Methods, apparatuses, and processors for tracking loop candidates in an instruction stream. A load buffer control unit detects a backwards taken branch and starts tracking the loop candidate. The control unit tracks taken branches of the loop candidate, and keeps track of the distance to each taken branch from the start of the loop. If the distance to each taken branch stays the same over multiple iterations of the loop, then the loop is stored in a loop buffer. The loop is then dispatched from the loop buffer, and the front-end of the processor is powered down until the loop terminates.

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to processors, and in particular to methods and mechanisms for identifying and learning the characteristics of a loop within an instruction stream.
Description of the Related Art
Modern day processors are generally structured as multiple stages in a pipelined fashion. Typical pipelines often include separate units for fetching instructions, decoding instructions, mapping instructions, executing instructions, and then writing results to another unit, such as a register. An instruction fetch unit of a microprocessor is responsible for providing a constant stream of instructions to the next stage of the processor pipeline. Typically, fetch units utilize an instruction cache in order to keep the rest of the pipeline continuously supplied with instructions. The fetch unit and instruction cache tend to consume a significant amount of power while performing their required functions. It is a goal of modern microprocessors to reduce power consumption as much as possible, especially for microprocessors that are utilized in battery-powered devices.
In many software applications, the same software steps may be repeated many times to perform a specific function or task. In these situations, the fetch unit will continue to fetch instructions and consume power even though the same loop of instructions are continuously being executed. If the loop could be detected and cached in a loop buffer, then the fetch unit could be shutdown to reduce power consumption while the loop executes. However, it is difficult to detect and learn a loop of instructions within program code when the loop includes multiple branches. It is also challenging to accurately determine if the loop is invariant prior to caching the loop in the loop buffer.


A roller member includes an endless belt elastically deformable and configured to convey a sheet and a holding unit holding the endless belt. The holding unit includes a first holding portion being in contact with an inner circumferential surface of the endless belt, a second holding portion being in contact with an outer circumferential surface of the endless belt and movable with respect to the first holding portion, and an engage portion engaging with an engaged portion. The second holding portion is moved with respect to the first holding portion by resilient force of the endless belt in a state in which the second holding portion is in contact with the outer circumferential surface of the endless belt in response to a disengagement of the engage portion from the engaged portion.

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a roller member being capable of conveying a sheet, a sheet feeding apparatus, and an image forming apparatus.
Description of the Related Art
In an image forming apparatus such as a copier and a printer including a sheet feeding apparatus feeding a sheet, a feed roller feeding the sheet is replaced as consumables by an operator such as a user and a service person, so that the feed roller is required to have high feeding performance and to be readily replaceable in the same time. Due to that, conventionally, there have been proposed sheet feeding apparatuses including various replacement mechanisms in order to improve replaceability of the feed roller.
Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2002-104675 discloses a sheet feeding apparatus including such a replacement mechanism. That is, in the sheet feeding apparatus, a feed roller includes a roller base supported by a driving shaft, a substantially circular arc belt supporting member supported by the roller base, and an endless elastic belt member wrapped around the belt supporting member. According to this configuration, a part of the elastic belt member, exposed out of the belt supporting member, is configured to be a circular arc conveying portion rubbing and feeding a sheet, and a region other than the conveying portion of the elastic belt member is held on the roller base side.
This sheet feeding apparatus is configured such that the belt supporting member in a state of supporting the elastic belt member is assembled to the roller base while elastically deforming the region other than the conveying portion of the elastic belt member by pressing against the driving shaft. At this time, while the elastic belt member generates resilient force by being elastically deformed, the belt supporting member is fixed to the roller base by a lock portion (snap fit) by resisting against this resilient force. Therefore, if the lock portion is unlocked in removing the belt supporting member from the roller base due to maintenance or the like, the belt supporting member is detached from the roller base by the resilient force generated by the restoring elastic belt member.
Lately, downsizing of the feed roller and of the sheet feeding apparatus is required along with a demand on downsizing of the image forming apparatus. However, if the feed roller is downsized in the configuration described above, the conveying portion may be shortened. Therefore, it may become difficult to convey a sheet, by a single rotation of the feed roller, to a point where a tip of the sheet comes into contact with a drawing roller downstream in a sheet feeding direction.
Then, if the belt supporting member is configured so as to prolong a circular arc length thereof while keeping an outer circumferential length of the elastic belt member for the purpose of prolonging the conveying portion of the feed roller, an elastic deformation volume of the elastic belt member in attaching the elastic belt member to the belt supporting member may increase. Then, the resilient force in removing the belt supporting member from the roller base increases, and there is a possibility that the belt supporting member jumps out vigorously and falls down.
Still further, if the outer circumferential length of the belt is prolonged for the purpose of restraining the resilient force of the elastic belt member, there is a possibility that the elastic belt member is loosened and/or drops out of the belt supporting member after removing the belt supporting member out of the roller base, and consequently the replaceability of the elastic belt member may be hampered.

Roller member, sheet feeding apparatus and image forming apparatus


A sheet such as a polymeric dielectric has elongated lead regions partially separated from the main region of the sheet by gaps in the sheet, and has conductors extending along the lead regions. The lead regions are connected to contacts on a microelectronic element, and the microelectronic element is moved away from the main region of the sheet, thereby bending the lead regions downwardly to form leads projecting from the main region of the sheet.

