The claimed subject matter relates to an architecture that can facilitate rich interaction with and/or management of environmental components included in an environment. The architecture can exist in whole or in part in a housing that can resemble a wand or similar object. The architecture can utilize one or more sensor from a collection of sensors to determine an orientation or gesture in connection with the wand, and can further issue an instruction to update a state of an environmental component based upon the orientation. In addition, the architecture can include an advisor component to provide contextual and/or comprehensive guidance in an intuitive manner.

There has long been an imaginative current flowing in popular culture relating to magic, which has recently culminated in the Harry Potter phenomenon. Given the widespread commercial success of Harry Potter books and feature films, as well the many predecessors in the fantasy genre such as The Lord of the Rings, Dungeons and Dragons, etc., it is readily apparent that a number of communities or demographic segments are enamored with the idea of magic. Discounting the aforementioned communities, even the most pragmatic individual would have trouble arguing against the merits or utility of, say, a magic wand that actually worked to control or communicate with objects or components in an associated nearby environment.
Conventionally, a number of devices exist that are intended to operate or control objects in the environment, even some that are specifically intended to leverage, simulate, or promote the appearance of magic. However, systems or devices in this technological area as well as even much broader market segments aimed at, say, consumer devices in general often suffer from a variety of difficulties that stem from two market-driving factors that are distinct and sometimes at odds with one another. In particular, consumers want devices that have a very rich feature set. On the other hand, consumers also want devices that are small, convenient (e.g., to carry), and easy to use.
Miniaturization of electronic devices has reached the point where significant computing power can be delivered in devices smaller than a matchbook. Hence, miniaturization is no longer the primary technological bottleneck for meeting the demands of consumers. Rather, the challenges are increasingly leaning toward the user interface of such devices. For example, technology exists for building a full-featured cellular phone (or other device) that is no larger than a given user's thumb, yet packing a keypad and display in such a device is all but impossible. Even devices that are not so small, but desire to provide multifunctional features can suffer from a related difficulty. In particular, packing a lot of features into a single device generally increases the complexity of use.
To avoid such difficulties, conventional devices that are intended to operate or control numerous environmental components simplify the user-interface, which reduces the feature set; or have highly complex operational requirements that make the device very difficult to use.


A charging system for simultaneously charging the batteries of a plurality of battery powered vehicles. The charging includes one or more DC-DC power converters having one or more charging ports configured to plug into the batteries. The DC-DC power converters are each configured to selectively connect to more than one charging port to selectively provide for higher port power levels. The DC-DC power converters connect to an AC rectifier through a DC bus. The AC rectifier connects to an AC power source having a limited power rating. The AC charging system also has a controller that controls the operation of the DC-DC power converters such that the total power draw on the AC rectifier does not exceed the power rating. The system is further configured such that the DC-DC power converters can drain selected batteries to obtain power for charging other batteries, thus allowing for batteries to be cycled.

The present application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 09/881,561, filed Jun. 14, 2001 now abandoned, which claims priority from Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/212,066, filed Jun. 14, 2000, both of which are incorporated herein by reference for all purposes.
This invention relates generally to battery charging systems and methods for charging batteries and, more particularly, to a cost-efficient charging system and method for simultaneously charging the batteries of a plurality of electrically powered vehicles such as forklifts.
Increasing numbers of vehicles (e.g., forklifts) are being manufactured as electric vehicles. Vehicle charging systems for the batteries of larger numbers of vehicles, such as for a fleet of forklifts vehicles, are therefor increasingly important. The implementation of such charging systems in existing facilities' electrical systems (e.g., building electrical systems) presents significant problems that can lead to large capital expenditures, as described below.
Parallel Charging
Facilities' electrical systems are typically formed in a multi-level, branched architecture. At each branching level, a plurality of receiving circuit breakers draws current from a distributing circuit breaker, which must have a current capacity equal to (or greater than) the sum of those of the circuit breakers that it distributes to. Each of the receiving circuit breakers in turn act as distributing circuit breakers to other circuit breakers till the end of each branch, i.e., a load such as a charging system, is reached. Because the electrical system power typically originates from an AC source, a load requiring DC power, such as a battery charger, will typically require an AC rectifier upstream from the load.
As shown in FIG. 1, an existing charging system, will typically include a system/utility circuit breaker (CB1) connected in series with a number of vehicle chargers, each of which has its own associated circuit breaker (CB2 and CB3). Each charger can charge one vehicle at a time (vehicle #1 or #2), and can operate at any current up to the limit of its associated circuit breaker. Typically the system circuit breaker has the capacity to operate at a current level up to the sum of each of the charger's circuit breakers, so the current limit of the system circuit breaker CB1 will be at or slightly over the sum of the existing associated circuit breakers CB2 and CB3.
Upgrading such a charging system to charge greater numbers of vehicles (or installing a battery charging system where none is in place) can significantly increase the current carried by the system circuit breaker, and therefore it will likely need to be upgraded to carry additional current. Increasing the maximum current capacity of the system circuit breaker (and related power transmission equipment) that supports the battery charging system requires increased capacity in each distributing circuit breaker upstream (along the circuit) from that system circuit breaker. Thus, increasing the number of vehicles that can be charged can potentially require expensive upgrading of a substantial portion of the facility's electrical system, requiring significant capital expenditures.
For example, as depicted in FIG. 1, in order to simultaneously charge additional vehicles (#4, #5 and #6), additional circuit breakers (CB4, CB5 and CB6), additional chargers and additional wiring are added to the system. The addition of these new circuits to the system requires that all name plate ratings of charging circuit breakers (CB2 to CB6) be added up to establish a new current value that the rating of the system wiring or of the system circuit breaker (CB1) cannot exceed. This is required even though the individual chargers might not all be in use at the same time and, if they are in use, they will most likely not be simultaneously operating at full power and fully utilizing the existing infrastructure. Not only will the system circuit breaker (CB1) need upgrading, but many or all of the upstream circuit breakers will need to be upgraded to support the system circuit breaker's (CB1) additional capacity. Thus, the capital expense of adding vehicle chargers to a system potentially includes the significant costs of upgrading a significant portion of the entire electrical system.
Furthermore, the batteries in each vehicle will likely have different charging requirements. For example, in FIG. 1 vehicle #1 might only need a low current for equalization, while vehicle #2 might need a larger current for fast-charging. While the chargers can be configured to handle either load level, the capacity of the charger used on vehicle #1 will be wasted even though the facility's entire electrical system was rebuilt to support the larger load.
As a result, the capital investments necessary to provide new or increased battery charging systems do not have an efficient, high and/or maximum rate of return. Additionally, where significant additional installations of battery chargers are desired, major costs might be incurred to upgrade a facility's electrical system even though the fundamental level of power available in the building is sufficient to supply the total kW hrs of power needed.
Sequential Chargers
One known approach to this problem is to install sequential chargers. Sequential chargers utilize charge capability in an improved, but not especially efficient, manner. Sequential chargers use a set of switches to connect a single charger to a series of vehicles.
As depicted in FIG. 2, with sequential chargers, additional vehicles can be added to an existing system without the need for additional current, and thus, without upgrading the entire electrical system. However, only one vehicle can be charged at a time in such a system. To the degree that this fully utilizes the facility's installed electrical system capacity for that branch, this reaches optimum usage during a normal battery charge event. However, during a typical battery charge cycle the amount of delivered current drops as the battery is more fully charged. Thus the charger will at best only fully utilize the utility during the initial stages of charging. Furthermore, where the battery charging is not a maximum level for reasons related to accommodating battery life characteristics, such as the battery voltage, charge acceptance, and optimum power, a non-optimal level will be achieved. For example temperature may limit the charge rate, SOC may limit the charge rate, or the battery charger current limit may limit the charge rate, such as when a 60 volt capable charger charges a 24 volt battery at the same current, providing a much lower power requirement.
Additionally, the contactors and wiring of the sequential chargers are large. To the degree that a certain number of vehicles must be charged in a given time, the charger capacity must be increased by a minimum of the number of vehicles. This further aggravates the first problem as a larger charger is further underutilized, and the charger's components all are larger to accommodate the higher charge rate.
Accordingly, there has existed a definite need for a cost-efficient charging system and a method for simultaneously charging a plurality of vehicles. The present invention satisfies these and other needs, and provides further related advantages.


A luminaire including: at least one light source (2), and an optical system (10, 11, 12a, 12b) for directing and/or distributing the light (5) emitted by the source(s) (2) into a desired output light distribution pattern (7); wherein the optical system comprises one or more optical elements (10, 11, 12a, 12b), the or each said optical element (10, 11, 12a, 12b) comprising a thin foil or sheet substrate having at least one optically functional surface or surface layer thereon or on a portion thereof, and wherein: (i) at least a portion of the at least one optically functional surface or surface layer on the substrate of at least one of the one or more optical elements (10, 11, 12a, 12b) has an at least partially diffractive optical function, and/or (ii) at least a portion of the at least one of the one or more optical elements (10, 11, 12a, 12b) is shaped such that its substrate is configured so as to have a non-flat or non-planar shape in three dimensions.

