A device integration method and integrated device. The method may include the steps of directly bonding a semiconductor device having a substrate to an element; and removing a portion of the substrate to expose a remaining portion of the semiconductor device after bonding. The element may include one of a substrate used for thermal spreading, impedance matching or for RF isolation, an antenna, and a matching network comprised of passive elements. A second thermal spreading substrate may be bonded to the remaining portion of the semiconductor device. Interconnections may be made through the first or second substrates. The method may also include bonding a plurality of semiconductor devices to an element, and the element may have recesses in which the semiconductor devices are disposed. A conductor array having a plurality of contact structures may be formed on an exposed surface of the semiconductor device, vias may be formed through the semiconductor device to device regions, and interconnection may be formed between said device regions and said contact structures.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to three-dimensionally integrated semiconductor devices and, in particular, to semiconductor devices vertically bonded together to form three-dimensional structures.
2. Discussion of the Background
The ability to integrate determines the success of the semiconductor industry. This was first demonstrated with the invention of the integrated circuit (IC). The IC essentially consists of fabrication of electronic components at the surface of the semiconductor wafer followed by interconnection of these components with metalization on top of the components. The dramatic reduction in cost and increase in performance that has resulted from this integration has had a profound economic impact.
Since the invention of the IC, the semiconductor industry has experienced continued rapid growth due to continuous improvements in the integration density of various electronic components (i.e., transistors, diodes, resistors, capacitors, etc.) achieved. For the most part, this improvement in integration density has come from repeated reduction in minimum feature size which allow more components to be integrated in a given area. Additional improvement has come from increases in wafer size.
These integration improvements are essentially two-dimensional (2-D) in nature, in that the volume occupied by the integrated components is essentially at the surface of semiconductor wafer. Although dramatic improvements in lithography have resulted in considerable improvement in this 2-D integration, there are physical limits to the density which can be achieved in 2-D. One of these limits is simply the minimum size needed to make these components. Another limit is the significant increase in interconnect requirements between components as the component size is reduced.
Efforts to achieve integration beyond that available with 2-D has been explored and resulted in improvement in chip memory and further semiconductor industry growth. For instance, the trench capacitor uses significant semiconductor volume below the wafer surface and allows more functionality to be achieve in a given chip area. Other efforts, directed at achieving higher levels of integration by increased use of the volume in a given chip area, have recently increased. One approach has been to iterate the integration process by adding semiconductor material on top of the interconnect metalization followed by additional interconnect metalization. Although this potentially results in more components per chip area, it suffers from other problems including significantly increased thermal budgets. In addition, this and other efforts are distinct in that they only use one substrate and then work on one surface of that substrate. Not subjecting the devices to the thermal processes involved in fabricating the interconnect would simplify and enhance the fabrication of the devices.
Another problem results from the lagging of the ability to scale interconnect dimensions compared to scaling device dimensions. Ideally, one wants the critical dimension of a via to be the same as a gate dimension. However, since the scaling of vias lags the scaling of devices, integration density is limited.
Further problems arise when trying to integrate different types of technologies into a single circuit or wafer. BiCMOS is one example. Typically, special processing techniques must be devised to be able to combine the technologies. Processes required for one technology often interfere with processes required for another. As a result, compromises are made. The overall development of the combined technology becomes frozen in time, making flexible integration of the technologies that are being combined very difficult if not impossible. In other words, the most advanced xe2x80x9cbest of breedxe2x80x9d technologies are not combined and evolutions in the technologies cannot be exploited.
Another problem of combining technologies is that customization must occur up front. One must first design the processing to combine the technologies and thus the limitations are built into the device. Again, one cannot easily take advantage of evolutions and improvements in technology since that requires redesigning the processing.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a method and device having high integration density.
It is another object of the invention to provide a method and device where different types of materials may be integrated.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a method of integrating different types of devices, and a structure comprising the integrated devices.
It is yet another object of the invention to provide a method and device where different types of technologies are integrated.
It is a still further object of the invention to avoid or minimize the thermal budgets in interconnecting devices.
It is yet another object of the invention to allow the integration of the best available technologies without making significant processing compromises.
A still further object is to provide improved interconnection of bonded devices, and between devices and boards, cards and/or substrates.
These and other objects may be obtained by a method of forming an integrated device including the steps of forming a first bonding material on a first semiconductor device having a first substrate, forming a second bonding material on a first element having a second substrate and directly bonding the first and second bonding materials. A portion of the first substrate may be removed to expose a remaining portion of the first semiconductor device, and the integrated device may be mounted in a package.
The first semiconductor device may be connected to the package from an exposed side of the remaining portion of the first semiconductor device. The first semiconductor device may have a substrate with top and bottom sides, with an active area being formed in the top side, and the package may be connected to the first semiconductor device from the bottom side. A second element having a third substrate may be bonded to the remaining portion of the first semiconductor device, the first element may be removed or substantially removed and the semiconductor device may be connected to the package from the top side.
The first semiconductor device may have a plurality of levels of interconnect, and connections may be formed to at least one of the levels of interconnect from an exposed remaining portion side. A plurality of levels of interconnect may also be formed from an exposed remaining portion side. A connection may be made directly to a device element region of the first semiconductor device.
The method according to the invention may also include steps of bonding a first thermal spreading substrate to a first semiconductor device having a device substrate, removing a portion of the device substrate to expose a remaining portion of the first semiconductor device, and bonding a second thermal spreading substrate to the remaining portion of the first semiconductor. A plurality of levels of interconnect may be formed in the first semiconductor device, and connections to at least one of these levels of interconnect may be made using the first or second thermal spreading substrates. The connections to the levels of interconnect may be formed using an areal contacting method and connections may be made directly to device element regions of the semiconductor device.
The method according to the invention may also include steps of directly bonding a first semiconductor device having a first substrate to an element, removing a portion of the first substrate to expose a remaining portion of the first semiconductor device after bonding, wherein the element may comprise one of a substrate used for thermal spreading, impedance matching or for RF isolation, an antenna and a matching network comprised of passive elements. The remaining portion of the first semiconductor device may be interconnected with the element and a portion of the remaining portion may be removed to expose a portion of the element.
The method according to the invention may also include directly bonding a first component of a system to a second component of the system, and interconnecting the first and second components. The first component may be bonded to a second component having a substrate, at least a portion of the substrate may be removed and the first and second components may be interconnected from the side of the second component from which the portion has been removed. A shielding member, an isolation member or an antenna may be bonded to at least one of the first and second components. The antenna may also be interconnected with at least one of the first and second components. An optical device may be bonded to an electrical device, or a lower-speed higher-density semiconductor device may be bonded to a higher-speed lower-density semiconductor device. The first and second semiconductor devices may be of different technologies. As an example, a microprocessor may be bonded to a high density memory device or, as another example, first and second solar cells may be bonded together.
The method according to the invention may also include attaching a plurality of first elements to a surface of a substrate to form a second element, and directly bonding the second element, from a side to which the first elements are attached, to a third element. The attaching step may comprise directly bonding each of the plurality of first elements to a surface of the substrate. A portion of the second element may be removed after bonding. The first elements may be interconnected with the third element, the first elements may be interconnected using the second element, and the first elements and third element may be interconnecting using at least one of the second and third elements. Recesses may be formed in the second element, and the first elements may be bonded to the second element in the recesses.
As a further embodiment, a method may include steps of forming a first bonding material on a first semiconductor device and forming a second bonding material on a second element. The first and second bonding materials may be directly bonded, and a conductor array may be formed having a plurality of contact structures on an exposed surface of the first semiconductor device. Vias may be formed through the first semiconductor device to the device regions, and interconnections may be formed between the device regions and the contract structures. The conductor array may comprise a pin grid array. The method may further include mating the pin grid array with conductive regions formed on one of a board, card and substrate.
The device according to the invention may include a first device portion comprised of a first device having a first substrate from which the first substrate have been removed, a first bonding material formed on the first device portion, a first element having a second bonding material formed thereon, with the first bonding material directly bonded to the second bonding material. The first device portion may comprise a first solar cell portion and the first element may comprise a second solar cell with a substrate. Interconnections may be formed between the first solar cell portion and the second solar cell from a side of the first solar cell portion from which the first substrate is removed.
The first device portion may comprise a semiconductor device having active elements and the first element may comprise one of a substrate used for thermal spreading, impedance matching or for RF isolation, an antenna, and a matching network comprised of passive elements. The first device portion may have a first side an opposing second side, an interconnections may be made to the device portion from either the first side or the second side. A shielding member or an isolation member may be directly bonded to one of the first device portion and the first element. An antenna may be directly bonded to one of the first device portion and the first device element and interconnections may be made between the antenna and at least one of the first device portion and the first element.
The first device portion may comprise an optical device and the first element may comprise an electrical device. The first element may also comprise a lower-speed higher-density semiconductor device and the first device portion may comprise a higher-speed lower-density semiconductor device.
The integrated device according to the invention may also include a plurality of first elements each directly bonded to a surface of a substrate, to form a second element, and a third element directly bonded to the second element from a side on which the first elements are bonded to the surface of the substrate. Interconnections may be made between the third element and selected ones of the plurality of first elements, and interconnections may be formed between selected ones of the first elements. The first elements may be disposed in recesses formed in the substrate.
As another embodiment, the device according to the invention may include a device portion containing semiconductor devices having opposing top and bottom sides, a first substrate directly bonded to the top side of the device portion and a second substrate directly bonded to the bottom side of the device portions. Interconnections may be formed to the device portions through either or both of the first and second substrates. Power and ground connections may be formed to the device portions through only one of the first and second device substrates, and signal and clock interconnections may be formed to the device portions through the other of the first and second substrates.
The integrated device according to the invention may also include a plurality of first elements each directly bonded to a surface of a second element. The first elements and the second element may include at least one of semiconductor devices, patterned conductors, antenna elements and impedance matching elements. Vias may be formed in the first elements, and conductive material may be formed in the vias to interconnect the first elements with the second element.
The device according to the invention may also include a first bonding material disposed on a first semiconductor device and a second bonding material disposed on a first element. The first and second bonding materials are directly bonded. A conductive array may be disposed on a exposed surface of the first element having a plurality of conductive regions, and interconnections may be formed between the conductive regions of the array and conductive regions of the semiconductor device. The conductive array may comprise a pin grid array. The second conductive regions may be mated with conductive regions formed on at least one of a board, card and substrate.

