A refrigerant-containing bladder or container is positioned underneath the body. Heat absorbed from the body vaporizes the refrigerant, which expands to cooler remote regions of the bladder. Heat is then withdrawn from the edges of the container by thermally conductive pathways that distribute heat from this container to a cooler area that is not underneath the body. The cooled refrigerant condenses, and is returned to the regions of the device that are under or adjacent to the central and warmest parts of the body. The heavier and warmer portions of the body force the bladder to the lowest point. Alternatively, heat is transferred from the body via a specific highly thermally conductive layer or layers of material(s) that is (are) soft, pliable, and comfortable to sit or lie on. This layer joins conductive materials that are configured to transport heat and diffuse it to the cooler environment.

Bedsores, or decubitus ulcers, can be a serious problem in bedridden or wheelchair-bound patients, particularly for people who are paralyzed, emaciated, post-surgical, elderly, or diabetic. The ulcers frequently penetrate through not only the skin, but the underlying muscle and bone as well. With the serious infections that often ensue, pressure ulcers can become life-threatening.
As the elderly population increases with demographic trends, the incidence is likely to increase. The results of the last National Pressure Ulcer Surveys from 1989 to 1997 indicate that despite the growth in the wound care and therapeutic surface industries, the incidence of pressure ulcers appears to have increased over this period. It is clear that while new treatment solutions may be relatively effective, their cost precludes their use by the vast majority of caregivers in the settings in which pressure ulcers and other chronic wounds must be managed. Disproportionately, this includes the nursing home, home care, and of course, the overseas markets where resources are limited. The consensus among thought leaders in the international medical community supports the contention that less expensive medical solutions are required generally and urgently. The invention to be described here is intended to fulfill this societal need.
Bedsores, or pressure ulcers, were named because they most commonly develop where tissue pressures are greatest—over the bony prominences, such as the heels, sacrum (tailbone), ischia, greater trochanters, and ankles (external malleoli). At these sites where the pressure on the skin is concentrated, blood flow can be restricted. If nutrient deficit exceeds tissue demand over a given interval, the tissue will start to die locally, resulting in an ulcer.
It is generally recognized that it is important to limit both skin warming and moisture accumulation to effectively combat skin breakdown. This has been embraced by professional bodies and recognized thought-leaders in the wound care medical community.
The normal core temperature of the human body is between 36° and 38° C. Skin temperature typically ranges between about 30° C. and about 34° C., depending on ambient temperature, the amount and type of clothing being worn, the core temperature, and where the skin is located on the body. However, on a typical mattress, seat cushion, seat back, etc., heat is trapped between the body and the covered skin surface, and the skin temperature rises rapidly to and may reach 35 to 37 degrees C. This small temperature elevation that occurs with the skin in contact with the mattress, seat cushion, etc., has important physiologic effects.
When a patch of skin is warmed beyond a specific level referred to as the "perspiration threshold" of approximately 32 to 34° C., local perspiration in the region increases markedly. The accompanying moisture softens the skin (maceration), which makes it more susceptible to breakdown. The build-up of moisture increases the friction between the skin and the surface materials resulting in increased shear stresses in the tissue. It has also been shown that elevated skin temperature is associated with increased metabolic demand, therefore, researchers have speculated that elevated skin temperature increases the susceptibility of the tissue to ischemic injury, particularly when both nutrient supply and metabolite removal are reduced by loading. Generally, tissue metabolic rates increase by approximately 10% for each one degree Celsius increase in temperature. Warmed tissue generates an increased demand for blood supply that can be met when the skin is not under significant load. At interface pressures of 20 or more mm Hg, as occur under the bony prominences on a mattress or seat, blood flow can not be increased to meet this demand, and the tissue becomes ischemic. Other research looked directly at tissue injury and temperature. One demonstrated that skin tissue with reduced blood supply has been shown to be less susceptible to injury when tissue temperatures were slightly reduced. In a second study, identical pressures were applied to the skin tissue of research animals at nearly 300 sites. The skin temperatures at the interface varied between 28 and 36 degrees C. The results showed a very strong positive correlation—nearly perfect, in fact—between skin temperature and degree of skin breakdown.
When skin temperatures are maintained within certain limits, the person or animal is more comfortable. For humans, comfort is optimal when the skin temperature is maintained close to its natural (non or lightly insulated) temperature of 30 to 34 degrees C., even when insulated support conditions are employed. The devices described herein have important medical and non-medical applications. The non-medical applications include most seating and bedding applications such as mattresses for the home, seating or seat backs for the office, home, and vehicle markets.
Steady State vs. Temporary Cooling
Limiting the warming of the skin that occurs when it is insulated during therapeutic support reduces the risk of bedsores, aids healing, and enhances comfort. In the prior art, skin cooling is accomplished using what is known as a "low-air-loss bed" (LAL), which may cost $40,000.00 or more. LAL beds utilize pumps or blowers to eject steady streams of air through small vents in the bladders of an air mattress. Air flowing across an underside of the ticking convectively removes heat that passes from the patient's body into the surface. Heat from the body is subsequently transported with the ejected air from the bed as it is continually cycled. Although some LAL surfaces are effective at providing steady state cooling, they require power that is typically provided by electro-mechanical means, such as motors. Accordingly, LAL surfaces may be noisy, require extensive engineering and operator training, and they may be imposing to both patient and caregiver. Additionally, they may increase the risk of bio-aerosol contamination, i.e., the risk of spreading germs in the hospital or nursing home environment.
Temporary skin cooling can be accomplished by increasing the heat input required to increase the temperature of the surface. The quantity of heat required to increase a temperature of a specific quantity of material by a specific temperature is called the specific heat. For example, the specific heat of a specific alloy of aluminum can be expressed in Joules/kg-degree K. The quantity of heat required to raise the temperature of a given body is referred to as the heat capacity of the body. If a large body and a small body are both made of the same material, for example, the larger body will have a greater heat capacity although both will have the same specific heat. A surface of high specific heat material such as silicone gel or fluid, or even a waterbed, will provide temporary cooling, because a great deal of the body's heat will flow from the skin, initially at approximately 30 to 34° C. to the surface, initially at 23° C. room temperature. Phase change material which, as it undergoes phase-change, tremendously increases the capacity of a material to absorb heat, while maintaining the same temperature. All such surfaces will initially feel quite cool to the user. Such approaches, however, only delay skin warming. A steady flux of heat into the surface will eventually cause all of the phase change material to change phase, and/or the high heat capacity material to warm. In order to provide continuous, steady-state cooling, the heat must be removed from the system and transferred to the environment or to another system that is external to the surface to be cooled. A need exists for non-powered, or, stated otherwise, self-powered devices to provide steady state cooling at the level of the expensive, externally powered LAL surfaces currently in use. It is particularly valuable to develop such a device that provides cooling without spreading airborne pathogens from the occupant's skin surface into the common environment.
It is important to note that materials of sufficiently high thermal conductivity, mechanical compliance, and relatively low cost did not exist for such an application until the last few years. Heat transfer by conduction has not generally been considered practical for use in applications in which heat transfer paths are large (greater than 10 cm) and temperature differences are small (less than 10° C.) between the region to be cooled and the environment. This is particularly true for biomedical applications.
The likelihood of bedsore formation is reduced by lowering tissue metabolic rate (and therefore reducing tissue ischemia in pressurized tissue with reduced blood flow) and limiting local perspiration, which weakens the outer skin layer (the stratum corneum) over time. These inventions may be used as an aid in the healing of early stage bedsores or other skin ulcers. Moderate cooling of the skin during support (from 35° C. to 37° C. down to the 30° C. to 34° C. range) also makes the user more comfortable. The proposed inventions, therefore, have not only medical applications, but applications in the general consumer niche as well.

Self-powered steady-state skin-cooling support surfaces


A computer implemented method including receiving an original starting location and an original destination location at a processor of a mobile wireless device, determining a route, including directions, based on the starting location and destination, retrieving data for the mobile wireless device indicative of wireless communication coverage corresponding to the route, determining first additional directions to a first additional location from the original destination location, and caching the first additional directions in local memory of the mobile wireless device accessible by the processor to facilitate communication of the additional directions from the local memory to a user.

Mobile devices are commonly used to provide directions to guide a user along a route to a destination location. The mobile devices commonly use wireless communications to request routes from various servers. An app may be included on the mobile device, and a selected route is downloaded to the mobile device. The mobile device is used to provide a display of the route and verbal instructions.


The present invention provides alumina hydrate particles, a flame retardant and a resin composition that are each for an electric wire/cable covering material improvable in flame retardancy and mechanical properties while the covering material keeps acid resistance; such an electric wire/cable; and producing methods thereof. The alumina hydrate particles of the present invention for electric wire/cable covering material have an average particle size of 0.5 to 2.5 μm, and having a primary particle variation R of 24% or less, the variation R being represented by the following expression:primary particle variation R (%)=“standard deviationσ(μm) of major axis diameters of the primary particles”/“average value(μm) of the major axis diameters of the primary particles”×100.

