A latching circuit comprises: a logic gate circuit having N inputs, such as NAND or NOR; N first switches responsive to a control signal indicative of a latching and non-latching modes for connecting N input terminals to said N inputs respectively in said non-latching mode; a signal producing circuit for producing a signal at an output thereof in response to said logic output; a second switches for connecting said output to said one input in said latching mode; (N-1) third switches responsive to said control signal for connecting N-1 inputs of said N inputs other than said one input to a logic level respectively in said latching mode, said logic level being determined such that said logic outputs is determined by a logic level of said one input in said latching mode, said signal producing circuit producing said signal such that said logic gate circuit holds said logic output in said latching mode. An AND gate and OR gate can be used also. The second and third switches can be replaced with resistive elements. All inputs of the logic circuit may be fed back to latch the output level.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a latching circuit for latching a logic input level at its output in response to a control signal.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A latching circuit for latching a logic input level at its output in response to a control signal is known. In such a latching circuit, reduction of the number of elements included therein and high speed are required. Particularly, in the microprocessor including such latching circuits, this requirement has been grown increasingly because the operation speed of the latching circuit largely affects the operation speed of the microprocessor.
FIG. 6 is a schematic circuit diagram of a prior art latching circuit. This latching circuit is used with other logic circuit connected to its input and holds the logic level of the logic circuit at its output in response to a control signal. In FIG. 6, numeral 10 is a sample of a logic circuit, that is, a NOR gate which has two inputs and outputs a NOR logic output through NOR operation in accordance with logic levels of its inputs 60 and 70. Numeral 100 is a prior art latching circuit comprising a switching element 101, inverters 102 and 103, a tri-state inverter 104. The switching element 101 and the inverter 104 are controlled in accordance with a logic level of the control signal 90. The switching element 101 is closed when the control signal 90 is logic H. The tri-state inverter 104 is in a conduction state and outputs an inverted signal when the control signal 90 is logic L. The latching circuit 100 receives the output of the NOR gate 10 and outputs a latched signal at its output 180.
Operation of the prior art latching circuit will be described.
Given inputs are inputted into first and second inputs 60 and 70 of the NOR gate 10. The NOR gate 10 outputs a NOR logic output which is sent to the latching circuit 100. When the control signal 90 is logic H, the switching element 101 is in a conduction state, on the other hand, the tri-state inverter 104 is open. Therefore, the inputted NOR logic output is outputted at the output 180 through the switching element 101 and the inverters 102 and 103. When transition of the control signal 90 from logic H to logic L, the switching element 101 turns to a open state and the tri-state inverter 104 turns to a conduction state, so that the inverter 102 and the tri-state inverter 104 form a loop. Therefor, a bistable circuit is established. The bistable circuit maintains a level inputted therein just before transition of the control signal 90 from logic H to logic L. The maintained level at the output of the inverter 102 is outputted through the inverter 103. That is, the latching circuit 100 performs a latching operation such that it latches the output of the NOR gate 10 at its output 180 in accordance with the logic level of the control signal 90.
In the prior art latching circuit, because the latching circuit 100 is connected to the output of the logic circuit, there is a problem of decrease in operation speed due to increase in the number of circuits through which the logic signal passes. Moreover, there is also a problem of increase in the structural elements of the total circuit including the logic circuit and the latching circuit connected to the logic circuit.

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


An X-ray examination apparatus includes an X-ray source, an X-ray detector and an exposure control system. The exposure control system is arranged to control the X-ray source so as to perform a test exposure at a low X-ray dose and to perform an X-ray exposure at a higher X-ray dose. The X-ray detector applies a control signal resulting from the test exposure to the exposure control system and the X-ray source is adjusted on the basis of this control signal. The X-ray exposure produces an X-ray image and the X-ray detector supplies an image signal representing this X-ray image. The exposure control system is arranged to adjust the X-ray detector to a low spatial resolution during the test exposure and to a high spatial resolution during the X-ray exposure. The X-ray detector preferably includes a sensor matrix having sensor elements arranged in columns and rows. The spatial resolution is adjusted by deriving the control signal and the image signal from large and small groups of sensor elements, respectively.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to an X-ray examination apparatus which includes an X-ray source, an X-ray detector, and an exposure control system for controlling the X-ray source and the X-ray detector, which exposure control system is arranged to control the X-ray source so as to carry out a test exposure with a low X-ray dose while producing a control signal by the X-ray detector, and to control the X-ray source on the basis of the control signal in order to carry out an X-ray exposure with a high X-ray dose and to acquire an X-ray image by the X-ray detector during this exposure.
2. Description of the Related Art
An X-ray examination apparatus known in the art is German Offenlegungsschrift DE 43 30 787.
An object to be examined during a radiological examination, for example a patient to be examined, is exposed to an X-ray dose in order to form one or more X-ray images of the object. The X-ray dose required for individual patients to be examined is customarily adjusted individually. The X-ray dose is adjusted by the exposure control system.
The known X-ray examination apparatus carries out the test exposure first with a comparatively low dose, thus forming a test image. During the formation of this test image, the patient to be examined is briefly exposed to X-rays with a predetermined intensity and energy. Because X-rays are applied only during a short period of time during the formation of the test image, the X-ray dose for forming the test image remains comparatively small. The test image is read out from the X-ray detector and digitized in digital grey scale values with, for example, a bit depth of 10 bits. The exposure control system of the known X-ray examination apparatus derives the X-ray dose which is required to form the X-ray image during the X-ray exposure from the distribution of the digital grey scale values. The X-ray dose required for the formation of the X-ray image is large in comparison with the X-ray dose required to form the test image. In the known X-ray examination apparatus, the larger X-ray dose is obtained by using a longer exposure time with the same intensity and energy of the X-rays as used during the test exposure. The known X-ray detector is provided with a sensor matrix having a large number of sensor elements.
It is a drawback of the known X-ray examination apparatus that the reading out of the X-ray detector after the test exposure requires the same amount of time as the reading out after the X-ray exposure whereby the X-ray image is formed. Consequently, the adjustment of the X-ray source for the X-ray exposure requires a comparatively long period of time.

