An aircraft air distribution system includes a base and first and second arrays of nozzle air transfer ports in the base. An adjustable flow plate is positioned over the nozzle air transfer ports. A compressible member is located between the base and the adjustable flow plate and between the first and second arrays. First and second air ejector regions are located, respectively, on the sides of the compressible member between the base and the adjustable flow plate to connect to the first and second arrays, and direct air from the first and second arrays from the sides of the base. Fasteners moveably connect the adjustable flow plate to the base and are adjustable to change a size of different sections of the first and second air ejector regions to change an amount of airflow originating from the different sections of these regions.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates generally to an apparatus for supplying air to an enclosed space and in particular to an apparatus using a nozzle to supply air to an enclosed space. Still more particularly, the present invention relates to an air supply apparatus that supplies air through a nozzle at different rates in different locations within a cabin in an aircraft.
2. Background Description
Cabin air systems for aircraft are designed to provide a safe and comfortable cabin environment at different altitudes. At high altitudes, the passenger cabin is pressurized to enable occupants to breathe normally. Further, the cabin air systems are also designed to provide cooling for equipment that may be located within the passenger cabin.
The passenger cabins for specialized aircraft typically have large concentrated heat loads due to electronic equipment located within the passenger cabin. The size and location of the heat load is often different between aircraft of the same type because of configuration changes over time and varying customer requirements. If the cooling air within the passenger cabin is not properly distributed, a failure of electronic components may occur. Additionally, occupant discomfort and distraction due to overheating hot and cold spots also may occur.
Aircraft with high heat loads require customized cabin air systems to distribute air in a manner that provides sufficient cooling to heat loads and does not result in hot and cold spots in the passenger cabins. Currently, when an aircraft is being designed for a specialized use, an identification of locations for heat generating equipment and occupants are specified. With this specification of heat loads and occupants, an air distribution system is custom designed for that particular aircraft. Nozzles for an air distribution duct running along the length of the passenger cabin are designed to provide the appropriate airflow to maintain a uniform temperature within different locations of the passenger cabin.
This type of solution works well unless a reconfiguration of the aircraft occurs after the aircraft has been constructed. With such a change, the cabin air system may no longer provide uniform temperatures within the passenger cabin because of changes in the location or size of heat loads within the passenger cabin. If the system is unable to maintain a uniform temperature within the passenger cabin, a new set of nozzles must be designed to replace the original nozzle system. These types of changes are expensive and time consuming.
Different control zones may be used to meet temperature uniformity. This type of system, however, is often uneconomical because of the number of control zones that would be needed to maintain temperature uniformity.
Another currently used solution provides a separate cooling system for the heat loads. This type of solution, however, results in an underutilized air distribution system. Further, additional weight and energy use occurs when using a separate cooling system for these heat loads. Therefore, it would be advantageous to have an improved cabin air supply system.


An active matrix display device having a pixel structure in which pixel electrodes, gate wirings and source wirings are suitably arranged in the pixel portions to realize a high numerical aperture without increasing the number of masks or the number of steps. The device comprises a gate electrode and a source wiring on an insulating surface, a first insulating layer on the gate electrode and on the source wiring, a semiconductor layer on the first insulating film, a second insulating layer on the semiconductor film, a gate wiring connected to the gate electrode on the second insulating layer, a connection electrode for connecting the source wiring and the semiconductor layer together, and a pixel electrode connected to the semiconductor layer.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a semiconductor device having an integrated circuit constituted by thin-film transistors (hereinafter referred to as TFTs) and to a method of fabricating the same. The invention relates to, for example, an electro-optical device as represented a liquid crystal display panel and an electronic device mounting the electro-optical device as a part. In this specification, the semiconductor device generally stands for such devices that function by utilizing the semiconductor properties. Therefore, electro-optical devices, semiconductor circuits and electronic devices are all encompassed by the scope of the semiconductor device.
2. Related Art
Technology has been developed for fabricating thin-film transistors (TFTs) by using a thin semiconductor film (of a thickness of from about several nanometers to about several hundred nanometers). TFTs have been put into practical use as switching elements of the liquid crystal display devices and, in recent years, it is becoming possible to form a CMOS circuit and an integrated circuit on a substrate such as of a glass.
Active matrix liquid crystal display devices are becoming a main stream of liquid crystal display devices, by arranging pixel electrodes in the form of a matrix and by using TFTs as switching elements connected to the pixel electrodes, in order to meet the demand for realizing a highly fine picture quality. The active matrix liquid crystal display devices can be roughly divided into two; i.e., those of the transmission type and those of the reflection type. In particular, the liquid crystal display device of the reflection type, which does not use back light, has a merit that it consumes electric power in smaller amounts than the transmission-type liquid crystal display device, and is finding an increasing demand as a direct view-type display device for portable data terminals and video cameras.
The active matrix liquid crystal display device of the reflection type selects a state where an incident beam is reflected by a pixel electrode and is output to the outer side of the device and a state where the incident beam is not output to the outer side of the device by utilizing the optical modulation action of the liquid crystals, produces a bright display and a dark display, and, further, combines these displays to display a picture. In general, pixel electrodes in the liquid crystal display device of the reflection type are formed of an electrically conducting material having a high optical reflection factor such as of aluminum or silver.
In any way, the size of each pixel becomes inevitably more fine as the picture quality becomes more fine. As a result, the ratio of areas occupied by the TFT, source wiring and gate wiring increases in the pixel portion, and the numerical aperture decreases. In order to increase the numerical aperture of the pixels within a specified pixel size, therefore, it is essential to efficiently lay out the circuit elements necessary for constituting the pixel circuit.
This invention was derived in view of the above-mentioned problem, and has an object of providing an active matrix-type display device having a pixel structure in which a pixel electrode, a gate wiring and a source wiring are suitably arranged in a pixel portion, and which realizes a high numerical aperture without increasing the number of the masks or the number of the steps.
This invention has a structure in which TFTs are shut off the light without using a light-shielding film that forms a black matrix, and light leaking among the pixels is shut off. The above structure of this invention comprises;
a gate electrode and a source wiring over an insulating surface;
a first insulating film over the gate electrode and over the source wiring;
a semiconductor film over the first insulating film;
a second insulating film over the semiconductor film;
a gate wiring connected to the gate electrode over the second insulating film;
a connection electrode for connecting the source wiring and the semiconductor film together; and
pixel electrode connected to the semiconductor film.
Another invention has a constitution which comprises:
a first gate electrode, a second gate electrode and a source wiring over an insulating surface;
a first insulating film over the first and second gate electrodes and over the source wiring;
a first semiconductor film having a source region, a drain region and a channel-forming region over the first insulating film;
a second semiconductor film overlapped over the second gate electrode;
a second insulating film over the first and second semiconductor films;
a gate wiring connected to the gate electrode over the second insulating film;
a connection electrode for connecting the source wiring and the source region together; and
a pixel electrode connected to the drain region and to the second semiconductor film.
In this constitution of the invention, the end on one side of the pixel electrode is formed on the source wiring so as to also serve as a light-shielding film, enabling the pixel electrode to occupy an increased area in the pixel unit.
A further invention has a constitution which comprises:
a first step of forming a gate electrode and a source wiring over an insulating surface;
a second step of forming a first insulating film over the gate electrode;
a third step of forming a semiconductor film over the first insulating film;
a fourth step of forming a second insulating film over the semiconductor film; and
a fifth step of forming, over the second insulating film, a gate wiring connected to the gate electrode, a connection electrode for connecting the source wiring and the semiconductor film together, and a pixel electrode connected to the semiconductor film.
A further invention has a constitution which comprises:
a first step of forming a gate electrode and a source wiring over an insulating surface;
a second step of forming a first insulating film over the gate electrode;
a third step of forming a semiconductor film over the first insulating film;
a fourth step of forming a source region and a drain region over the semiconductor film;
a fifth step of forming a second insulating film over the semiconductor film; and
a sixth step of forming, over the second insulating film, a gate wiring connected to the gate electrode, a connection electrode for connecting the source wiring and the source region together, and a pixel electrode connected to the drain region.
A further invention has a constitution which comprises:
a first step of forming a first gate electrode, a second gate electrode and a source wiring over an insulating surface;
a second step of forming a first insulating film over the first and second gate electrodes;
a third step of forming, over the first insulating film, a first semiconductor film that overlaps over the first gate electrode and a second semiconductor film that overlaps over the second gate electrode;
a fourth step of forming a source region and a drain region in the first semiconductor film;
a fifth step of forming a second insulating film over the semiconductor film; and
a sixth step of forming, over the second insulating film, a gate wiring connected to the gate electrode, a connection electrode for connecting the source wiring and the source region together, and a pixel electrode for connecting the drain region and the second semiconductor film together.
According to the above steps, the end on one side of the pixel electrode is formed over the source wiring to form a pixel structure in which the source wiring also serves as a light-shielding film, enabling the pixel electrode to occupy an increased area in the pixel portion.

Semiconductor device and method of fabricating the same

Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.


A method for bus addressing includes a controller receiving handshaking information from a component of a control system, allocating a communication address to the component through a field bus, and establishing a correlation between a physical address of the component and the communication address.

High speed serial bus is a standard computer peripheral bus having advantages such as hot plugging, high performance and low system cost. High speed serial bus is widely used in control systems of automatic control, aviation, aerospace, navigation and unmanned aerial vehicle.
Continuous development of technology demands a continuous update of the control systems to satisfy new applications. However, an expansion of the control system employing high speed serial bus is limited as the high speed serial bus is not addressable.

