A tilt and trim unit for a marine drive eases manual trim or tilt up of the drive, while presenting a compact construction. The unit includes a cylinder having upper and lower fluid chambers. A bypass arrangement selectively bypasses a shock absorbing mechanism of the tilt and trim unit. The bypass arrangement is formed by a sub-chamber and a valve positioned in series on one side of the fluid chambers. This arrangement produces a compact construction. The valve also desirably establishes three operating states for the tilt and trim unit. In one state, the valve is open and the tilt and trim unit is easily moved. In another state, the valve is closed to prevent movement of the tilt and trim unit. In a third state, the valve operates as a one-way valve permitting extension of the tilt and trim unit to raise the marine drive, but inhibiting retraction of the tilt and trim unit. This latter operating state allows a person to raise the outboard motor and then close the valve without having to continuously hold the outboard motor when closing the valve.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a marine propulsion unit for a watercraft, and more particularly to a tilt and trim unit for a marine propulsion unit.
2. Description of the Related Art
Outboard motors with four-cycle engines have grown in popularity in recent years, due in part to environmental concerns associated with two-cycle outboard motors. The application of four-cycle engines in outboard motors, however, has raised some challenges, especially with large horse power engines. A four-cycle engine will weigh more than a two-cycle engine that produces a comparable horsepower to that of the four-cycle engine. The additional weight creates problems for the conventional hydraulic tilt and trim units used with the outboard motor.
A tilt and trim unit commonly operates between components of a clamping assembly to adjust the trim and tilt position of the outboard motor. In particular, the tilt and trim unit usually includes an extendable hydraulic cylinder, piston assembly that operates between a clamping bracket and a swivel bracket of the clamping assembly, which typically supports an outboard motor on a watercraft. The clamping bracket is attached to the watercraft and the swivel bracket supports the outboard motor. A pivot pin connects together the swivel and clamping brackets. Extension of a rod of the cylinder causes the swivel bracket to pivot about the axis of the pivot pin, relative to the stationary clamping bracket, to raise or lower the outboard drive. This assembly prevents the outboard motor from popping up when operating in reverse, while permitting the outboard motor to pop up when it strikes an underwater object as it travels forward.
Manually operated tilt and trim units usually include a bypass passage that interconnects chambers of the cylinder which the piston separates. A valve assembly is located within the passage to regulate flow through the passage. When the valve assembly is opened, the outboard motor can be manually tilted up without having to act against the resistance of the hydraulic cylinder. U.S. Pat. No. 4,784,625 entitled "Tilt Lock Mechanism For Marine Propulsion Device," illustrates an exemplary arrangement of the valve assembly and bypass passage of a tilt and trim unit. The tilt lock mechanism disclosed in the '625 patent includes a separate accumulator chamber that communicates with the two chambers of the hydraulic cylinder. Check valves normally restrict flow between the cylinder chambers and the accumulator chamber. An actuating mechanism selectively opens one of the check valves or the other to permit manual movement of the outboard motor, either up or down, without working against the hydraulic cylinder.
FIG. 1 illustrates another prior construction of a hydraulic cylinder, piston assembly 20, in cross-section. The prior cylinder 20 includes a piston 22 that slides within a bore 24 of the cylinder 20. The piston 22 divides the bore 24 into upper and lower fluid chambers 26, 28.
A piston rod 30 is attached to the piston 22 and extends beyond one end of the cylinder 20, through the upper chamber 26. The outer end of the piston rod 30 includes a trunnion 32 that is pivotally attached to an associated swivel bracket. The cylinder body 20 also includes a lower trunnion 34 that is pivotally connected to the associated clamping bracket.
A passage 36 extends generally parallel and next to the cylinder bore 24, on one side of the cylinder 20, and connects together the upper and lower fluid chambers 26, 28. A manual valve 38 operates within the passage 36 to control the flow of working fluid through the passage 36. When the valve 38 is open, the upper and lower fluid chambers 26, 28 communicate with each other through the passage 36, and the piston 22 can be easily slid within the bore 24. The outboard motor thus can be raised and lowered, unencumbered by the hydraulic cylinder assembly 20. When the valve 38 is closed, however, the hydraulic cylinder assembly 20 locks the outboard motor in the established tilt or trim position. An actuator 39 is used to open and close the valve 38.
As seen in FIG. 1, the cylinder assembly 20 also includes an accumulation chamber 40 arranged on one side of the cylinder bore 24. The accumulation chamber 40 communicates with the lower fluid chamber 28 of the cylinder 20 to compensate for the volumetric differences between the upper and lower fluid chambers 26, 28. That is, because the piston rod 30 extends through the upper chamber 26, and thus reduces the volume in the upper chamber 26, less fluid will be displaced from the upper chamber 26 than is required to make up the volume in the lower chamber 28 as the piston 22 moves upwardly. The accumulation chamber 40 directly communicates with the lower fluid chamber 28 to compensate for this volumetric difference between the fluid chambers 26, 28. The accumulation chamber 40 is arranged on a side of the cylinder bore 24 opposite of the passage 36 and the manual valve 38.
Another prior cylinder assembly for a tilt locking mechanism is illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 5,368,509, issued Nov. 29, 1994, and entitled "Tilt Lock System For Outboard Motor." The construction of this assembly is generally similar to the cylinder assembly construction illustrated in FIG. 1, but with a multi-position valve located on the same side of the cylinder as the accumulation chamber and interposed between these components of the cylinder assembly.
The constructions of both tilt and trim units, illustrated in FIG. 1 and disclosed in the '509 patent, result in a wide assembly. The swivel and clamping consequently must be wide and reinforced to accommodate the hydraulic cylinder assembly. The increased weight of the new four-cycle outboard motors further exacerbates this problem, requiring additional reinforcement of the brackets. Such reinforcing increases the size and weight of the brackets, as well as increases the manufacturing cost.
An additional prior construction of a hydraulic cylinder assembly 50 is illustrated in FIG. 2, which depicts the cylinder assembly in cross-section. In this cylinder assembly 50, an accumulation chamber 52 is integrated into an upper fluid chamber 54 above a port 56 that communicates with the upper fluid chamber 54. FIG. 2 illustrates the position of a piston 58 and piston rod 60 in a fully retracted position. Under this condition, a volume of working fluid F1 remains above the piston 58 with a volume of inert compressible gas F2 residing above the working fluid F1 to form the accumulation chamber 52 above the upper fluid chamber 54.
The width of the tilt and trim unit illustrated in FIG. 2 is less than the width of the unit illustrated in FIG. 1; however, the length of the unit increases as a result of the location of the accumulation chamber above the piston. In order for the unit to fit between the clamping and swivel brackets with the outboard motor in a fully trimmed down position, the size of the accumulation chamber must be reduced. A smaller accumulation chamber consequently reduces the diameter size of the piston. And a smaller size piston reduces the amount of weight the hydraulic unit can support so that the unit cannot be used with heavy outboard motors.
In addition, both the cylinder assembly designs illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 are difficult to adjust, especially when supporting a heavy motor. In both prior designs, the manual valve is opened to tilt up the outboard motor. If the person adjusting the trim position wants to close the valve once the outboard motor has been raised to the desired position, the user cannot simply let go of the outboard motor as it will immediately lower (i.e., trim or tilt down) under its own weight. The person thus must hold the heavy outboard motor while leaning over the transom of the watercraft to close the valve. This operation is difficult and awkward for one person to perform alone.


An energy metering method and apparatus for liquid flow systems comprising first and second segments of one or more conduits through which a liquid flows, comprising: attaching a first temperature sensor for connection to an outside of the first conduit segment; attaching a second temperature sensor for connection to an outside of the second conduit segment; via a programmable control unit, receiving data from the sensors and calculating energy data therefrom; and communicating energy data from the meter; whereby the method and apparatus operate without need to temporarily disconnect or alter the first or second conduit segments. The invention operates with both variable and fixed flow systems, and is especially useful for both active and passive solar energy systems.

