A job status monitoring system includes a job output unit configured to output a job to a job managing unit of an operating system. The job is issued in response to a job issue request. A status of the job output to a printer is monitored by a monitoring unit. The monitoring unit controls the job managing unit by monitoring the status of the job. An application or utility determines the status of the job by obtaining information about the job from the job managing unit and performs display control based on the determined status of the job.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a technique of monitoring jobs (e.g., print jobs and maintenance jobs) executed in a printer.
2. Description of the Related Art
In conventional printing systems, a print job is typically generated by a host computer, the generated print job is output to a printer, and print data is recorded on a paper medium by the printer.
In such printing systems, a user can determine whether a generated print job has been transferred to the printer by viewing a graphical user interface of a print queue provided in WINDOWS.RTM. by Microsoft Corporation.
In one conventional method of monitoring information about a job in a print queue, a host module (e.g., application) may be used to readily monitor a job status. However, such method may be insufficient in terms of accuracy. For example, the end of a job in the print queue in the operating system may not synchronize with the end of an actual print process performed by the printer. To overcome this problem, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-242443 discloses a job monitoring technique using a language monitor.
The flowchart shown in FIG. 13 illustrates a job monitoring process using the language monitor. In the illustrated job monitoring process, a job is issued in step S1301. Then, a status display application is started in step S1302. Of course, the application may be started before step S1301. The language monitor monitors a status of a printer and transmits a result of the monitoring to the status display application. The status display application inputs the transmitted information in step S1303, and determines data to be displayed on the basis of the input information in step S1304.
However, the following disadvantages may occur when a print job is monitored through the communication between a monitoring unit such as the language monitor and the application. That is, the application may be required to have a function of identifying various output results from the language monitor, necessitating an increase in the complexity of the application program.

Job status monitoring system, job status monitoring method, program, and storage medium


A processing chamber comprising a reaction vessel having an electro-reaction cell including a virtual electrode unit, an electrode assembly disposed relative to the electro-reaction cell to be in fluid communication with the virtual electrode unit, and an electrode in the electrode assembly. The virtual electrode unit has at least one opening defining at least one virtual electrode in the electro-reaction cell. The electrode assembly can include an electrode compartment and an interface element in the electrode compartment. The interface element can be a filter, a membrane, a basket, and/or another device configured to hold the electrode. The interface element, for example, can be a filter that surrounds a basket in which the electrode is positioned.

Microelectronic devices, such as semiconductor devices and field emission displays, are generally fabricated on and/or in microelectronic workpieces using several different types of machines ("tools"). Many such processing machines have a single processing station that performs one or more procedures on the workpieces. Other processing machines have a plurality of processing stations that perform a series of different procedures on individual workpieces or batches of workpieces. In a typical fabrication process, one or more layers of conductive materials are formed on the workpieces during deposition stages. The workpieces are then typically subject to etching and/or polishing procedures (i.e., planarization) to remove a portion of the deposited conductive layers for forming electrically isolated contacts and/or conductive lines.
Plating tools that plate metals or other materials on the workpieces are becoming an increasingly useful type of processing machine. Electroplating and electroless plating techniques can be used to deposit nickel, copper, solder, permalloy, gold, silver, platinum and other metals onto workpieces for forming blanket layers or patterned layers. A typical metal plating process involves depositing a seed layer onto the surface of the workpiece using chemical vapor deposition (CVD), physical vapor deposition (PVD), electroless plating processes, or other suitable methods. After forming the seed layer, a blanket layer or patterned layer of metal is plated onto the workpiece by applying an appropriate electrical potential between the seed layer and an electrode in the presence of an electroprocessing solution. The workpiece is then cleaned, etched and/or annealed in subsequent procedures before transferring the workpiece to another processing machine.
FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment of a single-wafer processing station 1 that includes a container 2 for receiving a flow of electroplating solution from a fluid inlet 3 at a lower portion of the container 2. The processing station 1 can include an anode 4, a plate-type diffuser 6 having a plurality of apertures 7, and a workpiece holder 9 for carrying a workpiece 5. The workpiece holder 9 can include a plurality of electrical contacts for providing electrical current to a seed layer on the surface of the workpiece 5. The seed layer acts as a cathode when it is biased with a negative potential relative to the anode 4. The electroplating fluid flows around the anode 4, through the apertures 7 in the diffuser 6, and against the plating surface of the workpiece 5. The electroplating solution is an electrolyte that conducts electrical current between the anode 4 and the cathodic seed layer on the surface of the workpiece 5. Therefore, ions in the electroplating solution plate onto the surface of the workpiece 5.
The plating machines used in fabricating microelectronic devices must meet many specific performance criteria. For example, many processes must be able to form small contacts in vias that are less than 0.5 μm wide, and are desirably less than 0.1 μm wide. The plated metal layers accordingly often need to fill vias or trenches that are on the order of 0.1 μm wide, and the layer of plated material should also be deposited to a desired, uniform thickness across the surface of the workpiece 5.
One concern of many processing stations is that it is expensive to fabricate certain types of electrodes that are mounted in the reaction vessels. For example, nickel-sulfur (Ni—S) electrodes are used to deposit nickel on microelectronic workpieces. Plating nickel is particularly difficult because anodization of the nickel electrodes produces an oxide layer that reduces or at least alters the performance of the nickel plating process. To overcome anodization, nickel can be plated using a chlorine bath or an Ni—S electrode because both chlorine and sulfur counteract the anodizing process to provide a more consistent electrode performance. Ni—S electrodes are preferred over chlorine baths because the plated layer has a tensile stress when chlorine is used, but is stress-free or compressive when an Ni—S electrode is used. The stress-free or compressive layers are typically preferred over tensile layers to enhance annealing processes, CMP processes, and other post-plating procedures that are performed on the wafer.
Ni—S electrodes, however, are expensive to manufacture in solid, shaped configurations. Bulk Ni—S material that comes in the form of pellets (e.g., spheres or button-shaped pieces) cannot be molded into the desired shape because the sulfur vaporizes before the nickel melts. The solid, shaped Ni—S electrodes are accordingly formed using electrochemical techniques in which the bulk Ni—S material is dissolved into a bath and then re-plated onto a mandrel in the desired shape of the solid electrode. Although the bulk Ni—S material only costs approximately $4–$6 per pound, a finished solid, shaped Ni—S electrode can cost approximately $400–$600 per pound because of the electroforming process.
Another concern of several types of existing processing stations is that it is difficult and expensive to service the electrodes. Referring to FIG. 1, the anode 4 may need to be repaired or replaced periodically to maintain the necessary level of performance for the processing station. In many cases, an operator must move a head assembly out of the way to access the electrode(s) in the reaction vessel. It is not only time consuming to reposition the head assembly, but it is also typically awkward to access the electrodes even after the head assembly has been moved. Therefore, it is often difficult to service the electrodes in the reaction vessels.

Apparatus and methods for electrochemical processing of microelectronic workpieces


A semiconductor device having vertically aligned transistors made from pillar structures that have flat side surfaces is presented. The semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate, spacers, and gates. The semiconductor substrate has pillar structures that have flat side surfaces. The spacers are on sidewalls only on the upper portions of the pillar structures. The gates surround lower portions of the pillar structures.

The present invention relates to a semiconductor device and a method for manufacturing the same, and more particularly, to a semiconductor device that can stabilize a process for forming a vertical transistor, thereby improving the characteristics and the reliability of a semiconductor device, and a method for manufacturing the same.
As the integration level of a semiconductor device increases, the area that is occupied by each unit cell decreases when viewed from above. Corresponding to the need to decrease in the area of the unit cell, various alternate methods for forming transistors, bit lines and capacitors within these diminished areas have been researched. In one approach, a semiconductor device having the structure of a transistor, hereinafter referred to as a "vertical transistor", has been proposed. The vertical transistor has a source area and a drain area positioned up and down in an active region that defines a vertical channel in a semiconductor substrate.
Hereafter, a conventional method for manufacturing a semiconductor device having a vertical transistor will be briefly described.
After sequentially forming an oxide layer and a nitride layer on a semiconductor substrate, the nitride layer and the oxide layer are selectively etched to expose portions of the semiconductor substrate. Then, by using anisotropically etching and using the etched nitride layer as an etch mask barrier, the exposed portions of the semiconductor substrate are etched at a predetermined depth to define first grooves in the semiconductor substrate.
After forming spacers on the sidewalls of the nitride layer and using the etched nitride layer and the spacers as etch mask barriers, the oxide layer and the first grooves are isotropically etched at the bottoms of the first grooves to define second grooves under the first grooves. As a result, the second grooves have a larger width than the first grooves. As a consequence, (hereinafter referred to as a "pillar structures") are formed which are delimited by the first and second grooves and have neck parts on lower portions thereof due to the formation of the second grooves.
Gates are subsequently formed to surround the lower portions of the pillar structures which define the second grooves. Thereafter source areas and drain areas are respectively formed in the upper and lower portions of the pillar structures with respect to the gates. As a result vertical transistors are formed that have channels aligned vertically with respect to the main surface of the semiconductor substrate.
In the conventional technique in fabricating vertical transistors, the nitride layer is employed as a barrier at least three times in a subsequent etching process and CMP (chemical mechanical polishing) process. Because of this, in order to secure an effective processing margin, the nitride layer should be formed at a thickness equal to or greater than about 1,500 Å. As a result, of this very thick nitride layer, the pillar structures including the nitride layer prone to leaning while undergoing any number of subsequent processes.
Conventional techniques in fabricating vertical transistors also suffer from voids being formed at conductive layers for the gate. That is it is difficult to completely fill in the spaces between the pillar structures with the conductive layers because of the presence of the neck parts. As a result, of conventionally forming a conductive layer for gates, voids can be produced in these spaces. Furthermore, when subsequently etching these conductive layers for gates, adjacent portions of the semiconductor substrate for gates are prone to being lost. As a result fabricating the vertical transistors with conventional techniques, the performance characteristics of the resultant semiconductor devices are likely to be degraded.