As used herein, the term "luminaire" refers to and means an apparatus or device for emitting light in a particular desired distribution pattern, comprising at least one light source and an optical system whose construction, configuration and properties are such as to direct and/or distribute the light emitted by the source(s) into the desired output distribution pattern.
In many conventional designs of luminaire for use in the lighting industry, the optical systems used to distribute the light from the one or more light sources into the desired output distribution pattern have generally employed one or more optical elements, often an arrangement of optical sub-elements, relying on conventional reflective and/or transmissive optical properties to effect the desired light distribution and overall light output characteristics. In more recent times, however, the use of one or more optical elements based in micro-structured (e.g. micro-prismatic) optically functional surfaces has become more common, especially since such more advanced optically functional elements can be designed to deliver better flexibility and efficiency in tailoring specific light outputs and distribution patterns to suit individual needs.
However, such known optical elements used in known luminaires, by their very physical nature, use relatively large amounts of material in their construction, which leads to poor economy of manufacture on an industrial scale. It also tends to increase the weight and bulk of the optical systems used in such luminaires. Moreover, in the case of such known optical elements which are based on light transmission, their typically large thicknesses lead to high absorption losses, which decreases their lighting efficiency. Furthermore, the use of such known optical elements in luminaires places increasingly disadvantageous limitations on the ability of luminaire designers and manufacturers to come up with luminaire designs that offer more efficient use of space within a given luminaire housing, and it also limits the versatility in being able to create diverse specific or optimised light outputs and distribution patterns that certain specific lighting applications may require.
Indeed, in the known art of luminaires, there are already available a large number of particular luminaire solutions for achieving various desired illumination applications. For instance, in the past decade conventional incandescent or fluorescent light sources have been increasingly replaced by LED light sources. Compared with conventional light sources, such LEDs are typically much smaller (unless clustered into especially large arrays or areas). This has tended to lead luminaire designers to adopt luminaires with much smaller or compact overall sizes, not only so as to give such luminaires a new and fresh appearance from an aesthetic point of view, but also to reduce the amount of material from which the luminaires are made.
Nevertheless, such "miniaturization" of luminaires poses new problems for designers of luminaires' optical systems. Naturally, many manufacturers resort to obvious ways of miniaturizing the conventional optical elements themselves that are used in known luminaires, such as by the use of conventional lenses, structured diffusers, reflectors, and suchlike. However, scaling down such conventional optics in this way has its own limitations and drawbacks. For example, the output aperture/region of the optical system may become too small, with the result that the luminaire brightness becomes unpleasant to the user. Also, the optical power which is often tied to the thickness of the optical element itself may then have to grow, which creates new challenges.
Thus, to find an optimum compromise between the size and height of any luminaire's optical system may therefore be difficult, or even impossible, and it may require replacing the conventional optics of a known luminaire optical system with an alternative optical element which has a larger output aperture/region and/or which has a lower volume, yet has sufficient optical power or other optimised required optical properties. However, this then tends to lead to new problems and shortcomings. In particular, it then becomes difficult to achieve more sophisticated optical functions when such are needed.
The known use of a collecting element such as a reflector—e.g. made from metal (typically by machining or shaping) or plastics (typically made by injection molding)—may go some way to ameliorating the above latter shortcoming, but such known reflectors are often expensive and of limited efficacy. They may also typically be undesirably heavy and bulky.
It is therefore a primary object of the present invention to address and ameliorate these shortcomings and limitations in the known art.

Luminaires and optical elements for use therein


An encased stent that discourages restenosis by having a homogenous endothelial cell lining along the inner wall of the stent. The endothelial cell lining may be coated on the stent before the stent is placed in the artery, or the endothelial cell lining may be grown after placement by several factors that encourage such growth and discourage restenosis. The endothelial cells to coat the stent may be genetically modified to enhance the growth of the endothelial cells into a homogeneous lining. The stent has a continuous lining in the form of a multi-layer polymer coating, including a conducting biocorrosion inhibiting layer and a continuous film of polyurethane coupled by a coupling agent to polyethylene glycol. Various drugs and cell factors may be incorporated into the lining, such as anti-thrombin, anti-inflammatory and anti-coagulant drugs, cell cycle inhibitors, and vascular endothelial growth factors.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an implantable medical device, and in particular, to a vascular stent having a continuous coating to encourage the growth of an endothelial cell layer for discouraging restenosis.
2. Brief Description of the Related Art
Narrowing of the arteries (stenosis) may be treated by balloon angioplasty, where a balloon is inflated in the blocked segment of the artery to stretch the artery and flatten the obstruction in order to increase blood flow. Angioplastied arteries may experience a re-narrowing after angioplasty (a process called restenosis). One method of treatment to prevent restenosis is to mechanically hold the artery open with a stent.
A stent is typically an open mesh cylindrical device which fits into the opened artery and expands radially against the walls of the artery. There are two types of stents: 1) balloon expandable stents made of stainless steel mesh and 2) self-expanding (temperature sensitive) stents with a high elasticity, composed of "smart metals". While most stents are made of type 316 Stainless Steel (SS), there is a recent trend towards using stents made of shape memory alloys containing nickel and titanium (Nitinol). Shape Memory Alloys (SMAs) refer to alloys that retain their original shape when exposed to a certain temperature threshold. These stents are designed to contract or contort under a cold environment and expand or return to their original shape under warm temperatures.
Stents using SMAs contain 55% nickel and 45% titanium and expand automatically at the body temperature of 37° C. to apply a constant radial pressure against the arterial wall, preventing its collapse. Unlike stainless steel stents, which require angioplastic balloon pressure to expand, nitinol stents expand independently. However, nickel is toxic and leaches out over a prolonged period of time. Therefore, nitinol stents require a suitable coating.
While a stent may be effective in preventing restenosis, restenosis can nevertheless occur. Various factors may contribute to restenosis. For example, the stented site may reocclude due to intense coagulation reaction at the stented site. The proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells over and through the stent may contribute to restenosis.
Current stent research is focused on creating biocompatible stents that remain effective for a long period of time without requiring a second stenting procedure within the affected lumen. Most research focuses on coating the stents with antithrombogenic drugs to prevent platelet aggregation. This approach only shows promise for the short-term delay of restenosis. As the drugs undergo dissolution within the bloodstream, their effectiveness is reduced.
One solution that is occasionally implemented is to insert beta-particle-emitting radioactive drugs or chemicals into the stent to prevent restenosis from occurring. Such a solution is a compromise between the possibility of cancer caused by radiation and the possibility of restenosis caused by a local vascular tissue reaction.
The following describes various attempts that have been made to develop stents that are coated with substances that discourage restenosis.
For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,231,600 to Zhong discloses a stent with a multilayer coating. In particular, a first layer of polymer such as a polyurethane, including restenosis-inhibiting substances such as paclitaxel, is coupled by a crosslinking agent to a second non-thrombogenic layer. The crosslinking agent is preferably a polyfunctional aziridine and the second layer includes heparin.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,206,914 to Soykan et al. discloses a stent carrying eukaryotic cells, including genetically-engineered endothelial cells, capable of producing and releasing a therapeutic agent. Furthermore, the stent includes a polymer coating covering at least a portion of either the exposed or the wall-contacting surface of the stent. The polymer film may also incorporate anti-thrombogenic or anti-inflammatory agents.
Published U.S. patent application No. 2002/0049495 discloses a stent coated with a polymer such as polyurethane or polyethylene glycol. The polymer incorporates antibodies which promote endothelial cell growth. The endothelial cells may be added to the coated stent before implantation or may grow onto the stent after implantation. The endothelial cells may be genetically modified. The antibodies may be tethered to the polymer layer by linking molecules.
Published U.S. patent application No. 2002/0102560 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,957,972 both disclose genetically modified endothelial cells that may be used to coat stents to prevent restenosis.
Various drugs and cell factors have been suggested to treat restenosis. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,516,781 is directed to the treatment of restenosis with rapamycin. U.S. Pat. No. 6,231,600 discloses a stent with a hybrid coating incorporating paclitaxel.
A stent coating must be resistant to 1) bacterial infection, 2) cellular inflammation, 3) a foreign body reaction, 4) platelet aggregation, and 5) corrosion. Polymer coating of implants for improving biocompatibility has a proven efficacy. Some of the polymers used are polyurethane, polylactic acid, and polytetrafluroethylene (PTFE), which is known as Teflon®. The objective of polymer coating is to minimize the foreign-body reaction, which is an inflammatory response characterized by multinucleated giant cells engulfing the stents, platelet formation, and thrombogenesis. Previous studies have shown that polyurethane is one of the most biocompatible polymers; it is flexible, it can be formulated as a hydrophilic coating, and it is not cytotoxic. One type of polyurethane contains aromatic isocyanates. One of the most commonly used polyurethanes for coating is bis(4isocyanatophenyl) methane, also referred to as MDI. Previous studies have shown that hydrophilic polyurethane coatings of implants are one of the most useful and effective biocompatible coatings. Other known biocompatible polymers include polyester and the natural organic polymer, rubber.