Method and device for bus addressing, and method and device for providing information


A dental treatment chair including a seat, a backrest tiltably attached to the seat, and a drive means for tilting the backrest. The chair includes a unit table which stays horizontal and moves and up and down as the backrest tilts, and the table is further connected to the backrest by a longitudinal shaft and a support shaft so that it can freely rotate in a horizontal plane. By means of this structure, an operator can take a position convenient to access treatment tools and to take a position opposite to the unit table in response to each tilting phase of the backrest.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a dental chair.
2. Prior Art
As is well know, it is necessary in dental treatment to movably arrange a dental chair and a unit table on which the treatment tools, medicines, and other various dental instruments are placed, corresponding to the patient's mouth and the dentist's operation position.
Included in such a unit table is a dental chair attached type table designed to be slidable longitudinally to the backrest of the chair and movable in a horizontal plane. Also included is an overarm type table held by a hanger arm from a pole set up along the side of the chair or from the wall surface.
The dental chair attached type table is limited in use to a horizontal dental chair, and it is apparent that the table does not fit structurally for use in a table whose backrest is tiltable. On the other hand, the overarm type table is also adjustable vertically, but the table is still not satisfactory in that it gives a sense of discomfort to the patient because the hanger arm is positioned above the patient lying on his side an also because the hanger arm of the unit can be an obstacle when the patient gets on and off the chair.


An optically based apparatus for non-invasively determining the concentration of optically active substances in a specimen comprises, a source of a beam of spatially coherent light which is acted upon to produce a rotating linear polarized vector therein. A beam splitter splits the beam into a reference beam and a detector beam for passage through the specimen. The detector beam is received upon exiting the specimen and compared with the reference beam to determine the amount of phase shift produced by passage through the specimen. This amount of phase shift is converted into concentration of the optically active substance in the specimen.

The present invention relates to the quantitative determination of optically active substances in specimens and, more particularly, to apparatus and methods for non-invasively determining the concentration of optically active substances.
In a number of diseases, it is desirable to monitor levels of chemical agents in the organs of patients in order to control their medication. In processes for manufacture of biogenetic materials, it is desirable to monitor chemical agents in the reactor to determine the progress of the reaction. In either instance, monitoring of the agent without invasion of the medium is desirable.
Diabetes mellitus is a chronic systemic disease characterized by disorders in both the metabolism of insulin, carbohydrate, fat and protein and the structure and function of blood vessels. Diabetes can result in circulatory problems which may lead to kidney failure, heart disease, gangrene and blindness. A major unanswered question in diabetes therapy is whether improved blood glucose control will alleviate the long-term complications of this disease.
Normoglycemia is difficult to achieve in diabetics because insulin injections do not adequately mimic non-diabetic insulin secretion patterns since there is no feedback control of insulin delivery rate according to the prevailing glucose level. In the last few years, there has been an intensive effort to improve metabolic control in diabetics by developing more physiological strategies of insulin administration. Three important approaches are (a) self-monitoring of blood glucose samples and adjustment of insulin dosages based on the results, (b) electromechanical devices for infusion of insulin and (c) transplantation of the pancreas or islets of Langerhans.
As is known, glucose is the main circulating carbohydrate in the body. In normal individuals, the concentration of glucose in blood is tightly regulated, usually in the range between 80 and 120 mg/100 ml, during the first hour or so following a meal. The hormone insulin, normally produced by the pancreas' beta cells, promotes glucose transport into skeletal muscle and adipose tissue as well as uptake of glucose by the liver for storage as glycogen. In Diabetes mellitus, insulin production and/or uptake is comprised and, consequently, blood glucose can elevate to abnormal concentrations ranging from 300 to 700 mg/100 ml. Excess insulin administration can cause severe hypoglycemia.
Although insulin deficiency can be ameliorated by treatment with diet, insulin or oral hypoglycemic agents, these standard modes of therapy have not been effective in preventing the development of chronic complications involving the eye, the kidney, the peripheral nervous system, and the peripheral arteries. Accurate determination of glucose levels in body fluids, such as blood, urine, and cerebro-spinal fluid, is a major aid in diagnosing and improving the therapeutic treatment of diabetes. It can reduce the long-term risk for developing coronary artery disease, visual impairment, renal failure, and peripheral vascular disease.
Colorimetric techniques have been developed to allow accurate self-determination of blood glucose levels by diabetic individuals. Although this method allows the patient to close the loop himself by altering the amount of insulin injected or the type and amount of food ingested, these methods are invasive and time consuming and they are especially bothersome for children. In order to overcome some of these limitations, several techniques have been proposed to continuously monitor glucose levels in the body, such as electrocatalysis.
However, there are major problems with the development of clinically useful continuous glucose sensors. In general, implanted sensors operate in the chemically and biologically harsh environment of the body for long periods of time. As such, they are subject to continuous fibrotic encapsulation and degradation which may raise questions about potential real-time responsiveness without significant delay, and the capability for integration with a pump.
Although implantation of an artificial endocrine pancreas and/or successful transplantation of islet tissue remain long range goals for improving the management of diabetes, the development of practical semi-invasive or non-invasive means for monitoring blood glucose levels could provide, if properly connected with an insulin pump through an appropriate controller, much of the potential benefit of these methods without the hazards of rejection and immunosuppression. Lastly, a noninvasive glucose sensor could have significant application in the diagnosis and management of Diabetes mellitis independently of the glucose pump controller applications.
An optical sensing approach using polarization rotation has been described by Rabinovitch, B., March, W. F., and Adams, R. L., in "Noninvasive Glucose Monitoring of the Aqueous Humor of the Eye; Part 1. Measurement of Very Small Optical Rotations", Diabetes Care, Vol. 5, No. 3; pp. 254-58, May-June 1982, and in "Noninvasive Glucose Monitoring of the Aqueous Humor of the Eye: Part II. Animal Studies and the Scleral Lens," Diabetes Care, Vol. 5, No. 3; pp. 259-65, May-June 1982. In their work it was found that measurement of glucose concentration in the aqueous humor of the eye correlated well with blood glucose levels with a minor time delay on the order of minutes. The glucose concentration in the aqueous humor was also found to be two orders of magnitude higher than any other optically active substances which were detected. A review of their work shows use of an amplitude measurement which is subject to a number of problems including noise susceptibility which limits the accuracy of the method.
The treatment of diabetes with prescribed injections of insulin subcutaneously results in inadequate control of glycemia compared to normal homeostatic control. Blood glucose levels rise and fall several times a day and, therefore, normoglycemia using an "open-loop" insulin delivery approach is difficult to maintain. An alternative solution to this problem would be to "close the loop" using a self-adapting insulin infusion device with a glucose biosensor which continuously detects the need for dispensing insulin at the correct rate and time.
There have been major advances in the development of reliable, versatile, and accurate insulin pumps. As mentioned, significant progress has also been made toward the development of various glucose sensors, particularly in terms of the electrocatalytic (Peura, R. A. and Mendelson, Y., "Blood Glucose Sensors: An Overview". IEEE/NSF Symposium on Biosensors: pp. 63-68, 1984; and Lewandowski, J. J., Malchesky, P. S., Zborowski, M., and Nose, Y., "Evaluation of a Miniature Blood Glucose Sensor", ASAIO Trans., 34(3); pp. 255-58, Jul.-Sep. 1988), electroenzymatic (Clark, L. C., and Noyes, L. K., "Theoretical and Practical Bases for Implantable Glucose Sensors with Special Reference to the Peritoneum", IEEE/NSF Symposium on Biosensors; pp. 69-74, 1984; Clark L. C. and Duggan, C. A., "Implanted Electroenzymatic Glucose Sensors", Diabetes Care, Vol. 5, No. 3, pp. 174-80, May-Jun. 1982), and various optical (Regnault, W. F., and Picciolo, G. L., "Review of Medical Biosensors and Associated Materials Problems:, J. Biomed Mater. Res., Applied Biomaterials Vol. 21, No. A2; pp. 163-80, 1987, - Rabinovitch, B., March, W. F., and Adams, R. L., "Noninvasive Glucose Monitoring of the Aqueous Humor of the Eye; Part 1. Measurement of Very Small Optical Rotations", Diabetes Care, Vol. 5, No. 3; pp. 254-58, May-Jun. 1982; and March, W. F., Rabinovitch, B., and Adams, R. L., "Noninvasive Glucose Monitoring of the Aqueous Humor of the Eye: Part II. Animal Studies and the Scleral Lens."Diabetes Care, Vol. 5, No. 3, pp. 259-65, May-Jun. 1982).
However, there remain major obstacles to the development of clinically useful continuous glucose sensors. According to the National Diabetes Advisory board, in the National Long-Range Plan to Combat Diabetes, "Without a question, the most important long-term advance yet to be made is the development of a continuous blood glucose sensor." The National Institute of Diabetes, Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDI) specifies that an ideal glucose sensor should include: "(a) accuracy and ability to distinguish blood glucose levels throughout the physiologic range; (b) real-time responsiveness without significant delay; (c) biocompatability and reliability for long periods: (d) small and easily implantable: (e) capability for integration with suitable pump system." (Department of Health and Human Services, Solicitation of the Public Health Service and the Health Care Financing Administration for Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Contract Proposals, PHS/HCFA 89-1, Due Date Dec. 9, 1988).
The principal object of the present invention is to provide a novel non-invasive optically based sensor for quantitative determination of optically active substances in a specimen.
It is also an object to provide such a sensor which exhibits a high degree of accuracy and which may be adapted for use with various types of specimens.
A specific object is to provide such a sensor which may be used for determination of glucose levels by measurement of the level in the aqueous humor.
A further object is to provide a novel and accurate non-invasive method for determination of the quantity of optically active substances in specimens.

