In a method for limiting a boost pressure of an internal combustion engine which is supercharged by the compressor of an exhaust gas turbocharger including a control unit in which a desired boost pressure value is compared with a limiting value and when the desired boost pressure value exceeds the limiting value, the boost pressure is limited to the limiting value, and the limiting value is determined by a simulation model in the form of a group of a characteristic curves established as a function of an existing operating state of the internal combustion engine, a temperature, a pressure (p1), and a air mass flow rate which occur upstream of a compressor of the exhaust gas turbocharger.

The invention relates to a method for limiting a boost pressure of an internal combustion engine which is supercharged by means of a turbocharger, wherein a desired boost pressure is compared with a limit value which is determined for the various engine and turbocharger operating conditions and a gas mass flow rate upstream of the compressor of the turbocharger on the basis of a simulation model.
In particular in turbocharged diesel engines, the following principle of boost pressure control is used if the charger is not a so-called self-regulating charger. By means of a boost pressure sensor, which is arranged at a suitable location in the intake section, the current actual value of the boost pressure is continuously supplied to a control device, in particular a vehicle control unit or engine control unit. The control unit then continuously compares this boost pressure with a set value of the boost pressure in order to influence the boost pressure by means of a suitable actuator element in accordance with the magnitude and profile of the deviation of the set value from the actual value. The actuator element may be electrically and/or pneumatically operated. The boost pressure may be influenced, in particular, by adjustment at a waste gate of a turbine of an exhaust gas turbocharger or by variation of the turbine geometry, in particular, a variation of the position of the turbine guide vanes, depending on the type of exhaust gas turbocharger.
A desired value or desired values of the charge pressure are required for the regulating process. The desired value or the desired values are usually stored directly in the control unit as a function of the respective operating point, as a characteristic diagram or as a characteristic curve. The operating point is defined in particular by the engine speed and the engine load. The desired value can, if appropriate, be corrected for ambient influences or environmental influences such as, for example, temperatures and ambient pressure. The set value can, if appropriate, also be corrected dynamically or have a dynamic behavior in order to improve the transient response when rapid changes in the operating point occur.
When the desired values for the boost pressure are determined, it is necessary, in particular in full-load operating mode, to take into account various peripheral conditions which partially contradict one another. These peripheral conditions include, in particular:    The higher the boost pressure the more air or more gas is fed to the internal combustion engine and it can correspondingly output more torque and power.    If excessively high desired values are set for the boost pressures when there is a low air throughput rate at a compressor of the exhaust gas turbocharger—that is to say at low engine speeds—what is referred to as "pumping" of the compressor occurs. It is important to avoid this "pumping" for reasons of comfort, efficiency and durability of the exhaust gas turbocharger.    If excessively high set values for the boost pressures are set when there is a high air throughput rate at the compressor—that is to say at high engine speeds—over-speeding of the exhaust gas turbocharger occurs. Because of the risk of destruction of the exhaust gas turbocharger and possible further ensuing damage to the internal combustion engine, this state must be avoided under all circumstances.    The setting of excessively high boost pressures is also accompanied by a rise in the charge air temperature which occurs downstream of the compressor in the direction of flow. The charge air temperature should be limited depending on the particular design and the material used for the charge air passages extending to a charge air cooler which is provided in the intake duct. For example, elastomer hoses are used for the charge air passages. However, charge air system manufacturers only warrant their compressors up to a specific gas temperature at the compressor output, because, inter alia, of the temperature-dependent strength profile of the lightweight metal alloys which are used for the compressor wheel. At an excessively high temperature the compressor blades may otherwise be unacceptably stretched under the influence of the centrifugal forces at a high compressor speed and come into contact with the compressor casing, which could cause the turbocharger to fail.
Because of the physical conditions at the compressor, not only the boost pressure itself but also the compressor pressure ratio p2/p1—where the pressure p2 represents the absolute pressure downstream of the compressor in the direction of flow and the pressure p1 represent the absolute pressure in the intake section upstream of the compressor in the direction of flow—and the volume stream through the compressor are decisive for the risk of "pumping" the compressor and the risk of over-speeding of the exhaust gas turbocharger. This results from a typical compressor operating characteristic diagram which is represented by way of example in FIG. 1. In FIG. 1, the volume flow dV1/dt is plotted on the abscissa, and the pressure ratio p2/p1 is plotted on the ordinate. The curve a characterizes what is referred to as the pumping limit and the curve b characterizes the exhaust gas turbocharger rotational speed limit. In the rest of the description, more details will be given on FIG. 1. When the internal combustion engine is operating at a high altitude or with a soiled air filter associated with the intake section, the compressor pressure ratio p2/p1 rises as the absolute boost pressure p2 remains constant since in both cases the pressure p1 upstream of the compressor decreases. As a result, the risk of exceeding one of the two limits, the pumping limit or the exhaust gas turbocharger rotational speed limit, increases.
If the maximum boost pressures and thus the maximum boost pressure desired values are configured or selected on the basis of normal altitude and a clean air filter in such a way that the pumping limit and the exhaust gas turbocharger rotational speed limit can reliably be prevented from being exceeded even under the most unfavorable conditions, for example maximum altitude which can possibly be reached and air filter at the soiling limit, under normal conditions this would lead to unnecessary cutting of the possibly achievable torque values and power values of the internal combustion engine.
Instead, the boost pressure desired values in a control unit are typically corrected as a function of a correction variable. This correction variable may be, in particular, an atmospheric pressure or preferably, if a corresponding pressure sensor is provided upstream of the compressor in the intake section, it may be the pressure p1 upstream of the compressor in the direction of flow. This makes it possible, under normal conditions, to permit higher boost pressures and thus generate also higher torque and higher power. The boost pressures are reduced for operation at a high altitude by means of a correction relating to the atmospheric pressure, or for operation at a high altitude and/or with soiled air filter by a correction relating to the pressure p1 which occurs upstream of the compressor in the direction of flow, and/or the atmospheric pressure in order to avoid "pumping" of the compressor and/or overspeeding of the exhaust gas turbocharger.
This is known from German laid-open patent application DE 100 54 843 A1. Here, the maximum acceptable boost pressure is determined as a function of a pressure upstream of a compressor p1 and temperatures upstream and downstream of the compressor in the intake tract, and as a function of the engine speed. In order to determine the maximum acceptable boost pressure, the relationship between the air charge and engine speed in the form of a characteristic curve is required. Such characteristic curves are usually determined in test bench trials on an internal combustion engine along the full-load under normal conditions and stored in a control device. If, for example, due to operation at a high altitude, the necessary desired value for the boost pressure is above the maximum acceptable boost pressure which is determined according to the disclosure of DE 100 54 843 A1 and stored in a control device, the control device will only set the maximum acceptable boost pressure within the scope of a minimum value selection. If, on the other hand, the maximum acceptable boost pressure limit is higher than the necessary desired value of the boost pressure, for example at normal altitude, this boost pressure is of course not limited by the maximum acceptable boost pressure limit.
The subject matter of German laid-open patent application DE 100 54 843 A1 ultimately attempts to depict the limiting curves for the pumping limit and the exhaust gas turbocharger rotational speed limit (see FIG. 1). The determination of the desired value for the boost pressure is based on a full-load characteristic curve for the air charge which is determined as an exemplary curve under normal conditions or on a full-load air charge profile which is determined by exemplary measurements under normal conditions and plotted over the rotational speed of the internal combustion engine and the corresponding pressures and temperatures or the corresponding state variables. Since the characteristic curve is determined by way of example on a test bench internal combustion engine or sample internal combustion engine under normal conditions along the full-load curve plotted against the rotational speed, values which are determined by means of the characteristic curve, for example a desired value for the boost pressure, may deviate from the values which are actually necessary since, in reality, the actual air charge value or air charge    varies from one internal combustion engine to another (variation between different examples of the same type of engine),    does not remain constant over the operating period as a result of soiling of the air-conducting parts (intake ducts, intake manifold etc.) and as a result of actuation or adjustment of the actuation times, for example as a result of lengthening of a valve drive operating chain or of a toothed belt, and also    is dependent not only on the rotational speed but also on further internal-combustion-engine-related variables such as, for example, a load, a cooling water temperature, an exhaust gas backpressure which is relevant in particular when operating with a soot filter, and leakage of an exhaust gas recirculation valve if an exhaust gas recirculation system is provided. Such leakage is relevant in particular for conventional operation without full-load exhaust gas recirculation.
This list is not exclusive. If the criteria listed above are not taken into account, they must be accounted for by selecting the desired values for the boost pressures in such a way that a correspondingly large safety margin is maintained between the limits to be observed (pumping limit and rotational speed limit of the exhaust gas turbocharger, see FIG. 1) at the expense of the optimum rotational speed values and power output values. In particular the possible influence of the exhaust gas backpressure which, during operation with a soot filter, fluctuates within a very large range as a function of the momentary charging of the soot filter, makes appropriate use of the method disclosed in DE 100 54 843 more difficult for applications with a soot filter.
The successful use of a method for limiting the boost pressure which uses the air charge value curve or air charge curve of the internal combustion engine which is determined under full-load at normal altitude is also questionable at an altitude above the normal altitude since at an altitude above the normal altitude the full-load curve of the internal combustion engine corresponds to a lower load than at normal altitude because the charge is load-dependent. This load dependence is however less and less pronounced as the rotational speed increases. In addition, the operating points of the exhaust gas turbocharger which are changed as a result of the change in altitude also provide values for the exhaust gas backpressure which are different from those obtained at normal altitude. This also has an influence on the air charge value curve.
Furthermore, the method for limiting the boost pressure according to German laid-open patent application DE 100 54 843 A1 is unsuitable for internal combustion engines with full-load exhaust gas recirculation for the following reasons.
In the customary embodiment of an exhaust gas recirculation system, in particular in the form of what is referred to as a "high-pressure exhaust gas recirculation system", the exhaust gas is taken at a specific pressure upstream, in the direction of flow, of a turbine of the exhaust gas turbocharger located in the exhaust section, and is fed into the combustion air stream with a specific boost pressure downstream of a charge air cooler which is typically provided in the intake section. Opening the exhaust gas recirculation system when operating at full-load reduces both the stream of exhaust gas through the turbine and the stream of air through the compressor because part of the engine charge then is derived from the flow of exhaust gas which is recirculated and which is already branched off upstream of the turbine and returned to the intake air downstream of the compressor. In the disclosure in DE 100 54 843 A1 an exhaust gas recirculation system is neither provided nor taken into account.
Although an exhaust gas recirculation cooler can be provided in an exhaust gas recirculation line, the exhaust gas which is fed into the internal combustion engine from the exhaust gas duct via the recirculation system is typically hotter than the charge air downstream of the charge air cooler. As a result the fresh air is heated in the intake manifold or in the charge air distributor line. This constitutes a difference from operation without recirculation of exhaust gas. The heating of the charge air also causes the internal combustion engine to take in a smaller mass flow of gas. This in turn reduces the volume flow at the compressor.
DE 100 54 843 A1 does not disclose an exhaust gas recirculation line. If the method from DE 100 54 843 A1 were to be used in an internal combustion engine with exhaust gas recirculation, this would lead to a situation in which the compressor operating point would not be correctly detected at least with respect to the abscissa in the compressor characteristic diagram (FIG. 1). This could in turn lead to the limits for the "pumping" and/or the exhaust gas turbocharger limiting rotational speed being unintentionally exceeded.
Of course, air charge profiles which have been determined during operation with a specific exhaust gas recirculation rate which applies, for example, for normal conditions, could be stored in the control device. Any deviation from this exhaust gas recirculation rate, whether due to inaccuracies in the exhaust gas recirculation control or due to intentional reduction in the exhaust gas recirculation rate at an altitude higher than normal, would result in a change in the volume flow through the compressor which would not be detected or would not be taken into account by the characteristic diagram. This could result in the limits for "pumping" and/or the limiting rotational speed for the exhaust gas turbocharger being unintentionally exceeded. This would be avoided by selecting a boost pressure set value which ensures a correspondingly generous distance from these limits, however at the expense of reduced torque and thus reduced power.
An excessively large ratio between the boost pressure downstream of the compressor and pressure upstream of the compressor is also accompanied by a rise in the charge air temperature downstream of the compressor. The maximum permissible charge air temperature has to be limited depending on the design and material of the following charge air paths as far as the charge air cooler (for example elastomer hoses), for safety and durability reasons, but, if appropriate, also because of the charge air temperature limit for which the manufacturer of the supercharger has designed and warranted the compressor. The maximum value of this ratio, at which the maximum acceptable charge air temperature is exceeded, depends on several factors:    on the compressor volume flow rate which co-determines the compressor efficiency,    on the efficiency of the compressor (compressors of, for example, a different design and "quality" may also have different characteristic efficiency diagrams) because the lower this efficiency the higher the charge air temperature at constant values of the compressor volume flow and the ratio of the boost pressure to the pressure upstream of the compressor,    on the configuration of the charge air path from the compressor to the charge air cooler, in particular on the selection of material, and    on the temperature upstream of the compressor because the higher said temperature the lower the ratio of boost-pressure to pressure upstream of the compressor at which the acceptable air charge temperature is reached or exceeded will be.
In applications in which there is a trend for    the rotational speed limit of the exhaust gas turbocharger is rather high,    the compressor efficiency is not very high,    the, for example, material-based limitation of the charge air temperature are releasable lower and    the anticipated areas of use include areas with high temperatures, (for example Death Valley in the USA with air temperatures of up to 60° C.), and    the maximum desired boost pressures are comparatively high (that is to say especially in the case of what are referred to as "supercharged systems"),it may be found that, at least starting from a certain air temperature upstream of the compressor in the direction of flow, the maximum acceptable charge air temperature is reached earlier than the rotational speed limit for the exhaust gas turbocharger. Typically, the maximum acceptable boost pressures are limited more severely as a reserve or as a safety measure for situations where the ambient air or intake air than would be necessary because of the rotational speed limit of the exhaust gas turbocharger in order to protect the materials, for example elastomer hoses between the compressor and the charge air cooler or also to protect the compressor itself.
When the internal combustion engine is used at normal temperatures, this limitation would result in a boost pressure, torque and thus power of the internal combustion engine being limited more severely than would be necessary for this operating situation. As an alternative to limiting the boost pressure it is typically also possible to limit the ratio of boost pressure to pressure upstream of the compressor.
German laid-open patent application DE 101 22 293 A1 also discloses a method for controlling a boost pressure limitation of a turbocharger in an internal combustion engine in which the actual boost pressure is respectively determined after specific time internals and is compared with predefined values for the desired boost pressure in the respective operating state from a stored compressor characteristic performance graph, and adjusted.
There is however a disadvantage in that the temperature occurring upstream of the compressor is not taken into account when the maximum acceptable pressure ratio of the supercharger is determined—and thus also when the maximum acceptable boost pressure is determined. It is thus possible for the temperature occurring downstream of the compressor to exceed a maximum acceptable value, and for components such as, for example, elastomer hoses or the compressor itself, to be damaged under hot ambient conditions even before the maximum acceptable boost pressure for the rotational speed limit of the exhaust gas turbocharger is reached.
It is the object of the present invention to provide a method which is improved over the prior art methods, such that the boost pressure of an internal combustion engine which is supercharged by means of an exhaust gas turbocharger is limited under any condition only to the extent as required by those conditions.


