A thermal-assisted magnetic storage device includes a magnetic recording media of a transparent material, a first marker of a material that is optically singular compared with materials therearound, and a magnetic head disposed on a magnetic head slider facing a recording surface of the magnetic recording media. A light-beam pickup faces the other surface of the magnetic recording media, so as to emit light therefrom to the surface of the magnetic recording media. A second marker is disposed on the magnetic head slider for roughly guiding the light to the first marker. An alignment between the light and the magnetic head is performed in accordance with the light reflected from the first marker.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a magnetic storage device technology, which has been broadly applied to several hardware, e.g., personal computers and workstations, in information technologies field. In detail, the present invention relates especially to a thermal-assisted (or light-assisted) magnetic storage device technology to realize gigantic memory capacity without enlarging its current physical size.
Nowadays, acceleration of the information technologies demands higher memory capacity and smaller physical size for magnetic storage device, and there is a demand for a reliable data reading technology for realizing accurate reading of data without errors even from tiny field on very high density storage media surface. According to such technical background, a thermal-assisted magnetic storage device has been introduced, and it is to improve magnetic storage media""s coercive force through a thermal assist data writing accompanied by focused light beam. Namely, when writing data on the magnetic storage media, the magnetic storage media surface to be written a datum is thermally annealed and thereby the coercive force of the data-writing portion on the magnetic storage media surface becomes lower compared with prior to the thermal annealing. The present invention relates to an improvement for realizing accurate alignment between the magnetic write head and a light-beam pickup in the thermal-assisted magnetic storage device, in which the magnetic write head and the light-beam pickup are disposed at both sides of one magnetic storage disc medium.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
As exemplified in FIG. 1, the thermal-assisted magnetic storage device employs a magnetic storage disc as magnetic storage media and a magnetic head to which the surface of the magnetic storage disc is adjacent, and thereby a magnetic sensor formed on the magnetic head is capable of reading storage data as magnetic information on the surface of the magnetic storage disc. And further, the light-beam is led to the magnetic head through fine glass fiber along with holding spring for holding the magnetic head, and thereby the light-beam can arrive at the magnetic disc substrate surface. Through such structure as in the above, tiny spot on the magnetic disc surface can be partially heated by being exposed to the light-beam. Such thermal-assisted magnetic storage device has been proposed.
However, such technique as in the above can be hardly applied to the high-density magnetic recording storage device although it might be applied to conventional level low-density magnetic storage device. That is to say, in conventional technology situation, no serious problem could be raised, because width of one magnetic recorded data occupied field, i.e., so-called xe2x80x98Tracking-pitchxe2x80x99, is much larger compared with a distance between the magnetic sensor and the light-beam spot although the end portion of the glass fiber is disposed to the magnetic head. On the other hand, in much higher density magnetic storage device technology, as the tracking-pitch becomes to be smaller than the distance between the magnetic sensor and the light-beam spot, the magnetic recording disc surface itself can be hardly heated by exposing the light beam. As a result of this problem, the thermal-assistance function of the thermal-assisted magnetic storage device will not be able to fully obtain the desired effect. Thus, in case that the thermal-assistance function is applied to such higher density magnetic storage device, the thermal-assistance function might make no sense.
In such circumstances, another technology is demanded. The magnetic recording disc itself is comprised from transparent material, and light-beam spot is emitted from different side of such transparent magnetic recording disc from the side of the magnetic head. However, because the slider surface of the magnetic head is highly integrated and very small as the same level as cutting edge semiconductor device, light-beam spot can be difficult to align to such very small magnetic sensor.
As stated in the above, because such high-density recording technology is demanded, the light-beam spot itself also required to be downsized to tiny size, such as in the sub-micron order. And further, the magnetic sensor, which is disposed on the slider surface of the magnetic head is also required to be similarly downsized. If the magnetic sensor and the light-beam spot are not aligned even a bit with each other during a data reading operation, recorded data is undesirably rewritten and therefore recording data error inevitably occurs. Therefore, the alignment technologies which can realize quick and accurate alignment between the magnetic sensor and the light-beam spot, is found as the problem to be improved in the related art.
As a solution against such a related art problem, each of following means, for instance, will be applied according to the present invention.
(1) A thermal-assisted magnetic storage device, comprising:
a magnetic recording media being comprised from transparent material;
a first marker of optically singular compared with materials therearound;
a magnetic head disposing on a magnetic head slider, being faced with the recording surface of said magnetic recording media;
a light-beam pickup disposing on other surface of said magnetic recording media, being at opposite side from said magnetic head, so as to emit light therefrom to the surface of said magnetic recording media, and thereby;
alignment between said light and said magnetic head is performed in accordance with detecting result of reflective light reflecting from said first marker.
(2) The thermal-assisted magnetic storage device as in (1), further comprising:
a second marker, by whom light assists rough movement to said first marker position, and disposing on said magnetic head slider side.
(3) The thermal-assisted magnetic storage device as in (2), wherein said second marker is arranged in the direction which becomes a standard where light moves, and so that said first marker is arranged straight in the extension.
(4) The thermal-assisted magnetic storage device as in (2), wherein said second marker is comprised from:
a first line part so that the first above-mentioned marker is arranged in one direction which becomes a moving standard in straight and the extension; and
a second line part being the plural in a direction orthogonal for above one side according to the interval with a predetermined order.
(5) The thermal-assisted magnetic storage device as in (4), wherein each of plural of said line parts are arranged at equal intervals.
(6) The thermal-assisted magnetic storage device as in (4), wherein the intervals between the plural of said second line parts are shortened gradually at fixed rate each other in accordance with distance to said first line part.
(7) The thermal-assisted magnetic storage device as in (4) through (6), wherein at least one of said first and second lines are comprised from dotted line.
(8) The thermal-assisted magnetic storage device as in (2), wherein the second marker of said first line part is as said first marker is arranged in one direction which becomes a moving standard in straight and the extension.
(9) The thermal-assisted magnetic storage device as in (8), wherein said first line part is comprised from a dotted line.
(10) The thermal-assisted magnetic storage device as in (4) through (7), wherein said second line part is comprised from zigzag with predetermined cycle which gradually increases or gradually decreases.
(11) The thermal-assisted magnetic storage device as in (10), wherein said cycle is continued from end to end of said second line part.
(12) The thermal-assisted magnetic storage device as in (9), wherein the length of the solid line part of dotted lines among said first line part spreads at a fixed rate in accordance with distance from said first marker.
(13) The thermal-assisted magnetic storage device as in (8) through (12), wherein the interval between said first line part spreads in accordance with distance from said first marker.
(14) The thermal-assisted magnetic storage device as in (1) through (13), wherein at least one of said first and second marker is comprised from at least one element selected from a group of Al (Aluminum), Ag (Silver), and Pt (Platinum), and thereby it has higher reflexibility compared with surroundings.
(15) The thermal-assisted magnetic storage device as in (1) through (13), wherein at least one of said first and second marker is comprised from a roughness on said magnetic head slider.
(16) The thermal-assisted magnetic storage device as in (15), wherein said first and second marker is comprised from a convex part formed heating it by high-energy line irradiation.
(17) A method for driving reading/writing head of a thermal-assisted magnetic storage device, comprising the steps of:
the position matches and has the marker who becomes aim. On the other hand, readout and the writing method of driving the head of the optical assistance magnetism record device to which the above-mentioned position match is induced with the marker for the rough movement installed so that the reflection of the above-mentioned light becomes peculiar when the light irradiated from an optical picking up is matched the position.
(18) The method for driving reading/writing head of a thermal-assisted magnetic storage device as in (17), wherein said rough guiding marker forms straight, and a marker as a target for said alignment is located in the extension.
(19) The method for driving reading/writing head of a thermal-assisted magnetic storage device as in (17), wherein said rough guiding marker is comprised from plural straight pattern, which comprises the rib portion where plural straight parts are composed in parallel in the extension the composition of plural straight markers the match and installing the marker who becomes aim, and going directly.
(20) The method for driving reading/writing head of a thermal-assisted magnetic storage device as in (19), further comprising the steps of:
a step of detecting said rib portion by scanning in the direction which first intersects with said rib portion, after light-beam irradiates to said magnetic head slider side; and a step of detecting said backbone portion by scanning in a parallel direction to said rib portion.
Namely, the present invention is intended to propose following means to solve aforementioned related art""s problem. According to the present invention, optically singular marker is formed adjacent to the magnetic sensor of the magnetic head for reading recorded data, and light-beam spot can be aligned to the marker without delay. In detail, the optical marker can be comprised from (a) thin film of optically singular reflection index, or (b) pattern of significant roughness. As an example of (a) above, thin metal film of higher reflection index compared with slider surface, e.g., Al (Aluminum), Pt (Platinum), Ag (Silver), can be employed. And also, as an example of (b) above, either an etched ditch though a method of e.g., FIB (Focused Ion Beam) or RIE (Reactive Ion Etching) or a laser bump through thermally melting by high power laser can be employed.
The light detecting element such as photo diodes is installed in the optical picking up set up at the position where the receiving light of the reflection light on the magnetic head slider side can be done, and the change in reflection light strength can be monitored by this light detecting element. Focus adjusting is performed by driving object lens based on this strength change. The position of an optical spot can be matched to the marker by reading the change in reflection light strength by the resolution of a submicron order by adopting the above-mentioned marker, and when recording, the heating of the record part in the medium becomes possible stably.
Effect of the Invention
A more certain, minuter, more magnetic record by the optical assistance method can be realized to a simple optical assistance magnetism record device which does not do the tracking based upon the technology though it composes so far by the cancellation""s of weakening and the output decrease in record information which becomes a problem becoming possible according to this invention. An enough reproduction output can be obtained, and the reproduction""s recording and operating become possible stably consequently the hard disk drive of super high recording density because the record part in the medium can be stably heated up when recording by using the present invention.

