Metallic substrates with a vitreous or glass-ceramic pigmented protective layer are obtainable by applying an alkali metal silicate-containing coating sol to the substrate or a surface thereof and thermally densifying the layer thus obtained, said alkali metal silicate-containing coating sol comprising an oxidic pigment of at least one element selected from the third and fourth main or subgroups of the Periodic Table of the chemical elements and the transition metals Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Nb and Ta.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to metallic articles having vitreous or glass-ceramic pigmented protective layers exhibiting a high chemical resistance.
2. Discussion of Background Information
Vitreous or glass-ceramic protective layers are applied to metallic surfaces generally by what is called an enameling operation. Enamels are glasses which melt relatively readily at relatively high temperatures and then form a coherent coating on the metal surface. The melting temperatures are generally between 750 and 800° C. when enamels with a sufficient chemical resistance are to be achieved, for example toward boiling water, weak acids or alkaline, boiling or cooking foods, etc. The latter is required particularly in applications in the foods sector.
The enamels are applied in a wet process, wherein an aqueous slurry or suspension (engobe) of the finely ground glass powder (frit) is generally applied to the metal surface (for example by dipping or spray application), dried and then melted at the abovementioned temperatures. To achieve a coherent, impervious, pore-free coating, layer thicknesses of 50 to 100 μm are required. Owing to the high viscosity of glasses and the high softening temperatures which exist particularly in the case of silicate glasses, as already mentioned, melting temperatures of well above 700° C. are required. The softening temperature depends to a particularly high degree on the silica content of the glass. High silica contents lead to a high softening temperature and result in a high chemical resistance of the glass. High alkali metal contents, in contrast, result in a low softening temperature but lead to a low chemical resistance (low hydrolytic class). Especially for the use of such layers in the field of aggressive media (for example acidic) or in the foods sector, especially when, for example, machine dishwasher stability is required, the low-melting layers mentioned are therefore unsuitable. This is also one of the reasons why, for example, enamel is not used on aluminum in the domestic appliance sector, especially in cookware, because aluminum already melts at temperatures a little above 600° C. The situation is analogous in the case of magnesium or in the case of magnesium-aluminum alloys. The same also applies to metal assemblies composed of several components when one of these components is from the range of the abovementioned lightweight metals.
Furthermore, coloring is of crucial importance for many applications since the question of an attractive design is of high significance for many articles, particularly in the consumer goods sector. In the foods sector, the question of food compatibility and of toxicology in particular is a predominant factor. For this reason, the chemical resistance of a vitreous coating is of particular significance especially when it is necessary to prevent leaching of components, for example metal ions, out of coloring pigments.
It was therefore an object of the invention to provide metallic substrates with a colored vitreous coating having improved chemical properties, especially improved alkali stability extending as far as machine dishwasher stability.
Important prerequisites for the achievement of corrosion-resistant layers are a high stability of the matrix material of the coating, especially toward alkalis, crack- and pinhole-free consolidation, for which an appropriately matched coefficient of expansion of the coating material to the substrate is also required. However, it is known that, in the case of pigmented systems in which shrinkage of the coating matrix is unavoidable, nonshrinking pigments, for example oxidic pigments, lead to stresses and cracking in the course of sintering. It is known from the relevant glass literature that the alkali stability of silicate glasses can be improved significantly by addition of particular ions (network-stabilizing components). Possible solutions to the problem are therefore glass compositions which comprise such components (for example aluminum oxide or titanium dioxide). As likewise known from the sol-gel literature, sol-gel coatings with such multicomponent systems are difficult to produce, have exceptionally short pot life, are generally stable only in strongly acidic solutions and are therefore barely practicable in industry. If such systems are to be produced with high coefficients of expansion in order to be matched to the coefficients of expansion of metals (TCE≈8×10−6/K or greater), the alkali metal contents must be increased well above the level of conventional glasses (10 to 15 percent by weight), which is in turn associated with a severe loss of chemical stability.
Patent specifications U.S. Pat. No. 6,162,498 and US 2008/0118745 describe processes in which vitreous, relatively abrasion-resistant layers resistant to oxidation corrosion (for example tarnishing of stainless steel) are obtained. The process comprises                the production of a coating solution via hydrolysis and polycondensation of one or more silanes in the presence of colloidal silica sol and of at least one component from the group of the alkali metal and alkaline earth metal oxides and hydroxides;        the application of the coating solution to a metal surface to form a layer;        thermal densification to form a vitreous film;        in U.S. Pat. No. 6,162,498, the use of densification temperatures between 350 and 500° C.;        in US 2008/0118745, additionally the formation of formable vitreous layers, via        the use of an alkali metal silicate-containing layer through densification in a two-stage operation with a preferred temperature of 500° C.;        the production of layer systems via dipping and spraying with layers in the range from 5 to 10 μm;        the application of the coatings to metal surfaces and metal components, especially to stainless steel, but also to aluminum and aluminum alloys.
The systems described have a high SiO2 content and are therefore stable only to acids, and not in an alkaline medium. Thus, these layers can be removed quantitatively even with relatively dilute hot sodium hydroxide solution and are not machine dishwasher-stable in any case, which means that they are not normally suitable for the foods sector or as protective layers for applications at relatively high pH values.
However, these layers are also suitable for application to aluminum and aluminum alloys since the densification temperatures thereof are well below 600° C.; however, this does not improve chemical stability with regard to alkali resistance. The layers are also suitable for coating of components and assemblies composed of aluminum or aluminum alloys and other metals, whether in the form of a laminate formed from metal sheets or plates, in the form of a sandwich, or assemblies comprising components made from different metals which are bonded or joined to one another in some other way (for example screwed, pressed or riveted).
It has now been found that, surprisingly, the disadvantages outlined above, especially the insufficient chemical stability of such coating materials, are alleviated or avoided when they are used in conjunction with pigments, preferably platelet-shaped pigments, but especially when they are applied as a multiple layer. They then have a distinct increase in hydrolytic stability and, in the machine dishwasher test, withstand several hundred cycles without impairment.
In addition, it was also surprising that the pigmented coating solutions achieve layers which sinter to produce impervious layers, even though sintering operations in which thermal densification of the matrix material inevitably leads to shrinkage, with oxidic additives (i.e. already imperviously sintered additives which by their nature cannot shrink any further), generally cause internal crack formation. The latter worsens the chemical stability in particular to an exceptional degree since corrosive liquids penetrate into the layer through the cracks and cause corrosion processes at the metal surface resulting in detachment phenomena. In addition, it was also surprising that the layer systems for which an estimate of the coefficients of expansion of the matrix gave values between α=1.0 and 4.0×10−6/K due to their composition, in spite of differences between the coated metals (α>10), did not give rise to any deterioration in the imperviosity of the layer. Coating solutions with compositions corresponding to customary soda-lime glasses with corresponding thermal properties were produced in the context of the invention, but are not preferred due to the problems described above. Moreover, the coefficients of expansion which are measured in solid glass are only of minor relevance for thin layers since structures which arise in thin layers differ significantly from the structure of solid glass and hence also have different properties.

Metallic articles having vitreous or glass-ceramic pigmented protective layers having a high chemical resistance

EPG (ENGINEERED NANOPRODUCTS GERMANY) AG


The present invention provides an etching process for decreasing mask defect. The process comprises providing a substrate, and sequentially forming a thin film layer, a mask, and a photoresist on the surface of the substrate. Then the photoresist is trimmed by a bromide compound, and a first etching process is performed to transfer patterns from the photoresist to the mask. A strip process is performed to strip photoresist by mixing gases that include fluorine. Finally, a second etching process is performed to transfer the pattern from patterned mask to the thin film layer.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to etching process for decreasing mask defect, and more particularly, to etching process which can completely clean a photoresist.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Along with continuously reducing line widths of semiconductor elements, the size of each element of MOS transistors continues to be miniaturized. However, exposure machine, etching machine, and photosensitive material limits the line widths of a semiconductor element so that the development of smaller line widths experiences a bottleneck, especially in the same etching reaction chamber named an in-situ etching process. Therefore, it is important to determine how to decrease a mask defect and improve etching accuracy in the latter etching process.
Please to refer to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 that are schematic diagrams for defining the gate pattern of a MOS transistor according to prior art. As shown in FIG. 1, a gate oxide layer 12 is formed on a silicon substrate 10, and a doped polysilicon layer 14, a silicon nitride compound mask 16, and a bottom anti-reflection coating (BARC) layer 18 are sequentially formed on the gate oxide layer 12. Finally, a photoresist layer 20 is formed on the BARC 18.
A photolithographic process is performed to define the gate pattern on the photoresist layer 20. Then, an anisotropic etching process is performed, such as utilizing dry etching to remove the BARC 18 and portions of the mask 16 not covered by the patterned photoresist layer 20 to transfer the pattern from the photoresist layer 20 to the mask 16. Employing an in-situ etcher or etching system, the photoresist layer 20 is removed. Utilizing the mask 16 as a hard mask in the etching process, the doped polysilicon layer 14 is etched down to the surface of the gate oxide layer 12 to form the polysilicon pattern, as shown in FIG. 2.
However, the above-described prior art method still has shortcomings. When using a smaller than 90 nm process, the above-described in-suit etching process cannot completely remove the photoresist layer. Today's pure O2 strip processes will produce halogenated compound polymers formed by F, HBr, Cl, etc. from the etching mask 16 and the photoresist 20 during the process. The halogenated compound polymers causes hard mask defects in later etching of the doped polysilicon layer 14 and influences the accuracy of the mask 16, seriously affecting the quality of the latter etching process.
Therefore, the applicant proposes a method of reducing mask defects to prevent above-described problems.