In some embodiments, apparatuses and methods are provided herein useful to delivering merchandise using autonomous ground vehicles (AGVs) in cooperation with unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). In some embodiments, the system includes: an AGV having a motorized locomotion system, a storage area to hold merchandise, a sensor to detect obstacles, a transceiver, and a control circuit to operate the AGV; a UAV having a motorized flight system, a gripper mechanism to grab merchandise, a transceiver, an optical sensor to capture images; and a control circuit to operate the UAV. The system also includes a control circuit that instructs movement of the AGV along a delivery route; determines if the AGV has stopped due to an obstacle; and in certain circumstances, instructs the UAV to retrieve merchandise from the AGV, calculate a delivery route for the UAV to the delivery location, and instructs the UAV to deliver the merchandise.

In the retail setting, one important challenge is the delivery of merchandise to customers. Frequently, customers will order merchandise for delivery to their residence or other delivery location within a certain scheduled time. Various delivery methods are available, including the use of a retailer's delivery vehicles and third party delivery services. Recently, efforts have been made to employ autonomous ground vehicles to complete deliveries to customers.
The use of autonomous ground vehicles, however, presents its own challenges. More specifically, autonomous ground vehicles will often encounter obstacles that may prevent them from completing the delivery, such as, for example, motor vehicles, people, animals, road construction, curbs, and closed gates. If the autonomous ground vehicle is unable to complete a delivery due to an obstacle, it is desirable to have a back-up mechanism available to complete the delivery.
Elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions and/or relative positioning of some of the elements in the figures may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help to improve understanding of various embodiments of the present invention. Also, common but well-understood elements that are useful or necessary in a commercially feasible embodiment are often not depicted in order to facilitate a less obstructed view of these various embodiments of the present invention. Certain actions and/or steps may be described or depicted in a particular order of occurrence while those skilled in the art will understand that such specificity with respect to sequence is not actually required. The terms and expressions used herein have the ordinary technical meaning as is accorded to such terms and expressions by persons skilled in the technical field as set forth above except where different specific meanings have otherwise been set forth herein.