Thermal-assisted magnetic storage device and method for driving the reading/writing head thereof


An apparatus for maintaining at least two seats in a vertical position and a predetermined distance between rows of the at least two seats. The apparatus includes at least two substantially flat base portions; and at least two support blocks mounted a predetermined distance from each other on an upper surface of each of the base portions, wherein the at least two support blocks define a hollow region for receiving a lower end portion of a leg of a seat to maintain the seat in a vertical position. The predetermined distance between the support blocks corresponds to a predetermined distance between rows of seats.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to modular seating systems, and, more specifically, to floor tracks for use in a modular floor level seating system.
2. Description of the Background Art
Conventional floor level seating typically utilizes four legged folding chairs. Since these chairs are constantly in the open position when in position on the floor, standard folding chairs require a minimum of 34 or 36 inches of space between each row in order to comply with industry standards and regulations. Moreover, since these are individual chairs, they are susceptible to being moved around and therefore unlikely to maintain the required row spacing, thereby violating safety and fire codes.
In an attempt to reduce the mobility of the seats, attempts have been made to provide temporary indoor seating systems with groups of seats, typically two, three, four or five, with backs rests, that are ganged together or that are joined to a framework. However, the attachments for such systems are inconvenient to remove and reinstall. In addition, these indoor seating systems are typically not made for outdoor use.
Also, the groups of seats which are joined together still do not solve the problem of maintaining the correct amount of space between adjacent rows in accordance with safety and fire code regulations. That is, the entire group of chairs may be moved out of its original layout thereby decreasing the amount of space which is maintained between each row.
Accordingly, there is a need in the art for an apparatus which will maintain chairs in a desired configuration in compliance with the spacing requirements of safety and fire code regulations.


A system and method are provided for a high resolution radiation treatment system which provide for projecting a field of radiation energy at targeted patient tissue. The system uses a multi-leaf collimator, which is positioned such that a significant clearance is provided between the multi-leaf collimator and the isocenter plane where the targeted tissue is located. The leaves of the multi-leaf collimator are designed to provide for high step resolution in the projected radiation energy shape. Additionally, an embodiment of the system and method herein can provide for a high step resolution in the projected radiation energy shape, and for a dose calculation matrix which has matrix units which coincide with the high step resolution in the projected radiation shape.

Use of radiation therapy to treat tumors, and possibly other areas of targeted tissue, is widely known. There are a number of challenges associated with using radiation to treat targeted areas of tissue in a patient's body. One challenge is identifying the location of the volume of tissue in the patient's body which is targeted for treatment. Another challenge is shaping the radiation field so that the radiation field directed to the patient's body conforms to the area of tissue which is identified for treatment.
A number of different techniques can be used to control the shape of the radiation field which is directed the targeted area of the patient's tissue. One widely used device for controlling the shape of the radiation field is a multi-leaf collimator, which may be referred to at points herein as a MLC for ease of reference.
Previous MLCs have been provided in a wide range of different designs, and generally utilize a number of movable leaves which interposed in the path of radiation, to block a portion of the radiation emitted by a radiation source, and the unblocked radiation forms a radiation field shape which is then incident at an isocenter plane. One example of a prior MLC is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,166,531, entitled LEAF-END CONFIGURATION FOR MULTI-LEAF COLLIMATOR, which is assigned to the same assignee as the present application, and which is incorporated herein by reference. Additional aspects of other examples of MLC implementations are shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,891,178; 5,012,506; and 6,600,810, each of which are incorporated herein by reference.
In operation a radiation treatment system using an MLC is designed to balance a number of competing factors in order to provide a combination of characteristics which will provide a tool which medical personnel can use to provide a patient with effective and efficient targeted and controlled radiation treatment.

System and method for high resolution radiation field shaping


A mounting apparatus includes a plate and a pressing member rotatably coupled to the plate. The plate includes a frame formed with a plurality of slit ports for respectively exposing PCI cards and a supporting portion for supporting bent portions of the PCI cards. The pressing member is configured for pressing the bent portions of the PCI cards, thereby sandwiching the bent portions of the PCI cards between the pressing member and the supporting portion. A handling member is actuated to drive the pressing member to enable positioning of the pressing member relative to the supporting portion. The handling member includes a main body and two arms extending from the main body. The two arms are inserted through two slots of the plate respectively and connected to two ends of the pressing member respectively.

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to mounting apparatuses, and particularly to a mounting apparatus for securing peripheral component interconnect (PCI) cards in an electronic device.
2. Description of Related Art
PCI is a kind of bus structure, which is used for connecting to sound cards, video capture cards, graphics cards, network interface cards or other peripheral equipment, for enhancing the capabilities of the computer systems. Common methods of attaching
PCI cards include attaching screws with a screwdriver. The method of attaching may be time-consuming and troublesome, and the screws can be easily lost. Moreover, if a screw falls on the PCB and is not noticed, the PCB may short out and a great amount of damage may be done to the computer when the computer is switched on.
With the above described disadvantages in view, a need may be desired to provide an improved PCI card securing apparatus.

Hong Fu Jin Precision Industry (ShenZhen) Co., Ltd.


In some examples, a system may include a processing resource and a memory resource. The memory resource may store machine-readable instructions to cause the processing resource to create a migration plan, defining characteristics of a migration of an application from a native computing data center to a computing cloud of a plurality of distinct candidate computing clouds, based on: a first migration constraint for the application determined from an analysis of historical behavior of the application executed on the native computing data center; a second migration constraint for the application determined from an analysis of administrator cloud migration preferences for the application; and a cloud computing characteristic of each of the plurality of distinct candidate computing clouds.

Cloud computing may provide computing services to users by providing access to an underlying computing resources such as servers, storage, databases, networking, software, analytics, intelligence, processing power, etc. over a network such as the Internet. Computing clouds may include various amounts of computing resource having various computing characteristics.
Computing clouds have affected the way information technology (IT) infrastructure is consumed in a self-service mode. Further, with the availability and utilization of virtualization technologies, hybrid computing environments may be utilized that may accommodate deployment of a variety of workloads in a variety of virtual infrastructure ranging from a private data center to a public computing cloud. In some instances, applications and/or their corresponding data may be moved, or migrated, between computing environments.

Hewlett Packard Enterprise Development LP


The present invention comprises rugged, inexpensive, reliable, and sensitive laboratory assays of antibody-based viral neutralization activity and antibody-based viral adherence inhibition activity. The assays use inactivated, fluorescently-labeled virus, allowing the tests to be performed without extensive safety precautions. The interaction of the labeled virus with target cells is monitored using flow cytometric methods. A preferred embodiment uses simple and inexpensive flow cytometry methodologies and equipment, such as bead array readers used as simplified flow cytometers. The assays are rapid, taking no longer than a few hours and are readily conducted by a trained technician. The assays are sensitive because they use labeled viruses at low concentrations and determine neutralizing and blocking capacity of sera and antibody at low concentrations. The methods are appropriate for high-throughput screening of large panels of samples.

