A semiconductor device includes: a semiconductor layer; a first doped well region disposed in a portion of the semiconductor layer; a first doped region disposed in the first doped well region; a second doped well region of an asymmetrical cross-sectional profile disposed in another portion of the semiconductor layer; second, third, and fourth doped regions formed in the second doped well region; a first gate structure disposed over a portion of the semiconductor layer, practically covering the second doped well region; and a second gate structure embedded in a portion of the semiconductor layer, penetrating a portion of the second doped well region.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to integrated circuit (IC) devices, and particularly to a semiconductor device suitable for application in high-voltage operation and a method for fabricating the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recently, as fabrication techniques for semiconductor integrated circuits (ICs) develop, the demands on elements such as controllers, memory, low-voltage operation circuits and high-voltage operation circuits formed over a single chip are also increasing to form a single-chip system with increased integration.
In a single-chip system, a high-voltage device such as an insulated gate bipolar transistor (IGBT) is usually used to improve the power conversion efficiency and reduce electricity loss. The IGBT has the advantages of, for example, high current gain, high operating voltage, and low on-state resistance, and is useful in high-voltage operation applications.
However, with the ongoing trend of size reduction of the single-chip system, an IGBT is needed to comply with the trend of size reduction and maintain predetermined or increased current densities and on-state resistances.

Semiconductor device and method for fabricating the same

VANGUARD INTERNATIONAL SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION


An earth-boring bit has a bit body with at least one bearing shaft depending inwardly and downwardly therefrom. A cutter is mounted for rotation on each bearing shaft and has a cutter shell surface and a plurality of cutting elements arranged on the shell surface in generally circumferential rows. At least one row of cutting elements includes at least one reduced-projection cutting element disposed between adjacent cutting elements. The row with the reduced-projection element is an inner row, but may include heel rows as well.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to earth-boring bits of the rolling cutter variety. More specifically, the present invention relates to the cutting structure of earth-boring bits of the rolling cutter for mining applications, principally drilling blast holes for recovery of minerals.
2. Background Information
Prior to the advent of the rolling-cone earth-boring bit, bores and boreholes in earthen formations typically were formed with a cable tool or a fixed-cutter drag bit. These early bits were little more than chisels forced into the earth by various means. By comparison the, original rolling-cone rock bit invented by Howard R. Hughes, U.S. Pat. No. 939,759, drilled the hard caprock at the Spindletop field near Beaumont, Tex. with relative ease. This rolling-cone bit was a near-essential part of the drilling and production of oil and gas wells that has propelled the energy industry.
Earth-boring or rock bits of the rolling-cutter variety are also useful in penetrating earthen formations for purposes other than the production of petroleum. These applications generally are referred to as "mining" applications. A principal mining application for mining bits is the drilling of blast holes. Blast holes are relatively shallow (compared to those drilled for production of petroleum) holes in the earth that are used for a variety of purposes, but primarily to insert explosives into the earth for opening subterranean mine cavities.
Rock bits employed in drilling for petroleum generally are run until they are effectively destroyed. Rock bits employed in mining applications generally are not, and may be used to bore or drill more than one hole. Generally, the equipment employed in oil and gas well drilling is more expensive and more expensive to operate than that used in mining operations. Thus, there is a perception that the operational life of a rolling-cone rock bit employed in petroleum drilling applications is a more critical factor than the life of a rock bit employed in mining applications.
Nevertheless, the basic measure of the performance of a rolling-cone rock bit, whether for mining or petroleum drilling applications, is its rate of penetration of earthen formations. A bit that has a long operational life, but drills slowly, has a poor penetration rate, as does a bit that drills quickly, but has a short operational life. Thus, penetration rate measures both the durability and the drilling efficiency of a rock bit.
Many factors affect the penetration rate of a rock bit. One of these factors is the bit's cutting structure, which includes the configuration and arrangement of cutting elements or teeth on the cutters of the bit. For example, bits having steel teeth, milled or formed from the material of the cutter, have generally good toughness and sharpness and are thus useful in drilling relatively soft formations such as clays, shales, soft sandstones and limestones.
For increased durability, the cutting elements are also formed of hard metal inserts or compacts, usually sintered tungsten carbide, which are interference fit or otherwise secured into apertures in the cutter. These carbide cutting elements are more blunt and have lower projections than steel teeth, and thus are adapted for drilling harder formations such as metal ores and igneous rocks.
Even when soft formations are expected, the bit will almost surely encounter hard formation streaks. The cutting structure of a relatively long and sharp-toothed bit can be seriously damaged or destroyed when hard streaks are encountered for any significant period of time. Such damage can adversely affect the penetration rate of the bit even when it encounters soft formations again. Bits having blunter, more durable cutting structures can be used where hard streaks are expected, but the loss of penetration rate through soft material can be significant and adverse.
In addition to the composition of the cutting elements, their individual configurations and arrangement on each cutter can influence the penetration rate of a bit in different types of formation and combination of formations. There is a near-constant need for improvements to the cutting structure of earth-boring bits, for both mining and petroleum drilling applications.

Rolling-cutter mining bit with relatively soft formation cutting structure


A device for containing and delivering a payload from a container which has a closed end and an open end and at least one side wall extending between the closed end and open end, a lid secured to the open end having an orifice, a closure tab pivotally connected to the lid and closing the orifice, and an actuating member pivotally secured to the lid and being manually actuated for moving the closure tab into the interior of the container to open the orifice. The device includes a capsule disposed within the container for containing the payload. The device also includes a support structure disposed within the container and contacting the closed end, the device being held under compression solely between the closed end and the lid in response to a compressive force against the support structure by the container for securing alignment of the capsule with the orifice of the lid. The device further includes a guide on the support structure cooperating with the capsule for guiding the capsule to extend the payload through the orifice when the closure tab is deflected into the interior of the container to open the orifice.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to containers and, in particular, to a device for containing and delivering a payload from a container upon opening of the container.
2. Description of the Related Art
Previously, various devices have been proposed for incorporating payloads such as prizes in containers and for maintaining these prizes in positional alignment with orifices of the containers to insure that the prizes are available to a consumer when the containers are opened. U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,911,320, 5,056,659, and 5,099,232 issued to Howes describe various devices for containing and delivering prizes or prize announcements from a liquid container. However, one disadvantage of these patented devices is that they require special attachment to a non-standard container lid which results in complexity, expense, and possible premature detection. Another disadvantage of these patented devices is that they preclude the delivery of the actual liquid product which the consumer is attempting to purchase.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,482,158 issued to Plester describes a prize delivery device which is adapted to a standard beverage can and which enables some or possibly all of the actual liquid product to be dispensed from the beverage can. To maintain alignment with the can lid's orifice, however, portions of the device must be expanded outwardly against the interior surfaces of the can side walls.
One disadvantage of the above patented prize delivery device is that the effectiveness in maintaining alignment depends on the device's ability to firmly grip the interior surfaces of the can's side walls which are smooth and cylindrical and have no protrusions or recesses to mechanically lock the device in position. During the can lid-sealing process, during transport to the point of sale and when rolling along the guide channels of a vending machine or in-store refrigeration case, the can is subjected to gravitational, centrifugal, and vibratory forces which may overcome the prize delivery device's grip of the smooth interior can surfaces and thus cause the device to rotate out of its preset alignment with the orifice. Once out of alignment, the prize may not be noticeable when the consumer opens the can, or it may impede the flow of the liquid product out of the can.
Another disadvantage of this patented prize delivery device exists if the device is manufactured from materials like plastic whose coefficients of thermal contraction are greater than those of the standard aluminum or steel materials currently used for the cans. Hence, the pressure against the can's interior side walls exerted by the expandable portions of the device will lessen whenever the can is chilled--thereby increasing the risk of the device becoming misaligned to the orifice.
Yet another disadvantage of this patented prize delivery device exists when capillary forces in the liquid near the grips of the device and the interior side walls of the can change during aging and/or normal temperature cycling of the liquid product, and thereby weaken the adhesion strength of the grips against the interior side walls of the can.
A further disadvantage of this patented prize delivery device exists because its presence may be detectable by consumers prior to opening the can. The movable portions of the device are not latched or otherwise secured against motion prior to the opening of the can. Therefore, a consumer who inverts or shakes the can may detect the presence of the device by an audible sound it produces as its moving vial or vial-flange collides with other portions of the device. Detection is further risked because the device expands outwardly against the can side walls which are thin and may therefore enable the consumer to detect the device inside by squeezing the side walls from the exterior or by tapping the sidewalls and listening for a damped, less resonant sound than that produced by tapping a non-prize bearing can.
Yet a further disadvantage of this patented prize delivery device results from a flange and protrusion which are attached to its prize-holding vial. In the event the vial is assembled in an inverted position, the device will neither deliver the prize nor permit the consumer to fully open the can.
Still a further disadvantage of this patented prize delivery device results from its prize holding vial being unsecured. When the can is opened and its closure tab is deflected downward into the can interior, the closure tab must push a buoyant, freely-bobbing prizeholding vial downward in order for the tab to complete its arc of travel and end at a point which does not obstruct the upward buoyant travel of the vial. Because the vial is not secured, it is constantly bobbing against the sharp edges of the traveling closure tab which may result in its becoming wedged against the closure tab in which case the closure tab would not fully open and the vial would not float out through the orifice in the top of the can.
Additional disadvantages of this patented prize delivery device exist in the total number of component parts of the device, in the resulting complexity of the components and of their assembly method, in the narrow manufacturing tolerances required, and in the device's volumetric displacement which may prohibit the can from being filled with its normal amount of liquid.

