A semiconductor device includes a T-shaped gate electrode. The T-shaped electrode may have a metal upper layer and a semiconductor lower layer with a diffusion barrier therebetween. The metal upper layer may be used as a gate mask to control implantation of ions in a semiconductor substrate. Gate metal-semiconductor portions may be electrically coupled to both the metal upper portion and the semiconductor lower portion thereby to reduce electrical resistance in the T-shaped electrode. A method of forming source and drain regions in the semiconductor device includes using the T-shaped gate electrode as an implant mask.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention involves semiconductor devices and methods for fabricating the same. In particular, the invention involves semiconductor devices having metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistors (MOSFETS) and methods of manufacturing such devices.
2. Description of the Related Art
Increased performance requirements have led to integrated circuits with denser arrays of devices, necessitating for example smaller gate sizes. As gate sizes decrease, forming electrical contacts with gate electrodes becomes an increasingly difficult problem.
In addition, another difficulty in the manufacture of semiconductor devices involves the doping of semiconductor substrate layers with electrically-active materials, in order to form electrically-conductive regions such as source and drain regions in the vicinity of a gate, for example in forming a metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor (MOSFET). In the creation of such electrically-conductive regions, it is desirable for a shallow, relatively lightly-doped channel or extension region to be closest to the gate. Therefore the doping to create source and drain regions may involve multiple steps: an initial light doping, formation of a mask layer to protect the channels or extensions from further doping, a higher-energy doping to create the main source and drain regions, and finally removal of the mask layer.
From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that it would be desirable to provide simple means for making electrical connections with gate electrodes.
In addition, it will be appreciated that it would be desirable to simplify the procedures for implantation to create source and drain regions.
A semiconductor device includes a T-shaped gate electrode. The T-shaped electrode may have a metal upper layer and a semiconductor lower layer with a diffusion barrier therebetween. The metal upper layer may be used as a gate mask to control implantation of ions in a semiconductor substrate. Gate metal-semiconductor portions may be electrically coupled to both the metal upper portion and the semiconductor lower portion thereby to reduce electrical resistance in the T-shaped electrode. A method of forming source and drain regions in the semiconductor device includes using the T-shaped gate electrode as an implant mask.
According to an aspect of the invention, a semiconductor device has a T-shaped gate electrode with a tungsten top layer.
According to another aspect of the invention, a semiconductor device has a T-shaped gate electrode, the T-shaped gate electrode having a metal upper portion, a semiconductor lower portion, and a gate metal-semiconductor portion electrically coupled both to the upper portion and the lower portion.
According to yet another aspect of the invention, a semiconductor device has a gate electrode which includes a metal portion and a metal-semiconductor portion electrically coupled to the metal portion, the metal of the metal portion being a different metal than the metal of the metal-semiconductor portion.
According to still another aspect of the invention, a semiconductor device has a T-shaped electrode used as an implant mask.
According to a further aspect of the invention, a semiconductor device has a gate electrode which has a metal portion used as an implant mask.
According to a still further aspect of the invention, a method of forming source and drain regions in a semiconductor substrate includes forming deep implant regions using a perpendicular implant, and forming extensions or channels using one or more tilted implants.
According to another aspect of the invention, a method of forming source and drain regions in a semiconductor substrate includes using a gate electrode as an implant mask during the formation of deep implant regions.
According to yet another aspect of the invention, a method for fabricating a semiconductor device includes the steps of forming a T-shaped gate electrode over a semiconductor substrate, the gate electrode having a metal upper portion which overhangs a conductive lower portion; and selectively implanting an exposed surface of the substrate, using the metal upper portion as an implant mask.
According to still another aspect of the invention, a semiconductor device includes a T-shaped gate electrode having a lower conductive portion and an upper conductive portion with overhangs that overhang the lower portion, the upper portion including tungsten.
According to a further aspect of the invention, a semiconductor device includes a gate electrode having a lower semiconductor portion, an upper metal portion, a diffusion barrier between the lower portion and the upper portion, and a metal-semiconductor portion electrically coupled to the lower portion and the upper portion.
According to a still further aspect of the invention, a method of fabricating a semiconductor device includes the steps of forming a gate electrode over a semiconductor substrate, the gate electrode having a metal upper portion and a semiconductor lower portion; and forming a metal-semiconductor portion on the gate electrode which is electrically coupled to the lower portion and the upper portion.
To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, the invention comprises the features hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims. The following description and the annexed drawings set forth in detail certain illustrative embodiments of the invention. These embodiments are indicative, however, of but a few of the various ways in which the principles of the invention may be employed. Other objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention when considered in conjunction with the drawings.

T-shaped gate device and method for making


Techniques disclosed herein provide an approach for automatically importing graphical topologies and deploying the same. In one embodiment, a topology importer tool uses a trained machine learning model to detect and classify objects in an image depicting a topology. The topology importer distinguishes between software (or hardware) components in the detected objects and properties of those components. In particular, the topology importer may determine a property is associated with a component based on an overlap between objects representing the property and the component, a distance between the objects representing the property and the component, or a learned model. The topology importer determines relationships between components in a similar manner, as well as based on detected links represented by objects between components indicating those components are connected. The topology importer further converts the topology to a format understood by an application which may then deploy the topology.

Graphical diagrams (e.g., hand-drawn sketches or diagrams, computer aided sketches or diagrams, etc.) are a natural way of expressing ideas. For example, software developers often draw diagrams (e.g., by hand, or using a computer aided sketching or diagramming program) to represent ideas and design new models. One type of diagram that developers draw is a topology diagram depicting computing system components and their arrangement/relationships. For example, a developer may draw a topology diagram representing a logical topology for a logical network. Such topologies might be designed in, e.g., hand-drawn diagrams on paper or on a white board, or in computer based diagrams or images. However, deployment of topologies after they are drawn has traditionally required manual user input into a graphical user interface (UI) or using an application programming interface (API), which can be tedious and error prone.

System and method for deploying graphical diagram topologies


An imaging apparatus comprises a plurality of pixels, a driving unit configured to successively reset signal charges stored in a photoelectric conversion unit at every predetermined line and successively read out a signal based on the signal charges at every predetermined line, and a control unit. The control unit has a first mode in which a starting readout line of the pixels is fixed and a second mode in which the starting readout line of the pixels is changeable based on input control information. The control unit changes a reset timing of the pixels of the starting readout line in the second mode so as to cause a second charge storage period to be less or equal to a first charge storage period in the second mode.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an imaging apparatus comprising a photoelectric conversion element, a control method thereof and an imaging system. In particular, the present invention relates to an imaging apparatus using a rolling shutter, a control method thereof and an imaging system.
2. Description of the Related Art
An imaging apparatus such as an electronic camera or video camera generally uses a technique (to be referred to as a "camera shake correction technique" hereinafter) of correcting a so-called camera shake as the apparatus becomes compact or the optical design technique such as an optical magnification improves. The camera shake correction techniques roughly fall into optical camera shake correction techniques and electronic camera shake correction techniques. An optical camera shake correction technique controls an optical path change means such as a shift lens arranged in the imaging optical system in accordance with the imaging apparatus' movement by a camera shake. An electronic camera shake correction technique displays part of a sensed image that is extracted based on the acceleration information of the imaging apparatus, thereby canceling the blur of the displayed image. The electronic camera shake correction techniques include a memory-type camera shake correction method and an extraction-type camera shake correction method. The memory-type camera shake correction method records, in a memory, an image read from an imaging element and changes the readout range for readout from the memory. The extraction-type camera shake correction method changes the readout range in reading from the imaging element.
The characteristic features of these camera shake correction techniques will be described below.
The optical camera shake correction technique is expensive because the imaging apparatus incorporates an optical path change means. Additionally, the size of the imaging optical system is large, resulting in a bulky imaging apparatus. However, since the image size does not change, the quality of a sensed image is high. To the contrary, the memory-type camera shake correction method is capable of size reduction of the imaging apparatus and feedforward control based on acceleration information from a sensed image. It is therefore easy to form an electronic camera shake correction system. However, it is necessary to always read out pixels more than display pixels and drive the imaging element at a high speed. The extraction-type camera shake correction method is also advantageous for size reduction of the imaging apparatus. Since it is only necessary to read out pixels equal in number to display pixels, the imaging element need not be driven so quickly as in the memory-type camera shake correction method. However, this method is incapable of feedforward control based on acceleration information from a sensed image. It is therefore necessary to form the electronic camera shake correction system by employing difficult feedback control or separately use an acceleration sensor such as a gyro.
As described above, each camera shake correction method has both merits and demerits. An imaging apparatus employs one of the methods in accordance with its price and marketing target. For example, an expensive high-end model sometimes forms a high-performance camera shake correction system by combining a plurality of methods.
Recently, many imaging apparatuses such as a digital camera or video camera include a CMOS image sensor in place of a CCD image sensor. A CMOS image sensor causes a floating diffusion amplifier to convert signal charges generated by a photodiode into a voltage signal. The voltage signal is read out to a column signal line for each horizontal line in accordance with a row selection signal from a vertical scanning circuit and sequentially read out to the outside in accordance with a horizontal driving signal from a horizontal scanning circuit.
Since the above-described CMOS image sensor executes voltage conversion and readout for each horizontal line, it inevitably employs a rolling shutter scheme in which the start time and end time of charge storage in pixels sequentially shift for each horizontal line. However, when control is performed to make the timing of readout of stored charges in each horizontal line match the timing of the vertical sync signal for driving the imaging element, the readout sensed image is displayed in synchronism with the vertical sync signal. The above-described extraction-type camera shake correction system using such a CMOS image sensor of a rolling shutter type has the following problems.
The extraction-type camera shake correction system using a CMOS image sensor changes the starting readout line in accordance with acceleration information. However, the readout timing of the changed starting readout line must change to, for example, the start position of the vertical sync signal. Additionally, to maintain the constant storage time of pixels, it is necessary to set the charge reset timing of the starting readout line to a predetermined timing back from the readout timing of the starting readout line. Without these changes, the display image vertical position and the storage time shift. Hence, the imaging apparatus using a CMOS image sensor does not employ the extraction-type camera shake correction system.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-350101 discloses a technique of adjusting the charge reset and readout timings of the starting readout line to a predetermined position in accordance with setting of the starting readout line.
A video camera drives an imaging element based on an image format such as NTSC. In, for example, NTSC, the field period is 1/16 sec=16.7 msec. For this reason, under a normal sensing condition (sensing under sufficient illumination), the storage time of the imaging element is set to 16.7 msec. The optical system, imaging element, and signal processing system are designed such that a signal read out the imaging element can obtain a sufficient imager quality as a final display image. Hence, when charge readout from the photoelectric conversion elements of a predetermined row finishes, the charges in the photoelectric conversion elements of that row are immediately reset. Then, charge storage starts in preparation for readout in the next field.
Assuming this technique, a case will be examined in which the starting readout line changes for each field, as shown in FIG. 9A. In accordance with the technique disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-350101, the readout timing of the starting readout line is adjusted to the timing of the vertical sync signal, and the charge reset timing of the starting readout line is changed to ensure a charge storage period of 16.7 msec. In this case, it is necessary to reset charges in the next field during storage of the starting readout line in the preceding field, as shown in FIG. 9B.
As described above, the extraction-type camera shake correction system almost equally sets the unit field (or unit frame) update period and the charge storage period. For this reason, it is impossible to change the starting readout line for each unit field (or unit frame) in accordance with camera shake information.