Optical glucose sensor apparatus and method


Methods, systems, and computer-readable storage media for exposing relationships between universe objects. In some implementations, actions include identifying a universe, the universe including objects at an abstracted layer, automatically processing the objects of the abstracted layer to provide one or more link groups, each link group including a plurality of objects that have some relation to one another, and outputting the one or more link groups.

Computer-implemented reporting tools enable users to query databases through various technologies supported by their respective middleware applications and services. Generally, each query may be performed upon a single database or data source. For example, business object universes, as well as universes that contain business objects, e.g., SAP BusinessObjects Universe provided by SAP AG of Walldorf, Germany, have been created to hide relational database complexity, e.g., their specific tables and columns, and to enable users to search and to query universes based on particular business objects the universes contain or are otherwise associated with.
In some instances, obscuring the complexity can result in incorrect usage. For example, objects can be displayed in a hierarchical tree created by a universe designer. In addition to business views, the tree organization may be the only organizational semantic proposed to the end user. A business view includes a subset of objects defined for the universe. For example, and for a given universe, an example business view entitled "Sales" might only include objects related to sales, and an example business view entitled "HR" might only include objects related to human resources.
An end user who creates a query on top of this universe might have no other guidance about meaningful queries that can be created. For example, the end user can select objects to create a query. If the selected objects are not related, a best case result can include return of a Cartesian product, and a worst case result can include an error message.

Exposing relationships between universe objects


A displacement detecting device for a structural object is capable of accurately measuring displacement of the structural object. The displacement detecting device includes first and second attitude data calculators, a data extractor, and a displacement calculator. The first attitude data calculator calculates attitude data at a first position by using received positioning signals, and calculates a calculated time point of the attitude data of the first position based on a time of a positioning system. The second attitude data calculator calculates attitude data at a second position by using received positioning signals, and calculates a calculated time point of the attitude data of the second position based on the time of the positioning system. The displacement calculator calculates a displacement amount and a displacement direction of the structural object by using a difference between the attitude data of the first and second positions calculated at the same time point.

Conventionally, various kinds of methods of calculating displacement, such as torsion, bending, etc. of large movable bodies, such as ships and aircrafts, architectural objects, such as houses and buildings, and structural objects, such as bridges, are put in practical use. One of such methods is visual checking. Moreover, as Patent Document 1 discloses, a method of using a measurement by a laser beam exists. Furthermore, a method of using a strain gauge exists.

Displacement detecting device for structural object, sharing system of displacement of structural object, and method and program of detecting displacement of structural object


A method and system for reporting data from a spoken dialog service is disclosed. The method comprises extracting data regarding user dialogs using a dialog logging module in the spoken dialog service, analyzing the data to identify trends and reporting the trends. The data may be presented in a visual form for easier consumption. The method may also relate to identifying data within the control or outside the control of a service provider that is used to adjust the spoken dialog service to maximize customer retention.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to spoken dialog systems and more specifically to a system and method of detecting, summarizing and reporting information from automated dialog systems.
2. Introduction
Spoken language dialog systems are becoming more popular and affordable for many companies. These systems provide users and customers with a voice interface to a company wherein the user can speak in a natural manner to provide and receive information. As these spoken dialog systems become more common, much information about their operation becomes available from their system logs. AT&T's VoiceTone® service is an example of a voice dialog system that can be developed for a particular company or purpose. Since these systems are automated, they can provide a huge amount of data on system operation which has application for a number of different audiences.
The basic components of a spoken dialog service include an automatic speech recognition (ASR) module, a spoken language understanding (SLU) module, a dialog manager (DM), a language generation (LG) module and a text-to-speech (TTS) module. These components work together to provide the spoken dialog interaction with the user. These are shown in FIG. 1 and the features associated with the invention are explained more fully below. A spoken dialog system enables a service provider to hear the speech provided by the user, convert the speech to text and understand the meaning or user's intended message in the speech, and to generate an appropriate response.
As a spoken dialog service is deployed, a large quantity of data regarding the user conversations may be logged to obtain information about the behavior of the system and how people interact with the system. This data can provide important details about trends and developments in the area of customer relations management. One of the downfalls of such a system, however, is that human agents are no longer involved in the interactive process and it becomes more difficult to gauge the user experience with the automated system. The automated system has a more difficult time distinguishing the level of user dissatisfaction or satisfaction with the system without engaging in a dialog to request that information.
Further, as companies deploy more automated systems for handling interactions (telephone calls, e-mails, instant-messaging (IM) sessions, chats, etc.) with their customers, the opportunities for human agents to track customer satisfaction decrease. Much of the current analysis of spoken dialog systems focuses on how to deploy and tune the system, which information does not provide helpful business-related data. Therefore, what is needed in the art is a system for obtaining information about user satisfaction and other business-related data from an automated spoken dialog service.

Automatic detection, summarization and reporting of business intelligence highlights from automated dialog systems


An improved bottle holder comprising a lattice-like structure sized to enclose approximately the lower half of a bottle and having latching means engageable with a portion of said bottle to releasably lock the bottle in the bottle holder.

1. Field of Invention
This invention relates to bottle holders and is particularly directed to improved holders for plastic soft drink bottles and the like.
2. Prior Art
Bottle holders have probably been in use almost as long as there have been bottles and innumerable forms and advantages are provided by each. Recently, however, containers have been developed soft drinks and the like which are formed of relatively flexible plastic material. While these plastic bottles are very inexpensive to produce, their flexibility makes them awkward to handle. In view of this, it is desirable to provide a bottle holder for use with such plastic bottles. As noted above, innumerable forms of bottle holders have been proposed heretofore. However, most of the prior art bottle holders are intended for use with rigid bottles and are not suitable for use with flexible bottles. Furthermore, many of the plastic soft drink bottles are relatively large, frequently containing two liters of fluid. Thus, a relatively large bottle holder is required, which :s relatively expensive to produce and which is bulky and heavy to use. Alternatively, a relatively small bottle holder may be employed, provided some means is provided to prevent the bottle from falling out of the holder. No satisfactory means of accomplishing this has been proposed in the prior art.