X-ray examination apparatus with exposure control


A torque wrench assembly comprises a torque wrench and a reaction arm and locking means for locking together the torque wrench and the reaction arm. The locking means comprises a connection member located on the torque wrench; an opening on the reaction arm for receipt of the connection member of the torque wrench; a locking member slidably mounted in a channel on the reaction arm, the locking member including an aperture sized to allow the connection member to pass therethrough; and biasing means arranged to bias the locking member into a position wherein the aperture is partially aligned with the opening. The connection member has an insertion end for insertion into the opening of the reaction arm, and immediately adjacent the insertion end is a recess. The recess is shaped to receive a part of the locking member.

Hydraulic torque wrenches are used widely, particularly in the oil and gas industries. Torque wrenches require some form of reaction member or reaction arm that engages with an immovable object to prevent the wrench from spinning about the component that is to be tightened or loosened.
GB2524825 describes a torque wrench which couples to a reaction arm using a quick release mechanism incorporating ball bearings which locate in a groove.
This type of quick release mechanism requires the user to depress a button before connecting the reaction arm to the wrench. If the button is not depressed prior to assembly this leads to improper assembly and/or damage to the component parts. We have also found that this prior art locking mechanism doesn't always engage properly.
It would therefore be desirable to provide an improved torque wrench and an improved quick release mechanism for connection with a reaction arm.


An electrical power supply arrangement incorporates a turbine-generator ambly providing a self-contained non-battery electrical power source for supplying power to a breathing apparatus. The turbine-generator assembly is interposed in an air hose extending between first and second stage pressure regulators respectively connected to a pressurized air cylinder and to a cooling device of the breathing apparatus. The assembly includes an air turbine and an electrical generator disposed and coupled in tandem relationship to one another and enclosed in an elongated hollow housing. Pressurized air introduced into the turbine end of the housing expands across turbine blades and rotatably drives a central shaft of the turbine which, in turn, rotates a central rotor of the generator causing generation of electrical power in a stationary stator of the generator which surrounds the rotor. The electrical power can be accessed at a terminal block attached to the generator end of the housing for supplying power to operate the cooling device of the breathing apparatus.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to firefighting and damage control activities and, more particularly, is concerned with an electrical power supply arrangement incorporating an air pressure driven turbine-generator assembly which provides a self-contained non-battery electrical power source for supplying electrical power to a breathing apparatus.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Successful evolution of firefighting and damage control techniques and devices are paramount to the safety and survivability of naval vessels. In order to facilitate firefighting and damage control activities, active breathing protection is often required. Active breathing protection is provided, for instance, through the use of a self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA). Because of the high ambient temperatures associated with shipboard firefighting, the SCBA often provides breathing air at excessive temperatures which must be reduced before the breathing air is inhaled by the firefighter.
One method of cooling the breathing air as provided heretofore in the SCBA is by the use of a cooling device containing thermoelectric chips (TEC) which requires the availability of an electrical power source for its operation. Electrical power is needed to drive the TEC of the cooling device to cause transfer of heat from one region of the cooling device through which the breathing air is routed to another region. However, the availability of an electrical power source poses a major problem onboard naval vessels. Use of batteries is not desired due to the associated logistics concerns.
Consequently, for the above reason, a need exists for a small non-battery electrical power source to use in breathing apparatuses, particularly for onboard naval vessels but also for other firefighting applications as well.

Breathing apparatus having electrical power supply arrangement with turbine-generator assembly

The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy


The disclosure relates to glass compositions having improved thermal tempering capabilities. The disclosed glass compositions have high coefficients of thermal expansion and Young's moduli, and are capable of achieving high surface compressions. A method of making such glasses is also provided.

In thermal tempering, a glass product is heated to near the softening temperature and then rapidly quenched. As a result, the glass will possess a lower surface temperature than the interior during cooling. The temperature difference is maintained until the surface of the glass cools to room temperature. As the center of the glass cools more slowly to room temperature it contracts to a smaller specific volume while the high specific volume of the surface layer remains unchanged. This leads to a surface compressive layer that gives tempered glass its strength. The difference in specific volume is in majority due to differences in the thermal expansion of the glass upon cooling, while to a lesser extent from a fictive temperature difference between the surface and the bulk. To a first approximation, the stress distribution in thermally tempered glass can be represented by a simple parabola, with the magnitude of the surface compressive stress approximately equal to twice the center tension.
Thermally tempered glass, sometimes called safety glass, is often applied in situations where safe fracture behavior is required to prevent injury in the case of failure, being used to strengthen automobile side and rear windows, as well as object such as shower doors. It is desired that when thermally tempered glass breaks, unlike annealed glass, it shatters into rock-salt like pieces which do not have sharp edges or needle-like shapes. It is for this reason that characterizing the fracture behavior of thermally tempered glass is of paramount importance. The desired fracture behavior is called "dicing" and occurs when the glass has achieved full temper.
In addition to the safety aspect of thermally tempered glass, tempering strengthens the glass, making it more damage resistant and durable. Because of the increased durability, tempered glass can be used in applications where normal glass would quickly break—for example, automotive windshields, where the glass may impacted by rocks or other hard materials. Due to the increase in glass use in architectural, automotive, and electronic device applications, there is a continued need for strengthened glasses having improved tempering capabilities.