Imaging apparatus and system adopting extraction-type, camera shake correction, and control method thereof


A sensing apparatus, for use in adverse conditions comprising a housing having an aperture formed therein. A generally spherically shaped housing, which is larger in size than the aperture, partially extends through the aperture. The generally spherically shaped housing supports a desired sensor and is supported for rotation about an axis of rotation. A drive mechanism is provided for rotating the generally spherically shaped housing to and fro about its rotational axis from a use position, in which the sensor is positioned outside the housing to obtain sensor measurements, to a retracted position in which the sensor is completely accommodated within the housing and sheltered from the elements. A peripheral scraping ring is mounted circumferentially about the aperture in close proximity to an exterior surface of the generally spherically shaped housing but spaced therefrom. The scraping ring is positioned to remove any snow, ice, rain, freezing rain, moisture, dirt, soot, or other contaminants contained on the exterior surface of the generally spherically shaped housing during rotation thereof. The sensing apparatus also includes fans, a calibration device and a heater to maintain the sensor in an operable condition.

It is known in the art to mount sensors such as radiometers in a housing. The orientation of the sensor in the housing is such that the sensor is always located outside of the housing in a ready for use position. The housing does not allow the sensor to be rotated so that the sensor is completely accommodated within the housing and sheltered from the environment.
Sensors used to collect data are subjected to the elements, e.g. ice, snow, rain, freezing rain, wind, and moisture as well as dirt, soot, mud, contaminants, etc. which will typically hinder proper operation of the sensor. Such naturally occurring and/or man made elements and contaminants can accumulate on the sensor and restrict the function of the sensor or cause the sensor to malfunction. Further, the prior art housing designs do not provide for the removal of accumulated ice, snow, moisture, dirt or the like.
The term "generally spherically shaped housing", when used below and in the appended claims, includes any spherically shaped member such as generally cylindrical members, generally ovoid shaped members, and/or generally egg shaped members, as well as any partial or truncated generally cylindrical members, partial or truncated generally ovoid shaped members, and/or partial or truncated generally egg shaped members, including modifications thereof. In particular, that term is intended to cover any and all members which: 1) have an axis extending longitudinally thereof, and 2) have a plane extending normal to the longitudinal axis of the member and extending through the member, defining a circle, if the generally spherically shaped member is not truncated, or a portion of a circle, if the generally spherically shaped member is truncated. The term "generally spherically shaped area", when used below and in the appended claims, means the total area defined by the generally spherically shaped member in a non-truncated form, i.e. the area the entire untruncated generally spherically shaped member would occupy.

Weatherproof sensing apparatus with rotatable sensor


Embodiments of the present application provide a signal processing method and apparatus, and a device. The embodiments relate to an MU-MIMO system. The signal processing apparatus includes: a signal obtaining module and a sending module. A signal includes N spatial flows, and the signal includes a training field, where the training field includes a first part and a second part. Sub-carriers of an OFDM symbol in the second part of the training field are divided into N training sub-carrier sets TSSs in a division manner that is the same as a division manner of sub-carriers of an OFDM symbol in the first part of the training field, and each spatial flow corresponds to at least one sub-carrier in a TSS, in each frequency domain location, of each OFDM symbol in the second part of the training field. So that precision of the channel estimation is improved.

Uplink multi-user multiple-input multiple-output (MU-MIMO) is a key technology of the new-generation wireless local area network (WLAN) standard 802.11ax. In the uplink MU-MIMO, an access point (AP) obtains channel estimation of the uplink MU-MIMO by using a high efficiency long training field (HE-LTF) in an uplink packet transmitted by each STA, to demodulate signals from different stations (STA).
FIG. 1 is an exemplary diagram of a training field solution using sub-carrier or sub-band interleaving in the prior art. As shown in FIG. 1, a training field includes 4+1 orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) symbols. The training field is divided into two parts according to functions. A first part includes the first four OFDM symbols, that is, an LTF-1, an LTF-2, an LTF-3, and an LTF-4, and a second part includes a fifth OFDM symbol, that is, an additional LTF. Sub-carriers of each OFDM symbol in the first part of the training field each carry a known reference symbol. Four spatial flows sequentially correspond to different sub-carriers or sub-bands in each OFDM symbol, and have locations that do not overlap with those of corresponding sub-carriers or sub-bands of corresponding spatial flows in an adjacent OFDM symbol. A sub-carrier or sub-band corresponding to each spatial flow repeats every four sub-carriers or sub-bands, and after four OFDM symbols, each spatial flow traverses all sub-carriers, but sub-carriers corresponding to the spatial flows are orthogonal to each other. In this way, by using a known reference symbol carried by sub-carriers corresponding to each spatial flow, channel estimation of the corresponding spatial flow on each sub-carrier can be obtained.
In the prior art shown in FIG. 1, the additional LTF in the second part of the training field is a repetition of the LTF-1 in the first part of the training field, and is mainly used to estimate a carrier frequency offset (CFO) corresponding to each spatial flow, so as to compensate for a phase offset caused due to the CFO during channel estimation. However, channel estimation obtained by using the prior art is of low precision, and estimation performance is relatively poor.

Signal processing method and apparatus, and device


A fiber reinforced energetic composite is provided. The fiber reinforced energetic composite includes reinforcing fiber embedded in a cured polymer matrix and energetic polymer nanocomposite disposed in the reinforcing fiber. The energetic polymer nanocomposite including core-shell nanoparticles entrained in a polymer matrix. The core-shell nanoparticles include a core made of a metal and at least one shell layer made of a metal oxide disposed on the core or a core made a metal oxide and at least one shell layer made of a metal disposed on the core. The method of making a fiber reinforced energetic composite is also provided. Further, a composite container made of fiber reinforced energetic composite is further provided.

The present disclosure relates to fiber reinforced energetic composites having a substrate of reinforcing fiber and an energetic polymer nanocomposite disposed therein.
A problem which may arise with ammunition, propellant, or fuel in a closed environment is a phenomenon known as fast cook-off. Cook-off is unintended detonation of the ammunition, propellant, or fuel due to heat in the surrounding environment and a fast cook-off is a cook-off caused by a fire or intense heat source in the region of the ammunition, propellant, or fuel. A rocket motor case in transport is loaded with substantial quantity of high energy density propellant or fuel. If a fire arises during the transportation of the motor case, the substantial quantity of propellant or fuel can be ignited and result in an explosion and a fast cook-off event. In the event of a fire, it is desirable to release the pressure built up inside the motor case to prevent explosive ignition or fast cook-off of the fuel bolus while enclosed within the motor case. Current venting systems only vent in discrete areas where a specialized venting mechanism is present. These existing systems do not account for heat sources far from the defined locations of the venting mechanism on the rocket motor casing. Additionally, fuel may only be vented proximate the discrete venting locations which allows for potentially dangerous pressure to build up away from the venting mechanism.


