In a system and method for feature alignment in chromatographic systems, the system runs a first sample through a first separation column. The system determines a first set of features for the first sample run. The system runs a second sample through a second separation column and detects a second set of features for the second sample run. The system estimates a systematic shift in features between the first sample run through the first separation column and the second sample run through the second separation column. The system adjusts the second set of features detected for the second sample run through the second separation column based on the estimated systematic shift to obtain a third set of adjusted features.

Chromatography is a process that provides for the physical separation, quantification and identification of various analytes in a sample in a single analysis. A chromatography system comprises a number of components, including a separation column that separates the sample into its individual components as the components are passed through the column by a mobile phase. The separation column includes an inlet portion that acts as the interface for input of the sample into a separation column. The mobile phase provides a carrier fluid and driving force to move the components of the sample from the inlet portion of the column to the outlet portion, with the separation of the components dependent on their interactions with an immobilized liquid or solid material within the column (stationary phase) and the mobile phase. The system also includes a detector that detects and measures components as they exit the separation column at different times. The components of the sample are measured based on the relative timing of the detection of those components at the outlet of the separation column. The exit time of a component is defined as the retention time for that component. For chromatographic methods involving large numbers of components, a significant amount of work is required to determine the retention time of each individual component during chromatographic method development. Also significant is the amount of work needed to correlate data generated on multiple instruments performing the same analysis, and on the same instrument for different samples, even for a small number of components.
In gas chromatography (GC) the carrier fluid is a gas or a supercritical fluid which acts similarly to a gas in the system. In liquid chromatography (LC) the carrier fluid is a liquid. In both gas and liquid chromatography systems a portion of the sample is injected into a steady flow of the carrier fluid at the input portion of the column, and the components are passed through the stationary phase material in the column. At the output portion of the column the individual components exit the column separately and are measured by the detector as a function of intensity (or quantity) and as a function of the time of exit relative to the sample entering the column. The column is monitored for effluent using a detector that provides a pattern of retention times which, by calibration or comparison with known samples, can be used to identify the components of the sample chemically and quantitatively. Additional components of a chromatography system include an injector with a mixing chamber for introducing the sample into the carrier fluid at the inlet portion, fluid controls, and a computer for processing and displaying the output of the detector. The display generally identifies the output of the column formatted according to retention times.
The various parts of a chromatographic system are not static, but include systematic changes with time and use. Such changes, for example, result from environmental or other factors, including changes that may affect certain parts of the system, such as, for example, the column, the stationary phase and the detector, to name a few. These changes can also affect other parts of the chromatographic system including, for example, the mobile phase, carrier fluid and the sample.
In addition to the systematic changes, a chromatographic system can experience random changes that are not predictable. These changes, for example, may result from measurement errors, improper calibration or external unpredictable stimuli, to name a few.
It is well understood that the retention time of a particular compound as measured in a first run through a chromatographic system cannot be repeated exactly in a subsequent run. The retention times vary from run to run even under the same laboratory protocols and even where special care is given to maintaining a static and controlled environment. This poses a big challenge when trying to correlate a feature in one chromatography data set with the feature of the same compound in another chromatography dataset, such as, for example, a liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) dataset.
One obvious solution to this problem is to correlate corresponding features in two different datasets when both their m/z values and retention times are close to one another. The term m/z means the ratio of charge to mass of the ion detected, where z is often unity but can be a larger integer. The m/z value is used to measure peaks resulting from the detection of components of a sample that has been run through a chromatography system. This approach is prone to errors generally, and even more so when working with complicated sample chemistry. To compensate for the deviations that are usually encountered, and to cover all possible retention time deviations, a sufficiently large tolerance window can be chosen to compensate for the deviations which allows correlations to be made even when the peaks are not near one another but nevertheless fall within the tolerance window. This method of compensation, however, can introduce mismatches and errors with respect to the datasets that are output from the chromatography system. These mismatches and errors can become even more significant as the complexity of the datasets increase. The result is that features corresponding to different compounds are mistakenly correlated due to the large tolerance window.


The present invention provides an electrolyte solution that is capable of dealing with an increased voltage of an electrochemical device, improving the high-temperature storage characteristics, and restraining an increase in resistance, and an electrochemical device. The electrolyte solution includes a solvent containing a fluorinated acyclic carbonate having a fluorine content of 33 to 70 mass %, a borate, and an electrolyte salt other than the borate.

Current electric appliances demonstrate a tendency to have a reduced weight and a smaller size, which leads to development of electrochemical devices, such as lithium ion secondary batteries, having a high energy density. Further, electrochemical devices such as lithium ion secondary batteries are used in more various fields, and thus are desired to have improved characteristics. In particular, improvement of battery characteristics of lithium ion secondary batteries will become a more and more important factor when the batteries are put in use for automobiles.
Patent Literature 1 discloses use of lithium-bis(oxalato)borate and Li[(C2O4)2B] as conductive salts in lithium ion batteries.
Patent Literature 2 discloses an electrolyte for electrochemical devices including a compound having a specific chemical structural formula and at least one selected from the group consisting of compounds represented by Aa+(PF6−)a, Aa+(ClO4−)a, Aa+(BF4−)a, Aa+(AsF6−)a, or Aa+(SbF6−)a. The examples of this literature discloses an electrolytic solution containing 0.05 mol/l of a lithium borate derivative having a structure represented by the following formula:
and 0.95 mol/l of LiPF6 dissolved in a solvent mixture consisting of 50 vol % ethylene carbonate and 50 vol % dimethyl carbonate.
Patent Literature 3 discloses an electrolytic solution including a solvent containing a carbonate ester derivative having a halogen atom, a first anion represented by the formula:[B(CiH2(i-2)O4)(CjH2(j-2)O4)]−(wherein i and j are each an integer of 2 or greater), and a second anion other than the first anion.

Electrolytic solution and electrochemical device


An apparatus which detects a position of a target mark included in an object. The apparatus includes a unit which senses an image of the object, a unit which extracts a first mark and a feature of a region outside of the first mark in the image, and a unit which detects a position of the target mark based on a position of the first mark and the feature.

A semiconductor device is manufactured by repeating a lithography step for projecting and exposing a device pattern formed on a master (e.g., a reticle or mask) to a substrate (e.g., a wafer or glass substrate) coated with a photosensitive material and developing the device pattern. In such a manufacturing step, it is important to accurately align a device pattern (latent image) to be projected and exposed to a photosensitive material to a device pattern (patterned structure) already formed on a substrate.
An example of operation for aligning the pattern of a master to a pattern formed on a substrate is substrate alignment. In the manufacturing step of forming a semiconductor device on a wafer, such substrate alignment is called wafer alignment.
Wafer alignment is performed in accordance with the following procedure. First, a wafer is supplied to a lithography system having an exposure apparatus and a mechanical alignment apparatus. Coarse alignment is done by the mechanical alignment apparatus using an orientation flat or notch formed at the peripheral portion of the wafer. Then, the wafer is placed on the wafer chuck of the exposure apparatus by a wafer supply apparatus. The typical alignment accuracy by the mechanical alignment apparatus is about 20 μm.
Next, the positions of a plurality of alignment marks (position detection marks) formed on the wafer by a preceding step are detected using an alignment scope. The X- and Y-direction shifts and rotation component of the wafer and the magnification component of the shot array are calculated on the basis of the detection result. In exposing each shot, the wafer stage is driven on the basis of the calculation result. Accordingly, the pattern already formed in a shot is accurately aligned to the pattern projected onto the wafer through a projecting optical system. This scheme will be called global alignment. The accuracy of global alignment is 50 nm or less in an exposure apparatus for manufacturing, e.g., a 256-Mbit memory.
In recent years, a planarization technique by a polishing step called CMP (Chemical Mechanical Polishing) is often used. When CMP is executed, the layer on the alignment mark is polished. This degrades a mark signal or decreases stability. To prevent this, an alignment mark is often optimized in accordance with the process. This optimization is performed by forming a plurality of tentative alignment marks having different structures such as line widths, pitches, and three-dimensional patterns and selecting an optimum alignment mark. Normally, an optimum alignment mark is determined at the time of prototype formation. In a flexible manufacturing system, however, mass production sometimes starts without executing optimization. In this case, a plurality of alignment marks may enter the visual field of the alignment scope.
Additionally, in recent years, a method of forming a plurality of sets of alignment marks in one region (exposure region) is replacing a method of forming a set of X and Y alignment marks in one region. This aims at, e.g., correcting a deformation of the exposure region or increasing the measurement accuracy by an averaging effect obtained by measuring a plurality of alignment marks. For such purposes, the accuracy must be increased by ensuring the span between the alignment marks is as wide as possible. More specifically, four alignment marks are formed at the four corners of each exposure region. Also, with this background, a plurality of alignment marks may enter the visual field (the field of view) of an alignment scope at a high probability.
Furthermore, as the number of steps increases recently along with an increase in complexity of a device structure, the number of times of alignment mark formation increases.
More specifically, the number or layout density of alignment marks increases in recent years in accordance with various purposes or factors such as optimization of the alignment mark structure, improvement of measurement accuracy, and the increase in the number of steps. Accordingly, a plurality of alignment marks enter the visual field of an alignment scope. For this reason, the necessity for identifying or specifying a target alignment mark from a plurality of alignment marks in the visual field is increasing.