The present invention relates to methods of making microelectronic assemblies, and to components for use in fabrication of microelectronic assemblies.
Complex microelectronic devices such as modern semiconductor chips require numerous connections to other electronic components. For example, a complex microprocessor chip may require hundreds of connections to external devices.
As described in certain preferred embodiments of commonly assigned U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,148,265 and 5,148,266, a chip package may include a flexible sheetlike structure referred to as an xe2x80x9cinterposerxe2x80x9d or xe2x80x9cchip carrierxe2x80x9d having terminals disposed on a flexible sheetlike structure. The interposer may be disposed on the front or contact bearing surface of the chip so that the terminals face away from the chip. The terminals are connected to contacts on the chip by flexible leads. Preferably, a compliant layer is disposed between the terminals and the chip. In certain preferred embodiments, the packaged chip occupies the same area, or only a slightly larger area than the chip itself. The packaged chip can be readily tested and can be mounted to a substrate such as a printed circuit board by bonding the terminals of the chip carrier to the contact pads of the substrate. In use, the terminals on the chip carrier are free to move relative to the chip. This allows the assembly to compensate for differential thermal expansion and warpage of the chip or substrate without imposing significant stresses on the bonds.
As taught in certain embodiments of commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 5,518,964, microelectronic assemblies incorporating flexible leads can be fabricated using a first element or connection component including a dielectric structure having leads on a bottom surface. Each such lead has a fixed end permanently attached to the dielectric structure and, typically, connected to one or more terminals on the top surface of the dielectric structure. Each such lead also has a free or tip end remote from the fixed or terminal end. Preferably, the free or tip ends of the leads are releasably attached to the dielectric structure. This element can be juxtaposed with a second microelectronic element such as a semiconductor chip or wafer, and the free ends of the leads may be bonded to contacts on such second microelectronic element. After bonding, the elements are moved vertically away from one another through a predetermined displacement, thereby detaching the free or tip ends of the leads from the bottom surface of the dielectric component and deforming the leads to a vertically extensive configuration. Preferably, a curable encapsulant is introduced between the elements and around the leads during or after the moving step, so as to provide a compliant layer between the dielectric layer and the second microelectronic element. This arrangement allows fabrication of compliant chip assemblies having advantages similar to those discussed above with respect to the ""265 and ""266 patents using a process which permits simultaneous connection and forming of numerous leads. In certain preferred embodiments according to the ""964 patent, one of the microelectronic assemblies may include numerous semiconductor chips. For example, one microelectronic element may be a wafer incorporating numerous chips, and leads on all of the chips may be connected and formed in the same operations. After these operations, the resulting large assembly can be severed to form individual units each including one or more of the chips originally present in the wafer, together with a portion of the dielectric element and the terminals thereon.
In those embodiments of the ""964 invention which use a pre-formed connection component with leads thereon, and which register the connection component with a wafer or other microelectronic device, the spacing between the leads on the component desirably is controlled precisely. This allows registration of the free ends of the leads with contacts on a wafer or other microelectronic device. For example, certain preferred embodiments disclosed in the ""964 patent use a temporary reinforcing layer overlying the dielectric layer, and also use a rigid, ring-like frame to maintain the dielectric layer and the reinforcing layer to maintain the dielectric layer in tension. These features help to control thermal expansion and contraction of the connection component during the processes used to bond the free ends of the leads to the wafer or other microelectronic component, and help to maintain the desired spacing between the lead free ends.
Commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 5,989,936 discloses enhancements to processes taught in the ""964 patent. Certain processes taught in the ""936 patent use a metallic conductive element. Leads are provided on a bottom surface of such element. Each lead has a fixed end permanently attached to the conductive element, and a free or tip end releasably attached to the conductive element. The conductive element with the leads thereon is juxtaposed with a microelectronic element such as a chip or wafer, and the tip ends of the leads are bonded to the contacts of the microelectronic element. The conductive element and microelectronic element are moved away from one another, thereby bending the leads into a vertically-extensive configuration, and a flowable material is injected and cured so as to form a dielectric layer around the leads. After formation of the dielectric layer, the conductive layer is etched or otherwise removed so as to leave portions of the conductive layer as individual terminals associated with the individual leads. In a variant of this process, each lead may have a pre-formed terminal of a first metal such as gold, provided at the juncture of the fixed end of the lead and the conductive layer before the lead-bonding and moving steps. The conductive layer is formed from a second metal, such as copper. When the conductive layer is etched away, the pre-formed terminals remain.
Preferred arrangements taught in commonly assigned U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,859,472 and 6,191,368 disclose curved lead configurations useful in the foregoing processes. Commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 5,976,913 discloses further improvements in such processes. In the preferred arrangements taught in this application, restraining straps which are shorter and stronger than the leads constrain the motion of the elements as they move away from one another to deform the leads. The preferred aspects of commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 5,798,286 disclose further improvements in the basic process taught in the ""964 patent, with respect to the processing of arrays of individual semiconductor chips bonded to leads on a single dielectric element so that the leads associated with all of the separate chips can be deformed and in a single operation.
The disclosures of all of the aforementioned patents and applications are incorporated herein by reference.
Despite these advances in the art of making microelectronic assemblies, still further improvements would be desirable.
One aspect of the present invention provides methods of making microelectronic assemblies. A method in accordance with this aspect of the invention includes the step of providing a sheet including a main portion and a plurality of gaps extending through the sheet. These gaps partially surround and define a set of elongated lead regions in the sheet. Each lead region has a fixed end connected to the main portion of the sheet and a tip end remote from the fixed end. The lead regions of the sheet include conductors extending between the tip ends and the fixed ends. In a further step of the method, the sheet is juxtaposed with a microelectronic component so that the tip ends of the lead regions on the sheet are aligned with contacts on the microelectronic element. The tip ends of the lead regions are connected to contacts on the microelectronic element. After the tips ends of the lead regions have been attached to the contacts, the main portion of the sheet and the microelectronic element are moved away from one another through a predetermined displacement in a vertical direction as to bend the lead regions downwardly from the main portion and thereby form leads projecting from the main portion of the sheet downwardly to the microelectronic element.
Desirably, the step of providing the sheet includes the step of bonding the sheet to a reinforcing structure prior to the step of connecting the tip ends of the leads to the contacts. The sheet may be bonded to the reinforcing structure or support structure before the gaps in the sheet are formed. In a particularly preferred arrangement, the sheet includes a polymeric dielectric layer such as a polyimide layer and the step of providing the sheet includes the step of providing conductive metallic strips on a surface of the polymeric layer. For example, some or all of the strips may be formed on a bottom surface of the polymeric layer facing away from the reinforcing structure. The step of forming the gaps in the sheet may include the step of etching or plating the dielectric as, for example, by plasma etching or laser ablating the dielectric layer. The metallic strips may protect regions of the dielectric layer underlying the strips during the gap-forming process. Typically, the sheet is provided with terminals facing upwardly, toward the reinforcing structure, the terminals being connected to the conductors of the lead regions. The reinforcing structure is removed near the end of the process, leaving the resulting assembly with exposed terminals connected by the flexible leads to the contacts on the microelectronic element.
As further discussed below, the sheet can be fabricated in a few simple, inexpensive steps. Moreover, the formed leads can incorporate polymeric portions derived from the sheet. The polymeric layers in the leads physically reinforce the metallic conductors, and permit the use of thin metallic conductors. These features enhance the fatigue resistance of the leads.