Viral vectors comprising engineered hOTC DNA and RNA sequences are provided which when delivered to a subject in need thereof are useful for treating hyperammonemia, ornithine transcarbamylase deficiency and symptoms associated therewith. Also provided are methods of using hOTC for treatment of liver fibrosis cirrhosis in OTCD patients by administering hOTC.

Ornithine transcarbamylase (OTC) deficiency accounts for nearly half of all cases of inborn errors of urea synthesis, with a prevalence estimated to be at least 1 in 15,000. Urea cycle defects put patients at risk of life threatening elevation of ammonia that can lead to irreversible cognitive impairment, coma and death. Newborn males with complete deficiency develop hyperammonemic coma within the first 3 days of life, which if untreated, is lethal.
Current therapies for OTC deficiency (OTCD) have numerous challenges. Patients can be managed with a low protein diet in combination with the use of medications that activate alternate nitrogen clearance pathways, but this does not prevent hyperammonemic crises. Despite the use of dialysis and alternate pathway therapy, there is almost a 50% mortality rate in neonates. Liver transplantation can cure OTCD, but donor liver is limiting, the procedure carries significant morbidity and immunosuppressive drugs are necessary for the duration of the subject's life.
Gene therapy of a metabolic disease such as OTCD presents a more challenging model for gene replacement therapy than other conditions. Because the gene acts in a cell-autonomous manner (i.e., it can only influence the cell in which it is expressed), therapeutic effects should be directly correlated with the number of target cells that are transduced, rather than with the net level of expression in liver such as with a secreted protein where high expression per cell can overcome low transduction. Furthermore, there has been at least one published report that hOTCwt mRNA is unstable. [Wang, L., et al, Molecular Genetics and Metabolism, 105 (2012) 203-211].
There have been published reports of using viral vectors to try to treat OTC deficiency. For example, several groups have tried this in murine models of OTC deficiency, using recombinant adenoviruses carrying rat, mouse, or human OTC cDNA. Some measure of successful reconstitution of liver OTC activity and correction of metabolic derangements have been reported in animal models with viruses carrying rat or mouse OTC cDNA. Previous studies using adenoviral vectors have illustrated the difficulties of expressing sufficient levels of active human OTC in OTCD mice.
Therefore, there is a need for other approaches to OTCD therapy.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Compositions useful in treatment of ornithine transcarbamylase (OTC) deficiency

The Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania


An intracranial, light-emitting implant for providing therapy to a patient having Alzheimer's Disease.

In Alzheimer's Disease (AD), the cleavage of beta amyloid protein precursor from the intracellular membrane often produces a protein AB-42 which is incompletely removed by normal clearance processes. Over time, this protein is deposited as a beta amyloid protein Aβ plaque within brain tissue, leading to the local destruction of neurons. The Aβ plaque deposition is also believed to provoke an inflammatory response by microglia and macrophages, which recognize the plaque as a foreign body. These cells are believed to respond to the plaque deposition by releasing pro-inflammatory cytokines and reactive oxygen species (ROS). Although the inflammatory response may be provoked in an effort to clear the brain tissue of the detrimental plaque, it is now believed that this inflammation also injures local neuronal tissue, thereby exacerbating AD.
Because of the role played in AD by inflammation, anti-inflammatory compounds have been identified as candidates for treating Alzheimer's Disease. However, the delivery of these compounds has generally been through an oral route, and the systemic side effects associated with long term use of these compounds are often undesirable.
Some investigators have proposed implanting an effective amount of NGF in a sustained release device for treating Alzheimer's Disease. However, NGF simply helps restore damaged neurons—it does little to stop the damage from occurring.

Light-based implants for treating Alzheimer's disease


A computer-implemented method according to one embodiment includes performing a survey of a survey area of a surface in an intended direction of travel of a user, determining whether an obstacle is present in the survey area of the surface within a predetermined distance of the user, and in response to determining that a detected obstacle is present in the survey area of the surface within the predetermined distance of the user, performing a process until it is determined that the obstacle is not present in the survey area of the surface within the predetermined distance of the user. The process includes determining a corrective sensory stimulation for offsetting balance of the user in a direction away from the obstacle, and outputting the corrective sensory stimulation to a sensory user device.

The present invention relates to user assistance devices, and more specifically, this invention relates to use of corrective sensory stimulation for preventing humans from suffering from obstacle-related fall events.
Walking surfaces are often uneven or stricken with one or more obstacles, which causes difficulty for walking thereon. Many times, obstacles go unnoticed by someone traversing walking surfaces with obstacles, and as a result the obstacles influence such people to trip, fall, roll an ankle, etc.
Older adults are especially prone to falling, e.g., as a result of poor eyesight, as a result of diminished balance, as a result of diminished reflex timing, etc., after contacting such obstacles. These adults are often injured as a result of such falls. However, such obstacle related injuries are a threat to persons of all age groups.

Predictive fall prevention using corrective sensory stimulation

International Business Machiness Corporation


An IP telephony gateway and a voice mail resource enable a voice mail subscriber to place an outgoing call to a destination party from a voice mail session according to the voice over IP (H.323) protocol, and resume the voice mail session upon completion of the outgoing call with the destination party. The IP telephony gateway establishes a voice mail session for the voice mail subscriber with the voice mail resource across a first Real Time Protocol (RTP) data stream. The voice mail resource initiates a second RTP data stream to a destination party in response to reception of a prescribed command from the voice mail subscriber. Although an RTP bridge connecting the first and second RTP data streams can be maintained by the voice mail resource, the voice mail resource may also use the Empty Capability Set feature in the H.323 standard to cause the IP telephony gateway to close the first and second RTP data streams to the voice mail resource. The voice mail resource then issues Non-Empty Capability Set messages to the IP telephony gateway for the first and second RTP data streams, causing the IP telephony gateway to internally bridge the first and second RTP data streams. The voice mail resource monitors connections between the voice mail subscriber and the destination party, and upon detecting a disconnect by the destination party causes the IP telephony gateway to resume the voice mail session, by repeating the sequence of sending Empty Capability Set and Non-Empty Capability Set messages to the IP telephony gateway to break down the bridge and re-establish the connection between the voice mail subscriber and the voice mail resource.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to voice mail systems configured for providing messaging services for subscribers in a voice over Internet Protocol (IP) network according to H.323 protocol.
2. Description of the Related Art
The evolution of the public switched telephone network has resulted in a variety of voice applications and services that can be provided to individual subscribers and business subscribers. Such services include voice messaging systems that enable landline or wireless subscribers to record, playback, and forward voice mail messages. However, the ability to provide enhanced services to subscribers of the public switched telephone network is directly affected by the limitations of the public switched telephone network. In particular, the public switched telephone network operates according to a protocol that is specifically designed for the transport of voice signals; hence any modifications necessary to provide enhanced services can only be done by switch vendors that have sufficient know-how of the existing public switched telephone network infrastructure. Hence, the reliance on proprietary protocols and closed development environments by telecommunications equipment providers has limited service providers to vendor-specific implementations of voice and telephony services.
One particular problem in existing voice mail systems is the inability to provide more complex features for voice mail subscribers. For example, conventional voice mail systems are limited to allowing a voice mail subscriber to merely retrieve stored voice mail messages, and possibly forward a voice mail message to another voice mail subscriber within the same voice mail system. However, these conventional voice mail systems do not permit a voice mail subscriber to perform more advanced operations.
Assume that a voice mail subscriber calls into his or her voice mailbox to retrieve messages. During the retrieval of messages, the voice mail subscriber desires to return a call to a party that left the voice mail subscriber a message. Normally the voice mail subscriber would need to terminate the voice mail session and manually call back the party that left the message, resulting in substantial inconvenience to the voice mail subscriber. After completing the call with the party that left the message, the voice mail subscriber normally would need to call back into the voice mail system to access his or her mailbox. Hence the voice mail subscriber needs to endure the added inconvenience of calling back the voice mail system: this inconvenience in repeatedly hanging up and redialing the voice system and/or a party having left a message results in annoyance to the voice mail subscriber, as well as increased toll charges.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,857,013 to Yue et al. suggests the desirability of enabling a mobile telephone user to access his or her associated voice mail system and have the system automatically call a number of a person, having left a message, without leaving the voice mail service. Yue et al. merely suggests use of a Bell South service circuit node, available from AT&T network systems, where the system software is coded in the service logic language within a UNIX environment. Yue et al., however, provides no disclosure of how such a system would be implemented in a telephone network such as a mobile telephone system or the public switched telephone network.
Voice over IP technology is under development as part of an alternative open packet telephony communications network, distinct from the public (circuit switched) telephone network, capable of using packet switched networks for integrating voice, data, facsimile, and Internet services, and the like. New packet telephony voice services are being built from open standards such as The International Telecommunications Union (ITU) Recommendation H.323. Recommendation H.323 defines the components, procedures, and protocols necessary to provide audiovisual communications on local area networks. Recommendation H.323 is based on the Real Time Protocol/Control Protocol (RTP/RTCP) of the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF), and applies to either point-to-point or multipoint sessions, and references many other ITU recommendations, including H.225 and H.245. Recommendation H.225 specifies messages for call control including signaling, registration and admissions, and packetization/synchronization of media streams. Recommendation H.245 specifies messages for opening and closing channels for media streams, and other commands, requests and indications.
Although voice over IP systems are being deployed to provide point-to-point voice communications services, the current H.323 standard does not provide a direct means for enabling a voice mail subscriber to place an outbound call from a voice mail system, and then return to the voice mailbox after call completion.

