The present invention provides an improved combustion head and combustion chamber for use with known flame spray apparatus. The combustion head includes a body portion defining a combustion opening for receiving an outlet end of the combustion chamber and an interior chamber extending from the combustion opening into the body portion. The body portion also defines a material feed conduit extending through the body portion along a longitudinal axis thereof. The body portion being substantially hollow wherein the interior chamber extends from the combustion opening throughout substantially the entire body portion including adjacent the material feed conduit. The body portion defining coolant channels on an outer surface thereof of varying depth such that the wall thickness of the body portion at the coolant channels is substantially uniform. The combustion chamber having a flange formed on an outer surface thereof for limiting insertion of the combustion chamber into the combustion head.

In general, flame spray apparatus operated by hot combustion gases for coating a workpiece with metal are well known in the art. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,416,421 to Browning (hereinafter referred to as "Browning") discloses a high velocity flame spray apparatus. The Browning apparatus includes a combustion chamber receiving at one end thereof a supply of pressurized fuel and oxygen. Ignition means, such as a spark plug, is provided to ignite the fuel. Pressurized hot combustion gases resulting from ignition of the fuel are discharged from an outlet of the combustion chamber through a plurality of ports leading to the inlet of a relatively long nozzle having a converging throat. A coating material is fed into the throat of the nozzle along the longitudinal axis of the nozzle.
The plurality of ports conveying the pressurized combustion gases from the combustion chamber to the inlet of the nozzle are radially spaced around and inclined toward the axis of the nozzle so that the hot combustion gases propel the coating material through the nozzle and also melt or at least heat-soften the material. The molten or heat-softened material exits the nozzle at high velocity and is projected onto the surface of a workpiece thereby to provide the workpiece with a coating of the material. Passageways for cooling water are provided around the exterior of the nozzle.
A commercial embodiment of the flame spray apparatus disclosed in the Browning patent includes a combustion head which is provided as a transition piece between the outlet of the combustion chamber and the inlet end of the nozzle. The combustion head defines a counterbore which receives the hot combustion gases from the combustion chamber.
One known problem associated with the combustion head of the Browning flame sprayer is that a floor of the counterbore receiving the hot combustion gases from the combustion chamber cracks and erodes after a short period of use, thus, severely limiting the useful life of the combustion head. Such cracking and erosion occurs due to the development of local hot spots in the counterbore and thermal fatigue of the body of the combustion head adjacent to the counterbore.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,911,363 to Webber (hereinafter referred to as "Webber") discloses an improved combustion head for use with flame spray apparatus such as those described in the Browning patent. The Webber patent discloses a combustion head that defines a recess in the floor of the counterbore which receives the continuous flow of hot pressurized combustion gases from the combustion chamber of the flame spray apparatus. The depth of the recess being sufficient to redistribute the heat of the combustion gases to prevent local hot spots in the counterbore. The recess is provided to avoid cracking and erosion in the combustion head by reducing thermal fatigue which occurs in cyclic use of the flame spray apparatus. Similar to the Browning device, the Webber combustion head also provides a plurality of inclined passages for transporting the combustion gases from the combustion chamber to the inlet of the nozzle of the flame spray apparatus.
In use, the Webber combustion head is coupled to a combustion chamber wherein an open end of the combustion chamber extends into and is fully inserted into the counterbore of the combustion head engaging the floor of the counterbore.
Additionally, the Webber combustion head defines a plurality of radially spaced recesses or channels extending longitudinally along the length of the outer surface of the combustion head through which water is passed for cooling the combustion head.
One disadvantage associated with the above-identified prior art combustion heads is that the floor of the counterbore, even with the recess therein as disclosed by Webber, includes a substantial mass of material which receives the hot combustion gases from the combustion chamber and is therefore susceptible to cracking due to the expansion and contraction of the combustion head during the heating and cooling thereof. The mass of the floor of the counterbore also adds to the overall mass of the combustion head thereby contributing to the thermal fatigue of the combustion head over the life thereof due to the cyclic operation of flame spray apparatus under high temperatures.
Additionally, combustion gases contacting the floor of the counterbore cause the floor of the counterbore to erode enlarging the inlets of the combustion gas passages adjacent the counterbore resulting in an uneven flow of gases through the gas passages of the combustion head. Thus, the pressure of the combustion gases conveyed through each of the plurality of inclined gas conduits is not constant therebetween. This uneven pressure in the inclined gas conduits causes the coating material entering the nozzle of the apparatus to be pushed towards the side of the throat of the nozzle opposite the inclined gas conduits with the greatest pressure which causes erosion of the throat of the nozzle and shortens the useful life thereof.
Accordingly, the cracking and erosion of the floor of the counterbore present in the above-describe prior art combustion heads limits the useful life of the combustion head and parts associated therewith.
The floor of the counterbore in the above-identified prior art combustion heads also obstructs the flow of combustion gases entering the combustion head thereby increasing the amount of turbulence associated with the combustion gases entering the combustion head. This turbulence increases the occurrence of uneven erosion, cracking and wear of the material of the combustion head. Additionally, uneven pressure in the gas conduits exiting the interior chamber of the combustion head is increased due to the disrupted flow of the combustion gases entering the combustion head. Thus, the presence of the floor of the counterbore reduces the overall life of the above-identified prior art combustion heads.
Another disadvantage of the above-identified prior art combustion heads, is that a seal provided to retain coolant within a housing of the flame spray apparatus and disposed between the housing in which the combustion head is used in assembly therewith and a material feed passage of the combustion head often fails due to overheating under heavy use conditions. Typically, failure of this seal causes a shut down of a coating operation in which the flame spray apparatus is being used so that the seal can be replaced. The Webber combustion head includes coolant channels extending longitudinally along the length of the outer surface of the combustion head through which water is passed for cooling the combustion head. However, the coolant channels disclosed by Webber do not effectively maintain the inlet to the material feed passage and the seal disposed between the material feed passage and the housing of the flame spray apparatus at an operating temperature low enough to avoid the seal from failure due to heat damage under heavy use conditions.
Based on the foregoing, it is the general object of the present invention to provide an improved combustion head and combustion chamber for use with known flame spray apparatus that improves upon, or overcomes the problems and drawbacks associated with prior art combustion heads.

Combustion head for use with a flame spray apparatus


A quick connection coupling valve assembly having a poppet member in both a male coupling member and female coupling member, a fluid passageway defined therethrough is opened by engaging the poppet members of the male and female coupling members with each other, the fluid passageway is closed by releasing a spring member to disengage the poppet members from each other.

Various types of connection coupling valve assembly are known and disclosed in the art, such as connecting flexible tubes utilized in the bio-medical applications, instrument connection, fluid dispensing assembly, etc.
One concern with many current connection coupling valve assemblies is that it is difficult to quickly lock and release the connection coupling valve without any leakage of fluid in the fluid passageway.
In the medical industry or fluid dispensing industry, it is very desirable and critical to keep fluid containers sealed until the time of use. In many cases, it is desirable to have precise volumes of fluid dispensed without any leakage.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,436,125 discloses a quick connect/disconnect coupling assembly. A female coupling member includes a poppet valve assembly which functions as an automatic shut-off of the fluid passageway in the female coupling member when the female coupling member is not interconnected to the male coupling member.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,541,457 discloses a female coupling member including a two-way uncoupling valve assembly and a locking mechanism for cooperating with a male coupling member.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,934,655 discloses a shutoff valve assembly including a plunger and projections cooperating with each other to open or close the fluid passageway.

Quick connection coupling valve assembly


A system can include a container that includes a cabinet capable of attenuating or blocking wireless signals, an AED located within the cabinet, an internal patch antenna removably mounted to an internal surface of the cabinet, an external patch antenna removably mounted to an external surface of the cabinet, and an electrical connection between the internal patch antenna and the external patch antenna. The internal and external patch antennas can be configured to transmit wireless signals at a particular frequency and to receive wireless signals at the particular frequency. The system can be configured such that the internal patch antenna is operative to receive a first wireless signal from the AED, a first electrical signal based on the first wireless signal is provided via the electrical connection to the external patch antenna, and a second wireless signal based on the first electrical signal is radiated by the external patch antenna.

An automated external defibrillator (AED) is a portable electronic device that treats cardiac arrhythmias through defibrillation. Such cardiac arrhythmias are potentially life-threatening and the sooner that an AED can be used to treat a patient, the greater the likelihood that the defibrillation by the AED will benefit the patient. Defibrillation by an AED can include the application of electrical therapy which stops the arrhythmia and allows the heart to reestablish an effective rhythm. Some AEDs can automatically diagnose arrhythmias and tailor patient treatment to meet the diagnosis. AEDs are typically designed so that someone without extensive medical training can effectively use AEDs to provide defibrillation treatment, though many AED training programs are available for basic training on how to use an AED.
Because patients typically benefit from administering AED treatment sooner, many public places, such as libraries, movie theaters, hotels, high-rise buildings, and the like, are placing AEDs in accessible locations. While public places may want to make AEDs accessible, they also want to ensure that AEDs are protected from inadvertent, unintended, or nefarious use, such as use by a child, by a vandal, and the like. To protect AEDs while making them available for use, AEDs are frequently placed inside of protective containers, such as metal cabinets or containers. Other devices, such as fire extinguishers, are similarly placed in protective containers to prevent unwanted uses of the devices while making the devices readily available for use.

