A system and method to attach an object to a support structure, the system includes an elongated rail, an elastic membrane bonded to the elongated rail, a riser removably attached to the elongated rail, and a plurality of fastener configured to secure the elongated rail to the roof structure.

1. Field of the Present Description
The present description relates to methods and system for mounting objects to roof structures.
2. Description of Related Art
Various applications exist in which a polymeric membrane may be placed over a surface. For example, it may be desirable to provide a polymeric membrane as a roofing material. That is, a polymeric membrane may be applied to an outer surface of a building structure, such as a roof, to protect the structure from the environment. The polymeric membrane may also be utilized with a mounting plate. In this embodiment, the mounting plate is rigidly attached to the roof structure and the polymeric membrane is allied thereon to prevent water from penetrating the roof structure.
Although great strides have been made in roofing membranes, considerable shortcomings remain.
While the system and method of the present application is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and are herein described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the description herein of specific embodiments is not intended to limit the invention to the particular embodiment disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the process of the present application as defined by the appended claims.

Elongated rail system for mounting objects to roof structures


An example process performed by a radio network access point configured to provide access to a first network that provides voice services includes: receiving a hand-off request at the radio network access point, where the hand-off request is for user equipment connected to a second network that provides data services; replying to the hand-off request with channel assignment information, where the channel assignment information includes a first code and corresponding to a first communication channel over which the radio network access point is configured to communicate, and where the first communication channel being reserved by various radio network access points; receiving a message from the user equipment indicating that the user equipment has a connection to the radio network access point using the first communication channel; and redirecting the user equipment to a second code and thus a second communication channel to maintain the connection.

A long term evolution (LTE) network is an example of a 4G data network. As described in wikipedia.org, "LTE . . . is a standard for wireless communication of high-speed data for mobile phones and data terminals. It is based on the GSM/EDGE and UMTS/HSPA network technologies, increasing the capacity and speed using new modulation techniques. The standard is developed by the 3GPP (3rd Generation Partnership Project) and is specified in its Release 8 document series, with minor enhancements described in Release 9."
While LTE networks have been deployed to provide packet data services, such as Web browsing, LTE networks do not typically provide reliable voice service (referred to as "voice-over LTE").


A structure of a lever for a drive-by-wire system installed in a vehicle may include a lever body rotatably mounted on a console surface of the vehicle, and an acceleration lever and a steering roller installed in the lever body, such that it is possible to control a change of a gear shift stage, acceleration, and a change of a proceeding direction of the vehicle in a unified manner, and there is no risk of erroneous manipulations of an accelerator pedal and a brake pedal, and acceleration and a proceeding direction is changed using a finger, thereby improving performance in manipulating the vehicle.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a structure of a lever for a drive-by-wire system installed in a vehicle, and more particularly, to a structure of a lever for a drive-by-wire system, in which a lever body is rotatably mounted on a console surface of the vehicle, and an acceleration lever and a steering roller are installed in the lever body, such that it is possible to control a change of a gear shift stage, acceleration, and a change of a proceeding direction of the vehicle in a unified manner.
2. Description of Related Art
In general, a drive-by-wire system, so-called an X-by-wire system, which is applied to a vehicle, refers to a system in which an electrical connection structure which uses an actuator, an electronic control unit (ECU), and the like, is substituted for a mechanical connection structure that is positioned between a control mechanism (for example, a gear shift lever) in the vehicle and an apparatus (for example, a transmission), which is actually operated.
The drive-by-wire system is widely classified into a throttle-by-wire system, a brake-by-wire system, a shift-by-wire system, a steer-by-wire system, and the like.
The throttle-by-wire system controls flows of air and fuel, which flow into cylinders, in accordance with a position of an accelerator pedal in an electrical manner, the brake-by-wire system brakes the vehicle in accordance with an electrical signal from a brake pedal, the shift-by-wire system performs a gear shift operation of the vehicle in accordance with an electrical signal from the gear shift lever, and the steer-by-wire system changes a direction of the vehicle in accordance with an electrical signal from a steering wheel.
The drive-by-wire system has advantages in that the drive-by-wire system is very excellent in terms of vibration and noise characteristics in comparison with a mechanical system, is hardly affected by a spatial restriction unlike the mechanical system, and may provide improved driving performance because a steering device, a brake device, a suspension device, and the like are operated together.
However, the drive-by-wire system of the vehicle in the related art has problems of the vehicle in the related art as they are, because the mechanical connection structure is just substituted by the electronic connection structure, but there is no manipulation mechanism capable of maximizing the advantages of the drive-by-wire system.
That is, there are problems in that a driver is injured by the steering wheel at the time of a vehicle collision accident, there is a risk of an accident due to erroneous manipulation when the driver manipulates the accelerator pedal and the brake pedal with the right foot, and there is a problem in that the driver repeatedly manipulates the pedals when the vehicle travels on a highway or over a long distance which causes an ankle injury.
There is a problem in that because the gear shift lever protrudes from the console surface even at normal times, an accommodation space, buttons for performing functions necessary to drive the vehicle, and the like cannot be freely disposed at the periphery of the gear shift lever.
The information disclosed in this Background of the Invention section is only for enhancement of understanding of the general background of the invention and should not be taken as an acknowledgement or any form of suggestion that this information forms the prior art already known to a person skilled in the art.

Structure of lever for drive-by-wire system


A removable support structure for concrete slab fabrication is described. A latch device secured to the ends of both shoring girders and shoring beams permits rapid and accurate placement of the shoring support across a span to be structured in concrete. Vertical shoring posts and supports are eliminated, with the added advantage of the plane of the shoring always being automatically in the plane of the floor being formed. Bearing shoes on the ends of corrugated deck members, secured to building girders, cooperating with straps at their other ends, accurately and securely positions the corrugated decking in place. After the concrete has hardened, the entire support structure, including the shoring girders, shoring beams, and corrugated deck members, are rapidly and efficiently removed, ready for re-use.

This invention relates to the construction of concrete slabs, and in particular to a support structure that is rapidly and efficiently put in place, and rapidly and efficiently removed in condition for re-use.
Concrete slab construction is, of course, a routine method for horizontally covering open areas between columns and girders affixed to the walls of buildings, parking garages, and so on. A typical procedure for installing these concrete "floors" is to first place shoring members across the columns and girders, with shoring support posts rising from the ground or the deck below to the concrete floor being installed. Corrugated decking is then placed on the surface of the shoring, with the edges of the decking overlapping flange edges on the permanent building wall, girders and columns. Post-tensioning steel cables are then placed over the decking to add strength to the resultant structure. Wet concrete is then poured over the corrugated decks. Alternately the post tensioning cables can be placed in the wet concrete as opposed to prior to the pouring. The concrete is then allowed to harden over a period of time. The supporting members can be so designed as to be removable after the concrete has hardened, simplifying concrete slab maintenance, and permitting re-use of the support structure on additional floors.
Various methods have been proposed for removable concrete slab support systems as is evident from the following examples. Keppler, in U.S. Pat. No. 1,707,226, discloses a supporting structure for concrete construction. This invention teaches a height adjustable shore 12 (centering post) cooperating with flanged 18 sheet metal members 16 (corrugated decking) connecting to height adjustable recesses 21 in soffit chairs. The invention notes (col. 2, lines 01-109), "a!fter the concrete has been sufficiently set, the shoring may be removed and the ledgers taken down, whereby the centering forms with the soffit chairs may be removed and permanent shoring mounted in place to engage the soffit plates or boards for continuing to support the concrete until it is firmly set with full strength". Lutz, in U.S. Pat. No. 3,059,738, discloses a removable concrete slab support wherein a portion of the support may be removed for the sake of economy prior to the concrete being fully set. An intermediate support 2 upheld by a prop 3 holds concrete slab supporting girders 1 and end supports 4 in place during the initial phase of setting wet concrete. Cornell, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,856,252, discloses a joist hanger 10 for removably securing a joist 38 during concrete slab construction. The joist hanger 10 has a box like metal configuration for securing the end of a suitable joist in the hanger. The joist hanger 10 has an extension section 18 for overlapping the top surface of a wall or girder 52, with a roll bar 22 acting as a pivot located a spaced distance below the extension section. After a concrete slab 34 is solidified on as suitable support 36, a sharp blow to the hanger causes it to pivot on roll bar 22, thereby releasing the hanger 10, joist, and support form the hardened concrete slab.
While these devices and methods disclose useful details for installation and removal of concrete slab support systems, they do not envision the efficiencies and conveniences inherent in the present invention. As will be more fully discussed below, this invention discloses a removable structure and method for supporting wet concrete during concrete slab construction without making use of vertical posts or shoring members which have to be supported down through the floors below to the ground. Accurate set up of corrugated decks is quickly accomplished to accept wet concrete. After the concrete has hardened all support members are quickly removed, ready for re-use as required.
It is therefore a primary object of the invention to provide a removable structure for supporting concrete slab construction that can be quickly put in place prior to the pouring of wet concrete, and quickly removed in re-usable condition after the concrete has hardened.
A further object of the invention is to eliminate the necessity for using vertical posts or shoring members which would have to be supported down through the floors below to the ground.
Another object of the invention is to permit the pouring and forming of a number of levels of concrete slabs in any desirable sequence.
Still another object of the invention is to provide for the plane of the shoring to always be automatically in the plane of the floor being formed.
Yet another object of the invention is to provide for rapid and convenient adjustment of the thickness of the concrete slab being formed.
A further object of the invention is to eliminate the necessity for permanently affixing structural support members to each other.
An additional object of the invention is to provide for most efficient placement of steel tendons within the concrete if post tensioning reinforcement concrete slab production is employed.

