A method for determining programming parameters for programming a resistive random access memory switching from an OFF state to an ON state, the method including determining retention curves representing the increase in the ON state resistance as a function of time, for a given programming temperature and a given current limitation; determining a retention failure time for each of the retention curves; determining curves representing the decrease in the retention failure time as a function of the programming temperature, for a given current limitation; for at least one given programming temperature, determining, from the curves representing the decrease in the retention failure time, a current limiting value to be applied to the resistive random access memory in order to obtain a target retention failure time.

Depending on the applications and performance aimed at, different types of memories are used.
Thus, SRAM type memories, or static random access memories, offer ultra-fast write times, required for example during the computations by a microprocessor. The major drawback of these memories is that they are volatile and that the relatively large size of the memory element does not enable a high storage capacity to be obtained in a moderate volume.
The DRAM type memories, or dynamic random access memories, which perform the storage of electric charges in capacitors, offer a large storage capacity. These memories, however, have higher write times (a few tens of nanoseconds) than those of SRAM type memories and are also volatile, the information retention time being in the order of a few tens of milliseconds.
Conversely, for applications which require an information storage even when the voltage is shut off, solid state memory devices are also known which preserve information in the absence of power supply: these devices are called non-volatile memories. Thus, for numerous years, different technological solutions have been developed, and have led to the availability of non-volatile memories that can be electrically written and erased. For example, mention might be made of the following:                EPROMs ("Erasable Programmable Read Only Memories"), the content of which can be electrically written, but which have to be subjected to a UV radiation to erase stored information;        EEPROMs ("Electrically Erasable Programmable ROMs"), the content of which can be electrically written and erased, but which require, for being manufactured, semiconductor areas larger than EPROM type memories, and which are therefore more expensive to make.
Given that the two above mentioned solutions have a limited application, the manufacturers have been searching for an ideal non-volatile memory, which would combine the following characteristics: electrical writing and erasing, high density and low cost per bit, random access, short write and read times, good endurance, but also low power consumption and low supply voltage.
There are also non-volatile memories, called Flash memories, which do not have the aforementioned drawbacks of EPROM or EEPROM memories. Indeed, a Flash memory is formed by a plurality of memory cells that can be individually electrically programmed, wherein a great number of cells, called a block, a sector, or a page, can be simultaneously electrically erased. Flash memories combine both the advantage of EPROM memories in terms of integration density and the advantage of EEPROM memories in terms of electrical erasing.
Moreover, the durability and low electric power consumption of Flash memories make them interesting for numerous applications: digital cameras, cell phones, printers, personal assistants, laptop computers, or even portable sound reading and recording devices, USB keys, etc. Moreover, Flash memories do not have mechanical elements, which provides them with a quite high impact resistance. In the "all-digital" age, these products have been largely developed, allowing a boom in the market of Flash memories.
Most commercial non-volatile Flash memories use charge storage as a principle for information coding. In practice, a charge trapping layer (generally of polysilicon, or a dielectric such as SiN) is packaged between two dielectrics in the gate stack of a MOS transistor. The presence or absence of charge in this medium modifies the conduction of the MOS transistor and enables the memory state to be coded.
More recently, other types of rewritable non-volatile memories have emerged to reduce voltages and programming times of Flash memories; mention might be made in particular of ferroelectric memories (FeRAM, "Ferroelectric RAM" memories), based on bias switchover, or magnetic memories (MRAM memories or "Magnetic RAM") which use the direction of the residual magnetic field in the active material. However, FeRAM and MRAM memories have difficulties which restrict their downsizing.
In order to overcome these difficulties, variable resistance memories (called RRAM, "Resistive RAM" memories) are known; the latter attract much attention nowadays. The resistive type memories can have at least two states, "off" or "on", corresponding to switching from a resistive state ("HRS" state) to a less resistive state ("LRS" state).
Variable resistance random access memories are attracting much attention nowadays, in particular due to their low electric power consumption and high operating rate.
The binary data 0 or 1 are stored in a metal/insulator/metal (MIM) structure having two distinct resistance states. FIG. 1 represents the structure of a MIM type RRAM memory cell 1. This device 1 is formed by a stack including an active storage area 2 provided between a lower conducting electrode 3 and an upper conducting electrode 4.
Thus, the resistive type memory cell can reversibly switch over from a high resistance state "HRS", also called "OFF" state, to a low resistance state ("LRS") or "ON" state. Therefore, it can be used to store binary information.
The write mechanism is called SET within the scope of RRAMs and consists in switching from the HRS state to the LRS state. To erase information, the active material is switched from the LRS state to the HRS state, the erase mechanism being called RESET. The LRS and HRS states are both conducting (of course with a better conduction of the LRS state in comparison to the HRS state); but in the initial state, the active material of the active storage area 2 is insulating (PRS ("Pristine Resistance State") state). A first electrical stress thus has to be applied to the virgin memory cell in order to generate the LRS state for the first time. The associated process, called FORMING, consists of a partially reversible breakdown of the active material, that is after switching from the PRS insulating OFF state to the LRS conducting ON state, the resistance of the conducting ON state can be switched over to the HRS state with a lower electrical stress (RESET operation).
The resistance changing phenomenon is observed in different types of materials, which suggests different operating mechanisms. Thus, several types of resistive memories can be distinguished.
The field of the present invention more particularly relates to two categories of resistive memories:                the memories including an active area based on an oxide-based active material (OxRRAM memory or "Oxide RRAM") such as a binary oxide of a transition metal;        the memories including an active area based on an ion conducting material (CBRAM memories or "Conductive Bridging RAM") forming a ion conducting solid electrolyte provided between an electrode forming an inert cathode and an electrode including a ionisable metal portion, that is a metal portion that can readily form metal ions, and forming an anode.
The operation of CBRAM memories is based on the formation, within the solid electrolyte, of one or more metal filaments (also called "dendrites"), between its two electrodes when these electrodes are brought to appropriate potentials. The filament formation allows a given electrical conduction to be achieved between both electrodes. By modifying the potentials applied to the electrodes, it is possible to modify the filament distribution, and thus to modify the electrical conduction between both electrodes. For example, by inversing the potential between the electrodes, it is possible to do away with or reduce the metal filament, so as to remove or dramatically reduce the electrical conduction due to the presence of the filament. In the "HRS" state, metal ions from the ionisable metal portion of the soluble electrode are dispersed in the entire solid electrolyte. Thus, no electrical contact is set between the cathode and the anode, that is between the upper electrode and the lower electrode. The solid electrolyte includes a high resistivity electrically insulating area between the anode and the cathode. When a positive VSET potential is applied to the anode, a redox reaction occurs at this electrode, creating mobile ions. The ions then move in the electrolyte under the effect of the electric field applied to the electrodes. When arrived at the inert electrode (the cathode), the ions are reduced, causing the growth of a metal filament. The filament preferentially grows in the direction of the soluble electrode. The memory then switches to the "LRS" state when the filament allows contact between the electrodes, making the stack conducting. This phase makes up the "SET" of the memory.
To switch to the "HRS" state ("RESET" phase of the memory), a negative VRESET voltage is applied to the anode, causing the dissolution of the conducting filament.
As regards OxRRAM memories, as for the CBRAM memories, the filament model is widely consensual. Therefore, it also relies on the formation and breaking of one or more conduction paths (conducting filaments) in the oxide matrix, connecting both electrodes. The formation and breaking of conducting filaments are ascribed to the presence of oxygen vacancies.
It is important to note that, in the case of OxRRAMs as in the case of CBRAMs, the SET operation enables the memory cell to be switched from a HRS high resistance state to a LRS low resistance state. As discussed above, the SET is made by applying a sufficient voltage VSET at the terminals of the memory element. The transition between the high and low resistance states (close to an oxide breakdown in the case of an OxRRAM memory) is very fast and results in a sharp current increase when the VSET voltage is reached. This increase is illustrated in FIG. 2. This sharp current increase is not auto-restricted. If nothing is made to control this increase, the current will increase up to very high values likely to cause a very high temperature increase and a destruction of the memory device. Therefore, it is desirable to restrict by compliance the current increase up to some value in order to achieve a low resistance state while keeping a memory device safe. This restricted current is indifferently called current limitation or current compliance.
The current limitation during the write operation can be made by different means such as a resistance or a transistor in series with the memory: adding a resistance or a transistor in series enables the current passing through the memory element and series resistance/transistor assembly to be limited.
The use of a resistance R (illustrated in FIG. 3) put in series with the memory element (herein an OxRRAM memory) enables the current to be limited. The presence of the series resistance enables the current which passes through the assembly to be limited once the OxRRAM cell is switched to the low resistance state. At the beginning of the write operation (SET), the OxRRAM memory is in a high resistance state (HRS). Thus, most of the applied voltage VApp between the resistance and the memory in series ends up at the terminals of the memory element (i.e. the voltage VR at the terminals of the resistance is negligible in comparison with the voltage VOx at the terminals of the memory). When the voltage at the terminals of the OxRRAM memory becomes sufficient (i.e. higher than the threshold voltage VSET), the switching occurs (switchover from the HRS mode to the LRS mode) and the current quickly increases. The voltage at the terminals of the series resistance R increases to "support" the extra voltage. This decrease in the voltage at the terminals of the memory cell thus limits the current increase in the memory.
The use of a series transistor (illustrated in FIG. 4) is very close to the use of the series resistance R. In the same way, upon writing, the current increase causes an increase in the voltage at the terminals of the series transistor. The benefit of using a transistor with respect to a series resistance is that it enables to control the limitation level using the gate voltage. The higher the gate voltage, the higher the saturation current. The transistor thus acts as a means for adjusting the current limitation in the OxRRAM memory.
One way for developing OxRRAM and CBRAM memories is information retention, that is the retention of the "HRS" state and the "LRS" state. It is attempted to improve the stability over time of the insulating and conducting ON states.
It has been demonstrated that the current limitation used during the SET write operation has a strong influence on the information retention performance.
Thus, in the paper "Improvement of data retention in HfO2/Hf 1T1R RRAM cell under low operating current" (Chen Y. Y. et al.—IEEE 2013), it is shown that the current limitation during the SET write operation has a high influence on the retention performance: the current limitation degrades the retention performance. In other words, a memory cell written with a current limitation IC1 has a better retention stability than when it is written with a current limitation IC2 lower than IC1. A decrease in the current limitation during the write operation produces LRS states with a higher resistance and a lower stability (i.e. a quicker increase in the resistance and thus a loss of information). This phenomenon is illustrated in FIG. 5 which represents the evolution of the current at a given voltage of 0.1V passing through a memory cell once written in a LRS state as a function of time, this evolution being obtained with two different current limitations: 40 μA and 10 μA. This evolution thus represents the evolution of the resistance of the LRS state as a function of time. The cell written with a limitation of 40 μA has a better stability than that written with a limitation of 10 μA (all the other experimental conditions being otherwise equal) and the SET initial resistance with a limitation of 40 μA is higher than the SET initial resistance with a limitation of 10 μA. The retention performance of the LRS state thus depend on the current limitation and thus on the level of the LRS resistance when writing.
Besides, it has been shown (cf. paper "Temperature impact (up to 200° C.) on performance and reliability of HfO2-based RRAMs" (Cabout T. et al.—IEEE 2013)) that the programming temperature of the memory (i.e. the temperature of the memory when the SET or RESET operation is made) has a very little effect on the resistance levels of the LRS and HRS states of these memories. The curves of FIG. 6 represent the evolution of the initial resistances at the LRS (bottom curve) and HRS (top curve) states as a function of the programming temperature applied (respectively during the SET and RESET operations). It is observed on these curves that the temperature has nearly no influence on the resistance levels. The resistance of the LRS state is thus the same regardless of the write temperature. It will be noted that the same is true for the resistance of the HRS state.

