A gallium nitride based semiconductor device comprises: a first gallium nitride based semiconductor film doped with magnesium; and a second gallium nitride based semiconductor film provided on the first gallium nitride based semiconductor film and doped with magnesium. The first gallium nitride based semiconductor film has substantially flat distributions of magnesium concentration and hydrogen atom concentration, and the magnesium concentration is higher than the hydrogen atom concentration. The second gallium nitride based semiconductor film has a first region in which the magnesium concentration decreases and the hydrogen atom concentration increases toward the surface, and the magnesium concentration in the first region is higher than the hydrogen atom concentration in the first region and higher than the magnesium concentration in the first gallium nitride based semiconductor film.

Gallium nitride based materials have a wide bandgap and high saturation electron velocity. For this reason, they are desirable materials for high-speed electronic devices such as field effect transistors (FET) and heterojunction bipolar transistors (HBT) as well as for blue light emitting devices.
It is important to form p-type and n-type conducting layers with high controllability for implementing light emitting devices and electronic devices. For gallium nitride based semiconductor materials, an n-type conducting layer can be formed by using silicon (Si) for n-type impurity. In contrast, while magnesium (Mg) or zinc (Zn) is used for p-type impurity, they have a low activation rate because of their deep impurity level. In addition, in the crystal growth based on the metal organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) method used for growing a gallium nitride based crystal, hydrogen atoms resulting from the decomposition of hydrogen used in a carrier gas are combined with magnesium to form Mg—H, thereby deactivating magnesium.
As a method for increasing the magnesium activation rate, there is disclosed a technique of postprocessing based on electron beam irradiation (H. Amano et al., Jpn. J. Phys. 28 (1989) L2112) and heat treatment (S. Nakamura et al., Jpn. J. Appl. Phys. 31 (1992) 1258).
As another method of increasing the magnesium activation rate, there is disclosed a method of using an inert gas as a carrier gas during growth (JP 8-325094A (1996)).

Gallium nitride based semiconductor device and method of manufacturing same


Provided are a Micro Electro-Mechanical System (MEMS) package and a method of packaging the MEMS package. The MEMS package includes: a MEMS device including MEMS structures formed on a substrate, first pad electrodes driving the MEMS structures, first sealing parts formed at an edge of the substrate, and connectors formed on the first pad electrodes and the first sealing parts; and a MEMS driving electronic device including second pad electrodes and second sealing parts respectively corresponding to the first pad electrodes and the first sealing parts to be sealed with and bonded to the MEMS device through the connectors to form an air gap having a predetermined width.

The methods of connecting a Micro Electro-Mechanical system (MEMS) device to an electronic device for driving the MEMS device (a driving circuit device), e.g., an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) chip, can be classified into three types.
In a first method, an upper, lower, or side portion of a packaged MEMS device is connected to an MEMS driving electronic device using Au wire bonding. In a second method, the packaged MEMS device is bonded to the MEMS driving electronic device using flip-chip bonding. In a third method, the MEMS device and the MEMS driving electronic device are manufactured on a wafer and then connected to each other using electrodes.
However, in the first method, a difference in electrical characteristics occurs between a designed MEMS device and a manufactured MEMS device due to a parasitic resistance, a parasitic capacitance, etc. caused by the wire bonding. In particular, if the MEMS device is a circuit detecting a capacitance to be driven, a signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) is reduced due to the wire bonding which reduces the entire electrical characteristics of the MEMS device. In the second method, the parasitic capacitance and resistance, etc. may be reduced. However, the MEMS device is packaged and then bonded to the MEMS driving electronic device. Thus, a chip level package may be manufactured, but a wafer level package may not be manufactured. In the third method, if the MEMS device and the MEMS driving electronic device are manufactured on a wafer using the same method, losses caused by a package may be reduced.
However, in the third method, yield may be more reduced than when the MEMS device and the MEMS driving electronic device are manufactured on different wafers, due to yield variables of the MEMS device and the MEMS driving electronic device. In other words, the third method requires large amounts of cost and time to mass-produce MEMS chips and MEMS driving electronic devices.

MEMS package and packaging method thereof

Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute


At least one neural network accelerator performs operations of a first subset of layers of a neural network on an input data set, generates an intermediate data set, and stores the intermediate data set in a shared memory queue in a shared memory. A first processor element of a host computer system provides input data to the neural network accelerator and signals the neural network accelerator to perform the operations of the first subset of layers of the neural network on the input data set. A second processor element of the host computer system reads the intermediate data set from the shared memory queue, performs operations of a second subset of layers of the neural network on the intermediate data set, and generates an output data set while the neural network accelerator is performing the operations of the first subset of layers of the neural network on another input data set.

Machine learning is the science of inducing computing systems to act without being explicitly programmed. Classical machine learning includes various clustering and classification techniques, including K-means clustering, linear and logistic regressions, stochastic gradient decent, association rule learning, and the like. Deep learning is a newer frontier in machine learning. Deep learning is a class of machine learning algorithms that uses multiple layers of nonlinear processing units for feature extraction and transformation. Deep learning algorithms can be unsupervised (e.g., pattern analysis) or supervised (e.g., classification). The deep learning algorithm can be implemented using layers of an artificial neural network (ANN) (referred to herein as a "neural network").
In general, a neural network is a collection of nodes (i.e., the "neurons") that are connected in a graph. A node in a neural network computes a sum of weighted inputs and adds an optional bias to the sum. The output of the node is a function of the final sum (referred to as an "activation function"). Example activation functions include the sigmoid function, the hyperbolic tangent (tank) function, the Rectified Linear Unit (ReLU) function, and the identity function. Neural network models are often organized into layers of nodes, which define a specific topology, and corresponding weights and biases. The weights and biases are referred to as network parameters.
In general, a neural network includes an input layer and an output layer and can optionally include one or more hidden layers between the input and output layers. A neural network used in deep learning applications typically includes many hidden layers, which gives rise to the term deep neural network (DNN). The layers of a neural network can be densely connected (e.g., each node in a layer is fully connected to all nodes in a previous layer) or sparsely connected (e.g., each node in a layer is connected to only a portion of the nodes in a previous layer). A convolutional neural network (CNN) is a type of DNN that includes one or more sparsely connected layers, referred to as convolutional layers. A CNN is well-suited for processing image or video data. Other types of DNNs include recurrent neural network (RNNs), which are well-suited for processing speech and text data.
Field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) have been used to implement circuits that accelerate functions called from software. Circuits that accelerate functions called from software are referred to as hardware accelerators. Examples of hardware accelerators include various image filters implemented as FPGA circuits that can be called from image processing software. In order for a hardware accelerator to be beneficial in a system having a host computer system executing software that initiates the hardware accelerator, the performance improvement provided by the hardware accelerator should be greater than the processing overhead involved in moving data between the host computer system and the hardware accelerator. If more time is required to move data between the host computer system and the hardware accelerator than would be required for the host computer system to perform the operations rather than the hardware accelerator, a better implementation may include the host computer system without a hardware accelerator. Also, if the hardware accelerator is idle while waiting for the host computer system, the overall performance advantage offered by the hardware accelerator is diminished.

Neural network processing system having multiple processors and a neural network accelerator


An ironing device includes a seat having a front portion and a rear portion, a base disposed on the rear portion of the seat, an arm pivotally coupled to the front portion of the seat, a board disposed on the rear portion of the arm and movable toward the base for pressing clothes. A bracket is pivotally coupled to the front portion of the arm, a spring is biased between the lower end of the bracket and the seat and exerts an upward force to the front portion of the arm when the lower end of the bracket is moved forward such that the board is forced against the base.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an ironing device, and more particularly to an ironing device for hot-pressing the clothes.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Typical ironing devices include an ironing area which is very small such that the users have to move the ironing devices back and forth on the clothes in order to ironing the clothes. This is time consuming.
The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate the afore-described disadvantages of the conventional ironing devices.

Ironing device with pressure applying hinged arm


A two-component mortar composition is described with a curable resin component containing at least one free radical-polymerizable resin, fillers, reactive diluents, solvents, accelerators and/or further conventional mortar components and, separated therefrom to inhibit reaction, a curing agent component for chemically fastening anchoring means in boreholes, characterized in that the resin component, in order to improve the adhesion to different mineral substrates of the borehole, contains a reactive diluent mixture of at least one hydroxyalkyl (meth)acrylate and at least one acetoacetoxyalkyl (meth)acrylate. Furthermore, the use of the two-component mortar composition for chemically fastening anchoring means in boreholes of different mineral substrates is also described.