Board of Trustees of the University of Arkansas


A simplified combustion engine driven heat pump system having electric power co-generation capability includes a compressor unloading valve to reduce demand on the engine and optimize the efficiency of intermittent power generation during heat pump system downtime. Some benefits of electrical power generation available in more sophisticated system designs are thereby obtained with a smaller, simpler, inexpensive and reliable system.

The present invention relates to combustion engine driven heat pump systems and air conditioning systems which provide for the auxiliary generation of electrical power. In particular, it relates to those systems which generate auxiliary electrical power for system fans and pumps, for building power requirements, or for return to power system grids.
This invention is directed primarily to heat pump systems which are applied to heating and air conditioning loads of the environment in the living spaces of buildings. As used herein, the term air conditioning means the adjustment of the temperature and humidity in the living space to selected comfortable norms when the outside environment and particularly the ambient temperature, is either too high or too low for comfort. However, many of the objectives and concepts of this invention also have application to other types of thermal loads. Therefore, the term "load" as used herein, while specifically in the context of air conditioning, may be interpreted broadly to apply to other thermal loads by those familiar with heating and cooling technology.
In many heat pump systems, refrigerant vapor is compressed in rotating or reciprocating compressors. Where the compressor is driven by an internal combustion engine or other form of motive power, it has been proposed to further connect and drive an electrical generator with the engine to produce auxiliary power.
The co-generation of electrical power in heat pump systems presents various problems, including the maintenance of constant electrical output, typically 60 cycle alternating current. To produce 60 cycle alternating current power, it is typically necessary that the generator be operated at substantially constant speed. Because of the wide range of temperature and load conditions to which the heat pump system responds, the demand on the combustion engine will vary dramatically with the compressor load. Consequently, engine throttle and speed are important factors which must be controlled to achieve both proper heat pump system operation and proper electrical generation.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,991,400 to Wilkinson discloses an apparatus providing for interconnection and cooperation between the various heat pump and electrical generation components of the system which provides for more optimal, and continuous operation of both the heat pump and electrical generation systems. In the '400 patent, Wilkinson teaches the use of a continuously variable transmission (CVT) to continuously vary, increasing or decreasing, the ratio of speed between the combustion engine and the electrical generator. A planetary gear is further positioned at the compressor in cooperation, the CVT to further increase or decrease the speed and torque transmitted to the compressor.
While the CVT is capable of providing continuous, generally constant operation of the electrical generator and continuous operation of the compressor, these components can add considerable cost to the overall heat pump/power generation system. Moreover, the added complexity increases the maintenance requirements of the heat pump system, such as the need to maintain the belts of belt-driven CVTs. The continuous production of electrical power, while desirable, has the undesirable effect, particularly in extreme temperature conditions, of requiring additional loading of the combustion engine at times when it already experiences high loads at the compressor. Moreover, despite the use of the CVT and planetary gear, the compressor typically continues to provide some load to the combustion engine at all times, reducing the overall efficiency of the system.
Accordingly the need remains for additional, cost-effective, reliable heat pump systems providing electrical co-generation, without the disadvantages of existing systems.

Heat pump and air conditioning system compressor unloading method and apparatus


The present invention discloses a HT-AttPSM (high-transmittance attenuated phase-shift mask) blank with phase-shifters composed of the (Al2O3)x/(TiO2)1-x superlattice film stacks, wherein x preferably ranges 79˜84%. Particularly, the four-stacked superlattice films of the present invention perform superior optical properties including transmittance of 19.9% and a reflectance of 3.2% at the wavelength of 193 nm and an inspection transmittance less than 20% at the wavelength of 257 nm.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a HT-AttPSM (high-transmittance attenuated phase-shift mask) blank, which particularly performs proper transmittance and reflectance at an exposure 193 nm wavelength, and low inspection transmittance at the 257 nm wavelength.
2. Description of the Related Prior Arts
Currently, HT-AttPSM is developed as the focus margin increases with improvement of the photoresist technologies and the chrome assist feature. By employing the HT-AttPSM technique, the ArF lithography may have the potential to reach the 65 nm technology node.
The key optical requirements for an HT-AttPSM blank are: (1) a 180° phase shift, (2) a transmittance between 15˜25%, preferably 18˜20%, and (3) a reflectance less than 15% at an exposure wavelength of 193 nm; and (4) an inspection transmittance less than 40% at a wavelength of 257 nm.
Materials now used for AttPSM at wavelengths of 193 or 248 nm are hard to inspect at the 257 nm wavelength due to their high transmittance, and the reflectance of their coatings at the exposure wavelength is about 12˜20%. However, a three-stacked (Ta2O5)x/(Al2O3)1-x thin film exhibits a reflectance less than 7% as π-phase shifters at 248 nm wavelength, which indicates that composite multilayer films may be good candidate material.
TiO2 and amorphous Al2O3 thin films have been widely used as material for many applications due to good properties such as chemical inertness, mechanical strength, hardness and satisfactory optical characteristics. TiO2 films are generally used in applications such as corrosion protection, wear resistance, electronics and optics. Amorphous Al2O3 thin films are widely used in applications such as in optics, corrosion protection, wear resistance and electronics. However, their application as HT-AttPSM blanks in ArF lithography has not yet been reported.
Therefore, it's desired to develop a novel composite material for HT-AttPSM to solve the above problem.

High-transmittance attenuated phase-shift mask blank

National Kaohsiung First University of Science and Technology


In an image forming apparatus, a compression history recording portion stores compression history information in a non-transitory computer-readable information storage medium, wherein the compression history information represents results of accumulation of compression levels through the compression process executed by the data compression portion. A history monitoring portion executes a predetermined improvement process when the compression history information satisfies a predetermined insufficient compression condition.

The present disclosure relates to an image forming apparatus having a function to compress raster image data.
In general, it is known that an image forming apparatus includes a data conversion portion and a data compression portion. The data conversion portion converts job data for image formation obtained from another apparatus such as a user terminal, to raster image data. The data compression portion compresses the raster image data.
The image forming apparatus executes an expansion process to expand compressed data stored in a temporary storage area assigned in a data buffer, and executes an image forming process based on the expanded data.
In addition, it is known that when a compression result exceeding a predetermined compression rate is obtained by executing a compression process on the raster image data, the compression process is re-executed after changing a compression parameter so that the compressed data is more reduced in size than with the initial compression process.


A clock device is held by a moving body, and receives a modulated wave from two electromagnetic fields generated by an antenna formed in a predetermined shape and disposed on a path. The clock device demodulates the modulated wave and acquires unique identification information. The clock device determines a non-detection period after the identification information is acquired. The clock device acquires a reference time corresponding to a middle of the non-detection period, and specifies the acquired reference time as a pass time when the moving body has passed through a point where the antenna is disposed.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a clock device, a clock system and a time measuring method which appropriately clock the pass time of a moving body, e.g., the time of an athlete while preventing false detection of an electromagnetic field or the like.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recently, an attempt of measuring (clocking) goal times of individual athletes has been made in marathons. For example, a measuring system, which has a bar-code printed on the number cloth of a runner, and measures the goal time of an individual runner based on a time when the bar-code of the runner who has crossed the goal line is read through a reader, is in practical use.
Nowadays, to measure a competition time including a pass time at a halfway clock point, an attempt of measuring the competition time of an individual runner by a non-contact scheme has been made. For example, a measuring system which causes an athlete to hold a tag transmitter (wireless tag or the like), and measures a competition time through the tag transmitter is developed, and the operational test thereof or the like is attempted for practical usage.
As an example, Unexamined Japanese Patent Application KOKAI Publication No. 2006-47263 (P11 to P25, and FIG. 1) discloses a technology which specifies a measuring time (competition time) by causing a wireless tag, which includes a clock unit and is held by an athlete, to detect a predetermined electromagnetic field.
According to the foregoing technology, as shown in FIG. 9A in detail, a loop coil formed in a shape like figure of 8 is disposed on a course (clock point) through which an athlete runs to generate an electromagnetic field. That is, an electromagnetic field shown in FIG. 9B is generated on the loop coil. The electromagnetic field includes an additional side lobe SL in addition to a main lobe ML used for measurement.
As the athlete reaches the clock point (loop coil) and moves on such an electromagnetic field, the wireless tag detects a point b (trigger point) shown in FIG. 9B through the change of the electromagnetic field, thus measuring a competition time. Information on the measured competition time and the like is transmission data from the wireless tag to a receiver.
According to the foregoing technology, the change of the electromagnetic field (more specifically, detection of a point where the polarity of an electromagnetic field intensity changes) is set as a condition of detecting a trigger point in the electromagnetic field shown in FIG. 9B.
However, in the vicinity of a point a where detection of the electromagnetic field is started, the signal level of the electromagnetic field becomes unstable, so that the wireless tag catches the change, resulting in false detection of a trigger point. Therefore, in practice, an operation of detecting a trigger point is started after a predetermined time has passed from first detection of the electromagnetic field. That is, the wireless tag is set to have a non-detection time, and the operation of detecting a trigger point is started after the non-detection time passes from when the electromagnetic field is detected at first in the vicinity of the point a, so that the point b is detected as the trigger point.
However, every time the abilities of runners (moving speeds on the loop coil) differ, e.g., cases like an international competition and a civic competition, and a men's competition and a women's competition, it is necessary to set the non-detection time in accordance with the abilities of the runners. This is extremely bothersome, thus the non-detection time may be set falsely, and there is a possibility such that setting itself is not carried out at all.
If the electromagnetic field to be generated on the loop coil is not appropriate (too large) and the trigger level of the wireless tag is not appropriate (too low), the side lobe LS may be detected. In this case, even if the non-detection time is set appropriately, the start of the detection operation is so fast that the wireless tag detects the change of the electromagnetic field other than the point b, resulting in false detection of a trigger point.
Further, in a relay competition like a marathon relay race, a person who arrives a point (a runner who has run a previous interval) and a person who departs from the point (a runner who is about to run a current interval) may run on the same loop coil in receiving a cross brace or a baton. At this time, wireless tags of both runners respectively perform transmission of a competition time.
In this case, only the competition time of the person who arrives the point is valid, and it is necessary to discard the competition time transmission data from the person who departs the point. Accordingly, it is necessary to register identification information or the like for identifying the wireless tag of the person who arrives a point beforehand in a reception-side processing device.
The wireless tag of the departing person ever performs unnecessary transmission, and due to a collision with the unnecessary transmission or the like, an adverse effect may be given when the wireless tag of the arriving person transmits a competition time.