Position detection apparatus, position detection method, exposure apparatus, device manufacturing method, and substrate


A triangular golf bag cooler that includes a triangular longitudinal cross-section configured to fit the cooler within an extant golf bag pocket; the triangular golf bag cooler having a gel layer disposed between an outer liner and an interior liner; said gel layer freezable with a high specific heat capacity to provide extended cooling to items stored within an interior cavity; a drain plug disposed in a first side to drain condensation and melt water from the interior cavity; the triangular golf bag cooler collapsible when empty for easy portage and storage; to provide ready access to food items proximal to the golfer's clubs when playing on a fairway.

Various types of golf bag coolers are known in the prior art. However, what is needed is a triangular golf bag cooler that includes a triangular longitudinal cross-section configured to fit the triangular golf bag cooler within an extant golf bag pocket, the triangular golf bag cooler having a gel layer disposed between an outer liner and an interior liner; said gel layer freezable with a high specific heat capacity to provide extended cooling to items stored within an interior cavity; a drain plug disposed in a first side to drain condensation and melt water from the interior cavity, the triangular golf bag cooler collapsible when empty for easy portage and storage, to provide ready access to food items proximal to the golfer's clubs when playing on a fairway.


The present invention provides an antenna system for transmitting and receiving radar signals comprising a first non-conductive material embedding a plurality of parasitic antenna elements, where the first non-conductive material interfaces a second non-conductive material embedding a plurality of electrical feed elements, and wherein the first non-conductive material covers one or more adjacent interconnecting joints.

Ground based radars often work in harsh environments where rain, snow, and contaminates in the form of dirt, dust, chemical and biological agents degrade and disable performance. Other disabling forces may come in the form of radiation from nuclear and electronic countermeasures. Typically the radar components are housed in enclosures. However, in addition to maintaining a shield against these potentially disabling forces and events, the enclosures themselves must withstand the deleterious effects of contamination such as water or corrosive decontamination fluids.
Radar antennas are usually mounted on the front end of a radar system, where the effects of these disabling events or forces may be especially severe. In the front or forward position the electronic and mechanical assemblies, assembly housings and associated small openings and joints collect dirt, sand and other debris. Additionally, mounting antenna elements requires holes to be cut in the front surface of enclosures, which after mounting are sealed against the weather and contamination. If a seal fails, contaminates such as water, sand, dirt, debris or corrosive fluids may enter the enclosure and damage the electronics or mechanical assemblies.
FIG. 1, FIG. 2a and FIG. 2b illustrate the prior art wherein a phased array antenna system 5 is comprised of a number of antenna elements 30 arranged in rows and/or columns 35. When the individual elements 30 are installed in the array 35, the joints 22 (shown as seams in FIG. 2b) between them may collect debris as mentioned above. The prior art shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2a illustrates the use of a patch element 30 consisting of alternating layers 24 of a generally foam material having two conductive sheets 23, 26. Sheet 26 forms the electrical feed patch, typically formed of copper or other conductive material that connects the antenna to the radar processing system. Sheet 23 is separated from the sheet 26 by the layers 24 to form a parasitic patch typically comprised of an aluminum or copper material to improve overall antenna performance. A reliable means for sealing the front surface of the antenna array 5 from harsh environments is needed to prevent damage or failure of the radar system.

Apparatus and method for covering integrated antenna elements utilizing composite materials


A method and apparatus for forming a plastic film-protected external siding board in a molding press having an upper normally closed heating box open at its lower end, and a support system below the upper box which supports a board core with a plastic film disposed over it to project beyond its side and end edges. The upper box and film are brought into engagement to close the heating chamber with the film which is then billowed upwardly in the heating chamber to prevent it from sagging while heat is applied to raise the film to molding temperature. A differential pressure is then applied to the film to mold it to the core.

It has previously been proposed to provide an exterior building siding of laminate construction wherein a wood core is coated with a protective layer of a colored synthetic plastic material such as polyvinyl chloride. It has also been proposed to provide a building siding in which a thin synthetic plastic sheet is bonded to the outer surface of a rigid foam plastic layer which in turn is bonded to the outer surface of the core panel. Patents of this character are part of the following list of prior art patents which I incorporate by reference herein.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,277,752 Frey PA1 U.S. Pat. No. 3,350,257 Hourigan et al PA1 U.S. Pat. No. 3,408,786 Snyker PA1 U.S. Pat. No. 3,866,378 Kessler PA1 U.S. Pat. No. 4,146,662 Eggers et al PA1 U.S. Pat. No. 4,478,415 Shaffer et al PA1 U.S. Pat. No. 4,788,808 Slocum
In these prior art patents, the plastic outer faces have been either applied in the form of a coating or bonded film which was not, first of all, molded to the configuration of the core. To my knowledge, no one has successfully commercially formed such a product by molding a sheet or film of synthetic plastic to the precise shape of the core, utilizing the core as the mold surface, and differential pressure drawing the plastic sheet to the core with such definition that the grain of the board is defined in the plastic outer covering.

Method of forming synthetic plastic film-projected building siding


A mobile telecommunications system has an IP-based GSM system, a UMTS system, and a connection connecting both the IP-based GSM system and the UMTS system to a common IP network. The telecommunication system can be incorporated in a network having a plurality of systems all connected by the common IP network to permit compressed speech via an A-interface in each system and throughout the network. The system permits an operator to realize a significant reduction in operating costs.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to the mobile telecommunications field; and, more particularly, to an IP-based mobile telecommunications network that is capable of using compressed speech throughout the network.
2. Description of the Prior Art
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a model of a GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications) telephony system. The GSM system model is generally designated by reference number 10 and includes a Radio Access Network (RAN) generally referred to as a Base Station System (BSS) 12. BSS 12 includes two types of logical nodes: a Base Transceiver Station (BTS) 14 and a Base Station Controller (BSC) 16. In order to support circuit-switched speech or data services, the BSC 16 interworks with a Mobile Switching Center (MSC) 18 via an open (non-proprietary) interface known as an A-interface (specified in GSM TS 08.08). An MSC, such as MSC 18, can serve one or more BSCs.
Each BSC in a GSM network can control a plurality (typically hundreds) of radio cells. In other words, each BSC, such as BSC 16, interworks with a plurality (hundreds) of (BTSs) via respective Abis interfaces. Each BTS, such as BTS 14, is responsible for the transmission and reception of radio signals over an air interface, Um, in one cell. Consequently, the number of cells in a GSM BSS equals the number of BTSs in that BSS. As such, the BTSs are geographically distributed to provide adequate radio coverage of a BSC area, which forms part of a GSM Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN).
Each BTS, such as BTS 14, provides the capacity to carry a plurality of connections (calls) between Mobile Stations (MSs), such as MS 22, and respective BSCs. Specifically, in GSM, each BTS is equipped with one or more Transceivers (TRXs). Each TRX (not shown) is capable of handling eight timeslots of a Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) frame; and, in addition, each such timeslot can be assigned different combinations of logical channels.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an Internet Protocol (IP)-based BSS 30, which has been developed by Ericsson. A more detailed description of such an IP-based BSS is disclosed in commonly-assigned, co-pending U.S. application for patent Ser. No. 09/494,606, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
Referring to FIG. 2, the IP-based BSS 30 can include three types of nodes connected to an IP network 32. A first node connected to the IP network 32 is a Radio Base Station (RBS) 34. In general, the RBS 34 implements one or more BTSs, transmits and receives calls from MSs 22 and provides IP support for the BSS 30. For example, the RBS 34 functions as an IP host and can include an IP router (not shown in FIG. 2). The IP router can be used to route payload User Datagram Protocol (UDP) datagrams to one or more Transceivers (TRXs) and also to connect a plurality of RBSs in various topologies.
A second node connected to the IP network 32 is a GateWay (GW) 36. The GW 36 can be used to terminate the A-interface, and can include a Media GW (MGW), not shown in FIG. 2 but which will be described more fully hereinafter, which functions similarly to existing Transcoder Controllers in an Ericsson implementation of the GSM model. The MGW includes a pool of Transcoder/Rate Adaptor (TRA) devices, which, when allocated, are connected to the A-interface; and, hence to the MSC 18 via the A-interface. The IP network (e.g., GSM) side of the TRAs in the MGW are connected to respective UDP ports. Preferably, the GW 36 is connected to the IP network 32 via a separate router (not shown).
A third node connected to the IP network 32 is a Radio Network Server (RN Server) 38. The RN Server 38 corresponds to the BSC used for implementing a GSM model, such as the GSM model 10 illustrated in FIG. 1. A primary difference between the RN Server 38 and a BSC is that the RN Server does not switch payloads and does not include a Group Switch (GS). As such, the RN Server 38 preferably carries signaling only, and includes a pool of processors (e.g., the number of processors determined by capacity requirements). The RN Server 38 can serve one or more logical BSCs and is preferably connected to the IP network 32 via a separate router. As such, the payload can be routed directly between the GW 36 and RBS 34, without passing through the RN Server's processors. The A-interface signaling is routed between the RN Server 38 and GW 36.
FIG. 3 schematically illustrates an exemplary mobile telecommunications network operating in accordance with GSM specifications. The network is generally designated by reference number 50, and comprises three geographical areas 52, 54 and 56, also designated in the Fig. as areas G, S and M, respectively. Each geographical area 52, 54 and 56 includes a connection 58 to a PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network), and each area also includes a plurality of RBSs 62 to provide full radio coverage. Each RBS is connected to a BSC 64 where transcoders (not shown in the Fig.) are located. The BSCs, in turn, are connected to MSCs 66 in each area.
In the network 50 illustrated in FIG. 2, voice traffic is carried from an MS (not shown in FIG. 2) to the transcoders in a BSC 64 via an RBS 62 on 8 or 16 kbits/sec channels. From the BSC, the voice traffic is carried on 64 kbits/sec channels to the MSC 66 (via the A-interface), and further through the MSC 66 to the PSTN connection 58.
Thus, in a GSM system, compressed speech can be used only between the MS and the BSC. From the BSC to the MSC and from the MSC to the PSTN connection, voice traffic must be carried on 64 kbits/sec channels. This results in high transmission costs for the system operator.
In order to assist in understanding the present invention, an example of the operation of a GSM network such as illustrated in FIG. 3 will now be described. In the example, a scenario with an MS terminating call will be described; and in such a scenario, as described above, it is only possible to use compressed speech from the BSC to the MS. The MS terminating call is made in the following way.                A PSTN-sub in area S calls an MS-sub in area M.        The PSTN connects the call to the nearest gateway MSC (MSCS).        The MSCS forwards the call to MSCM.        MSCM sends a page to BSCM.        BSCM sends the page to all RBSs in area M.        When the MS answers, BSCM sets up a signaling connection to MSCM.        MSCM selects a CIC (Circuit Identity Code) in MSCM and sends the CIC value to BSCM in the Assignment Request.        When BSCM receives the Assignment Request, BSCM selects a TRA in BSCM and connects it to the RBS in area M.CIC is always selected in the MSC closest to the BSC resulting in a 64 kbits/sec connection from the PSTN in area S to the BSC in area M, and compressed speech (e.g., 8 or 16 kbits/sec) from the BSC in area M to the MS.
In recent years, substantial effort has gone into development of so-called 3rd generation mobile telecommunications systems in order to address the growing demand for wireless multimedia services. One implementation of a 3rd generation system is known as the Universal Mobile Telephony System (UMTS); and FIG. 4 schematically illustrates a UMTS system.
The UMTS system is generally designated by reference number 70, and is configured in accordance with the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) technical specifications. UMTS 70 includes a Core Network 72, and a Universal Terrestrial Radio Access Network (UTRAN) 74. UTRAN 74 includes one or more Radio Network Subsystems (RNSs), such as RNSs 76a and 76b. The RNSs 76a and 76b each include an RNC (Radio Network Controller) 78a and 78b, respectively, and related Node Bs 80a, 80b and 80c, 80d, respectively.
The Core Network 72 enables subscribers to access services from a network operator. An RNS can function in a UTRAN as the access part of the UMTS network; and can allocate and release specific radio resources in order to establish connections between a UTRAN and a mobile station 82 as shown in FIG. 4. Thus, an RNS is generally responsible for the radio resources and transmission/reception in a set of cells. The RNCs in the RNSs generally function to control the use and integrity of radio resources. Each Node B is a logical node responsible for the radio transmission/reception in one or more cells and to or from an MS. A Node B is generally similar to a base station in a non-3rd generation system. An RNC, e.g., RNC 78b, can function as a Controlling RNC (CRNC) with respect to a specific set of Node Bs. A Node B, however, typically has only one CRNC. A CRNC generally controls the logical resources of its related Node Bs. As shown in FIG. 4, an RNC and a Node B communicate with one another via an Iub interface, RNCs communicate with one another via an Iur interface and RNCs communicate with the Core Network via an Iu interface.
One of the drivers for the function distribution for the Iu interface in a UMTS system was to make it possible to have the transcoder at the edge of a PLMN. As indicated above, however, this has not been possible with the A-interface in a GSM system.