1. Field of the Invention (Technical Field):
The present invention relates to energy metering of conduits through which a fluid flows.
2. Background Art
Currently energy meters for liquid flow systems (e.g., solar systems) must be installed into the system to measure how much energy the system is producing or losing. This involves cutting pipes, installing thermal wells and flow meters, and/or connecting sensors to pump motors in the system. This often requires a licensed contractor or other authorized individual to complete the task. Many solar systems, for example, are too small and the value of the energy they collect is not sufficient to justify a commercially available BTU meter, which are relatively expensive.
The present invention is of an energy monitoring (metering) device that monitors energy from such systems using a simple technique that senses when the system is running and then estimates the BTU energy production. The metering system can be installed on a system without cutting any pipes or connecting to any electrical systems. The invention is, therefore, completely portable and can be installed without disturbing the system or engaging a contractor or other authorized personnel. The metering system of the invention is useful for both fixed and variable flow systems.
A device for measuring flows as opposed to energy is disclosed in S. M. Gleman, et al., "An Inexpensive Non-Invasive Flow Meter for Solar Applications," Proceedings of the Annual Meeting of the American Section of the International Solar Energy Society, pp. 747–749 (1981). A technique to measure water flow in a pipe without invading the pipe is described wherein one puts so much heat into the pipe upstream and then measure the heat downstream. By knowing how much heat is put in, the size of the pipe (i.e., its mass), and the heat capacity of water, and the measured heat downstream, one can estimate the amount of water that is flowing.

Non-invasive energy meter for fixed and variable flow systems


A roof rack assembly includes a cross bar and a tail that is securable to the cross bar. Optionally, the tail has a hardness that is less than a hardness of the cross bar. Optionally, an engagement member is secured to one of the cross bar and the tail and is engageable with the other of the cross bar and the tail to secure the tail to the cross bar.

Vehicle roof racks typically include rigid structural frames or rails. The frames are generally secured to the vehicle so they do not move or shift. The frames typically include one or more cross bars that extend from one side of the vehicle to the other. The objects to be carried are typically fastened to the cross bars. The cross bars are generally constructed of circular or rectangular tubes. Such tubes are readily available and may be purchased or fabricated fairly inexpensively. In addition, it is fairly easy to fabricate connecting brackets to attach additional support frames to these rectangular or circular cross bars. Although cross bars with circular or rectangular cross-sections have many advantages, they have less than desirable aerodynamic characteristics. When a vehicle with a known roof rack is in motion, high velocity air flows over the cross bars, and the air stream can become turbulent and the flow separates from the surface of a cross bar, increasing drag.

Honda Patents & Technologies North America, LLC


An off-chip driver circuit including an enhancement PFET, a depletion PFET, a depletion NFET and an enhancement NFET connected in series. The large enhancement PFET and large enhancement NFET turn off the OCD in tri-state and to turn off the unused half of the OCD to prevent overlap current when driving a `0` or a `1`. A first gate signal is applied to the gate of the enhancement PFET and a second gate signal is applied to the enhancement NFET. A fixed voltage is connected to the gate of the depletion NFET and ground to gate of the depletion PFET. An output signal is obtained from a node between the depletion PFET and depletion NFET devices. In another embodiment, a reflection/overshoot sensor 60 is added. The output of sensor is connected to the body of a depletion PFET and an NFET. The feedback from sensor is such that the threshold voltage of the depletion devices are made more positive if the sensor detects that the output is being over-driven. A more positive threshold voltage will reduce the driver's IDS, but leaves the device in the linear mode.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to semiconductor integrated circuits, and more particularly to output driver circuits (OCD) for integrated circuits.
2. Background Art
U.S. Pat. No. 5,659,261 issued Aug. 19, 1997 to Bacrania et al. entitled ANALOG-TO-DIGITAL CONVERTER AND OUTPUT DRIVER discloses an A-to-D converter including an output buffer with drivers that have pullup and pulldown transistors both coupled to an output. One of the transistors is connected to a first potential and the second transistor is connected to a second potential. A base drive circuit provides added current to saturate the pulldown transistor and thereby lower the collector-to-emitter voltage drop when the pulldown transistor is turned on.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,198,699 issued Mar. 30, 1993 to Hashimoto et al. entitled CAPACITOR-DRIVEN SIGNAL TRANSMISSION CIRCUIT discloses a switching circuit having its output connected to a transmission line. The switching circuit operates to couple a first capacitor to the switching circuit output in response to receiving an input signal of a first bit value. The switching circuit further operates to couple a second capacitor to the output in response to receiving an input signal of a second bit value. The bit value is thereby propagated into the transmission line.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,128,567 issued Jul. 7, 1992 to Tanaka et al. entitled OUTPUT CIRCUIT OF SEMICONDUCTOR INTEGRATED CIRCUIT WITH REDUCED POWER SOURCE LINE NOISE discloses an output circuit of an semiconductor integrated circuit having a plurality of output transistors with different current driving abilities and a plurality of delay means for driving the output transistors at different delay times.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,791,326 issued Dec. 13, 1988 to Vajdic et al. entitled CURRENT CONTROLLED SOLID STATE SWITCH discloses a current controlled switch that compensates for switching time variation. A compensated current source operates with a current mirror to set the switching current and control the peak switching current in the switch, thereby controlling the switching transition time.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,634,893 issued Jan. 6, 1987 to Craycraft et al. entitled FET DRIVER CIRCUIT WITH MASK PROGRAMMABLE TRANSMISSION RATES discloses a field effect transistor circuit that has different rates of change of the output signal depending on fabrication mask designation of selected transistors to be either depletion or enhancement type devices.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,988,616 issued Oct. 26, 1976 to Shimada entitled DRIVER CIRCUIT FOR LIQUID CRYSTAL DISPLAY USING INSULATED GATE FETS discloses a driver circuit that comprises an output circuit having depletion and enhancement type FETs connected in series. A control signal is supplied directly to the gate of the enhancement FET and, through an inverter, to the gate of the depletion FET to provide a push-pull driver circuit.

Complementary depletion switch body stack off-chip driver

International Business Machines Corporation


A dual-axis door hinge assembly for a vehicle includes a body side strap adapted to be connected to a vehicle body of the vehicle. The dual-axis door hinge assembly also includes a door side strap adapted to be connected to a door of the vehicle. The dual-axis door hinge assembly further includes an intermediate link pivotally connected to the body side strap to form a first pivot axis and pivotally connected to the door side strap to form a second pivot axis.

It is known to provide a door assembly for an opening in a vehicle body of a vehicle. For example, a vehicle body may include a continuous aperture extending longitudinally from a front pillar structure to a rear pillar structure. A front door and a rear door together form a door assembly in the vehicle body and are swingably mounted on the vehicle body to move between positions opening and closing the continuous aperture. Typically, a single axis hinge is used that requires the front door to be opened before the rear door may be opened to allow movement to ninety-degree (90°). The rear access door is dependent on the front door for opening.
Therefore, it is desirable to eliminate a single axis hinge for a door assembly of a vehicle. It is also desirable to provide a hinge assembly that allows a rear access door to be opened independently of a front door of a vehicle. Thus, there is a need in the art to provide a door hinge assembly for a vehicle that meets these desires.

Dual-axis door hinge assembly for vehicles


A high-efficiency power amplifier is provided, including a drive amplifier and a final power amplifier, and further including a first digital pre-distortion (DPD) correction module and a second DPD correction module. The first DPD correction module is configured to pre-distort nonlinear characteristics of drive signals output by the drive amplifier, and the second DPD correction module is connected to the first DPD correction module in series, and is configured to pre-distort nonlinear characteristics of amplified signals output by the final power amplifier. Another high-efficiency power amplifier is also provided, including a drive amplifier and a final power amplifier, and further including a second multi-path control module, a fourth DPD correction module, and a second gating module. The overall efficiency of the high-efficiency power amplifier is increased by improving the working efficiency of the drive amplifier. Further, higher overall efficiency is also achieved for a power amplifier with a higher gain.