The present invention provides a cartridge carrying system for performing carriage control so as to enable carriage of a cartridge even when a gap is made between arms and the cartridge. In particular, the cartridge carrying system includes: a cartridge holding mechanism having two arms, the cartridge holding mechanism grabbing a cartridge stored in a first predetermined position at one end of each of the two arms by turning the two arms around respective supporting points in directions opposed to each other; an arm turning mechanisms; a carrying mechanism for carrying the cartridge in such a manner that the cartridge is drawn into or from a space between the two arms; a carriage driving mechanism for driving the carrying mechanism; and a carriage completion monitoring mechanism for monitoring if the cartridge is carried to a second predetermined position, and the cartridge carrying system controlling so that the operation for carrying the cartridge to the second predetermined position is continued, when it is detected that the cartridge is not carried to the second predetermined position within a given time.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a cartridge carrying system, and more particularly to a cartridge carrying system for automatically carrying a cartridge accommodating a magnetic tape or the like therein to a data input/output device such as a magnetic tape unit.
Further, in the library system having a repository for repositing cartridges therein, a cartridge carrying system, and other, the present invention relates to a library system having a function for eliminating such a state as that a cartridge can not be taken out because of positional deviation made between an accessor and a cell, i.e., a gap state.
2. Description of the Related Art
1. Cartridge Carrying System
Referring to FIG. 9, there has been proposed an automatic loading mechanism (auto-loader) for carrying a cartridge accommodating a magnetic tape therein to a magnetic tape unit without needs of operation by an operator.
FIG. 9 shows the appearance of the auto-loader 51 and a magnetic tape unit 52 connected to each other.
The auto-loader 51 includes a magazine 54 having a shelf structure for accommodating a plurality of cartridges, and a cartridge carrying mechanism (referred to as a carrier hereinbelow) 53.
Each of cartridges accommodated in the magazine 54 is taken out from the magazine 54 by the carrier 53 and inserted into a cartridge insertion opening of the magnetic tape unit 52.
In this example, the carrier 53 is so configured as to be capable of elevating action.
FIG. 10 is a view showing a structure of an example of the carrier 53.
In the drawing, a reference character A1 denotes an arm, a number of arms provided being two. The two arms A1 are rotated in a direction (1) or (2) to sandwich a cartridge K1 therebetween, thereby carrying the cartridge K1. A reference character M1 designates a carrying motor which is disposed to each arm A1 to drive a belt B1 wound around the periphery of each arm A1. The belts B1 carry the cartridge K1 in the horizontal direction.
A reference character M2 represents a motor for turning the arms, and drive of the motor in a direction (a) or (b) involves turning action of the two arms A1 around each supporting point P of the arms A1 in the direction (1) or (2) by an eccentric cam disposed to the motor.
For example, when the both arms A1 are turned in the direction (1), one end of each of the two arms A1 on the left-hand side is closed to hold the cartridge K1.
Conversely, when the two arms A1 are rotated in the direction (2), the one end of each of the two arms A1 on the left-hand side is opened while the other end of the same on the right-hand side is closed to hold the cartridge K1.
After held between the two arms A1, the cartridge K1 is carried by drive of the belts B1 in a direction (3) or (4). Reference characters S1 and S2 denote sensors for monitoring that cartridge carrying operation has been effected normally. The ON state of the both sensors means completion of the operation for carrying the cartridge into the carrier.
Reference characters S3 and S4 designate sensors which are provided in the vicinity of the motor M2 and detect the turning action of the arms, namely, the opened or closed state of the ends of the arms on the left- or right-hand side.
For instance, if the motor M2 is stopped when the sensor S3 is turned on, the ends of the arms A1 on the right-hand side are closed. Meanwhile, if the motor M2 is stopped when the sensor S4 is turned on, the ends of the arms A1 on the left-hand side are closed.
Further, in the case where the motor M2 is not stopped, namely, the motor M2 keeps driving, the two arms A1 repeat the opening/closing operation.
Driving the motor M1 while holding the cartridge K1 by the arms A1 involves rotation of the belts B1 in the direction (c) or (d), and the cartridge K1 is then moved in the direction (3) or (4) by drive of the belts.
For example, when the belts B1 are rotated in the direction (c), the cartridge is carried in the direction (3).
The operation of the auto-loader and the carrier having such a configuration is controlled by a control unit provided within the magnetic tape unit.
An example of the conventionally-used control will now be explained.
A) When Inserting the Cartridge Provided within the Magazine into the Magnetic Tape Unit
1: The carrier is moved to a position of a cartridge, which is to be taken out, by the elevating drive of the carrier itself.
2: The cartridge is taken out from the magazine and carried into the carrier by drive of the belts provided at the arm portions.
3: In the state 1 described above, the carrier itself is controlled by elevating drive and moved to the cartridge insertion opening of the magnetic tape unit.
4: The cartridge within the carrier is carried into the cartridge insertion opening by drive of the belts provided at the arm portions.
5: The thus-carried cartridge is pushed into the magnetic tape unit.
B) When Returning the Cartridge Ejected from the Magnetic Tape unit into the Magazine
6: The cartridge ejected from the magnetic tape unit is carried into the carrier by drive of the belts provided at the arm portions.
7: In the state 5 described above, the carrier itself is controlled by elevating drive and moved to a position of the magazine at which the cartridge was accommodated.
8: The cartridge is carried from inside of the carrier into an insertion opening of the magazine by drive of the belts provided at the arm portions.
9: The thus-carried cartridge is pushed into the magazine.
Description will now be given as to an example of the prior art where the cartridge is carried from the left-hand side to the right-hand side in the drawing with reference to FIG. 11.
In the example, the cartridge K1 is carried into the carrier as follows.
In the case where the cartridge K1 located on the left-hand side of the carrier 53, i.e., at a position (X) is carried into the carrier 53, the motor M2 is driven in the direction (a) and the arms A1 are opened in the direction (1). The motor M2 is then stopped at a position where the sensor S4 is turned on.
Subsequently, when the motor M1 is driven so that the belts B1 move in the direction (c), the cartridge K1 is moved in the direction (3). The sensors S1 and S2 perform monitoring operation during drive of the motor M1, and operation for carrying the cartridge K1 into the carrier 53 is completed at a position where the both sensors S1 and S2 are turned on, namely, operation is finished at a position (Y), thereby stopping the motor M1.
On the other hand, in the case where the cartridge K1 located on the right-hand side of the carrier 53, i.e., at a position (Z) is carried into the carrier 53, the motor M12 is driven to move in the direction (b) and the arms A1 are closed in the direction (2). The motor M2 is then stopped at a position where the sensor S3 is turned on.
Next, when the motor M1 is driven so that the belts B1 move in the direction (d), the cartridge K1 is moved in the direction (4).
The sensors S1 and S2 perform monitoring operation during drive of the motor M1, and it is assumed that the cartridge K1 is accommodated in the carrier 53 at a position where the both sensors S1 and S2 are turned on, namely, at the position (Y), thereby stopping the motor M1. The above description is an overview of processing for holding and carrying the cartridge K1 placed at the position (X) or (Z) into the carrier 53.
In the conventional cartridge carrying system, however, there is a following problem: That is, according to such a method as described in the above A) and B), the cartridge can not be successfully held by the arms in the carrier due to a difference in widths of the cartridges and the carriage is failed in the operations of 1, 3 and 5 of A) for inserting the cartridge into the magnetic tape unit and the operation of 7 of B) for returning the cartridge into the magazine.
FIG. 12 illustrates an example of the cartridge carrying operation in the case where such a problem occurs.
The drawing shows the problem which may occur when a cartridge having a small dimension is carried into the carrier if there is a difference in widths W of cartridges.
In this example, as shown in the drawing, the cartridge is moved from the left-hand side to the right-hand side, but a small gap D is disadvantageously made between the cartridge and each belt B1 before the cartridge reaches the position at which the sensor S2 is on.
The cartridge can not be moved to the right-hand side any longer because of the gap D.
When this problem occurred, such a retry control as shown in the flowchart of FIG. 13 has been carried out in the prior art.
At the step S101, the processing for holding the cartridge placed at the position X in FIG. 11 is effected.
A number of times for retry is determined at the step S102, and the motor M1 is driven and the belts B1 are moved so that the cartridge is carried into the carrier at the step S103.
A monitoring time T (T>an actual operation time) is determined at the step S104.
The monitoring time T corresponds to the time after the belts are activated until the both sensors S1 and S2 are turned on and the operation for carrying the cartridge into the carrier is completed.
It is monitored if the both sensors S1 and S2 are turned on within the monitoring time T at the steps S105, S106 and S107, and when the both sensors S1 and S2 are turned on, the motor M1 is stopped (the step S108).
If the both sensors S1 and S2 are not turned on beyond the monitoring time T (the step S105), the cartridge is not completely carried into the carrier, and the motor M1 is hence stopped (the step S109). Then, the processing for temporarily returning the cartridge to the position X is performed (the step S110).
If the cartridge is not normally carried into the carrier even though a number of times for retry has been subjected to subtraction at the steps S111 and the processing for carrying the cartridge to the position Y has been performed the thus-set number of times for retry (the step S112), an error code is set (the step S113) and the processing is completed.
However, if the gap D is generated between the cartridge and each belt even though the carrying processing is repeated as described above, the cartridge may not be returned to the position X. In addition, even if the cartridge is returned to the position X, it is difficult to again carry the cartridge to the position Y in the carrier.
2. Library System (Having an Accessor Function for Eliminating the Gap State)
In general, it may be considered that both fixed repository (fixed cells) and rotary repository (driven cells) can be provided in a library system accommodating storage mediums having a large capacity therein as shown in FIG. 40, and additional provision or movement of the cells after installation is possible.
In the thus-installed repositories, an accessor is moved in directions X, Y and Z in order to fetch a cartridge accommodated in each cell.
Information about an absolute position of each cell that is determined during designing process or installation process is stored in an accessor controller which is not shown in the drawing, and the accessor is moved to the position of any desired cell in accordance with this information.
Further, the deviation between positions of the accessor and each cell is corrected by using a reflex photoelectric sensor or the like if necessary.
However, when the gap state is avoided in this way, there occur following problems. In FIG. 40, after the accessor is moved to the position corresponding with a desired cell, a hand portion of the accessor is driven to fetch the cartridge in the cell.
As shown in FIG. 41(a), if the accessor is aligned with the cell so that they appropriately face to each other, the cartridge can be fetched normally. However, as shown in FIG. 41(b), if the position of the accessor deviates from that of the cell, the accessor can not fetch the cartridge. Also, even if the accessor can held the cartridge, there may occur problems such that the cartridge touches a wall of the cell and thereby can not be taken out and that the cartridge is sandwiched between the cell and the accessor.
When this gap state is generated, the processing for returning the hand portion of the accessor toward the accessor has been carried out in the prior art library system, but this returning operation is failed if friction between the cartridge and the cell is larger than the force for returning the accessor.
Further, in case of a library system having a plurality of accessors, one accessor may be substituted by another accessor so that the operation continues if the accessor fails to operate. However, when the gap state occurs, the substitution by another accessor is impossible and there is caused a drawback such that the operation of the library system is stopped until a customer engineer restores the system from the gap state.
3. Library Control System
In general, a library control system has been conventionally provided with: a repository for accommodating a plurality of replaceable storage mediums (cartridges), e.g., cartridge type magnetic disks each having rear and front faces on which data are written; a plurality of storage medium carrying mechanisms for fetching a specified storage medium from a plurality of the storage mediums and mounting it on a recording/reproducing mechanism; a plurality of recording/reproducing mechanisms for recording/reproducing data to and/or from the thus-fetched storage medium; and a library control unit for controlling these mechanisms.
In this system, the repository consists of a plurality of cells each having an enough space for accommodating the storage medium therein, and each cell has an address. Also, the library control unit stores the information of each cell and its cartridge held therein.
Moreover, generally, in a large scale collective mass storage system having a plurality of such library control systems, each library control system functions in accordance with a command issued from a work station or a personal computer which is a host device, i.e., a host computer.
For example, when the library control system receives from the work station a command to fetch data having a given name, the library control unit of the library control system selects a cartridge having the data in accordance with the previously-stored information and instructs the carrying mechanism and the recording/reproducing mechanism to take out the cartridge and reproduce the data.
In this system, the host device is usually used by a user of the library control unit, and a plurality of the host devices are provided. Therefore, multiple users may simultaneously use the host devices in some cases, and a plurality of carrying mechanisms and recording/reproducing mechanisms are hence provided.
The operation of the prior art library control system will now be described.
FIG. 15 is a block diagrams showing the structure of the library control system.
In the drawing, a reference numeral 101 denotes a host device for issuing a command to mount or unmount the cartridge provided in a medium repository 117 to or from any of disk units 116, namely, a work station or a personal computer.
A reference numeral 102 designates a library control unit for monitoring/controlling the operation of the library system 113, and the library control unit 102 is usually a work station used for exclusively controlling the library system 113.
A reference numeral 103 represents a host interface for receiving a command from the host device and performing communication. When a command received by the library control unit 102 is decoded, a library interface 104 communicating with the library system 113 is informed of this fact.
In addition, there are provided a CPU 105 for performing arithmetic operation; a ROM 106 for storing a program executed by the library control unit 102; a RAM 107; a keyboard controller 109 for receiving an input from a keyboard 108; a disk 110 having a volume information management table; and a disk controller 111 for having access to the disk 110. These members are connected through a bus 112.
A reference numeral 113 denotes a library system having the cartridges therein, the library system being connected with the library control unit 102 through the library interface 104.
A reference numeral 114 designates a library system controller which is an interface for communicating with the library control unit 102. Also, the library system controller 114 analyzes a command received by the library control unit 102 and controls carrying operation of an accessor robot 115 for grabbing the cartridge and operation of a plurality of disk units 116 for mounting the cartridge thereon to record and/or reproduce data.
A reference numeral 117 denotes a medium repository consisting of a plurality of cells each having a cartridge therein.
In this example, the cartridge, which is to be carried and has data to be recorded and/or reproduced, is a cartridge type magnetic disk medium having front and rear surfaces on which data are recorded.
Further, the conventional volume information management table recorded in the disk 110 has such a configuration as shown in FIG. 16.
Here, a volume name means an identification name given to one group of data defined for a given purpose or each JOB, and is supplied from the host device 101.
