Disclosed herein is a secondary battery having an electrode assembly received in a receiving part of a battery case, the electrode assembly being constructed in a structure in which pluralities of cathodes and anodes are stacked one on another while separators are disposed between the respective cathodes and anodes, and electrode taps extending from the stacked cathodes and anodes are coupled to electrode leads, wherein the receiving part of the battery case is provided at the outer upper end thereof with a depressed step such that at least a portion of the inner upper end of the receiving part of the battery case excluding the electrode taps-electrode lead coupling parts of the electrode assembly is in tight contact with the upper end of the electrode assembly.

As mobile devices have been increasingly developed, and the demand of such mobile devices has increased, the demand of batteries has also sharply increased as an energy source for the mobile devices. Also, much research on batteries satisfying various needs has been carried out.
In terms of the shape of the batteries, the demand of prismatic secondary batteries or pouch-shaped secondary batteries, which are thin enough to be applied to products, such as mobile phones, is very high. In terms of the material for the batteries, the demand of lithium secondary batteries, such as lithium ion polymer batteries, having high energy density, high discharge voltage, and high output stability, is very high.
Furthermore, the secondary batteries may be classified based on the construction of an electrode assembly having a cathode/a separator/an anode structure. For example, the electrode assembly may be constructed in a jelly-roll (winding) type structure in which long-sheet type cathodes and anodes are wound while separators are disposed between the respective cathodes and anodes, a stacking type structure in which pluralities of cathodes and anodes having a predetermined size are successively stacked one on another while separators are disposed between the respective cathodes and anodes, or a stacking/folding type structure in which pluralities of cathodes and anodes having a predetermined size are successively stacked one on another while separators are disposed between the respective cathodes and anodes to constitute a bi-cell or a full-cell, and then the bi-cell or a full-cell is wound.
Recently, much interest has been taken in a pouch-shaped battery having such a stacking or stacking/folding electrode assembly mounted in a pouch-shaped battery case made of an aluminum laminate sheet because of low manufacturing costs, light weight, and easy modification in shape, and, as a result, the use of the pouch-shaped battery has gradually increased.
FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the general structure of a conventional pouch-shaped secondary battery.
Referring to FIG. 1, the pouch-shaped secondary battery 10 includes an electrode assembly 30, electrode taps 40 and 50 extending from the electrode assembly, electrode leads 60 and 70 welded to the electrode taps 40 and 50, respectively, and a battery case 20 for receiving the electrode assembly 30.
The electrode assembly 30 is a power generating element comprising cathodes and anodes successively stacked one on another while separators are disposed between the respective cathodes and anodes. The electrode assembly 30 is constructed in a stacking structure or a stacking/folding structure. The electrode taps 40 and 50 extend from electrode plates of the electrode assembly 30. The electrode leads 60 and 70 are electrically connected to the pluralities of electrode taps 40 and 50 extending from the electrode plates of the electrode assembly 30, for example, by welding. The electrode leads 60 and 70 are partially exposed to the outside of the battery case 20. To the upper and lower surfaces of the electrode leads 60 and 70 is partially attached insulative film 80 for improving sealability between the battery case 20 and the electrode leads 60 and 70 and, at the same time, for accomplishing electrical isolation between the battery case 20 and the electrode leads 60 and 70.
The battery case 20 is made of an aluminum laminate sheet. The battery case 20 has a space for receiving the electrode assembly 30. The battery case 20 is formed generally in the shape of a pouch. In the case that the electrode assembly 30 is a stacking type electrode assembly as shown in FIG. 1, the inner upper end of the battery case 20 is spaced apart from the electrode assembly 30 such that the plurality of cathode taps 40 and the plurality of anode taps 50 can be coupled to the electrode leads 60 and 70, respectively.
FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view illustrating the inner upper end of the battery case of the secondary battery shown in FIG. 1, in which the cathode taps are coupled to each other in a concentrated state and connected to the cathode lead, and FIG. 3 is a front see-through view illustrating the secondary battery of FIG. 1 in an assembled state.
Referring to these drawings, the plurality of cathode taps 40, which extend from a cathode collector 41 of the electrode assembly 30, are connected to one end of the cathode lead 60, for example, in the form of a welded bunch constituted by integrally combining the cathode taps 40 with each other by welding. The cathode lead 60 is sealed by the battery case 20 while the other end 61 of the cathode lead 60 is exposed to the outside of the battery case 20. Since the plurality of cathode taps are combined with each other to constitute the welded bunch, the inner upper end of the battery case 20 is spaced a predetermined distance from the upper end surface of the electrode assembly 30, and the cathode taps 40 combined in the form of the welded bunch are bent approximately in the shape of V. Hereinafter, the coupling region between the electrode taps and the electrode lead will be referred to as a "V-form region."
When the battery drops with the upper end of the battery, i.e., the cathode lead 60 of the battery, down, or an external physical force is applied to the upper end of the battery, however, the electrode assembly 30 moves toward the inner upper end of the battery case 20, or the upper end of the battery case 20 is crushed. As a result, the anode of the electrode assembly 30 is brought into contact with the cathode taps 42 or the cathode lead 61, and therefore, short circuits may occur inside the battery. Consequently, the safety of the battery is greatly lowered.
In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the present invention provides a structure in which V-form regions in a receiving part of the battery case are modified into a predetermined shape.
In connection with this case, technologies for modifying the receiving part of the battery case have been proposed. As an example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2002-200584 discloses a structure in which pluralities of grooves and flat parts are formed along the side of a receiving part of a battery case constructed in a trapezoidal shape when viewing the vertical section of the battery case such that an electrode assembly can be brought into tight contact with the inner surface of the receiving part of the battery case. However, the disclosed technology has a drawback in that the grooves and the flat parts must be formed at the side of the battery case, which has relatively small height, and therefore, it is difficult to form the grooves and the flat parts. When using the disclosed technology, it is possible to improve the attachment of the electrode assembly to the battery case in a battery structurally having no V-form regions (for example, a prismatic jelly-roll type battery). However, it has been proved that the disclosed technology cannot prevent the movement of the electrode assembly toward the electrode taps in a battery having V-form regions for the coupling between the electrode taps and the electrode leads, as described above.
Consequently, a technology for manufacturing a battery while effectively utilizing the V-form regions, which do not contribute to the capacity and the operation of the battery, and preventing the occurrence of short circuits due to the movement of the electrode assembly is highly required.


In a method or system for loading of program data for a graphical user interface for operation or for diagnosis of a printer or copier, first data are stored in a first storage region of a first data processing unit. The first data are transferred from the first data processing unit to a second data processing unit of an operating unit, the first data containing at least specifications about at least one program module necessary for generation of operation or diagnosis functions. With help of the second data processing unit, it is checked whether second data that contain the program module are contained in the second storage region of the second data processing unit. A version state of the program module stored as second data in the second storage region is compared with a version state of the necessary program module. Given non-existent second data in the second storage region and given inconsistent version states, the second data are transferred from a third storage region of the first data processing unit to the second data processing unit. Instructions of the program module are executed by the second data processing unit.

The preferred embodiment concerns a method and a system for generation of a graphical user interface for an electrophotographic printing or copying system. Data for generation of a graphical user interface are stored in a storage region of a first data processing unit.
In known printers or copiers, a serial interface is provided for connection of a service and maintenance computer with which diagnostic tasks and adjustment tasks can be implemented. Individual components of the printer or copier have their own data interfaces, at which the service and maintenance computer for diagnostic, configuration and maintenance tasks can be connected via an interface converter. In known printers, the diagnosis and adjustment of these components can only occur via the respective data interface of the component. Due to the relatively low data transfer rates of these data interfaces, larger quantities of data would have to be read out from the printer or copier with the aid of exchangeable data media such as, for example, diskettes. Different programs that are respectively individually invoked and executed by the service and maintenance computer are necessary for evaluation of these error data, for diagnosing and maintenance of the components with their own data interfaces, and for diagnosis of the printer or copier via the serial interface. The necessary programs are installed on the service and maintenance computer, whereby different programs that are respectively stored as a separate program on a fixed disc of the service and maintenance computer are necessary for individual delivery states of individual components and of the printer or copier. Even the selection of the correct program requires significant expertise.
A control system for a printer or copier is known from U.S. Pat. No. 5,243,382, in which a portable maintenance device can be connected to a maintenance interface. The printer or copier first transfers data with state information of the printer or copier with the aid of a connection between the maintenance device and the printer or copier. Furthermore, second data that contain state information can be input to the maintenance device. At least one pair of items of stored control information can be output by the maintenance device based on the first and second state information. Furthermore, from U.S. Pat. No. 5,243,382 it is known to transfer the stored data to a data processing system.
Furthermore, from the document EP 0 843 230 A1 a system is known for remote maintenance via the World Wide Web of a peripheral device connected with a network. In this system, a Java applet is downloaded given the first invocation call by a server to a data processing system, and there it is cached by a browser program module for a repeated invocation by the same HTML document. A graphical user interface is generated with the aid of the HTML document, whereby the HTML document is also transferred to the data processing system. A method and an arrangement for implementation of monitoring and management functions in networks with monitored components is known from the document DE 197 35 947 A1 and a data transfer over the Internet with the aid of program modules based on the programming language Java is known from the document U.S. Pat. No. 5,926,631 A1.