Hitherto, a covering material for electric wires/cables or the like has required flame resistance, and other various properties, these electric wires/cables or the like being used, for example, for automobile vehicles, railway vehicles, ships, aircrafts, industrial machines, electronic instruments, and electronic components. Halogen-containing flame retardants and others have been widely used. However, a halogen-containing flame retardant gives a fear that when a material containing this agent is shaped and worked, halogen gas generated by the decomposition of this agent corrodes the shaping and working machine, or produces a bad effect onto the environment although this agent has an excellent flame retardant effect. For such reasons, as alternatives therefore, various flame retardants of the so-called non-halogen type have been developed.
In recent years, as a non-halogen type flame retardant, attention has been paid to a metal hydrate of magnesium hydroxide or the like. Magnesium hydroxide is a nontoxic inorganic substance, and contains no halogen to be also environment-friendly; thus, this compound has come to be widely used as a typical non-halogen type flame retardant. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses that as a covering material for electric wires/cables, a flame retardant is used which contains magnesium hydroxide surface-treated with, for example, an epoxy-type silane coupling agent.

Alumina hydrate particles, flame retardant, resin composition and electric wire/cable


A retractable cover assembly is provided for a vehicle to cover a latching component such as the striker of a trunk door. The assembly includes a retractable cover and a support structure for supporting the cover at a position to cover the striker. The assembly further includes an arrangement for actuating the cover between an open position exposing the striker and a closed position covering the striker. A first light source may illuminate the cover and a second light source may illuminate an interior of the vehicle when the cover is in the closed position.

Automotive vehicles typically employ various latches which operatively engage a striker to close a door member relative to the vehicle body. For example, a car typically has a trunk door with a latch that engages a striker on the door sill at the rear of the vehicle body. Similarly, a hatchback vehicle has a hatchback door with a latch that engages a striker within the opening on the hatchback door sill. The striker typically is exposed when the trunk or hatchback door is in the open position.

Retractable striker cover assembly for vehicle


The invention relates to a navigation aid method of an aircraft comprising a step for positioning an execution order in a flight plan then in a flight path. When the order is for deferred execution, that is, comprises a condition, estimating the position of the aircraft when the condition associated with the order is satisfied, modifying the flight plan based on the estimated position according to the order, computing a new flight path based on the flight plan.

The navigation aid system assists the crew in programming the flight plan before take-off and in monitoring the path of the flight plan from take-off through to landing. Its assistance in programming the flight plan consists on the one hand in plotting, in the horizontal and vertical planes, a path sketch formed by a succession of waypoints associated with various clearances such as altitude, speed, heading or others, and on the other hand in computing, also in the horizontal and vertical planes, the path that the aircraft will follow to complete its mission.
When preparing the programming of the flight plan, the crew inputs into the navigation aid system, explicitly or implicitly, the geographic coordinates of the waypoints and their associated clearances, and obtains from the navigation aid system a path sketch and a flight path. The path is made up of a chain of segments linking the waypoints two by two from the starting point through to the destination point, and arcs of circle providing the heading transitions between segment at the waypoints. The path sketch and the path are displayed on a navigation screen to enable the crew to check their relevance.
Before take-off, or during the flight, the air traffic control (ATC) authority sends the crew the clearance execution orders, via the navigation aid system. These are confirmations of the clearances scheduled in the flight plan, or changes of clearances.
Some of these orders have no impact on the flight path, such as, for example, an order concerning a change of communication frequency. Others require the flight path to be modified; among these, there are orders with immediate execution and orders with deferred execution.
When an immediate execution order is received by the navigation aid system, the latter modifies the flight plan according to this order and immediately recomputes the new modified flight path, communicates it to the crew and to ATC, and sends the clearance associated with the order to the aircraft guidance device.
A deferred execution order comprises a condition; when the condition is satisfied, the clearance must then be executed.
When a deferred execution order is received by the navigation aid system, the latter monitors the triggering of the condition and, immediately the condition is satisfied, it processes the order as an immediate order: it modifies the flight plan according to this order, recomputes the new flight path, communicates it to the crew and to ATC, and transmits the clearance to the guidance device. However, there is no anticipation: neither ATC nor the crew know the new flight path until it is operational.
The aim of the invention is to overcome this drawback.
The principle of the invention is to estimate where the condition will be satisfied, and to compute, anticipatively, the new flight path modified by the order.

Method for positioning orders with delayed execution in an aircraft flight path


Systems, methods and computer-executable code stored on computer readable media for synchronizing the evolving state of a dynamic object in a shared virtual environment among a plurality of geographically separated computers connected in a communications network including data communications links introducing time delays in the propagation of data between said computers. The synchronization scheme utilizes an advanced feedback controller to compensate for the state error between sites, comprised of a linear compensator and a Smith predictor based internal model, to determine correct control forces creating a smooth input while maintaining high levels of responsiveness and consistency. A recovery filter for restoring the natural motion of the virtual object distorted by synchronization control is also described.

Shared virtual environments (SVEs) provide virtual places and low level supportive frames using network communication in various applications including CAD, military training simulation, remote conferencing, general haptic collaboration, interactive educations, on-line games, and so forth. (See S. Singhal and M. Zyda, Networked Virtual Environments: Design and Implementation, Addison-Wesley, 1999, incorporated herein by reference.) Consistency and responsiveness, the two most important concepts in SVEs, correspond to the closeness of the states among participating user sites (i.e., computers or stations), and how quickly the users receive the response to their and others' interaction with the SVE, respectively.
Conventionally, consistency and responsiveness are achieved by using a concurrency control strategy, whose approach coordinates all the transactions that occur between participants. However, if the communication delays between participants become large, such approaches lead to poor responsiveness. For example, a pessimistic concurrency control allows only one transaction between a server and the clients at a time. One of the primary complaints about these systems is that they are "laggy," in other words, that they respond sluggishly and erratically when the user invokes a command due to inherent system latency created by the need to transmit information to and from the user to a central server which processes the information. This lag occurs because the user's computer cannot process the command and display the results until after it has consulted with a central server. If every client contends for a transaction, each client needs to wait idly until its transaction is approved. Semi-optimistic concurrency control improves the responsiveness momentarily, but leads to unsatisfactory consistency and sometimes non-smooth behaviors, which is not suitable for treating the SVEs, where motion is involved.
There is appreciable interest in the class of SVEs that is designed for haptic collaboration, which deals with a manipulation of shared virtual objects by multiple users, exchanging haptic forces (that is, forces involved in the touch, feel, and manipulating of objects, such as during manual exploration and manipulation.) The introduction of haptic forces initiates dynamic motion of the engaged virtual object. For a realistic display of haptics and graphics, the motion needs to be created so as to follow physical laws (e.g. Newton's laws). If the latency of response is over 30 msec to a user's action, he perceives a disorder in the sense of touch. This suggests that every distributed user should receive immediate response to his input via haptic and/or visual feedbacks, and that the concurrency control strategy will not guarantee such a high responsiveness if communication delay is large. Hence, SVEs for haptic collaboration need a new method that is perhaps an improvement over a concurrency control strategy and also is suitable for a situation where the delay can be large.
The Transatlantic Touch was a long distance virtual touch project carried out between Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and University College of London (UCL). (see J. Kim, et al., "Transatlantic Touch: A study of haptic collaboration over long distance," Presence: Teleoperators and Virtual Environments, vol. 13, no., pp. 328-337, 2004.) In the project, two users, one at MIT and the other at UCL, performed collaborative grasping of a shared virtual object as pre-planned sequences, feeling the presence of remote users through the haptic force communication by direct peer-to-peer connection. Each user interacted with his local replica of the SVE state managed separately, so each received instant haptic and visual responses from his input. However, as the communication delay became severe, the haptic task induced a large inconsistency between users who could not recover from the situation.
Sensitivity to latency also presents a significant obstacle to implementing SVEs on the Internet, because the latencies associated with the Internet can be substantial and quite unpredictable. Therefore, what is needed is a technique for overcoming such difficulties associated with the prior art when implementing SVEs. In particular, what is needed is a technique for resolving latency concerns in a multi-user SVEs not only within a local area network but also with other IP Internet configurations having random variation of time delay during the communication having a specified maximum tolerable delay.

System for and method of motion and force synchronization with time delay reduction in multi-user shared virtual environments


A storage apparatus coupled to a host device comprises a virtual volume which is a virtual logical volume configured of multiple virtual areas and a pool configured of multiple actual area groups of different performances. A controller manages pool status information which is the information showing which actual area is allocated to which virtual area and access load related to the virtual areas. A management system of the storage apparatus, with reference to the pool status information at multiple points of time from past to present and an access load threshold which is equal to or larger than 1, estimates the used capacity of each actual area group at points of time in the future, calculates the installed/removed amount of each actual area group which is the difference between the estimated used capacity and the current storage capacity, and performs the processing based on the calculated result.