Voice over IP voice mail system configured for placing an outgoing call and returning subscriber to mailbox after call completion


A method and apparatus for providing inexpensive and accurate electrical synchronization between the individual cameras within a 3D or stereoscopic video camera is disclosed. The method and apparatus use a common clock pulse to both cameras and a frame reset pulse generated by one camera to provide a frame reset for the second camera. By using these pulses, it is possible to fully synchronize the two camera, a multiplexer and an RGB encoder to produce a totally in synchronization 3D or stereoscopic video signal without using expensive gen-lock techniques. In addition a method and apparatus for providing mechanical adjustment for the convergence of the horizontal axes of the cameras with a 3D or stereoscopic video camera is explained. It addition, the basic techniques used in the convergence is also shown for achieving an inexpensive and accurate method and apparatus for matching the tilt position of the individual cameras is shown.

This invention relates to a 3D camera system, particularly to a camera with synchronized scanning and an adjustable lens/camera positioning apparatus.
Stereoscopic or three-dimensional vision may be created on a two-dimensional medium by creating a pair of stereoscopic images; a left eye image and right eye image. If a viewer sees only the left eye image with the left eye and the right eye image with the right eye, the viewer perceives a three dimensional image from the stereoscopic images. Conventional video display devices produce an image by creating a plurality of horizontal display lines interlaced in two fields within a frame.
Stereoscopic cameras have been previously described in a series of issued U.S. patent by Faris and the assignee of this application. They include: U.S. Pat. No. 5,742,333 issued on Apr. 21, 1998; U.S. Pat. No. 5,745,164 issued on Apr. 28, 1998 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,760,827 issued on Jun. 2, 1998, all hereby incorporated by reference. These patents disclose spectrally-multiplexed color images of 3D scenery produced by a camera that records left and right color perspective images and optically process the spectral components thereof.
A 3D camera requires certain mechanical adjustments to produce the most accurate and pleasing stereoscopic image at the display. These include an adjustment to converge the horizontal axes at various points in front of the camera and adjustments to arrange the tilt angle of the two cameras to be identical. The prior art required complicated mechanical arrangements to obtain the optimum settings.
There is a need for a 3D video camera that economically and easily provides stereo images that are in electrical synchronization as well in an optimum mechanical position.


An antimony and tin containing compound for passivating contaminant metals to which a catalyst is exposed during fluid catalytic cracking of hydrocarbons containing said contaminant metals, said compound having a composition as follows (R*).sub.x Sb(OSn(R**).sub.3).sub.n wherein R* and R** are aryl compounds having between 6 to 13 carbon atoms, wherein n=1, 2 or 3 and x=4 when n=1, x=3 when n=2, and x=0 when n=3.

The invention relates to the field of fluid catalytic cracking of hydrocarbons, especially heavy hydrocarbons, containing contaminant metals and, more particularly, to a compound for passivating such contaminant metals.
Fluid catalytic cracking is a frequently used process for cracking heavy hydrocarbon feedstocks into lighter, more useful fractions and especially into gasoline.
Catalysts used for such processes are of numerous types and include zeolite type catalysts of both natural and synthetic origin. Zeolite catalysts are characterized by crystalline aluminosilicate structure which serves as a molecular sieve and active compound to yield the desired cracking activity and products. The effectiveness of the zeolite catalyst is greatly diminished, however, when certain contaminant metals are present in the feedstock. Of particular significance as contaminant are nickel, vanadium, iron, copper and chromium. These metals are deposited upon the catalyst during cracking and significantly interfere with the function of the catalyst to obtain desired cracking products.
Passivation is a procedure which is used to reduce the adverse effects of contaminant metals in the feedstock. This technique involves the introduction of reactants into the feedstock or catalyst which interact with the contaminant metal and render same inert so as to protect the catalyst from the harmful effects of such contaminants.
Antimony and tin are known passivating agents and are useful for passivating nickel and vanadium respectively.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,321,129 to Bertus et al deals with the use of antimony and tin to regenerate activity in used catalysts. Bertus et al. teach the treating of such a used FCC catalyst individually with antimony compounds and then with tin compounds so as to passivate contaminant metals. The catalyst is impregnated with each compound separately. Further, Bertus et al. teach the use of antimony compounds and tin compounds which include other contaminants such as sulfur and phosphorus.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,466,884 to Occelli et al. also teaches the use of antimony and tin to passivate contaminant metals. As with Bertus et al., antimony and tin are used in separate compounds that each include additional contaminants such as sulphur and phosphorus. Further, Occelli et al. report the use of titanium, aluminum and calcium oxide containing compounds as diluents for the tin and antimony. However, titanium, aluminum and calcium oxides are reported to be passivating agents. See for example U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,816,135, 4,704,375, and 4,432,890. Thus the improved results of Occelli et al. are no doubt at least partially due to the use of additional passivating agents.
It is a principal object of the present invention to provide a single compound containing both antimony and tin which compound can be added to a feedstock or can be impregnated into a catalyst to passivate contaminant metals in the feedstock.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a process for preparing an antimony and tin containing compound in accordance with the invention.
It is a further object of the invention to provide such a process and compound wherein the compound is essentially free of sulfur, phosphorous, and other undesirable contaminants.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide a process whereby an antimony and tin containing compound is used to passivate contaminant metals in a feedstock for a fluid catalytic cracking process.
Further objects and advantages of the present invention will appear hereinbelow.

Antimony and tin containing compound, use of such a compound as a passivating agent, and process for preparing such a compound


An improved slider block is a length of flanged channel having a cut-out in the lower web of the channel to accommodate mounting a flat bar journalled in the cut-out. The flanged channel is resilient. The flanged channel has a length sufficient to cover the length of a base plate on which the flat bar is orthogonally mounted. The sides of the channel define a cavity having a depth corresponding to the thickness of the base plate. A pair of flanges extend inwardly over the cavity from the sides of the channel so as to define a chain-receiving slot therebetween. The base plate mounts within the cavity. The base plate is welded to a chain so that when the base plate is mounted in the cavity the chain is mounted in and along the chain-receiving slot.

It is common practice in lumber processing facilities such as sawmills to transport lumber over the top of sorter bins by overhead chain conveyors equipped with pusher lugs. Chain conveyors for the movement of lumber have links which each have an upstanding lug mounted thereon, spaced at intervals along the chain. Movement of the chain brings the lug into contact with the lumber, which is then urged in the direction of the running of the chain. When the lumber is located over a desired bin, a gate corresponding to that bin opens allowing the lumber to fall into that bin. Conventionally, a slider block is rigidly mounted to the chain where the pusher lugs attach to the chain to facilitate sliding translation of the lugs along the conveyor. Typically, fasteners attach the slider block to the chain, requiring that the chain links be pre-drilled where the slider blocks are to be fastened. Thus, the process of attaching the slider blocks to the chain is time consuming and costly.
It is consequently an object of the present invention to provide a slider block that requires no pre-drilling of the chain and no fasteners for mounting of the slider block onto the chain and pusher lug. It is a further object of the present invention to provide for the efficient installation and replacement of slider blocks.


Described embodiments include a method that includes constructing a computerized electroanatomical model of a portion of a heart, the model including a mesh, which approximates the portion of the heart, and a plurality of points, at different respective locations on the mesh, having respective associated local activation times (LATs) that were ascertained from electrocardiographic signals acquired from the portion. The method further includes constructing a graph that interconnects the points and, based on the respective locations and LATs of the points, identifying, from a plurality of pathways, through the graph, from a first one of the points having a lowest one of the LATs to a second one of the points having a highest one of the LATs, both a shortest pathway and a longest pathway. The method further includes displaying the mesh, with the identified shortest pathway and longest pathway superimposed over the mesh. Other embodiments are also described.

A local activation time of a particular area of the heart is the time at which the wavefront of electrical propagation passes through the area. A local activation time is typically measured from a particular reference time, such as a particular point in time in the QRS complex of a body-surface electrocardiogram (ECG) recording.
Some types of cardiac arrhythmia are caused by the electrical activation of cardiac tissue over two or more separate activation pathways having different respective rates of propagation.
Cárdenes, Rubén, et al., "Estimation of electrical pathways finding minimal cost paths from electro-anatomical mapping of the left ventricle," International Workshop on Statistical Atlases and Computational Models of the Heart, Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg, 2013, presents a method to find electrical pathways using minimal cost paths computations on surface maps.