Semiconductor device having vertically aligned pillar structures that have flat side surfaces and method for manufacturing the same


A fixing device of the present invention is arranged so that: (i) at least both ends of a planar heat-generating member come close to or touch an outer surface of a fixing roller, said both ends being in a circumferential direction when viewed in an axial direction of the fixing roller; and (ii) the planar heat-generating member has, in the vicinity of both the ends, shapes formed gently with respect to the outer surface of the fixing roller when viewed in the axial direction. An almost whole inner surface area of the fixing belt wound around the planar heat-generating member and the fixing roller touches the planar heat-generating member or the fixing roller. The fixing belt is naturally formed, without being distorted at an area where the fixing belt touches the heating member. This allows a fixing device using a planar heat-generating belt type fixing method, which provides a short warm-up time, to be excellent in heat efficiency, consume less power, and have a fixing belt which does not slip easily.

As a fixing device used in an image forming apparatus (e.g., a copying machine and a printer) using an electrophotographic printing method, a fixing device using a heat-roller fixing method is widely used. The fixing device using the heat-roller fixing method includes a pair of rollers (a fixing roller and a pressure roller) which press each other. Further, both or either one of the pair of rollers internally includes heating means containing a halogen heater or the like. The fixing device fixes a toner image on a recording sheet in the following manner. The heating means heats the pair of rollers to a predetermined temperature (fixing temperature). After that, a recording sheet on which an unfixed toner image is formed is carried to a pressure area (a fixing nip area) between the pair of rollers, and then the recording sheet passes through the pressure area. Thus, the toner image is fixed on the recording sheet due to heat and pressure applied thereto.
In general, a fixing device included in a color image forming apparatus uses an elastic roller. The elastic roller is a fixing roller having an elastic layer which is provided as a surface layer and is made of silicon rubber or the like. The elastic roller is used as the fixing roller, so that a surface of the fixing roller elastically deforms according to an uneven surface of an unfixed toner image and is in contact with the toner image so as to cover the toner image. This allows a color unfixed toner image whose toner amount is larger than that of a monochrome unfixed toner image to be favorably fixed.
Further, due to strain release of the elastic layer which occurs in a fixing nip area, it is possible to improve a releasing property with respect to color toner, which is more likely to offset than monochrome toner.
Furthermore, the fixing nip area has a nip shape protruding upward (i.e., toward the fixing roller side), that is, a so-called inverse nip shape. This makes it possible to more favorably separate a sheet from the fixing roller, thereby allowing the sheet to be separated without using any separation means such as a separation claw (self-stripping). This prevents insufficient image formation which is caused by the separation means.
In order to realize a higher processing speed, the color fixing device having the foregoing arrangement is required to have a greater nip width in the fixing nip area. As means for increasing a nip width, two methods are possible. One is a method for increasing a thickness of the elastic layer of the fixing roller, and the other is a method for increasing a diameter of the fixing roller.
Increasing the thickness of the elastic layer, however, causes the following problem: In a case where the fixing roller internally includes the heating means as in a conventional arrangement, the fixing roller including the elastic layer having an increased thickness does not increase its temperature according to an increased processing speed, because the elastic layer has a very low heat conductivity. Further, increasing the diameter of the fixing roller causes such a problem that (i) warm-up time is extended and (ii) much power is consumed.
In order to solve these problems, in recent years, a belt type fixing method as disclosed in Patent Document 1 is more and more used in the color fixing device. In the belt type fixing method, a fixing belt is provided between a fixing roller and a pressure roller so that the fixing roller and the pressure roller press each other via the fixing belt.
The belt type fixing device provides a short warm-up time, because the fixing belt having a small heat capacity is heated in the belt type fixing device. Further, with the belt type fixing device, it is not necessary to integrate a heating source such as a halogen lamp into the fixing roller. This makes it possible to increase a thickness of a low-hardness elastic layer made of sponge rubber and/or the like, thereby securing a large nip width.
As the belt type fixing method, Patent Document 2 discloses a fixing device (of a planar heat-generating belt type fixing method) having a planar heat-generating body as the heating means. In the planar heat-generating belt type fixing method, the heating means has a heat capacity smaller than that of a conventional heating roller. Further, the planar heat-generating body, which is the heating means, directly generates heat. This allows the fixing device to have improved heat responsiveness, compared with a conventional method in which a heating roller is heated indirectly by means of a halogen lamp. Thereby, the fixing device attains (i) a further reduction in the warm-up time and (ii) further energy saving.    [Patent Document 1]    Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication, Tokukaihei, No. 10-307496    [Patent Document 2]    Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication, Tokukai, No. 2002-333788
These fixing devices using the conventional planar heat-generating belt type fixing method, however, have the following problems.
In the arrangement of Patent Document 2, a shape of the fixing belt wound around the fixing roller is deformed at an area where the fixing belt is in contact with a heating member. This is because of the following reason: (i) The heating member, whose external shape is a substantially semicircle when viewed in an axial direction, is provided so as to be far from the fixing roller. (ii) A curvature radius of the heating member is larger than a radius of the fixing member. (iii) A width of the heating member is larger than a diameter of the fixing roller.
Therefore, the arrangement of Patent Document 2 has a problem with heat efficiency. The problem is caused as follows: Heat is emitted, to atmosphere, from an inner surface area of the fixing belt which area is not in contact with the planar heat-generating body or the fixing roller, and thereby the heat efficiency is decreased. Further, the arrangement of Patent Document 2 has a problem of slippage of the fixing belt. The problem is caused as follows: the deformed shape of the fixing belt wound around the fixing roller causes friction force to be applied to the fixing belt when the fixing belt slides on the heating member, and thereby the fixing belt becomes more prone to slip.
Further, during a stand-by mode in which the fixing roller does not rotate, pre-heating of the fixing belt is carried out only in an area where the fixing belt is in contact with the heating member. Therefore, when printing operation is started immediately after the stand-by mode, heat of the fixing belt is rapidly taken away by the fixing roller, and thereby a degree of undershooting is increased. As a result, it takes time for restoring a temperature of the fixing belt to a value which allows a toner image to be fixed. This arises such a problem that FCOT (First Copy Output Time) is extended.
Patent Document 2 describes that providing the heating member in the vicinity of the fixing roller reduces heat loss caused by the heat dissipation and improves belt running performance. However, with the arrangement where the heating member is provided so as to be far from the fixing roller, it is impossible to sufficiently reduce the heat loss and thereby to improve the belt running performance. Further, Patent Document 2 also describes that providing the heating member in the vicinity of the fixing roller allows the fixing roller to be heated by radiant heat and convection. However, with the arrangement where the heating member provided so as to be far from the fixing roller, it is impossible to sufficiently pre-heat a fixing roller having a large heat capacity.

Fixing device and image forming apparatus including the same


A regional data center system corresponding to a particular region of the world. The data center system includes multiple data centers, each configured such that region-specific requests for services may be satisfied by any of the data centers. One or more of the data centers may also perform load balancing on received region-specific request. In order to perform load balancing, the receiving data center may itself process the requests, but in some cases may determine that the request is to be processed by another data center within the regional data center system.

"Cloud computing" is a model for enabling ubiquitous, convenient, on-demand network access to a shared pool of configurable computing resources (e.g., networks, servers, storage, applications, and services). The shared pool of configurable computing resources can be rapidly provisioned via virtualization and released with low management effort or service provider interaction, and then scaled accordingly. A cloud computing model can be composed of various characteristics (e.g., on-demand self-service, broad network access, resource pooling, rapid elasticity, measured service, etc), service models (e.g., Software as a Service ("SaaS"), Platform as a Service ("PaaS"), Infrastructure as a Service ("IaaS"), and deployment models (e.g., private cloud, community cloud, public cloud, hybrid cloud, etc.). An environment that implements the cloud computing model is often referred to as a cloud computing environment.
A cloud computing environment may include a number of data centers, each having an enormous amount of computing resources such as processing power, memory, storage, bandwidth, and so forth. A data center might be, for example, a sophisticated business location employing hundreds of individuals, and including perhaps hundreds or thousands or racks of servers. Each data center is located within a particular region of the world, and for cloud services that are sensitive to region or latency, tend to support cloud services offered in that particular region. While a data center might be quite large, as the demand for cloud computing increases in that region, the utilization of the data center can also increase to the point where most of the data center is utilized.