Three dimensional device integration method and integrated device


A device and method for increasing revenues in a transit system is provided wherein specific localized advertising of goods and services is generated and transmitted through the announcement system of transit vehicles. The device includes a transit vehicle equipped with means to track its location and produce an audio message within the vehicle based on its location. The method includes means to sell advertisement space to businesses that would otherwise not find transit advertising effective and means to cause the advertisements of local merchants and service providers to be broadcast in a vehicle in proximity to the advertiser or a specific outlet and software to run the method. Revenue from such advertisements will provide the transit authority or municipality with additional funds without the need for an investment is infrastructure and if done in accordance with the suggested method will cause little disturbance of passengers.

The majority of transit systems in major metropolitan areas worldwide, and many other areas throughout the United States, are now equipped with public enunciation systems that broadcast transit stop announcements to passengers. In the past the bus driver or conductor of a train or other conveyance would, using the public address system of the conveyance, announce the next stop to the riders. Additionally, presently some transit vehicles are equipped with an electronic visual display so that messages of importance, including the identification of the next transit stop, can be displayed. Such visual announcements are extremely helpful to the deaf or hard of hearing and can often be seen when the transit conveyance is crowded and noisy.
Public transportation authorities are typically funded by federal, state and local tax dollars as well as through passenger fares. Many transportation authorities are under constant pressure, due to rising costs, to find new sources to fund their operating budgets. If the transit budgets are not balanced commuters face fare increases or service cuts or citizens of the transit districts face tax increases, and often all three measures must be taken by authorities. As a result, publicly needed and desired transit systems may suffer and cause commuters to choose other means of transportation such as personal vehicles that add to the congestion of the roads and pollution in our cities.
Traditionally the only type of advertising on public transportation has been print advertising, either within the conveyance in small strategically placed posters or on the sides of vehicles either in large poster art or in some instances, with a vehicle being covered in an advertisement with modern adhesive graphics. However, for small advertisers, that is those advertisers that are located only in a particular part of a transit schedule map, it has been found that advertising used on transit systems is generally ineffective, particularly in large metropolitan areas, as the advertisements must be made generally of scatter shot and cannot be focused to best effect. A bus that transits through a desired advertising district also transits districts that are far and remote, such that the effectiveness of an advertisement for a localized business is lost when the bus that the advertisement is in or on transits to a another area. Further, as transit authorities often assign buses or trains for short periods and then move the rolling stock to areas needed, an advertisement on a particular bus or train may never be seen in the area where the advertisement is required. As such, small centralized businesses that might truly benefit from advertising on transit systems, cannot or do not do so because of the risk that the advertisement will not be seen and the money spent will be lost. No one wants to gamble hard earned advertising dollars on a hit or miss proposition.
There is therefore a need for an effective and targeted means to advertise on transit systems such that businesses can better target advertisements to the disparate advertising targets throughout a large metropolitan area in a cost effective manner. More specifically, there is a need for new audio media on transit vehicles that is, at once, location-based and active. Additionally, fleet-wide timed advertisements can be made to advertisers seeking a broad-based media option. Finally, a combination of timed, location-based advertisements provides maximum flexibility and targeting ability for advertisers further increasing the value of this new media. In all cases, new revenue is generated for transit authorities by the creation and sale of new media.
Such systems will benefit the advertiser, the transit system and the general public, as the costs for advertisements that are well targeted are less expensive such that the costs of products can remain low.

Method and device for increasing advertising revenue on public transit systems via transit scheduler and enunciator systems


The number of wavelength selective switch (WSS) units in a WSS device can be doubled by using polarization properties of optical beams propagating through the WSS device. Beams from different WSS units are orthogonally polarized at the front end, propagated through collimator, wavelength dispersing element, and a focusing element, and impinge on a polarizing beamsplitter, which directs sub-beams at different polarizations to different directing elements of a director array. A polarization diversity configuration at the back end can be used to reduce polarization dependent loss.

Wavelength selective switches (WSS) are widely used for dynamic routing wavelength channels in optical communications networks. WSS devices are deployed in optical switching nodes of long-haul, regional, and metro optical communications networks. Referring to FIG. 1A, a typical WSS 100 includes a front end 101 having a single fiber array unit (FAU) 102, containing, for example, one input and four output optical fibers, a concave, usually spherical, mirror 104 to expand and steer an input optical beam 105 emitted by the input fiber of the FAU 102 onto a diffraction grating 106 for wavelength dispersion, further imaging onto a dispersed focal plane 108 containing a MEMS array 110 for selectively steering wavelength channels back through the WSS 100 to the outputs fibers of the FAU 102. Such wavelength-selective switching devices have been disclosed, for example, by Bouevitch et al. in U.S. Pat. No. 6,498,872, and by Ducellier et al. in U.S. Pat. No. 6,707,959. The MEMS array 110 can be replaced by a digital light processor (DLP), liquid crystal (LC), or a liquid-crystal-on-silicon (LCoS) phased array. In the latter two cases, due to polarization sensitivity of the MEMS array 110, the optical beam 105 is split into two orthogonally polarized sub-beams at the front end 101, with one sub-beam being rotated so that the optical sub-beams in a single polarization state are propagated through the WSS 100.
Presently available WSS are highly integrated devices. Keyworth et al. in U.S. Pat. No. 7,725,027 disclose a twin WSS device, in which two WSS share common optical elements. Referring to FIGS. 1B and 1C with further reference to FIG. 1A, a prior-art twin WSS 120 is shown in schematic elevation and plan views, respectively. The twin WSS 120 includes two independently operable WSS units sharing the following common optical elements: a collimator 104-1, the diffraction grating 106, a focusing element 104-2, and the MEMS 110. The collimator 104-1 and the focusing element 104-2 can be replaced by the single spherical mirror 104 of FIG. 1A, resulting in a practical 4f configuration. The 4f configuration for a WSS has been described in detail in the U.S. Pat. No. 6,498,872.
Referring specifically to FIG. 1B, a first WSS unit includes a first front end 101A having a first FAU 102A and a first lens 121A. A light beam 105A is collimated by the collimator 104-1, dispersed into individual wavelength channels 107A (FIG. 1C) by the diffraction grating 106, and is focused by the focusing element 104-2 onto a first row 110A of tiltable micromirrors of the MEMS array 110, which redirect individual wavelength channels 107A to propagate back and couple in a wavelength-selective manner into output fibers of the first FAU 102A. Similarly, a second WSS unit includes a second front end 101B having a second FAU 102B and a second lens 121B. A light beam 105B is collimated by the collimator 104-1, dispersed into individual wavelength channels 107B (FIG. 1C) by the diffraction grating 106, and is focused the focusing element 104-2 onto a second row 110B of tiltable micromirrors of the MEMS 110, which redirect individual wavelength channels 107B to propagate back and couple in a wavelength-selective manner into output fibers of the second FAU 102B. In the view of FIG. 1C, the wavelength channels 107A and 107B are overlapped.
The twin WSS 120 of FIGS. 1B and 1C is a more economical and space-efficient unit than two single-unit WSS 100 of FIG. 1A. Future networks will require higher-degree network nodes having higher port count, and "colorless" add/drop ports, that is, add/drop ports allowing any wavelength channel to be added or dropped. The twin WSS 120 operates over a single spectral band of communication, either C-band or L-band.
Increasing data throughput in WSS networks has typically been achieved through a combination of increased number of multiplexed wavelengths within the C or L-band, and increased bit rates within each wavelength channel. When combined, these increases lead to improved spectral efficiency within the finite optical bandwidth of the optical amplifiers. However, each subsequent increase requires an improved optical signal-to-noise ratio (OSNR), which typically requires that optical power levels in the fiber are increased. It is anticipated that within the next 5 years, one will reach fundamental limits due to fiber optical nonlinearity, preventing further increases in OSNR. At this point, it is likely that the next path forward would either be C+L band WSS networks, or "spatially multiplexed" networks, consisting of overlayed "planes" of WSS networks. Demand is expected for both solutions, depending on the existing infrastructure of network operators; to support this future demand of compact, economical WSS devices, a more densely packed WSS devices are required.

