A method for providing hardware support for memory protection and virtual memory address translation for a virtual machine. The method includes executing a host machine application within a host machine context and executing a virtual machine application within a virtual machine context. A plurality of TLB (translation look aside buffer) entries for the virtual machine context and the host machine context are stored within a TLB. Memory protection bits for the plurality of TLB entries are logically combined to enforce memory protection on the virtual machine application.

Many types of digital computer systems are used to implement virtual machines and support for applications that execute within virtual machines. Generally, the term "virtual machine" refers to a computer system image or process that supports multiple computer system images/processes. Each image can contain an operating system and its associated applications, or alternatively, each image may have the same operating system or a different respective operating systems. Some prior art computer systems are specifically built with hardware circuits that support virtual machine capability, however, most prior art computer systems are configured to support virtual machine entirely through software. These prior art solutions are limited in their performance and usefulness due to fact that software support requires very slow software based emulation while the hardware support only implements primitive early generation processor platforms. Thus what is required is a solution that can efficiently implement hardware support for full capability virtual machines and applications executing within virtual machines.

Method and system for providing hardware support for memory protection and virtual memory address translation for a virtual machine


An absorbent article for personal hygiene, especially a sanitary napkin, panty liner and the like, having an adhesive for securing the article to a garment of a wearer. The present invention provides adhesives with an adhesion performance less dependent from panty material types and washing habits, such as treatment with softeners and the like, thus ensuring reliable fastening on non-treated panties as well as on softener-treated panties.

The use of adhesives for securing disposable absorbent articles for personal hygiene is well known in the art. In particular, the use of hot melt and emulsion-based adhesives is general technical standard. The application of emulsion-based adhesives onto the backsheets of absorbent articles for garment fastening is for instance known from SE-A-374,489. The use of hot melt adhesives for this purpose is for instance described in EP-A-140,135 or in WO 00/61054.
It is very common to apply fabric softeners after washing the undergarments for improving fabric softness. Fabric softeners act on the garment fabric by modifying the surface properties of the fabric fibres. One of the effects of softeners is to make the fibre surfaces more hydrophobic, e.g. by depositing a thin layer of fat-like molecules.
These surface treatments have been found to be detrimental for the fastening performance of conventional adhesives used for fastening absorbent articles to undergarments, such as panties. These adhesives are called panty-fastening adhesives or PFAs hereinafter. Laboratory experiments and consumer feedback have proven that softener treatments significantly reduce the peel strength of conventional PFAs.
Therefore it would be beneficial to provide PFAs having similar fastening performance on both untreated and softener-treated panties.
Further it would be beneficial if such adhesives had similar peel strength during the wearing time from application onto panties to removal, so as to insure an improved adhesion level throughout its use.

Disposable absorbent articles having improved adhesive for garment fastening


Methods and systems are provided which make security, licensing, and browsing capabilities of directory services available for use with the Java language and environment, and thus provide an alternative to security restrictions imposed on Java applets. A Java component type is created in a directory services schema. The Java component type specifies where a Java class can be found in a LAN or on the Internet. The key attributes of the Java component type are its common name (specifying a Java class) and either a reference to the file containing the Java class's byte codes or a binary stream attribute containing the byte codes. The loadClass( ) method is extended to look for Java classes within a directory services database. The directory services features thus made available include support for securing, metering, and licensing individual Java classes.