The volume information management table is used for managing the status of use of the cartridge in accordance with each volume name and produced when the cartridge is inserted into and reposited in the cell.
In FIG. 16, "self-address" indicates a position for reposition in the medium repository 117; "side A/side B" indicates a side of the cartridge on which data are recorded; "state-of-use flag" indicates whether the cartridge having a volume is currently used; and "library ID" is the information indicating the library system having that volume among a plurality of the library systems.
Further, a number of times that the cartridge having that volume is mounted is recorded as a number of times for using the medium.
FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing an example of mount processing in the conventional library control system.
When the volume is directed to be mounted by an input from the host device 101 or the keyboard 108, the CPU 105 is informed of this directive command through the host interface 103 or the keyboard controller 109.
The CPU 105 reads the designated volume information through the bus 112 from the disk 110.
At this time, the disk controller 111 makes reference to the volume information management table on the disk 110 to retrieve the designated volume name (the step S501).
At the steps S502, the state-of-use flag of the designated volume is confirmed and judgment is made upon whether the designated volume is currently used.
If it is currently used, the processing is completed. On the other hand, if it is not used, the self-address of the designated volume is recognized (the step S503).
Subsequently, the state-of-use flag of the designated volume is made to indicate "in-use" state (it is turned ON) (the step S504).
At the step S505, any volume having the same self-address is retrieved in the volume information management table by using the self-address of the designated volume, and the volume information on the side opposed to the side on which the designated volume exists is also extracted. Further, at the step S506, the state-of-use flag of the thus-extracted volume is made to indicate "in-use" state (it is turned ON).
At the step S507, a command to retrieve a vacant disk unit 116 is issued to the library system controller 114 through the library interface 104, and the library control system waits for a response indicating an existence of a vacant disk unit 116.
If a vacant disk device 116 exists, a command is issued to the library system controller 114 to secure that disk unit 116 at the step S508, and the cartridge having the designated volume is moved to the secured disk unit 116 by the accessor robot 115 (the step S509).
At the step S510, a number of times for using the medium recorded in the volume information of the designated volume is counted up, namely, it is increased by one.
As mentioned above, in the conventional library control system, the cartridge is mounted and the information concerning a number of times that the medium is used is recorded. The information indicating the number of times of use is mainly utilized for realizing the optimum arrangement of the cartridge.
For example, in Japanese patent laid-open publication No. 4-283485, there is disclosed an external storage unit having an automatic loading mechanism for enhancing the throughput of the system by repositing a frequently-used recording medium at a position close to the recording/reproducing mechanism by using a table showing frequencies of use of cells.
In Japanese patent laid-open publication No. 59-213060, there is disclosed a mass storage unit having a collection of cartridges which are grouped in such a manner that the cartridge having a higher frequency of use is accommodated in the cell which is more closer to the recording medium by recording a number of times that the cartridge is mounted on a frequency-of-use management table.
The both units are intended to store the information indicating the frequency of use and utilized for realizing the optimum arrangement of the cartridges in the medium repository using this information.
Further, Japanese patent laid-open publication No. 63-14252 discloses a method for selecting a medium repositing files, by which a number of times of use and a capacity of each file are recorded and a medium to be reposited is selected in accordance with the number of times of use per unit capacity.
In Japanese patent laid-open publication No. 52-2421, there is disclosed a magnetic storage unit having a life management function for magnetic recording mediums, the life management function being used to store a frequency of use for each recording medium and indicate that the recording medium can not be used when the frequency of use exceeds a predetermined frequency of use.
In regard of the library control system, the above-mentioned conventional systems are not designed to ease the frequent use of the same medium. That is, if a plurality of users are simultaneously using the library control system, they may happen to read or write data of the same cartridge concurrently.
When the contentious use of the same cartridge occurs, one user can not use the cartridge and thereby have to wait until the use by the other user is finished.
Further, in case of using the cartridge having both sides capable of being used, when one user uses one side of the cartridge, use of the other side of the same cartridge which is requested by another user may be impossible.
When using the data recorded on a side opposed to the side on which the frequently-used data are recorded, the waiting period is frequently generated, thereby deteriorating the efficiency of use of the data.
Furthermore, in a system in which a number of times that data of each volume are used is counted, the number of times that the data are used can not be said to directly reflect a number of time that use of the data is requested, i.e., the frequency of use of the data.
That is, if a counted number of times that the data are used is small, it is difficult to judge that a number of time that use of the data is requested is actually small or the number of times that the data are used is small because data on the opposed side is very frequently used and the data in question can not be used, whereby there is a problem such that the number of times that the data are used can not be directly regarded as the frequency of use.
4. Accessor Control Method for Detecting a Relative Position
With increase in the quantity of information used in a computing system in recent years, there have been proposed various library systems for functioning as automated mass storage units requiring no operation by operators as means for storing the information.
Each of these library system is provided with a repository for accommodating a plurality of recording mediums such as magnetic tape cartridges, optical disk cartridges or others. Recording mediums are previously accommodated in a plurality of cells which are provided in the repository and used for accommodating the recording mediums therein, respectively. An accessor hand portion having a mechanical hand fetches a necessary recording medium from a cell of the repository and carries it to a recording/reproducing portion where the recording medium is set, whereby writing/reading of data is performed.
When the writing/reading of data is completed, the recording medium is again taken out from the recording/reproducing portion and carried to the cell of the repository to accommodate the medium therein. Also, an unnecessary recording medium is carried to an ejection opening to be taken out by an operator. Another recording medium put in an input opening by an operator is carried to the recording/reproducing portion and set, or carried to the cell to be accommodated therein. With such an arrangement, the library system is configured as a kind of automatic warehouse.
FIGS. 25 and 26 are schematic views each showing the positional relation established between an accessor and a repository which are main parts in the library system and a repository.
Referring to FIG. 25, a plurality of cells constituting the repository are of fixed type (the cells are referred to as fixed cells), the accessor moves in a direction of the X axis or the Y axis to fetch a cartridge stored in each fixed cell by using an accessor hand portion.
In this example, an accessor controller is used for moving the accessor to a previously-stored position in front of each cell so that the cartridge can be taken out.
As shown in FIG. 26, the repository has a structure referred to as "rotary driven cells", and takes out the cartridge in a driven cell by controlling the position of the accessor and rotation of the driven cells by using the same accessor with that shown in FIG. 25.
In such a library system having the above-mentioned configuration, the structural dimension of each of both the fixed cells and the driven cells is determined during a designing process, and an absolute position of each of the assembled cells can be theoretically specified.
However, since a certain amount of error is generated during an assembling process, the cartridge may not be taken out because of the error if the position of each cell is specified in accordance with the absolute position.
There is thus taken a measure for calculating a relative position by measuring an error from the absolute position (for example, a coordinate value of a central position of each cell) in order to obtain the actual position of each cell.
For instance, a method by which a measuring jig is used for measuring a deviation from a position at which the accessor is stopped has been proposed in Japanese patent laid-open publication No. 62-251601.
According to this method, a jig cartridge which is accommodated in the cell and has a screw mechanism uniformly protruding in the horizontal direction and another jig cartridge having a pin for detecting a central position of the cell are used to measure the deviation from the central position of the cell.
Further, there has been disclosed a method for detecting a relative position with a configuration having a reflex photoelectric sensor detecting an end portion of the cell in Japanese patent laid-open publication No. 2-94156.
According to this method, one or more reflex photoelectric sensors are provided to the accessor hand portion shown in FIG. 25 and a target flag is set at a specified position in the repository so that the relative position of the accessor hand portion to the repository is detected on the basis of information concerning the target flag output from the sensors.
Moreover, there have been proposed a method by which a video camera is used for image processing and a method using a transparent photoelectric sensor in order to detect the relative position, as well as the methods described above.
As for the accessor control method for detecting the relative position, it takes time to carry out measurement when using the jig for measuring the positional deviation, and the structural error of the screw mechanism or the like is generated, resulting in a problem such that the relative position can not be detected with high accuracy.
Further, in case of image processing using the video camera, configuration and processing of the system are complicated and not hence suitable for increasing the processing speed, and this system is disadvantageously expensive.
Furthermore, when using the transparent photoelectric sensors, since the sensors must be provided on the both sides of a target of detection so that the target is sandwiched therebetween, it is difficult to position the sensors.
Moreover, in the case where the reflex photoelectric sensor is used, the sensor may be provided on only one side of the target, but characteristics of the sensor vary depending on a distance between the sensor and the target, whereby the stable accuracy of detection may not be obtained. Also, following drawbacks are observed: Adjustment of the optical axis and the sensitivity of the sensor is difficult; the sensor itself is expensive; and resolution of the position detection of this sensor is inferior to that of the transparent sensor.
5. Control Unit
Conventionally, many of apparatuses utilized in various fields, e.g., an information processing system such as a personal computer, a word processor or a printer, a data communication system, an automatic carrying system or a manufacturing system have MPUs (Micro Processor Units) therein for controlling their operation. The MPU usually controls the system in accordance with the procedure determined on the basis of program codes stored in a ROM 1 (Read Only Memory).
In addition, when an advanced MPU is used, use of the ROM which can cope with the execution speed of the MPU leads to increase in cost. Therefore, an inexpensive RAM (Random Access Memory) whose execution speed is high may be provided separately from the ROM. In such a case, the program codes stored ,in the ROM may be first developed on the RAM temporarily, and an execution address of the MPU may be shifted on the RAM to perform the control.
Description will now be given hereinbelow as to an example of the prior art in which the program codes stored in the ROM are developed on the RAM.
FIG. 49 is a block diagram showing an example of hardware configuration of a conventional control unit. An MPU 1 is a processor for controlling this unit and connected with a RAM 1, an NVRAM 1, I/O 1 and a ROM 1 through a bus BUS 1 Consisting of an address bus, a data bus and others.
The NVRAM 1 is a non-volatile memory whose content stored therein can not be eliminated even if a power supply is turned off. The NVRAM 1 stores, e.g., setting data which differ for each individual user.
Further, the I/0 1 is an input/output driver and connected with external units such as various input/output units or optional units which are to be controlled. Through this input/output driver, signals for controlling the external units or supervisory signals are input and/or output.
Codes of the control program required for the operation of the control unit are stored in the ROM 1.
FIG. 50 illustrates an example of the program codes stored in the ROM 1 in the prior art.
In this example, program codes BOOT 1 which are executed when starting the MPU 1 and main program codes CODE 1 which are used for controlling the control unit are separately stored in the ROM 1.
Further, the main program codes CODE 1 consist of: program codes MAIN 1 for controlling the control unit body; program codes SUB n (n=1, 2, . . . ) for controlling external units such as an optional unit; or program codes FUNC n (n=1, 2, . . . ) for realizing an expanded function for individual users.
Here, the program codes BOOT 1 are a program for starting the main program CODE 1.
FIG. 51 is a flowchart showing a processing for starting the program codes in the prior art. When the MPU 1 is started after the power supply of the unit is turned on, the starting program codes BOOT 1 in the main program codes CODE 1 are started (at the step S1251), and the MPU 1 is activated in accordance with the BOOT 1.
As described above, the BOOT 1 is a program stored in the ROM 1.
The MPU 1 develops the main program codes CODE 1 on the RAM 1 in accordance with the BOOT 1 (the step S1252).
Upon completion of the processing for developing the main program codes CODE 1 (the step S1253), the execution address of the MPU 1 is shifted on the RAM 1 by the program BOOT 1 (the step S 1254).
Thereafter, the main program CODE 1 developed on the RAM is started, and the MPU 1 executes the processing of the unit on the basis of the start of the main program CODE 1 (the step S 1255).
The above describes the processing for starting the program codes in the prior art.
In addition, in Japanese patent laid-open publication No. 5-12026, there has been disclosed a magnetic disk unit having non-volatile storage means and volatile storage means, the magnetic disk unit storing only a commonly-used part of program codes for controlling the magnetic disk unit in the non-volatile storage means and storing program codes whose types of processing differ for each of a plurality of magnetic disk units in each magnetic disk unit, thereby executing the program after storing the program codes different for each unit in the volatile storage means.
Further, a magnetic disk unit having such a configuration that the program codes are compressed and stored in the non-volatile storage means and the program codes are developed on the volatile storage means when turning on the power supply has been disclosed in this Japanese patent laid-open publication No. 5-12026.
However, the following problems are observed in these conventional control units.
As the scale of program development becomes large or other functions are additionally provided year by year, the scale of program codes may exceed the capacity of the ROM provided in the unit.
In particular, if any unit connected as an option with an information processing unit or a control unit does not have its own MPU, a control program for the option unit must be provided in a main body of the information processing unit so that the option unit can be controlled. Therefore, as a number of the option units increases, the capacity of program codes in the main body also increases.
Further, if multiple users utilize a given information processing unit, the unit responds to each individual user, and there may hence often occur a case such that functions required by the users must be additionally provided or changed.
Thus, program codes in the developed code become large in scale and may exceed the initially-estimated capacity for storing the program.
To solve these problems, as described in the above Japanese patent laid-open publication No. 5-12026, it can be considered to take such a measure as that program codes are first compressed and stored in the ROM and the compressed program codes are decoded and developed on the RAM to thereafter execute processing.
There is, however, a limit in the capacity of the RAM which is an area on which the program codes are developed.
That is, even if all the program codes can be compressed and stored in the ROM, the restriction is put on the program codes so that they must not exceed the previously-provided maximum capacity of the RAM.
Therefore, it may be considered that the ROM storing only the necessary program codes therein is provided in accordance with existence/absence of the optional unit, each function to be used or each user, but management of production and a number of ROMs may be extremely complicated.