Glasses with improved tempering capabilities


A drive control system for an automotive vehicle includes an engine, an automatic transmission, a torque converter, a start clutch, an oil pump, a hydraulic pressure control unit, an engine control unit, an automatic engine stop/restart control unit and a torque transmission control unit configured to calculate target start clutch engagement time and torque based on an accelerator opening of the vehicle, calculate a target engine torque based on the target clutch engagement torque and cause the hydraulic control unit and the engine control unit to control the engagement state of the start clutch and the output torque of the engine according to the target clutch engagement time and torque and the target engine torque at a restart of the engine.

The present invention relates to a drive control system for an automotive vehicle having an automatic engine stop/restart function (also called an idle stop control function), particularly of the kind suitable for use with a belt-type continuously variable automatic transmission. The present invention also relates to a drive control method for an automotive vehicle.
Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2000-266172 discloses a vehicle drive control system that has an automatic engine stop/restart function and performs clutch engagement control to shift a start clutch of an automatic transmission device from a precharge phase into an engagement phase when the engine speed reaches a predetermined level at an engine restart after an idle stop.


In accordance with aspects of the inventive concepts, a system and method provide ongoing authentication through processing of data that includes biometric data. Such systems and methods can use, as examples, face recognition and/or voice biometric data, or other biometric data, to identify the user in real-time and thereafter during an ongoing session. In various embodiments, the system can continuously or repeatedly authenticate one or more users using biometric data to control access to information and/or functions in real (or near real) time. The system can be configured to optimize and/or minimize resource consumption associated with the ongoing authentication process.

There exist many forms of user authentication systems providing different levels of security for user access to a computer system, an application, a network, a facility, or equipment, as examples. Various types of user authentication systems and methods require some form of user input or inputs via one or more forms of user input mechanisms. Such user input mechanisms can include a touch-sensitive keyboard or keypad, login fields, a microphone, or a camera, as examples. Some common forms of user authentication include username and password inputs into login field of a computer display. Other types of user authentication systems can require use of other types of mechanisms in the user's possession, such as keys or radio frequency identification (RFID) devices. Other types of user identification and/or authentication devices can read biometric inputs, and can include retinal scanners, fingerprint scanners, or face recognition devices. With any of the foregoing, once authentication is initially achieved, access persists indefinitely until the user ceases access (e.g., logout) or until a system timeout due to inactivity.
There are many different approaches to authentication, and many have associated vulnerabilities and risks. Some systems impose certain password requirements on users when creating a password, such as imposing a minimum character length and special character, letters, and number requirements. Some systems automatically require a change of password periodically to enhance security. Some systems impose an independent form or authentication provided over a second channel, e.g., two-factor authentication.
Security risk pain points associated with systems and mechanisms that rely on human actions, unsafe devices include: weak password, password theft or sharing, not securing a device when stepping away from it, password saved in cache on a shared device, lost keys, keyless system security risks (hacking the signal), office passes lost or stolen, having to re-authenticate when a timeout occurs, forgot phone containing RSA Authentication application.
Biometrics are used today to unlock devices, most often mobile devices. Biometrics in this case is only a replacement for the typing in the antiquated username/password combination, with limitations including: the user is fixed, multi-user support does not exist, and once unlocked, the device is then unsecure and exposed for a "timeout period", which allows full access to an unauthorized user.
It would be advantageous to have an authentication system that was far less vulnerable to such risks, and one that preferably significantly mitigated risk post-authentication.


The present invention relates to a gas generator for an air bag, particularly to the improvement of a housing for a gas generator.. The gas generator according to the present invention is characterized having a combustion chamber formed with a housing having an annular top wall fixed at an inner edge portion thereof to a circumferential edge of a top wall of a central cylindrical holder, and an annular bottom wall fixed at an inner edge portion thereof to an edge portion of an opposite end of the holder. A diffuser is provided to cover the top wall of the central cylindrical holder and the annular top wall of the combustion chamber, whereby a double wall covering the combustion chamber is formed. An annular closure is provided so as to cover a bottom wall of the housing of the combustion chamber and is welded at an inner edge portion thereof to the edge portion of the lower end of the central cylindrical holder. An outer end of the closure is welded to an extended portion of the diffuser to form a filter/coolant chamber. Outlet ports for a gas from the filter/coolant chamber are provided in the extended portion of the diffuser.

As is generally known, a conventional safety device provided in a passenger car to protect occupants of the car from an impact occurring during a collision comprises an air bag, and a gas generator for inflating the air bag in a very short period of time.
This gas generator has, as main constituent elements, a centrally positioned igniter in which a squib/enhancer is held, a cylindrical combustion chamber formed about the igniter and housing gas generants therein, and a cross-sectionally rectangular filter/coolant chamber formed about the combustion chamber wherein a gas generated in the combustion chamber passes through a filter and a coolant and flows through gas outlet ports into an air bag.
Various types of structures wherein a housing forms a combustion chamber and a filter/coolant chamber for a gas generator have heretofore been proposed.
For example, a pressure container is used which consists of a case formed by subjecting a stainless plate to press working, and then welding the case at bolts set at the central portion thereof, and at rivets set at the circumferential portion and the outer circumferential portion thereof. The container for gas generants disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,547,342 (Morton Thiokol, Inc.) consists of upper and lower halved shell bodies, and partition walls for forming three cylinders in the halved shell bodies.
Japanese Patent Publication-A No. 152639/1980 (Bayern Chemie GmbH.) discloses a gas generator having a central cylinder holding an igniter therein, a cover and an S-shaped casing which form a combustion chamber and a filter chamber. Outlet ports of the filter chamber (expansion chamber) are formed in an extended portion of the casing by punching slits therein.
However, in order to incorporate any of these conventional gas generators in a steering wheel of an automobile, it is necessary that the thickness of the wall, particularly the wall which faces a driver, of the housing at the combustion chamber be made large, and this causes the weight of the housing to increase. Moreover, since the sealing of the gas generants is done by welding, a gas generator assembly line and the equipment required become complicated.
An object of the present invention is to provide a gas generator of a weight-reduced structure having a housing with a thin plate sealed by a non-welding method, which is advantageous with respect to the manufacturing equipment required to manufacture the generator.