Modern information technology provides a vast array of software items to meet many different needs. However, after a need is identified, the sheer volume of available technology makes locating suitable items difficult. Systems or the items they provide may duplicate the functionality of other systems or items. Different pieces of software often behave inconsistently. Accessing and using items is difficult because items are often available only through systems that are not compatible with the system on which the items would be used.
Furthermore, accessing items through the Internet, though tremendously useful, is inherently unsafe and unreliable at present. A location that was uninfected yesterday may be virus-ridden or simply unavailable today. It is difficult to ensure that a virus, a snoop, or other undesired software has not been embedded in or substituted for a component. It is also difficult to track use of components for license and accounting purposes, so there is less commercial incentive to make Internet software library servers continually available and secure.
As used herein, "Internet server," "Internet client" and like terms refer to a computer that is identified by an Internet address. Internet addresses are discussed in E. Krol, The Whole Internet: User's Guide and Catalog, second edition, ISBN 1-56592-063-5 ("Internet Guide"), pages 23-34.
One approach to reducing these problems relies on the applet feature of the Java.TM. programming language and environment. (JAVA is a trademark of Sun Microsystems, Inc.) The Java language and environment are described in The Java.TM. Programming Language, by Ken Arnold and James Gosling, ISBN 0-201-63455-4 ("Java Programming Language") and in other commercially available books, CD-ROMs, Web sites and the like. A wide variety of Java software components, Java browser controls, Java automation objects, and related tools are commercially available.
The Java programming language supports miniature application programs called "applets" that are executed while users view World Wide Web pages. Applets are linked or included in Web pages through HTML, much as images and links to other pages are included. When a user selects the highlighted or underlined portion of the Web page that corresponds to the applet, "byte codes" corresponding to the applet are transferred across the Internet to a Java interpreter in the user's Web browser. The Java interpreter "interprets" the applet byte codes by translating them one (or a few) at a time into binary code that can be executed on the user's computer, executing the binary code, translating the next byte code(s), and so on. Thus, a given applet may run on any machine on which a Java interpreter is available, without any need for revision of the applet by a programmer.
To provide security, however, applets labor under a number of restrictions. Applets are forbidden to read from or write to the local user's hard drive. They are not allowed to read system properties, to run programs, to load dynamic link libraries, or to establish network connections with any site except the site from which the original applet was downloaded.
Programmers will immediately appreciate the difficulties raised in trying to write useful programs that cannot freely access the disk, RAM, and other system resources. The problems inherent in restricting network connectivity are somewhat subtler but also severe. As noted, applets can only look at and download from the site where the applet was originally located. This was designed as a security feature in that the Web site the applet came from is deemed secure, while all other sites are presumed to be insecure. But there is nothing inherently secure about a location just because an applet was downloaded from it.
These severe restrictions are enforced at least in part by the Web browser and its interpreter; applets are not designed to run as stand-alone programs. The applet only displays to a local screen area. The Web browser and/or the interpreter filter out any byte codes in the applet that read from the local disk, write to the local disk, or in general, do anything that leaves permanent results in a client computer's storage medium. In some interpreters, the security features can be disabled, but this makes the client system vulnerable to viruses and the other problems noted above.
The byte codes in applets and other Java programs are organized into "classes" which define "methods" (similar to procedures or functions in other programming languages), "objects" (which are instances of classes), and/or "interfaces" (which declare methods but do not implement them). Java classes, methods, objects, and interfaces are familiar to those of skill in the art.
Only locally loaded classes are available to Java clients; a list of the loaded classes is kept in a local hash table by the computer that loaded the classes. Classes that an applet or Java program or its classes refers to are loaded as needed, unless doing so violates one of the Java security restrictions. An applet or a Java class "refers to" a class definition when it contains a class definition, is capable of reading and/or writing a field that is defined by a class definition, and/or is capable of invoking a method that is defined by a class definition. Java applets, Java applications, and Java classes all refer to Java class definitions. These Java concepts are discussed at length in Java Programming Language and.backslash.or other commercially available references.
A given class may be used in many applets or stand-alone Java programs. However, the present Java language and environment provide no well-established way to license and charge for uses of individual classes. For example, if a class were "checked out" of a class library by a user for 16 minutes, ideally 16 minutes of access at a rate suitable for that class would be billed.
Similarly, there is no well-established way to ensure that a user has a valid license for an individual Java class. For example, if a company has a 100-person site license for a given class, a warning or refusal or surcharge would ideally be presented when the 101.sup.st concurrent user from that company requests the class.
A tool that has not previously been used in managing Java classes is known as a "directory services provider." Directory services providers vary but in general they help administer both the location of network resources and the rights of network users to use those resources. One well-known directory services provider includes NetWare Directory Services ("NDS") software commercially available from Novell, Inc. of Orem, Utah (NETWARE DIRECTORY SERVICES and NDS are trademarks of Novell, Inc.).
The directory services provider includes a schema. The schema includes a set of "attribute syntax" definitions, a set of "attribute" definitions, and a set of "database object class" definitions. The NDS software and a default NDS schema are described in Bierer et al., NetWare 4 for Professionals, ISBN 1-56205-217-9 ("NetWare 4"), pages 255-342. The terms "attribute" and "property" are used interchangeably in NetWare 4 and herein, as are the terms "attribute syntax" and "property syntax."
Each attribute syntax in the schema is specified by an attribute syntax name and the kind and/or range of values that can be assigned to attributes of the given attribute syntax type. Attribute syntaxes include, without limitation, Case Exact String (case-sensitive string), Case Ignore List (case-insensitive string), E-Mail Address, Net Address (valid addresses include IPX and AppleTalk), Path, and Stream (to access data not stored directly in NDS database files). Attribute syntaxes correspond roughly to data types such as integer, float, string, file, stream, or Boolean in conventional programming languages.
Each attribute in the schema has certain information associated with it. Each attribute has an attribute name and an attribute syntax type. The attribute name identifies the attribute, while the attribute syntax limits the values that are assumed by the attribute. For instance, the default NDS schema includes an attribute of syntax type integer having the name "supported connections" which specifies the number of concurrent connections a file server allows.
Each attribute may also have associated with it any or all of the following flags: Non-removable, Hidden, Public Read, Read Only, Single-Valued, Sized, and String. The general meanings of these flags are familiar to those of skill in the art. If the Sized flag is set for a given attribute, then upper and lower bounds (possibly including No Limit) are imposed on values currently held by that attribute.
Each database object class in the schema also has certain information associated with it. Each database object class has a class name which identifies it, a set of super classes that identifies the other classes from which this class inherits attributes, and a set of containment classes that identifies the classes permitted to contain instances of this class.
Each database object class also has a container flag and an effective flag. The container flag indicates whether the class is a container class, that is, whether it is capable of containing instances of other database object classes. The effective flag indicates whether instances of the class can be defined. Non-effective database object classes are used only to define attributes that will be inherited by other classes, whereas effective classes are used to define inheritable attributes, to define instances, or to define both.
In addition, each database object class groups together certain attributes. The naming attributes of a database object class are those attributes that can be used to name instances of the class. The mandatory attributes of a database object class are those attributes that must exist in each valid instance of the class and/or become mandatory attributes of classes which inherit from the class. The optional attributes of a database object class are those attributes that may, but need not, exist in each valid instance of the class. Optional attributes of a parent class become optional attributes of a child class which inherits from the parent class, unless the attributes are mandatory in some other parent class from which the child inherits, in which case they are also mandatory in the child.
A database object is an instance of a database object class. Different database objects of the same class have the same mandatory attributes but may have different current values in their corresponding mandatory attributes. Different database objects of the same class may have different optional attributes, and/or different current values in their corresponding optional attributes.
NDS database object classes do not necessarily correspond in a one-to-one manner with Java classes, nor do NDS database objects necessarily correspond one-to-one with Java objects. It is unfortunate but nonetheless true that words such as "class" and "object" are widely used to mean different things even by programmers who are talking about computer programs and the like.
The directory services provider also includes a directory services interface library which provides access to the schema and to a database. The schema is an API-extensible schema in that the attributes and object classes found in the schema can be altered through an Application Programmers' Interface ("API") without direct access to the source code that implements the schema. In some embodiments the directory services interface library includes tables or commands stored in a file which is read by the schema during its initialization and when database objects are created, thereby defining the available attributes and classes.
In addition or as an alternative, the directory services interface library includes a set of routines that are available to other code to access and modify the schema. One implementation of the directory services interface library includes an NWDSxxx( ) library that is commercially available from Novell, Inc. of Orem, Utah. The NWDSxxx( ) library is so named because the names of functions and data types defined in the library typically begin with "NWDS," an acronym for "NetWare Directory Services." It would be a straightforward task for one of skill in the art to access the NWDSxxx( ) library from a Java program or a Web browser.
The directory services database contains database objects that are defined according to the schema and the particulars of the network. These objects typically represent resources of the network. The database is a "hierarchical" database because the objects in the database are connected in a hierarchical tree structure. Objects in the tree that can contain other objects are called "container objects" and must be instances of a container object class.
The database is also a "synchronized-partition" database. The database is typically divided into two or more non-overlapping partitions. To improve the response time to database queries and to provide fault-tolerance, a replica of each partition is physically stored on one or more file servers in the network. The replicas of a given partition are regularly updated by the directory services provider through an automated synchronization process, thereby reducing the differences between replicas caused by activity on the network.
Other network administration tools which the Java environment fails to utilize are NWAdmin and its possible "snap-in" modules. The descriptions of these tools in commonly owned application Ser. No. 08/499,711, filed Jul. 7, 1995 now U.S. Pat. No. 5,692,129, issued on Nov. 25, 1997 are incorporated herein by reference.
Thus, it would be an advancement in the art to provide a novel method for managing Java classes which are distributed in a computer network.
It would be an additional advancement to provide such a method which takes advantage of the security and licensing capabilities of directory services providers.
Such a method for managing software components is disclosed and claimed herein.

Method for managing globally distributed software components


An image display and storage device, method, and medium to process an original image and generate a main image so that the original image does not overlap a sub image, and store the original image instead of the main image when the main image and the sub image are displayed. The device includes an image processor to receive an image, and to generate a display image and a storage image using the received image, a display unit to receive the display image from the image processor, and to display the display image, and an image storing unit to receive the storage image from the image processor and to store the image.

1. Field
An embodiment of the present invention relates to image display and storage, and more particularly, to an image display and storage method performed by a terminal which is capable of displaying and storing images.
2. Description of the Related Art
Terminals, such as camcorders and digital cameras, display an image captured through a lens on a liquid crystal panel included in the terminals. A user of such a terminal finds an image which he or she wants to photograph while viewing the liquid crystal panel, and photographs the image which is currently displayed on the liquid crystal panel. The photographed image is stored in the terminal.
Meanwhile, an image or symbol for allowing the user to manipulate the terminal, i.e. a display symbol, can be displayed on the liquid crystal panel along with an image captured through the terminal lens. For example, the liquid crystal panel can display one or more symbols to indicate battery charge, to set zoom-in or zoom-out, to indicate time, or any other terminal operation.
Generally, an image captured through a lens is displayed on the entire area of a liquid crystal panel. Often, a display symbol will be displayed in such a way so as to overlap and obscure part of the image captured through the lens. This overlap of the lens image by the display symbols can be annoying to a user who is indifferent to the indications provided by the display symbols.
In order to resolve this problem, a method for reducing the display size of an image captured through a lens and displaying a display symbol without overlapping and obscuring the image captured through the lens is desired. Conventional methods of reducing the display size of an image captured through a lens can result in image distortion. Accordingly, a method for removing this problem is also desired.