Storage apparatuses comprising multiple physical storage devices are well known. Physical storage devices are hard disk drives, flash memory devices, and others. A storage apparatus generally comprises RAID groups complying with the technology of RAID (Redundant Array of Independent (or Inexpensive) Disks). A RAID group is configured of multiple physical storage devices and, in the RAID group, data is stored in accordance with a specified RAID level. With reference to the storage space of the RAID group, one or multiple logical storage devices (logical volumes) are created. The logical volumes are provided to a host computer coupled to the storage apparatus. The host computer transmits access commands (e.g. write commands or read commands) specifying the provided logical volumes to the storage apparatus. By this, to the logical volumes, data access is performed.
As a storage apparatus, a storage apparatus to which the Thin Provisioning technology is applied is well known (e.g. Patent Literature 1). According to the Thin Provisioning (also called Dynamic Provisioning), instead of logical volumes whose storage capacity is fixed, virtual volumes (hereinafter referred to as VVOLs) which are virtual logical volumes are provided to the host computer. A VVOL is a set of multiple virtual areas (virtual storage areas). If a write occurs from the host computer to the VVOL, a segment is allocated to the virtual area from the pool. Therefore, according to Thin Provisioning, the storage capacity provided to the host computer can be expanded dynamically. Note that a pool is a storage area configured of multiple segments. A segment is an actual area (an actual storage area) and, as more specifically described, for example, a storage area acquired by splitting the logical volumes configuring the pool (hereinafter referred to as PVOLs) by LBAs (Logical Block Addresses) or others. At this point, an "LBA" is an address used for specifying the position on the logical volume when the host computer reads and writes the data from and to the storage apparatus.
Meanwhile, a pool in which multiple segment groups of different performances are mixed (Patent Literature 2) is well known. Hereinafter, one segment group is referred to as a "medium." For example, a high-performance media is configured of high-performance PVOLs, and a low-performance media is configured of low-performance PVOLs. The performance of a PVOL depends on the performance of a physical storage device which is the base of the PVOL (and/or the RAID level of the RAID group). Data migration from a certain segment in a certain medium to a segment in another medium (hereinafter referred to as segment migration) can be performed.
For operating a pool, if segments unallocated to any VVOLs are insufficient, the expansion of the storage capacity of the pool is required. A method for determining the storage capacity to be added is disclosed, for example, in the Patent Literature 3. According to the Patent Literature 3, with reference to the increase rate of segments allocated to a virtual volume, the storage capacity to run short in the future is estimated and, with reference to the result of the estimation, the storage capacity to be added is determined.

Management system calculating storage capacity to be installed/removed


Methods for improving a single layer resist (SLR) patterning scheme, and in particular, its SLR layer and anti-reflective coating (ARC) etch selectivity, are disclosed. In one method, a patterned SLR layer over an anti-reflective coating (ARC) is provided and at least a portion of the patterned SLR layer and a portion of the ARC are exposed to radiation. The radiation may include, for example, an electron beam or an ion beam. The radiation exposure selectively breaks the polymer chains of the ARC and reduces the thickness of the ARC due to the loss of volatile function groups and free volume. As a result, the etch rate of the ARC is increased due to the conversion from polymer to monomer. Therefore, less resist will be consumed during, for example, an ARC open etch.

1. Technical Field
The invention relates generally to semiconductor fabrication, and more particularly, to methods of improving single layer resist (SLR) patterning schemes.
2. Background Art
Conventional semiconductor fabrication uses single layer resist (SLR) patterning schemes for etching underlying layers. Typically, the SLR patterning scheme employs a patterned SLR layer positioned over an anti-reflective coating (ARC), which is opened to expose the underlying layer to be etched. As the semiconductor industry continues to drive toward reduced feature size, however, one of the biggest challenges for SLR patterning schemes is maintaining the resist pattern fidelity throughout the subsequent image transfer procedures, including etching through the ARC layer and the underlying layers. Inadequate resist thickness through the etch process results in degradation or sometimes total loss of the patterned images. In other words, conventional SLR patterning schemes do not present sufficient etch resistance. FIGS. 1-2 show an illustrative etching process in which a patterned SLR 100 is positioned over an ARC layer 102, which is positioned over an underlying layer 104. As an ARC open etch 110 (FIG. 2) proceeds, patterned SLR 100 becomes significantly thinner, which prevents continued use of patterned SLR 100.
One approach to mitigating this issue is to increase the SLR layer thickness and/or decrease the ARC thickness. However, the decision on the optimal operating SLR layer thickness is generally associated with the reflectivity swing curve (i.e., a sinusoidal variation of reflectivity as a function of resist thickness), and the increase in SLR layer thickness often results in process window reduction due to issues like resist line collapse or resist profile degradation. Reducing the operating thickness of each given ARC is also unfavorable due to concerns on the reflectivity control and sometimes on the coverage of topography. Other common manufacturing solutions for the SLR patterning scheme problem include implementing SLR patterning schemes with inorganic hard mask, bi-layer or tri-layer processes. Each of these solutions, however, requires changes to the integration scheme, adding process costs and increasing complexity.
Improving resist etch resistance has been employed, for example, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,753,129, issued to Livesay et al. In this disclosure, a photoresist is modified by electron beam exposure. While this technique improves resist etch resistance, it does not address the difficulties presented by an ARC, which is not used in the particular resist scheme of that disclosure.
In view of the foregoing, there is a need in the art for a way to mitigate the etch burden of selective photoresists and therefore extend the application of the single layer resist (SLR) patterning scheme to beyond the current physical limit.

Methods of improving single layer resist patterning scheme

International Business Machines Corporation


A container for a sealed secondary cell containing an electrode plate group is provided comprising a wall forming a base (2) in electrically conducting material, the base comprising a peripheral portion (2a), a closure member portion (2b) and a weakened portion (2c) joining the peripheral portion (2a) to the closure member portion and designed to rupture in the presence of an excess pressure inside the container. An electrically insulating ring member (4) is mounted on the peripheral portion to support the electrode plate group, and the container includes an electrically conducting flexible connection part (3), electrically connected to the closure member portion (2b) and to the electrode plate group, in which, in the presence of an excess pressure leading to rupturing of the weakened portion, the connection part guides the closure member portion to a position after rupture which is substantially parallel to its position prior to rupture.

A sealed electrochemical storage cell or secondary cell (both terms being equivalent, we shall use the term secondary cell in this specification) conventionally comprises an electrode plate group made up of alternating positive and negative electrodes on either side of electrolyte-impregnated separators. Each electrode is made up of a metallic current collector supporting an electrochemically active material on at least one of its faces. Each electrode is electrically connected to a power output terminal which provides electrical continuity between the electrode and an external application with which the cell is associated. The electrode plate group is placed in a container that is sealingly closed by a cover.
The invention relates to sealed secondary cells, of for example the primary lithium or lithium ion types. These cells may be of cylindrical format or of rectangular format (also known as prismatic format).
A cell is generally designed to operate under so-called "nominal" conditions, i.e. within given ranges of temperature, current, and voltage. When a sealed cell is used outside the nominal conditions, for example in the event of accidental overcharging, or a short circuit, or a temperature higher than the maximum operating temperature, etc., there is a danger of explosion. This is because such situations lead to electrochemical reactions with generation of gas. An accumulation of such gases inside the container increases the internal pressure of the cell which can lead to the container bursting violently and to chemical compounds that are harmful and corrosive for the environment and for people situated nearby being sprayed out.
Safety devices exist that prevent gas from accumulating inside the container of a sealed cell and that enable the gas to be exhausted when the internal pressure exceeds a predetermined value.
Further, is essential for a safety device for a secondary cell to also incorporate a circuit breaking function able to electrically isolate, irreversibly, the secondary cell from apparatus connected thereto.
French patent 2,873,495 (US 2006 0019150) discloses a sealed secondary cell. The cell consists of alternating positive and negative electrodes connected to their respective power output terminals. The electrodes are arranged in a container having a cylindrical wall closed off by a base. The base is made up of three portions, a peripheral portion connected to the cylindrical wall, a releasable closure member portion and a thinned portion connecting the closure member portion to the peripheral portion. The thinning is adapted to be torn as a result of excess pressure inside the container. A planar connection connects the positive electrode of the electrode plate group to the wall of the base of the container, the walls of the container being electrically conducting with the cover. An annular seal is located between the electrode plate group and the bottom of the container. This acts as an electrical insulator to prevent electrical contact between an edge of a negative electrode of the plate group and the wall of the container connected to the positive terminal, which could bring about a short circuit after the safety device has been actuated. Tearing of the thinning is adapted to interrupt electrical conduction between the electrodes of one polarity and their power output terminal by disconnecting the releasable closure member portion from the peripheral portion. The electrode plate group is in abutment with the connection part. In the presence of excess pressure, the thinned portion tears and the electrode plate group which bears on the releasable closure member portion via the connection part shifts towards the bottom of the container, tearing the totality of the thinned portion in order to break the electrical connection between the positive electrode of the electrode plate group and the cover of the container. FIGS. 1A and 1B respectively show a longitudinal cross-section of the lower portion of a similar container and a cross-sectional view when the closure member portion is disconnected.
Such a container nevertheless has the disadvantage of being vulnerable to jolting and impact. In effect, the electrode plate group, which is the heaviest part of the element, is lying on the releasable closure member portion. In the presence of jolts or impact, the weight of the electrode plate group exercises a force which may cause the thinning to tear thereby undesirably disconnecting the closure member portion from the peripheral portion. It has been observed that the closure member portion initially designed to open at a cell internal pressure greater than or equal to 8 bar to 12 bar (depending on cell capacity) does in reality, and not in the presence of jolts or impact, open at a lower internal pressure (between 0 and 6 bar). This can be explained by a weakening of the thinning brought about by jolting or impacts. Given that a secondary cell can have an internal pressure of 6 bar at the end of its lifetime, untoward opening of the closure member portion can occur.