A method and system that limits the use of a communication device present in an area controlled by an intelligent controller. The intelligent controller detects any present communication devices in the area and conducts an inventory providing information about each detected device. The intelligent controller compares that information to a standard of use data, which specifies the conditions need to be present for allowing the usage of a communication device. If such conditions are not met, the intelligent controller sends commands to the communication device to restrict its functionality. Else if, the intelligent controller is incapable of restricting the communication device, it can notify authorities of unauthorized usage of a communication device in the restricted area.

The use of wireless devices has increased dramatically within the last decade. Individuals and business entities are in constant communication via wireless networks through devices such as cellular telephones, PDA's, hybrid cellular telephones/PDA's, and computers. The ability to easily communicate with others has caused many individuals to develop habits of using these devices at various locations. However, some uses of wireless communication devices are disturbing to the public, interfering with various sensitive electronics. In the most extreme cases, this interference can be life threatening.
To restrict this interference, many different mechanisms have been proposed. For instance, after various studies, many U.S. jurisdictions have prohibited cell phone usage while operating a vehicle because the studies indicated that operating a cell phone is a distraction to the driver. The driver's attention becomes focused on operating the device and talking into it rather than the traffic and other driving conditions in her surroundings.
Many technological advances have led to developments to correct these problems. Some of these advances are voice recognition units, speakerphone components, hands-free devices, Bluetooth-enabled devices, and earpieces. However, such devises do not monitor nor prevent the use of cellular telephones.
Concurrently, theaters, restaurants, churches and schools began to regulate the use of cellular telephones since cellular communications can be a nuisance. One approach to solve this problem was the creation of cell phone silencers. Such devices communicate with cellular phones within the area and turn down their ringers. However, this system still does not prevent the use of a cellular phone. Rather, it prohibits a cell phone from ringing.
In hospitals and airplanes the use of wireless communication devices interferes with various sensitive electronics, such as electronic monitoring equipment. Cellular phone detection products were developed to detect the presence of cellular phones and send an alarm to the user. However, such systems do not strictly prohibit the use of a cellular phone since a user need not cooperate. Intel has developed a system for use in an airplane. The system uses Bluetooth technology to detect and determine the type of electronic devices present and subsequently notifies the crew. Further, the system can send a "shutdown command" to the electronic device which automatically turns the device off. While useful, the system unnecessarily disables the electronic devices from use.
Thus, methods for interrupting transmitted and received signals from communication devices are well known. Most of these devices simply distort, revert, block, or otherwise manipulate the signal. One device currently being used in Europe is called a "Jammer," which simply blocks signals centered on frequencies used by the communication device. When in use, the communication device appears to have no signal. However, all frequencies within a predetermined area up to 30 feet are blocked. No emergency numbers can be dialed or received, which creates an unsafe situation. In addition, Jammers are currently illegal in the United States.
In order to overcome the problem of non-selective blocking, an "Interceptor" is often used. Instead of completely blocking the signal in a specified area, incoming calls are diverted to a user's voicemail while outgoing calls are blocked. An exception can be made for emergency numbers. However, these emergency numbers need to be pre-programmed within a specific area of use. In addition, the Interceptor has to communicate with a proximate cellular tower to maintain functionality.
Consequently, methods and systems have been developed to incorporate jamming technology into vehicles and/or communication devices. One method electrically connects a jamming device to the transmission of a car in order to render the communication device "on" while the vehicle is in "Park," or "off" when the vehicle is in a gear permitting movement. Further development in this field, incorporates additional circuitry and components into the vehicle and communication device which allows for more versatility and functionality of the communication device. These methods and systems selectively control the functions of the communication device. However, these functions are determined by pre-determined, specified parameters. For instance, these conditions might include times when the car is moving at or above a certain speed; when the car is not in "Park"; when pressure is sensed on the drivers' seat; and/or when the conditions monitored within the car are suitable for driving.
In order to determine the existence of one of the aforementioned conditions, many electronic devices are used. Infrared devices, wireless components, and many other types of sensors are used to determine the functionality of a communication device. For example, the sensor or sensors can detect signals to and/or from the communication device and either (i) disable it when a first condition is present, or (ii) turn it off when a second condition is present. However, this system is expensive to implement because it requires circuitry in the phone, in the vehicle, and in any other area for use. In addition, this type of system does not allow passengers within the vehicle or other individuals within a given area to use their cellular devices. Consequently, the entire vehicle becomes a "dead" zone.
Therefore, there is a clear need for a method and system in which the operation of a communication device is selectively controlled, yet maintains efficiency, effectiveness, and simplicity.

Wireless communication device management


An improved filter element for use in an electrostatic precipitation air cleaning device, the filter element including rod electrodes arranged through a stack of alternating fluted plastic sheets and plate electrodes. Successive plate electrodes are arranged to make contact with an alternating one or the other of the rod electrodes. The plate and rod electrodes may be composed of high impedance materials such as paper and plastic, respectively. An arrangement for removably inserting a filter element into an air cleaning device is provided. The arrangement also removably provides electrical connectivity between the filter element and the air cleaning device. The filter element can thus be readily removed and re-installed by a user.

Conventional air cleaners, such as filtration air cleaners (FACS) remove particles from the air by trapping the particles in filters. Other air cleaners, such as electrostatic precipitation air cleaners (ESPACs), remove particles from the air by collecting the particles on electrically charged collection surfaces, usually one or more metallic plates coupled to high voltages. Once full of captured particles, the filters or plates may then be disposed of, washed or replaced, thereby necessitating convenient and safe access to the filters or plates.
FACs suffer from several drawbacks including a marked drop-off of air flow as the filter becomes increasingly blocked with collected particles; the need for a powerful fan due to the significant pressure drop across the filter (powerful fans also tend to generate more noise and consume more power than less powerful fans); and the need to periodically replace the filter.
Some of the drawbacks of FACs are overcome by ESPACs. Because ESPACs can operate with a lower pressure drop, ESPACs can operate with lower power fans, thereby reducing the noise generated as well as the power consumed. In addition, the collection plates of ESPACs can be washed or wiped clean of particles and re-used repeatedly without replacement.
ESPACs, however, require shielding to protect users from the high voltages (e.g., several kilovolts) that are applied to the metal collecting plates. Even after the power supply has been switched off, there is the danger of shock from electrical charges stored on the plates. In order to safely remove the collecting plates for cleaning, an interlock mechanism is often provided to automatically discharge the plates before they can be accessed by the user. Furthermore, electrical breakdown and leakage between the metal plates will cause a loss of efficiency and generate ozone. Increasing the spacing between the plates will reduce electrical breakdown in the air but will also reduce efficiency.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,749,669 (hereinafter the "'669 patent") addresses some of the shortcomings of conventional ESPACs. The '669 patent describes a particle precipitation device for removing particles entrained in air comprising an array of passages through which the air can pass relatively freely. The passages are provided between sheets of electrically conductive material to which are applied high and low electrical potentials alternately to provide charged sites in the array for collecting particles from the air passing therethrough. A fan is provided to create the air flow through the passages. The passages are preferably provided by sheets of fluted plastic preferably having conductive material on opposite external faces thereof. The fluted plastic sheets may, for example, be overlaid one on top of the other, folded in concertina fashion, formed into a spiral, or formed in an array of concentric sheets arranged in circles.
The '669 patent also describes the use of electrodes comprised of high impedance electrically conductive materials for applying the electrical potentials across the air passages. Unlike low impedance, metallic plates, such high impedance electrodes restrict current flow, thereby reducing the shock hazard to users.


Techniques of operating a charge pump are described. The charge pump is connectable to receive a clock signal and a regulating voltage and provide an output voltage. The charge pump can have one or multiple stages, each of the stages will include a capacitor. During the charging phase, the regulating voltage is used to regulate the potential of the capacitor's bottom plate. During the boosting phase, the capacitor's top plate is connected to supply the output for the stage and the bottom plate is connected to receive the stage's input. Each stage will also have a set of switching elements, allowing the capacitor to be alternately connected in the charging and boosting phases. For the first stage, the input is derived from the clock signal, and for any subsequent stages, the input will be the output of the preceding stage. The last stage provides the output voltage of the pump.