Image display and storage apparatus, method and medium


An apparatus is disclosed providing a portable, multi-purpose golf apparatus. The apparatus includes a casing, a cleaning device, and an opening. The cleaning device may be extendable through the opening an effective distance to clean a golf ball. A carrier may be mounted to the cleaning device within the casing. The carrier may slide within the casing to transition the cleaning device from a stored position to an extended position. The golf apparatus may further include a positioning mechanism coupled to the carrier. The apparatus may include a second opening through which a divot tool or other supplemental device may be extendable.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to portable golf equipment and more particularly relates to portable golf ball cleaners.
2. Description of the Related Art
Golf balls, by nature, contact the ground multiple times throughout the course of a golf game and can become soiled repeatedly, conceivably with each contact. The collected debris can adversely affect the flight of the ball and consequently, the player's overall game and score. Golfers are generally allowed to clean their golf ball once it reaches the green and before teeing it up on each hole. It is especially important that the ball is free of dirt and debris before putting, because if the ball is not clean, it cannot roll accurately to the hole, causing missed putts and a higher score.
To facilitate cleaning dirty golf balls, cleaning devices are commonly located next to each tee box. Large mechanical devices can be used to clean multiple balls at once and are generally effective for removing dirt. During a game, however, players rarely take the time and energy to run their golf ball through a complicated device before teeing it up. In addition, the cleaning devices are often fixed and require a certain amount of water supply to function properly. The water sometimes evaporates, or golf course maintenance crews fail to keep the devices filled with water, making it difficult for the golfers.
To clean balls during a game, golfers commonly use a damp towel or the equivalent. Wet towels that are carried to the green, however, often dampen surrounding objects and materials during transport and can be inconvenient. In addition, the towels tend to dry out during the course of a round. Consequently, golfers typically carry a dry towel, which is generally ineffective for cleaning hardened soil. The towels, both wet and dry, often fall off of the golf cart or get lost or misplaced. In the absence of a towel or suitable cleaning device, some golfers wipe off the debris onto their clothing, while others spit onto the ball or even lick it, which can present health risks, particularly due to the chemical fertilizers sprayed on the course and the greens.


In the present invention, one produces a negative-acting color proofing element comprising, sequentially, a strippable cover sheet which is transparent to actinic radiation; a crosslinked layer containing a polymer having phenolic groups; a color layer, containing a colorant, a polymeric binder, a polymerizable monomer and, optionally, a photoinitiator; a photoadhering layer, containing a linear photosensitive polymer containing ethylenically unsaturated, free-radical polymerizable groups and having a molecular weight greater than 3,000, a polymerizable monomer, and, optionally, a free radical photoinitiator; a thermoplastic adhesive layer; and a receiver sheet, at least one of the color layer and the photoadhering layer containing the photoinitiator.

The present invention relates to color proofing films, or more particularly to a negative working, peel-apart photosensitive element capable of producing negative images upon treatment with actinic radiation and peel development.
In the graphic arts, it is desirable to produce a three or more color proof to assist in correcting a set of color separation films prior to using them to produce printing plates. The proof should reproduce the color quality that will be obtained during the printing process. The proof must be a consistent duplicate of the desired halftone image. Visual examination of a color proof should show the color rendition to be expected from press printing using the color separations and any defects on the separations which might need to be altered before making the printing plates.
Color proofing sheets for multicolored printing can be made by using a printing press or proof press. This requires that all of the actual printing steps be performed. Therefore, this conventional method of color proofing is costly and time consuming.
Photoimaging processes can also be used to produce a color proof. There are two general types of photoimaging methods, namely the overlay type and the single sheet type.
In the overlay type of color proofing method, an independent transparent plastic support is used for producing an image of each color separation film by applying a photosensitive solution of the corresponding color. A plurality of such supports carrying images of the corresponding colors are then superimposed upon each other over a white sheet to produce a color proofing composite. The primary advantage of the overlay method is that proofs can be made quickly and can serve as a progressive proof by combining any two or three colors in register. However, this type of color proofing method has the disadvantage that the superimposed plastic supports tend to darken the color proofing sheet. As a result, the impression of the color proofing composite thus prepared is vastly different from that of copies actually obtained with conventional printing presses and with proof presses. Examples of such overlay approaches are contained in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,136,637; 3,211,553; and 3,326,682.
In the single sheet type of color proofing method, a color proofing sheet is prepared by successively producing images of different colors from different color separation films on a single receiver sheet. This can be accomplished by sequentially applying colorants or colored, photosensitive layers to a single opaque support. This method more closely resembles the actual printing process and eliminates the color distortion inherent in the overlay system. Examples of such single sheet approaches are contained in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,574,049; 3,671,236; 4,260,673; 4,366,223; 4,650,738; 4,656,114; and 4,659,642.
Various processes for producing single sheet color proofs of an image embodying thermal transfer and photopolymerization techniques are known, for example, from U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,060,023; 3,060,024; 3,060,025; 3,481,736; and 3,607,264. In these processes, a photopolymerizable layer coated on a suitable support is imagewise exposed through a color separation film. The surface of the exposed layer is then pressed into contact with an image receptive surface of a separate element. At least one of the elements is heated to a temperature above the transfer temperature of the unexposed portions of the layer. The two elements are then separated, whereby the thermally transferrable, unexposed, image areas of the composite transfer to the image receptive element. If the element is not precolored, the tacky unexposed image may now be selectively colored with a desired toner. The colored matter preferentially adheres to the clear unpolymerized material.
In U.S. Pat. No. 3,721,557, a method for transferring colored images is shown which provides a stripping layer coated between a photosensitive element and a support. When the photosensitive layer is exposed to actinic light and developed, the more soluble portions are selectively removed to produce a visible image. The image carrying support is pressed against an adhesive coated receptor member and the carrier support is subsequently stripped to accomplish the transfer of the image. A fresh layer of adhesive must be applied to the receptor for each subsequent transfer.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,596,757 provides a method for transferring images or solid colors which are subsequently imaged. The photosensitive material comprises a carrier support having sequentially disposed thereon a release layer; a colored, photopolymerizable layer; and an adhesive layer. The material can undergo exposure, lamination to a temporary support, wet development, and then lamination to a receptor sheet. Alternatively, the photosensitive material can be laminated to a receptor sheet, undergo exposure, and then wet processed. Both processes require development in an aqueous medium.
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,489,154, a process is claimed which produces a single layer color proof without wet development. The photosensitive material comprises a strippable cover sheet; a colored photoadherent layer; a nonphotosensitive organic contiguous layer; and a sheet support. The material is exposed and peel developed. The positive or negative image is transferred to a receiver base. A fresh layer of adhesive must be applied to the receptor for each subsequent transfer.

Negative working, peel developable, single sheet color proofing system having a crosslinked layer containing a polymer with phenolic moieties


A cooling module reduces the number of parts and achieves weight reduction. An electronic apparatus includes: the cooling module; a chassis; first and second heating elements provided inside the chassis; and a cooling module configured to absorb heat generated by the first and second heating elements. The cooling module includes: a vapor chamber in which a sealed space is formed in a portion sandwiched between first and second metal plates and working fluid is sealed in the sealed space, the second metal plate having an outer shape larger than that of the first metal plate; a metal frame formed in a portion of the second metal plate, the portion of the second metal plate protruding from the outer shape of the first metal plate; and a heat conduction plate supported by the metal frame, the heat conduction plate containing graphene.

An electronic apparatus such as a laptop PC (laptop personal computer) houses therein a plurality of heating elements including CPU. Such the electronic apparatus is equipped with a cooling module inside a chassis to be able to diffuse heat generated by the heating elements to radiate the heat to the outside.


An electric machine includes an end shield and a stator. The stator may be a segmented stator or a non-segmented stator. At least one track is defined by either the stator or the end shield, and at least one pin is defined by the other one of the stator and the end shield. The stator is positioned on the end shield such that the pin is slidably received within the track.

Secondary fixtures, and/or retaining bands are commonly used to position and control individual stator segments during both assembly of the stator segments and their insertion into the housing. For example, one process includes individually positioning stator segments against a center mandrel, and then pressing a secondary band over the segments. The assembled segmented stator can then be inserted into a housing. But only after the segmented stator has been fully assembled and then inserted into the housing is the end shield ultimately inserted into the housing as a separate component in a discrete operation.

End shields and stators and related methods of assembly


A system for securing a basket containing product securely within an autoclave or retort. The preferred embodiment of the present invention is used with rotational retorts, which generally include a rotational insert for receiving product-loaded baskets, the rotational insert rotated via a drive to rotate the baskets end over end during the autoclave process, for more efficient heat transfer. The present invention contemplates an improvement for securing the baskets within the retort, to facilitate secure rotation of the baskets and their contents, and prevent shifting of the baskets within the retort during rotation. Particularly, the preferred embodiment of the present invention contemplates the use of one or more lift bladders sandwiched between clamping platens situated along the length of the rotational insert, the lift bladders configured to expand to lift and position the baskets into a securing position for rotation, then deflate to release the baskets after processing for removal.