Radio frequency (RF) and microwave power amplifiers are used in communication systems to amplify RF and microwave modulated signals that carry information, respectively. In order to improve the utilization efficiency of a frequency spectrum, modulated signals of many standards, for example, the Code-Division Multiple Access (CDMA) and Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) technologies, carry phase and amplitude information simultaneously. Information of these types of signals is modulated on both dimensions of amplitude and phase, so these types of signals are amplified by using a linear amplifier to ensure a small distortion generated in amplitude and phase. However, since it is inherently nonlinear, the power amplifier is bound to bring distortion of amplitude and phase to some extent. One method to address this problem is to enable the power amplifier to work in a quasi-linear state of a Class A or Class AB amplifier. By using an amplifier with large power to output small power (that is, the method of power back-off), the distortion of amplitude and phase caused by the power amplifier during the signal transmission is reduced. This method may ensure the linearity of the power amplifier, making it meet the requirements for the spectrum mask and the adjacent channel leakage ratio in the protocol. However, this method results in reduction in the efficiency of the power amplifier and increase in power consumption. If power consumption increases, bulky radiators and fans and other radiating devices will be needed, and thus product miniaturization will be difficult, cost of the system will increase, and reliability will be significantly reduced. Therefore, currently, various linearization technologies are proposed for eliminating nonlinearity of the power amplifier, so as to reduce the amount of back-off and improve the efficiency of the power amplifier. With the development of the digital signal processing technology, a solution applied widely now is as follows: using high-efficiency power amplifiers with a strong nonlinearity, such as a Class C, Class D, Class E, and Class F power amplifier, and applying the pre-distortion linearization technology where a nonlinear circuit is added in front of the power amplifier to compensate for the nonlinear distortion of the power amplifier, so as to improve the efficiency of the power amplifier as far as possible while the linear output is ensured. The advantages of the pre-distortion linearization technology lie in its stability, broader signal band, capability of processing signals that containing multi-carriers, and low cost.
Pre-distortion may be divided into two basic types: RF pre-distortion and digital pre-distortion (DPD). RF pre-distortion is commonly implemented by using an analog circuit, which has the advantages of simple circuit structure, low cost, and being easy to implement high frequency and broadband applications. However, the RF pre-distortion has the following disadvantages: limited improvement to the spectral regrowth component, and difficulty in eliminating high-order spectral components. Because of its low working frequency, the DPD may be implemented with a digital circuit, which is well adaptable. In addition, the high-order intermodulation distortion may be eliminated by increasing the sampling frequency and quantization order number in the DPD, so the DPD is quite a promising method. The DPD technology includes the table lookup method, polynomial method, neural network method and various other pre-distortion methods, in which the table lookup method is relatively simple, and is quite flexible in algorithm, making it a method used widely in the DPD technology.
The linear amplification of amplitude and phase of signals may be implemented by using a high-efficiency power amplifier with strong nonlinearity plus the DPD technology, for example, a Doherty power amplifier combined with the DPD, an Envelope Tracking (ET) power amplifier combined with the DPD, or an Envelope Elimination and Restoration (EER) power amplifier combined with the DPD. This kind of combination technology is commonly applied in the final power amplifier, that is, the final stage power amplifier to improve the efficiency of the final stage. While in the drive stage, a Class A or Class AB power amplifier for power back-off is applied, making it difficult to further improve the efficiency. If Doherty, ET, EER or other high-efficiency power amplifier technologies are used in the drive amplifier, the distortion of phase and amplitude of the drive amplifier and the distortion of phase and amplitude of the final power amplifier will result in a larger distortion amplitude, broader distortion bandwidth and increased memory effect of the final power amplifier's output, and difficulty in hardware design and DPD correction algorithm.


An apparatus for connecting a battery charger to an electric vehicle including a battery and a drive motor in an electrical circuit includes first and second cooperating connectors. The connectors are adapted for mating in electrical contact. A bracket is provided for mounting the first connector to the vehicle. The second connector is mounted on the distal end of cables leading from the battery charger. The apparatus also includes a switch for interrupting the electrical circuit between the battery and the drive motor prior to mating of the first and second connectors. The invention also relates to a battery charging system incorporating a battery charger, a charger receptacle mounted on the vehicle and a plug for operatively connecting the battery charger to the charger receptacle. Both the charger receptacle and the plug include cooperating electrical contacts. A door is pivotally mounted over the charger receptacle for covering the electrical contacts of the receptacle when not in mating electrical contact with the electrical contacts of the plug. The battery charging system also includes a switch for interrupting the electrical circuit between the battery and the drive motor of the vehicle prior to mating of the plug and receptacle.

Improvements in battery design and electric drive system technology have led to a significant increase in the number of applications for electric vehicles and also the quantity of electric vehicles in use in the world today. For example, in industrial settings, electric vehicles including electrically powered forklift trucks and electrically powered mining vehicles such as shuttle cars are prevalent. In recreational settings, electrically powered golf carts have essentially become the standard for this industry.
It is anticipated that future technological advances will act in conjunction with the needs to conserve energy resources and reduce pollution and lead to the development of electrically powered vehicles for use as commuter transportation.
Virtually all of the electrically powered vehicles of the type described rely upon energy stored in batteries to power their operation. With the exception of certain solar powered vehicles, the batteries are connected by flexible electrical cables and cooperating electrical connectors to charging systems when the vehicles are not in use. These charging systems are designed to bring the batteries to "full charge" so that all possible energy is available to the operator when the vehicles are returned to operation.
In most prior art electric vehicle charging systems, it is possible to drive the vehicle while still connected to the battery charger. This unfortunately represents a significant hazard as the vehicle connector for the battery charger may be jerked from the vehicle charger receptacle and the charger receptacle, connector and/or cables may be damaged. It is also possible for the battery charger unit to be jerked from its place of rest and damaged, for example, as a result of a fall from a shelf. Of course, physical injury could also result from such an incident taking place.
From a safety standpoint, it is therefore quite desirable to have a vehicle battery charging system that prevents the vehicle from being operated while connected to the charging system. This desire has been recognized and was previously addressed in the art as is made evident from a review of U.S. Pat. No. 3,898,547 to Poole. The Poole patent relates to an electric vehicle battery charger interlock system that prevents the vehicle from being driven while the batteries are being charged. More particularly, when the plug at the end of the charger cables is engaged in the charger receptacle on the vehicle, a series circuit is completed through a relay that energizes a coil. The relay disconnects the vehicle speed control solenoid circuit from the battery therefore making the vehicle inoperative.
While the interlock system disclosed in the Poole patent does operate to prevent operation of the drive motor during the charging operation, it must be appreciated that the system is relatively complex and cumbersome. It is both expensive to produce and maintain. The dependability of relay systems in the operating environment of these vehicles is also always a concern.
Recognizing these and other shortcomings a new charger receptacle was subsequently developed for an electric vehicle. This receptacle, as presently incorporated on many Yamaha golf carts, utilizes a microswitch that operates to interrupt the circuit to the drive motor when the charging system is connected to the vehicle. The microswitch is activated by means of an outwardly projecting push button situated between the female contacts of the charger receptacle. More particularly, when fully inserted into the receptacle, the face of the charger plug engages the push button actuator thereby interrupting the circuit between the battery and drive motor of the vehicle.
While substantially reducing the cost of production and maintenance over the Poole interlock system design, this system also suffers from various shortcomings. The main shortcoming has to do with the failure of the system to ensure interruption of the circuit to the vehicle drive motor when connection is made with the battery charger.
More particularly, it is possible for the male contacts of the charger plug to be inserted sufficiently into the female contacts of the charger receptacle to provide connection for charging without the charger plug being sufficiently inserted into the receptacle to engage the actuator button and trip the microswitch. In fact, such a condition usually persists with this arrangement as it is often difficult to insert the charger plug fully into the charger receptacle. This is particularly true after the system has been used for some time as the prong contacts of the charger plug tend to become bent and damaged even when ordinary care is exercised.
When this fact is considered in light of the quick pace in which individuals are usually making this connection, it is clear that this system often fails to provide its desired function. As a result, in the haste to place an electric vehicle in operation, vehicles incorporating this system are often operated with the charger plug connected. This results in the charger plug being jerked from the charger receptacle on the vehicle. Consequently, the plug or cables and even the receptacle may be damaged, requiring down time for maintenance. Additionally, an operator may be injured by the snapping motion of the plug or cables as the plug pops free of the receptacle.
It should therefore be appreciated that a need exists for an improved electrical connection apparatus between an electric vehicle and battery charger.

Battery charging system and connection apparatus therefore


To degauss cassettes of magnetic tape, a magnetic field is applied to the magnetic material with a flux density of at least 1,000 gauss and at an angle between 20 degrees and 70 degrees from the horizontal of the magnetic tape for a time period of at least one second and the field is alternated at a frequency of at least ten hertz. The magnetic material may be rotated while it is in the field.