Gas generator having housing of double structure


Disclosed are systems and methods for persisting management information indexes across multiple network elements. In particular, methods of detecting and curing potential collisions among a peer group of network elements by use of a hashing function can be provided in accordance with embodiments. For example, a method for maintaining persistence across network elements can include: (i) configuring one of the network elements, and providing a configuration string therefrom; (ii) performing a hashing algorithm on the configuration string to provide a hash value; (iii) determining if any collisions exists between the hash value and corresponding values from among a peer group of network elements; and (iv) assigning the hash value as a management table index when no collision is found, or assigning a new value for the management table index when a collision is found.

In typical network elements or devices (e.g., routers), data may be transferred and/or synchronized from an active side to a standby side using Stateful Switch Over (SSO). The process of ensuring that identical data is present in active and standby sides is called synchronization. In one such synchronization approach, Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) can allow exchange of management information among the network elements. SNMP is used in Quality of Service (QoS) data in popular Management Information Bases (MIBs), for example.
The MIB can assist customers in accessing Modular Quality of Service Configuration (QoSMQC) data and/or statistics. The QoSMQC data and statistics may be indexed by object identifiers (OIDs). However, where multiple remote devices exist on a network, potential hash value collisions can cause persistence problems for SSO and/or network element reloads.

Method and apparatus for persisting SNMP MIB integer indexes across multiple network elements


In a disk device having a ramp-load mechanism, stable retry operation is performed even upon occurrence of seek errors. A disk device is provided with a ramp to which the head is retracted from the disk, at the time of seek error retry, prior to beginning seek retry, checks whether the head has climbed onto the ramp. And if the head has not climbed onto the ramp, normal seek retry is performed, but if the head has climbed onto the ramp, unloading is first performed before seek retry. Consequently crashes due to climbing onto the ramp due to a seek error in a ramp-load device can be prevented, and improvement of device reliability can be expected.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a seek error retry method of disk device and its disk device to perform retry control when a seek error has occurred during head seeking, and in particular relates to a seek error retry method of disk device and its disk device, which is suitable for a disk device having a ramp mechanism to retract a head from the disk media.
2. Description of the Related Art
A disk device employing a magnetic disk, magneto-optical disk, optical disk, or other storage media performs a seek operation to position the head at a desired track on the disk. In such a disk device, as the head flying height is reduced, use of the CSS (Contact Start-Stop) method becomes difficult. Moreover, there are demands for disk devices with improved resistance to shocks when not in operation.
Consequently devices adopting a ramp-load method have been proposed. In a ramp-load method, a ramp mechanism is provided on the external perimeter of the disk, and while not in operation the head is retracted from the disk to the ramp mechanism. FIG. 9 shows the configuration of a magnetic disk device adopting a conventional ramp-load method.
As shown in FIG. 9, a magnetic disk 160 is provided on the spindle 120 of the magnetic disk device. The magnetic head 110 which reads information on the magnetic disk 160 moves in the radial direction of the magnetic disk 160. A ramp mechanism 111 is provided at the outermost perimeter of the magnetic disk 160. The ramp mechanism 111 has an inclined portion 111-1 and a depressed portion 111-2.
In a ramp-load method, when operation ends the magnetic head 110 is moved to the ramp mechanism 111, as indicated by the direction of the arrow UL. The magnetic head 110 rides over the inclined portion 111-1 of the ramp mechanism 111, and is accommodated in the depressed portion 111-2 (this is called an unload operation). On the other hand, when starting operation the magnetic head 110 is moved from the ramp mechanism 111 to the magnetic disk 160, as indicated by the direction of the arrow LO. The magnetic head 110 moves from the depressed portion 111-2 to the inclined portion 111-1 of the ramp mechanism 111 to return to the magnetic disk 160 (this is called a load operation). At the time of this load operation, for example the velocity is detected based on the back-electromotive force of the VCM (actuator) driving the magnetic head 110, and the velocity is controlled at a prescribed velocity to load the magnetic head 110 and prevent crashes.
In the prior art, when seeking in the outward direction, if a seek error occurs the magnetic head 110 is immediately stopped, and a current flows in the inward direction (current in the opposite direction), causing motion in the inward direction, to perform a seek error retry (see for example Japanese Patent Laid-open No. 2004-178790).
In recent years, the densities of magnetic disks 160 have risen and the area up to the outermost perimeter have been used as a data zone, in order to increase storage capacities; and in order not to detract from performance as capacities are increased, there has been a demand for faster seek velocities. For example, in sampled servo operation during seeking, the head moves over 200 to 300 tracks for one sample.
Hence in the prior art, when there is a degree of velocity outward during seek error detection, and when seek error detection is delayed, there is the danger that the head 110 may ride over the ramp mechanism 111. If current in the inward direction is begun in this state, due to high-speed loading action the head 110 may collide with the magnetic disk 160, causing a crash between the magnetic head 110 and magnetic disk 160.
In particular, when the disk storage density is high and the data zone is extended outward for increased storage capacity, if a seek error occurs during outward-direction seeking, the head may readily climb onto the ramp mechanism.

Seek error retry method of a disk device and disk device


A method of applying a silica having fluorine therein by spraying silica simultaneously with a fluorine-containing gas by a POD method plasma torch.