Automatic identification of multiple activation pathways


A tube product and improvement in the production of coating tubing, as most preferred, includes hot dip galvanize zinc coating of tubing, and before solidification of the zinc coating, clear coating of the tubing with organic polymer coating. The heat of the hot dip cures the clear coating, and the clear coating preserves a consistency and reflectivity of the zinc previously unseen in finished products. In additional preferred embodiments, organic polymer coatings are applied to zinc coated and uncoated tubing, and the organic polymer coatings are applied by electrostatic powder coating.

This invention relates to in-line coating of a continuously moving substrate, such as a tube or conduit, of the type used for applications such as metal fencing or electrical conduit. More specifically, this invention relates to galvanizing and overcoating of such substrates.
The art of forming and coating tubes and conduits for fencing and electrical conduit is an old art. Many manufacturing operations exist which use techniques decades old. As an example, modern galvanizing procedures have been described as the outdated inheritance of original hot dip galvanizing in which cold articles were dipped in heated zinc pots. See U.S. Pat. No. 4,352,838 at column 1, lines 13-19.
While the art is old, significant advances have been made by industry leaders. These advances include the advance of PCT Publication No. WO 93/0045 published Jan. 7, 1993, the advance of U.S. Pat. No. 5,364,661 issued Nov. 15, 1994, and the advance of U.S. Pat. No. 5,506,002, issued Apr. 19, 1996. As reflected in these patents and publication, galvanizing of continuous tubes and conduits has progressed to the point of rapid speeds of the tubes and conduits to be galvanized, on the order of six hundred feet per minute. Galvanizing has also progressed through the elimination of secondary or elevated zinc containers in favor of zinc pumped through cross-tees, spray nozzles and drip nozzles. Zinc application dwell times have been reduced to tenths of seconds, and contact zones to inches.
Industry leaders have also advanced the application of non-metal coatings, as well, as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,453,302, issued Sep. 26, 1995. As in this patent, protective coatings are applied by vacuum coating apparatus.
Applications of coatings through alternate coating technologies have also been disclosed. As shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,559,280 issued Feb. 2, 1971, U.S. Pat. No. 3,616,983 issued Nov. 2, 1971, U.S. Pat. No. 4,344,381 issued Aug. 17, 1982 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,279,863, issued Jan. 18, 1994, electrostatic coating has been considered one possibility. As disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,559,280, electrostatic spray coating is accomplished after water spray, sizing, straightening, and drying, and in the multiple steps and locations of a spraying or coating section, a separate following baking or hardening chamber, a separate following air blower and a separate following water spray. As disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,616,983, electrostatic powder coating is accomplished as an alternative to other coating methods after earlier application of liquid coatings, and after heating applied by an external heater. As disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,344,381, electrostatic spray coating is accomplished in an inert atmosphere by organic solvent-based, liquid coating materials.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,122,114; 3,226,817; 3,230,615; 3,256,592; 3,259,148; 3,559,280; 3,561,096; 4,344,381; 4,582,718; 4,749,125; 5,035,364; 5,086,973; 5,165,601; 5,279,863; and 5,364,661, and PCT Publication No. WO 93/00453 are incorporated by reference.

In-line coating and curing a continuously moving welded tube with an organic polymer


In one embodiment of this invention, a computer system performs a method for securely sharing applications installed by unprivileged users. The method involves the computer system receiving a user associated command from a user of the computer system. A previous application installation included installing an application manifest and application data objects in a shared repository and installing a user manifest and user configuration data objects in a private repository for an initial installing user. The computer system verifies that a digital signature of the application manifest corresponds to a public key of a user manifest for the associated user. The computer system verifies that an application identifier of the application manifest matches an application identifier of the user manifest. The computer system verifies that the data objects belong to the software application by comparing the application data objects to one or more data object identifiers in the application manifest.

Computers are ubiquitous in today's society. Computers of all types are used to perform a variety of tasks. Computers accomplish tasks by processing software applications. Software applications are programs that allow a user to interface with and perform one or more tasks on a computer system. In order to function efficiently, software applications are generally installed in the computer's operating system. An application can be installed either machine-wide, in which case it is available to all users of a particular computer, or per-user, in which case it is available only to a single user (typically the user who installed the application). Typically, in an effort to keep the operating system secure, the operating system limits the type of computer users that are allowed to install applications machine-wide. Users that are allowed to install applications machine-wide (i.e., that have sufficient privileges) are often referred to as administrators, or in some cases, power users.
Allowing all users to install applications machine-wide is typically not desirable since untrained and/or malicious users could install applications that detrimentally affect the operating system, the computer system, and/or the data belonging to any user who runs the application. For example, unwanted applications, such as viruses or spyware, can cause damage to the operating system, the computer system, and/or the data belonging to any user who accidentally runs them. Thus, limiting the type of users that have sufficient privileges to install applications machine-wide can limit the risk of malicious applications being able to affect all users of a computer.
Unprivileged users therefore typically will install applications in a per-user fashion, such that the applications are available only to the user who installed them. This leads to several issues.
For example, consider the case where multiple unprivileged users each install Application Z. The computer will have multiple versions of Application Z installed—one version for every user that installed Application Z. This places a heavy burden on computer resources such as hard disk space. Furthermore, if an issue is discovered with Application Z that requires an update, each user's copy of Application Z must be updated, either by the users themselves or by an administrator.
Furthermore, in cases where multiple unprivileged users are simultaneously using an application that was separately installed by each unprivileged user, the computer allocates a portion of random access memory (RAM) for each user. Such allocations of RAM can severely affect the computer's ability to efficiently process the application for each user.

Securely sharing applications installed by unprivileged users


This invention relates to a heat-sensitive recording material. More particularly, this invention relates to a heat-sensitive recording material including a solvent-resistant and friction-reducing protective layer useful in the manufacture of adhesive-backed heat-sensitive labels and other thermally sensitive paper stock used in printers and facsimile equipment. The protective layer is non-acidic and has an improved resistance to background discoloration.

This invention relates to a heat-sensitive recording material. More particularly, this invention relates to a heat-sensitive recording material having improved and substantially non-acidic, friction-reducing protective layer.
Adhesive-backed, heat-sensitive labels and other thermally sensitive paper stock are widely used in printers and facsimile equipment. Such labels are often placed on goods, including meats, produce or articles of manufacture which are commonly exposed to water, solvents or oleophilic materials during storage, transit or display. Typically, a bar code and/or alphanumeric information may be formed on such labels at the Point of sale by imaging the label with a thermal print head.
Known recording materials have a thermally imageable layer comprising a binder, a colorless or pale leuco dye, and an acidic substance that causes the dye to change color on the application of heat. Labels made from such materials are commonly used in grocery stores, delicatessens, and other points of sale where commodities are sold by weight. Increasingly, they are used on many other products. At or prior to a sale, the retailer weighs the product, commonly on a machine which integrates a scale, register, and thermal print head, and actuates the machine to deliver a thermally imprinted label indicating the price, weight, and other information in coded and/or alphanumeric form. The label is then affixed to the product, typically by means of a pressure-sensitive adhesive backing layer.
Labels of this type are often exposed to water, fats, oils, and other solvents which can have an adverse effect on the thermal image. For example, these solvents may increase background discoloration, or, in some cases, destroy the machine readability of the imprinted bar codes. The labels are often supplied in strips to facilitate rapid printing. As printing speed increases, the labels have been observed to jam the print head, requiring shutdown, cleanout, and restart.
Various protective coatings are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,370,370; 4,388,362; 4,591,887; 4,898,849 and 4,927,801. Typically, known protective coatings are cross-linked, and the mechanism of the cross-linking reaction requires an acidic environment and utilizes formaldehyde-containing crosslinking agents. One drawback of acidic protective coatings is that the acids used in forming the barrier layer can lead to background discoloration of the color producing layer. A disadvantage of known protective coatings is that certain materials contained therein, such as formaldehyde, can pose both environmental and health hazards. It would thus be desirable to replace these materials with non-acidic, organic materials which provide both pigmenting and friction-reducing properties. Further, it is advantageous to replace the previously used friction-improving pigments, e.g., the fluorocarbon and polyethylene pigments, as this eliminates the need for a dispersant which can cause "microfoam" and poor barrier coating uniformity. One difficulty with the previously known systems is in effecting the cross-linking of the protective coating despite the non-acidic environment of such a protective coating.
Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to develop a barrier layer for a heat-sensitive recording paper which protects the underlying image from damage by water and oleophilic materials. Another object is to produce a barrier layer having improved lubricity, thereby reducing friction between the print head and the thermal recording material. A further object is to produce a non-acidic barrier layer to prevent the background discoloration that can result from the use of an acidic barrier system. It is also an object to replace many of the potentially environmentally harmful components used in forming the barrier layer with more benign ones. Finally, it is an object of the invention to provide a non-acidic barrier layer containing an inorganic slip pigment to whiten the background while reducing friction with the print head. Other objects will be apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading the disclosure which follows.


Various systems and methods are described for generating vacuum within an engine intake. A system may comprise an intake throttle including a slidable throttle valve, where the throttle valve may comprise a hollow interior passage, which in turn may be coupled to a vacuum consumption device. When vacuum is demanded by the vacuum consumption device, the throttle valve may be displaced downstream within the throttle to decrease airflow through the throttle and vacuum may be generated at tip of the throttle valve by flowing intake air between the throttle valve and a throttle fixture.

