D1-D4) may be multiplied by factors (c2) before they are combined to form the overall image (G). For this purpose, asymmetrical intensification functions are preferably used, so that negative contrast values corresponding to small dark structures can be intensified and positive contrast values can be suppressed.

This invention relates to a method for processing digital images, in particular digitized X-ray images of the coronary blood vessels. Furthermore this invention relates to a method of achieving this objective.
In certain applications of methods for producing images, there arises the problem of intensification of small dark structures against a background which is of no interest. A representative example of this is the X-ray diagnosis of blood vessels, in particular coronary blood vessels. For diagnostic display of blood vessels, an X-ray-opaque contrast substance is frequently injected, so that the blood vessels through which the contrast medium passes appear on the X-ray image as dark, tube-like structures against the lighter background of bones, tissues and similar. For the purpose of obtaining even better display of the blood vessels, the X-ray image obtained is post-processed by Digital Subtraction Angiography (DSA) by subtracting a mask or a mask image from the actual X-ray image, so that the background contrast, but not the contrast of the blood vessels, is reduced. Generation of the mask images however is very difficult, in particular in displays of the heart, due to the movements of the patient himself and due to the heart beat.
A method and apparatus for contrast intensification in digital images is known from EP 0 527 525 B1. In this method, the digital image is first divided into N (N=1, 2, . . . ) detailed images with different resolution levels or spatial frequency (xe2x80x9cMulti-Scale Decompositionxe2x80x9d), where the nth detailed images (n less than N) reproduce the image contrast corresponding to their resolution levels, i.e. approximately the difference from the mean gray-scale value for the particular resolution. The last, Nth, detailed image or xe2x80x9cremanent imagexe2x80x9d yields an approximation to the original image, but without all the variations contained in the nth detailed images. After multi-scale decomposition, at least one of the detailed images is f-modified by means of a non-linear, monotonically increasing uneven conversion function (characteristic line) which has a gradient falling gradually with distance from the zero point, corresponding to multiplication of the pixel values by a symmetrical amplification function V which has a maximum greater than 1 for pixel value zero. The relationship between the original image pixel values x and the modified pixel values y is expressed firstly by the conversion function or characteristic line f, and secondly by the intensification function V: y=f(x)=V(x)xc2x7x. As a result of the said modification, weak contrastsxe2x80x94both dark structures against a light background, and light structures against a dark backgroundxe2x80x94are intensified.
In view of this state of the art, it was an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus and a method to ensure improved display of image details, in particular details of coronary blood vessels.
This object is achieved by a method for processing digital X-ray images comprising the steps of decomposing the digital image into N (N=1, 2, . . . ) digital images of different spatial frequencies and where appropriate different bandwidth and modifying at least one of the detailed images, the modification including at least one of intensifying small dark structures and attenuating other structures. The method includes recombining the detailed images into a whole image after their modification.
The object of the invention is achieved by an apparatus for image processing of X-ray images comprising an X-ray detector for generating digital X-ray images and a data processing unit. The data processing unit comprising means for decomposing the digital image into N (N=1, 2, . . . ) digital images of different spatial frequencies and where appropriate different bandwidth, means for modifying at least one of the detailed images, the modification including at least one of intensifying small dark structures and attenuating other structures, and means for recombining the detailed images into a whole image after their modification.
The method according to the invention for processing of digital images and in particular digitized X-ray images of coronary blood vessels comprises the steps of:
decompositing the digital image into N detailed images of different spatial frequencies and, where appropriate, different bandwidth, where N is a real number N=1, 2, . . . ;
modifying at least one of the detailed images so obtained, such that small structures having a high absorption capacity, which appear dark in the digital image, are intensified and/or other structures are attenuated; and
combining the detailed images after their possible modification to form a complete image.
The method proposed initially produces a multiscale decomposition of the digital image, so that detailed images are obtained with different resolution levels or spatial frequencies and, where appropriate, different bandwidth. Then the interesting structures are intensified and the uninteresting structures attenuated on the detailed images, which is generally considerably simpler in terms of computing effort than processing of the original digital image. The process can accordingly be carried out on images in real time. Furthermore, by selection of the modified detailed image it is possible to decide which spatial frequency and/or bandwidth of the original image is to be processed.
In accordance with a first embodiment of the process in particular the Nth detailed image, which by definition is the detailed picture with the lowest resolution and in certain variants of the multiscale decomposition is known as the xe2x80x9cremanent imagexe2x80x9d, is modified by subtraction of a mask of equally low resolution. In post-processing of images of coronary blood vessels by means of a mask representing the uninteresting background, there exists the problem that the correlation between the background of the actual image and the subtracted mask can be insufficient due to the movement of the patient and the heart. In order to reduce the resulting artifacts, according to the invention only such structures are considered in the mask to be subtracted which have an extent greater than the variance arising from the movement. As disclosed, this can be most simply achieved if the subtraction of a mask of equal resolution level only occurs in the Nth detailed image (remanent image) of the lowest resolution level.
More precise allowance for motion artifacts can be obtained by applying a motion estimation and motion compensation on the mask used before its subtraction from the Nth detail image (remanent image). In this way, the mask follows and adapts to the movements of the actual image background as well as possible, in order to minimize errors due to movement of the object shown.
In accordance with a preferred further development of the process, the mask used for subtraction is calculated from the dynamically obtained digital image by formation of the temporal maximum value pixel by pixel. Such a process has advantages for coronary diagnosis when a contrast substance is used, where a pixel associated with a blood vessel is subjected to darkening due to the transient occurrence of the contrast substance. If therefore the temporal maximum of the gray-scale is stored for each pixel, an approximate image free of the effects of the contrast substance is produced. Thus there is no need to take a separate exposure without contrast medium. Details of this procedure are to be found in EP 0 200 262 B1.