The invention relates essentially to the POD method, i.e. a technique of plasma deposition by spraying and melting a silica powder on a primary preform. That method is described, for example, in the article by Le Sergent et al. entitled "Preform technologies for optical fibers" published in Electrical Communication, Vol. 62, No. 3/4, 1988, page 238.
Until now, the silica powders in use have been of two types.
The first type is a natural quartz powder of satisfactory grain size, but that may present random inclusions that are liable to make the subsequent preform fragile.
The second type is a synthetic powder or soot having a high degree of purity but in which the grains are so small (grain diameter less than 100 nm), that use thereof makes the POD method too lengthy and too expensive. The term "synthetic silica soot" is used below to designate this second type of powder. Such a soot may be obtained, for example, by an MCVD method; it may also be pyrogenic, like the soot sold under the name Aerosil OX-50 and 200 by Degussa.
European patent application EP-A-O271 281 also describes a sol-gel method for making a silica powder for an optical fiber preform. That method consists in dispersing synthetic soot having a specific area of 200 square meters per gram (m.sup.2 /g) to a concentration of 25% by weight. The resulting gel is fractioned by mechanical means and the resulting grains are dried. It is observed that the grains are extremely friable, thereby making any subsequent screening operation difficult.

Method of manufacturing silica powder and use of such powder in making an optical fiber preform


An audio speaker in a cabinet is provided having an internal baffle movable on a track and driven by a motor. The movement of the internal baffle is controlled externally by controls mounted on the speaker cabinet. Selective movement of the internal baffle results in a change of the resonant frequency of the speaker/cabinet combination thereby selectively changing the characteristic of the reproduced sound.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to audio speakers, and more particularly, to an audio speaker mounted in a cabinet and having means for altering the resonant frequency of the speaker/cabinet combination.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In an attempt to provide more accurate sound reproduction it is known to provide various means in an audio speaker cabinet to modify the resonant frequency of the cabinet. In one approach, a tube or port is placed in a sidewall of the cabinet to damp the system's resonant frequency and thereby provide smoother frequency response. In another solution, a high compliance speaker is mounted in a sealed enclosure (i.e. so-called "acoustic suspension"). In yet another solution, a tortuous path of fixed baffles is placed in the cabinet to provide separate paths for the sound radiated from the front and rear sides of a speaker cone. While these various constructions are effective to provide improved sound reproduction from a cabinet mounted speaker, they all suffer from certain disadvantages. For example, a speaker cabinet with a tuned port might sound adequate when reproducing certain kinds of music, but not others. The reason for this is that the tuning of the port cannot be adjusted depending upon the music being listened to. The same lack of flexibility is inherent in the air-suspension and column-loaded varieties mentioned above. It is evident, therefore, that a need exists for a speaker system comprising a speaker mounted in a cabinet wherein the cabinet includes means for adjusting the resonant frequency of the speaker/cabinet combination selectively and whenever desired by a listener. Such unfulfilled need is met by the present invention as will be made apparent from the following description thereof. Other advantages of the present invention over the prior art also will be rendered evident.

Speaker with motor-controlled internal baffle


A coaxial cable splitter including an integral body with a first cable connection, a second cable connection and a third cable connection, each defining an axis. The second cable connection is a crimp sleeve, the first cable connection is a coaxial connector, and the axes are generally parallel to each other. The third cable connection is a coaxial cable connector and the axis is at an angle to the axes of the first and second cable connections. The first and third cable connections each include a center conductor which are electrically linked. The first and third cable connections each include an outer shell positioned about the center conductor which are electrically linked. A method of assembling a coaxial cable splitter with an integral body.

In telecommunications installations, it is known to have signal handling or processing equipment which has high availability requirements. Often, such equipment is installed in a paired or redundant arrangement. For example, the signal handling equipment might be in the form of a module configured to be mounted to a chassis. A redundant module may be mounted adjacent the first module. The redundant module may be connected to the first module so that the redundant module can carry out the signal handling or processing if the first module should fail. In this fashion, a failure or maintenance of the first module would not result in the loss of connectivity or failure or of transmission of the signals handled by the first module.
It is desirable to improve the cables which are used to connect these redundant signal processing or handling modules. These improved cables and cable assemblies may also be adaptable to other coaxial cable installations.

Coaxial cable Y-splitter assembly and method


An insulation assembly includes an elongated batt of fibrous insulation material having a top end and a bottom end, and a facing secured on a major surface. The facing is secured to the major surface by a series of spaced apart adhesive ribbons, wherein the adhesive ribbons are oriented generally transversely of the insulation assembly, and are nonlinear in a generally downwardly-oriented concave shape.