A method of fabricating a resistive random access memory (RRAM) device is disclosed. A plurality of word lines extending along a first direction are formed on a substrate with a recess between the word lines. A spacer-type resistance layer and a top electrode layer are formed on a sidewall of each of the word lines. A photoresist stripe pattern extending along a second direction is then formed on the substrate. The first direction is perpendicular to the second direction. An etching process is performed to remove the top electrode layer and the spacer-type resistance layer not covered by the photoresist stripe pattern to form a plurality of top electrodes. A diode is formed on each of the top electrodes.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to the field of semiconductor memory devices. More particularly, the present invention relates to an improved resistive random access memory (RRAM) device, which utilizes spacer-type resistance layer and top electrode and has a cell size of 2 F2. A method of fabricating such RRAM device is also disclosed.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Resistive switching random access memory or RRAM devices have certain beneficial characteristics over other types of memory devices, such as low power consumption, high speed, excellent bit resolution, high degree of scaling of miniaturization, non-volatile, and low cost, and therefore have become a promising next-generation non-volatile memory to replace flash memory.
RRAM may be characterized by a resistor or a resistance layer disposed between a top electrode and a bottom electrode of a storage node, which may be fabricated in a semiconductor pillar structure and stacked with a diode. The resistor may have a current-voltage characteristic which may be varied according to an applied voltage. Once the current-voltage characteristic is varied, the varied current-voltage characteristic of the resistor may be maintained until a reset voltage is applied to the resistor. RRAM devices store data by varying the resistance of the resistor between a high resistance state (HRS) and a low resistance state (LRS), arguably due to the formation/collapse of conduction filaments in the resistance layer. Data may be written to a selected RRAM device by applying a predetermined voltage, at a predetermined polarity, for a predetermined duration. To ensure the stability when operating the RRAM device, it is believed that maintaining a certain amount of the conduction filaments is essential.
It is also believed that, when the RRAM device is operated, the quantity of conduction filaments is proportional to the contact area between the resistance layer and the electrode. As the size of the memory cell shrinks, however, the variation or deviation of the quantity of conduction filaments created during the operation of the RRAM device becomes critical and may significantly influence the device reliability. Accordingly, there is a need in this industry to provide an improved RRAM structure and fabrication method thereof to solve the above-mentioned problems or shortcomings.

Method for fabricating resistive random access memory


A high efficiency filter assembly having a generally rectangular pleated filter element with ends defined by the pleated edges of the element and sides defined by generally planar side edges of the element. The filter element is mounted in a generally rectangular housing formed by two pairs of oppositely disposed frame members that are joined together. Each frame member has a planar base member and a pair of upright side member defining an open ended channel to receive the ends and sides of the filter element. At least one spacing member extends along the base portion to space the ends and sides of the filter element from the surface of the planar member. A dam member is provided at each end of one of the pairs of planar members to enclose the channel, and a sealant is disposed in the channel and the ends of the filter element are embedded in the sealant.

The present invention relates to an improved air filter assembly and a method of fabricating that assembly. In particular, the present invention is directed to improved high efficiency and ultra high efficiency particulate air filters and assembly process for these types of filters. High efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters have a particle removal efficiency of at least 99.97% for particulates of 0.3 microns. Ultra high efficiency filters have efficiencies of at least 99.9999% for 0.12 micron particulates.
HEPA filters find a wide variety of applications including filtration systems for laboratory and clean room environments where even the smallest amount of particulate in the air is unacceptable. Other typical applications include the filtration of hazardous materials, such as radioactive or biologically harmful materials, from a contaminated air stream before exhaustion of the air to the atmosphere. The prior art HEPA filters typically are constructed utilizing a pleated element of a suitable material in a generally rectangular configuration. The filter element is housed in a rectangular frame comprising four frame members joined together and in which the edges of the filter element are sealed. The frame members can be of any suitable material and typically may be extruded metal or plastic. Prior art HEPA filters of this type are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,685,944; 4,584,005; and 4,227,953.
The prior art HEPA filters are typically assembled by constructing the frame around the filter element. For example, one of the frame members may be filled with an epoxy or sealant in a liquid or viscous state. The filter element is then placed on the frame member with one edge of the element immersed in the epoxy which is then allowed to hardened. The process is then repeated for the oppositely disposed frame member. Then in a similar fashion the filter element is bonded to the two other frame members and the frame members secured together in some manner.
Prior art HEPA filters fabricated according to conventional processes have experienced leaks between the filter element and the frame. Such leaks commonly occur at the corners where adjacent frame members are joined. It is believed that one cause of these leaks is an uneven distribution of the epoxy caused when the epoxy is displaced as the filter element is inserted in the frame member during the assembly process. It can be appreciated that even a relatively small leak could totally destroy the filter efficiency and render it useless.
The present invention is an improved HEPA filter structure and method of fabricating that structure so as to eliminate leaks and in particular the corner leaks that have developed in the prior art. Moreover, the fabricating method and new structure simplifies assembly. In building the filter frame around the filter element in the prior art the step of inserting the filter element in the viscous epoxy or sealant often caused sealant to be pushed out the ends of the frame members overflowing the end of the frame member intended to be joined to an adjacent frame member. Thus, during assembly this displaced epoxy had to be removed by suitable solvent not only for aesthetic reasons in the appearance of the final filter structure but also to ensure that a proper fit was achieved between adjacent filter members at the corners of the assembly. In the method of the present invention, the necessity for this relatively messy solvent clean up step in the fabrication process is eliminated.