Method for determining programming parameters for programming a resistive random access memory

COMMISSARIAT À L'ÉNERGIE ATOMIQUE ET AUX ÉNERGIES ALTERNATIVES


Methods, systems, and products are disclosed for conducting a conference amongst remote participants. During the conference an object from a library of digital objects is communicated to a participant communications device via a distributed computing network. During the conference the library of digital objects is downloaded to the participant communications device. During the conference a synchronization command is communicated from a host communications device to the participant communications device. The synchronization instructs the participant communications device to present another object from the library of digital objects. A synchronization acknowledgment is received from the participant communications device and confirms a successful presentation of the object on the participant communications device.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention generally relates to electrical computers and, more particularly, to multi-computer data transfer for conferencing and for synchronizing.
2. Description of the Related Art
Bandwidth is a problem when conferencing. Video and/or desktop conferencing, such as training sessions and other distributed presentations, often requires real-time streaming of the presentation materials. If the remote participants are few in number, and/or if the presentation materials are small in size, real-time data streaming may provide an adequate quality of presentation. If, however, there are many remote participants, real-time streaming poses several problems. As the number of remote participants increases, the required bandwidth also increases. Fifty (50) remote participants, for example, could require fifty (50) real-time data streams fanning out from the host computer to each remote participant. As the number of remote participants increases, the host computer is also taxed to manage communications with all the remote participating computers. All the participants to the conference, then, eventually suffer from network congestion and from degradation in processor performance. The quality of the conference is reduced, and all the participants to the conference have a less-than-desired experience. There is, accordingly, a need in the art for methods, systems, and products for improved conferencing among remote participants. There is also a need for reducing the bandwidth required when conferencing that does not rely upon real-time streaming.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Methods, systems, and products for network conferencing


An SPM cantilever of the present invention including: a support portion (1) fabricated by processing a single crystal silicon wafer; a lever portion (2) formed in a manner extended from the support portion; a probe (3) disposed at a free end side of the lever portion; a coating of graphite film (5) covering all over the side on which the probe is formed and the entire probe; and a piece of thin line (6) consisting of a carbon nanofiber (CNF) or carbon nanotube (CNT) or graphite nanofiber (GNF) grown/formed from the graphite film at a probe terminal end portion (3a).

The scanning probe microscopes (SPM) have a measuring resolution of atomic order and are used in various fields such as surface configuration measurements. A scanning probe microscope maintains a distance of the order of nanometer between its probe and a sample so that fine configurations be measured by detection of a physical quantity such as tunneling current or atomic force that occurs between the probe and the sample. Among others, an atomic force microscope (AFM) is suitable for high-resolution detection of the sample surface configuration and is used in measurements of surface configuration of semiconductors, optical disks, biological samples, etc.
The requirements for such scanning probe microscopes have recently been increased, however, for high-resolution measurements and for measuring those portions such as the interior of a trench that has not been reached by a probe heretofore. It is becoming difficult to meet such requirements by those scanning probe microscopes using a conventional Si-made cantilever that is available on market.
In recent years, on the other hand, researches are widely conducted on carbon nanotube (hereinafter referred to as CNT) which is currently formed for the most part using thermal decomposition and arc discharge. According to such methods of forming CNT, a tube having high aspect ratio can be formed as having a length of several μm to as long as several-ten μm in the axial direction as opposed to its diameter of several nanometer to several-ten nanometer. It is also known that such a carbon nanotube is almost completely graphitized and has bonding state equal to or exceeding that of a diamond which has a high level of hardness. It is exceptionally excellent in mechanical strength characteristics.
For this reason, attention is drawn to the use of CNT as a probe of SPM cantilever. For example, Japanese Patent No. 3441397 has proposed a method where CNT is previously grown/formed in a separate apparatus and a manipulator is used to adhere the CNT to a probe terminal end portion of SPM cantilever.
Shown in FIG. 1 is the construction of such previously proposed SPM cantilever having CNT. FIG. 1 includes: a probe 101; a cantilever portion 102; and CNT 103 attached to a probe terminal end portion 101a. Numeral 103a indicates an effective length of CNT 103 and 103b indicates a portion of CNT 103 along which it is adhered to the probe terminal end portion. The SPM cantilever having such construction where CNT 103 is formed as adhered to the probe terminal end portion 101a has a radius of curvature as small as nanometer order at its terminal end. The resolution obtained therefrom is high. It is also excellent in wear resistance and has an advantage that, even if the terminal end of CNT 103 is worn, the radius of curvature of the terminal end coming forth of CNT 103 is unchanged as is the lead of a pencil. Thereby a high resolution can be maintained even after it is used to scan a large number of sample surfaces.
Also, since CNT features an excellent flexibility, the tube itself is flexible so that data can be obtained without damaging a sample even when the sample is soft as a biological sample. Naturally, the feature that CNT is used in forming a probe having high aspect ratio can be applied so as to enable the probe to reach deeper into a trench whereby the configuration of the trench can be faithfully measured even when a deep trench configuration is scanned.
When a manipulator is used to attach CNT 103 to the probe terminal end portion 101a of the cantilever, the bonding strength thereof is weak and an excessive vibration or pressure might cause the adhering portion 103b to come off from the probe terminal end portion 101a. Further, a reduction in the aspect ratio of the probe occurs if a large amount of an adhesive or the like is applied to the bonding portion between the adhering portion 103b of CNT and the terminal end portion 101a of the probe 101 in order to increase the bonding strength thereof. Furthermore it is difficult to control the angle and/or direction at which CNT 103 is attached to the probe terminal end portion 101a and the forming of a probe with a reproducible CNT is also difficult because of the one-by-one work to be done. Moreover, a resistance occurs between CNT 103 and the probe 101 due to the fact that the two are bonded to each other by adhesion, where very small electrical characteristics cannot be measured.
In another method, CNT is formed through a catalyst metal by means of CVD method. In this case, although growth/formation of a large quantity of CNT is possible, the selective forming of a piece of CNT from the probe terminal end portion with controlling the direction of its growth is very difficult. Also, since the catalyst metal is formed all over the lever portion and/or support portion, a large number of CNT are caused to grow not only at the probe terminal end portion of SPM cantilever but also from the sides of the probe and/or the lever portion and/or the support portion. Especially the CNT occurring from the sides of the probe has an adverse effect for example on AFM measurements.
In view of the above problems, it is an object of the present invention to provide SPM cantilever having a probe capable of stable, high resolution measurements with providing high reliability and excellent durability. It is another object of the invention to provide a manufacturing method of SPM cantilever capable of highly reproducible manufacture with using simple methods. It is a further object of the invention to provide SPM cantilever and manufacturing methods thereof having an optimal probe structure or characteristic according to its use and also to provide optimal materials for use in such manufacturing method.