Etching process for decreasing mask defect


An image forming method using a photothermographic material a photosensitive silver halide, a reducing agent, a binder and a non-photosensitive organic silver salt, wherein:

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method of forming an image using a photothermographic material. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method of forming an image using a photothermographic material that provides constant output images even in a thermal developing apparatus with high line speed at the time of thermal development.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recently, in the field of films for medical imaging and the field of films for graphic arts, there is a strong demand for reducing the volume of waste processing liquid from the viewpoint of environmental preservation and economy of space. There have been demands for technologies relating to use of a photothermographic material as a film for medical imaging and a film for graphic arts. In particular, there is a demand for a photothermographic material that is efficiently exposed by a laser image setter or a laser imager, and provides black-toned images with high resolution and sharpness. Such a photothermographic material can provide users with a more simple and ecological thermal developing system without the use of liquid processing chemicals.
Although there are similar demands in the field of general image forming materials, high image quality (i.e., excellent sharpness and fine graininess) is particularly required for images used in medical imaging where high image quality of excellent sharpness and granularity are necessary. Further, images with blue-black tones are preferred from the perspective of facilitating diagnosis. Various types of hard copy systems using pigment or dye, such as an inkjet printer and an electrophotograph system, are commonly used as a general image forming system. But none of these is satisfactory as an output system for medical images.
In general, thermal image forming systems using organic silver salts are described on page 279 to 291, Chapter 9, "Thermally Processed Silver Systems," (Imaging Processes and Materials) Neblette, 8th edition, edited by D. Klosterboer, compiled by J. Sturge, V. Walworth and A. Shepp (1989), the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
A photothermographic material typically includes a photosensitive layer in which a photocatalyst (e.g., silver halide) of a catalytically active amount, a reducing agent, reducible silver salt (e.g., organic silver salt) and a toner for controlling the tone of a developed silver image as needed are dispersed in the matrix of a binder.
After an image is exposed thereon, a photothermographic material is heated to a high temperature (e.g., 80° C. or above) to cause an oxidation-reduction reaction between reducible silver salt (which acts as an oxidizing agent) and a reducing agent, thus providing a black silver image. The oxidation-reduction reaction is accelerated by the catalytic action of a latent image of the exposed silver halide (see U.S. Pat. (USP) No. 2,910,377 and Japanese Patent Application Publication (JP-B) No. 43-4924).
In view of the expanding fields of application and higher processing volume, it is necessary to record and develop images further rapidly. There has always been demand for improving processing capacity of the thermal developing process and thereby reducing processing time for the above-described photothermographic materials.
There has also been demand for improving adaptability of an image recording apparatus to the place where it is installed and to its environs. Thus the total size of the apparatus including an optical system for laser exposure and a thermal developing section needs to be reduced.
Another important problem in improving the developing process is to develop a photothermographic material adapted to high speed processing.
The problems facing thermal processing of photothermographic materals cannot be adequately addressed by handling the problems regarding the exposing and developing devices and the problems regarding the photothermographic material separately, as has often been the case in the past. Thus it is very difficult to achieve rapid developing process, to reduce the size of the image recording apparatus and to form constant images at the same time in the processing of photothermographic materals.

Image forming method using photothermographic material

Abstract: the photothermographic material is discharged from a thermal developing device within 35 seconds after heating for thermal development is ceased.


A firefighting nozzle is provided with a relief valve assembly that opens to discharge a fine spray or “curtain” of liquid extending 360° around the nozzle, thus cooling off the nozzle operator and the surrounding area, while at the same preventing dangerous pressure build-up in the nozzle. In a preferred embodiment, the relief valve assembly comprises a housing having a substantially cylindrical side wall defining a bore. A tubular sleeve divides the bore into two parts: a cylindrical inner passage defining the primary flow path for liquid traveling through the nozzle; and an annular space defining a valve chamber. A plurality of relief ports is formed in a 360° degree pattern around the side wall of housing, each relief port defining a secondary flow path extending substantially perpendicularly to the primary flow path. An annular plug is mounted for sliding movement on the inner sleeve, from a first position blocking the relief ports to a second position allowing flow therethrough. A compression spring or other biasing element is provided for normally urging the plug toward the first position. When liquid entering the nozzle exerts enough pressure on the inlet end of the annular plug to overcome the force of the biasing element, the annular plug moves away from the relief plugs, thereby allowing liquid to escape through the relief ports, simultaneously reducing the pressure inside the nozzle as well as the air temperature outside the nozzle.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to the art of firefighting equipment.
More particularly, the invention relates to a nozzle for dispensing liquid from a fire hose.
In a further and more specific aspect, the instant invention concerns a nozzle having a valve that acts simultaneously to prevent excessive pressure build-up in the nozzle, and to create a curtain of liquid for cooling the nozzle operator and the surrounding environment.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Firefighters who operate hand-held nozzles are at constant risk of injury from the reaction forces generated when high-pressure liquid is discharged from those nozzles. Very often these forces cause whipping motions or other unwanted movements that can cause the firefighter to drop the nozzle, lose balance, and even be thrown off a ladder or a ledge.
In addition to the danger presented by high reaction forces, the firefighter must cope with the extremely high temperatures created by the fire itself. Not only is the air around the fire uncomfortably hot, but any equipment, vehicles, or structures in the vicinity also heat up, and can scorch or scald any firefighters or bystanders who inadvertently come into contact with these items. Accordingly, there is a need for a cooling system that can reduce the ambient temperature of the fire scene.
Various attempts have been made to solve the problem of high reaction forces. For instance, engine-driven pumps are often controlled by governors which respond to increases in discharge pressure by decreasing the rpm of the engine. In addition, some nozzles have trigger-operated valves where the strength of the operator's grip determines the discharge pressure. However, none of the existing systems are foolproof, and many are expensive.
The problem of high ambient temperature is alleviated to an extent by certain nozzles that incorporate a "fog generation" feature that allows them to emit a conical spray of evenly distributed water droplets. This spray spreads over a relatively wide area, forming a cool, protective shroud in front of the nozzle operator. However, because this spray is forwardly directed, it does little to cool the areas directly alongside or behind the operator.
It would be highly advantageous, therefore, to remedy the foregoing and other deficiencies inherent in the prior art.

Nozzle with combination presure-relief and cooling valve


An image processing apparatus, which processes a plurality of image data obtained by picking up images of an object in different photographing conditions, combines the plurality of image data and generate combined image data, and switches between execution of determination processing for determining the object included in the image on at least one of the plurality of image data and execution of the determination processing on the combined image data.

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus and an image processing method. In particular, the present invention relates to an image processing apparatus, an image processing method, and an imaging apparatus, which can perform a face detection function in moving image processing.
Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, there have been known technologies including face detection processing for detecting a human face in an image, face recognition processing for recognizing a person of the detected face, and facial expression determination processing for determining a facial expression of the detected face. If the image includes a blocked up shadow area or a flared highlight area, the above-mentioned processings cannot be performed accurately for the area.
Therefore, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2009-278155, there is disclosed a method of generating a plurality of moving image signals of different exposures in face detection in moving image photographing and performing the face detection based on each moving image signal, thereby preventing a face from being not detected due to photographing against light or the like.
However, reading-out of a plurality of frames of different exposures and further performing the face detection processing on each of the plurality of frames result in increase of the number of frames on which the face detection processing and the like are performed, and hence time necessary for completing the processings is increased.
Here, as described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2011-23985, there has been known a technology of generating one frame image signal having reduced blocked up shadow areas and flared highlight areas by combining a plurality of image data of different exposure amounts. By performing the face detection processing, the face recognition processing, or the facial expression determination processing using a frame image signal of broader dynamic range generated by combining a plurality of read-out frames, it is possible to obtain a processing result with high accuracy using one frame image signal.
However, the face detection processing, the face recognition processing, or the facial expression determination processing is performed after combining the plurality of image data of different exposure amounts. Therefore, the time necessary for obtaining a result of the processing increases compared to the case where the combining process is not performed, though the increase is not as large as in the case where the face detection processing or the like is performed on each of the plurality of frames.