With the utilization of rotational retorts or the like, some securing means is generally required to secure the baskets situated therein to prevent shifting of the basket within the retort during rotation.
Ideally, a loaded basket should be able to be placed into the retort and rotated during treatment (or otherwise moved) in a series of smoothly executed movements without undue jarring or uncontrolled contact.
Even a small movement between the basket and the retort (or rotational insert where one is used) results in continuous wear and tear on the basket and retort, strain on the drive system due to inconsistent forces associated with the movement of the basket(s) (each loaded basket can weigh in excess of 4000 lbs), and potential damage to the product situated within the baskets.
Prior art patents such as U.S. Pat. No. 5,676,047 entitled "Rotating Variable Height Clamping Device" issued Oct. 14, 1997 is an example of a clamping mechanism formed to engage and clamp a stack loaded into the retort. A moveable "top member" is provided to be raised and lowered to engage the stack. However, such mechanical configurations are expensive to provide and maintain, and are prone to breakage due to the extreme operating environment caused by high temperatures under pressurized conditions, high operating cycles and high weights associated with the stack. Further, the nature of the actuator requires that it be fabricated of expensive materials due to the extreme operating environment.
Further, the prior art actuators are required to be operable on a rotating mechanism, which further complicates its design and propensity for breakdown. In the '047 device, the stack is secured via actuators at the top and bottom of the stack only; accordingly, there remains clearance at the sides of the basket, which can result in slippage and shifting of the stack and its contents.
Typically, air cylinders were employed in prior systems, so as to actuate plates located above the baskets in the insert, clamping against opposing small bearing transfer rollers. This design had a tendency to put a point load on the center of the basket, which provides uneven pressure across the basket. It is believed that no side actuators where provided, so generally the product shifted slightly during the treatment process.
Another shortcoming of the prior art actuators is they provided only point to point contact with the baskets, providing pressure to only a portion of the basket, resulting in uneven pressure, which not only stresses the basket, but also increases the likelihood of movement of the basket even when clamped, thereby resulting in shifting of the materials which further stresses the basket structure and rotational insert, as well as rotational drive mechanism, while potentially damaging the materials therein.
There is accordingly a need in the industry for a system for providing a secure clamping arrangement to loaded baskets within a retort which is reliable in operation, relatively cost effective to implement and maintain, and which can handle the extreme operating environment and high duty cycle of an industrial retort operation.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


An axial flow turbine configured to accept different nozzles which are respectively compatible with different fluids (gas, liquid or mixture thereof). The turbine is compatible with different rotating loads, which can be cooled or lubricated using liquid derived from the fluid.

This invention relates generally to fluid driven turbines, and more particularly to what are described herein as variable phase fluid driven turbines.
Turbines are widely used in industry to convert the energy in liquid streams or gas streams to shaft power. Less common, but also used are turbines to convert the energy in two-phase (gas and liquid) streams to shaft power. The turbines for each type of stream are unique to that stream. That is, a turbine designed to be gas driven is not readily usable for liquid or two-phase flow. For example attempts to use radial inflow gas turbines for two-phase flow have resulted in poor performance and damage because the direction of centrifugal body forces is such as to throw liquid backwards into the nozzle blades.
Certain application for turbines require the use of different types of fluid streams for differing conditions. For example, a low temperature geothermal power system may require use of a gas stream or a two-phase flow stream, depending upon the temperature and working fluid used in the power producing cycle. To provide an efficient power conversion system, a new or specialized turbine must be designed, manufactured and qualified for each application. This is costly and time consuming and reduces flexibility, if the thermal characteristics of a given application change with time. There is need for an efficient turbine that can be driven by gas, or liquid or two-phase fluid flow.


According to one embodiment, a method includes receiving, by an electronic apparatus, first stroke data corresponding to a first handwritten stroke and if the first stroke data is received, displaying on a screen a first candidate of a first character string corresponding to a first query of the first handwritten stroke, wherein if second stroke data corresponding to a second handwritten stroke is received continuously after a reception of the first stroke data, and if the first candidate is different from a second candidate of a second character string corresponding to a second query of both the first stroke data and the second stroke data, the second candidate is displayed on the screen with higher priority than the first candidate.

Recently, various electronic apparatuses including a tablet, a PDA, and a smartphone have been developed. Most of the electronic apparatuses of these types include a touchscreen display to facilitate a user input operation.
By touching a menu or an object displayed on a touchscreen display with a finger or the like, the user can instruct an electronic apparatus to execute a function related to the menu or object.
An input operation using the touchscreen display is employed for not only providing the electronic apparatus with the instruction of operation, but also inputting a document by handwriting. Recently, the user can bring the electronic apparatuses of these types when attending a meeting and the like. At the meeting and the like, the user can create a handwritten document such as a note by handwriting input on the touch screen display.
Furthermore, on some of the electronic apparatuses of these types, the handwritten document created as mentioned above can be searched by inputting a character string (hereinafter called a search character string) as a search query (search key) by handwriting on the touchscreen display.
However, much labor is required for inputting all character strings (for example, words and the like) by handwriting.

Electronic apparatus, method and storage medium


A barbecue grill includes a body defining a heating chamber and having an open top. A main food supporting grill is mounted on the body in a generally horizontal manner so as to span at least a portion of the open top. Walls extend generally upwardly from portions of the body. The walls include opposing side walls and a rear wall extending between the side walls. A grate is mounted between the side walls and is in spaced relation to the rear wall so as to define a generally vertically arranged fire chamber for holding a source of heat generating fuel. A secondary food supporting grill is mounted between the side walls, forwardly of the grate and above and generally parallel to the main grill. Whereby, when fuel is generating heat in the fire chamber, heat is reflected from the rear wall structure and (1) convects from the fire chamber to the heating chamber and generally upwardly through the main grill and secondary grill and (2) radiates generally outwardly from the fire chamber to the main grill and secondary grill.

This invention relates to cooking devices and, more particularly, to a portable or built-in barbecue grill having a vertically arranged fire chamber or hearth for both roasting and grilling food.
Conventional barbecue-type grilling devices typically include a horizontally disposed grill which is placed directly above the burning coals, or the source of heat used for cooking. As the food cooks, grease and fat drippings from the meat may burst into flames upon contact with the heat source, giving off fumes which may burn or impair the taste of the food. Oftentimes, the liquid dripping from the meat may cause a flame to singe or burn the meat which deposits carbon on the meat. Consumption of such charred meat is known to contribute to the development of cancer in humans over time.
In addition, with a conventional grill, it is generally viable only to grill one type of food at a time. Although some grills may have a rotisserie mounted above the main grill, it is difficult to roast food on the rotisserie while at the same time grilling food on the main grill, since food on the main grill may block rising heat required for roasting at the rotisserie. Further, it is virtually unthinkable to cook different types of food, such as pizza, on conventional grills.