SPM cantilever and manufacturing method thereof


A Light Emitting Diode (LED) array module, which can be used as backlight, includes a bar-shaped Printed Circuit Board (PCB) on which conductive patterns for transmitting power are formed, a base formed on the PCB and made of a heat conductive material, a plurality of LED chips mounted on the base in a line and electrically connected to the conductive patterns of the PCB, a reflector formed to surround the plurality of the LED chips and adapted to reflect light radiated from the plurality of LED chips upward, and a lens formed above the plurality of LED chips and reflector to have a bar shape and adapted to diffuse the light radiated from the plurality of LED chips and reflector in a horizontal direction.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a backlight for a liquid crystal display television and, more particularly, to a liquid crystal display array module for providing backlight, which can be used as an independent device with a plurality of light emitting diodes being integrally packaged, and which can be universally used regardless of a screen size, and a backlight unit having the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) are semiconductor light emitting devices that are light emitting sources formed through the modification of compound semiconductor materials, such as GaAs, AlGaAs, GaN, InGaN and AlGaInP, and generate light of various colors. Additionally, for the criteria of determining the characteristics of an LED device, there are a color, luminance and the intensity of light. Such characteristics of the LED device are determined first by a compound semiconductor material used in the LED device, and considerably affected second by the structure of a package for mounting an LED chip.
Especially, with the advent of high efficiency three primary color (red, blue and green) and white color LEDs implemented using GaN whose physical and chemical characteristics are excellent, the application of LEDs is extended to and used in various fields, such as the backlights of a keypad and a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) device, a signal light, the guide light of an airport runway, and the reading lights and illumination lights of an airplane and an automobile having high directionality.
FIGS. 1a and 1b are a perspective view and a cross section showing an LED device 10 used as the light source of conventional backlight, respectively.
Referring to the drawings, the LED device 10 is formed in such a way that a frame 11 made of a plastic material is provided with leads 11a for inputting and outputting electric signals and a heat sink 12 made of a conductive material, an LED chip 14 is mounted on the heat sink 12, and a lens 16 constructed to reflect light generated from the LED chip 14 in a horizontal direction is combined with the upper portion of the frame 11.
A package structure formed of the frame 11 and the lens 16 is constructed to radiate light generated from the LED chip 14 in an almost horizontal direction and discharge heat generated from the LED chip 14 to the outside thereof, so that stable operating characteristics can be achieved.
FIG. 2 is a view showing a conventional backlight unit implemented using LED devices 10 having such horizontally emitting characteristics, and FIG. 3 is an enlarged view showing an LED array 21 included in the backlight unit of FIG. 2.
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the conventional backlight unit 20 is packaged as shown in FIG. 1, and an LED array module 21 of the conventional backlight unit 20 is formed in such a way that a plurality of LED devices 10 each radiating one of red, blue and green light are mounted in a line to allow three primary colors to be alternately arranged on a Printed Circuit Board (PCB) 30 in which a printed circuit pattern for transmitting electric signals is formed. Additionally, the backlight unit 20 is divided into two equal parts, the LED array module 21 is arranged on the center portion of each divided part, and reflection plates 23 for reflecting horizontally radiated light in a vertical direction are formed on the both sides of the LED array module 21. The PCB 30 of the array module 21 is made of a highly conductive material, such as Al, to increase heat radiation efficiency.
The light radiated from the LED devices 10 that are mounted on the LED array modules 21 is refracted in a vertical direction and dispersed to an entire display screen.
The number of the array modules 21 required by the backlight unit 20 increases in proportion to the screen size of a corresponding display device, and the number of the LED devices 10 required by each LED array module 21 also varies with the screen size of the display device.
Accordingly, as described above, the conventional backlight unit is disadvantageous in that array modules 21 and reflectors 23 should be redesigned in accordance with the screen size of a display device, and the number of high priced-LED devices 10 is increased in proportion to the screen size of the display device.
Furthermore, since the conventional backlight unit causes array modules to be arranged in parallel, the conventional backlight unit is problematic in that the luminance characteristics of the edge portions of the backlight unit spaced apart from the array module 21 are relatively deteriorated compared to those of the center portion thereof.
Furthermore, since the LED array module is constructed to be a single unit, the conventional backlight unit is problematic in that the entire LED array module must be inspected for a defect in the case where the defect occurs in a portion thereof.

Light emitting diode array module for providing backlight and backlight unit having the same


A particle detector that determines the presence of particles in an enclosed volume includes a laser that directs an optical beam to a beam splitter that produces first and second beams. An optical system directs the first beam into the enclosed volume. A detector is positioned adjacent the volume in order to receive back scattered optical energy arising from a particle in the volume encountering the first beam. The back scattered optical energy and the second beam are optically combined so as to overlap in a region and in the overlap region the back scattered optical energy and second beam are in the same state of focus, of the same polarization and are substantially parallel. A detector located at the overlap region produces an electrical signal indicative of the intensity of the back scattered light. A signal processor analyzes the electrical signal to determine the presence of the particle.

Instruments for detecting and counting particles are essential process control tools in semiconductor and semiconductor package manufacturing. Most such instruments employ a sampling technique where a small amount of fluid (e.g. a gas or a liquid) from a volume under test is drawn through an active region of a counter and the particles in the sample are counted. Provided flow rates are known and no particles are lost or gained from the sampling tube walls, these instruments yield reasonably accurate estimates of particle concentrations. In certain cases, however, it may not be possible to sample volumes of fluid from within an enclosure for particle concentrations. Examples of such volumes are vacuum chambers (where there is no fluid to sample) and furnaces where the insertion of sampling probes may be impractical. A sampling process may also produce misleading results where the total fluid volume is small (e.g., inside magnetic disk drives) so that the sample flow becomes large compared to the usual air exchange. This will result in erroneously low particle counts being indicated.
The prior art illustrates a number of optical systems for remote detection of microscopic particles. U.S. Pat. No. 4,737,652 to Faschingleitner et al. illustrates an optical system wherein reference and test beams are passed through a test volume, chopped and then detected to determine the presence of particles in the test beam. By passing the reference beam through a similar environment as the test beam, common mode noise and other perturbations of the test beam can be eliminated.
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,492,467 to Drain et al., a system for determining the size of spherical particles is described wherein back-scattered, circularly polarized light, reflected from a particle, is assessed. The system measures the angular intensity distribution of the back-scattered light and converts it to particle size.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,365,896 to Mihalow, a system is disclosed for correcting for optical attenuation that occurs in a beam used to interrogate an enclosed volume. Bacha1o, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,986,659, describes a method for measuring the size and velocity of microscopic particles, using the phase and intensity of scattered light. The Bachalo system is similar to a phase-Doppler velocimeter wherein a pair of coherent, identical frequency optical beams are caused to cross within a volume being examined, to create an interference pattern at the crossing point. By examining particle-scattered light from the region of interference, the presence of the particle is detected. Bachalo indicates that the scattered light is directed onto photo detectors that enable the phase of a Doppler burst to be detected. In addition, the amplitude of the Doppler burst is detected to enable a sizing of the particle.
A similar system to that described by Bachalo is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,373,807 to Gouesbet. However, one of the crossing beams has its frequency acousto-optically altered by a Bragg cell. As a result, the interference pattern created by the crossing beams exhibits fringe movement at the beat frequency between the beams, such that presence of a particle therein results in a signal offset from the beat frequency by the Doppler frequency. Both Bachalo and Gouesbet achieve their dual beams through the use of a beam splitter and require very precise alignment of their systems to achieve a prescribed beam crossing region.
Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a submicron particle detector which eliminates the need for high precision optical system alignment.
It is another object of this invention to provide an improved optical particle detection system that is able to discriminate between weak signals from particles and much stronger ones from surface scatter and other stray light.
It is still another object of this invention to provide improved optical detection systems that can operate with forward and back-scattered optical energy.

Optical submicron aerosol particle detector

International Business Machines Corporation


A method of operating the automated sample workcell for processing one or more biological samples is presented. The method comprises receiving one or more biological samples. Each biological sample is contained in a sample tube. Each sample tube is a tube type. If a test order was received for at least one of the biological samples, the test order being indicative of one or more first processing steps, the workcell can automatically execute the one or more first processing steps. If the test order was not received, one or more second processing steps can be determined based on the tube type of the sample tube that contains the at least one biological sample and the one or more second processing steps can then be executed.