Systems and methods for delivering merchandise using autonomous ground vehicles and unmanned aerial vehicles


A client generates a list associating a document, an operation for the document, and a user and transmits the list to a server. When an operation for the document is received from a user, the client acquires information including a document, an operation for the document, and a user and transmits the information to the server. The server receives and stores the list from the client, receives the information from the client, searches storage unit for a list including information matching the information, and transmits the list to the client. The client receives and displays the searched list.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a client apparatus and a server apparatus that manage documents used in a workflow, a document management system, a document management method, and a medium storing a program thereof.
2. Description of the Related Art
Electronic documents constitute the center of work, and there is an increased need for a system that can associate and manage the electronic documents and the work. An example of generally known solving means includes a workflow system. In the workflow system, a flow of work is defined in advance as a workflow, and documents necessary for the status of the defined workflow are attached to advance the process.
For example, as in an approval system, a workflow "create (regular employee)→scrutinize (section chief)→approve (department chief)" is created in advance. To process an authorization document, an application is attached to "create" of the flow, and approvals of the section chief and the department chief are provided to the document in "scrutinize" and "approve", respectively.
However, there are problems that details of the user rule or the flow need to be set in advance in the workflow system and that a large amount of man-hours is necessary to use the workflow system in small-scale work. There is also a problem that the system is expensive and large-scale because a workflow engine needs to be installed to control complicated flows.
In the workflow system, documents are included in the workflow. Therefore, there is a problem that although a document can be searched from the workflow, the workflow (work) that the document is processing cannot be searched from the document.
Therefore, in a small-scale user environment, a method is often implemented, in which a document management system and a To-Do list function thereof are used to simply associate the electronic documents and the work.
In such a system, each user can provide a flag, such as a To-Do flag, to the documents on the document management system and can also describe the work content. In such a system, documents with flag can be listed and displayed by use of To-Do folders, etc.
As a result, the user can set a flag to a document that needs to be processed and can describe the work content to be processed. The user can also check, as necessary, the list of the documents that need to be processed based on the To-Do folders. Therefore, the documents and the work that requires processing for the documents can be associated.
However, there is a problem that the combination of the document management system and the To-Do list can be used only as notes of individuals, and the workflow for passing the work from person to person cannot be realized.
To solve the problems, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-123071 proposes a system in which other users can add items to the To-Do list.

Client apparatus, server apparatus, document management system, document management method, and medium storing program thereof


Disclosed herein is an optical receiver including: a light receiving element configured to have an anode and a cathode and generate a photocurrent dependent on received signal light; a current-voltage conversion circuit configured to be connected to the anode of the light receiving element and convert the photocurrent to a voltage signal; and a capacitive passive element configured to have a first electrode and a second electrode. The cathode of the light receiving element is connected to the first electrode of the capacitive passive element, and the second electrode of the capacitive passive element is connected to a reference potential of the current-voltage conversion circuit and the second electrode is not coupled to objects other than a reference potential terminal of the current-voltage conversion circuit.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an optical receiver applied to an optical transmission system, and an optical transmission system.
2. Description of the Related Art
A transimpedance amplifier (TIA) to convert current to a voltage is used in an optical transmission system.
The optical transmission system refers to a system in which data arising from optical conversion of an electrical signal is transmitted from an optical transmitter (TX) and the optical data received by an optical receiver (RX) is converted to an electrical signal.
A photodiode (PD) converts the optical data sent from the optical transmitter (TX) to a current and the TIA is used to convert this current to a differential voltage.
The electrical signal output from a driver of the optical transmitter (TX) is converted to an optical signal by an electro-optical conversion element, a laser diode (LD) or a vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL). This optical signal passes through an optical fiber to be subjected to opto-electrical conversion by the PD of the optical receiver (RX).
In the communication from the optical transmitter (TX) to the optical receiver (RX), power loss at the connection part of the optical fiber and in the electrical/optical conversion and the optical/electrical conversion is large and the output current of the PD has significantly-low amplitude in some cases. Thus, it is preferable for the TIA to have a high signal-to-noise ratio (SNR).

Optical receiver and optical transmission system


A method of fabricating a semiconductor memory device including a substrate with a transfer transistor formed thereon. A first insulating layer is formed on the substrate, covering the transfer transistor. A first conductive layer is formed, penetrating at least the first insulating layer and electrically coupling to a source/drain region of the transfer transistor. A second insulating layer and a stack layer are formed, and a third insulating layer is formed on the sidewalls of the stack layer. A fourth insulating layer is formed and an opening is made to expose a portion of the first conductive layer. A second conductive layer is formed over the stack layer and second insulating layer and filling the opening. The second conductive layer is defined and the stack layer and the second insulating layer below the stack layer are removed. The first and the second conductive layers are defined to form a storage electrode of the charge storage capacitor. The second insulating layer is removed and a dielectric layer is formed over the exposed surfaces of the first and second conductive layers. A third conductive layer is formed over the surface of the dielectric layer, serving as an opposing electrode of the charge storage capacitor.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates in general to semiconductor memory devices, and more particularly to a method of fabricating a structure of a dynamic random access memory (DRAM) cell having a transfer transistor and a tree-type charge storage capacitor.
2. Description of Related Art
FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram of a memory cell for a DRAM device. As shown in the drawing, a DRAM cell is substantially composed of a transfer transistor T and a charge storage capacitor C. A source of the transfer transistor T is connected to a corresponding bit line BL, and a drain thereof is connected to a storage electrode 6 of the charge storage capacitor C. A gate of the transfer transistor T is connected to a corresponding word line WL. An opposing electrode 8 of the capacitor is connected to a constant power source. A dielectric film 7 is provided between the storage electrode 6 and the opposing electrode 8.
In the DRAM manufacturing process, a substantially two-dimensional capacitor called a planar type capacitor is mainly used for a conventional DRAM having a storage capacity less than 1 Mb (megabytes). In the case of a DRAM having a memory cell using a planar type capacitor, electric charges are stored on the main surface of a semiconductor substrate, so that the main surface is required to have a large area. This type of a memory cell is therefore not suited to a DRAM having a high degree of integration. For a high integration DRAM such as a DRAM with more than 4 Mb of memory, a three-dimensional capacitor, called a stacked-type or a trench-type capacitor, has been introduced.
With the stacked-type or trench-type capacitor, it has been made possible to obtain a larger memory in a similar volume. However, to realize a semiconductor device of an even higher degree of integration, such as a very-large-scale integration (VLSI) circuit having a capacity of 64 Mb, a capacitor of such a simple three-dimensional structure as the conventional stacked-type or trench-type, turns out to be insufficient.
One solution for improving the capacitance of a capacitor is to use the so-called fin-type stacked capacitor, which is proposed by Ema et al., in "3-Dimensional Stacked Capacitor Cell for 16 M and 64 M DRAMs", International Electronic Devices Meeting, pp. 592-595, December 1988. The fin-type stacked capacitor includes electrodes and dielectric films which extend horizontally in a fin shape in a plurality of stacked layers to increase the surface areas of the electrodes. DRAMs having the fin-type stacked capacitor are also disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,071,783; 5,126,810; and 5,206,787.
Another solution for improving the capacitance of a capacitor is to use the so-called cylindrical-type stacked capacitor, which is proposed by Wakamiya et al., in "Novel Stacked Capacitor Cell for 64-Mb DRAM," 1989 Symposium on VLSI Technology Digest of Technical Papers, pp. 69-70. The cylindrical-type stacked capacitor includes electrodes and dielectric films which extend vertically in a cylindrical shape to increase the surface areas of the electrodes. A DRAM having the cylindrical-type stacked capacitor is also disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,077,688.
With the trend toward increased integration density, the size of the DRAM cell in a plane (the area it occupies in a plane) must be further reduced. Generally, a reduction in the size of the cell leads to a reduction in charge storage capacity (capacitance). Additionally, as the capacitance is reduced, the likelihood of soft errors arising from the incidence of alpha-rays is increased. Therefore, there is still a need in this art to design a new structure of a storage capacitor which can achieve the same capacitance, while occupying a smaller area in a plane, and a suitable method of fabricating the structure.

Method of fabricating a semiconductor memory device having a capacitor


A method and test kit for deterining milk production in bovines is described. The acetyl coenzyme A synthetase (ACS) production is determined and related to milk production. The method is useful in selection and/or breeding to enhance milk production. Recombinant microganisms, plasmids and ACS is also described.