Antenna system for signal-attenuating containers


A medical information recording apparatus includes: an input portion that includes a plurality of input terminals and into which a medical image can be inputted from a plurality of image pickup apparatuses, and that detects whether the medical image is inputted through any input terminal among the plurality of input terminals and outputs a detection result; a screen synthesis portion that performs synthesis processing according to one synthesis pattern among a predefined plurality of synthesis patterns for one or more of the medical images inputted through the plurality of input terminals, determines a medical scene or changing of the medical scene based on a detection result of the input portion, switches the synthesis pattern based on a determination result, and outputs a synthesized image based on the one or more medical images that are inputted; and a recording processing portion that records the synthesized image as a single image file.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a medical information recording apparatus that records an image that is obtained by a medical apparatus such as an endoscope.
2. Description of the Related Art
Endoscopes are already in widespread use in medical fields and the like. Medical images obtained by endoscopes are recorded on various kinds of media to record diagnoses and cases. In recent years, accompanying increases in the capacity of recording media, recording of moving images from endoscopes has been also being performed. For example, an apparatus has been disclosed that performs image recording processing in accordance with image processing. In some cases, such recording processing of medical images is digitized and the medical images are stored in a computer-readable file format.
In this connection, in medical institutions, a large number of modalities such as endoscopes, X-rays, and ultrasound diagnostic apparatuses and the like are combined and endoscopic images, ultrasound images, and X-ray images are recorded, and furthermore, a variety of images (hereunder, referred to as "medical images") such as an image showing the state of a surgeon's hands and an image showing the situation within the room or the like are sometimes recorded. In this case, it is also possible to synthesize a plurality of medical images that are recorded to thereby record the images as a single medical image (for example, see Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. 2009-039243). For example, during endoscopic treatment, in a case where an endoscopic image and an image showing the state of a surgeon's hands are simultaneously recorded as a synthesized image in synchrony with each other, the synthesized image is extremely useful as educational material for young doctors since it is possible to ascertain at a single glance a method by which the endoscope is caused to approach a lesioned part to accurately capture an image thereof as well as the appearance of the actual endoscopic image.
A recording apparatus has a plurality of input connectors, and can obtain a required synthesized image during recording by connecting the required modalities to the respective connectors. However, in comparatively small-scale hospitals and the like, in many cases a recording apparatus or the like is moved frequently, and there are also many cases where it is necessary to connect the respective modalities and the recording apparatus before recording. In addition, to record a synthesized image it is necessary to specify the connectors to which the images to be synthesized are to be inputted and to also perform setting operations for generating a synthesized image. Consequently, relatively complicated operations must be performed in order to record a synthesized image of medical images.
In this connection, depending on the contents of the medical action, it is conceivable that not only the kinds of medical images to be recorded will be different, but also that the kinds of medical images to be recorded may differ during the course of the medical action. For example, it is conceivable that a case may arise in which one medical image among medical images from two modalities is recorded for the entire duration of the medical action, while the other medical image among the medical images from the two modalities is recorded during only part of the duration of the medical action or the like. More specifically, in some cases recording of an endoscopic image that captures an image of a surface layer of a lesioned part continues at all times, while an ultrasound image from an ultrasound diagnostic apparatus that is temporarily used for diagnosing the invasion depth of the lesioned part is only recorded at that particular time.

Medical information recording apparatus that determines medical scene or changing of medical scene, synthesizes images obtained by medical equipment, and records synthesized image


A device may receive information, via one or more border gateway protocol messages, identifying a first network traffic service and a second network traffic service. The device may map the information identifying the first network traffic service and the second network traffic service to information identifying a first tier of service for the first network traffic service and a second tier of service for the second network traffic service. The device may perform a first action and a second action, respectively associated with the first network traffic service and the second network traffic service, on the incoming network traffic, based on an order of the first tier of service, for the first network traffic service, and the second tier of service, for the second network traffic service, in a priority ordering of the set of network traffic services.

Border gateway protocol (BGP) may be utilized to exchange information associated with routing and reachability between network devices in a network, such as a set of edge devices. BGP may be utilized by the set of edge devices in a full mesh configuration. However, increasing the quantity of edge devices in a particular network may significantly increase network connections utilized for a full mesh configuration. Thus, a route reflector may be utilized to replace a full mesh configuration while still permitting BGP.

Tiered services in border gateway protocol flow specification


Two unique quick connect fluid coupling embodiments have a tube inner end which does not contact a seal if the tube is not fully connected. Preferably, a retainer retains the tube within the bore. The retainer is of the avalanche type such that a high force is required to insert the tube, and once this high force is overcome the momentum of the tube carries it to its fully inserted position. No seal is formed between the tube and seals within the housing unless the tube has moved beyond the avalanche point where the high force begins. Once the tube has moved beyond that point, it will be fully connected. The invention ensures that there would be no seal between a tube and a housing unless the tube is fully connected.

This application relates to a quick connect fluid coupling which ensures that a tube is not sealed unless the tube is fully inserted into a connector structure.
Quick connect fluid couplings are well known in the art and used to quickly connect a tube to a housing or second tube. Several quick connect couplings are utilized in most modern vehicles to connect brake lines, air conditioning lines, power steering lines and other high pressure lines to a housing, or second tube.
A particularly successful prior art coupling consists of a spring or retainer received within a female housing bore. The retainer has a plurality of arms which extend radially inwardly in a direction moving axially into the bore. The tube has a radially greater upset portion which moves into the bore and abuts an inner peripheral surface of the arms. The axially and radially innermost ends of the arms define an inner diameter approximately equal to the other diameter of the tube at locations other than the upset portion. As the tube is inserted further into the bore, the upset portion forces the arms radially outwardly, and moves axially past the arms. Once the upset portion has moved axially beyond the arms, the arms spring back to a position where they are radially outwardly of the tube, and axially between the upset portion of the tube an outer end of the bore. The tube is then fully inserted, and the retainer securely retains the tube within the housing.
In one prior art coupling, the retainer is of a so-called "avalanche" type where the force required to insert the tube into the housing is at a first relatively low point for initial axial insertion, and then rises sharply to a relatively high point after the upset portion initially contacts the inner periphery of the arms. The point where this high required force begins is defined as an "avalanche" point. Once an operator has supplied sufficient force to overcome this high required force, the momentum carries the tube further axially inwardly and ensures that it is fully inserted.
Problems are sometimes encountered with this type of quick connect coupling since a tube inner end is at an axial position where it is aligned with seals in the housing prior to reaching the avalanche point. The seals engage the outer periphery of the tube and provides some resistance to further insertion of the tube. This may give a false impression or feel to the assembler that the high required force may have been overcome. Thus, the prior art has sometimes resulted in an assembler misinterpreting this feel as an assembler neglects to fully insert the tube for whatever reason, it is still possible that the prior art couplings will provide a seal between the tube and the housing.
It is undesirable for the tube not to be fully inserted since it could become disconnected in use. This is particularly true when the tube is used in a vehicle. With the prior art structure discussed above, should the tube not be fully inserted within the housing, a seal may still be provided between the housing and the tube. The seal may be adequate for a period of time until the vehicle has drive off the assembly line and away from the factory. The fluid pressure in the line, vibration or temperature cycling, will eventually cause the tube to become disconnected from the housing. It is far more preferable for the improper connection to be identified before the vehicle leaves the assembly line.

Positive transition quick connect coupling


A method and an apparatus are disclosed for bringing a portrait camera having a fixed-focus taking lens into coincidence with an optimum camera-to-subject distance appropriate for the lens regardless of differences in the size of a person's head to be photographed. According to the invention, a finder frame through which a person's head may be viewed can be set to one of several alternative settings corresponding to respective head sizes, for example small, medium and large, to select the particular setting that best matches the size of a person's head to be photographed at the optimum camera-to-subject distance. Then, the specific distance between the portrait camera and the person's head to be photographed is adjusted until the person's head, when viewed through the finder frame, appears to fill the finder frame.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates generally to the field of photography and particularly to a camera-to-subject distance determining apparatus and method appropriate for a fixed-focus taking lens.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Prior art U.S. Pat. No. 3,699,867, issued Oct. 24, 1972, discloses a method of bringing a flash-type camera having a fixed-focus taking lens into coincidence with an optimum camera-to-subject distance appropriate for the fixed-focus taking lens during flash photography. To achieve this purpose, the patent explains that the human head is the most commonly encountered photographic subject in flash photography and, therefore, takes note of the vertical dimension (height) of a normal size adult head from the top of the head to the bottom of the chin. In one embodiment, a fixed finder frame for the camera viewfinder is dimensioned to view a normal size adult head. While viewing the head of any subject to be photographed, the specific distance between the camera and the subject is adjusted by moving the subject or the camera until the head of the subject appears to fill the finder frame. At this time, it is stated the optimum camera-to subject distance is established.

Camera-to subject distance determining apparatus and method


An apparatus for securing a gutter protector to a rain gutter. More particularly, the apparatus is a fastening clip that is easily applied to fasten the gutter protector to the rain gutter.