Method and system for creating a graphic user interface for controlling, configuring and/or diagnosing an electrophotographic copying or printing apparatus


The present invention is an umbrella light with an audio module, including a hosing, at least two fastener, at least two turned lights, an audio module and a control module. The fastener provides a better gripper structure with a torsional spring, and the audio module can be arranged with external audio source, which provides people with wonderful melody.

It is quite usual to see people to use a garden umbrella in various outdoor resting/dining areas to shade sunlight or rain drops. Hence, the garden umbrella is good companion for entertaining, patios, decks, relaxing, and camping, to provide a comfortable and relaxing environment. But normally the lights in the garden are not specifically designed for use with the umbrella shielded; the brightness becomes dim after sunset. Thus, people have developed an illuminating apparatus rib-mounted on umbrella's post.
According to U.S. Pat. No. 7,134,762 B2 which is issued on Nov. 14, 2006, entitled "Light providing apparatus attachable to umbrella and stand assembly" disclosed an umbrella light. The umbrella light comprises a main body, and the main body is interconnected by two structurally base parts A and B. The base part A and the base part B is a chamber with a semicircular shape, and each having a semi-circularly concave at the noncurved inner sidewall, which facing of the other and forms a hole when the two base parts are joined together. On the one side of the base part A equipped with a pivotal stem fasten a pivotal hole which equipped on base part B, and the other side of base part A equipped a latch pin and latch to a latch hole in the base part B, and therefore the two base parts are connected together to rib around the umbrella post through the hole. Moreover, a stand gripper is mounted in the middle of a semi-circular concave opening of each base part A and base part B, the stand gripper consisted of a rod and a spring. By the bounce of the spring, the rod is against to the umbrella post and the umbrella light stands. Additionally, the light module disposed on both bottom side of base part A and base part B, thus, the illumination can be obtained.


An inorganic powder uses a UV solid light source applied for the UV LEDs, in which an inorganic powder is based on the inorganic powder of n-silicate group II elements, and its ingredients have valence 2 ions, such as Eu+2, Sm+2, Yb+2 and Dy+2, valence 3 ions Ce+3, Tb+3 and/or Eu+3. The chemical formula of the components is Me+21-xLn+32-ySi2O8:TR+2x:TR+3y, and x=0.0-0.2, y=0.0-0.1. A main structure thereof is a hexagonal crystal structure. When the indium gallium nitride and gallium nitride based allomorphous semiconductor short wave UV light is used under conditions of excitement, the multiple band white light can be obtained.

1. Field of the Invention
An inorganic powder uses a UV solid light source. The chemical formula of main component is Me+21-xLn+32-ySi2O8:TR+2x:TR+3y. When the indium gallium nitride and gallium nitride-based allomorphous semiconductor short wave UV light is being used under conditions of excitement, multiple band white light can be obtained.
2. Description of Related Art
In recent years, the manufacturing technology of the solid light source has improved continuously. The efficiency of illumination is greatly increased. Since the solid light source may emit nearly monochrome light, and is highly reliable, enjoys longevity, and can be broadly applied, it has been used in many lighting equipment applications. There is a trend of replacing traditional vacuum light bulbs with solid light sources.
A white light source is mixed from multiple colors of light. The white light that can be observed by human eyes contains a mixture of light with at least two or more wavelengths. When human eyes are simultaneously excited by red, blue and green light, or simultaneously excited by the cross compensation light of blue and yellow light, the light is perceived as white light. This principle can be used to generate a solid light source for the white light.
There are main four conventional means of white solid light source generation. The first method uses three solid light sources using InGaAlP, GaN and GaN as materials. The electric current passes, under respective control, through the solid light sources and emits red, green and blue light. Then, a lens is used to mix the light emitted to generate white light.
The second method uses two solid light sources with GaN and GaP as materials. The current passing through these solid light sources is also individually controlled to emit blue and yellow-green light to generate white light. Although the efficiency of illumination for the above mentioned two methods may reach 20 lm/W, if one of the different color solid light sources fails, normal white light cannot be obtained. Additionally, the positive bias is different. Thus, many sets of control electric circuits are required. The cost is high. These are many disadvantages of practical applications.
The third method was developed in 1996 by Nichia Chemical of Japan. An indium gallium nitride blue solid light source and a yellow light-emitting yttrium aluminum garnet fluorescent material are used to form a white light source. Although, at the present time, the efficiency of illumination (as high as 15 lm/W) is lower than those the prior two methods, only one solid light source chip set is required. The manufacturing cost is reduced significantly. Furthermore, the formulation and production technology for the fluorescent material is mature, and commercial products are available.
However, methods two and three utilize a color compensation principle to generate white light. The continuity of spectrum wavelength distribution is not as good as sunlight. After the mixture of the colored light, in the visible light spectrum range (400 nm-700 nm), the color is not even. The saturation of color is low. This phenomenon can be ignored by human eyes, because they only perceive white light. However, high precision optical detectors, such as a video camera or camera, perceive the color rendering as low. Errors will be caused during reduction. Thus, the white light sources generated by these methods can only be used for simple lighting applications.
The fourth white light generating method was developed by Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd of Japan. It uses ZnSe material as the white solid light. A CdZnSe thin film is first formed on the ZnSe single crystal baseboard. After energizing, the thin film emits blue light. At the same time, a portion of the blue light shines on the baseboard and emits a yellow light. Finally, the blue and yellow light compensate each other and generate white light. This method utilizes only a solid light source crystal. The operation voltage is only 2.7V, lower than the 3.5V required for a GaN solid light source. Additionally, its generation of white light does not require fluorescent material. However, the disadvantages are that the efficiency of illumination is only 8 lm/W, and the service life is only 8000 hours.
In addition to the aforesaid white light generation methods by a solid light source, according to the prior art there is controlled exciting of Y3Al5O12, a co-fluorescent material wave spectrum attempt. The additives used to replace Al are Ga or Sc. Alternatively, Lu, Tb, and Sm are used to replace Y to achieve limited results. However, these fluorescent material radiation light spectrum are normally located in the green-yellow zone of visible light. It cannot integrate the design of solid light source and the soft white light generated by white lamp with equivalent color temperature of T=2800K-3500K.
In the current art method announced by J. K. Park, the white solid light source uses Ga—N as a base, and its cold light properties. ("White Light-emitting Diodes of Ga—N-Based Sr2SiO4:Eu and the Luminescent Properties" J. Electrochem. Solid State Lett., vol 5 {2002} p. H11). The chemical composition used is silicate inorganic powder based on strontium compounds and with the chemical formula as Sr2-xEu+2xSiO4, wherein x can be 0.1, 0.05, 0.03, or 0.005 shown in the disclosure of "White Light-emitting Diodes of Ga—N-Based Sr2SiO4:Eu and the Luminescent Properties." The principle of illumination of inorganic powders is related to the transfer radiation of Eu+2 replacement of Sr+2 ions at the crystal sieve anode nodes. The limited utilization of n-silicate inorganic powder production of standard blue light In—Ga—N allomorphous in a white solid light source is that the short wave wavelength used for self-excitement is around λ≦420 nm, where λ=395 nm, λ=405 nm, and λ=380 nm are used.
Although after the aforesaid n-silicate inorganic powder Sr2-xEu+2xSiO4 (x can be 0.1, 0.05, 0.03, or 0.005) is excited by the UV light, the radiation light spectrum is yellow-green, and cold color-adjusted white light can be obtained. Compared to the production equipment of present art used yttrium aluminum garnet fluorescent material, it has much higher Rendering index. It offers the main advantages of the n-silicate inorganic powder solid light source. However, obtaining this advantage can only be achieved when double portions of inorganic powder mixing agents are used in the solid light source.
In addition to the above-mentioned disadvantages that double portions of inorganic powder mixing agents must be used, the strontium europium based n-silicate material has a very low efficiency. When the angles used for the produced white light diodes Sr2-xEu+2xSiO4 (x can be 0.1, 0.05, 0.03, or 0.005) are between 30° and 120°, the light intensity is J=0.1-0.3 candlelight. At the same time, the temperatures of this diode should not exceed 80-90° C. That is, when a solid light source is heated to these values, the light brightness is reduced by half. In addition, the temperatures used in the generation process of the inorganic powder are T=1100-1200° C. This is not sufficient to combine the quantum effect of the inorganic powders. During the synthesizing of various known silicate inorganic powder, the vitrification of products is easily occurs. This forces the grinding of the vitrified inorganic powder and leads to lower quantum effect.
For the present art that uses UV light as solid light source chips, such as U.S. Pat. No. 6,765,237 "White light-emitting device based on UV solid light source and phosphor blend", a fluorescent body is provided that is the combination of two chemical components, to achieve the UV light excited white light solid light source.