(1) Field of the Invention
pUC19-AR8 was deposited with the American Type Culture Collection Under the Budapest Treaty on Aug. 7, 1997 as ATCC 209191. pUC19-pATC5 was deposited with the American Type Culture Collection Under the Budapest Treaty on Mar. 25, 1996 as ATCC 98008. All restrictions on the distribution of these deposits of pUC19-pATC5 and pUC19-AR8 are irrevocably removed on granting of a patent on this application and the deposit will be replaced if viable samples cannot be dispensed by the depository as required. The address of the American Type Culture Collection is 12301 Parklawn Drive, Rockville, Md. 20852.
(2) Description of Related Art
Molecular mechanisms regulating utilization of substrates in ruminants are not known. The regulation of acetate for milk synthesis at the molecular level is known to be important. Acetate as acetyl coenzyme A (acetyl-CoA) is a major substrate for milk synthesis and occupies a central position in metabolism of Holstein mammary gland as well as in both prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells. Acetyl-CoA is generated via the acetate activation reaction catalyzed by acetyl coenzyme A synthetase (ACS).
The expression of ACS activity in ruminants is unique. ACS activity is constitutive in heart, controlled by nutrition and physiological state in the mammary gland, but not expressed in liver (Mellenberger, B. W., et al., Biochem. J. 136:741 (1973); Marinez, D. I., et al., J. Agric. Food Chem. 24:927 (1976); Ricks, C. A. and R. M. Cook, J. Dairy Sci. 64:2324 (1981)). Ruminant liver is not lipogenic (Emery, R. S., Mobilization, turnover, and disposition of adipose tissue lipids. IN: Digestive physiology and metabolism in ruminants. Ruckebusch, Y. and P. Thivend (eds.) Avi Publ. Co., Westport, Connecticut, p. 541 (1980)). Therefore, acetate is not utilized by liver. The liver utilizes propionate as the major source of glucose (Reynolds, C. K. et al., J. Dairy Sci. 71:2395 (1988); Amaral, D. M. et al., J. Dairy Sci. 73:1244 (1990)). Since there is a paucity of glucose in ruminants, this pattern of tissue utilization of acetate spares glucose for other vital metabolic functions (Ricks, C. A. and R. M. Cook, J. Dairy Sci. 64:2324 (1981)). ACS is the first committed step in acetate oxidation which is a major source of energy for milk synthesis. Also, in the ruminant mammary gland, ACS is the first committed step in fatty acid synthesis. The activity of ACS is marginal in a dry gland, increases to peak lactation, and then declines in activity as lactation advances (Marinez, D. E., et al., J. Agric. Food Chem. 24:927 (1976)).
In early lactation, blood growth hormone is relatively high and insulin is low. As lactation advances and milk production declines, blood levels of growth hormone decreases and insulin increases. Also, high producing cows have lower blood insulin and higher growth hormone than do low producing cows (Ghirardi, G. G. and R. M. Cook, J. Dairy Sci. 770:(Suppl. 1):49 (Abstr.) (1987)). Insulin inhibits and growth hormone stimulates ACS activity in lactating goat mammary gland. As lactation advances, ACS activity decreases sharply but can be partially reinstated by injecting a combination of growth hormone, prolactin, and dexamethasone (Marinez, D. I., et al., J. Agric. Food Chem. 24:927 (1976)).
ACS activity is directly correlated with milk production. Thus, as lactation advances, less acetate can be utilized. There is a need for identification of cows which may be in need of treatment to augment lactation.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,041,371 to Cowan et al describes an assay and test kit which uses a DNA probe to label a gene encoding a modification of genes adjacent to the gene encoding bovine prolactin which is a protein important to milk production. This method is focused on the presence or absence of the gene and not on the level of expression of the protein. The gene in question is within 1.5 kb of the bovine prolactin gene. Bulls and daughters of bulls are tested for breeding purposes. This method and test kit is marketed commercially.

Selection method involving acetal coenzyme a synthetase in calves

Board of Trustees operating Michigan State University


Methods and systems described perform air cleaning and/or sanitization in a heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and/or refrigeration (HVACR) system by detecting a concentration of airborne contaminants in a space serviced by the HVACR system. The detected concentration of airborne contaminants is determined whether it exceeds a threshold relative to a capacity of a first air cleaner. When the detected concentration of airborne contaminants exceeds the threshold, a second air cleaner is selected and enabled to be activated in the space. When the detected concentration of airborne contaminants does not exceed the threshold, the first air cleaner is selected and enabled to be activated in the space. The first air cleaner has a cleaning material different from the second air cleaner, and the first air cleaner, relative to the second air cleaner, treats the space at a lower concentration of airborne contaminants. The second air cleaner includes specifically designed cleaner modules.

Currently, the world is experiencing a global pandemic at levels unseen since 1919. Unlike the pandemic in 1919, we face different challenges to address the pathogen spread, for example, increased population and densities of people, increased movement of people worldwide and the general increasing interconnectedness of people worldwide, as well as the technologies associated with accommodating these complications and increases.

Combining air cleaning methods for improved anti-contaminant efficacy and air cleaning arrays


A gas sensing device, comprising a bulk and an array of gas sensing elements that are thermally isolated from the bulk, wherein each gas sensing element of a plurality of gas sensing elements of the array comprises (i) a gas reactive element that has a gas dependent temperature parameter; (ii) a semiconductor temperature sensing element that is thermally coupled to the gas reactive element and is configured to generate detection signals that are responsive to a temperature of the gas reactive element; and (iii) multiple heating elements that are configured to heat the gas reactive element to at least one predefined temperature.

Resistance-based gas sensing devices are inaccurate. The resistance of the gas sensing device can vary according to various parameters that are not related to the gas that is detected. For example—an adsorption of oxygen/oxidizing gases increases resistance of an n-type gas sensing device while an adsorption (on surface) of the gas that is being detected (reducing gases) decreases the resistance. Furthermore—the gas flow may affect the resistance of the gas sensing element.
There is a growing need to provide a reliable gas sensing device.

Gas sensing device and a method for sensing gas

TECHNION RESEARCH AND DEVELOPEMENT FOUNDATION LTD


A protective device for electric motors for protecting electric motors from high operational temperatures, has an element for determining an operational temperature of an electric motor and an element for automatically switching off of the electric motor when a predetermined limiting operational temperature is exceeded. The determining element is formed as electronic element for determining the operational temperature indirectly from an at least another operational parameter of the electric motor. The element for automatically switching off is formed as electronic element for automatically switching off of the electric motor.

The present invention relates to a protective device for electric motors, especially stepper motors. In particular it relates to such protective devices which have means for determination of operational temperature of an electric motor and means for automatic switching off of the electric motor in the event if a predetermined limiting operational temperature is exceeded.
In electric motors high operational temperatures are produced in the event of high and/or long loading during the operation or for example when the electric motor is blocked and nevertheless is connected to a network or a battery. High operational temperatures can lead to an increased wear of carbon brushes, commutators and bearings and in the extreme case can lead to winding short-circuiting by damaging of the isolation.
For preventing unpermissibly high operational temperatures, it is known to provide such electric motors with thermoprotective switches formed for example as a bimetal switch arranged in a circuit of the electric motor. When the excessive temperature is exceeded, the bimetal contact opens and the electric motor is switched off. Such a bimetal contact is however not only place consuming and expensive, but also very inaccurate. Moreover, it is often very difficult to arrange it at the locations which are critical with respect to a temperature increase.


A method forms an anti-fuse structure comprises a plurality of parallel conductive fins positioned on a substrate, each of the fins has a first end and a second end. A second electrical conductor is electrically connected to the second end of the fins. An insulator covers the first end of the fins and a first electrical conductor is positioned on the insulator. The first electrical conductor is electrically insulated from the first end of the fins by the insulator. The insulator is formed to a thickness sufficient to break down on the application of a predetermined voltage between the second electrical conductor and the first electrical conductor and thereby form an uninterrupted electrical connection between the second electrical conductor and the first electrical conductor through the fins.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention generally relates to a method of forming an antifuse and the resulting structure which includes a fin structure that can be converted from an insulator into a permanent conductor through a heating process.
2. Description of the Related Art
Fuses and antifuses are useful in today's integrated circuit devices to selectively connect and disconnect devices from other portions of the circuit, as well as to provide logical operations. For example, a fuse is often activated (blown, opened, etc.) in order to disrupt or break an electrical connection. Similarly, a fuse can be blown to dramatically increase the resistance of a circuit, thereby providing a logical distinction between the activated and unactivated fuse device.
Antifuses operate in an opposite manner to that of fuses. Thus, antifuses are generally non-conductive (highly resistive) when unactivated (unblown) and become conductors when activated (blown). Therefore, when an antifuse is activated, it forms an electrical connection, as opposed to a fuse which breaks an electrical connection when activated. Thus, an antifuse selectively allows a conductive connection to be made to selectively connect portions of a circuit together, thereby potentially engaging a previously disconnected device into a circuit. Similarly, an antifuse provides different resistance values which can be utilized to perform logical operations.
Once a fuse or antifuse is activated, the fuse generally cannot be unactivated. Therefore, the activation is generally a one-time event and is used to permanently modify a circuit. Low process cost and relatively high density are required for fuses and antifuses. Electrically blowing metal fuses is one conventional method for activating a fuse, but requires precise electrical and physical control to be reliable. The invention described below provides much smaller and easily activated antifuses and methods for making the same.

Fin anti-fuse with reduced programming voltage

International Business Machines Corporation


A dermatological composition for use in improving the appearance of scars comprising 20-30 parts by weight of polyethylene glycol 200, 0.005-0.03 parts by weight of preservative, 0.05-0.2 parts by weight of sorbic acid, 0.5-2 parts by weight of allantoin, 1-3 parts by weight of xanthan gum, 5-15 parts by weight of fluid onion extract (Extract Allium Cepa), dermatologically-acceptable aqueous carrier 55-65 parts by weight, perfume oil optional, for a total of 100 parts by weight, in the form of a light milky gel, and a method of improving the appearance of a scar comprising the step of applying to the scar a dermatologically-effective amount thereof.