In accordance with a further embodiment of the process, the mask used is generated by N-times successive low pass filtering with subsequent reduction of resolution. In spatial low-pass filtering, high spatial frequencies i.e. small structures are suppressed. In the reduction of resolution, the number of pixels with which the entire image is produced is reduced. By means of said processing steps it is possible to adapt a mask which originated in the original digital image with original bandwidth and resolution, to the bandwidth and resolution level of the Nth detail image (remanent image).
For the purpose of generating detailed images, several possibilities arise in principle. In accordance with a preferred embodiment, which is also described as a Laplace Pyramid, the nth detail image (n less than N) is obtained by subtracting the intermediate image gained from the original image by successive n times low-pass filtering with subsequent resolution reduction, with increase of resolution to reverse the last resolution reduction and by final low-pass filtering, from the intermediate image which was derived from the original image by means of successive (nxe2x88x921) times low-pass filtering with subsequent resolution reduction. The Nth detailed image or so-called remanent image is preferably obtained by means of successive (Nxe2x88x921) times low pass filtering with subsequent reduction of resolution. The nth detail images (n less than N) therefore contain the image contrast in their resolution level, i.e. approximately the difference from the mean gray-scale for the particular resolution level. The Nth detailed image or remanent image reproduces an approximation to the original image, with the omission of all variations contained in the nth detailed images. The complete image is finally assembled preferably successively for n=N, . . . 2 by calculating an (nxe2x88x921)th intermediate image as the sum of the (nxe2x88x921)th modified detailed image with the nth intermediate image modified by resolution increase with subsequent low-pass filtering, where the Nth intermediate image corresponds by definition to the modified Nth detailed image, and the first intermediate image corresponds by definition to the whole desired image. Details of such a process are to be found for example in EP 0 527 525 B1.
In a multiscale decomposition of the form explained above, or of a related form, the nth detailed image (n=1, . . . , Nxe2x88x921) can according to another embodiment be modified by application of an asymmetrical intensification function, which is greater in a negative interval [-b, -a] than in the corresponding positive interval [a, b]. In this case a and b are whole, non-negative numbers (a, b xcex5[0, ∞], where a less than b. In addition, the intensification function should preferably be monotonically decreasing, non-linear and greater than 1 for negative pixel values. Negative pixel values in the detailed images correspond to small dark structures against a light background. Said intensification function is thus particularly suitable for intensifying the fine structures of blood vessels against other structures.
The two variants outlined above of the method in accordance with the invention, i.e. the subtraction of a mask from the remanent image (Nth detailed image) and the modification of the nth detailed images by means of a monotonically decreasing intensification function of the described form, are preferably applied simultaneously in order to gain the advantages of both methods. Because the modification of the nth detailed images does not include any particular allowance for motion effects, the weighting with which the two methods are related to each other is preferably varied as a function of the motion found for the subject of the digital image. In particular, with a medium motion (not too large) of the subject of the digital image, the proportion of subtraction of a mask can be weighted more heavily than the processing by modification of the nth detailed images.
In so far as the process in accordance with the invention includes detecting motion, this is preferably achieved by detection of changes between the mask used and the remanent image (Nth detail image) of the lowest resolution. As a result of restriction to an image of low resolution, such a detection can be carried out relatively rapidly, and thus in real time. In addition, it is automatically ensured that only movements of appropriate magnitude will be taken into account.
In accordance with a further embodiment of the process, the difference between a later and an earlier digital image is formed. Therefore, at points at which the difference image indicates motion of a dark structure in front of a light background, the intensification function will spread out. A spreading of the intensification function should indicate therefore that its extremes are moved further apart. In particular, the intensification function can be multiplied for values greater than 1 by a factor greater than 1, and for values less than 1 by a factor less than 1. Alternatively the intensification functions can be squared at any point. In order to explain the effects of said process, it may be assumed that the difference image is obtained by subtraction of an image Btxe2x88x921 at time (txe2x88x921) from an image Bt at time t. Dark moving structures in front of light backgrounds are distinguished in the difference image by negative values in their new location, and by positive values in their old location. Under the assumption that it is primarily the interesting structures such as coronary blood vessels which move, the bio-modification in areas exhibiting motion (negative difference values) can be intensified; this is achieved by spreading of the intensification function in these locations. In this manner, motion can be readily detected and utilized to improve the imaging.
This invention relates ultimately to an apparatus for image processing of X-ray images, in particular of images of coronary blood vessels, where said apparatus contains an X-ray detector for generating digitized X-ray images, as well as a data processing unit for processing the digital images obtained. The data processing unit is arranged such that it can perform a process of the form explained above. This means that in particular it can carry out a multiscale decomposition of the digital image, modify the detailed images obtained in accordance with the invention, and finally re-combine the modified detailed images into a whole image.
The following description, claims and accompanying drawings set forth certain illustrative embodiments applying various principles of the present invention. It is to be appreciated that different embodiments applying principles of the invention may take form in various components, steps and arrangements of components and steps. These described embodiments being indicative of but a few of the various ways in which some or all of the principles of the invention may be employed in a method or apparatus. The drawings are only for the purpose of illustrating an embodiment of an apparatus and method applying principles of the present invention and are not to be construed as limiting the present invention.