Image processing apparatus, image processing method, image processing program, and imaging apparatus


In one embodiment, the present invention includes a method for determining if data of a memory request by a first agent is in a memory region represented by a region indicator of a region table of the first agent, and transmitting a compressed address for the memory request to other agents of a system if the memory region is represented by the region indicator, otherwise transmitting a full address. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Computer systems are becoming increasingly complex and may include advanced processors, including multicore processors. Dual-core processors having two processor cores that execute instructions concurrently have been introduced. It is anticipated that in the future, processors will be manufactured that include additional cores, e.g., more than two cores. Current road maps include processors with four and eight cores. Additionally, long term it is anticipated that processors will evolve to a many-core environment, in which many cores are present in a single processor package, and even on a single substrate or die of the package. Accordingly, it is anticipated that processors with 8, 16, 32, 64, 128 or more cores will become available in the future.
These many cores may be relatively simple, e.g., in-order cores to ease complexity and power dissipation issues. Such cores may accordingly execute parallel applications with reduced power consumption. However, as the complexity of cores is simplified, complexity and power dissipation of an interconnect system that couples these cores together increases. Furthermore, such an interconnect system can consume a significant chip area. Thus while processors based on simple cores may reduce complexity and power dissipation by the cores, other portions of the processor, such as the interconnect system may consume some or all of these gains.

Compressing address communications between processors


A method and apparatus for facilitating transfer of usage rights for digital content. The system comprises digital content, a usage rights module containing usage rights information associated with the content for a user, a transfer permission module containing transfer permission information for the content, a current user identification module containing identity information indicating the identity of the user, and means for manipulating the current user identification module to change the identity information. The content can be transferred form one user to another and the current user identification module can be manipulated to reflect the current user and to permit the current user to have usage rights in the document.

The invention relates generally to distribution of digital works and more specifically to digital works having usage rights that can be transferred to others and a method and apparatus for effecting such a transfer.
One of the most important issues impeding the widespread distribution of digital works or documents (i.e. documents in forms readable by computers), via electronic means, and the Internet in particular, is the current lack of ability to enforce the intellectual property rights of content owners during the distribution and use of digital works. Efforts to resolve this problem have been termed "Intellectual Property Rights Management" ("IPRM"), "Digital Property Rights Management" ("DPRM"), "Intellectual Property Management" ("IPM"), "Rights Management" ("RM"), and "Electronic Copyright Management" ("ECM"), collectively referred to as "Digital rights management (DRM)" herein. There are a number of issues to be considered in digital rights management: authentication, authorization, accounting, payment and financial clearing, rights specification, rights verification, rights enforcement, and document protection for example. U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,530,235, 5,634,012, 5,715,403, 5,638,443, and 5,629,980 disclose DRM concepts addressing these issues and the disclosures thereof are incorporated herein by reference.
In the world of printed documents, a work created by an author is usually provided to a publisher, which formats and prints numerous copies of the work. The copies are then sent by a distributor to bookstores or other retail outlets, from which the copies are purchased by end users. While the low quality of copying and the high cost of distributing printed material have served as deterrents to unauthorized copying of most printed documents, it is far too easy to copy, modify, and redistribute unprotected digital works. Accordingly, some method of protecting digital works is necessary to make it more difficult to copy them without authorization.
Unfortunately, it has been widely recognized that it is difficult to prevent, or even deter, people from making unauthorized distributions of digital works within current general-purpose computing and communications systems such as personal computers, workstations, and other devices connected over communications networks, such as local area networks (LANs), intranets, and the Internet. Many attempts to provide hardware-based solutions to prevent unauthorized copying have proven to be unsuccessful. The proliferation of high band-width "broadband" communications technologies will render it even more convenient to distribute large documents electronically, including video files such as full length motion pictures, and thus will remove any remaining deterrents to unauthorized distribution of digital works. Accordingly, DRM technologies are becoming a high priority.
Two basic DRM schemes have been employed to attempt to solve the document protection problem: secure containers and trusted systems. A "secure container" (or simply an encrypted document) offers a way to keep document contents encrypted until a set of authorization conditions are met and some copyright terms are honored (e.g., payment for use). After the various conditions and terms are verified with the document provider, the document is released to the user in clear form. Commercial products such as IBM's CRYPTOLOPES™ and InterTrust's DIGIBOXES™ fall into this category. Clearly, the secure container approach provides a solution to protecting the document during delivery over insecure channels, but does not provide any mechanism to prevent legitimate users from obtaining the clear document and then using and redistributing it in violation of content owners' intellectual property.
Cryptographic mechanisms are typically used to encrypt (or "encipher") documents that are then distributed and stored publicly, and ultimately privately deciphered by authorized users. This provides a basic form of protection during document delivery from a document distributor to an intended user over a public network, as well as during document storage on an insecure medium.
In the "trusted system" approach, the entire system is responsible for preventing unauthorized use and distribution of the document. Building a trusted system usually entails introducing new hardware such as a secure processor, secure storage and secure rendering devices. This also requires that all software applications that run on trusted systems be certified to be trusted. While building tamper-proof trusted systems is a real challenge to existing technologies, current market trends suggest that open and untrusted systems such as PC's and workstations using browsers to access the Web, will be the dominant systems used to access digital works. In this sense, existing computing environments such as PCs and workstations equipped with popular operating systems (e.g., Windows™, Linux™, and UNIX) and rendering applications such as browsers are not trusted systems and cannot be made trusted without significantly altering their architectures. Of course, alteration of the architecture defeats a primary purpose of the Web, i.e. flexibility and compatibility.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,634,012, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference, discloses a system for controlling the distribution of digital works. Each rendering device has a repository associated therewith. A predetermined set of usage transaction steps define a protocol used by the repositories for carrying out usage rights associated with a work. Usage rights are encapsulated with the content of the digital work or otherwise associated with the content to travel with the content. The usage rights can permit various types of use such as, viewing only, use once, distribution, and the like. Rights can be granted based on payment or other conditions.
Current DRM techniques do not provide the flexibility of distribution that is possible with conventional printed documents. For example, the purchaser of a copy of a book generally can give that same copy to another, trade that copy, or sell that copy without violating the rights of the copyright holder. However, DRM techniques do not provide a flexible means for accomplishing analogous distribution of digital works without diminishing the control over the digital work by the content owner.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Method and apparatus for transferring usage rights and digital work having transferrable usage rights


A visual time clock comprises a set of vertically stacked or adjacent chambers, each of the at least two chambers having interior-located, connected LED strips which are electronically controlled and selectively powered by being turned on or off or dimmed or brightened as time passes. Each chamber is meant to visually show an amount of elapsed time, e.g., seconds, minutes, hours and days (and years and century, if desired). When one chamber visually fills with the timed illumination of the LEDs, it will void and reset its LEDs and simultaneously illuminate one or more of the LEDs of the adjacent chamber.

Clocks can comprise many different forms, including quartz watches to atomic clocks. In this way, various techniques exist for measuring and indicating the time. Clocks generally comprise a clock face with moving clock hands with numbers or indices around the periphery thereof (e.g., for analog clocks) or a digital display (e.g., for digital clocks) for indicating the time. A clock face in its most basic form is well recognized, but clocks generally have not been stylistically developed. In this regard, a novel way to measure and indicate time in a decorative manner is desired.


Trenches are formed in a semiconductor substrate, where the trenches include an outer trench and multiple inner trenches within the outer trench. A metal-oxide semiconductor (MOS) device and a trench MOS Schottky barrier (TMBS) device are also formed in the semiconductor substrate using the trenches. The MOS device could include the outer trench, and the TMBS device could include the inner trenches. At least one of the inner trenches may contact the outer trench, and/or at least one of the inner trenches may be electrically isolated from the outer trench. The MOS device could represent a trench vertical double-diffused metal-oxide semiconductor (VDMOS) device, and the TMBS device may be monolithically integrated with the trench VDMOS device in the semiconductor substrate. A guard ring that covers portions of the inner trenches and that is open over other portions of the inner trenches could optionally be formed in the semiconductor substrate.

Power management devices are often used in discrete low-voltage applications. Conventional power management devices often include trench vertical double-diffused metal-oxide semiconductor ("VDMOS") devices. These trench VDMOS devices have recently been adapted to include trench MOS Schottky barrier ("TMBS") devices, which can be used to provide low forward voltage drops and increased switching speeds.
A TMBS device typically represents a synthesis of planar Schottky and trench technologies that produces a reduction in a surface electric field of the device (due to the "super-junction" effect). This effect reduces the electric field at the Schottky interface, lowering the leakage current and increasing the breakdown voltage of the TMBS device. This may be achieved by extending the depletion region for a given voltage into a semiconductor substrate, such as by merging two opposing depletion regions.
In conventional approaches, the TMBS devices are routinely fabricated as discrete devices normally included as an enhancement to discrete trench VDMOS devices, and multi-chip technology is used to connect the discrete device to a control integrated circuit. These types of multi-chip solutions often suffer from various problems, such as parasitic inductance. Also, Schottky devices often suffer from reverse leakage current, which is typically several orders of magnitude higher than the reverse leakage current for an equivalent area p-n junction. The barrier height of a metal layer in the Schottky devices typically plays a role in determining the amount of reduced voltage drop that can be traded off against increased leakage current. Typically, a metal layer with a lower barrier height may reduce forward voltage but may have higher leakage current. A metal layer with a higher barrier height may offer reduced leakage current but may have increased forward voltage. Increased leakage may also be due to sharp edges around the periphery of a metal plate that forms a contact for the Schottky device.

Method for integrating trench MOS Schottky barrier devices into integrated circuits and related semiconductor devices


A battery pack may be configured to power any of a plurality of different outdoor power equipment device types. The battery pack may include one or more rechargeable battery cells configured to power a device to which the battery pack is operably coupled, and processing circuitry. The processing circuitry may include at least a processor and memory. The processing circuitry may be configured to enable configuration of the device or another device of a same device type as the device based on a set of configuration settings stored in the memory.

