The present invention is directed to a method and apparatus for controlling a process which may include long process delays, using an internal model-based control strategy wherein any external disturbances are effectively taken into account in a manner which results in a stable, predictable output. In accordance with exemplary embodiments, rather than using a mismatch signal .epsilon. as a feedback signal to address mismatches due to both modelling errors and to any external disturbance component, exemplary embodiments feedback an adaptive prediction of the mismatch signal. In accordance with exemplary embodiments, the adaptive, predicted mismatch signal possesses a value which takes into account the process time delay, or the process time delay plus some additional delay, to allow time for the control system to respond.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to control systems, and more particularly, to control systems which employ internal-model based control to account for time delays of a process being controlled.
2. State of the Art
Control systems which employ internal model-based control are known. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,121,332 (Balakrishnan et al) discloses a control system wherein an internal model-based control is used. Further, a document entitled "A Linear Programming Approach To Constrained Multivariable Process Control" by C. Brosilow and G. Q. Zhao (Control and Dynamic Systems, Ed. by C. T. Leondes, Vol. 27: System Identification and Adaptive Control, Academic Press, Inc., 1988) discloses a control system wherein an internal model-based control is used. The control systems described in these documents use an internal model control (MC) structure, such as the known Smith Predictor, for controlling processes with long time delays.
Controlled processes which incorporate long time delays can be considered to include two general components: (1) a dynamic gain, or transfer function, component of the overall process (absent any process time delays); and (2) the time delay component of the process. When a setpoint reference is applied directly to the process in an open-loop fashion, the process often responds with a time delay and with a steady-state amplitude different from the setpoint commanded. This is known as the bias problem.
Prior to the inclusion of internal model-based control, the bias problem was addressed by including direct feedback of the output signal to a comparator which also received the setpoint reference. The error between the setpoint reference and the output was then supplied to a controller having an integration function. This integration function was effective in erasing bias of the output signal relative to the input signal. However, for processes having long time delays, the error signal produced by the comparator existed for significant periods of time. The integration of the error signal over this relatively long period of time resulted in the process overshooting the desired setpoint reference, leading to an unstable, oscillatory output.
Internal model-based control was developed to address the unstable, oscillatory output associated with the use of direct feedback in a process control. Referring to FIG. 1, a controller which incorporates a Smith Predictor as an internal model-based controller is illustrated. In the FIG. 1 illustration, a setpoint reference 102, labelled "r", is supplied to a three input comparator 104. An output of the comparator 104 is supplied to a controller 106. The controller includes the integration feature described previously for addressing bias, and produces an output control signal labelled "u".
The control signal "u" is supplied to the control process represented by dashed lines 108. As mentioned previously, the process 108 can be considered to include two components: (1) the dynamic gain, or transfer function, component 110 labeled as a gain "G"; and a delay component 112 labelled "D". Because the process 108 is a real time process which is susceptible to environmental disturbances, an output from the dynamic gain component 110 is illustrated as being input to an adder 115 which receives an external disturbance component 114, labelled "d". The process output is a controlled variable labelled "y".
The components described above with respect to FIG. 1 constitute a conventional open loop control process. Prior to the use of a Smith Predictor with internal model-based control, the output signal "y" would constitute the feedback signal compared with the setpoint reference "r" to generate an error signal for controlling the process. However, as mentioned previously, such use of direct feedback may result in an unstable and oscillatory output signal "y".
To address the foregoing instabilities, the FIG. 1 illustration includes a Smith Predictor, configured as an internal model 116 of the process 108. The internal model 116 is a theoretical model of the process 108. The internal model 116 is illustrated as including two components: (1) a model dynamic gain component 118 labelled "G"; and (2) a model delay component 120 labelled "D". The model dynamic gain component 118 produces a predicted value "y.sub.pred " of the control variable "y". This predicted value constitutes a prediction of the value of "y" a set number of time units (e.g., D time units) into the future.
The model delay component 120 models the delay component 112, and produces an output labelled "y" which is intended to be very close to the process output "y". In practice, where the external disturbance component "d" is negligible, the internal model 116 can be empirically developed to produce an output "y" which is very close to the actual process output "y". Thus, the control signal "u" is supplied to two portions of the FIG. 1 illustration: (1) the actual process being controlled; and (2) the internal model, which receives the control signal in parallel with the process 108.
To address control system instabilities, an inner feedback loop 122 is provided without inclusion of time delay model D. This inner feedback loop supplies the predicted value "y.sub.pred ", representing a prediction of "y" D time units into the future, back to the comparator 104 where it is subtractively combined with the setpoint reference 102. Because the signal "y.sub.pred " is not supplied through the model delay component 120, it tracks changes in the control signal "u" very quickly. Thus, the inner feedback loop 122 supplies feedback almost immediately for correcting the control signal "u" and thereby avoiding oscillation in the control signal due to overshoot caused by time delay.
The FIG. 1 controller also includes an outer feedback loop 124 which feeds back an error, or mismatch signal, labelled .epsilon.. The mismatch signal .epsilon. is generated by comparing the actual process output "y" and the predicted value "y" in a comparator 126. The mismatch signal .epsilon. is supplied to a low pass filter 128. The low pass filter 128 is configured with a cutoff frequency that corresponds to the desired bandwidth of process operation, and produces a filtered mismatch signal labelled .epsilon.. The filtered mismatch signal .epsilon. is supplied to a comparator 130, wherein it is subtractively combined with a mismatch reference signal.
As those skilled in the art will appreciate, during ideal conditions, the internal model 116 will correspond identically to the process 108. As such, changes in the control signal "u" will be reflected equally in changes of the process output "y" and the predicted process output "y". The mismatch signal .epsilon. will therefore ideally be zero during operation, as will the output from comparator 130, provided that the external disturbance "d" does not exist.
The control system of FIG. 1 works well if the internal model 116 is closely matched to the process and if there are no external disturbances "d". That is, the inner loop prevents the buildup of oscillations, while the outer feedback loop 124 corrects for long term (low frequency) mismatches between the internal model 116 and the actual process 108. However, difficulties may arise when external disturbances, as represented by the external disturbance component "d", exist. In this case, the mismatch signal .epsilon. will take on a value which is not due to inaccuracies in the internal model 116, but rather to periodic and/or random disturbances to the process. Although long term (slow) disturbances can be addressed effectively with the FIG. 1 controller, fast varying external disturbances cannot be properly addressed. In fact, they may be amplified by the feedback loop.
More particularly, values of .epsilon. due to fast changing external disturbances result in the output from comparator 130 taking on a value which is intended to cancel the effect of the external disturbance component "d". However, because of the time delay included in the process 108 and the external model 116, the outer feedback loop can only correct for very low frequency disturbances. High frequency disturbances will likely take on (very) different values by the time the corrective control actions show effect on the delayed response. The net effect may be an amplification of the disturbance "d".
Although the aforementioned Broslow et al document describes a control system which includes a "predictor" in a feedback path, the system described in this document does not adequately address the problems described above. Rather, at best, this document describes using currently observed external disturbances as a feedback, and making an assumption that these disturbances will not change over the time period associated with the prediction interval. In other words, the "predictor" is not a predictor at all, but rather, uses the current disturbance as an estimate of what a future disturbance will be.
Accordingly, it would be desirable to develop a control apparatus and method which includes internal model-based control to account for long process delays, while effectively taking any external disturbance components into account in a manner which produces a stable, predictable output.

Method and apparatus for controlling a process using adaptive prediction feedback


A semiconductor package comprises a substrate, which has two surfaces and comprises first and second electrical paths. On one of the surfaces, a semiconductor chip is mounted. The semiconductor chip comprises a plurality of pads, which include a first pad to be supplied with a power supply and a second pad to be grounded. On the other surface, at least one bypass capacitor is mounted. The bypass capacitor comprises first and second terminals, which are connected to the first and the second pads through the first and the second electrical paths, respectively.