This invention relates to methods and apparatuses for erasing information from a magnetic recording medium.
In one class of methods and apparatuses for erasing information from magnetic recording media, the recording medium, which may be a magnetic tape wound about a reel, is subjected to a varying or alternating electromagnetic field to randomize the magnetic particles on the magnetic material.
In one prior art method and apparatus in this class, the magnetic tape is moved into an electromagnetic field that is applied in each of a plurality of different directions, one direction at a time, such as by first applying a vertically oriented field followed by a .longitudinally oriented field. Techniques of this type are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,730,230 and 4,751,608.
In another prior art technique, the magnetic tape is carried by a conveyor over a rotating electromagnet that has pole faces parallel to each other in the same plane underneath the conveyor belt. Thus, the electromagnet rotates a time varying electromagnetic field with it to cause the time varying electromagnetic field to pass through the magnetic material in the tape at a plurality of different angles. This type of prior art device is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,639,821.
Still another prior art apparatus and technique of this class includes a conveyor that carries a magnetic tape into a rotating magnetic field. The rotating magnetic field is substantially parallel with the conveyor and is in the plane of the magnetic tape. It is created by electromagnetic poles on both sides of the conveyor belt, energized in such a way that similar polarities oppose each other on opposite sides of the tape with the phases of the poles on each side of the conveyor changing in synchronism to cause the field to rotate. Thus, north electromagnetic poles face each other on opposite sides of the tape and south magnetic poles face each other on opposite sides of the tape and the north and south poles alternate with each other in the same plane on the same sides of the tape. The poles rotate in synchronism.
The prior art degaussing techniques provide erasure that is satisfactory for some purposes but do not erase to the extent desired for other applications. In general, the systems which apply vertical and longitudinal fields separately have the disadvantage of moving the energy back and forth between even and odd harmonics of the recorded signal. This reduces the effectiveness of the erasure. Rotational fields by themselves do not improve the depth of erasure to the extent needed for some applications when practiced as described in the aforementioned prior art references.


A method involves managing electronic documents (EDs). The method includes receiving a first request to convert an original ED including a visible object from a first format to a second format; extracting, in response to the first request, multiple attributes in the original ED specifying the visible object and required to restore the visible object in the first format; generating, by converting the original ED from the first format to the second format, a converted ED including rendering data of the visible object that is grammatically native to the second format and that is necessary to render the visible object from the second format; and embedding the attributes extracted from the original ED into metadata of the converted ED.

An electronic document (ED) often includes one or more visible objects. A visible object is an object that is created and visible to the user when the ED is rendered (i.e., displayed, printed, etc.). Example visible objects include, but are not limited to, equation objects, spreadsheet cells, and shapes. The ED includes one or more attributes specifying/describing the visible object. These attributes are needed to create the visible object. Moreover, these attributes are specific to the format of the ED.
It is not uncommon for a user to request an ED be converted from an old format or a first format to a new format or a second format. Although conversion is possible, the conversion process often discards/loses one or more of the attributes. Accordingly, if the user (or a different user) ever requests the ED be reconverted from the new format back to the old format, the visible object(s) in the unconverted ED might not appear the same as it did prior to any conversion. This interferes with the user's viewing experience. Regardless, users still wish to convert EDs having visible objects.

Converting electronic documents having visible objects


In at least one embodiment, an indexed table circuit includes a plurality of banks for storing data to be accessed and a split index array. The indexed table circuit is organized in a plurality of entries each corresponding to a respective one of a plurality of different entry indices, where each entry includes a storage location in the plurality of banks and the split index array. The indexed table circuit further includes selection logic that, responsive to read access of an entry among the plurality of entries utilizing an entry index of a bit string, utilizes a split index read from the split index array to select a set of one or more bits of a tag of the bit string, utilizes the selected set of one or more bits to select data read from one of the plurality of banks, and outputs the selected data.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates in general to data processing and, in particular, to an improved indexed table for a data processing system. In some embodiments, the indexed table can be implemented in a branch prediction table.
2. Description of the Related Art
A state-of-the-art microprocessor can comprise, for example, a cache for storing instructions and data, an instruction sequencing unit for fetching instructions from the cache, ordering the fetched instructions, and dispatching the fetched instructions for execution, one or more sequential instruction execution units for processing sequential instructions, and a branch processing unit (BPU) for processing branch instructions.
Branch instructions processed by the BPU can be classified as either conditional or unconditional branch instructions. Unconditional branch instructions are branch instructions that change the flow of program execution from a sequential execution path to a specified target execution path and which do not depend upon a condition supplied by the occurrence of an event. Thus, the branch specified by an unconditional branch instruction is always taken. In contrast, conditional branch instructions are branch instructions for which the indicated branch in program flow may be taken or not taken depending upon a condition within the processor, for example, the state of specified condition register bit(s) or the value of a counter.
Conditional branch instructions can be further classified as either resolved or unresolved based upon whether or not the condition upon which the branch depends is available when the conditional branch instruction is evaluated by the BPU. Because the condition upon which a resolved conditional branch instruction depends is known prior to execution, resolved conditional branch instructions can typically be executed and instructions within the target execution path fetched with little or no delay in the execution of sequential instructions. Unresolved conditional branches, on the other hand, can create significant performance penalties if fetching of sequential instructions is delayed until the condition upon which the branch depends becomes available and the branch is resolved.
Therefore, in order to minimize execution stalls, some processors speculatively predict the outcomes of unresolved branch instructions as taken or not taken. Utilizing the result of the prediction, the instruction sequencing unit is then able to fetch instructions within the speculative execution path prior to the resolution of the branch, thereby avoiding a stall in the execution pipeline in cases in which the branch is subsequently resolved as correctly predicted. Conventionally, prediction of unresolved conditional branch instructions has been accomplished utilizing static branch prediction, which predicts resolutions of branch instructions based upon criteria determined prior to program execution, or utilizing dynamic branch prediction, which predicts resolutions of branch instructions by reference to branch history accumulated on a per-address basis within a branch history table (BHT) and/or branch target address cache (BTAC).
One problem to which indexed tables such as BHTs are susceptible is aliasing. Aliasing occurs when different elements having differing associated resources map to the same table entry. For example, in the case of a BHT, aliasing occurs when two different branch instruction addresses (BIAs) having different branch outcomes share a common index portion. Based upon the common index portion of the BIAs, the two BIAs will both map to a same BHT entry, which can lead to an incorrect prediction for one or both BIAs.
In many cases, decreasing aliasing in an indexed table by increasing the number of bits utilized to index into the table is not practical in that the addition of one additional index bit doubles the size of the indexed table. Even so, increasing the number of indexed bits does not guarantee elimination of aliasing because in some cases addresses (or other bit strings utilized as resource identifiers) only differ in their higher-order bits. In such cases, increasing the number of index bits, which are typically drawn from the more variable lower-order bits of an address, may not eliminate aliasing.

Indexed table circuit having reduced aliasing

International Business Machines Corporation


An electronics device has unpackaged chips or other small components mounted on a carrier and wire-bonded to carrier wiring traces. The rear chip faces have a layer of adhesive which overlies a layer of solder or other fusible material, and which adheres to a pad area of the carrier. To replace a chip, its solder layer is melted, and the chip and adhesive are pulled off. Reapplying an adhesive layer allows a new chip to be mounted on the carrier and bonded to the traces.

The present invention relates to the manufacture of electronics apparatus, and more particularly concerns the construction of such apparatus so as to facilitate rework when defective components are found.
Miniaturized electronics equipment for portable computers, cameras, automobiles, aircraft, space vehicles, and many other applications frequently employ a number of unpackaged semiconductor chips or dice mounted on a carrier having a printed wiring pattern for connecting the chips to each other and to other components. This is commonly known as "direct chip attach" (DCA). The carrier may be a thin rigid sheet of fiberglass epoxy, ceramic, coated metal, or other material; it may also be a flexible sheet of polyamide or other suitable material. Usually the rear faces of the chips are affixed to the carrier with an adhesive, and the chip contacts on the front faces are coupled to the carrier wiring by means of a conventional technique called wire-bonding.
The unpackaged diced chips employed in such applications are difficult to test as individual components; they are small, and placing test probes at the contact points requires operators using microscopes. At the same time, the reliability of unpackaged chips is relatively low: less than 90-95%, even after wafer testing by the supplier. Thus, an assembly of 5-7 chips on a carrier may have an overall manufacturing yield in the range of 70% or even less.
The substantial cost and relatively high fallout of many devices built with DCA technology mandate an inexpensive way to rework assembled devices which have failed a final manufacturing test. However, the adhesives employed to attach chips to carriers commonly do not allow the removal of defective chips or other components from the carrier. This prevents the removal of individual components and the substitution of replacements.
Affixing chips directly to a carrier with solder facilitates easy removal by applying local heat through the chip to melt the solder. An advantage of this technique is that the solder layer for this purpose is commonly required for the mounting of other components on the carrier. That is, attaching the chips requires no process step beyond those already required for other reasons. However, the rear faces of the chips must be metallized so as to wet the solder; this is prohibitively expensive in many cases. Moreover, the thermal expansion coefficients of the chips and the carrier may differ from each other sufficiently to fracture the joint or even the chip.
Some chips are mounted face down directly on a carrier, so that solder balls or columns between the chip contacts and the carrier wiring for electrical contact also hold the chip in place mechanically. This technology also allows removal by local heat, but it is generally not cost-effective except for very high function multichip modules on precision ceramic substrates.
Some workers in this art have employed adhesives which can be melted or softened at elevated temperatures. These adhesive materials do not separate cleanly when a defective chip is removed. They remain partially or entirely on the carrier, and must be removed by prohibitively delicate, expensive, and slow operations such as mechanical grinding and chemical treatment.