The ability of an anti-viral pathogen vaccine to produce an effective antibody response is typically evaluated in various types of virus neutralization tests or assays. Common features of such tests include monitoring the level of infectivity of the virus (natural or attenuated) in a standardized target cell culture, and evaluating the reduction in infectivity of the virus after incubation with the tested serum/sera or antibody solution(s) of interest.
The dilution of a serum or antibody (Ab) solution that provides 50% or more reduction of infectivity is referred to as the 'neutralization titer' (Niedrig et al. (2008) Clin. Vaccine Immunol. 15, 177; Guidelines for Plaque-Reduction Neutralization Testing of Human Antibodies to Dengue Viruses, WHO, 2007). Virus neutralization assays are widely used worldwide for a variety of viruses, from the relatively common, such as influenza and herpes simplex, to the most feared and dangerous viruses, such as smallpox, yellow fever, and dengue hemorrhagic fever (Niedrig et al. (2008) Clin. Vaccine Immunol. 15, 177; Guidelines for Plaque-Reduction Neutralization Testing of Human Antibodies to Dengue Viruses, WHO, 2007).
In the virology community, the plaque reduction neutralization test (PRNT) is generally considered the gold standard of neutralization assays for studying anti-viral humoral immune responses (Niedrig et al. (2008) Clin. Vaccine Immunol. 15, 177; Guidelines for Plaque-Reduction Neutralization Testing of Human Antibodies to Dengue Viruses, WHO, 2007; Roukens et al. (2008) PLoS ONE, 3, e1993; Niedrig et al. (1999) Trop. Med. Int. Health 4, 867). In the PRNT, a highly diluted virus culture, with or without various concentrations of a test serum or an antibody solution, is added to a culture of a confluent layer of target cells, and the level of infectivity is measured by the number of cell-free lacunas appearing in the culture after a period of incubation (typically a few days).
Currently, various more recent immunosorption methods compete with the PRNT, such as the immunofluorescent assay (IFA) (Kraus et al. (2007), J. Clin. Microbiol. 45, 3777; Niedrig et al. (1999) Trop. Med. Int. Health 4, 867; Groot & Riberiro (1962) Bull. WHO 27, 699; Vazquez et al. (2003) J. Virol. Methods 110, 179; Barry et al. (1991) Am. J. Trop. Med. Hyg. 44, 79; Deubel et al. (1983) Am. J. Trop. Med. Hyg. 32, 565)), where the infectivity level of virus is evaluated using fluorescently-labeled, virus-specific antibodies applied to fixed samples of target cells after incubation with live virus and washing. The IFA, although sensitive and virus-specific, remains under consideration, because the antibody titers from the IFA often do not correlate well with those from the PRNT (Niedrig et al. (1999) Trop. Med. Int. Health 4, 867; Groot & Riberiro (1962) Bull. WHO 27, 699; Vazquez et al. (2003) J. Virol. Methods 110, 179; Barry et al. (1991) Am. J. Trop. Med. Hyg. 44, 79; Deubel et al. (1983) Am. J. Trop. Med. Hyg. 32, 565).
A microneutralization method similar to the IFA, but using enzyme-linked immunosorption, was developed in Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). In this assay, the level of virus infectivity with or without tested sera is estimated by measuring nuclear protein (NP) of the avian influenza virus expressed in the target MDCK cells by staining the permeabilized fixed cells with the NP-specific monoclonal Ab labeled with horseradish peroxidase (HRP) (Rowe et al. (1999) J. Clin. Microbiol. 37, 937-943).
Another direct microneutralization (MN) assay is also practiced by the World Health Organization (WHO). In the MN assay, a confluent layer of target cells is infected with a diluted virus culture either in the presence or absence of a test serum/sera or antibody solution(s) of interest, and the rate of virus reproduction is evaluated by measuring released virus concentrations with a standard hemagglutination assay (HA) technique. The assay is described in the "WHO Manual on Animal Influenza Diagnosis and Surveillance," (WHO/CDS/CSR/NCS/2002.5 Rev. 1) and may be found at the website beginning with "www." and ending with "who.int/vaccine_research/diseases/influenza/WHO_manual_on_animal-diagnosis_and_surveillance—2002—5.pdf". The protocol is simple and straightforward, although use of the HA technique presents certain limitations to the sensitivity of the method.
In general, the PRNT, IFA and MN have several complicating features:                Use of live virus raises safety and personnel protection issues.        Incubation of the target cells with live virus often requires significant time (up to ˜5-7 days) to allow for infection to properly develop and infectivity to be reliably evaluated, making the tests lengthy and cumbersome.        PRNT and IFA include multi-step fixation and staining protocols.
The use of modern flow cytometry techniques promises to significantly improve existing neutralization assays. In several published studies, viral infection of target cells in the presence or absence of a test serum/sera or antibody solution(s) of interest has been monitored by flow cytometric methods, where viruses or their cell-expressed protein components were stained with fluorescent tags (Kremser et al. (2004) Anal. Chem. 80, 7360; Sliva et al. (2004) Virol. J. 1, 14; You et al. (2006) Int. J. Nanomedicine 1, 59; Nichols et al. (1993) Arch. Virol. 130, 441; Klingen et al. (2008) J. Virol. 82, 237; Lonsdale et al. (2003) J. Virol. Meth. 110, 67-71; Wang et al. (2004) J. Virol. Meth. 120, 207-215; Collins & Buchholz (2005) J. Virol. Meth. 128, 192-197). For example, permeabilized target cells were stained with fluorescent antibodies specific to target-expressed viral proteins (Lonsdale et al. (2003) J. Virol. Meth. 110, 67-71), and green fluorescent protein (GFP) was incorporated in a recombinant vector and expressed in infected cells (You et al. (2006) Int. J. Nanomedicine 1, 59; Wang et al. (2004) J. Virol. Meth. 120, 207; Collins & Buchholz (2005) J. Virol. Meth. 128, 192; Earl et al. (2003), J. Virol. 77, 10684). Other examples include direct labeling of the virus (Kremser et al. (2004) Anal. Chem. 80, 7360; Klingen et al. (2008) J. Virol. 82, 237). Such labeling can be performed via direct chemical tagging with fluorochromes (Kremser et al. (2004) Anal. Chem. 80, 7360), or electrostatic attachment of quantum dots to the envelope proteins of the virus (Sliva et al. (2004) Virol. J. 1, 14). Nichols et al. (1993; Arch. Virol. 130, 441) and Klingen et al. (2008; J. Virol. 82, 237) developed an ingenious virus staining method, growing the virus on a pre-stained target cells.
These flow cytometric methods, however, also use live viruses or recombinant vectors, raising safety and other issues similar to those listed for PRNT and IFA assays. These methods, while sensitive and informative in the research setting, can hardly be considered appropriate as routine high-throughput assays. Thus, there is a continuing need for rugged, reliable, and sensitive laboratory methods for microneutralization assays.

Fluorescent neutralization and adherence inhibition assays


A composite substrate production method of the invention includes (a) a step of mirror polishing a substrate stack having a diameter of 4 inch or more, the substrate stack including a piezoelectric substrate and a support substrate bonded to each other, the mirror polishing being performed on the piezoelectric substrate side until the thickness of the piezoelectric substrate reaches 3 μm or less; (b) a step of creating data of the distribution of the thickness of the mirror-polished piezoelectric substrate; and (c) a step of performing machining with an ion beam machine based on the data of the thickness distribution so as to produce a composite substrate have some special technical features.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to composite substrates, production methods thereof, and acoustic wave devices.
2. Description of the Related Art
The use of an ultrathin piezoelectric layer is expected to realize an acoustic wave device which may be operated at a higher frequency than heretofore possible. Chemical vapor deposition (CVD) and the Smart Cut technology are two exemplary methods capable of forming such thin layers. These two methods are known techniques. For example, the Smart Cut technology is described in Patent Literature 1.

Composite substrate, production method thereof, and acoustic wave device


Among other things, techniques for securely booting processors in a vehicle are described. An apparatus comprises a circuit coupled to one or more processors of a vehicle and managing a secure boot process for the processors. The circuit receives an indication that the vehicle has been powered on and sends, to a network server, a request for boot files for the processors of the vehicle. In response, the circuit receives, from the server, most recent versions of boot files respectively corresponding to the processors, wherein each boot file includes a digital signature of a trusted authority. In response to obtaining the most recent versions of the boot files, the circuit sequentially boots the processors using the respective boot files, wherein each processor executes a corresponding boot file upon verifying authenticity of the digital signature in the boot file using a corresponding class authentication key.

Vehicles, e.g., autonomous or semi-autonomous cars or trucks, include processors to facilitate operations of the vehicles, e.g., processing information about the surrounding environment from on-board sensors, or controlling the steering or braking, or both, among others. When a vehicle powers on, the processors on board the vehicle are booted up using boot files.


A display device includes a display panel, a gate driving circuit, and an image determination unit. The gate driving circuit includes a double gate transistor. The image determination unit outputs an image determination signal to a second control electrode of the double gate transistor. When the display panel displays a still image, the double gate transistor is turned on by the image determination signal so that each of gate signals outputted from stages connected in cascade to a stage including the double gate transistor among stages included in the gate driving circuit has a gate-off voltage.

1. Field of Disclosure
Aspects of the present disclosure herein relate to a display device including a gate driving circuit.
2. Description of the Related Art
A display device includes a plurality of gate lines, a plurality of data lines, and a plurality of pixels connected to the plurality of gate lines and the plurality of data lines. The display device includes a gate driving circuit for sequentially providing gate signals to the plurality of gate lines and a data driving circuit for outputting data signals to the plurality of data lines.
The gate driving circuit includes one shift register formed of a plurality of stages connected in cascade. Each of the plurality of stages includes a plurality of transistors that are operably connected to output a gate voltage to a corresponding gate line.
A display device displays videos and/or still images. In an effort to reduce the power consumption, display devices that drive a display panel at low frequency, when a still image is inputted, are currently under development.