Direct backlight modules using diffraction optical elements are provided. A direct backlight module includes a light source and a diffraction optical element, wherein the diffraction optical element is disposed above the light source. By properly arranging the phase function, the diffraction optical element can substantially modulate the wavefront of the light emitted from the light source and control light distribution as well as light direction.

The invention relates to backlight modules, and in particular to backlight modules having diffraction optical elements to control light distribution and light intensity of backlight modules.
Currently, in order to distribute light of conventional LED backlight modules, specially designed lens caps are provided. U.S. Pat. No. 6,679,621 B2 LUMILEDS discloses a side-emitting LED backlight module, wherein a special optical lens cap is disposed on the side-emitting LED backlight module to enforce the effect of uniformly emitting light. The curvature of the lens cap is, however, limited by process resolution. Thus, lens cap production is difficult and the lens cap is thicker. Accordingly, the thickness of the backlight module will increase dramatically. Additionally, in the conventional direct backlight modules, the light emitted from the light source travels forward through the transparent plate to the diffuser and then uniformly distributes on the liquid crystal display via the diffuser. However, due to the insufficient penetrability of the transparent plate and the consideration of the uniform light distribution, the thickness of the backlight module cannot be reduced due to multilayer arrangement.

Backlight modules using diffraction optical elements

Industrial Technology Research Institute


The invention concerns a device 5 for aiming an object 1 in an X-ray imaging apparatus 3 provided with a radiographic imaging detector 4, a radiation source 13, and transfer means for moving e.g. the radiation source into different points along a predetermined path P. Said device comprises at least one laser 6 emitting visible light, and e.g. at least two light guides having first ends and second ends, said first ends connected to said laser for receiving said visible light. Each of said second ends 8a, 8b, 8c provides a light beam, and these light beams 7a, 7b, 7c are directed towards said imaging detector with an angle of convergence K. The light beams are adjusted to intersect in a predetermined focus FL point, which is visible and indicates the proper position of the target 2 inside the object.

Panoramic and tomographic imaging systems are widely used for attaining images from target areas of humans and animals, and nowadays these systems are also used for taking three-dimensional X-ray photographs from target volumes of humans and animals, whereupon solid-state detectors like radiation sensitive semiconductor sensor, e.g. CCD-sensors or other kind of sensor systems producing digital image data are typically utilized. The principles of the three-dimensional X-ray imaging are disclosed e.g. in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,359,637 and 5,668,844. For three-dimensional X-ray imaging it is important that the image sensor is in correct position in respect to the X-ray source. The mutual positioning of the radiation source and the irradiation plane for the X-ray photography of the head and neck area, especially for producing three-dimensional X-ray photographs, is disclosed in publication WO-00/57788. For this purpose the imaging apparatus is equipped with an X-ray source and a digital image sensor, which is positioned in the radiation field of the X-ray source of the imaging apparatus, behind the object to be imaged each time, as viewed from the X-ray source is used. The radiation source is positioned on an irradiation plane located at a desired distance from the image sensor and the radiation source is moved on said irradiation plane along an essentially circular path in such a way that the central ray of the X-ray source is directed at the same point during the movement. The sensor is positioned at this point or in its vicinity. In order to image the object from different directions, the X-ray source is optionally stopped at the desired points of the circular path for the duration of exposure in each desired direction of imaging. The distance of the X-ray source from the sensor is measured using measuring means like measuring rod having an adjustable length, which measuring rod is located in the casing and positioned against, for example, a stopper outside the mouth which is connected to the image sensor, followed by directing the X-ray at the sensor mechanically, or by means of a ray of light, or by means of ultrasound.
The main object of the invention is to attain a method and an apparatus for pointing the predetermined position of the target, especially the predetermined distance of the target from the X-ray source. The second object of the invention is to attain such a pointing method and pointing apparatus, which does not impair under any circumstances the quality of the X-ray image. The third object of the invention is to attain such pointing method and pointing apparatus, which is accurate, easy to use and allows controlling the position of the target during X-ray imaging.

Positioning device and method in X-ray imaging systems


An exposure method may include: radiating a charged particle beam in an exposure system comprising a beam generator, radiating the beam, and main and auxiliary deflectors deflecting the beam to determine a position of a beam shot; determining whether a deflection distance from a first position of a latest radiated beam shot to a second position of a subsequent beam shot is within a first distance in a main field area of an exposure target area, the main field area having a size determined by the main deflector; setting a settling time according to the deflection distance so that a settling time of the subsequent beam shot is set to a constant minimum value, greater than zero, when the deflection distance from the first position to the second position is within the first distance; and deflecting the beam using the main deflector based on the set settling time.

1. Field
Some example embodiments of the inventive concepts may relate generally to exposure methods, and methods of manufacturing integrated circuit (IC) devices by using the exposure methods. Some example embodiments of the inventive concepts may relate generally to exposure methods using the control of settling times of deflected charged particle beams, and methods of manufacturing IC devices by using the exposure methods.
2. Description of Related Art
As the integration density of semiconductor devices increases and line widths of the semiconductor devices may be gradually miniaturized, the importance of lithography technology may have gradually increased. In addition, line widths that may be required by semiconductor devices may be gradually miniaturized according to the high integration of large-scale integrated circuits (LSI). In order to form fine patterns that may be required in such highly integrated semiconductor devices, an exposure system using a variable shaped electron beam (VSB) method may be used. In an exposure process using the exposure system with the VSB method, it may be necessary to effectively set a settling time, which may be needed to move a beam shot from the current position of the beam shot to a target position by using the deflection of the beam shot, while securing the accuracy of the exposure process.

Exposure method using control of settling times and methods of manufacturing integrated circuit devices by using the same


A voltage regulator circuit includes: a first MOS transistor 12 coupled between a voltage supply line and an output node 44, the first MOS transistor 12 providing a stable voltage on the output node 44; a source follower 24 coupled to a gate of the first MOS transistor 12; an amplifier 38 coupled to a gate of the source follower 24 for controlling the response of the first MOS transistor 12; negative feedback circuitry coupled between the output node 44 and the amplifier 38, the feedback circuitry providing feedback to the amplifier 38; a current conveyer 46 coupled to the first MOS transistor 12; and positive feedback circuitry 26 coupled between the current conveyer 46 and the source follower 24.

The function of a voltage regulator is to take a varying input voltage supply and generate a stable output voltage. The efficiency of modern power supply systems, especially battery operated ones, is directly related to the useable operating voltage and current over head required by the system's voltage regulator. The useable operating voltage is called the "drop-out" voltage, which is the difference between the input and output voltages of the regulator while the regulator still maintains regulation. The smaller this difference, the more efficient the system. Additionally, batteries can supply only a finite amount of charge, so the more quiescent current the regulator uses (which is wasted current as far as the system is concerned), the less life the battery will have and therefore the system will be less efficient.

Low drop-out voltage regulator with PMOS pass element


An infant respiratory monitor for alerting the supervisors of an infant when there is a lack of movement of the infant due to potential respiratory problems. The device comprises a housing having an attachment for clip for securing the housing to an infant. Respiratory monitoring circuitry is contained within the housing, and comprises a power source which is in circuit with a motion sensor, processor and audio output means. The motion sensor detects movement, and transmits the presence of such movement to the processor. The processor is configured to count the number of signals received from the motion sensor within a pre-determined time period and alert the sound output means in the event that the number of signals received within the pre-determined period of time from the motion sensor drops below a pre-determined value. Upon that occurrence, the processor signals the audio output means to emit an audible alert warning noise.

The risks inherent in leaving infants unattended for even short lengths of time are well known. In addition to the harm which infants can cause to themselves upon being left unattended, they can also suffer harm due to such things as "sudden infant death syndrome", "crib death" and numerous other vague maladies which all too often cause death to an infant. While various monitoring devices are well known in the art which attempt to monitor an unattended infant by detecting the infant's screams or cries (such as traditional intercom systems), these devices fail to signal an alert unless the infant audibly signals that he or she is uncomfortable (i.e. by crying).
Quite commonly, unattended infants suffer from maladies which do not result in the infant crying, and hence would not tend to alert the infant's absent parents or supervisors. Sudden infant death syndrome (or SIDS) for example, results in the death of an infant without any noticeable discomfort or pain to the infant. Accordingly, children afflicted with SIDS can simply pass from a sleeping phase into a non-respiratory near-death situation without any notice. The only manner of safeguarding against such a situation would be to directly monitor the respiration of the infant to ensure that said respiration is regular and uninterrupted.
Consequently, even infants under direct supervision are at risk from certain maladies such as SIDS unless their respiratory pattern is directly monitored. For that reason, a device or apparatus is needed in the art which attempts not to detect audible cries or screams from an infant, but rather monitors the respiratory pattern of the infant and provides an alert in response to any observable irregularities thereof. Such a device would be employable and useful for an infant which is unattended (such as in a separate room from his or her parents or keeper) and even for infants which are under supervision but sleeping.
While the traditional prior art units such as audible infant intercom monitors may be suitable for the particular purpose employed, or for general use, they would not be as suitable for the purposes of the present invention as disclosed hereafter.