Clock device, clock system, and time measuring method


The present invention is designed to improve the efficiency of the use of radio resources in retransmission control in future radio communication systems. A user terminal according to one aspect of the present invention has a receiving section that receives a downlink (DL) signal, and a control section that, when a transport block of the DL signal is divided into a plurality of code blocks, controls transmission of retransmission control information representing an acknowledgment (ACK) or a negative acknowledgment (NACK) for each code block, or representing an ACK or a NACK for each code block group, which groups fewer code blocks than the plurality of code blocks.

In the UMTS (Universal Mobile Telecommunications System) network, the specifications of long-term evolution (LTE) have been drafted for the purpose of further increasing high speed data rates, providing lower latency and so on (see non-patent literature 1). Also, the specifications of LTE-A (also referred to as "LTE-Advanced," "LTE Rel. 10 to 13," etc.) have been drafted for further broadbandization and increased speed beyond LTE (also referred to as "LTE Rel. 8 or 9"), and successor systems of LTE (also referred to as, for example, "FRA (Future Radio Access)," "5G (5th generation mobile communication system)," "NR (New RAT (Radio Access Technology)," "LTE Rel. 14 and later versions," etc.) are under study.
In existing LTE systems (for example, Rel. 13 and earlier versions), adaptive modulation coding (AMC), which adaptively changes at least one of the modulation scheme, the transport block size (TBS), and the coding rate, is executed for link adaptation. Here, the TBS is the size of transport blocks (TBs), which are units of information bit sequences. One or more TBs are assigned to one subframe.
For example, in the downlink (DL), the radio base station determines the MCS (Modulation and Coding Scheme), indicating the modulation scheme (modulation order) of the DL signal (for example, down link shared channel (PDSCH (Physical Downlink Shared Channel)) and the TBS index, based on the channel quality indicator (CQI (Channel Quality Indicator)) fed back from the user terminal. The radio base station determines the TBS of the DL signal based on the TBS index indicated by the MCS index and the number of resource blocks (for example, physical resource block (PRB (Physical Resource Block)) allocated to the DL signal.
In DL, the TBS (or MCS index used to determine TBS) is preferably determined so that the coding rate of the DL signal does not exceed 0.931. Here, the coding rate can be obtained by, for example, dividing the number of information bits including CRC (Cyclic Redundancy Check) bits by the number of bits that can be used for PDSCH. For example, since the number of resource elements (REs) that can be used for PDSCH is limited in a subframe in which the reference signal for measurement of channel state information (CSI) (CSI-RS (Channel State Information-Reference Signal)) is configured, even if the radio base station determines the MCS index indicating the large TBS index value and reports it to the user terminal, the user terminal skips decoding of the PDSCH.
Meanwhile, in the uplink (UL), the user terminal determines the TBS of the UL signal based on the MCS index specified by the radio base station and the number of resource blocks allocated to the UL signal.
Furthermore, in existing LTE systems, retransmission control (HARQ (Hybrid Automatic Repeat reQuest)) of DL signals and UL signals is performed per TB, whose size (TBS) is determined as described above.

User terminal and radio communication method


According to an embodiment, an encryption key generating apparatus includes a converting unit to convert input data using a physically unclonable function and outputs output data; a memory to store a plurality of pattern data, each of which is a partial data in the output data indicated by one of a plurality of index data; a generating unit to generates an encryption key on the basis of the plural of index data; and a comparing unit to compare the output data with the plural of pattern data to detect plural of locations in the output data at which partial data similar to the plural of pattern data is present. The generating unit reproduces, as the plural of index data, the plural of locations detected by the comparing unit and reproduces the encryption key on the basis of the plural of index data that have been reproduced.

A cryptographic protocol makes use of an encryption key or an authentication key (hereinafter, collectively referred to as "encryption key"), and implements the functions of confidentiality and authentication. A cryptographic protocol needs to make use of an encryption key that is generated in a confidential manner. As a method of enhancing the confidentiality of an encryption key, a method is known by which the encryption key is generated with the use of a physically unclonable function (PUF).
A physically unclonable function outputs a device-specific value from the same input. An encryption key generated with the use of a physically unclonable function is difficult to clone in an external device. For that reason, a physically unclonable function is receiving attention as the elemental technology in key generation and authentication. Even when an encryption key is generated with the use of a physically unclonable function, it is still necessary to ensure that the encryption key is generated in an efficient fashion.

Encryption key generating apparatus and computer program product


A combustion turbine power generation system (10) includes a combustion turbine assembly (11) including a main compressor (12) constructed and arranged to receive ambient inlet air, a main expansion turbine (14) operatively associated with the main compressor, combustors (16) constructed and arranged to receive compressed air from the main compressor and to feed the main expansion turbine, and an electric generator (15) associated with the main expansion turbine for generating electric power. A compressed air storage (18) stores compressed air. A heat exchanger (24) is constructed and arranged to receive a source of heat and to receive compressed air from the storage so as to heat compressed air received from the storage. An air expander (28) is associated with the heat exchanger and is constructed and arranged to expand the heated compressed air for producing additional electric power. Airflow, extracted from the expander, is injected into the combustion turbine assembly upstream of the combustors for combustion turbine assembly power augmentation.

It is well known that combustion turbines have significant power degradation associated with increased ambient temperature or high elevations. This loss of power is primarily associated with the reduced mass of the combustion turbine's airflow, caused by the reduced inlet air density.
There are a number of power augmentation technologies targeting the recovery of the power lost by combustion turbines due to high ambient temperatures/high elevation:                The Air Injection power augmentation technology that is based on the injection upstream of combustors of additional airflow (humid or dry) that is delivered by external auxiliary compressor(s);        Inlet chillers that cool the ambient air and provide a corresponding power augmentation;        Evaporative coolers, inlet fogging and "wet compression" technologies that provide power augmentation by a combination of the inlet air cooling and the increased mass flow through the combustion turbine;        Air Injection power augmentation technology disclosed in my earlier U.S. Pat. No. 5,934,063, the contents of which is incorporated by reference herein, that is based upon air injection upstream of combustors using a compressed air energy storage. However, the compressed air in the storage typically has a much higher pressure than is needed for the air injection for the power augmentation.
Thus, there is a need to utilize the compressed air storage high pressure to further improve the incremental power and to improve the overall heat rate of the system.

Power augmentation of combustion turbines with compressed air energy storage and additional expander with airflow extraction and injection thereof upstream of combustors


An ion implantation system provides ions to a workpiece positioned in a vacuum environment of a process chamber on a cooled chuck. A pre-chill station within the process chamber has a chilled workpiece support configured to cool the workpiece to a first temperature, and a post-heat station within the process chamber, has a heated workpiece support configured to heat the workpiece to a second temperature. The first temperature is lower than a process temperature, and the second temperature is greater than an external temperature. A workpiece transfer arm is further configured to concurrently transfer two or more workpieces between two or more of the chuck, a load lock chamber, the pre-chill station, and the post-heat station.