High efficiency filter and method of fabricating same


A method of monitoring a computer system, by detecting a power interruption to the computer system, using power down sense logic, and generating an alert associated with the power interruption. When the computer system is networked, the alert is transmitted to a remote server. The power down sense logic sends a message to an auxiliary processor (which may be an application-specific integrated circuit, or ASIC), and the auxiliary processor creates a network transmission packet indicating that the computer system is losing power. The auxiliary processor may allow selection of a transmission mode such as uni-cast transmission, multi-cast transmission, or broadcast transmission. A common power supply provides a first power signal to the computer system, and a second power signal to the power down sense logic and auxiliary processor, and maintains the second power signal for a longer duration than the first power signal upon removal of a power source for the power supply, sufficient to carry out the sending of the message from the power down sense logic and the creating of the network alert.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to computer systems, and more particularly to an inexpensive mechanism for sending alerts when a networked computer system (client) or an element of a computer network begins to go off line due to a power interruption.
2. Description of Related Art
A typical structure for a conventional computer system includes one or more processing units connected to a system memory device (random access memory or RAM) and to various peripheral, or input/output (I/O), devices such as a display monitor, a keyboard, a graphical pointer (mouse), and a permanent storage device (hard disk). The system memory device is used by a processing unit in carrying out program instructions, and stores those instructions as well as data values that are fed to or generated by the programs. A processing unit communicates with the other components by various means, including one or more interconnects (buses), or direct memory-access channels. A computer system may have many additional components, such as serial and parallel ports and expansion slots for connection to, e.g., printers and network adapters. Other components might further be used in conjunction with the foregoing; for example, a display adapter might be used to control a video display monitor, a memory controller can be used to access the system memory, etc.
Computers can be interconnected in a variety of ways, one common approach being a client-server network. A generalized client-server computing network 2 is shown in FIG. 1. Network 2 has several nodes or servers 4, 6, 8 and 10 which are interconnected, either directly to each other or indirectly through one of the other servers. Each server is essentially a stand-alone computer system as described above (having one or more processors, memory devices, storage devices and communications devices), but has been adapted (programmed) for one primary purpose, that of providing information to individual users at another set of nodes, or workstation clients 12. Clients 12 can also be fully functional, stand-alone computer systems (like personal computers, or PCs), or so-called "dumber" systems adapted for limited use with network 2 (like network computers, or NCs). A single, physical computer can act as both a server and a client, although this implementation occurs infrequently.
A client is generally a member of a class or group of computers or computer systems that uses the services of another class or group to which it is not related. A client can also be thought of as a process (i.e., a program or task) that requests a service which is provided by another program. The client process uses the requested service without having to "know" any working details about the other program or the service itself. Based upon requests by the user, a server presents filtered electronic information to the user as server responses to the client process.
The information provided by a server can be in the form of programs which run locally on a given client 12, or in the form of data such as files that are used by other programs. Users can also communicate with each other in real-time as well as by delayed file delivery, i.e., users connected to the same server can all communicate with each other without the need for the complete network 2, and users at different servers, such as servers 4 and 6, can communicate with each other via network 2. The network can be local in nature, or can be further connected to other systems (not shown) as indicated with servers 8 and 10. The construction of network 2 is also generally applicable to the Internet.
In the early years of computer processing when computer networks were based on mainframes connected to "dumb" terminals at remote locations, an information systems (IS) manager had complete control over the network. The PC revolution then occurred, which unleashed tremendous processing power on the desktop. PCs are often used as network print servers, file servers, or bridges (routers). As PCs move from terminal replacements to an integral part of the network, the need for overall system availability is increasing. The IS manager cannot afford downtime and costly service calls.
However, given that many networks contains PCs which are not fault tolerant, the IS manager must deal with periodic interruptions to services. Advance warning of interruptions, and in particular power interruptions, would improve the ability to respond and minimize the impact. The concept of preventing downtime and early warning has been implemented in mainframes and servers. To prevent or provide warning of down time, a variety of devices are used, including redundant systems, maintenance cards, or an un-interruptible power supply (UPS). However the costs of such solutions are generally prohibitive in PC (workstation) clients.
What is needed is an effective and inexpensive mechanism to provide advance warning of interruptions. It would be desirable to provide such a solution that could use existing network infrastructures, with standard network protocols and software. It would be further advantageous if the solution could detect a power loss and send an alert while a PC is losing power.

Alert mechanism for service interruption from power loss

International Business Machine Corporation


A controlling apparatus for an engine, includes: an auto-ignition index calculating unit that is configured to calculate, based on a cylinder temperature and a cylinder pressure in a combustion chamber, an auto-ignition index which indicates easiness of occurrence of auto-ignition of fuel at a crank angle before an ignition timing in a compression stroke; a first correction coefficient calculating unit that is configured to calculate, based on an amount of fuel adhering to a wall surface of the combustion chamber at the crank angle, a wall-adhering fuel correction coefficient for correcting the auto-ignition index; and a low-speed pre-ignition predicting unit that is configured to predict, based on the auto-ignition index and the wall-adhering fuel correction coefficient, occurrence of low-speed pre-ignition.

The present invention relates to a controlling apparatus for an engine including an exhaust gas recirculation apparatus, and more particularly to an engine controlling apparatus which predicts occurrence of low-speed pre-ignition that occurs under low-speed and high-load conditions.
Many engines mounted on vehicles include an exhaust gas recirculation apparatus. An exhaust gas recirculation apparatus recirculates part of exhaust gas that is discharged from a combustion chamber of an engine toward the atmosphere through an exhaust passage, into an intake passage, whereby the combustion temperature in the combustion chamber is lowered, and emission of nitrogen oxides (NOx) contained in the exhaust gas is suppressed.
A technique is available in which an exhaust gas recirculation apparatus reduces abnormal combustion in a combustion chamber of an engine by using exhaust gas recirculated into an intake passage (hereinafter, such exhaust gas is referred to as "recirculation gas").
In the technique disclosed in JP-A-62-131961, for example, an outlet leading to an intake passage for recirculation gas is placed in the vicinity of a combustion chamber, and the direction of the outlet is set so that the recirculation gas introduced into the combustion chamber flows along the inner peripheral wall of a cylinder. The recirculation gas which swirls in the combustion chamber along the inner peripheral wall of the cylinder forms an annular recirculation gas layer in a portion near the inner peripheral wall. In a middle portion of the combustion chamber where a spark plug is placed, therefore, the exhaust gas concentration is relatively lowered to enhance and the ignition performance, and, in an outer peripheral portion of the combustion chamber, a phenomenon which is so-called "knocking," and in which the exhaust gas concentration in the vicinity of the inner peripheral wall of the cylinder is raised, and the end gas is auto-ignited is prevented from occurring.
JP-A-2010-84619 discloses a technique in which occurrence of pre-ignition is predicted by using a prediction formula called the Livengood-Wu integral expression.
Usual pre-ignition is caused by a phenomenon in which deposit accumulated in a combustion chamber is peeled off from the wall surface of a cylinder, and then exposed to combustion to glow, and the glowing deposit becomes the source of auto-ignition. On the other hand, it is said that low-speed pre-ignition is caused by above-described deposit or another phenomenon in which droplets of lubricating oil scattering from the inner peripheral wall of a cylinder ignite in accordance with a temperature rise of the interior of a combustion chamber, and then the droplets function as pilot fire to cause a gas mixture to auto-ignite.
As a technique for preventing usual pre-ignition from occurring, a technique in which the ignition timing is delayed is employed. On the other hand, examples of a technique for preventing low-speed pre-ignition from occurring are a technique in which the intake air temperature is lowered, and that in which the oxygen concentration in the gas mixture is reduced. When the technique in which the intake air temperature is lowered is employed, however, there is a case where a significant output reduction is caused depending on driving conditions. When, in the configuration of JP-A-62-131961, the amount of the recirculation gas introduced into the intake air is increased in order to reduce the oxygen concentration in the gas mixture, for example, the temperature in the combustion chamber is raised, and therefore there may occur an opposite case where pre-ignition is induced. Consequently, there is a limit to the increase of the introduction amount of the recirculation gas.
In the pre-ignition prediction which is described in JP-A-2010-84619, based on whether the auto-ignition index based on factors of the cylinder pressure and temperature in the compression stroke exceeds a predetermined threshold or not, it is determined whether pre-ignition occurs before the ignition timing, i.e., the ignition target crank angle or not.
In the prediction formula, however, the amount of fuel adhering to the inner peripheral wall of a cylinder, and the introduction amount of the recirculation gas are not considered, and therefore there may arise a case where occurrence of low-speed pre-ignition cannot be correctly predicted.

MITSUBISHI JIDOSHA KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA


An acoustic touch position sensor having a transducer which imparts a wave, propagating along a first axis. A reflective array disposed along the first axis which reflects the wave as a set of waves having a horizontally polarized component and a non-uniform volumetric energy density along an axis normal to said surface, traveling along a different axis into the touch surface region of the substrate. The waves are partially absorbed, attenuated or perturbed by an object touching the substrate, to create a modified waveform having characteristics indicative of the axial displacement and/or contact condition of the object with the substrate. The wave perturbation is detected by collecting the set of waves with a reflective array, which redirects the wave energy to a receiving transducer. The transducers preferably produce and are responsive to Rayleigh type waves, with the reflective arrays mode-converting acoustic wave energy between higher order horizontally polarized shear waves and Rayleigh type waves.