Reworkable electronic apparatus having a fusible layer for adhesively attached components, and method therefor


A pipe restraint (20) permits thermal expansion of a piping system (10), while inhibiting movement of the piping system during dynamic events and providing vibration isolation. The pipe restraint includes first and second displacement members (22) and (24), which are interconnected by a restraining mechanism (32) for restraining displacement of the first and second displacement members relative to one another. The restraining mechanism includes first and second portions, which generally oppose one another relative to the central axis of the restraining mechanism. The restraining mechanism further includes third and fourth portions, which also generally oppose one another relative to the central axis of the restraining mechanism. The third and fourth members are offset circumferentially about the central axis from the first and second members. The first and second portions are connected to one of the displacement members, while the third and fourth portions are connected to the other displacement member. The first, second, third, and fourth portions of the restraining mechanism are interconnected by a helical coil of energy absorbing wire rope.

Piping systems are typically anchored to, or supported by building structures such as walls, floors, or ceilings, at one or more locations. The systems are also anchored to building structures to inhibit movement of the piping system during a dynamic event, such as an earthquake or fluid flow through the pipe. Pipe movement may also be due to the phenomenon known as "water hammer" or objects impacting the piping system.
Piping systems are also subject to temperature changes, which cause thermal expansion, and thus displacement of the piping system. Prior restraints designed for normal support and/or dynamic events may be too restrictive of pipe movement during thermal expansion, and thus result in an over-stressed condition in the piping system or imposition of unacceptable loads on the piping or associated equipment.
Piping systems are also subject to low frequency vibration caused, for example, by rotating equipment associated with the systems, turbulent fluid flow through the systems, or chatter in valves forming part of the system. Pipe restraints designed to react to dynamic loads and thermal expansion do not provide damping for vibration loads.
One attempted solution to these problems has been the use of snubbers. Snubbers allow the piping to freely expand but momentarily restrain the piping system during a dynamic event. However, snubbers have been found to be complex, require maintenance, and have a history of failure, which has resulted in costly inspection programs, especially in the nuclear industry.
Another attempted solution has been the use of gapped supports. Gapped supports allow the piping system to move freely within a predefined area, but rigidly prevent movement of the piping system beyond the boundaries of this area. The problem with gapped supports, though, is that high impact loads are typically imposed upon the piping system and other structures when the piping system reaches a boundary of the predefined area during a dynamic event.
Other attempted solutions have been the use of energy absorbers. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,620,688 discloses the use of steel plates, which plastically deform to absorb energy. The problem with the steel plate solution is low cycle fatigue life, requiring frequent replacement of the devices. Another solution is that disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,955,467, in which energy is absorbed by friction. However, a major drawback with this solution is the large amount of variability in the resulting friction force.
In yet another solution, shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,240,232, loops of wire rope are attached to first and second slide members, which allows movement of the piping system while absorbing energy. This solution, though, has been found to be complex, requiring slide members, and centering bushings, and further subjects the device to undesirable bending loads.
In a prior copending application, a solution is disclosed in which first and second displacement members connect to opposing portions of a helical coil composed of wire rope. One of the displacement members is connected to a piping system, and the other displacement member is connected to a supporting structure. The coil then flexes as displacement loads are applied, for example, by thermal expansion of the piping system, where inhibiting relatively large movements of the piping system caused by dynamic events. However, if the displacement members displace too far relative to one another, the coil tends to collapse, which limits their utility. Collapse of the coil can be prevented by employing movement-limiting stops, but at the cost of increased complexity and weight. The present invention provides an improved wire rope restraint that resists collapse when a severe displacement load is applied.


A sludge sampler for industrial settling ponds has a handle and an insertion tube of known graduated length so that the sampler may be embedded in sludge at a known depth. At the bottom of the insertion tube is a frame which holds a sampler container jar and which terminates downwardly in a thin walled insertion cone. A lever at the top slides a rod and lifts a cap on the jar so that free flowing sludge may fill the jar. The jar is held in a cage pivoted on the frame. The center of the cover and one edge of the cage are connected by pivoted links. As the cover is lifted, the cage is tipped, tipping the jar to receive the sludge. As the lever is returned to its closed position, the jar-capturing cage is returned to its upright position, the cover is lowered, the jar is covered before the insertion tube is lifted and the cage, the frame , the cone and the jar are lifted out of the sludge.

Settling ponds require periodic sampling of sludge at the bottom of the ponds to determine the nature and content of the sludge. Sludge samples must be taken at different depths. Some sludge is fluid and easily flows. Other sludge is thick and is difficult to flow.
A need exists for a sludge sampler which can be used in all types of sludge and which is easily insertable into the sludge and which promotes the flow of sludge into the sampler so that the sample may be removed and analyzed.


A data receiving apparatus capable of correctly obtaining decoded data of a received signal even if the center frequency of the received signal has a frequency shift and the state of transmission line changes with time. The coefficient of an equalizer is calculated basing upon an error signal obtained from the received signal and a shift of the center frequency obtained from the error signal. The coefficient is renewed each time a new received signal is supplied.

The present invention relates to a data receiving apparatus for use with digital mobile telephones or the like.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the structure of a conventional data receiving apparatus. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 represents an equalizer for removing the influence of frequency selective fading from a received signal. Reference numeral 2 represents a discriminator connected to the equalizer 1 for decoding the received signal with the influence of frequency selective fading removed, to obtain data of the received signal. The data decoded by the discriminator 2 is thereafter subject to voice processing. Reference numeral 3 represents a coefficient renewing unit coupled between the equalizer 1 and discriminator 2, for renewing the coefficient of the equalizer 1 in accordance with an error signal detected when the discriminator 2 decodes the received signal to obtain the data.
FIG. 2 shows the detailed structure of the equalizer 1. In FIG. 2, reference numeral 11 represents a delay element. A plurality of delay elements 11 are provided for calculation of received signals sampled in the past. Reference numeral 12 represents multipliers each for multiplying the past received, sampled signal by a coefficient set by the coefficient renewing unit. Reference numeral 13 represents an adder for adding together the outputs of the multipliers 12.
The operation of the conventional data receiving apparatus constructed as above will be described. In FIG. 1, when a received signal is inputted to the equalizer 1, the received signal and past received, sampled signals are multiplied by a predetermined coefficient and added together, the result being outputted to the discriminator 2. The discriminator 2 decodes the inputted signal to obtain decoded data, by selecting a transmission signal nearest, on a phase plane, to the inputted signal from the equalizer 1 and by performing a predetermined modulation scheme such as Gaussian-filtered Minimum Shift Keying. The discriminator 2 also obtains an error signal representing a difference between its input and output signals, and outputs it to the coefficient renewing unit 3. The coefficient renewing unit 3 renews the coefficient of the equalizer 1 to be used for the received signal sampled at the next step by using the following equation (1), in accordance with the error signal outputted from the discriminator 2, so as to make the error signal take a zero value assuming that there is no change in the state of transmission line. This renewal is performed using a coefficient renewal algorithm such as a least mean square (LMS) algorithm described in Widrow B., et al., "Adaptive noise Canceling: Principles and Applications", Proc. IEEE, 63, pp. 1692 to 1716 (1975). EQU K.sub.i+1 =(K.sub.i +.alpha..multidot.r) (1)
where K.sub.i+1 is a coefficient at the present step, K.sub.i is a coefficient at the last step, .alpha. is a constant, and r is an error signal.
In this manner, if the state of the transmission line does not change, the conventional data receiving apparatus can obtain correct decoded data while removing the influence of frequency selective fading.
However, if the center frequency of the received signal has any shift, the state of transmission line changes with time so that the discriminator 2 of the conventional data receiving apparatus cannot correctly decode the received signal and obtain its data.

