A reinforced elastomeric membrane installed over a new, or existing, non-reinforced waterproof elastomeric membrane of a roof covering and the method of installing the reinforced elastomeric membrane in a continuous and watertight condition that will offer more continuous puncture resistance than current art. The overlapped edge portions of the two membranes (i.e. the new or existing EPDM membrane and the new reinforced EPDM membrane) are sealed together by an intervening adhesive layer. Using reinforced EPDM as walkways to, around, and between serviceable roof top curb units, roof hatches, and roof access points, on new or existing non-reinforced EPDM roofs, provides a greater degree of continuous protection than current art. Using reinforced EPDM as walkways to, around, and between serviceable rooftop curb units, roof hatches, and roof access points provides: a) a reinforcement where it is not currently available; b) permits the continuous walkway to be sealed to a water tight condition; c) is significantly less expensive per square foot than current methods; and d) provides a method of mechanical attachment for the walkway system that is not available with current methods.

Not Applicable.
Not Applicable.
Not Applicable.
1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to composition and methods useful for protecting new and existing sheeting material used for low slope roofing. More particularly the sheeting material comprised of ethylene-propylene-deine-monomer, referred to herein as EPDM. Even more particularly, the invention relates to such a walkway protection system which eliminates the need for heavier and thicker materials that are neither waterproof in their design nor installed in a watertight condition. The present invention provides an improved walkway protection system for new or existing EPDM roof sheeting material in areas subject to damage from regular maintenance work on serviceable rooftop Heating, Ventilating, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) equipment. The protective material is installed at access points to the roof, as well as to, around, and between serviceable HVAC equipment. These areas are subjected to either excessive amounts of foot traffic from trades conducting service work or sharp metal edges from access panel doors, tools, and discarded rooftop equipment parts.
2. Background Information
EPDM sheeting material has been used as single ply roofing membrane on low slope commercial and industrial buildings for a number of years. During that time, the majority of the EPDM membrane used as roofing material has been unreinforced and either 0.045xe2x80x3 or 0.060xe2x80x3 thick. Non-reinforced EPDM roofing in these thicknesses is resistant to degradation and damage from a variety of natural, as well as man-made, causes. However, even though non-reinforced EPDM has proven to be a reliable roofing material, non-reinforced EPDM roof sheeting that is 0.045xe2x80x3 or 0.60xe2x80x3 thick is susceptible to puncture and/or cuts in areas subjected to regular access by maintenance personnel. Punctures and cuts in the non-reinforced EPDM can be caused by hand tools, metal access panels on rooftop HVAC equipment, sharp debris, discarded HVAC parts, and regular foot traffic.
EPDM roof sheeting material has several attachment methods. The EPDM may be adhered directly to a suitable substrate, mechanically fastened over a suitable substrate or loose-laid and ballasted with stone ballast. The majority of EPDM roofing is loose-laid and ballasted. On exposed EPDM systems such as adhered and mechanically anchored, cuts and punctures are relatively easy to find and repair. However, on a stone ballasted system, a great deal of time and effort can be expended by laborers removing stones to discover a leak. In addition, a small puncture or cut may be obscured by the dirt that tends to collect below the stones over many years of exposure to airborne dirt and contaminants.
Various types of protective walkway systems are provided, as well as methods of installing the same, in order to provide a protective layer between the sources of cuts and punctures and the roofing membrane. One popular method is using concrete pavers, however, the concrete pavers have several disadvantages. First, the concrete pavers must be installed with a protective cushion layer of loose EPDM, or other suitable cushion material, between the concrete paver and the EPDM roof. Second, the concrete pavers do not have the same lifespan as the EPDM membrane. After twelve to fifteen years, the pavers spall, fracture, and create another source of membrane puncture. Third, if the concrete pavers are installed over field or flashing seams, then additional measures are required to protect the seam from the damp conditions that are created under the paver. Fourth, concrete pavers are heavy (approximately eighty pounds each) for laborers to lift and gently place on to the membrane. Fifth, responsible EPDM roofing manufacturers do not permit concrete pavers on mechanically anchored EPDM roofing systems because the systems billow and the pavers could become airborne during a wind event. Sixth, concrete pavers are usually permitted on adhered EPDM systems, however, they add weight to the roof and would still require a loose cushion layer between the paver and the membrane roof.
Additional current art to avoid puncture of the EPDM membrane in high traffic areas have several disadvantages. One material in current art is a square rubber mat that is spot adhered to the EPDM. The square mats are installed with gaps between the squares to facilitate drainage of water that collects on the roof surface. In addition, the mats are not waterproof themselves and are not installed in a waterproof condition. Current installation techniques for these square mats call for the mat to be adhered to the EPDM with either contact cement or peel and stick tape products. A second material consist of grounded-up rubber fragments that are bound together to form a roll. The roll of material is installed continuous, however, the material itself is not waterproof. In addition, the roll is not installed in a waterproof condition. The installation techniques would be similar to those described for the square mat. With either of these materials, a leak that occurs under the mat or roll is difficult to detect. A roof repair technician that is searching for a leak would not necessarily look under the current art walkway as these materials are supposed to protect the EPDM from puncture and damage.
In an effort to increase puncture resistance, as well as enhance other performance characteristics of the product, EPDM roofing manufacturers began manufacturing scrim reinforced EPDM. The scrim reinforced EPDM roof membrane has become a niche product and is used mainly in mechanically anchored EPDM roofing systems. This product is rarely used in either fully adhered or ballast EPDM roofing systems.
Objectives of the invention include providing an improved continuous puncture resistant protective walkway system that is installed in a watertight condition and method of forming the same which eliminates the need for stone ballast around serviceable rooftop HVAC units, pathways between serviceable rooftop HVAC units, and pathways between roof access points and serviceable rooftop HVAC units.
A still further objective of the invention is to provides a continuous puncture resistant protective walkway system that is installed in a watertight condition which uses existing adhesives and caulking sealant materials which have been field tested and are compatible with each other and with the waterproof membrane, thereby eliminating possible harmful interaction between the various materials and the roofing membrane.
A still further objective of the invention is to provides a continuous puncture resistant protective walkway system that is installed in a watertight condition which can be performed easily by roofing personnel without requiring expensive equipment and skillful operations, and which can be accomplished in a relatively short period of time and with a minimum amount of materials, thereby reducing the cost of the roofing installation while providing an enhanced walkway system.
These objectives and advantages are further achieved by the improved method of the invention, the general nature of which may be stated as including a method of installing a continuous puncture resistant protective walkway system over new or existing waterproof roofing membrane including the steps of installing a layer of reinforced EPDM over new or existing EPDM; mechanically anchoring the new or existing EPDM with a metal, plastic, or reinforced EPDM strip and fasteners (Ballast system only); adhesively securing together the new reinforced EPDM to the new or existing non-reinforced EPDM using existing adhesive materials; and applying a bead of existing caulking sealant over the seam edge.


An apparatus for assisting opening/closing of a gate for a truck may include a housing mounted onto a lower side of the floor panel, a lifter having a first end pivotally coupled to the floor, wherein the lifter generates elastic repulsive force when being compressed while a length of the lifter is decreased, a first arm having a first end pivotally connected to a second end of the lifter, a second arm having a first end pivotally mounted on the housing and a second end pivotally connected to a second end of the first arm, and a third arm having a first end pivotally connected to a third end of the second arm and a second end pivotally connected to the gate, wherein when the gate rotates downwardly and is opened, the first arm, the second arm, and the third arm are moved to compress the lifter.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an opening/closing assisting apparatus of a gate for a truck, and more particularly, to an opening/closing assisting apparatus of a gate for a truck, which may be further minimized, and more efficiently suppress generation of failure due to inflow of contaminant substances by adopting a structure in which a lifter generating repulsive force is built in a housing.
2. Description of Related Art
A truck carrying cargo is provided with a space, in which cargo may be loaded, in a rear side of a driver's seat.
Various types of trucks are produced according to the type and weight of cargo, and among them, in a truck provided with a load space having no roof, gates 1 are mounted to be vertically erected at both sides and a rear side of a flat floor panel 2 as illustrated in FIG. 1.
The gates 1 prevent the cargo from falling down when being vertically erected (closed), but are rotatable from the floor panel 2 to be rotated downwardly (rotated in a counterclockwise direction in FIGS. 1A and 1B) and be opened in order to easily offload the cargo.
In the case of a large truck, a separate power system is additionally mounted, so that opening/closing of the gates 1 are performed by oil pressure or air pressure, but in the case of a small truck, opening/closing of the gates 1 are generally performed manually by a worker.
However, weight of the gates 1 formed of a steel material is not light, so that an opening/closing assisting apparatus is additionally mounted in order to decrease weight when the gates 1 are lifted up to be closed. That is, weight of the gate 1 of a small truck is about 25 kg or more, which may incur musculoskeletal disease to a worker according to the number of times of opening/closing. Accordingly, in order to prevent the incurrence of the disease, and prevent a vehicle and a worker from being damaged by suppressing free fall when the gates 1 are opened, the opening/closing assisting apparatus is mounted.
The opening/closing assisting apparatus in the related art is configured in such a manner that a plurality of link arms 3, 4, 5, and 6 are connected to an external side of the gate 1 and a lower side of the floor panel 2 to be linked and moved, and a coil spring 7 elastically compressed when the gate 1 is opened (the gate 1 is rotated to move down) is connected to the link arms 3, 4, 5, and 6, so that elastic force of the coil spring 7 assists a rotation of the gate when the gate 1 is closed (vertically erected as illustrated in FIGS. 1A and 1B).
In the opening/closing assisting apparatus in the related art, the coil spring 7 is exposed to the outside, so that there is a problem in that the coil spring 7 may be contaminated by soil or dust, and the coil spring 7 and the link arms 3, 4, 5, and 6 are connected long in a row, so that there is a problem in an increase in a space for installation.
The information disclosed in this Background of the Invention section is only for enhancement of understanding of the general background of the invention and should not be taken as an acknowledgement or any form of suggestion that this information forms the prior art already known to a person skilled in the art.