A tunnel junction structure comprises an n-type tunnel junction layer of a first semiconductor material, a p-type tunnel junction layer of a second semiconductor material and a tunnel junction between the tunnel junction layers. The first semiconductor material includes gallium (Ga), nitrogen (N), arsenic (As) and is doped with a Group VI dopant. The probability of tunneling is significantly increased, and the voltage drop across the tunnel junction is consequently decreased, by forming the tunnel junction structure of materials having a reduced difference between the valence band energy of the material of the p-type tunnel junction layer and the conduction band energy of the n-type tunnel junction layer. Doping the first semiconductor material n-type with a Group VI dopant maximizes the doping concentration in the first semiconductor material, thus further improving the probability of tunneling.

Semiconductor lasers generate light that can be used in optical communication systems, compact disc (CD) players, digital videodisc (DVD) players, scanners and other systems. Semiconductor lasers for optical communications include vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers (VCSELs), edge-emitting lasers, in-plane emitting lasers and the like.
Until recently, relatively expensive Fabry-Perot (FP) and distributed-feedback (DFB) lasers have been used to generate light at the wavelengths presently used in the telecommunication industry for transmission via fiber-optic links. Although VCSEL technology has proven to be a viable lower-cost, lower-power alternative well suited for short-haul network applications, had difficulty to produce reliable, cost-effective VCSELs for use at the longer wavelengths used in medium- and long-haul fiber-optic communications links.
A VCSEL is composed of an active region sandwiched between vertically-stacked mirrors, commonly known as distributed Bragg reflectors (DBRs) or Bragg mirrors. The active region typically includes quantum wells that generate the light. The quantum wells are composed of thin layers of semiconductor materials that differ in band-gap energy. To achieve the necessary reflectivity, the number of semiconductor or dielectric layers constituting each of the DBRs can be quite large. The VCSEL emits the light generated in the active region through one of the mirrors, which has a reflectivity less than that of the other of the mirrors. Light is output from a VCSEL from a relatively small area on the surface of the semiconductor, directly above or below the active region.
The potential for VCSELs to generate light with relatively long wavelengths has not been realized due, in part, to the difficulty of epitaxially growing DBRs that have suitable optical, electrical, and thermal properties on an indium phosphide (InP) substrate. Two of the more significant problems are high optical losses and high joule heating in the Bragg mirror fabricated using p-type semiconductor materials.
There has been considerable interest in long wavelength VCSELs on gallium arsenide (GaAs) substrates because of the mature fabrication process for VCSELs operating at 850 nm. It has been found that adding nitrogen (N) to gallium indium arsenide (GaInAs) reduces the energy band gap enough to extend the wavelength to 1300 nm and continue to take advantage of the favorable DBR mirror technology available on GaAs substrates. However, high optical loss in p-type material is a problem.
The industry has explored incorporating a tunnel junction into a VCSEL to address these problems. Incorporating a tunnel junction allows both DBRs to be fabricated using n-type semiconductor materials. A DBR fabricated using n-type semiconductor materials has significantly lower optical losses and higher electrical conductivity than a DBR fabricated using p-type semiconductor material. Reduced optical losses lead to a lower threshold current and a correspondingly higher differential gain. Higher differential gain is an important parameter for achieving high-bandwidth modulation. High-bandwidth modulation is desirable for optical fiber-based communication systems.
FIG. 1 shows a side view of an example of a prior-art semiconductor device 100 incorporating a tunnel junction structure 112. The tunnel junction structure is composed of an n-type tunnel junction layer 104, a p-type tunnel junction layer 106 and a tunnel junction 110 between the tunnel junction layers. The n-type tunnel junction layer is a layer of an n-type semiconductor material. The p-type tunnel junction layer is a layer of a p-type semiconductor material. Applying a reverse bias across tunnel junction 110 will cause a tunneling current to flow across the tunnel junction. A reverse bias is applied by setting n-type tunnel junction layer 104 to a more positive voltage than p-type tunnel junction layer 106. It is desirable to minimize the voltage drop across the tunnel junction to reduce the overall voltage drop across the VCSEL. To minimize the voltage drop across the tunnel junction, conventional approaches have focused on maximizing the doping concentrations in the materials of the tunnel junction layers.
Also shown in FIG. 1 are n-type layer 102 on which n-type tunnel junction layer 104 is grown and p-type layer 108 grown on p-type tunnel junction layer 106; n-type layer 102 may constitute the substrate of semiconductor device 100. Alternatively, n-type layer 102 may be grown on or over the substrate.
Many different pairs of semiconductor materials that can be used as the materials of n-type tunnel junction layer 104 and of p-type tunnel junction layer 106 are known in the art. In the semiconductor device 100 illustrated in FIG. 1, the semiconductor material of n-type tunnel junction layer 104 is n-type GaAs or GaInAs and the semiconductor material of p-type tunnel junction layer 106 is GaAs or GaInAs. If GaInAs is used in either or both of the layers 104 and 106, the In concentration and/or the thickness of the tunnel junction layers should be sufficiently small so that the critical thickness is not exceeded. The critical thickness is the thickness at which crystal defects begin to form due to a mismatch in the lattice parameters of the materials. The material of layer 102 is also n-type GaAs that has a lower dopant concentration than the material of n-type tunnel junction layer 104. The material of layer 108 is also p-type GaAs that has a lower dopant concentration than the material of p-type tunnel junction layer 106.
Tunnel junctions having a low voltage drop are formed of materials that establish a large built-in electrostatic field across the tunnel junction. A large electrostatic field requires a large potential difference across a short distance, and is typically generated by using very high doping concentrations in the tunnel junction layers that minimize the width of the depletion region at the tunnel junction.
FIGS. 2A and 2B each include an energy diagram 200 and an electrical circuit model 202 that show some of the characteristics of tunnel junction structure 102. FIG. 2A shows the characteristics of the tunnel junction structure at equilibrium. FIG. 2B shows the characteristics of the tunnel junction structure under reverse bias. Each energy diagram shows the conduction band energy ECn and the valence band energy EVn of the semiconductor material of n-type tunnel junction layer 104. Each energy diagram also shows the conduction band energy ECp and the valence band energy EVp of the semiconductor material of p-type tunnel junction layer 106; n-type tunnel junction layer 104 and p-type tunnel junction layer 106 collectively form tunnel junction 110.
The energy diagram of FIG. 2A shows the depletion region 204 that exists at tunnel junction 110 at equilibrium. At equilibrium, the Fermi level EFn of the material of n-type tunnel junction layer is equal to the Fermi level EFp of the material of p-type tunnel junction layer 106. The conduction bands of the materials of the tunnel junction layers differ in energy, which establishes the built-in potential barrier 206 at the tunnel junction that prevents conduction through the tunnel junction at low forward bias. The electrostatic field strength E at the tunnel junction depends on the height of the built-in potential barrier and depends inversely on the width W of the depletion region 204 at the tunnel junction.
A forward bias applied across tunnel junction 110 decreases the height of the built-in potential barrier at the tunnel junction. Sufficient forward bias causes current to flow across the tunnel junction in the forward direction. A forward bias is established by setting p-type tunnel junction layer 106 to a more positive voltage than n-type tunnel junction layer 104. The width of depletion region 204 decreases under forward bias (not shown).
A reverse bias applied across tunnel junction 110 adds to the height of the built-in potential barrier and increases the width of depletion region 204 to W′. The reverse bias separates the Fermi levels EFn and EFp on opposite sides of the tunnel junction. In the example shown, the Fermi level EFp of the material of p-type tunnel junction layer 106 has increased relative to its equilibrium level, whereas the Fermi level EFn of the material of n-type tunnel junction layer 104 remains substantially unchanged. In a conventional p-n junction, only a small leakage current flows across the junction under reverse bias. However, in tunnel junction 110, the reverse bias causes current to flow and occurs due to electrons tunneling through the potential barrier.
The reverse bias elevates the valence band energy EVp of the material of p-type tunnel junction layer 106 above the conduction band energy ECn of the material of n-type tunnel junction layer 104. This allows electrons in the valence band of the material of the p-type tunnel junction layer to tunnel through the potential barrier to unoccupied sites in the conduction band of the material of n-type tunnel junction layer 104, as shown schematically in FIG. 2B. The greater the reverse bias applied across tunnel junction 110, the higher the probability that an electron, e−, will tunnel across tunnel junction 110, and the higher the conduction through the tunnel junction.
In a conventional tunnel junction structure 112, the semiconductor materials of tunnel junction layers 104 and 106 have a relatively large band-gap energy difference. Such materials establish a relatively high potential barrier at tunnel junction 110. The reverse bias that has to be applied across the tunnel junction structure to cause a tunneling current on the order of the laser current of a laser diode to flow is therefore relatively large. Such a tunnel junction can therefore be regarded as having a high voltage drop, which is undesirable in many applications. The voltage drop of a tunnel junction structure can be reduced by reducing the width of the depletion region to increase the tunneling probability. This approach is conventionally used to reduce the voltage drop by doping the tunnel junction layers to as high a concentration as possible.
Materials with a low band-gap may be used as the semiconductor materials of n-type tunnel junction layer 104 and p-type tunnel junction layer 106 to reduce the doping concentrations necessary to achieve a given conductivity. Low band-gap materials, such as GaInAs, Eg=0.75 eV), have been used in InP-based devices, i.e., semiconductor devices with substrates of indium phosphide, to achieve a relatively high tunnel-junction conductivity. Low bandgap materials are also available in GaAs-based devices. However, doping concentrations sufficient to ensure a high probability of tunneling are difficult to achieve in these materials.
The addition of N to the n-type tunnel junction layer lowers the bandgap of the tunnel junction layer and improves the tunneling probability.
Prior U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/243,520 discloses a tunnel junction structure in which a fraction of the arsenic atoms in the semiconductor material of the p-type tunnel junction layer are replaced with antimony atoms, thus increasing the valence band energy of the p-type material. The tunnel junction structure of prior application Ser. No. 10/243,520 also discloses replacing a fraction of the arsenic atoms in the semiconductor material of the n-type tunnel junction layer with nitrogen atoms, thus decreasing the conduction band energy of the n-type material. Increasing the valence band energy of the semiconductor material of the p-type tunnel junction layer and decreasing the conduction band energy of the semiconductor material of the n-type tunnel junction layer increase the probability of tunneling occurring at a given reverse bias applied across the tunnel junction. Unfortunately, when nitrogen is added to the material of the n-type tunnel junction layer, the reduction in the voltage drop across the tunnel junction is less than predicted.
Thus, what is needed is a tunnel junction structure that can be fabricated using the GaAs material system in which the tunneling probability is increased and, hence, the conductivity of the tunnel junction structure is increased and the voltage drop across the tunnel junction is reduced.