A composition and method for detecting thermal overheating of an apparatus or system and for quickly and accurately locating the portions of the apparatus or system that experience a predetermined degree of such overheating. A composition made according to the invention includes perfluorocarbon tracers (PFTs) mixed with certain non-reactive carrier compounds that are effective to trap or block the PFTs within the composition at normal room temperature or at normal operating temperature of the coated apparatus or system. When a predetermined degree of overheating occurs in any of the coated components of the apparatus or system, PFTs are emitted from the compositions at a rate corresponding to the degree of overheating of the component. An associated PFT detector (or detectors) is provided and monitored to quickly identify the type of PFTs emitted so that the PFTs can be correlated with the respective PFT in the coating compositions applied on respective components in the system, thereby to quickly and accurately localize the source of the overheating of such components.

The invention is related to a method and apparatus for protecting components of electrical or electronic systems from being damaged due to overheating of thermally degradable materials, including electronic components and wiring insulation. More generally, the invention is also useful to monitor and indicate overheating conditions that may occur in non-electrical systems. In addition to providing a very sensitive indication of destructively high temperature levels in a monitored system, the invention provides a practical means for readily localizing the areas of a monitored system where overheating has occurred. More particularly, in certain arrangements of the invention, such a localizing function is achieved by using different perfluorocarbon tracers (PFTs) to monitor discrete portions of a system. Such PFTs are mixed and formed into suitable carrier compounds, such as compounds that result form mixing predetermined volumes of PFTs with selected volumes of insulating paints, elastomeric films, or polymeric support materials, which can then be readily applied to form insulating and thermal monitoring coatings around electrical wiring or electronic components of a system. In the operation of such a monitored system, when the system is in a normal temperature range the PFTs remain trapped within the carrier materials of the carrier compositions, but when predetermined portions of the wiring or coated components become overheated such overheating causes an unusually high level of PFT vapor to be emitted from the compositions into the surrounding environment. To complete the monitoring system, one or more conventional PFT detectors are positioned in that ambient environment and are selected to be operable to indicate the type of PFTs that are emitted from given sections of wiring or from a given coated component, thereby to identify and localize the overheated portion of the system.
The problems associated with undesirable overheating of electrical insulation or other portions of electrical systems or other apparatus are common and long standing ones. These problems are particularly common in electrical or electronic systems that are subjected to unregulated overcurrent conditions, and that also susceptible to insulation breakdown and failure due to normal aging of the constituents of the insulating compositions used in the systems. For example, it is well known in the prior art to provide a wide variety of thermal breakdown indicators for monitoring electrical apparatus or components that are covered with protective coatings subject to such breakdown. Such prior art systems typically use thermoparticulating materials that breakdown into small flakes or particles, such as smoke particles, when certain pre-determined temperatures are exceeded within a coated component or apparatus. Examples of such particulating over-heat indicator compositions are shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4, 179,926 and 4,151,746. Those patents also describe use of the compositions in a manner such that they provide means for indicating the relative location within a system of a coating in which overheating has occurred.
Such thermo-particulating indicating systems have several disadvantages relative to indicators that emit essentially a particulate free and essentially a gaseous vapor at predetermined temperatures. Particulates evolved from such prior art indicator compositions are not transported as efficiently as gas vapors in the ambient gas stream around the monitored components or apparatus. Because such particulates are heavier than the ambient gases, they settle out of the gases and thus often do not reach associated monitoring detectors in the same efficient concentrations that are realizable with a gaseous-vapor overheat indicator. Moreover, the types of detectors used with such thermo-particulate indicator systems are normally either ion chamber detectors, such as those used in conventional household smoke detectors, or they may be condensation nucleic counters, which cannot discriminate between the type of thermo-particulate used as an indicator and any other particulate that may be in the ambient, such as dust particles or smoke from sources other than the monitored electrical apparatus. Thus false readings or undesired indications are often obtained from such particulate indicators.
For certain narrow fields of application, such as use within the hydrogen cooling systems of electrical generators of the type described in the two above-mentioned patents, the ambient system within the containment housings is not so susceptible to producing misleading indications, because no dust or random ambient particles are permitted within such hermetically sealed cooling systems. However, that susceptibility of the particulate-type of indicators to produce false or misleading readings, caused by particulates introduced into the ambient from sources beyond the monitored system, would be a significant detriment if such indicators were to be applied in unenclosed areas that inherently are subject to exposure to dust, random smoke or other foreign particulates. An important distinction between such prior art particulate-indicating systems and the present invention is that many thermo-particulate indicating systems are not suitable for use in an environment that exposes humans to the type of particulates that are necessarily emitted from such a monitored insulator coating. On the other hand, the gaseous vapors emitted from the PFT carrier compositions of the present invention have been documented as being safe with respect to inhalation and ingestion potential toxicity to humans. A further important distinction between such prior art particulate-indicating systems and the present invention is that many thermo-particulate indicating systems employ a thermo-particulating compound which has a decomposition temperature in the range of 100.degree. C. or greater, whereas the increase in gaseous vapors emitted from the PFT carrier compounds are such that they are readily detectable at the much lower temperatures.
A subsequently issued U.S. Pat. No. 4,204,428 discloses a thermo-particulating coating system in which an attempt is made to compensate for the non-discriminating nature of an associated condensation nucleic counter detector. In that system a thermo-particulate is collected then chemically dissolved, extracted and chemically analyzed for specific chemical components that are indicative of each type of coating used in the monitoring system. A gas chromatograph is used for making the analyzes. Rather than utilize such an inherently complex indicating and monitoring arrangement, the present invention avoids the use of a particulate system entirely, in favor of using readily identifiable essentially particulate free and essentially chemical vapors that are selectively emitted from predetermined compositions as a function of the compositions becoming over-heated at certain critical temperature levels.

Pre-fire warning system and method using a perfluorocarbon tracer


Methods and apparatuses are disclosed for enabling the response to a command from a wireless terminal to be based at least partially on the presence or absence of other users nearby, and possibly the identity of those users. In the illustrated embodiment, a server maintains an updated list of the locations of fixed and wireless terminals within an area (e.g., an IEEE 802.11 wireless access point's area of coverage, a CDMA base station's cell, etc.). When a user issues a command to his or her wireless terminal, the command is transmitted to the server. The server determines whether there are any other nearby wireless terminals (and inferentially, the users associated with these terminals), and then determines whether the command is authorized in that environment.

FIG. 1 depicts user 101-1 who is carrying wireless terminal 102-1 (e.g., a notebook computer, a mobile telephone, a personal digital assistant [PDA], etc.) in accordance with the prior art. Wireless terminal 102-1 wirelessly transmits signals to and receives signals from one or more wireless infrastructure nodes (e.g., a Code Division Multiple Access [CDMA] base station, an Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers [IEEE ] 802.11 wireless access point, etc.). User 101-1 can move about and can enter commands into wireless terminal 102-1 via one or more input mechanisms (e.g., keypad input, pen-based input, voice input, etc.). Wireless terminal 102-1 also typically has one or more output devices (e.g., liquid-crystal display, speaker, etc.) to present content (e.g., a web page, an audio clip, output of an executed query, etc.) to user 101-1.
For the purposes of the specification and claims, a "local command" issued by a user is defined as a command that executes entirely on his or her wireless terminal and that does not involve communication with or execution on a remote device (e.g., a server, a wireless terminal other than terminal 102-1, etc.). Examples of local commands include adjusting the volume of the speaker of wireless terminal 102-1, editing information in a spreadsheet stored in disk memory in wireless terminal 102-1, playing a Chess game residing in random-access memory in wireless terminal 102-1, playing an audio clip stored on disk in wireless terminal 102-1, capturing an image with a digital camera embedded in wireless terminal 102-1, and capturing an acoustic signal with a microphone embedded in wireless terminal 102-1.
For the purposes of the specification and claims, a "request to access local content" is defined as a local command that involve accessing content stored on the user's wireless terminal (e.g., in random-access memory, in disk storage, etc.)
For the purposes of the specification and claims, a "remote command" issued by a user is a command issued through the user's wireless terminal that:                (i) executes on a remote device (e.g., a server, a wireless terminal other than terminal 102-1, etc.), or        (ii) accesses data stored at a remote device, or        (iii) transmits data to a remote device, or        (iv) performs any combination of (i), (ii), and (iii).Examples of remote commands include downloading a web page, issuing a query that searches a database that is stored on another device, sending an email message, and placing a telephone call. Remote commands that satisfy condition (ii) (i.e., that access data stored at a remote device) are also known as requests to access remote content.
Some computing devices such as wireless terminals, desktop personal computers (PCs), and servers require a user to log in to the device before allowing the user to use the device. For example, when a personal computer (PC) that runs on the Windows XP or Linux operating system is powered on, the user is confronted with a log-in screen that asks for the user's username (also referred to as a screen name for Internet service providers such as AOL) and password. The user is can not proceed past the start-up screen until he or she provides a valid username and password combination.
Some computing devices provide, in addition to a log-in screen, one or more authorization mechanisms to restrict access to data, commands, or both. For example, PCs that run on the Windows XP or Linux operating system enable a data file to be associated with a particular user or group of users, thereby allowing only the associated user(s) to access the data file. In some authorization mechanisms, separate read- and write-permissions can be associated with a data file, thereby partitioning users into four categories: (i) those who can read and write to the data file, (ii) those who can read the data file but cannot write to it, (iii) those who can write to the data file but cannot read it, and (iv) those who can neither read nor write to the data file. Furthermore, some authorization mechanisms enable a command (such as an executable file) to be associated with a particular user or group of users, thereby allowing only the associated user(s) to execute the command.
The mechanism for restricting who can read, write, and execute a file is a great advantage in many practical situations, but it does not provide the flexibility and appropriateness necessary for many other situations. Therefore, the need exists for innovative restriction mechanisms.