Chemical mortar compositions and dowel compositions based on free radical-curing reaction resins have long been known. These reaction resins, as a rule, are composed of a curable resin component and a curing agent component. The curable resin component comprises, for example, a reactive polymer as well as a monomer capable of cross-linking, which is also referred to as a reactive diluent and serves to adjust the viscosity of the mortar composition and, by reaction during the curing, participates in the consolidation of the material, as well as fillers and conventional additives.
For example, DE 32 26 602 A1 describes a curable two-component mortar composition, which contains an unsaturated polyester resin, a reactive diluent, fillers, a thixotropic agents and a free radical-curing catalyst. In this connection, styrene or divinyl benzene is used as a reactive diluent.
The object of DE 36 17 702 A1 is a curable agent for fastening dowels and anchor rods and contains a curable acrylate, which, in addition to an organic peroxide curing agent, an accelerator, a desensitizing agent, mineral fillers and thixotropic agents, contains a reactive diluent. As reactive diluent, styrene, divinyl benzene, allyl esters of multibasic acids, methyl methacrylate, isopropyl methacrylate and isobutyl methacrylate are mentioned.
The DE 39 40 309 A1 also describes a mortar composition for fastening anchor rods in solid accommodating materials, the mortar composition containing free radical-curable vinyl ester urethane resins and a reactive diluent as optional component. Styrene, divinyl benzene, acrylates and the methacrylates are also mentioned as reactive diluents in this publication.
The DE 42 31 161 A1 also discloses a two-component mortar for fastening anchor rods in boreholes, the mortar containing hydraulically setting and/or polycondensable compounds as inorganic, curable compounds and curable vinyl esters as organic curable compounds. As reactive diluents, monofunctional and polyfunctional acrylate and methacrylate esters are named according to the teachings of this state of the art.
Finally, in the DE 41 31 457 A1, a two-component mortar composition for fastening anchor rods, dowels and screws in boreholes chemically is described. It contains a free radical-curable vinyl ester resin or vinyl urethane resin and, spatially separated therefrom, a curing agent for the resin, as well an acetoacetoxyalkyl (meth)acrylate as comonomer for achieving good adhesion to silicatic materials.
With the help of the last-mentioned styrene-free chemical fastening system, it has become possible to optimize the reaction resins specifically for certain substrates by the selection of reactive diluents. Accordingly, it has turned out that good wetting, polar, low viscosity monomers, such as hydroxyalkyl methacrylates, are suitable for achieving good adhesion to substrates of concrete. On absorptive substrates, such as bricks and roofing tiles which, moreover, contain appreciable amounts of iron ions, which interfere with the free radical curing with diacyl peroxides, the use of less polar monomers of higher viscosity, such acetoacetoxyalkyl (meth)acrylates, has proven its value. These monomers have proven to be suitable for forming chemical fastening systems, which are designed for solid brick and hollow brick substrates.
Although it is known that two-component mortar compositions may be adapted to specific substrates by the appropriate selection of reactive diluents, it has turned out, on the other hand, that these mortar compositions exhibit appreciable weaknesses on other substrates and do not permit the necessary adhesion to be achieved. Accordingly, it was discovered by the inventors that the performance of a two-component mortar composition, which contains hydroxyalkyl methacrylates, such as hydroxyethyl methacrylate or hydroxypropyl methacrylate as reactive diluent, suffers drastically on bricks, because these reactive diluents evidently penetrate rapidly into the absorptive substrate and, with that, do not lead to the desired adhesion in the region of the bonded surface.
On the other hand, the investigations of the inventors have shown that the two-component mortar compositions, which are known from DE 41 31 457 A1 and contain acetoacetoxyalkyl (meth)acrylates as reactive diluents, do not exhibit satisfactory adhesion values, if they are used on concrete instead of on brick substrates. He also there is evidently interference with the curing in the region of the boundary layer between the mortar composition and the substrate.
It therefore follows from the state of the art that two-component mortar compositions for the chemical fastening technique, due to the combination of reactive resin, filler and auxiliary materials, exhibit a flow, wetting and adhesion behavior, which can be optimized only for a specific substrate and results in significantly inferior adhesion on other substrates. Consequently, for producing a two-component mortar composition, which has a balanced performance on all conventional mineral substrates, it had to be assumed that it is necessary to make compromises, as a result of which this performance level is clearly lower than the performance level of mortar compositions, which had been optimized especially for a particular substrate.
It was therefore to be expected that, if the reactive diluents, known from the state-of-the-art, are combined for different fastening bases, mortar compositions would be obtained, which would not ensure satisfactory adhesion on any of the substrates mentioned. On the other hand, two-component mortar compositions which do not contain such reactive diluents, would achieve an adhesion, which does not do justice to the requirements raised and, in no case, would reach the performance of mortar compositions, which had been optimized for the specific substrates.
Surprisingly, it has now turned out that the object, on which the present invention is based, can be accomplished owing to the fact that a reactive diluent mixture of at least one hydroxyalkyl (meth)acrylate and at least one acetoacetoxyalkyl (meth)acrylate is used in a two-component mortar composition of the type given above.

Two-component mortar composition and its use


An active respiratory therapeutic device and method for actively loosening and breaking up mucus plugs and phlegm in a user's trachea and bronchial passages and lungs while a user is breathing normally through the device comprises a housing containing a base portion and a cap portion forming at least a portion of a sonic coupling chamber adapted to be held in a patient's mouth during normal breathing activity. The cap portion also includes breathing passages out of the chamber so that the user can breath normally through device during operation. The base portion contains an acoustic generator behind a sanitary flexible diaphragm separating the portions. The acoustic generator produces an audio waveform which may be controlled by the user or automatically controlled by a feedback signal to optimize a sensed parameter indicative of the user's breathing efficiency such as the sound of the user's exhaled breath, blood oxygen levels, or ultrasonic signature changes of mucus plugs. This feedback signal senses a patient parameter and automatically adjust the operating frequency spectrum and/or pulse rate of the device to optimally affect the monitored parameter such as the user's breathing efficiency. The method of the invention basically comprises determining a resonant frequency of a mucus plug, generating an acoustic waveform including the resonant frequency and directing the waveform into a user's airways to loosen the plug while the user breathes through his or her airways.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention generally relates to respiratory devices and more particularly to a vibrating device and method which assists in breaking up and dislodging accumulated fluids and solids generated in a user's lungs.
2. Description of the Related Art
People who have lung diseases such as cystic fibrosis, bronchiactasis and chronic bronchitis have a difficult time breaking up, dislodging, and expelling mucus and phlegm which develops in the lungs. The presence of this material in the lungs and bronchial and tracheal passages provides an excellent media for growth of bacteria. For treatment of the condition, rotation of antibiotics is used to treat the bacterial infections that result. Postural drainage with induced vibration , percussive therapy and/or the use of a mechanical device such as a flutter valve are often used to help the patient dislodge this mucus material.
Such percussive devices are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,018,517 and 5,451,190 to Liardet. This device is self powered, as are other flutter valve devices available and in use today. That is, the patient exhales into the device which sets up vibrations which feed back through the patient's air ways to break up and dislodge the phlegm. However, this activity is energy consumptive and very draining to the patient. Often, because of a debilitating condition from the effects of pneumonia, for example, the patient has great difficulty blowing into these self powered mechanical devices with sufficient force to achieve any substantive success at dislodging accumulated phlegm.
An active vibratory device is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,813,403 to Endo. This device comprises an oscillator for generating an electrical signal at a frequency optimally effective for the patient, an audio amplifier, and a transducer connected, through a closed gas volume, to a vibratory diaphragm which is placed against the patient's body, typically the patient's chest or back. The vibration is then transferred from the transducer, through the closed gas volume, to the diaphragm, then to the surface of the patient's body to treat such problems as shoulder discomfort, arthritis, asthmatic spasms and improve blood circulation. The major disadvantage with this approach when the lungs are the target is that by placing the unit on a user's back or chest, the intervening body tissue may substantially attenuate the vibration before it reaches the target area of the lungs and bronchial tubes.
Therefore there is an urgent need for a device that can efficiently and effectively transmit acoustic vibrations to the sites of phlegm buildup in the patient's lungs. There is also a need for a device which does not exhaust the patient's energy during device operation so that this energy can be reserved for effective expulsion of dislodged phlegm.

Acoustic transceiver respiratory therapy apparatus and method


A furnace system is provided having a blower bracket arrangement. The blower bracket arrangement is configured to mount both a blower and electrical controls for the furnace. The bracket supports the blower for the HVAC system and provides an easy mode for moving the blower in and out of the HVAC system for maintenance and repairs. The electrical controls are easily accessible when mounted to the blower bracket arrangement.