In U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,216,851 and 5,339,575 dated Jun. 8, 1993 and Aug. 23, 1994, new and novel rain gutter protectors were disclosed. Such devices utilize surface tension to cause rain water to flow from the roof surface onto a flat portion of the rain gutter protector covering the gutter. The rain water is directed to an arcuate surface causing the water flow to change to a vertical downward direction. In turn, a series of louvers (apertures) located in the front vertical portion of the rain gutter protector directs the rain water into the gutter, while debris of sufficient size are excluded from entering therein. Thus, gutters remain clean and free flowing, thereby eliminating the chore of manual cleaning. Generally, devices embodying these patents are made of aluminum and are successfully marketed under the trademarks "Waterloov" and "Care-Free."
However, for similar devices made of plastic, the fastening techniques of applying a metal screw through the lip of the gutter and into the flange of the rain gutter protector may cause the plastic to crack or break. The breakage is due to the differences in expansion characteristics between the aluminum gutter to which the plastic rain gutter protector is affixed. The opposite is also true of aluminum rain gutter protectors mounted on plastic guttering.
Additionally, rain gutter protectors embodying these patents are usually installed by trained technicians instead of homeowners and unskilled tradesmen. U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,216,851 and 5,339,575, (the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference) describe rain gutter protector devices configured to form a closed top surface which is affixed to the gutter by positioning a flange under the gutter lip and fastened with screws or some such fasteners. The method of fastening the protector to the guttering requires an installer to hold and align the protector in position while fastening the protector, thereby limiting installation to trained skilled installers.
As aforementioned, the problems and annoyances involved in the installation of rain gutter protectors are common knowledge. The prior art solution of fastening protectors directly to the rain gutter itself is often time consuming and difficult. The installation requires the interfitting of the rain gutter protector to the roofing first and then aligning the protector to the underside of the top gutter lip, thereby stabilizing the protector to receive a fastener through both the gutter lip and the flange of the rain gutter protector. It can become a dangerous juggling act for an inexperienced homeowner at considerable height.
Therefore, a need exists in the art for an apparatus to increase the ease of installing protectors onto existing guttering, while accommodating any physical changes which may occur after installation such as thermal expansion.


The invention includes devices and methods for providing phrase-based translation. Devices of the invention have translation modules containing a set of phrases and their translations wherein the set of phrases is selected based on their suitability in the context in which the translation device is used. The methods of the invention determine the context in which a translation device is used and provide sets of phrases and their translations that are suitable in the context. The invention further includes devices containing software for executing the methods of the invention.

People who want to communicate in languages they do not speak have several options. They can hire human interpreters who can speak and understand both the language of their employers (the source language) as well as the language their employers wish to communicate in (the target language). An interpreter listens to the speaker communicate a message in the source language, and then translates by communicating the message in the target language. This option suffers from several drawbacks: interpreters may be prohibitively expensive or otherwise unavailable, or may purposely translate inaccurately if their objectives are at odds with those of the speaker. Another option, popular with many tourists, is to use a translation phrasebook. This allows speakers to look up common words and phrases in their native language, and provides a phonetic translation of the phrase in the target language. However, this option suffers from the drawback that it takes a significant amount of time to look up a word or phrase, making for exceedingly slow communication.
The inadequacies of the above translation options have led to the development of electronic translation devices that provide nearly instantaneous translations. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,434,518, incorporated herein by reference, discusses an electronic translator that functions like an enhanced translation phrasebook. A user selects one of a number of predetermined words or phrases in a source language, the selected word or phrase is translated into a target language, and an audio output is provided to pronounce the selected word or phrase in the target language. While this solution may be faster than using a phrasebook, it is still slower than using a human interpreter because the word or phrase that is to be translated must still be found and selected from among many available words and phrases. Furthermore, the vocabulary may be limited where a broad vocabulary or a situation-specific vocabulary is needed.
European publication no. EP 751467, incorporated herein by reference, discusses an electronic translation device that functions more like a human interpreter. A user speaks a phrase in the user's native language, and the device provides an identical or similar phrase or sentence in the user's native language. If the phrase or sentence provided by the device is that intended by the user, the user can operate a control key and a corresponding phrase or sentence is output by the device in the target language. With other similar electronic translation device, a user can speak a phrase in the user's native language, and the translation device will repeat the phrase in the target language through an audio output. A match is made between the spoken native language phrase and similar native language phrases stored in the device if the spoken phrase and similar phrase are similar enough as measured by some predetermined standard. Such devices allow more rapid communication than an electronic or paper phrasebook translator, but unfortunately are not as reliable as might be desired. These devices cannot recognize the speech of an arbitrary user, and thus must be trained using speaker-dependent voice recognition techniques known in the art. Therefore, such a translation device may only be used by a single user who has trained the device.
There is thus a need in the art for fast and reliable translation methods and devices that need not be trained and yet accurately recognize spoken phrases in a source language and provide correct translations into a target language.

Context based language translation devices and methods


Procedure for determining modifications made to an electronic card and methods of fabricating an electronic card and an item of equipment provided with an electronic card.

It is known that an electronic card includes constituent elements such as electronic components, ports, supply elements and connection means.
Many items of equipment, both domestic and industrial, comprise one or more electronic cards of this type. Such items of equipment are generally fabricated during a known particular industrial cycle. During this industrial cycle, it is frequently the case that modifications have to be made to the diagram of one or more electronic cards of the item of equipment. These modifications may be involved in several steps of the industrial cycle, especially after tests of a prototype card, during integration into the item of equipment, after tests of a prototype item of equipment, or during changes to the item of equipment in mass production phase.
When modifications have to be made to an electronic card, it is necessary to regenerate industrial data or definition or qualification justification elements, starting from an initial step of acquisition of the diagram illustrating the electronic card. Since the exhaustive testing of an electronic card, and a fortiori an item of equipment that includes at least one such card, is a lengthy and complex operation, the test subsequent to one or more modifications of an electronic card relate in general only to the modified portions of said card. In addition, it is necessary to know how to determine in a precise manner the modifications that have been made to this card since the previous tests.
One solution for determining the modifications made to an electronic card consists in manually noting the modifications as and when an operator modifies the diagram by means of a CAD (Computer-Aided Design) software program. However, this solution has the drawback of there being a not insignificant risk of errors which may in particular be due to omissions by said operator.
Another solution consists in visually comparing the old diagram with the new diagram once the latter has been completed and in noting the differences seen by an operator. Here again, the risk of errors or of omissions is not insignificant, especially if the diagram is complex.

Procedure for determining modifications made to an electronic card and methods of fabricating an electronic card and an item equipment provided with an electronic card

Abstract: According to the invention, a first diagram (S1) illustrating the electronic card, which includes the electronic components (CE1, CE2, CE3), ports (P1, P2), supply elements (A1) and connection means (L1 to L7) at a first moment is determined, a second diagram illustrating the electronic card at a second moment is determined, a class relating to a change is assigned to each entity in said diagrams, a visual identification attribute is associated with each entity, which is representative of its class, two images corresponding to the first and second diagrams are constructed with the visual identification attributes being displayed, and said images are compared in order to deduce therefrom the modifications made to the electronic card between the first and second moments.