Opening/closing assisting apparatus of gate for truck


A seismic source for downhole use is disclosed which is formed by an outer tubular member having weighted ends which carries within a coaxially mounted tubularly shaped piezoelectric element. The piezoelectric element is cyclically driven to produce a standing wave having a frequency in the range of 0.25 to 5 kHz and a narrow bandwidth in the range of 5-50 Hz.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a narrow band acoustic source, and a method for constructing and using said source.
2. Description of the Related Art
High frequency acoustic sources have been used to obtain good resolution of geologic features during logging operations. Conventional acoustic sources used in well logging generate signals having frequencies in the range of 5 kHZ to 25 kHz. These sources provide vertical resolution of features on the order of 2-5 ft. (0.6 m-1.5 m). However, penetration of the surrounding formation is severely limited, reaching only approximately 10 feet (3 m) beyond the borehole in which the source is located. The conventional sources thus cannot be used for cross-hole imaging. For cross-hole imaging low frequency signals are usually employed. However, low frequency signals, say, on the order of 100 Hz, do not provide good resolution of features smaller than 20-50 feet. They do however, provide excellent penetration.
One of the limitations on penetration is signal bandwidth. The relationship of the amplitude of the signal at the central frequency, A(.omega..sub.o) to the total power of the device, P.sub.T and the bandwidth of the signal, 2.pi..GAMMA. is shown in Equation (1): EQU .vertline.A(.omega..sub.o).vertline..sup.2 =P.sub.T /2.pi..GAMMA.Eq. (1)
The total power, P.sub.T, is fixed by the instrumentation and power supply system. Therefore, as bandwidth increases, amplitude decreases. By narrowing the bandwidth, greater amplitude and thus penetration into the formation should be possible. For example reduction in bandwidth from say 10 kHz to 5 Hz, a factor of 2000, would provide an increase of signal level by a factor of (2000).sup.1/2 .apprxeq.45 at a finite .GAMMA..
Crosswell signal levels fall roughly as R.sup.-2 in our experience where R is the range. Thus, we could increase our range by a factor of (45).sup.-2 .apprxeq.6.7 relative to conventional crosshole devices operating in broadband mode.


One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that learns a generative model for textual documents. During operation, the system receives a current model, which contains terminal nodes representing random variables for words and cluster nodes representing clusters of conceptually related words. Within the current model, nodes are coupled together by weighted links, so that if a cluster node in the probabilistic model fires, a weighted link from the cluster node to another node causes the other node to fire with a probability proportionate to the link weight. The system also receives a set of training documents, wherein each training document contains a set of words. Next, the system applies the set of training documents to the current model to produce a new model.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to techniques for modeling textual documents. More specifically, the present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for learning a generative model for textual documents.
2. Related Art
Processing text in a way that captures its underlying meaning—its semantics—is an often performed but poorly understood task. This function is most often performed in the context of search engines, which attempt to match documents in some repository to queries by users. It is sometimes also used by other library-like sources of information, for example to find documents with similar content. In general, understanding the semantics of text is an extremely useful subcomponent of such systems. Unfortunately, most systems written in the past have only a rudimentary understanding, focusing only on the words used in the text, not the meaning behind them.
As an example, let us consider the actions of a user interested in finding a cooking class in palo-alto, Calif. This user might type into a popular search engine the set of words "cooking classes palo alto". The search engine then typically looks for those words on web pages, and combines that information with other information about such pages to return candidate results to the user. Currently, if the document has the words "cooking class palo alto" several of the leading search engines will not find it, because they do not know that the words "class" and "classes" are related, because one is a subpart—a stem—of the other.
Prototype systems with stemming components have been attempted but without any real success. This is because the problem of determining whether a stem can be used in a particular context is difficult. That might be determined more by other nearby words in the text rather than by the word to be stemmed itself. For example, if one were looking for the James Bond movie, "for your eyes only", a result that returned a page with the words "for your eye only" might not look as good.
In general, existing search systems and other such semantic processing systems have failed to capture much of the meaning behind text.
Hence, what is needed is a method and an apparatus that processes text in a manner that effectively captures the underlying semantic meaning within the text.

Method and apparatus for learning a probabilistic generative model for text


The local reclamation system includes an accumulation tank for a soiled solution. A tank outlet valve selectively allows a flow of the solid soiled solution into the remainder of the system. A blend conduit leads from the outlet valve. An oxidizing supply selectively provides an oxidizing agent to said soiled solution downstream of the outlet valve in the blend conduit. A blend pump receives the soiled solution with oxidizing agent to promote the flow of the soiled solution through the system and a more uniformed disposal of the oxidizing agent throughout the solution. A six stage filter section selectively removes particulate matter. A biologic stage promotes a sterile reclaimed solution and a solution accumulator accumulates and stores the solution. Repeated injections of oxidizing agents occur before filter stage sections and pumps. The reclaimed solution can be reused or discharged without penalty.

This invention relates to the treatment of waste water and in particular relates to the treatment of waste water arising from cleaning food processing plants and dairies.
In recent years, municipal sewer plants have increased hook-up and volume charges to the producers of waste which require increased processing. These charges are generally based on the burden imposed on the sewer system by the contaminants produced. The municipal sewer plants must meet various environmental standards and under some circumstances may limit or deny sewer hook-ups which can effectively put the waste producers out of business or at least reduce their profitability to a comparatively minuscule level. A measure of the degree of contamination is the Basic Oxygen Demand (BOD) or initialized Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD). There are two general system methods of treatment, an aerobic system and an anaerobic system.
In an anaerobic system the waste stream after rough filtration is introduced into a closed vessel where anaerobic organisms are introduced to degrade the biological mass. Typically, there is little sludge produced and following the reduction of the biomass by anaerobic digestion the stream is passed to an aerating stage where it is aerated for about 30 days. Normally, that is sufficient for discharge into a stream or used for irrigation. Anaerobic systems are often used in the warmer climates of the United States because the system has to be maintained at a temperature of 80 degrees. The little biomass sludge produced can sometimes be used to heat the system.
In contrast, in an aerobic system, oxygen is added and the ponds are aerated continuously. They are often used in the North because temperature is not as critical in the treatment process as it is in an anaerobic system. At the end of aeration a bigger sludge mass is produced.
A need exists for a local system to drop the basic oxygen demand and the chemical oxygen demand particularly if the liquid portions can be reused rather than entering the sewer system directly or if the filtered solids can be retrieved and used as a component of animal feed. The local, or on site, system treats contaminates at the site where they originate and would be very useful where a cleaning in place (CIP) mechanism exists in the food industry. A CIP mechanism produces a large volume of solution contaminated with meat, poultry and dairy particles and mixed with cleaning agents. The contaminated solution is not mixed with body wastes until and unless the contaminated solution enters a municipal sanitary waste system.
The present invention is designed to reclaim waste water for reuse and recovery of solid particulates to avoid the sewer system for at least a cycle or two. In many circumstances, the inventative reclamation system will filter cleaning solutions and allow the reuse of the water for cleaning, conserve heat, and chemicals and anything else that can be recycled and take the solids out so that all is saved. Following treatment the solution can be reused for cleaning. The filtered solution is of sufficient cleanliness that sewage hook-up charges or use charges are greatly reduced or may even reach the degree of cleanliness to allow discharge into streams or wetlands.
Portions and elements of the present system in various aspects are known.
Milking Money from Wastewater, Dairy Foods, October 1990, discusses a European batch process characterized as a coagulation/flotation system. Air pressurized water is used to float flocculated particles precipitated from an acid solution.
A general discussion of filtration is printed in Van Nostrands Scientific Encyclopedia, 5th Edition at pages 1037 through 1040. Some of the filter types illustrated are similar to those used in the present invention.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,798,669 issued to Bruno Bachhofer et al on Jan. 17, 1989 (filed Jan. 11, 1988) describing a SYSTEM FOR TREATING WATER WITH OZONE. This basic process is similar to the invention of this application. Ozone is added to untreated water with filters downstream for disinfection. The preferred application is drinking water treatment. The filters have reducing action to remove excess ozone.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,043,079 issued to Ronald Hallett on Aug. 27, 1991 (filed Jan. 24, 1991) describing a WASTEWATER TREATMENT PROCESS WITH AN OZONE CONTACTOR. This patent covers a new contactor to apply ozone to waste water. It covers methods of blending ozone with water. This process also uses ultra-violet light to improve the process.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,835,039 issued to David Clambrone on Sep. 10, 1974 (filed Dec. 22, 1972) describing a WASTE WATER TREATMENT SYSTEM. This patent is quite similar to the process of the present application but the process is for sewage treatment and allows for recycling of water. It uses ultra-violet lamps to produce ozone with air. The treated effluent is filtered to remove large particles.