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


A short-channel metal oxide semiconductor varactor may include a source region of a first polarity having a source via contact. The varactor may further include a drain region of the first polarity having a drain via contact. The varactor may further include a channel region of the first polarity between the source region and the drain region. The channel region may include a gate. The varactor may further include at least one self-aligned contact (SAC) on the gate and between the source via contact and the drain via contact.

Field
Aspects of the present disclosure relate to semiconductor devices, and more particularly to self-aligned gate contacts for improving metal oxide semiconductor (MOS) varactor quality (Q)-factor.
Background
Mobile radio frequency (RF) chip designs (e.g., mobile RF transceivers) are complicated by the use of passive devices, which directly affect analog/RF performance considerations, including mismatch, noise, and other performance considerations. Passive devices may involve high performance inductor and capacitor components. For example, an RF module (e.g., an RF front end (RFFE) module) may include inductors (L) and capacitors (C) arranged to form filters and other RF devices. Arrangements of these passive devices may be selected to improve device performance, while suppressing unwanted noise (e.g., artificial harmonics) to support advanced RF applications.
The design of mobile RF transceivers may include the use of a voltage-controlled capacitance and/or a tunable capacitor (e.g., a varactor) for advanced RF applications. For example, tunable capacitors may provide RF and impedance matching in RF circuits of advanced RF applications. In these advanced RF technologies, short gate length (Lg) or short-channel MOS varactors having a high quality (Q)-factor are desired. Unfortunately, short-channel/gate length MOS varactors may exhibit an undesirable quality factor due to increased gate resistance.

Self-aligned contact (SAC) on gate for improving metal oxide semiconductor (MOS) varactor quality factor


There is disclosed a mechanism for initiating and controlling a toilet: flush mechanism of the type which permits selection between two flush cycles which use different volumes of water end which, to do that, requires that the flush valve be lifted to either of two levels. Each of two rotating handles drives a shaft which rotates a flush lever arm. The shafts are concentric. One of flush lever arms has a longer crank portion than the other so that points on the lever portion move a greater vertical distance for a given angular rotation than move corresponding points on the flush lever arm with the shorter crank portion. A single blocking member limits the rotation of both flush lever arms to the same range of angular motion. Tabs on a bushing for the shafts supplement the blocking member by stopping rotation of the handle approximately when the blocking member contacts the flush lever arm driven by that handle.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to toilet tank trip lever assemblies that allow the user to choose between selected flush volumes.
2. Description of the Art
Due to increasing population and limited water supply, conservation of water is becoming important. A significant source of water consumption is the water used in flushing toilets. The art has recognized that in some cases a full volume flush is not required to clean out a toilet bowl (e.g., urine and small amounts of paper only). Thus, many toilets that are designed to remove heavy amounts of feces and paper will waste water when faced with much lighter loads. The art has therefore developed toilet flushing mechanisms that use less water during certain flush cycles selected by the user.
In some of these dual flush mechanisms, the user selects one of two flush volumes by operating one of two flush handles on the toilet tank. To facilitate retrofitting existing toilets, and to minimize costs for new tanks, it is important that the control mechanism use only a single handle hole in the toilet tank. Accordingly, control mechanisms have been developed which employ two handles mounted to a single shaft or to concentric shafts which extend through the single handle mounting hole of a conventional toilet tank. Internally, the shafts are attached to one or more members which open the flush valve for a full flush or a partial flush respectively. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,837,867.
More widespread adoption of such systems has been deterred in part because of cost, complexity, difficulty in installation, concerns about reliability and/or other problems. For example, there has been difficulty in developing breakage resistant systems that use plastic components.


A Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tag using multiple microradios and inkjet printing techniques together with a method and system for manufacturing and applying the tag to an end item are disclosed.

Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tags have been utilized extensively to trace pallets of merchandise from a point of shipment to a final destination. The tags are typically passive devices that are read out with RF energy, usually in the 900 MHz range. These passive devices are parasitically powered by the RF energy impinging upon the antenna of the tag, thus powering the integrated circuits within the tag, with the result that the tag transmits the identity of the pallet in response to a probing signal from a reader in the vicinity of the tag.
While such RFID tags are now mandated for pallets in some industries, there is increased level of interest in item-level tagging, which involves placing a tag on the item itself as opposed to on a pallet of items.
However, in order to be able to make such tagging strategies possible for low-value items such as toothpaste and the like, techniques are required to be able to manufacture and deposit the tags on items at an overall cost of no more than 5 cents per item or less.
The relatively low price for the tagging of items is not so important in high-value items such as pharmaceuticals, where the tag price may be as much as 25 or 50 cents from start to finish. Rather, mass merchants are interested in keeping track of how much material is on their shelves for inventory control.
This means that, for short ranges, an individual carries a reader with him- or herself and probes the individual items, either in a walk-by scenario or as the items come into the facility, for instance on a conveyor belt. Also envisioned are so-called "smart shelves", in which the current stock of goods on a merchant's shelves can be remotely monitored and restocked as required.
Note that RFID technology is not merely a bar code technology, but rather one that can store data and, upon request from a reader, output data to a global database. The data can be as simple as a product ID code.
The desideratum using item-level RFID tags is that the whole shipment history of a product from the time it leaves the manufacturing plant to its final destination can be tracked through various hands such as shippers, importers, wholesalers and warehousemen.
If in its simplest embodiment the RFID tag merely contains an identification number, this number is read out along the way during shipment such that the transport history of the item can be ascertained.
It is noted that the current tags are passive tags in that they do not require or have a battery. This is useful because in item-level tagging, low cost is key, there is no space available for batteries and battery shelf life is not a problem.
With respect to tagging of a pallet, it is noted that a pallet is usually placed on a forklift truck and is driven, for instance, into a warehouse where it passes through the warehouse door at which a reader is located. The reader sends out RF energy that charges up the passive tag by transferring energy to the integrated circuits within the tag. The reader then transmits a special code that interrogates the RFID electronics so as to output the tag ID and any other related information stored by the tag.
These passive devices have a range of approximately 30 feet, given the fact that the Federal Communications Commission limits the amount of radiated power from the reader to be 1 watt.
As to the size of the tags that are currently placed on pallets, they are on the order of 2 inches by 2 inches, with the antenna dimensions being the dominating factor. It is noted that the larger the antenna, the greater the range, since a larger tag antenna can capture more energy from a reader. For short-range applications such as monitoring pill bottle inventories, the antenna can be indeed quite small.
Note that with small antennas the amount of energy available for the integrated circuits making up the tag is limited, with the energy being derived from a so-called rectenna that rectifies the RF energy and stores it on a capacitor. In these cases the energy from the capacitor is utilized to power up the circuitry that includes some kind of logic or even a microcomputer as well as a transmitter. Note that once the circuit is powered up the information is transmitted back to the reader.
Using the above tags to identify pallets is commonplace. However, the integrated circuits are relatively expensive, with the integrated circuit tending to be the most expensive part. Secondary to the expense of the integrated circuit itself is the cost involved in building the tag.
If pallets, for instance, contain high value items, a 50- or 75-cent tag may be affordable; however, for item level tags the cost needs to be kept under 5 cents or less.
Moreover, for item-level tags, the output of the transmitter of the RFID tag is in general in the microwatt range due to the small size antenna required. However, with sufficient size reduction there should be a concomitant cost reduction at least of the integrated circuits. If one could make the integrated circuits very, very small, in the tens of micron size, the cost per IC die goes down dramatically. This is because if one can utilize large wafers, one can make millions of individual die per wafer. With processing costs constant and sufficient yields, one can therefore reduce the cost of the tag under 5 cents.
For item-level tags, for instance on individual pill containers, one can arrange to have antennas that are perhaps a quarter of an inch on a side, with a tiny integrated circuit on them. However, even if one could make the micron-sized RFID tags, one is faced with a significant challenge in how to locate an RFID integrated circuit on the associated antenna at its feed point.
In an effort to reduce the cost of the individual chips, manufacturing large numbers of them on a large-size wafer, while theoretically reducing the cost of these chips, the individual chips are extremely hard to test and hard to handle. What is conventionally done now, at least for pallet-level RFID tags, is to use "pick-and-place" machines and size the individual integrated circuits to be at least large enough to enable the pick-and-place operation. Thus, the integrated circuits must be of a size that they can be taken off some kind of dispensing apparatus and physically moved where they can be deposited on and electrically connected to the antenna.
However, pick-and-place machines currently are limited to integrated circuits that are larger than a millimeter on a side.
If one could break through the barrier imposed by pick-and-place machines, for instance utilizing different deposition techniques, then one could garner the cost savings of manufacturing millions of integrated circuits on a single wafer. It would therefore be extremely useful in reducing the overall price of the RFID tag to be able to have integrated circuits as small as a 10th of a millimeter on a side. Manufacturing of such small integrated circuits is possible with standard 90-nanometer integrated circuit technology. Even 65-nanometer technology in high volume applications is now state of the art.
However, just because one can lay down patterns that have 90-nanometer line widths or less, a serious limitation is the ability to be able to scribe and break the individual ICs apart from the die. Note that various scribing, breaking, and sawing techniques have been used in the past to separate out individual integrated circuits.
Using sawing, for example, the saw blade dimensions defines the kerf, which is the material that the saw blade requires in the removal of material. Note that in the applications being discussed herein, the kerf is larger than the desired size of the chips. This results in very inefficient use of a wafer and therefore added cost per die.
With laser scribing, smaller kerfs may be available. However, thermal issues limit this type of scribing technique to chip dimensions that are still larger than desirable.
Chemical etching is another alternative method. However, conventional approaches lead to severe undercutting of the die, again adding to the kerf dimensions. There is, however, a unique chemical etching process that limits undercutting in which microscopic die can be formed utilizing standard CMOS processes.
Assuming that one can actually separate out the microscopic chips, mounting them to an antenna can be accomplished through the use of a shaped die and a specially shaped receiver cavity. In such so-called "self-assembly methods", these shaped die are squeegeed over in a slurry across a substrate that has receiver cavities that are adapted to uniquely hold the specially-shaped dies.
This type of self-assembly method, illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 6,864,570 and licensed to Alien Technology, requires a match between the orientation of the die and the receptacle. Thus the specially shaped ICs have to match the corresponding cavities and if they are randomly oriented in the slurry, they will either not enter the cavity or not be appropriately positioned in the cavity. The result is that the reliability of the RFID tags when manufactured in this and other similar processes often results in failure rates of 5 to 10% that are wholly unacceptable.
In order to eliminate those RFID tags that are inoperative, one must test the tag before applying it to a package, which is another time-consuming and costly procedure that may not be totally successful when microscopic integrated circuit-type tags are involved.
What is therefore needed is first a manufacturing technique for manufacturing RFID tags that reduces the cost of the individual integrated circuit by reducing the size of the integrated circuits; and secondly a technique for coupling the integrated circuits to the feed points of antennas in a way that virtually guarantees a 100% yield while at the same time eliminating the use of pick-and-place machines.