An antiparallel pinned spin valve sensor is provided in combination with electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection circuits, for preventing ESD destabilization of the magnetic spins of an antiferromagnetic pinning layer, and a reset pulse generator, for generating a pulse for resetting the magnetic spins of the antiferromagnetic pinning layer, wherein the ESD circuits and the reset pulse generator are compatible with one another. A first ESD protection circuit has a turn-on voltage in the direction of the sense current and a second ESD protection has a turn-on voltage in a direction opposite to the sense current. The turn-on voltage of the first ESD protection circuit is sufficiently high to minimize shunting of the sense current past the AP spin valve sensor. The reset voltage is higher than the sense voltage and may be just less than the turn-on voltage of the first ESD protection circuit. The turn-on voltage of the first ESD protection circuit may be slightly less than the melting temperatures of the layers of the AP spin valve sensor. The turn-on voltage of the second ESD protection circuit is less than the turn-on voltage of the first ESD protection circuit, such as 50% thereof. The turn-on voltage of the second ESD protection circuit should be less since no reset function is implemented in that direction and ESDs in that direction will destabilize the antiferromagnetic layer.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an antiparallel (AP) pinned spin valve sensor with a pinning layer reset circuit and electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection circuit and, more particularly, to an ESD protection circuit for an AP pinned spin valve sensor that is compatible with a reset circuit so that objectives of both circuits can be fully realized.
2. Description of the Related Art
A spin valve sensor is employed by a read head for sensing magnetic fields from moving magnetic media, such as a magnetic disk or a magnetic tape. The sensor includes a nonmagnetic conductive layer, hereinafter referred to as a spacer layer, sandwiched between first and second ferromagnetic layers, hereinafter referred to as a pinned layer, and a free layer. First and second leads are connected to the spin valve sensor for conducting a sense current therethrough. The magnetization of the pinned layer is pinned 90.degree. to the magnetization of the free layer and the magnetization of the free layer is free to respond to external magnetic fields. The magnetization of the pinned layer is typically pinned by exchange coupling with an antiferromagnetic layer.
The thickness of the spacer layer is chosen to be less than the mean free path of conduction electrons through the sensor. With this arrangement, a portion of the conduction electrons is scattered by the interfaces of the spacer layer with the pinned and free layers. When the magnetizations of the pinned and free layers are parallel with respect to one another, scattering is minimal; when the magnetizations of the pinned and free layers are antiparallel, scattering is maximized. Changes in scattering alter the resistance of the spin valve sensor in proportion to sin .theta., where .theta. is the angle between the magnetizations of the pinned and free layers. A spin valve sensor is characterized by a magnetoresistive (MR) coefficient that is substantially higher than the MR coefficient of an anisotropic magnetoresistive (AMR) sensor. For this reason a spin valve sensor is sometimes referred to as a giant magnetoresistive (GMR) sensor.
A read head employing a spin valve sensor (hereinafter referred to as a "spin valve read head") may be combined with an inductive write head to form a combined magnetic head. In a magnetic disk drive, an air bearing surface (ABS) of a combined magnetic head is supported adjacent a rotating disk to write information on or read information from the disk. Information is written to the rotating disk by magnetic fields which fringe across a gap between the first and second pole pieces of the write head. In a read mode the resistance of the spin valve sensor changes proportionally to the magnitudes of the magnetic fields from the rotating disk. When a sense current is conducted through the spin valve sensor, resistance changes cause potential changes that are detected and processed as playback signals.
An improved spin valve sensor, which is referred to hereinafter as an antiparallel (AP) pinned spin valve sensor, is described in commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 5,465,185 to Heim and Parkin which is incorporated by reference herein. The AP pinned spin valve sensor differs from a single film pinned layer spin valve sensor, described above, in that the pinned layer of the AP pinned spin valve sensor comprises multiple thin films, which arc collectively referred to as an antiparallel (AP) pinned layer. The AP pinned layer has a nonmagnetic spacer film sandwiched between first and second ferromagnetic thin films. The first thin film is exchange coupled to the antiferromagnetic layer by being immediately adjacent thereto and has its magnetic moment directed in a first direction. The second thin film is immediately adjacent to the free layer and is exchange coupled to the first thin film by the minimal thickness (in the order of 5 .ANG.) of the spacer film between the first and second thin films. The magnetic moment of the second thin film is oriented in a second direction that is antiparallel to the direction of the magnetic moment of the first film. The magnetic moments of the first and second films subtractively combine to provide a net pinning moment of the pinned layer. The direction of the net moment is determined by the thicker of the first and second thin films. The thicknesses of the first and second thin films are chosen to reduce the net moment. A reduced net moment equates to a reduced demagnetization (demag) field from the AP pinned layer. Since the antiferromagnetic exchange coupling is inversely proportional to the net pinning moment, this increases exchange coupling.
A high exchange coupling promotes higher thermal stability of the head. When the head encounters elevated thermal conditions caused by electrostatic discharge (ESD) from an object or person, or by contacting an asperity on a magnetic disk, the blocking temperature of the antiferromagnetic layer can be exceeded, resulting in disorientation of its magnetic spins. The magnetic moment of the pinned layer is then no longer pinned in the desired direction.
Significant advantages of the AP pinned spin valve over the typical single film pinned layer include a greater exchange coupling field and a lower demag field, which enhance thermal stability in the AP pinned spin valve sensor.
ESD is particularly troublesome for both the single pinned layer spin valve sensor and the AP pinned spin valve sensor. Multiple magnetic heads employing the sensors are made in rows and columns on a wafer. After construction of the heads on the wafer, the wafer is diced into rows. At the wafer and/or the row level the antiferromagnetic pinning layer of either spin valve sensor is subjected to heat above its blocking temperature in the presence of a magnetic field to orient the magnetic spins of the antiferromagnetic pinning layer in a direction that is perpendicular to the ABS. After dicing the row into individual magnetic heads, each head is manually mounted by an assembler on a suspension of a magnetic disk drive. When the magnetic head is mounted on the suspension it is typically connected to an ESD protection circuit. Unfortunately, before the head is mounted on the suspension it is at risk of ESD from the assembler or contact with another object that may destabilize the magnetic spins of the antiferromagnetic pinning layer. A multiple head disk drive can be rendered unmarketable if only one head is destabilized. Accordingly, there needs to be a reset circuit at the suspension level or on the magnetic disk drive for resetting the magnetic spins of the antiferromagnetic pinning layer. The problem is providing reset and ESD circuits that are compatible with one another.
It is necessary that the ESD circuit provide adequate ESD protection while allowing the reset circuit to apply a voltage with a sufficiently high pulse to reset the antiferromagnetic pinning layer. It is also necessary that the ESD circuit provide sufficient turn-on voltage in the direction of the sense current to prevent shunting of the sense current. Diodes (which are used for ESD protection) inherently have a small amount of leakage current which may be decreased by placing multiple diodes in the direction of the sense current. Shunting of the sense current through ESD protection diodes significantly impacts the readback signal. Accordingly, sufficient turn-on voltage must be employed in the direction of the sense current to substantially eliminate sense current leakage. Another factor bearing on compatibility is that in both the single film pinned layer spin valve sensor and the AP pinned spin valve sensor the sense current must be in a predetermined direction to balance a sense current field with other fields and influences on the spin valve sensor which is discussed next.
Both the single film pinned layer spin valve sensor and the AP pinned spin valve sensor demonstrate an AMR influence on the free layer that is also characteristic of an AMR sensor. This is because of the relative rotation between the directions of the magnetic moment of the free layer of the spin valve sensor and the sense current. AMR is employed in the AMR sensor for detecting signals and is due to a change in resistance of an MR stripe as the magnetic moment of the MR stripe rotates relative to the sense current in response to magnetic fields from a rotating disk. The AMR may substantially change the position of the bias point of the spin valve sensor relative to positive and negative readback signals detected by the sensor. The influence of the AMR effect on the free layer must therefore be dealt with in establishing the bias point.
The transfer curve (a plot of the readback signal of the spin valve head versus the applied signal from the magnetic disk) for a spin valve sensor is defined by sin .theta., where .theta. is the angle between the directions of the magnetic moments of the free and pinned layers. A substantially flat portion of the transfer curve is selected for location of the bias point so that response of the sensor is substantially linear. Since positive and negative magnetic fields from a moving magnetic disk are typically equal in magnitude, it is important that positive and negative changes in the GMR of the spin valve sensor about the bias point on the transfer curve also be equal.
The location of the bias point on the transfer curve is influenced by four major forces on the free layer: a ferromagnetic coupling field H.sub.FC between the pinned layer and the free layer; a demag field H.sub.demag on the free layer from the pinned layer; a sense current field H.sub.SC from all conductive layers of the spin valve (except the free layer; and, the influence of the AMR. The influence of the AMR on the bias point is the same as a magnetic influence thereon and it can be defined in terms of magnitude and direction. This influence is referred to herein as the AMR EFFECT.
In the single pinned layer spin valve, H.sub.demag and the AMR effect are balanced by H.sub.FC and H.sub.SC. In the AP pinned spin valve sensor the AMR effect is balanced by H.sub.demag, H.sub.FC and H.sub.SC for the purpose of promoting symmetry of the read signal.

AP pinned spin valve sensor with pinning layer reset and ESD protection

International Business Machines Corporation


An inverter circuit for a backlight device includes an inverter transformer which supplies a high AC voltage to a plurality of discharge tubes, a filter circuit connected to an output terminal of the inverter transformer, and an abnormal discharge detection circuit. The filter circuit passes a current signal having a high frequency component of the high AC voltage to the abnormal discharge detection circuit, and the abnormal discharge detection circuit detects an abnormal discharge current based on the current signal.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an inverter circuit and, more particularly, to an inverter circuit which controls discharge tubes of a plurality of cold cathode fluorescent lamps ("CCFLs") of a liquid crystal display ("LCD"), a backlight device having the inverter circuit and an LCD having the backlight device.
2. Description of the Related Art
A liquid crystal display ("LCD") is a common type of display apparatus. The LCD is not a self-emissive display apparatus, however, and therefore requires a separate light source, such as a cold cathode fluorescent lamp ("CCFL"), for example.
The CCFL is a type of a fluorescent lamp. Compared to other lamp types, such as a heat cathode fluorescent lamp ("HCFL"), for example, the CCFL is highly resistant to vibration, has a relatively small diameter and has a long lifespan. However, a higher driving voltage must be applied to the CCFL than to the HCFL, since the CCFL is turned on and off in response to a high AC voltage.
Due to the high AC voltage, an abnormal discharge, such as a corona discharge or an arc discharge, for example, may occur between a high voltage section and a ground in an inverter circuit which generates the high AC voltage to operate the CCFL. The abnormal discharge carbonizes a peripheral section of the CCFL and also causes additional problems, such as short-circuits, fires and smoking during operation.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a backlight device of the prior art. Referring to FIG. 1, a backlight device 1 of the prior art includes an inverter circuit 2 which generates a high AC voltage, a CCFL group 3 having a plurality of CCFLs, and a condenser circuit 4 having a plurality of balance condensers BC which uniformly distributes the high AC voltage from the inverter circuit 2 to the plurality of CCFLs.
The inverter circuit 2 of the backlight device 1 of the prior art is typically a concentrative power supply-type inverter circuit 2 which turns on and off CCFLs of the plurality of CCFLs. The inverter circuit 2 also prevents electric current from being concentrated in a particular CCFL, such as in a CCFL which turns on before other CCFLs due to a negative resistance characteristic of that particular CCFL, for example. Specifically, the inverter circuit 2 prevents the electric current from being concentrated in a particular CCFL by connecting a corresponding balance condenser BC the CCFL having the negative resistance characteristic.
In the backlight device 1 having the concentrative power supply-type inverter circuit 2, however, an arc discharge occurs around the CCFLs. A current applied to the CCFLs is limited by the balance condensers, however, and an output current Io of the inverter circuit 2 is therefore not substantially affected by the arc discharge. Thus, the inverter circuit 2 is unable to detect the arc discharge detected based on the output current Io.
FIG. 2A is a graph of an output current of the inverter circuit of the prior art when arc discharge is not occurring, e.g., in a normal operating state, and FIG. 2B is a graph of an output current of the inverter circuit of the prior art when an arc discharge is occurring.
As shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, a change in respective output waveforms of the output current Io due to the occurrence of an arc discharge is small, and the arc discharge is therefore not easy to detect. However, it is required to detect the arc discharge to block a power supply operation of the inverter circuit, since the arc discharge damages the CCFLs. Thus, it is desired to develop an inverter circuit capable of detecting an arc discharge to block a power supply operation, thereby effectively preventing damage to the CCFLs.