Wavelength selective switch using orthogonally polarized optical beams


In synchronism with an active command, a row address and a column address are simultaneously received, and a page address is received in synchronism with a read command or a write command. Word drivers select a word line based on the row address, and column switches select a bit line based on the column address. A page address decoder selects any one of read/write amplifiers corresponding to each page based on the page address. With this configuration, a specification for a DRAM such as an access cycle can be satisfied without arranging an amplifier for each bit line, and thus it becomes possible to secure a compatibility with a DRAM while reducing a chip area.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a semiconductor memory device and a data processing system including the same, and, more particularly relates to a semiconductor memory device to which an address signal is input in a plurality of steps, and a data processing system including the same.
2. Description of Related Art
DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory), which is one of representative semiconductor memory devices, has a very large address space, and thus an address multiplex system in which an address signal is input in two steps is used. In this system, the number of address buses or of address terminals can be reduced.
Specifically, in synchronism with an active command, a block address (a mat address) and a row address are provided. Subsequently, in synchronism with a read command or a write command, a column address is provided. In this way, a memory cell to be accessed is specified. As a result, by the block address and the row address that are firstly provided, a memory cell array (also called a mat or a block) and a word line included in a selected memory cell array are selected, and by the column address that is secondly provided, a bit line is selected.
Such an address input system is predetermined depending on each specification. Therefore, in order that semiconductor memory devices other than the DRAM have a compatibility with a DRAM, it becomes essential for those semiconductor memory devices to adopt the above address input system. However, a semiconductor memory device in which the speed of a read operation or a write operation is slower than that of DRAMs, for example, a semiconductor memory device such as a PRAM (Phase Change Random Access Memory) in which a phase change material is used for a memory cell, has a problem in that it is not possible to automatically satisfy other specifications for DRAMs (particularly, an access cycle), and, even when the address input system is matched, it is not sufficient to secure a compatibility.
As a method of solving such a problem, Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2005-158199 proposes a method in which a set operation (an operation in which a phase change material is changed from a highly resistant amorphous state to a low resistant crystalline state) of a memory cell that particularly requires a time is performed in the background.
However, there is a problem in that, to realize the method according to Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2005-158199, there is a need of arranging a write amplifier for each bit line, and inevitably the area occupied by the write amplifiers on a chip becomes very large. That is, in a write operation in a PRAM, there is a need of applying a high voltage to the bit line and also supplying a relatively large writing current, and thus each of the write amplifiers occupies a very large area unlike a sense amplifier in the DRAM. Thus, it is not realistic to arrange the write amplifier for each bit line.
Such a problem occurs not only in PRAMs, but also in other semiconductor memory devices in which its write operation requires a long time.

Semiconductor memory device having DRAM-compatible addressing mode and data processing system including same


A method facilitates touchless control of medical equipment devices in an OR. The method involves: providing a three-dimensional control menu, which comprises a plurality of menu items selectable by the practitioner by one or more gestures made in a volumetric spatial region corresponding to the menu item; displaying an interaction display unit (IDU) image corresponding to the three-dimensional control menu to provide indicia of any selected menu items; estimating a line of sight of a practitioner; and when the estimated line of sight is directed within a first spatial range around a first medical equipment device, determining that the practitioner is looking at the first medical equipment device. Then the method involves providing a first device-specific three-dimensional control menu displaying a first device-specific IDU image.

There is a general desire for medical practitioners (e.g. surgeons, interventional radiologists, nurses, medical assistants, other medical technicians and/or the like) to control or otherwise interact with medical equipment, tools and/or the like in a medical (e.g. surgical) environment.
By way of non-limiting example, the Related PCT Applications describe the desirability for medical practitioners to interact with information systems which provide medical information (e.g. images of the patient's body and/or organs) that may be germane to the procedure being performed. Such desired medical information may include, by way of non-limiting example, radiological images, angiography images, other forms of images of the patient's body, other information relevant to a patient undergoing the medical procedure, other information relevant to the procedure itself, other information related to the condition being treated and/or the like. Such desired medical information may be procured prior to performing the procedure and/or during performance of the procedure and may allow medical practitioners to formulate or alter their therapeutic plan during image-guided medical procedures.
However, the desirability of controlling or otherwise interacting with medical equipment, tools and/or the like in a medical (e.g. surgical) environment is not limited to information systems. There is a desire to control other types of medical equipment, tools and/or the like in surgical environments. By way of non-limiting example, it can be desirable to control the pose (i.e. orientation and position) of an adjustable patient bed (e.g. to tilt the patient's body); the brightness of a light source; the directionality of a spotlight or working light; the information displayed by diagnostic equipment (vital signs monitors); the rate of infusion of an intra-venous drug delivery system and/or the like.

Methods and systems for touchless control of surgical environment


The invention concerns a method for managing captive preforms immobilized in a heating station during an interruption of production, the preforms following a production stream, the heating station including a device for conveying preforms and a heating cavity bordered by at least one row of emitters of monochromatic electromagnetic radiation. The method consists in ejecting from the production stream the cold captive preforms that have been immobilized before they have been exposed to the electromagnetic radiation emitted by the emitters to a recycling stream and rejecting from the production stream the hot captive preforms that have been at least partly exposed to the electromagnetic radiation emitted by the emitters to a reject stream separate from the recycling stream.

The invention is intended to be employed in an installation for production of thermoplastic material and in particular polyethylene terephthalate (PET) preforms containers by forming, in particular by blowing or stretching-blowing, preforms. An installation of this kind enables production of containers in very long runs at very high throughputs.
It is known to produce thermoplastic material, such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET), containers by a method of forming preforms.
In accordance with a well-known technique, containers of this kind are produced in two main steps.
In a first step a PET preform is injection molded. This preform includes a substantially tubular body that is closed at one of its axial ends, the opposite end being open via a neck. As early as this injection molding operation, the neck has the final shape of the neck of the container. The neck of the container generally includes a screwthread.
In a second, forming step the hot preforms are placed in mold cavities. A pressurized forming fluid is then injected into the preforms to press the wall of the preform against the walls of the cavity to conform the preform into the finished container. This blowing operation is generally accompanied by a stretching operation consists in introducing an elongator rod into the preform via its neck in order to stretch the wall of the preform axially.
In numerous cases the preforms are produced by injection molding at a first location and are blow molded to the final shape of the container at a second location on a specific production installation. This kind of technology allows the blow molding operation to be carried out as close as possible to the bottling location, the injection molding operation being able to be carried out at any location. In fact, it is relatively easy and relatively inexpensive to transport preforms of small size whereas transporting containers after blowing has the drawback of being relatively uneconomic because of their very large volume.
To allow it to be formed, the body of the preform is heated beyond a glass transition temperature enabling the wall of the body to be rendered malleable. In contrast, the neck is maintained at a temperature lower than the glass transition temperature to prevent it being deformed. To this end the production installation includes a heating station that allows the body of the preforms to be heated to the temperature required to execute the forming step.
Classic heating stations are equipped with halogen type incandescent lamps that radiate in accordance with Planck's law over a continuous spectrum.
Before launching any production run, it is necessary to preheat the heating station, with the aid of the lamps, to bring it to a suitable temperature susceptible to confer on the preforms a thermal profile allowing the forming to be carried out properly thereafter.
This preheating is slow and necessitates delicate adjustments.
Moreover, the lamps generally radiate heat in all directions. To allow the efficiency of the heating station to be increased, it is known to arrange reflectors that allow the heating radiation to be reflected in the direction of the preforms.
The radiation emitted by the lamps not being directional, numerous elements of the heating station, in particular the reflectors, accumulate heat during preheating. The result of this is that during an unscheduled stop of production the extinction of the lamps does not allow an immediate reduction of the temperature inside the heating station. The various heated elements in fact restore the accumulated heat by a phenomenon of thermal inertia. It follows that the preforms immobilized in the heating station continue to be heated in an uncontrolled manner, which renders them unsuitable for forming. The immobilized preforms heated in this way must therefore be rejected.