Acoustic touch position sensors are known to include a touch panel or plate having an array of transmitters positioned along a first edge of a substrate for simultaneously generating parallel surface acoustic waves that directionally propagate through the panel to a corresponding array of detectors positioned opposite the first array on a second edge of the substrate. Another pair of arrays is provided at right angles to the first set. Touching the panel at a point causes an attenuation of the waves passing through the point of touch, thus allowing an output from the two sets of arrays indicative of the coordinates of the touch. This type of acoustic touch position sensor is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,673,327.
The substrate in many embodiments is preferred to be transparent because this allows efficient and effective use of the touch sensor as a panel placed in front of a visual display device, such as a cathode ray tube, electroluminescent display, or liquid crystal display.
Acoustic touch position sensors are also known wherein a single transducer per axis is provided, which produces a surface acoustic wave which is reflected, by a reflective grating having elements set at 45.degree. to the beam, at right angles over the length of the grating to produce a surface acoustic wave pattern propagating through an active area of the substrate. The position of a touch in the active area is determined by, e.g., providing an opposing reflective grating which directs the surface acoustic wave pattern along an axis of the grating toward a receiving transducer system, which records the time of arrival of an attenuation of the wave pattern, which corresponds to a position along the axis of the arrays. The touch, in this case, may include a finger or stylus pressing against the surface. Other types of configurations for collecting the sensing signal are also known.
The reflective array is formed of acoustically partially reflective structure, which may be an inscribed or raised surface feature, or a feature having differing wave propagation characteristics which forms a partial barrier. These structural elements may, in theory, be formed at any portion where there is a significant wave energy. Thus, if a wave has surface energy, surface features may be used. If wave energy is buried, then these barriers must intrude into the material of the substrate. Thus, waves having surface energy, these reflecting arrays may be formed on the surface, and where wave energy is present on both sides of the substrate, these reflecting arrays may be formed on one or both sides of the substrate. Because the touch sensor is generally placed in front of a display device, and the reflective array is not generally optically invisible, the reflective arrays are generally placed at the periphery of the substrate, outside of the active sensing area, and are hidden or protected under a bezel.
There are a number of different types of acoustic wave propagation types which are supported by solid non-piezoelectric substrates, such as glass. Those having vertical, e.g., in the thickness direction, and longitudinal, e.g., in the direction of wave motion, components are referred to herein as VLCW, a type of surface acoustic wave. These VLCW, in substrates having a finite thickness, are either quasi-Rayleigh waves, which have surface energy primarily confined to a single surface over finite distances, or Lamb waves, which have surface energy on the front and rear surfaces of a substrate. Over extended distances, it becomes apparent that real quasi-Raleigh waves include a symmetric Lamb wave component and an antisymmetric Lamb wave component, and that these components have differing phase velocities. Thus, in realizable systems, surface waves are not truly confined to a single surface over large distances, and may lead to artifacts. These are discussed more fully below.
While a touch sensor employing quasi-Rayleigh waves have high sensitivity, this mode of operation may lead to high or even excessive sensitivity to contaminants or other materials abutting the active surface of the touch panel. The excessive sensitivity to contamination is due, in part, to the vertical component of wave motion at or near the confining surface. As a result, a large portion of the quasi-Rayleigh wave energy may be absorbed by even modest amounts of surface contaminants. The effect of near or total absorption of wave energy by contamination, sealants or other materials abutting the plate, is to create acoustic shadows or blind spots extending along the axes that intersect the contaminant. Thus, while quasi-Rayleigh mode touch sensors have a high sensitivity to touch, these sensors are also subject to shadowing in the event of a substantial contaminant in the active area, preventing localization of a touch on one or both axes of the sensor. A touch position sensor using quasi-Rayleigh waves therefore cannot localize touch if one or both coordinates is on a blinded axis.
Shear waves also propagate in substrates of finite thickness, and as employed in touch position sensors of the prior art, these shear waves are of zeroth order, meaning that there is no nodal plane intersecting the substrate, and the volumetric wave energy is uniform. Since shear waves do not have a vertical component of motion, small amounts of surface contaminants do not absorb all of the wave energy, and therefore do not completely shadow, and therefore shear mode sensors are more robust in contaminated environments. More complex waves, having multiple nodal planes intersecting a substrate are also known in theory, but these are generally considered complex interfering waves, without practical value for touch measurement or the like, and are therefore avoided for use in touch position sensors or eliminated if interfering. These complex waves have certain characteristics similar to zeroth order horizontally polarized shear waves, or more simply shear waves, yet other of their characteristics also differ markedly. These waves shall be herein referred to as higher order horizontally polarized shear-like waves, or HOHPS waves. Such waves have a high degree of dependence on the characteristics of the substrate and sensitivity to the configuration.
The wave pattern of known acoustic touch sensors is dispersed along the axis of the transmitting reflective array, traverses the substrate and is recombined, e.g., into an axially propagating wave, dispersed in time according to the path taken across the substrate, by another reflective grating, and is directed to a receiving transducer in a direction antiparallel to the transmitted wave, which receives the wave and converts it into an electrical signal for processing. Thus, according to this system, only two transducers per axis are required. Because of the antiparallel path, the time delay of a perturbation of the electrical signal corresponds to a distance travelled by the wave, which in turn is related to the axial distance from the transducer along the reflecting arrays travelled by the wave before entering the active area of the substrate. The location of touch is determined by detecting an attenuated signal as compared to a standard received waveform. Thus, for each axis, a distance may be determined, and with two orthogonal axes, a unique coordinate for the attenuation determined. Acoustic touch position sensors of this type are shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,642,423, 4,644,100, 4,645,870, 4,700,176, 4,746,914 and 4,791,416, incorporated herein by reference.
For each axis, a standard signal is provided to the transducer by interfacing a piezoelectric transducer with the sheet-like member, outside the active area, to produce a wave, propagating along an axis. For example, surface waves are generally coupled through the surface portion of the substrate, on the side which is intended to be touch sensitive. The reflective array in the path of the wave, for redirecting the wave into the touch sensitive region, includes a series of spaced surface interruptions, having a separation of an integral number of wavelengths of the wave produced by the transmitting transducer, angled 45.degree. to the axis, i.e., the direction of wave propagation. The reflective array thus produces a reflected a surface acoustic wave propagating at 90.degree. to the original angle of transmission, through the active area of the substrate.
As shown in FIGS. 1A and 1C, surface acoustic waves may be transduced, with a certain coupling efficiency, into a touch plate utilizing a transducer mounted on a wedge that is in turn mounted on the touch surface of the plate, wherein the transducer vibrates in the direction shown to produce a compressional bulk wave that propagates in the wedge, which in turn is transduced through the wedge-substrate interface to impart a surface acoustic wave, i.e., a wave having vertically and longitudinal components (VLCW), in the touch plate. The wedge extends above the plate, and therefore the rear or inactive side of the substrate and its edges remain free of circuitry or critical elements. Further, the area of the substrate in which the wave energy is in the form of quasi-Rayleigh mode waves is insensitive to mounting on the opposite, inactive surface. Coupling wedges are typically made of plastic, and mounted to a glass plate. The transducer, which is generally a piezoelectric element with electrically conducting pads on two large area opposing faces, is bonded to the plastic wedge with a conductive element in between, and the transducer with wedge is then bonded to the glass touch plate substrate, with the sandwiched conductive element and opposing electrically conductive pad connected to the electrical circuitry.
To receive the sensing wave, it is generally considered desirable to provide a single transducer for transducing the wave into an electrical signal in which the touch position is encoded by temporal fluctuations in the signal. While a transducer the full length of the substrate could be provided, this requires a large transducer. Instead, the art teaches an inverse of the transmission technique, multiplexing the sensing wave into a surface wave directed toward a small receiving transducer. Thus, in an area outside the active area, the waves are again reflected by an otherwise identical reflecting array having spaced interruptions at -45.degree. to the angle of wave propagation, thereby multiplexing the spatially dispersed signal into a single waveform pattern, propagating antiparallel to the transmitted surface acoustic wave, which is detected by another transducer. In known systems, the excitation frequency is generally around 5 MHz or 5.5 MHz, and the thickness of the sheet-like member, if formed of soda-lime glass is typically in the range from 0.090" to 0.125".
The art also teaches the use of a single transducer for both transmitting the wave and receiving the sensing wave, with a single reflective array employed to disperse and recombine the wave. Such systems therefore employ a reflective edge opposite the reflective array. As a result, the SAW wave passes through the active region twice, with consequent increased wave absorption by the touch but also increased overall signal attenuation due to the reflection and additional pass through the active region of the substrate. Thus, the SAW wave may be reflected off an edge of the substrate parallel to the axis of the transmission reflective grating and reflected back through the substrate to the reflective array and retrace its path back to the transducer. The transducer, in this case, is configured to act as both transmitter and receiver at appropriate time periods. A second transducer, reflective array and reflective edge are provided for an axis at right angles to allow determination of a coordinate of touch.
A related system provides for a single transducer which produces a sensing wave for detecting touch on two axes, which both produces the acoustic wave and also receives the wave from both axes. In this case, the area in which touch is to be sensed is generally oblong, such that the longest characteristic delay along one path is shorter than the shortest characteristic delay along the second path.
Adler, U.S. Pat. Re No. 33,151, relates to a touch-sensitive system for determining a position of a touch along an axis on a surface. A SAW generator is coupled to a sheet-like substrate to generate a burst of waves, which are deflected into an active region of the system by an array of wave redirecting gratings. Quasi-Rayleigh waves traversing the active region are in turn redirected along an axis by gratings to an output transducer. The redirecting gratings are oriented at 45.degree. to the axis of propagation. A location of touch is determined by analyzing a selective attenuation of the received waveform in the time domain, each characteristic delay corresponding to a locus on the surface. The grating elements are placed at a 45.degree. angle and spaced at integral multiples of the quasi-Rayleigh wavelength with dropped elements to produce an approximately constant SAW power density over the active area. Thus the spacing between grates decreases with increasing distance along the axis of propagation from the transducer, with a minimum spacing of one wavelength of the transmitted wave. U.S. Pat. No. 4,746,916 also teaches use of reflecting elements which vary in height to control a ratio of reflected wave power to unreflected wave power.
Brenner et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,644,100 relates to a touch sensitive system employing surface acoustic waves, responsive to both the location and magnitude of a perturbation of the SAW. The system according to U.S. Pat. No. 4,644,100 is similar in execution to the system according to U.S. Pat. Re. No. 33,151, while determining an amplitude of a received wave and comparing it to a stored reference profile.
Optimization of the performance of a touch sensor using Rayleigh waves is difficult because touch sensitivity and minimum touch panel thickness are not independent choices. In order to support a quasi-Rayleigh wave in a touch panel of reduced thickness, its other dimensions remaining the same, the wavelength must be reduced to preserve single surface confinement over the active area of the substrate. It is characteristic of quasi-Rayleigh waves that their confinement depth is related to wavelength, with confinement depth decreasing as the wavelength is decreased. As a result, the wave is confined to a shallower region bounded by the surface, and the proportion of wave energy absorbed by a given absorbing medium at the surface is increased, approximately by the inverse square of the wavelength. Thus, quasi-Rayleigh wave touch sensors can be considered unduly sensitive for some applications, even for relatively thick panels, hence the effect of reducing touch panel thickness results in touch sensors even more sensitive to surface contamination and other abutments. Conversely, the prior art teaches that reducing sensitivity by increasing the quasi-Rayleigh wavelength results in increased panel thickness and weight.