This invention relates to a semiconductor device including a semiconductor package and, in particular, to a technique for ensuring suitable margins for power supply and ground in the semiconductor package.
Over the past several years, operating speed of integrated circuits has increased. A semiconductor package with high-speed integrated circuits requires a stable voltage, i.e. suppression of power supply/ground voltage level fluctuation.
To suppress power supply/ground voltage level fluctuation, one of known semiconductor packages comprises bypass capacitors or decoupling capacitors, which can reduce impedance between the power supply and the ground For example, JP-A H6-5771 discloses a semiconductor package including such decoupling capacitors, the contents of JP-A H6-5771 being incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

Semiconductor package with bypass capacitor


A magnetic head used in a lamp load type magnetic disk device is disclosed. The magnetic head includes a head slider having a recording element and/or a reproducing element, and a suspension that supports the head slider. The suspension includes a magnetic head support unit arranged at its tip portion. The magnetic head support unit comes into contact with a lamp unit of the magnetic disk device when at least one of magnetic head loading operations and magnetic head unloading operations are performed and has a surface on which a lubricating layer is formed.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a lamp load type magnetic head, a manufacturing thereof, and a magnetic disk device including such a magnetic head.
2. Description of the Related Art
With the dramatic increase in communication speed and the amount of information being handled in communications technology, the magnetic disk device, particularly the hard disk device, is starting to be widely used in a variety of applications. The hard disk device is being adapted to have a large capacity, high recording density, high speed access, small size, and reduced weight to be installed in a notebook type personal computer or a potable terminal, for example.
In a hard disk device, recording/reproducing operations are enabled with a magnetic head flying closely over the surface of a rotating magnetic disk, the flying height of the magnetic head being around a dozen nanometers (nm). When the recording/reproducing operations are not performed, rotation of the magnetic disk is stopped, and the magnetic head is held at a standstill in contact with the surface of the magnetic disk. However, when external shock is applied to the hard disk device when the magnetic head is in such as state, the magnetic head may hit the surface of the magnetic disk to damage the surface of the magnetic disk, for example, and as a result, information recorded on the magnetic disk may not be reproduced.
In view of such a problem, a lamp load system may be implemented for moving the magnetic head away from the magnetic disk surface when it is not in use. For example, in FIG. 1, a magnetic head 100 flies over a magnetic disk 103 at a position indicated by arrow A during recording/reproducing operations. After the recording/reproducing operations are ended, the recording head 100 moves toward the outer perimeter side of the magnetic disk 103 so that a load bar 102 arranged at the tip of the magnetic head 100 comes into contact with a lamp unit 104 (at a position indicated by arrow B). Then, the load bar 102 is moved upward while being held in contact with a sloped portion of the lamp unit 104, and at the same time, a head slider 101 is raised from the surface of the magnetic disk 103 so that the magnetic head 100 may be moved to a position indicated by arrow C and stopped thereat. In this way, the magnetic head 100 may be unloaded. Upon loading the magnetic head 100, the load bar 102 is moved toward the magnetic disk 103 while being held in contact with the lamp unit 104. Then, an air bearing is formed between the head slider 101 and the surface of the magnetic disk 103, and the load bar 102 moves away from the lamp unit 104 to fly over the surface of the magnetic disk 103.
Normally, the load bar 102 is made of metal such as stainless steel, and the lamp unit 104 is made of resin material. Upon loading/unloading the magnetic head 100, the load bar 102 is held in contact with the lamp 104 as it is moved. Thus, when the loading/unloading operations are repeatedly performed, abrasive powder may be generated at the resin lamp unit 104 by the sliding motion. The abrasive powder may be adhered to the load bar 102 to then land on the surface of the magnetic disk 103 when the magnetic head is loaded. Further, the abrasive powder may be adhered to the slider surface of the magnetic head 100. When such abrasive powder or clusters thereof reside between the slider surface of the magnetic head 100 and the surface of the magnetic disk 103, the flying stability of the magnetic head may be degraded to eventually lead to head crash, for example.
In view of such a problem, for example, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2000-132937 discloses a magnetic disk device that prevents such abrasive powder from adhering to the surface of a magnetic disk by arranging a trench at a lamp unit to receive the abrasive powder.
However, even by implementing such measures, small amounts of abrasive powder may still penetrate into the space in which the magnetic disk and the magnetic head are arranged, and in such a case, the abrasive powder may not be prevented from adhering to the surface of the magnetic disk.

Magnetic head, method of manufacturing the magnetic head, and magnetic disk device


An aqueous tube cleaning apparatus and method includes a cleaning receptacle and a vertical receptacle, which is taller than the cleaning receptacle. A tube, or bundle of tubes, is placed in the cleaning receptacle, extending through an inlet port from the vertical receptacle, and a gate is closed to clamp the tubes in place. The vertical receptacle is then filled with a fluid, and the pressure created by gravity forces the fluid through and around the tubes, cleansing the inner and outer surfaces of the tubes.

During manufacturing, machine parts often must be cleaned to remove metal chips, lubricating oils and contaminants before being installed in an assembly or being delivered. In addition, used parts often must be cleaned during overhaul or maintenance operations. As a result, a wide variety of methods and devices have been developed to cleanse parts. Industrial parts washers may be developed for general use or for specific applications. Industrial parts washers are utilized in a wide variety of industries. For example, extensive use is found in the automotive industry, the aerospace industry, the agricultural equipment industry, the heavy equipment industry, and the computer industry. Furthermore, industrial parts washers have been developed to remove a wide variety of contaminants, including, for example, carbon residue, grease, grinding compounds, oils, lubricants, metal burrs, metal working fluids, mold release, particulates, rust, soil, and wax.
Depending on the application, industrial parts washers have been designed using an assortment of cleaning methods. For example, immersion cleaning equipment typically is outfitted with baskets or screened trays to handle parts that cannot tolerate rotation or tumbling. Spray washers, or pressure parts washers, clean parts by directing a pressurized spray of hot water or cleaning solution at a component. Immersion parts washers clean components by submerging them in an agitated cleaning solution contained in a wash tank. Solvent washers use chemical solvents to clean or degrease, typically immersing parts in a liquid solvent or utilizing spray nozzles to disperse the solvent for additional cleaning. Ultra-sonic cleaning systems use vibration developed by uniformly dispersing ultrasonic cavitation into a fluid surrounding the parts or components. Forced-flow systems channel pressurized fluid through a cavity in the parts, such as tubing.
Industrial washers also come in a wide range of sizes, from small table-top washing machines or small scrub tank sinks to large front-loading turntable or conveyor cleaning systems. These systems may be designed for general cleaning or for highly specialized applications, such as critical cleaning systems of electronics components or wafers, bottle or container cleaners, or sterilizing and disinfecting cleaners for pharmaceutical and food applications. Included among these specialized applications of specific industrial parts washers are tube cleaning systems.
Tube cleaning systems apply various methods to deliver a cleaning solution to each tube. For example, some tube cleaning systems utilize flexible hose connections, inserting an individual hose into each tube to ensure delivery of cleaning solution to each tube. However, this requires significant labor, because each tube must be individually fitted to a hose connector. Furthermore, the tube sizes that can be cleaned are limited by the size of the hose connectors. In addition, some tube cleaning systems use solvents that require special handling and disposal. Other tube cleaning systems require excessively high fluid flow rates to clean large tubes. Moreover, many tube cleaning systems are designed for large batch processes, and cannot be adapted for use in an efficient cellular manufacturing scheme.
Despite the number and variety of industrial cleaning systems available, specific applications continue to require the development of new industrial parts washers. Accordingly, it is desirable to provide a method and apparatus that uses an aqueous cleaning solution to clean tubing of a range of diameters, capable of accommodating small diameter and large diameter tubes simultaneously without requiring that the individual tubes be held in place by individual fixtures. It is also desirable that the method and apparatus be capable of cleaning large diameter tubing without requiring excessive fluid flow rates. Furthermore, it is desirable that the cleaning system be portable and sized for use in an efficient cellular manufacturing scheme.

Aqueous tube cleaning apparatus and method


A sliding arm L-clamp includes an L-shaped bar having an arm with a flat arm end and a rail integrally connected to the arm and an adjustable sliding rack assembly. The adjustable sliding rack assembly includes a rack with an opening on a first rack end, a perpendicular tube at a second rack end, an extendable nonrotatable inner tube having a pad on a first extendable inner tube end, and a linear actuating mechanism operably connected to the extendable nonrotatable inner tube for movement of the extendable nonrotatable inner tube between a proximal position adjacent a first perpendicular tube end and a distal position adjacent the flat arm end. The opening is configured for receiving the rail and the extendable nonrotatable inner tube is slidably engaged within the perpendicular tube.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to L-clamps. Particularly, the present invention relates to a sliding rack L-clamp.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A standard L-clamp or bar clamp has a straight bar attached to a fixed arm. A sliding arm slides along the straight bar and the outer end of the sliding arm comprises a threaded screw which comprises a handle on one end and a pad on the other end. When the handle is turned, the pad engages an object being clamped between the pad on the end of the threaded screw and the pad on the end of the fixed arm. However, as the screw is turned the pad at the end of the screw rotates generally causing marring of the object or walking movement or deflection of the screw on the object being clamped.
The related prior art includes U.S. Pat. No. 6,367,790 (2002, Ocklenburg et al.) which discloses a sliding arm L-clamp comprising a bar, an elbow, and an arm. The movable arm extends from the bar, slides along the bar, and has an outer end which is threaded to a spindle carrying a handle or crank at one end and a first abutment pad at the opposite end. The fixed arm carries at its outer end a second abutment pad parallel with the first abutment pad. However, as the spindle turns, the abutment pad turns creating the possibility of marring a workpiece being held in the L-clamp.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,893,553 (1999, Pinkous) discloses a C-shaped clamp having a pad that does not rotate when an elongated threaded rod with an extendible thread surface is screwed toward a ball jointed pad on the opposite end of the C-clamp device. The elongated threaded rod is attached to the top of a pad bracket and a bar means attaches to an end of the pad bracket perpendicular to the rod. The blocking rod prevents the pad bracket from rotating. However, this design does not support the exterior spindle and still allows for pad and spindle rotation, albeit limited.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,405,124 (1995, Mayer) discloses a sliding arm C-shaped clamp bow with a nonrotating pad or clamping body. A clamping spindle is threaded through a spindle nut at one end of the bow. The contact surface of the end of the spindle is secured within the clamping body so that as the contact surface of the spindle rotates within the clamping body, the surface clamping element remains stationary. The clamping body extends from the guide section along the clamp bow. However, this is a C-shaped clamp with a spindle and not an L-clamp and the exposed spindle is unsupported by an exterior housing.
Therefore, what is needed is a sliding arm L-clamp that does not rotate when being tightened. What is further needed is an L-clamp that prevents marring of a workpiece, walking movement, or deflection of a screw on a workpiece when tightening the L-clamp on a workpiece. What is still further needed is an L-clamp that provides fast clamping of a workpiece.