UV solid light source of inorganic powder


A fibre channel switch element with an integrated fabric controller on a single chip is provided. The fabric controller including a processor module that can control various switch element functions; a serlizer/de-serializer for converting parallel data to serial data for transmission; an on-chip peripheral bus that allows communication between plural components and the processor module; a processor local bus and an interrupt controller that provides interrupts to the processor module. The integrated fabric controller also includes a flash controller and an external memory controller; an Ethernet controller; a Universal Asynchronous Receiver Transmitter (“UART”) module that performs serial to parallel conversion and vice-versa; an I2C module that performs serial to parallel and parallel to serial conversion; a general-purpose input/output interface; a real time clock module; an interrupt controller that can receive interrupts inputs from both internal and external sources; and a bridge to an internal PCI bus.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to fibre channel systems, and more particularly to integrating fibre channel fabric controller in a fibre channel switch.
2. Background of the Invention
Fibre channel is a set of American National Standard Institute (ANSI) standards, which provide a serial transmission protocol for storage and network protocols such as HIPPI, SCSI, IP, ATM and others. Fibre channel provides an input/output interface to meet the requirements of both channel and network users.
Fibre channel supports three different topologies: point-to-point, arbitrated loop and fibre channel fabric. The point-to-point topology attaches two devices directly. The arbitrated loop topology attaches devices in a loop. The fibre channel fabric topology attaches host systems directly to a fabric, which are then connected to multiple devices. The fibre channel fabric topology allows several media types to be interconnected.
Fibre channel is a closed system that relies on multiple ports to exchange information on attributes and characteristics to determine if the ports can operate together. If the ports can work together, they define the criteria under which they communicate.
In fibre channel, a path is established between two nodes where the path's primary task is to transport data from one point to another at high speed with low latency, performing only simple error detection in hardware.
Fibre channel fabric devices include a node port or "N_Port" that manages fabric connections. The N_port establishes a connection to a fabric element (e.g., a switch) having a fabric port or F_port. Fabric elements include the intelligence to handle routing, error detection, recovery, and similar management functions.
A fibre channel switch is a multi-port device where each port manages a simple point-to-point connection between itself and its attached system. Each port can be attached to a server, peripheral, I/O subsystem, bridge, hub, router, or even another switch. A switch receives messages from one port and automatically routes it to another port. Multiple calls or data transfers happen concurrently through the multi-port fibre channel switch.
Fibre channel switches use memory buffers to hold frames received and sent across a network. Associated with these buffers are credits, which are the number of frames that a buffer can hold per fabric port.
Fibre channel links/ports can operate (i.e. receive and/or transmit data) in different speeds, for example, 1 gigabit per second ("G"), 2G, 4G, 8G and now 10G. A Fibre Channel Fabric switch needs to be configured and managed efficiently, especially with increasing throughput rates. Conventional fabric switches do not have an efficient way to control, configure and manage fabric switch functionality. Fabric controller function is often performed by a component that is external to the fabric switch itself. This increases the overall cost of the switch. Therefore, it is desirable to have an embedded fabric controller for managing various operations of a fibre channel fabric switch.

Integrated fibre channel fabric controller


A retaining apparatus for locking a disk drive within a bracket is disclosed. The retaining apparatus includes a latch member and a securing member. The latch member includes a securing portion and a locking portion capable of locking the disk drive in the bracket. A resisting piece is formed on the securing member to resist against the latch member to move towards the bracket to block the disk drive from moving out of the bracket.

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to a retaining apparatus and, particularly, to a retaining apparatus for locking a disk drive in a bracket.
2. Description of Related Art
Disk drives and other peripheral electronic components are frequently mounted on a carrier that can be slidably inserted into a chassis. The carrier usually includes a pair of carrier rails positioned on either side thereof to match the chassis rails. A latching mechanism is usually included to latch the disk drive in the carrier. A drawback of current carriers of removable disk drives is their relatively large size. Additionally, the number of parts required to assemble the carriers increases the cost of the disk drive bracket.

Retaining apparatus for locking disk drive

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


Some aspects described herein relate to transmitting, by a first node to a second node, indications of one or more groups of component carriers (CCs) that share an analog receiver beamformer or analog transmitter beamformer at the first node. Some aspects additionally or alternatively relate to receiving, by the first node from the second node, indications of one or more groups of CCs that share an analog receiver beamformer or analog transmitter beamformer at the second node. The nodes may beamform antenna resources for communications based on the indications.

Aspects of the present disclosure relate generally to wireless communication systems, and more particularly, to beamforming for multiple component carriers (CCs).
Wireless communication systems are widely deployed to provide various types of communication content such as voice, video, packet data, messaging, broadcast, and so on. These systems may be multiple-access systems capable of supporting communication with multiple users by sharing the available system resources (e.g., time, frequency, and power). Examples of such multiple-access systems include code-division multiple access (CDMA) systems, time-division multiple access (TDMA) systems, frequency-division multiple access (FDMA) systems, and orthogonal frequency-division multiple access (OFDMA) systems, and single-carrier frequency division multiple access (SC-FDMA) systems.
These multiple access technologies have been adopted in various telecommunication standards to provide a common protocol that enables different wireless devices to communicate on a municipal, national, regional, and even global level. For example, a fifth generation (5G) wireless communications technology (which can be referred to as 5G new radio (5G NR)) is envisaged to expand and support diverse usage scenarios and applications with respect to current mobile network generations. In an aspect, 5G communications technology can include: enhanced mobile broadband addressing human-centric use cases for access to multimedia content, services and data; ultra-reliable low-latency communications (URLLC) with certain specifications for latency and reliability; and massive machine type communications, which can allow a very large number of connected devices and transmission of a relatively low volume of non-delay-sensitive information. As the demand for mobile broadband access continues to increase, however, further improvements in 5G communications technology and beyond may be desired.
In some wireless communication technologies, such as 5G, nodes can communicate, concurrently or otherwise, over multiple CCs using the wireless communication technology. In addition, in 5G, nodes can beamform antenna resources to achieve a spatial direction in transmitting or receiving signals. In this regard, a receiving node can beamform antenna resources towards a transmitting node to receive signals from the transmitting node. In addition, the transmitting node can beamform antenna resources towards the receiving node to transmit signals to the receiving node.

Techniques for beamforming for multiple component carriers in wireless communications


When a new communication is received at a server, the system can generate machine readable data pertaining to the communication, e.g., a transcript for the communication. Using the transcript, the system can utilize natural language processing techniques to find at least one request in the communication. The system can search summaries of prior communications, and if there is a communication including a similar request, the system can display a record of the prior communication.

Machine learning uses statistical techniques for teaching computers with data to perform specific tasks without being explicitly programmed to do so. The goal of machine learning is to construct algorithms that can learn from and make predictions on data. These algorithms work by creating mathematical models which can classify data. The process of creating the models can involve training and fine-tuning the model parameters using input data.
Natural language processing ("NLP") is a subfield of computer science, information engineering, and artificial intelligence. NLP is concerned with the interactions between computers and human (natural) languages. In particular, NLP focuses on how to program computers to process and analyze large amounts of natural language data.

Method for conversion and classification of data based on context


Interface apparatus and methods are provided. The interface can include a keyboard (200) containing one or more keys (210), each having a key base and a key top. A light guide (110) having an edge (125), a first surface (115) and a second surface (120) can be disposed proximate the base of all or a portion of the plurality of keys. The light guide can have a plurality of apertures (130) disposed therethrough, with each aperture corresponding to the location of each of the one or more keys. One or more dispersion features (135) can be disposed in, on, or about each of the one or more apertures to transmit at least a portion of the light from the light guide to the base of each key.

Field of the Invention
Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to keyboards used on electronic devices. More particularly, embodiments of the present invention relate to the apparatus and methods for illuminating keyboards used on electronic devices.
Description of the Related Art
Many electronic devices use numeric or alphanumeric keyboards for user entry of data into the device, i.e. an input device. While desktop and other stationary electronic devices are frequently used only in high ambient light environments, mobile devices such as cellular telephones, portable computers, and personal data assistants are often used in low ambient light environments. Conventional keyboards, while satisfactory in high ambient light conditions, can be difficult to see, read, and/or use in low ambient light conditions.
Various techniques have been used to illuminate keyboards on electronic devices. One option is to illuminate the face or front of the keyboard using a small, external, lamp. External illumination however is inefficient as a large portion of the light is lost to the surrounding environment, thereby requiring the use of larger and/or brighter lamps. The use of larger and/or brighter lamps consumes significant power, an important consideration when dealing with mobile, battery powered, electronic devices.
A second option is to illuminate the rear of the keyboard using a backlight. Backlighting of keyboards using multiple light sources can result in uneven illumination of the keyboard unless some means to evenly distribute the light is provided.

Keyboard illumination apparatus and method

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.