Barbecue grill with vertical hearth, rotisserie attachment, and/or pot rack


A method for removing contaminants from synthetic resin material containers using a first organic solvent system and a second carbon dioxide system. The organic solvent is utilized for removing the contaminants from the synthetic resin material and the carbon dioxide is used to separate any residual organic solvent from the synthetic resin material.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an improved method and system for removing contaminants from synthetic resin (especially plastic) materials. More particularly, the invention relates to a two-part method for removing contaminants from synthetic resin materials comprising an upstream solvent cleaning system and a downstream carbon dioxide cleaning system.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Recycling containers made from synthetic resin material is a highly desirable alternative to landfilling such containers. However, these containers often include residues of the material they once contained. These residues if not removed can decrease the value of the container material making it suitable for only low-grade products. Traditionally, these residues or contaminants have been difficult and expensive to remove and prone to create additional waste byproducts.
Recycling of motor oil containers is illustrative of the problem. Motor oil containers typically are high-density polyethylene (HDPE) which lends itself well to recycling if it is sufficiently clean. However, residual oil coating the interior surface of the "empty" motor oil containers constitutes a contaminant that prevents use of the containers in high grade plastics. Based upon measurement of samples of used motor oil containers, this residual oil coating appears to average 4.6 percent of the weight of the used synthetic resin material container and can represent as much as 20 percent of the container weight. The vast majority of these containers are currently disposed of in landfills, leaking oil into the soil and groundwater, and occupying significant landfill volume. However, if the motor oil could be easily separated from the containers, much of this landfill volume and soil and groundwater pollution could be avoided.
Current available options to landfilling the waste synthetic resin containers include (a) grinding the containers and using them in other recycling processes on a very limited (dilute) basis; (b) using an aqueous process to displace the contaminant from the synthetic resin material; (c) using a halogenated solvent to dissolve/dilute the contaminant; or (d) using a combustible or flammable solvent to dissolve/dilute the contaminant oil from the synthetic resin material.
The problems with these options are as follows:
a. Existing recyclers in the United States can blend limited quantities of contaminated synthetic resin materials in recycled products. Large quantities cannot be blended because of the undesirable effects of the contaminants on the recycled synthetic resin material properties. Examples include "plastic lumber" and lower grade plastic products.
b. Aqueous processes can be used to displace the contaminants from the synthetic resin material. However, detergents and/or surfactants are required to assist displacement of the contaminants. A stream of usable contaminant-free synthetic resin material will be generated by this method; however, the displaced contaminants will need additional processing to separate them from the aqueous solutions or dispersions. The aqueous solutions or dispersions themselves will be a secondary waste stream that will require treatment before being recycled or discharged as waste water.
c. Halogenated solvents can be used to dissolve/dilute the contaminants from the synthetic resin material. Again, usable synthetic resin material will be obtained by this process if the solvents do not extract essential components from the synthetic resin material. The halogenated solvent solutions will require distillation to recover the contaminants and recycle the solvents. In general, it is difficult to fully reclaim usable contaminants (such as oil) from the distillate. Furthermore, many halogenated solvents are ozone depleting compounds and potential health hazards to humans, and therefore their use and release into the environment are under regulation and close scrutiny by federal and state governments.
d. Combustible or flammable solvents may be used to dissolve and/or displace the contaminants from the synthetic resin material. Usable synthetic resin material can be generated by this method if the solvents do not extract essential components from the synthetic resin material. The combustible or flammable solvent solutions will require distillation to recover the contaminants and recycle the solvents. Only distillation equipment suitable for combustible or flammable solvents may be used and even then fire safety concerns will be significant. As in the case of the use of halogenated solvents, the contaminant may not be fully recoverable from the distillation.
The present methods described above can provide some usable synthetic resin material from oil contaminated containers. However, they will recover usable oil only at the expense of a secondary waste stream that itself will require treatment and additional expense. The recycling of synthetic resin material and oil from "empty" oil containers presents serious environmental and waste stream disposal problems if conventional organic or aqueous solvents are used for the separation of the synthetic resin material and oil. Discarding of the containers as landfill waste also presents environmental problems in that the residual oil may eventually leach into soil and groundwater.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,711,820 describes a method of separating oil from plastic contaminated with oil using liquid or supercritical carbon dioxide. However, the ability of the carbon dioxide to solvate the oil is relatively low. To be effective, the carbon dioxide must be placed under very high pressure. As a result, not only must the system equipment be designed for high pressure operations, but the utility costs in providing the high pressure carbon dioxide can also be sizeable.
Accordingly, there is a need for an improved system and method for removing contaminants from synthetic resin material containers. More particularly, there is a need for a system and method that will produce essentially contaminant-free synthetic resin material in an environmentally safe and economical manner.

Method of removing contaminants from plastic resins

Honeywell Federal Manufacturing & Technology, LLC


The application describes a method of preparing a polymer that includes: mixing in an aqueous solution comprising water and a water-soluble alcohol: a vinyl-based monomer having a sulfonic acid functional group, a bifunctional vinyl-based cross-linking agent, and a polymerization initiator, to form a reaction solution, where the monomer and the cross-linking agent are soluble in the reaction solution; and polymerizing the monomer and cross-linking agent to form the polymer. The application further describes a polymer that includes a polymer backbone comprising sulfonic acid functional groups; and crosslinks comprising alcohol functional groups.

Preparation of standard cation exchange materials employs non-polymerizable high-boiling solvents for the polymerization of sulfonic acid group containing vinyl monomers and divinyl crosslinkers in the presence of a radical initiator. In several instances, the dissolution of the monomers and crosslinkers in the solvents necessitates high temperature mixing over a long periods of time and use of inhibitors to inhibit the premature polymerization of the monomers during high temperature mix preparation. Also, the post processing of the cation exchange materials involves disposal of as much as 30-35 weight % solvent in hazardous waste streams, increasing the cost of waste disposal.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,617,321, to MacDonald, discloses the preparation of a cation exchange materials where a sulfonic acid group containing vinyl monomer is polymerized with acrylamide and N-methylolacrylamide, using water as a non-polymerizing solvent. MacDonald teaches polymerization of the monomers at 80° C. for 2 hours.
Processes which are known in the art for producing cation exchange membranes involve preparing the cation exchange membranes (and/or precursors) in non-aqueous media, and sulfonation of the membranes to obtain sulfonic acid groups. The costs involved in using these raw materials, as well as the costs in scaling the process to industrial magnitude, add to the cost associated with membrane production process.

Cation exchange materials prepared in aqueous media


A system and method for providing a power signal to a local service portion of a communication system located in a densely populated area. A power multiplexer is provided having first, second, and third input connector assemblies, an output connector assembly, and a switching network. The output connector assembly is connected to a load in the communications network that is normally provided by a local utility power source. The input connector assemblies are connected to remote power sources of the communication system located outside the given local service area. The switching network connects one of the input connectors to the output connector assembly to pass to the load, as necessary, a power signal generated by one of the remote utility power sources. Because the remote utility power service and the local utility power service are unlikely to be disrupted in many situations, reliable power can usually be obtained even if local service is disrupted.

Conventionally, coaxial cable signal distribution systems have been used to distribute television signals from a headend to end users. While interruptions to cable television (CATV) service are irritating and to be avoided, they are tolerated to a certain degree.
Coaxial cable signal distribution systems are currently being or soon will be used to transmit communications systems between end users. The tolerance for service disruptions in communications system is much lower than that for a CATV system. Accordingly, the CATV industry is taking more rigorous steps to avoid service disruptions in their coaxial cable signal distribution systems.
More specifically, coaxial cable signal distribution systems employ line extending amplifiers distributed throughout the system. The signal carried by the coaxial cable comprises a low frequency power portion and a high frequency information portion. The line extending amplifiers use the power portion to boost the signal strength of the information portion.
Power supplies are distributed throughout the coaxial cable signal distribution system to supply the power portion of the signal carried thereby. These power supplies are normally uninterruptible power supplies that obtain primary power from a utility power source and standby power from batteries. If the utility power source fails, a standby signal is generated using power supplied by the batteries. This level of back up has proven to be very effective in CATV signal distribution systems, but may not provide an adequate level of back up when the coaxial system is used to distribute communications signals.
A primary object of the present invention is thus to provide improved methods and systems for supplying power signals to coaxial cable signal distribution systems.

Power multiplexer for broadband communications systems


A locking device with a bolt movable between a locked position and an unlocked position. The locking device includes an electronic controller for selectively controlling movement of the bolt between the locked and unlocked position. At least two input devices are provided, such as a keypad, a biometric input, etc., which communicate an authentication code to the controller. The controller controls movement of the bolt based on a valid authentication code received from any of the at least two input devices.