The present application relates generally to bracketing arrangements for a furnace system and more specifically to a two in one blower bracket arrangement and electrical controls bracket for a furnace or HVAC system.
The basic components of a furnace or HVAC system are: a burner, a heat exchanger, an air distribution system, and a vent pipe. In the burner, gas (natural or propane) or oil is delivered and burned to generate heat. The heat exchanger transfers the heat from the burning gas to the air distribution system. The air distribution system, which includes a blower and ductwork, delivers the heated air throughout the home and returns cooler air to the furnace to be heated. Finally, the vent pipe or flue exhausts byproducts of combustion (such as water vapor and carbon dioxide) outside of the home. In addition, the furnace system may also include a cooling element, such as an A-coil, that operates in conjunction with an air conditioning unit (typically located outside of the home) to provide cooled air to the home instead of heated air.
Typically, furnace systems in residential applications are located in the basement or a small closet in the user's home, which areas have limited space for an installed furnace system. Furthermore, efficiency standards have recently changed, thereby requiring the size of the A-coil to be increased to meet these new standards. Thus, when a newer furnace system is needed to replace an older system, often, the newer furnace can not fit into the space where the old furnace was installed because the size of the furnace unit and the newer, taller A-coil that is required is greater than the available installation space. Thus, a shorter, furnace is needed to accommodate the taller A-coil in order to be able to install a new furnace system in the same space as the old furnace system.
Each individual HVAC system has a blower in the air distribution system to push the air through the ductwork. A bracket arrangement for the blower provide support and a mounting means for the blower in the system. What is needed is a bracket that provides easy maintenance and accessibility of the blower while providing a mounting surface for the electrical controls for the system. What is also needed is a bracket arrangement that provides easy access to the electrical controls as well.
Intended advantages of the disclosed systems and/or methods satisfy one or more of these needs or provides other advantageous features. Other features and advantages will be made apparent from the present specification. The teachings disclosed extend to those embodiments that fall within the scope of the claims, regardless of whether they accomplish one or more of the aforementioned needs.

Two-in-one blower and electrical controls bracket


An air cleaner for efficiently providing clean air for a structure is comprised of a housing having an intake port and an exhaust port. At least one air chamber having a liquid reservoir at its base is disposed within the housing. A fan draws air through the intake port and the air passes in turn through each liquid reservoir and then its air chamber and discharges the air through the exhaust port. A switch controls the fan and is turned off whenever the liquid level within the device is improper with the device having a flush valve for discharging exhaust liquid and a liquid fill valve for introduction of liquid.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a water-based air cleaner for a structure.
2. Background of the Prior Art
A typical house will cycle through its entire volume of air about 3 times a day. This flowing air brings about 50 pounds of dust, pollen, and other pollutants into the home each year. Furthermore, if the house is tightly sealed, the internal air will become stale allowing pollutants more harmful than those brought in by the flowing air to develop.
In order to address these pollutants, air cleaning systems have been proposed. Such systems typically comprise an air handler that forces air through a mesh-type filter that traps pollutants thereby removing them from the air. However, such filters tend to trap only the relatively large particles already in the house and do nothing to impede particles from entering the house.
Therefore, there is a need in the art for an air cleaner that can intercept pollutants and provide the house with clean fresh air. Such a device should be of relatively simple and straightforward design and construction and should be efficient in use.


A digital “baton” is provided from a firewall or other gateway, or other network device, to a device B outside the firewall, when a device A, which is inside the firewall, requests information from the device B. The device B may pass the digital baton to subsequent electronic devices that may respond to the request using the digital baton to send messages or information through the firewall to the device A. The firewall authenticates and filters the messages based on authentication of the batons contained within the messages.

Firewalls are network technologies that monitor and enforce rules, called policies, regarding data that passes to and from entities protected by, or "inside," the firewalls. For example, a local are network (LAN) may be protected by a firewall to filter data going to and from clients outside the domain of the LAN. Data entering the LAN domain is usually expressed as passing from the "outside," usually the Internet, through the firewall to the "inside" where the LAN's entities exist.
There are recognized problems with current firewall technology. Often legitimate data is not able to pass through a firewall due to one or more particular policies that are enforced by the firewall. For example, one problem occurs when two network devices are in a communication session. In one scenario, a device A is exchanging data in the form of messages with a device B. The device A is inside the firewall, and the device B is outside. The firewall recognizes device A as the device sending legitimate messages, and has permission under its policies to send a message to device B. However, the firewall doesn't recognize that the device B has a right to send messages from the outside through the firewall to the device A.
In a restrictive firewall, the firewall may only allow the device A to send messages out to the device B, and will only allow messages from the device B if, and only if, the device A has first sent a message to the device B, and/or only if the device B has been pre-configured in the firewall's policies to have the authority to communication with the device A or other entities inside the firewall. The device B cannot initiate a communication to the device A through the firewall because the firewall is not configured to expect or allow a message from the device B to the device A.
Another problem arises when the device B does not have the information that the device A requires, and the device B must employ other devices to obtain the information that the device A needs. The current solutions are burdensome and require the subsequent devices to retrace their communication path with the device B in order to provide the answer to the device B, which will then send the answer to the device A. Frequently, the subsequent parties don't trust the device B to convey the message to the device A. For example, if the device A requests sensitive company personnel information from the device B, the device B may have to contract a personnel server P to retrieve the information. However, device B may not be authorized to receive the personnel information from server P. In that case, the personnel server P may only be able to send the information directly to the device A as the requester. Given that the original session was between device A and device B, the firewall's policies may not allow a third device that was not a party to the original communication to send the information to the device A. To the firewall, the attempted communication from the server P to the device A may appear unsolicited, and may be disallowed by the firewall. The scenario immediately above is generally referred to as the "delegation" problem, where one device attempts to delegate a request to a third party device.
In even more complex delegations, the request from the device A may be routed through several third parties. Schematically, the scenario may appear as follows:A->∥B->C-> . . . ->RIf device R tries to send a reply directly to the device A, the restrictive firewall may block the reply because it does not have a record of the device A sending a message to the device R. This problem has special significance in scenarios where the device R is the only trusted source for the information, or when none of the intermediary devices are allowed to obtain the information due to security or privacy concerns.
One known solution is for the device R to send a message to the device B, so that the device B may send a message to the device A that the device R has the requested information. The device A may subsequently contact the device R, requesting that the device R provide the information. However, the firewall may not be configured to receive information from the device R, and it would be burdensome to require a re-configuration of the firewall every time a new third party device is found to contain the requested information.
Another known solution involves reconfiguring Internet protocol (IP) addresses using Internet protocol security (IPSec). IPSec is a set of protocols developed by the Internet engineering task force (IETF) to support secure exchange of packets at the IP layer. IPsec has been deployed widely to implement virtual private networks (VPNs). IPsec supports two encryption modes: transport and tunnel. Transport mode encrypts only the data portion (payload) of each packet, but leaves the header untouched. The more secure tunnel mode encrypts both the header and the payload. On the receiving side, an IPSec-compliant device decrypts each packet.
For IPsec to work, the sending and receiving devices must share a public key. This is accomplished through a protocol known as Internet Security Association and Key Management Protocol/Oakley (ISAKMP/Oakley), which allows the receiver to obtain a public key and authenticate the sender using digital certificates.
The IPSec solution suffers from a problem similar to that associated with using restrictive firewalls. The IPSec solution requires extensive configuration to facilitate communication between all devices participating in a communication, except that IPSec requires configuration on each device apart from just the firewall itself.
Another known solution uses host identify protocol (HIP). HIP provides a rapid exchange of device or host identities between two hosts. The exchange also establishes a pair of IPSec security associations (SA), to be used with IPsec. HIP protocol is designed to be resistant to denial-of-service (DoS) and man-in-the-middle (MitM) attacks, and provides DoS and MitM protection for upper layer protocols, such as TCP and UDP. However, as with pure IPSec protocol, HIP also requires extensive configuration with each device involved in a communication before it can be used.
Another known solution uses cryptographically generated addresses (CGAs). CGAs are IP addresses where the interface identifier is generated by computing a cryptographic one-way hash function from a public key and auxiliary parameters. The binding between the public key and the address can be verified by re-computing the hash value and by comparing the hash with the interface identifier. Messages sent from an IP address can be protected by attaching the public key and auxiliary parameters and by signing the message with the corresponding private key. CGA works without a certification authority or other security infrastructure.
However, just as is the case with IPSec and HIP protocols, CGA protocol also requires extensive configuration of each device involved in a communication before it can be used. Due to this requirement, none of these solutions, or solutions like them, solve the problem of allowing a third party device R that was previously unknown to the device A inside the firewall to provide information, originally requested from B, to the device A directly.

Apparatus and method for traversing gateway device using a plurality of batons


One technique includes receiving, in a first network, a multi-destination packet from a second network, and determining, based on the multi-destination packet, a first multi-destination tree in the first network for forwarding the multi-destination packet. In response to determining that the first multi-destination tree is not rooted on the network device, a second multi-destination tree in the first network is determined, and the multi-destination packet is transmitted using the second multi-destination tree. Another technique includes, upon detecting a first network device joining a network, sending a first indication to a second network device that the first network device is in a state for an amount of time. After the amount of time has elapsed, a second indication that the first network device has exited the state is sent to the second network device. A topology of the network is updated after the first network device has exited the state.