Apparatus and method for processing of digital images


A method for inspecting the filled state of a plurality of via-holes which pass through a non-conductive circuit board and are filled with a conductive substance and an apparatus for carrying out the method are disclosed.. The surface of the circuit board is illuminated in two directions to generate shadows depending on the concave or convex state of the fillers in a plurality of via-holes. An optical image of the illuminated surface of the circuit board is detected. Each edge of the two shadow areas, which exist in the detected optical image and are generated in one via-hole by light irradiation in two directions, is detected. Whether the filler in this one via-hole is in the concave state or convex state is identified according to the mutual position relationship of the detected edges. The length of each shadow area is detected, and whether the concave state or convex state of the filler is within a predetermined allowance is decided according to the detection results. The area of the image of the filler is detected according to differences between the brightness of the board surface or of the via-hole wall and the brightness of the filler in the via-hole in the detected optical image, and whether the filler is lacking or not is decided according to the detection result.

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for inspecting the filled state of via-holes filled with fillers, which are formed to electrically connect circuits on the front and back sides of a printed circuit board (a ceramic printed circuit board included).
An inspection method for via-holes of a translucent printed circuit board, which is made of polyimide, with copper circuits is indicated in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 61-17049. A detection method for a defective filling state of general fillers is indicated in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 55-118753.
Detection methods for the height of an object by measuring the shadow length of the object which is irradiated by light slantwise are indicated, for example, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Nos. 60-22611 and 58-92904.
The techniques mentioned above cannot identify whether an object is protruded or sunk under a datum plane nor detect a defective filling state of fillers in each via-hole.

Method for inspecting filled state of via-holes filled with fillers and apparatus for carrying out the method


An electrode for an electrochemical cell including an active electrode material and an intrinsically conductive coating wherein the coating is applied to the active electrode material by heating the mixture for a time and at a temperature that limits degradation of the cathode active material.