Property maintenance tasks are commonly performed using various tools and/or machines that are configured for the performance of corresponding specific tasks. Certain tasks, like cutting trees, trimming vegetation, blowing debris and the like, are typically performed by hand-held tools or power equipment. The hand-held power equipment may often be powered by gas or electric motors. Similarly, walk-behind and ride-on outdoor power equipment are used for specific tasks like lawn mowing, tilling, etc., and these devices can have gas or electric motors.
Until the advent of battery powered electric tools/vehicles, gas powered motors were often preferred by operators that desired, or required, a great deal of mobility. Accordingly, many outdoor power equipment devices are powered by gas motors because they may be required to operate over a relatively large range. However, as battery technology continues to improve, the robustness of battery powered equipment has also improved and such devices have increased in popularity.
The batteries employed in outdoor power equipment may, in some cases, be removable and/or rechargeable assemblies of a plurality of smaller cells that are arranged together in order to achieve desired output characteristics. The groups of smaller cells may be located or housed within a housing to form a battery pack. The battery pack may have physical and electrical design characteristics that determine which devices can be powered by the battery pack. In the past, specific unique battery packs have often been employed for each specific different type of outdoor power equipment or for different brands. Thus, each household or business may have substantially an equal number of battery packs to the number of devices that are powered by such battery packs. This can consume more storage space, and also typically means that a diverse array of different battery chargers is also necessary.
Thus, there is a desire to reduce the diversity of battery pack designs used to power outdoor power equipment.

Apparatus and system for providing device configuration via a battery


A method and system for creating trace triggers from non-concurrent events, the system comprising: a trace trigger mechanism including: a plurality of multiplexers for breaking down a plurality of signals into a plurality of groups of signals; a pattern match mechanism for matching the plurality of signals to form a plurality of events, and a trace array trigger control block to perform one or more functions on the plurality of independently controlled events in order to create flexible trace trigger controls from non-concurrent events to control the starting and stopping of a data gathering function such as is used to capture trace data.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to debugging processes in microprocessors, and particularly to a method for creating trace triggers from non-concurrent events.
2. Description of Background
When signals within a microprocessor chip (or other logic) are not properly driven, the microprocessor does not behave correctly. The debugging process (i.e., finding and fixing the problem) becomes simpler when the signals in the chip can be observed. To make this possible, trace mechanisms are implemented to record events that occur on these internal signals. However, trace mechanisms can only capture a limited amount of information. Once a trace buffer is full, additional information may not be recorded without overwriting older information. Trigger mechanisms are usually added to give more control over when events get recorded.
Triggers are programmed to look for specific events of interest, such as a signal or a pattern on a bus. When a desired event is found, the trigger activates, telling the trace mechanism to either start or stop recording. Conventional triggers watch for a combination of concurrent events, leaving limited flexibility in defining trigger events. An inherent limitation of existing solutions is that this concurrent nature prevents triggering off of multiple events that reach the triggers in sequential order. Designers have to make sure signals used to form an event reach the trigger mechanism simultaneously. To do this, components referred to as staging latches are added in order to delay signals so they arrive at the trigger mechanism concurrently. For instance, if half of an address gets to the trigger mechanism a cycle before the other half, the designer would have to delay the first half with staging latches so that the trigger could observe the entire address simultaneously. These staging latches add power and area, and rigidly define the concurrent signal relationships that define events.
Considering the limitations of the above-mentioned trigger mechanisms, it is desirable, therefore, to formulate a highly flexible method and apparatus for creating trace triggers from non-concurrent events while reducing the need for staging latches.

Efficient and flexible trace trigger handling for non-concurrent events

International Business Machines Corporation


A method of imaging a patient's uncompressed region of interest using X-ray cone beam computed tomography or cone beam digital tomography comprises the step of introducing an effective amount of a contrast agent to the uncompressed region of interest. A system for imaging a patient's uncompressed region of interest using cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) or cone beam digital tomography (CBDT) comprises an X-ray source transmitting an X-ray to the uncompressed region of interest, an image acquisition system acquiring a plurality of two-dimensional projection images data for a CBCT or CBDT data set with at least one of the projection images acquired in 35 milliseconds or less, and a processor generating a three-dimensional computed tomography image data set resolving voxels with dimensions of 0.4 mm or less in at least two orthogonal directions.

Early detection and diagnosis are key for successful treatment of cancer such as breast cancer. Conventional X-ray mammography has been shown a cost-effective tool for early detection of breast cancer. However, the predictive value and specificity of X-ray mammography are limited due to projecting a three-dimensional anatomy into a two-dimensional image and due to poor contrast detectability. The minimum human cancer size that can be detected by conventional X-ray mammography has been on the order of 10 mm in diameter, weighing on the order of 1 gram and containing about 109 cells. If the cancer starts from a single cell, it will undergo about 10 volume doubling times to reach a size of 10 mm in diameter. Ten further volume doubling times will lead to a tumor weighing about 1 kg with a size of 8-10 cm in diameter, which may be lethal. Currently only the latter 10 doubling times are typically observable in human. There is a need for a non-invasive procedure to explore the initial 10 doubling times since an initial latency period is believed to be followed by a rapid, exponential growth period that finally leads to a lesion with a size of about 10 mm in diameter, where the growth rate begins to decrease.
Gadolinium (Gd) contrast agents have been used with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in detection of breast cancer to enhance image contrast by detecting the Gd uptake in the cancer lesions and its washout profiles over time which are more sensitive than those of benign structures or lesions. Gd contrast-enhanced MRI has high sensitivity and can detect many breast cancer lesions missed or occult by conventional compression X-ray mammography. However Gd-MRI suffers from low specificity with many false positive findings, where a benign tissue is incorrectly identified as malignant. This is a problem shared with conventional compression X-ray projection mammography where about 75 percent of the biopsies of mammogram-identified suspicious regions turn out to be benign.
Cone beam CT has been used to provide three-dimensional images of patients' breasts. One problem with conventional cone beam CT is that the cancer lesions in the breast have about the same X-ray absorption coefficient and contrast level in CT slice images as the benign glandular tissue, which makes it difficult to differentiate the malignant lesions from benign structures, especially when the malignant lesions are adjacent to or combined with the glandular tissue. This is particularly a problem in younger women with denser breasts that are comprised heavily of glandular tissue.
Accordingly, there is a need for improved methods and systems for early detection, diagnosis and treatment of cancer throughout the bodies of humans or animals with high spatial and time resolutions.

Contrast-enhanced cone beam X-ray imaging, evaluation, monitoring and treatment delivery

Varian Medical Systems Technologies, Inc.


An automatic dial device transmits a dial signal to a telephone line. A facsimile signal receiver serves to receive a response facsimile signal from the telephone line. An image signal is transmitted from an image data store unit to the telephone line in cases where the facsimile signal receiver receives a response facsimile signal during a predetermined period after the automatic dial device transmits a dial signal. The telephone line is opened in cases where a busy signal is detected by a busy signal detector during the predetermined period after the automatic dial device transmits a dial signal. The telephone line is opened in cases where the busy signal detector continues to not detect a busy signal during the predetermined period after the automatic dial device transmits a dial signal. A communication failure is indicated in cases where the busy signal detector continues to not detect a busy signal during the predetermined period after the automatic dial device transmits a dial signal.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a facsimile apparatus generally connected to a telephone line.
2. Description of the Prior Art
It is well-known that facsimile apparatuses are connected via modems to telephone lines to execute communication therebetween via the telephone lines.
Some advanced facsimile apparatuses have the function of automatic transmission. In the case where the user selects the function of automatic transmission, data representing image information to be transmitted is stored into a memory, and a dial signal representing a designated telephone number is automatically transmitted. When the connection to the opposite party (the other party) identified by the designated telephone number is established, the data is automatically transmitted from the memory to the opposite party. If the connection to the opposite party fails to be established, a given time is waited and then the dial signal is automatically transmitted again. As long as the connection to the opposite party remains unestablished, the transmission of the dial signal is automatically reiterated a given number of times.
In the case where the designated telephone number is wrong so that the opposite party identified by the designated telephone number has only a general telephone set, even if the connection to the opposite party is established, the connection is soon broken by the opposite party since no voice is transmitted to the opposite party. After the connection to the opposite party is broken, the dial signal is automatically transmitted again. In this case, such a reiterative transmission of the dial signal gives an annoyance to the opposite party.

Facsimile apparatus for determining communication failure

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


An inverter system providing both an improvement in the voltage utilization factor and a reduction in the switching loss uses a two-phase switching method. In the inverter system, an .alpha.-axis voltage command value; v.sub..alpha.r and a .beta.-axis voltage command value v.sub..beta.r are input to a stop phase selection means. Six sections are judged based on the values v.sub..alpha.r and v.sub..beta.r to select phases for which it is allowable to stop pulse width modulation control in a two-phase switching method. Then, a phase having the largest absolute value of current is selected among the phases for which it is allowable to stop pulse width modulation control using a U-phase current i.sub.u and a V-phase current i.sub.v. This information is a control mode S. Based on these, two-phase switching calculations are performed by a dead-time compensation calculation means and a pulse width modulation generating means. By doing so, the switching loss can be reduced.