Data center fabrics can be deployed with a local-site controller managing a set of switches using various types of architectures. One example data center design called a multi-pod was developed to overcome several limitations of older network architectures. In this fabric architecture, multiple pods (or networks) are interconnected via a Layer 3 (L3) internet protocol (IP) network, and the multiple pods are managed as a single network fabric. Each pod implements a separate spine-and-leaf topology, in which every lower-tier switch (leaf layer) is connected to each of the top-tier switches (spine layer) in a full-mesh topology. The leaf layer in each pod consists of access switches that connect to devices such as servers. The spine layer in each pod is the backbone of the pod and is responsible for interconnecting all leaf switches in the pod.
Multi-pod architectures generally support unicast and multi-destination traffic between a source and one or more destinations. Unicast traffic refers to network traffic that is routed from one source to one destination. Multi-destination traffic refers to traffic that is routed to two or more destinations. Multi-destination traffic generally constitutes a substantial amount of the traffic in today's data center fabrics. For example, multi-destination traffic can include broadcast traffic (e.g., traffic sent to all devices in a network), multicast traffic (e.g., traffic sent to multiple, selected addresses on a network), and unknown unicast traffic (e.g., unicast traffic sent with unknown destination addresses).
In some cases, one or more pods in a multi-pod fabric can experience service interruptions due to, for example, link failures, switch additions, switch removals, maintenance, etc. These service interruptions, in turn, can cause temporary disruptions to multi-destination traffic that is received from other pods in the fabric. Given that multi-destination traffic constitutes a substantial amount of traffic in today's fabrics, such disruptions can significantly impact performance of switches in the fabric.
To facilitate understanding, identical reference numerals have been used, where possible, to designate identical elements that are common to the figures. It is contemplated that elements disclosed in one embodiment may be beneficially utilized on other embodiments without specific recitation.

Fast receive re-convergence of multi-pod multi-destination traffic in response to local disruptions


A structure of a display device in which water is prevented from passing through the side faces of a display device using an organic light-emitting element and a gap between substrates is made uniform. On the first substrate having the light-emitting element provided thereon, the thicknesses of the layers deposited in the peripheral area, the pixel portion and the driving circuit portion are equalized with each other. Furthermore, an adhesive is provided as thin as possible in the peripheral area of the first substrate so as to bond a second substrate to the first substrate. As a result, the distance between the first substrate and the second substrate can be made uniform throughout the peripheral area of the first substrate, the pixel portion and the driving circuit. Moreover, since a protective film overlying the organic light-emitting element is also provided on the side faces of the second insulating film, water is prevented from entering the display device through its side faces.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a display device using an organic light-emitting element and a manufacturing method thereof. More specifically, the present invention relates to a sealing structure for protecting an organic light emitting element deposited onto a substrate, and to a display device, in which an element substrate (a substrate having at least an element such as a TFT) and a sealing substrate are provided in the proximity, and a manufacturing method thereof.
Throughout the specification, the term "organic light-emitting element" indicates an element including an organic compound film sandwiched between two electrodes to achieve light emission. One of the representative organic light-emitting elements is a light-emitting element using an organic light-emitting diode (OLED). The OLED includes an organic compound film sandwiched between two electrodes. Holes are injected to one of the electrodes while electrons are injected to the other electrode. The holes and the electrons are therefore coupled with each other to cause light emission.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, display devices using the organic light-emitting element are actively studied. The display devices using the organic light-emitting element can be reduced in weight as well as in thickness as compared with a conventional CRT, and thus their application to various uses is attempted. Portable telephones and personal digital assistants (PDAs) can be now connected to the Internet, resulting in a remarkable increase in the amount of information to be displayed as images. Accordingly, there arises an increasing demand for display devices to perform color display and to enhance their definition.
On the other hand, light weight is an important factor for the display device included in such a portable digital assistant. For example, a portable phone having less than 70 g in weight is now on the market. In order to reduce the weight of the portable digital assistant itself, a throughout review as to the weight of almost all the used components such as individual electric components, a body and a battery is performed. In order to realize a further reduction in weight, however, it is necessary to lighten the display device itself.
Since a display device including a pixel portion formed with an organic light-emitting element is a self-light emitting type display device, a light source such as a backlight is not required as is needed in liquid crystal display devices. Therefore, such a display device using the organic light-emitting element is promising means of realizing light weight and a thin body.
The organic light-emitting element is capable of emitting blue light and thus allows the realization of a full-color display self-light emitting type display device. However, various deterioration phenomena are observed in the organic light-emitting element. It is urgently required to eliminate such phenomena as obstacles to the practical use of the organic light-emitting element.
For example, the dark spot, which is a non-light emitting point defect appearing in a pixel portion, is regarded as a problem that remarkably reduces the display quality. It is said that the dark spot is a progressive defect and the mere presence of water increases the number of dark spots even if the organic light-emitting element is not operated. It is believed that the cause of the dark spot is a high reactivity of a cathode containing an alkali metal or an alkali earth metal with water or oxygen.
Therefore, in the display device using the organic light-emitting element, a desiccant is placed in a sealed region surrounded by an element substrate, a sealing substrate and a sealing agent so that water and oxygen do not enter the organic light-emitting element. FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view showing a display device using a conventional organic light-emitting element. An element substrate 301 made of glass, on which an organic light-emitting element 307 is provided, and a sealing substrate 303 provided so as to be opposed to the element substrate 301, are bonded to each other through a sealing agent 302 so that the organic light-emitting element is prevented from being exposed to the outside air. A fine protective film 308 having a thickness of 100 nm to 500 nm may be further provided on the organic light-emitting element 307 so as to prevent water from entering the organic light-emitting element 307. A sealed region is filled with dry air. A distance between the element substrate 301 and the sealing substrate 303 is adjusted by mixing a filler, a spacer or the like into the sealing agent 302.
The sealing substrate 303 has a hollow region made of a metal such as stainless steel or aluminum, which is processed into a dish-like shape. A desiccant 304 and a film sheet 305 are provided in the hollow region. The desiccant 304 has moisture-absorption characteristics so as to absorb water penetrating into the sealed region to prevent the degradation of the organic light-emitting element. If the desiccant 304 gets into the display area where the organic light-emitting element 307 is provided, display performance of the device is deteriorated. Thus, the film sheet 305 having a permeability to gas and vapor is bonded to the sealing substrate 303, thereby confining the desiccant 304 within a concave portion of the sealing substrate 303. The film sheet 305 has a thickness of 100 to 300 μm. In consideration of flexion of the film sheet 305 generated by the weight of the desiccant 304, a gap between the film sheet 305 and the organic light-emitting element 307 where they are bonded to each other so as not to be in contact is required to be 50 to 200 μm. Accordingly, with the film sheet 305 provided in the hollow region of the sealing substrate 303, the hollow region is required to have a depth of at least 150 to 500 μm. The placement of the film sheet 305 or the like increases the distance between the element substrate and the sealing substrate, making it difficult to reduce the thickness of the display device. In view of this problem, the present invention has been made and a first object of the present invention is to provide a display device, in which the element substrate 301 and the sealing substrate 303 can be provided in close proximity to each other so as to enable the reduction in thickness of the device, and a manufacturing method thereof.
Conventionally, in order to provide the hollow region in the sealing substrate where the desiccant is placed, it is required to use a sealing substrate made of a metal material that is easy to process. In the display device including the sealing substrate made of metal, however, the element substrate 301 made of glass can be uniquely used as a substrate through which light emitted from the organic light-emitting element is output. Thus, if thin film transistor (TFT) elements are provided on the element substrate, light emitted from the organic light-emitting element is obtained from the side of the element substrate through the TFT elements, resulting in lowered brightness of the emitted light. Moreover, the thinner the element substrate becomes, the lower the shock resistance becomes. As a result, the element substrate is likely to be fragile. In particular, when the sealing substrate made of metal and the element substrate made of glass are bonded to each other, the distortion is generated by a sudden change in temperature due to the difference in thermal expansion coefficient, causing the cracking in the element substrate.
Accordingly, a second object of the present invention is to provide a display device achieving a bright display with good visibility by increasing the brightness of light emitted from the organic light-emitting element and a manufacturing method thereof. In addition, a third object of the present invention is to provide a display device, in which breakage due to a sudden change in temperature is restrained and a manufacturing method thereof.
Furthermore, the sealing agent placed on the side faces of the display device is made of an organic resin material, which has a high moisture permeability as compared with inorganic type glass materials and metal materials. For example, the organic resin material has a permeability of 15 g/m2 for 24 hr. to 30 g/m2 for 24 hr. at 60° C. and a humidity of 90%. Although the amount of water penetrating into the sealed region through the element substrate made of glass from the front side of the display device and the amount of water penetrating into the sealed region through the sealing substrate made of a metal material from the rear side of the display device are negligibly small, water which enters the sealed region through the sealing agent having a high moisture permeability from the side faces of the display device causes the deterioration of the organic light-emitting element. Thus, it is necessary to take measures to cope with this problem.
Since the amount of water passing through the sealing agent is determined by the product of the area of the sealing agent exposed to the outside air multiplied by the moisture permeability of the sealing agent, it is preferred that the area of the sealing agent exposed to the outside air is as small as possible, that is, the sealing agent is as thin as possible. However, the sealing agent serves not only to bond the sealing substrate and the element substrate to each other, but also to control the distance between the sealing substrate and the element substrate. Thus, it is necessary to determine the thickness of the sealing agent in consideration of the distance between the element substrate and the sealing substrate so that the element substrate and the sealing substrate do not come in contact with each other to break the organic light-emitting element provided on the element substrate and the transistors that make a current flow through the organic light-emitting element.
In view of the above problem, a fourth object of the present invention is to provide a display device with enhanced reliability, in which the element substrate and the sealing substrate can be provided close to each other and the amount of water vapor passing from the side faces of the element device through an organic resin material such as a sealing agent to enter the sealed region is reduced so as to prolong the lifetime of the organic light-emitting element; and a manufacturing method thereof.
Alternatively, in order to reduce the amount of water entering from the side faces of the display device, a protective film having a low permeability to a fine gas and water vapor may be considered to be provided between the sealing agent and the outside air so as to contact the sealing agent. However, the formation of the protective film on the side faces of the sealing agent by using a vacuum apparatus after bonding the element substrate and the sealing substrate to each other through the sealing agent leads to an increase in manufacturing cost, thereby decreasing the advantages of the organic light-emitting element which is easily manufactured at a low cost. In addition, since a stress is applied onto a material that is applied onto the substrate by a dispenser system so as to cure the sealing agent, the sealing agent after curing has a gently undulating shape in the thickness direction between the substrates on the side faces of the sealing agent as well as in the width direction perpendicular to the thickness direction of the side faces of the sealing agent. It is difficult to form the protective film on such side faces of the sealing agent, whereby providing a part where the protective film is not formed.
As described above, it is difficult to reduce the amount of water passing through the sealing agent provided on the side faces of the display device. Accordingly, in the display device using the organic light-emitting element, there is a great need to reduce water passing through the side faces of the display device. Consequently, the fourth object of the present invention is important.
In addition to the appropriate realization of the first to fourth objects, the present invention enables the reduction in the number of paths through which water passes from the outside air and the control for making the distance between the element substrate (first substrate) and the sealing substrate (second substrate) uniform.