Removable support for concrete slab construction and method


A spatiotemporally resolved far-field pulse contrast measuring device includes a plano-convex cylindrical lens, a nonlinear correlation crystal, a plano-convex imaging lens and a signal-receiving system. The signal-receiving system includes a fiber array, a photomultiplier and a digital oscilloscope. A measuring method of the device includes steps of: focusing an under-test beam in x dimension to make a focus of the under-test beam fall onto a front surface of the nonlinear correlation crystal; making a spatial correlation and a temporal correlation respectively in two transverse spatial dimensions (x-y) of the nonlinear correlation crystal by the far-field under-test beam and a sampling beam; generating a two-dimensional correlating signal by the spatiotemporal correlation; imaging the two-dimensional correlating signal by an imaging system onto a detection surface of a receiver system; and measuring the x-dimensional and y-dimensional intensity distributions of the correlating signal highly dynamically by the receiver system.

Field of Invention
The present invention relates to a field of laser technology, and more particularly to a spatiotemporally resolved far-field pulse contrast measuring method and a device thereof, and an online identification method for origins of spatiotemporal noise.
Description of Related Arts
Pulse contrast is an important parameter of ultrahigh-peak-power lasers, defined as the intensity ratio of the pulse peak to its background noise. If the contrast of a laser pulse is not high enough, the background noise will disturb the interaction between the main pulse and the experimental target. Therefore, to control and measure the pulse contrast is advantageous to the smooth implement of laser-matter interacting experiments.
The measurement of the pulse contrast is mainly based on the optical cross-correlation technology. An under-test pulse and a sampling pulse which has a higher contrast than the under-test pulse make a cross-correlation in a nonlinear crystal, in such a manner that the contrast of the under-test pulse is obtained by detecting the relationship between the correlating signal intensity and the time delay of the two pulses. The time-scanning third-order cross-correlator has been commercialized (Sequoia, Amplitude Technologies, France), wherein a sampling pulse generated by a frequency multiplier makes a sum-frequency-generation-based interaction with an under-test pulse in a crystal, generating a third-harmonic signal detected by a photomultiplier. To measure the pulse contrast of the laser systems with a low repetitive rate, the single-shot cross-correlator has also been developed, which mainly depends on the non-collinear interaction between the under-test pulse and the sampling pulse for converting the temporal intensity information of the under-test pulse into the spatial intensity information of the correlating signal.
The conventionally available scanning or single-shot cross-correlation technologies are merely performed in the temporal domain and commonly in the near-field. However, the physical experiments are generally made at the focus (i.e., the far-field) of the driving laser. The latest studies demonstrated that some laser noises would exhibit a spatiotemporal-coupling characterization in a far-field, resulting in a space-dependent pulse contrast in essence. In this condition, the measurement for the pulse contrast must be performed in both the temporal domain and the spatial domain in the far-field of the laser beam. Unfortunately, the conventional temporal cross-correlation technologies have no such capability.

Spatiotemporally resolved far-field pulse contrast measuring method and device


The present invention describes a new kind of transgenic virus which comprise insect transcription factors. Specifically, the transgenic insect virus comprises insect transcription factors that are involved in molting and metamorphosis. Such transgenic insect viruses are useful as biopesticides.

Traditionally pest control has been dominated by the use of chemical insecticides. Although they are fast acting, these chemicals are sometimes environmentally unattractive. In addition, many chemicals used in insect pest control are not species-specific and may affect non-target vertebrates and invertebrates as well as the target pest. These chemicals or their by-products can sometimes persist in the environment for long periods of time.
The development and use of pest biology, population dynamics, silvicultural practice, natural control agents (i.e., parasitoids, pathogens), and improved operational forest pest management practices are new tools for forest management. Biological control, the use of living organisms to control insect pests, has become increasingly more acceptable as a means of successfully controlling pests. For example, the bio-insecticide Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt), is used for control of spruce budworm and gypsy moth larvae. However, some recent concerns over the specificity of Bt have resulted in the recommendation that it not be used in areas where there are endangered Lepidoptera. Ecological interests have resulted in a shift in emphasis to examine and develop other microbial products, including the insect viruses.
Insect viruses are naturally occurring insect pathogens that are considered to be host specific and environmentally safe. They can persist from year to year to impact on several generations of insects. There are over 1200 insect viruses (nucleopolyhedroviruses, granulovirus, entomopoxviruses, cypovirus and others) that have potential for insect control.
One problem associated with several natural insect viruses is that there is a time delay between the viral entry into the insect body and the lethal infection. Insect viruses must be ingested by larvae to allow infection. Occlusion bodies containing virus particles contaminating the foliage are eaten and dissolved by the insect's midgut juices, releasing virus particles. These particles pass through the gut cells and infect tracheal and other body tissues of the host larva. Over a typical period of 15 days, the virus replicates in susceptible tissues eventually causing death. Infected larvae still feed, during this time; however, and hence significant defoliation of plants still can occur in the time interval between ingestion of virus and insect death. This feeding damage is an inherent problem with using natural insect viruses.
Another problem associated with natural insect viruses is lack of virulence. For example, extensive field trials have shown that the spruce budworm nucleopolyhedrovirus (CfMNPV) will infect populations of spruce budworm, but has not caused epizootics that result in large scale mortality and population reduction (Cunningham and House, 1984, Choristoneura fumiferana (clemens), Spruce budworm (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae); B. Viruses: Application and Assessment. In Biological Control Programmes against Insect and Weeds in Canada 1969-1980, Kelleher, J. S. and Hulme, M. A., eds., Commonwealth Agricultural Bureau, Slough, England).
Many strategies have been adopted to decrease the feeding damage caused by infected insects. One strategy is the application of virus formulations containing "virus enhancers" to early instar larvae so that infection occurs faster, preventing serious defoliation. Unfortunately, this strategy cannot be used if the insect is evasive or if large amounts of the insect virus are unavailable. Such is the case for the control of the spruce budworm, Choristoneura fumiferana (Clem), with nucleopolyhedrovirus.
The development of biotechnology provides tools to genetically modify insect viruses to enhance their effectiveness. Genes encoding toxins (scorpion/mite toxin), enzymes (juvenile hormone (JH) esterase), neuropeptides (prothoracicotropic hormone), and eclosion hormone have been introduced into the viral genome by various research groups (Bonning et al., Annu. Rev. Entomol. 85: 437-446). These genes encode secretory proteins or peptides which assert their functions outside of virus infected cells. Inserting the JH esterase gene into the alfalfa looper nucleopolyhedrovirus (AcMNPV) results in the secretion of the enzyme JH esterase into the hemolymph and improves the virus as a control agent. Scorpion toxin and mite toxin have also been inserted into AcMNPV. These proteins are neurotoxins that are secreted into the hemolymph and act on the nervous system. A major drawback of these transgenic viruses is that the foreign genes encode secretory products which have to act outside of infected cells, e.g., in the hemolymph. These gene products run the risk of being degraded or eliminated by the insect's detoxifying system.
There is still a need to develop new transgenic viruses as biopesticides. Especially there is a need to construct transgenic viruses by introducing new types of foreign genes into the viral genome.

Her Majesty the Queen in right of Canada, as represented by the Minister of Natural Resources


A bulb mounting for air handling equipment indicator bulbs that include at least a lamp base having a top flange. The mounting includes an air handling equipment support member having a hole, and retaining surface disposed a predetermined distance above an equipment support wall, that slidably receives the lamp base so that the flange rests on the retaining surface. The mounting further includes a top cover having an opening large enough to receive the bulb, and a tube shape that presses the flange against the retaining surface. The cover top side is disposed a predetermined distance above the flange, so that the bulb is positioned and secured a precise distance relative to the top of the cover and the equipment support wall. The equipment support member is sized so that the lamp base may also have a compressible peripheral surface that is slidably received by the equipment support member, and yet presses against the support member, further positioning and securing the bulb relative to the air handling equipment apparatus.