The present disclosure generally relates to an automated sample workcell and a method for operating an automated sample workcell and, in particular, to an automated sample workcell which is operable to process biological samples and a method for operating an automated sample workcell.
In analytical laboratories, in particular clinical laboratories, a multitude of analyses on biological samples are executed in order to determine the physiological state of a patient. Current pre-analytical specimen processors on the market are able to prepare a plurality of biological samples such as blood, urine, cerebral-spinal fluid, saliva, etc. Biological fluid samples are typically contained in open or capped sample tubes. Before a chemical or biological analysis can be performed on a biological sample, a plurality of different pre-analytical processing steps may have to be executed on a sample of a patient. Such processing steps may comprise centrifugation, capping, decapping, recapping and/or aliquotation steps. The processing steps may also comprise adding chemicals or buffers to a sample, concentrating a sample, incubating a sample, and the like. A growing number of those 'pre-analytical' steps and procedures are executed automatically by automated pre-analytical sample workcells, also known as 'automated pre-analytical systems'. The kind of analytical test to be executed on a biological sample is typically specified in a test order.
One typical problem is with the physical transport and processing of a sample may not always be synchronized with the assignment of a particular analytical test to the biological sample. For example, a blood sample may be drawn from a patient and collected in a sample tube which is then transported manually, or automatically, to an automated sample workcell at a moment in time when it may not clear which kind of biological and/or chemical analysis, also referred to as 'analytical test,' shall be executed on that sample. A physician may have to conduct additional examinations of the patient before he/she can decide which kind of analytical test should be executed on that blood sample of the patient. While the physician conducts the additional examinations, the blood sample of the patient may have already arrive at the automated sample workcell, leaving the automated sample workcell with the question what to do with the sample. According to some laboratory settings, a plurality of samples is received together with a pile of paper-based test orders. In those scenarios, the assignment of electronic test orders to samples may be delayed as the data on the paper-based test orders needs to be entered manually into the lab software before an electronic test order can be requested for a particular sample.
Most state-of-the-art automated sample workcells do not prepare a biological sample for a particular analysis as long as the test order for the sample has not received. Valuable time is lost, as the automated workcell is not able to process the biological sample at all or is merely able to carry samples not having assigned a test order to a buffering station.
Some state-of-the-art automated sample workcells do not request a test order but rather determine the type of the sample tubes of a biological sample and process the sample exclusively based on its tube type. For example, in one known system, the automated sample workcell determines the sample container type by image analysis for distributing the containers to different areas or racks. A disadvantage of this approach is that information on the tube type alone is often not sufficient to determine all processing steps necessary to prepare a particular biological sample for a particular analytical test. In addition, the systems are inflexible, because in a lab there may exist much more processing workflows and corresponding test orders than tube types.
Generally, state-of-the-art automated sample workcells are either completely test order based (and therefore completely dependent on the receipt of a test order) or are solely based on the determination of the tube type. In the latter case, the workcells are inflexible and often not able to sufficiently pre-process a biological sample for a particular analytical test.
Therefore, there is a need for an improved automated sample workcell which is operable to process one or more biological samples even in case no test order was received for the samples, thereby avoiding delays and speeding up sample processing

Method for operating an automated sample workcell


A combined filter cartridge and manifold for use in a water purification system or the like, to facilitate substantially drip-free filter cartridge removal and replacement. The filter cartridge includes water inlet and outlet ports for respective connection with inlet and outlet fittings on the manifold. A pivoting manifold cap normally overlies and retains the filter cartridge in connected relation with the manifold fittings and a water supply coupled to the manifold. Pivoting movement of the manifold cap toward an open position shuts off the water supply and then permits filter cartridge separation from the manifold, with check valves at the manifold inlet/outlet fittings and cartridge inlet/outlet ports preventing significant water leakage. Upon installation of a replacement filter cartridge and return movement of the manifold cap to the initial closed position, cam elements on the manifold cap and filter cartridge draw the cartridge inlet/outlet ports into secure slide-on connection with the manifold inlet/outlet fittings before resuming connection with the water supply.

This invention relates generally to water purification systems of the type having one or more filter elements for producing a supply of filtered or relatively purified water, wherein the filter elements are supported by a filter manifold for relatively quick and easy removal and replacement. More particularly, this invention relates to an improved water purification system wherein each filter cartridge is adapted for removal and replacement in a substantially fail-safe manner, with little or no risk of undesired water spillage in the course of filter cartridge changeover, or from a removed filter cartridge.
Water purification systems are generally well known in the art for producing a relatively purified water supply used for drinking, cooking, etc. Such purification systems commonly employ one or more filter elements connected to an incoming water supply such as a standard tap water inflow. The filter elements appropriately filter or otherwise purify the water inflow to produce a relatively purified water supply which may be coupled directly to a faucet valve or the like for immediate dispensing, or otherwise coupled to a reservoir where it is stored pending dispensing demand. In one common configuration, the purification system comprises a plurality of filter elements including particulate filtration, carbon filtration, and a reverse osmosis (RO) membrane supported on or in a manifold constructed for suitably connecting each filter element to mating flow couplers for normal purification operation, while additionally accommodating relatively quick and easy removal and replacement of each filter element. See, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,045,197; 5,435,909; 5,591,332; and 5,744,030, which are incorporated by reference herein. Such purification systems have been designed for under-counter installation in association with a kitchen sink or the like, or in a stand-alone so-called point-of-use water cooler.
In water purification systems of the type described above, removal and replacement of each filter element is required on a periodic basis to maintain the quality of the produced purified water. The manifold filter element geometry is designed to facilitate filter element changeover, while insuring that each replacement filter element is properly connected for flow-through water passage at the correct location. However, before any one of the filter elements is removed from the manifold, it is first necessary to turn off the incoming water flow. Unfortunately, shutting off the incoming water flow requires the user to locate and properly operate an inflow shut-off valve before a filter element is removed. Many prior manifold systems designed for quick and easy filter element changeover have not provided any means for safeguarding against undesired filter element removal before the incoming water supply is turned off. In this regard, filter element removal without first turning off the water supply can result in significant water leakage and potential damage to adjoining flooring materials and the like.
Some recent water purification systems have been designed for water supply shut-off, before permitting removal and replacement of a filter cartridge. See, for example, U.S. Patent Application Publication US 2002/0125183 A1, which is also incorporated by reference herein. See also U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,591,332; and 5,744,030; and U.S. Patent Application Publication US 2003/0102257 A1.
The present invention is directed to further improvements in and to a combined replaceable filter cartridge and manifold, wherein the filter cartridge is adapted for quick and easy, substantially fail-safe removal from and installation onto the manifold, and further wherein such filter cartridge removal and replacement occurs substantially in the absence of water spillage from the manifold or from a removed filter cartridge.

Filter cartridge and manifold for a water purification system


A wellbore evaluation system evaluates mechanical wear and corrosion to components of a well system including a production tubing string positionable in a well and a sucker rod string movable within the production tubing string. A deviation sensor determines a deviation profile of the well, a rod sensor senses and measures wear and corrosion to the sucker rod string as it is removed from the well to determine a rod profile, and a tubing sensor senses and measures wear and corrosion to the production tubing string as it is removed from the well to determine a tubing profile. A data acquisition computer is in communication with the sensors for computing and comparing two or more of the respective deviation profile, rod profile, and tubing profile as a function of depth in the well. A 3-dimensional image of wellbores, with isogram mapping, may be generated and examined over the internet.