Surface waves having vertical and longitudinal components, with substantial energy through the thickness of the substrate, are termed Lamb waves, and systems incorporating same to detect touch position are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,072,427 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,162,618. As discussed above, Lamb waves are dispersive, varying in phase and velocity, so that various Lamb mode waves propagating in a substrate will interfere with one another. Therefore, systems employing Lamb waves also include elements to separate or eliminate unwanted or interfering propagation modes.
For example, it is known to place elements of the reflective arrays on both sides of the substrate in order to facilitate selection between the zeroth order symmetric and zeroth order anti-symmetric wave, by distinguishing between the phase of the array, i.e., placement and spacing of the elements, on the upper and lower surfaces of the substrate.
Acoustic touch position sensors utilizing surface acoustic waves as taught by the above-mentioned patents have a number of problems which are more readily understood when the nature of the surface acoustic wave used in these sensors is more fully considered. If, as in the above mentioned patents, the touch plate consists of a uniform, non-piezoelectric medium, and the acoustic wave is confined at or near a single surface such as an outer surface of the touch plate, the surface acoustic wave is known as a Rayleigh wave. These waves have X and Z components such that disturbed particles move elliptically in the X-Z plane. It is characteristic of these waves that the volumetric wave energy rapidly decreases with depth, so that the wave energy along the Z axis is essentially confined at or near the surface of the touch plate.
Theoretically, true Rayleigh waves exist only in an infinitely thick medium. Waves in a uniform, non-piezoelectric medium of finite thickness that are essentially confined to a single surface, as shown in FIGS. 1A-1D, are more precisely termed quasi-Rayleigh waves. Given a long enough propagating path in a medium of finite thickness, Rayleigh-type wave energy will not be confined at or near a single surface, but will transfer back and forth between the outer surfaces of the plate. This is because, although small, wave energy components extend through the material thickness, consisting of at least a symmetric and an antisymmetric waveform, each of which travels at a slightly different phase velocity, thus causing constructive and destructive interference at various spaced loci on the surfaces of the substrate, i.e., loci on the surfaces which have constructive or destructive interference of the two wave components. Areas of low surface wave energy are insensitive to perturbing influences, e.g., touch, while areas of relatively high surface energy may be overly sensitive and contribute to artifacts.
If the thickness of a touch plate substrate is, for example, two Rayleigh wavelengths or less, the waves emanating from the source transducers are Lamb mode, and are clearly distinguishable from quasi-Rayleigh mode, as well as other surface acoustic wave (SAW) modes, shown in FIGS. 1E and 1F. Lamb waves exist in two groups of various orders, each of which propagates independently of one another. One group is characterized by particle displacement that is symmetric with respect to the median plane of the plate. The other group of Lamb waves is characterized by particle displacement that is anti-symmetric with respect to the median plane. In general, a specific order within the symmetric Lamb wave group differs in phase and group velocity from the identical order of the anti-symmetric Lamb wave group. In particular, with a sufficient plate thickness equal to or greater than two Rayleigh wavelengths, two modes of approximately equal amplitude are principally excited, the zeroth order symmetrical Lamb waves and the zeroth order anti-symmetrical Lamb waves. As seen in FIGS. 1E and 1F, the symmetrical and anti-symmetrical Lamb waves are not confined to a single surface of the touch plate, but extend through the plate to the opposite surface thereof. When "in phase" however, such as the condition that is initially at and close to the source of the waves, where the waves constructively interfere on one surface and destructively interfere on the other surface, the two Lamb waves combine to produce a quasi-Rayleigh wave, as can be seen from a comparison of FIGS. 1E and 1F to FIG. 1D. As the two Lamb wave modes travel further from the source, due to the differing phase velocities and the resultant phase difference between them, there is an apparent complete transference of wave energy from the outer surface on which the transducer generating the wave is mounted, to the opposite surface. This transference of energy between the outer surfaces of the plate occurs at regularly spaced intervals, making a touch plate having large enough dimensions for this transference to occur, generally unsuitable for a touch position sensor, so long as both wave modes are present. As proposed in the above patents, these modes may be filtered and the unwanted modes eliminated.
In the case of a substrate of about four Rayleigh wavelengths thick, most of the wave energy of a quasi-Rayleigh wave remains on a single surface, and therefore a substrate of limited size is sensitive without dead spots due to wave dispersion over its entire surface. Thus, touch position sensors utilizing surface acoustic waves, and more particularly quasi-Rayleigh waves, operate with relatively thick panels, i.e., panels having a thickness of three to four times the wavelength of the surface acoustic wave propagating therein, with the quasi-Rayleigh waves confined at and near a single surface.
A touch sensor according to the above Rayleigh mode wave touchsensor patents, would be inoperable with a thin glass substrate, e.g., 0.045" soda-lime glass with an operating frequency of about 5 MHz, because a touch in a region of one outer surface where complete transference of the wave energy to the opposite outer surface has taken place, will not detectably disturb the wave, and is therefore limits the usability of the sensor for the intended purpose. In practice, in order to provide a wave that is practically confined to a single surface, the thickness of the touch plate must be at least three to four times the wavelength of the wave imparted into the substrate, wherein the length and breadth of the touch plate are also limited. The substrate may have dimension from about 25 to in excess of 1000 wavelengths of the SAW wave, which allows substrates of about 1.5 to 70 cm with an operating wavelength of 0.0574 cm, and operating frequency of 5.53 MHz.
It is thus known to use, instead of a quasi-Raleigh wave, a order Lamb wave transmitted through the bulk sheet-like material. Such a wave travels through the full thickness of the substrate, and the system is sensitive to touch on both surfaces of the sheet. This creates difficulty in mounting the substrate, which is generally a transparent substrate for placement in front of a cathode ray display (CRT) tube. Further, related to this sensitivity on both sheet surfaces, the signal-to-noise ratio is reduced, due to wave energy on both an active and inactive surface. In addition, vertical components of transverse wave propagation are highly sensitive to attenuation by small amounts of water, which may create artifacts.
In a zeroth order Lamb mode system, the maximum thickness of the substrate is limited to about two times the wavelength of the excited wave. Thicker substrates, under similar conditions, would propagate such waves as quasi-Raleigh mode waves, and substantial energy of the wave would not be present through the full thickness of the substrate. Thin glass has a greater difference in phase velocity of the symmetric and antisymmetric Lamb mode waves propagating therein than a thicker substrate, which allows simplified and selective filtering of wave modes, as suggested in U.S. Pat. No. 5,072,427.
It is known to create a zeroth order Lamb mode wave from a zeroth order shear wave, by reflection of the shear wave by an array of parallel interruptions spaced along the axis of propagation of the shear wave at integral multiples of the wavelength of the desired Lamb wave mode in the substrate, the reflective elements being situated at an angle of: EQU .theta..sub.A =arctan (V.sub.L /V.sub.Z)
where .theta..sub.A is the angle of the converting elements to the X axis, V.sub.L is the phase velocity of the desired Lamb mode wave and V.sub.Z is the velocity of the zeroth order horizontally polarized shear wave propagating along the axis of the array.
Likewise, a propagating zeroth order horizontally polarized shear wave may be converted to a Lamb wave by arrays having elements on both surfaces of the substrate, which facilitates selection between the zeroth order symmetric and zeroth order antisymmetric Lamb wave, by the relative phase of the array on the upper and lower surfaces of the substrate. The Lamb mode wave is reflected by a reflecting array, with elements on one or both sides of the substrate, to an opposed receiving transducer system, or may be reflected off a distal edge of the substrate and transmitted back through the active area, where it is reflected along the axis of the array as a zeroth order horizontally polarized shear wave, for detection by a combination excitation and reception transducer.
It has also been proposed to impart zeroth order shear waves into a substrate which are converted into Lamb waves by a reflective array, which are then converted by a reflective array back into shear waves for detection of the zeroth order component, see U.S. Pat. No. 5,072,427.
Shear wave mode touch sensors are also known. These systems operate by exciting zeroth order shear waves, which are non-dispersive, in a substrate. A touch absorbs only a small percentage of the shear wave energy intercepted by a touched surface, thus leading to relatively low sensitivity but also improved resistance to shadowing artifacts. In fact, the percentage of intercepted energy absorbed by a given touch is about five times greater for a Rayleigh wave than it is for a comparable zeroth order horizontally polarized shear wave for practical touch plate thickness. Such a zeroth order horizontally polarized shear wave system is proposed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,177,327. See also Knowles, T. J., "46.6: A Pressure-Responsive Touch-input Device" SID 92 Digest, (1992) pp. 920-923; Christensen, R. and Masters, T., "Guided Acoustic Wave: Newest Wave in Touch Technology", ECN (January 1995), pp. 13 et seq.
Increasing the thickness of the substrate facilitates HOHPS wave propagation, which heretofore has been considered parasitic. Therefore, known shear wave touch sensors have expressly limited substrate thickness to help limit or eliminate these HOHPS modes, as well as other wave modes, such as quasi-Rayleigh waves. Higher order horizontally polarized shear waves are dispersive, and therefore a configuration which promotes wave energy components of these types has been considered difficult or unworkable. Thus, in theory, mixed HOHPS waves in the active region of the touch sensor would follow pattern similar to that exhibited by Lamb waves, having "dead spots" on the substrate surface due to dispersion of the various components.
Zeroth order horizontally polarized shear wave touch sensors may be arbitrarily thin, limited only by their structural integrity. It is known, in order to limit potentially interfering modes, that the thickness of the substrate in a zeroth order horizontally polarized shear wave touch position sensor be less than that capable of supporting quasi-Rayleigh waves, since the thinner the substrate, the greater the fractional sensitivity of the horizontally polarized shear wave to a surface touch.
According to U.S. Pat. No. 5,177,327, a thin glass substrate, e.g., 0.040" thick, is desired because it has higher sensitivity to touch-induced attenuation of zeroth order horizontally polarized shear waves in the active area, has a lower weight than thicker glass, e.g., 0.090", as is often used in quasi-Raleigh mode touch sensors. However, 0.090" glass is easier to form and less fragile than 0.040" thick glass.
Knowles, U.S. Pat. No. 5,329,070 relates to a zeroth order horizontally polarized shear wave touch localization sensor. U.S. Pat. No. 5,329,070 indicates that an advantage of using a zeroth order horizontally polarized shear wave is that the sensor may be arbitrarily thin, and in fact the substrate is maintained at a thickness of less than 2 wavelengths in order to suppress higher order modes or overtones. In order to increase the thickness of the substrate in excess of two wavelengths for superior rigidity, a back plate is bonded by an adhesive which does not support shear wave propagation, or the back plate has a shear wave propagation velocity greater than the substrate shear wave propagation velocity. The latter type of shear wave is known as a Love wave.
Zeroth order horizontally polarized shear waves are not confined to the surface of the substrate, as are quasi-Rayleigh waves, but rather extend throughout the entire thickness of the substrate. Contaminants or other materials abutting the surface of a shear wave touch position sensor are less likely to result in blind spots or significant shadows extending along the axes that intersect the contaminate or matter. VLCW have a vertical transverse component and are substantially absorbed by water droplets on the surface while shear and shear-type waves, without a vertical transverse component do not substantially radiate pressure waves into water droplets at the surface, and are thus do not have undesired sensitivity to these contaminants. Thus, a significant portion of the wave energy will pass through the location of a touch or surface artifact. Therefore, shear wave touch position sensors are suitable for use in environments that surface acoustic wave sensors may not be. Shear wave touch position sensors are also sensitive to a touch on both the top and bottom surfaces of the substrate whereas surface acoustic wave sensors are sensitive to touch only on the surface of the substrate on which the transducer is mounted. These factors, as well as wave properties allow comparable shear mode waves to travel over greater distances than surface acoustic wave.
Zeroth order horizontally polarized shear waves thus are known to have several advantages over surface acoustic waves, which compensate for the lower percentage of total energy absorbed by a touch. As known in the art, however, the proposed implementations are difficult to work with and present their own difficulties and limitations.