Fibrous insulation is typically formed by fiberizing molten material and depositing the fibers on a collecting conveyor. Most, but not all fibrous insulation products contain a binder material to bond the fibers together, forming a lattice or network. The binder gives the insulation product resiliency for recovery after packaging, and provides stiffness and handleability so that the product can be handled and applied as needed in the insulation cavities of buildings. The fibrous insulation is cut into lengths to form insulation products, and the insulation products are packaged for shipping.
One typical insulation product is an insulation batt, usually about 8 feet long, and generally suitable for use as wall insulation in residential dwellings, or as insulation in the attic and floor cavities in buildings. In many insulation applications a vapor barrier is needed on one side or face of the insulation to prevent moisture-laden air from the warm interior of the dwelling from entering the insulation. Otherwise, the water vapor in the warm interior air cools and condenses within the insulation, thereby creating a wet insulation product which can have difficulty performing at its designed efficiency. Vapor barriers are typically created with a layer of asphalt in conjunction with a kraft paper or foil facing. Vapor barrier insulation products are commonly used to insulate walls, floors or ceilings that separate a warm interior space from a cold exterior space.
There are some insulation product requirements that call for insulation that is not vapor impermeable, but rather allows water vapor to pass through. For example, retrofit insulation products designed for adding additional insulation material on top of existing attic insulation should not have a vapor barrier. Also, insulation for wall cavities where the wall will have a separate full wall vapor barrier, such as a 4.0 mil polyethylene film on the interior or warm side of the wall, will not require a vapor barrier on the insulation product.
Recent advances in manufacturing insulation products have resulted in insulation materials that rely on encapsulation layers or films for containing and handling purposes, and do not require any binder material to bond the insulation fibers to each other. The encapsulation is particularly advantageous for binderless products or low binder products, although encapsulation provides benefits for many types of bindered products as well. An example of an encapsulated binderless product is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,227,955 to Schelhorn et al. Further, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,545,279 to Hall et al., the insulation material can be encapsulated in an in-line process. The primary use for such encapsulated insulation products is attic insulation, although this type of insulation product can also be used in wall cavities or in underfloor ceiling cavities.
When applying encapsulation material to a fibrous batt the encapsulation material is attached to the fibrous batt by an adhesive layer or strip, such as a strip of hot melt adhesive applied in liquid form during manufacture of the insulation product. For example, the above-mentioned U.S. Pat. No. 5,277,995 to Schelhorn et al. discloses an encapsulated batt with an encapsulation material adhered with an adhesive that can be applied in longitudinal stripes, or in patterns such as dots, or in an adhesive matrix. The Schelhorn et al. patent also discloses that an alternative method of attachment is for the adhesive layer to be an integral part of the encapsulation film, which, when softened, bonds to the fibers in the batt.
A critical product attribute for building insulation products is the ability to resist or slow down the propagation of flames during a fire. It is important that building materials in general not be vehicles for rapid spread of flames or fire from one part of a building structure to another. Therefore, most building materials must meet flame spread limitations. A commonly used measure of the flame spread characteristics of a product is the ASTM E84 Tunnel Test for surface burning characteristics. In this test method a fire is generated at one end of a fire tunnel and the time required for the flames to spread 25 feet along the tunnel is measured. In another version of the test, the absolute distance along which the flames spread is measured. Another currently used test for the ability of insulation products to retard the spread of flames is the ASTM Radiant Panel Test. This test measures the flame spread characteristics of products subjected to radiation from a hot radiant panel suspended above the test specimen.
Various techniques have been proposed to reduce the flame spread of insulation products. One proposed solution is to incorporate fire retardant materials into the facing or encapsulation materials. Another method is to use an inorganic facing material, such as a foil material. Another solution is to employ inorganic adhesives to bind the encapsulation material to the fibrous batt. While some of these solutions can be effective in reducing the flame spread to acceptable levels, these solutions are generally relatively expensive.
It would be advantageous if there could be developed an economically acceptable means for reducing the flame spread of insulation products. Such insulation products should exhibit sufficiently low flame spread characteristics as to satisfy industry safety criteria, and should not appreciably raise the manufactured cost of the insulation product.

Patterned bonding of encapsulation material to an insulation assembly

Owens Corning Fiberglas Technology, Inc.


A judgment section determines whether or not a reduction in the power dissipation is possible by relocation of an improvement-target cell. If a reduction in the power dissipation is possible, a calculation section calculates the delay time of a target path including the improvement-target cell to obtain a possible shift distance of the improvement-target cell, within which the timing constraint is satisfied. A layout change section relocates the improvement-target cell within a range in which the power dissipation can be reduced and timing constraint can be satisfied.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a system and an apparatus for designing layout of a LSI (large-scale-integrated circuit).
2. Description of the Related Art
A computer-aided design (CAD) system is often used in designing a semiconductor device such as a LSI. In the designing process using the CAD system, automatic layout design is performed based on the arrangement of circuits or information concerning connection between circuits to thereby determine the positions of respective circuits or interconnection route between circuits on the semiconductor device. After completion of the layout design, verification is made to ascertain whether or not the timing constraint between circuits is satisfied or whether or not power dissipation falls within the predetermined limit in the designed layout. If it has been determined that the timing constraint between circuits is not satisfied or that the power dissipation does not fall within the predetermined limit in the verification, the layout is redesigned to change the arrangement of the circuits.
As a LSI layout method for realizing a low power dissipation while satisfying the timing constraint of the LSI, techniques such as described in Patent Publication JP-11-67925-A are known. In the technique of patent publication, a simulation is performed after completion of the layout design based on an instructed test pattern to thereby obtain signal interconnects effective for reducing the power dissipation. Layout modification is made to the thus obtained signal interconnects to reduce the interconnect length, thereby further reducing the power dissipation. After completion of the layout change, timing analysis is performed to make layout modification once again for a part in which timing error has been detected. Such layout design is performed in the technique of the patent publication to realize an LSI layout achieving a low power dissipation while satisfying a required operating frequency.
As described above, in the technique of the above patent publication, designed layout is changed so as to satisfy a low power dissipation property and, thereafter, another layout change is performed in order to correct the timing error resulting from the layout change. Thus, the layout change is performed twice, involving a longer processing time. Further, in some LSI layouts, there is a case where an interconnect effective for reducing the power dissipation and another interconnect which is likely to undergo the timing error are connected to the same cell or circuit. In such a case, when the error correction is performed using only the timing as criterion, even though there is a solution satisfying both the timing and the reduction in the power dissipation, the length of the interconnect effective for reducing the power dissipation is likely to increase, with the result that a sufficient effect of reduction in the power dissipation cannot be obtained.