Method of managing preforms immobilized in a heating station


A Supervisory Sequential Controller Interface (SSCI) provides for automatic and manual sequencing of the sequential steps of multiple procedures simultaneously in a complex process facility while preserving operator supervisory control over each procedure. The SSCI includes an Executive Interface which gives the operator global control over all of the procedures and a Procedure Interface which is arranged such that the operator may ascertain the relevant information about a particular procedure, including the mode (auto/manual), the current step being executed and the relevant states of plant components and parameters for the current step. Multiple Procedure Interface screens may be displayed to monitor/execute multiple procedures running simultaneously.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a method and system for aiding an operator in executing step by step procedures during the operation of a complex process facility. More specifically, it relates to simultaneous execution of multiple procedures, some or all of which can be automatically executed, and particularly, to maintaining operator supervisory control over each of the procedures under such circumstances.
2. Background Information
Operation of a complex process facility requires the assimilation of a large amount of data and evaluation of the status of the process and the various component systems from those data, and informed, decisive action based upon such evaluation. While much of the operation of the modern complex process facility is automatically controlled, overall supervision of the facility is always the responsibility of a human operator.
Typically, formal written plant operating procedures under either normal or emergency conditions are developed by experienced specialists. Such "paper" procedures have been used for many years particularly in facilities such as nuclear power plants. Recently, interactive computer-based systems for aiding the operator in the execution of complex operating procedures have been developed. For instance, U.S. Pat. No. 4,803,039 discloses such a system in which the sequential steps of a procedure are presented to the operator on a display screen. The system automatically monitors the appropriate parameters relevant to the procedure steps. Where conditions required by certain steps are not satisfied, alternatives are offered to the operator. In either case, a response is required from the operator before the system advances to either the next step or a step in another procedure commanded by the operator. U.S. Pat. No. 4,815,014 describes a related system that requires verification that an operator action has, in fact, been taken before it will advance to the next step in the procedure. The operator, however, may override the requirement for such verification. The interactive systems described to this point were hard coded therefore requiring the writing of new code and verification of all of the software when any changes were to be made, including altering of reference values of the various parameters. U.S. Pat. No. 5,553,304 overcomes this particular problem by describing the use of a relational database to generate and store equations representing the various sequential steps in the procedures. With such a system, changes can be made in the pertinent parameter values and even in the procedures themselves without the necessity to generate new code and verifying that code.
However, the interactive computer-based systems for assisting in the execution of complex process procedures currently require manual input by an operator to advance to a next step. They also only provide the ability to have one procedure active at a time. If the operator accepts a recommendation to transfer to another procedure, the exited procedure becomes inactive.
With the complexity of process facilities, such as especially nuclear power plants, increasing, there is a particular need for an improved system and method for accurately and expeditiously executing procedures in a complex process facility.
There is a particular need for such a method and system which permits multiple procedures to be active simultaneously.
This creates an additional need for a method and system which allows for the procedures to be executed automatically while maintaining operator supervisory control over the procedures.

Method and system for automatically executing multiple procedures for a complex process facility


A combination truck bed liner and fastening system for truck beds having one or more substantially vertical bed sidewalls and a front wall having a top rail with an outwardly facing lip. The combination includes a truck bed liner having a floor and integrally attached side and front walls extending upwardly therefrom to upper edges, and at least one slot formed adjacent that upper edge. At least one resilient snap-type clip having a hook end and stay end is provided, wherein compressive force is applied between the hook and stay ends in use by the inwardly biased nature of the clip. In attached condition, the hook end of the clip extends outwardly to lockingly overlie the truck bed rail, while the stay end overlies at least a portion of the upper edge of the liner and includes an outwardly protruding stay which interacts with the recess in the truck bed liner. As a result, the clip is compressively fitted over the upper edge of the liner and the rail to hold the liner in place without a need for drilling.

A variety of molded plastic truck bed liners have been known and available in the automotive industry for quite some time, as exemplified in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,814,473 (issued to Lorenzen on Jun. 4, 1974); 3,881,768 (issued to Nix on May 6, 1975); and 4,181,349 (issued to Nix et al. on Jan. 1, 1980). Along with truck bed liners of varying design and application, there have also been provided a variety of fastening structures to insure that the liners are retained within the truck bed during use. For example, the Nix et al. '349 patent mentioned above discusses various types of fastening means which may be employed to secure the liner to the truck bed, and, particularly, illustrates a preferred toggle bolt fastener which can be inserted through pre-existing holes in the top flange of the truck bed sidewalls.
Other examples of fastening arrangements for truck bed liners are shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,740,026 (which issued to Wagner on Apr. 26, 1988), 4,595,229 (which issued to Wagner on Jun. 17, 1986), 4,796,942 (which issued to Robinson, et al. on Jan. 10, 1989), 4,659,133 (which issued to Gower on Apr. 21, 1987), and 4,768,822 (which issued Gower on Sept. 6, 1988). These patents each disclose and illustrate various attachment structures which extend through portions of the liner walls for selective interaction with the downturned inner portion of the truck bed sidewall. The Gower '133 patent also shows a J-shaped retaining device which includes adhesive material, and which is designed to slip over the upper edge of the liner sidewall and to be adhesively adhered for engagement with the truck bed ledge wall. Each of these devices, however, further requires manipulation of bolts or screws for tightening the devices in place, or the requirement for the removal of adhesive coverings and careful placement of J-shaped hooks.
An improved snap-lock fastener for truck bed liners is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,046,775 (which issued to Howard Marcum et al. on Sep. 10, 1991). This fastening device conveniently snaps into a preformed aperture in the liner sidewall to mechanically interact with the rail structure of the truck bed to secure the liner in place without requiring drilling or complex attachment devices. This snap lock fastener is also easily adaptable to a variety of installation applications, and mounts substantially flush with the walls of the truck bed liner so as not to interfere with the full use of the liner.
Additionally, a number of new pickup truck bed designs include additional inner panel structures which make the inwardly extending flange or rail structure required for the presently available "drilless" anchoring means (and some of the snap-type fastening systems) inaccessible. Similarly, many new truck bed designs also eliminate the stake pockets commonly found along the top edges of the truck bed side walls, and which were sometimes used to accommodate toggles or other bed liner fastening devices. Some of the newer truck styles have eliminated the inwardly extending wheel wells and provide sidewalls which are substantially vertical from bottom to top. A number of these designs also include an inwardly extending tie-down bar near the rear portions of each sidewall to facilitate the attachment of tie-down ropes and the like. Because the previous fastening systems requiring some kind of truck bed rail or flange are not applicable or adaptable to many of the new truck bed designs, a new liner and fastening system was needed.


A method and electronic device for subscriber identification module (SIM) selection are provided. The method includes determining an ear, from among a user's ears, corresponding to at least one sensor signal, and selecting a SIM, from among a plurality of SIMs, corresponding to the determined ear.

Dual subscriber identification module (SIM) technology allows users of electronic devices to be served by two carrier network providers. The usage of dual SIM provides the users with several advantages. The user needs to carry only one electronic device including, for example, a SIM-1 and a SIM-2. The user can make use of the dual SIM to take advantage of different carriers provided by the two carrier network providers. For example, the user can select a SIM-1 for mobile data communication and a SIM-2 for communication purposes. In another example, the user can use the SIM-1 for personal contacts and the SIM-2 for office contacts.
Although useful and convenient, the dual SIM technology has several challenges. Current electronic devices allows the user to enable and disable the SIMs, but do not allow the users to switch between the SIMs present in the electronic device. For example, if network signal strength of the SIM-1 goes down during a call and the call is disconnected, the user must perform manual operations to select the SIM-2 to initiate the call again from the SIM-2. This is time consuming and degrades the user experience when the user must perform similar operations multiple times for different contacts. Similarly, when initiating an outgoing call, the user needs to select the desired SIM to initiate the radio communication.
With the development of technology, the electronic devices support multiple SIMs. As the number of SIMs supported by the electronic devices increases, there remains a need for a mechanism which allows users to automatically select and switch among the desired SIMs in an easy manner without degrading the user experience.
The above information is presented as background information only to assist with an understanding of the present disclosure. No determination has been made, and no assertion is made, as to whether any of the above might be applicable as prior art with regard to the present disclosure.


Processes for converting existing refinery units and equipment to enable processing of renewable triglyceride feedstock to provide hydrocarbon fuels. Originally, the existing refinery units may have bene configured as hydrotreating, hydrocracking, fixed bed reforming, or isomerization units for a petroleum based feedstock. Hydrogen from a second reaction zone may be provide to the first reaction zone, without or without the use of a compressor.