Device for containing and delivering a payload from a container


A loop flushing circuit in a closed circuit hydraulic system has a variable displacement hydraulic pump that is fluidly connected to a hydraulic motor. The flushing flow in the closed circuit is controlled by an electronically proportional flow control valve. The electronically proportional flow control valve is controlled by a control that ensures that the control valve being used is connected to a low pressure side of the closed loop flushing circuit.

This invention relates to an electrical loop flushing system for a closed circuit hydraulic transition. More specifically, and without limitation, this invention relates to an electrical loop flushing system that utilizes an electrically proportional flow control valve to regulate the flushing flow of a closed loop circuit of a hydraulic transmission.
In the art of hydraulics, oil is pumped by mechanical hydraulic pumps for the purpose of causing a hydraulic motor to revolve, a hydraulic cylinder to extend, or for other useful purposes. A common aspect of many tractors, earthmoving machines, and the like is a hydrostatic transmission. In its most basic form a hydrostatic transmission consists of a hydrostatic pump which is normally driven by an internal combustion engine, and provides a source of pressurized oil flow which causes one of more hydrostatic motors to rotate. The rotation of these one or more hydrostatic motors will cause the machine to travel forward or reverse as commanded by the driver of the machine.
Many hydrostatic transmissions operate in what is known as a closed loop system. In a closed loop system, pressurized oil from a pump is piped directly (or through valving) into a motor. Oil returning from the motor to the pump is also piped directly from the motor to the pump. This system is known as closed circuit because hydraulic fluid (i.e. hydraulic oil) normally circulates in a closed path between the pump and the motor without passing into a fluid reservoir on each pass.
This closed loop system is differentiated from an open loop circuit where a pump would draw hydraulic fluid from a fluid reservoir, the fluid is piped to the motor, and then the return fluid from the motor is piped back into a fluid reservoir.
Even on a closed loop system, a small reservoir and a charge pump will be used to collect the small amount of fluid which leaks out of the loop and to replace that flow so that the closed loop remains full of fluid at all times.
The technical and economic advantages of the closed loop circuit are advantageous in many applications. These advantages are well known in the industry and are therefore not further disclosed here. Two disadvantages of the closed loop circuit are also well know in the industry and must be overcome.
First, the hydraulic fluid in the closed loop is not normally run through a filter on each pass through the loop. While manufacturers of hydraulic fluids and hydraulic hardware go to lengths to produce products which are as free as possible of particulate contaminants, the operation of hydraulic machinery may cause a small amount of fine metallic particles to result from wear and to become entrained in the hydraulic fluid. Due to this undesired contamination, it is therefore desirable to slowly remove hydraulic fluid from the closed loop and to replace this oil with cleaned oil. By allowing a portion of the oil from the closed loop to pass through a particle filter, the purity of oil in the closed loop is maintained at a satisfactory level. This controlled leak is known as "loop flushing flow".
Second, when a hydrostatic transmission is operated under heavy loads for an extended period of time, it is possible for the oil which is pumped in the closed loop to become heated to an extent which may not be desirable. This heating occurs due to friction and other processes. Hydraulic fluid may degrade more quickly when maintained at excessive temperatures, thus requiring premature replacement of the hydraulic fluid. At elevated temperatures, hydraulic fluid may loose certain lubricating properties, thus failing to prevent damaging wear to the hydraulic machinery. In order to remove this heated oil from the closed loop, a "controlled leak" or loop-flushing system is employed to remove fluid from the circuit. This oil is then cooled and replaced back through the charge circuit.
For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,430,923 to Meier discloses an electrical loop flushing system in a closed loop hydraulic motor. The '923 device teaches the use of a single non-proportional electrical valve to control loop flushing flow. Because a non-proportional electrical valve is used, an operator is unable to intelligently select the loop flushing flow. Because the '923 device is unable to intelligently select the loop flushing flow, under certain conditions the closed loop will perform inefficiently compared to the present invention. Therefore, the present invention is considered an improvement over the '923 device.
Other prior art discloses closed loop flushing systems. Usually the flushing system uses a shuttle valve that is connected to both the high pressure and low pressure fluid paths on a closed loop hydrostatic system. The shuttle valve is configured to select the lower pressure line of the two hydraulic system pressure lines in the closed loop system. The shuttle valve is further connected to an orifice, or to a pressure relief valve, or to some combination of both. This relief valve serves to relieve loop charge pressure and to control the release of hydraulic fluid from the loop.
While this system does function effectively, several deficiencies are present. For example, when the shuttle valve shifts from selecting one pressure line to selecting the other pressure line, a small amount of oil is instantaneously removed from the closed loop. This condition happens whenever a vehicle changes its driving direction. This condition also occurs whenever a vehicle transitions from uphill driving to downhill driving or vise versa. The charge system must be sized to rapidly replace the sudden loss of a small amount of hydraulic fluid.
Current flushing flow systems that use a shuttle valve are expensive to make and maintain. A shuttle valve is a costly precision machined device which is susceptible to malfunction due to particle contamination. Because of this precision and the fact shuttle valves are apt to malfunction, the cost of the shuttle valve and replacing it can be substantial. Furthermore, under certain operating conditions the loop flushing flow will be greater than desired; therefore, a larger charge pump is required for these operating conditions. This larger charge pump is more expensive to make or purchase.
Besides costs, another problem with current loop flushing systems that incorporate a shuttle valve and a relief valve is that they cannot be intelligently controlled. Because the system is not intelligently controlled, the loop flushing action occurs whenever the transmission is operational. Therefore, a loop flushing system must be seized to flush an adequate flow of hydraulic fluid under the worst case operating condition. Consequently, the volume of loop flushing flow will therefore always be as high as the flow required under the most severe operating conditions. Because the loop flushing flow is higher than desired under certain operating conditions, a larger charge pump is required which will consume more energy and result in increased system energy losses.
When a machine which includes a closed loop fluid circuit and a charge pump is operating at low engine speed, the charge pump will also pump a small flow of hydraulic fluid. This property limits the lowest engine speed at which the machine can operate, requires an enlarged charge pump, and possibly leads to a risk that the closed loop circuit may not remain completely full of fluid.
Loop flushing flow also causes energy and system efficiency loss. Because the fluid in the loop is pressurized, loop flushing flow causes a loss or waste of hydraulic energy. This loss ultimately requires more power from the internal combustion engine and higher fuel consumption than would be otherwise required. Use of a modulated loop flushing flow would limit this power loss to the lowest necessary loss.
All of these issues are avoided when the loop flushing flow is intelligently controlled and modulated as operating conditions dictate. Because the loop flushing flow is intelligently controlled as required, and stopped completely when required by conditions like a low engine speed, the hydraulic transmission becomes more efficient. For example, when the engine is running at low speed, the machine is normally not doing significant work, therefore little heat and contaminants are generated, thus the need for loop flushing is minimal. By intelligently controlling the loop flushing at a minimal level much inefficiency is avoided.
Thus, it is a primary object that the present invention to provide an electrical loop flushing system that improves upon the state of the art.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an electrical loop flushing system that can be intelligently controlled.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an inexpensive device that controls loop flushing flow.
Another object of the present invention is to reduce the size of a charge pump needed in a closed circuit hydrostatic transmission.
Yet another object of the present invention is to utilize an electrical proportional control valve to control loop flushing flow.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a device that will more efficiently remove fluid from a closed loop hydraulic circuit than in the prior art.
These and other objects, features, or advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the specification and claims.