Tunnel-junction structure incorporating N-type layer comprising nitrogen and a group VI dopant

Avago Technologies General IP (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.


A servo-controlled, head actuator design that has low profile characteristics in both the height and width dimensions. The low height allows the actuator to fit into a half-high tape drive form factor. Additionally, in some implementations, the actuator comprises a smaller, concentrated moving mass coupled with a flexure construction having a narrowed width with added ribs for torsional stiffness. These aspects of the actuator provide a higher second mode of vibration compared to the flexure designs of the prior art. The actuator includes a coarse actuator assembly for larger movements of the head, and a fine actuator, including a Voice coil motor, responsive to analysis of servo signals. In some embodiments, the voice coil motor of the fine actuator and the coarse actuator shafts are in line. Since the centerlines of the shafts are in-line with the voice coil motor, the resonance response of the shaft spring-mass system is reduced.

Linear Tape-Open ("LTO") is a computer storage magnetic tape format developed as an alternative to the proprietary Digital Linear Tape ("DLT") format. The LTO roadmap calls for successive increases in capacity and speed. Due to these targets and the need to maintain, and perhaps shrink, a small drive housing form-factor, printed circuit board real estate is becoming very valuable as the need to include additional components increases. Due to this, it is becoming challenging to fit various drive mechanisms, included in previous generation LTO drives, into newer designs.
Designing high bandwidth tracking servo systems, for use in LTO drives, presents the following technological challenges: high bandwidth amplifiers, faster sample rates for digital control algorithms, control of loop shaping to achieve robust and higher performance suppression capabilities, improved feedback sensors and high bandwidth actuators. Although each one of these is an important design or engineering task, the performance of the actuator basically limits the final tracking servo bandwidth. As a result, the actuator is often considered to be the most important requirement.
As discussed in more detail below, the claimed embodiments are directed to high bandwidth actuators. Some of the issues with high performance actuators are: minimizing moving mass, optimization of the working lateral range of motion and controlling the high order unwanted resonance frequencies above a minimum frequency that is determined based on the tracking servo bandwidth requirements.
In addition, drive form factors (for example LTO form factor requirements) and installation/mounting requirements are also a concern. Some computer industry requirements include the drive mounting configurations. For example, some computer manufactures specify a drive-mounting configuration requirement that the drive can be mounted on its lateral side or on its bottom side. The side-mounting configuration requires two sets of hole-patterns with a minimum screw length that will support the drive in a computer chassis. A typical screw length requirement is about 4 to 5 millimeters. In a LTO half-high drive (½ of the standard height of 3¼ inches) the pin threading mechanisms must be spaced away from the mounting screw. Thus, the actuator must fit between the pin threading mechanisms and the drive reel located in the back. The actuator must also fit in the limited space in the width dimension. Prior art actuator assemblies are typically not suitable for tape drives with smaller form factors where drive components are more tightly packed. In addition, some of the actuator configurations of the prior art force a lower 1st mode resonance frequency response at around 100 Hz. Generally, a lower 1st mode of the spring-mass system also results in a lower 2nd mode of resonance.
In view of the foregoing, a need exists in the art for a high bandwidth actuator that meets the above-described technological requirements.
The foregoing examples of the related art and limitations related therewith are intended to be illustrative and not exclusive. Other limitations of the related art will become apparent to those of skill in the art upon a reading of the specification and a study of the drawings.

Narrow width actuator for tape drive systems


A plurality of public safety answering points (PSAPs) are accessible via a voice-over-packet (VoP) network. Each wireless access point of the VoP network is identified by a basic service set identifier (BSSID). A mobile node associates with a wireless access point and stores the wireless access point's BSSID as an indicator of the mobile node's location. A user of the mobile node dials digits for an emergency services call. In response, the mobile node transmits a SIP INVITE message that includes the BSSID and an additional indicator of the mobile node's location, e.g., determined using GPS or tower triangulation. A SIP proxy server receives the SIP INVITE message and attempts to determine the appropriate PSAP to answer the call based on the BSSID. If the attempt is unsuccessful, the SIP proxy server determines the appropriate PSAP based on the additional indicator.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to telecommunications and, more particularly, to methods and systems for routing an emergency services call that originates through a wireless access point of a voice-over-packet (VoP) network to an appropriate public safety answering point (PSAP) based on the basic service set identifier (BSSID) of the wireless access point.
2. Description of Related Art
The ability to place an emergency services call by dialing 9-1-1 has become widespread throughout the United States. When a 9-1-1 call is placed, it is typically answered at a public safety answering point (PSAP). However, there are many PSAPs throughout the United States, each serving a particular area, such as a city, county, or metropolitan area. The public switched telephone network (PSTN) can route a 9-1-1 call to the appropriate PSAP, i.e., the PSAP that servers the caller's area, because the caller's telephone number is associated with a fixed location.
Increasingly, however, packet networks are being used for voice communications, including emergency services calls. Such voice-over-packet (VoP) networks often route calls that are placed by client devices that can change their point of connectivity to the VoP network. For example, a mobile node may be able to place calls over the VoP network from different access points at different locations. In many cases, the access points are wireless access points that wirelessly communicate with mobile nodes using an IEEE 802.11x or other wireless local area network (WLAN) protocol. Because of this mobility, mobile nodes and their associated telephone numbers may not be reliably associated with fixed geographic locations. Even so, it is desirable for a mobile node user to be able to dial 9-1-1 from any location and have the call routed through the VoP network to the appropriate PSAP, i.e., the PSAP that serves the user's current location.
Accordingly, there is a need for providing methods and systems for routing VoP emergency services calls to appropriate PSAPs.

Method and system for using basic service set identifiers (BSSIDs) for emergency services routing


An induced flow condenser furnace has a combustion air intake shoe that connects the combustion air pipe to the burner box, and has a provision for draining off any condensate from the combustion air pipe before it reaches the burner box. The shoe has a tray portion with an open top that mates with an intake opening in one wall of the burner box, and a tube portion that connects at one end with the combustion air pipe and at the other end with an end cap. The latter has a drain nipple to permit escape of the condensate. An internal lip is formed in the tube portion traps condensate when the furnace is poised in an inverted or downflow orientation. This permits the furnace to be poised in any of four orientations. The intake shoe facilitates connection of the inlet pipe and drain tube in all multi-poise configurations.