The present invention relates to an inverter system capable of reducing switching loss and a control system for an electric vehicle using the inverter system. More particularly, the invention relates to an inverter system, suitable for a control system for a vehicle, which is able to improve the utilization factor of the battery voltage and provide high efficiency driving.
As a common method of driving a three-phase alternating current motor using sinusoidal wave currents provided by an inverter system, there is a known method of switching inverters using a three-phase pulse width modulation signal. On the other hand, a method of supplying sinusoidal wave currents while reducing the switching loss is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,321,663. This method has been referred to as a two-phase switching method in which the switching of one of the three-phases is stopped (an upper arm or a lower arm of the one phase of an inverter is set in the ON-state) and is controlled so that its line-to-line voltage becomes a sinusoidal wave voltage using the pulse width modulation signals of the other phases.
Employing this method has two advantages. The first advantage is that the switching loss can be reduced to 2/3 of the switching loss in the three-phase switching method since the frequency of switching is reduced. The second advantage is that the range of the output voltage of the inverter system allowing the sinusoidal wave output current to flow can be expanded by 15% when the voltage of the inverter power source is constant. Hereinafter, this effect is referred to as an improvement in the voltage utilization factor.
A method which can further reduce the switching loss to a greater extent than the former method is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No.7-46855. That is, in a two-phase switching method, a phase in which a large current is flowing can be selected as a target phase for which the switching is stopped in accordance with a phase difference in the output voltage and the output current of the inverter system, since the switching loss increases with an increasing switching current. In order to generate a predetermined sinusoidal wave output voltage in the two-phase switching method, the ranges in which the switching can be stopped include a range from 30 degrees to 150 degrees and a range from 210 degrees to 330 degrees in the phase of the sinusoidal wave voltage. In general, as described in the former reference, the switching is stopped in a range from 60 degrees to 120 degrees and a range from 240 degrees to 300 degrees in the phase of the sinusoidal wave voltage. Therefore, the phase of the two-phase switching within these ranges is referred to as a reference phase.
With respect to the reference phase, the phases of the two-phase switching are shifted within the ranges from 30 degrees to 150 degrees and from 210 degrees to 330 degrees so that switching is stopped for a phase having the largest output current in absolute value. Therefore, in the method of the latter reference, the switching loss can be reduced since the phase having the lowest currents are used for the switching.
The method of the latter reference has a disadvantage in that, since it is necessary to detect or calculate a phase difference between the output voltage and the output current from the inverter in order to improve the voltage utilization factor and decrease the switching loss, the construction of a control method for generating the pulse width modulation signals becomes complex.
Further, in the method of the latter reference, it has been found that, in a case where the phase difference between the voltage and the current exceeds 60 degrees, a phase having a large current is switched when only a given section is considered.

Inverter system and control system for electric vehicle


A system for a head-up display for an electric aircraft is presented. The system includes an augmented reality device which may be operated by a pilot using a pilot device and a computing device connected to the pilot device, wherein the computing device is configured to receive an aircraft datum and generate a performance assessment model. The performance assessment model includes a plurality of information relevant to the operation of the electric aircraft. The augmented reality device further includes a projection device configured to project the performance assessment model onto an exterior view window and display the performance assessment model as a function of the projection device.

Pilots prefer maximal visibility when operating any vehicle. With the rise of electric vehicle technologies, pilots take to the skies to operate electric aircrafts in a mode of transportation that is constantly evolving. Navigating and operating complex systems and electronics of a functioning electric aircraft result in the need for optimal and enhanced visibility for the pilot in the position of the cockpit of the electric aircraft. However, current pilot cockpit multifunction displays and pilot dashboards may result in hindered navigating and analysis of operational flight information for pilots having to constantly change their views between through the exterior view windows and the dashboards. Alternatively, too much information clogging the exterior view window and display may impede the pilots forward vision.

Systems and methods for a heads-up display for an electric aircraft


Among other things, one or more techniques for enhancing device (e.g., transistor) performance are provided herein. In one embodiment, device performance is enhanced by forming an extended dummy region at an edge of a region of a device and forming an active region at a non-edge of the region. Limitations associated with semiconductor fabrication processing present in the extended dummy region more so than in non-edge regions. Accordingly, a device exhibiting enhanced performance is formed by connecting a gate to the active region, where the active region has a desired profile because it is comprised within a non-edge of the region. A dummy device (e.g., that may be less responsive) may be formed to include the extended dummy region, where the extended dummy region has a less than desired profile due to limitations associated with semiconductor fabrication processing, for example.

Generally, an integrated circuit comprises, among other things, an arrangement of a number of transistors, which are at times referred to as devices. For example, a standard integrated circuit cell (e.g., a logic gate, such as a NAND gate or a NOR gate) may comprise one or more transistors and/or one or more active regions. A transistor generally comprises a gate associated with an active region (e.g., active area, source, drain, well, etc.) to facilitate operation of the device. Transistors are generally formed as part of a semiconductor fabrication process where lithography and/or other techniques are used to fashion and/or operate on one or more layers of semiconductor and/or other types of material (e.g., via patterning, etching, doping, etc.) to establish and/or interconnect one or more devices.

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. Limited


A memory device is provided which has: a memory cell to store data; a word line to select the memory cell; a bit line connectable to the selected memory cell; a precharge power supply to supply a precharge voltage to the bit line; a precharge circuit to connect or disconnect the precharge power supply to or from the bit line; and a current limiting element to control the magnitude of a current flowing between the precharge power supply and the bit line at least by two steps according to an operation status.

1. [Field of the Invention]
The present invention relates to a memory device, and particularly relates to a memory device which needs precharging of a bit line.
2. [Description of the Related Art]
FIG. 14 is a circuit diagram of DRAM (dynamic random access memory) according to Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. Hei 8-263983. As a cause of occurrence of a standby current in DRAM, there is a DC (direct current) due to cross failure between a word line WL and a bit line BL. Specifically, when there is an insulation failure between the word line WL and the bit line BL, the voltage of the bit line BL decreases, so that a standby current increases. In order to reduce this, a current limiting element Q20 is arranged between precharge circuits Q13, Q14, Q15 on the bit line BL and a precharge power supply 1401 so as to limit a precharge power supply current supplied to the location where the cross failure occurs.
The arrangement of the current limiting element Q20 between the precharge circuits Q13, Q14, Q15 on the bit line BL and the precharge power supply 1401 enables to limit a direct current originated in the cross failure in a standby state. On the other hand, at the time of precharging bit lines BL, bBL, a precharge current which can be supplied to the bit lines BL, bBL is similarly limited, so that an operation of equalizing the voltage of the bit lines BL, bBL with a desired bit line precharge voltage becomes slow. Particularly, in the case where a bit line precharge voltage which becomes a reference voltage when reading data is set lower than the intermediate potential between a logical value 1 and a logical value 0 of a memory cell so as to improve an overall data holding characteristic, a direct short level between the complementary bit lines BL and bBL and a bit line precharge voltage becomes different, and if the operation of equalizing the bit line voltage with the precharge voltage is slow, the reference voltage does not return to desired level until the next reading. Consequently, the effect of improving the data holding characteristic becomes small, and an AC (alternating current) in a standby state increases.
As described above, the current value of the current limiting element Q20 cannot be set equal to or smaller than a current value which cannot satisfy precharging characteristics of the bit lines BL, bBL. Accordingly, the increase in standby current is large when the number of cross failures increases, so that a yield of the standby current with respect to the standard deteriorates.
FIG. 15A and FIG. 15B are a circuit diagram and a signal waveform diagram of DRAM according to Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2000-182374. Regarding the above-described problem, this patent application discloses an elemental technology for improving a precharge characteristic.
A bit line precharge/equalize circuit 15 is shared by memory cell arrays on both sides respectively of a shared sense amplifier, a current limiting element Q20 and a switching transistor Q30 are arranged in parallel between the precharge/equalize circuit 15 and a line 40 of precharge voltage Vbleq, and further a control circuit 30 is included which turns on the switching transistor Q30 for a predetermined period by receiving a control signal from a precharge/equalize circuit 15. In the case that bit lines BLR, bBLR of the memory cell array on the other side of the shared sense amplifier become floating and the level thereof decreases while the memory cell array on one side of the shared sense amplifier is being accessed, the switching transistor Q30 is turned on for a predetermined period at the time of precharging to thereby raise the bit line level to the precharge voltage level.
In the above-described Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2000-182374, when returning the levels of the bit lines BLR, bBLR changed during a floating period to a predetermined level at the time of precharging, the precharge voltage Vbleq is supplied to the bit lines BL, bBL by the switching transistor Q30, and while being in a standby state, a precharge voltage is supplied by the depletion-type current control elements Q20 arranged in parallel. Thus, two types of elements Q20 and Q30 are arranged in parallel for two operations, and therefore the area of elements in the sense amplifier increases accordingly.
Furthermore, in the case that an accessing period to the adjacent memory cell array becomes long and a floating period of the bit line becomes long, a shift of the bit line voltage from the precharge voltage becomes large, and the time to return it to a predetermined voltage by precharging becomes long. However, in the case that a precharge time of refreshing operation is included in a critical path for accessing as in pseudo-SRAM (static random access memory), an access time becomes slow.