A unique trunnion mount for an axle assembly allows the axle to pivot about a longitudinal axis of a vehicle. The trunnion mount is comprised of two separate mounts, each of which is supported by an axle housing. The first mount is supported by the bearing cage on the input side of the axle housing. The second mount is attached to the opposite side of the axle housing and is comprised of a V-shaped bushing which presents angular exterior bearing surfaces which rotatably support the vehicle frame.

This invention relates to a unique trunnion mount for an axle assembly which allows the axle to pivot about a longitudinal axis of a vehicle.
A typical axle assembly includes first and second driven wheels which are rotated by a driveshaft through a main differential. The axle assembly includes an axle housing which encloses the main differential and extends along a central axis between the driven wheels. The axle can be mounted to a vehicle frame by various methods. Some axle housings include spring pads or other mounting pads, located on a top surface of the axle housing between the main differential and the driven wheels. Brackets, springs, and other suspension components are attached to the axle housing via these mounting pads for supporting the vehicle frame on the axle.
Other axles utilize a trunnion mount for mounting the axle assembly to a vehicle frame. A typical trunnion mount includes first and second mounts disposed on longitudinally opposite sides of the central axis near the main differential for supporting the axle housing on the vehicle. An axle with a trunnion mount allows rotation about a longitudinal axis of the vehicle.
Current trunnion mounts use bearings for the first and second mounts. Usually, the first mount is supported by tapered roller bearings mounted on the pinion bearing cage located near the input shaft to the main differential while the second mount, attached to the opposite side of the main differential, is a tapered roller bearing or a straight cylindrical bushing which supports a vehicle frame bracket. These bearings react to both radial and axial forces that occur during the operation of the vehicle as a result of the duty cycle and vehicle loading. Over time, these forces cause the bearings to wear and eventually they need to be replaced. These bearings are expensive and require regular maintenance.
It would be desirable to reduce the axial and radial loading on the bearings so that longer component life can be achieved. It would also be desirable to replace the tapered roller bearing with a less expensive component. Thus, there is a need for a trunnion mount comprised of components with a long service life and which are inexpensive and easily maintained.


A removable hoisting apparatus for use on an aircraft to hoist cargo and people into the aircraft. The removable hoisting apparatus comprises a base member, a telescoping mast member, a boom member, and a hoist assembly carried by the boom member. The base member is of negligible weight and is adapted for attachment to the floor of the aircraft. The telescoping mast has a bottom portion and a top portion. The bottom portion is releasably connected to the base member, and the top portion is releasably connected to the bottom portion. The top portion extends through an opening in the aircraft. A shoulder member is connected to the top portion, and a boom member is connected to the shoulder member. A rigid link member connects the boom member to the aircraft. The removable hoisting apparatus can be quickly removed from the aircraft by releasing only three quick-release fasteners, leaving only the base member attached to the aircraft.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to an aircraft hoist apparatus for loading cargo into the aircraft and lifting people into the aircraft in rescue operations. In particular, the present invention relates to an aircraft hoist apparatus that can be quickly and easily released and removed from the aircraft.
2. Description of Related Art
Devices for hoisting cargo into aircraft are well known in the art. Often, these devices take up a substantial portion of the cabin of the aircraft, or create a substantial obstruction within the aircraft. U.S. Pat. No. 3,088,608 to Theodore, and U.S. Pat. No. 3,805,977 to Fritzsche et al. are examples of two such devices. The cargo compartment of the aircraft is substantially obstructed while these devices are in use.
Many hoisting devices involve complicated structures that pivot and fold over onto themselves to save space. Typical examples of such devices can be found in U.S. Pat. No. 4,750,691 to Hollrock et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,858,855 to Dalbera, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,209,435 to Edwards. These devices are bulky and add a substantial amount of weight to the aircraft or structure to which they are attached.
Although some hoisting devices are lightweight, they are not conducive to quick and is easy installation and removal from the aircraft or structure to which they are attached. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,566,659 to Luckachina discloses a pivotable support rescue hoist that is attached to a helicopter. Although the Luckachina hoist pivots to allow access to engine compartments, it is not designed to be removed from the aircraft. Similarly, U.S. Pat. No. 5,190,250 to DeLong et al. does not allow quick and easy removal of its winch subassembly from the aircraft.
Despite these advances in the art, there continues to be a need for a removable hoist apparatus for an aircraft that can be quickly and easily removed from the aircraft.
There is a need for a removable hoist apparatus for use on an aircraft that can be quickly and easily installed and removed from the aircraft, that does not require substantial modification to the aircraft, and that adds only negligible weight to the aircraft when the removable hoist is removed. The hoist can be used to load cargo into the aircraft or to lift people into the aircraft during rescue operations.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a removable hoist apparatus for an aircraft that can be quickly and easily removed from the aircraft by releasing only three quick-release fastening means. When the removable hoist apparatus is removed from the aircraft, the components of the apparatus that are permanently attached to the aircraft are of negligible weight relative to the weight of the aircraft.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a removable hoist apparatus for an aircraft that only minimally obstructs the view from within the aircraft when the hoist apparatus is installed and being operated.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a removable hoist apparatus that can be installed on existing aircraft as a retrofit component.
A principle advantage of the present invention is that not only can a hoist apparatus be quickly and easily installed in an aircraft for loading cargo and rescuing people, but the hoist apparatus can be quickly and easily removed from the aircraft, leaving only component parts of negligible weight in the aircraft.
Another advantage of the present invention is that it attaches to the aircraft at only two points, and the removable hoist apparatus can be installed and removed by simply releasing three quick-release fastening means.
The above, as well as, additional objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the following detailed description.


A method for authenticating a user seeking access to first and second resources that have different authentication levels. The method includes receiving a primary token that is associated with a first authentication event of the user and authenticates the user to access the first resource, and receiving a first request to access the second resource. The method further includes receiving first credentials of the user. The method further includes, responsive to validating the first credentials, generating a second authentication event, associating the second authentication event with the primary token, and issuing a first secondary token that authenticates the user to access the second resource.

Modern computing systems provide various methods for user authentication. Some authentication methods include a password requirement, where the user enters his or her user identifier as well as a secret password. This is referred to as single-factor authentication. More secure authentication regimes, such as multiple-factor authentication, require, in addition to a password, a second means of verification, such as a token, smartcard, fingerprint, retinal scan, etc. For example, with smartcard authentication, a user inserts a smartcard into a smartcard reader and enters a personal identification number (PIN). When a correct PIN is entered, one or more certificates that are stored in the smartcard are used to authenticate the user.
In computing systems that access remote resources, a user may need to be authenticated each time the remote resources are accessed, requiring the user to repeatedly enter his or her credentials. As a result, for user convenience, a feature referred to as single sign-on (SSO) may be used to reduce the burden on the user by enabling user credentials to be shared between and reused by multiple applications. For example, a web browser that uses SSO may rely on a JSON Web Token (JWT) that identifies the user and stores an authentication event. The JWT can then be stored in a browser cookie for subsequent use by other applications that require a similar type of authentication. That is, a request to the authentication service on behalf of other applications executed within the same browser may include the browser cookie, enabling the authentication service to validate the JWT and verify that the user has already authenticated.
In enterprise applications, SSO is an increasingly popular feature due to trends such as Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) and Corporate-Owned Personally Enabled (COPE) devices. For example, enterprise administrators may require enforcement of specific authentication policies when a user accesses sensitive resources, such as payroll, banking, and health care. Consequently, SSO provides a convenient way for a user to enter his or her credentials once and reuse the stored credentials to access various types of sensitive resources.
However, because native mobile applications do not store tokens in a browser, the native applications cannot share authentication information in a cookie associated with a shared authentication service. Accordingly, one common mobile SSO approach is token sharing. Token sharing occurs when one native application obtains a token from an authentication service (AS) and then shares that token with other mobile applications. Because the token is shared, the token works only in the situation where all applications are owned by one enterprise resource server. Additionally, because the AS does not know which application submitted the token to access the resource server, the AS cannot revoke the token to prevent only that application from accessing resources, since doing so would block all applications.
Further, in some circumstances, even if the user has already been authenticated to the SSO system, accessing sensitive resources may require further authentication via a more secure authentication method, commonly referred to as step-up authentication. As a result, the user is still required to enter his or her credentials each time authentication via the more secure method is requested by an application. Moreover, after the user has provided his or her credentials to perform step-up authentication for a particular application, the user may have to re-enter those credentials (e.g., re-authenticate) to access a resource with that application each time the user's session expires.
Accordingly, there are challenges faced by system administrators when attempting to provide users with convenient and secure access to sensitive resources.