Method of sealing an organic el display provided with an adhesive layer over a peripheral insulating layer

Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.


A method for determining a control signal for use in combining a first digital image that includes both a foreground region and a key color region having an associated key color with a second background digital image, both images including pixels having color values is disclosed. The method includes segmenting the first digital image into a foreground region and a key color region; and identifying transition region pixels in the first digital image that are in the vicinity of a boundary between the segmented foreground region and the segmented key color region. The method further includes computing a color difference signal between the color values of the first digital image and the key color for at least some pixels in the transition region; and computing a control signal for transition region pixels as a function of the color difference signal, where the control signal is to be used to combine the foreground region of the first digital image with the second background digital image.

Many different types of so-called "special-effects" can be created using digital imaging techniques. One such class of special-effects techniques involves inserting the foreground of one image into a different background image. This makes it possible for a person or object to appear to be in a different setting than they really are. For example, the weatherman can appear to be standing in front of a weather map, when in reality he is standing in front of a blue wall, or an actor can appear to be standing on the edge of a cliff, when in reality he is actually performing in the safety of a studio. Typically, these methods rely on having the foreground object photographed in front of a brightly colored backdrop of a known color. A common backdrop color is blue, which is why this technique is often referred to as "blue-screening."
The basic steps involved with implementing a typical blue-screening algorithm are illustrated in FIG. 1. First, an object is photographed in front of a brightly colored backdrop of a known color which is shown as an image capture step 10. The captured image will contain a foreground region corresponding to the object being photographed, and a key color region, corresponding to the brightly colored backdrop. The key color region has a key color such as bright green or bright blue.
A segmentation step 12 is next used to segment the captured image into the foreground region and the key color region by detecting portions of the image that have the key color. Since the color of the backdrop will not be perfectly constant, the key color will typically be characterized by a range of color values surrounding some nominal color value, rather than a single point in color space.
Many blue-screening algorithms also include a transition signal creation step 14. This is useful because the image will typically contain some foreground pixels that have been contaminated by the key color. For example, the pixels that occur along the boundary between the foreground region and the key color region usually contain a mixture of foreground color and key color. The transition signal is determined to indicate the relative amount of foreground color and key color contained in each contaminated pixel.
Finally, an image composition step 16 is used to combine the foreground region of the captured image with a second background image. During this step, the foreground region of the captured image is inserted into the background image. For the foreground pixels that were determined to be contaminated with the key color, the transition signal can be used to remove the appropriate amount to key color and replace it with the corresponding background image.
Several methods have been disclosed in the prior art for the transition control signal generation step 14 shown in FIG. 1. These methods generally involve converting the image data into a luminance-chrominance color space representation, such as the well-known YCrCb or CIELAB color spaces. Examples of different control signal generation approaches that can be found in prior art are shown in FIG. 2. See U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,533,937, 5,301,016, 5,444,496, and 5,455,633. In each of these examples a key color region is shown. FIG. 2(a) shows a first vector 20 extending from the origin of the Cr-Cb chrominance plane to the key color location 21, and a second vector 22 that extends from a pixel color value 23 to the nearest transition boundary in the same vectorial direction as the first vector 20. The length of the first vector 20 will be referred to as D.sub.kc, and the length of the second vector 22 will be referred to as D. The corresponding control signal is calculated by k=D/D.sub.kc.
FIG. 2(b) shows a key color region 24 where k=1and a foreground region 25 where k=0. Values of k that fall in between 0 and 1 are computed via radial interpolation with respect to the center of the key color region 24.
FIG. 2(c) shows another method for computing a control signal for transition pixels in an image. A color location of a key color region 26 is defined, as well as a color location of a foreground picture signal region 27 corresponding to a foreground portion of the image. For a transition pixel with a color location 28, a control signal k is computed by the equation k=(Lx-L)/Lx, where Lx is the distance between the color location of the foreground picture signal region and the color location of the key color, and L is the distance between the color location of a transition pixel and the color location of the key color.
All of the previous prior art methods use different ways to determine what is a transition region pixel. However, they all have the disadvantage that colors in the digital image that are within the part of color space identified as transition will be categorized as part of the transition region. For example, if a subject was wearing a shirt similar in color and lightness to the key color, all of these methods would incorrectly identify the pixels of the subjects shirt as either part of the key color region, or if the shirt was slightly different the pixels would be categorized as part of the transition region. The pixels making up the subject's shirt, however, should be classified as part of the foreground region. The methods previously described would compute a control signal that was inaccurate due to the incorrect identification of the pixels of the subject's shirt.

Method for computing a control signal for combining digital images


In one embodiment, a lock protector includes a front and back cover and a hinge portion formed from a single sheet of vinyl material. A hasp slot is formed in the back cover of the protector through which a hasp is inserted. The front and back covers include mutually contact adherent strips around the perimeter of the covers adapted to sealingly engage when the front cover is folded onto the back cover along the hinge portion with the lock situated within and attached to the hasp. Another embodiment is disclosed in which the lock protector includes a pouch defining a pocket for receiving the lock therein. The protector includes a flap extending from the pouch and adapted to overlay the opening of the pocket. The flap includes a hasp slot which is intersected by the hinge portion so that when the flap is folded over the pocket opening the hasp slot opens upward to receive the hasp. A number of contact adherent strips are provided on the flap for engaging the pouch and for engaging about the hinge portion. Another embodiment is disclosed for use with a flush-mounted lock that includes a base sheet, a flap and a hinge portion formed of a single sheet of material. The base sheet includes an access opening which can be centered around the keyhole of the lock to provde access to the keyhole. Contact adherent strips are provided on the perimeter of the base sheet and flap to close the lock protector about the keyhole of the flush-mounted lock.

This invention relates to devices for protecting locks of various kinds, such as padlocks, cylinder locks and flush-mounted locks. In particular, the invention relates to a lock protector that completely covers and seals the lock to protect the lock and keyhole against invasion by the elements.
Locks are used in a wide variety of applications. For instance, padlocks can be used to lock a mailbox. In another example, each mailbox in an array of mailboxes may have its own flush-mounted lock with an exposed keyhole. Locks are also found on automobiles, such as the trunk lock which is also a flush mounted cylinder-type lock. In each of these applications, the lock and more particularly the keyhole, are often exposed to the elements. Water that invades the lock through the keyhole or through the shackle interface with a padlock body, can freeze within the lock, rendering it virtually useless until the water has thawed.
Thus, there is a need for a device to protect the lock against the elements and particularly against invasion by water. Certain devices have been proposed in the past for shielding various types of locks. These devices are illustrated in the following Patents; Jarvis, U.S. Pat. No. 676,001; Jackson, U.S. Pat. No. 1,581,953; Thiry, U.S. Pat. No. 3,434,318; Carter, U.S. Pat. No. 3,782,149; Lehner, U.S. Pat. No. 4,090,379; Sills, U.S. Pat. No. 4,286,445; and Barnard, U.S. Pat. No. 4,317,344. The devices shown in each of these patents are generally restricted to use with a single type of lock and are not readily modified for use with a variety of types of lock. In some of the patents, the lock shield is composed of a generally rigid material that may be difficult or expensive to manufacture. In other instances, some of the prior art devices do not provide complete enclosure for all of the elements of the lock.