As the lead regions of the sheet are bent downwardly, out of the plane of the main portion of the sheet, openings are left in the spaces formerly occupied. Preferably, the process also includes the step of injecting a flowable material between the main portion of the sheet and the microelectronic element, so that the flowable material encapsulates the projecting leads, and then curing this flowable material to form a dielectric layer, preferably a compliant layer such as a gel or elastomer. The reinforcing structure blocks the flow of the flowable material through the openings in the main portion of the sheet. This prevents the encapsulant from covering over the terminals.
Desirably, the step of removing the reinforcing structure is performed after the tip ends of the leads are attached to the contacts on the microelectronic element and, most preferably after the flowable dielectric material is introduced between the main portion of the sheet and the dielectric element. The reinforcing structure stabilizes the dimensions of the sheet and allows accurate alignment of the tip ends of the leads with the contacts on the microelectronic element. Most preferably, the reinforcing structure is formed from a material having uniform, predictable thermal expansion and contraction properties, such as a metal, a glass or certain nonpolymeric material. In a particularly preferred arrangement, the coefficient of thermal expansion of the reinforcing structure is approximately equal to that of the microelectronic element. For example, where the microelectronic element is a wafer or other structure formed principally from silicon, the reinforcing structure desirably has a coefficient thermal expansion between about 2 and about 6xc3x9710xe2x88x926/xc2x0 C. This adds in maintaining registration between the tips of the lead regions and the contacts on the microelectronic element over the main temperatures encountered during the assembly process.
Preferably, the top surface of the sheet, facing toward the reinforcing element adheres to the reinforcing element. Depending upon the fabrication methods utilized, this adhesion may result from a direct bond between the top surface of the sheet and the reinforcing element or from an intervening adhesive layer. During the moving step, as the lead regions are bent downwardly, each lead region may be peeled away from the reinforcing layer. The reinforcing structure may be removed by etching, or else may be peeled away from the main portion of the sheet, typically after the moving step. Alternatively, the bond between the main portion of the sheet and the reinforcing layer may be broken by degrading the adhesive through the application of heat or radiant energy. In a further variant, the bond between the lead regions and the reinforcing structure may be broken selectively in the lead regions, as by selective application of heat or, preferably, by selective application of radiant energy to the lead regions. The reinforcing structure may be transparent to radiation within a predetermined wavelength band as, for example, ultraviolet radiation. As discussed below, such radiation can be used to release adhesive bonds between the reinforcing structure and the sheet.
The conductors on the lead regions desirably include metallic strips extending along one or both surfaces of the sheet in the lead regions. In one arrangement, the metallic strips extend along bottom surfaces of the lead regions and extend to terminals disposed in the main region of the sheet on the bottom surface of the sheet, i.e., the surface of the sheet facing away from reinforcing structure. The sheet desirably has openings or xe2x80x9cviasxe2x80x9d extending through it at the terminals, so that the terminals are exposed to the top surface of the sheet. Electrically-conductive bonding materials such as eutectic bonding alloys, solder, diffusion bonding alloys and electrically-conductive polymeric compositions may be disposed on the tip ends of the leads in contact with the metallic strips. In this arrangement, only one metallic layer need be formed on the sheet. In a variant of this approach, the main region of the sheet may be provided with an electrically-conductive potential reference plane formed from the same metallic layer used to form the metallic strips on the bottom surfaces of the lead regions. In other embodiments, conductive elements such as metallic strips are provided on both surfaces of lead regions. For example, an electrically-conductive potential reference plane may be formed in the main region of the sheet on the top surface of the sheet, and the lead regions may be provided with reference conductors on the top surface continuous with the potential plane layer. Signal conductors may be provided on the bottom surfaces of the lead regions. In other arrangements, the bottom surfaces of the lead regions may be provided with reference conductors, whereas the signal conductors may be provided on the top surfaces of the lead regions. In still other arrangements, paired signal conductors may be provided on the top and bottom surfaces of the lead regions and both conductors of each such pair may be conducted to contacts of microelectronic elements.
Yet another aspect of the invention provides components for forming microelectronic assemblies. Components in accordance with this aspect of the invention desirably include a sheet having a main portion and a plurality of gaps partially surrounding and defining a set of flexible, elongated lead regions within the sheet. Each such lead region has a fixed end connected to the main portion of the sheet and a tip end remote from the fixed end. As discussed above in connection with the methods, the lead regions of the sheet include conductors extending between the tip ends and the fixed ends of the lead regions. Desirably, the sheet includes a continuous layer of a polymeric material having oppositely facing top and bottom surfaces extending within the main portion of the sheet and within the lead regions. The sheet typically includes metallic strips extending on the polymeric layer in the lead regions. Some or all of these strips desirably extend from the lead regions onto the main region of the sheet. At least some of the metallic strips are electrically isolated from others of the metallic strips, so that the strips may serve as signal conductors in the finished assemblies. As discussed above in connection with the methods, the metallic strips may be provided on the top surface; on the bottom surface; or on both surfaces of the sheet in the lead regions. Desirably, the component further includes terminals attached to the sheet in the main region and exposed to the top surface of the sheet, the terminals being electrically connected to the strips. For example, where the terminals are physically disposed on the bottom surface of the strip, vias may be provided through the sheet in registration with the terminals. The vias may have metallic, conductive liners extending to the top surface. Alternatively, the vias may be left unfilled. The gaps defining straight lead regions may be substantially U-shaped, with the bases of the U-shapes at the top ends of the leads. Alternatively, the lead regions may be curved, and the gaps bounding each lead region may be correspondingly curved. The sheet may be provided with features which reinforce it against teasing at the ends of the gaps where the lead regions join the main region of the sheet. For example, the sheet may have holes slightly larger in diameter than the width of a gap disposed at the ends of the gap.
The component may also include a reinforcing element, such as a reinforcing element having controlled, predictable thermal expansion characteristics as discussed above. Desirably, the top surface of the sheet is releasably bonded to the bottom surface of the reinforcing element.
Still further aspects of the present invention include methods of making components such as the components discussed above. Methods according to this aspect of the invention desirably include the step of providing a polymeric layer and forming metallic strips on the polymeric layer. The method desirably further includes the step of forming gaps in the polymeric layer by selectively removing portions of such layer so as to form gaps extending partially around lead regions of the polymeric layer and so as to leave a main region of the polymeric layer, physically connected to the lead regions. The steps of forming the metallic strips and forming the gaps are performed so as to leave one or more strips extending onto each lead region from the main region. Desirably, the metallic strips are formed prior to the gap-forming step, and the strips protect the polymeric layer during the gap-forming step. The method of making a component may further include the step of providing a reinforcing element bonded to the top surface of the polymeric layer. Desirably, the step of providing the reinforcing element is performed prior to the gap-forming step, so that the reinforcing element holds the various portions of the layer during and after the gap-forming step.
Still further aspects of the invention include finished assemblies. As discussed below, the finished assemblies may include sheetlike elements with polymeric layers and with an array of terminals thereon, the terminals being connected to a chip or other microelectronic element by leads including polymeric layers integral with the polymeric layer of the sheetlike element and metallic conductive strips.
These and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention would be more readily apparent from the detailed description of the preferred embodiments set forth below, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Microelectronic assembly incorporating lead regions defined by gaps in a polymeric sheet