RFID tag and method and apparatus for manufacturing same

BAE Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration Inc.


A method and a device for measuring absorbed energy-momentum symmetry in which radiant energy W·sr−1·m−2·nm−1 is compared directly against its absorbed impinging momentum kg·m·s−1 in a manner that will provide an experimental basis for asymmetrical anomalies that may or may not exist within a measurable range of the electromagnetic spectrum.

The concept of symmetry and how it dominates modern fundamental physics, both in quantum theory and in relativity is described by Katherine Brading and Elena Castellani in an article entitled "Symmetry and Symmetry Breaking", The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (Spring 2013 Edition), Edward N. Zalta (ed.). Symmetry breaking or quantum-mechanical effects known as anomalies have acquired special significance in physics. In a situation characterized by an absolute symmetry, nothing definite could exist since absolute symmetry means total lack of differentiation. One of the first explicit studies of symmetry breaking with respect to physical objects and phenomena, especially electric and magnetic, was conducted by Pierre Curie at the end of the nineteenth century. One of Curie's conclusions is that symmetry can coexist with certain phenomena, but they are not necessary. What is necessary is that certain elements of symmetry do not exist. Dissymmetry or asymmetry is what creates the phenomenon. The 2008 Nobel Prize in Physics was awarded to Kobayashi and Maskawa for discoveries concerning symmetry violation in the field of particle physics. A growing number of theoretical physicists, notably Lee Smolin and Marcelo Gleiser, infer that a relational complete theory of the physical universe must have mechanisms that drive the universe away from symmetry and equilibrium and when the laws of nature are expressed in terms of fundamental entities there can be no symmetries. The symmetrical relationship of radiant energy to its impinging momentum was first deduced by Maxwell and later experimentally proven by Lebedev, Nichols and Hull. It is the propose of the invention to measure absorbed energy-momentum symmetry in a manner that will provide an experimental basis for asymmetrical anomalies that may or may not exist within a measurable range of the electromagnetic spectrum.
Prior-art devices measure radiant energy or radiant momentum, but not absorbed energy-momentum symmetry [as herein described by the present invention.] The present inventor generally defines absorbed energy-momentum symmetry as the comparison of radiant energy in units of W·sr−1·m−2·nm−1 directly against the momentum this energy imparts when impinging an equal-arm force comparator device, described in detail within FIG. 9, at the same angle of incidence and same instant and duration of time, measured in units of kg·m·s−1. Measurement of radiant energy occurs when a sensor transforms nonelectrical photonic stimulation to an electrical response that is suitable to be processed by electrical circuits. Prior art sensors transform the physical effects of impinging radiant energy into electric signals suitable to be processed by electrical circuits. These effects include but are not limited to piezoresistive effect, thermoelectric effect, piezoelectric effect, pyroelectric effect, photoelectric effect, temperature effect in p-n junction, and Hall effect. Further, and more particularly, the present inventor defines the terms "energy", "absorb", "momentum" and "symmetry" as follows:                Energy or radiant energy as used herein is more specifically the spectral radiance of electromagnetic energy from a blackbody radiation source as defined by Planck's radiation law, measured in units of W·sr−1·m−2·nm−1 where W is Watts, sr−1 is steradian, m−2 is square meter and nm is the monochromatic wavelength in nanometers. Radiant energy, including high frequency or low wavelength ionizing radiant energy, is normally measured using prior art sensors as previously described.        Absorb as used herein is defined as a materials ability to absorb impinging radiant energy as a function of Einstein's photoelectric effect defined as E=hv−∅ where a photon of radiant energy (hv) is absorbed by the impinged material with a portion of this energy used to liberate an electron defined as (∅) work function and the remaining energy contributing to the liberated electron's kinetic energy (E). The variables (hv) are Planck's constant h (6.62606957×10−34 m2 kg/s) and v is frequency in hertz above threshold frequency. Threshold frequency or wavelength is defined as the minimum frequency or wavelength of radiant energy that will produce a photoelectric effect. A preferred material for use by the present invention to absorb impinging radiant energy is defined as that material with the smallest practical mass that generates the highest practical liberated electron kinetic energy from the lowest practical impinging electromagnetic frequency above threshold frequency, and is generally crystal lattice photovoltaic type materials. Other suitable materials may be employed.        Momentum as used herein refers to the principal first deduced by Maxwell that when radiant energy impinges a surface it exerts pressure or the property of momentum. Current understanding of energy to its impinging momentum is consistent with Einstein's E=mc2, which can be reduced by setting rest mass equal to zero and applying the Planck relationship to yield the quantized function of p=hv/c where h equals Planck's constant (6.62606957×10−34 m2 kg/s), v is frequency in Hz, and c is the velocity of radiant energy in a vacuum (299,792,458 m/s). A preferred embodiment of the present invention measures the radiant momentum of a known (measured) level of radiant energy impinging the invention's equal-arm force comparator targets and is a function of two quantities; the known mass (m) of the invention's equal-arm force comparator rotating components and its rotational velocity (V) caused by the impinging energy. These quantities yield radiant momentum (p) in units of kg·m·s−1 as a function of Newton's second law, or laws of motion as p=mV.        Symmetry as used herein is defined as a measurement consistent with physical symmetries attributed to radiant energy laws (equations). With regard to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, symmetrical measurement of adsorbed energy-momentum symmetry is defined as equal to the ratio of radiant energy in accord with Planck's radiation laws, detailed in FIG. 1, to its impinging momentum in accord with Maxwell's radiant momentum laws described above. Measurements inconsistent with these laws are asymmetrical. Further, broken symmetry is defined as a specific wavelength range measuring symmetrical while another mutually exclusive wavelength range measures as asymmetrical.
Applying the above definitions and the skill of a person of ordinary skill, it will be understood that the present invention is useful, at minimum, to confirm, or not, absorbed energy momentum symmetry. Even if such symmetry is not confirmed by a preferred embodiment of the present invention, and instead an asymmetric energy-momentum relationship is found where momentum is greater than expected for measured radiant energy within the non-ionizing or smaller wavelength spectrum, this may indicate a casual mechanism for research indicating a statistical correlation between non-ionizing energy and adverse health effects.
It is well understood that the momentum of impinging radiant energy, in the form of Beta or subatomic particles, penetrate deep inside biological tissues damaging DNA and potentially initiating cancer and is considered dangerous at any energy level. Momentum of ionizing radiant energy also penetrates biological tissues liberating atomic particles from atoms or molecules altering chemical bonds that may cause biological damage resulting in radiation sickness, cancer, or death. The effect of non-ionizing energy, which is energy that is not capable of removing an electron from an atom or molecule, on living tissue is not fully understood and there is currently no known physical casual mechanism by which non-ionizing energy promotes adverse health effects. Significant scholarly research, however, has shown a statistical correlation between long term close-proximity exposure to some non-ionizing electromagnetic energy sources and possible adverse health effects. These studies include an extensive 2005 study by Oxford University which found a 70% increase in the risk of childhood leukemia when living within 200 meters of overhead high power lines however the National Cancer Institute (NIH) recently determined this study to be inconclusive. The National Radiation Protection Board (NRPB) study found evidence of a slight increase in childhood leukemia when exposed to close proximity electromagnetic energy and the National Institute of Health in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Energy's Brookhaven National Laboratory found that 50 minutes of cell phone usage (with the phone muted to avoid confounding effects from auditory stimulation) elevated brain glucose metabolism significantly in the parts of the brain closest to the phone's antenna. With explosive growth projected for close proximity and wearable non-ionizing energy emitting devices, world health organizations call for continued research into finding a possible physical casual link between this exposure and adverse health effects. It is projected that by the year 2020 over 50 billion of these devices will cause unprecedented human exposure to close proximity non-ionizing radiation.