Oil and gas wells are typically drilled with a rotary drill bit, and the resulting borehole is cased with steel casing cemented in the borehole to support pressure from the surrounding formation. Hydrocarbons may then be produced through smaller diameter production tubing suspended within the casing. Although fluids can be produced from the well using internal pressure within a producing zone, pumping systems are commonly used to lift fluid from the producing zone in the well to the surface of the earth. This is often the case with mature producing fields where production has declined and operating margins are thin.
The most common pumping system used in the oil industry is the sucker rod pumping system. A pump is positioned downhole, and a drive motor transmits power to the pump from the surface with a sucker rod string positioned within the production tubing. Rod strings include both "reciprocating" types, which are axially stroked, and "rotating" types, which rotate to power progressing cavity type pumps. The latter type is increasingly used, particularly in wells producing heavy, sand-laden oil or producing fluids with high water/oil ratios. The rod string can consist of a group of connected, essentially rigid, steel or fiberglass sucker rod sections or "joints" in lengths of 25 or 30 feet. Joints are sequentially connected or disconnected as the string is inserted or removed from the borehole, respectively. Alternatively a continuous sucker rod (COROD) string can be used to connect the drive mechanism to the pump positioned within the borehole.
A number of factors conspire to wear down and eventually cause failure in both sucker rods and the production tubing in which they move. Produced fluid is often corrosive, attacking the sucker rod surface and causing pitting that may lead to loss of cross-sectional area or fatigue cracking and subsequent rod failure. Produced fluid can also act like an abrasive slurry that can lead to mechanical failure of the rod and tubing. The rod and tubing also wear against each other. Such wear may be exacerbated where the well or borehole is deviated from true vertical. Even boreholes believed to have been drilled so as to be truly vertical and considered to be nominally straight may deviate considerably from true vertical, due to factors such as drill bit rotational speed, weight on the drill bit, inherent imperfections in the size, shape, and assembly of drill string components and naturally-occurring changes in the formation of the earth that affect drilling penetration rate and direction. Also, some boreholes are intentionally drilled at varying angles using directional drilling techniques designed to reach different parts of a hydrocarbon-producing formation. As a result, sucker rods and production tubing are never truly concentric, especially during the dynamics of pumping, and instead contact one another and wear unpredictably over several thousand feet of depth. Induced wear is therefore a function of many variables, including well deviation from true vertical; angle or "dogleg" severity; downhole pump operating parameters; dynamic compression, tensile and sidewall loads; harmonics within the producing sucker rod string; produced solids; produced fluid lubricity; and water to oil ratio. Additionally, in certain conditions, such as in geologically active areas or in areas of hydrocarbon production from diatomite formations, wellbores may shift over time, causing additional deviation from vertical.
For many years it has been possible to determine the deviation of a borehole, or wellbore, from true vertical. Such techniques are used extensively in the drilling of new wellbores, either as periodic "single shot" surveys, "multishot" surveys or even continuously while drilling, known as "MWD". U.S. Pat. No. 6,453,239 to Shirasaka, et al, U.S. Pat. No. 5,821,414 to Noy, et al, U.S. Pat. No. 4,987,684 to Andreas, et al and U.S. Pat. No. 3,753,296 to Van Steenwyk, disclose such examples of surveying wellbores. However, in the case of most existing rod-pumped oil wells, any such surveys performed during the original drilling of the well largely comprised periodic surveys of wellbore direction and inclination performed only at one or two key intervals during the well-drilling operation. Consequently, a continuous profile of the wellbore deviation, giving rise to tubing and rod wear, is not generally known. Alternatively, performing a dedicated, continuous directional survey of existing wellbores, such as those contemplated in the above patents, is generally cost-prohibitive. There is a need for a cost-effective directional survey that can be integrated into well work-over operations of existing producing wellbores to obtain an accurate, nearly continuous deviation profile and allow mitigation of rod and tubing wear.
Failure of pumped oil wells due to the cumulative effect of the wear of sucker rods on tubing and such wear combined with corrosion is considered to be the single largest cause of well down time. Generally accepted methods of mitigating such wear include installing rod guides to centralize the sucker rod in the tubing with selected tubing surface contact materials; sinker bars to add weight to the sucker rod string; tubing insert liners composed of wear-resistant materials such as nylon and polythene; and improving operational practice. Examples of rod guides are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,152,223 to Abdo, U.S. Pat. No. 5,339,896 to Hart, U.S. Pat. No. 5,115,863 to Olinger, and U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,492,174 and 5,487,426 to O'Hair. An example of a tubing liner insert is U.S. Pat. No. 5,511,619 to Jackson. Since many of these mitigation techniques are expensive to apply, oil well operators must carefully assess the economics of any such mitigation techniques.
Although wear can be mitigated, it cannot be eliminated, so inspection of sucker rods and production tubing are common in the industry. Well operators within the industry commonly follow a "run until failure" approach, only inspecting components upon failure of some element of the wellbore, which may include a hole or split in the tubing, pump failure, rod failure, or tubing separation. The nature of the industry is that down-time is costly, both in terms of lost or deferred production and the actual cost to repair the failure by work-over of the wellbore. Another reason well operators are reluctant to perform inspections at regular intervals is that the diagnostic capabilities of current inspection practices are somewhat limited. A more useful, reliable, and economical method of wear and corrosion pattern analysis and diagnosis that gives rise to mitigation opportunities would allow operators to be more proactive. Further, many operators are unable to devote the time and human resources to perform the necessary analysis of data such as well deviation, rod failure and tubing failure.
The most basic wear analysis techniques include simply observing the wear patterns contained within the individual lengths of oil well production tubing, to empirically inspect tubing for wall thickness loss due to mechanical wear and corrosion of sucker rods and tubing. Caliper surveys are available to measure the inside diameter of production tubing but cannot examine the condition of the outside condition of the tubing.
More sophisticated inspection techniques employ magnetic sensor technologies to assess the condition of production tubing. Magnetic testing devices have been known for many years, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,555,853 to Irwin and more specifically for oilfield tubulars and sucker rods in U.S. Pat. No. 2,855,564 to Irwin for a Magnetic Testing Apparatus and Method. Applying this technology to the inspection of oilfield tubulars, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,492,115, 4,636,727 and 4,715,442 to Kahil et al. disclose tubing trip tools and methods for determining the extent of defects in continuous production tubing strings during removal from the well. The tools and methods include magnetic flux leakage sensor coils and Hall-effect devices for detecting defects such as average wall thickness, corrosion, pitting, and wear. One or more of the Kahil tools further include a velocity and position detector, for correlating the location of individual defects to their locations along the tubing string. A profile of the position of the defects in the continuous string can also be established.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,843,317 to Dew discloses a method and apparatus for measuring casing wall thickness using an axial main coil for generating a flux field enveloping the casing wall. U.S. Pat. No. 6,316,937 to Edens discloses a combination of magnetic Hall effect sensors and digital signal processing to evaluate defects and wear. U.S. Pat. No. 5,914,596 to Weinbaum discloses a magnetic flux leakage and sensor system to inspect for defects and measure the wall thickness and diameter of continuous coiled tubing. All of these systems induce magnetic flux within the tubing. Surface defects result in magnetic flux leakage. Sensors measure the leakage and are thereby used to locate and quantify the surface defect.
Techniques are also known for magnetically inspecting sucker rods. Conventional sucker rod segments are commonly removed from an oil well, separated, and trucked to inspection plants to be "reclaimed". U.S. Pat. No. 2,855,564 to Irwin discloses a magnetic testing apparatus used in inspection of sucker rods, and U.S. Pat. No. 3,958,049 to Payne discloses an example of a process for reclaiming used sucker rod. In the latter patent, the salvaged rod is degreased, visually inspected, subjected to a shot peening operation, and analyzed for structural imperfections. Magnetic induction techniques are employed, albeit at an inspection plant, rather than on-site. A system for evaluating a coiled sucker rod string, or "COROD", as it is pulled from a well is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,580,268 B2 to Wolodko. Defects within the COROD may be correlated with their position. The system generates "real time" calculated dimensional display of the COROD and cross sectional area as a function of position. Wireless technology can be used, such as to convey signals from a processor unit as many as 200 feet to a laptop server.
Certain aspects of the sucker rod and production tubing inspection techniques discussed have a certain level of sophistication, such as the use of wireless technology and digital signal processing. Ironically, however, the analyses derived from the resulting data are relatively limited and shortsighted. The data obtained is not optimally used to correct or mitigate wear. For example, the end result of conventional sucker rod inspection and reclamation is the rather simplistic determination of whether to re-classify and reuse or dispose of each rod.
Additionally, because the production tubing in most rod-pumped producing wells is tubing that has previously been used in other wells or from such reclaimed supplies, pre-existing wear patterns on tubing alone are often misleading as to the root causes of tubing wear in the current wellbore. Further, even a detailed, positional analysis of defects does not provide an adequate window as to their root cause or mitigation. For example, in general, well operators simply reposition rod guides, which may merely shift wear on the rod or tubing to another position along the string. An alternative technique to mitigate rod wear on tubing is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 36,362E to Jackson, whereby an abrasion resistant polymer, such as polyethylene, is inserted into the tubing. This technique, however, reduces the inside diameter of the tubing and does not assess the cause of tubing wear. As a result, the polythene liner may simply fail over time, rather than the tubing, which still necessitates work-over. Not even "real time" data reports provide an adequate solution to mitigating wear, because they do nothing to improve the quality or scope of the analysis, or correlate tubing condition information with rod condition information. An accurate analysis of the cause of wellbore failure due to tubing or rod failure is also aided with a profile of the wellbore deviation.
Another problem with existing inspection systems is that there is no available means of performing these assessments in a cost-effective and timely manner so that tubing wear can be mitigated through an economical solution specific to a well. Because quickly returning the well to production is of paramount importance, full analysis of any limited information available is often difficult, if not impossible, to perform before the well is returned to production.
The disadvantages of the prior art are overcome by the present invention. An improved system is provided for evaluating and mitigating one or more of wear and corrosion on rod strings and tubular strings.


A picture hanging system comprises an elongate support member arranged for attachment to a wall or ceiling so as to define a cavity, an opening for the cavity having a projection arranged to restrict the width of the opening; and a picture mounting unit comprising a rigid element for attachment to a support element for the picture, wherein the rigid element is configured so as to be insertable through the opening in a first orientation thereof, in which second orientation the rigid element cannot pass through the opening.