Charge pumps use a switching process to provide a DC output voltage larger than its DC input voltage. In general, a charge pump will have a capacitor coupled to switches between an input and an output. During one clock half cycle, the charging half cycle, the capacitor couples in parallel to the input so as to charge up to the input voltage. During a second clock cycle, the transfer half cycle, the charged capacitor couples in series with the input voltage so as to provide an output voltage twice the level of the input voltage. This process is illustrated in FIGS. 1a and 1b. In FIG. 1a, the capacitor 5 is arranged in parallel with the input voltage VIN to illustrate the charging half cycle. In FIG. 1b, the charged capacitor 5 is arranged in series with the input voltage to illustrate the transfer half cycle. As seen in FIG. 1b, the positive terminal of the charged capacitor 5 will thus be 2*VIN with respect to ground.
Typical charge pump designs, such as conventional Dickson-type pumps, are suited for supplying capacitive loads; however, the efficiency of such pumps drops dramatically when it is required to supply a DC current Load. One common charge pump application is as peripheral circuitry on flash memories for operations where there are such requirements from pumps. Accordingly, there is a need in the art for charge pumps that achieve higher efficiency when supplying DC loads.


An apparatus for decelerating a signature comprises a movable belt arrangement, and a motor coupled to the movable belt arrangement for controllably moving the movable belt arrangement through a cyclical velocity profile. The movable belt arrangement is moved through a signature engaging section with the cyclical velocity profile causing the motor to decelerate the movable belt arrangement from a first speed to a second speed while engaging a signature in the signature engaging section. The signature enters the signature engaging section at the first speed, and leaves the signature engaging section at the second speed, lower than the first speed. The cyclical velocity profile causes the movable belt arrangement to accelerate upon the signature leaving the signature engaging section, back to the first speed, prior to a next signature entering the signature engaging section.

In a printing operation, signatures are moved through a printing press at a maximum press speed that is considerably faster than can be accommodated in downstream equipment such as folders. Typically, signature speed is reduced by approximately 50% before input to a folder.
In known printing press equipment, a deceleration mechanism is utilized to decelerate signatures as they exit a printing press, and prior to input to a folder. The deceleration mechanism implements mechanical structures that engage and decelerate the individual signatures. The constant stress of multiple decelerations of substantial numbers of signatures, as are encountered in commercial printing operations, causes durability problems with known deceleration solutions. Moreover, in some known devices, the abrupt nature of the signature deceleration results in product defects.

Signature velocity reduction device and method


In an optical modulator directional measurement system embodiment, one or more modulation waves may be measured and directionally discriminated by measuring the modulations of one or more lightwaves. The optical modulator transmission function magnitude for a most phase-matched modulation may be substantially greater than that for other modulations. At sufficiently high modulation frequency, the most phase-matched modulation magnitude may be substantially greater than the other modulation magnitudes. Accordingly, a modulation wave may be distinctly measured by measuring the modulation of the most phase-matched lightwave.

The background art discussed in this section includes information disclosed under 37 CFR §1.97 and §1.98.
The performance of current directional measurement instruments, such as network analyzers, is inadequate for many possible applications that extend significantly above one hundred gigahertz. Existing and proposed directional measurement systems that form the cores of directional measurement instruments suffer from limited directivity or bandwidth at frequencies above one hundred gigahertz.
A lightwave is modulated by a modulation wave in an optical modulator. The modulation wave is often in the form of a radio wave, microwave, or millimeter wave and guided by a modulation waveguide of the optical modulator. A travelling-wave optical modulator may be employed in an optical system having modulation in the microwave or millimeter-wave frequency range. In a travelling-wave optical modulator, the modulation wave is substantially coherent with the lightwave modulation over the length of the modulator, and operation is said to be phase-matched.

Optical modulator directional measurement system


Compatible polymer blends PM, exhibiting a single glass transition temperature Tg comprise. (A) 0.1-99.9 wt. % of a polymer P1 comprising at least 95 wt. % styrene; and PA1 (B) 99.9-0.1 wt % of a polymer P2 comprising. (a) more than 90 wt. % and up to 100 wt. % of ethyl methacrylate, and PA2 (b) 0 wt. % up to less than 10 wt. % of at least one monomer copolymerizable with ethyl methacrylate, provided that (a) plus (b) add up to 100 wt. %.. The compatible polymer blends may be formulated with another polymer P3, chemically differentiable from P1 and P2, with P3 being incompatible with P1, P2 and PM, to form compositions of better impact resistance than PM. The compatible polymer blends find use in the production of weather-resistant items; data-storage discs, especially for optically readable information; and optical gradient fibers.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to compatible polymer blends of styrene polymers and ethyl methacrylate polymers and composite systems thereof.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Polymer compatibility has been considered to be the exception to the rule since the beginning of pertinent studies, and incompatibility the rule. (Cf. Kirk-Othmer, Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology, 3rd Ed. Vol. 18, pg. 443-478 J. Wiley 1982). Prior studies of the compatibility of polystyrene appeared to confirm its general incompatibility with other polymers (Cf. R. J. Petersen et al., Polymer Preprints Am. Chem. Soc. Div. Polym. Chem. 10, 385 (1969)).
Very recently, however, some polyalkyl (meth)acrylates compatible with representatives of the polystyrene family have been discovered. Thus, polystyrene is compatible with polycyclohexyl (meth)acrylate up to the decomposition point (>250.degree. C.). (Cf. U.S. Pat. No. 4,898,912; the state of the art is also evaluated thoroughly there). Copolymers of methyl methacrylate and ethyl methacrylate on the one hand, and higher alkyl esters of methacrylic acid on the other hand are also compatible with polystyrenes (cf. DE-A 37 30 025 (U.S. Pat. No. 4,897,441)). We found particularly good compatibility with polystyrene when the polymer also contained small proportions of cyclohexyl methacrylate (DE-A 37 30 026 (U.S. Pat. No. 4,892,909)).
Poly-.alpha.-methylstyrene also shows compatibility at room temperature with polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), polyethyl methacrylate, and polybutyl methacrylate. Unlimited compatibility was found with polycyclohexyl (meth)acrylate (cf. U.S. Pat. No. 4,849,479). Poly(alkylstyrenes) (for example, those from the monomers p-methylstyrene, p-t-butylstyrene) very generally show compatibility with polyalkyl (meth)acrylates, when the condition is met that the side chains of the poly(alkylstyrenes) and the side chains of the polyalkyl (meth)acrylates show comparable Van-der-Waals volumes.
It is clear from the papers by Somani and Shaw, who studied the miscibility of poly(meth)acrylates with polystyrene using melt titration, that these types of polymers are incompatible for all practical purposes (miscibility only in the range of 10.sup.-5 to 10.sup.-6 parts by weight). The studies extended to blends of polystyrene with polymethyl acrylate, polyethyl acrylate, polybutyl acrylate, poly-n-butyl methacrylate, and polymethyl methacrylate (cf. R. H. Somani, M. T. Shaw, Macromolecules 14, 1549 (1981)). One skilled in the art could not expect exceptions from the typical incompatibility behavior of the homopolymers of this class of polymer according to the state of the art. Immiscible polymer blends are opaque as a rule unless the components have approximately the same index of refraction. Blends of polystyrene and PMMA therefore show pearly opalescence that is sometimes used for decorative purposes (cf. O. Olabisi, L. M. Robeson & M. T. Shaw, Polymer-Polymer Miscibility, pg. 341, Academic Press 1979).
Both miscible and immiscible polymer systems have interesting aspects from the application point of view. Miscible polymer systems usually produce mechanical compatibility (cf. O. Olabisi et al., loc. cit. pg. 351). The resultant transparency of the system is also advantageous in blends that are inherently transparent. According to the findings discussed above, the state of the art did not lead to the expectation that blends compatible with polystyrene could be obtained in the range of poly(meth)acrylic esters of lower alkanols.


For different line parameters of lines at least one transmission procedure with a transmission rate representing the maximum throughput rate is determined and stored. In a current data transmission via a line, its line parameters are measured and the transmission procedure is selected with the transmission rate at which the greatest agreement is determined between the measured and stored line parameters, i.e., a maximum data throughput rate.

In the service area or feeder nets of communications systems or networks, different transmission procedures are used to transmit data. For example, digitized voice information or Internet data information via lines may be transmitted via 2-wire or 4-wire lines. Frequently used transmission procedures include the baseband transmission procedure and single-carrier or multi-carrier procedures. Additional echo compensation processes are required for bi-directional data transmission via two-wire lines. Modems frequently use single- or multiple carrier frequency processes, whereby appropriate modulation procedures—in particular phase modulation procedures—depending on the transmission rates to be achieved, are applied.
Modems use a default transmission rate that is reduced during temporary interference, which causes a sharp drop in transmission quality. Once the interference is eliminated or repaired, the modem returns to the original transmission rate.