In addition to producing fuels from petroleum feedstocks, fuels, such as gasoline, diesel, aviation fuel, can also be manufactured using carbon and hydrogen derived from organic biomass, such as vegetable oils, organic fats, and organic greases. The processing of these "renewable feedstocks" is becoming more and more popular around the world especially based upon concerns from limited petroleum resources, increasing energy demand, greenhouse gas emissions and related climate change concerns.
For example, biological oils and fats can be converted into diesel, naphtha and jet fuels using many different processes, such as hydro-deoxygenation and hydro-isomerization processes.
The economic environment for renewable fuel technology (triglyceride oil conversion to green diesel and green jet fuels) presents challenging hurdles. Often the fuel production and use are driven by policy mandates (e.g. in Europe and other countries) or other incentives such as the Renewable Volume Obligations and Renewable Identification Numbers (RINS) system developed by the US EPA. These may be to address global warming or to enhance energy stability and security via domestic production. In addition, many project developers have limited access to capital and therefore must be entrepreneurial. Finally, with the expansion of large complex export refineries throughout the Middle East and Asia and improved fuel economy in the US, there is pressure on refiners who have underperforming assets. In such an economic environment, there is often need to minimize capital costs in order to have favorable renewable project economics.
The reconfiguration of existing equipment assets in a refinery unit(s) can address this problem. However, due to the processing requirements and aspects of the renewable feedstocks, the redesign of the processing units does involve technical problems that must be addressed in order to successfully use the existing petroleum refinery units for processing renewable feedstocks.
The present invention provides various processes for overcoming these technical hurdles and use of existing assets to allow for same to process renewable feedstocks.

Process for reconfiguring existing treating units in a refinery


A power train controller and control method are provided for a passenger car driven by a combustion engine and an automatic gear changing transmission. Control sensors detect a current operating state of the passenger car. Three different modes of operation, including sports mode, economy mode, and comfortable mode are selected by the driver. Depending on the selected mode, the automobile transmission is controlled in different shifting patterns as a function of the sensed vehicle operating conditions.

The present invention relates to a power train controller and control method suitable to facilitate precise driver control of a motorized passenger car with an automatic multigear speed changing transmission
A first prior art power train control system for a passenger car is described in Japanese Published Patent Application No. 117774-1991. In this system the driver can select an economy mode and a power mode operation of the transmission, with the speed change line set faster for the power mode than for the economy mode. The desired speed change characteristics can be selected by manual switch operation.
A second prior art power train control system is described in Japanese Published Patent Application No. 346162-1993. This system introduces fuzzy inference to predict and infer the road conditions from the current operation conditions. The speed change line is modified according to the inferred road conditions, thereby obtaining speed changes such as acceleration and deceleration as desired by the driver to a certain extent.
According to the first prior art mentioned above, there are available speed change characteristics in the power mode where the speed change line is set on the side faster than that of the economy mode, in addition to speed change characteristics in the economy mode which consider only fuel combustion efficiency. Operation performances are also taken into account, though, to a limited extent, with the result that it has failed to cut down fuel costs as expected. The second prior art mentioned above was intended to operate with use of the fuzzy inference to determine the optimum speed change line, but was accompanied by such problems as failure to get speed changes such as acceleration and deceleration, as desired by the driver.
An object of the present invention is to provide a power train controller and control method to ensure operation of an automatic speed change transmission driven car as desired by the driver, in response to the car operating conditions and control functions which are different for different drivers (different driver preferences).
The above noted object of the present invention is attained by preferred embodiments of the present invention which comprise: (1) a control sensor to detect the current vehicle operating conditions and the amount of driver operation, (2) a driver intention prediction means reflecting the driver intention, (3) an operation mode selection means to select the operation mode predicted by the driver intention prediction means from two or more operation modes, (4) a control function selecting means to select at least two control functions according to the mode selected by the operation mode selecting means, and (5) a control amount computing means to compute the control amount of the control actuator, using the signals from the control sensor and control function selecting means.
In preferred embodiments of the invention, three operation modes are provided, namely: (i) economy mode, (ii) sports mode, and (iii) comfortable mode.
When the extra-low fuel cost "economy" operation mode is selected by the driver using the operation mode selecting means, two or more control functions are selected by the control function selecting means, for example, wide-area lockup control to achieve fuel cost reduction (to improve torque transmission efficiency by eliminating torque converter slide), fuel cost speed change control (the speed change point determined so as to operate the engine at the maximum point of the engine efficiency, with consideration given to torque transmission efficiency) and fuel cut control (fuel cut executed during deceleration and speed change), thereby enabling the operation which improves fuel cost efficiency as intended by the driver.
When the "sports" operation mode is selected, the control function selecting means selects such control as high rotation speed change control to change the speed at high rotation speed to improve the sense of acceleration, short speed change time control to prevent reduction in acceleration during speed change, or powerful engine brake control by shift-down around the corner inlet to run around corners at a high speed, thereby providing the operation in the "sports" mode intended by the driver.
When the "comfortable" operation mode is selected, the control function selecting means selects the equi-interval speed change control to make the speed change time intervals equal, smooth speed change control to make speed change time control and shock reduction compatible, or speed change line control to determine the speed change line in conformity to each gradient by inferring the road conditions (gradient, etc.) based on fuzzy theory.
Other objects, advantages and novel features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Power train controller and control method


Methods to control manganese deposition in an aqueous system, which include introducing a cerium-containing composition, and optionally another deposit control agent, to the aqueous system, are described. Also described, are cerium-containing compositions that promote the manganese stabilization performance of polymeric dispersants and phosphonic acids commonly used in water treatment applications. Cerium-containing compositions that can inhibit the oxidative degradation of deposit control agents are also described.

The present invention relates to certain compositions and processes useful for minimizing fouling by manganese deposition in aqueous systems. More particularly, the present invention relates to deposit control agents and chemical water treatments adapted to stabilize manganese against oxidation.
Fouling by manganese deposition in pipelines and waterworks has been a concern for some time and it continues to impact water supplies today. Manganese deposition in cooling water circuits degrades corrosion resistance, lowers heat exchanger efficiency, and reduces biocide performance. The detrimental effects of manganese deposition inflict significant costs to the electric power industry through increased fuel consumption, more frequent and extensive clean-ups, higher chemical treatment costs, and in some cases, significant capital costs for component replacement. In addition to cooling water circuits, manganese deposition may occur in a variety of other aqueous systems including drinking water distribution systems, sewage treatment plants, swimming pools, laundries, bottling plants, air scrubbers, and car washes. Problems range from corrosion and blockage of pipes and nozzles, to staining, discoloration, and inferior taste. The adherent and oftentimes coarse deposits that form from manganese deposition can adversely affect heat transfer, induce abrasive wear, and reduce pumping efficiency. Removal of manganese deposits often requires aggressive remedial techniques, such acid leaching and mechanical cleaning.
In water systems, manganese promotes pitting and crevice corrosion through a combination of electrochemical effects caused by galvanic coupling between manganese deposits and the underlying metallic surface. The effect of the galvanic action is to shift the metal corrosion potential in the positive or noble direction fostering passive film breakdown and localized corrosion. The effect is most severe for stainless steels, but also occurs on brass and other copper alloys. Regions in the U.S. where stainless steel or copper alloy corrosion has been linked to manganese deposition include Northern Virginia, the Ohio River Valley, central Maine, eastern Nebraska, S.C., and the Gulf Coast region.
Concerns over manganese fouling are typically less than concerns related to calcium, silica, or iron due to the often low or undetectable levels of manganese in the majority of commercial and residential water supplies. Many surface and groundwaters nevertheless have manganese levels that pose a significant fouling threat. Corrosion and other adverse effects of manganese deposition in systems serviced by such water can lead to equipment repair and replacement expenses that far exceed costs associated with the more prevalent mineral scalants.
Deposition of manganese in oxic, neutral-to-alkaline waters is caused by the oxidation of soluble divalent manganese into water-insoluble manganese oxides and oxyhydroxides. The insoluble, higher valent manganese compounds are loosely grouped and referred to simply as manganese dioxide or MnO2. MnO2 can form when manganese-containing water is exposed to halogens, ozone, or other chemical oxidants that are commonly used for disinfection purposes in water systems. Alternatively, MnO2 can be produced by a wide range of microorganisms that grow naturally in surface and in groundwaters worldwide. Microbial reactions scavenge manganese in a highly efficient manner, enabling waters containing as little as 20 ppb dissolved manganese to deposit visible MnO2 deposits within as little as a few days' time.
Methods to control manganese deposition can be categorized as either 1) manganese removal or 2) manganese stabilization. Dissolved manganese is typically removed from water supplies by chemical oxidation followed by filtration. The oxidation/filtration approach uses permanganate, chlorine dioxide, chlorine, ozone or other oxidants to convert soluble manganese into insoluble MnO2, followed by settling or filtration of the solid material. Chemical oxidation is highly effective in removing both iron and manganese, as well as lowering organic carbon levels and reducing halogen demand in the water system. However, high capital and operating costs coupled with the risk of aggressive oxidant carry-over make these approaches impractical for many applications. Spray ponds and aeration chambers commonly used to remove iron are not effective in removing manganese due to the much slower kinetics of manganese air-oxidation.
Manganese stabilization, on the other hand, is achieved by using chemicals to interfere with the formation and growth of MnO2 particles. The use of polyphosphate in drinking water systems for this purpose is well established. The formation of a manganese polyphosphate complex inhibits deposition. Threshold inhibitors such as phosphonic acid derivatives are used to maintain particulate MnO2 in a colloidal, more easily dispersed state, by coupling to and preventing growth at active sites on the particle surface. In combination, polymeric dispersants (including polyacrylates and multifunctional copolymers), are used to disperse the colloidal MnO2 and prevent its aggregation and settling.
Halogenation and alkaline pH degrade the effectiveness of the threshold inhibitor/polymeric stabilization technique by increasing the rate of manganese oxidation, and, in the case of halogen, by directly breaking down the inhibitor and dispersant molecules. The effectiveness of the treatments is also diminished by the presence of high levels of hardness, silt, iron, or other suspended solids that compete for both the threshold inhibitor and the dispersant. Further, the level of manganese deposition control provided by phosphonate/polymeric treatments alone has an upper limit, beyond which, increased doses or concentrations of phosphonate/polymer do not result in increased manganese control. The upper limit of effectiveness is particularly problematic in water systems having manganese in a relatively high total amount and/or operating at high cycles of concentration.
The reaction of Mn(II) with chlorine can be accelerated by adsorption of Mn(II) onto the growing MnO2 surface, which acts as a catalyst for further oxidation. This "autocatalytic" effect improves the efficiency of manganese removal systems; however, it adversely affects efforts to stabilize dissolved manganese against oxidation by halogens. MnO2 that forms on surfaces by microbiological oxidation of trace levels of dissolved manganese serves as active material that "seeds" further chemical MnO2 deposition. The seeding can lead to MnO2 deposition under conditions that might not otherwise support chemical manganese oxidation. Accordingly, it is an objective of chemical water treatment to stabilize manganese against oxidation by halogens so that the oxidant can be used to inhibit microbial growth without risking chemical deposition of manganese.
A correlation may exist between the behavior of manganese and the behavior of cerium. For example, the oxidation of manganese in marine waters may be inhibited by the presence of cerium. The observations relate to the formation of manganese dioxide by natural oxidation processes. Cerium has also become the focus of significant corrosion research as a possible, preferred corrosion inhibitor to replace toxic chromium compounds. Neither relate to the inhibition of manganese deposition caused by chemical oxidation. Phosphonic acid derivatives with metal ions, including ceric ions (i.e., cerium in the +4 oxidation state), can be used for corrosion inhibition and scale control in aqueous systems, without specifying the control of manganese, and further, without teaching the use of cerium for protection against the oxidation of manganese by oxidizing chemicals.
Accordingly, a need exists to control chemical oxidation of manganese by halogen compounds that are commonly applied for microbial control and sanitation in aqueous systems. A need also exists to enhance the level of manganese deposition control heretofore provided by widely used deposit control agents. A further need exists to control the degradation of organic additives, such as polymer and phosphonate additives, from exposure to chlorine and other halogen compounds.