Inverter circuit, backlight device and liquid crystal display having the same


A method for ACK/NACK determination reliability for a communication device includes a first step of defining a supplementary indicator of message acceptability. A next step includes sending data from a communication device to a BTS on an uplink channel. A next step includes checking the data to see if it was properly received. A next step includes providing the supplementary indicator of message acceptability to the communication device in addition to ACK/NACK information. A next step includes utilizing the supplementary indicator of message acceptability to determine a reliability of the ACK/NACK information.

In a Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS), such as that proposed for the next of the third generation partnership project (3GPP2) standards for the UMTS Terrestrial Radio Access Network (UTRAN), such as wideband code division multiple access (WCDMA) or cdma2000 for example, user equipment (UE) such as a mobile station (MS) communicates with any one or more of a plurality of base station subsystems (BSSs) dispersed in a geographic region. The mobile station is typically a cellular communication device. Each BSS continuously transmits a downlink physical control (pilot) channel signal having the same spreading code but with a different code phase offset. Phase offset allows the pilot signals to be distinguished from one another, which in turn allows the base stations to be distinguished. Hereinafter, a pilot signal of a BSS will be simply referred to as a pilot. The MS monitors the pilots and measures the received energy of the pilots.
In the WCDMA system, there are a number of states and channels for communications between the MS and the BSS. For example, in the Mobile Station Control on the Traffic State, the BSS communicates with the MS over a Forward Traffic Channel in a forward link and the MS communicates with the BSS over a Reverse Traffic Channel in a reverse link. During a call, the MS must constantly monitor and maintain four sets of pilots. The four sets of pilots are collectively referred to as the Pilot Set and include an Active Set, a Candidate Set, a Neighbor Set, and a Remaining Set.
The Active Set includes pilots associated with the Forward Traffic Channel assigned to the MS. This set is active in that the pilots associated with this set are all within soft handoff range of the MS. The Candidate Set includes pilots that are not currently in the Active Set but have been received by the MS with sufficient strength to indicate that an associated Forward Traffic Channel could be successfully demodulated. The Neighbor Set includes pilots that are not currently in the Active Set or Candidate Set but are likely candidates for handoff. The Remaining Set includes all possible pilots in the current system on the current WCDMA frequency assignment, excluding the pilots in the Neighbor Set, the Candidate Set, and the Active Set.
Typically, a BSS services a coverage area that is divided up into multiple sectors. In turn, each sector is serviced by one or more of multiple base transceiver stations (BTSs) included in the BSS. When the MS is serviced by a first BTS, the MS constantly searches pilot channels of neighboring BTSs for a pilot that is sufficiently stronger than a threshold value. The MS signals this event to the first, serving BTS using a Pilot Strength Measurement Message. As the MS moves from a first sector serviced by a first BTS to a second sector serviced by a second BTS, the communication system promotes certain pilots from the Candidate Set to the Active Set and from the Neighbor Set to the Candidate Set. The serving BTS notifies the MS of the promotions via a Handoff Direction Message. Afterwards, for the MS to commence communication with a new BTS that has been added to the Active Set before terminating communications with an old BTS, a "soft handoff" will occur.
For the reverse link, typically each BTS in the Active Set independently demodulates and decodes each frame or packet received from the MS. It is then up to a switching center or selection distribution unit (SDU) normally located in a Base Station Site Controller (BSC), which is also known as a Radio Network Controller (RNC) using WCDMA terminology, to arbitrate between the each BTS's decoded frames. Such soft handoff operation has multiple advantages. Qualitatively, this feature improves and renders more reliable handoff between BTSs as a user moves from one sector to the adjacent one. Quantitatively soft-handoff improves the capacity/coverage in a WCDMA system. However, with the increasing amount of demand for data transfer (bandwidth), problems can arise.
Several third generation standards have emerged, which attempt to accommodate the anticipated demands for increasing data rates. At least some of these standards support synchronous communications between the system elements, while at least some of the other standards support asynchronous communications. At least one example of a standard that supports synchronous communications includes cdma2000. At least one example of a standard that supports asynchronous communications includes WCDMA.
While systems supporting synchronous communications can sometimes allow for reduced search times for handover searching and improved availability and reduced time for position location calculations, systems supporting synchronous communications generally require that the base stations be time synchronized. One such common method employed for synchronizing base stations includes the use of global positioning system (GPS) receivers, which are co-located with the base stations that rely upon line of sight transmissions between the base station and one or more satellites located in orbit around the earth. However, because line of sight transmissions are not always possible for base stations that might be located within buildings or tunnels, or base stations that may be located under the ground, sometimes the time synchronization of the base stations is not always readily accommodated.
However, asynchronous transmissions are not without their own set of concerns. For example, the timing of uplink transmissions in an environment supporting autonomous scheduling by the individual subscribers can be quite sporadic and/or random in nature. While traffic volume is low, the autonomous scheduling of uplink transmissions is less of a concern, because the likelihood of a collision (i.e. overlap) of data from data being simultaneously transmitted by multiple subscribers is lower. Furthermore, in the event of a collision, there is spare bandwidth available to accommodate the need for any retransmissions. However, as traffic volume increases, the likelihood of data collisions (overlap) also increases. The need for any retransmissions also correspondingly increases, and the availability of spare bandwidth to support the increased amount of retransmissions correspondingly diminishes. Consequently, the introduction of explicit scheduling by a scheduling controller can be beneficial.
However even with explicit scheduling, given the disparity of start and stop times of asynchronous communications and more particularly the disparity in start and stop times relative to the start and stop times of different uplink transmission segments for each of the non-synchronized base stations, gaps and overlaps can still occur. Gaps correspond to periods of time where no subscriber is transmitting. Overlaps correspond to periods of time where multiple subscribers are transmitting simultaneously. Both gaps and overlaps represent inefficiencies in the usage of the available bandwidth and the management of accurate communication.
For example, FIG. 1 is a block diagram of communication system 100 of the prior art. Communication system 100 can be a cdma2000 or a WCDMA system. Communication system 100 includes multiple cells (seven shown), wherein each cell is divided into three sectors (a, b, and c). A BSS 101-107 located in each cell provides communications service to each mobile station located in that cell. Each BSS 101-107 includes multiple BTSs, which BTSs wirelessly interface with the mobile stations located in the sectors of the cell serviced by the BSS. Communication system 100 further includes a radio network controller (RNC) 110 coupled to each BSS and a gateway 112 coupled to the RNC. Gateway 112 provides an interface for communication system 100 with an external network such as a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) or the Internet.
The quality of a communication link between an MS, such as MS 114, and the BSS servicing the MS, such as BSS 101, typically varies over time and movement by the MS. As a result, as the communication link between MS 114 and BSS 101 degrades, communication system 100 provides a soft handoff (SHO) procedure by which MS 114 can be handed off from a first communication link whose quality has degraded to another, higher quality communication link. For example, as depicted in FIG. 1, MS 114, which is serviced by a BTS servicing sector b of cell 1, is in a 3-way soft handoff with sector c of cell 3 and sector a of cell 4. The BTSs associated with the sectors concurrently servicing the MS, that is, the BTSs associated with sectors 1-b, 3-c, and 4-a, are known in the art as the Active Set of the MS. The communication system 100 also provides a message acknowledgment/no acknowledgement (ACK/NACK) procedure by which an active BTS can notify the MS 114 that their last message was not received properly and requires a retransmission or other suitable action.