Sliding rack L-clamp having a non-rotating shaft


An embodiment of a visual search system includes at least one imaging device, each imaging device operable to capture a corresponding image, a feature extraction device coupled to each imaging device, each feature extraction device operable to generate feature descriptors from the image received from the corresponding imaging device. A descriptor encoding device is coupled to each feature extraction device and operable to generate compressed feature descriptors from the received feature descriptors. An application processor is coupled to each descriptor encoding device. The application processor is operable to process the received compressed feature descriptors to generate output information as a function of the processed compressed feature descriptors.

The widespread use of mobile devices equipped with high resolution cameras is increasingly pushing computer vision applications within mobile scenarios. A common paradigm is represented by a user taking a picture of the surroundings with a mobile device to obtain informative feedback on its content. This is the case, e.g., in mobile shopping, where a user can shop just by taking pictures of products, or landmark recognition for ease of visiting places of interest. As in the aforementioned scenarios visual search needs to be typically performed over a large image database. Therefore, applications communicate wirelessly with a remote server to send visual information and receive informative feedback. As a result, a constraint is set by the bandwidth of the communication channel, whose use ought to be carefully optimized to bound communication costs and network latency. For this reason, compact but informative image representation is typically in the form of a set of local compact feature descriptors (e.g. scale-invariant feature transform (SIFT), speeded up robust features (SURF), etc.) that are extracted from the image and that must be subsequently communicated and processed. These descriptors will be alternatively referred to as "compact descriptors" or "compact feature descriptors herein." Improved architectures for implementing visual search systems are needed for various applications, such as object detection and navigation in automotive systems and object detection and recognition in surveillance systems.

Visual search system architectures based on compressed or compact feature descriptors


While steel sheets are positioned and held by a holding mechanism, a first laser beam is applied to a heating region of the steel sheet to space the steel sheet from the other steel sheet by a predetermined distance. A second laser beam is applied to a welding region to weld the steel sheets. An amount of heat applied by the first laser beam, a moving speed of the first laser beam, and a focused spot diameter of the first laser beam are set to keep the sheet irradiated with the first laser beam in an unmelted state and plastically deform the sheet.

Japanese Patent Publication No. 3115456 (hereinafter referred to as "prior art 1") discloses a known laser beam welding process of welding two plates, each having a base metal covered with a layer of a metal whose melting point is lower than the melting point of the base metal, overlapping each other.
According to the disclosed laser beam welding process, two steel sheets plated with zinc, i.e., two galvanized steel sheets, each having a steel sheet as a base metal covered with a layer of zinc whose melting point is lower than the melting point of the base metal, overlap each other, and supported with their ends unconstrained. Only one of the galvanized steel sheets to which the laser beam is applied is melted in advance by the laser beam at a position which is displaced 1 mm through 15 mm from the center of the welded region of the overlapping steel sheets toward the constrained region thereof. The end of the galvanized steel sheet which is irradiated with the laser beam is deformed, creating a gap between the galvanized steel sheets. Thereafter, the superposed galvanized steel sheets are welded to each other.
According to the prior art 1, in order to deform the end of the galvanized steel sheet, the laser beam is applied to melt the galvanized steel sheet, and the galvanized steel sheet is spaced from the other galvanized steel sheet upon solidification and shrinkage of the melted surface. Depending on how the galvanized steel sheet is melted, the amount of deformation of the end of the galvanized steel sheet varies. For example, the amount of deformation of the end of the galvanized steel sheet may be reduced even if the amount by which the galvanized steel sheet is melted increases.
Specifically, as shown in FIG. 15 of the accompanying drawings, a laser beam L was applied to a galvanized steel sheet 1 having a thickness t, and the depth D of a melted pool 2 produced in the galvanized steel sheet 1 by the laser beam L and the amount K by which the galvanized steel sheet 1 is deformed at a position spaced 10 mm from the position where the laser beam L is applied were detected for different samples. The thickness t was 0.7 mm and 2.0 mm, and the laser beam L was moved at speeds (machining speeds) of 5 m/min. and 2 m/min. At various laser output settings (w), the following results were obtained:
TABLE 1MachiningThicknessspeedOutputDH(mm)(m/min)(w)(mm)(mm)0.753000.1060.1300.756000.1990.2200.759000.2350.2700.7512000.3320.2740.7515000.4440.0972.028000.3240.0592.0210000.6420.1942.0212000.9760.9702.0215001.5970.112
It can be seen from Table 1 that the galvanized steel sheet 1 cannot be deformed as desired simply by increasing the laser output setting to increase the amount by which the galvanized steel sheet is melted. Therefore, a zinc gas vaporized when two galvanized steel sheets 1 are welded is not well discharged out, resulting in a welding failure due to blowhole, etc.
According to the conventional laser beam welding process disclosed in the prior art 1, it is necessary to apply a first laser beam to deform the end of one of the galvanized steel sheets and also to apply a second laser beam to weld the overlapping regions of the galvanized steel sheets, independently of each other. Therefore, the entire laser beam welding process is considerably complex and has low productivity.
For joining the ends of three or more overlapping sheets with a laser beam, it is customary to apply the laser beam in the direction in which the sheets overlap each other for welding the ends of the overlapping sheets. If the overlapping sheets to be welded are thick, then a large amount of heat needs to be applied to melt the sheets, resulting in a large thermal strain which makes it impossible to perform a desired laser beam welding process.
Other welding processes for welding overlapping sheets are disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 7-16775 (hereinafter referred to as "prior art 2") and Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 9-206969 (hereinafter referred to as "prior art 3").
According to the prior art 2, as shown in FIG. 16 of the accompanying drawings, of three overlapping flanges 1a, 2a, 3a are to be welded, the flange 1a at one end in the overlapping direction, i.e., the direction in which the flanges 1a, 2a, 3a overlap each other, and the flange 2a adjacent to the flange 1a are irradiated with a high-density laser beam which is applied in the overlapping direction. The flanges 1a, 2a are welded together by the applied high-density laser beam, with a bead 4a formed across the flanges 1a, 2a in the overlapping direction.
Then, the flanges 2a, 3a are welded to each other by a laser beam which is applied to the edges thereof in a direction perpendicular to the overlapping direction parallel to the interfaces of the flanges 2a, 3a. A bead 5a is formed in the flanges 2a, 3a along the interfaces thereof in the direction perpendicular to the overlapping direction.
According to the prior art 3, as shown in FIG. 17 of the accompanying drawings, three sheets including an outer panel 6a, an inner panel 6b, and a reinforcement 6c have overlapping ends to be welded into a joint 8a by a laser beam welding machine 7a. The laser beam welding machine 7a applies a laser beam to the edge of the joint 8a while moving in a zigzag pattern over the edge of the joint 8a, thus heating the edge of the joint 8a and forming a zigzag welded seam 9a.
With the prior art 2, when the three flanges 1a, 2a, 3a are to be welded together, the first laser beam is applied in the overlapping direction to weld the flanges 1a, 2a to each other, and the second laser beam is applied in the direction perpendicular to the overlapping direction to weld the flanges 2a, 3a to each other. The welding process according to the prior art 2 involves a number of welding steps and is low in productivity the three sheets need to be irradiated with the two laser beams applied in the different directions.
With the prior art 3, the welding system is complex in structure and control as the laser beam welding machine 7a has to be moved in the zigzag pattern, and may possibly fail to weld the interfaces of overlapping sheets having different thicknesses and materials.


Microshells for encapsulation of devices such as MEMS and microelectronics. In an embodiment, the microshells include a planar perforated pre-sealing layer, below which a non-planar sacrificial layer is accessed, and a sealing layer to close the perforation in the pre-sealing layer after the sacrificial material is removed. The sealing layer may include a nonhermetic layer to physically occlude the perforation and a hermetic layer over the nonhermetic occluding layer to seal the perforation as a function of the dimension of the perforation to form cavities having different vacuum levels on the same substrate.