A control apparatus for a vehicular drive system arranged to electrically transmit a portion of an output force of an engine through an electric path. The control apparatus is configured to reduce loads of components associated with the electric path and to restrict a temperature rise of the components associated with the electric path, making it possible to reduce the required size of a cooling system. This is accomplished by placing a differential portion in a non-differential state or placing a switching clutch or switching brake in a partially engaged state when electrical energy through the electric path has increased to a thermal limit. As a result, the amount of generated electric energy is reduced, making it possible to restrict the temperature rise of the components associated with the electric path. Accordingly, the cooling system size can be reduced for these components.

There is known a vehicular drive system including a differential mechanism operable to distribute an output of an engine to a first electric motor and an output shaft, and a second electric motor provided in a power transmitting path between the output shaft of the differential mechanism and vehicle drive wheels. Patent Document 1 discloses an example of such a vehicular drive system in the form of a hybrid vehicle drive system. In this hybrid drive system, the differential mechanism is constituted by a planetary gear set, which has a differential function to mechanically transmit a major portion of a vehicle drive force from the engine to the drive wheels, and to electrically transmit the remaining portion of the vehicle drive force of the engine from the first electric motor to the second electric motor through an electric path, so that the planetary gear set functions as a transmission the speed ratio of which is continuously variable, for instance, as an electrically controlled continuously variable transmission. The vehicular drive system is controlled by a control apparatus to drive the vehicle with the engine being held in an optimum operating state so as to improve the fuel economy of the vehicle.
Patent Document 1: JP-2003-301731 A
Generally, a continuously variable transmission is known as a device to improve the vehicle economy of the vehicle, while a gear type power transmitting device such as a step-variable automatic transmission is known as a device having a high power transmitting efficiency. However, there is not available a power transmitting mechanism which has advantages of both of those two devices. For example, the hybrid vehicle drive system as disclosed in the above-identified Patent Document 1 has an electric path through which the electric energy is transmitted from the first electric motor to the second electric motor, that is, a power transmitting path for transmitting a portion of the vehicle drive force as the electric energy, so that the required size of the first electric motor increases with an increase of the required output of the engine, resulting in a consequent increase of the required size of the second electric motor which is operated by the electric energy received from the first electric motor, whereby the required overall size of the drive system is unfavorably increased. Further, the hybrid vehicle drive system has a risk of deterioration of the fuel economy in some running condition of the vehicle such as a high-speed running, due to the conversion of a portion of the engine output into an electric energy subsequently used for driving the drive wheels. A similar problem exists where the above-described power transmitting mechanism is a continuously variable transmission such as a transmission the speed ratio of which is electrically variable, for instance, a so-called "electric CVT".
In the hybrid vehicle drive system as disclosed in the above-identified publication, the first electric motor is required to receive a reaction torque corresponding to the engine torque so that the power distributing mechanism can function as the electric CVT. Accordingly, during a high-load low-speed running of the vehicle, for instance, during a vehicle running while towing a trailer, the amount of generation of an electric energy by the first electric motor is increased so that the amount of electric energy to be transmitted through the electric path is increased, resulting in an increase of the output of the second electric motor. Such a high-load low-speed running of the vehicle continued for a long time may cause a considerable rise of the temperatures of the first and second electric motors due to an increase of the amount of electric energy, and an increase of loads of components associated with the electric path for transmission of the electric energy generated by the first electric motor to the second electric motor, which converts the electric energy into a mechanical energy. Those temperature rise and increase of the loads give rise to deterioration of the function and durability of the components associated with the electric path which includes the first and second electric motors.
Therefore, it is required to increase the cooling capacity of the vehicular drive system, for the purpose of avoiding a temperature rise of cooling water in the cooling system for cooling the first and second electric motors, for example. It is also required to increase the capacities of the components associated with the electric path, for withstanding the loads due to an increase of the amount of generation of the electric energy. Meeting these requirements may cause increases of the sizes and weights of the components of the cooling system and the components associated with the electric path, unfavorably leading to an increase of the cost of manufacture of the vehicular drive system.
The present invention was made in view of the background art descried above. It is an object of this invention to provide a control apparatus for a vehicular drive system including a differential mechanism operable to distribute an output of an engine to a first electric motor and a power transmitting member, and a second electric motor provided in a power transmitting path between the power transmitting member and a wheel of a vehicle, and to electrically transmit a portion of a vehicle drive force such that an electric energy generated by the first electric motor is transmitted through an electric path to the second electric motor and converted into a mechanical energy by the second electric motor, which control apparatus makes it possible to reduce loads of components associated with the electric path or restrict a temperature rise of those components, for thereby permitting size reduction of a cooling system of the vehicular drive system.