Acoustic touch position sensor using higher order horizontally polarized shear wave propagation


An embossing system for the simultaneous positive and negative (i.e. in and out embossing of an indicia (10) in sheet material (20) has a top plate (40) and a bottom plate (50) each with respective positive and negative embossing plate portions (43/53, 44/54) which are aligned and complementary, so arranged that during the embossing step, the neutral portions (45,55) of the plates (40,50) do not apply pressure to the sheet material (20). By applying ink to one plate (40), or by placing an ink ribbon (80) between the sheet material (20) and one plate (40), the indicia (10) can be simultaneously inked and embossed.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a self-inking embossing system. The invention also relates to an embossing system where the embossing extends above, and below, the material embossed.
2. Dictionary
Each plate has at least two zones. In at least one zone, the desired image is positively embossed into the paper in that zone. In the other zone(s), the desired image is negatively embossed out of the paper in that zone.
Each plate is made up with two forms of protuberances --(a) those that produce the desired image (ie. the signature, seal and/or associated security background(s); and (b) those that form the neutral portions of the plate which are only there to ensure that the desired image is made visible, or is expressed or embossed into or out of, the sheet material.
Throughout the description and claims, the following terms shall be given the broad definitions set out hereinafter:
(a) "sheet material" shall include paper, plasticised paper, fabric, card, cardboard, sheet plastics, metal foil, laminated sheets or the like; PA1 (b) "positively embossed" means the desired image is embossed downwardly from (ie. below) the plane of the sheet material in that zone; PA1 (c) "negatively embossed" means the desired image is embossed upwardly from (ie. above) the plane of the sheet material in that zone; PA1 (d) "positive plate" or "positive plate portion" means the plate or plate portion has at least one ridge or protuberance to be impressed into the sheet material; PA1 (e) "negative plate" or "negative plate portion" means the plate or plate portion has at least one recess or groove into which the sheet material is impressed; and PA1 (f) "indicia" includes letter(s); word(s); signature(s); logos; seals; drawings; graphics; or the like; and/or a combination of two or more of these. PA1 a first embossing plate; and PA1 a second embossing plate, wherein: PA1 so arranged that at least one portion of the indicia is positively embossed in the sheet material and at least one other portion of the indicia is simultaneously negatively embossed in the sheet material. PA1 (a) placing the sheet material between the first and second plates; PA1 (b) relatively advancing the first and second plates until the respective positive and negative plate portions of the first plate are in aligned, overlapping engagement with the complementary negative and positive plate portions of the second plate to cause the indicia to be simultaneously positively and negatively embossed in the sheet material; and PA1 (c) separating the plates to enable the removal of the embossed sheet material.
3. Prior Art
There is an ever increasing need for improved security for financial and legal documents.
Large corporations can process millions of dollars daily and there is also the opportunity for unscrupulous persons to defraud the financial systems in place. Cheques or other negotiable documents can be stolen and forged signatures (or other authorities) applied thereto, or the whole documents can be forged.
Some corporations use signature machines to apply facsimile signatures to cheques, but these can be easily forged.
In some such machines, the signature(s) are printed and embossed onto the paper of the cheques. While the security against forging is improved, the quality of the signature(s) is poor.
For quality documents, eg. legal documents, registration certificates and bearer bonds, it is not possible to simultaneously ink and emboss the document and achieve a high quality result. In practice, the document is printed in one step and embossed in a second step, requiring considerable care to align the printing and embossing, eg. on a corporate seal.


Disclosed is a digital signal processing device including a digital filter unit for performing a filtering process on a signal inputted to the digital signal processing device on the basis of a filter coefficient set by a control device, a maximum allowable amplitude estimation unit for estimating a maximum allowable amplitude value allowable by the digital signal processing device in a system including the digital signal processing device, by using an impulse response of the digital filter unit, and a restart request unit for making a request of the control device for a restart of the digital signal processing device when the amplitude value of a signal to be outputted from the digital signal processing device is equal to or greater than the maximum allowable amplitude value or when the amplitude value exceeds the maximum allowable amplitude value.

Conventionally, in various systems, a digital signal processing device such as a digital signal processor (DSP) is used. For example, in a vehicle-mounted audio system, a DSP that processes an audio signal is disposed. The DSP has a digital filter such as an infinite impulse response (IIR) filter. Various coefficients in the digital filter (generically referred to as "filter coefficients" hereafter) are adaptively set up in accordance with the state or the like of the system including the DSP.
There is a case in which when a DSP performs signal processing using a digital filter, the digital filter diverges or an abnormal state occurs in the DSP, and, as a result, there occurs a signal having a large amplitude exceeding a maximum allowable in a system including the DSP. Particularly, when a signal having a large amplitude occurs in a vehicle-mounted audio system, there is a possibility that a high-volume sound is outputted from a speaker and interferes with driving. Therefore, detection of the occurrence of a large amplitude and prompt suppression of a high-volume sound are required. As a typical method of detecting the occurrence of a large amplitude, there is a method including comparing the amplitude value of a signal with a preset threshold having a fixed value (for example, refer to Patent Literature 1).