Cartridge carrying system and library system


A heating and rotating specimen stage provides for simultaneous specimen heating and rotating. The stage is ideally suited for operation in ultrahigh vacuum (1.times.10.sup.-9 torr or less), but is useful at atmosphere and in pressurized systems as well. A specimen is placed on a specimen holder that is attached to a heater that, in turn, is attached to a top housing. The top housing is rotated relative to a bottom housing and electrically connected thereto by electrically conductive brushes. This stage is made of materials that are compatible with UHV, able to withstand high temperatures, possess low outgassing rates, are gall and seize resistant, and are able to carry substantial electrical loading without overheating.

1. Field of the Invention
The subject invention relates to the heating of a specimen. More specifically, it relates to the heating of a rotating specimen under ultrahigh vacuum (UHV).
2. Description of Related Art
U.S. Pat. No. 4,447,374 discloses the use of a high vacuum apparatus for preparing an electron microscopy specimen. U.S. Pat. No. 4,334,844 is directed to a method and apparatus for preparing a replica film of a specimen for use in electron microscopy and is substantially similar to U.S. Pat. No. 4,447,374. U.S. Pat. No. 3,590,243 discloses a vacuum lock and specimen carrying probe for use with mass spectrometers. Electrical connection with the sample carrier probe is made through a sliding engagement of the probe with an electrical contact support assembly that is mounted in the ion chamber. U.S. Pat. No. 4,950,901 is directed to a specimen cooling holder for side entry transmission electron microscopes.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,008,536 describes a rotating objective lens for an electron microscope which includes a mechanical stage mover and an electrical shifter for deflecting an electron beam from the specimen on the stage. U.S. Pat. No. 4,427,891 is directed to a variable temperature stage for an electron microscope comprising a stage that has a heat insulating means, a cooling head, and a specimen holder. U.S. Pat. No. 4,227,080 describes a device that shifts a frozen specimen, covers it and transfers it to a vacuum chamber for use with a scanning type electron microscope.
A need exists for a method and apparatus that can both heat and rotate a specimen under UHV to achieve a very clean and uniform surface. Existing methods for heating and cooling under UHV lack an efficient way to simultaneously heat and rotate a specimen under UHV. The subject invention provides such features.

Ultra high vacuum heating and rotating specimen stage

The Regents of the University of California


The present disclosure provides methods for inducing cell cycle reentry of postmitotic cell. The present disclosure further provides cells and compositions for treating diseases, such as cardiovascular diseases, neural disorders, hearing loss, and diabetes.