It is a known fact that 62 million new scars are created yearly on the skin of human beings from one cause or another, including incisions, operations, biopsies, burns, accidents, and the like, whether intentionally or unintentionally inflicted, and that present technology in the improvement of the appearance of scars has not yet provided any drug or substance of organic origin which is approved for the express purpose of improving the appearance of scars, although compositions comprising a drug to reduce erythema as by promoting decoagulation and absorption of heme or colored blood fragments, e.g., an anticoagulant such as heparin, have been proposed and although various devices including silicone sheets of the Kelocote.TM. type have been made available. Such silicone sheets or devices have the serious shortcoming of drying out to leave a hard and sometimes brittle, and in any event inconvenient and uncomfortably hard or stiff, sheet in the area in which applied to the skin, causing obvious discomfort to the patient, whereas dermatological compositions containing a drug of synthetic or natural origin raise questions as to overkill especially when the primary objective of the dermatological composition and method involved is cosmetic, that is, to improve the appearance of a scar. Although the individual components of the present composition have been used previously in dermatological compositions, they have not previously been combined, especially in the present proportions, and least of all in the absence of a drug serving as an active ingredient, for the present purposes.

Composition and method for improvement of the appearance of scars


A turbomachine comprising an annular combustion chamber (40) with injection orifices (44); a centrifugal compressor (10) having a centrifugal downstream stage and an annular diffuser (20) comprising: a radially-oriented upstream portion (21)with diffusion passages (22) connected to the outlet of the compressor and an elbow-shaped intermediate portion (24)and a downstream portion (25) comprising a series of flow-straightening vanes (26) and inclined relative to the axis (A) of the turbomachine. In the section plane containing the axis (A) of the turbomachine and passing via the center (C) of one of said injection orifices (44), the curvilinear abscissa distance along a flow line (L) between the middle (0) of the flow path at the trailing edges of the flow-straightening vanes (26) and said center (C) is greater than or equal to three times the height (h) of said flow path.

A compressor having a centrifugal downstream stage usually includes a rotary impeller. The impeller comprises a series of blades driven in rotation, and it is made in such a manner as to accelerate the gas passing therethrough.
The diffuser presents an annular space surrounding the impeller. The diffuser serves to reduce the speed of the gas leaving impeller, and as a result to increase its static pressure. Diffusers may be of the vane type or of the duct type.
In general, these two types of diffuser comprise a radially-oriented annular upstream portion presenting a series of diffusion passages connected to the outlet of the compressor in order to recover the accelerated gas leaving it. These diffusion passages are of a section that increases progressively from upstream to downstream in order to diffuse the flow of gas leaving the compressor. Diffusers of the vane type make use of a series of circularly spaced-apart vanes forming the diffusion passages between one another. In duct type diffusers, the passages are constituted by duct or pipe elements, e.g. formed between two joined-together opposite plates.
Downstream from the upstream portion, diffusers generally include an elbow-shaped annular intermediate portion for curving the flow path of the diffuser and bringing the flow of gas towards the combustion chamber.
Downstream from the intermediate portion, diffusers generally comprise an annular downstream portion made up of a series of circularly spaced-apart flow-straightening vanes for straightening the flow of gas, and thus for reducing or eliminating the circumferential swirling of the flow of gas as it leaves the diffusion passages, prior to said flow entering into the combustion chamber.
In general, the centers of the injection orifices of the combustion chamber are distributed around the axis of the turbomachine on a circle of radius R1, while the mean radius R2 of the downstream portion of the diffuser is greater than the radius R1.
In certain prior art turbomachines, the downstream portion of the diffuser follows the line of the outer casing of the chamber and is directed towards the outer zone that bypasses the chamber (i.e. the through zone between the chamber and the outer casing). In other words, in a section plane containing the axis of the turbomachine, the mean axis of the flow path at the outlet from the downstream portion of the diffuser is parallel to the mean axis of the bypass flow outside chamber. That solution is unsatisfactory since all of the main gas flow leaving the diffuser bypasses the combustion chamber on the outside prior to being shared between the outer flow and the flow that feeds both the chamber end wall and the inner bypass zone of the chamber (i.e. the through zone between the chamber and the inner casing). The injection systems and the inner bypass zone are then fed with a secondary flow diverted from the main flow, with such diversion giving rise to significant pressure drop (i.e. loss of pressure) between the outlet from the diffuser and the upstream end of the injection system, and between the outlet from the diffuser and the inner bypass zone.
The functional consequences of such pressure drop are the following:                when designing the turbomachine, the large pressure drop between the outlet from the diffuser and the injection system needs to be compensated by an overall increase in the pressure drop of the module between the outlet from the diffuser and the outlet of the chamber so as to conserve a pressure drop on passing through the injection system that is sufficient to ensure air-fuel mixing and combustion. This increase in the pressure drop of the module gives rise to an increase in fuel consumption.        the gas feed between the outer bypass zone and the inner bypass zone of the chamber is highly asymmetrical (the primary and dilution gas jets are more penetrating on the outside than on the inside), which makes it more difficult to control the temperature profile at the outlet from the chamber.        the poor gas feed to the inner bypass zone leads to a reduction in the gas flow speeds in devices for cooling the inner wall of the combustion chamber, thereby reducing convective heat exchange coefficients, and thus reducing the overall efficiency of said cooling.        poor gas feed to the inner bypass zone leads to a reduced overpressure ratio, decreasing the efficiency of the cooling of the turbine nozzle situated downstream from the chamber.
In order to avoid those drawbacks, in other prior art turbomachines, such as the machine of document FR 2 372 965, the downstream portion of the diffuser is inclined relative to the axis of the turbomachine towards the combustion chamber in such a manner that, in a section plane containing the axis of the turbomachine, the mean axis of the flow path at the outlet from the downstream portion of the diffuser passes via the chamber end wall between the maximum radius and the minimum radius of the chamber end wall. The flow path is defined as being the envelope that defines the flow space for the gas, and thus the gas flow. In the downstream portion of the diffuser, the flow path is defined by the inner outline of said downstream portion.
Such an inclination of the downstream portion of the diffuser relative to the axis of the turbomachine, towards the end wall of the chamber, constitutes an improvement since it reduces the pressure drop between the outlet from the diffuser and the upstream end of the injection system, by feeding these systems more directly. It also enables the outer and inner bypass zones of the chamber to be fed with gas in more symmetrical manner, and also provides a better gas feed to the inner bypass zone. Furthermore, the feed of gas to the various admission channels of each injection system is likewise more uniform.


A method of fabrication of a photosensitive device is disclosed. A substrate with at least an insulator layer formed thereon is provided. The insulator layer comprises a plurality of photoreceiving regions, and a plurality of conductive patterns are formed thereon without covering the photoreceiving regions. A dielectric layer is formed on the insulator and the conductive patterns, and polished by CMP thereof. The dielectric layer comprises a first dielectric layer formed by PECVD and a second dielectric layer formed by HDPCVD.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a semiconductor device fabrication, and more particularly to a method for forming a photosensitive device with color filter.
2. Description of the Related Art
FIG. 1 are schematic representations of structures in the final stages of formation of a photosensitive device using conventional technology. Referring to FIG. 1A, a planarized inter-metal dielectric layer 100 with a photoreceiving region 130 therein is formed on a substrate (not shown). A metal layer 114 is deposited and defined to expose the photoreceiving region 130 on the inter-metal dielectric layer 100, and a protective layer 150 is formed thereon.
Referring to FIG. 1B, a thick planar film 152, for example spin-on glass, is coated on a protective layer 150 for planarization. The planar film 152 and protective layer 150 are transparent for enhancing light sensitivity of the photosensitive device. A color filter process, comprising coating R, G, and B filters, development, etching and top coating, is then performed to form color filter 112. Next, another protective layer 120 is coated thereon to cover the color filter 112 and planar film 152.
The coated planar film 152 described cannot effectively fill in some concave areas of the photosensitive device to produce a flat surface over the entire wafer surface. Additionally, the planar film 152 must achieve a thick thickness, about 2 μm, to produce a flat surface. Shrinkage, however, may be generated, affecting flatness of the surface of the planar layer 152. The uneven layer 152 under the color filter 112 may diminish color performance of the device. Due to the unevenly coated dielectric layer 152, a yellow strip may occur in the step height regions, for example the regions near the bonding pads or the scribe lines.

Method of fabricating a photosensitive structure


Methods of forming a plurality multiphasic nano-components (MPNs) having at least two phases, with high selectivity for at least one of shape, size, or phase orientation in the nano-component are provided. The methods provide high yields of substantially similar nano-components by controlling one or more of: polymer concentration, liquid stream composition, liquid stream conductivity, flow rate, humidity, temperature, pressure, electrode design and/or configuration during an electrified jetting process. Such methods of making MPNs form shapes including disks, rods, spheres, rectangles, polygons, toroids, cones, pyramids, cylinders, fibers, and combinations thereof. Such MPNs can be used in various applications, including for medical diagnostics or with pharmaceutical, personal care, oral care, and/or nutritional compositions.