A multi-coil antenna array constructed with a tuned transformer to null mutual inductance. First and second antenna coil halves are displaced longitudinally on opposite sides of a pathway along which ID tags pass, for example, a chute assembly. The planar coils are displaced at a selected angular orientation and driven with inputs having a 90° phase differential to create an intermediate vertical field with a vertical axis of rotation. Identification data stored in tags attached to animate or inanimate objects passing through the field is interrogated, such as data identifying people, animals, inventory or any other parameters of interest.

The present invention relates to identification tag readers and, in particular, to an antenna array having a rotating field around a vertical axis perpendicularly aligned to the travel path of an ID tag passing through the field to assure data capture.
A problem associated with RFID technology is that with any reader-tag combination various orientations of a tag relative to a reader antenna exist in which there is no communication between the tag and the reader. The missing data and ensuing errors are not readily compensated without performing redundant read operations. Inanimate tagged objects can be positioned to avoid the problem. However, tagged people, animals or objects having random orientations can pass through a reader magnetic field without being identified where the pattern of the reader field and the orientation of the tag provide marginal field coupling.
An illustrative example of the latter circumstance might occur with a cow passing through a reader station located in an "alleyway" or chute. The antennas used with this type of reader often consist of two vertical panels mounted parallel to each other about 3 feet apart. Each panel contains a large air coil. The coils are driven such that the individual fields are either opposing or enhancing. In either case, a cow can pass through the magnetic field established by the antennas with its tag oriented such that it cannot be detected.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,307,468 teaches the use of antenna coils mounted in such a way that the antenna coils do not exhibit a mutual inductance (i.e. a coupling of their respective fields). In particular, the antenna coils are driven with currents differing in phase by 90°. Fewer non-functional reader-tag orientations are thereby obtained.
A common construction of the foregoing antenna is to vertically mount one coil inside another with the planes of the coils positioned 90° apart. Such a configuration and drive results in a magnetic field inside the coil structure that appears to rotate within the coils, with the axis of rotation aligned to the intersection of the two coil planes. A tag passing through the field in any orientation except horizontal (i.e. perpendicular to the axis of rotation) can be read. In the case of ear tags on cows, the horizontal tag orientation is a very unlikely orientation.
A disadvantage of the foregoing crossed coil reader antenna is that the physical antenna coils include a wireway or conduit that mounts over the top and across the bottom of the walkway containing the coils, thus presenting an open-ended tubular alleyway. The conduit containing the antenna coils occupies four sides of a six sided cube space, which makes it difficult or impractical to implement and use. It can cause animals to balk at passing the antenna, which can interfere with the handling of the animals, particularly by riders on horseback.
The subject antenna and reader was therefore constructed to provide an antenna array with a rotating field between the coils of two antennas with no mutual inductance apparent between the coils. The elimination of mutual inductance is difficult to obtain in practice. The subject antenna constructions, however, provide coils that can be mounted in non-ideal arrangements with the mutual inductance between them being compensated or nulled by an external means. More convenient physical arrangements of the antennas are thereby made possible, including arrangements that allow open top alleyways.


An auxiliary dust collection system can be interposed between a sander or other dust producing tool and a vacuum source, e.g., shop vacuum. A cyclonic separator is connected by a flexible hose to the tool and by another hose to the vacuum source. The cone of the separator is mounted onto the lid of a drum into which the dust precipitates. For a tool that has its own blower, the vacuum source can be omitted, and the air leaving the outlet duct of the separator can be filtered and returned to the ambient. A drop in silencer formed of a sleeve or tube of acoustic foam can be positioned into the inlet side of a filter cartridge following a cyclonic separator. The silencer absorbs a significant fraction of the process noise. The acoustic foam can have a textured surface on the sound-facing side.

This invention is directed to devices and equipment for collecting bulk solids, for example, process dust coming from a dust generating tool, such as a sanding machine, where the dust is entrained in a flow of air from the source machine, and is separated out at the dust collection equipment where the dust precipitates into a drum, barrel, or similar container. The invention is more specifically directed to a compact and efficient device to be used between a tool and a vacuum source, e.g., shop vacuum, to separate and collect the dust from the airstream emerging from the tool before the air stream reaches the vacuum source. The invention is likewise concerned with a simple and straightforward dust separation assembly that can be associated with a tool that has a duct from with the air stream plus entrained dust particles proceed.
The invention is also concerned with a simple and straightforward silencer device that can be dropped in to the cylindrical filter of a cyclonic dust collection system to reduce the equipment noise by 3 to 8 dB.
For many types of machines for processing a workpiece, some means has to be provided to dispense with the grindings, chips, and particulate matter that is generated by the machine during operation. For example, in the case of wood working machines, such as sanders, joiners, and the like, wood that is removed from a workpiece has to be collected and removed from the work area so as to avoid either a breathing hazard for the workman or a fire hazard. More specifically, in the case of portable equipment, sanders and buffers, it is conventional to draw off the dust that is generated by the machines and then send the air that is carrying the dust into a filter bag arrangement, or to draw off the dust through a flexible hose or conduit. In such case, the conduit or hose extends from a dust outlet duct of the machine to a collection station. In the case of smaller equipment, e.g., palm sanders or trim sanders, the stream of air is pumped through a flexible hose conduit, with the entrained process dust, to a piece of equipment that provides suction and some filtering, e.g., a shop vacuum. This arrangement requires that the shop vacuum be cleaned and emptied regularly, to keep the wood dust from clogging the machine.
It has sometimes been desirable to collect bulk solids (e.g., dust) directly inside a drum or barrel, or in a plastic bag or liner in the drum.
An example of a cyclonic dust collection system is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,833,016, which is incorporated herein by reference. In the dust collection station described therein, the air flow and entrained process dust are drawn through a cyclone separator disposed atop a storage drum or barrel. The process dust falls into a durable plastic film bag or liner in the barrel, and the air then proceeds to a pumping and filtering arrangement, where the dust-free air is discharged back into the ambient environment. Means can be included to maintain a vacuum or negative pressure as a bag hold-down feature, to draw and hold the bag against the inside of the barrel. Then, when the bag has been filled to its capacity, the bag can be tied off and lifted out, which eliminates the need to dump the barrel. This also avoids exposure to the operators of the process dust when the collected dust is removed from the barrel for disposal.
In practice, no one has attempted to use a true cyclonic separator as an intermediate dust separation and collection device between the dust producing tool and the shop vacuum or other source of suction that accepts the dust and air stream from the tool. One proposed auxiliary dust collection receptacle, to be situated between a dust producing tool and a shop vacuum cleaner, is described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,027,541 to Siemers. In that proposed arrangement, a special lid is provided for a conventional plastic trash can. The lid has inlet and outlet sockets for hoses, one coming from the dust producing tool and the other going to the shop vacuum. The air flow is intended to produce a cyclonic air movement, with the dust precipitating from the air flow in the trash can. This arrangement is only mildly effective, as only about 50 percent of the airborne dust is separated out, with the remaining 50 percent continuing to the shop vacuum. Also, because the trash can itself is both the vortex chamber and the dust collection chamber, there is a low limit to the amount of dust that can be collected; at or above a partial fill level, the air stream picks up as much dust in the trash can as it drops.
This arrangement also does nothing to reduce the level of process noise from operation of the dust collection equipment.