Method for optimizing the transmission of data via lines


An edible material containing soybean cell walls having a good taste is produced by providing dehulled and hypocotyl-removed soybeans without substantial swelling by water absorption; soaking and heating the soybeans in hot water to which an alkali has been added under the conditions of: Log(Hr)+0.0333 Temp.gtoreq.2.4, wherein Log(Hr) represents the common logarithm (to base ten) value of a soaking time (hours), and Temp represents a soaking temperature (.degree.C.); and then crushing the soybeans.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a process for producing an edible material, i.e., a material to be used as an ingredient of foodstuffs, from soybeans. More specifically, it relates to a process for producing an edible material containing soybean cell walls, which has good taste and mouthfeel and which can be used for the same use as that of bean jam, mashed potato, hard-boiled egg yolk and the like or can be used for gelation.
2. Description of the Related Art
A bean jam is an edible material having a granular or particulate appearance with less crumbly property and, usually, it is made from red beans ("adzuki" beans) by conversion of starch particles enveloped in cell membranes of red beans to .alpha.-starch, and penetration of sugar into the beans to delay retrogradation of the .alpha.-starch to .beta.-starch. The mashed potato is food or an ingredient of foodstuffs in which starch is enveloped in cells and which has particulate appearance or cream-like mouthfeel. Also, an egg yolk of hard-boiled egg has such unique mouthfeel that it is crumbled into particles upon pressing it in the mouth, and is different from an egg yolk obtained by opening an egg, breaking the egg yolk membrane and heat-coagulating it, because the latter egg yolk has elastic rubber-like mouthfeel.
In case of soybeans which contain little starch particles, it has also been known that a bean jam-like edible material can be made therefrom. However, any product containing soybean cell walls and having good taste and mouthfeel is not yet obtained.
For example, although a method using defatted soybeans or soybean flour made from defatted soybeans as a raw material has been known, there is a problem that, generally, the product obtained has rough mouthfeel and astringent taste. In order to improve the taste, sometimes, the product is subjected to washing with alcohol or the like. However, this requires a complicated processing step.
In order to solve the problem, to use whole soybeans as a raw material has been proposed. When using whole soybeans, as disclosed in JP-A 61-104758, JP-A 62-138161, etc., generally, they are soaked and swollen in water, followed by processing. However, another problem is a bad taste due to "boiled bean flavor" in addition to insufficient removal of undesired "bean flavor".
The main object of the present invention is to develop an edible material containing soybean cell walls, which has good taste and mouthfeel and which can be used for the same use as that of bean jam, mashed potato, hard-boiled egg yolk and the like or can be used for gelation.
This object as well as other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following description with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Process for producing edible material from soybeans


A process of forming a nanopatterned substrate is provided. The process comprising the steps of first preparing a giant surfactant comprising a cage-like molecular nanoparticle head linked to a polymer chain tail through a chemical linkage. Next, using the giant surfactant, a thin film is formed. Next the thin film formed from the giant surfactant is annealed such that the giant surfactant self-assembles into a desired nanostructure. The desired nanostructure is comprised of periodic major domains and minor domains. Finally, at least some of either the major domain or the minor domain is selectively removed to form the nanopatterned substrate.

Physical properties of materials are dictated by the hierarchical arrangements of atoms, molecules, and supramolecular assemblies across different length scales. The construction and engineering of structures at each length scale, especially at the 2- to 100-nm scale, are critically important in achieving desired macroscopic properties. As the traditional top-down lithography techniques face serious challenges in fabricating 2D and 3D nanostructured materials with sub-20-nm feature sizes, the bottom-up approach based on self-organization or directed assembly of functional molecules provides a promising alternative. The past decades have witnessed the development of diverse self-assembly building blocks ranging from small-molecule surfactants, block copolymers, and dendrimers to DNAs, peptides, and proteins. Notably, these motifs have enabled the programmed self-assembly of nanomaterials as demonstrated in DNA-coated nanoparticles. These studies have greatly improved the understanding of thermodynamics and kinetics of self-assembly processes and have opened enormous possibilities in modern nanotechnology.
Noncovalent interactions, such as hydrogen bonding, amphiphilic effect, π-π interaction, metal coordination bonding, and electrostatic forces are known to be the fundamentals to precise self-assembly. Specific recognition and binding events, such as DNA hybridization and protein folding, are based on collective and cooperative multiple secondary interactions. More recently, anisotropy in shape has also been recognized as a critical factor in the self-assembly process due to packing constraints, as indicated by the emerging concept of "shape amphiphiles". However, it remains challenging to design nanomaterials "from scratch" that can generate diverse structures at a specific length scale, e.g., the nanostructures with feature sizes around 100 nm or smaller and even heretofore never produced sizes of 10 nm or smaller, as in the case of some embodiment of the invention herein.
Small-molecule surfactants have been a classic type of self-assembling materials and are typically composed of polar ionic heads and flexible hydrophobic tails. Although a variety of nanostructured assemblies can be created, they usually lack the required etching contrast between the hydrophobic and hydrophilic domains. The well-established microphase separation of block copolymers has, on the other hand, led to the development of the block copolymer lithography, affording access to nanopatterning with high patterning density at low processing costs. Substantial progress has been demonstrated to guide the nanostructure formation in the block copolymer thin films at a 20- to 100-nm feature size scale. Pushing the feature sizes to an even smaller scale has had limited success. It is difficult to achieve a strong segregation with a sharp interface at sub-20-nm length scale, because the chemical incompatibility in typical block copolymers is reflected by the product of the interaction parameters and the degree of polymerization. It is even more challenging to generate unconventional patterns, such as rectangular lattices, due to their thermodynamic metastability. Micro-phase separation of block copolymer materials has been well documented. The ability of bock copolymers to generate various ordered patterns in the bulk and thin film states serves as the basis for the development of alternative nanopatterning technologies to complement the traditional "top-down" photolithographic processes, especially in creating small feature sizes (below 100 nm) at large area.
In the present invention size amplification and structural diversification of self-assembling small-molecule surfactants, is seen as an effective strategy for the molecular design of a unique class of self-assembling "giant surfactants". This class of giant surfactants bridges the gap between small molecule amphiphiles and amphiphilic block copolymers and possesses advantages of both materials, thus providing a unique platform for engineering versatile nanostructures that, in some embodiments, can achieve sub-10-nm feature sizes, though the present invention is not limited thereto.

Sub-10-nanometer nanostructures engineered from giant surfactants


A skin dressing, particularly a wound dressing, comprises oxidoreductase enzyme and, optionally, peroxidase enzyme, wherein the enzyme(s) are present in hydrated condition, e.g. being present in one or more hydrated hydrogels. The dressing is used by being located on the skin of a human or animal e.g. over a wound. The oxidoreductase enzyme catalyses a reaction that produces hydrogen peroxide from an appropriate substrate, the substrate either being naturally present in body fluids and/or being supplied separately and/or being incorporated into the dressing. The currently preferred oxidoreductase enzyme is glucose oxidase. The catalyses reaction of β-D-glucose substrate to give hydrogen peroxide and gluconic acid. A mixture of oxidoreductase enzyme can undergo reaction (optionally catalysed by the peroxidase enzyme) to produce a variety of species including reactive oxygen intermediates that have antimicrobial properties and that can therefore assist in promoting wound healing.

Wounds frequently become infected. Wound dressings may carry antiseptic substances, and the physical protection they provide prevents ingress of extra infecting microbes, although this microbial exclusion is seldom absolute. Antiseptic substances carried on the dressing pad are not usually very effective, possibly because they do not readily diffuse into the wound at a steady rate. Moreover, the most effective substances, antibiotics, are not available for routine use, because of the ever-present problems of emerging drug resistance.
Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) is a known antimicrobial substance with many advantages. It is produced naturally in the body by white blood cells as part of the immune defence activities in response to infection. There are no known microbial evasion mechanisms by which microbes can escape its effects and it has a short lifetime, very rapidly breaking down to water and oxygen in the tissues. It therefore does not accumulate to dangerous levels. When it is to be applied topically (e.g. to treat acne), its effectiveness is enhanced by the fact that it readily penetrates the skin surface to reach underlying sites of infection.
As hydrogen peroxide is so beneficial, it has been used for many years as an anti-microbial substance for cleansing wounds of all kinds and as a biologically compatible general antiseptic. In particular, hydrogen peroxide-containing ointments have been used, e.g., for treatment of leg ulcers, pressure sores, minor wounds and infection. There are, however, problems associated with the use of hydrogen peroxide. Hydrogen peroxide solution is very unstable and is readily oxidised to water and oxygen; further, hydrogen peroxide at high concentration can be damaging to normal skin and to cells responsible for healing in the wound bed. It is very difficult or even impossible to use hydrogen peroxide as part of a pre-dosed wound dressing: it's instability would make for a product with an impossibly short shelf-life, and dosing at the point of application would still not provide a sustained delivery over a usefully prolonged period. When it is used in wound treatment (as described in the British Pharmacopoeia, for example) very high concentrations (typically 3%) are needed to achieve a powerful antimicrobial effect over a very short time interval. Even this type of short burst can be effective, because of the great effectiveness of hydrogen peroxide, but there is the further disadvantage that such high concentrations can be relatively damaging to host cells and can impede the healing process. For this reason, use of hydrogen peroxide tends to be restricted to initial clean-up and sterilisation of wounds. Even so, it is a natural defence substance, produced by the body's own cells (at lower concentrations) and it is increasingly recognised as an intercellular and intracellular messenger molecule, involved in cell to cell molecular signalling and regulation. Undoubtedly, hydrogen peroxide is potentially a very beneficial molecule, if it can be used at the right concentrations and in the appropriate time course.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,576,817 proposes a bacteriostatic fibrous wound dressing incorporating dry enzymes such as glucose oxidase and lactoperoxidase to generate e.g. hydrogen peroxide and hypoiodite on contact with serum.
WO 01/28600 discloses a wound dressing including dry glucose oxidase, dry lactoperoxidase and an iodide salt in a polymeric matrix. The glucose oxidase catalyses an oxidation reaction of glucose present in body fluids of a wound site to generate hydrogen peroxide. The action of lactoperoxidase on hydrogen peroxide and iodide generates elemental iodine, which is a powerful anti-infective agent.
Efficient wound healing is promoted by several factors, including a moist environment and the removal of wound exudates by absorption. Dry super-absorbent materials have often been used to gain the benefit of exudate removal, since these substances readily take up and hold fluids that exude from wounds with great efficiency. However, a highly efficient dry absorbent material can lead to an unhelpful lack of moisture, and a wound dressing constructed from such a material would not work well with antimicrobial enzymic systems, at least not until the dressing had become thoroughly wetted by wound fluid.