1. Field
The present invention relates to the field of manufacturing of microelectronic devices and microelectromechanical systems (MEMS), and more particularly to the formation of microshells to encapsulate such devices on a substrate.
2. Discussion of Related Art
The term "MEMS" generally refers to an apparatus incorporating some mechanical structure having a dimensional scale that is comparable to microelectronic devices. This mechanical structure is typically capable of some form of mechanical motion and having dimensions below approximately 250 um. Micro-scale fabrication techniques similar to those utilized in the microelectronic industry such as thin film deposition, and thin film patterning by photolithography and reactive ion etching (RIE) form the micromechanical structure in a MEMS.
Many devices, particularly MEMS do not function properly when embedded in a completely solid environment. For example, a MEMS may comprise a resonator or accelerometer fabricated on a substrate, both of which include at least one element that must mechanically move relative to the substrate during operation. Freedom to move during operation would be lost if these elements were simply left embedded in a solid film deposited over the substrate as is commonly done in the microelectronics industry. For this reason, a micromechanical structure must be released from the substrate so that it is not contained within a purely solid environment. A released micromechanical structure is fragile and must be protected with some form of package which isolates a microenvironment surrounding the micromechanical structure from a global environment surrounding the substrate. The package may further be hermetically sealed so that it can remain evacuated or pressurized with a gas or other fluidic media. Similarly, some microelectronic devices (devoid of micromechanical structures) can also benefit from being contained within an isolated micro-environment. For example, a high speed transistor may be suspended in a manner so that it is substantially surrounded by a partial vacuum contained within a chamber so as to reduce parasitic capacitances associated with the relatively high dielectric constant of most solid materials. The type of package employed for such a MEMS or microelectronic device greatly affects their cost and functionality.
One option is encapsulating a device in a conventional "TO can," well-known in the industry as a standard packaging method for a discrete device. This type of packaging is not wafer-level and is limited to stand-alone (discrete) devices, and therefore is expensive. Another packaging option is the microcap 100 shown in FIG. 1A. Here, first substrate 102 supports device 101. A thick film or second substrate 105 is first aligned and then bonded to first substrate 102 by means of seal ring 110 to form a cap over device 101. Fabrication of microcap packages of the type shown is frequently more expensive than the fabrication of the devices they protect. Fabrication and alignment of second substrate 105 is costly and, as shown, seal ring 110 requires a significant amount of die area, thereby increasing the cost by limiting the minimum dimension of the package. For example, the size of microcap 100, after accommodating packaging alignment and seal ring area, can be nearly twice the area of device 101. Thus, the microcap package limits the scaling of the packaged device, accounts for a large percentage of the packaged device cost and limits wafer-level integration of devices requiring a fluidic environment with those that do not.
Another option is a conventional thin film encapsulated package 150 as shown in FIG. 1B. Here, thin films, such as a low pressure chemical vapor deposition (LPCVD) polycrystalline silicon (polysilicon) or silicon nitride (Si3N4), cover device 101. Unlike the microcap package previously discussed, encapsulation by thin films does not require large seal rings or thick substrate caps and so are commonly referred to as "microshells." A microshell typically comprises a thin film layer having a perforation and a thin film sealing layer. As shown in FIG. 1B, perforated layer 115 has a perforation 116 from which a sacrificial layer under the perforated layer 115 is removed to expose device 101. Sealing layer 120 then closes perforation 116 to complete the microshell.
Because a thin film is utilized rather than a thick film or substrate, no seal ring is required and misalignment issues are reduced relative to the bonded-cover package. However, one issue with the conventional microshells is that the pressure inside the microshell is not controllable as in the microcap bonding process. Conventional microshells typically rely solely on a sealing layer 120 of silicon dioxide. Sealing the microshell with a silicon dioxide process typically limits the level of vacuum that can be achieved within the microshell and can result in contamination on the encapsulated device. Furthermore, conventional microshells are not as robust as bonded microcap packages and so, as the chamber size is increased, are not readily capable of withstanding the pressure of the final package molding process employed in conventional microelectronics, which is on the order of 1000 pounds per square inch (PSI). Therefore, the cost of the final package encompassing the conventional microshell can remain high. For this reason too, it is not easy to monolithically integrate a conventional microshell with microelectronic devices (eg. CMOS).
Still another limitation of conventional microshells is that non-conventional processes are typically employed which either increase costs or render the package incompatible with microelectronics. For example, accessing the sacrificial layer is typically by way of a high aspect ratio perforation 116 that is first lithographically patterned and then etched through a non-porous pre-sealing layer. This etching of high aspect ratio perforations 116 through a non-porous pre-sealing layer can be very difficult because non-planarity, as shown in FIG. 1B, limits the minimum resolvable aperture diameter for a given exposure wavelength. Moreover, process difficulties associated with etching high aspect ratio apertures (such as etch stop, etc.) increase the cost of forming the high aspect ratio perforation 116 in conventional thin film encapsulated package 150.
Furthermore, many conventional microshells require high temperature processing that is incompatible with microelectronic devices. For example microshells incorporating silicon, such as monocrystalline or polycrystalline silicon, to either form perforated layer 116 or sealing layer 120 require processing temperatures greater than 600° C. Such high temperature processes forecloses the formation of a conventional microshell subsequent to the formation of many microelectronic and/or MEMS. Because modern CMOS transistors typically have a low thermal budget, any processing of a significant duration at much over 650° C. will degrade transistor performance. Thus, integration of a microshell with CMOS can not easily be accomplished. Therefore, high temperature microshell fabrication requires the microshell to be made prior to any transistor fabrication. Thus, monolithically integrating the conventional microshell with microelectronics is again severely limited.

Microshells for multi-level vacuum cavities


This memory comprises a first frequency detecting portion detecting access frequencies with respect to a plurality of memory cell blocks respectively, a comparator comparing the access frequencies with respect to the plurality of memory cell blocks detected by the first frequency detecting portion with each other and a refresh portion exercising control for selecting a prescribed memory cell block from among the plurality of memory cell blocks on the basis of comparison data output from the comparator and preferentially rewriting data in the memory cells included in the selected memory cell block.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a memory, and more particularly, it relates to a memory comprising a refresh portion for rewriting data in memory cells.
2. Description of the Background Art
In relation to a ferroelectric memory, a disturbance is generally known as such a phenomenon that data disappear due to reduction in the quantities of polarization of ferroelectric capacitors resulting from application of a prescribed voltage to memory cells connected to word lines other than a selected word line in a rewrite operation after a read operation and a write operation on the memory cells including the ferroelectric capacitors. A conventional ferroelectric memory comprising a refresh portion exercising control for rewriting data in (refreshing) memory cells including ferroelectric capacitors in order to suppress such a disturbance is known in general. When access frequencies with respect to all memory cells reach a prescribed number of times, this conventional ferroelectric memory forcibly sequentially refreshes all memory cells with the refresh portion, thereby suppressing disturbances resulting from reduction in the quantities of polarization of the ferroelectric capacitors.
In the aforementioned conventional ferroelectric memory sequentially refreshing all memory cells, however, already refreshed memory cells are disadvantageously disturbed due to refresh operations on the remaining memory cells before the refresh portion completely refreshes all memory cells. Thus, the frequency of disturbances caused in the refreshed memory cells is disadvantageously increased.
In this regard, Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2003-7051, for example, proposes a ferroelectric memory for overcoming the disadvantage of the aforementioned conventional ferroelectric memory.
In the ferroelectric memory proposed in the aforementioned Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2003-7051, a memory cell array is divided into a plurality of memory cell arrays (memory cell blocks) each including a plurality of memory cells so that the ferroelectric memory refreshes a memory cell block exhibiting an access frequency reaching a prescribed number of times requiring a refresh operation. Thus, the ferroelectric memory disclosed in the aforementioned Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2003-7051 restrictively refreshes the memory cell block exhibiting the access frequency reaching the prescribed number of times, whereby the frequency of disturbances caused in refreshed memory cells can be reduced.
However, the ferroelectric memory proposed in the aforementioned Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2003-7051 disadvantageously preferentially refreshes the plurality of memory cell blocks along the sequence of access frequencies reaching the prescribed number of times requiring a refresh operation. When a memory cell block exhibiting an access frequency fourthly reaching the prescribed number of times requiring a refresh operation is concentrically accessed while the refresh portion refreshes a memory cell block exhibiting an access frequency firstly reaching the prescribed number of times requiring a refresh operation, therefore, the ferroelectric memory proposed in the Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2003-7051 fourthly refreshes the memory cell block exhibiting the access frequency fourthly reaching the prescribed number of times requiring a refresh operation, and hence the access frequency with respect to the memory cell block exhibiting the access frequency fourthly reaching the prescribed number of times requiring a refresh operation disadvantageously remarkably exceeds the prescribed number of times requiring a refresh operation. Consequently, the number of disturbances accumulated in the memory cells included in the memory cell block exhibiting the access frequency fourthly reaching the prescribed number of times requiring a refresh operation is increased, to disadvantageously cause disappearance of data resulting from the accumulated disturbances.