The present invention is in the field of battery technology and, more particularly, in the area of using coatings to enhance electrolyte and electrode performance in batteries including metal-fluoride, carbon-fluoride, or oxide-based electrode materials.
One type of battery consists of a negative electrode made primarily from lithium and a positive electrode made primarily from a compound containing carbon and fluorine. During discharge, lithium ions and electrons are generated from oxidation of the negative electrode while fluoride ions and carbon are produced from reduction of the positive electrode. The generated fluoride ions react with lithium ions near the positive electrode to produce a compound containing lithium and fluorine, which may deposit at the positive electrode surface.
Lithium/carbon-fluoride batteries enjoy widespread use and commercial applicability in part due to certain desirable characteristics. The carbon-fluoride positive electrode is lightweight, which makes the battery desirable in portable or mobile applications where weight is an important design consideration. Also, the carbon-fluoride positive electrode has a high capacity. Further, the overall reaction has a high electrochemical potential.
Another type of battery consists of a negative electrode made primarily from lithium and a positive electrode made primarily from a compound containing metal oxides. During charge and discharge cycles, lithium ions migrate from one electrode to the other where the direction of migration depends on the cycle.
Despite their widespread use, both types of batteries suffer from certain challenges.
The batteries have comparatively low electrical and ionic conductivity as compared to certain other battery materials. Such comparatively low electrical and ionic conductivity can have the following results in an electrochemical cell: comparatively low power; comparatively low operating voltage; comparatively large underpotential upon discharge; and a comparatively low capacity during a high rate of discharge.
The batteries have comparatively low thermal conductivity as compared to certain other battery materials and such comparatively low thermal conductivity can result in comparatively significant heat generation by the electrochemical cell upon discharge.
There have been prior attempts to address such challenges. One prior attempt involves forming a composite positive electrode. The raw composite material contains a carbon-fluoride compound and a second compound, which is comparatively more electrically conductive than the carbon-fluoride compound. These two compounds are mixed together to form a composite material that is then formed into a positive electrode.
One example of such a composite material is a carbon-fluoride compound composited with silver vanadium oxide (silver vanadium oxide is often abbreviated as "SVO" in the battery industry rather than by its periodic table symbols). This CF/SVO composite material has been used to form a positive electrode in a battery for use in medical devices and has demonstrated increased pulse power and increased energy density when compared to a battery using a positive electrode formed only from carbon-fluoride.
Another example of a composite material for use in forming a positive electrode is a carbon-fluoride compound composited with manganese dioxide (MnO2). This CF/MnO2 composite material has been used to form a positive electrode where cost is a key design factor and has demonstrated increased power at high discharge rates, increased energy density, and reduced heat buildup in the electrochemical cell when compared to a battery using a positive electrode formed only from carbon-fluoride.
Although prior batteries using positive electrodes formed from these and certain other composite materials generally have higher power, higher operating potential, lower underpotential, and less heat buildup when compared to batteries using a positive electrode formed only from metal-fluoride or carbon-fluoride, the performance of the electrochemical cell could be improved significantly. Also, certain of these performance improvements come at the expense of reduced energy density.
In some prior batteries, conductive coatings have been applied to electrode materials. In secondary battery applications, some electrodes have been formed from carbon-coated LiFePO4. Also, some research has occurred on coating carbon-fluoride compounds used for electrodes in primary batteries (see Q. Zhang, et al., Journal of Power Sources 195 (2010) 2914-2917). Prior art coatings are typically applied at high temperatures and under inert atmosphere which can degrade cathode active materials. Thus, temperature-sensitive active materials for cathodes have not typically been coated with conductive carbon materials.
Certain embodiments of the present invention address the challenges found in batteries. Certain embodiments of the present invention can be used to form electrochemical cells for batteries that exhibit lower underpotential, higher power, higher capacity at a high discharge rate, less heat generation, or faster heat dissipation when compared to prior batteries.
These and other challenges can be addressed by embodiments of the present invention described below.


A storage device that includes a nonvolatile memory device is described. The storage device includes areas and a controller. The controller receives a write command and data from an external host device. The controller then preferentially writes the data in an area associated with a turbo write based on a turbo write policy, or in an area not associated with a turbo write based on a normal write policy. The controller also receives a move command from the external host device and moves data stored in the area to a different area based on the move command.

Embodiments of the inventive concept disclosed herein relate to a semiconductor device, and more particularly, to a storage device accelerating a write speed and a read speed and an operating method of the storage device.
Semiconductor memory devices are used in devices such as computers, tablets, cameras, and smartphones as volatile memory, where the volatile memory is used to store temporary data. Volatile memory devices transfer information very quickly, but the temporarily stored data is then removed when the device is powered off.
Alternatively, nonvolatile memory devices, such as phase-change RAM (PRAM), magnetic RAM (MRAM), resistive RAM (RRAM), ferroelectric RAM (FRAM), and flash memory, preserves data when the device is turned off. Nonvolatile memory devices often transfer information more slowly than a volatile memory device. However, flash memory allows for nonvolatile storage of data and fast operational speed. A universal flash storage (UFS) standard provides a flash storage specification. As technology progresses, the UFS standard is changed to improve memory performance.
When the UFS standard is updated, older technology may be required to adapt in order to meet the new specifications. Therefore, there is a need in the art for systems and methods that enable older UFS standard memory devices to communicate with the newest generation of UFS devices.