A method for multiscale sampling for wide dynamic range electro-optic receivers is presented. The method comprises obtaining a signal, reproducing the signal into first and second signals, scaling one signal with respect to the other, modulating both signals with the same modulation function, and utilizing the resulting vector response function to invert the response of the link over a greater dynamic range than would otherwise be possible with a single instance of the modulated signal. The sealed modulation response may be obtained by splitting the signal into two polarizations and utilizing a modulator having different response for the two polarizations, or by utilizing two modulators.

Microwave photonic links have been studied extensively due to their growing applications at high frequencies in commercial and defense communications such as CATV, antenna remoting, avionics, synthetic aperture radar, phased array antenna, etc. Radio frequency (RF) photonics is attractive for both transmission and signal processing. RF signal processing applications such as channelizing receivers provide the opportunity for optics to perform the challenging task of transforming wideband spectral processing at high frequencies in the RF domain into narrowband processing in the optical domain with reduced complexity.
Analog photonic links employ either intensity modulation or phase modulation for electrical-to-optical (E/O) conversion and are limited in linearity primarily due to the sinusoidal transfer function of the intensity modulator or due to the nonlinear optical-to-electrical (O/E) conversion at the receiver for phase modulated signals. The two-tone spurious free dynamic range (SFDR) is limited mainly by third-order intermodulation distortion (IMD), which falls within the signal band.
The utility of analog links depends upon various parameters including link gain, noise figure, bandwidth, and link linearity or dynamic range. High dynamic range is key to achieving high fidelity analog links and places highly challenging requirements on the components and the design of the system. The linearity of the link can be characterized by the SFDR and is primarily dependent on the modulation and detection scheme. Both intensity modulation using direct detection and phase modulation using either direct detection or coherent detection have been studied. All these links exhibit a nonlinear transfer function and are thus limited in their linearity. Besides modulation and detection, the characteristic of the nonlinearity also depends on whether the link employs filtering.
Both optical and electronic methods to extend the dynamic range have been proposed and demonstrated. Electronic methods involve electronic predistortion while optical methods include cascaded modulators for predistortion, optical spectrum shaping, optical phase locked loops (PLL), and coherent post-processing. Significant reduction in the intermodulation distortion has been achieved using these methods. Predistortion techniques require knowledge of the nonlinearity and may employ adaptive circuits to track changes in the input signal. Predistortion techniques are limited in their efficacy when multiple distortion mechanisms are present as they require as many separate circuits to correct for the nonlinearities as the number of distortions.
Post-processing methods, which are extensively used in applications such as software defined radio (SDR), can correct simultaneously for multiple distortions. Advantageously, digital signal processing (DSP) capability is already present in many applications to perform standard processing functions. However, the post-processing methods, such as an electro-optical PLL, rely on having access to the entire modulated signal in order to compensate for link nonlinearity and reconstruct the original transmitted signal. However, RF signal processing applications channelize a smaller spectrum of the modulated signal thus precluding these techniques.

Multiscale sampling for wide dynamic range electro-optic receivers


The present invention is directed to methods, apparatus and systems for optimizing media paths in communications networks. An exemplary embodiment includes the steps of a first SBC (SBC1) receiving a session request including a SDP offer for a session between first and second devices including media stream(s), said request being sent by a second SBC (SBC2) and traversing a portion of a signaling path including intermediary device(s), determining that media stream(s) should bypass one or more of the intermediary device(s), generating and transmitting to SBC2 from SBC1 a SDP answer including at least one of: (i) all SDP media descriptor transport addresses being set to zero; (ii) all SDP media stream connection values being set to 0.0.0.0 and at least one media transport address being non-zero; or (iii) header information or SDP information indicating that at least one intermediary device should be bypassed for the one or more media streams.

In VoLTE/3GPP (Voice Over LTE/3rd Generation Partnership Project) deployments, when a subscriber roams into a different operator's network (visited network), the signaling is still anchored in the home-network, as the services are provided by the home-network. Given that signaling and media follow the same path, the media also traverses the home network. This doesn't mimic the standard Circuit Switch (CS) call model.
3GPP has defined RAVEL (Roaming Architecture for Voice-over-LTE using Local Break-out) and Optimal Media Routing (OMR) procedures in which the signaling and media take different paths. At a high-level, the OMR procedures involve the following.
Each of the media-processing entities passing Session Description Protocol (SDP)/media attributes that they have received on the ingress side (along with the "realm" information) and passing them to the egress call-leg. This information is passed in newly defined OMR attributes along with the main SDP.
The succeeding nodes make use of main SDP and OMR attributes and decide to include themselves in the media path or not. The "realm" information that is passed in OMR attributes along with other policy information is made use of in arriving at this decision (of media anchoring or not).
When a roaming UE originates a call, the visited network routes the call towards the home-network. The P-CSCF in the visited-network indicates that this call is eligible for loop-back (using TRF indication in Feature-Caps header) (See Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) Request for Proposal (RFP) 6809 entitled Mechanism To Indicate Support of Features and Capabilities in the Session Initiation Protocol (SIP)). This call traverses a set of IBCFs (InterConnect Border Control Functions) which apply OMR procedures at the time of SDP offer itself, based on the indication that the call is eligible for loop-back. (Typically at this point of time, the media is anchored at most/all of the SBCs as the "realm" for various operators would be different).
When the home-network decides to loopback the call towards the visited network, the S-CSCF (Serving-Call Session Control Function) in the home-network would insert an indication that the call is a looped-back call (in Feature-Caps header). When the call is looped back towards the visited network, the call traverses through a set of IBCFs. Each of the IBCFs apply OMR procedures and take themselves out of the path. IBCF applies OMR procedures based on the indication that the call is a looped-back call. The reason why IBCFs would be able to bypass previous node(s) and/or take themselves out of the path is, as the call traverses/loops-back through the same set of "realms" (as it has originally started from). As the IBCFs take bypass previous nodes, the SDP answer is generated with appropriate indication (c=0.0.0.0 is defined with specific semantics) so that intermediaries know that they have been bypassed.
Furthermore, with the advent and proliferation of different technologies, each of which is optimized for different access-types and each of which employ different codecs, it is not an uncommon phenomenon that the call gets transcoded as it traverses through networks employing different kinds of technology. For e.g., in LTE network AMR (Adaptive Multi-Rate codec) is used for voice; in CDMA networks EVRC (Enhanced Variable Rate Codec) is used for voice; in a WebRTC network OPUS a lossy audio coding format developed by the IETF is used for voice; in a traditional PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network) network G711 is used for voice. On a similar note, different codecs are employed for video too. For e.g., in LTE network H.264 is recommended for video; in a WebRTC network VP8 video encoding format is used for the same.
This creates the need for SBC (Session Border Controller) vendors to provide transcoding not only for audio streams but also video streams. The SBC nodes provide video transcoding by invoking MRF nodes, which have specialized functions to provide audio and video transcoding. The SBCs typically invoke MRF (Media Resource Function) nodes using SIP-based interface i.e. the call is routed via an MRF and MRF egresses the call by acting as a SIP B2BUA (Back to Back User Agent).
As a SBC invokes MRF in anticipation of transcoding (pro-active transcoding approach), it may turn out after the offer-answer model, the call doesn't need to be transcoded. Typically MRFs don't support OMR procedures and hence the MRF continues to be in the media path (even when transcoding is not invoked).
One of the main issue with current OMR procedures is that all the intermediaries must support OMR procedures. If intermediaries don't support OMR procedures, the OMR attributes are NOT carried forward and succeeding nodes can't invoke OMR procedures. Even if OMR attributes are passed as un-known attributes, certain validations as defined by the OMR procedures (in 3GPP TS 29.079) fail and OMR procedures are NOT invoked. This is correct since a Non-OMR node can't be instructed to bypass itself (and thus release local media resources) using OMR-specific semantics in an SDP answer. Furthermore, the OMR procedures are difficult to implement. As a result, when even one intermediary node does not support OMR procedures optimal media routing cannot be obtain and intermediary nodes, media resources, and devices resources are wasted. This is a technological communications network centric problem, e.g., Internet problem, in which the lack of optimal media routing results in subpar network performance, unnecessary network congestion, routing of media through intermediary nodes or MRF resources unnecessarily resulting in wasted resources, e.g., MRF resources, an inability to support media streams due to resources being allocated which are not being used, additional expenses in routing and anchoring media at one or more devices in one or more different networks needlessly, and/or the introduction of unnecessary delays, noise and distortion into the media streams which are not optimally routed.
From the above discussion, it should be appreciated that there is a need for improved communications methods, systems and apparatus for achieving optimized media paths in an asynchronous network. Furthermore, there is a need for improved communications methods, systems and apparatus for determining and optimizing media paths which include Non-OMR (Non-Optimal Media Routing) nodes that is nodes which do not implement 3GPP OMR procedures. There is also a need for communications methods, systems and apparatus which determine media routing paths in which intermediary nodes in a media path can be bypassed so as to free up intermediary nodes and MRF resources and in doing so overcome one or more of the aforementioned technological problems resulting from non-optimal routing of media. There is also a need to determine and achieve improved media path routing in media, e.g., video, pass-through scenarios involving external transcoders/media server so that these devices resources can be freed up or made available for other media streams. Moreover, there is a need for improved media path routing wherein a MRF device may initially exclude itself from a media path but be subsequently added to the media path if necessary such as for example a subsequent need for trancoding of the media of the session. Furthermore, there is a need for technological improvements to session border controllers so that they can be operated to achieve optimal media routing for communications session with media streams when one or more nodes/devices on the media routing path for the communications session do not implement 3GPP OMR procedures.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Communications methods, apparatus and systems to provide optimal media routing