Locksets typically comprise mechanical parts to lock and unlock a door. In some situations, an electronic lockset is attached to a door to provide easier access to unlock and lock a door. That is, a user is not required to carry around a key to unlock or lock the door. The electronic locksets provide access to the door even when the user does not have a physical key to provide more secure ways of unlocking and locking a door.
With some electronic locksets, for example, attempts have been made to create an intuitive and direct way of unlocking and locking a door with an electronic key that is wirelessly communicated to the lock, such as with a mobile device or key fob. The electronic key allows a user to interact with the door lock when the mobile device and/or key fob is within proximity of the door. As a result, these electronic locksets require a mobile device, key fob or a physical key to unlock and lock the door. This can be problematic when the user does not have any of these devices to access the door.
According to one aspect, this disclosure provides an auxiliary authentication input device for use with an electronic lockset having a primary authentication input device for inputting an authentication code that initiates movement of a mechanical locking assembly between a locked position and an unlocked position. This allows the user to operate the lock with the auxiliary authentication input device in a keyless manner without needing a phone or keyfob. In some embodiments, the auxiliary authentication input device includes a keypad with a plurality of user-selectable buttons and a wireless communication unit configured to communicate with an electronic lockset. A controller is provided that is configured to electronically transfer user-selection of the plurality of buttons to the electronic lockset through the wireless communication unit.
According to another aspect, this disclosure provides a lockset with a latch assembly, a motor, a controller, a wireless communication unit, and at least two input devices. The latch assembly includes a bolt movable between an extended position and a retracted position. The motor is configured to move the bolt between the extended position and the retracted position. The controller is configured to electronically control the motor to control movement of the bolt between the extended position and the retracted position responsive to receiving a valid authentication code. The wireless communication unit is in electrical communication with the controller. The at least two input devices, which could be a keypad and/or a biometric input in some embodiments, communicate an authentication code with the controller. The controller controls movement of the bolt based on a valid authentication code received from any of the at least two input devices.
According to a further aspect, this disclosure provides a method for installing an auxiliary authentication input device for use with an electronic lockset having a primary authentication input device for inputting an authentication code that initiates movement of a mechanical locking assembly between a locked position and an unlocked position. This allows an existing wireless locking device to be retrofitted with an auxiliary authentication input device that does not require the use of a phone or keyfob. If the user does not have a phone or keyfob while accessing the door, the auxiliary input device could be used to operate the locking device. The method includes the step of mounting the auxiliary authentication input device onto the lockset with a cylinder guard, the input device having an opening dimensioned to receive the lockset. The opening is lined up with the cylinder guard of the lockset. The auxiliary authentication input device is then secured to the lockset or another surface.

Locking device with multiple authentication devices


Provided is a blade for a wind turbine including a structure having: a suction side and a pressure side extending between a leading edge and the trailing edge, a conducting or semi-conducting element. The blade further includes: a thermally conducting electrical insulation, at least partially in contact with the structure.

Rotor blades, being the most exposed part of the wind turbine, are frequently subjected to lightning strikes. The probability of strikes is highest at tip end and decreases as one proceeds towards the root. The addition of metallic, carbon or other conducting (or semi-conducting) elements on the exterior (or towards exterior) of the blade surface, for example as part of a resistive or inductive heating system for de-icing, or structural components (e.g., carbon spar caps) increases the risk of lightning attachment. This can damage not only the conducting elements but also the blade structure. Owing to this, one measure which is for example adopted is that of pulling conducting elements back from the blade tip. Further conducting elements may be also conveniently placed away from trailing edge where lightning is expected to hang on for a prolonged time. Equipotential bonds are provided between different conducting or semiconducting elements for voltage equalization, which otherwise would lead to electrical flashovers inside the blade.
It is desirable to provide a blade for a wind turbine enabling conducting components to be placed at any location along the blade with reduced or no risk of lightning attachment or internal flashovers.

Wind turbine blade with thermally conducting electrical insulation


Method and system for the extraction of oils from a biomass with a liquid carbon dioxide using cosolvent. The system and method can be used to extract cannabinoids from cannabis biomass by cryogenically freezing the biomass and exposing the cannabis biomass to sub-cooled liquid carbon dioxide and capturing a first high-terpene extract fraction, and then exposing the cannabis biomass with a mixture of superfluid carbon dioxide and a cosolvent to capture a high cannabinoid second fraction.

Carbon dioxide (CO2) extraction, separation, and purification of plant material has become an important commercial and industrial process due to the ease of use of CO2 as a solvent in chemical separation, as well as its low toxicity, non-flammability, low cost, and low environmental impact compared to other solvents. The relatively low temperature of the process and the stability of CO2 also allows many compounds to be extracted from biomass with little damage or denaturing. In addition, the solubility of many extracted compounds in CO2 varies with pressure, permitting selective separations.
Carbon dioxide behaves as a gas in air at standard temperature and pressure (STP), and its physical state can be tuned by controlling temperature and pressure in a closed system or closed environment. CO2 extraction can be used, for example, for analytical purposes, decaffeination or component removal from a plant material, in winterization to separate fats and waxes from plant extracts, and for separating and collecting desired products from plant products such as terpenes and essential oils. Compared to other forms of extraction and separation, the use of carbon dioxide is also advantageous because the CO2 solvent can be easily separated from the extract by evaporation. By using liquid CO2 as the solvent in winterization, the solvent separation process is simplified, as CO2 evaporates at a much lower temperature than the compounds of interest and therefore can be easily evaporated by raising the temperature or lowering the pressure of the mixture. In closed systems and in pressure controlled environments where CO2 is held at conditions in or around the critical point or saturation line, such as in a subcritical extraction, both liquid and vapour CO2 can exist simultaneously in the system, whereas in high pressure systems such as those required to maintain CO2 in a liquid state, the solvent needs to be maintained at relatively high pressures.
The International Council for Harmonisation of Technical Requirements for Pharmaceuticals for Human Use (ICH, "Q3C guideline") and the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have developed guidelines on residual solvents which are allowed in low levels as impurities in pharmaceutical products. Class 3 solvents in the Q3C guideline are solvents that are less toxic and of lower risk to human health and are not known to be a human health hazard at the level accepted in pharmaceutical products in accordance with the guideline. The class 3 solvents include acetic acid, acetone, anisole, 1-butanol, 2-butanol, butyl acetate, tertbutyl methyl ether, dimethyl sulfoxide, ethanol, ethyl acetate, ethyl ether, ethyl formate, formic acid, n-heptane, isobutyl acetate, isopropyl acetate, methyl acetate, 3-methyl-1-butanol, methyl ethyl ketone, 2-methyl-1-propanol, pentane, 1-pentanol, 1-propanol, 2-propanol, propyl acetate, and triethylamine. The Q3C guideline considers that amounts of class 3 solvents of 50 mg per day or less would be acceptable without justification, and higher amounts may also be acceptable provided they are realistic in relation to manufacturing capability and good manufacturing practice (GMP). Class 2 solvents, which are higher in toxicity than class 3 solvents, may also be used with caution, including methanol, providing that the permitted daily exposure (PDE) limits are carefully maintained. In liquid carbon dioxide cosolvent systems that use CO2 as the primary solvent, class 3 solvents (or class 2 solvents with appropriate control) can be used as cosolvents to provide process improvements such as, for example, improved separation, shorter process times, and higher process volumes. However, many of the class 3 solvents are flammable, and if not stored and handled properly, can pose a serious threat to health and safety. In particular, avoiding contact with skin and eyes, keeping the solvent away from incompatibles such as oxidizing agents, acids, alkalis, moisture, as well as open flames, sparks, and heat, it is important to maintaining a safe workplace and in instrument design.
In one example of cosolvent use with liquid carbon dioxide, U.S. Pat. No. 6,908,557B2 to Chordia et al. describes a method and device for a chromatography column at high pressure which uses a compressed fluid, such as CO2, combined with one or more solvents to collect a desired compound. The desired compound or compounds eluted from the chromatographic column are detected using a detector and based on detector signal response, the flow stream is directed to one or more collection chambers using a switching valve.
There remains a need for a liquid carbon dioxide cosolvent system and method that can be integrated with a liquid carbon dioxide extraction system for controlled collection of compounds of interest from biomass or media containing compounds of interest using liquid carbon dioxide and a cosolvent.
This background information is provided for the purpose of making known information believed by the applicant to be of possible relevance to the present invention. No admission is necessarily intended, nor should be construed, that any of the preceding information constitutes prior art against the present invention.