Storage device and method for accelerating storage device write and read speed


A semiconductor device having a bonding pad region, and a method of its fabrication. A conductive layer is formed on an isolation layer separating transistors of the device, to anchor the interconnection layer on the bonding region. The conductive layer may be formed from the same layer of material that gate electrodes of the transistors are formed. An oxide insulation layer covers the conductive layer and has at least one opening exposing the conductive layer in the bonding pad region. A barrier metal layer, formed on the diffusion regions and the insulation layer, extends into the opening where it makes a firm direct connection with the exposed conductive layer. A bonding pad is formed on the barrier metal layer by providing the interconnection layer on the barrier metal layer. Since the conductive layer and the barrier metal layer are firmly connected, and secures the interconnection layer in the bonding pad structure. According to a method of fabrication, the conductive layer is formed on the isolation layer simultaneously with the formation of the gate electrode, and then covered by the insulation layer. The openings are then provided in the insulation layer to expose the conductive layer. The barrier metal layer is then formed on the insulation layer so that it contacts the diffusion region and extends into the opening to become fixed to the conductive layer. The interconnection layer is then formed on the conductive layer.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a semiconductor device and, more particularly, to a MOS (Metal-Oxide-Silicon) integrated circuit device having an improved bonding pad structure.
2. Description of Related Art
The use of barrier metal technology is inevitable for 0.5 micron designs of semiconductor devices. In a process of fabricating a semiconductor device containing MOS transistors, to which the barrier metal technology is applied, a thick field oxide layer is formed on the substrate to isolate the active regions from each other. The gate electrode of the MOS transistors are generally formed by polysilicon, refractory metal or the like. Typically, an oxide insulation layer, containing phosphorus or boron, is applied to the whole surface of the substrate using a CVD (Chemical Vapor Deposition) method. Openings are formed in the oxide insulation layer to expose the diffusion regions of the transistors.
A barrier metal layer then is deposited over the entire oxide insulation layer, and the exposed diffusion regions. The barrier metal layer serves to prevent solid phase epitaxy in the openings of the integrated circuit device employing a conductive pattern, 0.5 micron in width. Materials for the barrier metal layer generally include a refractory material such as MoSi.sub.x (molybdenum silicide), WSi.sub.x (tungsten silicide), or the like, and TiN (titanium nitride). The refractory materials are deposited by a sputtering method, and the TiN is deposited by nitriding titanium or by a reactive sputtering method.
After the barrier metal layer is formed, an aluminum alloy layer is deposited on its entire surface. Known photolithography and etching techniques are applied to the aluminum layer to form fine interconnection layers that extend between the diffusion regions of the different transistors, and to bonding pad regions on the isolation layer. An exterior insulating layer for protecting the integrated circuit from the outside atmosphere and mechanical damage, is then applied. Openings are provided in the protection layer at the bonding pad regions to expose the interconnection layer so that leads may be affixed.

Semiconductor device with anchored interconnection layer


An electromagnetic pallet assembly includes electromagnetic cells coupled to a pallet base, and an electromagnetic pallet frame supported above the pallet base by pillars. A pallet central processing system is configured to control the electromagnetic cells and/or the pallet frame, and can be further configured to control an electromagnetic frame sheet located above the pallet frame. A signal adapter is configured to transmit signal between the central processing system and a remote control device. A method for adjusting pallet position includes selecting electromagnetic pallets, and activating an electromagnetic assembly of a truck bed surface and/or electromagnetic cells of the selected pallets. Polarity and/or strength of the electromagnetic assembly and/or the electromagnetic cells of the selected pallets are adjusted, and the selected pallets are moved.

Generally speaking, inefficient shipping truck space organization is a common issue affecting transportation of freight that does not occupy a complete truck (also known as less-than-truckload, or LTL), which affects both customers and LTL service providers. Inefficient space use can lead to lower revenue due to the wasted truck capacity or potential freight damage. For seamless operation it is crucial to have the freights on the truck ordered based on priority, availability, affinity, and other shipping criteria, which may require repeated substantial rearrangement of the freight. This need is often addressed by using a pallet truck and a forklift carried on the truck, which leads to additional space reduction. Moreover, operating such machinery can be time and effort consuming due to significant unloading and reloading of the freight needed to provide space to operate the forklift.
Some attempts have been made to address this issue. For example, in U.S. Pat. No. 9,148,077 by Henderson, a magnetic lifting device is described. The device may generate magnetic lift using a moving magnetic field to generate an eddy current effect in conductive substrate beneath the device. In U.S. Pat. No. 6,966,083 by Cheng, a magnetic levitation bed is disclosed. The invention includes a bed frame having permanent magnet arrays, cam-fitting mechanisms, and a base with a power control box. In U.S. Pat. No. 8,281,888 by Bergmann, a storage system is described. It uses an electromagnetic surface-area motor to move conveying devices mounted on wheels or rolls. A U.S. Pat. No. 2,695,165 by Hansen describes a concept of electromagnetic accelerometer, but does not talk about electromagnetic cells capable of utilizing such accelerometer and a processor to control orientation and magnetic strength of electromagnets. Overall, all of these inventions rely on magnetism to in one way or the other, but neither of them offers an option of using electromagnetic cells with accelerometer and processor to control movement of objects with a remote control device. Furthermore, none of these references discuss controlling individual electromagnetic elements to move the objects by changing polarity and magnetic field strength.
Therefore, a need exists for a compact system capable of easy and precise freight movement. In addition to improved space use efficiency, loading and unloading time should be reduced compared to the standard techniques. Last but not least, improved freight safety, and hence reduced product damage, should be also provided by such system.