Measuring an anomaly within the feeble force of radiant momentum requires an extremely sensitive device. The probability of finding an anomaly is significantly enhanced by measuring high intensity radiant energy over a large surface area. Prior art radiant momentum measurement devices typically comprise an array of micro mechanical semiconductor sensors that produce or define output capacitance, voltage or resistive changes in electric signals caused by bending, flexing or movement of capacitor, piezoelectric and piezoresistive materials impinged by radiant energy. Such prior art devices are shown in or similar to those shown in U.S. Pat. No. 7,495,199, 8,366,317, 8,664,583, 7,164,131 and 5,220,189, the disclosures of which are incorporated by reference. Prior art sensors are not always acceptable because semiconductor materials can be damaged by high intensity radiation. Also, quantized, processed, and calibrated output signals of prior art micro mechanical semiconductor sensors that are traceable to the radiation law being measured may also produce quantization bias errors that make it difficult to measure trace anomalies. Additionally, use of crystal lattice photovoltaic type materials for radiant energy impinged sensors, as required by the invention device, may cause electric fields that interfere with the electrical output of prior art sensors used to measure radiant momentum.
Explanation of the Invention
It is an aim of the present invention to address the above problems of the prior art and to provide a means of measuring absorbed energy-momentum symmetry from a high intensity radiant energy source measured over a sufficiently large surface area to accurately measure its momentum. In accordance with the present invention, a preferred embodiment contemplates that radiant energy from a blackbody simulator device capable of achieving the highest practical temperatures and emitting highest practical radiant energy intensity is split into two beams by a [50/50] beam splitter, with each beam filtered to a specific chosen monochromatic wavelength. The radiant energy or spectral radiance of each beam is measured in units of watts per steradian per square-meter per nanometer (W·sr−1·m−2·nm−1) by radiant energy sensors directly against the momentum caused by one or both radiant energy beams impinging targets of the inventions equal-arm force comparator device, as shown in FIG. 9, and is measured in units of kilogram meter per second (kg·m·s−1) in accord with Newton's laws of motion.
A preferred embodiment of the present invention includes an equal-arm force comparator, such as shown in FIG. 9, is similar in form and function to an equal-arm mass balance which is one of the oldest and most accurate measurement devices. This technology compares the mass of one body directly against the mass of another with a [two-pan] equal-arm balance where the arm lengths are identical and balanced at a bearing or balance point. A preferred embodiment of an equal-arm force comparator according to the present invention is capable of comparing the impinging force of one beam of radiant energy directly against the impinging force of another beam of radiant energy, or against a null or no beam, where radiant energy targets are attached to opposing ends and equal distant from the centerline of a well balanced horizontal arm that is able to rotate about its axis on a nearly frictionless pivot point. The targets of the present invention are similar in function to prior art solar sails, such as those shown U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,614,319 and 6,565,044, the disclosures of which are incorporated by reference, that intercept the force of one or both beams of radiant energy translating this force into rotational velocity of the known mass of the invention's equal-arm force comparator component yielding a measurement of radiant momentum. In this manner, measurement of radiant energy, measured in units of (W·sr−1·m−2·nm−1), from one or both beams or radiant energy is compared directly against its impinging force measured as momentum in units of (kg·m·s−1), thus deriving absorbed radiant momentum symmetry or differential absorbed radiant momentum symmetry depending on the measurement regime employed. The present invention further improves upon prior art radiometers, spectroradiometers including handheld spectroradiometer type device that measure radiant energy at a specific wavelength or frequency in that the present invention provide a method of calibrating these devices to yield measurement of absorbed energy-momentum symmetry. The method of calibration is achieved by applying the specific relationship between measurements of radiant energy at wavelength (i.e., at a given frequency) to the radiant energies impinging momentum as measured by the invention device. In accordance with the present invention, a preferred embodiment may include a measurement regime having a control sequence that may be performed as shown in FIG. 2.
The foregoing explanation is provided to introduce certain concepts in more general, explanatory form. Such concepts are further described below in the detailed description. The foregoing explanation is not intended to identify key or essential features of the invention, nor is it intended to be used to limit the scope of the claimed invention. Other aspects, features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of embodiments and the accompanying drawing figures.
The drawing figures do not limit the present invention to the specific disclosed embodiments. Further, the drawings are not necessarily to scale, but are intended to illustrate the principles of the invention.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Device and method of measuring absorbed energy-momentum symmetry


Fibers are treated with ozone-steam mixtures by conveying them through an open-ended chamber having a horizontal middle section substantially elevated with respect to the open chamber end. The fibers are exposed to the ozone-steam mixture in the horizontal middle section wherein the ozone is centrally introduced.. An apparatus for carrying out this method includes an open-ended chamber having a horizontal middle section substantially elevated with respect to the open chamber end. Also included are means for moving the substances through the chamber, means for centrally supplying ozone to the horizontal middle region of the chamber and means for supplying steam to the horizontal middle region of the chamber.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to and has among its objects the provision of novel apparatus for treatment of fibers with ozone-steam mixtures. It is a particular object of the invention to provide novel apparatus for treating proteinous animal fibers with ozone-steam mixtures in order to shrinkproof them. Further objects of the invention will be evident from the following description wherein parts and percentages are by weight unless otherwise specified.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A process for treating animal fibers with gaseous ozone and steam is described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,149,906 (hereinafter referred to as '906). A stream of ozone and steam is blown through the textile under treatment in the '906 process.
A disadvantage of the known process is that ozone is not used efficiently and losses of 80-85% of ozone usually occur. Inefficient use of ozone is costly because large amounts of energy are expended to both produce the ozone and to destroy the unused gas. Furthermore, larger ozone generators are required when excess amounts of ozone must be prepared and such large generators are expensive.
Closed chambers for treating food material with steam are known. In U.S. Pat. No. 3,982,482 a food product is passed into a chamber which is sealed to prevent escape of steam. The product enters the chamber first through water and then through a combination of a paddle wheel and flap, all of which maintain the chamber steam-tight. For removal of the product from the chamber, the above sequence is reversed. Sealed steam chambers are cumbersome to use and impractical for uses other than as a blanching apparatus for food material.
A hump-back tunnel blancher is described in "Misc. Publication 540," U.S. Department of Agriculture, p. 40 (1944). The center of the tunnel is located at a higher elevation than either the entrance or discharge ends. Steam is maintained in the tunnel center to the exclusion of air by the difference in density between steam and air at ordinary temperatures, by the use of curtains, and by positioning the steam jets so as to neutralize the kinetic energy of the jets.

Apparatus for treatment of fibers with ozone-steam mixtures

The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Department of Agriculture