A device for manufacturing a multilayered tube formed of paper webs that are provided with transverse perforations at identical distances, wherein sections of the tube are torn off in order to manufacture paper bags, includes at least one perforating knife that is arranged in the machine frame and fastened to a rotating shaft. The perforating knife provides the paper webs with transverse perforations, and the radial distance between the perforating knife and the shaft may be altered so as to adjust the format of the bags. In addition, the device includes transverse gluing cylinders that are arranged in the machine frame, which are provided with transverse gluing bars and which cooperate with devices for applying glue. Also included is a longitudinal gluing roller that applies glue which forms a longitudinal adhesive seam onto the edges of the paper webs which are laterally offset with respect to one another and guided together via guide rollers before the paper webs are folded into a tube. In order to make it possible to reequip the device in a simple and rapid fashion such that tube sections of different lengths may be manufactured, four carriers for perforating knives that may be selectively fastened onto the carriers are arranged on the shaft at identical angular distances. The carriers are provided with devices for adjusting their radial distance from each shaft.

Paper bags, e.g., for packaging cement or other powdered or granular materials of high solidity, are manufactured of multilayered tube sections, the individual layers of which are glued together at their edges during the formation of the tube, wherein the individual layers lie on top of one another at the ends of the paper bags such that their cut edges are aligned (straight cut) or preferably only overlap one another in a partially staggered formation, so that the layers are also glued together individually during the formation of the base of the bag.
Rational machine requirements make it necessary that the equipment be able to manufacture tube sections of different formats with a staggered arrangement of the individual paper layers. In order to realize this desired variability of the format in so-called "tube machines," the distances between the transverse perforations that determine the length of the tube sections must be altered in the individual paper layers, and it must also be possible to correspondingly adapt the distances between the transversely extending transverse gluing strips.
Although it is inconsequential if certain differences exist between the circumferential speed of the transverse gluing bars and the moving speed of the paper web such that certain smearing of the applied glue occurs due to the relative speed, such differences between the circumferential speed of the perforating knives and the moving speed of the paper webs cannot be accepted because these relative speeds may lead to tearing of the transverse perforations and consequently a separation of the paper web.
In order to make it possible to provide paper webs in tube machines with transverse perforations at different distances, it is known to drive the rotating perforating knives via transmissions with varying velocity ratio in such a way that the paper web is advanced at a speed that differs from the circumferential speed of the perforating knife within the region in which the perforating knife is not in contact with the paper web, while the circumferential speed of the perforating knife essentially is identical to the moving speed of the paper web at the time at which the perforating knife comes in contact with the paper web. Such transmissions with varying velocity ratio include slider crank gears which, due to their nonuniformity, are exposed to rapid accelerations and decelerations during their revolutions, so that, due to the resulting inertial forces, the machine operates with less power in order to maintain the inertial forces created within permissible limits.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,013,086 discloses a tube machine of the initially mentioned type in which the perforating knives that produce the transverse perforations are fastened onto arms that may be adjusted relative to the shafts carrying the perforation knives in the radial direction. These radially adjustable perforating knives may be continuously driven at the same circumferential speed as the moving speed of the paper webs by correspondingly altering the axial distances between the shafts carrying the perforating knives, so that no nonuniformities that could limit the operating speed of the tube machine due to the inertial forces are present in the drive unit. However, the adjustment of different formats in this known machine is limited due to the fact that, when reducing the distance between the transverse perforations, the arms carrying the perforating knives can only be adjusted radially inward to such an extent that their outer ends that protrude beyond the shafts do not come into contact with the paper web and damage it. Consequently, this known tube machine only allows a variability in the format to such an extent that the largest lengths are approximately twice as large as the smallest lengths because otherwise the ends of the arms that are equipped with the perforating tool would come into contact with the passing paper webs if the distances between the perforations would be reduced additionally. Consequently, this known tube machine does not fulfill today's demands for a variable format because it is required to manufacture tube sections, the smallest lengths of which approximately correspond to one-sixth to one-eighth of the largest length.

Device for manufacturing a multilayered tube for the manufacture of paper bags


A method and apparatus useful for disposing of the high volumes of produced water associated with coal bed methane natural gas wells. The method taught is to create steam from the produced water and vent the steam into the atmosphere. The apparatus taught utilizes available heat energy sources to produce heat for enhancing water evaporation rates and may incorporate a pre-heater system and/or a mineral separation system.

The present invention is related generally to methods of disposing of wellhead water separated from the production flow of gaseous hydrocarbons flowing out of a producing well. The present invention is further related generally to apparatus useful in methods of disposing of wellhead water which has been separated from the production flow of gaseous hydrocarbons flowing out of a producing natural gas well. More specifically, the present invention is related to devices and apparatus which create and discharge into the atmosphere steam created from the heating of fresh water separated from the flow of gaseous hydrocarbons available at the output of a natural gas producing well.
Many gaseous hydrocarbon producing wells lift large quantities of water along with the gaseous hydrocarbons from the well. Particularly this is true in the gas fields of Wyoming. This wellhead water is troublesome in that it must be separated from the gaseous hydrocarbons being produced and it must be disposed of in an environmentally friendly fashion.
There are several prior art methods of disposing of the fresh water pumped from the collection pond. One method used very often is to pump the water back into a disposal well. Disposal wells are attempts to put the fresh water pumped from the collection pond back into the geologic structure from whence it came. The gaseous hydrocarbon production wells in Wyoming are shallow wells, usually 300 to 1500 foot deep. The disposal well is typically deeper and of greater bore than a gaseous hydrocarbon production well. Several gaseous hydrocarbon production wells are usually served by a single disposal well.
Another method of disposing of the water pumped from the collection pond is to simply pump the water into a groundwater runoff region wince it can flow in a stream merging with natural water flows in the region and area of the producing wells.
Yet another method of disposing of the water pumped from the collection pond is to pump the water into an additional storage pond, either natural or artificial, where the water can be allowed to evaporate into the atmosphere.
A fourth prior art method of disposing of the water pumped from the collection pond is to spread the water over the surface of the surrounding land in a form of irrigation. This dispersion of the water over the surface of the surrounding land relies upon the rate of evaporation of the water from the surface of the land for the rate at which the water which can be disposed of. Additionally, various methods of treating the water being dispersed or of treating the land onto which the water is being dispersed are known to improve the rate of water disposal through irrigation techniques.
The instant invention is of a method of disposing of the water from a collection pond or storage tank by creation of steam and discharge of the steam into the atmosphere and of the apparatus utilized to create that steam and discharge it into the atmosphere.
Numerous boilers and steam generating apparatus are taught by the prior art. All of such boilers and steam generating apparatus are deficient in one or more particulars for the task accomplished by the instant invention.
There are several problems with the prior art relative to devices and apparatus to generate steam, relative to use in a method of disposing of the water from the collection pond by creation of steam and discharge of the steam into the atmosphere. In particular, it is noted that the apparatus of the prior art is directed toward more efficient steam generation, toward creation of maximum energy steam at the lowest cost in heat energy and water feed. The apparatus of the instant invention is not an efficient generator of steam energy. The apparatus of the instant invention discharges spent steam into the atmosphere. The goal of the instant invention is to discharge the greatest possible quantity of moisture, in the form of steam, into the atmosphere. The instant invention is deliberately inefficient in its use of water to create steam. The more water used, the better.
The are also several problems with the prior art methods of disposing of the fresh water pumped from the collection pond of a producing gaseous hydrocarbon well into disposal wells.
The problems encountered with disposal wells arise because these wells are injection wells, operated under high pressure and thus such wells are different in kind from the wells in the field of gaseous hydrocarbon wells that produce the fresh water that needs to be disposed of. Usually, therefore, the disposal wells are not located in the same geology as are the producing wells. Transport of the produced fresh water to the disposal wells becomes a problem, an insurmountable economic problem if it is necessary to utilize trucks to transport the fresh water to the site of the disposal wells. This is the case in the Powder River Basin field of gaseous hydrocarbon wells in Wyoming.
The problems encountered with pumping the produced freshwater into a groundwater runoff region is that the produced freshwater sometimes carries substantial quantities of mineral impurities which can act to poison the groundwater and therefore this method of disposal has been banned in most jurisdictions in the United States.
The problems encountered with the utilization of additional water storage tanks, either natural or artificial, is that actual disposal of the fresh water produced depends on the rate of evaporation from the additional water storage tanks. This rate of evaporation acts as a cap on the rate of production of gaseous hydrocarbons from the wells, an economically unacceptable cap.
The problems encountered with use of irrigation as a method of disposal of produced fresh water primarily are created by the local geography in the Wyoming gas fields. In those fields, and areas adjoining the fields, there is a layer of clay at or near the surface of the soil. The clay precludes absorption of the fresh water into the ground at any meaningful rate. This method is used commonly, but its success is limited to the rate of evaporation of the produced fresh water into the atmosphere that, as above-mentioned, is an unacceptable economic cap on the production from the wells.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

General method for disposal of produced water


In an exemplary method, a computer-implemented media service system provides a graphical user interface view associated with a first functional area of the media service for display on a display screen, detects a peek request input while the graphical user interface view is displayed, and provides, in response to the peek request input and for display with the graphical user interface view, an activity indicator indicating a tracked activity associated with the second functional area of the media service. Corresponding systems and methods are also described.