Referring now to FIG. 2, a communication procedure performed by communication system 100 is illustrated. FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a hierarchical structure of communication system 100. As depicted in FIG. 2, RNC 110 includes an ARQ function 210, a scheduler 212, and a soft handoff (SHO) function 214. FIG. 2 further depicts multiple BTSs 201-207, wherein each BTS provides a wireless interface between a corresponding BSS 101-107 and the MSs located in a sector serviced by the BSS.
When performing a soft handoff, each BTS 201, 203, 204 in the Active Set of the MS 114 receives a transmission from MS 114 over a reverse link of a respective communication channel 221, 223, 224. The Active Set BTSs 201, 203, and 204 are determined by SHO function 214. Upon receiving the transmission from MS 114, each Active Set BTS 201, 203, 204 demodulates and decodes the contents of a received radio frame along with related frame quality information.
At this point, each Active Set BTS 201, 203, 204 then conveys the demodulated and decoded radio frame to RNC 110, along with related frame quality information. RNC 110 receives the demodulated and decoded radio frames along with related frame quality information from each BTS 201, 203, 204 in the Active Set and selects a best frame based on frame quality information. Scheduler 212 and ARQ function 210 of RNC 110 then generate control channel information that is distributed as identical pre-formatted radio frames to each BTS 201, 203, 204 in the Active Set. Alternatively, the BTS of the current cell where the MS is camped (BTS 202) can include its own scheduler and bypass the RNC 110 when providing scheduling information to the MS. The Active Set BTSs 201, 203, 204 then simulcast the pre-formatted radio frames over the forward link. The control channel information is then used by MS 114 to determine what transmission rate to use. Further, the ARQ function is associated with an ACK/NACK channel for use by the BTS to communicate whether the previous message from the MS was received properly by the BTS.
The scheduling function allows a mobile station (MS) to signal control information corresponding to an enhanced reverse link transmission to Active Set base transceiver stations (BTSs) and by allowing the BTSs to perform control functions. The MS in a SHO region can choose a scheduling assignment corresponding to a best transport format and transport-related information (TFRI) out of multiple scheduling assignments that the MS receives from multiple active set BTS. As a result, the uplink channel can be scheduled during SHO, without any explicit communication between the BTSs. In either case, data rate constraints are provided by a scheduler, which is used by the MS 114, along with control channel information, to determine what transmission rate to use.
As proposed for the UMTS system, a MS can use an enhanced uplink dedicated transport channel (EUDCH) to achieve an increased data rate coverage of a reverse link. The MS must determine the data rate to use for the enhanced uplink based on local measurements at the MS and information provided by the UTRAN rate constraints. Moreover, to achieve higher throughput on the reverse link, communication systems such as communication system 100 have adapted techniques such as Hybrid Automatic Repeat ReQuest (H-ARQ) that involves retransmission of erroneous information and Adaptive Modulation and Coding (AMC), as are known in the art.
Adaptive Modulation and Coding (AMC) provides the flexibility to match the modulation and forward error correction (FEC) coding scheme to the average channel conditions for each user, or MS, serviced by the communication system. AMC promises a large increase in average data rate for users that have a favorable channel quality due to their proximity to a BTS or other geographical advantage. Enhanced GSM systems using AMC offer data rates as high as 384 kbps compared to 100 kbps without AMC. Likewise, 5 MHz CDMA systems can offer downlink and uplink peak data rates as high as 10 Mbps and 2 Mbps respectively through AMC, where 2 Mbps and 384 kbps was typical without AMC.
AMC has several drawbacks. AMC is sensitive to measurement error and delay. In order to select the appropriate modulation, the scheduler, such as scheduler 212, must be aware of the channel quality. Errors in the channel estimate will cause the scheduler to select the wrong data rate and either transmit at too high a power, wasting system capacity, or too low a power, raising the block error rate. Delay in reporting channel measurements also reduces the reliability of the channel quality estimate due to constantly varying mobile channel. To overcome measurement delay, a frequency of the channel measurement reports may be increased. However, an increase in measurement reports consumes system capacity that otherwise might be used to carry data.
Hybrid ARQ is an implicit link adaptation technique. Whereas, in AMC explicit C/I measurements or similar measurements are used to set the modulation and coding format, in H-ARQ, link layer acknowledgements are used for re-transmission decisions. Many techniques have been developed for implementing H-ARQ, such as Chase combining, Rate compatible Punctured Turbo codes, and Incremental Redundancy. Incremental Redundancy, or H-ARQ-type-II, is an implementation of the H-ARQ technique wherein instead of sending simple repeats of the entire coded packet, additional redundant information is incrementally transmitted if the decoding fails on the first attempt.
H-ARQ-type-III also belongs to the class of Incremental Redundancy ARQ schemes. However, with H-ARQ-type-III, each retransmission is self-decodable, which is not the case with H-ARQ-type II. Chase combining (also called H-ARQ-type-III with one redundancy version) involves the retransmission by the transmitter of the same coded data packet. The decoder at the receiver combines these multiple copies of the transmitted packet weighted by the received SNR. Diversity (time) gain as well as coding gain (for IR only) is thus obtained after each re-transmission. In H-ARQ-type-III with multiple redundancy, different puncture bits are used in each retransmission. The details for how to implement the various H-ARQ schemes are commonly known in the art and therefore are not discussed herein.
H-ARQ combined with AMC can greatly increase user throughputs, potentially doubling/trebling system capacity. In effect, Hybrid ARQ adapts to the channel by sending additional increments of redundancy, which increases the coding rate and effectively lowers the data rate to match the channel. Hybrid ARQ does not rely only on channel estimates but also relies on the errors signaled by the ARQ protocol.
In the enhanced uplink dedicated channel, the mobile is scheduled by the scheduler, or the mobile can be transmitting in autonomous mode. The BTS sends an ACK/NACK indication to the mobile in response to a message. An ACK (acknowledged) indication acknowledges that the message was properly received. A NACK (not acknowledged) indication indicates that the message was not properly received and should be resent by the MS to the BTS. Optionally, a lack of response from a BTS can be interpreted by the MS as a NACK.
A number of error cases can arise that will degrade the maximum attainable throughput, since an error will generally require a retransmission of the same data. Moreover, the error case of a NACK sent by the BTS being considered an ACK by the mobile can lead to disastrous conditions. In this case, the mobile would have flushed from it's buffer the data packets as soon as an ACK is perceived and this data is lost forever in the case of streaming applications. However, even in non-streaming applications, this type of error would negatively impact system throughput since Receiver-Driven Layered Multicast Congestion Control (RLC) retransmission would be triggered, or in the worst case Transport Control Protocol (TCP) slow start would be triggered, both of which seriously affect data throughput. Additionally, when receiving another scheduling assignment message on the downlink from the BTS, the mobile would now send a different uplink data transmission with contents different from the prior transmission and the BTS would then erroneously soft-combine this in an ARQ operation with information in it's soft buffer that corresponds to previous data, thus affecting the success of transmission of this new packet as well. Solving this problem is therefore important to ensure a high throughput of good data in the uplink. In another error case, the BTS can sent an ACK that the mobile determines to be a NACK, wherein the MS may needlessly retransmit the same data that has already been successfully received at the BTS. This also reduces overall system throughput.
Therefore, a need exists for a new technique to enhance the reliability of the determination of ACK/NACK information, thereby resolving the issues of erroneous determination of an ACK as a NACK and NACK as an ACK, both with and without soft handoff (SHO). In particular, it would be of benefit to set up a technique to allow the feedback of information between the MS and active set BTSs such that a macro selection diversity benefit is obtained.


An integrated circuit includes operational circuitry; a sensor configured to sense an environmental parameter; and adjustment circuitry coupled to the sensor and to the operational circuitry and configured to affect the operational circuitry to at least partially counteract the effects of the environmental parameter. A method of testing an integrated circuit includes supporting a sensor in the integrated circuit and using the sensor to sense environmental data.