Wound dressings comprising hydrated hydrogels and enzymes


An image forming apparatus has: a housing; a member to be cooled provided inside the housing, the member to be cooled in which heat builds up; an airflow producing portion provided in a predetermined position of the housing for taking in air outside the housing; an air guide member for passing the air thus taken in through a hollow cross-section part, and guiding the air to the member to be cooled to cool the member to be cooled; an air inlet portion provided at one end of the air guide member for taking in the air from the airflow producing portion; and an air blowoff portion provided at another end of the air guide member for sending the air to the member to be cooled, the air blowoff portion in which the cross-sectional area of the hollow cross-section part is smaller than the cross-sectional area of the hollow cross-section part in the air inlet portion.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to image forming apparatuses using an electrophotographic process, such as copiers, printers, and facsimiles. More particularly, the present invention relates to an image forming apparatus that can cool a member to be cooled disposed inside the apparatus with an airflow producing portion (cooling fan).
2. Description of Related Art
In image forming apparatuses such as copiers and printers, a heated roller fusing method is widely adopted as a method for fusing an unfused toner image to paper. In the heated roller fusing method, at least one of a pair of rollers forming a nip has a built-in heat source, and paper carrying an unfused toner image is passed through the nip formed between the pair of rollers heated by the heat source, whereby the toner image is fused to the paper. The heat generated by the heat source easily builds up in the image forming apparatus, causing a rise in temperature inside the image forming apparatus. This rise in temperature may affect formation of images. Furthermore, in a developing device, heat is generated, for example, in a sliding portion and blades of an agitator screw as the toner is agitated, unfavorably causing a rise in temperature of the developing device that supplies toner to an image supporting member.
The rise in temperature of the developing device may cause the toner to melt, lowering flowability of the toner and making the toner stick to the screw provided for conveying and agitating the toner. The toner stuck to the screw and eventually deposited thereon may drastically deprive the screw of its toner conveying capability. This adversely affects the toner image developed on the surface of the image supporting member, and results in the formation of an image of unsatisfactory quality on the paper.
To solve this problem, in JP-A-2002-006697, a heat generating portion inside the apparatus body is cooled with a cooling fan. A blowoff port of the cooling fan is connected to toner boxes (portions to be cooled) of developing devices for black, cyan, yellow, and magenta with four ducts provided therebetween. The air from the cooling fan is passed through the ducts and is then blown onto the toner boxes, thereby cooling the toner boxes.
However, this conventional technology has a following drawback. If a space between the blowoff port of the cooling fan and the toner boxes is narrow, it is impossible to provide four ducts. This makes it difficult to cool the toner boxes.
To overcome this drawback, in JP-A-2007-041562, there are provided four flexible tubes each having, at one end thereof, an air inlet portion at which they are connected to a cooling fan, and having, at the other end thereof, an air blowoff portion that is attached so as to face the bottom surface of the toner box. The air from the cooling fan is taken in, and is made to flow through the four flexible tubes from the front toward the rear of the toner boxes along the bottom surfaces thereof. With this structure, even when there is no space to provide the ducts, it is possible to cool the toner boxes.
However, this conventional technology has the following drawbacks. The air coming from the cooling fan and taken into the flexible tubes does not reach all the way to the rear of the toner boxes. As a result, the degree of temperature rise differs between the front and rear ends of the toner boxes. That is, although the rise in temperature can be prevented near the front end of the toner boxes, the temperature continues to rise near the rear end thereof. This unfavorably makes the toner inside the toner boxes less flowable. The toner boxes are not the only ones that will be affected. In a fusing unit, too, the heat generated by a heat source such as a built-in heater of a fusing roller is transferred to a nearby paper conveying portion. This transferred heat unfavorably distorts the image fused to the paper.


An adaptive charger can include: a power converter configured to receive an input current from an external power supply, and to generate an output current as a charging current to a load; a current feedback loop configured to compare a first detection signal that represents the input current against a first current reference signal, and to generate a first error signal, where the power converter is configured to regulate the input current according to the first error signal; and the current feedback loop being configured to determine an overload state of the external power supply according to an input voltage of the power converter, where the charger is configured to enter a current limit state when the external power supply is determined to be in the overload state, and where the first current reference signal is gradually reduced until the external power supply recovers to a non-overloaded state.

Switched-type chargers are widely used in the fields of smartphones, tablets, etc. due to its advantages of relatively small size, high efficiency, and fast charging speed. However, the output power and output current of a universal serial bus (USB) interface of an external power supply (e.g., an adapter, a computer, etc.) are usually limited. Generally, an external power supply may supply power for a switched-type charger during the battery charging process. The input current of the charger may be limited so as to avoid an overload condition when using an adapter or a USB power supply as a power source.

Adaptive charger with input current limitation and controlling method for the same

Silergy Semiconductor Technology (Hangzhou) LTD


A polyphase power system with a system safety ground supplies a plurality of power phases over a respective plurality of power lines to power a load. A plurality of phase fault detectors of a fault detection component monitor the plurality of power lines, respectively. A phase fault detector, of the plurality of phase fault detectors, monitors a power line of the plurality of power lines. The phase fault detector outputs a threshold voltage with a voltage divider coupled with the power line. The threshold voltage is a line-to-ground voltage relative to a localized ground. A capacitor coupled between the localized ground and the system safety ground provides a direct current offset to the localized ground upon a ground fault condition. The phase fault detector compares the threshold voltage with a reference voltage to make a determination of an existence of the ground fault condition in the power line.

Polyphase power systems are designed to supply electrical power to a balanced system load. A failure of a connection may cause power to be diverted to a grounded surface and result in a ground fault. Ground fault detectors provide an indication of an existence of leakage currents associated with the ground fault. Transient leakage currents are created when equipment powered by the polyphase power system is turned on or off. When equipment is turned on or off, ground fault detectors may incorrectly indicate a ground fault. The incorrect indication of a ground fault undesirably wastes time for technicians who consequently must attempt to discover the cause of the indicated ground fault.
Thus, a need exists for an increase in accuracy of ground fault detection for a polyphase power system.

Threshold adjustment accuracy for ground fault condition determination


Systems, methods, and apparatus for facilitating intelligent data storage utilizing one or more records are presented herein. A write component of a storage medium can receive data and write one or more portions of the data to a storage block of the storage medium. Further, a signature component of the storage medium can create a record within the storage medium, and update at least one part of the record corresponding to the storage block based on the one or more portions of the data. Moreover, a query component of the storage medium can receive a request and transmit the record based on the request; and transmit one or more attributes of the storage medium based on another request. Furthermore, the signature component can update the at least one part of the record based on whether content of the storage block changed as a function of the write.

Conventional data storage techniques rely on data backup and/or replication solutions to recover lost data. For example, conventional remote device(s) and/or system(s) perform replication and/or backup of data stored in a storage device by reading data from each storage element of the storage device and copying the data to another remote, storage device. In another example, conventional device(s) and/or system(s) copy the data to the remote storage device via a network, such as a local area network or a wide area network.
In yet another example, conventional data storage techniques copy the data to the remote storage device based on whether the data has changed. Such techniques determine whether the data has changed, e.g., by remotely computing a signature of data of each storage element of the storage device utilizing one or more algorithms, and copying the data of the storage element to the remote storage device if the signature of the data has changed.
One concern with conventional data storage techniques is that data throughput of a storage device, and/or an associated interface coupled to the storage device, limits a rate at which the storage device is backed-up and/or replicated, i.e., via the associated interface. Under ideal data throughput conditions, data can be moved from a large storage device to a remote storage device, e.g., via a wide area network, at a rate of 10 Gbits/sec; however, under non-ideal data throughput conditions, data is currently moved from the large storage device to the remote storage device at a rate of 10 Mbits/sec. During such non-ideal throughput conditions, data backup and/or replication can take hours, days, or even weeks to complete via the wide area network.
Although conventional data storage techniques, for example, compute the signature of data of each storage element of a storage device to assist replication and/or backup of the storage device, such techniques require calculating and/or communicating the data signature of each storage element of the storage device during a backup and/or replication of the storage device—consuming time, consuming network bandwidth, consuming processing resources, etc.
The above-described deficiencies of today's data storage environments and related technologies are merely intended to provide an overview of some of the problems of conventional technology, and are not intended to be exhaustive. Other problems with the state of the art, and corresponding benefits of some of the various non-limiting embodiments described herein, may become further apparent upon review of the following detailed description.