There are diverse ways for people to find and consume media programs. For example, a person wanting to watch a media program such as a movie may utilize a video distribution service such as a video rental or purchase service ("video service") to find, access, and watch a movie. The video distribution service may allow the person to rent or purchase a physical copy of the movie from a local video store or video vending kiosk, or to rent or purchase a digital copy of the movie through an online video service, which may stream or download the digital copy of the movie to a user computing device for playback to the user.
Such a video distribution service typically provides service features for use by an end user of the video distribution service to discover, access, and consume video programs. While a conventional video distribution service provides useful features, there remains room for new and/or improved features that may further benefit users of the service, a provider of the service, and/or third parties such as content providers and/or advertisers.

Systems and methods of providing user interface features for a media service

Verizon and Redbox Digital Entertainment Services, LLC


An information processing apparatus comprising that includes a reproduction unit to reproduce video content comprising a plurality of frames; a memory to store a table including object identification information identifying an object image, and frame identification information identifying a frame of the plurality of frames that includes the object image; and a processor to extract the frame including the object image from the video content and generate display data of a reduced image corresponding to the frame for display.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a content information processing device, a content information processing method, a content information processing program, and a personal digital assistant, which play at least content information to be played along a time axis such as with a moving image, for example.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, there have come into wide-spread use content information processing devices which include a large-capacity storage device, play various types of content information, for example, such as a moving image stored in the storage device.
Also, for example, with Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2008-98726 (FIG. 2), an audio-visual device has been described wherein information indicating content features corresponding to a content playback position is obtained, and a progress bar to which the feature information thereof is added is displayed according to a content playback position. According to the technique described in the present patent publication, information used for telling what is in a content is displayed within one screen in a compact manner, whereby a user can readily tell what is in the content, and can select a desired content. In particular, according to the technique described in the present patent publication, for example, characteristic pictures within content are displayed by being arrayed in a primary relation, whereby the user can tell the playback positions of these pictures within the content in a list form.
Also, with Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2008-17041 (FIG. 13), a moving image content playback device has been described wherein, for each frame, a plurality of information relating to a face image portion which appears within the frame thereof are correlated, and when a user selects a desired face image portion, a small image of a scene where the face image portion thereof appears is displayed. This moving image content playback device described therein is configured so as to present, to the user, persons in a moving content, and the positions thereof, in a suitable and understandable manner.
Also, with Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2001-211408 (FIG. 24), an image playback device and so forth have been described wherein at the time of a fast forward mode, multiple thumbnails are displayed at the bottom of a screen, and also a playback bar is displayed. With the image playback device described therein, a fast forward function can be realized wherein a desired image can be searched out of a great number of recorded images over a short amount of time.

Content information processing device and method for displaying identified object images within video content


To provide a method for optimizing the optical output from an optical head when recording data onto an optical disk, each time a suspension of data recording onto the disk is determined, the optical head reads data recorded onto the disk before the suspension, and recording state of this data is judged. Based on the judged recording state, the optical output from the optical head to be emitted when resuming the data recording is controlled. A timing at which to suspend data recording can be desirably set, so that the recording state of the recorded data in the disk can be judged at desirable timing in data recording operation, so that the optical output from the optical head is controlled based on the judged recording state.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an optical disk recording apparatus recording data onto a disk using an optical beam emitted from an optical head. In particular, the present invention relates to an optical disk recording apparatus which records data onto a disk while correcting an optical output from an optical head according to the variation of recording sensitivity of the disk.
2. Description of the Related Art
CD-R (recordable) drives and CD-RW (rewritable) drives are conventionally well known optical disk recording apparatuses recording digital data onto a disk using an optical beam from an optical head. Both relate to types of CD (compact disk) technology.
Disks for use in recording with such optical disk recording apparatuses may differ from one another in recording sensitivity, depending on composition or manufacturer. Even among the products manufactured by the same manufacture, they may differ in recording sensitivity due to manufacturing variation. Even in a single disk, different portions may have different sensitivities.
In data recording, an optical output emitted from the optical head of such an optical disk recording apparatus is set at an optimum level for the data recording.
The optimum recording level is determined so as to compensate for variations in recording sensitivity among disks.
The setting of the optical output at the optimum recording level is achieved through trial writing onto a calibration area while stepwisely changing the level of the optical output, the calibration area being preserved in a disk separately from a program area for use in actual data writing.
In addition, the reflection level of a recording pulse is determined during data recording operation, and the optical output is corrected according to the determined reflection level, so that the resultant optical output is set at the recording level optimum for actual data recording.
However, these methods for setting an optical output at the optimum recording level cannot always set the optical output at a true optimum recording level because the methods do not actually judge the recording state of the data recorded in the disk. Moreover, where increase of a recording speed of an optical disk recording apparatus has recently been attempted, advancement of the increase results in narrowing the width of a recording pulse, making it difficult to determine the reflection level of a recording pulse. As a result, it becomes difficult to correct the optical output at the optimum recording level in actual data recording operation.

Optical head optical output setting method and optical disk recording apparatus


A communication terminal device performs communication based on a communication protocol defined so that first identification information assigned to the device is transmitted to and received from a communication party. The device includes an identification information generating section for detecting, based on information unique to the device, second identification information different from the first identification information, a storage section for storing a table representing a correspondence between the generated second identification information and the type of the device, and a control section for controlling the storage section so that communication with the communication party is established based on the table. The control section transmits the second identification information and type of the device to unspecified destinations with predetermined timing, and updates the table based on second identification information and type of the communication party which are sent back as a response from the communication party.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to communication terminal devices and communication methods, and in particular, to a communication terminal device and communication method suitable for use in communication based on, for example, TCP/IP (Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol).
2. Description of the Related Art
Communication protocols of the related art for use in TCP/IP communication include a protocol called "UPnP (Universal Plug and Play)" (see, for example, UPnP Forum, [online], the Internet searched on Jul. 2, 2004 for the URL, http://www.upnp.org).
UPnP enables not only automatic mutual detection of devices on a network but also recognition of the configuration and function of each device. In UPnP, based on the result of the recognition, communication can be controlled so that an operating device can stop supplying power to an operated device.

Communication terminal device and communication method


Disclosed herein is an information processing apparatus configured to classify time-series input data into N classes, including, a time-series feature quantity extracting section, N calculating sections, and a determination section.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus, an information processing method, an a program and, more particularly, to an information processing apparatus, an information processing method, and a program that are suitably for use in the identification of video contents of video data represented by television programs, for example.
2. Description of the Related Art
For example, methods are proposed for identifying the video contents in order to automatically generate digests of television programs and automatically extract highlight scenes.
The video contents of time-series video data of television programs for example are identified by a method that uses one of probabilistic models, or HMM (Hidden Markov Model) that is able to use time-series data as a target of processing (refer to "Automatic Indexing for Baseball Broadcast based on Hidden Markov Model," Image Recognition and Understanding Symposium (MIRU2005), July 2005 by Nguyen Huu Back, Koichi Shinoda, Sada Furui, hereinafter referred to as Non-Patent Document 1 for example)
Non-Patent Document 1 describes a method of identifying the video contents of baseball live coverage by use of HMM. To be specific, the HMMs corresponding to the video contents (for example, pitching scene, homerun scene, infield grounder scene, walking scene, strikeout scene, and so on) of a baseball live coverage are generated by learning in advance and the video data of a baseball live coverage is supplied to each learned HMM, thereby recognizing a scene corresponding to the HMM having a largest output likelihood value, as the video contents of the baseball live coverage.
Each HMM outputs a likelihood value that the video data to be entered is indicative of a corresponding scene. For example, the HMM corresponding to a homerun scene outputs a likelihood value that the video data to be entered is indicative of a homerun scene.