A memory manager that compacts a memory heap and reclaims space allocated to dead entities is disclosed. The memory manager may include threads of a first phase, threads of a second phase, and threads of a third phase. The threads of the first phase may assign a target address to each live entity of the memory heap. The thread of the second phase may update references of the memory heap based upon the target address for each live entity. The threads of the third phase may copy each live entity of the memory heap to its target address.

In computer science, garbage collection refers to a form of automatic memory management. The basic operation of a garbage collector is to i) identify dead entities such as objects or data of a program that will not be accessed in the future, and ii) reclaim the resources used by the identified dead entities while retaining live entities such as objects or data that may be accessed in the future.
Garbage collection generally frees a programmer from having to worry about releasing objects that are no longer needed, thus enabling the programmer to focus on other aspects of the design effort. Garbage collection may also make programs more stable because garbage collection may prevent several classes of runtime errors. For example, garbage collection may prevent dangling pointer errors that result from using a reference to a deallocated object or dead entity. Many computer languages provide garbage collection as part of the language specification (e.g. C#, Java, and many scripting languages). Other languages (e.g., C, C++) designed for manual memory management may also provide garbage collectors via support libraries or other add-on modules.

Method and system for copying live entities of source blocks identified by source list for selected destination block to selected destination block of memory heap


Methods and apparatus are provided for presenting default content to a caller when a media stream of the specified type is not available. If it is determined that a destination endpoint is not providing a media stream of a first media type to an originating endpoint, a transmission of default media of the first media type to the originating endpoint is initiated.