The statements in this section merely provide background information related to the present disclosure and may not constitute prior art.
There is increasing interest in precise control of particle shape and size for micro-particles and nano-particles in various applications including controlled drug delivery, cell-particle interactions, and biosensors. Until recently, research in these areas has focused primarily on spherical particles. It would be desirable to have a process providing a high selectivity and yield for creating multi-phase nano-components or microparticles having desired shapes, sizes, phase distribution, distribution geometry, and the like.

Methods for forming biodegradable nanocomponents with controlled shapes and sizes via electrified jetting

The Regents of The University of Michigan


A method of invalidating shared cache lines such as on a sharing list by issuing an invalidate acknowledgement before actually invalidating a cache line. The method is useful in multiprocessor systems such as a distributed shared memory (DSM) or non-uniform memory access (NUMA) machines that include a number of interconnected processor nodes each having local memory and caches that store copies of the same data. In such a multiprocessor system using the Scalable Content Interface (SCI) protocol, an invalidate request is sent from the head node on the sharing list to a succeeding node on the list. In response to the invalidate request, the succeeding node issues an invalidate acknowledgement before the cache line is actually invalidated. After issuing the invalidate acknowledgement, the succeeding node initiates invalidation of the cache line. The invalidate acknowledgement can take the form of a response to the head node or a forwarding of the invalidate request to the next succeeding node on the list. To maintain processor consistency, a flag is set each time an invalidate acknowledgement is sent. The flag is cleared after the invalidation of the cache line is completed. Cacheable transactions received at the succeeding node while a flag is set are delayed until the flag is cleared.

This invention relates generally to multiprocessor systems that are comprised of a number of separate but interconnected processor nodes. More particularly, this invention relates to a method for reducing the time required to invalidate shared cache lines that reside on the separate nodes when a copy of the data in one of the lines is changed.
Multiprocessor computer systems by definition contain multiple processors that can execute multiple parts of a computer program or multiple distinct programs simultaneously, in a manner known as parallel computing. In general, multiprocessor systems execute multithreaded-programs or single-threaded programs faster than conventional single processor computers, such as personal computers (PCs), that must execute programs sequentially. The actual performance advantage is a function of a number of factors, including the degree to which parts of a multithreaded-program and/or multiple distinct programs can be executed in parallel and the architecture of the particular multiprocessor computer at hand.
Multiprocessor systems may be classified by how they share information among the processors. Shared memory multiprocessors offer a common physical memory address space that all processors can access. Multiple processes or multiple threads within the same process can communicate through shared variables in memory that allow them to read or write to the same memory location in the computer. Message passing multiprocessors, in contrast, have a separate memory space for each processor, requiring processes to communicate through explicit messages to each other.
Shared memory multiprocessors can further be classified by how their memory is physically organized. In distributed shared memory (DSM) machines, the memory is divided into modules physically placed near groups of one or more processors. Although all of the memory modules are globally accessible, a processor can access memory placed nearby faster than memory placed remotely. Because the memory access time differs based on memory location, distributed shared memory machines are also called non-uniform memory access (NUMA) machines. In centralized shared memory machines, on the other hand, all of the memory is physically in one location. Centralized shared memory machines are also called uniform memory access (UMA) machines because the memory is equidistant in time from each of the processors. Both forms of memory organization typically use high-speed cache memory in conjunction with main memory to reduce execution time.
Multiprocessor systems with distributed shared memory are often organized into nodes with one or more processors per node. Included in the node may be a node bus, local memory for the processors, a remote cache for caching data obtained from memory in other nodes, and logic for linking the node with other nodes in the computer. A processor in a node communicates directly with the local memory and communicates indirectly with memory on other nodes through the node""s remote cache. For example, if the desired data is in local memory, a processor obtains the data directly from a block (or line) of local memory. However, if the desired data is stored in memory in another node, the processor must access its remote cache to obtain the data. A remote cache hit occurs if the data has been obtained recently and is presently stored in a line of the remote cache. Otherwise a cache miss occurs, and the processor must obtain the desired data from the local memory of another node through the linking logic and place the obtained data in its node""s remote cache. Further information on multiprocessor computer systems in general and NUMA machines in particular can be found in a number of works including Computer Architecture: A Quantitative Approach (2nd Ed. 1996), by D. Patterson and J. Hennessy.
Data coherency is maintained among the multiple caches and memories of a distributed shared memory machine through a cache coherency protocol such as the protocol described in the Scalable Coherent Interface (SCI)(IEEE 1596). Central to this coherency protocol is the use of doubly linked sharing list structures to keep track of the cache lines of separate remote caches that share the same data. Before the data in one of the linked cache lines can change, such as by a processor writing to a cache line, the other cache lines on the list must be invalidated and the list purged (i.e., dissolved).
An SCI sharing list is constructed using tags that are associated with each line of memory and each line of a remote cache. A memory tag includes a state field and a head pointer that, when a sharing list exists for the memory line, points to the node that is the head of the list. A remote cache tag includes a state field, a backward pointer, and a forward pointer. The backward pointer points to the node that is the next list element toward the home node. The forward pointer points to the node that is the next list element toward the list tail. In the remote cache tag at the list head, the backward pointer points to the home memory whose data is cached. In the remote cache tag at the list tail, the forward pointer is null.
A sharing list is formed, increased, or dissolved whenever a processor tries to read from or write to a line of data that is not present in its remote cache or local memory. In these cases a processor then requests the data from the remote memory storing the data. If no cached copies of the line exist in the computer system, the remote memory responds with the data. A sharing list is then formed with a cache line on the requesting processor""s node now storing the data. The pointers in the memory and remote cache tags are changed as described above to designate the node containing the cache line as the list head, with the remote cache tag""s forward pointer set to null since there are no other list elements. If a cached copy of the data already exists in the computer system, the memory still responds with the data if it is valid; otherwise, the data is obtained from the present head of the list. Again, the pointers in the memory and remote cache tags are changed to designate the node of the requesting processor as the list head and the old head is moved down the list.
An old sharing list is dissolved and its cache lines invalidated when a processor writes to a memory line that corresponds to the sharing list. The SCI scheme for invalidating a sharing list is shown in FIGS. 1A-C, where a processor writes to a cache line that is shared by other nodes. In FIG. 1A, the state of a sharing list is shown before the scheme is initiated. Node N is the head of the list. As indicated by the bidirectional arrows, the remote cache tag for the shared line points forward to node Y, whose remote cache tag for the line points backward to node N. Similarly, the remote cache tag for the cache line on node Y points forward to node Z, whose remote cache tag for the share line points backward to node Y. Since the remote cache tag for the line on node Z does not point forward to another cache line in this example, node Z is the tail of the list. In FIG. 1B, node N issues an SCI invalidate request (1) to node Y to remove its cache line from the list. Node Y responds through its cache controller by issuing a bus invalidate request (2) on its node bus to its bus controller. The bus controller invalidates the copies of the cache line that exist in the processors"" local caches and acknowledges to the cache controller when the invalidate is complete (3). The cache controller then updates the state of its cache line in the remote cache to invalid and issues an invalidate response to node N (4). This response confirms that the cache line has been invalidated and that node Y has been removed from the list. The response also includes the forward pointer to node Z. Using this forward pointer, node N then issues an SCI invalidate request to node Z to remove its cache line from the list (5). Node Z responds in the same manner as node Y. by issuing a bus invalidate request (6) and a bus invalidate response (7) internally and an SCI invalidate response to Node N (8). FIG. 1C shows the state of the nodes"" cache lines after the sequence of invalidate requests is complete and the sharing list has been dissolved. The state of the cache line on node N indicates that only its cache line now has valid data (even the memory data is invalid). The states of the cache lines on nodes Y and Z indicate that their copies of the data are invalid.
Although this scheme works, it is slow for several reasons. First, the invalidate request requires multiple responses to the head of the sharing list, one from each element node of the list. Second, each element node must complete the invalidation of the copies of the cache lines stored in the processors"" local caches before acknowledging that the invalidation is complete. The problem of multiple responses may be addressed by forwarding the invalidate request from one node to another rather than responding to the list head. The serial nature of the invalidation scheme, however, persists. An element node does not respond to the head of the list or forward the invalidate request to a succeeding node until the element node invalidates all copies of the cache line within the local caches and remote cache.
An objective of the invention, therefore, is to reduce the time for invalidating cache lines on a sharing list by performing some of the requisite actions in parallel. Another objective of the invention is to reduce such time by having a node acknowledge that the invalidate request is complete before all copies of the cache line thereon have actually been invalidated. Another objective of the invention is to reduce such time while maintaining the appropriate processor consistency model.
A method for invalidating cache lines in a multiprocessor system includes, in response to an invalidate request from a first node, issuing an invalidate acknowledgement by a second node before the cache line on the second node is actually invalidated. The early invalidate acknowledgement can be issued by sending it to the first node or forwarding it to a third node, as desired.
The method may further include, after issuing the invalidate acknowledgement, setting a flag indicating that an invalidation is pending and, after completing the invalidation of the cache line, clearing the flag. This is done to maintain processor consistency.
The method may also include receiving at the second node a cacheable transaction. The flag is then checked to determine whether an invalidation is pending at the second node. If so, execution of the cacheable transaction is delayed until the flag is clear. The cacheable transaction can be any transaction that affects processor consistency, such as issuance of a read response to a node bus, an issuance of a write request to a node bus, or an issuance of an interrupt.
Similarly, a multiprocessor system capable of executing the above methods is shown and described.
The method is particularly applicable to multiprocessor systems using the SCI protocol, in which shared cache lines are connected via a sharing list.
These and other aspects and features of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description and accompanying drawings.