Electrostatic clamps or chucks (ESCs) are often utilized in the semiconductor industry for clamping workpieces or substrates during plasma-based or vacuum-based semiconductor processes such as ion implantation, etching, chemical vapor deposition (CVD), etc. Clamping capabilities of the ESCs, as well as workpiece temperature control, have proven to be quite valuable in processing semiconductor substrates or wafers, such as silicon wafers. A typical ESC, for example, comprises a dielectric layer positioned over a conductive electrode, wherein the semiconductor wafer is placed on a surface of the ESC (e.g., the wafer is placed on a surface of the dielectric layer). During semiconductor processing (e.g., ion implantation), a clamping voltage is typically applied between the wafer and the electrode, wherein the wafer is clamped against the chuck surface by electrostatic forces.
For certain ion implantation processes, cooling the workpiece via a cooling of the ESC is desirable. At colder temperatures, however, condensation can form on the workpiece, or even freezing of atmospheric water on the surface of the workpiece can occur, when the workpiece is transferred from the cold ESC in the process environment (e.g., a vacuum environment) to an external environment (e.g., a higher pressure, temperature, and humidity environment). For example, after an implantation of ions into the workpiece, the workpiece is typically transferred into a load lock chamber, and the load lock chamber is subsequently is vented. When the load lock chamber is opened to remove the workpiece therefrom, the workpiece is typically exposed to ambient atmosphere (e.g., warm, "wet" air at atmospheric pressure), wherein condensation can occur on the workpiece. The condensation can deposit particles on the workpiece, and/or leave residues on the workpiece that can have adverse effects on front side particles (e.g., on active areas), and can lead to defects and production losses.
Heating of the workpiece can be performed in order to attempt to alleviate the adverse effects of condensation; however, such heating often "soaks" the workpiece for a period of time on the ESC in order to reach a predetermined temperature, prior to transferring the wafer. Long soak times conventionally adversely affect workpiece throughput in the ion implantation system.
Therefore, a need exists in the art for an apparatus, system, and method for mitigating condensation on a workpiece while improving workpiece throughput when transferring a cold workpiece between a "dry" or evacuated environment and a "wet" or atmospheric environment.

In-vacuum high speed pre-chill and post-heat stations


A data communication system includes a unit that receives edge-encoded data from a data link. The unit includes a counter, a data bit reader, and a phase-locked loop. The counter counts at a sampling frequency between a minimum value and an end-count value. The data bit reader is connected to receive the edge-encoded data. The data bit reader samples the edge-encoded data at the sampling frequency to detect data bits of the edge-encoded data. The phase-locked loop updates the end-count value if consecutive bits of the data bits are detected prior to an expected iteration of the counter. The phase-locked loop also updates the end-count value if consecutive bits of the data bits are detected later than the expected iteration of the first counter.

The present invention is related to data communication, and in particular to a system and method for cross-channel data link communication.
In critical systems, such as those onboard aircraft, redundant units are often utilized to protect against failures and verify input and output data. The redundant units may communicate shared data with one another in order to verify the integrity of the data. These systems are often asynchronous systems in which each unit includes its own oscillator. Because of this, in order to ensure data integrity, data must be sampled at a high oversample rate. This limits the speed at which data can be communicated between the units. It is desirable to limit the oversample rate in order to provide greater speed for the data communication between the redundant units.

Cross-channel data communication with data phase-locked loop


Correcting motion-based inaccuracy in point cloud data generated by one or more sensors carried by a scanning platform, and associated systems and methods are disclosed herein. A representative method includes associating a motion model with a target object of the point cloud, estimating adjusting factors based on the motion model, and adjusting scanning points in the point cloud using the adjusting factors.

The surrounding environment of a scanning platform can typically be scanned or otherwise detected using one or more emitter/detector sensors. Emitter/detector sensors, such as LiDAR sensors, typically transmit a pulsed signal (e.g. laser signal) outwards, detect the pulsed signal reflections, and identify three-dimensional information (e.g., laser scanning points) in the environment to facilitate object detection and/or recognition. Typical emitter/detector sensors can provide three-dimensional geometry information (e.g., scanning points represented in a three-dimensional coordinate system associated with the sensor or scanning platform) accumulated over short periods of time. The information obtained regarding the positions of objects can facilitate the process of detecting pedestrians, vehicles, and/or other objects in the environment, thereby providing a basis for target tracking, obstacle avoidance, route planning, and/or other applications in automated or assisted navigation operations. However, inaccuracies exist at least partly due to the accumulation of scanning points, which can affect various higher level applications. Accordingly, there remains a need for improved sensing techniques and devices.

Correction of motion-based inaccuracy in point clouds


A windshield for a cycle, such as a motorcycle, bicycle or tricycle, having a dihedral leading surface to provide operator protection of wind, dust, bugs and debris. The windshield further comprises a pair of side panels extending from the dihedral leading surface to provide added stability to the cycle by providing a corrective steering force behind the axis of the cycle's fork to maintain the orientation of the fork into the wind. The windshield is securely attached to a cycle without the use of tools and with adequate strength to withstand the rigors of prolonged use. The attachment between the cycle and the windshield preferably includes a break-away feature to allow for one piece break-away of the windshield if subjected to rear impact from a cycle's rider or passenger during a crash. The windshield is free from metal bracketry extending into the operator's field of vision or potential path or trajectory of the operator or passenger in an accident, due to the strength inherent in the windshield's shape and construction.

In the development of motorized transport, one of the first enhancements, after reasonable vehicular reliability was achieved, was a means of protecting the operator and passengers from flying insects, dust, and the elements of wind, sunlight, rain, heat and cold. With automobiles and the like, this protection manifested itself in enclosed bodies with windows that could be rolled up and down, and windshield and vent windows that could be tipped open or closed. Heating, venting, and air conditioning followed.
Motorcyclists, however, enjoyed no such protections, except through riding apparel, until after World War II when, following the military's lead, motorcycle windshields were offered to the public. They were typically a nearly flat, semi-oval shaped piece of clear plastic mounted round side up, on and extending upward from the handlebars. They were held in place with metal bracketry and re-enforced with a steel rod inside the periphery of the inner edge. They had a gangly, afterthought appearance and were looked upon with disdain by the majority of "enthusiasts."
Various improvements were made over the years including the development of frame mounted fairings and bodywork. However, there is still room for improvement, namely:
1. Provide adequate protections as listed above while minimizing blind spots in the operator's field of view.
2. Provide adequate protections as listed above without resorting to a windshield or fairing of such large proportions that the overall appearance or styling of the vehicle is compromised.
3. Provide a means of enhancing aerodynamics such that air displaced by the motion of the vehicle is encouraged to flow around the operator with a minimum of turbulence, rather than over the windshield and onto him, causing buffeting and fatigue.
4. Provide stability to the vehicle at moderate to high speeds that will tend to keep the vehicle on its directed line of travel despite head winds, cross winds, and traffic generated turbulence.
5. Be easily removed for cleaning of its inner surface and the underlying vehicle, or for operating sans protection, without the use of tools; and then likewise re-attached. Detachable windshields are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,736,441; U.S. Pat. No. 6,254,166; U.S. Pat. No. 6,176,538; U.S. Pat. No. 5,853,217; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,658,035.
The Ideal Windshield for the Vehicles Mentioned above Would Have these Additional Properties:
6. Be clear, non-yellowing, optically non-distorting, and un-changing in the extremes of temperatures to be expected, say, 20 to 120 degrees Fahrenheit.
7. Be mounted and safely held in place during operation without the use of metal bracketry extending into the path the operator and/or passenger might follow if thrown from the vehicle in an accident.
8. Be made of material unlikely to fracture in such a way when struck by a stone or piece of metal, or as described in #7, so as to create a hazard to the operator or passenger, yet be strong enough, flexible enough, and fatigue resistant enough to withstand the rigors of use without cracking or breaking.
9. Be scratch resistant from impingement by typical airborne debris or from reasonable efforts to clean it.
10. Be capable of manufacture and installation at a reasonable and competitive price.
11. Through enhanced aerodynamics provide improved gas mileage, or in the case of bicycles, improved operator efficiency.
12. Be as compact as possible consistent with the above requirements so as to complement the styling and appearance of the underlying vehicle, rather than detract from it.
13. Extend the listed protections as far backward toward the operator as possible without interfering with his visibility or operation of the vehicle.