Pictures are hung in various environments for different reasons. For example, at home, a picture may be hung for decorative reasons whereas in a gallery a picture may be hung to display the picture to a wide audience. In offices, pictures are used to decorate the office interior and can also be employed as a status symbol for that company. In all such cases, the means for hanging the picture should not detract from the picture and is preferably thus as unobtrusive as possible.
Track systems are known for displaying pictures, for example as shown in FIGS. 1 to 4. Such systems generally include an elongate track that is fastened to a wall, a lower portion of the track being configured to receive a hook or, at an open end, the enlarged head of a catch that is slidably received in the track.
In such systems a cord can be attached to the hook or catch which in turn is attached to the picture to be hung. Alternatively, the catch itself projects downwardly to a position where a picture can be attached directly thereto. With such arrangements, the catch can be moved along the track so as to provide alternative positions for hanging the picture on the wall.
Such systems suffer however from certain problems. Firstly, with the arrangements shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the catch member projects below the track and thus detracts from the appearance of the picture being displayed. With the arrangements shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, additional catch members can be introduced into the track only from an open end thereof. Hence, if an additional picture is to be hung between existing pictures then all the pictures between the desired position and the open end of the track have to be taken down from their respective hooks or catches and shifted along one hook or catch. This can involve a large amount of work and discourages the moving around of pictures, for example to evaluate their best position, and reduces the inclination to swap picture or to introduce additional pictures.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a picture hanging system that seeks to alleviate such problems associated with known arrangements.
According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a picture hanging system comprising an elongate support member arranged for attachment to a wall or ceiling so as to define a cavity, an opening for the cavity including a projection arranged to restrict the width of the opening; and
a picture mounting means comprising a rigid element for attachment to a support means for the picture; PA1 wherein the rigid element is configured so as to be insertable through the opening in a first orientation thereof and to be movable within the cavity into a second orientation thereof, in which second orientation the element cannot pass through the opening. PA1 a picture mounting means comprising a cord attached to a rigid element; PA1 wherein the rigid element is configured so as to be insertable through the opening and, upon subsequent downward movement of the cord, to be pivotable in relation to the cord so as to catch on the ledge portion.
With such an arrangement, when a picture is hun using the system, all that the observer will see is the elongate support member and the picture support means. The elongate support member can take the form of a rail and be placed high on the wall, and thus generally out of view, and the picture support means can take the form of a cord, e.g. formed of a substantially transparent material such as nylon, so that the appearance of the picture is not spoiled by any support structure.
Furthermore, the system for attaching the picture mounting means within the elongate support member allows support at any position along its length. Hence, extra pictures can be readily added at any position between existing pictures.
The arrangement of the rigid element and the picture support means allows the rigid element to be easily inserted into and removed from the support member. Once correctly inserted the load applied by way of a picture attached to the picture mounting means acts to securely wedge the rigid element in place within the support member. The picture hanging system thus affords a reliable, strong and durable means for hanging pictures.
Preferably, the elongate support member comprises two parts that are configured to snap-fit together. In this manner, a first said part can be readily fixed to an appropriate wall or ceiling surface, using a suitable connection means, without obstruction from the second part. Once in place, the second part can be snap-fitted to the first part to cover the means of connection of the first part to the wall or ceiling. The second part thus acts at least partly as a cover plate which can be removed if the elongate support member is ever to be taken down and/or repositioned.
Conveniently, the projection is provided on the second part. The connection between the first and second parts may conveniently be arranged so that any load applied by the picture mounting means acts to bias the first and second parts together.
The component parts of the elongate support member are preferably formed of aluminum, produced e.g. by extrusion techniques. Suitable alternative materials may include other metals or plastics. Suitable alternative forming techniques may include roll-forming.
In a further embodiment, the elongate support member may be a single profile with openings for facilitating installation of the elongate support member on the wall or ceiling. Such openings may be coverable by, for example, a clip-on cover.
According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a picture hanging system comprising an elongate support member for attachment to a wall or ceiling, the support member having at least one ledge portion that defines, in use, an edge of an opening arranged to be on the underside of the support member; and


Write requests are performed against one or more resources of a resource group in a persistent and atomic manner. When a write request is received, a backup resource group is updated to reflect data in a current resource group. Thereafter, the write request is performed against the backup resource group. After successfully performing the write operation(s), the backup resource group and the current resource group are swapped in an atomic, consistent manner, such that the backup resource group is now the new current resource group.

This invention relates, in general, to processing within a computing environment, and in particular, to providing a consistent, persistent and atomic swap of resource groups.
Data integrity is one of the most important concerns that arises when executing operations within a computing environment. In particular, it is crucial not to lose any type of data modifications. If a system within the computing environment fails, it is typically imperative to have adequate recovery scenarios.
In order to provide proper recovery, it is customary to maintain a backup of the data. In one example, this backup is performed periodically. Further, changes to the data are written to log files that track what has occurred, since the last backup. During a recovery, the backup is used, as well as the log files, to reconstruct the operations that took place prior to the failure, and to restore the data.
Although efforts have been made to provide adequate backups, further improvements are needed. For example, a capability is needed to provide a backup of data that is platform independent, provided at an application level and is efficient.
The shortcomings of the prior art are overcome and additional advantages are provided through the provision of a method of managing modifications to resource groups of a computing environment. The method includes, for instance, executing a current modification request on one or more resources of a backup resource group; and atomically swapping the modified backup resource group and a current resource group, such that the modified backup resource group becomes the current resource group, and wherein the atomically swapping includes changing one or more names of the backup resource group without affecting the lengths of one or more names.
System and computer program products corresponding to the above-summarized methods are also described and claimed herein.
Additional features and advantages are realized through the techniques of the present invention. Other embodiments and aspects of the invention are described in detail herein and are considered a part of the claimed invention.

Method, system and program products for atomically and persistently swapping resource groups

International Business Machines Corporation


Lateral frames of the disclosed mold can be replaced easily and rapidly without disassembling a continuous casting machine, so as to improve the operational efficiency and to reduce the cost. The mold comprises a fixed longitudinal frame and a movable longitudinal frame which can be opened/closed by remote control, and a pair of fixed lateral frame members to which variable lateral frame members securely joined with lateral copper plates are detachably attached. A bracket provided on each of the variable lateral frame members is brought into engagement with a bracket receiving recess formed in each of the fixed lateral frame members in order to position the lower end portions of the lateral frame members. After that, the upper end portions of them are securely fixed by clamping means. Thus, the lateral frame members are integrally joined so that a mold cooling water supply/drain pipe and a spray water supply pipe for a foot shoe are connected to water conduits in the variable lateral frame member. In this manner, replacement of the lateral frames having a size corresponding to a desired thickness of cast pieces can be achieved.

1. Industrial Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an improvement of an adjustable mold for continuous casting of articles of different thicknesses.
2. Description of the Prior Art
As a technique concerning a so-called article thickness variable mold for continuous casting in which the mold cavity is selectively defined to have a desired thickness by replacing only lateral frames held between longitudinal frames, there has conventionally been known a mold, for example, disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Unexamined Publication No. 62-72749. In this example, one of the longitudinal frames constituting the mold is fixed, and the other free longitudinal frame opposite to the fixed one is movably attached to the fixed longitudinal frame. Lateral frames of a size corresponding to a desired thickness of a cast piece are replaceably held between those two longitudinal frames. Frame cooling water supply/drain pipes associated with the respective lateral frames are replaceably connected to opposite ends of the free longitudinal frame.
With the conventional mold for continuous casting, however, the whole lateral frames must be detached from their transfer devices in a narrow space on the machine, and this operation not only takes much labor but also is dangerous. In actual practice, therefore, the whole mold is removed from the machine and transferred to a workshop, and then, the lateral frames are replaced by new lateral frames for a desired article thickness. In such a method, it takes a long time to change the mold size. Also, various kinds of molds for replacement which have sizes corresponding to predetermined thicknesses of cast pieces may be prepared in advance so as to use one of them to replace the mold every time the cast piece thickness is changed. However, this arrangement is extremely disadvantageous in respect of cost reduction because expenses for its equipment are high.
Taking the problems of the above-described conventional technique into consideration, the present invention has an object to enable quick replacement of lateral frames without disassembling the machine, thus improving the operational efficiency and reducing the cost.