Information processing apparatus, information processing method, and program


Aircraft wing assemblies having both composite and metal panels are disclosed. In one embodiment, a wing assembly includes a support structure, an upper panel assembly formed from a metal material and coupled to the support structure, and a lower panel assembly formed from a composite material and coupled to the support structure. The metal material may be aluminum, titanium, or any other suitable metal, and the composite material may be a carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) material or other suitable composite material. In another embodiment, the upper panel assembly includes a downwardly depending first web portion, and the lower panel assembly includes an upwardly depending second web portion, the second web portion being proximate the first web portion, and an interface member of an isolating material is disposed between the first and second web portions.

Wing assemblies of conventional modern commercial aircraft generally include a wing box made from aluminum panels, spars, and ribs. Although desirable results have been achieved using prior art wing assemblies, there may be room for improvement. For example, the reduction of structural weight of an aircraft generally equates to better airplane performance. With respect to commercial aircraft, such improved performance has value in the marketplace. Composite materials have been examined as an alternative to aluminum, however, composite materials are generally expensive in comparison with aluminum, and may not be well suited for carrying high compressive loads experienced in certain circumstances.

Aircraft wing composed of composite and metal panels


A memory device provides for multi-way set associative burst SRAM (static random access memory) cache memory in a single device or package. In one embodiment input address bit A2 is used to generate a bank select signal rather than as a direct input to the SRAM's memory array element. This, in combination with additional output registers and output buffers creates a two-way set associative cache memory in a single memory device. In an alternative embodiment, input address bits A2 and A3 are used to generate bank select signals rather than as direct input to the SRAM's memory array element. This, in combination with additional output registers, output buffers, and an output bank decoder creates a four-way set associative cache memory in a single memory device. Additionally, a mode circuit is provided that controls whether the memory device operates as a multi-way set associative memory or as a conventional direct-mapped memory device. The mode circuit provides backwards compatibility with existing burst SRAM devices.

Contemporary high-speed computer system designs make use of a series of different memories, arranged in a hierarchy, to provide the system's central processing unit with needed memory read (retrieval) and write (update) capabilities. As shown in FIG. 1 a typical memory hierarchy 100 comprises four levels of memory: level 1, internal cache memory 110; level 2, external cache memory 115; level 3, main memory 120; and level 4, long term memory 125.
Level 1's internal cache memory 110 provides the fastest performance but is also the most severely space restricted because of its placement internal (i.e., on the same chip) as the computer system's central processor unit 105. Because of this space limitation, internal cache's are used to store only those instructions and data most commonly used by the processor. Typical internal cache sizes vary from 8 KB (kilobyte) to 32 KB.
Secondary or level 2 cache memory 115 is provided to increase computer system performance when the processor 105 requires information not stored in the internal cache 105. Sizes for level 2 caches vary greatly depending upon system requirements such as operational speed and architecture (e.g., pipelined versus non-pipelined).
Level 3 memory is the largest portion of RAM (random access memory) and is typically implemented in DRAM (dynamic random access memory) technology. A key feature of level 3 memory is that it is significantly slower than level 2 cache memory. Main memory is characterized by the need to implement wait-states between memory read or write commands and the actual reading (retrieval) or writing of the specified memory locations. Typical main memory sizes range from 64 KB to 512 MB (megabyte).
Level 4 memory is also referred to as long term or permanent storage and is typically implemented using magnetic or optical hard disks or, magnetic floppy disks.
2.1 Burst SRAM Devices
New medium and high end personal computers, as well as most if not all workstation and main-frame computers, utilize level 2 external cache memory to obtain a reasonable level of performance. A current trend in computer memory system design is to implement level 2 cache memory in synchronous burst SRAM technology. As would be known to one of ordinary skill in the field of memory system design, the goal of burst SRAM devices is to provide a large array of fast static random access memory with on-chip control circuitry to automatically retrieve a limited sequence of consecutive memory read addresses. For example a four-word burst SRAM, given read address X, would not only retrieve the data at memory location X, but would also automatically retrieve those data at memory locations (X+1), (X+2), and (X+3) without the host processor having to generate any of the read addresses (X+1), (X+2), or (X+3). (One of ordinary skill in the art will realize that different processors can generate different burst sequences.) Similarly, a four-word burst SRAM is capable of receiving and storing four data words from the processor 105 in rapid succession.
By way of illustration, the Micron MT58LC32K36B4 (a 32K.times.36 SRAM having a two-bit burst controller) synchronous SRAM will be described. As shown in FIG. 2, the basic elements of the burst SRAM device 200 consist of an input address data latch 205, a burst counter 210, the 32K.times.36 SRAM array 215, SRAM array output register 220, output buffer 225, and appropriate read/write control logic 230.
During a read operation, external address input A0-A14 are captured by address latch 205. Low order address bits A0 and A1 are then split off (indicated as LA0 and LA1 in FIG. 2) and supplied as input to the two-bit burst counter 210. The function of the burst counter is to generate an appropriate sequence of address bit values on lines IA0 and IA1 to step-through four consecutive memory locations. The precise sequence of values on lines IA0 and IA1 are dependent upon the memory's operation and is controlled by an externally applied signal (not shown). Typically, the burst counter can generate a sequence of IA0 and IA1 bit patterns to implement either an interleaved or linear-burst address scheme. As would be known to those of ordinary skill, the former mode is suitable for use in a computer system using an Intel "PENTIUM" processor while the latter is suitable for use with non-Intel processors.
Address latch 205 output (IA2-IA14, representing input address bits A2 through A14 respectfully) is applied, in combination with burst counter 210 output IA0 and IA1, to the SRAM array 215. Output from the SRAM array is supplied to an output register 220. In turn, output from the output register is applied to an output buffer 225 where it is supplied to an external data bus.
Data write operations are performed in a similar manner. An external address is stored into address latch 205 whose output, in combination with burst counter 210 output, is applied to the SRAM array 215. Externally supplied data is then stored into the SRAM array under control of read/write control logic 230.
2.2 Associative Memory Caches
It is widely known that implementing a cache using associative access techniques improves the performance of a memory. In fact, many systems employ a two-way set associative memory scheme in their level 2 external cache 115. It is also known that increasing the associativity (e.g., from two-way to four-way) of the external cache memory can result in significantly higher system performance. This is especially true in systems with small internal caches (e.g., 110) which execute multi-threaded operating systems such as Unix or Microsoft "WINDOWS" because of paging mechanisms as the processor jumps from task to task.
The reason for this increased performance, when using a set associative cache memory 115, is the reduction of cache line replacements. For example, in a computer system employing an external direct-mapped cache, cache lines may have to be replaced for any two memory accesses a multiple of the cache size apart. In general, for an n-way set associative cache of size m, cache lines may have to be replaced for the (m+1)th memory access a distance of (m.div.n) memory locations (e.g., bytes) apart. This reduction in cache line replacements results in an increase in system performance. Furthermore, if an LRU (least recently used) replacement algorithm is used to determine which line should be replaced, it is likely that the data most likely to be accessed will still be in the cache in the next cache access.
Current pipelined and burst SRAMs are generally designed to allow bursts of four words into, and out of, the memory. (See FIG. 2 and discussion above.) Using these devices a two-way set associative cache memory can be implemented by doubling the number of memory devices; one physical device is used to implement one set of a two-way set associative memory, and another physical device is used to implement the second set. If Micron MT58LC32K36B4 memory devices are used in such a scheme, the resulting cache memory would have a 32K.times.36 depth (for each set), for a total memory of 128 KB. Implementation of a four-way set associative memory would require four such memory devices. While the increased memory size can improve system performance, the space (i.e., printed circuit board space) needed to implement such a memory as well as the increased power necessary to drive such a system are drawbacks to the current method of implementing set associative memory caches.
The memory device described herein modifies existing SRAM devices to allow multi-way set associative memory operations within a single memory device. For example, a Micron MT58LC32K36B4 modified in accordance with the invention can implement a two-way set associative memory with each set having a depth of 16 K-words (KW). Alternatively, a four-way set associative memory could be implemented in a modified MT58LC32K36B4 with each set having a depth of 8 KW.