This invention relates to an air handling equipment indicator bulb mounting, and in particular to a mounting that secures an equipment panel indicator bulb on the equipment, and precisely positions the bulb with respect to both the equipment structure and the equipment top cover, without special fastening equipment so that the bulb may be both easily urged on and urged off.
Most equipment indicator bulbs are retained within a control panel because the bulb has a lamp base that includes special retaining features, such as a locking tongue or ramp, that presses the base against a retaining panel. These prior art equipment mounts lockably install in panels and cannot be easily removed. Furthermore, these panel mounts impose a rigid and complex installation procedure within an appliance, and retain the lamp a fixed distance from the panel, providing little flexibility in the placement of both the bulb and the mounting panel.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an air handling equipment indicator bulb mount that accommodates a commercially available bulb, particularly a light emitting diode (LED), without any special bulb fastening features, and installs and de-installs easily, and without the use of any tools.
A further object of the present invention is to provide an indicator bulb mount that will accommodate and retain a bulb, and will also accommodate the bulb's electrical quick connect terminals.
A still further object of the present invention is to provide an equipment air handling top cover that includes a stop design to retain and position the bulb.
Another object of the present invention is to mount an indicator bulb on the air handling equipment a specific height relative to the top cover, and a top cover stop with a specific height relative to the top of the cover, so that the bulb is precisely positioned so that a user can readily observe the light emanating from the bulb, and yet that the bulb is protected from an environmental contact.
These and other objects of the present invention are attained by a bulb mounting that includes a lamp base having at least a top flange. The mounting includes a tube shaped air handling equipment support member having a hole and furthermore a retaining surface that is disposed a predetermined distance above the equipment support wall, that slidably receives the lamp base so that the flange rests on the retaining surface. The mounting further includes a top cover having an opening large enough to receive the bulb, and that presses the flange against the retaining surface. The cover top side is disposed a predetermined distance above the flange, so that the bulb is positioned and secured a precise distance relative to the top of the cover as well as the equipment support wall. The equipment support member is sized so that the lamp base may also have a compressible peripheral surface that is slidably received by the equipment support member, presses against the support member inner wall and thus retaining the bulb in a position relative to the air handling equipment apparatus.
An air handling equipment apparatus mounting and restraining device includes a lamp with a base that contains a radially expanded top flange, forming a lip, and a bulb mounted on the top of the base; a support member having a hole passing through it, that slidably receives the lamp base wherein the flange rests on a restraining surface support member, securing the lamp in the support member; and a top cover mounted over the support member top surface with an opening for receiving the bulb, wherein the top cover presses against the lamp flange, securing the flange against the retaining surface.
The support member furthermore may be shaped like a tube to retain a compressible surface that may be formed on the periphery of the base, further positioning and securing the bulb. The support member and stop are dimensioned so that the cover is positioned on the flange, and the bulb is positioned so that it is positioned at a predetermined height relative to the top of the cover. Furthermore, the support member cross-section permits the bulb quick connect terminals to pass through the support member during installation and de-installation.
The above, and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals designate the same elements.


A method and apparatus is disclosed for sharing and maintaining objects over the World Wide Web using an HTML compliant client running a web browser. An upload interface is displayed on the client computer for entry of upload information corresponding to an object stored on the client computer. In response to an upload request, the object is uploaded over the Internet to a server computer and stored on the server computer. A display of the server computer includes a representation of uploaded objects and is updated automatically after every upload. The display can be viewed on the client computer or any other client computer with access to the Internet through a web browser. Objects can be selected from the display and downloaded to a client computer over the Internet. Access to the objects can be limited through password protection or other methods.

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for uploading and downloading objects over a computer network. More specifically, the present invention provides an apparatus and method for allowing a user to upload objects to a World Wide Web server over the Internet and for automatically and immediately making the objects available for downloading over the Internet by client computers running standard web browser software, without intervention by or assistance by a human administrator.
The Internet is a worldwide network of computers linked together by various hardware communication links all running a standard suite of protocols known as TCP/IP (telecommunications protocol/internet protocol). The growth of the Internet over the last several years has been explosive, fueled in the most part by the widespread use of software viewers known as browsers and HTTP (hypertext transfer protocol) which allow a simple graphical user interface (GUI) to be used to control communications over the Internet. Browsers generally reside on the computer used to access the Internet, i.e. the client computer. HTTP provides users access to files of various formats using a standard page description language known as HTML, including its derivatives and successors (hypertext markup language). The collection of servers on the Internet using HITTP has become known as the xe2x80x9cWorld Wide Webxe2x80x9d or simply the xe2x80x9cWebxe2x80x9d. Through HTML, and interactive programming protocols, the author of a particular web page, or pages, is able to make information available to viewers of the web page by placing the web pages on an Internet web server in HTML format. The network path to the server is identified by a URL (Uniform Resource Locator) and, generally, any client running a web browser can access the web pages by the URL.
The Web has become ubiquitous in businesses and homes because it has proven to be convenient for various applications, such as news and data delivery, the purchase of various products, conducting banking and investment transactions, and the like. The Web and its authoring, transmission, and display protocols, such as browsers, HTML, Common Gateway Interface (CGI), Active Server Pages(trademark) and Java(trademark), have become a worldwide standard for information exchange. In the near future, all computers may be web servers and various appliances, such as televisions, telephones, PCs, ATMs, cash registers, and the like, will be web clients with the ability to exchange data with other web clients. Even today, the Web has become a primary vehicle for the sharing of information. As a result, xe2x80x9cvirtual communitiesxe2x80x9d, i.e. groups of people with common goals or interests, have formed to share information through web-based xe2x80x9cbulletin boardsxe2x80x9d, and the like, which present a common area of storage of information. The Web is particularly well suited to exchange of information between members of virtual communities because the Web allows members from any geographic location to access the same commonly shared area of information by using a desired URL.
A universal requirement of any information sharing application, such as bulletin boards for virtual communities, is the ability to post information to the commonly shared area and the ability to access the posted information quickly and easily. However, conventional techniques require that the programmer incorporate the specific files containing the information to be made available, or a link to these files, into the HTML code of the web page. Therefore, human interaction is required to make posted information available over the web to client computers running a web browser. In some cases, users can post pre-determined types of information, such as text messages and responses thereto, which are made available to other users without the need for reprogramming. Specifically, some bulletin boards have limited capacity to display information without the need for human intervention. For example, a text message can be typed into a form to be transferred, without being saved as a file, and quickly displayed on the bulletin board. However, conventional bulletin boards do not permit the downloading and posting of any and all types of files in an automatic manner, i.e. without the need for human intervention. It is often desirable to share various objects of any type, such as software programs, graphic files, audio and video files, links to web pages, or any other file. Conventional bulletin boards do not permit the sharing of objects without reprogramming of the web page.
Another common way of sharing information among various users is through email messages and files attached thereto. However, when using email to share information, the author must know in advance the email address of each intended recipient because SMTP only permits the message and attachment to be viewed by the addressee. Of course, ,as the number of addressees increases, the number of required messages increases and required file storage space can become very high. For example, a virtual community of N users will require 2N messages merely to share a single file with each person in the group. Further, when sharing files via email, it is difficult to make sure that each recipient has the most updated version of a file because the updated version must be sent to each recipient every time it is updated. Also, there is an inherent delay in the receipt of each message and attachment because the message is held on a mail server until the addressee logs into the mail server to retrieve it and thus email is not suitable for spontaneous interaction.
File Transfer Protocol (FTP) is another subset of TCP/IP that permits a client computer to upload a file from or to a server computer. However, FTP does not provide any means for displaying an icon or other representation of the file on a web page and permitting downloading of the file without human intervention. Once the file is uploaded, a web master must post the file manually on a web page.
Various proprietary software packages, such as NetMeeting(trademark) from Microsoft(trademark) are available for sharing documents over phone lines or the Internet. However, these require the installation of additional proprietary software and the inherent learning curve associated with new software.
Thus, a need exists for allowing a user to upload objects to a World Wide Web server over the Internet and for automatically and immediately making the objects available for downloading over the Internet by client computers running standard web browser software.
It is an object of the invention to facilitate the exchange of information over the Internet.
It is an object of the invention to permit a file or object uploaded from a client computer to a web server to be posted on a web page of the server computer for viewing on client computers running a web browser without the need for human interaction.
It is another object of the invention to permit an uploaded object to be automatically and immediately posted on a web server and downloaded to client computers running a web browser.
It is another object of the invention to allow objects to be shared, and maintained over the Web using conventional HTTP and HTML compliant web browsers.
The invention permits communities of users to readily share objects, such as program files, data files, video files, movie files, or the like, over the Internet using only a standard web browser and the well known interface thereof. The web site administrator need only modify the web site control program to include the software objects of the invention. Once the software of the invention is installed on the server, client computers can access the server through the Internet with a web browser and share objects.
The invention is useful for automatic dissemination of objects prior to a conference call, actual meeting, or virtual meeting. Presenters can upload presentations, documents and exhibits to be displayed on a predetermined display page corresponding to the meeting. All participants in the meeting can then access the display page through client computer having web access and a web browser to download, print or view the meeting documents prior to or during the meeting. xe2x80x9cVirtual teamsxe2x80x9d can have private work areas and display pages on the server to share objects. Access to the private display page can be restricted to members of the team or each object can have a password associated therewith to limit access to members of the team.
The invention can be used to develop shared object libraries. Anyone with web access can share a large repository of objects. The objects can be password protected, categorized and maintained in a manner similar to sharing over a local area network. A user profile database can be created to allow document originators to maintain a descriptive profile about themselves and their document to avoid reentry of the same information with each upload.
The upload function and other object management functions are triggered by clicking on a web page icon. Uploaded objects can be displayed in any manner or format by modifying the display object. The display object can allow the document originator to select the icon to be displayed in association with the object. The look and feel of the upload function in context with other information on the web page can be changed as desired.
An upload wizard can be provided to allow the web page author to select any of the options described above to create a custom appearance or to request custom descriptive information about the originator or the object (or to allow anonymous posting). The wizard can allow the author to select predefined templates for each function of the invention or can allow the author to create custom templates to be used over again.
A representation of uploaded objects is displayed by the server computer to be viewed as a web page with the browser of the client computer and the representation is automatically updated after an object is uploaded. The uploaded objects on the server computer render the uploaded objects accessible by other client computers running a web browser and connected to the Internet.
The objects of the present invention are achieved by a computer architecture which includes a server computer having a storage device and a communication interface. The server computer is coupled to the World Wide Web. A client computer, also connected to the WWW, has a storage device and display means. The client computer runs a web browser which connects to the server through the Internet and the communication interface. A display means displays an upload request interface on the display means of the client computer. A receiving means receives command and object information from the client computer and uploads an object stored in the storage device of the client computer corresponding to the object information transmitted from the client computer to the server computer. A display means displays a representation of uploaded objects to be viewed as a web page using a web browser on the client computer and automatically updates the representation after an object is uploaded. The storing means stores uploaded objects on the storage device of the server computer.
The foregoing objects of the present invention are also achieved by a computer-implemented method of rendering uploaded objects accessible by other client computers running a web browser. The server computer displays an upload interface for viewing with the web browser of a client computer. An upload command and object information is received from the client computer. An object corresponding to the object information from the client computer is uploaded. A representation of uploaded objects is displayed by the server computer to be viewed as a web page with the browser of the client computer. The representation is automatically updated after an object is uploaded. The uploaded objects are stored on the server computer.
Still other objects and advantages of the present invention will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description, wherein the preferred embodiments of the invention are shown and described, simply by way of illustration of the best mode contemplated of carrying out the invention. As will be realized, the invention is capable of other and different embodiments and its several details are capable of modifications in various obvious respects, all without departing from the invention. Accordingly, the drawings and description thereof are to be regarded as illustrative in nature, and is not as restrictive.