The present disclosure provides a sound device, comprising a frame and a front cover disposed on the frame by covering the frame, wherein the frame extends towards the front cover to form an ironing spot column, the front cover comprises a body portion disposed on the frame by covering the frame and a positioning hole penetrated through the body portion and fitted with the positioning hole, the ironing spot column is inserted in the positioning hole, wherein the ironing spot column comprises a column main body and a glue receiving groove formed by recessing from an outer surface of the column main body towards inside of the column main body; the column main body passes through the positioning hole so that the glue receiving groove is in communication with the positioning hole, and the glue receiving groove is filled with glue.

As the mobile internet times are coming, the number of smart mobile devices continues to rise. Among many mobile devices, mobile phones are undoubtedly the most common and most portable mobile terminal devices. At present, the functions of mobile phones are extremely diverse, one of which is to provide high-quality music. Therefore, sound devices for playing sounds are widely used in smart mobile devices currently.
A sound device according to the related art includes a frame, a vibration system fixed to the frame and a magnetic circuit system for driving the vibration system to vibrate, and a front cover fixed to the frame, where, the frame extends to the front cover so as to form an ironing spot column, the front cover is provided with a positioning hole, the positioning hole penetrates through the front cover and is configured to fit with the ironing spot column, and the front cover is fixed to the frame by hot pressing the ironing spot column after the ironing spot column passes through the positioning hole.
However, in the sound device according to the related art, the ironing spot column has a cylindrical structure, and an ironing spot re-gluing is not utilized, thereby the stability of the front cover is limited and the acoustic performance of the sound device is even affected.
Therefore, it is necessary to provide a new sound device to solve the foregoing technical problems.


A collection bag has a bag body sized to fit along a wearer's torso. A back wall of the bag body is positionable in contact with the wearer's torso. A front wall is opposite the back wall. The back wall is formed from material that is generally impervious to items in the bag, while the front wall is generally pervious to water flow. The front and back walls are joined together along lateral and longitudinal margins to define the interior of the bag. Attachment members are attached to the bag body for supporting the weight of the bag body against the wearer's torso. A first sealable opening through the front wall allows the wearer to place collected items into the bag. A second sealable opening positioned along the lateral margin near the wearer's waste region allows the wearer to easily empty collected items from the bag.

Scalloping is a popular activity in which waders, swimmers, divers, and snorkelers retrieve aquatically submerged scallops for consumption. It is conventionally performed using a mesh collection bag having an opening on one end that is closeable by pulling a draw string or the like. In practice, the user typically swims beneath the water, filling the mesh bag with scallops.
Although using such mesh bags is effective, it has several disadvantages. Because the user typically carries the bag with one hand and swims using the other, the bag inhibits the user's ability to swim. This problem is compounded as the user collects more and more scallops because the bag eventually grows so heavy that swimming and carrying the bag at the same is nearly impossible. Accordingly, the user often has to empty the bag frequently. In order to free the hands for swimming, the mesh collection may be attached to the user's body via some type of strap. Unfortunately, these collection bags must still be emptied frequently and inhibit the user's ability to swim by interfering with the user's arms and/or legs.


A multiband OFDM_UWB transmitting and receiving apparatus is provided in Low-IF configuration to solve problems attributed to a direct-conversion transmitting and receiving apparatus. A Low-IF receiver performs sorting by rotating a sub-carrier after FFT to eliminate the need for frequency conversion using a second local signal and uses the same AD conversion clock as that for a direct conversion receiver. An FFT-free preamble can be detected by using a sequence resulting from previously multiplying an original preamble pattern and an IF frequency together.