Regenerative medicine is the replacement, engineering and regeneration of cells, tissues and organs to gain or restore normal cellular function. Much of the regenerative medicine field is concentrated on cellular replacement therapies, particularly stem cell-based therapies. One property of stem cells that makes them uniquely suited for cell-based applications is their ability to proliferate in culture for prolonged periods of time. This proliferative capacity offers a source of starting material from which to derive sufficient numbers of cells for use in cell-based applications. However, as cells age, even many stem cells grown in culture, their proliferative capacity tends to decrease.
In addition, many adult cells, including cardiomyocytes, neurons, and skeletal muscle, are considered to be postmitotic cells that achieve growth through hypertrophy rather than hyperplasia. Postmitotic cells are unable, or have an extremely limited ability, to divide or regenerate. As such, many organs containing these postmitotic cells are severely restricted in their ability to adequately repair or restore function after any significant injury.
It would be beneficial to provide methods for reinitiating postmitotic cell division to regenerate cells and/or replace damaged cells. Such capabilities would be useful for both in vitro culturing and screening as well as in vivo applications for the treatment of numerous diseases and disorders.

Methods for inducing cell division of postmitotic cells

The J. David Gladstone Institutes, a testamentary trust established under the Will of J. David Gladstone


A polymer-based waveguide device is for use in an optical amplifier or as a laser waveguide. The waveguide device includes a substrate (1), a polymer bottom cladding layer (21) on the substrate, a polymer channel waveguide (3) on the bottom cladding layer, and a polymer top cladding layer (22). The channel waveguide is doped with at least one kind of rare earth metal ion that can be excited to produce a laser. The bottom and top cladding layers have a same refractive index, which is substantially lower than a refractive index of the channel waveguide. When a light signal is input to the waveguide device, an amplified light signal is obtained and is transmitted within the channel waveguide.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a rare earth-doped optical amplifier, and particularly to a polymer-based erbium-doped waveguide device for use in an erbium-doped waveguide amplifier (EDWA).
2. Description of Prior Art
Optical amplifiers increase the optical output power of an end-terminal system. They can also be used as repeaters, thus allowing increased distance between end-terminal equipment. Rare earth-doped amplifiers can be stimulated to produce a laser that has the same wavelength as that of incident light. Erbium-doped amplifiers are the most established and accepted rare earth-doped amplifiers.
A type of erbium-doped amplifier called an erbium-doped fiber amplifier (EDFA) is commonly used in transoceanic cable transmission. However, EDFAs are generally too expensive for use in high-density metropolitan area networks (MANs). Erbium-doped waveguide amplifiers (EDWAs) have many of the advantages of EDFAs, are more economical to use in MAN applications, and yield better price/performance ratios than EDFAs in MANs. An EDWA comprises an erbium-doped waveguide embedded in a glass substrate. Its similarity to an EDFA derives from its use of an erbium-doped waveguide as a gain medium.
Referring to FIG. 3, U.S. Pat. No. 5,982,973 discloses an erbium-doped planar optical waveguide comprising a substrate, a bottom layer formed on the substrate, an active guiding layer arranged on the bottom layer, and a top cladding layer arranged over the active guiding layer. The sputtering deposition method is used for creating the active guiding layer and top cladding layer of the waveguide, and the material for the active guiding layer and top cladding layer is glass.
However, a planar waveguide amplifier is not suitable for optical communications because of its high polarization dependence. Furthermore, it produces optical amplification in all directions within a plane, rather than simply in the required linear direction.
Referring to FIG. 4, U.S. Statutory Invention Registration (SIR) H 1,848 discloses a Z-propagating waveguide laser and amplifier device in which a rare earth-doped lithium niobate (LiNbO3) crystal is used as a waveguide substrate. The waveguide is formed in the LiNbO3 crystal substrate, substantially parallel to the crystallographic Z-axis of the LiNbO3 crystal substrate. A metal diffusion method is used to create the graded refractive index of the crystalline waveguide.
Unfortunately, the metal diffusion method of U.S. SIR H 1,848 results in the waveguide laser and amplifier device having a gradual gradient distribution of rare earth ion density. There is no distinct boundary between the waveguide and the substrate. A stepped gradient distribution that matches the dimensions of corresponding input and output fibers cannot be attained.
In addition, the waveguide devices in U.S. Pat. No. 5,982,973 and SIR H 1,848 both take a lot of time to produce, and are relatively expensive. A suitable material is desired to lower the costs of optical amplifiers.

Polymer-based rare earth-doped waveguide device


In the representative embodiment of the invention described in the specification, a boron coating is applied to a semiconductor body having a protective film of a compound of the semiconductor material by heating the semiconductor body to a temperature below 400.degree. C. in a vacuum chamber, introducing diborane gas into the chamber and causing a glow discharge between two electrodes in the chamber.

This invention relates to methods for forming protective films and, more particularly, to a new and improved method for forming a protective film on the surface of a semiconductor body in order to prevent a semiconductor device from unwanted deterioration.
One example of a protective film on a semiconductor is an oxide which is formed at high temperature on a surface of a semiconductor substrate. Where a silicon crystal, for example, is used as a semiconductor substrate, an oxide film is produced by placing the silicon crystal in a water vapor while heating it to above 1000.degree. C. This causes a chemical reaction at the silicon crystal surface to produce an oxide film thereon. Another example is a nitride film formed at high temperature. Such a nitride film is formed by placing a semiconductur substrate, for example, a silicon crystal, in a gas containing nitrogen, such as ammonia, while heating it at a high temperature of above 800.degree. C. This causes a chemical reaction at the silicon crystal surface to provide a nitride film thereon.
One disadvantage of a silicon oxide (SiO.sub.2) protective film is that it can react with hydrofluoric acid and then decompose. Therefore, an SiO.sub.2 film cannot be employed when it is likely to come into contact with a solution or vapor containing hydrofluoric acid. On the other hand, a silicon nitride (Si.sub.3 N.sub.4) film will decompose when exposed to heated concentrated phosphoric acid. Accordingly, an Si.sub.3 N.sub.4 film cannot be used when it is likely to come into contact with a solution containing phosphoric acid or its vapor.
An object of the present invention is to provide a method for forming a chemically resistive protective film on a semiconductor body in order to avoid difficulty in subsequent surface treatments resulting from reaction of the protective film with chemicals used in manufacturing processes for semiconductor devices.

Method for forming a protective film on a semiconductor body

Fuji Electric Corporate Research & Development Co., Ltd.


A system and method of heat exchanger freeze protection for an HVAC system by operating an indoor unit assembly and an outdoor unit assembly in a cooling mode and operating a fan at an initial airflow, operating a temperature sensor to measure a temperature value of a heat exchanger, at the expiration of a first predetermined time period, determining whether the temperature value is less than or equal to a first temperature preset value, determining whether a current airflow multiplier is equal to a maximum airflow multiplier limit, increasing the current airflow by an airflow offset multiplier if the current airflow multiplier is less than or equal to the maximum airflow multiplier limit and the temperature value is less than or equal to the first temperature preset, and operating the fan at an increased airflow to move more air across the heat exchanger.

Generally, HVAC systems increase their overall efficiency by closely matching airflow to the refrigerant system capacity. Generally, lower airflows, such as approximately 325 cubic feet per minute (CFM) per ton, yield a higher seasonal energy efficiency ratio (SEER) due to lower electrical consumption of the fan. Open-loop airflow control systems, such as a permanent split capacitor to name one non-limiting example, lose airflow performance at high system static pressures. In order to avoid freezing of the heat exchanger, the open-loop control systems generally require higher airflows, such as approximately 400 CFM/ton, when filters clog, registers are obstructed, etc. There is, therefore, a need for a system and method to increase SEER efficiencies in an open-loop airflow control system while avoiding the possibility of a heat exchanger freezing.