Software apparatus for immediately posting sharing and maintaining objects on a web page


An interface device for exchanging data between a first bus system and a second bus system, wherein an input/output device is connectable to the second bus system and within the input/output device includes an addressable slot and an addressable subslot for output or acceptance of input/output data to optimize the consistent exchange of the data between the bus systems. A data transfer device including a transfer memory is connected via the control device and a list storage device in which a data structure for addressing the data for the input/output device is stored, and wherein the data structure is predetermined for a plurality of subslots in a telegram format of the telegrams of the first bus system.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to an interface device for exchanging data between a first bus system and a second bus system, where an input/output device is connectable to the second bus system and an addressable slot and an addressable subslot is located within the input/output device for outputting or receiving input/output data, and where the interface device comprises a first transceiver device for the data of the first bus system, a second transceiver device for the data of the second bus system, a data transfer to device with a transfer memory, and a control device configured to control the data storage and coordinate write accesses into or at the data transfer device.
2. Description of the Related Art
In automation technology, there is particularly an exchange of payload data, i.e., input and output data from components to be automated such as machines, actuator drives or sensors, between input/output devices such as modular decentralized peripheral systems for example and higher-ranking automation devices via field buses. Known examples of field buses are Profibus or Profinet. Within an input/output device of a decentralized peripheral station, payload data can be distributed to individual modules or read out from the individual modules. The field bus and the backplane bus system generally operate asynchronously in relation to one another and an updating of data, for example, of a subslot payload data packet, is also only possible in some cases. As a reusit, a buffer is necessary to ensure data consistency between the two bus systems.
Such buffers, or also alternating buffers, are known from the European patent application EP 1 253 494 B1. In the known open-loop and/or closed-loop control system where via a field bus a decentralized peripheral is accessed, it is disadvantageous that it can no longer keep pace with the current speed demands made on payload data exchanges.

Interface device and method for consistently exchanging data


An outside chemical vapor deposition apparatus is disclosed for depositing porous glass-forming material onto a target rod to form a cylindrical body, with substantially higher efficiency than could prior apparatus. The apparatus includes two separate burner arrays, one array optimized for depositing the material during an initial stage of the process, when the cylindrical body has a relatively small diameter, and the other array optimized for depositing the material during a later stage of the process, when the cylindrical body has a relatively large diameter. In addition, each burner array can include a plurality of burners, with each burner azimuthally angled relative to the apparatus' air-flow axis, and with adjacent burners angled in opposite directions relative to that axis, to minimize the density gradient within the deposited porous material.

1. Field of Invention
This invention relates generally to chemical vapor deposition and, more particularly, to a particular kind of chemical vapor deposition called flame hydrolysis.
2. Description of Prior Art
In flame hydrolysis-type chemical vapor deposition, vapors of a glass-forming oxide material are directed to flow through a high-temperature, hydrogen-containing flame, whereupon the vapor reacts with water produced in the flame, to form oxide particles called soot. A portion of this soot is collected, to form a useful body of porous glass-forming material. The process is commercially used to produce optical fiber preforms and other high-purity, high-silica glass products. Often, the soot deposition occurs on a rotating substrate rod or tube, to form a cylindrical object. This process is called the outside vapor deposition or, in abbreviated form, the OVD process.
The flame hydrolysis process is described in U.S. Pat. No. 2,272,342, which issued in the 1940s, and the OVD process has been described in detail in chapter 2 of a book entitled "Optical Communications, Volume 1, Fiber Fabrication," edited by Tingye Li (1985). While depositing clad glass on a core rod for manufacturing clad glass for optical fiber preforms by the OVD process, the target core rod typically has a diameter between 20 and 50 mm. Uniform-diameter silica soot is deposited onto the rod, layer by layer, by traversing or oscillating an array of burners along the rod's entire useful length, until a diameter in the range of 150 to 400 mm has been achieved. Past equipment for performing this process has always used the same burner array throughout the deposition process, for the entire range of diameters. The burners of each such burner array have been optimized for maximum deposition rate and efficiency over the entire diameter range.
A specific burner configuration can achieve a maximum deposition rate only over a limited diameter range. To increase deposition rate beyond this maximum rate, multiple burners in an axially separated burner array have been used. Many configurations for such burner arrays have been used. In a burner traverse deposition apparatus, an array of burners traverse along the entire length of a rotating, but axially stationary target rod. In a preform-traverse deposition apparatus, on the other hand, the burners are held stationary and the rotating target rod traverses along the entire length of the burner array. Further, in an oscillating burner deposition chamber, an array of burners traverses a distance greater than the separation of adjacent burners of the array, but shorter than the length of the rotating target rod.
FIG. 1 shows one example of a prior art preform traverse apparatus 10, incorporating two burners 12 arranged in a vertically oriented array. A rotatable chuck 14 is mounted on a traverse mechanism, so that the chuck and a support rod 16 are moved up and down while rotating. The support rod projects downward into a deposition chamber 18, and it supports a hanging mechanism 20 from which is hung a target rod 22. A handle rod 24 is located at the target rod's lower end. Two flame hydrolysis burners 12, forming a two-burner array with the burners vertically separated, are mounted on an array mount 26, which in this case is shown as stationary in the vertical direction. The deposition process begins by moving the burners 12 horizontally off-axis and supplying chemicals to the burners for ignition. After the flame has stabilized, the burners are moved horizontally into a deposition position, in which the flames point directly at the target rod's axis of rotation 28. FIG. 1 also shows a coaxial alignment between the burners, an air intake, and an exhaust airflow. As the target rod traverses upward and downward in front of the burner array, the glass-forming particles, called soot, formed in the burner flames, deposit onto the target rod, forming layers of porous soot body or preform 30. After the weight of the porous glass has reached its target value, the cylindrical soot preform is raised above the deposition zone, the burners are turned off, and the preform is removed from the hanging mechanism 20 in the deposition chamber 18.
One limitation of the prior art machines described above is that burners of a single design are used throughout the deposition process. However, a flame hydrolysis burner design that is optimized for deposition onto small-diameter target rods is not necessarily efficient in depositing onto large-diameter target rods; conversely, a burner design optimized for deposition onto large-diameter target rods is not necessarily efficient in depositing onto small-diameter target rods. The prior art approach of using one burner design for the entire diameter range of deposition is becoming competitively limiting, as the need for ever-larger diameter preforms continues to increase.
Another limitation of the prior art machines described above is that burner spacing is fixed for the entire diameter range of deposition. However, as the target rod diameter increases during deposition, the soot stream and the flame spread axially over a longer length as they flow across the target rod. This requires a larger axial separation of burners to prevent adjacent burners from interacting with each other and negatively affecting the deposition rate and efficiency.
A vertical preform orientation is more convenient for deposition of large soot bodies, because it eliminates bending of the deposited object under the force of gravity, as can occur in a horizontal preform orientation. Nevertheless, one limitation of a deposition chamber having a vertical preform orientation and a coaxial burner and exhaust configuration is that a dead zone of zero velocity can be formed on the target rod's surface, 180° from the burner, where opposing soot streams flowing across the target rod collide with each other. Soot trapped in this dead zone because of buoyancy can float upward and deposit outside the hot zone and onto different parts of the deposition chamber's inner surface. Deposition outside the hot zone should be avoided, because the deposited material has a relatively low density and can cause the preform to crack. In addition, down time of the machine between runs is increased if soot has deposited onto the deposition chamber's inner surface, as that surface needs to be cleaned before starting the next deposition cycle.
It should, therefore, be appreciated that there remains a need for an outside chemical vapor deposition apparatus that deposits porous glass-forming material onto a target rod to form a cylindrical body, with greater efficiency than could be achieved in the past. The present invention fulfills this need and provides further related advantages.