Ribbon Communications Operating Company, Inc.


A copy sheet feeding system for use in a printing, copying, duplicating and like machine includes a conveyor board for moving copy sheets thereover in seriatim fashion. A vacuum chamber extends lengthwise of the conveyor board, with openings extending longitudinally of the conveyor board and communicating with the vacuum chamber. An access mechanism is movable relative to the vacuum chamber and openings to effectivly expose the openings progressively in the direction of movement of the copy sheets. This effectively provides a moving vacuum device which moves with the copy sheets as the sheets move over the conveyor board.

In printing, copying, duplicating and like machines, copy sheets are fed through various stations of the machine individually and, often, at a high rate of speed. In some machines, the copy sheets are fed individually in a seriatim fashion (i.e. individually with spacing between the sheets) through the machine for copying purposes. For instance, the sheets may be fed individually from a stack of sheets at an in-feed station over a conveyor board to a registration station prior to feeding the sheets into the cylinders of the printing couple of the machine. Particularly in high speed machines, some type of "holddown" system is used to keep the sheets flat on the conveyor board. For instance, some machines operate at a rate of as much as 10,000 or more sheets per hour, and the sheets have a tendency of literally "flying" off of the conveyor board due to their light weight against air resistance. Consequently, some form of system usually is incorporated to hold the sheets down onto a subjacent support surface, such as a conveyor board.
Various holddown systems have used such mechanisms as cam surfaces for engaging the upper side edges of the copy sheets, sometimes with an overhead roller for engaging the sheets approximately on the centerline of their upper surfaces. Such mechanical systems may function satisfactorily in relatively slow machines, but mechanical systems often are insufficient in high speed machines. Air jet systems have been used in some high speed machines, but such systems often encounter problems in timing the air jets with the seriatim timing of the passing sheets. Some systems employ a combination of mechanical means and air jet means, but the drawbacks of either type of system still are present.
In still other machines, vacuum means have been employed as a copy sheet holddown medium. The problem with a vacuum system is its inherent nature of not being capable of rapid cycling, as with a pulsed air jet, and any leakage between sheets bleeds off the vacuum. Consequently, some machines feed the copy sheets in an interleaved array (i.e. whereby the leading and trailing edges of the sheets overlap). A continuous vacuum therefore can be employed because there is n spacing between the sheets which otherwise would bleed the vacuum means. This type of feeding system creates still further problems because it is not as easy to register interleaved copy sheets as it is to register individual copy sheets which are fed in a seriatim manner.
This invention is directed to solving the above problems and dilemmas by providing a new and improved copy sheet feeding system which employs vacuum means as the copy sheet holddown medium, the system being readily applicable for feeding sheets individually in seriatim fashion.


The present disclosure, which is directed to ultra-thin-body-and-BOX and Double BOX fully depleted SOI devices having an epitaxial diffusion-retarding semiconductor layer that slows dopant diffusion into the SOI channel, and a method of making these devices. Dopant concentrations in the SOI channels of the devices of the present disclosure having an epitaxial diffusion-retarding semiconductor layer between the substrate and SOI channel are approximately 50 times less than the dopant concentrations measured in SOI channels of devices without the epitaxial diffusion-retarding semiconductor layer.

To meet the increasing demands for smaller electronic devices, CMOS devices have continuously been scaled down. One problem associated with CMOS scaling involves short channel effects (SCE's). Ultra-thin-body-and-BOX (i.e., UTBB, UT2B, or UTB2) fully depleted SOI devices are an attractive candidate for further CMOS scaling due to their superior SCE control, smaller threshold voltage (Vt) variability, and compatibility with mainstream planar CMOS technology. Compared to conventional ETSOI devices, UTBB improves SCE by further reducing electric field coupling between source and drain with a thinner BOX and ground-plane (GP). By applying appropriate substrate bias and GP doping/polarity, multi-Vt devices can be realized with a simple gate stack. Ground Plane doping of ˜5e18/cm3 is required to achieve desirable Vt modulation and optimum GP resistance. The substrate-bias provides an extra dynamic power capability at the device level.
Doping of the UTBB and Double BOX devices of the instant disclosure can be done by (1) using a thin-BOX SOI wafer with a predoped substrate from the vendor or (2) by implanting ions into an undoped substrate thin-BOX SOI wafer. For technologically relevant BOX thicknesses of 10-25 nanometers, the ion implantion through the SOI layer causes substantial "poisoning" of the SOI channel. This is problematic because the dopant concentration in the thin SOI channel after ion implantation may be ˜5-8e17/cm3, and could lead to increased Vt variability due to random-dopant fluctuations. One way to circumvent this problem is by using a thin-BOX ETSOI substrate with a predoped substrate. However, experiments on such predoped UTBB substrates have shown that the dopant diffuses from the substrate through the thin-BOX and into the SOI channel when exposed to the FEOL thermal budget resulting in punch-through (shorted) devices. Therefore, it would be desirable to fabricate a UTBB device wherein the rate of dopant diffusion into the SOI channel is reduced after FEOL thermal budget for devices utilizing predoped or implanted substrates.

Method to reduce ground-plane poisoning of extremely-thin SOI (ETSOI) layer with thin buried oxide

International Business Machines Corporation


A power tool is disclosed comprising a controller for controlling at least one operating parameter, a motor for driving a tool, at least three switching elements which are coupled to the controller, and a speed sensor for monitoring the speed of the motor to generate a speed signal, which is fed to the controller. The controller is configured so that, in dependence on the speed signal, with simultaneous activation of a first and at least one other of the switching elements, a control signal for changing the operating parameter is output, and that, in dependence on the speed signal, with activation of the first and at least one other switching element, a control signal for modified changing of the operating parameter is output (FIG. 2).

The invention relates to a power tool with a controller for controlling at least one operating parameter, with a motor for driving a tool, and also to a method for controlling a power tool.
Power tools are often equipped with electronic controls for controlling the rotational speed of the drive motor. Generally serving here for the setting is an adjusting wheel or the like, which can only be actuated poorly during the operation of the power tool.
In the case of some power tools, however, it would be advantageous if a speed adjustment could also take place during work, in particular even under load. In addition, it would be advantageous if, apart from the speed, other operating parameters could be controlled in a simple way.