Windshield for a motorcycle, motor tricycle or bicycle


A memory cell has a selection transistor constituted of an MOS transistor having a gate electrode and a cell transistor constituted of an MOS transistor having the same polarity as the selection transistor, in such a configuration that these two transistors are connected in series. A bit line is connected to a drain region of the selection transistor and a word line is connected to the gate electrode thereof. A gate electrode of the cell transistor is not electrically connected anywhere so as to be in a floating potential state, while a drain region thereof is connected to a source region of the selection transistor. A source line is connected to a source region of the cell transistor.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a non-volatile semiconductor memory device which has non-volatile memory cells and which is especially suitable for being integrated in a semiconductor chip together with a peripheral logic circuit.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recently, on a user side constituting a semiconductor system, there increase demands for a non-volatile semiconductor memory device which is inexpensive and, capable of programming data after a semiconductor chip is manufactured. Such a non-volatile semiconductor memory device is required to be integrated in a semiconductor chip together with a central processing unit (CPU) or a micro processor unit (MPU) in order to assure a higher level of security.
As a non-volatile semiconductor memory device capable of electrical erasure, there is known such a device that a transistor having a stacked gate structure included of a control gate electrode and a floating gate electrode is used as a memory cell.
The non-volatile semiconductor memory device using the transistor having such a stacked gate structure is known to have a high reliability. Such a non-volatile semiconductor memory device, however, has inherent specifications, an element structure, and manufacturing processes and so has poor compatibility with the other logic products. Therefore, this type of non-volatile semiconductor memory device gives rise to a great increase in number of steps and costs if it is to be integrated in the same semiconductor chip together with a peripheral logic circuit such as a CPU or an MPU.
As a non-volatile semiconductor memory device that can be easily integrated in the same semiconductor chip together with the peripheral logic circuit, there is conventionally known one such as described in, for example, "A Non-Volatile Memory Device with True CMOS Compatibility" by A. Bergemount et al., Non-Volatile Semiconductor Memory Workshop, pp. 86–89, 2000.
A cross-sectional structure of a memory cell described in this reference is shown in FIG. 1 and an equivalent circuit of a memory array in which this plurality of memory cells of FIG. 1 are arranged is shown in FIG. 2.
As shown in FIG. 1, in a P type semiconductor substrate (P-sub) 61, a plurality of N type wells (only one of which is shown in the figure) 62 are formed. In each of the plurality of N type wells 62, a source region 63 and a drain region 64 which are made of a P+ diffusion layer are formed. Further, a gate electrode 65 is formed on the substrate between the source and drain regions, to make up a cell transistor 66 constituted of a P-channel MOS transistor in each of the N type wells 62. The gate electrode 65 of the cell transistor 66 is not electrically connected anywhere so as to be in a floating potential state.
In each N type well 62, a contact region 67 made of an N+ diffusion layer is formed which serves to make contact with the N type well. The contact region 67 is connected together with the source region 63 to a bit line BL. Further, the drain region 64 of the cell transistor is connected to a ground-potential node via a selection transistor 68 constituted of an N-channel MOS transistor. A gate electrode of the selection transistor 68 is connected to a word line WL.
The memory cell shown in FIG. 1 is formed many, to form a memory cell array shown in FIG. 2. In the memory cell array, the respective pluralities of word lines WL and bit lines BL extend in such a manner that they may cross. At each intersection of each word line WL and each bit line BL is there arranged each memory cell MC. Each memory cell MC has such a configuration that the cell transistor 66 whose gate electrode is not electrically connected anywhere so as to be in the floating potential state as described above and the selection transistor 68 are connected in series. It is to be noted that a region enclosed by a broken line in FIG. 2 corresponds to the N type well 62 in FIG. 1.
In the non-volatile semiconductor memory device, after a semiconductor chip is manufactured, an entire surface of the chip is irradiated with an ultraviolet light, to initialize the gate electrodes of the cell transistors 66 of all of the memory cells MC into a charge-less state so that the cell transistors 66 may have a predetermined constant negative threshold value.
To write data, the selected bit line BL is supplied with a voltage of, for example, 5V or so. This causes the N type well 62 connected to the selected bit line BL to be set to 5V or so simultaneously. Further, only the selected word line WL is provided with the "H" level potential to turn ON the selected transistor 68, so that 0V is transmitted to the P+ diffusion layer, which is the drain region 64 of the cell transistor 66. In this case, the other word lines are connected to the ground level of 0V and the selection transistor 68 is turned OFF. In the selected cell transistor 66 placed at the intersection of the selected bit line and the selected word line, the N type well 62 and the source region 63 are each set to 5V or so, and the drain region 64 is set to 0V.
Upon application of the ultraviolet light, the threshold value of the cell transistor 66 is negative, so that the cell transistor 66 is in the ON state to flow a current between the drain region 64 and the source region 63, part of which current provides hot electrons, which pass through a gate insulation film of the cell transistor 66 and are injected into the gate electrode 65. This causes the threshold voltage of the cell transistor 66 to rise and turn positive. This state is defined, for example, as a "0" storage state.
In the cell transistor 66 into which no electrons are desired to be injected, the bit line BL connected to the cell transistor is set to 0V in potential beforehand so that the negative threshold voltage upon the application of the ultraviolet light may be maintained unchanged. This state is defined, for example, a "1" storage state.
To read the data, the selected bit line BL is supplied with a predetermined positive-polarity potential and the selected word line WL is also supplied with the predetermined positive polarity potential, to turn ON the selected transistor 68. If the gate electrode 65 of the cell transistor 66 has no electrons yet injected therein and stays as exposed to the ultraviolet light, the threshold voltage of the cell transistor 66 is of a negative polarity. Therefore, the cell transistors 66, which stays as exposed to the ultraviolet light, is turned to ON state, so that the current starts flowing through the bit line BL.
On the other hand, if the gate electrode 65 has electrons injected and data written beforehand and so its threshold voltage is shifted to the positive polarity, its cell transistor 66 is turned OFF, so that no current flows through the bit line BL.
In such a manner, when the data is read, in accordance with whether the data is written or not, the cell transistor is in the ON or OFF state respectively, in accordance with which in turn, the current flows or does not flow through the bit line BL respectively. Whether the current flows through the bit line BL or not is decided by a sense-amplifier, to detect whether the data is "0" or "1".
The non-volatile semiconductor memory device, however, has the following problems. The first problem is that it is not capable of electrical erasure. That is, it is designed to erase the data by applying the ultraviolet light and so needs to use a package provided with a window fitted with quartz glass which transmits the ultraviolet light, which package, however, is very expensive.
The second problem is that the N type well needs to be independently provided for each memory cell, so that the cell becomes large in area. Therefore, the memory device having such a large bit capacity cannot be formed in a semiconductor chip.
Therefore, there has conventionally been a demand for solving these problems.

Non-volatile semiconductor memory device


Circuits, methods, and apparatus for output devices having parasitic transistors for a higher output current drive. One such MOS output device includes a parasitic bipolar transistor that assists output voltage transitions. The parasitic transistor may be inherent in the structure of the MOS device. Alternately, one or more regions, such as implanted or diffused regions, may be added to the MOS device to form or enhance the parasitic bipolar device. The parasitic transistor is turned on when during an appropriate output transition and turned off once the transition is complete. The parasitic device may be turned on by injecting current into the bulk of a pull-down device, by pulling current out of the bulk of a pull-up device, or by tying the bulk of the output device to an appropriate voltage, such as VCC for a pull-down device or ground for a pull-up device.

The present invention relates generally to output devices for integrated circuits, and more particularly to output devices having parasitic transistors for increased current drive.
The data rates required of integrated circuit inputs and outputs has increased dramatically the past few years, and the demand for ever higher data rates shows no signs of abating. Higher data rates mean that capacitances at device input and output pins need to be driven more quickly; this requires higher output currents to be provided by output devices.
Process changes can provide part of the solution. For example, as transistor gate lengths become smaller, the current driving capability of a device is increased. But for a specific technology or process, increasing the drive capability of an output device becomes difficult.
Conventional techniques used to increase current drive are limited by various tradeoffs. For example, the size of an output device can be increased. However, the use of a larger device increases output capacitance, which diminishes the gain in performance that would otherwise be achieved. Also, the sizes of devices driving the gate of the output device must be scaled larger when an output device's size is increased, thereby increasing power dissipation.
Another conventional solution is to increase the voltage amplitude of the signal driving the output device. Providing a higher gate-to-source voltage to an output device increases its output current. But power dissipation is a major concern in modern integrated circuits. Accordingly, device power supply voltages have been decreasing over time, reducing the available voltage drive. In any event, a higher voltage drive can lead to oxide problems in the output device caused by hot-carrier injection or time-dependent dielectric breakdown.
Accordingly, what is needed are circuits, methods, and apparatus that provide output devices having an increased drive capability. These devices can be used to provide higher currents for a given device size. These devices could also be used to reduce device sizes while maintaining a certain drive capability. Such output devices could be used to provide a more efficient output device, that is, an output device that is capable of providing a larger output current for a given die area.
Accordingly, embodiments of the present invention provide circuits, methods, and apparatus for output devices having parasitic transistors for a higher output current drive capability.
An exemplary embodiment of the present invention provides a MOS output device having a parasitic bipolar transistor that assists output voltage transitions. The parasitic transistor may be inherent in the structure of the MOS device. Alternately, one or more regions, such as implanted or diffused regions, may be added to the MOS device to form or enhance the parasitic bipolar device. The parasitic transistor is turned on during an appropriate output transition and turned off once the transition is complete. The parasitic device may be turned on by injecting current into the bulk of a pull-down device, by pulling current out of the bulk of a pull-up device, or by tying the bulk of the output device to an appropriate voltage, such as VCC for a pull-down device or ground for a pull-up device.
A specific embodiment of the present invention provides an n-channel pull-down device having a parasitic NPN device. The NPN device is turned on either by injecting base current into the bulk of the MOS pull-down device, or by tying the bulk of the MOS pull-down device to an appropriate voltage such as VCC. The base current is injected during the time after the pull-down device receives a low-to-high voltage transition at its gate and before an output voltage at its drain reaches a low level.
A specific embodiment of the present invention prevents substrate leakage currents by tying the bulk of the MOS device to its source during at least some of the time that base current is not being injected into its bulk. Various embodiments of the present invention may incorporate one or more of these and the other features described herein.
A better understanding of the nature and advantages of the present invention may be gained with reference to the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings.