Use of cerium salts to inhibit manganese deposition in water systems

Buckman Laboratories International, Inc.


A progressive pool controller within a gaming environment can have programmable contents thereof retrieved or changed without need for user interaction with the controller other than inserting a dynamically-linkable and reprogrammable storage device (e.g., a USB flash drive) into an I/O receptacle of the controller. The controller has a service automatically repeatedly executing therein, checking for insertion of the storage device, checking for recognizable commands within the inserted storage device after it is inserted, executing command following programs for the recognizable commands, saving output results of the executed programs into the inserted storage device and signaling that the storage device should be removed from the I/O receptacle upon completed execution of all the command following programs. Contents of the storage device remain encrypted when in transit and are exposed within secured confines of the controller.

Slot-type electronic and/or mechanical gaming machines, often also referred as slot machines, are popular fixtures in casino or other gaming environments. Such slot machines are generally controlled by installed software programs. Aside from slot machines, various other kinds of gaming devices, including electronically-assisted gaming tables are also generally controlled by installed software programs. Generally, the installed software programs are stored in secured memory devices housed in secured cabinets and executed by secured processors and/or other programmable hardware also housed in the secured cabinets. Retrieval and modification of the data of the secured memory devices and of the secured processors and/or other secured programmable hardware by remote reach from remote locations is not permitted for reasons of maintaining tight security and auditing of all actions taken by the electronics in the gaming machines.
Various types of people are provided with different degrees of access to the gaming machines. Participants in gaming environments may include one or more primary players who are directly using the slot or other software driven gaming apparatuses by engaging with external user inputs (e.g., buttons, touch screens) as well as one or more locally adjacent players who are similarly directly using locally adjacent slot or other software driven gaming apparatuses. The participants may include in-casino further players who are participating in an in-casino progressive jackpot pool, wide area players who are participating in a state sanctioned wide area progressive jackpot pool, adjacent bystanders (e.g., players' friends) who are standing nearby the primary players and nearby passers-by who happen to be passing by in an area where they can view part of the gaming action(s) of one or more of the slot or other software driven gaming apparatuses including displays of the progressively growing local or other area jackpot pools and the occasional awarding of such jackpots. The casino floor typically also has authorized agents of the casino (authorized operators) who patrol the floor and help with problems that cannot be automatically dealt with and instead required hands-on access to the gaming machines and/or their automated controllers.
One type of prior art automated controller is the progressive pool automated controller (PPAC). The playing of respective progressive pool games is typically controlled by respective progressive pool automated controllers (PPAC's). Such PPAC's (also referred to herein as PCtrlr's) have to be highly secured due to the large amounts of monetary payouts normally handled by these controllers. Typically, the PPAC is securely enclosed between a bank of electronic gaming machines (EGM's) that are participating in a respective pool managed by that PPAC. On occasion, the PPAC's need to be reconfigured. This can present a challenge due to the security measures that apply to each PPAC. As noted, retrieval and/or modification of data of the secured memory devices and of the secured processors and/or other secured programmable hardware in devices such as PPAC's by way of remote reach from remote locations is not permitted for reasons of maintaining tight security and auditing of all actions taken by the electronics in the gaming machines. Thus an authorized operator must be dispatched to the devices to carry out any desired retrieval and/or modification of data. This can be expensive and time consuming.
Slot machines may use mechanical reels or wheels and/or video reels or wheels to present both action during development of a game outcome and a finalized outcome of a slot game to a corresponding one or more players. Typically, before each gaming action by the machine (e.g., spinning of the reels or wheels), the player is required to ante up by placing at least one wager on the outcome of the gaming action. In some games, a player can elect to have part of one of his/her wagers contributed to a progressive jackpot pool. Excitement grows as the size of the progressive jackpot pool reaches relatively large values. Chances for winning the progressive jackpot pool can come in various software mediated ways. For example, the player may select or define (or may have automatically pre-determined for the player) a line, pattern or other set of symbol spots that will operate as an actively-wagered upon pay line or pattern along which, game-generated randomly distributed symbols are evaluated to determine if a winning combination is present (e.g., a sequence defining combination such Jack, Queen, King, Ace, etc. cards, hereafter also J, Q, K, A). If the actively-wagered upon pay line or pattern provides a winning combination, the player is rewarded (e.g., monetarily and/or otherwise). Various outcome enhancing symbols such as wild symbols can appear on the reels or wheels of the game. Wild symbols typically serve as outcome enhancing substitutes for symbols needed to form a winning combination. In various prior art games, wild symbols: (1) can come into existence by other symbols individually morphing into wild symbols; (2) they can be individually copied from one reel or wheel to another; (3) they can be dropped from an animated character (e.g., cartoon) onto the reels or wheels to individually change certain existing symbols on a scatter distributed basis; and (4) they can populate a reel or wheel more frequently during so-called, free spins. On occasions, a player may be awarded with a wheel spin that gives the player a crack at the progressive jackpot pool. Due to such occasional sprinklings of a chance of winning the progressive jackpot pool, the primary players and adjacent other persons may experience various emotional responses and derive entertainment value from not only the unique ways in which various games are played and game outcomes are developed but also from the chance of winning the progressive jackpot pool.
Because sizes of progressive jackpot pools can be substantial, state and/or other government entities take interest in assuring that the progressive jackpot pools are run in fair and verifiable ways and pool awards are reported for taxation purposes. Casinos also take keen interest in assuring that the progressive jackpot pools are run in fair and verifiable way because the casinos can incur substantial losses if there is a compromise to the security and/or fairness aspects of the gaming actions carried out by their slot or other software driven gaming apparatuses.
One prior art method by way of which some jurisdictions assure fairness of operation of slot or other software driven gaming apparatuses is through GLI-21 (Gaming Laboratories International Client-Server Certification Standards) where a currently in force version of the certification process is Version 2.2 (released Sep. 6, 2011). Briefly according to the GLI-21 specification, a certain type of hash known as SHA-1 (Secure Hash Algorithm 1-specified by the US National Security Agency) is taken of various software code fragments as they are installed into respective servers that drive the slot or other software driven gaming apparatuses after the fairness of the software has been ascertained by a government approved testing institution. A GLI-certification letter is generated setting forth the hash results. Thereafter, a government agent may test any of the slot or other software driven gaming apparatuses for compliance with the GLI-certification letter (to verify that any sampled or all gaming action driving programs produced the same hash values at program launch time). Use of SHA-1 hashes for security purposes is also disclosed in Patel U.S. Pat. No. 8,900,054 (Dec. 2, 2014). Patel discloses that software packages added to a software library may be verified from package data using an MD5 or SHA-1 or some other verification tool. According to Patel, the verification string may be added to a package header and used to re-verify the package after it is downloaded to the EGM 213. All verification failures and related errors may be logged, and the log entry may contain the date and time, the ID of the person running the process at the time, and the specific type of error that occurred. According to Patel: A build package utility is used to generate download packages, and a package installed utility is supplied on the EGM to install downloaded packages. Both of these perform necessary compression and decompression as well as the data integrity checks of the contents of the package. The package builder utility calculates a SHA-1 hash value over the entire data contents of the package. This is then stored in the package header and is used by the package receiver and installed on the EGM to validate the contents of the package. The package will not be installed on the EGM unless it passes this SHA-1 validation.
If a PPAC (Progressive Pool Automated Controller) needs to be reconfigured, the conventional prior art approach calls for a highly skilled technician to be dispatched onto the casino floor with an assortment of security keys and technical tools such as monitors, keypads, technical-assist computer and disk drives. The technician has to open up the secured PPAC housing, halt play on all the associated gaming machines (EGM's) and then engage in a cumbersome log-in procedure (for security's sake) before undertaking a long and complex process of hooking in the technical tools and navigating through reconfiguration and validation menus in order to successfully complete a desired reconfiguration.
One prior art method for reconfiguring a progressive controller by dispatching a human operator to the controller is disclosed in Kuehling U.S. Pat. No. 7,896,741 issued Mar. 1, 2011. According to the Kuehling method, a technician must unplug a run key (e.g., in the form of a USB drive) from the controller in order to halt the progressive gaming supported thereby and then insert a programming key (e.g., also in the form of a USB drive). The programming key in combination with a computer that is also attached to the controller allows the technician to step through one or more progressive controller parameter modification options that comprise displaying one or more menu options for software configuration.
There are several drawbacks to the Kuehling method. The technician who performs the reconfiguration process must be trained to understand the menu options presented by the software and to input the correct choices by way of the attached computer. It takes time for the trained technician to travel from the production shop at which the reconfiguration is designed to the site of the casino and then back again. It takes time for the trained technician to attach his/her assortment of technical tools (e.g., monitors, keypads, etc.) to the progressive controller, to log in and to step through all the reconfiguration menus and options. All the while the associated gaming machines (EGM's) are nonoperational and the casino may be losing money as well as customer good will (because players are locked out from playing on their favorite machines). It would be desirable to have a simpler, faster method of securely reconfiguring progressive controllers.
It is to be understood that some concepts and ideas provided in this description of the Background may be novel rather than part of the prior art.