A special attention is paid to the radio LAN that frees users from the wired LAN architecture. The radio LAN can eliminate most cables in working spaces such as offices, making it possible to relatively easily move communication terminals such as personal computers (PCs). In recent years, there is an increasing demand for wireless LAN systems in accordance with their increased processing speeds and reduced prices. Today, especially, introduction of a personal area network (PAN) is taken into consideration for the sake of information communication by constituting a small-scale wireless network between a plurality of electronic devices around a person. For example, there are provided different wireless communication systems using frequency bands such as 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands that need not be licensed by governing legal authorities.
The radio network performance is dramatically increased while the integration and energy saving are improved for LSI technologies. Radio networks are used worldwide and are being standardized. Prices of radio LAN apparatuses have been reduced approximately as low as computer peripherals. The use of radio networks is not limited to conventional computer networks, but is diversely intended for connection with peripherals in an office, transmission of high-quality video such as streams between home information appliances in a house, and the like.
Typical standards concerning radio networks include IEEE (The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) 802.11 (e.g., see non-patent document 1), HiperLAN/2 (e.g., see non-patent document 2 or 3), IEEE802.15.3, and Bluetooth communication. The IEEE802.11 standard is further classified into various radio communication systems such as IEEE802.11a, IEEE802.11b, and the like depending on radio communication systems and frequency bands to be used.
In recent years, special attention is paid to the "Ultra-Wideband (UWB) communication," i.e., as a radio communication system to realize the short-range ultra-fast transmission and is expected to be in practical use (e.g., see non-patent document 4). The UWB communication performs radio communication by using ultra-short pulse shorter than one nanosecond to carry information without using carriers in a very wide frequency band. Presently, for example, IEEE802.15.3 is under examination of the system for transmitting packet-structured data containing preambles as an access control system for the ultra-wideband communication.
In the future, WPAN (Wireless Personal Access Network) such as UWB for short-range communication is supposed to be incorporated into all home appliances and CE (Consumer Electronics) devices. It is expected to realize P-to-P transmission between CE devices or home networks at speeds over 100 Mbps. When millimeter wave bands are widely used, it is possible to provide short-range radio communications at speeds over 1 Gbps. It is also possible to realize ultra-fast short-range DAN (Device Area Network) including storage devices and the like.
When radio networks are constructed under a working environment where there is a mixture of many devices in a room, multiple networks may be constructed to overlap with each other. The radio network using one channel has no corrective measures when another system interrupts the communication or an interference degrades the communication quality.
To solve this problem, the multi-channel communication system is used to previously provide multiple communication channels. An interference may degrade the communication quality when another system interrupts the communication or the number of participating stations increases to leave no allowance in the band. In such case, it is possible to select a communication channel to start operations, maintain network operations, and realize coexistence with the other networks.
For example, the multi-channel communication system is also used in the high-speed radio PAN system in compliance with IEEE802.15.3. That is, there are provided multiple frequency channels available for the system. According to the algorithm used, a radio communication device, when turned on, scans for all available channels. The radio communication device becomes a piconet coordinator (PNC) and confirms whether or not there is a device transmitting a beacon signal in the vicinity. The radio communication device selects a frequency channel to be used.
Constructing a radio network in a room forms the multi-path environment where a receiver receives a layer of a direct wave and multiple reflected and delayed waves. The multi-path environment generates a delay distortion (or frequency selective fading) to cause a communication error. Further, an inter-symbol interference results from the delay distortion.
Major countermeasures against the delay distortion may include the multi-carrier transmission system. The multi-carrier transmission system transmits transmission data by distributing it to multiple carriers having different frequencies. Each carrier is provided with a narrow band, making it difficult to be subject to effects of the frequency selective fading.
For example, the OFDM (Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing) system, one of multi-carrier transmission systems, configures a frequency of each carrier so that the carriers become orthogonal to each other in a symbol region. During information transmission, the system converts serially transmitted information into parallel information at a symbol frequency lower than the information transmission rate. The system allocates a plurality of pieces of output data to each carrier, modulates the amplitude and the phase for each carrier, and performs the inverse FFT for the carriers. In this manner, the system converts the carriers into signals along the time axis by maintaining the orthogonality of each carrier along the frequency axis. The reception occurs in the reverse order of the transmission. The system performs the FFT to convert signals along the time axis into those along the frequency axis and demodulates the carriers in accordance with the modulation of each carrier. The system performs parallel-serial conversion to reproduce the information that was originally transmitted in the serial signals.
The OFDM modulation system is adopted as a wireless LAN standard in the IEEE802.11a/g, for example. The IEEE802.15.3 standardization is also in progress for the UWB communication system using the OFDM modulation system in addition to the DS-UWB system and the impulse-UWB system. The DS-UWB system increases spread speeds of DS information signals to the utmost limit. The impulse-UWB system uses impulse signal sequences having very short frequencies of several hundred picoseconds to configure information signals for transmission and reception. With respect to OFDM_UWB communication systems, the multiband OFDM_UWB communication system is under discussion (e.g., see non-patent document 5). The multiband OFDM_UWB communication system is an OFDM modulation system that performs frequency hopping (FH) for frequency bands ranging from 3.1 to 4.8 GHz into multiple frequency channels (sub-bands) each composed of 528 MHz bandwidths and uses IFFT/FFT with each frequency band composed of 128 points.
FIG. 17 shows a frequency allocation defined in the multiband OFDM_UWB communication system. The frequencies are composed of groups 1, 2, 3, D, and 5. Group 1 is composed of bands #1 through #3 whose center frequencies are 3432 MHz, 3960 MHz, and 4488 MHz, respectively. Group 2 is composed of bands #4 through #6 whose center frequencies are 5016 MHz, 5544 MHz, and 6072 MHz, respectively. Group 3 is composed of bands #7 through #9 whose center frequencies are 6600 MHz, 7128 MHz, and 7656 MHz, respectively. Group D is composed of bands #10 through #12 whose center frequencies are 8184 MHz, 8712 MHz, and 9240 MHz, respectively. Group 5 is composed of bands #13 and #14 whose center frequencies are 9768 MHz and 10296 MHz, respectively. It is mandatory to use three bands in group 1. The other groups and bands are reserved for the future expansion.
FIG. 18 shows an configuration example of the receiver used for the multiband OFDM system (e.g., see non-patent document 6). The receiver in FIG. 18 is configured for direct conversion. The direct conversion system removes an intermediate frequency (IF) stage. A low-noise amplifier (LNA) amplifies a signal received at an antenna. A mixer then multiplies the signal by a local frequency to directly apply the frequency conversion to a baseband signal. The example in FIG. 18 uses local (LO) signals cos(2πfc) and sin(2πfc) for frequency conversion of reception signals corresponding to the I and Q axes, respectively. After the frequency conversion, a low-pass filter (LPF) extracts low frequencies. A VGA (Variable Gain Amplifier) amplifies the signal. The AD conversion is performed. Further, the FFT is performed to transform time-axis signals to frequency-axis signals. Each carrier is demodulated to reproduce the information transmitted by the original carrier signal.
When using the group-1 band as shown in FIG. 17, for example, the direct conversion receiver as shown in FIG. 18 requires local signals having three frequencies 3432 MHz, 3960 MHz, and 4488 MHz that are the same as the RF signal's center frequencies.
The direct conversion system eliminates the use of an IF filter, easily broadens the receiver's band, and increases flexibility of the receiver configuration. However, the direct conversion system equalizes the reception frequency with the local frequency. There is a known problem that the local signal's self mixing (LO self mixing) causes a DC component, i.e., a DC offset (e.g., see non-patent document 7).
FIG. 19 shows how the local signal's self mixing occurs. The local signal leaks from the receiver body to the antenna. This signal partially reflects at the antenna and returns to the receiver. The mixer multiplies the signal and the local signal itself together. In another possible case, the local signal is partially radiated to the outside through the antenna. Subsequently, a reflected wave may be received at the antenna and is mixed with the local signal.
In FIG. 19, for example, let us assume that the local signal's amplitude is 0.5 V; the low-noise amplifier (LNA) and the mixer provide a total gain of 30 dB; and a leaking local signal reflects at the antenna and returns to point A in FIG. 19 to attenuate −70 dB. Under this condition, the DC offset for mixer output is found to be 2.5 mV. Since the expected wave's signal level is approximately −74 dBm at the minimum, the mixer output becomes −44 dBm=1.4 mVrms. It can be understood that the DC offset becomes greater than the expected wave's signal level.
The following equation describes a process to generate the DC offset. In the equation, cos(ωt) represents the local signal and α and φ respectively represent the amplitude and the phase of a reflected wave returned to the mixer. In the equation, the first term of the right side represents the DC offset. The second and third terms represent double frequency components. It will be understood that the DC offset varies with the reflected wave's amplitude and phase.
                              α          ·                      cos                                      (                                                ω                  ·                  t                                +                ϕ                            )                                ·                      cos                                      (                              ω                ·                t                            )                                      =                              1            2                    ·          α          ·                      (                                          cos                                                  (                  ϕ                  )                                            +                                                                    cos                                                              (                      ϕ                      )                                                        ·                  cos                                                                  (                                      2                    ·                    ω                    ·                    t                                    )                                            -                                                sin                                                        (                    ϕ                    )                                                  ·                                  sin                                                        (                                          2                      ·                      ω                      ·                      t                                        )                                                                        )                                              [                  Equation                                                              1                ]
Since the multiband OFDM system performs the frequency hopping (FH), the local signal frequency varies with each frequency hopping. Since the antenna's reflection coefficient depends on frequencies, the DC offset resulting from self-mixing varies with the frequency hopping. The frequency hopping occurs as frequently as 3.2 MHz equal to the OFDM symbol rate. As shown in FIG. 20, the DC offset stepwise varies at the frequency of 1/3.2 MHz=312.5 nanoseconds.
Generally, the DC offset is removed by serially inserting a capacitor in the mixer output. In this case, capacitor C and circuit impedance R construct a first-order high-pass filter (HPF). The cutoff frequency for frequency response becomes 1/(2πCR). The convergence time for step response becomes 2πCR.
Since the multiband OFDM system uses the sub-carrier frequency of 4.125 MHz, the direct conversion receiver is requested to pass up to 4.125 MHz. With respect to the DC offset, the convergence time for step response needs to be limited to approximately 1/10 of the OFDM symbol rate (approximately 30 nanoseconds). When the cutoff frequency is set to 4.125 MHz, the time to converge the step response becomes as large as 242 nanoseconds (=1/4.125 MHz) as shown in FIG. 22. The problem is that the most time within the OFDM symbol is accompanied by the step response.
Generally, available means of changing frequencies is to multiply the same oscillatory frequency using PLL (Phase Lock Loop). However, there is the problem that the multiband OFDM_UWB system is subject to a large difference in the channel changeover as shown in FIG. 17. The single PLL cannot change frequencies within such wide band. A high-precision multiband generator can be constructed by providing multiple oscillators and generating corresponding frequency bands. However, there may be problems concerning the circuit's planar dimension and power consumption, a frequency phase difference for each oscillator, and the like.
To solve this problem, multiband generation is performed by repeatedly dividing the single frequency output from the oscillator and mixing divided output frequencies (i.e., outputting a sum or a difference between frequencies).
FIG. 23 diagramatically shows a conventional example of the frequency synthesis block (group-1 3-band mode) for frequency hopping (FH) used for the direct conversion receiver as shown in FIG. 18 of the multiband OFDM system. As shown in FIG. 23, the divider and the mixer can be used to mix (add or subtract frequencies) the center frequency of each band with the reference frequency obtained from the single oscillator (e.g., TCXO (Temperature Compensated Crystal Oscillator)).
The example in FIG. 23 uses the reference frequency of 4224 MHz obtained by multiplying the oscillatory frequency output from the oscillator according to PLL (Phase Lock Loop). The reference frequency is divided by 4 to extract the frequency of 1056 MHz. This is divided by 2 to extract the frequency of 528 MHz that is used for a sample clock. The 528 MHz sample clock is further divided by 2 to extract the frequency of 264 MHz that is a band interval of center frequencies for frequency hopping.
Each mixer marked with SSB (Single Side Band) performs mixing, i.e., adding or subtracting frequencies of the obtained signals as mentioned above. The mixer adds frequencies of 528 MHz and 264 MHz to yield the frequency of 794 MHz. A selector (Select) selects 264 MHz or 794 MHz. The subsequent SSB can provide four combinations of frequencies by performing addition or subtraction between the selected output frequency 264 MHz or 794 MHz and the original 4224 MHz frequency signal.
It should be noted that group 1 uses only three frequencies 3432 MHz, 3960 MHz, and 4488 MHz. That is, the 792 MHz frequency is subtracted from 4224 MHz to generate 3422 MHz. The 264 MHz frequency is subtracted from 4224 MHz to generate 3960 MHz. The 264 MHz frequency is added to 4224 MHz to generate 4488 MHz.
In FIG. 23, the device marked with SSB mixes, i.e., adds or subtracts frequencies and is equivalent to an image rejection mixer, for example. The image rejection mixer can obtain a single-side-band signal by analog-multiplying a pair of complex signals whose phases are orthogonal to each other. As shown in FIG. 24, each of frequency signals f1 and f2 is provided with orthogonal components. Frequencies can be synthesized by adding or subtracting frequencies using the addition theorem of the trigonometric function. In FIG. 24, frequency signal f1 is set to 4224 MHz and frequency signal f2 is set to 264 MHz or 794 MHz.
However, the conventional frequency synthesis block as shown in FIG. 24 is subject to the following problems.
(1) Since two SSB mixers are needed, the circuit configuration is complicated and the power consumption is large.
(2) Since the 264 MHz frequency signal is a rectangular wave, third harmonics cause a spurious signal of approximately up to −10 dBc in group 1.
Specifically, the preceding SSB for 792 MHz generation is supplied with not only 528 MHz and 264 MHz, but also the third harmonic of 264 MHz, i.e., −792 HMz. The SSB outputs not only 792 MHz as an intended frequency, but also −264 MHz, causing a spurious signal in group 1.
(3) Since the 264 MHz frequency signal is a rectangular wave, fifth harmonics cause a spurious signal of approximately up to −14 dBc in group 1.
[Non-Patent Document 1]
International Standard ISO/IEC 8802-11: 1999(E) ANSI/IEEE Std 802.11, 1999 Edition, Part II: Wireless LAN Medium Access Control (MAC) and Physical Layer (PHY) Specifications
[Non-Patent Document 2]
ETSI Standard ETSI TS101 761-1 V1.3.1 Broadband Radio Access Networks (BRAN); HIPERLAN Type 2; Data Link Control (DLC) Layer; Part1: Basic Data Transport Functions
[Non-Patent Document 3]
ETSI TS 101 761-2 V1.3.1 Broadband Radio Access Networks (BRAN); HIPERLAN Type 2; Data Link Control (DLC) Layer; Part2: Radio Link Control(RLC) sublayer
[Non-Patent Document 4]
"Ultra Wideband—A newborn revolutionary wireless technology." Nikkei Electronics, 11 Mar. 2002, pp. 55-66.
[Non-Patent Document 5]
IEEE802.15.3a TI Document <URL:http://grouper.ieee.org/group/802/15/pub/2003/May03 filename: 03142r2P802-15_TI-CFP-Document.doc>
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Anuj Batra, "03267r1P802-15_TG3a-Multi-band-OFDM-CFP-Presentation.ppt," pp. 17, July 2003.
[Non-Patent Document 7]
Asad A. Abidi, "Direct-Conversion Radio Transceivers for Digital Communications" (IEEE J. Solid-State Circuits, vol. 30, no. 12, pp. 1399-1410, 1995