Step-up authentication for single sign-on


A process for the separation and recovery of fluorochemicals from a gas stream containing a diluent gas and fluorochemicals by contact of the gas stream with a membrane system in combination with an adsorption system, the adsorption system used either before or after the membrane system. In either case the membrane portion of the combined system comprises the steps of: compressing a gas stream containing a diluent gas and fluorochemicals to an elevated pressure; heating the gas stream containing a diluent gas and fluorochemicals to an elevated temperature sufficient to increase the flux of the permeate stream and to increase the selectivity of the membrane for the permeation of the diluent gas relative to the permeation of the fluorochemicals; contacting the gas stream with a membrane which is selectively more permeable to the diluent gas than the fluorochemicals to result in a permeate stream rich in the diluent gas and a retentate rich in fluorochemicals; contacting the gas stream with one or more additional membranes which are selectively more permeable to the diluent gas than the fluorochemicals to result in a second permeate stream rich in the diluent gas and a second retentate rich in fluorochemicals; and recycling the second permeate stream to be compressed with the gas stream containing diluent gas and fluorochemicals to an elevated pressure.

The semiconductor industry uses fluorinated gases, such as carbon tetrafluoride and hexafluoroethane, as etchants and cleaning gases in semiconductor manufacturing processes. These gases do not fully react within the reaction chamber. The unused (unreacted) gases enter the atmosphere through the process effluent from such reactors and have long persistence in the atmosphere. These gases absorb infrared radiation and are, therefore, potential global warming gases. The industry has sought ways to diminish the amount of fluorinated gases reaching the atmosphere and ways to recycle such gases particularly in light of their low utilization on a single pass basis for their intended etching and cleaning purposes.
Fluorochemicals, such as perfluorinated hydrocarbons and perfluorinated chemicals, are used in the semiconductor industry as safe and noncorrosive sources of fluorine. In plasma environments, fluorochemicals, such as fluorinated gases, form fluorine species which are capable of etching wafers or cleaning insides of reactor chambers. The gaseous products of the etching or cleaning process are exhausted from the reactor chamber to the scrubber or vent systems of the semiconductor fabrication plant with potential for venting to atmosphere. Consumption of fluorinated gases in the reactor chamber is not complete. Experiments have shown that in some cases less than 10% of hexafluoroethane is used.
Abatement of fluorochemicals currently follows several techniques. One method currently used by the semiconductor industry for insuring that fluorochemicals are not released to the environment involves combustion of the fluorochemicals contained in an effluent stream. While this method effectively destroys the fluorochemicals, thus preventing environmental pollution, it also makes it impossible to reuse the fluorochemicals. This method is also disadvantageous because it generates waste gases, such as hydrogen fluoride and nitrogen oxides, which require further treatment. Furthermore, combustion processes require fuel and oxygen to operate, adding additional operating and capital cost to the semiconductor and manufacturing operation.
Alternatively, these fluorochemicals can be recovered for reuse. Several schemes have been published in the literature to capture these chemicals.
Glenn M. Tom, et al. in the article "PFC Concentration and Recycle", Mat. Res. Soc. Symp. Proc. Vol. 344, 1994, pp 267-272 describes a process for concentrating perfluorinated gases using carbon-containing adsorptive beds. This process requires considerable energy demands based upon pressurization and depressurization to maintain a continuous process in switching adsorptive beds.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,502,969 discloses a process using a mass transfer contact zone with a wash liquid and one or more stages of cryogenic distillation to recover fluorine compounds from a carrier gas such as those constituting an effluent stream from a semiconductor facility. Both cryogenics and adsorption comprise energy-intensive and capital-intensive separatory processes.
Dennis Rufin in a presentation at a semiconductor PFC workshop in Austin, Tex., Feb. 7, 1996, presented a process for recycling perfluorochemicals from a process tool exhaust. The process involves compression, wet and dry scrubbing, additional compression, filtration, a concentration step followed by condensation and packaging for recycle after off site purification, certification and additional repackaging. The perfluorocarbon concentration unit disclosed in the process sequence was not identified. Rufin made a similar presentation at Semicon West, PFC CAPTURE ALPHA SYSTEMS TESTING UPDATE, 1996, pp 49-54.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,119,417 discloses a process wherein a feed gas stream is passed over two cascade connected semi-permeable membranes with the permeate stream from the second membrane being recycled to the feed gas prior to the first membrane. The process is typified by a separation of nitrogen from krypton. Other gases which can be separated from various binary mixtures include hydrogen, helium, nitrogen, oxygen, air, neon, argon, krypton, xenon, radon, fluorine, chlorine, bromine, uranium hexafluoride, ozone, hydrocarbons, sulfur dioxide, vinyl chloride, acrylonitrile and nitrogen oxides. The membranes utilized for these separations include silicon rubber, polybutadiene rubber, polyethylene, tetramethyl pentane resin, cellulose acetate, ethyl cellulose, Nuclear Pore, a material produced by General Electric, tetrafluoroethylene, polyester and porous metal membranes.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,654,063 discloses a process for conducting hydrogen purification using a semi-permeable membrane along with a non-membrane type separation wherein the retentate from the membrane can be further processed in a cryogenic or adsorptive separation system.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,701,187 discloses the use of cascade membranes wherein the retentate from a first membrane is conducted to a second membrane and the retentate from the second membrane is conducted to a down stream further adsorptive separation for product recovery. The permeate from the second membrane is recycled to the feed of the first membrane.
Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. and Radian International L.L.C. publicized a process titled PFC Recovery Systems for the Electronics Industry, 1996, Publication No. 325-95410 depicting a process wherein a mixture of vacuum pump diluent and fluorinated gases from a process tool of a semiconductor fabrication facility passes through a guard bed and a wet scrubber followed by gas compression, drying and adsorption with recycle of a portion of the purified diluent from the absorbers to before the gas compression, while the more concentrated fluorinated gases pass through further gas compression, condensation and distillation to recover a product, such as 99.9+% hexafluoroethane. The process can be designed to recover hexafluoroethane, carbon tetrafluoride, trifluoromethane, nitrogen trifluoride and sulfur hexafluoride.
Rautenbach, et al., Gas Permeation-Module Design and Arrangement, Chem. Eng. Process, 21, 1987, pp. 141-150 discloses various membrane arrangements for gas separation.
A European Patent Application published as EP 0 754 487 A1 discloses a process for recovery of perfluorinated compounds from a gas mixture using a combination of membranes and distillation to recover the perfluorinated components. The permeate stream from the membrane unit(s) is recycled as feed to the membrane unit. There is no disclosure relating to using the permeate stream as a vacuum pump diluent or as part of the feed to a compressor up stream of either a membrane/adsorption or adsorption/membrane process to recover and reuse the perfluorinated compounds and an enriched diluent stream.
Additional patents of interest include U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,180,388, 4,894,068, 5,240,471 and 5,252,219.
The prior art, although addressing the problem of capture and recycle of fluorochemicals used in the semiconductor industry, such as perfluorinated compounds and more specifically perfluorocarbons, has failed to provide a low capital cost, low energy-intensive process for the capture and concentration of the desired fluorinated compounds as is achieved by the present invention, which will be set forth in greater detail below.

Recovery of perfluorinated compounds from the exhaust of semiconductor fabs using membrane and adsorption in series


An embolic material which prevents flow of a biological fluid by being placed in a body lumen via a catheter, the embolic material comprising a material that swells by contacting the biological fluid. The embolic material includes a long filler that is formed smaller than an inner diameter of the catheter. The filler prevents the flow of the biological fluid by bending when brought into contact with the biological fluid due to the difference in swelling characteristics between a first side portion and a second side portion that extend parallel to one another in a longitudinal direction.

To inhibit flow of a biological fluid (for example, blood) in a biological lumen, a known treatment has involved indwelling an embolus material in the biological lumen. Specifically, there are methods that involve injecting a liquid embolus material that is solidified when coming into contact with a biological fluid into a biological lumen, and methods that involve indwelling a bead-like or thread-like embolus material in a biological lumen via a catheter or the like.
Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2002-539853 (JP-T-2002-539853), Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2004-537353 (JP-T-2004-537353), Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2011-507637 (JP-T-2011-507637), and Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2013-505791 (JP-T-2013-505791) disclose methods of indwelling an embolus material.
A method of injecting a liquid embolus material is disclosed in "A Novel and Simple Technique for Embolization of Type 2 Endoleaks Through Direct Sac Access From the Distal Stent-graft Landing Zone", G. Coppi et-al., European Journal of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery, Volume 47 Issue 4 p. 394 to 401, April/2014.

Embolus material and method of manufacturing the same


A method and apparatus determine a likelihood of a speech state based on an alternative sensor signal and an air conduction microphone signal. The likelihood of the speech state is used, together with the alternative sensor signal and the air conduction microphone signal, to estimate a clean speech value for a clean speech signal.

A common problem in speech recognition and speech transmission is the corruption of the speech signal by additive noise. In particular, corruption due to the speech of another speaker has proven to be difficult to detect and/or correct.
Recently, systems have been developed that attempt to remove noise by using a combination of an alternative sensor, such as a bone conduction microphone, and an air conduction microphone. Various techniques have been developed that use the alternative sensor signal and the air conduction microphone signal to form an enhanced speech signal that has less noise than the air conduction microphone signal. However, perfectly enhanced speech has not been achieved and further advances in the formation of enhanced speech signals are needed.