Many companies employ contact centers, such as call centers, to provide an interface for exchanging information with customers. In many call center environments, a customer service representative initially queries a caller for information, such as an account number, credit card number, or the nature of the inquiry. The customer service representative may be a real person or a virtual agent that typically routes the call to the appropriate destination after collecting initial information.
For example, many call centers employ interactive voice response (IVR) systems, such as the CONVERSANT® System for Interactive Voice Response, commercially available from Avaya Inc., that provide callers with information in the form of recorded messages and to obtain information from callers using keypad or voice responses to recorded queries. Ports on the IVR systems are often referred to as "automated agents" or "virtual agents." Typically, a media server receives a call, obtains the appropriate Voice extensible Markup Language (VoiceXML) page (i.e., a script for the call) from a dedicated local or remote server and then executes the VoiceXML page for the caller.
Increasingly, call centers are leveraging the power of the Internet to support multimedia communications. Multimedia communications allow a call center to efficiently exchange information with a user using a number of different media. For example, a call center can employ a video portion of a multimedia communication to present a caller with a graphical menu of the IVR options, and use the audio portion of the multimedia communication to receive a spoken or keypad menu selection from the user. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/983,558, filed Nov. 8, 2004, and entitled "Dynamic Content Delivery," incorporated by reference herein, discloses a system for the delivery of relevant content to a caller engaged in a call, for example, with a call center.
The disclosed dynamic content delivery system allows a call center to provide a richer experience to the caller by sending multimedia content, such as images, video, audio or text, to a caller that is based on the state of the conversation. For example, a call center can present a caller with additional information about a product that the caller has inquired about (or one or more complementary products), including video advertisements or web pages with links for further information. As another example, when a caller contacts a doctor's office to make an appointment for a physical, the caller may receive a video reminder to fast for 12 hours before the appointment.
While the disclosed dynamic content delivery system greatly improves the perceived experience of a caller, and allows a call center to more effectively present information to a caller, it suffers from one or more limitations, which if overcome, could further improve the utility and performance of such dynamic content delivery systems. In particular, in a call center environment, a call is typically transferred and connected to one or more destination nodes. Each destination node, however, may not support all of the media types supported by the caller. For example, if a call is established between a caller and a call center, and a caller is initially presented by the IVR system with a graphical menu of the IVR options, the caller may make a menu selection that results in the call being transferred to a destination node that does not support a video connection. Thus, upon transfer, the caller will no longer receive a video connection and will unfortunately experience a "dark screen." This is not desirable from the caller's point of view, and constitutes a lost opportunity for the call center to effectively present information to the caller.
A need therefore exists for methods and apparatus for presenting default content to a caller when a media stream of the specified type is not available and during transitional periods, such as times of call setup, transfer or hold. A further need exists for a method and apparatus for providing default media services to endpoints.

Method and apparatus for providing default media content to a calling party


A memory circuit generally comprising a sense amplifier, an array of bit cells, a plurality of bit lines, and a circuit. The array of bit cells may include a far bit cell disposed in the array opposite the sense amplifier. The bit lines may couple the bit cells to the sense amplifier. The circuit may be configured to assert a far wordline signal controlling the far bit cell during a precharge cycle for the bit lines.

The present invention relates to a method and/or architecture for memory devices generally and, more particularly, to a method and/or architecture for equalized memory access times.
In conventional memories with large row counts, a distributed RC effect in the bit lines creates variable read access times that depend upon the location of the bit cell being read relative to the sense amplifiers. Reading data stored in bit cells far from the sense amplifiers takes more time than reading data stored in bit cells close to the sense amplifiers. For non-self-timed type memories, the minimum read time is thus limited by the slowest, furthest row of bit cells from the sense amplifiers.
Referring to FIG. 1, a timing diagram of a read access in a conventional memory is shown. A waveform 10 represents a voltage of a precharge signal. A waveform 12 represents a voltage of a wordline signal. A waveform 14 represents a voltage of a bit line while reading data from a row nearest the sense amplifiers. A waveform 16 represents a voltage of the bit line while reading data from a row furthest from the sense amplifiers.
The read access begins with a precharge cycle that includes pulsing the precharge signal 10 for a fixed duration. The precharge cycle causes all bit lines to be charged to a predetermined initial voltage 18. The distributed RC effect of the bit lines results in portions of the bit lines close to the precharge circuitry to reach the predetermined initial voltage 18 before portions of the bit lines far from the precharge circuitry. An example of a precharging delay along the bit lines between the furthest and nearest portions is shown as a delay 20.
After the precharge cycle has completed, a sensing cycle is performed. The sensing cycle involves asserting the wordline signal 12 for a selected row within the conventional memory until a known value stored in a dummy bit cell within the selected row triggers a dummy sense amplifier, as represented by a line 22. A voltage differential induced in the bit lines by a bit cell in the nearest row will be detected at a time 24. A voltage differential induced in the bit lines by a bit cell in the furthest row will be detected at a later time 26. The difference in the time 24 to the time 26 is a delay 28 that represents a spread in the memory access times.
The present invention concerns a memory circuit generally comprising a sense amplifier, an array of bit cells, a plurality of bit lines, and a circuit. The array of bit cells may include a far bit cell disposed in the array opposite the sense amplifier. The bit lines may couple the bit cells to the sense amplifier. The circuit may be configured to assert a far wordline signal controlling the far bit cell during a precharge cycle for the bit lines.
The objects, features and advantages of the present invention include providing a method and/or architecture for equalized memory access times that may (i) provide closer access time variations among the bit cells regardless of where in the memory the data is being accessed and/or (ii) be easily integrated into a design without any detrimental impact.