Intelligent data storage utilizing one or more records


A method and device for realizing a snapshot function of a micro-engine processing packet intermediate data, and a computer storage medium. The method comprises: completing a snapshot of packet intermediate data via a debugging instruction to obtain packet snapshot data; completing the storage and outputting of the packet snapshot data according to a software command, so as to move and store the packet snapshot data in an external memory outside the micro-engine; and completing the bus-out of the packet snapshot data in the external memory.

In order to meet the requirement for future network development, the performance of a router needs to be improved, and many technological changes are performed on a core router at the key position of Internet. Especially in a high-end router market, a network processor has become an irreplaceable part of a routing forwarding engine due to outstanding message processing performance and programmability thereof.
In a network processor system, an ME is a core component of the network processor, taking charge of parsing and processing a packet according to microcode instructions. Because the microcode instructions are written by a user according to the requirement, and an error may exist therein, the microcode instructions are required to be effectively verified, a debugging technology for the ME is then widely applied to software fault location, software code analysis and a reverse engineering field, being critical to design and use of the processor.
Debugging the software and microcode generally includes the following three aspects: a breakpoint is set in the microcode, so that a program is interrupted and stops being executed when being executed to the break point; the user can check whether packet intermediate data is correct; a single-step operation is performed on the program, or the program is enabled to exit an interrupt state and continue to be executed, and the packet intermediate data is checked until the program ends. The technology for realizing a snapshot of packet intermediate data via the ME is very important, and is the key of debugging technology.
In a prior art, in sequence to realize a snapshot of packet intermediate data via ME, the main solution is as follows, data is directly read over a bus of the ME, in which the ME is required to retain a read port for an external bus; when being executed to the breakpoint, the instruction is interrupted and stops being executed; the user reads data in a packet memory (PKT_RAM) over the bus, and checks packet intermediate data.
With the above solution, although the structure is simple, two obvious disadvantages exist: 1) for a network processor with a multi-ME parallel structure, the retaining the read port for the external bus of the ME is not good for timing closure and backend wiring of a chip, and the increasing of the dominant frequency of the ME is significantly limited; and 2) an extra read port is required for the PKT_RAM to be used for the bus, which increases the area of the PKT_RAM and the complexity of read logic of the PKT_RAM, and is not good for timing closure.

Method and device for realizing snapshot function of micro-engine processing packet intermediate data


The invention relates to a method of cleaning the surface of a material (4) that is coated with an organic substance. The inventive method is characterised in that it comprises the following steps, consisting in: introducing the material (4) into a treatment chamber (2), having a pressure of between 10 mbar and 1 bar therein, which is supplied with a gas stream containing at least 90 volume percent of oxygen; and generating a plasma by passing an electric discharge between the surface of the material and a dielectric-covered electrode (5a, 5b, 5c, 5d, 5e, 5f, 5g) in order to break down the organic substance under the action of the free radicals O thus produced. The invention also relates to an installation (1) that is used to carry out said method.

The present invention relates to a process for cleaning, by means of a plasma at a pressure between 10 mbar and 1 bar, the surface of a material coated with an organic substance, and to an installation for implementing this process, more particularly one intended for cleaning metal strip.
Within the context of the present application, the expression "organic substance" is understood to mean any water-insoluble compound containing carbon, oxygen and hydrogen.

Method for the plasma cleaning of the surface of a material coated with an organic substance and the installation for carrying out said method


A method of directly changing a service attribute corresponding to a service component through a hypermedia document. The hypermedia document can provide an interface to a service logic execution environment (SLEE). The method can include providing a plurality of selections embodied in the hypermedia document. The plurality of selections can correspond to the service attribute. The method further can include receiving a user specified selection in the hypermedia document and generating a SLEE compatible event based on the user selection. The event can be of a type which the service component has been registered in the SLEE to receive. Also, the event can be routed to the service component via the SLEE. The service component can process the event and update service attribute information corresponding to the service attribute consistent with the event.

1. Technical Field
This invention relates to the field of telecommunications, and more particularly, to a method of directly changing service attributes corresponding to service components.
2. Description of the Related Art
The development of the open network application programming interface (API) represents an important departure from the traditional method by which the architecture of the public switched telephone network (PSTN) was first opened. Traditionally, the Advanced Intelligent Network (AIN) architecture defined a call model which allowed the creation of telecommunications service applications outside of the switch environment. Telecommunications service applications are a la carte telecommunications applications which can perform enhanced services for a telecommunications session established among two or more parties. Exemplary service applications can include Call Waiting, Caller ID, Call Forwarding, Voice Activated Dialing, and Meet-me Conferencing.
When AIN first had been introduced, in terms of the service application creation process, the AIN architecture represented an important advance. AIN separated service development from switching, allowing service logic components to be developed more quickly and placed in specialized network elements attached to databases. Switches, in turn, being free from all service logic, could be optimized for speed and efficiency. Still, typical service applications which were developed to the AIN specification were written in specialized languages by specially trained programmers using specialized service creation environments.
Importantly, future telecommunications networks will be characterized by new and evolving network architectures where packet-switched, circuit-switched, and wireless networks are integrated to offer subscribers an array of innovative multimedia, multiparty applications. Equally important, it is expected that the process by which telecommunications applications are developed will change, and will no longer solely be the domain of the telecommunications network or service application provider. In fact, in order to provide a broad portfolio of novel, compelling applications rapidly, service application providers will increasingly turn to third-party applications developers and software vendors. Thus, application development in the telecommunications domain will become more similar to that of software and information technology in general, with customers reaping the benefits of increased competition, reduced time to market, and rapid leveraging of new technology as it is developed.
To make this vision a reality, the principles of AIN have been discarded in favor of a new service application component development paradigm. Specifically, it has been recognized that future integrated networks must offer application developers a set of standard, open APIs so that applications written for compatibility with one vendor's system can execute in the system of another vendor. In consequence, the cost of applications development can be amortized, reducing the final cost to the customer. JAVA programming language APIs for Integrated Networks (JAIN) fulfills the requirements of the new service application component development paradigm. Presently, JAIN includes standard, open published JAVA programming language APIs for next-generation systems consisting of integrated Internet Protocol (IP) or asynchronous transport mode (ATM) networks, PSTN, and wireless networks. The JAIN APIs include interfaces at the protocol level, for different protocols such as Media Gateway Control Protocol (MGCP), Session Initiation Protocol (SIP), and Transactional Capabilities Application Part (TCAP), as well as protocols residing in the higher layers of the telecommunications protocol stack.
JAIN includes a set of integrated network APIs for the JAVA programming language platform and an environment to build and integrate JAIN components into services or applications that work across PSTN, packet and wireless networks. The JAIN approach integrates wireline, wireless, and packet-based networks by separating service-based logic from network-based logic. FIG. 1 illustrates a conventional JAIN implementation. As shown in FIG. 1, a conventional JAIN implementation can include a protocol layer 102 which can include interfaces to IP, wireline and wireless signaling protocols. These protocols can include TCAP, ISUP, INAP, MAP, SIP, MGCP, and H.323. The JAIN implementation also can include a signaling layer 103 which can include interfaces to provide connectivity management and call control. The conventional JAIN implementation also can include an application layer 104 for handling secure network access and other external services. Finally, the conventional JAIN implementation can include a service layer 106 which can include a service creation and carrier grade service logic execution environment (SLEE) 108.
In JAIN, the protocol layer 102 and the signaling layer 103 are based upon a JAVA programming language standardization of specific signaling protocols and provide standardized protocol interfaces in an object model. Additionally, applications and protocol stacks can be interchanged all the while providing a high degree of portability to the applications in the application layer using protocol stacks from different sources. By comparison, the application layer 104 provides a single call model across all supported protocols in the protocol layer 102. Fundamentally, the application layer 104 provides a single state machine for multiparty, multimedia, and multiprotocol sessions for service components in the application layer 104. This state machine is accessible by trusted applications that execute in the application layer 104 through a call control API.
Notably, applications or services executing at the service level 102 can communicate directly with protocol adapters in the SLEE 108. Protocol adapters typically are class methods, callbacks, event or interfaces that encapsulate the underlying resources such as TCAP, MGCP, etc. The underlying resources can be implemented in many programming languages, but a JAIN-conformant protocol product must provide at least the relevant JAIN API. In contrast, an external application or service executing in the application layer 104 does not have to be aware of the underlying resources and can remain oblivious to the fact that some of its session or call legs may be using different protocols.
Service components 112 are the core JAIN components and can execute in the SLEE 108. More particularly, service components 112 are constructed according to a standard component model and, instantiations of component assemblies execute in coordination with the SLEE 108. Using information regarding the protocol layer 102 which can be incorporated into the SLEE 108, service components 112 can interact with the underlying protocol stacks without having specific knowledge of the protocol stack. Thus, service components 112 can use the call model provided by the signaling layer to implement telephony services. More importantly, the SLEE 108 can relieve the service components 112 of conventional lifecycle responsibilities by providing portable support for transactions, persistence, load balancing, security, and object and connection instance pooling. In this way, the service components 112 can focus on providing telephony services.
Presently, a user can change various aspects of a service such as call forwarding, call blocking, or messaging, through a Web-based interface such as a hypermedia document or HTML Web page running over the Internet. These service aspects can include service information such as telephone numbers to be blocked, times which particular numbers can be blocked, as well as other behavioral aspects of a service such as the type of message to be played to particular calling numbers or the number of rings before the messaging service answers the telephone. The service information and behavioral parameters of the service collectively can be referred to as service attributes and are conventionally stored within a separate database external to both the hypermedia document and the actual services which can be implemented with one or more service components 112. Once the user initiates changes to the service attributes from the hypermedia document, the service attribute information can be updated in a manner consistent with the user's desired changes.
As shown in FIG. 1, conventional systems for updating service attribute information typically are separate and distinct from the services which actually use the information. For example, once the user has requested a change to a service attribute, a hypermedia document 210 can access a database management component 116 to update the service attribute information in a service attribute database 114. Though the service components can contain service attribute information, the service component must access the service attribute information database 114 and synchronize its service attribute information with the updated information contained within the service attribute database 114. This synchronization process between the service component 112 and the service attribute database 114 often can require another separate and distinct component or service such as synchronization component 118. Notably, the database management component 116, the synchronization component 118, as well as the service attributes database 114, each operate external to the JSLEE 108.