System and apparatus for designing layout of a LSI


The invention relates to a method for providing connections for application processes to a database server. Each application process is allocated a virtualizing driver. The method comprises an application process requiring a connection to a database server and a virtualizing driver providing a virtual database connection interface to the application. Furthermore, the method comprises a database connection pool server brokering a real database connection to said application process.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the field of pooled database server systems. More specifically, the present invention provides a method for providing connections for application processes to a database server.
2. Description of the Related Art
Pooled database server systems often utilize three tier architectures. In three tier architectures, many hundreds of clients can make requests to a limited number of application servers which distribute database access across many database connections to one central database host. Application server designs where processes are multi-threaded in nature have an inherent ability to share database connections between the processing entities by means of intra-process database connection pooling, also referred to as intra-process (threaded) pooled database connections.
To handle many multiples of data-processing requests, most application servers operate according to a multiprocessing model. Two basic multiprocessing paradigms exist: parallel processing shares all resources (multi-threaded), or parallel processing shares no resources (multi-process). In a multi-threaded configuration, all parallel threads operate within one address space; thus all resources are available to all threads. In a multi-process configuration, each parallel process runs in a separate isolated address space; thus resource sharing requires an active exchange mechanism.
The state-of-the-art implantation of sharing (pooling) database connections amongst threads is therefore trivial; as the sharing occurs within one process. This invention describes a mechanism of sharing database connections in the non-trivial multiple process model.
In the multiple process model, pooled database connections can also be shared amongst different applications running on the same host, whereas state-of-the-art pooled database connections are only shareable within one application, namely the application running in the process.
The problem is that each database connection potentially causes heavy strain on the database server because resources required per connection are large. When the workload distribution design of the application server is application process oriented rather than thread oriented, it becomes difficult to share the database connections among the processing entities.
In the past, several attempts have been made to solve this problem. U.S. Pat. No. 6,105,067 describes a connection pool management for backend servers using a common interface. The system comprises an application server, one or more backend data servers, a connection pool, and a number of sub-processes for performing steps of the connection pool management. This reduces the overhead required for accessing the data servers.
Another solution to the problem is disclosed on "http://www.dcl.mathcs.emory.edu/downloads/h2o/doc/api/edu/emory/mathcs/util/net/ConnectionPool.html". Therein is described an implementation of a connection pool class that manages a pool of socket connections to a single network endpoint within a single process. The connection pool creates new connections if none is available and until a pool size limit is reached. The endpoint is represented by a host name and a port number. A client requests connections, uses them, then returns them to the pool. Upon a request for connection, the pool first tries to return a pre-existing idle one, creating a new connection only if none is available. Request may block if pool size limit is reached and all connections are in use. After being returned to the pool, if connection idles for longer than its expiration timeout, it is closed. The connection pool resides in the same address and process space as the application. Application code explicitly interacts with the connection pool by calling specific interfaces provided by the connection pool.
Lastly, U.S. Pat. No. 6,839,732 describes the use of domain socket pairs in communication for tightly coupled transactions. A gateway provides this communication to a server hosting a database management system. Logical agents represent the application connection and are managed by a logical agent scheduler and are passed within the gateway using domain socket pairs.
Most of these state of the art documents have the disadvantage that the applications need to be aware of the pool and need to be specifically designed be compatible with data pool servers. A further problem arises with the above mentioned state of the art documents. In certain cases, such as a SAP application server, database connections must be reserved prior to use. This is necessary to reduce deadlocks due to other activity of the application server.

Method for providing connections for application processes to a database server

International Business Machines Corporation


Data being processed by source code modules of a test version of an application is captured and analyzed during execution of the test version of the application. Based on the analysis, errors caused by the source code modules of the test version of the application are automatically detected. Based on a comparison of the source code modules associated with the test version of the application to corresponding source code modules associated with a baseline version of the application, the source code module in the test version of the application that caused the error is identified and reported to a developer or other appropriate personnel so that the error may be corrected.

The present disclosure relates generally to software testing, and particularly to techniques for autonomously debugging software applications to automatically identify errors, as well as the source of those errors.
There are many different software tools and paradigms that are currently available with which software developers can create software applications. Such applications are designed to execute as standalone processes on various different computing devices, while others are designed and implemented to execute on computer servers disposed in a communications network. In some instances, software applications are designed to communicate with each other using a client-server model over such networks to request and retrieve data.
Prior to releasing an application, software developers and test engineers typically execute a rigorous series of tests to verify that the application is working as designed. In some cases, third party testing organizations may also perform a series of independent tests on the application. Regardless of who performs the testing, however, application developers will typically debug the application code to locate the source of a defect whenever an application under test outputs an incorrect or unexpected value.
Current debugging procedures require specialized software tools. Additionally, developers utilizing such tools must set breakpoints and trace the execution of the application code step-by-step to locate the source of the error in the application code. Much of the work in these cases, at least initially, requires the developer to make a "best guess" as to where the source of the error is located in the code. In some instances, whoever performs the test, and/or analyzes the test results, can identify where the error occurred by sifting through a rather large number of entries in one or more log files output by the application during execution. However, these entries may not identify the particular application code that is the cause of the error.

Method and apparatus for automatically detecting defects


The invention relates to a method of making a local structure from an organic mandrel on a substrate at the submicrometer level. The mandrel is formed from an organic layer deposited on the substrate. The mandrel is then removed by exposure to an oxygen plasma environment, thus leaving a cavity. A local structure material is deposited into the cavity and polished to form the local structure. In the preferred method of the invention, an electrically conducting, local interconnect is formed from a polyimide mandrel on a wafer used to make integrated circuits.