Technique for the reduction of memory access time variation


A control system for controlling the throttle opening of an engine of an automobile has a stepping motor for actuating a throttle valve disposed in an intake passage of the engine to control the throttle opening, an accelerator operation detecting unit for detecting the amount of operation of an accelerator pedal operated on by the driver of the automobile, an engine operating condition detecting unit for detecting an operating condition of the engine, and a controller for controlling the stepping motor based on detected values from the accelerator operation detecting unit and the engine operating condition detecting unit.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a system for controlling the throttle opening of an automotive engine, and more particularly to a control system for angularly moving a throttle valve with a stepping motor to control the opening of the throttle valve.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Generally, a throttle valve and an accelerator pedal on an automobile are operatively interconnected by a link and a cable. When the accelerator pedal is depressed by the driver of the automobile, the throttle valve is actuated, and its opening is controlled by the accelerator pedal.
Another known throttle opening control system employs a stepping motor coupled to a throttle valve. The stepping motor is controlled depending on the depression of an accelerator pedal and engine operating conditions for throttle opening control. One such throttle opening control system is disclosed in Japanese laid-open patent publication No. 60-35141, for example.
According to the disclosed system, a control value is calculated at predetermined periodic intervals according to the accelerator pedal depression and engine operating conditions, and a number of command pulses for rotating the stepping motor are issued in each of the periods to actuate the throttle valve.
The disclosed system has a problem in that the timing to output command pulses for controlling the stepping motor is not definite, and a next command pulse may be outputted while the stepping motor is being rotated by previous command pulses. Usually, the present angular position of the stepping motor, i.e., the present throttle opening, can be detected by counting the number of command pulses that have been outputted. If a next command pulse is issued while the stepping motor is being rotated, however, it is difficult to accurately detect the present angular position of the stepping motor even by counting the number of outputted command pulses. To solve this problem, it is necessary to use a position detector and feed back detected positional information.
It has been proposed in Japanese laid-open patent publication No. 2-37133 to calculate command pulses to be applied to a stepping motor in each calculation period, limit the number of command pulses to a number that can be outputted in a next calculation period, and output the limited number of command pulses at an initial stage of the next calculation period.
The proposed process is effective to prevent a next command pulse from being outputted while the stepping motor is being energized, and allow the angular position of the stepping motor to be detected based on the outputted command pulses. Therefore, the throttle opening can be determined only based on the outputted command pulses, making a position detector unnecessary and simplifying the control system.
Stepping motors suffer mechanical resonance at a certain frequency due to their structures. As shown in FIG. 8 of the accompanying drawings, when the frequency f of command pulses applied to a stepping motor agrees with a resonant frequency fl, the stepping motor loses steps, and its torque T sharply drops. To prevent the stepping motor from losing steps, the interval of command pulses is selected such that the frequency f of the command pulses differs from the resonant frequency f1.
As described above, the interval of command pulses is selected such that the frequency f of the command pulses differs from the resonant frequency f1. In the case where command pulses are calculated in each calculation period and outputted at an initial stage of a next calculation period, however, no control is effected over the time duration from the completion of outputting of command pulses in a calculation period to the start of outputting of next command pulses in a next calculation period. The time duration is equal to the difference between the length of a calculation period and a time required to output command pulses within the calculation period, and varies with the number of command pulses. Therefore, the frequency corresponding to the time duration may agree with the resonant frequency of the stepping motor. When the frequency corresponding to the time duration agrees with the resonant frequency, the stepping motor may lose steps and hence not be controlled satisfactorily.

Throttle opening control system for automotive engine


A technique for predicting network load in a communication network is described. For multiple subscriptions, a network load snapshot is provided. The network load snapshot comprises multiple network load records. Each network load record reflects network load caused by an associated subscription in the network at a particular point of time. Each network load record comprises at least one network load value reflecting a network load caused by the corresponding subscription and at least one network load influencing factor reflecting a parameter associated with the subscription which has the potential of influencing the network load value. The network load snapshot is transformed into a predicted network load snapshot comprising at least one predicted network load record, each predicted network load record reflecting estimated network load caused by the corresponding subscription at a particular point of time in the future. The transformation of a network load snapshot into a corresponding predicted network load snapshot is done based on both the network load values and the associated network load influencing factors.

Communication networks transfer a variety of different types of information between service providers and customers. For example, various kinds of wireless and wired communication networks are used to interconnect computing devices (such as personal computers, workstations, mobile devices, video-enabled phones, etc.) for use in both personal and business environments.
The level of network load resulting from the network traffic (voice, video, data, etc.) in complex communication networks (e.g., in an Internet Protocol (IP)-based network) can greatly fluctuate, and trends in usage can vary over periods of time. Network operators must attempt to ensure both Quality of Service (QoS) guarantees for services provided and Service Level Agreement (SLA) requirements to customers. IP and other networks should thus be able to adapt to changing trends in network load in order to efficiently utilize resources of the network, and to ensure QoS and satisfy SLA requirements.
Physical changes to the network, such as upgrading of network link hardware, the addition of new network links, etc., that are needed to respond to changes in network load, require planning and time to implement. Due to the lag-time between the detection of changing network requirements and the implementation of an appropriate technical solution, a situation may arise where the solution that is implemented is itself outdated in view of the current network requirements. Thus, a reliable projection of network load trends is important for network operators in order to be able to optimize network investments and network services.
FIG. 1 shows an example of conventional network load projection technique. In this technique, based on aggregated network load measurements 31, future aggregated network load measurements 32 are predicted using mathematical models 33. The aggregation is typically performed over measurements carried out for different subscriptions. It has been found that since network load prediction as shown in FIG. 1 is based on aggregated network load measurements and fixed mathematical models, the preciseness of prediction is limited.