Technician input-free reconfiguration of secured gaming system


A detection circuit includes a first power line, a first signal conditioning module operationally coupled to the first power line, a neutral line (N) operationally coupled to the first signal conditioning module, a second signal conditioning module operationally coupled to the first power line, a second power line operationally coupled to the second signal conditioning module, and an analog to digital (A/D) converter operationally coupled to the first and the second signal conditioning modules.

This invention relates generally to power management systems and methods, and more particularly, to power supply systems and methods for cooking platforms.
There exist different types of cooking platforms which incorporate various appliances that can be activated individually or simultaneously. For example, a typical electric household range includes an oven and generally four surface heating elements. Once the cooking platform is connected within a household, there will be a preset power supply limit available for use by the cooking platform. In some instances, the cooking platform is connected to a nominal 240 volt alternating current (ac) circuit using a neutral wire to create two separate 120 volt circuits internal to the cooking apparatus. The three wires used in 240 volt wiring are commonly referred to L1, L2, and N, where N represents neutral, and wherein L1 and L2 are both 120 volts different from neutral and 240 volts from each other. As used herein, a mis-wire condition refers to conditions wherein the L1–L2 voltage is not within a specified range due to a mis-wiring of the appliance (e.g., L1 is wired to a neutral lug of the appliance). Also as used herein a neutral fault condition exists when N is not connected to the neutral lug. It would be desirable to determine when mis-wire conditions and/or neutral fault conditions occur.


A pluggable modular device is configured for removable connection to a patch panel. The pluggable modular device includes an electrical connector for mating with a corresponding electrical connector of the patch panel; and at least one of scanning electronics for scanning connection ports of the patch panel and guidance electronics for activating indicators of the patch panel.

The present invention relates to a device for a patch panel, and in particular to a device for at least one of scanning connection ports of the patch panel and activating indicators of the patch panel.
Patch panels are commonly employed in computing networks for interfacing with patch cables, the patch cables carrying data from one location to another. In some applications, for example in large data-centres, the numbers of patch cables and corresponding patch panels can become very large and difficult to maintain and manage.
A known system for managing a large network of patch cable connections comprises a patch panel with scanning electronics, the scanning electronics for determining which of the patch panel's sockets have patch cables plugged into them. The scanning electronics may have a communication interface for feeding the information on the connections back to a computer. For an example, refer to U.S. Pat. No. 7,160,143.
A further known system for managing a large network of patch cable connections comprises a patch panel with guidance electronics for guiding a technician working on the patch panel connections. The guidance electronics may comprise lamps that light up above particular patch panel sockets to indicate which sockets various patch cables are to be inserted/removed. The control information for the guidance electronics may be received via a communication interface to a computer. Such guidance functions are implemented in, for example, the PatchView IIM products available from RiT Technologies Ltd.
One of the drawbacks of such scanning electronics and guidance electronics is that it typically reduces the expected lifetime of the patch panel, since it can be more vulnerable to failure than the remaining electrical/physical elements of the patch panel.
One method of addressing this problem is to integrate the scanning and guidance electronics into a central analyser unit, and to route at least one conductor from each patch panel socket back to the central analyser unit. However, this results in a large number of conductors to be routed from the patch panels and plugged into the analyser unit, and if one part of the scanning or guidance electronics in the analyser fails, then typically the whole analyser needs to be replaced.
The replacement of the patch panels and the analyser unit can also result in significant difficulties in ensuring that the patch cables that are removed from the old patch panel/analyser are all placed into the correct sockets of the replacement patch panel/analyser.


In a preferred embodiment, a fluid-operated cylinder to provide both linear and rotary motion to tooling, including: a cylindrical, rotatable member for attachment to rotatable means; a circular piston disposed in the cylindrical, rotatable member for back and forth axial motion in a cavity defined therein and rotatable by rotation of the cylindrical, rotatable member; a first port defined through the cylindrical rotatable member to introduce pressurized fluid into the cavity on a first side of the circular piston such as to cause the circular piston to move in a first direction; and a piston shaft fixedly attached to the circular piston and fixedly attachable to the tooling; whereby: when the rotatable member is rotated, rotary motion will be transmitted to the tooling by the piston shaft, and when the pressurized fluid is introduced into the cavity on the first side of the circular piston, the piston shaft will cause the tooling to move in the first direction.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to fluid-operated cylinders generally and, more particularly, but not by way of limitation, to a novel fluid-operated cylinder that provides both linear and rotary motion.
2. Background Art
A number of well-known operations require the provision of both rotary and linear motion. For example, the simple robotic placing of a screw in a threaded hole requires that linear motion be provided such that the screw can be advanced toward the hole and, when the end of the screw reaches the hole, the linear motion continues, while rotary motion is required to thread the screw into the hole. Many other such uses of both linear and rotary motion can be cited wherein the linear and rotary motion is sequential or consecutive or some combination thereof
Electromechanical devices that provide both linear and rotary motion are well known. An example of such a device is described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,407,680, issued Oct. 29, 1968, to Westmoreland, and titled RECIPROCATING POWER ARRANGEMENTS. Described therein is an electromagnetic linear/rotary device comprising two electric motors having a common shaft extending therethrough. One motor cooperates with a splined portion of the shaft such that rotary motion of the motor causes the shaft to rotate. The other motor cooperates with a threaded portion of the shaft such that rotary motion of the motor causes the shaft to advance axially one direction or the other depending on the direction of rotation of the motor. Linear, rotary, or both linear and rotary motion of the shaft is provided depending on whether both motors are operating and the speed at which one or both of the motors is operated. One or both ends of the shaft may be operatively attached to other elements.
Electromechanical devices have certain drawbacks, among which are the relatively complex control devices required and, if the electromechanical devices are used in a hazardous environment, special equipment must be employed to avoid explosions, etc.
Also well known are fluid-operated cylinders that typically employ a stationary cylinder having disposed therein a piston. Pressurized fluid, air or hydraulic oil, for example, is introduced into the cylinder on one side of the piston to drive the piston and a shaft attached thereto linearly in one direction. A workpiece, biasing means, and/or the introduction of pressurized fluid into the cylinder on the other side of the piston drives the piston and a shaft attached thereto in the other direction. Such an arrangement is simple, is easily controlled, and is relatively safe in hazardous environments. However, such a cylinder is deficient in that it does not provide rotary motion as well as linear motion.
Accordingly, it is a principal object of the present invention to provide a fluid-operated cylinder that provides both linear and rotary motion.
It is a further object of the invention to provide such a cylinder that lends itself well to robotic operations.
It is an additional object of the invention to provide such a cylinder that can be economically constructed using conventional techniques.
It is another object of the invention to provide such a cylinder that is single-acting.
It is yet a further object of the invention to provide such a cylinder that is double-acting.
Other objects of the present invention, as well as particular features, elements, and advantages thereof, will be elucidated in, or be apparent from, the following description and the accompanying drawing figures.
The present invention achieves the above objects, among others, by providing, in a preferred embodiment, a fluid-operated cylinder to provide both linear and rotary motion to tooling, comprising: a cylindrical, rotatable member for attachment to rotatable means; a circular piston disposed in said cylindrical, rotatable member for back and forth axial motion in a cavity defined therein and rotatable by rotation of said cylindrical, rotatable member; a first port defined through said cylindrical rotatable member to introduce pressurized fluid into said cavity on a first side of said circular piston such as to cause said circular piston to move in a first direction; and a piston shaft fixedly attached to said circular piston and fixedly attachable to said tooling; whereby: when said rotatable member is rotated, rotary motion will be transmitted to said tooling by said piston shaft, and when said pressurized fluid is introduced into said cavity on said first side of said circular piston, said piston shaft will cause said tooling to move in said first direction.