Method of changing service attributes in a service logic execution environment

International Business Machines Corporation


Bearing assemblies for supporting opposite stub shafts of an upper drawing roll of a textile sliver drawing frame. Each bearing assembly includes a bearing sleeve having an inner cylindrical surface and an open end through which a respective stub shaft projects into the bearing sleeve; rolling bodies disposed circumferentially between the stub shaft and the inner cylindrical surface of the bearing sleeve; a spring supporting member disposed in the bearing sleeve and being affixed to the inner cylindrical surface thereof; and a holding element disposed in the bearing sleeve between the spring supporting member and the end face of the stub shaft. The holding element is axially displaceable relative to the bearing sleeve. A spring is disposed in the bearing sleeve between and in contact with, the spring supporting member and the end face of the stub shaft. The drawing roll is axially shiftable relative to the bearing sleeves of the first and second bearing assemblies against the force of the spring towards which the roll is shifted.

This invention relates to bearing assemblies for axially shiftably supporting an upper roll of a drawing unit of a sliver drawing frame. The two opposite stub shafts of the upper roll are supported in bearing sleeves of the assemblies and between the inner surface of each bearing sleeve and the stub shaft rolling bodies such as bearing needles are provided. In the bearing sleeve a holding element, for example, a disk is arranged which adjoins the end face of the stub shaft. In such an arrangement the roll is axially displaceable.
The upper rolls (pressing rolls) in a drawing unit of a drawing frame are pressed, with their elastic coating provided on their outer surface, against respective driven lower rolls. A sliver bundle composed of a plurality of slivers is passed between cooperating upper and lower rolls. This arrangement is used for advancing and drawing the sliver bundle. In a known device cylindrically hollow bearing sleeves are provided for the upper roll; the bearing sleeves are open at one end face and are provided with a fork-like fitting at the other end face. Before positioning the upper roll in the drawing unit, the two opposite stub shafts of the upper roll are pushed into the open end face of the respective bearing sleeve. Thereafter the upper roll is placed in position in such a manner that the fork-like fittings are brought into engagement with the projection of a respective stationary countersupport mounted on a stand which, in turn, is attached to the machine frame. Determined by a random axial position, clearances are present at each end of the roll between the fork-like fitting and the stationary countersupport as well as between the end faces of the stub shafts and the respective holding elements (such as disks). In this manner, at standstill both bearing sleeves as well as the upper roll are displaceable in the axial direction. During operation the bearing sleeves are loaded by pressing devices, such as springs or pneumatic cylinders and are in this manner fixed in a predetermined position so that an axial displacement of the bearing sleeves is no longer possible. In contrast, the upper roll must be sufficiently axially displaceable during operation. During such a displacement, the axial forces cause friction between the stub shafts and the rolling bodies (such as bearing needles). The friction, whose extent depends from the magnitude of the pressing force, generates heat. Dependent on the position in which the bearing sleeves were locally fixed in random positions thereof, the distances between the end faces of the stub shafts and the respective holding elements (support disks) are different. The positions are random because of the above-noted clearances. An extreme case is possible where both end faces of the rotating stub shafts are constantly in frictional contact with the stationary holding disks. Because of the friction between the stub shafts and the rolling bodies due to axial forces, in the bearing sleeves heat is generated which increases with increasing roll-pressing forces. As a result, an undesired heating of the bearing sleeves occurs, for example, beyond 130.degree. C., and no access for air is provided. Consequently, heat cannot be removed by air circulation. In case on both sides a very small clearance is provided, each end face is periodically only slightly moved away from the holding disk and the clearance is too narrow to make possible a sufficient air intake for providing heat removal. The bearing temperatures are disadvantageously exceeded in structures where such a small axial play is present. As a result, the holding disks, particularly if made of a synthetic material, may be destroyed and thus the holding function for the upper roll fails. Also, the sealing at the end face of the bearing sleeves is absent which may lead to operational disturbances.

Bearing assemblies for shiftably supporting an upper roll of a sliver drawing frame


Methods and systems for determining wellpath tortuosity are disclosed. In accordance with an embodiment, a tortuosity of a borehole segment is determined and a tortuosity of a casing associated with the borehole segment is determined based, at least in part, on the tortuosity of the borehole segment and a path conformity characteristic of the casing. A tortuosity variation factor is generated based on a value of the tortuosity of the casing relative to a value of the tortuosity of the borehole segment.

Extended reach drilling encompasses directionally drilling to reservoir targets located at some lateral distance from the drilling rig. Extended reach drilling has become increasingly prevalent and adds significant complexity to directional drilling due to the multivariate set of challenges regarding drilling efficiency including drill string torque and drag, vibration, hole cleaning, casing installation and others. The foregoing challenges result from a friction factor caused by changing wellbore trajectory and sub-optimal wellbore smoothness. Tortuosity is a term sometimes used to characterize the extent and nature of changes in direction of wellbores as well as a lack of wellbore smoothness that results in a level of friction affecting wellbore operation. Tortuosity may be classified in terms of scale such as micro tortuosity, meso tortuosity, and macro tortuosity classifications. Tortuosity may also be spatially/dimensionally classified such as two-dimensional undulation or three-dimensional spiraling classifications.
Tortuosity is a significant factor in complex directional well trajectories, complex build rates, and precision steering in narrow reservoirs and extended reach wells. Tortuosity may be determined for a borehole and/or for a casing installed within and along a borehole. A survey may be performed to directly measure, such as by magnetic tool or gyroscope measurement, tortuosity of a segment of open borehole (i.e., a segment of a wellbore comprising an uncased borehole). The measured tortuosity data may be utilized, for example, to select or otherwise determine optimal casing equipment and installation procedure for casing the uncased borehole segment. Accurate determination of tortuosity during and following drilling cycles may be a significant factor in optimizing drill path planning and directional drilling steering as well as in casing string completion operations.

Detecting wellpath tortuosity variability and controlling wellbore operations


A service provision method is provided for user search, and an apparatus, a server, and a system for the same. A service provision method includes transmitting a terminal search request message including a contents information element to a service provision server, receiving positional information of a terminal, which is playing first contents related to the contents information element, from the service provision server, and displaying the received positional information.

1. Field of the Invention
Methods, apparatuses and systems consistent with the present invention relate to a service for user search, and in particular, to providing a service that searches users having similar taste in use of contents.
2. Description of the Related Art
With the development of digital technology, demands for various kinds of digital contents, such as music, movies, and games, are increasing. A user may make contact with people having similar tastes in order to search and use contents according to his/her taste and to exchange other kinds of information. For example, the user may join a club on a Web site so as to share various kinds and a large amount of information.
However, in the related art, in order for the user to obtain information related to the contents, which is being played, from another user, the user needs to upload an inquiry about the contents to the Web site or request to chat with other users, who are currently connected to the Web site, through IMs (Instant Messages). That is, in the related art, real-time information exchange is rarely performed.
In recent years, there are many users who store tens or hundreds of contents in a portable terminal, such as a cellular phone or a PMP (Portable Multimedia Player) and play desired contents without regard to time constraint or specific locations. The user who is using such a portable terminal rarely exchanges information with a user having similar taste in real time.
Accordingly, there is an unmet need for a technology that allows a user to exchange information related to contents, which the user is using, with other users having similar taste in real time.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Method of providing service for user search, and apparatus, server, and system for the same