Multi-sensory speech enhancement using a speech-state model


An application server component of an apparatus in one example receives an indication of one or more communication devices that are to receive one or more invitations to join a communication session. The application server component notifies the one or more communication devices of the one or more invitations to join the communication session. Upon acceptance of one or more of the one or more invitations by one or more of the one or more communication devices, the application server component connects the one or more of the one or more communication devices to the communication session.

Users of communication devices desire to have the ability to conduct communication sessions that involve a plurality of communication devices. The communication devices in one example comprise mobile phones, telephonic devices, and computers. The communication session in one example comprises a conference call. A first communication device in one example places a call to a second communication device. A call control component connects the first communication device to the second communication device. In one example, if a user of the second communication device answers the call, then the user of the second communication device enters into a conversation with a user of the first communication device.
In another example, if the user of the second communication device is not available to answer the call, then the user of the first communication device accesses a voice mail account of the second communication device. For example, the user of the first communication device leaves a voice message that asks the user of the second communication device to return the call at a later time. The user of the second communication device employs a communication device to access the voice mail account. The voice message of the voice mail account indicates that the user of the first communication device has requested that the user of the second communication device to return the call. The user of the second communication device may then call a phone number of the first communication device to talk to the user of the first communication device.
As one shortcoming, the user of the second communication device is unaware of a request to return the call until the user of the second communication device checks the voice message. The user of the second communication device in one example may check the voice message once it is too late to return the call, for example, after the call has ended. As another shortcoming, it may take the user of the second communication device a long time to check the voice message and dial the phone number of the first communication device.
Thus, a need exists for a system that promotes an ease for a communication device to join a communication session after receipt of an invitation to join the communication session.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Application server component that notifies one or more communication devices of one or more invitations to join communication session


Disclosed is a telematics system comprising a telematics terminal for storing complex intersection images and providing information related to a present position and a running direction by using the complex intersection images, and a telematics server for sharing ID codes of the complex intersection images stored in the telematics terminal with the telematics terminal and creating route data in response to a request from the telematics terminal, wherein the telematics server adds the ID codes of the complex intersection images to the route data when the route data include complex intersections and transmits the ID codes of the complex intersection images and the route data to the telematics terminal. The telematics system provides route information, which is easily recognized by users.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a telematics system, and more particularly to a telematics system using intersection image data and a method for efficiently directing a route by using the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
Telematics is a compound word of "telecommunication" and "informatics." Telematics is a technique for providing a mobile communication service and a position tracking service to a vehicle so as to provide a driver with real time information relating to vehicle accidents, vehicle burglaries, driving routes, traffic and other driving conditions, as well as games.
Such a telematics system mainly provides services to a user who is in motion, so the telematics system includes a predetermined terminal installed on a vehicle. The terminal installed on the vehicle for the telematics system is called a "telematics terminal." The telematics terminal may include a communication function for conducting communications with a telematics server, or operate as a mobile communication terminal, such as a portable phone. Such mobile communication terminals are mainly equipped with mobile display devices. For example, as high-quality hardware is being incorporated into portable phones, a universal serial bus capable of transmitting mass storage data is provided in the portable phones. Various telematics terminals used in relation to such portable phones have been developed.
Conventional telematics terminals cannot transmit mass storage data to portable terminals, so the conventional telematics terminals only provide a turn-by-turn navigation function to the portable terminals. For instance, as shown in FIG. 1, the conventional telematics terminals may display the direction a vehicle is currently moving in by using an arrow embodied as an icon.
The conventional telematics terminals use display devices of the portable terminals, such as liquid crystal displays, since the conventional telematics terminals do not have their own display devices. The conventional telematics terminals transmit route guide data to the portable terminals by using a universal asynchronous receiver/transmitter (UART) while simultaneously performing a hands-free function, so the conventional telematics terminals cannot transmit mass storage data to the portable terminals. The conventional telematics terminals only provide the turn-by-turn navigation function to the portable terminals to direct the route of the vehicle.
According to the turn-by-turn navigation function, the direction of the vehicle is represented with an arrow, a text or a sound. Thus, a telematics terminal utilizing the turn-by-turn navigation function is very useful if the vehicle runs along a grid-type road, in which a driver can precisely recognize the direction of the vehicle and current turn information, such as "right turn", "left turn," "go straight", and "U-turn". However, if route guide information is provided to the driver using only the turn-by-turn navigation function in complex roads, such as five-way cross roads or high-level roads, or on curved roads, the driver cannot precisely recognize the direction of the current turn information of the vehicle. For example, if the route guidance is carried out by using the turn-by-turn navigation function in the vicinity of Seoul City Hall, lamp-ways for an express highway, or in continuous intersections, the driver can become confused.
In order to solve the above problems, there has been provided a method in which a telematics terminal displays map data by downloading the map data from an information center in a wireless manner. However, such a method requires a continuously wireless data-communication link to the information center, thereby causing excessive data communication expenses.

Telematics system using image data and method for directing a route by using the same


A transmission device using a telephone is provided. In a facsimile apparatus incorporating a telephone answering machine, a message or facsimile data is recorded on a magnetic tape, followed by index information concerning the recorded message or facsimile data. The index information includes the number of messages or facsimile data recorded on the magnetic tape and the record position of each data. The index information on magnetic tape is updated every time a new message or facsimile data is recorded on the tape. Even if a magnetic tape having data recorded is unloaded from the device and then loaded again, the facsimile apparatus can be restored to the state just before the magnetic tape was unloaded. Thus, head position detection and reproduction of the magnetic tape can be carried out promptly.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to communication devices using telephone lines, and more particularly, to a communication device using a telephone line such as a facsimile apparatus with an answering machine for a telephone that records on a magnetic tape the received information such as a message (voice signal) and facsimile data (image signal).
2. Description of the Related Art
A conventional facsimile apparatus incorporating a telephone answering machine automatically responds to a call on receiving a predetermined number of ringing bursts announcing an incoming call. A message (voice signal) or facsimile data (image signal) sent from the caller is recorded on a magnetic tape. Information regarding the received transmission, such as the order of the recorded transmission on the tape, the position where that transmission is recorded on the magnetic tape (for example, a count value of the tape), the current number of messages and facsimile data recorded on the tape, are simultaneously stored in, for example, a random access memory (RAM).
The message and facsimile data recorded on a magnetic tape is reproduced by operating an operation panel provided in the device, or by a remote telephone set through an external telephone line operated by an operator far away from the local device (remote control unit). A specific message or facsimile data can be retrieved and reproduced if a number of the order of the received transmission is specified. In reproducing a message or facsimile data, a particular position on the tape can be specified, such as skipping one succeeding message or a facsimile data, or returning to the head position of the currently reproduced message or facsimile data. Such a head position detecting operation is carried out using the count value stored in the aforementioned RAM.
The currently recorded number of messages and facsimile data on the magnetic tape is indicated by means of a LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) on an operation panel or a blinking LED (Light Emitted Diode).
In the above-described facsimile apparatus incorporating a telephone answering machine, information regarding the transmitted data such as the count value stored in the RAM (referred to as index information hereinafter) was erased (cleared) when the magnetic tape having messages and facsimile data recorded was unloaded from the device. This is because no means are provided to detect whether a magnetic tape loaded in the device is the one unloaded from the device immediately before the loading. Index information in the RAM was erased when the magnetic tape was unloaded from the device to avoid erroneous operation of the next loaded magnetic tape from carrying out a head position detecting operation according to index information of the previous loaded tape.
Therefore, even if the same magnetic tape was loaded again into the device, head position detecting operation could not be carried out, and recording would be commenced from the head position of the magnetic tape. There was a possibility that important messages and facsimile data recorded may be erased. As a result, the availability of the communication device was degraded once the tape is unloaded from the device.