Single memory device that functions as a multi-way set associative cache memory


The present invention aims to obtain a simplified connection system for high voltage power cables having ratings up to 400 KV and above. There is obtained a common cable connection system for all accessories and interconnection. The connection system uses a generally applicable interface (4, 5, 6; 13, 14, 15; 30, 40) for interconnection with a number of different apparatus and includes a cable termination (30) consisting of an elastomeric body (36), integrated therein a stress relief device (34), a connector shield (35), an insulation having a conical interface surface (37) and an outer conductive screen (39) and a rigid insulator (41) having a conical interface surface (42) corresponding to the interface surface (37) of the cable termination (30).

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a device for interconnecting a high voltage cable with an apparatus and/or with a second high voltage cable consisting of a cable termination and a rigid insulator.
2. Description of the Prior Art
When connecting such high voltage power cables in normal joints, in transition joints, to transformers and other SF6 and oil filled apparatus and accessories and out-door terminals, the interfaces are usually different for each application.


A wafer processing method of dividing a wafer into individual devices, the wafer having on a front surface a device area and an external circumferential redundant area surrounding the device area, the method including: a wafer grinding step in which, in the state where the wafer is held on the side of a protection tape stuck to the front surface of the wafer, a rear side of the device area in a rear surface of the wafer is ground to form a recessed portion to form a ringlike reinforcing portion on an outer circumferential side of the recessed portion; a metal film coating step for coating, with a metal film, a rear surface of the wafer stuck with the protection tape on the front surface; and a wafer dividing step for cutting the predetermined dividing lines from a rear surface side of the wafer stuck with the protection tape on the front surface, thereby dividing the wafer into the individual devices.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a wafer processing method of grinding a rear surface of a wafer and dividing the wafer into individual devices.
2. Description of the Related Art
A wafer formed with a plurality of devices such as ICs is ground from the rear surface to have a given thickness and then divided by a dicing device or the like into individual devices, which are used in various electronic devices. In recent years, to make it possible to reduce the weight and size of electronic devices, a wafer has been formed by grinding to be as extremely thin as 100 to 20 μm. However, the wafer is formed thin to become soft, which poses problems for subsequent conveyance and of making it difficult to cover a ground surface with a metal film such as gold, silver, titanium or the like with a thickness of several tens nm for electrically testing devices.
To eliminate such problems, the following wafer processing method has been proposed and a patent application has been made by the present applicant (e.g. Japanese Patent Laid-open No. 2007-19379). In this method, a protection tape is stuck to the front surface of the wafer, and only a portion, of the rear surface of the wafer, corresponding to the rear side of the device area is ground to form a thick ringlike reinforcing portion on the outer circumferential side thereof. This can facilitate the conveyance of the wafer and make it easy to perform the subsequent metal film forming step. In the invention described in Japanese Patent Laid-open No. 2007-19379, the metal film is coated on the rear side of the device area with the ringlike reinforcing portion having been formed. Thereafter, the rear surface of the ringlike reinforcing portion is ground to make the rear surface of the wafer flat. Alternatively, after the ringlike reinforcing portion is cut and removed, the protection tape is peeled from the front surface of the wafer and a dicing tape is stuck to the rear surface for dicing, whereby the wafer is divided into individual devices.


An authentication method involves comparing a 2D description of an authentication device, referred to as a subsequent description, with an original 2D description by choosing, from several previously established original 2D descriptions, a 2D description established from a point of view similar to the one used to establish the subsequent 2D description. Advantageously, the optical characteristics of the authentication device vary so little when it is viewed from neighboring points of view that the device can be recognized from most of the points of view, and the original 2D descriptions have been established from neighboring points of view, which form a substantially continuous domain. In an improved version, a three-dimensional description of the authentication device, referred to as a 3D description, is reconstructed from several original 2D descriptions, which makes it possible to predict the appearance thereof from a plurality of different points of view.

The present disclosure relates to a refinement of PCT/FR2012/000096 from Franck Guigan [FR], which has a priority of Apr. 5, 2011 and was issued in the United States of America as U.S. Pat. No. 9,058,535.
In one of its implementations, this disclosure relates to an authentication method, which consists in establishing a description, referred to as a subsequent description, of an authentication device 1 comprising a set referred to as a coded entity 11, which in turn comprises light-disturbing elements referred to as disrupters 111, 112 et seq., and comparing this description with a description referred to as an original description of the authentication device 1, wherein the procedure makes it possible to establish the subsequent description and to make the comparison comprises determining, by a means that is referred to as a positioning means 7 and that cooperates with a recognizable graphic structure referred to as a marker 2, the position in three dimensions in which the acquisition means 3 is located with respect to the authentication device 1, in order to carry out a first acquisition from this position, referred to as an original point of view, and an acquisition referred to as an additional acquisition carried out from a point of view that is substantially different from the original point of view.
An object of the present disclosure is to widen the field in which the camera has to be placed in order to carry out the first acquisition, and to use this widening to allow online identification of persons using the authentication device as a personal identifier.

Method for authenticating a three-dimensional signature


A heat-producing agglomerate contains particles of an acidic component selected from acid anhydrides, acid salts, and mixtures thereof, or a basic component selected from bases, basic anhydrides, basic salts, and mixtures thereof, or a mixture of such acidic and basic components. The heat producing agglomerate provides high heat output at a controllable rate of heat generation, minimizes safety and environmental risks, and is useful as a heat-producing component in self-heating packaging.

Heat-producing compositions for use in self-heating packaging are known. Previous heat-producing compositions typically produce heat by combining two or more reagents in a manner which produces a reaction which creates heat. For example, a solid material may be combined with a liquid, such as water, to produce heat as a result of the hydration of the solid material. Alternatively, the liquid may be a solution containing a material that will react with the solid to produce an exothermic chemical reaction, thereby releasing heat. However, the prior heat-producing compositions exhibit certain undesirable characteristics.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,793,323 describes a self-heating container in which a multi-compartment package contains a food or liquid to be heated. The container includes two compartments that are separated by a membrane. Each of the compartments contains a reagent, and a member is provided for breaking the membrane. Upon breaking the membrane, the reagents (for example water and calcium chloride or calcium oxide) are allowed to mix and the resulting exothermic reaction heats the package and its contents. Among the disadvantages of the system is that the respective heat outputs of the disclosed reagent systems are such that a relatively large amount of such reagents is required to heat a relatively small amount of food or beverage.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,611,329 describes a flameless heater that consists of non-woven, water permeable polyester sheets that are thermally bonded together to form a number of pockets. Each of the pockets formed by the bonded polyester sheets is filled with a powder mixture of a Mg—Fe alloy, NaCl, antifoaming agents and an inert filler. Upon exposure to water, the Mg—Fe alloy under goes an exothermic reaction, that is, hydration of the magnesium component of the alloy. The heat generated by the hydration reaction can be used to, for example, heat military field rations. One disadvantage of the flameless heater is that the hydration of magnesium generates hydrogen gas, which may pose a safety hazard.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,935,486 and 6,248,257 describe portable heat sources that include a heat-producing composition comprising a mixture of an acidic anhydride or salt, a basic anhydride or salt and inert materials. Addition of water to the mixture results in exothermic reactions that generate heat. While the heating compositions provide some improved performance over prior systems, the disclosed systems provide only rough control over the rate of heat generation, and can result in compositions in which uncontrolled reactions occur, leading to rapid and potentially dangerous rates of heat generation. In addition the heat-producing compositions may, in some embodiments, generate caustic wastes that may complicate disposal of used heat sources.
It would be useful to overcome these and other shortcomings of the prior art in order to provide a heat-producing composition that provides a high heat output, in a controllable manner, without generating serious safety or environmental risks.