Liquid carbon dioxide and cosolvent biomass extraction method and system


Integrated circuit memory devices contain an array of active memory cells and at least one column of dummy memory cells having missing electrical connections to either a dummy bit line and/or respective storage electrodes. The dummy memory cells are provided with missing electrical connections so that formation of stray electrical "shorts" between storage electrodes of dummy and active memory cells during fabrication do not cause memory failures when the memory devices are installed. In particular, integrated circuit memory devices are provided which comprise an array of active DRAM memory cells and a column of dummy DRAM memory cells. The active DRAM memory cells each contain electrical connections to a respective active bit line and a respective storage electrode, but the dummy DRAM memory cells are each devoid of an electrical connection to a dummy bit line and/or a respective storage electrode. Accordingly, the formation of a stringer (e.g., electrical short) between a storage capacitor of an active memory cell and a dummy memory cell does not result in a memory failure even if the word line coupled to the dummy memory cell is activated and the dummy bit line is biased at a potential which is different from the potential of the storage capacitor of the active memory cell.

A semiconductor memory device, such as a DRAM device, can consist of a memory cell region in which unit cells for storing information are arranged as an array, and a peripheral circuit region for driving the unit cells. Each unit cell in the memory cell region may include a capacitor and an access transistor, and the capacitor includes a storage electrode, a dielectric layer, and a plate electrode. To increase the capacitance of the thus-constituted capacitor, a cylindrical structure or a stack structure using a dielectric layer of a high dielectric constant are widely employed. By forming such a capacitor in the memory cell region, a step is typically formed at the boundary between the peripheral circuit region and the memory cell region. Since the pattern density of the memory cell region is higher than that of the peripheral circuit region, the patterns in the edge and center of the memory cell region are formed with different bias from each other due to the proximity effect in photolithography processes. Thus, photolithography process margins are typically reduced in the memory cell region.
To solve the above discrepancy, a method has recently been suggested in which at least one dummy column is disposed at the edge of a memory cell region. In this method, the difference between the sizes of patterns formed in the center and edge of the memory cell region can be further reduced. Here, the dummy column has a corresponding dummy bit line coupled thereto.
FIG. 1 is a layout view of the edge portion of a conventional memory cell region in an exemplary DRAM memory device. Referring to FIG. 1, the conventional memory cell of the DRAM device includes a plurality of cell active regions 24, 25, 35, 36, 44, and 45 arranged in a zigzag pattern, a plurality of word lines 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 and 16 arranged so that a pair of word lines cross over each active region, drain regions each defined in an active region between a pair of word lines, a pair of source regions defined by active regions adjacent to the drain regions with a pair of word lines intervening between the source regions, a plurality of storage electrode contact holes 61, 62, 63, 71, 72, 73, 81, 82, and 83 for exposing the source regions, a plurality of storage electrodes 21, 22, 23, 31, 32, 33, 41, 42, and 43 connected to the source regions via respective storage electrode contacts, plate electrodes 90 which expose the drain regions, a plurality of bit line contacts 64, 65, 75, 84, and 85 for contacting a predetermined area of each drain region, and a plurality of bit lines 51, 52, and 53 covering the bit line contacts and disposed in a perpendicular direction relative to the plurality of word lines. Here, the bit line 51 disposed at the outermost edge of the memory cell region serves as a dummy bit line, and the bit lines 52 and 53 adjacent to the dummy bit line 51 serve as actual bit lines for transferring information. Here, as will be understood by those skilled in the art, a ground potential or a power voltage is generally applied to the dummy bit line 51.
When a DRAM cell is formed using a mask fabricated by the above layout, a stringer S (i.e., electrical "short") may form between adjacent storage electrodes. As shown in FIG. 1, when the stringer S is produced between a storage electrode of a dummy cell (e.g., storage electrode 21) which is connected to the dummy bit line 51, and a storage electrode of an actual cell adjacent to the dummy cell (e.g., the storage electrode 31), the DRAM device may malfunction. For example, when a power voltage is applied to both the bit line 52 and the word line 12 to store information corresponding to logic "1" in the storage electrode 31, a portion of the semiconductor channel region where the active region 35 and the word line 12 intersect is inverted and the power voltage is transferred to the storage electrode 31. Here, in the event the dummy bit line 51 is set at ground potential and the word line 11 is not selected, the storage electrode 21 is electrically isolated from the dummy bit line 51. Thus, the storage electrode 21 has the same potential as that of the storage electrode 31, that is, the power voltage (i.e., logic "1").
However, when the power voltage is applied to the word line 11 to store predetermined information in the storage electrode 41 or to read out the information stored in the storage electrode 41, a channel is formed at the portion where the word line 11 and an active region 24 intersect. When this occurs, the storage electrode 21 becomes electrically connected to the grounded bit line 51, and thus the storage electrode 21 is "pulled" to the ground potential. In addition, since the storage electrode 31 is also connected to the storage electrode 21 via the stringer S, information stored in the storage electrode 31 of an actual memory cell, that is the information corresponding to the logic "1", vanishes. Therefore, when the information stored in the storage electrode 31 is read, unintended information is accessed and an operational failure occurs.
Alternatively, in the event a power voltage (i.e., logic "1") is applied to the dummy bit line 51, when information corresponding to logic "0" is stored in the storage electrode 31 and the information of the storage electrode 31 is read, incorrect information corresponding to the logic "1" will be read.
Thus, although the conventional DRAM device can reduce pattern failures generated at the edge of a memory cell region by providing a dummy bit line, it typically cannot overcome operation failures caused by a stringer remaining between storage electrodes.

Integrated circuit memory devices having dummy memory cells therein for inhibiting memory failures


Voice packets transmitted by an originating wireless user for use in a half-duplex communication mode in a one to many communication session are monitored for an unexpected cessation. If an unexpected cessation of such voice packets is detected for a predetermined time period, the session server controlling the communications session is notified to release the supporting half-duplex communication paths associated with the originating user.

This invention generally relates to a wireless telecommunications system that provides a one-to-many voice conference mode, and more specifically relates to limiting the ability of a user in a packet system that loses communication with the system in the talk mode to disrupt communications.
One example of a wireless system providing a one-to-many transmission mode is a conventional police or fire radio system. In an analog system with a single base station, a first user captures the base station by an initial transmission activated by a push to talk button. The first user's voice transmission is received by the base station and retransmitted to the other users. The transmission by the first user ends by the first user releasing the push to talk button. This allows one of the other users to reply to the first user or initiate a new transmission by activating his radio with the push to talk button. In this system a radio frequency carrier is on during the entire voice transmission. Loss of the radio frequency carrier, whether caused by the user releasing the push to talk button or by the user leaving the area of coverage, causes the base station to release its retransmission and allows another user to be able to access the system.
A wireless network that carries speech as digitized samples in packets presents additional difficulties with regard to transmission control especially where the packets are transferred from the wireless portion of the network to a wired portion of the network. This is especially apparent where the system utilizes a half-duplex transmission mode in which only one user is permitted to transmit voice communications at a time. Unlike the above example of an analog wireless system in which a radio frequency carrier was always present during a speech transmission, the speech packets carried on the wired system are decoupled from the wireless portion of the system and hence information concerning the status of wireless communications link is normally not available at packet nodes in the wired system. A packet based system having both a wireless and wired portion typically relies upon an end of transmission signal transmitted from the active (talking) user at the end of voice transmission such as initiated by the release of a push to talk button. This signal is conveyed through the wireless and wired portions of the system informing all involved transmission nodes that the stream of packets carrying voice from the active user has ceased. Failure to receive the end of transmission signal at a node in the network may cause the node to take inappropriate actions or fail to take appropriate actions. Such a problem is especially acute where a node hinders further communications by other users due to the failure to receive an end of transmission signal. Thus, there exists the need for an improved method for minimizing problems associated with the lack of receipt of an end of transmission signal in a packet system.