An apparatus for drying wood veneer includes an elongate drying chamber including a conveyor for conveying material to be dried from an input end to an output end; and a cooling section for cooling veneer leaving the output end of the drying chamber, the cooling section including a pressure controller for maintaining a pressure in the cooling section that is slightly higher than pressure in the drying chamber while maintaining a near-zero pressure differential between the drying chamber and the cooling section.

Applicant is aware of U.S. Pat. No. 5,603,168 which issued to McMahon, Jr. on Feb. 18, 1997 for a Method and Apparatus for Controlling a Dryer wherein it is taught that the cooling section cools into the material exiting the drying chamber of the dryer by blowing ambient air around the material as it travels through the cooling section. A control is provided for maintaining the pressure within the cooling section at a level greater than the pressure in the drying chamber. By operating the cooling section at a slightly higher pressure, leakage of exhaust gases from the drying chamber into the cooling section is inhibited. An automatic control for maintaining the required pressure differential between the cooling section and the drying chamber pressure is described. Pressure sensors are disclosed for monitoring the pressure in the drying chamber and the pressure in the cooling section. A controller was suggested to be connected to the pressure sensors and operatively coupled to a damper for controlling the flow of cooling air thereby controlling the pressure within the cooling section. Alternately, the speed of a cooling air blower may be adjusted. Applicant is also aware of U.S. Pat. No. 4,439,930 which issued Apr. 3, 1984 to McMahon, Jr. Both U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,603,168 and 4,439,930 are incorporated herein by reference.
Conventionally, the last structural units (sections), typically one to four, sections of veneer jet dryers comprise the cooling zone. They are typically fitted with vane axial-type supply air fans and motors delivering outside air to nozzle systems for direct cooling of the veneer passing through the heating and cooling sections. It is typically desirable to utilize the cooling zone to drop the surface temperature of the veneer to a specified level. This has typically been accomplished by turning certain sections of the cooling zone "on or off" as necessary to achieve the desired temperature, or to utilize an alternating current (AC) variable speed drive on the fan motors to vary the speed of the fans and, thereby, vary the veneer temperature. Being that these cooling sections are typically connected directly, that is, in fluid communication with the heated sections of the dryer, with only a baffle wall separating the two, there has not been the ability to control the flow of cooling zone air into or out of the dryer. This has resulted in either "cool" air being pushed into the heated drying process or heated process air flowing into the cooling zone specifically when the damper described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,603,168 is not present or set too far open.
The present invention contemplates an improved automatic control for maintaining the required pressure differential between the cooling section and the drying chamber. Pressure sensors are disclosed for monitoring the pressure in the drying chamber and the pressure in the cooling section. A controller connected to the pressure sensors is operatively coupled to a damper for controlling the flow of cooling air out of the dryer thereby controlling the pressure within the cooling section above dryer pressure. Alternately, the speed of a cooling air blower may be adjusted.

Method and apparatus for controlling cooling temperature and pressure in wood veneer jet dryers


A design methodology for jointly optimizing the transmit waveform and receiver filter for multiple target identification is presented in presence of transmit signal dependent clutter like interference and noise. The methodology is applied and illustrated for various multiple ‘target ID’ problems in presence of transmit signal dependent clutter like interference and noise. The resulting correct target classification is significantly better than that achieved by a conventional chirp or any other transmit waveform. Unlike the classical radar case, the choice of transmit pulse shape can be critically important for the detection of extended targets in presence of additive channel noise and signal-dependent clutter.

The problem of jointly optimizing a transmitter and a receiver so as to maximize the output signal-to-interference plus noise ration (SINR) for target detection is an important one in radar and many communication scenes where clutter or multipath is a leading source of interference.
In radar scenarios, the total interference signal is comprised of clutter returns, interference signals from jammers and noise. The clutter return is transmit signal dependent and it may or may not dominate the remaining interference signals depending on the target range location. For targets that are nearby clutter dominates the total return, whereas for far field targets the returns from jammers and multipath is the leading source of interference. The interference caused by jammers might be deliberate multipath returns of a white noise source which in essence amount to colored noise with unknown spectrum at the receiver.
In the classical detection problem, the receiver outputs are passed through a bank of filters to obtain a single output and at a specified instant, this output is used to decide the presence or absence of a target. The problem is to design the optimal transmit-receiver pair so as to maximize the output signal-to-interference plus noise ratio (SINR) at the decision instant. In this context, for a given target and clutter/noise scene, the optimum transmit signal shapes as well as the receiver structure for maximizing the output detection performance is of crucial importance as discussed in (1) S. U. Pilai, H. S. Oh, D. C. Youla and J. R. Guerci, "Optimum Transmit-Receiver Design in the Presence of Signal-Dependent Interference and Channel Noise," IEEE Transactions on Information Theory, vol. 46, no. 2, pp. 577–584, March 2000, and (2) J. R. Guerci and P. Grieve, "Optimum Matched Illumination-Reception Radars," U.S. Pat. No. 5,121,125, June 1992, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,175,552, December 1992.

Target identification from a pool of targets using a new adaptive transmitter-receiver design


Technology is disclosed for supporting multiple data stores. The set of data stores can be of a uniform type, or the various data stores can be different types (e.g. Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP), Structured Query Language (SQL), etc.). One implementation of the disclosed technology is with an Identity System. Another implementation is with an integrated Identity System and Access System. Various embodiments of the present invention utilize different means to separate the business logic of a system from the data access logic so that different types of data stores can be used without changing the business logic.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is directed to technology for supporting multiple data stores.
2. Description of the Related Art
With the growth of the Internet, the use of networks and other information technologies, Identity Systems have become more popular. In general, an Identity System provides for the creation, removal, editing and other managing of identity information stored in various types of data stores. The identity information pertains to users, groups, organizations and/or things. For each entry in the data store, a set of attributes are stored. For example, the attributes stored for a user may include a name, address, employee number, telephone number, email address, user ID and password. The Identity System can also manage access privileges that govern what an entity can view, create, modify or use in the Identity System. Often, this management of access privileges is based on one or more specific attributes, membership in a group and/or association with an organization.
Some Identity Systems use LDAP directories to store data. Other systems use SQL databases or other types of data stores. Typically, all of the data is maintained in one data store. However, there are cases when multiple data stores are necessary. For example, if the amount of data is too big to fit in one data store, multiple data stores may be necessary. Additionally, some entities desire a back-up or shadow data store, which stores a replica of the main data store for fault tolerance reasons. Thus, there is a need to support multiple data stores.
The idea of multiple data stores is not new. However, the use of multiple data stores for an Identity System, web access management systems and other similar systems has presented new issues that have not been solved. For example, there is no solution that allows for multiple and different types of data stores with such systems.
Some users of Identity Systems also use Access Systems. An Access System provides for the authentication and authorization of users attempting to access resources. For efficiency purposes, there is an advantage to integrating the Identity System and the Access System. For example, both systems can share the same set of data stores. However, there has not been a solution for integrating an Identity System and an Access System, such that the combined system can support multiple data stores.
For the reasons described herein, there is a need for improved technology that can be used by a system to support multiple data stores.


The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of red raspberry plant named `AnnaMaria`, botanically identified as Rubus idaeus L. The new cultivar is distinguished from other red fruited cultivars by its large fruit of excellent firmness, its high yielding capacity on both primocane and floricane crops, and light red color of the fruit.

The new cultivar was developed from the hybridization of the selection `E39-3` (unpatented variety) as the seed parent with the selection `F164-3` (an unpatented variety) as the pollen parent. The parents were crossed in the Fall of 1992, whereafter fruit and seed were collected to produce seedlings for field planting in Watsonville, Calif. in 1992. The new cultivar was selected from these seedlings in August 1993 for its large fruit size, high productivity, and fruit flavor. The new cultivar has been grown and asexually propagated by in vitro shoot tip culture, root sucker division and root cuttings at the Cassin Ranch in Santa Cruz county, California, and has been shown to maintain the desired and distinguishing characteristics after propagation over several generations.