Heat-producing agglomerates and their application in flameless heaters and self-heating packaging


Writing of data on a storage disk by an inductive magnetic transducer is modulated by write driver circuitry that includes a supply voltage as low as three volts provided by a source referenced to ground, and a bias current source connected to either the supply voltage source or ground. Two bias control switches respectively direct the bias current to one or the other of two current gain circuits according to whether a positive or a negative input terminal has a preselected polarity. The gain circuits selectively respond to the bias currents supplied by the associated control switch for amplifying the bias current to remove a write current from a respective associated terminal of the transducer. Two current source switches connected to a respective one of the input terminals and to a respective one of the terminals of the transducer selectively allow and prevent the write current from flowing into the respective associated terminal of the transducer depending upon which of the input terminals has the preselected polarity. When data is not being written by the transducer, a controllable reference voltage circuit maintains the transducer at a potential at least as negative as ground to prevent electro-erosion of the transducer; and this circuit also is preferably connected to both gain circuits to prevent them from saturating.

The most pertinent prior art of which applicants are aware is an article that appears in the IBM Technical Disclosure Bulletin, Vol. 23, April 1981, at pp. 5167-5168. This article describes a write driver circuit for use in a magnetic storage system that comprises four bipolar transistors. These transistors are arranged as upper and lower pairs in an "H" configuration to provide a bidirectional write current through a thin film inductive write head. To ensure fast switching, (i) saturation of the active one of the transducers of each pair is prevented by providing a sufficiently high supply voltage, and (ii) a low impedance path is provided to discharge the parasitic base capacitances of these active transistors upon turn off, so they will respond more rapidly when turned on. A write current source is interposed in series with a current switch in this H-configured write driver circuit.
While not a problem when supply voltage is high, there is a problem when supply voltages are as low as three volts because with such low voltages, saturation of the active transistors can occur and slow the rise time capability of the write driver circuit and thereby limit the data rate at which the circuit can operate. No means, other than employing a high supply voltage, is provided to prevent large differential inductive voltage transients from causing saturation of the then active transistor of the lower pair.
Disk storage systems are now being proposed that require low, single (grounded) supply voltages without saturating the active transistors, low power consumption, high transition (i.e., transfer) rates, and means for ensuring that no active transistors will saturate even when large differential inductive voltage transients exceed the supply voltage. This combination of attributes is not achievable with the above-cited and other prior art configurations known to applicants.

High-transition-rate, low-supply-voltage write driver circuitry for magnetic inductive write head

International Business Machines Corporation


An interworking module and method are described herein which allows information to be exchanged between a user terminal (e.g., mobile phone) and a communication bus which is installed within a vehicle. The communication bus is connected to different components (e.g., engine sensors, on-board diagnostic systems, video-audio equipment, heating-cooling equipment, stereo system, and seats) which are installed within the vehicle.

Manufacturers of user terminals (e.g., mobile phones) are constantly trying to develop new applications and uses for their user terminals. One new application where a user terminal (e.g., mobile phone) can be used to download or upload information to or from different components (e.g., engine sensors, on-board diagnostic systems, video-audio equipment, heating-cooling equipment, stereo system, seats) within a vehicle is the subject of the present invention.

Interworking among automobile buses, portable user equipment and mobile networks


The invention relates to a dosing device comprising a storage container and a storage chamber disposed therein, a dosing container and a dosing chamber disposed therein, and a dosing connection between the storage chamber and the dosing chamber.

1. Field of the Invention
2. Description of Related Art
The invention relates to a dosing device comprising a storage container, a dosing container and a dosing connection between a dosing chamber in the dosing container and a storage chamber in the storage container. A filling material arrives from the storage chamber through the dosing connection in the dosing chamber when the dosing device is pivoted around a pivot axis. The dosing device is provided for dispensing a filling material from the storage chamber in a dosed manner. Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for dosing the filling material by means of the dosing device.
For the purpose of dosing, only a part of the filling material is usually transferred first from the storage chamber into the dosing chamber of the dosing container. This process is repeated until the quantity of the filling material desired by the user has been accommodated in the dosing chamber. In the process, an estimate of the quantity of filing material located in the dosing chamber is carried out by means of a filling material indicator attached to the dosing container. Then, this quantity of filling material is removed from the dosing chamber by being discharged to the outside through an outlet opening on an outlet of the dosing device.
Such a dosing device is known from EP 2 243 721 A1, in which filling level marks are provided on the dosing chamber in one embodiment that serve for measuring the filling material quantity in the dosing chamber.
Determining the filling level is difficult despite the filling level marks being provided, because the dosing device usually has to stand upright on a supporting surface for this purpose. However, filling the dosing chamber takes place by inclining the dosing chamber, with the dosing chamber being filled more in the case of great inclination than in the case of small inclination. In order to achieve an exact filling level, the dosing device must be placed upright again and again after having been inclined, in order to be able to read off the current filling level, and in order to be able to decide, dependent thereon, whether or not filling material should be continued to be filled into the dosing chamber.

Dosing device and method for dosing and dispensing by means of the dosing device


A wearable connector includes a housing having a base and a shroud that extends from the base. The shroud includes a tunnel having an open end and an interior surface. The open end of the tunnel is configured to receive a mating connector therein. The base is configured to be mounted to a wearable article. Terminals are held directly by the shroud such that mating segments of the terminals extend at least one of directly on or through the interior surface of the tunnel. The tunnel of the shroud is configured to receive the mating connector into the tunnel through the open end such that the mating segments of the terminals mate with mating terminals of the mating connector within the tunnel.

The subject matter described and/or illustrated herein relates generally to electrical connectors.
Electrical connector system are used to electrically connect a wide variety of electronic devices. But, known electrical connectors are not without disadvantages. One disadvantage of some known electrical connectors is that terminals of the electrical connector may be difficult to adequately clean in the field, which may interfere with operation of the electrical connector (e.g., may prevent the electrical connector from mating, and thereby establishing an electrical connection, with a complementary connector). For example, the mating interface of some known electrical connectors is shrouded, which may enable the collection of debris between and/or around the terminals of the mating interface. Such debris may not be easily cleaned in the field. Moreover, attempts to clean debris from a shrouded mating interface may damage the terminals of the connector.
Another disadvantage of some known electrical connectors is vulnerability to liquid and/or moisture (e.g., water, a corrosive liquid, an acidic liquid, and/or the like). For example, some known electrical connectors may be used in environments wherein the connector is exposed to a liquid and/or moisture. Exposure of the mating interface of an electrical connector to a liquid and/or moisture may interfere with operation of the electrical connector. For example, exposure of the mating interface of an electrical connector to a liquid and/or moisture may prevent the electrical connector from conducting electrical power and/or electrical data signals.


Systems and methods for Venturi fan-assisted cooling of electrical equipment are provided. In one embodiment, a cooling unit for an enclosure housing electronics is provided. The cooling unit comprises: a fan shroud having at least one electrical fan; and a Venturi chamber having a first inlet for receiving a heated airflow from a heatsink, a second inlet for receiving an airflow from a surrounding environment, and an outlet coupled to the fan shroud, the fan drawing air from the Venturi chamber via the outlet when the fan is on. The Venturi chamber comprises a wall for directing the airflow air from the surrounding environment in from the second inlet and across the heated airflow from the heatsink in a manner to as to draw the heated airflow through the heatsink using a Venturi effect, when the fan is on.

In the field of telecommunications, there is a trend to reduce both the size and the expenses associated with infrastructure equipment. The result is a demand on telecommunications infrastructure equipment providers to manufacture smaller equipment that can be operated and maintained in a more cost effective manner, while retaining all the functionality of legacy equipment. The modularity of designs proposed for such equipment, along with the smaller sizes desired by system operators, has introduced new thermal management challenges for dissipating heat generated by telecommunications infrastructure equipment. For the reasons stated above and for other reasons stated below which will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading and understanding the specification, there is a need in the art for improved systems and methods for thermal management of telecommunications infrastructure equipment.