Maintaining order of write operations in a multiprocessor for memory consistency

International Business Machines Corporation


A motor-driven compressor includes a compression unit, an electric motor, a motor drive circuit, a housing, and a first end plate. The electric motor includes a rotation shaft, a rotor provided with a rotor core, and a stator. The stator includes a state core and a coil. The coil includes first and second coil ends. The rotor core includes a refrigerant passage having a first opening that opens in the compression unit side. The first opening includes a first radially outer region. First and second regions in the housing are in communication through the refrigerant passage. The first end plate includes a first communication port arranged on a first region side end of the rotor core. The first region and the refrigerant passage are in communication through the first opening and first communication port. The first radially outer region is covered by the first end plate.

The present invention relates to a motor-driven compressor.
A motor-driven compressor is provided with a housing including a cylindrical motor housing, which has a closed end, and a cylindrical discharge housing, which has a closed end and is coupled to the open end of the motor housing. An inverter cover is coupled to the motor housing. A rotation shaft is accommodated in the motor housing. The motor housing accommodates a compression unit, which includes a compression chamber that compresses a refrigerant, and an electric motor, which drives the compression unit. Further, a compartment formed between the motor housing and the inverter cover accommodates a motor drive circuit that drives the electric motor.
The electric motor includes a rotor, which rotates integrally with the rotation shaft, and a stator, which surrounds the rotor. The stator is fixed to the inner surface of the motor housing and includes an annular stator core and coils. Teeth extend from the stator core, which is fixed to the inner surface of the motor housing. The coils are arranged in slots defined between the teeth. The rotor includes a rotor core, which is fixed to the rotation shaft, and permanent magnets, which are embedded in the rotor core.
The motor housing includes a suction port, which is connected to an external refrigerant circuit. A discharge chamber is formed between the motor housing and the discharge housing. The discharge housing includes a discharge port, which is connected to the external refrigerant circuit. Refrigerant, which is drawn into the motor housing through the suction port, flows toward the compression chamber through a passage formed between an outer surface of the stator core and the inner surface of the motor housing. The compression chamber draws in and compresses the refrigerant. The compressed refrigerant is discharged from the compression chamber into the discharge chamber. The refrigerant then flows out of the discharge chamber through the discharge port, enters the external refrigerant circuit, and returns to the motor housing through the suction port.
The refrigerant flowing through the passage between the outer surface of the stator core and the inner surface of the motor housing cools the stator core. However, the refrigerant cannot sufficiently cool the rotor core. Thus, the entire electric motor cannot be sufficiently cooled.
Korean Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2011-128680 describes an example of an electric motor including a rotor core provided with a plurality of refrigerant passages. The refrigerant passages extend in an axial direction through the rotor core. Refrigerant drawn into the motor housing from the suction port flows through the refrigerant passages. The refrigerant flowing through each refrigerant passage cools the rotor core and improves the cooling performance of the entire electric motor.
However, there is a demand for an electric motor having a cooling performance that is further improved from that of the electric motor described in Korean Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2011-128680.

Motor-driven compressor including a rotor core having a refrigerant passage


A substrate processing apparatus includes a substrate processing apparatus, including: a substrate processing chamber configured to accommodate a substrate and process the substrate; a piping coupled to the substrate processing chamber to allow a gas for processing the substrate to be introduced therethrough; and a simulation apparatus configured to simulate a path in which the gas for processing the substrate flows through the piping. The simulation apparatus includes: an information acquisition unit configured to acquire gas flow information defined by an operation mode in which the substrate is processed; a path determination unit configured to determine a gas path based on the gas flow information acquired by the information acquisition unit; and a simulation unit configured to simulate a flow of the gas by putting a color defined according to the type of gas on the gas path determined by the path determination unit.

In manufacturing a semiconductor, various kinds of gases are allowed to flow through a path formed by combining a plurality of pipes, in a process of, for example, performing heat processing on a substrate such as a semiconductor wafer or the like.
In designing this process, data including details of a process, i.e., a so-called procedure (hereinafter, referred to as a "recipe"), is prepared. For example, a gas flow diagram for flowing the gases is designed according to the recipe including paths, flow rates, and types of the gases which may be used in the process associated with the recipe. This recipe is generally prepared in the form of a table.
Since the recipe prepared in the form of a table is hard to read, a technique of simulating a state of a path for flowing gas by linking a gas piping design drawing (a CAD drawing) with the recipe has been devised recently.
In the conventional technique, a pipe, which is a gas path, is displayed only by being classified with a color. In this case, although a path or range in which a gas flows may be known, it may be difficult to accurately determine a direction of a gas flow or a way (state) of joining or mixing different types of gases. Thus, there is a problem in that it is difficult to determine whether or not a recipe provides a correct state of a gas flow diagram.
In addition, it is desired to simulate in real-time a state of a process operating in a substrate processing apparatus such as an actual semiconductor processing apparatus, as well as a simple simulation of the recipe.

Substrate processing apparatus, simulation apparatus, storage medium and simulation method


A collision avoidance system for snowmobiles includes an array of sensors positioned on a front side of the snowmobile for detecting the presence and location of an approaching obstacle. The sensors include both heat sensors and speed sensors. A control unit is provided for processing signals received from the sensors and outputting audio signals indicative of the detected location of the approaching obstacle. A wireless transmitter transmits the audio signals to a receiver and speaker system contained in a headset or helmet. The speaker system includes left and right speakers contained in the headset or helmet which are adapted to be positioned near or within the driver's left and right ears and provide audible warnings to the driver. The control unit varies a loudness of the audible warnings in the left and right speakers to indicate a direction from which the detected obstacle is approaching.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to systems for detecting obstacles and avoiding collisions. In particular, the present invention relates to an obstacle detection and collision avoidance system that uses audible alerts to warn a driver of an approaching obstacle.
2. Description of the Related Art
The Consumer Product Safety Commission estimates that each year about 110 people in the United States die while riding snowmobiles, and 13,400 others seek hospital treatment for injuries sustained in snowmobile accidents. Approximately two-fifths of snowmobile-related deaths occur when drivers collide with trees, wires, bridges, and especially other snowmobiles. There is a great need in the industry for a product to reduce the number of snowmobile accidents.
Snowmobile designers offer many safety features, including protective windshields, body and frame designs for protecting crash victims, improved braking systems, and emergency kill systems. However, little has been done in the area of collision avoidance systems suitable for use by snowmobiles and other off-road vehicles.
Vehicle guidance and collision detection systems have been developed for automobiles, as well as military defense systems, avionics systems, and space exploration systems. However, this technology is costly and has not been commercialized in a manner suitable for snowmobiles.
Several prior art patents disclose collision avoidance systems for use with automobiles. Among these systems are computer-controlled systems that process signals from various types of object sensors to determine a safe following distance for the host vehicle to avoid a collision. Other prior art systems include inputs from steering sensors to determine which obstructions are in the projected path of travel of the host vehicle. Still other systems use multiple sensors positioned around the vehicle and/or other inputs, such as GPS, to provide additional information for avoiding collisions. Examples of such prior art systems are briefly described below.
Kinoshita et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 6,114,951) disclose a vehicle collision preventing apparatus that uses an image processor and a computer for calculating inter-vehicle distance to observe and maintain a safe following distance behind another vehicle traveling in the same direction.
Yavnayi et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 5,388,048) disclose a vehicle anti-collision device that uses a laser range-finder mounted near the windshield of the host vehicle to determine the distance and closing velocity of a leading vehicle. A safe following distance is then calculated based on information from the laser range-finder and a determined self-speed of the host vehicle.
Gustafson (U.S. Pat. No. 6,014,601) discloses a driver alert system that uses a laser transmitter to transmit a laser beam at an object, and a laser receiver to receive a reflection of the laser beam. A processing unit calculates the relative speed of the object using information from the vehicle speedometer system, and also calculates a distance from the object and a relative acceleration of the object with respect to the vehicle. The system uses a linear light system to display the level of safety or danger.
Waffler et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 5,477,461) disclose a method for avoiding collisions of a motor vehicle with an obstacle that uses a plurality of scanning beams emitted fanwise in and beside the motion path of the vehicle. The output from the scanning beams is fed to an evaluation unit along with a steering angle signal to determine which obstacles pose a danger in the projected path of the vehicle.
O'Brien et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 5,341,344) disclose an obstacle-detection system in which a plurality of microwave-transceiver sensors are positioned around the vehicle. The signals reflected from objects around the vehicle are processed by a control unit, and an alarm is sounded if a detected object is determined to be a threat to the vehicle.
Abst et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 5,339,075) disclose a vehicular collision avoidance apparatus that uses an ultrasonic transmitter/receiver to detect when there is a threat of changing lanes into the path of another vehicle. The device is activated by the turn signal indicator control of the host vehicle and emits an audible warning signal with a frequency related to a degree of threat from the other vehicle.
Sindle (U.S. Pat. No. 5,173,881) discloses a vehicular proximity sensing system in which a plurality of ultrasonic distance-detector devices are disposed around a vehicle's periphery. A simulated vehicle display is provided on the dashboard to alert the diver to the close approach of an external object.
Lemelson et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 6,553,130) disclose a motor vehicle warning system that uses a TV camera mounted on the vehicle and an image processor to analyze the video images and identify obstacles. A warning means is used to warn the driver of approaching and existing hazards.
Ichikawa et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 6,408,247) disclose an obstacle detecting system that uses output from a radar device and information from wheel speed sensors and a yaw rate sensor to determine whether a detected obstacle is a collision threat.
Breed et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 6,405,132) disclose an accident avoidance system that uses GPS ranging signals to monitor the positions of vehicles and approaching dangers on a roadway. This system relies primarily on stored information of roadway lane and boundary locations and information received by GPS from other vehicles on the road to determine when dangers are approaching. Breed et al. also use a radar system and/or a laser radar for detecting vehicles and other hazards that are not equipped with a GPS transmitter.
The conventional collision avoidance systems described above are not suitable for use with snowmobiles and other off-road vehicles because they are generally too complicated, they fail to discriminate between obstacles that pose a real danger threat and obstacles that pose little or no danger, and/or they are not equipped with a suitable interface for alerting the driver of an approaching danger. Thus, there is a need in the industry for an improved collision avoidance system suitable for use with snowmobiles and other off-road vehicles.