Vehicle systems may include various vacuum consumption devices that are actuated using vacuum. These may include, for example, a brake booster and a purge canister. Vacuum used by these devices may be provided by a dedicated vacuum pump. In other embodiments, one or more aspirators (alternatively referred to as ejectors, venturi pumps, jet pumps, and eductors) may be coupled in the engine system that may harness engine airflow and use it to generate vacuum.
In yet another example embodiment shown by Bergbauer et al. in U.S. Pat. No. 8,261,716, a control bore is located in the wall of the intake such that when the throttle valve is at idle position, vacuum generated at the periphery of the throttle is used for a vacuum consumption device. Therein, the positioning of the throttle valve in an idle position provides a constriction at the throttle valve's periphery. The increasing flow of intake air through the constriction results in a Venturi effect that generates a partial vacuum. The control bore is sited so as to utilize the partial vacuum for a vacuum consumption device.
However, as recognized by the inventors herein, in the approaches described above, the vacuum generation potential of the throttle may be limited. For example, a single control bore at one location in the intake, as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 8,261,716, is utilized by the vacuum consumption device even though vacuum may be generated at the entire periphery of the throttle. To use vacuum generated at the entire periphery of the throttle, more control bores may be needed in the intake passage. However, fabricating these control bores may result in significant modifications to the design of the intake passage which can increase related expenses.
In the approaches that use one or more aspirators to generate vacuum, additional expenses may be incurred because of individual parts that form the aspirator including nozzles, mixing and diffusion sections, and check valves. Further, at idle or low load conditions, it may be difficult to control the total air flow rate into the intake manifold since the flow rate is a combination of leakage flow from the throttle and airflow from the aspirator. Typically, an aspirator shut off valve (ASOV) may be included along with the aspirator to control airflow but with added cost. Further, installing aspirators in the intake can lead to constraints on space availability as well as packaging issues.
As such, some approaches to address the above issues include providing a plurality of perforations around a circumference of a hollow intake throttle valve. The throttle valve may be adjusted to a more closed position to generate vacuum via intake airflow past the perforations on the circumference of the throttle valve. The generated vacuum is then applied to a vacuum consumption device fluidly coupled to the throttle valve via a hollow shaft.
The inventors herein have also identified potential issues with the above approach. As an example, the vacuum generation potential of the throttle is limited. As an example, the size of the perforations may be limited due to the width of the throttle valve, and therefore the vacuum generation potential of the throttle is limited. Thus, in order to increase the vacuum generated at the periphery of the throttle, the size of the perforations may need to be increased. However, increasing the size of the perforations may result in increases of the size and of the throttle which may result in significant modifications to the design of the intake passage which can increase related expenses.
The inventors herein have identified an approach to at least partly address the above issues. In one example approach, a throttle coupled in an intake conduit of an engine intake may comprise a throttle body, a slidable throttle valve included within the throttle body, the throttle valve comprising a hollow passage coupling a vacuum consumption device to an interior of the throttle body, and an inwardly projecting flange coupled within the throttle body. As an example, the throttle may be movable relative to the flange along a longitudinal axis of the throttle body between an open first position and a closed second position. An opening in the throttle body formed between the throttle valve and the flange may increase with increasing deflection of the throttle valve towards the open first position, away from the closed second position. Further, the throttle valve may include an aperture formed at an apex of the throttle valve by the hollow passage. A Venturi effect may be created at the apex of the throttle valve, and a magnitude of the Venturi effect may increase for decreases in a distance between the throttle valve and the flange. In this way, by moving the throttle valve to a more closed position, closer to the flange, vacuum may be generated at an apex of the throttle valve and used to draw air from a vacuum consumption device. In this way, an aspirator function may be integrated into the throttle.
As another example, a system may comprise an engine including an intake conduit, a throttle body included in the engine intake, the throttle body comprising, a throttle valve slidable along an axis substantially parallel to a direction of intake gas flow in the throttle body between an open first position and a closed second position, the throttle valve comprising a hollow passage fluidically coupling a vacuum consumption device to an interior of the throttle body, an inwardly projecting flow obstruction coupled within the throttle body, and a controller with computer-readable instruction stored in non-transitory memory for: in response to increases in vacuum demand, adjusting the throttle valve towards a more closed position to increase an amount of vacuum generated at an aperture of the throttle valve formed by the hollow passage at an inwardly extending tip of the throttle valve.
In yet another example, a method for an engine may comprise sliding a throttle valve within a throttle body of a throttle along an axis substantially parallel to a flow direction of intake gasses in the throttle, generating vacuum at a ridge of the throttle valve via intake air flowing past the ridge between the throttle valve and a throttle fixture of the throttle valve, and applying the generated vacuum to a vacuum consumption device fluidly coupled to the ridge of the throttle valve and flowing air from the vacuum consumption device into the throttle body.
In this way, a Venturi effect created between a throttle valve and a throttle fixture positioned in a throttle can be advantageously used to generate vacuum for a vacuum consumption device. The throttle valve may include a hollow interior passage that may be fluidically coupled to a vacuum consumption device for drawing air from the vacuum consumption device into the throttle. By adjusting the position, size, and/or shape of the throttle valve, the vacuum generation potential of the throttle valve may be increased. In addition, airflow into the intake manifold can be more accurately controlled by adjusting the distance between the throttle valve and the throttle fixture. Furthermore, since air received from the vacuum consumption device during vacuum application is received substantially at the throttle valve, airflow errors can be more accurately compensated for. By combining the functions of a throttle and an aspirator into a single throttle valve with a hollow interior passage, additional control valves, such as an ASOV, and parts may not be needed. By reducing the number and size of components required for vacuum generation, manufacturing expenses may be lowered and packaging issues may be averted.
It should be understood that the summary above is provided to introduce in simplified form a selection of concepts that are further described in the detailed description. It is not meant to identify key or essential features of the claimed subject matter, the scope of which is defined uniquely by the claims that follow the detailed description. Furthermore, the claimed subject matter is not limited to implementations that solve any disadvantages noted above or in any part of this disclosure.

Method and system for vacuum generation using a throttle body comprising a slidable throttle valve


An aural annunciator circuit for a radio receiver and a radio transceiver incorporating such. The annunciator circuit is operative to generate an aural signal when a signal is transmitted to the receiver in a manner analogous to telephonic ringer circuitry of conventional telephonic apparatus. The aural signal is of a signal level of a relatively high magnitude when the receiver in which the aural annunciator circuit is embodied is configured in a closed configuration and the aural signal is of a relatively low magnitude when the receiver is configured in an open configuration.

The present invention relates generally to receivers, and, more particularly, to an aural annunciator circuit for a receiver, such as a radio receiver portion of a radio transceiver.
A communication system is comprised, at a minimum, of a receiver and a transmitter interconnected by a communication channel. The transmitter of the communication system is operative to transmit a signal upon the communication channel, and the receiver is operative to receive the signal transmitted upon the communication channel.
A radio communication system is a communication system in which the communication channel is comprised of a radio frequency channel. A radio frequency channel is defined by a range of frequencies of the communication spectrum.
The transmitter which forms a portion of the radio communication system includes circuitry for converting information into a signal of a form permitting transmission thereof upon the radio frequency channel. Such circuitry includes modulation circuitry which performs a process referred to as modulation. In such modulation process, information to be transmitted upon the radio frequency channel is impressed upon a radio frequency electromagnetic wave; the radio frequency electromagnetic wave is commonly referred to as a carrier signal. The resultant signal, formed of the combination of the carrier signal and the information, is commonly referred to as a modulated signal. Such resultant signal is also referred to as a communication signal as the modulated signal includes the information which is to be communicated by the transmitter to the receiver.
Radio communication systems are advantageous in that the transmission channel, comprised of the radio frequency channel, does not require any physical interconnection between the transmitter and the receiver. Information, once modulated to form the modulated signal, may be transmitted over large distances.
A two-way communication system is a communication system, similar to that above-described, but which further permits transmission and reception of information at two or more locations. Each location of such two-way communication system contains both a transmitter and a receiver. A two-way radio communication system is a radio communication system similar to that above-described, but which similarly permits both transmission and reception of information at the two or more locations.
In the two-way radio communication system, the transmitter and the receiver positioned at a single location typically comprise a single unit referred to as a radio transceiver, or, more simply, a transceiver. A transceiver capable of simultaneous operation both to transmit and to receive a communication signal is referred to as being capable of full duplex operation.
Cellular radiotelephones and cordless phones are two examples of consumer products comprised of radio transceivers. (Cordless phones are also sometimes referred to as "patio" phones.) Both cellular radiotelephones and cordless phones are advantageously utilized to permit users thereof to communicate therethrough with a user of conventional, telephonic apparatus of a conventional, wireline telephonic network. Because no physical interconnection is required between a cellular or cordless phone and the conventional, telephonic apparatus of a wireline network, such phones permit increased convenience of communication in some instances, and, in other instances, permit communication in instances in which communication would otherwise not be possible.
Cellular and cordless phones are constructed to be operative in manners similar to the conventional telephonic apparatus of the conventional, wireline network. That is to say, both cellular and cordless phones typically include handsets of dimensions at least similar to corresponding dimensions of handset portions of conventional telephonic apparatus. Also, the handsets of cellular and cordless phones also include both speaker portions and microphone portions for conversion of received signals into aural signals and conversion of aural signals into signals suitable for transmission, respectively.
However, because the handsets of cordless phones and the handsets of many constructions of cellular radiotelephones are actually radio transceivers, the handsets of such cellular and cordless phones also include both transmitter and receiver circuitry. As the cellular and cordless phones are operable in manners similar to operation of conventional telephones, cellular and cordless phones oftentimes include annunciator circuitry housed within the handsets thereof to indicate times when a communication signal is transmitted to the cellular or cordless phone.
Operable in manners similar to the operation of a conventional ringer assembly of conventional telephonic apparatus, the annunciator circuitry of the cellular or cordless phone handset is operative to generate an intermittent, aural signal imitative of the ringing of the ringer assembly of the conventional telephonic apparatus. The aural signal generated by the annunciator circuitry housed within the handset housing of the cellular or cordless phone must be of a signal magnitude great enough to provide adequate annunciation of the received signal. That is to say, the volume of the aural signal generated by the annunciator circuitry must be great enough to be noticeable. Because the annunciator circuitry is contained in the handset assembly, the signal level, while of a suitable level when positioned away from a potential user of the cellular or cordless phone may be of an unpleasantly high volume level when the handset is positioned proximate to an ear of such user.
Annunciator circuitry, carried with the handset of the cellular or cordless phone and operable to generate an aural annunciation signal alternately of a normal signal level when the handset of the cellular or cordless phone is likely to be positioned away from the user or of a reduced signal level when the handset of the cellular or cordless phone is likely to be positioned proximate to a user would be advantageous.