Adjustable mold for continuous casting of articles of different thicknesses


A vacuumatic concrete planer for preventing dust from escaping the dust collecting bag attached to the vacuum blower assembly . The vacuumatic concrete planer includes a wheeled housing, a motor being mounted to the housing, a grinder blade assembly being disposed towards the front end of the housing, and a vacuum blower assembly being disposed towards the rear end of the housing. The grinder blade assembly and the vacuum blower assembly are operated by the motor through pulleys and belts being provided thereon. The grinder blade assembly comprises a shaft being held rotatably within the housing by suitable bearings. A plurality of laminated and fiberglass reinforced disc-like cutting stones are keyed to the shaft and protrude from the open bottom portion of the housing. The stones are securely held on the shaft by opposing counter balance washers and lock nuts. A vacuum cleaner is mounted to the housing. The vacuum cleaner has a suction hose in communication with the vacuum blower assembly.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to pavement or concrete planers and more particularly pertains to a new vacuumatic concrete planer for preventing dust from escaping the dust collecting bag attached to the vacuum blower assembly
2. Description of the Prior Art
The use of pavement or concrete planers is known in the prior art. More specifically, pavement or concrete planers 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 pavement or concrete planers include U. S. Pat. No. 5,263,769; U.S. Pat. No. 4,878,713; U.S. Pat. No. Des. 309,613; U.S. Pat. No. 4,006,936; U.S. Pat. No. 4,834,463; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,637,753.
Another related prior art pavement or concrete planer is the Republic of the Philippines Patent No. 28976 issued Jun. 30, 1995. In this prior vacuumated concrete planer, there are two primary drawbacks. First, the dust collected from the vacuum blower assembly of the vacuumated concrete planer always escapes from a bag attached on the tube thereof even if water is applied to the surface to be ground. This leads bronchial problems and illness to the user. Second, the unitary disc type cutting stone of the planer under this patent develops irregular grinding thickness due to irregular surfaces to be grind.
While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the aforementioned patents do not disclose a new vacuumatic concrete planer. The inventive device includes a wheeled housing, a motor being mounted to the housing, a grinder blade assembly being disposed towards the front end of the housing, a vacuum blower assembly being disposed towards the rear end of the housing, the grinder blade assembly and the vacuum blower assembly being operated by the motor through pulleys and belts being provided thereon, wherein the grinder blade assembly comprising a shaft being held rotatably within the housing by suitable bearings, a plurality of laminated and fiberglass reinforced disc-like cutting stones keyed to the shaft and protruding from the open bottom portion of the housing, the stones being securely held on the shaft by opposing counter balance washers and lock nuts, and a vacuum cleaner having a suction hose, the vacuum cleaner being mounted to the housing, the suction hose being in communication with the vacuum blower assembly.
In these respects, the vacuumatic concrete planer 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 preventing dust from escaping the dust collecting bag attached to the vacuum blower assembly.


According to the invention, a shaft as a component of a shaft member of a hydrodynamic bearing and a disc member such as a thrust plate are joined to each other by welding by a simple method with high precision. A shaft having a cylindrical outer circumferential surface, in joint surfaces which are joined to each other of the shaft and a disc member having a flat surface facing an end surface of the shaft, a circumferential projection having a diameter smaller than the outside diameter of the shaft and projected in the axial direction and a recess at least of which outer periphery has a diameter smaller than the outside diameter of the shaft and larger than the diameter of the projection and has a circular shape are provided.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a hydrodynamic bearing in which a shaft member is constructed by joining and fixing a disc member such as a disc-shaped thrust plate to a shaft and a method of manufacturing the same, an apparatus of manufacturing a shaft member for a hydrodynamic bearing, a spindle motor having the hydrodynamic bearing, and a recording disk driving apparatus for rotating a recording disk by a spindle motor.
2. Background Information
Hitherto, as a bearing of a motor for rotating a recording disk in a hard disk driving apparatus, a removable disk driving apparatus, or the like, various hydrodynamic bearings for rotatably supporting a rotor by generating a dynamic pressure by a lubrication fluid such as oil held in a space between a shaft and a sleeve at the time of rotation of the motor have been proposed. Such a hydrodynamic bearing is constructed by, for example, a radial hydrodynamic bearing part and a thrust hydrodynamic bearing part. A shaft part (shaft member) is constructed by a shaft having a cylindrical outer circumferential surface and a thrust plate (disc member) provided so as to be substantially orthogonal to the axis of the shaft. The radial hydrodynamic bearing part is constructed in the outer circumferential surface of the shaft, and the thrust hydrodynamic bearing part is constructed in the flat surface of the thrust plate.
As a method of fixing the shaft and the thrust plate to each other, for example, a method disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (JP-A) No. 2000-324753 is known. In the method, the thrust plate is formed in an annular shape and is press fit to the outer circumferential surface at one end of the shaft, and a joint part between the end surface of the shaft and the thrust plate is fixed by laser welding. There is another known method disclosed in JP-A No. 2003-097545 in which a screw part is provided for each of the outer circumferential surface of an end portion of a shaft and the inner circumferential surface of an annular thrust plate and the screw parts are screwed to each other, thereby fixing the shaft and the thrust plate to each other.
In recent years, application of a recording disk driving apparatus used for an apparatus such as a personal computer to a smaller portable information terminal has been started. A spindle motor mounted on a driving apparatus of this kind is requested to have high-speed and high-precision rotation which are conventionally demanded and, in addition, smaller size, reduced thickness, lower cost, and lower power consumption.
To address such requests, however, the dimension in the axial direction of the shaft has to be shortened. In the case of using both press fitting and laser welding disclosed in JP-A No. 2000-324753 and the case of fixing the shaft and the thrust plate by screwing disclosed in JP-A No. 2003-097545, to maintain the perpendicularity of the thrust plate to the axis of the shaft with high precision, the thrust plate has to be thick to a certain extent. Consequently, it is difficult to sufficiently assure the support length of the shaft by the radial hydrodynamic bearing part.
In a spindle motor, holding of the posture of the rotor such as whirling during rotation of the rotor on which a recording disk is mounted thoroughly depends on the radial hydrodynamic bearing part. Therefore, to stably hold the posture of the rotor, the support length of the shaft by the radial hydrodynamic bearing part has to be sufficiently assured. It is, however, very difficult to make the motor smaller and thinner as a whole while maintaining the requested rotation precision.
JP-A No. 2002-168240 discloses a method of integrally forming a shaft and a thrust plate in order to reduce the thickness of the thrust plate. JP-A No. 2003-056567 discloses a method of fixing a shaft and a disc-shaped thrust plate by performing resistance welding on the axial part.
According to the method of integrally forming the shaft and the thrust plate (JP-A No. 2002-168240) and the method of fixing the shaft and the disc-shaped thrust plate by resistance welding (JP-A No. 2003-056567), the motor can be made smaller and thinner as a whole while maintaining the requested rotation precision. However, there are still the following technical problems.
Consequently, a molding method by casting is not suitable for a member as a component of the hydrodynamic bearing, such as the shaft and the thrust plate. The reason is that a number of small holes are formed in the surface of the member by casting and, in the case of performing a finishing process by cutting the surface of the shaft or thrust plate (surface precision process) after the casting process, metal particles such as powders generated at the time of cutting enter the small holes and cannot be easily removed perfectly by cleaning. If the hydrodynamic bearing is used while the metal particles such as powders remain on the surface of the members, the metal particles in the small holes are gradually raked out by the flow of a lubrication fluid by rotation and are mixed into the lubrication fluid, so that it causes problems such as seize, damage, and the like of the bearing.
Consequently, a method of forming the shaft and the thrust plate by a cutting process of, for example, cutting a metal rod member is common. In the case of forming the shaft and the thrust plate integrally as disclosed in JP-A No. 2002-168240, a metal rod member having a diameter larger than that of the thrust plate extended in a flange shape from the outer circumferential surface of the shaft is cut, so that long time is required for the processing, the yield deteriorates, and productivity decreases. Since the member is much wasted, it may disturb reduction in the cost.
In addition, in the case of integrally forming the shaft and the thrust plate, when a finishing process is performed on the flat surface of the thrust plate as a component of the thrust hydrodynamic bearing part, a grinding relief for finishing the bearing surface by grinding has to be provided for the root portion of the shaft (the corner portion between the shaft and the thrust plate). The grinding relief is created by a process of preliminarily removing a portion with which a grinding stone does not come into contact, of the corner in the root portion. Consequently, to assure the area of the flat surface of the thrust plate and obtain necessary support rigidity in the thrust direction, the diameter of the thrust plate has to be also increased. Therefore, the viscous resistance of the lubricant fluid at the time of rotation in the radial hydrodynamic bearing part and the thrust hydrodynamic bearing part increases, and the rotation load of the motor increases, so that a power consumption amount also increases.
In the method of fixing the shaft and the disc-shaped thrust plate by resistance-welding the axial portions of them (JP-A No. 2003-056567), problems such as increase in the cost and power consumption amount like in the case of integrally forming the shaft and the thrust plate can be avoided. However, since the resistance welding is performed in a state where a projection provided around the axis of the shaft and the thrust plate are in point-contact with each other, the stress and heat occurring when the shaft and the thrust plate are pressurized and pressed against with each other are concentrated in the projection portion of the shaft. It is therefore feared that a deformation such as deflection occurs in the case of using a thin thrust plate. Further, since the resistance welding is performed around the axis of the shaft, it is difficult to assure a sufficient welding area and it is also feared that the welding strength varies. If a heavy voltage is applied or current carrying time is increased to prevent such variations in the welding strength, new problems occur such as melting of an electrode contact portion between the shaft and the thrust plate and occurrence of so-called weld dusts created when the temperature in the welded portion becomes too high and a melted metal drifts.
When deflection occurs in the thrust plate as a component of the thrust hydrodynamic bearing part, naturally, the support precision deteriorates, so that the thrust plate cannot rotate stably. Since the weld dusts cannot be completely removed even by cleaning like the metal particles, it may cause seize or damage in the bearing part.
Further, in the case of joining the shaft and the thrust plate to each other by resistance welding, to eliminate the influence of variations in dimensional precision due to process tolerances and to join the members at high precision to an extent that it does not exert an influence on the axis support, it is necessary to absorb the variations in dimensional precision by an axis adjusting jig for adjusting the axes of the shaft and the thrust plate at the time of welding.
The problems as described above occur not only in the case of joining the thrust plate as a component of the thrust hydrodynamic bearing part to the shaft as a component of the radial hydrodynamic bearing part but also in the case of joining another disc member such as a disc-shaped member for preventing coming off to the shaft as a component of the radial hydrodynamic bearing part.