The present invention is directed to space heating furnaces, and is in particular directed to an induction furnace of the type in which outside combustion air is supplied through a combustion air duct to the burners of the furnace and in which an inducer fan or blower exhausts the combustion products out through a vent duct.
The invention is more specifically directed to a furnace that can be installed in an conventional upflow configuration, an inverted, downflow configuration, or in a horizontal, i.e., right flow or left flow configuration, requiring only a nominal reconfiguration of the internal parts of the furnace.
Induction type furnaces have gained popularity in recent times because of their high efficiency and because they do not require a conventional stack for exhaust.
In a furnace of this type an inducer blower is energized to induce a draft, i.e. a flow of combustion air through the furnace heat exchanger. Combustion air is furnished from the outside environment through a combustion air duct or pipe to the furnace where it is coupled to an air inlet shoe. This air inlet shoe opens to a burner box that contains the gas burners. The latter are ignited when the inducer operates, and hot combustion products are fed into the heat exchanger. The heat exchanger is typically a two-stage system, with a primary heat exchanger stage, so called because most of the heat from the combustion gases is transferred to the circulating air from this heat exchanger. The primary heat exchanger is then followed by a secondary or condensing heat exchanger so called because water vapor in the combustion gases condenses here to yield additional heat. The inducer fan is then connected at the condensing heat exchanger's outlet and sends the exhaust through the vent pipe into the outside environment.
A furnace blower moves circulating room air from a return air duct, coupled to a comfort space, across the furnace heat exchanger to pick up heat. The heated circulation air then goes into a hot air plenum and is distributed through hot air ductwork back to the comfort space.
Under certain outdoor conditions, condensation can occur in the combustion air duct and must be drained out from the system. To drain accomplish condensate from the combustion air intake shoe, a drain line is attached to it, which leads down to a sump or trap device.
The air intake shoe is disposed on the wall of the burner box that is beneath the box when the furnace is poised in the conventional or upflow orientation. The combustion air pipe enters the furnace cabinet horizontally, i.e., through a side wall, to connect to the air intake shoe.
In the upflow orientation, drainage is not a difficult problem, as the condensate collects in the lower part of the shoe and then enters a drain line disposed at the lower part of the shoe.
In a horizontal orientation of the furnace, the combustion air pipe and the air inlet shoe are disposed vertically, so any condensate will collect at the lower side of the shoe, i.e., away from the combustion air pipe, and can be drained away easily.
However, it is in the inverted or downflow orientation of the furnace that drainage becomes a problem. Here, the air inlet shoe is oriented above the associated burner box, where the condensate can drip into the burner box causing corrosion. Accordingly, the air inlet shoe has to be suitably designed to address the problem of condensation in the downflow orientation, without significantly impairing combustion air intake, and further permitting the furnace to be installed in its other orientations.


A signal produced by a telecine suffers from losses and defects caused by differences in response to incident light between different areas of the screen area scanned. These differences may arise from burning of the screen, blemishes, dirt in the system, differences in grain size of phosphor particles, missing particles, and losses in the internal optical system of the machine. The invention divides the scanning area into a correction map and devises for each area a correction factor based on the response of that area to incident illumination. When a defect is detected, video data from an adjacent area is substituted. Correction factors are held in a look-up RAM and output to a multiplier where they are multiplied with video data. The video data input to the multiplier may be suppressed and a test pattern may be loaded into the multiplier. Burn at the ends of video lines may be reduced by reducing the intensity and/or dwell time of the scanning spot on any one area of the screen in the vicinity of the line end.

Attempts have been made to minimise errors caused by deficiencies in the Cathode Ray Tube (CRT) or Photo-Multiplier Tube (PMT). Shading correction has been used on TV cameras and telecine for many years and has generally taken the form of a set of waveforms which are predefined or adjusted to be the reciprocal of the shading error, these waveforms being multiplied by (in the case of linear signals), or added to (for logarithmic signals) the uncorrected video signals to produce signals which are substantially free from shading errors.
This method of correction is satisfactory for smooth and symmetrical errors such as may be caused by non-uniform lens transmission characteristics. However, errors caused by variations in efficiency of the phosphor layer in CRTs are not consistent and require the combination of adjustable proportions of many different waveforms to achieve a satisfactory correction. The same considerations are true for variations in cathode sensitivity of PMTs and graduations of colour filters. Consequently, to obtain satisfactory correction, a large number of controls requiring a complex alignment is necessary. Even then it is not possible to correct isolated patches on the picture.
Another type of error is known as burn. Burn errors are those caused by the scan spending a longer time at some locations on the CRT face than at others. The result is localised solarisation of the glass or staining of the phosphor which results in distinct steps in the light output at those locations. Burn errors cannot be corrected by the type of shading corrector described above since they generally display a series of sharp edges. It has been proposed to use a separate burn corrector which uses an additional PMT which looks directly at the CRT face to measure the burn errors, and then calculates the reciprocal of the error waveform, before multiplying it together with the video waveforms to produce corrected video waveforms.
This proposed method has not proved wholly satisfactory as it has the disadvantage that non-uniformities in the burn correction optical path or due to burn PMT sensitivity variations (which may be very significant) will be applied to the video signal, resulting in a more difficult task for the shading corrector.
A further source of errors are blemishes and dirt. Blemishes are small sharply focused spots of no light output from the CRT which are caused by missing particles of phosphor or debris on the phosphor surface. Dirt on the CRT faceplate will also appear as dark spots.
Neither of these errors can be corrected by the shading corrector outlined above. However, one or other of the dirt or blemish errors can be corrected using the burn corrector described. Both errors cannot be corrected at once as the burn PMT is off the optical axis and thus gives parallax errors so that when adjusted to correct for blemishes it produces a correction for dirt at the wrong picture location. Fitting the burn PMT on the optical axis is undesirable as a mirror system would have to be used involving a consequent loss of light and deterioration in the telecine signal to noise ratio.
Another source of errors is the phosphor grains themselves. The granular structure of the CRT phosphor results in random variations in the light output which are of small size and amplitude. These errors cannot be corrected by the shading corrector described above but can be improved by the burn corrector when adjusted to minimise blemishes.
Various methods have been proposed for compensating for variations in response in telecine and television cameras. BBC Research report BBC RD 1985/3 discloses a system which compensates for variations in sensitivity in individual elements of a line array CCD sensor. This is known as a "stripe stripper" and operates by measuring the response of each element of the 1024 element line array. In effect, the system multiplies the output of each element by a correction factor derived for that element to give a substantially uniform output across the array and to eliminate the vertical stripes which result from variations in response across the array.
GB 2149260 (Marconi) discloses another CCD compensation system. The principle is similar to the proposal of BBC RD 1985/3 but applied to area array CCDs. Thus, a correction factor is derived for each element of array.
GB 2074416 (Ampex) relates to television cameras and divides an active video picture into a 13 block 14 band ratio. In a setup mode the signal from a selected camera is sent to an A/D converter in the video signal path. Horizontal and vertical error measurements are made in which selected samples within blocks of successive horizontal lines and bands of vertical lines are summed to provide horizontal and digital data which are then subtracted from the measured output of each block or band to derive a correction factor.
None of the above proposals considers how to compensate for the type of defects which arise in flying spot telecine. Furthermore, the two documents which compensate for variations in sensitivity of individual CCD elements do not consider how to compensate for other defects which arise in the optical path, for example uneven film illumination.

Compensation of losses and defects in telecine devices


It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a structure and method for a system for creating bookmarks of pages found within a network, including a graphic user interface adapted to receive a bookmark address within the network, and an automatic page creator that creates a page within the network listing the bookmark addresses. The graphic user interface includes a bookmark address input field and a comment field. The graphic user interface also includes a comment group selection menu which produces a plurality of comment classifications. The page creator creates the page to restrict access to the comment classifications. The page creator can be a web browser intermediary. The menu bar is adapted to launch the graphic user interface and the menu bar appears concurrently with a web browser.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to the Web Browser Intermediaries (WBI) and more particularly to novel applications of Web browser intermediary to the World wide Web.
2. Description of the Related Art
Web browser intermediaries (WBI) have the basic functionality of observing a stream of data (often created by a user) and using that data to modify and present the output. One commercially available WBI is Web Intermediaries, IBM Corporation, Armonk, N.Y., U.S.A. Intermediaries are computational entities that can be positioned anywhere along an information stream and are programmed to tailor, customize, personalize, or otherwise enhance data as the data flow along the stream. A caching Web proxy is a simple example of an HTTP intermediary. Intermediary-based programming is particularly useful for adding functionality to a system when the data producer (e.g., server or database) or the data consumer (e.g., browser) cannot be modified.
Thus, a WBI application can observe a user browsing the web and change pages accordingly. The WBI can suppress images, enlarge text, change the background, limit the scope of the web site, or provide the user with suggestions on links such as a red light if a link will take a long time or a green light if the link is quick. The WBI can even generate and present new links based on what the WBI observes.
WBI is an architecture and framework for creating intermediary applications on the web. WBI is a programmable web proxy and web server. The invention described below is an intermediary application within the WBI framework, using for example, Java application program interfaces.

System and process for creating bookmark web pages using web browser intermediaries


A high accuracy periscope assembly is provided. The high accuracy periscope assembly of the invention is comprised of a hollow tubular member and two mirror panels. The tubular member has slanting surfaces at ends thereof and openings to allow light beams to enter, pass through and exit the tubular member. The mirror panels have reflective surfaces for reflecting the light beams and mounting pads for adhering the mirror panels to the tubular member. Alignment pads are also provided which have contact pads and a reinforcement member. The reflective surfaces of the mirror panels are aligned and then the alignment pads secure the mirror panels in their aligned positions without disrupting the kinematic mounting of the structure.