Memory with a refresh portion for rewriting data


A method of exercising and various exercise devices. The exercise device includes a substantially circular hoop, the hoop comprising a hollow chamber for allowing a member to move within the chamber. One of at least one handle or at least one mechanism is attached to the hoop for supporting the hoop at a location on a user""s body. At least one member is disposed in the hollow chamber, wherein the hoop is postionable around a portion of the user""s body. The exercise device can also include at least one substantially circular casing comprising a hollow chamber for allowing a member to move within the chamber and a centrally disposed through opening. A handle rod at least partially disposed within the opening, and at least one member is moveably disposed in the hollow chamber. The casing is removably fixed to the handle rod so that movement of the handle rod causes movement of the at least one member within the casing. The exercising method includes positioning a hoop device about a portion of a user""s body, securing the hoop device on the user using at least one securing mechanism which fixes the hoop device with respect to the portion of the user""s body, moving the hoop device with corresponding movement of the user""s body so as to cause a weight disposed in a hollow chamber of the hoop device to move about.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to exercise devices and, more particularly, to exercise devices which use the principle of inertia in order to enhance and intensify an exercise performed with such inertial exercise devices. The invention also relates to methods of exercising using the devices.
2. Discussion of Background Information
In recent years people have become more and more conscious of the need to exercise in order to maintain a healthy life-style. Many different types of exercise have become popular and some exercises are directed or devoted to improving various aspects of the body""s fitness and performance. A comprehensive list of such types of exercises and exercise devices is, in today""s society, overwhelming. Many people have become confused as to what exercise and what type of exercise device is suitable for their purposes. Thus, many types of exercise devices are of common knowledge to an informed consumer or physical fitness devotee. There are many examples of such exercise devices, including inertial-type exercise devices.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,796,431 discloses an exercising device in the form of a dumbbell. The device is provided with rotatable spherical weights, which allow the device to be rolled along a flat surface such as a floor or wall, in addition to lifting the device in the conventional manner.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,900,017 is a device similar to that described above, in which an inertial force exercise device includes a wheel member operable to engage and roll on a surface during an exercise routine. An axle member is required to extend in a predetermined manner so as to be controlled by an operator of the device. An inertial mass structure is connected to the axle for translation with the axle, without rotation with respect to the axle, for providing an inertial resistance through non-rotational translation so as to exercise a user""s body. Due to the mass of the device a substantial linear inertia is produced.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,714,246 discloses an exercise device in the form of a disk provided with handles, and a resilient ball tethered to the center of the disk. By imparting a predetermined motion to the tethered ball, it can move in predetermined directions while bouncing periodically inside the disk. Various weights can be attached individually or a plurality of weights can be attached simultaneously.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,513,963 is directed to a body exercise device having a tubular member provided inside thereto with an axially disposed rotatable bar member, the external ends of which are provided with radial pieces or connectors parallel to each other. A weight is provided adjacent to the end of the connector not attached to the rod. The connector that rotates the weights is limited in radius and can possibly harm the user as the weights are free in the sense that they are not protected from causing injury to the user.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,043,553 discloses an exercising device with eccentric weights. Hand grips are provided to be rotatably secured to an eccentric weighted cross shaft. The device includes two spaced ends and at least one generally cylindrical griping portion between the ends. The frame may be rotated within the hand grip and an eccentric weighted means for the frame is located adjacent each spaced end. The weighted means comprises an intermediate coupling element having a first coupling means for fixedly and non-rotatably coupling the element to the frame at one of the spaced ends.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,140,580 discloses a hand-held ball shaped case having a shaft mounted inertial wheel or rotor provided with fins. The casing leaves exposed part of the rotor, so that an initial spin can be imparted to it and afterwards, the rotor spins so that it is maintained by imparting a periodic motion thereto. The device is basically a gyroscope with a race designed for providing smooth rotor movement.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,809,393 discloses an exercise device having a handle supported by at least three swivel casters. The device can be moved about a floor. However, the device does not appear to truly be an inertial exercise device as it does not produce inertial resistance to movement imparted to the device by a user.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,775,147 is an inertial exercise device having three independent rotational inertial systems. A plurality of wheel and axle elements are required to cooperate with weight elements so that rolling of the devices produces an inertial force. The device appears to be for floor-type exercise and is directed to an open-type, non-protected weight element for providing the inertial force when receiving initial movement by a user.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,171,805 is directed to a rollable hand held exercise device that requires an additional, stationary element for providing a rolling surface. The device is not a true inertial-type exercise device as it requires a special surface to provided rolling contact surfaces which the user must use in conjunction with the weights so as to guide the weights in a manner designed to force certain muscle groups to work.
U.S. Patent No. 5,046,727 is a wrist exercise device having a hollow shaft which houses a spring element. Tension disks are connected to the springs so that the disks can be moved toward and away from each other by turning a tension adjusting knob at ends of the device.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,643,162 discloses an exercise apparatus which is used in a forward and/or lateral movement in an extension type of exercise. While rolling and/or sliding of the device is considered, inertial exercise is not truly disclosed. This is an example of a low-friction type exercise device that, on its surface, may appear to be an inertial exercise device. However, It is apparent that low-friction type exercise does not imply an inertial exercise element.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,707,325 discloses an exercise device relating to a roller type device. The exerciser includes a roller for rolling along a first direction from a first position. Intermediate positions are defined as the device proceeds from the first position to the final position. The route of the device is then repeated back to the start position. Energy storing means are provided to effect movement from one position to another. The storing devices are springs which are contracted and released as the device moves from one position to another.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,163,888 discloses a exercising apparatus in which different linkages are moved in response to movement of a user. The movements of the various links function to provide a resistance against which the user must work.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,304,108 discloses a resist and assist exercising device. The device allows the user to impart movement to the exercise device along a particular direction and the user may continue the application of force in that direction. Alternatively, the user may resist the force imparted to the first direction by trying to impart force in another direction. However, while the exerciser is of the assist/resist type, the device operates by use of an essentially weightless mass. Thus, it is not a true inertial type exercise device.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,403,906 discloses an exerciser with grippers mounted on a shaft. This exerciser is again a roller type exercise device which does not require the user to work against an inertia imparted to the device by the user.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,708,164 discloses a manual torsion exerciser in which a torsional member is positioned within a tubular member and extends from the outer end part of one tubular member to the outer end part of another tubular member. A retainer member is releasible engaged with one end of the torsional member so that the torsional member will be placed under torsional stress upon rotation of one tubular member relative to the other tubular member.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,821,394 discloses a spring-roller type exercise device in which the device is designed to be rolled on a floor so as to cause the user to impart force to a coil-type spring. Movement back and forth of the exerciser along the floor coils and uncoils the spring, forcing the user to work against the spring force in a coiling and uncoiling mode.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,703,928 discloses a precessional exercise device designed only for foot exercises. A spinning mass forms the rotor of a motor for spinning the mass. Rotational movement of the foot is opposed by a gyroscopic effect produced by the spinning mass. This produces an isometric exercise effect when the foot is rotated while the torque of the spinning mass is opposed by other muscles of the foot.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,244,445 discloses an exercise wand. The wand has a hollow rigid tube having a length sufficient to extend a substantial distance to either side of the body median plane. A plurality of spheres are enclosed in the hollow wand. Movement in one direction causes the spheres to roll in the wand from end to end and add momentum to the movement so as to provide an extra push to the movement of the body.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,482,835 discloses a barbell with an eccentric weight. Movement of the barbell causes a force to be imparted to the weight so that it rotates eccentrically about the shaft of the barbell. The device uses the effects of centrifugal force to require the user to coordinate his/her movement of the barbell with the movement of the eccentric weight.
The foregoing devices are of different types and are designed to produce different results. Each type of exercise device has its own advantages and disadvantages. However, all of the known exercising devices have at least one common disadvantage. That is, they do not utilize the effects of inertia to permit a user to first impart movement to an exercise device and then work against the movement in a variety of ways so as to provide a complete workout for a user or team of users. The foregoing devices require the use of, among others, tension springs, compression springs, eccentrically mounted weights, offset shafts, etc. All of which unnecessarily complicate such exercising devices and necessarily lead to an increased cost of manufacture and a consequent increased cost to the consumer.
The invention of the present application was developed to overcome the problems of the known exercising devices. More particularly, the invention was developed to provide an inertial exercise device that is effective in promoting healthy exercise with a minimum of stress to the muscle groups so a to thereby avoid injuries often associated with exercise. In addition, the inertial exercise device of the present invention relies on a simple, though ingenious, design for coaxing a maximum workout from a user while at the same time permitting the user to enjoy the workout.
To this end, the invention of the present application was developed to provide an inertial exercise device having a first housing member, a second housing member connected to the first housing member so as to define a recess between the first housing member and the second housing member. At least one substantially spherically weight member is located in the recess in a manner so as to be movable therein. A holding element is connected to at least on of the first housing member and the second housing member so that a user of the exercise device can impart and control movement of the exercise device. Movement of the exercise device imparts a moment of inertia to the weight member so as to require increased resistance by the user as the inertia of the weight member is increased.