Apparatus for deposition by flame hydrolysis


A calibration system for a machine is provided. The calibration system includes an unmanned aerial vehicle provided in association with a perception sensor. The unmanned aerial vehicle includes a target attached thereto. The unmanned aerial vehicle is configured to move along a predetermined path sweeping across a field of view of the perception sensor. The unmanned aerial vehicle is configured to present the target to the perception sensor, such that the target covers the field of view of the perception sensor based on the movement of the unmanned aerial vehicle along the predetermined path. The unmanned aerial vehicle is configured to determine and communicate an orientation and a position of the target to the calibration system.

Machines include perception sensors mounted thereon. The perception sensor needs calibration prior to use. The calibration of the perception sensors is required such that relative position and orientation data recorded by the perception sensor is known with respect to a known origin on the machine. Unless this calibration of the perception sensor is conducted, location of objects around the machine cannot be resolved with respect to the location of the machine itself.
Sometimes, the perception sensor may be manually calibrated. For the manual calibration of the perception sensor, the machine is initially parked at a fixed location. A target is placed on the ground within a view of the perception sensor. Further, the perception sensor captures data associated with the target. Known calibration algorithms may then be utilized to recognize the target and return location data captured by the perception sensor. The calibration of the perception sensor may be conducted by comparing the information captured by the perception sensor and the known dimensions and location of the target. However, the manual calibration of the perception sensors is a time consuming process and may also be prone to human error. Additionally, in some situations, it may be difficult to measure an exact position of the target with respect to the machine. Other inaccuracies may include assumptions about the geometry or smoothness of the target that may not be accurately measured. These errors in the position and geometry of the target may lead to corrupt final extrinsic calibration results.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,927,725 describes a system and method for radar detection and calibration. By measuring the true range of a calibration target on entry to the radar's detection zone, the actual detection capability of the radar in current atmospheric conditions with the actual radar can be determined. The radar system is also adapted to determine a sensed position at a sensed time of a target in the radar's detection zone. A calibration target, preferably an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), includes a position device for determining the actual position of the calibration target. A calibration device communicates with the radar system and the calibration target and receives the sensed and actual positions of the calibration target. The calibration device calculates the error between the sensed position and the actual position and adjusts the radar system to minimize the error. The target may include a signal augmentation device to augment the radar cross-section of the target to replicate the radar cross-sections of targets of various types. In this manner the true detection range of the radar system can be determined for various types of targets under existing atmospheric conditions.
However, known automated solutions for calibration of the perception sensor may be costly and complex. Hence, there is a need for an improved automated system for the calibration of the perception sensor associated with the machine.


A library unit including a plurality of frames and a plurality of cell shelves, each of the cell shelves having a plurality of cells arranged in an X-Y plane. The plurality of cell shelves are located in at least one of the plurality of frames, at least one accessor having a picker portion, and a plurality of first reference flags, each of which having substantially the same X-axis coordinate are provided with each of the frames with a spacing in the Y-axis direction. According to the library unit, the plurality of first reference flags are detected by a sensor attached to the picker portion, and a relative inclination angle of the accessor with respect to the Y axis in the X-Y plane is calculated from a difference in position in the X-axis direction of plurality of reference flags in order to obtain a correction value in the X-axis direction for each cell.

The present invention generally relates to a library unit, and more particularly, to a library unit in which a plurality of cartridge-type recording media (hereinafter referred to as cartridge disks) are stored in a respective cell and a desired cartridge disk is taken out from a cell by a cartridge disk carrying mechanism (hereinafter referred to as an accessor) when a recording and/or a reproducing of information of the medium is carried out.
A library unit, in which a plurality of cartridge disks are stored in a respective cell provided in a respective housing (hereinafter referred to as the frame), and a desired cartridge disk is taken out from a cell by an accessor, which runs through the center portion of the library unit, when a recording and/or a reproducing of information of the cartridge disk is performed, has been used. The cartridge may be returned to the original position (cell) by the accessor after the use.
In such a library unit, a method for positioning the accessor to a correct position of the cell is very important for carrying out proper handling of the cartridge disk. This positioning is often performed by using data of the mechanical structures, such as lengths of the frame in X, Y and Z directions (refer to FIG. 1 ) and a distance between each frame and the accessor, which are input in a memory in advance.
In a conventional library unit, however, there is a case that after carrying out a maintenance or an exchange of an accessor, such mechanical structures are changed and the data indicating a relative positional relationship between the accessor and each frame (cell) can no longer be used. In such a case, it is necessary to measure the relative positional relationships between the accessor and all the frames again. This procedure is of course tedious and time-consuming. Moreover, if an inclination of a shaft of an accessor has occurred after the relative positional relationships between the accessor and each of the frames are measured, the measurement of the positional relationships must be performed once again.
Also, in a conventional library unit, since no relative positional relationships are measured in back and forth directions of the accessor (i.e. the Z direction), no information is available about how far a picker (a cartridge disk holding portion) of the accessor should be moved in order to hold a cartridge disk in a cell. Thus, the picker must always be projected to a position where a holding of a cartridge disk is secured. For this reason, the picker is excessively projected when the position of a desired cell is closer to the picker than a calculated distance, and hits the back wall of the cell. On the other hand, there is a possibility that the picker misses holding the desired cartridge disk when the cell is far away from the picker portion of the accessor.
Moreover, when an entire structure of the plurality of frames is changed, for instance, due to an increment in a number of frames, it is necessary to renew the frame information input to a memory beforehand through an operation panel manually. Thus, if a mistake is made in inputting new information about the frame structures, there is a possibility that an access is made to a non-existing address or a system break-down is caused. Further, in a conventional library unit, when there is a change in a state of a frame, the relative positional relationship has to be measured again for not only the particular frame in which the change is caused but also for all the other frames. Thus, a substantial amount of time must be spent for the required relative positional measurement.
In addition, when a cell shelf comprising a plurality of cells is employed, it is necessary to make a relative positional measurement for all of the cells since a positional relationship or space existing in each cell is not constant. Thus, a number of cells subjected to a positional measurement is increased and, hence, it takes a long time to complete all the measurements.

Library unit for calculating inclination of an accessor to correct positioning information of the accessor


Provided is a surface protectant that suppresses corrosion of a semiconductor wafer surface by a basic compound, and reduces defects in the semiconductor wafer.

In recent years, semiconductor devices have been undergoing a trend of becoming more miniaturized and more highly integrated. Furthermore, a demand has arisen to achieve an even higher level of flatness of the surface of semiconductor wafers in order to stack, as designed, a wiring layer obtained by forming a circuit on the surface of the semiconductor wafer while preventing the stepped breakage of wiring or an increase in localized resistance values.
Chemical mechanical planarization (CMP) is widely used as a technique for flattening the semiconductor wafer surface. CMP is a technique in which a polishing composition containing a basic compound and fine abrasive grains is used to eliminate steps in the surface of semiconductor wafers through both a chemical action by the basic compound and a mechanical action by the abrasive grains.
In addition, the surface of a semiconductor wafer is typically polished by relatively moving the semiconductor wafer and a polishing pad in pressure contact therewith while supplying the polishing composition to the polishing pad surface. However, such a technique has the problems that the fine abrasive grains are easily agglomerated, and scratches (abrasions) are easily produced on the surface of the semiconductor wafer by the aggregates of abrasive grains.
As a means for solving these problems, Patent Document 1 describes that a polyoxyalkylene derivative, which is one type of surfactant, is added to the polishing composition. Patent Document 1 also describes that according to this method, agglomeration of the abrasive grains can be suppressed, the occurrence of scratches can be prevented, and the surface of the semiconductor wafer can be flattened on an advanced level.

Surface protectant for semiconductor wafer

Abstract: The semiconductor wafer surface protectant of the present invention includes a compound represented by Formula (1) below;R1O—(C3H6O2)n—H  (1)                where R1 denotes a hydrogen atom, a hydrocarbon group that has from 1 to 24 carbon atoms and may have a hydroxyl group, or a group represented by R2CO, where the R2 denotes a hydrocarbon group having from 1 to 24 carbon atoms; and n indicates an average degree of polymerization of a glycerin unit shown in the parentheses, and is from 2 to 60.