Communication device with a detachable recording medium


For languages requiring bidirectional (left-to-right and right-to-left) text display support, a multi-field text string object encapsulates both a normal logical ordered version of the text string entered and a reverse ordered version in separate fields. A bidirectional-support property of the multi-field text string object is set based on whether the host system supports bidirectional text displays. In response to a display request, the multi-field text string object checks the bidirectional-support property. If bidirectional text display is supported, the multi-field text string object sets the field containing the normally-ordered character sequence for the text string as the display field. If bidirectional text display is not supported, the multi-field text string object sets the field containing the reverse-ordered character sequence for the text string as the display field. Display controls receiving the normally-ordered character sequence should display the text string with the proper directionality (right-to-left). Display controls receiving the reverse-ordered character sequence will display the display field contents with the incorrect directionality (left-to-right) but, as a result of the character sequence reversal, will effectively display the text string with the proper directionality. Bidirectional text may thus be displayed on systems which do not support bidirectional text display, using only conventional, left-to-right only directional display controls.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates in general to display of bidirectional text within a data processing system user interface and in particular to proper display of bidirectional text utilizing normal, left-to-right only directional display controls. Still more particularly, the present invention relates to employing a multi-field text string class to enable proper display of bidirectional text on both bidirectional and non-bidirectional systems.
2. Description of the Related Art
Multinational companies often run information system (IS) networks which span multiple countries spread around the globe. To maximize the usefulness of such networks, operations within each country tend to run in the local language of the country. Where possible, names of abstract objects in user applications are in the local language and match the local language organization, city, or human names which the abstract objects represent. In the case of system management software, often abstract objects would represent each of a global enterprise""s local offices.
Transferring data from one system to another within such a multinational network presents numerous challenges. One obstacle which must be overcome is the transfer of human language directionality. Unlike English and many other languages, certain human languages are customarily written from right-to-left rather than from left-to-right, or may be written in either direction. Hebrew, for example, is conventionally written right-to-left.
For transnational data exchange, language directionality may be addressed in the manner in which the text is encoded. The Unicode specification, for example, assigns a directionality to characters and defines a complex algorithm for determining the proper directionality of text. If a right-to-left text string is encountered, a user agent conforming to the Unicode specification is required to apply the Unicode bidirectional algorithm to display the characters within that string. Similarly, the HyperText Markup Language (HTML) offers higher-level markup constructs which do the same thing, such as the xe2x80x9cdirxe2x80x9d attribute (which is distinct from the DIR element) and the xe2x80x9cBDOxe2x80x9d element.
Support for bidirectional (xe2x80x9cbidixe2x80x9d) text, or support for displaying text in either direction (right-to-left or left-to-right) depending on the cultural convention associated with the human language in which the text is written, is typically integrated into the operating system or application (e.g., browser), if provided at all. Normally bidi text cannot be displayed properly in the user interface of a non-bidi version of an operating system or application without implementation of specialized text display controls.
It would be desirable, therefore, to provide a mechanism allowing normal left-to-right only directional user interface display controls to properly display bidi text in a user interface.
It is therefore one object of the present invention to provide an improved method, system and computer program product for display of bidirectional text within a data processing system user interface.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a method, system and computer program product for proper display of bidirectional text in a data processing system user interface utilizing normal, left-to-right only directional display controls.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a method, system and computer program product for employing a multi-field text string class to enable proper display of bidirectional text on both bidirectional and non-bidirectional systems.
The foregoing objects are achieved as is now described. For languages requiring bidirectional (left-to-right and right-to-left) text display support, a multi-field text string object encapsulates both a normal logical ordered version of the text string entered and a reverse ordered version in separate fields. A bidirectional-support property of the multi-field text string object is set based on whether the host system supports bidirectional text displays. In response to a display request, the multi-field text string object checks the bidirectional-support property. If bidirectional text display is supported, the multi-field text string object sets the field containing the normally-ordered character sequence for the text string as the display field. If bidirectional text display is not supported, the multi-field text string object sets the field containing the reverse-ordered character sequence for the text string as the display field. Display controls receiving the normally-ordered character sequence should display the text string with the proper directionality (right-to-left). Display controls receiving the reverse-ordered character sequence will display the display field contents with the incorrect directionality (left-to-right) but, as a result of the character sequence reversal, will effectively display the text string with the proper directionality. Bidirectional text may thus be displayed on systems which do not support bidirectional text display, using only conventional, left-to-right only directional display controls.
The above as well as additional objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the following detailed written description.

Method system and computer program product for storing bi-directional language data in a text string object for display on non-bidirectional operating systems

International Business Machines Corporation


An exemplary embodiment of the present invention relates to a light emitting diode (LED) including a substrate, a first nitride semiconductor layer arranged on the substrate, an active layer arranged on the first nitride semiconductor layer, a second nitride semiconductor layer arranged on the active layer, a third nitride semiconductor layer disposed between the first nitride semiconductor layer or between the second nitride semiconductor layer and the active layer, the third nitride semiconductor layer comprising a plurality of scatter elements within the third nitride semiconductor layer, and a distributed Bragg reflector (DBR) comprising a multi-layered structure, the substrate being arranged between the DBR and the third nitride semiconductor layer.

1. Field of the Invention
Exemplary embodiments of the present invention relate to a light emitting diode (LED), and more particularly, to an LED having improved light extraction efficiency.
2. Description of the Related Art
Gallium nitride (GaN)-based LEDs are widely used for display elements and backlights. Further, LEDs may have lower electric power consumption and a longer lifetime as compared with conventional light bulbs or fluorescent lamps, so that their applications have been expanded into general illumination while substituting for conventional incandescent bulbs and fluorescent lamps. Particularly, various types of LED packages, which emit mixed-color light, e.g., white light, have been introduced into the marketplace. A white light LED package may be used in backlight units, for general illumination, or the like.
Since the luminous efficiency of an LED package may depend on the luminous efficiency of an LED, efforts have been continuously made for improving the luminous efficiency of the LED. Particularly, efforts have been made for improving the light extraction efficiency of the LED.
In general, GaN-based nitride semiconductors may be grown on a heterogeneous substrate such as sapphire or silicon carbide. Particularly, nitride semiconductor layers may be formed on a patterned sapphire substrate (PSS), and the PSS may generally be used to fabricate an LED using the nitride semiconductor layers. The PSS may improve light extraction efficiency by scattering the light emitted from an active layer toward the substrate. Further, luminous efficiency may be improved by forming a metal reflector on a bottom surface of a transparent substrate such as a sapphire substrate to reflect light that passes through the sapphire substrate.
However, until the light generated in the active layer is scattered on a surface of the sapphire substrate, the light may proceed for a considerable distance within the nitride semiconductor layers. Even after the light is scattered on the surface of the sapphire substrate, the light may also proceed to a light emission surface for a considerable distance. Accordingly, since a light path may be lengthened, light loss may occur, and a portion of the scattered light may be trapped in the nitride semiconductor layers by internal total reflection.
A reflection metal layer, which may be made of aluminum, formed on the bottom surface of the sapphire substrate, may exhibit a reflectance of about 80% throughout the almost entire wavelength region of visible light. This reflectance is relatively high, but light loss may still occur even when the reflection metal layer is formed.
Meanwhile, sapphire is an electrical insulator, which accordingly limits the structure of an LED to a lateral type. Accordingly, there has recently been developed a technique in which epitaxial layers, such as nitride semiconductor layers, are grown on a heterogeneous substrate such as a sapphire substrate, a support substrate is bonded to the epitaxial layers, and the heterogeneous substrate is then separated using a laser lift-off technique or the like, thereby fabricating a high-efficiency vertical type LED (e.g., see U.S. Pat. No. 7,704,763, issued to Fujii, et al.).
FIG. 1 is a sectional view illustrating a conventional LED.
Referring to FIG. 1, a conventional vertical-type LED is fabricated by sequentially forming a GaN-based n-type layer 23, a GaN-based active layer 25 and a GaN-based p-type layer 27 on a growth substrate (not shown), forming a p-electrode 39 on the p-type layer 27, flip-bonding the p-electrode 39 to a Si submount 41 using a bonding metal 43, removing the growth substrate, and then forming an n-electrode 37 on the exposed n-type layer 23. An n-electrode 45 is then formed on the bottom surface of the Si submount 41. Furthermore, in U.S. Pat. No. 7,704,763, the surface of the exposed n-type layer 23 is formed to be roughened using a dry or photo-enhanced chemical (PEC) etching technique.