Aural annunciator circuit for a receiver


Wafers are separated individually from a stack by directing multiple jets of fluid between an outermost wafer in the stack and an adjacent wafer. The jets have sufficient pressure and are sufficiently spaced apart around the wafer stack to cause the outermost wafer to separate longitudinally from the adjacent wafer without lateral movement there between. In the illustrated embodiment, a chuck is attached to a planar surface of the outermost wafer. The attached wafer and wafer stack, once separated by the jet of fluid, are moved relatively apart, such as by movement of the chuck. The wafers in the stack are thereby separated without contact between a wafer edge and a solid object (such as a container wall or hand), minimizing the risk of wafer breakage.

This invention relates generally to separating wafers (or similar structures) from a stack of wafers. More particularly, this invention relates to separating wafers without damaging contact with their edges, thereby eliminating breakage otherwise caused by such contact.
The manufacture of semiconductor parts, or xe2x80x9cchips,xe2x80x9d typically begins with the processing of wafers made from silicon, gallium arsenide, or other semiconductor compounds. Initially, a crystalline (or polycrystalline) boole is sawn simultaneously into several hundred thin wafers using means such as a wire frame saw. The wafers are typically quite thin, of the order of 200 microns thick, and are most often of circular cross-section. This sawing produces a stack of wafers contaminated with sawdust and sawing fluid. The wafers must then be removed from the stack, cleaned, and placed into a product carrier such as a cassette or tray before further processing.
Removing the wafers from the stack is typically done manually because the wafer material is brittle. Rough handling can easily result in breakage, or chipping of the edges, which would render the wafer useless for further manufacture. To prevent such damage, vacuum xe2x80x9cwandsxe2x80x9d are commonly employed as a means for manually lifting individual wafers from the stack. A wand typically consists of a stem with an internal channel for vacuum, a broad tip, and a vacuum actuator switch for connecting the stem to a vacuum source. An operator picks up a wafer by placing the broad tip of the wand in the center of the planar surface of the wafer, thereby allowing the vacuum to cause the wafer to adhere to the wand. The operator can then transport the wafer from one location to another, and can then release the wafer by shutting off the vacuum to the wand.
Although adequate, manually separating wafers has a number of drawbacks. The wafers in a stack have a tendency to stick to one another, primarily due to surface tension effects. A wand alone cannot overcome these effects, requiring the operator to slide the wafers apart by pushing against their edges. This handling can damage the wafers. Furthermore, the labor required is a significant processing cost and takes considerable time.
Attempts to automate the separating process have been tried but not widely adopted. U.S. Pat. No. 5,213,451 to Frank et al. describes the use of a dam and jets of fluid, such as water or oil, to separate wafers in a stack. The jets push the outermost wafer up and over the dam while the wafers beneath are restrained in the stack by the dam. A feed unit gradually lifts the wafer stack, causing each wafer to eventually be pushed over the dam by the fluid jets. While this method is faster than manually separating the wafers, it still exposes them to potential damage. The fluid jets cause the outermost wafer to slide against the adjacent wafer and drive the thin edges of the other wafers against the dam, either action of which can cause wafer breakage.
An objective of the invention, therefore, is to separate the wafers in a stack without causing sliding contact between the wafers. Another objective is to separate the wafers without striking the wafer edges with a force sufficient to damage them.
In accordance with the invention, a novel method for individually separating wafers from a stack of wafers is disclosed. Briefly, the method comprises directing multiple jets of fluid between an outermost wafer in the stack and an adjacent wafer. The jets are at sufficient pressure and at sufficiently spaced-apart locations around the wafer stack to cause the outermost wafer to separate longitudinally from the adjacent wafer without lateral movement there between. The method further includes attaching to a planar surface of the outermost wafer and moving the attached outermost wafer and wafer stack relatively apart, thereby separating the wafers in the stack without contact between a solid object and a wafer edge.
An apparatus in accordance with the invention is also disclosed. The apparatus includes a base and a chuck attached to the base. The chuck is adapted to attach to a planar surface of an outermost wafer in a stack. A plurality of nozzles is adapted to direct multiple jets of fluid between the outermost wafer and an adjacent wafer. The jets are at sufficient pressure and at sufficiently spaced-apart locations around the wafer stack to cause the outermost wafer to separate longitudinally from the adjacent wafer without lateral movement there between. The nozzles can be attached to the base or be separated therefrom, such as on a container that surrounds the wafer stack.
These and other aspects of the invention are described below with respect to several embodiments thereof.

Method and apparatus for separating wafers


A safety liner (20) for a vehicle tire (500) includes a toroidal tube (22) having at least one hole (24). At least one plug (26) is selectively insertable into the at least one hole (24). Toroidal tube (22) is compressible into a flattened circular shape by a compressive force, and when the compressive force is removed, the toroidal tube (22) resiliently assumes its original toroidal shape. Safety liner (20) is installed in the cavity (503) of vehicle tire (500) as the vehicle tire (500) is being installed on the tire rim (502). If a blowout or other leak occurs, safety liner (20) will cause the shape and pressure of vehicle tire (500) to be retained for a period of time.