Electromagnetic pallet and method for adjusting pallet position


Instructions allowing their recipient to access content via a computer network are intercepted at a destination device sending the instructions via a host-server. Content of an instruction is analyzed at the destination device for malicious components, and results of the analysis are associated with the content prior to being presented to viewers of the content.

As the popularity of social-networking websites such as Facebook and MySpace continues to grow, many webhosts now display user-generated content and/or links to third-party content on the websites they host. In a typical scenario, a webhost designates a website to a user, and the user provides the content to be displayed at the designated website. The content can include text, audio, and video data, and instructions to access content located at one or more content sources. For example, the instructions can include a uniform resource locator (URL) link to a news article or to a restaurant review posted on a different website. The visitors to the user's website, typically the user's friends and acquaintances, but also strangers in some situations, can view and/or download the displayed content. They can also follow the links in the instructions to other content sources, and access content provided by those sources. In this way, a user can share his or her knowledge, information, and sources of entertainment with the user's friends and others.
Not all uses of such functionality are benign, however. Instances in which a user uploads malicious content such as a computer virus or malware on to the designated website are well documented. Some users also provide links to sources configured to infect a visitor's computer with malicious content—sometimes purposefully, and other times unknowingly. When a visitor accesses the uploaded content or identified site, the malicious content can cause harm to the visitor's computer or mobile device. For example, a virus may be downloaded onto the visitor's computer and may destroy the visitor's data. In other instances, a malware program may be covertly installed and, without authorization from the visitor, track her on-line activities.
One way a visitor to another person's webpage can protect himself is by installing commercially available virus/malware protection software. Such software typically detects malicious components in files being downloaded onto the visitor's computer and prevents the download and/or alerts the visitor of the presence of the malicious component. Some malicious components, however, may go undetected by the virus/malware protection software. Moreover, this method requires an Internet user to actively purchase, install and maintain the most up-to-date version of a virus/malware protection software. If such a program is not installed, or is disabled—not an uncommon practice among many Internet users—virtually no protection is available to the visitor.
Even if the most up-to-date virus/malware protection software is used, it only inspects files being downloaded, and does not inspect an electronic source (e.g., a webpage) associated with a link supplied by a third party. Such a webpage can be a phishing site (i.e., an unauthorized website masquerading as a different, authorized website). A visitor to a malicious content provider's website may unsuspectingly follow a link to a phishing website, and may unintentionally reveal his or her personal information to an unauthorized party. A virus/malware protection software typically cannot provide protection in this situation.
Another way to provide protection to visitors is to employ a scanning service to scan web pages on the Internet. This service can detect websites containing malicious components and/or phishing websites, and may report the detected websites, but usually cannot remove or disable such websites. Unless a visitor checks the report generated by such a service prior to visiting a webpage, either manually or automatically, the user is not protected from exposure to a malicious webpage. In addition, a website designated by a host to content provider is commonly password protected and although visitors registered with the host can visit the designated website, it cannot be scanned by a scanning service. As a result, the scanning service does not offer substantial protection to the visitors of the protected website.
Finally, scanning services typically run only periodically, leaving a visitor vulnerable to exposure to recently uploaded malicious content. For example, a content provider may upload malicious content to his or her designated webpage. A person visiting the designated webpage soon thereafter, before a scanning service has scanned the designated webpage, would expose himself or herself to the malicious content. Thus, the scanning service generally does not provide real-time protection to visitors. Therefore, there is a need for improved systems and methods for providing protection to Internet users from malicious content present at sites accessible to them.