Another aspect of the present invention is to provide a first arcuate inner member section connected to an exterior wall of the first housing member. A second arcuate inner section is connected to an exterior wall of the second housing member. A first flat ring is secured to the first arcuate inner section and a second flat ring is secured to the second arcuate inner section. A securing element connects the first flat ring and the second flat ring so that the first housing member and the second housing member, the first arcuate inner section, the second arcuate inner section, the first flat ring and the second flat ring are maintained in a fixed positional relationship.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an inertial exercise device having a connecting part extending from the first flat ring and the second flat ring so that the holding element is connected to the first flat ring and the second flat ring. An adjusting member is connected to the holding element to permit adjustment of the holding element in accordance with a size of the user of the exercise device.
A further object of the invention is to provide an inertial exercise device wherein the holding element is a handle member fixedly secured to one of the first housing member and the second housing member.
Another object of the invention is an inertial exercise device having a third housing member, a fourth housing member connected to the third housing member so as to define a recess between the third housing member and the fourth housing member. At least one substantially spherical weight is located in the recess in a manner so as to be movable therein and a bar element is fixedly secured to one of the first housing member and the second housing member and also one of the third housing member and the fourth housing member.
Still another object of the invention is to provide an inertial exercise device having a third housing member and in which the first housing member is substantially a right circular cylinder. The second housing member encloses a first end of the first housing member and the third housing member encloses an opposite end of the first housing member.
A further object of the invention is an inertial exercise device having a spring member positioned in the first end and the opposite end of the first housing member, the weight member being positioned in the recess defined by the right circular cylinder and the spring member so as to be movable therein.
Another object of the invention is to provide an inertial exercise device which includes two such devices connected together with the second exercising device having housing members like the first exercise device and having a connecting member connecting the two exercise devices.
Another object of the invention is an inertial exercise device having spring members positioned in ends of the housing member with the weight member positioned in the recess defined by the right circular cylinder and the spring members so as to be movable therein a fastening member is connected to the connecting member so as to fasten a first end and a second end of the connecting member in an adjustable manner. The connecting member is attached to a body part of the user to impart one of a linear and a circular motion to the inertial exercise devices when the user imparts a force to the devices.
Another object of the invention is to provide the inertial exercise device with semi-spherical shaped housing members.
Another object of the invention resides in the housing members being connected to the bar element so that the housing members are substantially flat on a side which connects to the bar element. The flat housing sides being substantially perpendicular.
A further object of the invention is to provide a plurality of weights in each of the recesses of the exercise device.
Still another object of the invention is to provide an inertial exercise device having a ring-shaped housing member and a substantially circular housing member with an open portion concentric with the ring housing member. A pair of circular side walls extend from a base portion of the circular housing member so as to define a recess therebetween.
Another object of the invention is to provide the inertial exercise device with securing elements fixedly connecting the ring-shaped member to the circular member so as to enclose the recess and to have at least one substantially spherical weight member located in the recess so as to be movable therein.
Another object of the invention is to provide a pair of handles extending from one of the ring members and the circular housing so as to allow a user to grasp and control movement of the device.
Another object of the invention is the provision of upper and lower surfaces of the ring member which are substantially flat and parallel. The circular housing member has a bottom wall surface and an open portion wall surface each of which is substantially flat and parallel with each other and the ring shaped member.
Another object is to provide a pair or circular side walls substantially parallel and spaced from each other by a distance that is approximately equal to a width of the ring member.
Another object is the provision of a pair of circular side walls that are substantially parallel and spaced from each other by a distance that is approximately equal to a width of the ring member.
Another object of the invention is to provide an inertial exercise device having a plurality of substantially spherical weights located in the recesses.
Still a further object of the invention is the inclusion of swivel casters fixedly secured to the base portion of the circular housing member.
Another object of the invention is to provide the swivel caster in an eccentric mounting position with respect to a location of being fixedly secured to the base portion.
Another object of the invention is to provide an inertial exercise device having a control panel extending from an exterior side wall of the circular housing member and receptacles provided on the control panel for receiving both feet of a user of the device. The user imparting movement to the device through use of leg muscles of the user.
Another object of the invention is to provide an inertial exercise device with a substantially arcuate member having substantially flat, parallel top and bottom sidewalls and a substantially straight segment integrally connected to the first and the second arcuate members and having a base portion and vertically extending side walls. A second substantially straight segment is integrally connected to the first and second arcuate members and has a substantially flat parallel top and bottom wall element. A recess is formed by the bottom wall and the vertically extending sidewall portions. The second arcuate member and the interconnecting segment being fixedly secured to the vertically extending sidewall so as to enclose the recess. A substantially spherical weight member is located in the recess.
Still another object of the invention is to provide an inertial exercise device with a set of handles connected to an arcuate member and another set of handles connected to another arcuate member. At least one user of the device can grasp one of the first and second set of handles while the exercise device is adjacent the abdomen or other body part of the user so as to impart motion to the weight so as to move the weight along a predetermined pathway.
According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided an inertial exerciser, comprising: a substantially circular hoop, the hoop comprising a hollow chamber for allowing a member to move within the chamber. At least one handle is disposed on the hoop and at least one mechanism attached to the hoop for supporting the hoop at a location on a user""s body. At least one member is disposed in the hollow chamber, so that the hoop is postionable around a portion of the user""s body. The member may comprise a substantially spherical weight. The weight may have a diameter which substantially corresponds to the cross-sectional size of the hollow chamber. The at least one mechanism may comprise a shoulder strap for supporting the hoop on the user. The at least one mechanism may comprise at least two adjustable shoulder straps for supporting the hoop on the user.
The exerciser may further comprise at least one handle disposed on the hoop for gripping by the user and at least one mechanism for securing the exerciser to the user. The exerciser may further comprise at least two handles disposed on the hoop for gripping by the user. The hoop may further comprise a substantially square cross-sectional hollow chamber. The hoop may further comprise a substantially square cross-sectional casing. The hoop may further comprise at least two semi-circular segments. That one of the semi-circular segments may comprise at least one tooth on one of its ends for allowing the weight to move within the hollow chamber in an uninterrupted manner. Each semi-circular segment may comprise at least one tooth and wherein one tooth from one segment engages another tooth from another segment. The exerciser may further comprise a plurality of teeth disposed on each segment. The hoop may further comprise a connecting device for connecting the at least two semi-circular segments. The connecting device may also include a hinge device.
The hoop may further comprise a securing device for connecting the at least two semi-circular segments and a securing device may comprises clasp device. The hoop may comprise at least two hollow chambers. Each chamber may include at least one member, the at least one member further comprising a weight. The exerciser may further comprise a separating wall disposed between the at least two chambers. The at least two chambers can be arranged one above the other in a parallel relationship.
According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of exercising, comprising: positioning a hoop device about a portion of a user""s body; securing the hoop device on the user using at least one securing mechanism which fixes the hoop device with respect to the portion of the user""s body; moving the hoop device with corresponding movement of the user""s body so as to cause a weight disposed in a hollow chamber of the hoop device to move about. The hoop device may comprise a substantially circular hoop having a substantially circular hollow chamber. The positioning may further comprise opening the hoop device, the hoop device being split into at least two semi-circular segments, closing the hoop device about the user""s body and securing the ends of the semi-circular segments together using a securing device. The securing may further comprise disposing at least one strap which attached to the hoop on a user""s shoulder. The securing may further comprise disposing at least two straps which are attached to the hoop on each of the user""s shoulders. The positioning may comprise positioning the hoop device in the area of the user""s waist. The moving may comprise grasping at least one handle disposed on the hoop.
The invention also provides for an inertial exerciser, comprising at least one substantially circular casing, the casing comprising a hollow chamber for allowing a member to move within the chamber and a centrally disposed through opening, a handle rod at least partially disposed within the opening; and at least one member moveably disposed in the hollow chamber, wherein the casing is removably fixed to the handle rod so that movement of the handle rod causes movement of the at least one member within the casing. The at least one member comprises a substantially spherical weight. The weight may have a diameter which substantially corresponds to a cross-sectional size of the hollow chamber. The handle rod may comprise a frictional gripping surface. The gripping surface may comprise one of a raised surface, a knurled surface, and a textured surface.
The exerciser may further comprise at least one retention device mounted to the handle rod for preventing axial movement of the at least one casing. The exerciser may also further comprise at least two retention devices disposed on opposite sides of the at least one casing. The hollow chamber may comprises a substantially square cross-section. The at least one casing may comprise a substantially circular first portion having a member engaging inner inside diameter, a member engaging outer inside diameter, and a member engaging connecting wall. The at least one casing may comprise a second portion comprising a member engaging wall. The second portion may comprise an inside diameter portion which at least partially covers an outer diameter portion of the first portion of the casing. The at least one casing may be centrally disposed on the handle rod and axially retained by two retaining devices, each retaining device being disposed on opposite sides of the casing. The at least one casing may be disposed on one end of the handle rod and axially retained by two retaining devices, each retaining device being disposed on opposite sides of the casing. The at least one casing may be disposed on one end of the handle rod and be axially retained by two retaining devices, each retaining device being disposed on an opposite side of the casing and wherein at least one other casing is disposed on the other end of the handle rod and is axially retained by two retaining devices, each retaining device being disposed on an opposite side of the casing. The at least two casings may be axially retained on each end of the handle rod. The at least one member may comprises a plurality of substantially spherical weights.
The casing may further comprise a removable substantially circular wheel portion having a through opening for allowing the handle rod to extend therethrough. The circular wheel portion may comprise an outside diameter which engages the at least one member.