The present invention provides a system and method for performing files/folder share between IM clients. In the present invention, when a source client shares out files/folders to a particular contact person/contact person group, an access control list table is established and said particular contact person/contact person group and the files/folders shared out to him are stored in association with each other. When a target client makes a request for accessing information of share items, obtaining items and beginning to receive items, the source client will respectively consult the access control list table to determine whether the request is authorized. Only when the request is authorized, can the source client perform the requesting operations. By means of the present invention, an automatic and flexible file/folder share between IM clients can be achieved.

It is well known that networking technology was mastered by a relatively fe technicians and mainly served for political, military and other limited purposes during its initial development period of 1950's and 1960's. However, since then, with the rapid development of computer technologies, the appearance of personal computers, the emergence and prevalence of TCP/IP protocol, and the birth of the Internet, network technologies quickly evolved and were been put into widespread business use. Commercial uses of the Internet have developed at unprecedented speed and have penetrated various social sectors such as the government, medical and educational agencies. The Internet plays an indispensable role in many peoples' daily life.
IM or Instant Messaging, since its general introduction in 1996, has quickly become quite popular. IM began with ICQ software and is characterized by performing real-time communication via a network. IM may already be the most frequently used type of network software and is no long considered to be just a technical tool. It is considered to be the symbol of modern communications and has constructed a new social relationship. Various implementations of IM software have emerged; for example, QQ, MSN, Yahoo Messenger, AOL Instant Messenger, etc. With the development of such applications, today's IM products form a comprehensive network communication tool.
IM is quite similar to a telephone service, but the telephone performs communication through human voice while IM performs communication based on texts. However, with the constantly-changing user demand, IM can provide more diversified services and be applied to a wider range of areas. The users are not satisfied with merely text communication via IM software. They also desire to share files through IM.
Nevertheless, it is not easy to share files with current IM software. Two scenarios are explained as follows.
Scenario 1
Suppose User A has a lot of music files and he wants to share them with User B, but User B only needs part of the music of User A instead of all the music. In this situation, a conventional process of the current IM software is:                User A chats with User B and tells User B all the music files he has;        User B goes through all User A's files and tells User A which ones he needs; and        User A sends User B the needed music files to realize the "share" object.
This sharing can be realized using the following ways:                1) "File Send" function: most IM software support this function;        2) "File Share" function: a few IM software applications (e.g., AIM) support this function but can only share the specified folders;        3) as Email attachment;        4) if in LAN, using the file share function of Windows.
Scenario 2
Suppose User A has a lot of music files and he wants to share some of the music files with User B and share others with User, C, but User B and User C are placed in different groups of User A's contact list (or buddy list).
If the IM software (e.g., AIM) which supports the "File Share" function is used, the user first needs to designate a folder for sharing with others and copy into the folder a file for sharing with User B. Then, User A sets the authority of User B's group to have access to the shared folder so that User B can access the shared folder and obtain the file. After User B gets the needed file, User A deletes all the files from the shared folder. Then User A copies the files which he wants to share with User C into the folder and sets the authority of User C's group to have access to the shared folder so that User C can access the shared folder and get the file.
It can be seen that, in both Scenarios, it is impossible to realize automatic and flexible file sharing between IM software users. Manual operations and intervention are needed instead.
In U.S. patent application US2004/0199514A1, entitled "Techniques for Facilitating Item Sharing" and granted to I. Rosenblatt et al. on Oct. 7, 2004, a technical solution for file sharing through IM software is described. The "File Share" function in item 2) of Scenario 1 and the case of Scenario 2 are similar to the solution presented in this patent. In this patent, a share window is used to maintain a list of shared files/folders, and a user can add files/folders for sharing with others to the share window, and other users can only access the files and folders listed in the share window.
Moreover, U.S. patent application US2004068524, entitled "Peer-to-peer File Sharing", and granted to A. Amir et al. on Apr. 8, 2004, discloses a shared folder is established among a plurality of users and the content of the folder is shard among these users. The files in the shared folder may exist in computers of different users. However, this patent does not particularly concern file sharing through IM software, and needs to establish a virtual file to realize sharing.
It can be seen that, a workable solution capable of performing file/folder sharing between IM software users is needed.

International Business Machines Corporation


A power supply unit comprises a solid electrolyte battery constituted by using a solid electrolyte alone and a liquid electrolyte battery constituted by using an electrolytic solution connected in parallel to each other. Since the solid electrolyte battery is primarily utilized at high temperature and the liquid electrolyte battery is primarily utilized at low temperature, a power supply unit can achieve durability characteristics at high temperature equivalent to those of a power supply unit constituted of solid batteries alone and output characteristics at low temperatures equivalent to those of liquid electrolyte batteries alone, is provided.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a power supply unit constituted by connecting at least two types of batteries.
2. Related Art
Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. H 11-332023 discloses a power supply unit constituted by connecting in parallel a high power density type battery and a high energy type battery, which makes it possible to sustain high output characteristics over an extended period of time.


A method and arrangements are disclosed for distributing configuration information in an xDSL network that comprises network elements on certain hierarchical levels and a network managing station. There is transmitted a request for configuration information from a first network element located on a first hierarchical level to a second network element located on a second hierarchical level. The second hierarchical level is above the first hierarchical level in the xDSL network, but the second network element is other than the network managing station. The second network element decides whether it is appropriate to read the configuration information requested in the request for configuration information from a configuration memory of the second network element. In case it is decided to be appropriate, the configuration information requested in the request for configuration information is read from a configuration memory of the second network element and transmitted to the first network element.

The acronym xDSL refers collectively to a number of variations of the DSL (Digital Subscriber Line) technology, which aims at utilizing the information transmission capability of ordinary copper wires to the ultimate possible extent. Known variations that go under the umbrella definition of xDSL are at the priority date of this patent application ADSL (Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line), CDSL (Consumer DSL, registered trademark of Rockwell International Corp.), G.Lite (also known as DSL Lite, splitterless ADSL, and Universal ADSL; officially ITU-T standard G-992.2), HDSL (High bit-rate DSL), RADSL (Rate-Adaptive DSL), SDSL (Symmetric DSL), VDSL (Very high data rate DSL) and even to some extent UDSL (Unidirectional DSL), which is only a proposal, and IDSL (ISDN DSL), which is actually closer to ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network).
FIG. 1 illustrates the known hierarchical structure of an xDSL network. In this description we will refer to the levels of the structure as level 1, level 2, level 3 and level 4. Level 1 comprises the user-end devices, of which devices 101, 102, 103, 104, 105 and 106 are shown in FIG. 1. The number of devices on level 1 can be very large in a fully deployed xDSL network, since there is at least one user-end device per each subscriber. The task of a user-end device is to act as a gateway between an xDSL line 107 and the user's own local network; the term "local network" should be understood widely so that it covers also a single computer device at the user's. On level 2 there are the lowest-level xDSL switches that are in direct connection with end-user devices and concentrate the connections to and from them into a backbone network. xDSL switches 111, 112 and 113 are shown. The number of lowest-level xDSL switches is still relatively high: there may be for example one lowest-level switch per 30 user-end devices.
Level 3 comprises higher-level xDSL switches 121 that act as multiplexers/demultiplexers between connections 114 to several lowest-level xDSL switches and a high-capacity trunk network 122 such as an ATM (Asynchronous Transfer Mode) network. The xDSL switches are also known as DSLAMs (DSL Access Multiplexers). The number of hierarchical levels that consist of xDSL switches is in general not limited but depends on such factors as the geographical coverage of the network, number of subscribers and overall architecture of the network.
Level 4 comprises one or more network managing stations 131 the task of which is to maintain databases 132 of configuration information for all network elements in the xDSL network. A network managing station 131 also offers the means for the operator of the network to manage and control the operation of the whole xDSL network. In a small xDSL network one of the xDSL switches (DSLAMs) can also act as a network managing station.
In addition to the so-called active network elements shown in FIG. 1 the xDSL network may contain other devices such as repeaters and amplifiers. However, these are known in the xDSL technology as "passive" devices and are not important to the scope of the present invention.
Configuration information is a general term that means all such information that an active network element in an xDSL network needs for properly fulfilling its functional tasks in the network. The scope of the concept "configuration information" is not meant to be limited further in the present patent application, because the invention is equally applicable both to configuration information known at the priority date of the application and to future extensions of the concept. As an example, a user-end device needs to know, how the local network of the user is coupled to the outside world and what kind of limitiations are applicable to communications through the xDSL connection. Lowest-level xDSL switches need to know, which subscribers are connected and what is the level of service and data transmission rate that should be provided to each subscriber. Similarly higher-level xDSL switches need to know, with which lower-level elements they are communicating with and what are the characteristics of each of these connections.
In a prior art xDSL network such as the one shown in FIG. 1 it has been customary to store all configuration information centrally in the database 132. Changes in configuration information have required the intervention of a trained person who sits at the network management station 131 and types in the commands for changing the configuration. Each time when a network element needs to be configured anew, or when a network element needs to revert to a piece of configuration information that existed previously but has become somehow temporarily unavailable, the network element must establish a communication connection to the network management station. In a worst case the configuration of a network element can not be changed or restored before a human operator has paid attention to the situation at the network management station and taken appropriate measures. A single fault at level 4 can disable a whole xDSL network because configuration information can not be obtained.