Fluid-operated cylinder providing linear and rotary motion


A communication system comprising a plurality of network elements and a monitoring apparatus for centrally monitoring and controlling these network elements. Each of the network elements has a plurality of CPU's and a flash memory for accommodating programs to be performed by the CPU's. The monitoring apparatus includes a database, a management unit and a transfer unit. The database retains a plurality of programs for each of the CPU's in each network element, and generic issues defined uniquely corresponding to combinations of versions of programs to be executed by each CPU. When the version of any program is changed, the management unit selects the program to be transferred in accordance with the applicable generic issue. The transfer unit transfers the program thus selected to the monitoring apparatus.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a communication system comprising a plurality of network elements and a monitoring apparatus for centrally monitoring and controlling these network elements. More particularly, the invention relates to techniques for performing file management and deterioration check in connection with the process of downloading software using an application entity (layer 7) of the OSI (Open System Interconnection).
2. Description of the Related Art
In a growing number of cases, network elements constituting a communication system are functionally updated today through software (program) updates. Software updates are easier to carry out than updates through hardware replacement in terms of debugging, functional reinforcement and expansion. But the ease of the software update scheme can result in its undoing. The easy-to-make updates may disable the entire communication system if not carried out correctly and scrupulously. To update successfully the software controlling the network elements requires adopting verification procedures demanding a lot of care and attention.
In a majority of communication systems comprising network elements such as optical terminal transmission devices interconnected via communication lines, the programs (firmware) for a plurality of CPU's (central processing units) are updated by maintenance personnel manually replacing ROM's (read only memories). Program versions are managed primarily through a ledger-based ROM version management scheme. From the time programs are stored into ROM's until the ROM contents are updated in the network elements, the programs in the ROM's are not electronically checked for validity.
As a result, it has happened that some of the programs in the ROM's having been destroyed or deteriorated were updated heedlessly and caused the network elements to malfunction. In other cases, the communication system was disrupted when ROM sockets were incorrectly reconnected. Furthermore, ROM replacement work has turned out to be a tedious and troublesome task.
To circumvent such disadvantages, a monitoring apparatus is connected via control lines to the network elements so that the latter are under centralized surveillance and control within the communication system. The programs executed by the CPU's in the network elements are transferred as download data from the monitoring apparatus to the network elements. The programs downloaded to the network elements are subject to CPU-wise program version management by the monitoring apparatus. The validity of the download data is ascertained by checking to see if the download data yet to be transferred coincides with the transferred download data. The checks are performed on the basis of the communication protocols established between the monitoring apparatus and the network elements.
In other words, the conventional version management of the programs transferred to the network elements involves having the monitoring apparatus check the versions of the programs for each of the CPU's. Such a management scheme is complicated and runs the risk of inadvertently transferring a combination of programs that are not functionally compatible. Checking the validity of the transferred download data simply involves confirming the coincidence between the yet-to-be transferred and the transferred download data. If any invalid program is inadvertently or maliciously transferred, the fault cannot be detected by the conventional scheme. Furthermore, there is a possibility that during or after the transfer of program files, part of the programs may be destroyed or degraded due to memory trouble or other hardware-related causes. Any of such contingencies can cripple the network elements and reduce the reliability of the communication system as a whole.

Communication system configured to enhance system reliability using special program version management


A method for retrieving content stored in a warehouse, the method may include: maintaining first content in boxes of a lowest shelf of a storage unit of the warehouse, while maintaining in boxes of higher shelves of the storage unit second content that is of less interest than the first content; accessing the boxes of the lowest shelf and providing the boxes to interfacing units, by a first robot; accessing the boxes of the higher shelves and providing the boxes to the interfacing units, by a second robot; wherein the first robot, when positioned at a lower position, is lower than a height of the lowest shelf; and wherein the second robot is higher than the height of the lowest shelf.

Now days, every manual warehouse includes flat shelves for storing inventory. Every flat shelf may support different boxes of different sizes.
Manual management of these boxes is time consuming and inefficient.
There is a growing need to provide a warehouse that can be managed automatically using robots to load and unload inventory.

Warehouse management, a robot and an adaptor


A network device for transferring data from a first network to a second network comprises a switch comprising a first port adapted to receive a frame of the data from the first network and a second port adapted to transmit the frame to the second network. The frame comprises a plurality of words including a first word comprising a first portion of an internet protocol address and a second word comprising a second portion of the internet protocol address. The switch adds one or more bits to the frame so that the first and second portions of the internet protocol address appear within a single word of the frame. A processor receives the frame from the switch, and to modify the internet protocol address in the frame. The switch receives the frame from the processor, and removes the one or more bits from the frame before the second port transmits the frame to the second network.

The present invention relates generally to data communications, and particularly to steering frames of data within a network device such as a router.
The fastest-growing market for computer hardware is the Small Office/Home Office (SOHO) market. One of the most important computer hardware components for the SOHO market is the router, which enables multiple computers or other network-enabled devices to share a single broadband Internet connection. A router transfers data between two or more different networks. A network is group of devices that are interconnected to exchange data where each of the devices has an Internet protocol (IP) address that is unique within the network. However, IP addresses can be reused in separate networks. That is, a device in one network can have the same IP address as another device in a different network. A router translates IP addresses to ensure that data sent from one network to another reaches the intended device. Conventional routers generally have a dedicated wide-area network (WAN) port that is connected to the Internet through an Internet service provider (ISP), and several local-area network (LAN) ports that are each connected to one of the computers or network-enabled devices in the office. One disadvantage of such conventional routers lies in the dedicated WAN port. Because conventional routers have only one WAN port, they are incapable of supporting multiple WANs, as is desirable for network load-balancing using multiple ISPs or for redundant backup support. And because the WAN port is physically a dedicated port, it must be connected to the correct port (i.e., the WAN port), making setup more difficult.
FIG. 1 shows a conventional router 100 connected to a WAN 102 and a LAN 104 comprising a plurality of network-enabled devices (NED) 106A through 106N. Router 100 includes a dedicated WAN 108 port, connected to WAN 102, that communicates with a central processing unit (CPU) 110 through a WAN network interface controller 112. Router 100 also comprises a switch 114 comprising a plurality of LAN ports 116A through 116N, each connected to one of NEDs 106A through 106N, and a CPU port 118 that communicates with CPU 110 through a LAN network interface controller 120. WAN network interface controller 112 comprises a WAN media access controller (MAC) 122. LAN network interface controller 120 comprises a LAN MAC 124.
One disadvantage of the architecture of router 100 is that a separate MAC is required for each network, making the router more expensive to manufacture. And adding other networks requires more MACs. For example, adding a wireless LAN port would require the addition of another separate MAC to pass data between the wireless LAN and the CPU. Further, many customers are requesting routers with a "demilitarized zone" (DMZ) port to support servers that are available to both the WAN and LAN while keeping the WAN and LAN isolated. In conventional routers, the addition of a DMZ port would require the addition of a separate MAC to support the DMZ port because the DMZ cannot be connected to switch 114. Such a connection would create a security breach, allowing anyone that has access to the DMZ to also have access to the LAN 104.
Another popular router feature is quality of service (QOS), where each frame of data is assigned one of several prioritized classes of service. When the router becomes congested, it handles the frames according their classes of service. In conventional routers, the CPU makes all of the QOS decisions, thereby wasting CPU cycles that could better be used for faster and/or better routing.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.