A treatment device for sterilizing containers by an electron beam includes a carousel that comprises a rotary holding plate supporting a plurality of treatment stations, each station including a sterilization device comprising an electron beam emitter, and a holding device for holding a container under the emitter. The treatment device includes a protection system for stopping the rays emitted by the emitters, the protection system comprises an annular segment-shaped, open stationary channel that is mounted in a stationary manner under the holding plate and forms, with the latter, a protective chamber in which the holding device supporting the containers moves, the channel having an open upstream end, for the inlet of the containers to be treated into the protective chamber, and an open downstream end, for the outlet of the treated containers from the chamber.

This invention relates to a treatment device for sterilising containers by means of an electron beam, said device being provided with a particular protection system.
It is known, in particular by document U.S. Patent 2009/0045350, treatment devices comprising a rotary carousel comprising a rotary holding plate supporting a plurality of treatment stations arranged with regular angular spacing, each treatment station comprising sterilisation means which comprise an electron beam emitter, and holding means to hold a container under said emitter, said emitter being able to emit an electron beam passing through the upper opening of a container supported by said holding means, in order to sterilise the container, in particular the inner wall of said container.
In relation to a conventional chemical sterilisation, sterilisation by means of an electron beam is more effective in terms of sterilisation, is faster, and does not leave any residual traces after treatment.
Electron beam emitters however produce undesirable rays, in particular X rays, and therefore require shielding or protection systems to be provided in order to prevent any risk of propagation of rays towards the exterior, and as such protect the operators. The protection systems are formed by a protective chamber made from a lead base, wherein is placed the rotary carousel for the sterilisation, as well as the container infeed and discharge starwheels. Such protection systems are heavy, cumbersome, and very expensive.

System for protecting a container treatment device by means of an electron beam


A method and apparatus is provided. The method includes transmitting a signal having an AC component to a subscriber line and receiving at least a portion of the transmitted signal from the subscriber line. The method includes determining at least a portion of a period of the AC component of the received signal, and performing a function of a line card in response to determining at least the portion of the period of the AC component. The apparatus includes circuitry that is capable of transmitting a signal having at least one of an AC component and a DC component to a subscriber line, and receiving at least a portion of the transmitted signal from the subscriber line. The apparatus includes a filter and computation logic. The filter is capable of filtering the DC component from the received signal. The computation logic is capable of determining a value proportional to a power of the AC component of the received signal over at least a portion of a period of the AC component. The apparatus further includes logic capable of performing a function of a line card in response to determining the value proportional to the power of the AC component.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to telecommunications, and, more particularly, to a method and apparatus for detecting a threshold in a line card, such as ring-trip and fault detection thresholds.
2. Description of the Related Art
In communications systems, particularly telephony, it is a common practice to transmit signals between a subscriber station and a central switching office via a two-wire bidirectional communication channel. A line card generally connects the subscriber station to the central switching office through a subscriber line. At the subscriber end, a telephonic device may be employed to establish communication with a remote user using the subscriber line. The combination of the telephonic device and the subscriber line is commonly referred to as a subscriber loop.
A line card generally includes at least one subscriber line interface circuit (SLIC) as well as a subscriber line audio-processing circuit (SLAC). The SLIC interfaces with the subscriber loop, and the SLAC interfaces with the SLIC. The SLIC and the SLAC carry out the well-known BORSCHT (Battery feed, Overvoltage protection, Ringing, Supervision, Coding, Hybrid, and Test) functions.
Typically, when an end user initiates a call, the line card provides a ringing AC ringing signal and, often, a DC bias signal, to the subscriber loop to ring the telephonic device. In the United States, the AC ringing signal generally varies from a 16 Hz to 66-⅔ Hz, although a 20 Hz signal is commonly used. Other countries may employ a ringing signal of a different frequency than that of the ringing signal employed in the United States. For example, in European countries, the ringing signal is 25 Hz. The ringing signal can either be internally or externally generated.
While applying the ringing signal to the subscriber loop, the line card also detects an off-hook condition of the telephonic device. Upon detection of an off-hook event, the line card terminates the transmission of the ringing signals within a predetermined amount of time, which is generally within 200 ms of detecting the off-hook condition. The process of transmitting a ringing signal and then detecting the switch-hook condition of the telephonic device is referred to as ring-trip detection.
Aside from ring-trip detection, line cards perform a variety of other key functions using signals of varying frequency. One such function is AC-fault detection. The purpose of AC-fault detection is to ensure that there are no undesirable interrupts caused by an AC disturbance signal, such as a power line signal or a rail system signal. For AC-fault detection, line cards employ a signal having a frequency of 16.67 Hz, 50 Hz, or 60 Hz.
To perform ring-trip detection, AC-fault detection, or other key functions, line cards generally transmit a signal to the subscriber loop and then calculate a power of a received signal. For example, ring-trip detection is determined by comparing the calculated power of the received ringing signal to a threshold value. Similarly, AC-fault detection and other line functions may also require calculation of the power of the received signal. The power calculation is usually based on a computation of one complete cycle of the received signal, which means that it is desirable to know a period (or frequency) of the received signal.
Line cards are generally designed to operate in multiple countries, and should therefore be robust enough to conform to the requirements of individual countries. Line cards should be flexible enough to comply with the different frequency requirements in different countries for functions such as ring-trip detection, AC-fault detection, and the like. And, since the power calculation is generally calculated for one period of the received signal, it becomes increasingly difficult for designers to calculate power for signals of varying frequencies.
To account for the different frequency requirements, one method employed by designers is to calculate power based on a compromise between the various frequencies. For example, for ring-trip detection, line cards utilize an integration time of 44 ms, which correlates to a signal having a frequency of 22.5 Hz, an average of a 20 Hz signal (i.e., frequency commonly employed in U.S.) and 25 Hz signal (i.e., frequency utilized in European countries). Thus, the ring-trip detection under this method is based on a period of 44 milliseconds. Likewise, for AC-fault detection, the line cards may employ an integration time of 100 ms, which is a compromise between the 50 Hz and 60 Hz signals. In some instances an integration time of 60 ms may be employed, which is a compromise between the 16.67 Hz and 50 Hz signal. This method of utilizing compromising integration times for ring-trip detection and AC-fault detection, for example, may result in at least 10% false detections.
Since signals of varying frequencies are employed in a line card for a variety of functions, the power calculation may not always be accurate. One way of improving power calculation in a line card is to allow an end user to input the exact period of the signal employed. This, however, requires not only additional hardware interface support, but also places an added burden on the end user. For instance, the end user will have to know the exact frequency, and hence, the exact period, of the signal being employed.
The present invention is directed to overcoming, or at least reducing the effects of, one or more of the problems set forth above.

Method and apparatus for detecting line card threshold


A detachable car rack for carrying items such as sailboards, bicycles, surfboards, skis, or the like, particularly for cars with convertible tops, regardless of whether the convertible top is "up" or "down." The invention includes a front support attached to the windshield or surrounding supports, hood, or surfaces of the vehicle's body, a rear support attached to the trunk lid or aft bumper or surfaces of the vehicle's body, and an elevated, horizontal, longitudinal assembly anchored to the front and rear supports which is used to carry the load.

This invention relates to car racks for carrying items such as sailboards, bicycles, surfboards, skis, or the like, particularly for cars with convertible tops.
Many persons who own convertible top vehicles also enjoy wind surfing, biking, surfing, water skiing, snow skiing, and other similar sports that require the transportation of equipment, typically on a "roof rack." There are numerous carriers of this nature which are fastened to hard top roofs and hard top rain gutters by various combinations of clamps, clips, straps, pads, magnetic devices, and suction cups. None of these devices, however, can be secured to convertible tops. Moreover, none of these devices can be used if the vehicle does not have a top or if its convertible top is "down," as shown, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,867,362 to Finnegan; U.S. Pat. No. 4,795,178 to Nabarrete; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,007,862 to Heftmann.
A few attempts to address similar problems have been made. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,538,752 to Welter discloses a clamp device for carrying a canoe on a convertible top jeep. This device requires a rear roll bar capable of weight bearing. Very few, if any, convertible top vehicles have such a roll bar other than jeeps. Similarly, U.S. Pat. No. 4,527,827 to Maniscalco, discloses an invention for supporting a surf board above the bed of a pickup truck. This device could not be used with convertible top vehicles as it depends on the cab roof and the vertical bed sides for attachment and weight bearing.
Additionally, there is an invention designed for carrying sailboards along the side of a vehicle. It is comprised of one tube bent to contain two large S-hooks, spaced a few feet apart. The top hook of each S is placed over the top of a car door while the bottom hook of each S cradles the board. This device can never be used with the door window closed and, in some cases, it cannot be used with the convertible top "up"; thus, the possibility of inclement weather makes this device impractical in many regions. Moreover, the car door supporting this device cannot be opened when a sailboard is being carried. Finally, this device is not capable of carrying anything except one sailboard: it cannot carry bicycles or two sailboards.