System and method of freeze protection of a heat exchanger in an HVAC system


A tracking control apparatus having a multiple speed reproduction capability includes a unit for generating a tracking error signal and a microprocessor for controlling driving of a capstan motor, and controls transportation of a magnetic tape based on a comparison of a particular value of the tracking error signal with a value of a reference pilot signal generated according to a user key input, thereby reproducing a double speed reproduction picture of a high quality.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a multiple speed reproduction technology for use in an 8 mm-tape video cassette recorder and, more particularly, to a method for controlling tracking of a head for multiple speed reproduction. An apparatus controlling tracking of a head for multiple speed reproduction is also disclosed.
The instant application is based on Korean Patent Application No. 94-14649, which is incorporated herein by reference for all purposes.
2. Brief Discussion of Related Art
An apparatus for reproducing a video signal recorded on a magnetic tape in a speed different from a recording speed thereof is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,568,986 to Furuhata et al., which issued on Feb. 4, 1986, and is entitled "Variable Speed Playback Controller For A Video Tape Recorder". According to this reference, pilot signals having four different frequencies are periodically, repetitively and selectively recorded in sequential tracks on a magnetic tape, and local pilot signals having the same frequencies as those of the recorded pilot signals are sequentially generated in a predetermined sequence. The pilot signal reproduced from the magnetic tape is frequency-converted according to the local pilot signal. If the magnitude of a resultant differential frequency signal is detected, a servo control is performed to consistently maintain the frequency of the detected differential frequency signal. Technology using four kinds of pilot signals similar to those found in U.S. Pat. No. 4,568,986 is shown in FIG. 1A.
The tracking control apparatus of FIG. 1A is for an 8 mm-tape video cassette recorder, which adopts an automatic track following (ATF) method for controlling tracking of a head using four kinds of pilot signals recorded on the respective tracks of a magnetic tape. The pilot signals used in the FIG. 1A apparatus are recorded on sequential tracks periodically and repetitively as shown in FIG. 2A. Also, the pilot signals are overlapped with video information to be recorded on each track. The respective frequencies of the pilot signals are as follows: f1=102.5 kHz; f2=118.9 kHz; f3=165.2 kHz and f4=148.6 kHz. A frequency difference value between the pilot signals on adjacent tracks is approximately 16 kHz or 46.1 kHz, that is, f.sub.2 -f.sub.1 =f.sub.4 -f.sub.3 =16 kHz and f.sub.4 -f.sub.1 =f.sub.3 -f.sub.2 =46 kHz. An operation of the FIG. 1 apparatus when the 8 mm-tape video cassette recorder performs a double speed operation will be described below with reference to FIGS. 2A through 2E.
Two heads, shown in FIG. 1B, operate alternately according to a head switching signal HEAD-SWP of FIG. 2B. That is, during an interval when head switching signal HEAD-SWP has a high level pulse, head A operates, while during an interval when head switching signal HEAD-SWP has a low level pulse, head B, operates. Head B is a multi-functional head which is usually used for double speed reproduction, and is located in a position substantially opposed to that of head A on a head drum as shown in FIG. 1B. Also, head B has the same azimuth characteristic as that of head A. The heads perform tracking of the magnetic tape at the normal double speed reproduction as shown in FIG. 2A. Thus, as shown in FIG. 2D, head A reads a playback pilot signal PB-PILOT having frequencies f.sub.4, f.sub.1 and f.sub.2 and head B reads a playback pilot signal PB-PILOT having frequencies f.sub.2, f.sub.3 and f.sub.4. The playback pilot signal PB-PILOT read from the magnetic tape by the heads is supplied to an ATF integrated circuit ATF-IC 11. Here, a microprocessor 13 generates a reference pilot signal REF-PILOT as shown in FIG. 2C. That is, microprocessor 13 generates a reference pilot signal REF-PILOT having frequency "f.sub.1 " when the frequency components of the playback pilot signal PB-PILOT are f.sub.4, f.sub.1 and f.sub.2, while microprocessor 13 generates a reference pilot signal REF-PILOT of a frequency of "f.sub.3 " when the frequency components of the playback pilot signal PB-PILOT are f.sub.2, f.sub.3 and f.sub.4.
The reference pilot signal has a reference level V.sub.ref of a constant voltage irrespective of a frequency of a signal during performance of the double speed reproduction. The reference level V.sub.ref is supplied to ATF integrated circuit 11. ATF integrated circuit 11 detects difference values between the frequency value of the reference pilot signal REF-PILOT and the frequency components contained in the playback pilot signal PB-PILOT, and generates a tracking error signal ATF-ER representing a quantitative ratio of the detected frequency difference values.
In more detail, ATF integrated circuit 11 detects frequency difference values of 46 kHz, 0 kHz and 16 kHz if the playback pilot signal PB-PILOT contains frequency components f.sub.4, f.sub.1 and f.sub.2 and the reference pilot signal REF-PILOT has frequency f.sub.1, and ATF integrated circuit 11 detects frequency difference values of 46 kHz, 0 kHz and 16 kHz if the playback pilot signal PB-PILOT contains frequency components f.sub.2, f.sub.3 and f.sub.4 and the reference pilot signal REF-PILOT has frequency f.sub.3. ATF integrated circuit 11 generates tracking error signal ATF-ER having a value smaller than predetermined reference level V.sub.ref when the detected frequency difference value is 16 kHz, and generates tracking error signal ATF-ER having a value larger than predetermined reference level V.sub.ref when the detected frequency difference value is 46 kHz. When playback pilot signal PB-PILOT read via head A has frequency components f.sub.4 and f.sub.1, ATF integrated circuit 11 generates tracking error signal ATF-ER having a value determined by a ratio between an amount of a signal having a frequency component f.sub.4 and an amount of a signal having a frequency component f.sub.1. The tracking error signal ATF-ER generated in ATF integrated circuit 11 is shown in FIG. 2E in which reference level V.sub.ref is 2.5 V.
Microprocessor 13 controls driving of a capstan motor 15 based on tracking error signal ATF-ER applied from ATF integrated circuit 11. In more detail, microprocessor 13 samples a particular value of tracking error signal ATF-ER at a sampling position shown in FIG. 2E when tracking error signal ATF-ER is applied thereto. Here, the sampling position shown in FIG. 2E is an intermediate position of each pulse of the head switching signal HEAD-SWP. When the sampled value has a value different from the reference level V.sub.ref, microprocessor 13 controls driving of capstan motor 15 so that the detected value has the same value as that of reference level V.sub.ref. By the operation of the FIG. 1A apparatus, the magnetic tape is precisely transported during double speed reproduction.
However, when the number of times which the magnetic tape has been used increases, the recording state of the magnetic tape deteriorates. When performance of a video cassette recorder used for a playback operation is lowered, an image signal reproduced from the magnetic tape and displayed on a screen picture may quality which is less than satisfactory.

Tracking control method during multiple speed reproduction of a video tape and apparatus therefor


A fluid storage tank utilizing a shear seal in which a leak proof static shear seal covers the entire head of the piston of the storage tank requiring only a single fluid tight seam to seal off the fluid storage chamber from the remainder of the storage tank. The shear seal has a circumferential notch located proximate to its outer periphery which permits the shear seal to rupture along a predetermined path. Elastomeric annular seals on the piston provide a dynamic seal to prevent the fluid from leaking while the piston is moving to eject the stored fluid. The head of the piston flattens any protruding portions of the ruptured shear seal against the walls of the storage tank.

One of the main sources of fuel for the engines of rockets and missiles is propellant fuel which is in the form of a liquid. This liquid propellant is typically stored in cylindrical storage tanks located within the body of the rocket or missile. A movable piston is slidably mounted within the storage tank and is used to maintain the pressure of the liquid fuel in the storage chamber of the tank and to forcibly expel the liquid propellant from the tank through an appropriately located orifice under adverse acceleration environments when desired. Another fluid (a liquid, a gas, a gel, a suspension of solids, or a mixture of any one or more of these) is typically used as a pressurant to cause the piston to slide within the tank to pressurize the propellant or, alternatively, to expel the liquid fuel from the tank.
Since the liquid propellant may have to remain in its storage tank for many years before it is used, it is important that the liquid propellant remain within the storage tank and not seep past the piston. Such seepage of liquid propellant from the storage chamber of the rank into other portions of the rocket not only results in propellant being lost and therefore reducing the range of the rocket, but may also result in a risk of premature ignition of the rocket or in damage to other parts of the rocket, as the propellant is typically extremely caustic. Additionally, elastomeric seals are often necessary to provide a dynamic seal for the piston as it moves within the storage tank. However, the materials from which such elastomeric seals are typically made generally degrade when exposed for a substantial length of time to the liquid propellant, thereby jeopardizing proper operation of the piston and the rocket.
One solution to this problem is proposed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,042,365 wherein an annular shear seal is mounted within the storage tank about the outer circumference of the piston so that it also contacts the inner surface of the wall of the storage tank. The annular shear seal is structurally sealed, such as by welding or other bonding means, along its central opening to the outside surface of the piston and along its outer circumference to the inner surface of the wall of the storage tank. The annular shear seal is disclosed as having a notch portion which is positioned on the shear seal between the point where the shear seal contacts the piston and the point where the shear seal contacts the storage tank wall. The shear seal and its two welds block leakage of the propellant before the rocket is activated. When the rocket is to be activated, fluid pressure is applied to the piston, which causes the piston to exert an increasing force to the shear seal until a point when the shear seal ruptures along its notch. When the sear seal ruptures, the piston is free to slide and thereby expel the liquid fuel from the storage chamber of the tank. Although the disclosed shear seal design aids in preventing leakage of the propellant, the design requires at least two separate welds--one between the piston and the shear seal, and the other between the shear seal and the wall of the storage tank. Since the integrity of these two welds is critical to the proper operation of the storage tank, both of the welds must be inspected prior to final assembly of the tanks. The inspection of these two welds is a relatively time consuming and expensive process in view of the fact that they are located within the narrow confines of the storage rank and must be carried out by using X-ray photography.
Additionally, a shear seal typically does not rupture uniformly along its the entire length of its notch due to variations of the notch profile, variations in the depth of the notch, variations in the thickness of the surrounding material, and variations in the metal comprising the shear seal itself. As a result, it may be expected that a notched shear seal as disclosed above will not break uniformly, at exactly the same position, and at the same moment along its entire length. Furthermore, for the elastomeric seals to operate properly (i.e., provide a fluid tight seal while not impinging upon the freedom of movement of the piston), the rupture point of a shear seal cannot be recessed too deeply into the wall of the storage tank because the elastomeric seals will have to pass over the recess in which the shear seal is mounted. As a result, jagged remnants of the shear seal may be expected to remain, protrude, and tear or score the elastomeric annular seals on the piston. Such tears or scoring of the elastomeric seals allow the propellant to leak around the piston when the piston is activated, thereby possibly causing the piston to malfunction. Remnants of the shear seal may also cause the piston to jam so that all of the propellant cannot be expelled.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,545.343 discloses a design which employs only one weld rather than two or more welds, however, this weld is very deep. In this design, a weld is applied from the outside of the storage tank and passes through the entire wall of the storage tank into a recess in the piston. The weld is disclosed to be thin enough so that it will rupture or shear when the piston begins to move. This design poses problems relating to the formation of a uniform deep weld, and to the evaluation of the integrity of the weld because of its depth. In addition, the design does not protect the elastomeric seals on the piston from getting torn or scored by remnants of the weld after the weld has ruptured.

Fluid storage tank employing a shear seal