In one embodiment, a node may determine a trigger for establishing transmission priority on a path through a shared-media communication network for priority traffic to a particular node. As such, the node may generate a path clear message (PCM) that would instruct one or more receiving nodes along the path to suspend transmission for traffic other than the priority traffic for a specified duration, and also to transmit a local non-repeated distributed message to one or more neighbor nodes of each respective receiving node, the local non-repeated distributed message to instruct the neighbor nodes to suspend transmission for the specified duration. After transmitting the PCM along the path to the particular node to establish the transmission priority for the priority traffic along the path through the shared-media network, the priority traffic may be transmitted to the particular node along the path during the transmission priority.

Low power and Lossy Networks (LLNs), e.g., sensor networks, have a myriad of applications, such as Smart Grid and Smart Cities. Various challenges are presented with LLNs, such as lossy links, low bandwidth, battery operation, low memory and/or processing capability, etc. One example routing solution to LLN challenges is a protocol called Routing Protocol for LLNs or "RPL," which is a distance vector routing protocol that builds a Destination Oriented Directed Acyclic Graph (DODAG, or simply DAG) in addition to a set of features to bound the control traffic, support local (and slow) repair, etc. The RPL architecture provides a flexible method by which each node performs DODAG discovery, construction, and maintenance.
Further, shared-media communication networks, such as wireless and/or power-line communication (PLC) networks (a type of communication over power-lines), provide an enabling technology for networking communication and can be used, for example, in Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) networks. However, due to the nature of shared-media communication, nodes must compete for transmission timing, and transmissions from different nodes, including neighboring nodes not along a chosen path between end-points of a traffic flow, may collide, rendering the transmission indecipherable by a node receiving the colliding transmissions. In particular, such collisions result in retransmissions (and possibly further collisions), extending the delay of associated with the traffic flow between the end-points.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Transmission priority paths in mesh networks


A low distortion amplifier and method of reducing distortion in an amplifier at high output power in which energy dissipated while the amplifier is operating at low output power, is reduced. A bias circuit provides a quiescent bias current to the input stage of the amplifier for operating the amplifier without substantial distortion at low input signal levels and low output power. A sense transistor senses a current less than and proportional to an output current from the amplifier, and feeds back the sensed current to the input stage to augment the quiescent bias current when output power increases. When the output power decreases, the sensed current is removed in order to maintain the low power output bias currents.

The present invention is directed to amplifiers, and more particularly to a low distortion amplifier and method of reducing distortion in the amplifier during high output power events.
Some amplifiers spend substantially more time operating at relatively low output power than at a higher output power. Nevertheless, the goal of the amplifier designed is to provide low total harmonic distortion regardless of the output power. Typically this goal is achieved by overdesigning the amplifier to accommodate the highest anticipated output power. Such overdesigned amplifiers are able to provide low distortion for low and high signal levels at low and high output power. However, the overdesign is manifested by the excess dissipation of power when the amplifier is providing signals at low output power. If the need for high output power is rare (e.g., some video amplifiers are called upon to provide high output power for about 1 .mu.sec only one out of 10 million times), the waste of energy can be significant and is desirably avoided.
The present invention is directed to a low distortion amplifier and method of reducing distortion which avoids large power dissipation for low signal levels at low output power by dynamically adjusting the bias provided to an input stage of the amplifier based on a feedback from the output stage.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a novel method and amplifier which augments a quiescent (low output power) bias at high output power to thereby obviate the problems of the prior art.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a novel method and amplifier which provides low distortion and low power dissipation at low signal levels, and low distortion and high power dissipation at high signal levels.
It is yet a further object of the present invention to provide a novel dynamically biased, low distortion, feedback amplifier in which total harmonic distortion is reduced by varying the bias currents of the analog amplifier.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a novel amplifier and method in which a current less than and proportional to an output current from the amplifier is sensed and provided to the input stage to augment the quiescent bias current at higher output power in order to operate the amplifier without substantial distortion at large input signal levels and high output power.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a novel amplifier with a bias circuit providing a quiescent bias current; an input stage with two pairs of input transistors, first and second level adjusting transistors each coupled to common bases of a different pair of input transistors, a first node coupled to a base of the first level adjusting transistor, and a second node coupled to a base of the second level adjusting transistor; a sensor for sensing a current less than and proportional to an output current from the amplifier; and first and second current mirrors each coupled to the sensor and to one of the first and second nodes, the first current mirror providing the sensed current to the input stage to augment the quiescent bias current at higher output power and the second current mirror thereafter removing the sensed current, thereby not affecting the quiescent bias which is used for low output power.
These and many other objects and advantages of the present invention will be readily apparent to one skilled in the art to which the invention pertains from a perusal of the claims, the appended drawings, and the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments.

Low distortion current feedback amplifier with dynamic biasing


A system and method to provide voltage to a device from the operating mode of an integrated circuit is disclosed. In a particular embodiment, the disclosed system includes an integrated circuit having an input/output pin and a DC-DC converter circuit that is coupled to the input/output pin and including a transistor element. The DC-DC converter circuit has a first mode of operation and a second mode of operation. In the first mode of operation, the DC-DC converter circuit performs voltage conversion and in the second mode of operation, the transistor element of the DC-DC converter circuit is used to selectively apply a voltage supply to an external module coupled to the input/output pin.

In many integrated circuit applications, it is advantageous for the integrated circuit to provide voltage to modules external to the integrated circuit. It is often useful to control the voltage provided by the integrated circuit to the external modules to be switched on and off. This can allow the integrated circuit to selectively shut down the external module, and to provide voltage to the external module during a reset condition. Voltage control is sometimes provided by using an external switch, such as a transistor element coupled to an input of the external module that is controlled by the integrated circuit. However, the external switch, such as the transistor element, adds expense to the system.
In many applications, including applications involving portable devices, voltage is provided to the integrated circuit by a battery that is external to the integrated circuit. The voltage provided by the battery is often modified by the integrated circuit to provide a designated voltage to the external module. Since different portable devices use different battery types and configurations having different input voltage levels, it would be desirable for the integrated circuit to adapt to a variety of battery types.
Accordingly, there is a need for an improved system and method to provide voltage to modules external to an integrated circuit.


A system and method for sharing athletic performance data are described herein. The system and method provide the upload of athletic performance data to a publish/subscribe infrastructure. Sensors coupled to a mobile device track various athletic performance metrics. The mobile device transmits this sensor data to an upload server in the form of athletic performance data. The upload server makes the athletic performance available via a publish/subscribe infrastructure. The publish/subscribe infrastructure allows data servers to subscribe to particular data feeds associated with sets of athletic performance data. The data servers receive the athletic performance data via the data feeds to which they are subscribed, and host the athletic performance data. This data may thus be presented to users in a variety of formats, such as by displaying competitors in an event on a map along with the heart rate, cadence, and other performance indicators.

Widespread availability of high-speed Internet access has provided users with unprecedented access to information. Real-time news feeds and streaming video are now available on many websites, further increasing the user's access to live data. The ubiquity of social media and networks also allows users to share their day-to-day experiences more than ever before. Photos, videos, and other forms of media allow users to connect with one another from across great distances.
Although users are increasingly connected via traditional forms of media such as photos, videos, and instant messages, it is not feasible to simulate the experience of physical proximity, such as taking a walk together, or competing with one another in an event. Sensor data relating to users physical characteristics, such as athletic performance, is not easily sharable or available in real-time. To compare such performance data, users must typically manually transfer athletic performance data to another user, such as via e-mail, physical transfer of a flash drive, or manually upload the data to a web page.

System and method for sharing of athletic performance data


A system and method for finding a business entity in a database that matches input data. A web services interface accepts a match request and provides a best match. A pre-processing layer cleans, parses, and standardizes input data into terms. An application layer includes a match engine for processing the match request using the terms. The match engine evaluates and scores match candidates from the database to provide the best match and, optionally, an ordered list of match candidates.