This invention relates to the field of periscopes, and more particularly, to a high accuracy periscope assembly and a method of constructing a high accuracy periscope assembly.
Periscopes are old in the art and normally consist of some sort of cylindrical or tubular central chamber into which are placed two spaced apart reflecting surfaces. The reflecting surfaces face each other so that a person looking into an opening at one end of the cylindrical member will see the image which is reflected off of the more remotely situated reflecting surface; since this image will be visible through a second opening in the cylindrical member near the second reflecting surface.
Periscopes can also be used to reflect light beams having a certain direction upon entering the periscope, so that the light beams exit the periscope having substantially the same direction, or some other desired direction, but displaced linearly a distance equivalent to the separation distance of the reflecting surfaces. Depending upon the accuracy needed for the periscope, the alignment of the reflecting surfaces can be varied.
Accordingly, the accuracy of a periscope assembly is determined by the alignment between a light beam entering the periscope and the same light beam exiting the periscope. The more accurately aligned the entering and exiting light beams are, the higher the accuracy of the periscope.
Methods which have been previously used to achieve high accuracy, or guidance, of light beams are seen in the following United States patents.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,024,514 to Bleier et al. is directed to a Lateral Transfer Retroreflector and a Roof Mirror for Same. As seen in the figures, the retroreflector of the '514 patent has a mirror panel 110 and a roof mirror 10 which are offset a distance corresponding to the length of tubular member 130. A retroreflector is a device for redirecting a light beam along a path which is offset from the entering light beam and which is in a direction opposite to the incoming light beam.
Specifically, the '514 patent is directed to a lateral transfer retroreflector, wherein mirror panel 110 and roof mirror 10 are adhered to tubular member 130 through the use of three mounting pads located on each of mirror panel 110 and roof mirror 10. However, the structure of the '514 patent does not allow (1) the direction of the exiting light beam to be substantially the same as that for the entering light beam and (2) for exacting alignment of the reflective surfaces of mirror panel 110 and roof mirror 10, as is presented in the present invention
U.S. Pat. No. 4,975,573 to Girard for an Optical Test Bench shows another previously used method of aligning light beams. As shown in FIGS. 5-18, and specifically, FIGS. 9 and 12, a laser alignment periscope system 192 (FIG. 9) permits exact adjustment of the relative inclination of parabolic mirrors 112 and 114 via adjusting bolts and nuts 182-188 (FIG. 12). The method of achieving the adjustment of the relative inclination of mirrors 112 and 114 is most clearly illustrated in FIGS. 15-18. The distinctive quality of the '573 patent with respect to the present invention, is that the '573 patent does not achieve its high accuracy through adjustment of periscope system 192, but through adjustment of bolts 182-188 which secure mirrors 112 and 114 to mounting plate 116. Accordingly, it is not periscope 192 of the '573 patent which achieves the high precision.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,933,127 to McRight for a Multi-Faceted Optical Device for a Laser Scanner, shows, in FIG. 3, mirrors 110 adhere to three raised pads 112 located on mirror receiving faces 108. Pads 112 define three planes of contact upon which mirrors 110 are adhered to receiving faces 108. However, no method of achieving final exacting alignment of the mirrors is shown, and therefore, the invention of the '127 patent is distinguishable from the present invention.
Finally, U.S. Pat. No. 4,277,141 for a Multi-Faceted Mirror and Assembly Fixture and Method of Making such Mirror shows another method which is old in the art for achieving the accurate alignment of reflecting surfaces As seen in FIG. 1, mirrors 15 are bonded to support or core element 11 by epoxy 14. To attach mirrors 15 to support 11, mirrors 15 are held in accurate positions that are independent of faces 16 of support 11 and epoxy 14 is injected between faces 16 and mirrors 15 to form a secure bond. There is, however, no method of adjusting the accuracy of mirrors 15 after epoxy 14 is cured.
Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide a high accuracy periscope assembly in which the direction of an exiting light beam is substantially the same as the direction for an entering light beam and which achieves its accuracy through a kinematic mounting system consisting of mounting pads to adhere the reflecting surfaces to the tubular member and a fourth alignment pad for finally aligning the reflecting surfaces and securing the reflecting surfaces to the tubular member in their aligned positions.


In silicon-carbide based light emitting diodes (LEDs) and other similar applications, diamond crystals are used to provide an intermediate refractive index that permits more of the ultraviolet light generated in the diode to reach the phosphors, producing a brighter light with greater efficiency.

The present invention relates in general to light coupling, and in particular to diamond and/or silicon carbide coatings applied to light-emitting diodes.
Light-emitting diodes (LEDs) are known in the art and can be made of various materials that radiate light at different wavelengths. For example, ultraviolet light (UV) can be produced by diodes fabricated from silicon carbide using conventional techniques. Where visible light is desired, phosphors that radiate visible light of a desired wavelength in response to the incident UV are placed in contact with the silicon carbide diode. Such diodes and LEDs are used in numerous applications.
Existing silicon carbide diodes convert a large percentage of the UV they generate back into heat because of the high index of refraction of silicon carbide (2.7) as compared to air(1), plastic(1.1) or in-contact phosphors(1.2-0.4). The large index difference results in UV being reflected back into the silicon carbide, heating it This effect limits the efficiency of silicon carbide diodes.
It would therefore be desirable to provide silicon carbide LEDs with higher efficiency.


Methods and systems for estimating remaining life of an automotive propulsion battery are provided. A total usable capacity of the battery is calculated based on cycling the battery. A first component of degradation is calculated based on driving throughput of the battery. A second component of degradation is calculated based on aging of the battery. The total degradation is calculated based on the sum of the first component and the second component of degradation.

In recent years, advances in technology, as well as ever-evolving tastes in style, have led to substantial changes in the design of automobiles. One of the changes involves the complexity of the electrical systems within automobiles, particularly alternative fuel vehicles, such as hybrid, battery electric, and fuel cell vehicles. Such alternative fuel vehicles typically use one or more electric motors, perhaps in combination with another actuator, to drive the wheels. With recent fluctuations in fossil fuel prices, it is now more desirable than ever to power automobiles with electric power, as with electric and hybrid electric vehicles (EVs and HEVs).
Regulatory authorities have mandated that such vehicles provide an indication to the customer that the battery used to drive the electric motor(s) has reached its "end of life," (no useful life remaining) such as when the range of the vehicle has decreased to 75% of its range when the vehicle was new and/or the capacity of the battery has degraded to 75% of its initial capacity (for example). If the battery reaches its end of life prior to the end of the warranty period provided (e.g., 10 years/150,000 miles for an Advanced Technology Partial Zero Emissions Vehicle (AT-PZEV)), it will be replaced under warranty.
Accordingly, it is desirable to provide a reliable and accurate method for estimating or calculating the remaining useful life of the battery. Furthermore, other desirable features and characteristics of the present invention will become apparent from the subsequent description taken in conjunction with the foregoing technical field and background.

Method and system for estimating battery life


A method of simulating a borehole acoustic response in an anisotropic formation of the crust of the earth includes formulating a geometric model of the formation. The geometric model includes a plurality of layers definable in a cylindrical coordinate system defined by an axial direction normal to each of the layers, a radial direction relative to the axial direction, and a circumferential direction relative to the axial direction. The method also includes formulating a computational model of wave propagation in the formation. The computational model includes field variables and a wave equation describing a behavior of the field variables. The field variables are represented as respective Fourier series expansions of Tr-periodic harmonics in the circumferential direction. The method also includes numerically solving the computational model.

The determination of physical properties of the formations encountered when drilling into the crust of the earth is of great interest in relation to the exploitation of hydrocarbon reservoirs or mining applications.
Several techniques are known for recording physical measurements along a borehole. The results of such techniques are frequently recorded in the form of a so-called well log which provides a record of one or more physical measurements as a function of depth in a well bore.
Such well logs are useful for identifying and correlating underground rocks, as well as for determining the mineralogy and physical properties of potential reservoir rocks and the nature of the fluids they contain. The process of determining the physical properties of the formation based on the measured data is generally referred to as data inversion. In particular, the physical properties may be determined from the measured data and a suitable physical model, for example as model parameters of the physical model which may be determined by fitting the measured data to the model.
One useful technique for determining the elastic properties of a formation includes acoustic measurements. Accordingly seismic inversion refers to the process of determining what physical characteristics of rocks and fluids could have produced a seismic record obtained, e.g. in response to acoustic stimuli generated by one or more acoustic sources at respective positions along the well.
To this end, efficient numerical simulation processes based on computational models of the acoustic properties of the formation are of interest in seismic inversion so as to estimate the physical properties of the formation in an efficient and accurate manner, e.g. to estimate the spatial distribution of elastic formation properties from given borehole acoustic measurements.
Formations encountered when drilling into the crust of the earth may be elastically anisotropic and the axis of anisotropy may change with depth. In order to model the measurements by sonic tools in highly anisotropic formations, and thereby to invert elastic properties from single well data, full 3-dimensional analyses of acoustic wave propagation is desirable.
However, the simulation of borehole acoustic problems has been found to be a difficult task, in particular because the computational simulation model used in the simulation needs to be sufficiently complex and accurate to capture the relevant physical mechanisms while remaining computationally tractable. The finite element method is capable of capturing almost any degree of complexity, e.g. layer by layer variations in elastic parameters and anisotropy, by using standard three dimensional isoparametric elements as described in Klaus-Jurgen Bathe "Finite Element Procedures in Engineering Analysis, Prentice-Hall". However, the use of such elements for three dimensional modelling becomes computationally exhaustive and prohibitive for simultaneous inversion in logging while drilling applications.

Borehole seismic inversion in anisotropic formation