Method and arrangement for maintaining and updating network element configuration in an xDSL network, and an xDSL network element


The scheduling queue of the present invention is configured as a systolic array utilizing self-sorting scheduling cells to sort information packets based upon previously assigned priorities, while at the same time yielding a small constant latency independent of the length of the queue. The scheduling queue of the present invention is effective in supporting various Quality of Service (QoS) policies and algorithms, including both Differentiated Services (DiffServ) and Integrated Services (IntServ) having an arbitrary number of flows.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to the field of network communications. More specifically, the present invention relates to network traffic management including quality of service provisions.
2. Background Information
With advances in integrated circuit, microprocessor, networking and communication technologies, an increasing number of devices, in particular, digital computing devices, are continually being networked together. Devices are often first coupled to a local area network, such as an Ethernet based office/home network. In turn, the local area networks are interconnected together through wide area networks, such as Ethernet, SONET networks, ATM networks, Frame Relays, and the like. Of particular interest is the TCP/IP based global inter-network "Internet".
As the number of devices communicating over the Internet continues to increase, the volume and complexity of the data transmitted correspondingly continues to increase. In addition, not only do many applications such as real time audio/video transmissions and application delivery services require large amounts of network bandwidth, but they may also require that certain quality parameters such as the time it takes the data to be delivered (i.e. end-to-end latency) and inter-packet delay variation (jitter), not exceed a predetermined threshold so as to adversely affect transmission quality. Service providers often guarantee differing levels of quality of service (QoS) to subscribers, with guarantees of higher quality often costing more than guarantees of a relatively lower quality or no guarantees at all (i.e. best effort).
Integrated services and differentiated services reflect two common methodologies for implementing QoS. The integrated service model is typically concerned with individual data flows and reserves network resources, employs packet classification, admission control, and intelligent scheduling to achieve a desired QoS. A data flow generally represents a stream of packets that originate from the same user activity such as an application. In contrast, the differentiated service model basically classifies packets into a small number of service types or classes of service and applies similar techniques to all traffic that belongs to the same type or class of service. Whether an integrated service model or a differentiated service model is employed within a given network, some form of packet queuing and scheduling is typically utilized throughout the various network switching and/or routing devices in order to regulate and prioritize data transmissions.
In their simplest form, single queue implementations have been utilized whereby packets were queued and transmitted on a first-come first-served basis. That is to say that the packets were basically transmitted according to their order of arrival. For example, if packets of a first packet flow (P1) arrived in the queue before packets of a second packet flow (P2), and (P2) packets arrived in the queue before packets of a third packet flow (P3), the (P1) packets would be transmitted before the (P2) packets, which in turn would be transmitted before the (P3) packets. In this single queue implementation however, if either the (P2) packets or the (P3) packets had a higher priority (i.e. were more urgent) than the (P1) packets, head-of-line blocking would occur where the (P2) packets and the (P3) packets would be blocked by the (P1) packets. Because this method caused some packets to be unnecessarily blocked by other packets, additional delays adversely affecting QoS guarantees were commonplace.
In an effort to avoid head-of-line blocking, implementations utilizing multiple packet queues have been used. In a multiple queue implementation for example, packets of each flow are placed into their own queue enabling each flow to be directly selected by e.g. a scheduling mechanism based upon the quality of service for the flow, independently of other packet flows. However, this solution does not scale very well since the time it takes to enqueue or dequeue an information packet is dependent upon the number and length of queues utilized.


A mattress with a rotating and waste elimination system comprises a mattress with a recessed area for receiving a rotation and waste elimination system. The rotation and waste elimination system comprises a (i) frame with a rectangular base and two side walls, forming a “U” shape; (ii) platform (with a central cut out for a waste elimination bag) suspended over the base by two pairs of sliding posts; (iii) optional four chains attached to the platform and side walls; and (iv) programmable electronic gear to operate the sliding posts to simultaneously raise one end and lower the opposite end of the platform to gently turn the patient. Alternately, the gear operates a cable/pulley system (involving two independent systems positioned outside the frame) by attaching one cable end to the midpoint of the platform's shorter side and the other cable end to the gear to rotate and counter-rotate the platform.

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a lateral rotation medical device and more particularly to a mattress with a lateral rotation device and waste elimination system.
Description of Related Art
Currently, there are rotating mattresses on the market for approximately $4,000 to $30,000, but they do not provide for elimination of wastes. Medicaid currently requires nurses' aides in nursing homes to attend to 10 patients per shift. However, an incontinent patient with a severe waste problem may require 2 aides to rotate and clean them, using 2-5 towels, in addition to 1-4 sheets, and can take up to ½ hour. If all 10 patients require such attention, this would fill 5 hours of an aide's 8 hour shift. As a result, due to the physical effort of lifting heavy patients and the time involved, aides are not able to fully address the problem and many patients in nursing homes sit in their waste for up to 3-4 hours. Ultimately, the waste permeates and infects, or further exacerbates bedsores located near patients' lower spines. This common occurrence does not allow patients' bedsores to heal and is extremely inhumane.
Therefore, there is a need for a cost-effective mattress medical device that allows for ease of rotating a bedridden patient and effectuating the disposal of the patient's waste, to prevent and treat bedsores.

Mattress with a rotating and waste elimination system


The invention provides a PCB with a thin film capacitor embedded therein and a method for manufacturing the same. The PCB includes a lower electrode formed on an insulating substrate; an amorphous paraelectric film formed on the lower electrode via low temperature film formation; a buffer layer formed on the amorphous paraelectric film; a metal seed layer formed on the buffer layer; and an upper electrode formed on the metal seed layer.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a PCB with a film capacitor embedded therein and a method for manufacturing the same, and more particularly, to a PCB with a thin film capacitor embedded therein, in which a buffer layer is formed between a dielectric layer and an upper electrode to increase the thickness of the upper electrode and the surface roughness of the upper electrode, and a method for manufacturing the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
To date, high-integrity passive devices are demanded more for the purpose of producing high performance electronic units. However, various passive devices mounted on a Printed Circuit Board (PCB) are regarded as a great obstacle in the miniaturization of the electronic units. In particular, as more semiconductor active devices are internally mounted or embedded with their input/output terminals increasing in number, spaces are necessary to provide more passive devices around the embedded active devices. However, such demands are not a problem that can be solved simply.
A capacitor is a representative passive device. Such capacitors are required to be suitably installed to reduce inductance as operating frequency is getting higher. For example, a decoupling capacitor used to stably supply electric power is required to be arranged most adjacent to an input terminal in order to reduce inductance according to high frequency.
To meet such miniaturization and high frequency demands, various types of low equivalent series inductance (ESL) multilayer capacitors have been developed. However, since conventional Multi-Layer Cofired Ceramic (MLCC) capacitors are discrete devices, it is essentially difficult to overcome such problems. Since such capacitors are generally used as devices of an electric circuit, it is possible to effectively reduce the size of an electric circuit board only if the capacitors can be embedded in the electric circuit board. On this point of view, recently active studies are being made to realize embedded capacitors.
The embedded capacitors can be used in a memory card, a PC motherboard and various RF modules to remarkably reduce product size. In addition, it is possible to arrange the embedded capacitors in the vicinity of input terminals of active devices, thereby minimizing conductor length and reducing inductance remarkably. In the embedded capacitors, however, poor heterogeneous bonding makes it difficult to obtain thick electrodes. That is, at a dielectric layer with a thickness of 1.0 μm or less and upper and lower electrodes each with a thickness of 1.0 μm, bonding may be enabled up to a certain degree. However, with the upper and lower electrodes thicker than the former value, residual strain of a metal layer causes the metal layer to peel off from a dielectric layer. This is a problem taking place because ceramics and metals have different crystal structures.
A conventional approach to solve the foregoing problems of the embedded capacitor was disclosed by U.S. Pat. No. 6,818,469. According to this conventional technology, referring to FIG. 1, a PCB 10 with a film capacitor embedded therein includes an insulating substrate 11a, a lower electrode 13 formed on the insulating substrate 11a, a dielectric film 15 formed on the lower electrode 13 and an upper electrode formed on the dielectric film 15. However, since the conventional technology employs Physical Vapor Deposition (PVD) such as sputtering and E-beam to form the upper and lower electrodes, it costs high to make the electrodes thick. Furthermore, electrodes produced by PVD typically have a surface roughness at most 100 nm, and thus the insulating substrate 11b peels off from the upper electrode in the following process if the substrate 11b is compressively stacked on the upper electrode 17.