Output device having parasitic transistor for increased current drive


A catalytic converter includes a housing defining an interior space, with a monolith supported therein. The monolith includes a catalyst disposed thereon. The catalytic converter includes a flow directing mechanism defined by one of the housing and/or the monolith to re-direct a flow of exhaust gas across the monolith to obtain a more even flow distribution of exhaust gas across the monolith. The monolith may include different regions, with each region including a different catalyst density disposed thereon. The catalyst density of each region may be optimized for the flow rate of exhaust gas across the monolith through each region.

Exhaust gas treatment systems for internal combustion engines, including but not limited to gasoline engines or diesel engines, may include a catalytic converter for treating a flow of exhaust gas from the internal combustion engine. The catalytic converter is a flow through device that consists of a housing containing a monolith, such as but not limited to a honeycomb-like structure. The monolith includes a large surface area that is coated with an active catalyst layer. The active catalyst layer may include, but is not limited to, a Platinum Group Metal (PGM). As the exhaust gases traverse the active catalyst layer, carbon monoxide, gaseous hydrocarbons and liquid hydrocarbon particles, i.e., unburned fuel and/or oil, are oxidized, thereby reducing harmful emissions.
The housing of the catalytic converter includes an inlet and an outlet, and typically includes a tubular shape defining an interior space that is larger than a flow area of the exhaust pipes connected to the inlet and the outlet respectively. Accordingly, the housing of the catalytic converter includes a conical section adjacent each of the inlet and the outlet to transition from the smaller diameter of the exhaust pipes to the larger diameter of the interior space of the housing. The more evenly the flow of exhaust gas is distributed across the monolith, the more efficient the catalytic converter operates.


A ReRAM device manufactured using 2-D Si2Te3 (silicon telluride) nanowires or nanoplates. The Si2Te3 nanowires exhibit a unique reversible resistance switching behavior driven by an applied electrical potential, which leads to switching of the NWs from a high-resistance state (HRS) to a low-resistance state (LRS). This switched LRS is highly stable unless the opposite potential is applied to switch the resistance back. This provides a new class of resistive switching based on semiconductor rather than dielectric materials. In several embodiments, the polarity of the initially applied potential along the Si2Te3 nanowires defines the switch “on” and “off” directions, which become permanent once set.

In various exemplary embodiments, the present invention comprises a ReRAM device manufactured using 2-D Si2Te3 (silicon telluride) nanowires, with diameters of tens to hundreds of nanometers, and lengths up to tens of micrometers, synthetized using a chemical vapor deposition (CVD) or vapor-liquid-solid (VLS) process. The Si2Te3 material, which may be layered, demonstrates a heretofore unknown and surprisingly highly repeatable resistance switching behavior in a silicon-based semiconductor, and stands in contrast to previous oxide-based resistive memory materials. Si2Te3 is considered as a p-type semiconductor with a band gap in the visible region. It has a unique crystal structure, where Si atoms form dumbbells sandwiched between the Te layers, i.e., Si—Si dimers exist in the sites between the hexagonally close-packed Te atoms. Covalent bonds are formed between the Te and Si within each layer, while weak van der Waals bonding exists between the layers to form a layered crystal structure.
Single-crystalline Si2Te3 nanowires are synthesized, growing along the c-axis (i.e., along the direction), which is perpendicular to the 2D layers, with stacking of layered nanosheets via the van der Waals force forming unique one-dimensional (1D) structures. In some embodiments, catalysts comprising Au nanoclusters on the substrates play a key role in the nanowire formation. Without the catalysts, instead of nanowires, nano or microplates were obtained. Two-dimensional (2D) materials preferably grow into thin layers and show stacking of the layers due to the van der Waals force, resulting in the formation of a few layers or bulk materials.
The Si2Te3 nanowires exhibit a unique reversible resistance switching behavior driven by an applied electrical potential, which leads to switching of the NWs from a high-resistance state (HRS) to a low-resistance state (LRS). This switched LRS is highly stable unless the opposite potential is applied to switch the resistance back. This provides a new class of resistive switching based on semiconductor rather than dielectric materials. In several embodiments, the polarity of the initially applied potential along the Si2Te3 nanowires defines the switch "on" and "off" directions, which become permanent once set. The resistance switching is found to be associated with an internal electrically-induced structural change resulting from the applied potential.
In one embodiment, a single device element comprises two metal electrodes connected to a Si2Te3 nanowire. The nanowire is initially at high resistance, and is turned to a low resistance state by application of a positive voltage of a few volts to the nanowire. This forms a two terminal memory device with an electrically-driven switching behavior. The fabrication of various memory devices is accomplished through standard microfabrication process.


A device for inspecting contraband in an aviation cargo container includes: a turntable and a scanning system, the scanning system including a radiation source; a detector; a radiation source mounting structure; and a detector mounting structure for mounting the detector. Each of said radiation source mounting structure and said detector mounting structure includes at least one column assembly. The radiation source and the detector are mounted on the column assembly and allowed to synchronously ascend and descend along said column assembly. By combining different movement modes of the turntable and the scanning system, the device of the present invention can scan the object in various scanning modes. The device is stable in structure, convenient in installation, and occupies a small space. The device can inspect aviation containers over two meters long and/or over two meters wide and achieve a relatively high passing rate of the objects.

Currently, aviation cargo such as an aviation container is still mainly inspected by manual inspection and X-ray tube transmission (only small-sized aviation containers can pass for inspection). Devices using CT (computed tomography) technology are also used for cargo inspection, for example products of Smith Corporation using X-ray tubes and products of Hualixing Company using a radiation source. The above two types of products are greatly limited in use because an X-ray tube exhibits a relatively poor penetration capability and radiation sources are strictly controlled in use and management. In particular, these devices all employ horizontal passing type scanning to conduct CT imaging inspection, i.e., the object passes horizontally, and a scanning system rotates around the travel path of the object such that these CT inspecting systems exhibit a relatively low cargo passing rate. Furthermore, this CT inspecting system is strictly limited by structure and dimensions and penetration ability, so said system cannot be used to inspect aviation containers with relatively large dimensions. For instance, the present-day devices cannot inspect an aviation container two meters long and two meters wide. Furthermore, the above horizontal passing type scanning requires occupation of the same area of ground on the left and right sides of the cargo passageway, so such device occupies a relatively large space.
In addition, in the prior art many kinds of radiation imaging modes such as transmission imaging, multi-viewing imaging, and CT imaging have been advanced. Said different imaging modes generally correspond to different cargo-scanning modes of scanning systems. The above prior art inspective devices can generally only realize one of the scanning modes so that the selection of imaging modes is limited. However, during cargo inspection, sometimes the same cargo needs to be scanned for imaging in different modes. The current inspection devices cannot meet this need.

Device for inspecting contraband in aviation cargo container


An emergency lighting device includes a backup power supply for illuminating a light during a power loss. The lighting device includes a transmitter, which transmits a signal to a receiver during a power outage. When the receiver receives the signal, the source of power switches from the primary power source, e.g., AC utility power, to a backup power source, e.g., DC battery power. The lighting device may include an LED lamp in which AC-LEDs are selectively illuminated when primary power source is delivered and DC-LEDs which are selectively illuminated during a power outage.

The present invention relates to an emergency lighting device and, more particularly, to an emergency lighting device including a backup power supply for illuminating a light during a power loss. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a transmitter which transmits a signal to a receiver for switching the power source from the primary power source to the backup power source during a power outage. The lighting device includes both light emitting elements that receive alternating current (AC) and light emitting elements that receive direct current (DC).
Lighting devices are normally powered by a utility power source which delivers AC power to illuminate the device. This is normally accomplished by using an electrical plug attached to the device and connecting it to an electrical wall outlet or socket. Alternatively, a lighting device may be attached to a ceiling or wall and hard-wired to an electrical connection. The light emitting elements must be compatible with the delivered source current, otherwise an AC-DC converter, adapter, or transformer is necessary to derive the required voltage and power from the source.
In the event of a power outage, power from the utility power source may become unavailable. This will result in the lighting device losing power and a black-out situation. Providing a back-up power source during a power outage is important for many residential and commercial buildings where safety and accessibility during a black-out becomes a major concern. Additionally, there are many state laws and building codes that require public buildings to have back-up lighting, and thus, it has been a goal to create dependable emergency lighting.
Many of the currently existing emergency lighting systems rely upon dual-wiring of a light source with a primary power source (typically AC utility power) and an additional back-up power source (typically DC battery power). This type of arrangement normally requires a relay and switch arrangement from the primary power source to the back-up power source during a power outage. These types of emergency lighting systems must come prewired or be manually rewired to provide this switching feature. Retrofit installation of these features requires labor by electricians and often alteration of walls. This is a significant drawback for users who would like an inexpensive and simple solution for adopting an emergency lighting scheme to preexisting light fixtures.
Additionally, the reliance on both primary AC utility power and backup DC battery power creates an inconsistency between the power source types being delivered to the lighting device. Thus, the need for an AC-DC convertor is naturally required to make at least one of the sources compatible with the lighting device. However, the existence of an AC-DC converter is space consuming, especially within the confines of a light bulb or light fixture lamp, and causes the electrical components to become more unstable due to the heat by-product.
The present invention seeks to improve upon such prior art by providing an emergency lighting device that is adaptable to preexisting lighting systems and includes a backup power source that operates in the event of a power outage without requiring special wiring.