Multipurpose rack for convertible top motor vehicles


A machine for packing groups of cigarettes, wherein a step-operated first conveying device, having a pocket conveyor belt, a transmission pulley rotating about an axis of rotation, and a number of first conveying pockets, receives a given number of groups of cigarettes during a stop period, and feeds the groups, during a transfer period, to a continuous second conveying device having second conveying pockets and, for the second conveying pockets, a conveyor drum rotating about the axis of rotation; the first and second conveying pockets being aligned with each other and moving at the same speed during the transfer period.

The present invention relates to a machine for packing groups of cigarettes.
British Patent No. 2,138,382 relates to a machine for packing groups of cigarettes, which comprises a cigarette hopper with at least two outlets for respective groups of cigarettes; step-operated first conveying means, in turn comprising a pocket conveyor belt looped about two transmission pulleys defining, on the conveyor belt, an unloading branch, and a loading branch extending past the hopper outlets, and a number of first conveying pockets for respective groups of cigarettes equally spaced along the conveyor belt; reciprocating loading means which move through the hopper outlets to expel the groups of cigarettes from the outlets and feed the groups to the first conveying pockets; and continuous second conveying means with a number of second conveying pockets which travel through a loading station, located along the unloading branch of the first conveying means, to receive the groups of cigarettes from the first conveying pockets.
In the above patent, the second conveying means comprise a further endless conveyor belt, which supports the second conveying pockets equally spaced like the first conveying pockets, and which has a respective conveying branch extending through the loading station to the side of the unloading branch to enable, at each continuous operating period of the first conveying means, alignment of the first and second conveying pockets, and transfer of the groups of cigarettes from the first to the second conveying pockets.
The above known packing machine has several technical drawbacks which, with use, seriously impair the efficiency of the machine. That is, however well made using technically advanced materials, the endless conveyor belts are inevitably subject--due to wear and changing environmental conditions--to dimensional variations affecting, at times irreparably, the precise alignment of the first and second conveying pockets required to transfer the groups of cigarettes along the loading station. Moreover, though means are provided for correcting such dimensional variations, the situation is further compounded by the difficulty in restoring to optimum efficiency two conveying means operating structurally independently of each other.
EP-A-210531 discloses a machine for packing groups of cigarettes, which partially overcomes the aforementioned drawbacks and comprises a pocket conveyor having a plurality of pockets, which are designed for receiving respective groups of cigarettes and are advanced along a closed path and through a receiving station, wherein each pocket cooperates with the outlets of a hopper for receiving a relevant group of cigarettes, and a feeding station, wherein each pocket cooperates with a respective seat of a motorized wrapping wheel, around which the pocket conveyor is wound, for feeding the relevant group of cigarettes to the seat. The pocket conveyor has two opposite end pulleys, which divide the pocket conveyor into a lower branch, at which the receiving station is arranged, and an upper branch, at which the feeding station is arranged. The two opposite end pulleys are movable to and from each other to allow the pocket conveyor to advance continuously along the upper branch in phase with the continuously rotating wrapping wheel, and to allow the pocket conveyor to step-advance along the lower branch for cooperating with reciprocating loading means movable through the outlets of the hopper. The pocket conveyor has no belt and is designed to be substantially free of wear and of play.
The above known packing machine partially overcomes the aforementioned drawbacks, but is relatively complicated, and therefore expensive, owing to a branch of the pocket conveyor being continuously advanced and another branch of the pocket conveyor being step-advanced.

Machine for packing groups of cigarettes


A method for correcting for hue shifts includes parameterizing the conversion of long-medium-short (LMS) spectral sensitivities of the human eye to a human observer function, and applying a non-linear transformation between the LMS and human observer function in order to correct for the hue shifts. A system for correcting for hue shifts is also provided. The system includes a controller for parameterizing the conversion of LMS spectral sensitivities of the human eye to a human observer function and applying a non-linear transformation between the LMS and human observer function in order to correct for the hue shifts in the image. The system can also include an output device for presenting the hue corrected image.

The Commission Internationale de l'Éclairage (hereinafter "CIE") XYZ observer functions are the basis for most color measurements that require the matching of colors. By combining these functions with non-linear color appearance models (CAMs) such as CIELAB and CIECAM96s CAMs, complex color images as well as simple color patches can be reproduced with great success.
The CIELAB model for example is reasonably effective in predicting the appearance of hue for colors ranging from near neutral to regions of high saturation with the exception of regions of extremely saturated blue color. For example, saturated blue images on computer displays will appear extremely purple if converted to CMYK printed images even though CIELAB measurements would indicate nearly identical values of hue. This phenomenon was documented by Hung and Berns in their paper "Determination of constant hue loci for a CRT gamut and their predictions using color appearance spaces", P. C. Hung and R. S. Berns, Color Res. Appl. 20, 285-295 (1995) and is therefore often referred to as the Hung-Berns effect.
Plots shown by Hung-Berns indicate a hue shift in blue that equates to 30 ΔE or more. Until now, this phenomenon has not been well understood and has been corrected using empirical spline corrections or similar techniques that at times do not provide for optimal correction. A need thus exists for characterizing and correcting for the effects of hue shifts in saturated colors, in particular blue colors, such as for example when performing color conversions from RGB images containing saturated blue and CMYK prints which are attempting to reproduce those RGB images.

Method and apparatus for characterizing and correcting for hue shifts in saturated colors


A platform extensibility framework may be provided. A visualization platform may register feature extensions and receive requests to create objects. The objects may be created according to drawing instructions provided by the visualization platform, an application requesting the object's creation, and/or at least one of the feature extensions.

Platform extensibility provides a framework for allowing feature plug-ins to communicate with software applications. In some situations, product release schedules may dictate when new features may be incorporated into an application. For example, a new application version may be released on an annual basis, but users may request new features more frequently. Thus, the conventional strategy is to incorporate selected features in each scheduled release. This often causes problems because the conventional strategy is not always responsive to user demand. For example, a requested feature may take years to be incorporated into an application release and may result in customer dissatisfaction.


The present disclosure relates to systems and methods for measuring the location, the amplitude, and/or the direction of forces applied to a walking or running surface. An example system includes a pressure-sensitive sheet that extends along a first axis. The pressure-sensitive sheet includes a top surface and a bottom surface. A vertical force applied at a location along at least one of the top surface or the bottom surface forms an electrical path between the top surface and the bottom surface having a resistance, rf, that is inversely proportional to an amplitude of the vertical force. The system further includes read out circuitry configured to provide information indicative of the amplitude of the vertical force and the location of the vertical force along the first axis of the pressure-sensitive sheet.

Gait analysis is the study of animal locomotion, more specifically the study of human motion, conventionally based on observations of viewers. By studying a person's gait, physical therapists and doctors may be more able to assess and treat individuals with conditions affecting their ability to walk. Gait analysis is used in sports biomechanics to help athletes run more efficiently and to identify posture-related or movement-related problems in people with injuries.
In some conventional applications, gait analysis may be augmented by instrumentation for measuring body movements, body mechanics, and the activity of the muscles. For example, an individual may walk or run on a treadmill while being imaged by one or more cameras to measure stride length and/or other gait characteristics.
However, there exists a need for more effective systems and methods to characterize gait and other types of athletic movements and motion.

Systems and methods for detecting running and walking strides and foot strikes


An assembly of sashes containing investitures, such as venetian blinds and/or mesh screens, for application adjacent the inside surfaces of sliding glass doors. In one embodiment, the sashes are suspended from inner and outer tracks of a rail in sliding overlapping relationship. The rail can be secured to the underside of a header disposed along the inside width of the sliding glass doors.

It has long been known to use various investitures, i.e., coverings or adornments, for windows such as various blinds (e.g., venetian blinds) and mesh screens. Blinds have generally been applied the inside of windows, i.e., adjacent the surface of the window facing into the house or other structure, as compared to the use of mesh screens which are generally applied to the outside of windows, i.e., adjacent the surface of the window facing away from the house or other structure. It has of course been known to apply screen doors to the outside of sliding glass doors. U.S. Pat. No. 2,970,642 describes rollingly supporting a screen using suspension bracket to move across the outside header of sliding glass doors. A modern version of sliding glass doors is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,497,072. It is also known to apply curtains and blinds, particularly with vertically hanging slats, to cover or adorn the insides of sliding glass doors.
A wide variety of sash configurations have also long been available to the public, generally containing windows, but also containing investitures such as venetian blinds and mesh screens. Various methods have long been devised to connect such sashes to windows. See, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 196,186, issued in 1877 which provides double windows with blinds and screens moving independently of each other. Other sashes are shown in U.S. Pat. Nos.: 362,854; 1,238,703; 1,344,529; 3,991,518; 4,457,106, 4,602,456; and 6,213,187. The disclosures of all the foregoing U.S. Pat. Nos.: 196,186; 362,854; 1,238,703; 1,344,529; 2,970,642; 3,991,518; 4,457,106, 4,602,456; 6,213,187; and 6,497,072 are incorporated herein by reference.
While the art dealing with such sashes has been well developed over many years, there has not been available a practical construction that enables one to apply one or more investitures adjacent the inside surface of sliding glass doors in such manner that they can be slid into or out of position.

Assembly of sashes for sliding glass doors