A method and apparatus to increase the size of the design window for write margin and read stability margin of memory cells without requiring a voltage above the power supply voltage or below ground. An SRAM consisting of an SRAM cell having a ground reference and a circuit coupled to receive a first signal and coupled to drive the ground reference. The circuit is configured to drive the ground reference to a first voltage if the first signal is in a first state. The circuit is configured such that the first node is at a second voltage if the first signal in a second state, the first signal being in the first state indicating a write operation, the first signal being in the second state indicating a non-write operation, the first voltage being greater than the second voltage.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the field of memory devices; more particularly, the present invention relates to a method and apparatus for performing bit cell ground choking to improve static random access memory (SRAM) write margin.
2. Description of Related Art
Static random access memory (SRAM) cells are designed to reliably retain their value during a read operation by having an acceptable read stability margin and to reliably modify their value during a write operation by having acceptable write margin.
FIG. 1 illustrates read stability margin in a prior art SRAM cell. An SRAM cell has a bit (B) node and bit bar (B#) node. Whether the value of the bit stored is a logic 1 or a logic 0, one of these nodes will be storing a logic 0. Read stability is typically more critical on the node that stores a logic 0. The following illustration is the case where the bit stored is a logic 0. In that case, the bit node is a logic 0 and the bit bar node is a logic 1. However, similar analysis applies to the bit bar node when the bit stored is a logic 1.
During a read operation, the bit line (BL) column and bit line bar (BL#) column are initialized to a logic 1. The word line (WL) bus is asserted to turn on a transfer gate (transistor T.sub.x) such that the BL column begins to be discharged through a first pull down device (transistor T.sub.pd). While the BL column is being discharged, the voltage at the bit node is determined by the ratio of the resistance of transistor T.sub.X and the resistance of transistor T.sub.pd. The bit node is also the input to the second pull down device (transistor T.sub.trip) which begins to turn on at a voltage V.sub.trip. If the voltage at the bit node exceeds V.sub.trip, the voltage at the bit bar node is pulled down thereby corrupting the data within the SRAM cell by flipping the value of the bit stored.
In order to improve read stability margin, the voltage at the node storing the logic 0 should be reduced and/or the V.sub.trip voltage should be increased. In order to lower the voltage of the bit node, the resistance of transistor T.sub.pd should be made small with respect to the resistance of transistor T.sub.x. In order to increase the V.sub.trip voltage, the resistance of a transistor T.sub.p should be made small with respect to the resistance of transistor T.sub.trip.
FIG. 2 illustrates write margin in a prior art SRAM cell. Write margin, unlike read stability margin, is typically more critical on the node that stores a logic 1. The following illustration is the case where the bit stored is a logic 1 and a write logic 0 operation is being performed. In that case, the bit node is initially a logic 1 and the bit bar node is initially a logic 0. However, similar analysis applies to the bit bar node when the bit stored is a logic 0 and a write logic 1 operation is being performed.
During a write logic 0 operation, the bit line (BL) column is driven to a logic 0 and bit line bar (BL#) column is driven to a logic 1. The word line (WL) bus is asserted to turn on a transfer gate (transistor T.sub.x) such that the voltage at the bit node is determined by the ratio of the resistance of transistor T.sub.x and the resistance a first pull up device (transistor T.sub.pu). The bit node is also the input to the second pull down device (transistor T.sub.trip) which turns off when the voltage of the bit node is below voltage V.sub.trip. In order to successfully write the logic 0, the voltage at the bit bar node must be pulled down below voltage V.sub.trip. This can be difficult because the non-linear resistance of transistor T.sub.x typically increases as the voltage drop across it decreases.
In order to improve write margin, the voltage at the node storing the logic 1 should be pulled lower and/or the V.sub.trip voltage should be higher. As in the case to improve read stability, the resistance of transistor T.sub.p should be made small with respect to the resistance transistor T.sub.trip in order to increase the V.sub.trip voltage. However, unlike the case to improve read stability, the resistance of transistor T.sub.p should be made large with respect to the resistance of transistor T.sub.x in order to lower the voltage drop across transistor T.sub.x.
In order to improve speed, the resistance of transistors T.sub.pd, T.sub.trip, and T.sub.x should be minimized. If one assumes that the resistance of T.sub.x is minimized for speed, read stability considerations suggest reducing the resistance of transistors T.sub.pd, T.sub.pu, and T.sub.trip, whereas write margin considerations suggest increasing the resistance of these transistors. Therefore, the designer must select these parameters within these competing constraints to have acceptable read stability and write margins.
The design window defined by these competing constraints is becoming smaller in each subsequent generation of process technology. Since manufacturing process variability tends to increase relative to the shrinking transistor feature sizes in each generation, it is becoming more difficult to design an SRAM cell that has acceptable margin within the shrinking design window. This problem is exacerbated because not only is there a tendency for the SRAM cell error rate to increase because of the shrinking design window, but the number of SRAM cells per device is increasing.
Power supply voltages are being reduced to reduce power consumption and avoid reliability problems as the transistor feature sizes shrink. The V.sub.trip voltage in a typical SRAM cell is being reduced to track the reduced power supply voltages. However, process variability associated with the V.sub.trip voltage variations do not scale with the V.sub.trip voltage. Therefore the relative variation of the V.sub.trip voltage tends to increase as the transistor feature sizes shrink.
In order to extend the design window, some designs have resorted to driving the word line above the power supply voltage during write operations and driving the word line to the power supply voltage during read operations. This has the effect of reducing the resistance of T.sub.x during write operations as compared with the resistance of T.sub.x during read operations. Therefore, the resistance of T.sub.x is controlled to improve margin for each of these operations thereby widening the design window.
Alternatively, some designs have driven one of the bit lines below ground during write operations. Referring to FIG. 2, the bit node is at a voltage between the power supply voltage and the bit line voltage as determined by the ratio of the resistance of transistor T.sub.pu and the resistance of transistor T.sub.x according to well-known methods. The voltage at the bit node will tend to decrease as the voltage at the bit line decreases. Since the voltage at the bit node is decreased relative to V.sub.trip, write margin is improved without affecting the read margin parameters.
One problem with both these methods is that they require voltages to be driven either above the power supply voltage or below ground. Generating additional voltages adds complexity and cost to a design. In addition, application of voltages beyond the standard power supply range may lead to reliability problems.
What is needed is a method and apparatus to increase the size of the design window for SRAM cells without requiring a voltage above the power supply voltage or below ground.

Method and apparatus for bit cell ground choking for improved memory write margin


An endoscope has a first segment with a proximal end and a distal end and is symmetric about an axis. A second segment, comprising a flexible and interconnected linkage system, is pivotably coupled to the first segment and, when subject to an applied force, is configurable along an arc having a variable radius of curvature. The linkage system is capable of articulation through an angle from zero degrees through about 280 degrees.

Conventional endoscopes can be articulated in different directions; however, typically these endoscopes cannot be articulated with a variable radius of curvature nor to an angle of more than 180 degrees. Often the endoscope has only a single radius of curvature for the entire articulating length of the shaft. Further, the conventional endoscopes that use articulating vertebrae use a number of vertebrae with identical dimensions connected in series and all oriented the same way.
By limiting the endoscopes to a single radius of curvature, the user of the endoscope is limited as to the regions of the body that are readily accessible by articulation of the endoscope. Because of the limited ability to articulate the endoscope, there is a need for an articulating endoscope capable of being articulated with varying degrees of curvature to permit the operator to locate the endoscope in various locations within the body. Such an endoscope requires a shaft capable of being manipulated with more than one radius of curvature.

Articulating vertebrae with asymmetrical and variable radius of curvature


A heated toilet seat system is provided having a toilet with a bowl portion having an annular rim. Also included is a water heater having an input line for receiving water to be heated and an output line for delivering water that has been heated. Next provided is a toilet seat pivotally coupled to the toilet. The toilet seat further includes a tube situated within the toilet seat. Finally, an input conduit resides in communication with one of the ends of the tube of the toilet seat and the output line of the water heater for receiving hot water therefrom.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to heated toilet seats and more particularly pertains to a new WATER HEATED TOILET SEAT for providing a safe means of heating a toilet seat.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The use of heated toilet seats is known in the prior art. More specifically, heated toilet seats heretofore devised and utilized are known to consist basically of familiar, expected and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art which have been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements.
Known prior art heated toilet seats include U.S. Pat. No. 5,095,555; U.S. Pat. No. 4,446,584; U.S. Patent Des. 349,760; U.S. Patent Des. 332,997; U.S. Patent Des. 322,850; and U.S. Pat. No. 3,968,344.
In these respects, the WATER HEATED TOILET SEAT according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in so doing provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of providing a safe means of heating a toilet seat.


A fixing device according to the invention comprises a first belt in an endless form, a first heat source for heating the first belt, a first reflection member reflecting heat from the first heat source toward the first belt, and a first temperature detecting member for detecting temperature of the first reflection member by contacting the first reflection member, wherein the first reflection member is disposed between the first heat source and the first temperature detecting member. The fixing device is able to accurately detect the temperature of the member heated by the heat source.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a fixing device and an image forming apparatus.
2. Description of Related Art
Fixing devices mounted on image forming apparatuses such as photocopiers, printers, facsimile machines employing electrophotographic methods, widely use thermally fixing methods. The fixing devices of the thermally fixing method generally have a fixing member and a pressure member forming a fixing nipping portion contacting each other with pressure and have a heating member incorporated in at least one of the fixing member and the pressure member. The fixing devices fixes unfixed toner images on a paper surface in application of heat and pressure when a paper carrying unfixed toner images passes the fixing nipping portion,
A known publication, such as Japanese Patent Application Publication (A1) 2003-15463, discloses as a fixing device of a thermal fixing method, a device including a fixing roller incorporating a heater, a pressure roller contacting the fixing roller with pressure, a thermistor detecting a surface temperature of the fixing roller, a control means for controlling the heater to be turned on and off according to the detected value of the thermistor, and a thermostat serving as an excessive temperature rise prevention device disposed in not contact with the fixing roller to make power supply to the heater shut down based on an extraordinary temperature where the temperature of the fixing roller rises in an extraordinary way.
Where the fixing device employs such an excessive temperature rise prevention device stopping heat application from a heat source when it is detected that the temperature of the member heated by the heat source reaches a prescribed temperature, it is required that the temperature of the member heated by the heat source is detected accurately.
It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a fixing device and an image forming apparatus capable of detecting accurately a temperature of a member heated by a heat source.

Fixing device and image forming apparatus


A fluid conveyance system connector includes a body and a tube positioned within the body through which a conveyed fluid flows. A moveable adapter is received in a first space between the body and the tube. The moveable adapter sealingly cooperates with the body and tube to define outer and inner variable volume chambers. The inner chamber communicates with one of an external environment or the conveyed fluid through a first port and the outer chamber communicates with the other of the conveyed fluid or the external environment through a second port such that the pressure in the inner chamber is the pressure exhibited by the external environment or the conveyed fluid and the pressure in the outer chamber is the pressure of the other of the conveyed fluid or the external environment. A differential pressure comprising a difference between the pressure of the conveyed fluid and the pressure exhibited by the external environment applies an inwardly or outwardly directed force to the moveable adapter.