Printed circuit board with film capacitor embedded therein and method for manufacturing the same


Well screen assembly for use in horizontal wells and other situations where tensile, torsion and bending forces can damage well screens which are welded to their end supports provides a floating mounting which eliminates welding of the screen segments. A pair of complementary inner and outer slip rings are provided at one end of the well screen assembly with the inner ring being in sealed relationship with a screen segment and the outer ring being integrally affixed to an outer protective cover member and an axial support member such as a pipe base member or a tubular end fitting. The inner ring is free to slide and rotate relative to the outer ring.

1. Field of Invention
This invention pertains to well screens of the type that are utilized in subterranean drilling for and pumping of natural resources such as oil and gas.
2. Related Art and Other Considerations
A typical oil or gas well comprises an elongated pipe string which includes a plurality of casing or joint assemblies which are normally positioned in the oil or gas bearing portions of a formation. Each casing or joint assembly includes a perforated cylindrical inner or pipe base member which has one or more screen segments covering its perforations so that particulate matter entrained in the fluid will be removed from the fluid before the fluid passes through the perforations and into the inner pipe from whence it is directed axially through the inner pipe to the surface for fluid recovery. The screen segments normally consist of a plurality of longitudinal rod members around which a length of V-shaped wire is spirally wound and welded at every intersection with the rods. Usually, the screen segments are integrally mounted at each of their ends to the pipe base member, such as by welding. In most situations, the screen segments are also covered by outer perforated shroud members which shield them from damage as they are lowered into the formation. On occasion, when a screen segment in an already completed well becomes worn or damaged and is no longer able to provide sand control, it is possible to position a new screen section inside the worn or defective one and this screen section can be supported by its outer perforated shroud member. For corrosion resistance, the various elements are normally fabricated of stainless steel.
Typically, during the installation of each segment of casing which includes a length of well screen, the drilling rig is attached to the pipe base member at an upper portion thereof which is located beyond the end of the screen segment. As the rig is operated to rotate the pipe base member, its rotational and tensile loads will be transferred directly to the pipe base member. This loading causes the pipe base member to deform elastically and plastically. The motion of twisting and stretching of the pipe base member will simultaneously translate the loads into the screen segment through its fittings which are integrally attached to the pipe base member. Since the screen segments are normally much less able than the relatively thick pipe base member to resist such loads, it is sometimes possible for the screen segments to be damaged so that some of their flow slots will be opened up sufficiently to allow particulate matter to pass into the pipe base member. Obviously, such a situation is highly undesirable.
Furthermore, in the usual situation where a screen segment is welded at its ends to a fitting and pipe base member, or to a shroud member, a heat-affected zone will be produced in the screen material around the weld. This zone will have different metallurgical characteristics than the rest of the screen material. For example, the material will be partially annealed, causing it to be softened while also lowering its tensile strength and hardness and increasing the size of the grains in the material. During installation in a well, and especially a horizontal well, tensile, torsion and bending loads will be placed on the pipe base member and these loads can be substantial enough to cause yielding of the pipe base member and screen segment. If the screen segment has a heat-affected zone due to welding, substantially all of the yielding will occur in this small area around the weld rather than be uniformly distributed along the length of the screen segment. This will cause the slots at the ends of the screen to open up enough to cause loss of sand control. However, if there was no welding of the screen and thus no heat-affected zone, the entire screen segment would be of the same tensile strength and would stretch evenly throughout its length. This would widen all of the slots very slightly, about 0.3%, which is the normal yield elongation for stainless steel, and would not cause a loss of sand control In addition to a reduction in tensile strength, a screen segment which has a heat-affected zone will also have a much lower resistance to wear. It has been shown in tests that there is a higher tendency of erosion at the very ends of the screens and this has been attributed to the softer material in the area of the welds. This higher erosion rate would cause premature loss of sand control due to a progressive widening of the screen slots.
One patent which teaches the provision of a mounting for a screen which prevents tensile and torsional stresses from reaching the screen is Sears et al U.S. Pat. No. 4,167,972 in which one end of the screen is welded to the pipe base member while the other end is sealed by means of an elastomeric O-ring member. However, the O-ring is subject to wear and would rapidly deteriorate in the hot temperatures which are often present in deep oil wells. Lilly U.S. Pat. No. 4,378,840 teaches that a ring on one end of a screen segment can be heat shrunk onto the pipe base member, the two being made of different materials, so that one end of the screen can move under thermally induced expansion forces when the assembly is subjected to high temperatures. Similarly, Lilly U.S. Pat. No. 4,416,331 teaches that a screen segment for use in a similar high temperature environment can have rings of a material dissimilar to the pipe base member at each of its ends. The disclosed structure permits the screen segment to remain fixed in position relative to a surrounding gravel pack in the well bore while the underlying pipe base member is free to move axially relative to it due to forces of expansion created by temperature changes. Since the aforementioned Lilly patents only allow relative movement between the pipe base member and screen segment at elevated temperatures they cannot prevent torsional and tensile loads applied to the pipe base member by the drilling rig from being transmitted to the screen segment. Graen U.S. Pat. No. 5,509,483 discloses the use of liquid epoxy to anchor the end fittings of a screen to a stainless steel mandrel.
What is needed, therefore, and an object of the present invention, is apparatus for protecting well screens from damage otherwise occasioned by torsion, tensile and bending forces as a pipe base member or protective shroud member is subjected to such forces by the drilling rig.


A door latch apparatus for a vehicle includes a latch, a pawl, a motor, a release power transmitting mechanism, an active rotary member arranged in a standby area in a normal state, a driven rotation member rotating about a rotational shaft arranged in parallel with a rotational shaft of the active rotary member and away therefrom, a cam projection formed at the active rotary member, a cam groove formed at the driven rotation member and slidably engaging with the cam projection, the cam groove extending away from a reference line when the standby area is arranged close to one side of the rotation range and the active rotary member is positioned close to the one side of the rotation range, and a standby state detecting device detecting whether or not the active rotary member is arranged within the standby area based on a rotational position of the driven rotation member.

A known door latch apparatus for a vehicle such as disclosed in JP10-266667A includes a close power transmitting mechanism for transmitting a rotational power of an electric motor in one direction to a latch so as to drive the latch to rotate in a lock direction where the latch further engages with a striker, thereby shifting a door from a half-latched state to a fully closed state. The aforementioned door latch apparatus generally includes an active rotary member connected to an output shaft of the motor and rotatable in a reciprocating manner within a rotation range specified beforehand. The active rotary member is driven to rotate in one direction by the rotational power of the motor in one direction when the door is in the half-latched state, for example. The active rotary member rotates from a close member contact position where the active rotary member is in contact with a portion of the close power transmitting mechanism to a close completion position by moving from the close power transmitting mechanism by a predetermined close operation angle. As a result, the rotational power of the motor is transmitted to the latch via the close power transmitting mechanism to thereby drive the latch to rotate in the lock direction (i.e., a close operation).
According to the aforementioned door latch apparatus, after the close operation, the active rotary member is required to be positioned away from the close power transmitting mechanism in a normal state, i.e., when the close operation is not performed, so as not to hinder a door opening operation by keeping contact with the close power transmitting mechanism. Thus, the rotation range of the active rotary member includes a standby area of which both ends are defined by the close member contact position and a close member maximum separation position that is away from the close member contact position in the other direction by a predetermined inoperative angle.
FIG. 23A conceptually illustrates the standby area and the rotation range of the active rotary member. As illustrated in FIG. 23A, a standby area Q is defined at one side within a rotation range P. According to the aforementioned explanation, the standby area Q is necessary, however, the large standby area Q may induce an enlargement of the door latch apparatus. Thus, it is desirable for the standby area Q to be minimized. Further, in order to securely position the active rotary member within the standby area in the normal state, a detecting means is inevitable to detect whether or not the active rotary member is positioned within the standby area Q. In order to minimize the standby area, the detecting means having an excellent accuracy and thus being expensive is required. However, because of a high cost competition of these days, the door latch apparatus manufactured at a low cost by reducing a cost relating to the detecting means is desired.
On the other hand, a different structure is considerable in which a driven rotation member is provided for rotating in conjunction with the active rotary member over the entire rotation range of the active rotary member. The driven rotation member rotates wider than the active rotary member. Whether or not the active rotary member is positioned within the standby area is detected by a detection of a position of the driven rotation member.
In connection with the above, JP10-266667A discloses a latch and a rotary lever rotatably provided at a side of the latch. The latch and the rotary lever are connected by means of a cam projection and a cam groove so as to be rotatable in conjunction with each other. A rotation position of the latch is detected as a rotation position of the rotary lever. Then, when the latch is positioned at a center of the rotation range, the cam projection is positioned on a reference line connecting a rotation center of the latch and a rotation center of the rotary lever. At this time, the cam groove also overlaps the same reference line so that the cam groove is in parallel with the reference line. As a result, an overall length of the rotary lever is configured to be shortened. However, because the latch rotates rapidly at a time of opening or closing of the door, the rotary lever and the detecting means are required to have durability against the rapid rotation of the latch, which may prevent a reduction of cost.
Further, in a case where the latch is simply replaced by the active rotary member for applying a technology disclosed in JP10-266667A to a position detection of the active rotary member, the following structure is obtained. As illustrated in FIG. 23B, a cam projection 3 is positioned on a reference line S1 connecting a rotation center 1A of an active rotary member 1 and a rotation center 2A of a rotary lever 2 when the active rotary member 1 is positioned at a center of the rotation range P. At this time, a cam groove 4 provided at the rotary lever 2 is in parallel with the reference line S1 in a state where the cam groove 4 overlaps the reference line S1. In such structure, a rotation angle of the rotary lever 2 per unit rotation angle of the active rotary member 1 is largest in the vicinity of the center of the rotation range P. The rotation angle of the rotary lever 2 is gradually decreasing towards the vicinity of both ends of the rotation range P from the center thereof. Thus, within the standby area Q defined at one side within the rotation range P, the rotation angle of the rotary lever 2 while the active rotary member 1 rotates from one end to the other end of the standby area Q is small. As a result, even for detecting whether or not the rotary lever 2 is positioned within the standby area Q, the detecting means having the high accuracy is required.
A need thus exists for a door latch apparatus for a vehicle which is not susceptible to the drawback mentioned above.