1. Technical Field
The invention relates a method of making a local structure from an organic mandrel on a substrate at submicrometer dimensions.
2. Description of the Related Art
Over the past few years, the size of the integrated circuit has diminished substantially to submicrometer dimensions. As the size decreases, the challenge of making these small circuits increases. Manufacturing integrated circuits with specialized local structures, like local electrically conducting interconnects, is demanding at these submicrometer dimensions. Making these submicrometer structures is often difficult and time consuming, requiring the layering of different levels of films. Further, it has been difficult to make submicrometer structures in additional layers of film.
The prior art describes different methods for forming local submicrometer structures. Some methods rely on lithography alone to form these structures. Other methods use mandrels, or blocks of material with substantially vertical sidewalls. Several mandrel methods employ side wall image transfer processes to define an image below the side wall after removing the mandrel. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,838,991, assigned to the assignee of the current invention, discloses a method of defining the sidewall structures on the mandrel. In this method the mandrel is anisotropically etched to remove the horizontal surfaces, thereby leaving the mandrel's vertical sidewalls.
The prior art of fabricating local structures, such as electrical interconnects for submicrometer CMOS processor technology, is complex, expensive and requires specialized equipment. Fabrication uses many steps of depositing, etching and modifying the various films deposited on the integrated circuit. These steps often need specialized etchers and oxidation tubes and are difficult to use over multiple underlying films.
One object of the invention is to provide a simple way to define a local structure such as an electrical interconnect over multiple underlying films.
Another object of the invention is to add additional layers of film containing local structures at the submicrometer level.

Method of making a submicrometer local structure using an organic mandrel

International Business Machines Corporation


Embodiments are generally directed to memory prefetching in multiple GPU environment. An embodiment of an apparatus includes multiple processors including a host processor and multiple graphics processing units (GPUs) to process data, each of the GPUs including a prefetcher and a cache; and a memory for storage of data, the memory including a plurality of memory elements, wherein the prefetcher of each of the GPUs is to prefetch data from the memory to the cache of the GPU; and wherein the prefetcher of a GPU is prohibited from prefetching from a page that is not owned by the GPU or by the host processor.

Current parallel graphics data processing includes systems and methods developed to perform specific operations on graphics data such as, for example, linear interpolation, tessellation, rasterization, texture mapping, depth testing, etc. Traditionally, graphics processors used fixed function computational units to process graphics data; however, more recently, portions of graphics processors have been made programmable, enabling such processors to support a wider variety of operations for processing vertex and fragment data.
To further increase performance, graphics processors typically implement processing techniques such as pipelining that attempt to process, in parallel, as much graphics data as possible throughout the different parts of the graphics pipeline. Parallel graphics processors with single instruction, multiple thread (SIMT) architectures are designed to maximize the amount of parallel processing in the graphics pipeline. In an SIMT architecture, groups of parallel threads attempt to execute program instructions synchronously together as often as possible to increase processing efficiency. A general overview of software and hardware for SIMT architectures can be found in Shane Cook, CUDA Programming Chapter 3, pages 37-51 (2013).
Conventional graphics processing systems provide for prefetching of data elements for efficiency in graphics data processing. However, prefetching can be problematic when employed in an environment with multiple graphics processors. In a conventional system a prefetcher operating in a non-unified memory environment may not distinguish between multiple underlying physical memory units. If a prefetcher is not aware of the physical layout of memory this can result in extra bus traffic because of prefetching of memory from remote physical memory sources.

Memory prefetching in multiple GPU environment


An integrated triad system to measure a patient's blood pressure at different body positions, to instruct the patient when to move from one position to the next to alleviate vascular hypertension based on an algorithm stored in the system calculating blood pressure changes and predictive risk, and to transmit the result to a remote medical location. Using the integrated triad system to perform the test over a period can increase test sensitivity by accommodating the variable onset of the disease.

In the cardiology and nephrology communities, it is known that increased intrarenal pressure causes hypertension, a condition also known as Page kidney. Page kidney is not only caused by external compression or intra-renal pathology, venous outflow obstruction also causes Page kidney physiology, which is not realized by medical community. The hypertension is renin-mediated acutely, but ischemia-mediated chronically. In the setting of pregnancy, the left renal vein is vulnerable to be compressed between the gravid uterus and the anterior wall of the aorta starting after 20 weeks of gestation. This subset of women with inadequate ipsilateral collateral venous circulation is most vulnerable to venous outflow obstruction. Maternal recumbent position directly affects renal hemodynamics, with the supine position making the kidneys most vulnerable to Page kidney physiology.
Previously published work has demonstrated that when a shift from the left lateral recumbent to the supine position is associated with an elevation of diastolic BP of 20 mmHg or more, the Positive Predictive Value (PPV) of developing preeclampsia is as high as 93%. This test is referred to as the supine pressor test (SPT). Furthermore, previous work has demonstrated that when women are identified as being at risk via the SPT, simply resting in the lateral recumbent position for an additional 4-6 hours per day is sufficient to prevent preeclampsia in the majority of cases. The impact of maternal recumbent position on renal hemodynamics is the presumed mechanism of the diagnostic and therapeutic observations. The SPT, which historically was performed between the 28-32 weeks gestation, initially fell out of favor, not because it lacked specificity, but because it demonstrated inadequate sensitivity and because heterogeneous methodology diminished the PPV.
Venous hemodynamics can be affected in patients with many conditions including those who are either pregnant and/or who demonstrate central obesity (i.e., abdominal mass effect associated with clinical condition). The effect on venous hemodynamics can cause both an increase and/or a decrease in blood pressure. A change in recumbent position is a common trigger to cause a change in blood pressure (e.g., lateral recumbent to supine). The change in blood pressure usually takes a variable amount of time to manifest itself; thus, a device that simultaneously monitors the triad of blood pressure (systolic/diastolic), body position, and time and communicates pertinent information to the healthcare provider and patient would help diagnose, treat, and/or manage a variety of clinical conditions

Diagnostic and therapeutic device for compromised vascular hemodynamics analysis