A disk unit includes a loading portion that accommodates a recording medium, a main body unit that contains the loading portion, a cover rotatably attached to the main body unit and capable of moving between a closed position that covers the loading portion and a plurality of open positions that exposes the loading portion, a retaining member provided on the main body unit for retaining the cover in the closed position, a member for manually moving the retaining member to a release position at which the cover is released from retention in the closed position, a drive member activated in response to an eject signal, and a drive transmission mechanism that transmits a drive force of the drive member to the retaining member so as to move the retaining member to the release position.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a disk unit, and more particularly, to a disk unit constructed so that a rotating cover can be opened to load or remove a disk-shaped recording medium loaded therein.
2. Description of the Related Art
As one type of conventional disk unit, that which is adapted for use in a CD-ROM device connected to a lap-top personal computer is known. Such an arrangement, in which the CD-ROM device is separate from the personal computer, has the advantage of allowing such computers to be made thinner, lighter and more compact.
This type of CD-ROM device is connected to the lap-top personal computer via a cable and a connector. A compact disk (hereinafter xe2x80x9cdiskxe2x80x9d) on which information is recorded is read by an optical pick-up and sent to the computer.
FIGS. 1A and 1B are schematic diagrams showing side views of a conventional disk unit used in such a CD-ROM device, with a cover thereof in a closed state and an open state, respectively.
As shown in FIG. 1A, the CD-ROM device 1 has a tray 2 on which a disk (not shown in the diagram) is loaded and a cover 3 rotatably supported so as to provide access to the tray 2. The cover 3 is opened when removing a disk from or placing a disk on the tray 2 and is retained in a closed position when the disk is loaded.
Reference numeral 4 is an eject switch, slidably disposed on a lateral surface of the tray 2. The eject switch 4 has a hook-like engaging member 4a that retains a retaining member 5 projecting from a lower surface of the cover 3. The eject switch 4 is impelled in a direction A by a spring member not shown in the diagram and thus held at a position at which it engages the retaining member 5.
Accordingly, the cover 3, when in a closed position, is retained by the hook-like engaging member 4a of the eject switch 4 and protects a disk loaded onto a turntable that is not shown in the drawing but which is provided within the tray 2.
As shown in FIG. 1B, the cover 3 is opened by the force of a torsion spring 6 shown by a dotted line in the drawing. Thus, when the eject switch is slid in a B direction so as to release the hook-like engaging member 4a from the retaining member 5 projecting from a lower surface of the cover 3, the force of the torsion spring swings the cover 3 open.
Accordingly, when the eject switch 4 is slid. open, that is, in the B direction that releases the hook-like engaging member 4a from the retaining member 5 projecting from the lower surface of the cover 3, the force of the torsion spring 6 swings the cover 3 open so as to expose the disk loading portion of the device. An operator then removes the disk placed atop the turntable or, alternatively, places a disk on the turntable and then swings the cover to a closed position, thereby engaging the hook-like engaging member 4a with the retaining member 5 projecting from a lower surface of the cover 3.
In a disk unit having a structure like that described above, removing the disk from the device or, alternatively, loading a disk into the device, necessitates manually sliding the eject switch 4 open in order to open the cover 3.
However, such a disk unit structure has a disadvantage in that an operator engaged in operating the personal computer to which the disk unit is connected would be required to search for the eject switch 4. Conventionally, this means that the operator must look away from the display monitor in order to manipulate the disk unit, thus interrupting the use of the computer and creating an inconvenience.
Additionally, with the conventional disk unit having the structure described above, when the eject switch 4 is moved in the direction that opens the cover 3 when removing or loading a disk, the spring force of the torsion spring 6 forces the cover 3 to at once rotate to a fully open position and thus expose the disk loading portion before the disk has stopped rotating, which is undesirable.
Additionally, conventionally when the cover is opened the motor that rotatably drives the turntable is supplied with a counterelectromotive force so as to stop the turntable. However, with disks rotating at high rotational speeds of 30xc3x97 to 40xc3x97, for example, it is difficult to completely halt the rotation of the disk in the short time it takes for the cover 3 to open. As a result, the disk continues to rotate due to inertia even after the cover 3 is opened, which is undesirable.
As a result, the operator must wait for the rotating disk to come to a complete halt before removing the disk, which is inconvenient.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved and useful disk unit in which the above-described disadvantages are eliminated.
The above-described object of the present invention is achieved by a disk unit comprising:
a loading portion that accommodates a recording medium;
a main body unit that contains the loading portion;
a cover rotatably attached to the main body unit and capable of moving between a closed position that covers the loading portion and a plurality of open positions that exposes the loading portion;
a retaining member provided on the main body unit for retaining the cover in the closed position;
means for manually moving the retaining member to a release position at which the cover is released from retention in the closed position;
drive means activated in response to an eject signal; and
a drive transmission mechanism that transmits a drive force of the drive means to the retaining member so as to move the retaining member to the release position.
According to this aspect of the invention, the cover retention can be released and the cover opened in response to a signal from an external source such as, for example, a personal computer, thus facilitating removal and loading of a disk to and from the disk unit.
The above-described object of the present invention is also achieved by the disk unit as described above, wherein the retaining member comprises an engaging portion that is accommodated within an aperture in the means for manually moving the retaining member so as to move freely within the aperture when moving toward the release position in response to the eject signal.
According to this aspect of the invention, the retaining member moves to the release position without involving the manual eject means, so a powered eject operation can be performed while at the same time preventing the manual eject means from contacting nearby components.
The above-described object of the present invention is also achieved by the disk unit as described above, wherein the drive transmission mechanism comprises:
a transmission member that moves the retaining member to the release position; and
a reset mechanism that resets the transmission member to an original position when the means for manually moving the retaining member to the release position is operated.
According to this aspect of the invention, the transmission member can be manually reset to an original position if power is cut at an intermediate stage of the powered eject operation.
The above-described object of the present invention is also achieved by the disk unit as described above, wherein the reset mechanism comprises:
a reset projection provided on the retaining member that moves toward the release position when the means for manually moving the retaining member to the release position is operated;
a reset lever that separates another transmission member from the transmission member when the reset projection moves toward the release position; and
an impelling member that returns the transmission members to original positions when the reset lever separates the transmission members from each other.
According to this aspect of the invention, the drive transmission mechanism can be reset to an original position if power is turned OFF at an intermediate stage of the powered eject operation and the eject operation halted.
The above-described object of the present invention is also achieved by the disk unit as described above, further comprising a drive unit for controlling the drive means in response to an eject signal transmitted from a computer connected to the disk unit via a cable.
According to this aspect of the invention, the cover of the disk unit can be opened automatically in response to an external command.
The above-described object of the present invention is also achieved by the disk unit as described above, wherein the cable transmits control signals for reading information recorded on the recording medium.
According to this aspect of the invention, an eject signal can be transmitted using an ordinary cable, without the need for a separate, dedicated cable to transmit the eject command.
The above-described object of the present invention is also achieved by a disk unit comprising:
a loading portion that accommodates a recording medium;
a main body unit that contains the loading portion;
a cover rotatably attached to the main body unit and capable of moving between a closed position that covers the loading portion and a plurality of open positions that exposes the loading portion;
an impelling member provided between the main body unit and the cover for impelling the cover toward the plurality of open positions;
a retaining member provided on the main body unit for retaining the cover in the closed position; and
stopping means for stopping the cover at an intermediate position between the closed position and a fully open position when the retaining member moves to a release position at which the cover is released from retention in the closed position.
According to this aspect of the invention, the rotation of the disk can be stopped while the cover is held at an intermediate open position, after which the disk can be removed or replaced promptly once the cover is fully opened.
The above-described object of the present invention is also achieved by the disk unit as described above, wherein the stopping means comprises:
a cam surface against which the impelling member presses; and
a stepped portion formed on the cam surface that contacts the impelling member and restricts a movement of the cover toward the fully open position.
According to this aspect of the invention, the stopping means can be formed relatively inexpensively and without the need to increase the number of component parts.
The above-described object of the present invention is also achieved by the disk unit as described above, wherein the impelling member comprises a roller that contacts either the cam surface or the stepped portion and rotatably drives either the cam surface or the stepped portion in response to an opening or a closing of the cover.
According to this aspect of the invention, use of the roller smoothes the opening and closing of the cover.
The above-described object of the present invention is also achieved by the disk unit as described above, further comprising a braking mechanism linked to the opening and closing of the cover, such that the braking mechanism brakes the recording medium when the cover is opened and releases the recording medium when the cover is closed.
According to this aspect of the invention, the length of time required for the rotation of the disk to stop once the cover has been opened can be reduced.