A lithographic pellicle is provided that includes a pellicle frame, a pellicle film stretched over one end face of the pellicle frame via a pellicle film adhesive, and an exposure master plate adhesive provided on the other end face, wherein corners formed between a pellicle film adhesion face and exposure master plate adhesion face of the pellicle frame and inside and outside faces of the frame are subjected to C chamfering, and the chamfer dimension on the exposure master plate adhesion face is greater than C0.35 (mm) but no greater than C0.55 (mm).

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a lithographic pellicle that is used as a debris shield for a lithography mask when producing a liquid crystal display panel or a semiconductor device such as an LSI or a ULSI.
2. Description of the Related Art
In the production of a semiconductor such as an LSI or a ULSI or the production of a liquid crystal display panel, a pattern is formed by irradiating a semiconductor wafer or a liquid crystal master plate with light; if debris is attached to an exposure master plate used here, since the debris absorbs the light or bends the light, there are the problems that the replicated pattern is deformed, the edge becomes rough, or the background is stained black, thus impairing the dimensions, quality, appearance, etc. The 'exposure master plate' referred to in the present invention is a general term for lithographic masks and reticles.
These operations are usually carried out in a clean room, but even within a clean room it is difficult to always keep the exposure master plate clean, and a method is therefore employed in which a pellicle that allows exposure light to easily pass through is adhered to the surface of the exposure master plate to act as a debris shield.
In this case, the debris does not become attached directly to the surface of the exposure master plate but becomes attached to the pellicle film, and by focusing on a pattern of the exposure master plate when carrying out lithography the debris on the pellicle film does not become involved in the replication.
The pellicle is basically constituted from a pellicle frame and a pellicle film stretched over the frame. The pellicle film is formed from nitrocellulose, cellulose acetate, a fluorine-based polymer, etc., which allows exposure light (g rays, i rays, 248 nm, 193 nm, 157 nm, etc.) to easily pass through. The pellicle frame is formed from a black-anodized etc. A7075, A6061, A5052, etc. aluminum alloy, stainless steel, polyethylene, etc. The pellicle film is adhered by coating the upper part of the pellicle frame with a good solvent for the pellicle film and air-drying (ref. JP-A-58-219023 (JP-A denotes a Japanese unexamined patent application publication.) or by means of an adhesive such as an acrylic resin, an epoxy resin, or a fluorine resin (ref. U.S. Pat. No. 4,861,402 and JP-A-2001-92113). Furthermore, since an exposure master plate is mounted on a lower part of the pellicle frame, a pressure-sensitive adhesion layer made of a polybutene resin, a polyvinyl acetate resin, an acrylic resin, a silicon resin, etc. and a reticle pressure-sensitive adhesive protecting liner for the purpose of protecting the pressure-sensitive adhesion layer are provided.
The pellicle is installed so as to surround a pattern region formed on the surface of the exposure master plate. Since the pellicle is provided in order to prevent debris from becoming attached to the exposure master plate, this pattern region and a pellicle outer part are separated so that dust from the pellicle outer part does not become attached to the pattern face.
In recent years, the LSI design rule has shrunk to sub-quarter micron, and accompanying this the wavelength of an exposure light source is being shortened, that is, instead of g rays (436 nm) and i rays (365 nm) from the hitherto predominant mercury lamp, a KrF excimer laser (248 nm), an ArF excimer laser (193 nm), an F2 laser (157 nm), etc. are being used. When the wavelength of exposure light becomes shorter, the energy of the exposure light naturally becomes high. When high energy light such as an excimer laser is used, compared with the light of conventional g rays or i rays, the possibility that gaseous material present in the exposure atmosphere will react so as to form foreign matter on the exposure master plate becomes extremely high. Because of this, countermeasures such as minimizing gaseous material within a clean room, carrying out rigorous washing of a reticle, and removing gas-generating substances from materials forming a pellicle have been taken.
In particular, since the pellicle is used by affixing it directly to an exposure master plate, there is a desire for a low gas generation rate for materials forming the pellicle, that is, a reticle adhesive, a film adhesive, an inner wall coating agent, etc., which are formed from organic materials, and improvements have been made. However, cloudy foreign matter, called haze, formed on the exposure master plate cannot be eliminated completely even by washing the reticle or reducing the amount of gas generated from the materials forming the pellicle, and this causes a decrease in the yield in semiconductor production.
Furthermore, the pattern area has been increasing, and there is an increasing demand for managing the area up to the vicinity of the pellicle frame as an exposure area. Because of this, JP-A-2001-92113 discloses carrying out C chamfering for four corners of upper and lower end faces of the pellicle frame. However, the size of the C chamfering of the upper and lower end faces of a conventionally used pellicle frame causes the problem that a pressure-sensitive adhesive for adhesion of an exposure master plate protrudes from the overall width of the frame when the pellicle is mounted on the exposure master plate. Because of this, the problem of a decrease in yield in semiconductor production has not yet been solved.


A cable rack clamp includes a clamping member, a base member, a retainer, and first and second bolts. The clamping member includes a longitudinally extending, U-shaped female mounting segment having a front wall and oppositely disposed side walls. A clamping segment extends laterally from the side walls at an end portion of the female mounting segment, forming an opening. The base member includes a longitudinally extending rack engagement portion having upper and lower segments. The lower segment extends laterally forward of the front surface of the upper segment to a longitudinally extending male mounting segment. The male mounting segment is dimensioned to be slidably received in the opening of the clamping member. The retainer may be inserted through the opening of the cable rack. The first bolt mounts the retainer to the base member and may be torqued to exert a clamping force between the retainer and the base member, whereby the retainer and the base member engage opposed sides of the rack to clamp the base member thereto. The second bolt mounts the clamping member to the base member and may be torqued to exert a clamping force between the clamping member and the base member. Ground conductors disposed between the either first bolt and the base member or between the clamping segment of the clamping member and the lower segment of the base member are clamped therebetween.