In the velocity modulation apparatus for a three-tube projection television, an effective velocity modulation can be implemented under due consideration of humans eye's relative visibility characteristics with respect to the three primary colors of R, G and B, and the velocity modulation apparatus includes a VM signal extracting circuit 1 for extracting a velocity modulation (VM) signal from the luminance signal; a plurality of driving circuits 3 to 5 having three different gains at ratios of 0. 3:0. 59:0. 11; and a red color VM coil 7, a green color VM coil 8 and a blue color VM coil 9 provided for three corresponding Braun tubes, respectively and driven by the driving circuits 3 to 5, respectively. Since the respective gains of the driving circuits 3 to 5 are previously determined in correspondence to the eye's relative visibility of the three primary colors of R, G and B, it is possible to perform the velocity modulation being based on the practical emphasis at picture image contours, and thereby to eliminate wasteful power consumption.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a velocity modulation apparatus for a three-tube projection television (TV), and more specifically to a velocity modulation apparatus for effectively implementing velocity modulation on the basis of human eye's relative spectral luminous efficiency (visibility) characteristics with respect to three primary colors, in a three-tube projection television.
2. Description of the Prior Art
There has been well known a velocity modulation technique such that the electron beam scanning speed can be controlled by modulating an electron beam scanning at a constant scanning speed on the surface of a Braun tube (cathode ray tube), with the use of a coil disposed externally of the electron gun, without controlling the intensity of the electron beam.
Since the picture image is relatively darkened when the electron beam scanning speed is high and relatively brightened when low, it is possible to emphasize the picture image contour. Accordingly, on the basis of the velocity modulation technique for implementing the contour compensation as described above, it is possible to virtually improve the focus status by- sharpening the change in brightness at the edge portions of a picture image.
FIG. 6 shows a velocity modulation (VM) apparatus used for a one-tube projection television provided with a single electron gun of a direct viewing tube (ordinary CTV) type.
The velocity modulation apparatus of this projection television includes a VM signal extracting circuit 1 for extracting a velocity modulation signal by detecting the change of a luminance signal Y, and a driving circuit 10 for driving a VM coil 12 by amplifying the velocity modulation signal outputted from the VM signal extracting circuit 1 at a predetermined amplification factor.
The VM coil 12 is disposed on a Braun tube, and energized in response to the velocity modulation signal. As a result, the horizontal deflection magnetic field is modulated by the magnetic field generated by this VM coil 12, so that a deflection current can be modulated. Owing to this modulation operation, the deflection speed is decelerated (or accelerated) during the leading period of the video signal and accelerated (or decelerated) during the trailing period thereof, so that the electron beam speed can be controlled.
In the above-mentioned modulation operation, when the deflection speed is decelerated, since the luminous time is prolonged, the picture image is brightened; on the other hand, when accelerated, since the luminous time is shortened, the picture image is darkened, so that a sharp image can be obtained.
FIG. 7 is a circuit diagram showing a velocity modulation apparatus for a prior art three-tube color projection television.
In this velocity modulation apparatus for a three-tube projection television, the velocity modulation apparatus for a one-tube projection television shown in FIG. 6 is modified so as to be applied to a velocity modulation apparatus for a three-tube projection television, in which a red color (R) VM coil 7, a green color (G) VM coil 8, and a blue color (B) VM coil 9 are connected in series to each other so as to be driven by a common driving circuit 10.
The red color VM coil 7, the green color VM coil 8 and the green color VM coil 9 are disposed on the corresponding one of the three Braun tubes, respectively so as to provide the contour compensation of picture images on the three Braun tubes, respectively.
In FIG. 7, the number of turns of each of these VM coils 7 to 9 is equal to each other, as shown by the turn ratios of (1):(1):(1) in FIG. 7.
In the velocity modulation apparatus of the three-tube projection television as shown in FIG. 7, since the number of turns of each of the VM coils 7 to 9 is the same and further because these coils 7 to 9 are energized by the common driving circuit 10, the intensity of magnetic field of each of these coils 7 to 9 is equal to each other. Therefore, the three Braun tubes are velocity-modulated under the same conditions.
However, the three primary colors R (red), G (green) and B (blue) are different from each other in the relative visibility (luminous factor) characteristics as shown in FIG. 2, in which the sensitivity of green is the highest; that of red is the medium; and that of blue is the lowest. Therefore, in the case of the velocity modulation technique by which the focus status can be improved virtually by sharpening the change in brightness at the edge portions of a picture image, there exist various problems in that the circuit configuration of the velocity modulation apparatus consumes power wastefully and therefore the efficiency is low, because the three primary colors of R, G and B are velocity-modulated under the same conditions, irrespective of the difference in the human's eye sensitivity among these. The above-mentioned wasteful power consumption inevitably causes a rise in temperature.
Further, being different from the circuit shown in FIG. 7, it may be possible to provide the red color VM coil 7, the green color VM coil 8 and the blue color VM coil 9 each having the same number of turns and connected in parallel to each other so as to be energized, independently by three separate driving circuits the same as the driving circuit 10 as shown in FIG. 7. In this case, however, the same problems as described above will arise.

Velocity modulation apparatus for three-tube projection TV


A method of connecting a plastic workpiece to a further workpiece and a device for carrying out the method are shown and described. The object of providing a method with which a positive-locking connection between a plastic workpiece and a further workpiece can be produced in a short time and without considerable outlay in terms of apparatus is achieved by a method comprising the following steps: providing a plastic workpiece and a further workpiece, placing the further workpiece against the plastic workpiece, providing a connecting element on a surface of the plastic workpiece, this surface being opposite the surface against which the further workpiece bears, producing a recess in the further workpiece, this recess being provided on the surface bearing against the plastic workpiece, heating the connecting element, so that the material of the connecting element is plasticized, and pressing plasticized material into the recess.

In the automobile, shipbuilding and construction industries, "multi-material structures" which comprise plastics on the one hand and metals on the other hand are being used more and more frequently, the two material constituents being frictionally connected to one another. In this way, the properties of both materials are combined in order thus to obtain a composite material having improved properties. In order to connect the plastics and the metals to one another, first of all mechanical connections and adhesive connections may be used.
Suitable mechanical connections are in particular riveted or clinch connections, which, however, have the following disadvantages. Firstly, high stress concentrations occur in the workpieces. Secondly, subsequent slackening of the connection may occur as a result of creep, moisture and relaxation. Finally, a disadvantage with mechanical connections is the fact that their external appearance rules out use in the visible region or it is necessary for these regions to be subsequently processed.
Adhesive connections have the disadvantage that the strength of the connection can be estimated only with difficulty. Furthermore, the problem arises that the cycle times for producing an adhesive connection are comparatively long due to the curing time of an adhesive. In addition, solvents may be released during the curing, meaning that monitoring of emissions may become necessary when producing the adhesive connection. In addition, if increased temperatures are required for the curing, the workpieces may also be affected. Finally, for a reliable adhesive connection, it may be necessary to pretreat the surfaces to be connected, which means an additional outlay.
In addition to the mechanical connections and the adhesive connections, welding processes are also known in order to produce multi-material structures. The welding processes applied for this purpose comprise ultrasonic welding, resistance welding, vibration welding, induction welding and infrared welding. In this case, however, the following main disadvantages become evident. Firstly surface pretreatment is necessary here, too, and secondly the energy consumption for producing such a welded connection is relatively high on account of the comparatively low efficiency. In addition, the connections produced in this way have only low reliability, meaning that they cannot be used in sensitive regions.
In the meantime, "hybrid joining techniques" have been developed in which it is attempted to improve the connection properties by the combination of two or more conventional joining methods. To this end, DE 101 49 633 A1 discloses metal-collar joining, a hole first of all being punched in the metal part, so that the hole is subsequently surrounded by a circular metal "collar". This collar is then pressed into the plastic part to be connected to the metal part, so that there is then a positive-locking connection. During this pressing-in, however, hairline cracks may occur in the plastic part, and these hairline cracks in turn may lead to the failure of the connection under load.
In another hybrid method, a metal and a plastic are connected to one another in such a way that the plastic is injected into cavities in the course of an injection moulding process, the cavities having been formed in the metal parts beforehand, so that a positive-locking connection is produced between plastic on the one hand and metal on the other hand. Due to the complicated preliminary processing of the metal parts, however, such a method is very time-consuming and requires long cycle times.

Method and device for connecting a plastic workpiece to a further workpiece

Helmholtz-Zentrum Geesthacht Zentrum für Material-und Küstenforschung GmbH