A digital signal receiving apparatus includes: detection-judging portion judging a possible presence of a desired signal when a signal level of a smoothed signal is greater than a reference level; wherein said first smoothed signal and said second smoothed signal are compared in order to generate a detection signal representing a judgment of a possible presence of a desired signal, said second smoothed signal having a convergence speed slower than that of the first smoothing filter, a filter controlling portion switching an adaptive filter from an adaptive mode to a non-adaptive mode when the detection-judging portion judges the possible presence of the desired signal and switching from the non-adaptive mode to the adaptive mode when the detection-judging portion judges the absence of the desired signal; a limiting portion limiting a signal level of an auto-correlation signal to the signal level of the smoothed signal; and a demodulating portion demodulating the auto-correlation signal having the signal level limited by the limiting means so as to generate a demodulated signal, wherein the input to the demodulator is limited to the level of a smoothed signal, said smoothed signal being generated from the input of the detection judging portion.

A known digital signal receiving apparatus is disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 2001-4736A (hereinafter, referred to as reference 1, see FIG. 4) for example. FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a general configuration related to a digital signal receiving apparatus 70 disclosed in the reference 1. As illustrated therein, the digital signal receiving apparatus 70 receives a desired signal S contained with a correlated noise signal N as an ambient noise, by an antenna 71. Then, the digital signal receiving apparatus 70 down-converts the received signal to a desired frequency band at a high-frequency processing portion 72. Further, the digital signal receiving apparatus 70 generates a corresponding digital signal (S″+N″) by converting the signal from analog to digital at an A/D converting portion 73 and outputs the digital signal to a noise-filtering unit 74.
In addition, the digital signal receiving apparatus 70 receives the noise signal N by means of another antenna 75. Then, the digital signal receiving apparatus 70 down-converts the received noise signal N to a desired frequency band at a high-frequency processing portion 77 of a reference noise signal-output portion 76. Further, the digital signal receiving apparatus 70 generates a reference noise signal Nr, which is correlated to the noise signal N, by converting the signal N from analog to digital at an A/D converting portion 78, and outputs the digital signal to the noise-filtering unit 74.
The noise-filtering unit 74 generates a noise cancel signal AN via an adaptive filtering-portion 79 on the basis of the reference noise signal Nr, and filters out the noise signal N by adding the digital signal (S″+N″) inputted from the antenna 71 to the noise cancel signal AN at an adder 80. A filter coefficient of the adaptive filtering portion 79 is successively updated so that the noise signal N (N″) is reduced to a minimum by the filter coefficient updating portion 81.
However, according to the digital signal receiving apparatus 70 of the reference 1, the antenna 75 and the reference noise signal-output portion 76 (the high-frequency processing portion 77 and the A/D converting portion 78) are required for receiving the noise signal N, thus leading to an increase of a size of a circuit. In this case, it is necessary not to input a desired signal S to the antenna 75. In other words, if the desired signal S is inputted to the second antenna 75, the desired signal S may be also generated as the noise cancel signal AN at the adaptive filtering portion 79 and the desired signal S may sometimes be filtered our or removed.
Another digital signal receiving apparatus has been proposed in Japanese Patent No. 2005-45314A (hereinafter, referred to as reference 2, see FIG. 1). The reference numerals described below related to Reference 2 are depicted in FIG. 1 of Reference 2. The digital signal receiving apparatus according to the reference 2 includes an adaptive filter (17), filter controlling means (18c) and demodulating means (18d). The adaptive filter (17) includes an adaptive mode and a non-adaptive mode. In the adaptive mode, a filter coefficient is successively updated and an ambient noise is filtered out in a signal-receiving standby state for receiving a desired signal. In the non-adaptive mode, updating of the filter coefficient is stopped in a signal-receiving state for receiving the desired signal. The filter controlling means (18c) controls switching of the adaptive mode and the non-adaptive mode of the adaptive filter (17). The demodulating means (18d) demodulates an output (correlation signal) of the adaptive filter (17) and generates a demodulated signal. The adaptive filter (17) includes an adaptive filter portion (17a, 17b) and a filter coefficient-updating portion (17c, 17d). At the adaptive filter portion (17a, 17b), the filter coefficient is changed in accordance with a change of the ambient noise in the signal-receiving standby state. The filter coefficient updating portion (17c, 17d), successively updates the filter coefficient of the adaptive filter portion (17a, 17b) so as to reduce the ambient noise to a minimum. When detecting means (18) judges a possible presence a desired signal in a situation where the apparatus is in a signal-receiving standby state, the filter controlling means switches the adaptive filter from an adaptive mode to a non-adaptive mode so as to stop updating the filter coefficient.
In such a case, in the signal-receiving standby state, the adaptive filter successively updates the filter coefficient and filters the ambient noise, reacting to the adaptive mode. On the other hand, in the signal-receiving state for receiving the desired signal, the adaptive filter stops updating the filter coefficient reacting to the non-adaptive mode. In other words, in the non-adaptive mode, the adaptive filter filters the ambient noise by use of the filter coefficient updated for filtering the ambient noise in the adaptive mode. Accordingly, in the signal-receiving state for receiving the desired signal, even when the ambient signal and the desired signal have a correlation, the ambient signal is filtered by the adaptive filter and the desired signal is received appropriately. In addition, even when the ambient signal and the desired signal have a correlation, the ambient signal and the desired signal can be selectively received because the filter controlling means controls the switching of the adaptive mode and the non-adaptive mode. Accordingly, the size of the circuit can be reduced in comparison with a configuration of the circuit in which the ambient signal and the desired signal are separately received.
However, in this type of digital signal receiving apparatus, when a level of an output (correlation signal) of the adaptive filter is rapidly changed due to a pulse-shaped interfering wave contained, a logic of a demodulated signal based upon the output may be demolished. As a result, it may not be possible to accurately judge a demodulating code for a desired signal and may not be possible to demodulate the signal precisely.
A need thus exists for providing a digital signal receiving apparatus which can demodulate a desired signal precisely even when the desired signal contains therein a pulse-shaped interfering wave.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


A protection cover device and a protection-cover-equipped apparatus each comprise a protection cover, a moving member, and an elastic member which is incorporated into an inside of the protection cover and causes the protection cover to move in association with a movement of the moving member.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a protection cover device and a protection-cover-equipped apparatus, each of which opens and closes a front of a photo-taking optical system or the like.
2. Description of Related Art
Some of cameras have a barrier disposed on a front of a lens barrel and arranged as a protection cover to be openable and closable and to protect a lens from being soiled and damaged while the camera is not used for photographing.
The conventional barrier (protection cover) opening-and-closing mechanism is arranged as shown in FIGS. 11, 12 and 13. Referring to these figures, two barriers 101 and 102 are rotatably secured to a base plate (not shown) in such a way as to be rotatable respectively on centers of rotation 101a and 102a. The base plate is disposed on a front of the lens barrel. A light-passing hole 103a is provided in the base plate for forming an optical path. An opening-and-closing ring 104 is mounted on the base plate in such a way as to be rotatable around an optical axis. A driving spring (tension spring) 105 is hooked on a spring peg part 103b of the base plate and is arranged to urge the opening-and-closing ring 104 to rotate clockwise as viewed in FIG. 11.
A rotation stopper 103c is arranged on the base plate to prevent a further clockwise rotation of the opening-and-closing ring 104 when the ring 104 is rotated to a position where the barriers 101 and 102 are opened by the opening-and-closing ring 104.
The barriers 101 and 102 are provided with arm parts 101b and 102b, respectively. Between the opening-and-closing ring 104 and each of the arm parts 101b and 102b, there is hooked an absorption spring (tension spring) 106, which is arranged to urge the barriers 101 and 102 to move in the direction of closing them.
Further, closing stoppers 104a are formed on the opening-and-closing ring 104. When the barriers 101 and 102 are opened, the arm parts 101b and 102b come to abut on the respective closing stoppers 104a, which then prevent the barriers 101 and 102 from closing.
The barrier mechanism configured in the above manner operates as follows. With no power applied to any parts of the barrier mechanism, the opening-and-closing ring 104 is in a state of being completely rotated clockwise by the urging force of the driving spring 105, and the barriers 101 and 102 are in an open state, as shown in FIG. 11.
When a power F (which may be a retracting force of the zoom lens barrel, a rotating force of a focusing motor, or the like) is received from the lens barrel as shown in FIG. 12, the opening-and-closing ring 104 rotates counterclockwise. Then, the closing stoppers 104a rotate also counterclockwise. In association with this rotation, the barriers 101 and 102 rotate in the closing direction to cover the light-passing hole 103a. For covering the light-passing hole 103a, the amount of rotation, i.e., an angle B, of the opening-and-closing ring 104 may be set at an amount sufficient to cause the barriers 101 and 102 to close the light-passing hole 103a by abutting on each other. However, with the degree of finishing precision of various parts, the play of their fitting engagement, etc., taken into consideration, the amount of rotation (the angle B) should be set at an ample amount including some amount of allowance.
The absorbing spring 106 then effectively acts to prevent the ample rotation from exerting any excessive force on the mechanism. In other words, when the amount of rotation of the opening-and-closing ring 104 is too much, the arm parts 101b and 102b of the barriers 101 and 102, which are in contact with the closing stoppers 104a of the opening-and-closing ring 104 in the open state, come a little apart from the closing stoppers 104a in the closed state.
Further, in a case where the barriers 101 and 102 happen to be prevented from rotating in the direction of closing by some impediment such as grains of sand or the like while they are in process of closing, as shown in FIG. 13, the absorbing spring 106 further elongates to permit the counterclockwise rotation of the opening-and-closing ring 104. The absorbing spring 106 thus permits an escaping movement of the opening-and-closing 104 for the barriers 101 and 102, so that the absorbing spring 106 effectively prevents a mechanical disorder from taking place under such a condition.
While a tension spring is used as the absorbing spring 106 in the above-stated case, the use of the tension spring is replaced with use of a torsion spring by hooking it at the center of rotation of the barriers in some case, for example, as disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. HEI 7-159856.
However, in the case of the barrier mechanism of the type employing the tension spring as the absorbing spring, the absorbing spring cannot be disposed within an action area including a barrier moving part in the direction of a photo-taking optical axis. The use of the tension spring thus imposes a limitation on the structural arrangement of the barrier mechanism to necessitate use of a wide space for it.
Further, since the tension spring requires a space for its coil diameter in the direction of the optical axis, this causes an increase in the direction of thickness of the barrier mechanism.
Meanwhile, the barrier mechanism of another type using a torsion spring as the absorbing spring requires a thickness space, as a coil part, for its number of turns on the reverse side of the barrier mechanism. The coil part also causes an increase in the direction of thickness of the barrier mechanism. Besides, in order to make the spring force of the torsion spring efficiently act on each of the barriers, its coil part must be disposed in the center of rotation of the barrier. These requirements impose limitations on the design and the structural arrangement of the barrier mechanism.
It is conceivable to reduce the necessary space by arranging the tension spring or the torsion spring to have a smaller coil diameter or a less number of turns. Such arrangement, however, tends to cause the spring to be used beyond the limit of elasticity within a normal range of action and thus hardly enables the spring to adequately fulfill its function.