This invention relates generally to cable racks which are used to support heavy cables and splice cases in manholes and controlled environmental vaults. More particularly, the present invention relates to various devices and techniques for bonding the cable racks to a common ground point.
Cable racks to which the invention relates are commonly installed in manholes and controlled environmental vaults. The cable racks conventionally are elongated metal members which are vertically oriented and bolted to concrete walls by lag bolts or other conventional fastening means. T-slotted racks have a single elongated mounting surface having a row of T-shaped openings. The Unistrut P16F(trademark) and P21H(trademark) racks are elongated tubes having a substantially square cross-section. One set of opposed sides have a row of rectangular-shaped openings and the other set of opposed sides have a row of oval-shaped openings. Hooks for supporting heavy cables, splice cases and other products are removably installed upon insertion in the cable rack openings.
The cable rack environment is frequently subject to ground water contamination as well as significant quantities of corrosive compounds. Salt and other corrosive chemicals are also found in the ground water. Consequently, the ground water functions as an electrolytic solution relative to the racks. If the metal hardware of the cable racking in the controlled environmental vaults or manholes is not at the same electrical potential, the electrolytic system accelerates corrosion of the cable racks.
The tendency of the metal cable racks to corrode as a result of their presence in an electrolytic system, has dictated the common practice of connecting the cable racks to a common ground point. The conductor connection with a common ground point is commonly accomplished in a wide variety of on-site expediently devised techniques, the most common technique is simply to clamp the ground conductor between a pair of washers secured to a lag bolt which mounts the cable rack.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,094,622 discloses a bond clamp which attaches to a T-slotted cable rack for connecting a ground conductor. An L-shaped bolt is inserted in the T-slot to secure a pair of clamp members to the cable rack. The ground conductor is clamped 10 between the clamp members to provide the electrical bond connection with the cable rack. The base clamp members includes a pair of laterally extending guide flanges such that the base clamp member substantially encloses the front face and side portions of the T-slotted cable rack. Since commercially available T-slotted cable racks is narrower than the Unistrut racks, the guide flanges prevent use of these bond clamps on Unistrut racks.
Briefly stated, the invention in a preferred form is a cable rack clamp which comprises a clamping member composed of a corrosion-resistant, electrically conductive material. The clamping member includes a longitudinally extending, U-shaped female mounting segment having a front wall and oppositely disposed side walls. A clamping segment extends laterally from the side walls at an end portion of the female mounting segment. The clamping segment and front wall and side walls of the end portion define an opening. A base member composed of a corrosion-resistant electrically conductive material includes upper, lower and male mounting segments. The male mounting segment is dimensioned to be slidably received in the opening of the clamping member. A retainer composed of a corrosion-resistant, electrically conductive material may be inserted through the opening of the cable rack. A first bolt composed of a corrosion-resistant, electrically conductive material mounts the retainer to the base member and may be torqued to exert a clamping force between the retainer and the base member, whereby the retainer and the base member engage opposed sides of the rack to clamp the base member thereto. A second bolt composed of a corrosion-resistant, electrically conductive material mounts the clamping member to the base member and may be torqued to exert a clamping force between the clamping member and the base member. Ground conductors disposed between the either first bolt and the base member or between the clamping segment of the clamping member and the lower segment of the base member are clamped therebetween.
The first and second bolts each include a head, a threaded shaft and a flange of disposed intermediate the head and the threaded shaft. The flange of the first bolt is disposed adjacent the front surface of the base member, with the threaded shaft extending through the opening of the base member and engaging the threaded opening of the retainer. The diameter of the opening of the base member is greater than the outside diameter of the shaft, such that the shaft moves freely within the opening. The flange of the second bolt is disposed adjacent to the clamping member, with the threaded shaft extending through the opening of the clamping member to engage a longitudinally extending threaded bore of the male mounting segment.
The male mounting segment of the base member includes a pair of side surfaces, each having a longitudinally extending groove. Each of the side walls of the female mounting segment of the clamping member has a longitudinally extending ridge which is received in each of one of the grooves of the base member. The distance between the side walls is greater than the width of the male mounting segment, the height of the ridges is complimentary to the depth of the ridges, and the width of the grooves is greater than the thickness of the ridges.
The retainer has upper and lower portions, with the upper portion of the retainer extending laterally forward of the lower portion to form a shoulder. The shoulder of the retainer is supported on the lip of the opening of the cable rack.
It is an object of the invention to provide a new and improved ground clamp for electrically bonding a ground conductor to a cable rack.
It is also an object of the invention to provide a new and improved ground clamp specifically adapted for mounting to a cable rack to provide a ground connection of high integrity.
A further object of the invention is to provide a new and improved ground clamp for efficiently electrically bonding a wide variety of ground conductors to either a T-slotted cable rack or a Unistrut cable rack.
Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the drawings and specification.


Methods and apparatus are described for reducing damage to items shipped in corrugated boxes, and for reducing damage to the boxes themselves and the packing material within them. Damage is limited by adding one or more planar damped panels to a box for redistributing kinetic energy absorbed by the box when it is subjected to characteristic shipping shock and vibration. Efficient coupling of redistributed kinetic energy to resilient packing material within a box allows the use of relatively less resilient padding surrounding shipped items, thus allowing use of a relatively smaller box to obtain an acceptable level of protection. Planar damped panels also limit shifting of the item(s) to be protected by acting as damped variable-rate springs.

Corrugated cardboard boxes offer limited protection from shipping damage, but their low cost and ready availability make them attractive for many one-way shipments. Shocks due to rough handling of truck, rail and aircraft shipments impart kinetic energy to a box that may damage its contents unless the energy is effectively redistributed and dissipated by the box and internal packing materials, rather than being applied to the item(s) to be protected. Dissipation of imparted kinetic energy is typically manifest in localized flexing, crushing or disintegration of portions of box walls and/or packing materials. But the poor energy redistribution that is common in cardboard boxes means that some portions of box walls and packing materials may be overstressed and substantially destroyed while other portions remain undamaged. Unfortunately, failure of the overstressed portions may allow transmission of imparted energy to contents that the box was intended to protect.
Even if the box contents arrive at their destination undamaged, the box and/or its internal packing may be sufficiently degraded to prevent their use for returning defective goods for repair. Attempts to reduce the incidence and severity of damage to both the box and its contents have resulted in design changes applicable to both corrugated boxes and their internal packing materials. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,417,342, incorporated herein by reference.
When the upper and lower portions of a box according to the '342 patent were assembled, the box assembly had four corrugated layers on each of its four side walls, as well as in the top and bottom closure. But the four layers in the top and bottom closures were interrupted by flaps so that there was no continuous corrugated layer across either the top or bottom of the box assembly. A modification of the '342 box design introduced circa 2001 substituted a single continuous corrugated top wall layer for the top flap closure and, analogously, also substituted a single continuous corrugated bottom wall layer for the bottom flap closure. By eliminating the top and bottom flap closures, a possible failure mode of the '342 box design (i.e., failure caused by the flaps springing open due to shipping shock) was also eliminated. Additionally, the modified box was easier to construct than the original '342 box design.
But field experience showed that the disparity between side wall thickness (i.e., four corrugated layers) and top and bottom wall thickness (i.e., a single corrugated layer) made the modified box especially susceptible to shipping shocks applied to either the top or bottom. This susceptibility was addressed through use of thick internal foam pads across the top and bottom. While effective for reducing shock damage to box contents, these thick foam pads added significantly to the box outer dimensions and thus limited overall packing density achievable with the modified box.
Other corrugated box suppliers addressed the problem of foreshortened service life of corrugated boxes with designs featuring strengthened box walls (e.g., walls having thicker and/or stronger varieties of corrugated material in multiple layers). But such changes alone can actually increase susceptibility to shipping damage to box contents by reducing the box's capacity for energy redistribution and dissipation. If at least a portion of the energy imparted to a box is not redistributed and dissipated by the box itself, it may be transmitted in a damaging localized form to the packing material. And unless the packing material is particularly effective, significant energy may in turn be transmitted to (and may damage) the item(s) intended to be protected. Thus, the use of more robust boxes necessarily increases the need for effective energy redistribution to allow generalized dissipation by the internal packing material without permanent damage. This requirement is especially prominent for boxes comprising relatively strong materials such as corrugated polypropylene.
Consequently, corrugated polypropylene boxes intended for extensive re-use are provided with relatively thick and resilient linings (frequently comprising plastic and/or rubber foam) that conform to the shape of items to be shipped. Such resilient linings can be made relatively light and yet are effective for protecting box contents through dissipation of absorbed kinetic energy. But the thick, soft linings occupy considerable space, while they are less effective for redistributing localized shock energy than more rigid structures. This means that a box suitable for shipping a given item is often relatively large compared to the item to be shipped. Aggregations of such boxes for shipment (as on pallets) are then more likely to be limited by their total volume than by their weight. Transport vehicles and aircraft carrying such shipments operate relatively inefficiently because the overall density of shipments is less than optimal.
If, on the other hand, overall shipment density could be increased to optimal levels at reasonable cost without sacrifice of protection for the goods shipped, the result would be the desirable combination of lower transportation costs and less shipping damage. One approach to achieving this combination lies in raising the efficiency of energy redistribution and dissipation by the system that comprises the corrugated box, the packing materials within, and the item(s) being shipped.


A nonvolatile memory device includes a substrate, a stacked structure with conductive materials and first insulating materials and the conductive materials and the first insulating materials are alternately stacked on the substrate, and a plurality of pillars in contact with the substrate and the pillars extend through the stacked structure in a direction perpendicular to the substrate. The device also includes information storage layers between the conductive materials and the first insulating materials, and second insulating materials between the first insulating materials and the pillars.

A semiconductor memory device may be a memory device that is implemented with semiconductor materials such as silicon (Si), germanium (Ge), gallium arsenide (GaAs), and/or indium phosphide (InP). Semiconductor memory devices may be one of a volatile memory device and a nonvolatile memory device.
The volatile memory device may be a memory device in which stored data may be erased when a power source is shut off. Examples of volatile memory devices include Static Random Access Memory (SRAM), Dynamic Random Access Memory (DRAM), and Synchronous Dynamic Random Access Memory (SDRAM). A nonvolatile memory device may be a memory device that retains stored data even when a power source is shut off Examples of nonvolatile memory devices include Read-Only Memory (ROM), Programmable Read Only Memory (PROM), Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory (EPROM), Electrical Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory (EEPROM), flash memory devices, Phase-change Random Access Memory (PRAM), Magnetoresistive Random Access Memory (MRAM), Resistive Random Access Memory (RRAM) and Ferroelectric Random Access Memory (FRAM). Flash memory devices may be largely categorized into a NOR type and a NAND type.
Semiconductor memory devices having a three-dimensional structure have been studied to increase integration of semiconductor devices.

Nonvolatile memory device in three-dimensional structure with a stress reducing materials on the channel