In database processing systems, the user desires to have efficient, high speed access and search capabilities for data stored in the database. Crucial to this objective is the ability to enable fast retrieval of the correct data sought by means operating to find a match without having to search through each data element stored on each record.
Conventional database processing systems seek a match between input business data and stored data as set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 5,659,731, which is incorporated in its entirety by reference thereto. The '731 patent describes a system that accepts a given search entity from a user and utilizes a database to identify a possible matching entity from a large list of entries. The '731 patent also discloses a method which provides for evaluating the reliability of the matching entity. Preferably, the method is carried out with minimal human intervention. A user inputs a plurality of attributes to identify a given entity, the system identifies a possible matching entity, and assigns a numerical grade to reflect the match quality of each attribute. Thereafter, the method assigns a grade to each attribute score, assembles the grades into a key, uses the key to address a memory, and retrieves a confidence code or quality indicator from the memory. The confidence codes are based on empirical information and reflect the overall quality of the match for the particular entity.
Systems of the foregoing type are well known. For instance, in the credit industry, credit history information on a given business entity being considered for credit is typically processed through a commercially available database. A user may input the name of a business entity into a processor connected to the database, which then locates that given entity in the database and retrieves its credit history information.
The credit history information is then used to make a decision on whether to grant or withhold credit for the given entity.
To simplify matters with a simple example, assume that the user has an interest in making a sale on credit to XYZ Corp., which is located at a particular address in a particular city. XYZ Corp. is the "given entity," or "given entry." After the user inputs this identifying information, the database is searched and an entry for XYZ Corp. located at a different address in the same city is identified from the database. A determination must then be made as to whether the identified XYZ Corp. is the same as the given entity XYZ Corp. If the determination is that they are the same, then the credit information from the database for the identified XYZ Corp. is used in making the credit decision for the transaction with the given entity.
Database systems such as these have far reaching applications beyond credit industry applications as illustrated above. In another illustration, a wholesale distribution entity may periodically distribute product information documents to retail entities. The costs associated with these documents may range from inexpensive product brochures (e.g., 50 cents each) to relatively costly product catalogs (e.g., $5.00 each). In order to save costs, since thousands of these product information documents may be distributed, the wholesale distribution entity may wish to direct the more expensive catalogs to those retailers having a high sales volume, and the less expensive brochures to retailers having a low volume of sales. In this application, the database system would be accessed to identify sales information on certain entities, as opposed to credit history information.
As will become apparent from the discussion that follows, the present invention is useful in broad-ranging applications, including both of the foregoing illustrations. In order to better explain the concepts and teachings on the present invention, however, the illustrations provided hereinafter will generally focus on the credit industry application presented above.
Business entities are typically listed in a database by what can be called attributes. The most common attributes are those which identify the entity, such as the business name and location. Location can be broken down into a number of attributes which include street number, street name, P.O. box number, city, town or the like, state (if in the U.S.) or country, and telephone number. These are common attributes which are found in many commercial databases reporting information on business entities. Other attributes are, however, sometimes utilized.
When it is desired to find a match for a given entity within such a list of business entities, inconsistencies in listing information can create matching problems. In some instances, inconsistencies can result from erroneous information stored in the database itself, and also from erroneous information input when identifying a given entity for whom a match is desired. In other instances, inconsistencies may result merely due to differing styles (e.g., abbreviations) used to identify certain attributes.
Credit departments typically have procedures for dialing up databases and obtaining credit information. Usually, the identification process is rather straightforward, and may be performed automatically. However, because of the different styles of stating names and addresses and the different care which is exercised by a large number of people in collecting information, the correlation between a given entity and the possible matching entities in the database do not always match precisely. When this occurs, human intervention is often necessary to make the intermediate determination as to which one of the one or more identified entities matches the given entity, before the ultimate determination of whether to grant or withhold credit can be made. Proper intermediate identification is particularly important in large dollar transactions. The human intervention usually involves either making an on-the-spot judgment as to the correct match, or making follow-up phone calls to investigate or verify the given entity.
Based on the amount of time required to verify the identity of a given entity, and the cost associated with the human (e.g., credit manager, clerk, etc.) who makes those decisions, it will be found that this somewhat mundane step in the credit approval procedure can consume a significant amount of dollar resources. Indeed, in situations where a large number of such credit decisions are made, it is found to be commercially feasible to isolate a subset of justifiable risks (i.e., those where a reliable match is made), and grant credit to those risks without the need for human intervention.
There are generally available processes and procedures, and commercially available software packages for determining a "best fit" match for any given entity within a large compilation or list of entities. For example, a system known as Soundex is well known and has long been used to find words that sound similar but are spelled differently. Similarly, a system known as AdMatch was used to help people find the proper 1970 census tract, using a base address.
In the credit industry, systems like the foregoing are used by credit reporting agencies to identify a list of possible matching entities and numerically score the match of the identifying attributes (name, address, city, etc.) for each entity identified. More particularly, automated matching systems are available, which parse, normalize, and further process a given entry to identify likely matches. These systems can also provide attribute-by-attribute information, such as a numerical score, reflecting the reliability of the match of each attribute. Thus, a user might be faced with an attempted match where the name matches exactly and thus has a 100% score, the street address has a 63% score, the town 79%, and the phone number a no entry condition. But, again, human intervention is usually required as a credit manager, clerk, or other appropriate person must examine the entries, the scores, and the overall context of the request in order to determine whether the information provided by the credit database indeed matches the characteristics of the given entity.
More sophisticated systems are known, wherein the individual attribute scores are weighted by factors based on empirical data to produce a composite score. These systems have been less than effective in the past, and it is typically found that programmers are continuously adjusting weighting factors to accommodate new conditions. As additional empirical data is collected, the weighting algorithm be further refined. Thus, it can be appreciated that the weighting function or algorithm is a ever-changing device. Unfortunately, while the newly adjusted weighting factors may accommodate a new condition successfully, they often unexpectedly and adversely affect other computations, and accurate matching problems persist.
The unique fuzzy matching system according to the present invention creates a tunable, self-directing approach that focuses on those algorithmic components that are most likely to yield positive results. This system enhances all online and batch matching environments, and significantly increases data throughput. The present invention also provides the following advantages over conventional matching systems: (1) enhanced reference database; (2) advanced approaches to retrieve keys including geo-coding and advanced name scoring; (3) improved presentation of candidates for online decisioning; (4) enhanced decisioning criteria and communication about how a match was performed; and (5) focused measurement of match performance at critical internal touchpoints as well as customer-facing metrics.

System and method for searching and matching databases


The present disclosure includes circuits, systems and methods for regulating voltage. One voltage regulator system embodiment includes a voltage regulator having an output and a number of stages coupled in parallel to the output of the voltage regulator. Each stage includes a source follower circuit, and a sample and hold circuit coupled in series between the output of the voltage regulator and an input of the source follower circuit.

Memory devices are typically provided as internal, semiconductor, integrated circuits in computers or other electronic devices. There are many different types of memory utilized in memory devices, including random-access memory (RAM), read only memory (ROM), dynamic random access memory (DRAM), synchronous dynamic random access memory (SDRAM), phase change RAM (PCRAM) and flash memory, among others.
Memory devices are utilized as non-volatile memory for a wide range of electronic applications. Flash, and other, memory devices typically use a one-transistor memory cell that allows for high memory densities, high reliability, and low power consumption.
Uses for memory include memory for personal computers, personal digital assistants (PDAs), digital cameras, and cellular telephones, among others. Program code and system data, such as a basic input/output system (BIOS), are typically stored in flash memory devices. This information can be used in personal computer systems, and other electronic devices.
Two common types of memory array architectures, e.g., flash memory array architecture, are the "NAND" and "NOR" architectures, so called for the logical form in which the basic memory cell configuration of each is arranged.
A NAND array architecture arranges its array of floating gate memory cells in a matrix such that the gates of each floating gate memory cell in a row of the array are coupled to an access line (which is commonly referred to in the art as a "word line"). However each memory cell is not directly coupled to a column data line (which is commonly referred to in the art as a "bit line") by its drain. Instead, the memory cells of the array are coupled together in series, source to drain, between a source line and a column data line. The terms "row" and "column," as used herein, do not necessarily refer to a particular linear relation of the memory cells, but rather generally to an intersection in an arrangement of memory cells.
Memory cells in a NAND array architecture can be programmed to a desired state. That is, electric charge can be placed on or removed from the floating gate of a memory cell to put the cell into a number of stored states. For example, a single level cell (SLC) can represent two states, e.g., 1 or 0.
Memory cells, e.g., flash memory cells, can also be programmed to more than two states, such as to a number of states that allows a cell to represent more than two binary digits, e.g., 1111, 0111, 0011, 1011, 1001, 0001, 0101, 1101, 1100, 0100, 0000, 1000, 1010, 0010, 0110, and 1110. Such cells may be referred to as multi state memory cells, multidigit cells, or multilevel cells (MLCs). MLCs can allow the manufacture of higher density memories without increasing the number of memory cells since each cell can represent more than one binary digit, e.g., more than one bit. MLCs can have more than two programmed states, e.g., a cell capable of representing four digits can have sixteen programmed states. Some MLCs may have an erased state and a number of programmed states, each of which can represent a bit pattern. For these MLCs, the lowermost program state is not programmed above the erased state, that is, if the cell is programmed to the lowermost state, it remains in the erased state rather than having a charge applied to the cell during a programming operation. The other states can be referred to as "non-erased" states.
One or more voltage levels are utilized in operating memory cells, particularly in operating MLCs. Due to the variety of programmable states of each cell, voltages of several magnitudes may be used during operation of MLCs, e.g., programming and/or read. Increasing the quantity of different voltage levels used, can increase the circuit complexity and losses associated with producing many different voltage levels, e.g., energy usage, heat generated, etc.