The present invention is directed generally to vehicle tires of the tubeless variety, and more particularly to a safety liner which is inserted inside of the tire. In the event of a blow out, the liner slowly deflates thereby allowing a motorist to safely stop or even continue driving for a short period of time.
Internal safety structures for vehicle tires are well known in the art. These devices are designed to mitigate against the effects of a blowout. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 2,560,609 shows a tire tube which is built into the regular inner tube of the tire, and has facilities for expanding to fill the tire in case the inner tube has become punctured or torn from the effects of a blow out. The internal tube is designed to expand to full inner tube size to keep the tire in up and running condition until a service station is reached.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,008,743 illustrates a pneumatic tire with an internal toroidal safety structure that expands and provides emergency support between the tire tread and the wheel rim if the tire loses inflation pressure. The safety structure has an outer circumferential belt comprising one or more superposed layers of cord reinforced strips, the belt being secured to the safety structure in a relatively narrow central circumferential zone so that radial expansion of the toroidal safety structure is readily accommodated should the tire lose inflation pressure. The belt bears between the inner surface of the tread portion of the tire and the safety structure in the event of tire deflation or underinflation and thus guards against puncture. The safety structure may be an internal inflatable tube or a flexible resilient foam member.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,153,095 shows a pneumatic insert for a pneumatic tire having a generally toroidal shaped hollow member having a pair of annular insert beads with sidewalls extending therefrom joined to an insert crown portion. An annular flap portion is joined to the outer surface of each insert sidewall at the bead area and extends beyond each bead a predetermined amount. The pneumatic insert is disposed in a standard tire and mounted on standard rim. The insert flaps are tucked between the respective insert beads and the bead support surface of the rim to provide a leak-tight seal. When the insert is inflated, the insert beads push the respective tire beads against the rim flange. In one embodiment, the tire is inflated through an air passage member disposed between the tire and insert beads. In another embodiment, the tire is inflated directly through the tire sidewall with a hypodermic needle. The insert inflation chamber and the tire inflation chamber do not communicate and can be inflated to different pressure levels. Other embodiments of the pneumatic insert include fabric reinforcements and/or protective caps.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,216,809 discloses a run-flat insert structure for a pneumatic tire in which the insert structure comprises a homogeneous elastomeric material and is fully enclosed and pneumatically inflated. The insert structure is mounted within the cavity formed by the pneumatic tire and the wheel rim upon which the tire is mounted. The insert structure is shaped and spaced from the interior walls of the tire such that contact between the insert structure and the interior tire walls is minimized during rated load carrying and inflation conditions of the tire. The volume of the insert structure is less than 50% of the volume of the cavity formed by the tire and the wheel rim to thereby assist in avoiding undesirable contact between the insert structure and the tire. During the deflated condition of the tire, the insert structure supports the tire and its load at a deflection that prevents excessively rapid deterioration of the tire while running in the deflated, run-flat condition.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,231,407 illustrates a protective liner for a tire having a tread portion and housing an inflatable tube, the liner having an elongated panel of puncture resistant material adapted to be extended circumferentially about the tube within the tire; and a pair of ridges borne by the panel extending in spaced, substantially parallel relation along the panel for embedded engagement with the interior of the tire to maintain selected alignment between the tread portion thereof and the panel.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,418,734 shows a safety support system in which an annular safety support of resilient foam material having an outer diameter less than the inner diameter of the tire is positioned around a rim and within the tire. The foam material has closed cells containing gas under pressure for supporting the tire in the deflated condition and expanding in an axial direction to press the bead portions against the bead seats of the rim. The safety support has beads and a fabric reinforced construction at a radially outer wall for controlling expansion beyond the radially outer diameter. A second reinforcing fabric ply may be provided at the radially inner wall for controlling expansion and facilitating field mounting of the safety support.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,099,900 describes a self-healing tire system containing a tire casing, a tacky sealant material, an inner tube, and anti-tack material. In one embodiment, either the surface of the inner tube or the inner surface of the tire casing is coated with the tacky sealant material. The surface of the sealant, the opposing surface, or both are coated with the anti-tack material. The anti-tack material renders the sealant non-tacky for a sufficient time so that the inner tube can be inserted and inflated. However, the anti-tack material allows the sealant surface to become tacky again thereby adhering to the tube and providing for sealing of the tube when it is punctured. In another embodiment, a release agent is contained between the sealant and the tire casing which facilitates removal of the sealant and tube from the tire casing.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,186,771 depicts a ring device for running with a flat tire on a vehicle wheel having a one-piece rim with a drop center. The ring device has articulated sectors and is housed inside the tire where it molds itself at least partially to the shape of the rim. The external surface of the ring is distant from the internal surface of the tread of the tire as long as the tire is in its normal operating condition.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,795,414 is directed to a tire assembly having a puncture resistant capability. The tire assembly includes an inner tube with an outer periphery having a plurality of protruding deflectable structures which are circumferentially continuous about the inner tube body. The deflectable structures have a cross-sectional appearance that is somewhat similar to miniature, hollow fingers. The tire assembly also includes a tire liner that has separator structures which are ridge-like in appearance and which are circumferentially continuous about the tire liner as well. The separator structures and deflectable structures are arrayed so as to mate with one another whereby the structure of the separator structures may assist the deflectable structures in maintaining their finger-like shape when under load. When a tack or other sharp object pierces the tire, it passes harmlessly between the deflectable structure and a separator structure, the deflectable structure being resiliently deflected to the side. A lubricant or insert between the separator structures and the deflectable structures assists in the frictionless deflecture of the deflectable structures. The invention is adaptable to tubeless tires as well.
The present invention is directed to a safety liner for a vehicle tire. The safety liner can be used with any tubeless pneumatic tire, and prevents the tire from completely collapsing and releasing the tire beads from the rim. When a tire rapidly deflates it can cause a loss of vehicle control. The present invention prevents rapid deflation by providing a liner which loses air slowly. The safety liner is inserted in the tire in a compressed state. One or more plugs are then removed which allow the safety liner to resiliently expand to its normal toroidal shape which partially fills the tire cavity. The safety liner may be removed from a worn out tire and reused. Or, if the safety liner is punctured, it may be repaired in the same manner as a tire.
A major advantage of the safety liner of the present invention, resides in the fact that one size liner can fit a variety of tire and rim models. For example, one size safety liner could be used with most 14 inch rims, another with most 15 inch rims, etc.
In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, a safety liner for a vehicle tire includes a resilient hollow tube-like body in the form of a toroidal tube having at least one hole. At least one plug is selectively insertable into the at least one hole. The body is fabricated from a resilient material and has a normal toroidal shape. The body is compressible into a flattened substantially circular shape by a compressive force, and when the compressive force is removed, the body resiliently returns to its normal toroidal shape.
In accordance with an important aspect of the invention, when in its toroidal state, the body is shaped and dimensioned to circumferentially fit loosely inside the internal cavity of the vehicle tire. That is, the body fills most of the internal cavity of the vehicle tire.
In accordance with an important feature of the invention, the body includes abutting layers of rubber and tire casing fabric. The body is resilient, and after compression will slowly expand to its normal toroidal shape. The body is more rigid than a conventional tire tube.
In accordance with another important aspect of the invention, the hole is positioned so that (1) it is accessible when the safety liner is installed in the internal cavity of the vehicle tire, and (2) so that the hole is located adjacent to the tire bead during a blowout.
Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the invention.

Safety liner for a vehicle tire and method of use


Provided is a device that acquires a result of discovery of a wireless local area network (LAN) access point that uses a frequency band, and controls monitoring of a radar wave in the frequency band based on the result of the discovery before use of the frequency band by a base station of a cellular system starts. This makes it possible to expedite the use of a frequency band used in a wireless local area network (LAN) in a cellular system.

In cellular systems, there is a problem of radio frequency depletion due to traffic surges. Therefore, the possibility of using an unlicensed frequency band of a 5 GHz band in cellular systems is being investigated.
A frequency band in the 5 GHz band is used in wireless local area networks (LANs). In addition, some frequency bands of the 5 GHz band are used for various types of radar and satellite communication. Therefore, in a wireless LAN access point that uses such a frequency band, it is necessary to avoid interference with various types of radar and satellite communication. Specifically, for example, an operation of dynamic frequency selection (DFS) is requested from a wireless LAN access point. The operation of DFS includes monitoring radar waves for, for example, 60 seconds.
For example, Patent Literature 1 discloses a technique in which, when one of least two wireless LA N access points that operate in a wireless distribution system (WDS) mode detects radar waves in a frequency band, the other is notified of a candidate of another frequency band, and monitoring of radar waves in the other frequency band is performed, and when radar waves are not detected, a beacon is transmitted using the other frequency band.

Device and method that uses base station frequency band as a secondary component carrier of carrier aggregation


An organic light emitting display is disclosed. One embodiment of the organic light emitting display includes a substrate member and a plurality of pixels that are formed on the substrate member. At least one of the pixels includes a thin film transistor, a light emitting element that is electrically connected to the thin film transistor, and a reflective layer that is disposed between the thin film transistor and the light emitting element and that is insulated from each of the thin film transistor and the light emitting element.

1. Field
The present disclosure relates to a display device, and particularly to an organic light emitting display device.
2. Description of the Related Technology
Recently, flat panel displays that have a light weight and a slim profile have drawn attention as next generation displays. Examples of such flat panel displays are a plasma display panel (PDP), a liquid crystal display (LCD), and an organic light emitting display.
Because organic light emitting displays are a self-light-emitting type which displays an image by inducing an organic compound to emit light, they have a wide viewing angle and high resolution, compared to other flat panel displays. Organic light emitting displays can be categorized into an active matrix (AM) type and a passive matrix (PM) type depending on the driving methods.
Organic light emitting displays include an array of pixels for displaying images. In the AM-type organic light emitting display, each pixel typically includes a light emitting unit configured to emit light and a circuit unit configured to drive the light emitting unit. Because of having diode characteristics, the light emitting unit is referred to as an organic light emitting diode (OLED). The light emitting unit includes an anode (hole injection electrode), a cathode (electron injection electrode), and an organic layer interposed therebetween.
The circuit unit typically includes two thin film transistors (TFTs) and one capacitor. One of the two thin film transistors serves as a switch for selecting the organic light emitting layer of a pixel to emit light among a plurality of pixels. The other thin film transistor serves as a driving element for applying a driving power source for driving the light emitting layer of a selected light emitting unit to emit light.
Certain organic light emitting displays are configured to emit light through the cathode(s) of the light emitting units. Such organic light emitting displays are generally referred to as a front light emitting type. In such organic light emitting displays, the anodes of light emitting units are connected to the drain electrodes of thin film transistors. Each of the anodes can be a single-layered reflective electrode or a multi-layered electrode including a reflective electrode.
A reflective electrode is typically formed using an etching process. In forming a reflective electrode, a reflective material is deposited and then is patterned to form isolated portions for individual pixels. Thus, a large portion of the deposited reflective material is etched away. During the etching process, many particles of the reflective material or impurities can be produced. Because the particles may remain and form dark portions in the reflective electrode, the organic light emitting display may have defects.
The above information disclosed in this Background section is only for furthering the understanding of the background of this disclosure and it may contain information that does not constitute the prior art.

Organic light emitting display with reflective electrode