Aerospace vehicles, such as commercial aircraft, use fluid conveyance systems, such as hydraulic and fuel systems, to provide fluids to devices of the vehicle. Such devices may include, for example, hydraulically operated pumps and motors and aircraft engines. Fluid conveyance systems include various components, such as hoses, tubes and connectors, which cooperate to convey a fluid to one or more of the vehicle devices connected to the fluid conveyance system. In some systems, thermal expansion or contraction of the fluid conveyance system components may create certain undesirable conditions, such as buckling or sagging. Other undesirable conditions may be created due to the vibrational environment of the aircraft, such as excessive movement or stresses on the fluid conveyance system components.


A laser system is configured to form at least one laser induced channel in a substrate and includes a laser and a laser path. The laser produces a laser beam, and the laser path includes an optical assembly that receives the laser beam and emits a conditioned laser beam. The optical assembly is configured to emit the conditioned laser beam with a substantially uniform focal energy distribution in a focal region defined along the direction of propagation. An apparatus includes a laser induced channel edge with a plurality of laser induced channels spanning some or all of the thickness of the substrate, which can be greater than 4 mm.

A substrate material can be separated into two or more pieces by forming a plurality of laser induced channels along a process path located along an intended line of separation, as taught by Bareman et al. in U.S. Pat. No. 8,842,358. A laser induced channel edge can be formed upon substrate separation and can have a relatively smooth surface without the need for post-processing operations such as grinding. The thickness of the substrate through which such laser induced channels can be formed has been somewhat limited.

Apparatus, optical assembly, and method thereof


An apparatus for recovering solder from solder coated scrap pieces includes a first centrifuge comprising a centrifuge receptacle having perforation holes, rotatably mounted about a first centrifuge axis for containing and rotating a quantity of solder coated scrap pieces. A solder collection container can surround the centrifuge receptacle. A heater can surround the solder collection container for heating the solder coated scrap pieces and melting the solder thereon. A drive system can be configured for rotating the centrifuge receptacle while the first centrifuge axis is in about a horizontal position at a low speed that tumbles the scrap pieces along a longitudinal length of the centrifuge receptacle, and later rotating the centrifuge receptacle at a high speed for centrifugally extracting molten solder from the centrifuge receptacle, radially outwardly through the perforation holes into the solder collection container.

Electrical connectors that have a presoldered terminal pad can be stamped from solder clad metallic ribbons, which can include copper, brass or aluminum, or alloys thereof. The remaining solder clad scrap has very little monetary value since the scrap is coated with solder. In cases where the solder cladding is an expensive lead free solder composition, for example, a solder composition containing high levels of indium, the amount of the lead free solder on the scrap can have a high monetary value, but is almost worthless if not separated.


A measuring part measures the absorbance spectrum of an effluent fluid sample from a chromatograph in a constant cycle, and a base line calculating part calculates a base line including absorbance values on both ends of a designated wave number range with respect to every absorbance spectrum data as measured. A peak area calculating part calculates the peak area of the absorbance spectrum in the designated wave number range on the basis of the decided base line. A chromatogram is obtained by time change of the calculated peak area. Thus, it is possible to eliminate influences by other functional groups and fluctuation of the base line in an absorbance analyzer.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an absorbance analyzer which comprises an optical detector for measuring an absorbance spectrum in relation to a chromatograph such as a gas chromatograph or a liquid chromatograph. This absorbance analyzer can be employed for analyzing absorbance of an effluent fluid sample from a chromatograph, for measuring time change of a specific functional group or the like.
2. Description of the Background Art
A Fourier transform infrared spectrophotometer (FTIR) is adapted to analyze absorbance of an effluent gas from a gas chromatograph, in order to form a chromatograaph by time change of an absorption peak of a specific functional group. In this case, the absorbance value is integrated in a prescribed wave number range having absorption of the specific functional group, thereby recording its time change. Assuming that the wave number range is set as .nu..sub.1 to .nu..sub.2 and absorbance spectrum waveform at a time t is represented by A(t, .nu.), the following value I' (t) is recorded: ##EQU1##
In general, a single organic substance has a plurality of functional groups every molecule, and absorbance spectra of such functional groups may be overlapped with each other in a certain wave number range. When a chromatogram is formed by wave number integration of absorbance in a conventional method, therefore, the as-formed chromatogram is not proportionate to only concentration of a single target functional group, but influenced by absorption of other functional groups in an adjacent wave number region, fluctuation of the base line of the absorbance spectrum, and the like. Thus, it is difficult to study the results of an analysis.

Absorbance analyzer and data processing method for chromatograph


Systems and methods for converting wideband signals in the optical domain are provided. A device for obtaining a digital representation of a received signal may include a spatially dispersive element that may be configured to spatially disperse frequencies in an optical-domain representation of the received signal; a spatial light modulator that may be configured to mix the dispersed optical frequencies by imposing a mixing matrix on an optical intensity of the dispersed optical frequencies; an optical sensor that may be configured to obtain an electrical representation of the mixed dispersed optical frequencies; and a signal recovery processor that may be configured to obtain a digital representation of the received signal based on the electrical representation and the mixing matrix. The signal recovery processor may be further configured to determine a modulation format of the digital representation and may demodulate the digital representation based on the modulation format.

An analog-to-digital converter (ADC) is a device that converts continuous analog signals to discrete digital numbers. Generally, an ADC samples an input signal at a predetermined sampling rate calculated using the Nyquist-Shannon Sampling Theorem. Under that theorem, perfect reconstruction of a continuous time signal may be obtained if the sampling rate is greater than twice the highest frequency of the signal. Sampling at twice the highest frequency may, however, not be possible, especially for wideband signals or the resolution (number of bits) obtained at this rate may not be sufficient. A wideband signal may be defined as a signal operating at a wide range of frequencies, e.g., above 1 GHz. For these reasons, previously-known ADCs may be inadequate to handle wideband applications in, for example, electronic warfare, radar, cognitive radio, signals intelligence, telecommunications, and signal sampling in space. Moreover, previously-known ADCs rely on high-speed, high-power electronics that may be cumbersome, power-hungry, and expensive.


An electricity measuring type surface plasmon resonance sensor including: a plasmon polariton intensifying sensor chip in which a prism and a sensor chip including a transparent electrode, an n-type transparent semiconductor film, and a plasmon resonance film electrode arranged in this order are arranged in an order of the prism, the transparent electrode, the n-type transparent semiconductor film, and the plasmon resonance film electrode; and an electric measuring apparatus which directly measures a current or voltage from the transparent electrode and the plasmon resonance film electrode.

Surface plasmon resonance (SPR) is a state in which free electrons are in collective oscillatory motion (plasma oscillation) on a metal surface, and is classified into propagating surface plasmon resonance (PSPR) which propagates over a metal surface and localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) which is localized at a metal structure in nanometer size. The propagating surface plasmon resonance is a state in which resonance is taking place due to the interaction between the incident light and the electric field produced around the free electrons under plasma oscillation, and an electron compression wave (surface plasmon polariton, SPP) formed by the coupling of the plasma oscillation and the electromagnetic wave traveling along the interface propagates along the metal surface. On the other hand, the localized surface plasmon resonance is a state in which the plasma oscillation polarizes and induces metal nanostructures such as the metal nanoparticles to generate electric dipoles.
The surface plasmon resonance is applied in sensors such as affinity sensors for detecting whether the target substance is adsorbed and the strength of interaction, and for example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2011-141265 (PTL 1) describes a sensor chip comprising: a substrate that has a planar portion; and a diffraction grating on the planar portion and having a metal surface, the diffraction grating having a target substance thereon and including a plurality of specific protrusions. However, since it is necessary to use an optical system to detect the change in surface plasmon resonance angle due to the change in the concentration of the target substance present on the metal surface, the sensor chip as described in PTL 1 has problems that the apparatus tends to be expensive or large in size and that it is difficult to achieve integration and a higher throughput achieving processing a large number of samples at the same time.
Moreover, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2000-356587 (PTL 2) describes a localized plasmon resonance sensor comprising: a sensor unit which includes a substrate and metal fine particles fixed on a surface of the substrate in a membrane form where the particles do not cling to each other but are separated from each other. However, since the absorbance of the light transmitted between the metal fine particles is measured to detect the change in the refractive index of the medium in the vicinity of the surfaces of the metal fine particles due to adsorption or deposition of the target substance on the metal fine particles, the localized plasmon resonance sensor described in PTL 2 has problems that it is necessary to precisely control the size and arrangement of the metal fine particles and that it is difficult to sufficiently enhance the intensity of the detection signal because the detection signal is the absorbance.
Furthermore, the surface plasmon resonance is also applied to improve the efficiency of photoelectric conversion in photoelectric conversion elements, and for example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2012-38541 (PTL 3) describes a plasmon resonance type photoelectric conversion element comprising: an anode electrode in which a transparent electrode layer, a metal microparticle layer, a semiconductor thin film made of n-type semiconductor, and a pigment adsorption layer are stacked on a transparent substrate in this order, a cathode electrode opposed to the anode electrode across an electrolyte including oxidation-reduction species.

Electricity measuring type surface plasmon resonance sensor and electricity measuring type surface plasmon resonance sensor chip used in the same

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