Rapid advances in communication, digital processing, and computing systems are creating an increasing demand for nonvolatile random access memory that is both high-density and highspeed. Existing solid-state technologies are unable to provide all of the needed attributes in a single memory solution. Therefore, a number of different memories are currently being used to achieve the multiple functionality requirements, often compromising performance and adding cost to the system. Magnetoresistive random access memory (MRAM) technology is known in the art. MRAMs use principles of magnetoresistive tunneling. Digital bits of information are defined by memory cells having alternate states of magnetization of magnetic materials. The magnetic materials can be thin ferromagnetic films. High-quality, nanometer scale tunneling barriers can be used that have enhanced magnetoresistive response.
Information can be stored and retrieved from the memory devices by inductive sensing to determine a magnetization state of the devices, or by magnetoresistive sensing of the magnetization states of the memory devices. It is noted that the term "magnetoresistive" characterizes the device and not the access method—a magnetoresistive device can be accessed by, for example, either inductive sensing or magnetoresistive sensing methodologies.
A significant amount of research is currently being invested in magnetic digital memories, such as, for example, MRAMs, because such memories are seen to have significant potential advantages relative to the dynamic random access memory (DRAM) components and static random access memory (SRAM) components that are presently in widespread use. For instance, a problem with DRAM is that it relies on power storage within capacitors. Such capacitors leak energy, and must be refreshed at intervals. The constant refreshing of DRAM devices can drain energy from batteries utilized to power the devices, and can lead to problems with lost data since information stored in the DRAM devices is lost when power to the devices is shut down.
SRAM devices can avoid some of the problems associated with DRAM devices, in that SRAM devices do not require constant refreshing. Further, SRAM devices are typically faster than DRAM devices. However, SRAM devices take up more semiconductor real estate than do DRAM devices. As continuing efforts are made to increase the density of memory devices, semiconductor real estate becomes increasingly valuable. Accordingly, SRAM technologies are difficult to incorporate as standard memory devices in memory arrays.
MRAM devices have the potential to alleviate the problems associated with DRAM devices and SRAM devices. Specifically, MRAM devices do not require constant refreshing, but instead store data in stable magnetic states. Further, the data stored in MRAM devices can potentially remain within the devices even if power to the devices is shutdown or lost. Additionally, MRAM devices can potentially be formed to utilize less than or equal to the amount of semiconductor real estate associated with DRAM devices, and can accordingly potentially be more economical to incorporate into large memory arrays than are SRAM devices. MRAMs are nonvolatile, and operate at high-speeds. They also have substantially unlimited read and write endurance.
Although MRAM devices have potential to be utilized as digital memory devices, they are currently not widely utilized. Several problems associated with MRAM technologies remain to be addressed. It would be desirable to develop improved MRAM devices.
Integrated circuit sensors are known in the art. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,180,989 to Bryant et al. (incorporated herein by reference) discloses an integrated circuit fingerprint sensor.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,674,319 to Muller et al. (incorporated herein by reference) relates to an integrated circuit sensor for vapor detection. A polysilicon microstructure is formed on a silicon substrate. Beneath the microstructure are diffused regions in the substrate. The microstructure is capacitively coupled to diffused regions so that one capacitor acts as an excitation capacitor and another capacitor acts as a sense capacitor. When an AC voltage is applied to the excitation capacitor, the electrostatic force between the substrate and the microstructure changes, causing a mechanical vibration in the microstructure. A DC voltage is applied to the sense capacitor. The mechanical vibration changes the capacitance of the sense capacitor and will develop a current through the sense capacitor. A phenomenon may then be sensed by the vibrating microstructure.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,194,961 to Passeraub (incorporated herein by reference) relates to a microstructure including an electronic circuit formed by a plurality of transistors and a flat coil. The coil is arranged on an upper face of a semiconductor substrate. The coil generates a magnetic field in this substrate in the vicinity of the transistors. The transistors are situated in superposition with the coil. The source and collector of the transistors are aligned along a direction perpendicular to the wire or path in the portion of the coil situated in proximity to each of the transistors. Thus, electric current flowing in the transistors is substantially parallel to the magnetic field.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,263,740 to Sridhar et al. (incorporated herein by reference) relates to a pressure sensor fabricated onto a substrate using conventional CMOS fabrication processes.
However, these integrated circuit sensors do not sense environmental information that may affect operation of the integrated circuit itself.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

MRAM integrated circuits, MRAM circuits, and systems for testing MRAM integrated circuits


A lamp platform assembly for emitting at least one light beam in various patterns, directions or orientations may include multi-positional support platform. At least one lamp unit may be carried by the support platform. Each lamp unit may be selectively positional to direct an emitted light beam in a selected direction or orientation. At least one electrical system may electrically interface with the at least one lamp unit. The at least one electrical system may be configured to provide electrical power to the at least one lamp unit.

A light fixture an electrical device that includes a source of illumination. Light fixtures are commonly used to provide various types of light in indoor and outdoor settings. A typical light fixture may include a mounting bracket and one or more lamps supported by the mounting bracket. Each lamp may include a light bulb which is mounted into an electrical socket connected to a source of electricity. In some types of light fixtures, the light bulb may be threaded into the electrical socket to facilitate ease in replacement of the light bulb. In other types of light fixtures, the light bulb may be hard-wired in place.
Some types of light fixtures may include a switch which enables a user to selectively energize the electrical socket and light bulb. The switch may include a dimmer control which enables a user to control the illumination brightness of the light bulb. Permanent light fixtures, such as overhead light fixtures in the rooms of a home or office building, are typically connected to a wall switch for manual illumination. Other types of light fixture arrangements may include motion sensors which activate the light fixture upon sensing motion in the room which the light fixtures illuminate.
Table lamps are popular items used in homes and offices. A typical table lamp includes an upward-standing base or pedestal which typically rests on a table or other support. An electrical socket extends from the top of the pedestal. A light bulb is threaded in the electrical socket. A lamp shade is typically mounted on the electrical socket and covers the light bulb to diffuse the light emitted by the light bulb. An electrical cord which is connected to the electrical socket extends from the pedestal and terminates in a plug for insertion into a wall or floor outlet. Floor lamps are similar to table lamps except the base or pedestal typically rests on the floor. The pedestal and lamp shade of table and floor lamps are highly variable and customizable to accord with the aesthetic tastes of the user.
Some light fixtures may include features such as reflectors which reflect or direct light emitted by the light bulb. Other light fixtures may include apertures, lenses or the like which modify the light beam as it exits the electrical socket. These features may create lighting effects which are highly variable.
In recent years, light-emitting diodes (LEDs) have exploded in popularity. An LED is a semiconductor light source which emits light when electrical current flows through the light source. As the current flows, electrons in the light source recombine with electron holes and release photons. The color of the emitted light corresponds to the energy of the released photons and is determined by the energy required for electrons to cross the band gap of the semiconductor.
Some of the advantages of LEDs over conventional lighting include lower energy consumption, longer lifetime, improved physical robustness, smaller size, and faster switching. LEDs are used in a wide variety of different applications including aviation, automotive, advertising, traffic signals, and medical devices.
In some applications, it may be desirable to mount multiple lamps on a platform which is positionally adjustable to illuminate objects or create various lighting effects.
Accordingly, there is need for a lamp platform assembly having a multi-positional support platform with at least one lamp unit on the support platform to emit at least one light beam in various patterns, directions or orientations.


The present invention relates to a nozzle cleaning blade of a dispensing jet valve. The nozzle cleaning blade includes a plurality of blades (20) vertically formed at right and left of the top surface of a fixing plate (21) on a working tray (T), which moves laterally along guide rails in a state where a target product is seated on the working tray (T), so as to clean a nozzle (12) of a jet valve (10) which is mounted movably in vertical and horizontal directions and injects a coating liquid in order to join or process a specific portion of the target product. The fixing plate (21) is fixed to a bracket (30) which is detachably mounted on the top surface of the working tray (T), and the blades (20) are inclinedly formed on the fixing plate (21) in a lateral direction.

In general, a dispensing device is used for converting a large amount of liquid, which is used in fine chemicals industry, into minute particles and precisely coating a specific portion of a target product, for instance, in order to join the target product or process the surface of the target product with a specific coating liquid. Such a coating liquid is injected through a dispensing gun, namely, through a nozzle of a jet valve disposed on the dispensing gun, so as to precisely join or process materials, for instance, in the semiconductor manufacturing process.
In order to enhance the degree of precision, an outlet of the nozzle to inject the coating liquid is formed finely, and hence, it is very important to control injection pressure, time, speed, range, amount, and others of the coating liquid injected through the nozzle instantly.
The jet valve is conveyed together with a robot arm in a position selectable manner from a conveying device or is controlled by a program set to be moved in horizontal and vertical directions according to the position movement of a transfer in order to inject and coat the coating liquid to the specific portion so as to process the target product. In a state where coating work from the nozzle is finished, the coating liquid remaining on the nozzle is cleaned and washed off by the air blowing method.
However, because the coating liquid is minutely accumulated on an end portion of the nozzle from which the coating liquid is injected, it influences on the dispensing accuracy of the coating liquid. Moreover, such a problem gradually has an influence on the next injection of the coating liquid, and hence, causes a faulty process of the target product.
Furthermore, there is an inconvenience to reset air consumption according to ingredients of the coating liquid, and it causes difficulty in performance recovery of the jet valve because of accumulation of foreign matters on the nozzle due to a change in pressure.
In order to overcome the above problem, the inventor of the present invention has Korean Patent No. 10-996557 entitled "nozzle cleaning apparatus of a dispensing jet valve".
In Korean Patent No. 10-996557, as shown in FIG. 1, the nozzle cleaning apparatus 100 of the dispensing jet valve includes: a roll brush (120) for cleaning a nozzle 2 of the lower part of a jet valve 1 which is moved from a dispensing device and disposed for injecting a coating liquid to join and process a specific portion of a target product; and driving means 130 for rotating the roll brush 120 in forward and backward directions. The nozzle cleaning device 100 further includes: a mounting block 110 having a first space part 111 opened at the top portion, a second space part 112 disposed at the rear of the first space part 111 and opened at the top portion and both sides, and a connection part 113 disposed at the lower part of the front and having a joining hole 113a to which a fastening member (S) is fixed from the dispensing device, the roll brush 120 being mounted inside the first space part 111 of the mounting block 110, the driving means 130 being mounted in the second space part 112 of the mounting block 110 and connected to the roll brush 120 via a rotational connection shaft 131 penetrating the first space part 111 from the second space part 111, such that the driving means 130 rotatably drives the rotational connection shaft 131 by air pressure so as to rotate the roll brush 120 in forward and backward directions; a driving pressure controller 150 connected with air supply lines (P) to control a driving pressure by air supply; a main controller 160 electrically connected with the driving pressure controller 150 so as to control a driving time setting and a power supply of the driving pressure controller 150; and a pollution preventing cover 140 disposed on the top of the first space part 111 and having an open middle portion, which is smaller than an area of the opened top portion of the first space part 111, and, to which the bottom portion of the jet valve 1 is guided, such that foreign matters are not scattered to the outside when the nozzle 2 of the jet valve 1 is cleaned.
That is, the nozzle 2 cleans the coating liquid stained on the nozzle using the rotational roll brush 120. However, because the residue of the coating liquid scattered through the roll brush is, in fact, minutely stained on the nozzle again, the roll brush needs a sufficient rotation period of time. Accordingly, the nozzle cleaning device of the dispensing jet valve has a disadvantage in that it takes a long period of time to clean and wash off the coating liquid through the dispensing device.