Protection cover device and protection-cover-equipped apparatus


A power managing apparatus, a DC-DC control circuit, and a method for enabling a chip are disclosed. The power managing apparatus has an enable pin and the enable pin is used to couple a first level control circuit. The power managing apparatus includes a second level control circuit and a level detecting circuit. The second level control circuit is coupled to the enable pin. The level detecting circuit is coupled to the enable pin and used to detect a control signal on the enable pin. The control signal is transmitted from the first level control circuit. The control signal has at least three levels according to operations of the first level control circuit and the second level control circuit.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a power managing apparatus; in particular, to a power managing apparatus, a DC-DC control circuit, and a method for enabling a chip capable of saving additional enable pins to enhance function expandability.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Please refer to FIG. 1. FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic diagram of the pulse width modulation integrated circuit (PWM IC) and the driver coupled in the power converter and the signal transmissions between them in the prior art.
As shown in FIG. 1, the pulse width modulation integrated circuit PWM IC of the power converter 1 has pins P1˜P3, wherein the pin P1 is an enable pin used for receiving an input signal SYS from the system to control the pulse width modulation integrated circuit PWM IC itself operated in an enable state or a disable state; the pin P2 is a control pin coupled to the driver DRIVER and used for transmitting an enable control signal DRON to the driver DRIVER to control the driver DRIVER operated in the enable state or the disable state; the pin P3 is used for outputting a pulse width modulation signal PWM to the driver DRIVER when the pulse width modulation integrated circuit PWM IC is operated in the enable state.
The driver DRIVER of the power converter 1 has pins P4˜P5 wherein the pin P4 is an enable pin coupled to the control pin P2 of the used for the pulse width modulation integrated circuit PWM IC and used for receiving the enable control signal DRON provided by the control pin P2 to control the driver DRIVER itself operated in the enable state or the disable state; the pin P5 is an input pin coupled to the pin P3 of the pulse width modulation integrated circuit PWM IC and used for receiving the pulse width modulation signal PWM when the driver DRIVER is operated in the enable state.
It should be noted that when the enable control signal DRON provided by the control pin P2 of the pulse width modulation integrated circuit PWM IC is high-level, the driver DRIVER will be operated in the enable state; when the enable control signal DRON provided by the control pin P2 of the pulse width modulation integrated circuit PWM IC is low-level, the driver DRIVER will be operated in the disable state.
However, since the pulse width modulation integrated circuit PWM IC in the power converter has limited number of pins, if one pin (e.g., the control pin P2) of the pulse width modulation integrated circuit PWM IC is specifically used to control the driver DRIVER operated in the enable state or the disable state, there will be one less pin to be set for other functions and the function expandability of the pulse width modulation integrated circuit PWM IC will be severely limited.

Power managing apparatus, DC-DC control circuit, and method for enabling chip


Provided is an endoscope which is capable of letting a liquid drain off to a satisfactory level at the time of cleaning, while securing the degree of freedom of a layout. An observation window is placed on an observation window base part which is formed on a distal end surface of a distal end part so as to protrude from the surrounding area. An outer peripheral shape of the observation window base part is formed into a streamline shape with respect to a flow of a cleaning fluid jetted from a nozzle. With this feature, it is possible to block a liquid flow having a low flow rate from flowing on the observation window, and to allow the liquid flow which has been used for cleaning to promptly move to the outside of the observation window.

1. Field of the Invention
The presently disclosed subject matter relates to an endoscope, and more particularly, to an endoscope in which an observation window can be cleaned by jetting a cleaning fluid from a nozzle.
2. Description of the Related Art
There has been known an endoscope including a cleaning nozzle at a distal end part thereof, in which a cleaning liquid (such as water) and a gas (such as air and carbon dioxide gas) are jetted from the cleaning nozzle toward an observation window, to thereby enable cleaning of the observation window.
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 03-165731 describes a technology concerning such an endoscope including the cleaning nozzle, in which a convex portion is provided between the observation window and the cleaning nozzle, to thereby distribute the cleaning liquid to all over the surface of the observation window.
In addition, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-210388 describes a technology in which the observation window is formed so as to protrude by a predetermined amount from an end surface of the distal end part, a peripheral edge of the observation window is formed so as to be inclined, and the cleaning liquid is jetted from the cleaning nozzle toward the inclined peripheral edge of the observation window.
In addition, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Nos. 2006-314459, 2006-320366, 2006-320367, and 2008-86664 each describe a technology in which the end surface of the distal end part on which the observation window is placed is formed in a stepwise manner, an inclined surface is formed in a wall part between respective adjacent two steps, and the cleaning liquid is jetted from the cleaning nozzle toward the inclined surfaces.


A method for operating an automated vehicle includes controlling by one or more computing devices an autonomous vehicle; receiving by one or more computing devices sensor data from the vehicle corresponding to moving objects in a vicinity of the vehicle; receiving by one or more computing devices road condition data; and determining by one or more computing devices undesirable locations related to the moving objects. The undesirable locations related to the moving objects for the vehicle are based at least in part on the road condition data. The step of controlling the vehicle includes avoiding the undesirable locations.

Autonomous vehicles typically utilize multiple data sources to determine their location, to identify other vehicles, to identify potential hazards, and to develop navigational routing strategies. These data sources can include a central map database that is preloaded with road locations and traffic rules corresponding to areas on the map. Data sources can also include a variety of sensors on the vehicle itself to provide real-time information relating to road conditions, other vehicles and transient hazards of the type not typically included on a central map database.
In many instances a mismatch can occur between the map information and the real-time information sensed by the vehicle. Various strategies have been proposed for dealing with such a mismatch. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 8,718,861 to Montemerlo et al. teaches detecting deviations between a detailed map and sensor data and alerting the driver to take manual control of the vehicle when the deviations exceed a threshold. U.S. Pub. No. 2014/0297093 to Murai et al. discloses a method of correcting an estimated position of the vehicle by detecting an error in the estimated position, in particular when a perceived mismatch exists between road location information from a map database and from vehicle sensors, and making adjustments to the estimated position.
A variety of data sources can be used for the central map database. For example, the Waze application provides navigational mapping for vehicles. Such navigational maps include transient information about travel conditions and hazards uploaded by individual users. Such maps can also extract location and speed information from computing devices located within the vehicle, such as a smart phone, and assess traffic congestion by comparing the speed of various vehicles to the posted speed limit for a designated section of roadway.
Strategies have also been proposed in which the autonomous vehicle will identify hazardous zones relative to other vehicles, such as blind spots. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 8,874,267 to Dolgov et al. discloses such a system. Strategies have also been developed for dealing with areas that are not detectable by the sensors on the vehicle. For example, the area behind a large truck will be mostly invisible to the sensors on an autonomous vehicle. U.S. Pat. No. 8,589,014 to Fairfield et al. teaches a method of calculating the size and shape of an area of sensor diminution caused by an obstruction and developing a new sensor field to adapt to the diminution.
Navigational strategies for autonomous vehicles typically include both a destination-based strategy and a position-based strategy. Destination strategies involve how to get from point 'A' to point 'B' on a map using known road location and travel rules. These involve determining a turn-by-turn path to direct the vehicle to the intended destination. Position strategies involve determining optimal locations for the vehicle (or alternatively, locations to avoid) relative to the road surface and to other vehicles. Changes to these strategies are generally made during the operation of the autonomous vehicle in response to changing circumstances, such as changes in the position of surrounding vehicles or changing traffic conditions that trigger a macro-level rerouting evaluation by the autonomous vehicle.
Position-based strategies have been developed that automatically detect key behaviors of surrounding vehicles. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 8,935,034 to Zhu et al. discloses a method for detecting when a surrounding vehicle has performed one of several pre-defined actions and altering the vehicle control strategy based on that action.
One of many challenges for controlling autonomous vehicles is managing interactions between autonomous vehicles and human-controlled vehicles in situations that are often handled by customs that are not easily translated into specific driving rules.