Disk unit with dual release mechanism for releasing cover retaining member


Scrap rubber automobile tires, oil soluble plastics, as well as waste motor oil are disposed of by the process of the subject invention without polluting the nation's environment. Further, useful product synthesis gas, reducing gas, or fuel gas is produced. The rubber from the rubber tires and/or oil soluble plastics are dissolved in the waste motor oil to produce a homogeneous pumpable tire-oil which is separated from undissolved tire belt material containing undissolved rubber and/or oily material, solid residue, and off-gas comprising light hydrocarbons having a maximum atmospheric boiling point of 850.degree. F., and H.sub.2 S. The undissolved tire belt material is coked to produce off-gas, inorganic materials and carbon black. Off-gas form the liquefaction and coking reactors is cooled to produce organic condensate. The tire oil, carbon black, and condensate are mixed together and introduce into a partial oxidation gas generator for the production of synthesis gas, reducing gas, or fuel gas.

The disposal of used rubber automobile and truck tires brings about difficult environmental problems that face all industrialized countries. This nation's pile of discarded tires has been estimated to be over three billion. Over about 200 million waste tires are generated annually in the United States.
In contrast with the subject invention, the processes described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,384,151 and 4,983,278 do not feet a liquid tire-oil fuel to a partial oxidation gas generator for the production of a gaseous mixture comprising H.sub.2 +CO. A slurry feed to a gasifier comprising a suspension of small pieces of rubber is mentioned in coassigned U.S. Pat. No. 4,371,378. However, such a material is significantly different from the subject invention wherein a homogeneous liquid tire-oil feed made by dissolving the rubber from rubber automobile or truck tires in a used motor oil solvent, in admixture with a light condensate oil and carbon black are fed to a partial oxidation gas generator.

Partial oxidation of scrap rubber tires and used motor oil