Collision avoidance system for snowmobiles


A method for synchronizing mixed-media data files that comprises receiving a streaming media file, receiving a static media file, producing a streaming output from the streaming media file, querying the streaming output for a time marker upon receiving an input, and associating the static media file with the time marker and the streaming media file in an output file. An apparatus for synchronizing mixed-media data files that comprises a computer system including a database with one or more data structures relating to streaming media files and static media files stored on a storage device. The computer system also includes an application program coupled to the database that is configured to execute the methods described above.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates generally to the field of media presentation, and more particularly to methods and apparatus for synchronizing media files.
2. Background Information
A mixed-media file presentation system is a presentation system that simultaneously presents different media elements, such as video, audio, images, and text. FIG. 1 illustrates such a mixed-media file presentation system as the display screen of a computer, which is one means for delivering a mixed-media file presentation. The mixed-media file presentation system of FIG. 1 comprises a frame and background 106 that hold a variety of media elements. In this particular example, there is a video element 100, a static image element 102, and a text element 104 in the form of subtitles. When the mixed-media file presentation system is in use, the video plays while the slides and subtitles change. The system may also present animations or simulations.
In order for the mixed-media presentation to flow smoothly, it is necessary to synchronize the different media elements so that they will be presented at the correct moment in the presentation. For instance, the presentation can consist of a video of a person giving a lecture, slides to which the lecturer refers, and subtitles that display what the lecturer is saying in any of a number of languages.
The presentation system must display the slides at the correct moment in the lecture, and it must correctly present subtitles while the video is playing. The presentation must correctly associate these media elements to one another.
According to the present state-of-the-art, methods exist for achieving this type of synchronization. In a known embodiment, data is physically embedded for the slides and subtitles into the actual video data file. For example, a user will embed Universal Record Locators ("URLs") at locations within the video data file that are links to the slides or subtitles, or the user will place URLs at the front of the video data file and embed markers into the video data file at various locations in the data stream. The embedded URLs or markers appear at locations in the video data file that correspond to when the slides and subtitles are to appear.
A drawback to the above approach is that it is destructive and therefore makes reuse of the files a problem. By stating that this method is destructive, it is meant that it permanently changes the video data file (for instance). Later, if it is desired to reuse some portion of the previous files, then the user must start from scratch and embed new data into a fresh video data file.
Notwithstanding the destructive nature of such a system, the method for making changes to a mixed-media file presentation system discussed above is time-consuming and tedious: users often must carefully watch and time a video as it plays to know where to embed the slide and subtitle data.

Methods and apparatuses for synchronizing mixed-media data files


A method for painting a parts made of dielectric or low-conductivity material using a paint spraying unit including a chamber connected to both a paint outlet and to a paint supply. At least one electrode is mechanically and electrically connected to the part. An electrostatic field is generated between the electrode and the paint spraying unit. Paint is fed from the paint supply through the chamber to the outlet. The paint is electrically charged. The paint is sprayed onto the part to be painted. The outer surface of the electrode used includes at least one jagged portion for engaging the part to be painted. The jagged portion is the location of a peak electrostatic effect.

The current methods for painting on wood involve sanding, staining, waiting for the stain to dry, peeling off the stain, applying a liquid finish, waiting for the liquid finish to dry and then repeating this process several times, often as many as seven times. The edges of the boards are treated separately and the two faces must be treated several times. The entire process, therefore, takes two and a half days (for a basic finish) or up to four days (for complex forms involving moldings, cuttings and grooves). Additionally, the liquid finishes are not guaranteed to hold more than one, or maybe a few years. The spectrum of colors is forcibly very limited. Finally, the coats of finish must be applied evenly; in other words, the number of coats on the two faces generally must be the same, or the board will appear shaded.
Other methods for finishing wood involve coating the faces of the board with a sheet of laminated paper or veneering. Complex forms are, therefore, difficult to finish, if not impossible, by such a means of manufacture. The coatings and their bondings with the wood are of limited value against impacts to the wood.
Finally, a last method involves applying, by way of pressure and heat, a film of plastic material of different color and structure on one face and the four edges. This method cannot be used to cover the entirety of a board in one application. Further, the natural grain of the face of the wood may allow the film to show through The choice of colors here, too, is very limited.
The instant invention seeks to resolve these problems by proposing a method of painting parts made of dielectric or low-conductivity material in particular wood, an electrode and an apparatus for painting on said materials using said method.

Method and apparatus for electrostatically painting parts made of dielectric or low-conductivity material


A method and device for image coding, primarily intended to be applied in the transmission of video signals, convert a video signal to a bit stream by coding and quantising. The bit stream is stored in a buffer store before it is sent at a constant bit rate on a transmission line. The content in the buffer store is regulated by varying the step height in the quantiser. With the frame rate at the input being known and the frame rate and bit rate at the output being known, the ideal buffer store content can be determined. The actual buffer store content is sensed and compared with the ideal buffer store content and the difference between these two values is determined. The step height in the quantiser is adjusted as a function of the difference.

The invention relates to a method and to a device for image coding of a video signal.
It is primarily intended that the method and device according to the present invention should be utilised in the transmission of video signals that are used, for example, in video telephony. In order to obtain good quality signals for such use, the video signal is converted into a digital signal. The format of the digital signal is specified by the International Consultative Committee for Telegraphs and Telephones (CCITT) H.261 standard. However, the method of digitisation of the video signal can be selected independently by the user.
The transmission of a digital signal is traditionally carried out with the aid of a number of circuits which are frequently divided into a video input signal section, a coder core and a video multiplexer (VMUX). The video input signal section effects suitable signal processing of the video input signal. The coder core effects some form of transformation coding of the signal which can be predictive (INTER) or non predictive (INTRA). After the transformation coding, the signal is quantised.
The digital bit stream is then subjected to further code processing by the VMUX in order to effect compression of the bit stream. Traditionally, run length coding, variable length coding and error correction are also effected. The operation of the VMUX is normally effected by means of a signal processor. Since these codings produce different numbers of bits per frame and the bit rate on the transmission line at the output of the image coding device is constant, the VMUX contains a buffer store.
Problems experienced with the known technology relate to the prevention of overflow in the buffer store and the buffer being emptied prematurely. Both of these problems give rise to a deterioration in image quality. At the same time, the content of the buffer store should be as small as possible.
It is an object of the present invention to overcome the foregoing by arranging for the content of the buffer store to be regulated by adjusting the step height in the quantising arrangements as a function of the difference between an actual and an ideal value for the content of the buffer store.

Video coding system with buffer control quantization step size


A signal sampler digitally samples magnetic signals detected by read head(s) of a magnetic tape drive, and a signal quality system extracts from the digital samples of a format required signal of the magnetic signals, such as a data set separator pattern, an estimated amplitude of write equalization transitions of the format required signal; and compares the extracted estimated amplitude to acceptable amplitude.

Magnetic tape cartridges provide a means to store data on magnetic tape to be saved and read back at a subsequent time. A source of variation of the readback of signals recorded to magnetic tape is the write quality of the recorded signals, which may be a function of the varying response of the write driver circuitry of various writing tape drives. This variation can become more apparent at high tape velocities during write. Magnetic tapes may be interchanged between tape drives, such that a magnetic tape written on one tape drive will be read by another tape drive. Variation in the response of the write driver circuitry between tape drives may thus result in unacceptably poor write quality for recorded signals when the attempt is made to read the signals by another tape drive.

Determination of magnetic tape write quality employing write equalization transitions