Method and apparatus for controlling an autonomous vehicle


An absorbent article includes a chassis comprising a topsheet, a backsheet, and an absorbent core disposed between the topsheet and the backsheet, and at least one elastically elongatable panel joined to the chassis. The elastically elongatable panel includes a stretch laminate that has at least one cover layer, an elastomeric film attached to the cover layer, the elastomeric film having two surfaces and a skin on at least one of the surfaces, and an adhesive disposed between the skin and the cover layer. The stretch laminate has at least one anchoring zone and at least one stretch zone, the skin that is located in the anchoring zone has a plurality of wrinkles, and the wrinkles have furrows, and at least some of the adhesive is disposed in at least some of the furrows. An absorbent article including the stretch laminate is also provided.

Disposable absorbent articles, such as diapers, are designed to contain bodily wastes and prevent soiling of the wearer's clothing and/or other items (e.g., a bed, a chair, a blanket, etc.). The fit of the article to the wearer's body is important in ensuring that these wastes are contained. Such articles are also designed to be cost-effective, and therefore manufacturers generally make the articles applicable for use by individuals with a wide range of body types. Accordingly, new and improved disposable absorbent articles that both conform to a wide range of body types and fit snuggly to the user to contain wastes and limit leakage are of continued interest.
One way in which manufacturers attempt to balance the competing interests of proper fit and variation in body type is through the use of expandable materials. One such group of materials is known as stretch laminates. As the name suggests, these materials are actually composites of individual components that are laminated together, through the use of an adhesive, for example. A typical stretch laminate will attempt to combine one or more layers of cover material with one or more layers or strands of an elastomeric material.
Complications arise in that stretch laminates are notoriously difficult and expensive to manufacture. Considerable effort has gone into proposing new types of stretch laminates and new methods for the fabrication of stretch laminates. In particular, a considerable number of patents discuss the difficulties of fabricating these laminates, and the significant and extensive steps that must be undertaken to prepare these laminates. Thus, there is a continuing need to provide new stretch laminates, new methods of fabricating better performing and/or cheaper stretch laminates, and new absorbent articles that comprise such stretch laminates.

Absorbent articles comprising stretch laminates


A brake testing device evaluates the condition of a disk having a disk axis and first and second disk surfaces that are normal to the disk axis. The device has a pair of gauges, each having a sensing element for measuring the position of one of the disk surfaces along a line parallel to the disk axis. The gauges generate position signals corresponding to the measured positions of the disk surfaces. The gauges are secured with respect to each other so as to measure positions along parallel lines, and the device positions the gauges to measure the disk surfaces at points equidistant from the disk axis. The gauges are preferably configured to allow testing a disk surrounded by a wheel and a dust shield. The device may be part of a system which processes the position signals to determine the thickness and the lateral run-out of the disk. The system may additionally compare the thickness and lateral runout to manufacturer-specified standards.

There are computer operated testing systems for many automotive systems. U.S. Pat. No. 5,485,678 discloses a system for testing the eccentricity of brake drums. However, no comparable system is available for the testing of disk brake rotors.
There have been a variety of gauges and tools developed over the years to test disk brakes by measuring the thickness and/or lateral run-out of disk brake rotors; however, these devices are frequently directed to a single task. U.S. Pat. No. 3,854,216 discloses a multi-function tool designed to measure both the lateral run-out and the thickness with a single gauge and bracket assembly. This assembly can be alternately positioned to provide measurements needed to determine the lateral disk run-out or the thickness, and is not well suited to an automated testing procedure, let alone being incorporated into a computer automated system.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,618,219 discloses a device which is functionally similar to that of the '216 patent, which is attached to the vehicle during testing. The device of the '219 patent is not well suited to an automated testing procedure and furthermore, as pointed out in the '216 patent, may result in inaccurate reading of the thickness due to lateral run-out.
Thus, there is a need for a device which is well suited for integration into a computer operated testing system which takes measurements that can be readily converted to values for the lateral run-out and the thickness of a brake disk.

Disk brake testing device and system employing the same


A technique for initializing a memory controller of a plurality of memory modules for optimum system performance is presented. A plurality of optimum sets of operational parameters that are supported by the memory controller and the plurality of memory modules are determined. A plurality of benchmark calculations using the plurality of optimum sets of operational parameters produces a plurality of benchmark numbers. The memory controller is configured with the one of the plurality of optimum sets of operational parameters that produces the best of the plurality of benchmark numbers. The benchmark calculations can be based on a variety of conditions, for example, burst length or the minimum time to read a random row of memory. Additionally, the benchmark calculations can be weighted in favor of frequency.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to computing system initialization and more particularly to memory parameter configuration of a memory controller for optimum performance.
2. Description of the Related Art
Computing systems are information handling systems which are designed to give independent computing power to one or more users. Computing systems can be found in many forms including, for example, mainframes, minicomputers, workstations, servers, personal computers, internet terminals, notebooks and embedded systems. Personal computer (PC) systems include desk top, floor standing, or portable versions. A typical PC system is a microcomputer that includes a microprocessor, associated memory and control logic (typically on a system board) and a number of peripheral devices that provide input and/or output (I/O) for the system. PC system boards often receive expansion printed circuit boards (PCBs) to increase the capabilities of the computer system and to connect to peripheral devices through an expansion bus. For example, various multimedia devices are commonly implemented as add-in cards in desktop and portable computers or as integrated circuits for installation on a system board.
Computing systems typically include a set of built-in software routines called the basic input/output system (BIOS). The BIOS is a software interface between the system hardware and the operating system software. The BIOS facilitates programmer and user interaction with the system hardware. Because the BIOS has qualities of software and hardware, it is often referred to as firmware. The BIOS is a set of instructions to the computer's microprocessor. The BIOS is commonly coded using, for example, assembly language, and stored onto a non-volatile memory such as a ROM (Read Only Memory) or a PROM (Programmable ROM) such as an EPROM (Erasable PROM), an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable PROM), a flash RAM (Random Access Memory) or any other type of memory appropriate for storing BIOS.
The BIOS controls several important functions of personal computer systems. For instance, the BIOS performs various functions at power up, including testing and initializing memory, inventorying and initializing the system, and testing the system. These functions at power up are referred to as "system boot" or "booting the system" and can occur every time the system powers up or is reset. The BIOS also controls keystroke interpretation, display of characters, and communication via the PC ports. The operating system and application programs of a computer system can access the BIOS rather than directly manipulating I/O ports, registers and control words of the specific system hardware. BIOS can be accessed through an interface of software interrupts and contains a plurality of entry points respectively corresponding to the different interrupts.
Computing systems have memory arranged in arrays that can include multiple memory modules. Each memory module can have a wide operational parameter envelope. Many computing systems hard wire operational speeds and other parameters of the memory modules. For example, the operational frequency, read/write (R/W) control timing, row address strobe (RAS) timing, column address strobe (CAS) timing of the memory modules and other parameters can be predefined and implemented in the memory controller circuitry or defined by physical straps on the system board that are read and programmed into the memory controller. Thus, although the memory is capable of running at different parameters, these computing systems limit memory operational performance to the predefined parameters. To take advantage of new memory technologies, users must often purchase new computing systems. Further, computing system manufacturers must redesign or rework existing designs and system boards to take advantage of better performing memory technologies.
Newer computing system devices, for example, memory controllers, are programmable to operate at a variety of operational speeds and parameters. Often, BIOS programs or configure the parameters of these devices and memory controllers upon system boot to predefined parameters. However, upgrading the computing system to take advantage of newer memory technologies is often difficult because a BIOS revision is often needed. Additionally, having a BIOS program support multiple memory technologies to provide optimum performance adds complexity. Because different memory modules can have different operating envelopes, system manufacturers often limit system performance to the highest available performance of the slowest supported memory technology. Alternatively, system manufacturers can limit the use of memory to only one memory technology causing possible system disadvantages when newer or cheaper memory technologies become available. BIOS revisions are difficult and often include patching the BIOS code or completely reprogramming BIOS non-volatile memory. Even though programmability of these devices is available, computing system vendors often limit the use of memory technology or run at less than optimum performance.

Firmware algorithm for initializing memory modules for optimum performance