Nozzle cleaning blade of jet valve for dispensing


The invention comprises a web-based digital menu board content creation and management system that permits rapid and simple production of customized electronic digital displays from a plurality of configurable, dynamic templates. Playback of the content is readily facilitated through a content player that enables dynamic content updating and tracking of content display periods for purposes of advertising data collection.

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a system for electronic display of content and more specifically to a web-based digital menu board content management system that permits rapid and simple production of customized electronic digital displays from a plurality of configurable dynamic templates. Playback of the content is readily facilitated through a content player that enables dynamic content updating and tracking of content display periods for purposes of advertising data collection
Description of the Related Art
Many prior art systems for creating and displaying content such as advertising, product information, video, and other types of digital media are presently commercially available for displaying digital content on a video screen, or even a plurality thereof. Typically, content may be programmed in a flash file for playback in one of many conventional content players, such as Windows Media®, Internet Explorer®, or any variation of Microsoft® ActiveX player. However, nearly all prior art systems require a user to be skilled in manipulation of digital content and video display, as well as being able to prepare the content of the media being played back.
Accordingly, preparing even a simple video advertising or marketing display for viewing in, for example, a store to attract customers and inform them of product offerings often requires the effort of multiple skilled personnel, from advertising and marketing executives, to graphical designers, to computer programmers. As can be readily seen, there is a need in the art for a system for creating and displaying content, for example audio and video, that is readily utilized by personnel with little or no training in the aforementioned fields. Such a system should be readily configurable and permit a plurality of content displays to be configured by a single user or administrator.

Integrated content display system and method


A fluorescence endoscope apparatus includes: a light source unit emitting light in a combination of light in plural types of wavelength bands in two types of wavelength ranges of RGB and two types of exciting light, with plural types of emitting patterns and in a time division; an image pickup unit receiving reflected light and two types of fluorescence; and an image-processing unit outputting a white light image and two types of fluorescence images.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a florescence endoscope apparatus for capturing: a white light image that is used for acquiring information on the shape of an object to be observed, like a living body for example; and plural types of fluorescence images that are used for acquiring information on a degenerate site of the object to be observed, such as a lesion in a living body.
2. Description of Related Art
As a conventional fluorescence endoscope apparatus for capturing plural types of fluorescence images and a white light image while a decrease in a frame rate for white light image showing information on shape with one observation mode is being controlled to the small extent to the utmost, a fluorescence endoscope apparatus disclosed in Japanese Patent Kokai No. 2011-188929 has been suggested for example.
FIGS. 1A-1C are explanatory views showing one example of structures for the fluorescence endoscope apparatus disclosed in Japanese Patent Kokai No. 2011-188929. To be specific, FIG. 1A is a block diagram conceptually showing its whole structure, FIG. 1B is a view showing a configuration of respective transmittal portions of a rotary filter that is provided for a light source unit for the apparatus shown in FIG. 1A, and FIG. 1C is a timing chart conceptually showing timing with which a white light image and plural types of fluorescence images are captured in the fluorescence endoscope apparatus disclosed in Japanese Patent Kokai No. 2011-188929.
The fluorescence endoscope apparatus shown in FIGS. 1A-1C include a light source unit 51, an image pickup unit 52, and an image processing unit 54. In FIG. 1A, the numeral reference 53 denotes a light-guiding means like a light guide, the numeral reference 54a denotes a frame memory, the numeral reference 55 denotes an image-displaying apparatus, and the numeral reference 56 denotes an insertion unit of the front end of the endoscope.
The light source unit 51 includes a light source 51a and a rotary filter 51b. The light source 51a emits light containing: white light for observing the shape of an object 59 to be observed; and plural types of exciting light for exciting plural types of fluorescent substances that exist in the object 59. The rotary filter 51b is provided with: white light-transmitting portions 51b2 and 51b4 that transmit white light of light emitting from the light source 51a; and plural types of exciting light-transmitting portions 51b1 and 51b3 that transmit plural types of exciting light respectively of light emitting from the light source 51a, with these transmittal portions 51b1, 51b2, 51b3, and 51b4 located in the same circumferential direction.
The image pickup unit 52 and the image-processing unit 54 are formed to operate respectively in such a way that: the image pickup unit 52 receives while light reflected by an object 59 to be observed and plural types of fluorescence emitted from an aggregation 59a of fluorescent substances in the object 59; and the image-processing unit 54 outputs one frame of a white light image, one frame of the first fluorescence image, one frame of the white light image, and one frame of the second fluorescence image in chronological order every one rotation of the rotary filter 51b so that an output of the white light image is inserted between outputs of respective fluorescence images, with the result that a frame rate for the white light image is larger than frame rates for the respective fluorescence images.


A wheelchair lift apparatus which may be adapted for use in an existing motor vehicle in lieu of a seat structure removably coupled to the floor pan. The lift apparatus includes a motor driven horizontal screw for laterally moving a platform across the vehicle to exit the rear passenger compartment through a side door opening. The platform has a vertical side extension and carries a foldable wheelchair, for example, whose two sides collapse inwardly. The lift apparatus further includes motor driven linkage members for pivoting the platform and folded wheelchair from outside the rear passenger compartment toward the front of the vehicle. The platform and folded wheelchair are next vertically adjusted alongside either the driver or a front seat passenger door opening, depending upon whether the side door opening is on the right or left side of the vehicle. An additional motor driven linkage member is operative for downwardly pivoting the vertical side extension to a coplanar position with the platform so as to extend its effective surface for supporting the unfolded wheelchair, ready to receive the driver or front seat passenger; and a motor driven vertical screw for lowering and raising the platform and wheelchair.

Wheelchair lift apparati for use in vehicles are known. For example, Braun et al U.S. Pat. No. 4,664,584 discloses a rotary wheelchair lift including a hydraulic lift having a vertically telescoping slide tube and a horizontal wheelchair platform attached to the lower end thereof. A platform extension accommodates wheelchairs of various sizes and types. An in/out switch causes the platform to be rotated into and out of the vehicle. A fold-down handrail permits the user to safely ride with the apparatus into the vehicle, and then wheel off the platform to the vehicle controls as the driver. For dismounting from the vehicle, the user reverses the procedure by first rolling onto the platform.
Koerber U.S. Pat. No. 4,493,602 discloses another rotary wheelchair lift apparatus for automatically lifting the user from ground level into the van and then out of the van without any need for the user to leave the wheelchair. The apparatus includes a vertical drive screw driven by a motor via a pulley belt, in conjunction with a one-way clutch. A further pivotally mounted motor and drive screw serve to pivot the support column and lift frame.
Wolfe U.S. Pat. No. 5,052,879 discloses a wheelchair lift and transfer system designed to enable a user to independently enter a vehicle and drive the vehicle from his or her wheelchair without leaving the wheelchair platform. It includes the platform and an associated fold-down ramp, with vertical lift cylinders connected to the side of the platform adjacent the vehicle, and horizontal cylinders connected to the vertical cylinders to pull the platform along tracks into the vehicle.
Williams et al U.S. Pat. No. 4,493,603 discloses still another wheelchair lift apparatus for positioning a wheelchair under the steering wheel. This apparatus includes a drive motor and vertical screw for lifting and lowering, and a motor and gear reduction unit, pinion, and gear sector for pivoting.
Quercy U.S. Pat. No. 4,551,060 discloses a motor and vertical screw driven platform which is then pivotable along a rail to a position beneath a fold-down vehicle seat.
Dake U.S. Pat. No. 4,096,955 discloses a lifting mechanism including cantilevered arms vertically and pivotally movable for moving a wheelchair and its occupant to and from a van, and further including tilting means for tilting the wheelchair and occupant prior to lifting for the occupant's safety during lifting.
Gates U.S. Pat. No. 4,133,437 discloses a wheelchair lift apparatus including a rotatable post, a pivotally mounted motor for rotating the post through a pinion and gear drive, and a carriage slidable along the post via a motor driven belt and pulley for driving a lead screw.
Boone U.S. Pat. No. 5,106,121 discloses a bench seat structure which is adapted to be removably coupled to the vehicle floor pan and which may be readily replaced by the inventive wheelchair lift apparatus.