Digital signal processing device and audio device


The embodiments of the present invention provide an output method and electronic apparatus for a candidate phrase and an electronic apparatus. The method includes: analyzing, according to phrase categories in a phrase database, category of a phrase selected from a candidate input list that appeared after a user inputs a syllable, so as to judge whether the category of the phrase is contained in the phrase database; increasing the candidate priority of the category containing the phrase in a candidate input list, if the category of the phrase is contained in the phrase database; and transmitting the phase to a text input server, if the category of the phrase is not contained in the phrase database, so as to update the phrase categories in the phrase database according to an instruction from the text input server.

As the rapid development of electronic technologies and communication technologies has occurred, information exchange by using an electronic apparatus has become an indispensable part in the daily lives of the people. For example, people often use an electronic apparatus, such as a mobile phone, or a computer, etc. to receive and transmit text messages and emails, etc., which brings great convenience to the lives and works of the people. When people use an electronic apparatus to input information, the output of a candidate character or word becomes very important. If the electronic apparatus may know the content to be inputted by the user and correspondingly output the character or word the user desires, the input efficiency will be greatly improved and the user experience will be optimized.
Currently, when a user inputs a Chinese phrase with Pinyin input method, he first has to input the syllable, and then selects the Chinese candidate phrase he wants. In most cases, one syllable has many corresponding Chinese candidate phrases which are called homophones. As shown in FIG. 1, syllable "shi.shi" may correspond to phrases , or , etc. There will be much more candidate phrases when the user uses Jianpin input method (acronym or initial Pinyin). As shown in FIG. 2, "s.s" in Jianpin input method may correspond to phrases , or , etc. Since a Jianpin combination may have many matched phrases, the user sometimes has to page down to get the correct one in a long candidate input list. Thus, how to output a desired candidate phrase according to the input of a user has become the direction of research of the industry.
Currently, many word engines like Sogou and Baidu can automatically adjust word and phrase (the Chinese candidate character mentioned above) sequences by moving the most frequently used word forward, but they still do not handle the problem that a user tends to use different word databases in different conversation contents. They also provide various customized word cells (e.g. a group of character names in a fashion movie) for users to download, but the word cells are not so specialized so that user has to find out the one he really wants. It is a waste of time and is not intelligent.
In addition, many people have their own styles in inputting text messages or emails. For example, some people like to use network popular words, and some frequently use terminologies or idioms, etc. However, it is not easy for a user to get a right candidate phrase when he inputs a non-network popular word or a special word that came from terms, news, games, or movies, etc.

Analyzing a category of a candidate phrase to update from a server if a phrase category is not in a phrase database


A microcomputer is adapted to act as a communications processor for a personal computer of the type having its address and data busses supplied to a female connector forming part of a system expansion slot. The communications processor is formed on a printed circuit card and includes at least two I/O ports, one connected to its edge connector for insertion into the slot connector of the personal computer, and the other formed on its rear edge so as to be accessible to external connectors. The communications processor has a power supply energized through a connector on its rear edge and a back-up battery power supply. The communication processor can receive communications from and transmit to remote sources while the personal computer is being used for other purposes. Receiver messages are stored in the RAM of the communications processor and are unloaded to the personal computer under control of its keyboard at the operator's convenience. Messages to be transmitted may also be loaded into the communication processor's RAM from the personal computer along with instructions causing them to be transmitted at any convenient time, whether or not the personal computer is then energized or in alternate use.

Digital computers employing microprocessors as their central processing unit are commonly employed as what are termed "personal computers" or "engineering work stations." These self-contained devices will hereinafter be generically referred to as "personal computers." In addition to their central processing units, formed on a single integrated circuit chip, they include semiconductor random access memory, semiconductor read only memory for storing their operating system, some form of mass memory, usually in magnetic form, a keyboard for introducing user-operated commands, and a self-contained power supply.
In a popular form of personal computer, modeled after the IBM PC line, these circuits are all formed on or interconnected to a single large printed circuit board, termed the "mother board". The mother board includes female connectors of the type adapted to receive edge connectors formed on printed circuit boards, termed the "system expansion slot," which are electrically interconnected to the address and data bus of the personal computer. Through use of the system's expansion slot and associated mechanical elements within the housing for the personal computer, the personal computer may be expanded by adding printed circuit boards containing specialized electronic circuits so that they interconnect directly with the personal computer.
Personal computers are used for two broad purposes: self-contained processing of data, including text, and communication with remote data sources and sinks. Some personal computers are dedicated solely to self-contained processing activities such as accounting functions or word processing using text introduced by a keyboard or magnetic disks, and require no communication with remote stations. Other personal computers are used for communications such as electronic mail terminals, data collection devices, terminals for remote computers or data bases, and the like. Often a personal computer will be dedicated to one of these tasks but in other situations such dedication is not economical and it is preferable for a personal computer to perform a variety of mixed local processing and communication tasks often on an overlapping time basis.
Without the use of highly specialized software, a personal computer that is used to receive communications that occur on a nonpredictable time schedule, cannot be used simultaneously for local processing tasks. Rather, the computer must be dedicated to the receiving operation so that it is always in the proper status to receive communications. Since many communication operations utilize only a small fraction of the receiver's time, this is often a uneconomic commitment of computer resources.

Communication processor for personal computer


A system is provided and may include a compressor functioning in a refrigeration circuit. An ambient temperature sensor may produce a signal indicative of an ambient temperature. Processing circuitry may calculate an energy efficiency rating of the refrigeration circuit and may generate a relationship of the calculated energy efficiency rating and ambient temperature. The processing circuitry may compare the calculated energy efficiency rating to a base energy efficiency rating to determine if a fault condition exists.

The statements in this section merely provide background information related to the present disclosure and may not constitute prior art.
Compressors are used in a wide variety of industrial and residential applications to circulate refrigerant within a refrigeration, heat pump, HVAC, or chiller system (generically referred to as "refrigeration systems") to provide a desired heating and/or cooling effect. In any of the foregoing applications, the compressor should provide consistent and efficient operation to ensure that the particular refrigeration system functions properly.
Refrigeration systems and associated compressors may include a protection system that intermittently restricts power to the compressor to prevent operation of the compressor and associated components of the refrigeration system (i.e., evaporator, condenser, etc.) when conditions are unfavorable. The types of faults that may cause protection concerns include electrical, mechanical, and system faults. Electrical faults typically have a direct effect on an electrical motor associated with the compressor, while mechanical faults generally include faulty bearings or broken parts. Mechanical faults often raise a temperature of working components within the compressor, and thus, may cause malfunction of, and possible damage to, the compressor.
In addition to electrical faults and mechanical faults associated with the compressor, the compressor and refrigeration system components may also be affected by system faults attributed to system conditions such as an adverse level of fluid disposed within the system or to a blocked-flow condition external to the compressor. Such system conditions may raise an internal compressor temperature or pressure to high levels, thereby damaging the compressor and causing system inefficiencies and/or failures. To prevent system and compressor damage or failure, the compressor may be shut down by the protection system when any of the aforementioned conditions are present.
Conventional protection systems typically sense temperature and/or pressure parameters as discrete switches and interrupt power supplied to the electrical motor of the compressor should a predetermined temperature or pressure threshold be exceeded. Typically, a plurality of sensors are required to measure and monitor the various system and compressor operating parameters. With each parameter measured, at least one sensor is typically required, and therefore results in a complex protection system in which many sensors are employed.
Sensors associated with conventional protection systems are required to quickly and accurately detect particular faults experienced by the compressor and/or system. Without such plurality of sensors, conventional systems would merely shut down the compressor when a predetermined threshold mode and/or current is experienced. Repeatedly shutting down the compressor whenever a fault condition is experienced results in frequent service calls and repairs to the compressor to properly diagnose and remedy the fault. In this manner, while conventional protection devices adequately protect a compressor and system to which the compressor may be tied, conventional protection systems fail to precisely indicate a particular fault and often require a plurality of sensors to diagnose the compressor and/or system.

Protection and diagnostic module for a refrigeration system


A method of an access point device is disclosed. A first indication message is sent to a terminal. The first indication message is used to indicate that the terminal is allowed to access a current channel or to indicate that the terminal has downlink data on the access point device or to indicate that the terminal is allowed to send uplink data. A second indication message is sent by the terminal according to the first indication message. The second indication message is used to indicate that the terminal is to send uplink data. After receiving the second indication message, a third indication message is sent to the terminal. The third indication message carries channel use time information. The channel use time information is used to indicate time for using the channel to send the uplink data by the terminal.

In the prior art, an access point (Access Point, AP) sends indication information to a station (Station, STA), to indicate start time and end time for sending uplink data by each STA, and the STA enters an active state at specified time according to the time indicated by the AP and sends uplink data to the AP.
However, due to an impact of a nearby interference signal transmitted on a same frequency band on which the indication information is transmitted, the STA may fail to receive the indication information sent by the AP, and cannot send uplink data at the uplink data sending time specified by the AP, thereby causing a waste of the uplink data sending time allocated by the AP.

Method for notifying channel use time for sending uplink data, and method and device for sending uplink data