Power tool and method for controlling a power tool


An improved method and apparatus for simultaneously monitoring the fluid flux and the target chemical mass fluxes in fluid flow systems is provided comprising the use of a body or shell that is inserted into the flow field. Inside or outside this body is a bundle of one or more permeable sorptive columns. The extremes of each column are hydraulically connected to the outside flow field around the body of the device through a pair of small openings in the body. The known non-uniform flow velocity distribution around the body of the invention causes a pressure difference between pairs of openings used to connect internal or external column units. A preferred shape of the body is a hydrofoil. Alternatively, instantaneous measurement of the fluid flux and contaminant composition is possible using pressure transducers and a chemical sensor. The method of monitoring comprises placing the invention in contact with the contaminated flow field, thereby allowing target chemicals in the fluid to be transported through internal column units and be sorbed on the insoluble sorbent matrix. The permeable sorptive column unit is then removed and the sorptive matrix is analyzed directly or visually (if visible tracers are used) to determine cumulative fluid fluxes and cumulative target chemical mass fluxes.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to the detection of organic and inorganic dissolved or gaseous substances in fluids, and, in particular, to the analysis of fluid flow systems for the characterization and quantification of organic and inorganic dissolved or gaseous substances therein. More particularly, this invention relates to devices and methods for measuring cumulative mass fluxes of organic and inorganic dissolved or gaseous substances and cumulative fluid fluxes in fluid flow systems. The term fluid as used herein encompasses any type of liquid or gaseous media (e.g. water or air) containing or not one or more organic and/or inorganic dissolved or gaseous substances (e.g. contaminants or nutrients), while the term flow systems as used herein includes, but is not limited to, constructed flow systems such as closed conduits (e.g. pipes, sewers, vents, stacks, or chimneys) or open conduits (e.g. aqueducts, canals, ditches, rivers, or streams), and natural flow systems (e.g. natural water bodies such as estuaries, lakes, wetlands, and oceans). The term target chemical as used herein encompass dissolved inorganic and organic chemicals and inorganic and organic gases present in the fluid and these target chemicals may include contaminants, pollutants, and nutrients. However, as opposed to our earlier issued U.S. Pat. No. 6,401,547, which describes an approach to determining cumulative fluid fluxes and cumulative target chemical mass fluxes through porous media (pressure potential flow), the herein presented invention aims at applications that complement the before mentioned patent to non-porous fluid flow systems (velocity potential flow).
2. Description of the Relevant Art
The presence and transport of target chemicals in fluid flow systems can present significant pollution problems to nature and society and can be of great importance to industrial processes. For example, as to surface water supplies or other water resources (short: water flow systems), a wide variety of organic and inorganic target chemicals may be present in this particular type of flow system depending on how contiguous lands drained by or feeding said flow systems have been used and if said fluid flow systems receive contaminated water derived from external sources (e.g., septic systems, drainage tiles, industrial and municipal outfalls etc.). Many different organic and inorganic compounds (e.g., non-halogenated and halogenated organic compounds) may exist in water flow systems adjacent to factory sites, agricultural lands, military bases, urban areas, and other locations where extensive use of these chemicals has occurred over long time periods or accidental spills or inappropriate disposal have occurred. Of particular concern are pesticides, endocrine disrupters, halogenated (e.g., chlorinated) solvents including perchloroethene (PCE), trichloroethene (TCE), dichloroethane (DCA), vinyl chloride (VC), methylene chloride (MC), and others. However, in addition to the above organic compounds, a wide variety of other organic compounds shall be encompassed within the term "organic contaminants" as discussed below. Of equal concern is the presence of benzene, toluene, xylenes, and other constituents of petroleum-based fuels (e.g., jet fuel, gasoline, diesel fuel, and the like) in waste-bearing geologic formations underlying various transportation-related facilities. Examples of such facilities include gasoline stations, airports, military bases, and the like. Other contaminants include various pesticides and inorganic/organic nutrients used in crop production or suburban lawns and gardens or golf courses; and trace metals such as arsenic and chromium and the like used in industrial operations. At many sites, both organic and inorganic contaminants may be found as mixtures. A contaminant group designated as polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), such as naphthalene, phenanthene, anthracene, benzo-a-pyrene and others, are constituents of coal and/or tars and creosote found at former gas manufacturing sites and wood treating facilities. Regardless of the particular target chemicals of concern, the presence of these chemicals in water flow systems, as illustrated in this example, is a considerable public health concern and of ecological significance. As this example furthermore demonstrates, the present invention shall not be restricted to the monitoring of any given organic or inorganic compounds.
In general, several methods have been used to analyze fluids (and in particular water) for dissolved compounds and to quantify flows (fluxes integrated over transect areas) in fluid flow systems. In fact, our earlier issued U.S. Pat. No. 6,401,547 describes an approach to determining cumulative liquid fluxes and cumulative target chemical mass fluxes through porous media. Other examples involving direct methods for measuring fluid discharges include: acoustic or electromagnetic methods, and methods based on direct measurements of local flow velocities (fluid fluxes), e.g., using current meters to measure local fluxes, in a stream for the purpose of calculating depth integrated stream discharges using some standard method (e.g. two-point method, integrated measurement method, etc.). More examples that are potentially related to water flow systems are: tracer dilution methods (sudden or constant injection), as well as methods based on the deployment of hydraulic devices (e.g. weirs or notches). Furthermore, water discharges can be measured indirectly through monitoring the stage of a stream and inferring the discharge from a known stage-discharge relationship. Descriptions of all these methods are widely available in hydrology literature.
Measurements of target chemical mass discharges are generally performed by taking fluid samples at discrete moments in time and at discrete locations over transects. The fluid samples are analyzed for concentrations of target chemicals and the resultant mass fluxes calculated as the product of the target chemical concentrations and the measured or estimated fluid fluxes (velocities). Often is the case that short-term concentrated sampling events are conducted to generate a time-series of measurements from some peak event (e.g. a storm or spill). Hundreds of fluid samples may be collected and processed for the purpose of estimating related cumulative mass loads of target chemicals (target chemical mass fluxes integrated over a transect area) transported in a fluid flow system. From the nature of most of the methods mentioned it can be observed that fluid discharges are only measured at discrete points in time and that cumulative or time averaged discharges have to be obtained from interpolating and integrating of recorded data time series. The same applies to the measurement of the mass discharges of target chemical, which, in addition, are only indirectly obtained from concentration and fluid flux data. Hence, the measurement of cumulative or time averaged fluid and target chemical mass discharges can be performed with current methods, yet the technical requirements in the field for data transmission and logging are considerable and for target chemical mass discharge additional computations are required to arrive at final flux estimates.
While the prior methods provide important information regarding the levels of contamination in fluid flow systems of concern, they do not allow direct measurements of target chemical mass fluxes. And although prior methods and apparatus are capable of measuring instantaneous fluid fluxes, most do not allow direct measurements of cumulative fluid fluxes. Finally, the commonly used methods that exist do not permit simultaneous measurements of target chemical cumulative mass fluxes and cumulative fluid fluxes.
Current methods for estimating the target-chemical mass flux (Jsol) in fluid flow systems are made from independent instantaneous point measurements of fluid flux (vo) and target chemical concentration (C) in sampled fluids. Several methods exist for measuring vo and C in fluid flow systems, and all provide measures at discrete moments in space and time. However, no single method exists for non-porous fluid flow systems that samples vo and C at coincident points in space and time and no method exists to measure cumulative target chemical mass flux and cumulative fluid flux. Measured vo and C are used as shown in the following equation to estimate the instantaneous target chemical mass flux, J.Jsol=voC   (1)Equation (1) is assumed to characterize target chemical mass flux at a point in space or over a specified sampling dimensions (i.e., an area perpendicular to the direction of fluid flow) and for a reported sampling time. For dynamic fluid flow systems, this approach of characterizing target chemical mass flux is subject to significant experimental and conceptual errors. Consider first, that the fluid flux, vo and the target chemical concentration, C are both functions of position and time. This suggests that the magnitude of the target chemical mass flux, Jsol, also varies with position and time. Thus, any sampling of vo and C that does not occur at coincident points in space and time precludes accurate local estimation of the magnitude of both fluid and target chemical mass fluxes. Second, the short-term sampling procedures often used to obtain C and vo preclude estimation of the time-integrated (i.e., cumulative) values for fluid flux and target chemical mass flux. Such time-integrated target chemical mass fluxes are useful for assessing health risks associated with contamination found in water or air flow systems, for example, such as for assessing contaminant loads generated within watersheds or along stream and river reaches, for assessing the total amount of off-site contamination contributed by one or more sources, and for assessing the benefits of removing or remediating sources of contamination. Moreover, the inherent time integration of both fluid flux and especially target chemical mass flux at sampling points performed by the invention allow for the quantification of target chemical mass loads that can not be measured by traditional concentration sampling any more if the target chemical concentrations are below the detection limit of the applied technology. However, target chemical mass loads may still be considerable, even for very high degrees of dilution if the fluid discharge is high enough. In addition, the time integration of measured fluid flux and target chemical mass flux eliminates the risk of not detecting some peak event (e.g. storm or spill) as it may be the case with time-discrete flux and concentration sampling.
Traditional testing methods also require a large amount of expensive equipment, are labor intensive, and involve complex operating procedures. Moreover, conventional monitoring techniques which require the removal of numerous fluid samples for individual testing typically generate large quantities of waste products (e.g., residual sample materials) that, if sufficiently contaminated or hazardous by their nature, can present significant disposal problems. Prior to the development of the present invention, a need therefore remained for an efficient testing system which avoids these disadvantages and enables fluid flow systems to be tested in an accurate, rapid, and effective manner.
The claimed invention represents a unique and highly-efficient alternative to the methods listed above. It does not require extensive equipment (e.g., pumps) and complex operating procedures. The invented device can be used to analyze large fluid flow systems without extracting any contaminated fluid sample materials so that problems with disposal of generated waste fluids are avoided. The invented device can be used to obtain cumulative estimates of the magnitude of both fluid and target chemical mass fluxes at specified point locations over the two dimensions of a transect that is oriented perpendicular to the direction of flow in the flow system. Alternatively, it can be used to provide instantaneous analysis of the flow system through the use of electronic pressure transducers and chemical sensors. The instantaneous information can be obtained alone or in combination with the cumulative analysis. Finally, the method and apparatus described below enable the fluid flow system of interest to be analyzed at multiple locations simultaneously so that target chemical mass loadings to the flow system may be "mapped" and thus, enabling, for example, the delineation of locations of concern such as target chemical sources (e.g. certain watershed areas, stream segments, water bodies etc.). Decontamination of water flow systems, for example, can then occur in a more site-specific and accurate manner. The present invention therefore involves a highly effective testing system which represents a substantial advance in the art of target chemical (e.g., nutrient or contaminant) detection, target chemical source delineation, and remediation of, in particular, water flow systems as discussed further below.
However, according to the initial definition of the term "fluid" as used herein, the potential applications of the invention shall not be restricted by any means to the example given above, which uses water as a fluid in order to be most illustrative. Other examples for potential applications include point source identification of air pollution (e.g. industrial plants), quality control of fluids required in industrial processes (e.g. purity or chemical composition of liquids).