A rotary solenoid having at least one AC coil and at least one DC coil where the AC coil and the DC coil are concurrently energized by an AC electrical source and a DC electrical source, respectively for enhanced actuation torque and low noise with decreased temperature rise and package size.

Various types of equipment including power electronics use solenoids to convert electrical power into mechanical motion. Generally, alternating current (AC) solenoids are used because of the wide availability of AC power from wall outlets. The primary problem with AC powered solenoid is the buzzing encountered when the linear or rotary element is powered into its energized position. The buzzing noise is caused by the cyclic nature of the AC current starting at zero rising to a maximum positive value and then falling through zero reaching a maximum negative value. For example, if common 60 cycles AC current is used, the buzzing would be at a rate of 120 cycles per second. Common problems with this type of AC induced noise occurs in household and office equipment and in specialized applications such as high power electrical contactors used in military equipment.
Direct current (DC) solenoids do not exhibit the aforementioned buzzing noise when their motion producing elements are energized into their extended position. It is known to those skilled in the art that an AC energized solenoid has more pulling force at a given power level than a DC powered solenoid. Thus, if DC power is to be used, the solenoid must be considerably larger or higher, DC currents must be used to generate the same pulling force which can result in excessive operating temperatures. Conversely, it is known that for a given size, a DC solenoid has a higher holding force at full travel than an AC solenoid along with a much lower noise level due to the non-reversing nature of the DC source. Solenoids, such as those disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,197,444, 4,520,332 and 3,671,899, the disclosures of which are hereby expressly incorporated by reference, disclose solenoids which use electrically energized coils to produce magnetic fields which act on a rotary or linear element to provide mechanical motion. U.S. Pat. No. 4,544,987, the disclosure of which is hereby expressly incorporated by reference, describes a magnetic switching device which uses an AC power source for energizing for activation of a switching device and subsequentially a DC current for holding the switching device in an activated position. None of these devices use simultaneous continuous energization of both the AC and DC current sources for operation of the solenoid.

Rotary solenoid utilizing concurrently energized AC and DC coils


A cable connector assembly (100) in accordance with the present invention includes a printed circuit board (2) having a number of signal and ground pads (25, 26) alternatively arranged at opposite front and rear ends (21, 22) thereof, a conductive wire organizer (3) including a body portion (30) defining a number of through holes (300) and a number of ground plates (31) integrally extending forwardly from the body portion to electrically connecting with the ground pads of the printed circuit board, and a number of wires (4) protruding through the through holes of the wire organizer. Each wire includes at least one signal conductor (40) soldered with the signal pad of the printed circuit board, an insulator (41) enclosing the at least one signal conductor and a conductor layer (42) enclosing the insulator and electrically connecting with the wire organizer.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to a cable connector assembly, and more particularly to a cable connector assembly for high-speed signal transmission.
2. Description of Related Art
For high-speed signal transmission electrical connectors, EMI and wire management are two most significant problems to be solved since such electrical connector usually has a large number of wires to transmit signals which need to be managed. Infiniband connector is a kind of high-speed signal transmission connector which comprises an insulative housing, a plurality of signal and ground terminals retained in the insulative housing, a spacer assembled to the housing and the terminals, a plurality of wires each comprising a signal differential pair transmitting positive and negative signals and a grounding conductor. The wires are managed by the spacer with the signal differential pairs and the grounding conductors respectively electrically connecting with the signal and ground terminals. Additionally, for depressing EMI, a grounding plate is adopted to electrically connect with the ground terminals and the grounding conductors.
Such features are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,685,501, 6,726,503, 6,764,342, 6,869,308, and 6,739,904. As for U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,685,501, 6,869,308 and 6,739,904, each spacer disclosed therein is a whole piece or a pair of upper and lower halves defines a plurality of aligning holes to permit the penetration of wires for aligning the wires. Each spacer is assembled with a large number of ground plates each soldered to corresponding grounding conductors of the wires and ground terminal to depress EMI in signal transmission. However, the number of the ground plates is large which is costly and assembling the so many ground plates to the spacer is time consuming and also costly.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,726,503 discloses an Infiniband type connector with a spacer having upper and lower halves assembled together to align wires and engaging with tail portions of ground terminals with grounding conductors electrically connecting with the tail portions of the ground terminals. U.S. Pat. No. 6,764,342 discloses a whole-piece spacer aligning wires and assembled with a pair of ground plates and short arms of ground terminals with the ground plates directly electrically connecting with grounding conductors of the wires and the short arms of the ground terminals to form electrical connection between the ground terminals and the grounding conductors of the wires. However, the ground terminals of these two connectors all directly connect the ground plates or the grounding conductors of the wires. In some circumstances, a printed circuit board is needed to realize the electrical connection between terminals and wires. The spacers and the ground plates are not suitable for above circumstance. Therefore, a cable connector with improved wire organizer and ground plate is desired to be developed to address above problems.

Cable connector assembly with improved wire organizer


An ergonomic exercise handle having a semicircular arcuate member for connection to a resistive member and a handle grip having a longitudinal centerline that lies on the diameter of the semicircular arcuate member. A cable resistive member can be attached to the arcuate member with a conventional clip or with a special clip fitted with a small roller to reduce friction. The semicircular arcuate member permits the clip to move to a position in linear alignment with a center of the handle grip and the resistive member. Ends of the handle grip are spaced inwardly from ends of the semicircular arcuate member by circling back loop portions extending past the diameter of the arcuate member and inwardly from the arcuate member ends to the handle grip ends. The loop portions provide for a greater range of movement while still maintaining a center point of the arcuate member within the handle grip.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to exercise equipment and, more specifically, to exercise equipment handles. The wrist is a complex joint and a common site for injury in virtually every type of athletic activity. Sports medicine studies have documented the wrist and hand as the most common sites for upper-extremity injuries in athletic activities. Compressive force, shear force and torque imposed on the wrist can result in acute and chronic injuries to skeletal and soft tissue structures of the joint.
Resistance type exercise equipment applies a force, which is biomechanically transmitted to the forearm by the user gripping a handle and extending, retracting or pivoting his arm. The wrist joint sustains all of these forces. The geometry of the handle, specifically the physical relationship of the location of the force connection point and the user's wrist as constrained by the handle, has a direct impact on how these forces effect the wrist joint.
Accordingly, there is a need in the art for a handle that would reduce the forces applied to the wrist and allow a free range of motion when using any type of existing mechanical resistance exercise machine. This handle would also correctly align the wrist and forearm preventing stress on the user's wrist joint and ligaments.
The present invention provides a device that applies the force of the exercise equipment as a radial load centered at the midpoint of the user's grip. The present invention also allows a free range of motion by allowing the user to adjust the flexion, extension, radial deviation and ulnar deviation of their wrist to keep the hand and forearm aligned in a neural position.
The preferred embodiment is an ergonomic exercise handle having an arc shaped frame for connection to a resistance, providing perfect wrist alignment. The uniqueness of the handle of the present invention is that the centerline of the handle grip lies on the diameter of the arcuate member. A cable is attached to the arcuate member with a conventional clip or with a special clip fitted with a small roller to reduce friction. The present invention provides exercise with motion similar to exercise using dumbbells and free weights, which allows the natural bend of the wrist.
2. Description of the Prior Art
There are other devices designed for exercise equipment handles. Typical of these is U.S. Pat. No. 134,527 issued to H. E. Eastman on Jan. 7, 1873.
Another patent was issued to C. Washburn on Jun. 18, 1929 as U.S. Pat. No. 1,717,861. Yet another U.S. Pat. No. 1,729,399 was issued to R. H. Roe on Sep. 24, 1929 and still yet another was issued on Mar. 4, 1930 to J. Pagano as U.S. Pat. No. 1,749,544.
Another patent was issued to S. Farison on Apr. 1, 1952 as U.S. Pat. No. 2,590,951. Yet another U.S. Pat. No. 3,873,088 was issued to Panepinto on Mar. 25, 1975. Another was issued to Leonard Schwartz et al. on Jul. 23, 1991 as U.S. Pat. No. 5,033,740 and still yet another was issued on Jan. 3, 1995 to Samuel J. Ciccia as U.S. Pat. No. 5,377,984.
Another patent was issued to Christopher R. Schaber on Jul. 9, 1996 as U.S. Pat. No. 5,533,952. Yet another U.S. Pat. No. 5,921,902 was issued to David Paul Carpenter on Jul. 13, 1999. Another was filed by Kenneth M. Nicolay et al. on Jun. 26, 2003 as U.S. Patent Application No. US2003/0116982. Another was filed on Jul. 24, 2003 by Hai Pin Kuo as Patent Application No. US2003/0139264A1 and another was issued to Steven Swatton on Jan. 19, 2000 as United Kingdom. Patent No. GB2339153.