Hydrodynamic bearing, method of manufacturing the same, method of manufacturing shaft member for hydrodynamic bearing, spindle motor, and recording disk driving apparatus


The present invention describes methods and systems for extracting, capturing, reducing, storing, sequestering, or disposing of carbon dioxide (C02), particularly from the air. The CO2 extraction methods and systems involve the use of chemical processes. Methods are also described for extracting and/or capturing CO2 via exposing air containing carbon dioxide to a solution comprising a base—resulting in a basic solution which absorbs carbon dioxide and produces a carbonate solution. The solution is causticized and the temperature is increased to release carbon dioxide, followed by hydration of solid components to regenerate the base.

The combustion of fossil fuels provides the vast majority of the global energy supply. The necessary byproduct of this combustion is carbon dioxide (CO2) gas. Accumulation of CO2 gas in the atmosphere has provoked concern regarding its effect on the global climate and spawned worldwide interest in the reduction of CO2 emissions to the atmosphere.
One approach of managing atmospheric emissions is through a chemical process known as air extraction, by which CO2 is removed directly from the atmosphere.
The present invention presents a preliminary design for a plant that used wet scrubber techniques to remove CO2 directly from air.

Systems and methods for extraction of carbon dioxide from air

The Trustees of Columbia University in the City of New York


A method for visualizing an object of interest includes obtaining an image of an object of interest, automatically separating the image into tissue clusters, automatically selecting foreground clusters from the tissue clusters, automatically generating a contour based on the selected foreground clusters, and displaying an image of the object of interest including the foreground clusters and the contour. A system and non-transitory computer readable medium are also described herein.

The subject matter described herein relates generally to imaging systems, and more particularly, to systems and methods for performing image segmentation and visualization.
Imaging systems are widely used to generate images of various anatomical features or objects of interest. For example, in an oncology examination, a patient may go through a series of examinations, using for example, a computed tomography (CT) system, a positron emission tomography (PET) system, an ultrasound system, an x-ray system, a magnetic resonance (MR) system, a single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) system, and/or other imaging systems. The series of examinations is performed to continuously monitor the patient's response to treatment. The images acquired during the examination may be displayed or saved to enable a physician to perform a diagnosis of the patient. Thus, the patient may be scanned with one or more imaging systems selected to provide the most relevant images needed by the physician to perform the medical diagnosis.
To improve the ability of the physician to perform the medical diagnosis, the physician may desire to enhance various relevant features in the images. For example, the physician may desire to enhance anatomical structures, such as tumors or complex organs. However, enhancing complex, large, irregular-shaped, heterogeneous features is time consuming when being manually performed by the physician.

Systems and methods for performing segmentation and visualization of images


A new and distinct Alstroemeria plant variety producing flowers of good quality and attractive coloration.

The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of Alstroemeria originated as a seedling by crossing as seed parent an unreleased, unpatented seedling identified as 88T501-2 and as pollen parent an unreleased, unpatented seedling identified as 86G713-1 from among my collection of Alstroemeria seedlings maintained under controlled conditions in a greenhouse at Van Staaveren B.V., Aalsmeer, The Netherlands, for developmental purposes. The varietal denomination of the new variety is `Stanata`.
The first act of asexual reproduction of `Stanata` was in Aalsmeer, The Netherlands, by propagation by dividing rhizomes. Asexual reproduction by dividing rhizomes in Aalsmeer, The Netherlands, has demonstrated that the combination of characteristics as herein disclosed for `Stanata` are firmly fixed and retained through successive generations of asexual reproduction.
`Stanata` has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. Phenotypic expression may vary with variations in environment such as temperature, light intensity, day length and growing and cultural conditions.


The present invention provides a unique material support system which is capable of scanning RFID tags of a large number of items in the material support system in an automated manner. A material support system is provided for supporting items having RFID tags placed on the items. At least one item support is provided. Each of the at least one item support is adapted to support a horizontal row of items. At least one radio frequency antenna is positioned adjacent the at least one item support. An antenna support system is provided. The antenna support system transports the at least one radio frequency antenna along the horizontal row of items at the at least one item support.

The present invention is directed to a material support system for supporting items, such as individual items, for example, items being merchandised at a retail store, or the like. The invention may also be applied to containers of items, such as pallets or totes. The invention is applicable to a retail store merchandising system, namely, a system of retail store shelves, or the like. The invention is also applicable to a warehouse material-handling system, such as an automatic storage and retrieval system, or the like.
Radio frequency identification (RFID) tags are used as a replacement for barcodes. RFID tags are capable of providing significantly greater information than barcodes and are capable of being read irrespective of the orientation of the item bearing the RFID tag. An RFID tag emits radio frequency signals containing information stored on the RFID tag when excited by an RFID reader. RFID readers typically operate to read the RFID tag as an item is transported past the stationary reader. Alternatively, the RFID reader may be a handheld device that is manually scanned past the item bearing the RFID tag.

Material support system for supporting items having radio frequency identification (RFID) tags


Various approaches for generating a clock accurate simulation model from a circuit design description are disclosed. In one approach, a graph representation of the circuit design description is created. The graph representation includes nodes and edges. From the nodes in the graph representation, a plurality of register nodes are generated to correspond to respective register functions. Logic optimization is performed on nodes that represent combinational logic functions. For each register node and each output node, an evaluation equation is generated after performing logic optimization. For each clock cycle of a logic simulation, each evaluation equation is evaluated and produces an output value for the next clock cycle.

The operation of a digital system may be predicted by a logic simulation. A logic simulation of a digital system may be used to predict the operation of the system prior to implementing the system in hardware, based on a description of the system in a hardware description language (HDL). The logic simulation may predict system operation by providing a time sequence of values for every output and every internal signal of the digital system when given a particular time sequence of values for the inputs of the digital system. The response of the digital system may be predicted for various input scenarios by respective logic simulations.
During the development of a digital system, a designer may examine the predicted operation provided by logic simulations of various scenarios to discover unintended behavior. Unintended behavior is typically exposed by a symptom that occurs somewhat later in simulation time than the cause of the unintended behavior. A designer may use the signal values generated by the logic simulation to trace backwards in simulation time from the symptom of a defect to the cause of a defect.
Logic simulation is invaluable to discover and fix defects in a digital system prior to implementing the digital system in hardware. Execution speed is an important characteristic of a logic simulation. The execution speed of a logic simulation may determine how long a designer has to wait for the results for a scenario. The execution speed may limit the number scenarios that may be attempted.
The present invention may address one or more of the above issues.

Generating fast logic simulation models for a PLD design description


An electronic module includes a housing, an electronic circuit arrangement arranged therein, and at least one cylindrical bus bar which is connected to the circuit arrangement and which projects through an opening formed at the housing to form a connection area with electric connection leads. In order to provide a module with strain relief that is protected against external influences, a substantially plate-shaped connection lug whose radial extension exceeds that of the bus bar is formed at the bus bar, and a connection unit is arranged at the housing in order to form the connection area. The connection unit has a base plate which contacts the housing and which has an opening through which the connection lug is guided at least partially and can be received in a positive engagement by the connection unit. The bus bar is secured in position by a closure element that is arranged at the connection unit on the housing side.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention is directed to an electronic module of the type including a housing having an opening, an electronic circuit in the housing, and a substantially cylindrical bus bar connected to the circuit and extending through the opening for connection to an electrical lead.
2. Description of the Related Art
Apart from connections for control signals, a module of the type mentioned above, which can be, for example, an inverter for a polyphase machine, has a plurality of high-current connections which are connected on one hand to a power source, e.g., to a vehicle battery or an electric generator, and on the other hand to an electric consumer, e.g., a starter in a vehicle with an internal combustion engine or an electric traveling mechanism in an electric or hybrid vehicle. In an electronic module of this kind, it is generally required that its electric connection area is designed for transmitting high electric currents in the range of several hundred amperes or outputs of several kilowatts in a safe and stable manner. In particular, it must be ensured that mechanical loads occurring in the connection area are not transmitted to the electronic circuit located in the housing, which would result in damage to the latter or a loosening of the connection to the bus bars located therein. Further, when the electronic module is arranged in an engine compartment of a motor vehicle, care must be taken that the connection area and the openings by which the electric leads enter the module are protected from external influences such as dust, splashed water and moisture.


According to the disclosure, a seat pad 2 includes a bag-contained pad part 250 including a foam body 240 and a bag body 230 arranged inside the foam body 240.

In the related art, as a method of changing characteristics of vibration felt by an occupant of a vehicle seat during traveling of a vehicle, there is a method of changing an opening area of a ventilation window of a pan frame provided on a back side of a cushion pad of a seat pad to change air permeability of the cushion pad (see PTL 1). According to such a method, vibration transmissibility (resonance magnification) can be increased as air permeability increases, and vibration transmissibility can be reduced as air permeability reduces.

Seat pad, vehicle seat, vehicle seat controlling method, and seat pad manufacturing method