Wireless network with transmission control in a half-duplex voice conference mode


A system and method for zooming an image. In the illustrative embodiment, the system includes a memory for receiving first and second frames of image data; a motion detector for detecting motion in said first or said second frame of image data; and an intelligent zoom system for zooming said first or said second image using a first or a second zoom method based on a detection of motion by said motion detector on a pixel by pixel basis. In the illustrative embodiment, the invention is scene-based, it works on a pixel by pixel basis to determine if a pixel is in motion. It performs motion related zoom for pixels that are affected by motion and conducts cross-field zoom for steady pixels to reduce motion artifacts in zoom mode. Motion may be determined by comparing frame-to-frame pixel value variations to fixed motion threshold(s) or by other algorithms. Independent-field zoom refers to using information from one input field to form a zoomed picture in one associated output field. Cross-field zoom refers to using information from both input fields to form a picture in an output field. The invention may be used with or without zoom interpolation schemes.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to imaging systems. More specifically, the present invention relates to imaging systems with digital image zooming capability.
2. Description of the Related Art
Imaging systems are used for a variety of consumer, commercial, industrial, scientific and military applications to name a few. In many systems, an imaging device for camera has a resolution that exceeds that of a display on which the image is to be viewed. If thee is an interest in viewing a portion of the image in greater detail, the image is magnified digitally by zooming in on the area of interest.
To avoid leaping images, the detector of the imaging system often operates in a field-to-field row interlacing mode to increase the scene update rate of the system. That is, the displays typically present the images with alternating image fields with each field presenting alternate adjacent rows of image data. For example, the first field might present an image with even number rows while the second field presents an image with odd numbered rows. This scheme is generally known in the art as an interlaced scanning scheme as the rows of the first field are interlaced between the rows of the second field.
Unfortunately, in certain applications, a portion of the scene or a target object in a field of view of the camera may be in motion. In some cases, when a scene is digitally zoomed, the motion may cause the image to appear ripped or distorted.
Most conventional approaches to correct motion-induced scene artifacts employ algorithms that derive and apply an operation globally to all pixels without paying attention to specific pixels in response to certain system parameters. For example, an accelerometer may be used to detect if the sensor is in motion and then determines the most appropriate zoom algorithm to be used across the entire field or frame. However, in reality, part of the scene may be stationary and part of it may have moving objects. Applying one operation globally may not minimize zoom artifacts of the entire scene.
Other electronic zoom algorithms may be individual pixel based, but those approaches have, for the most part, emphasized image smoothing as opposed to the zooming operation per se.
Hence, there is a need in the art for an improved system or method for providing for electronic zoom in imaging applications where at least part of the scene is moving at a speed sufficiently high to induce artifacts in the displayed image.

Imaging system and method with intelligent digital zooming


The present invention discloses a driving method and a driving circuit of a liquid crystal panel, which relates to the field of liquid crystal displaying technology, and solves the problem of the ion accumulation in a TFT channel. The driving method of a liquid crystal panel according to embodiments of the present invention comprises: inputting an offset pinch-off voltage to gate scan lines of each row within a vertical blanking period between two successive frames, the offset pinch-off voltage being an original pinch-off voltage plus a predetermined voltage offset; and inputting the original pinch-off voltage to the gate scan lines at the time other than a gate turn-on time and the vertical blanking period. The embodiments of the present invention are mainly applied to the field of displaying of liquid crystal panels.

A liquid crystal panel includes a TFT (Thin Film Transistor) array substrate and a color film substrate therein, and there are liquid crystals dripped between the color film substrate and the TFT array substrate. In order to enable the liquid crystal panel to display, a driving voltage is required to be input to the TFT array substrate by a driving circuit, in which a gate turn-on voltage is needed to be input onto a gate scan line on the TFT array substrate and a data voltage is needed to be input onto a data scan line thereon.
As an example, the present invention uses a signal OE2 as a second-order gate turn-on voltage control signal to explain the current implementation. The driving circuit of the liquid crystal panel includes mainly a timing controller, a power supply unit, a gate driving IC (Integrated Circuit) and a source driving IC. The timing chart of the driving voltage output by the driving circuit is as shown in FIG. 1, in which it is carried on from the left to the right in time order. Wherein, a rising edge of STV is a signal for the start of each frame, the signal OE2 controls a second-order gate turn-on voltage (VON), CPV is a gate shift signal. When a rising edge of STV comes so as to start scanning of one frame, a rising edge of CPV comes so as to control the start of scanning of one row each time when one falling edge of the signal OE2 comes. There is one horizontal blanking period between the horizontal display time of the current row and the horizontal display time of the next row, and the horizontal display time for each row plus the horizontal blanking period is one horizontal cycle. After completion of the scanning of the current row, the next rising edge of the signal OE2 comes when the current row just enters the horizontal blanking period, and the gate voltage is reduced. Further, the next rising edge of CPV comes, when the next falling edge of the signal OE2 comes, so as to control the start of scanning of the next row. In FIG. 1, Gn and Gn+1 indicate the changes of levels of gate scan lines of the n-th row and the (n+1)-th row, respectively, in which Th is a vertical cycle.
As shown in FIG. 1, there is a vertical planking period, i.e. a blanking time, between two successive frames, that is, a vertical display time (Thd) subtracted from a vertical cycle (Th). Within the vertical blanking period, the voltages of gate scan lines of each row keep at −8V (a pinch-off voltage VOFF). In the present invention, the description is made taking the original pinch-off voltage of a TFT of −8V as an example, and the scanning of the next frame is not started until STV reaches a rising edge again.
In the course of driving a liquid crystal panel using the above driving manner, it is found that there is at least the following problem in existing techniques.
In the course that the data voltage input on a data scan line is input to a pixel electrode through a TFT, if the data voltage has certain regularity, for example, data voltages input continuously for a relatively long time are all at high levels, polarities of ions passing through a TFT channel will be fixed. When there are matters such as impurities in the TFT channel, they will attract or exclude these ions, resulting in that accumulation of ions occurs in the TFT channel (i.e. an active layer of the TFT). Accordingly, the accumulated ions will form an electric field around, leading to the interference to the electric field between the pixel electrode and a common electrode on the color film substrate and influencing finally on the display effect of the liquid crystal panel.

Driving method and driving circuit of liquid crystal panel

BEIJING BOE OPTOELECTRONICS TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.


A drive circuit for a liquid crystal panel includes a voltage output device, a resistive voltage dividing circuit, and a low-pass filter. The voltage output device has a pulse-signal output port, a first port and a second port. The pulse-signal output port outputs a pulse signal, which is modulated by pulse width modulation. The first port and the second port switch an output between a DC power supply voltage and a ground voltage. The resistive voltage dividing circuit is connected to the first port and the second port. The low-pass filter has an input and an output. The input of the low-pass filter connected to a voltage output node of the resistive voltage dividing circuit and the pulse-signal output port. The output of the low-pass filter connected to a terminal, which outputs a voltage to the liquid crystal panel.

A liquid crystal panel drive circuit may generate multiple gradation voltages, which are obtained by dividing a power supply voltage through multiple resistive elements. It may be possible to display multiple intermediate gradation levels on a liquid crystal panel when the gradation voltage is output to the liquid crystal panel. A segment-type liquid crystal panel may be an example of the liquid crystal panel. In the segment-type liquid crystal panel, a shape to be displayed is divided into several segments. A voltage is applied to each segment. The segment-type liquid crystal panel may be, for example, a seven-segment display for displaying a number. The segment-type liquid crystal panel may also be used for displaying an air-conditioning state inside a vehicle cabin. The cost of the segment-type liquid crystal panel is less than the cost of the dot-matrix liquid crystal panel.

Liquid crystal panel drive circuit and liquid crystal display apparatus