Device and method for passively measuring fluid and target chemical mass fluxes in natural and constructed non-porous fluid flow system

University of Florida Research Foundation, Inc.


Valves having removable interior wear rings in which the wear ring comprises a high-hardness metal ring, the high hardness metal ring having an exterior surface configured to engage the body of gate valve. A polymeric overlay covers at least a portion of the exterior surface of the metal ring, the polymeric overlay forming the final dimensional shape of the wear ring.

Large gate valves are commonly used in a wide range of applications, including mining, manufacturing, refining, sewer and water, and many others. In many of these applications, such as the use of large gate valves in the transportation of water, the valves can remain in use for many years, and even decades, with relatively little significant maintenance or service. However, many other large gate valves are used in extremely challenging environments where the interior surfaces of the valve components are exposed to abrasive or corrosive materials that can rapidly degrade all but the most durable of materials. For example, carrying of mining slurries with significant amounts of rock and sand can wear away interior valve components prematurely. Similarly, tar sands, such as those mined in western Canada to make alternative fuels, are processed at elevated temperatures and with very high solids contents that readily degrade the interior of valves as they pass through.
In order to promote longer service life of valves, especially large gate valves that operate in extreme conditions, it is possible to create replaceable surfaces that line portions of the inside of the valves. These replaceable surfaces can be made of much harder materials than the other valve components—in part because they require less elaborate machining than other parts, and also because they can use higher priced metals without requiring use of expensive materials throughout the valve. In addition, the removable nature of the surfaces allows them to be replaced without replacing or rebuilding the entire valve.
Unfortunately, one challenge of existing gate valve designs, even those that use replaceable wear resistant surfaces, is that materials used to make these wear resistant surfaces are often so hard that they can be difficult to machine to fine tolerances. Of particular difficulty in machining are curved surfaces, such as the outer diameter of wear rings that are designed to tightly fit into a valve body. However, in order to fit properly within the valve body the wear rings must have relatively precise external shape and dimensions. It is possible to machine such dimensions, but the time and expense of satisfactory machining of such surfaces can be exceedingly high due to the hard nature of the materials necessary to have suitable wear properties. In addition, the extremely hard alloys used for such wear surfaces are also often quite brittle, and can crack under the machining stresses. Therefore, a need exists for improved wear surfaces for use within valves, in particular improved wear rings that can be formed without excessive machining

Valve wear ring and gate valve with wear ring


A control system for an active hand controller, for example, uses a control stick connected to and controlled by a motor. Electronics are provided to control the motor to eliminate oscillations due to motor torque and high gain due to breakout at the control stick when the control stick is at about its null position. Both hardware as well as software implementations can provide position dependent dampening to the control sticks such that when the control stick is located about a null position, a higher rate of dampening is provided than when the control stick is located outside the null position, when a lower rate of dampening is provided. The system provides a stable active hand controller control stick without degraded force and feel characteristics of the system.

This invention is related to an active hand control system of the type wherein manual control input devices such as control sticks employed in a servo-coupled control system are provided with an electrically generated and controlled simulated variable rate feel. In particular, the invention relates to a system having a control stick such as is employed in aircraft, which is servo-coupled to the control system of the aircraft through electronics and a motor mechanism.
The electronics and motor mechanism of these types of systems provide a simulated feel to the control stick when in operation which is similar to that of a purely mechanical system. Yet more specifically, in these types of systems when the control stick thereof is positioned near a null or center position, it begins to oscillate due to the high gain in the torque versus position curve used to achieve breakout forces by the motor which is driving and is in turn driven by the control stick, as well as oscillations caused by gear backlash at connection of the control stick to the motor. The system in accordance with the invention eliminates such oscillations at about the null position for the control stick without degrading the force and feel characteristics of the control stick.
Servo-control technology is well developed as applied in the field of robotics. In particular, electrical motor and servo-control systems have been developed and employed in the past in the design of robotic hand controllers which are capable of reflecting forces experienced at the robotic end, back to, for example, a human operator.
One example of the type of control system to which the present invention is directed is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,150,803 which teaches a control stick for an operator having an electro-simulated variable rate feel. The simulated feel of the device of U.S. Pat. No. 4,150,803 is provided by a system which generates for the operator at the control stick the proper force and feel characteristics when used to command a boom employed during refueling operations between aircraft in flight.
These types of controllers generally involve the use of a control stick which is actuatable in at least two mutually perpendicular planes to provide both vertical and lateral control of the device being controlled. An example of such a control stick is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,270,260, in which the control stick of the device has electrical pickup means in plate form, for example, capacitance bridge circuits arranged in a symmetrical arrangement such that a force exerted on the stick having a symmetrical arrangement of circuits unbalances them and produces a signal which is proportional to the force being exerted on the stick. The signals generated by the electrical pickups are used to generate output signals through appropriate electronics, with the electronics being used to command a control actuator to effect control of the device being controlled.
Typically, in these systems the control stick is mechanically coupled at its axis to at least one motor which applies either a resisting force on the control stick or, response to a signal produced by sensors that detect forces applied to the device surfaces being controlled, drives the control stick and in turn, drives the device being controlled to alleviate forces generated by the device under control as felt by the operator.
These types of controllers are particularly desirable for use in the operation of modern day aircraft, in particular, in the form of control sticks or yokes. In operation, the devices as used in the cockpit of aircraft are typically designed to exhibit some desired force versus displacement characteristics to the user whereby the magnitude of the control stick displacement is proportional to the force applied. The controller produces as its output an electrical signal corresponding to the control stick position, and the signal is used to control the aircraft through the action of various motors and mechanical means, in a manner which is well known to those of ordinary skill in the art and is conventional. Thus, in use such systems provide an electronically controlled manual input control stick having force and feel characteristics like those of purely mechanically linked systems. These applications in aircraft are typically referred to as "fly by wire" applications. Examples of presently existing applications of this technology are the systems employed in the Airbus A300 Transport Aircraft, the General Dynamics F16 Fighter aircraft and the NASA Space Shuttle.
In the past, in order to enhance or improve the force and feel characteristics of such simulated feel control sticks, controller electronics were employed in combination with sensors for detecting the position of the control stick. A signal was generated and processed by controller electronics to drive a motor which in turn drove the control stick to simulate the feel of a mechanical system. Such controller electronics also included input from the system being controlled such as, for example, an auto pilot system reflecting any external forces acting on the flight control surfaces of the aircraft which would, as a result of feedback and input from the surfaces, be input into the controller electronics to be reflected through the motor connected to the control stick at the user.
The use of a feedback loop in which the position of the control stick is detected and a signal resulting therefrom is processed by controller electronics to result in control of a motor to which the control stick is connected to achieve force and feel characteristics typical of a mechanical system is known. In accordance with one improvement as disclosed in copending application no. (attorney docket no. A34-14307(15347-153)), which is incorporated by reference herein and which was concurrently filed herewith, it is recognized that the detection of the position of the control stick fails to fully achieve the desired force and feel characteristics typical of mechanical systems. It is taught in said copending application that a mechanical system can be more fully simulated by also detecting the amount of force being exerted on the control stick, and processing both the position as well as the force signal by controller electronics. This is done to generate a control signal for the motor to which the control stick is connected which reflects both force and position as part of the feedback loop. By reflecting force the loop, the effects of external operational non-linearities resulting from the electro-mechanical connections of the manual control stick are eliminated.
Notwithstanding the improvement disclosed in said copending application, when the control stick of such a system is located about its null position, a fairly large motor torque causes the hand controller to oscillate at null unless the position signal is exactly at zero when fed to the feedback loop which processes such a signal through the controller electronics. Traditionally, the oscillations at null have been corrected by providing a conventional rate dampening signal manipulation which adds stability to the control loop. However, the impact of providing significant rate damping is a degraded transient response. More particularly, excessive rate dampening, in accordance with the prior art in an active hand controller, makes the hand controller feel viscous. The invention addresses the problems of providing such rate dampening with a degraded transient response.

Position dependent rate dampening in any active hand controller