Technique for projecting network load in a communication network


A lock module includes a transmitting module to continuously transmit multiple colored light rays, a key adapted to be inserted into the keyhole of the lock and having multiple colored optical lenses each permitting a specific colored light ray to pass therethrough and a receiving module to receive, store and compare the colored light rays from the multiple colored optical lenses to identify whether the key inserted into the keyhole is accurate. After an initial process of storing the sequence of the colored light rays by the receiving module, the receiving module is able to use stored information to compare the colored light rays subsequently passing through the colored optical lenses of another key to check whether the subsequent key is the accurate key.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a lock module, and more particularly to a lock module having a transmitting module to emit multiple colored light rays and a receiving module to receive filtered light rays and identify the time sequence of the filtered light emitted by the transmitted module. With various and changeable sequences of colored lenses on the key, the user's safety is secured.
2. Description of Related Art
A conventional lock generally has a plurality of pins movably mounted in a lock core with various arrangements and is unlocked by a key with a plurality of teeth corresponding to the pins. However, the conventional lock has not enough security to prevent a thief from unlocking the lock by using a simple tool instead of a correct key.
For promoting security, another lock using identification of light rays is invented. The lock has an emitting member to give off light rays and a receiving member to receive the light rays respectively installed at two sides of a keyhole of a lock core. A correct key for the lock has a plurality of openings corresponding to positions of the light ray emitting member. When the correct key is inserted in the keyhole, the light rays from the emitting member pass through the openings and are received by the receiving member, so the lock can be unlocked.
However, this lock also has a low security and is easy to be cracked down by an unauthorized manner.
Therefore, the invention provides a lock module using colored light rays to identify the application of the accurate key to obviate the aforementioned problems.

Lock module using colored light rays to identify the application of an accurate key


An angle measurement device includes a light source configured to emit light along an optical path and a patterned member positioned along the optical path and configured to rotate about an axis of rotation. The patterned member includes a periodic optical variation. Light passing through the patterned member provides a spatially modulated optical waveform. The angle measurement device also includes an imaging device positioned along the optical path and including a plurality of photosensitive elements disposed in an array configuration. The imaging device is configured to receive the spatially modulated optical waveform and provide a signal associated with light intensity at each of the plurality of photosensitive elements. The angle measurement device further includes an angle determination unit coupled to the imaging device and configured to compute a rotation angle of the patterned member based on a reference waveform and the provided signal.

The present invention relates generally to a method and system for measuring angles. Merely by way of example, the invention has been applied to an angle measurement device useful for determining a rotation angle. In a particular embodiment, a system for measuring rotation angles is utilized in a surveying instrument. However, embodiments of the present invention are not limited to this particular application and may be utilized in a variety of measurement systems.
Angle encoders, such as absolute and incremental angle encoders, have been employed for angular measurements in machine tools, drive technology, automotive electronics, and the like. An example of an angle encoder is a rotating disk used in conjunction with a reading head that is able to detect rotation of the disk. In a particular example of a conventional angle encoder, a light source (e.g., an LED) illuminates a partially transparent disk upon which an opaque pattern fixed to the rotating mechanical element is superimposed. A photodetector (e.g., a photodiode) is positioned on the opposite side of the disk and fixed to the stationary mechanical element. Light passing through the partially transparent disk is modulated by the opaque pattern and, as the angular displacement of the disk changes, the light modulation of the pattern will be detected by the photodetector, thereby providing a measure of angular rotation of the disk.
An angle encoder is described in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2005/0072912. In this angle encoder, a rotating plate with two openings for light transmission is mounted between two light sources and a two-dimensional profile sensor. Based on a correlation between a first position associated with light from the first light source and a second position associated with light from the second light source, an absolute value of the rotation angle is calculated. However, this device provides limited angular resolution.
Thus, there is a need in the art for improved methods and systems for measuring angle, for example, rotation angles.


An RZ (return-to-zero) signal mode is adopted as a transmission coding format, whereby the effect of cross phase modulation is suppressed. The duty factor of each of signal light waves is allowed to vary at a digital signal processing stage, whereby the average power levels of the signal light waves are controlled so as to become constant in an optical repeater, with the result that the peak power levels of the signal light waves are allowed to vary. In consequence, the transmission characteristics of the signal light waves can be varied.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to wavelength-multiplexing optical communication technology for transmitting the data of a plurality of channels over a single optical fiber by the use of a plurality of wavelengths.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, there have been incarnated optical communication systems in each of which digital data are transmitted by performing optical amplification and optical relay or repeat with an optical fiber such as EDF (erbium-doped fiber). In the conventional system wherein signal light of only one wave is optically amplified and relayed, the digital data are transmitted by optimally managing dispersion in such a way that the transmission coding format of the system is set at the mode of an NRZ (non-return-to-zero) signal, and that a negative dispersion wavelength is employed using a DSF (dispersion shift fiber) as a transmission line. First, these basic techniques will be explained below.
As illustrated in FIG. 1, a zero-dispersion wavelength is inherent in an optical fiber. It is a wavelength at which the delay time of a signal becomes 0 (zero). In the DSF which is common as the optical fiber for transmitting signal light, the zero-dispersion wavelength is 1.5625 .mu.m!. That dispersion characteristic of the optical fiber which indicates the relationship of the delay time of the signal on this optical fiber to the wavelength of the signal light, exhibits a quadratic curve whose minimum value lies at the zero-dispersion wavelength as shown in FIG. 1. For the DSF, a wavelength on the order of 1.5585 .mu.m! shorter than the zero-dispersion wavelength is used as the signal light wavelength. In this case, the dispersion characteristic in the vicinity of the signal light wavelength becomes the negative one in which the delay time decreases with increase in the wavelength of the signal light and increases with decrease in the same. The dispersion value of the signal light involved here is -0.3 psec/nm/km! (picosecond/nanometer/kilometer) or so at the signal light wavelength. That is, in a case where the signal light having the signal light wavelength mentioned above is transmitted 1000 km! over the DSF, the signal light delays -300 psec! on condition that the wavelength of the signal light has increased 1 nm! from the specified signal light wavelength.
Meanwhile, in a case where signal light obtained by directly modulating a digital signal as shown in FIG. 2 is transmitted over an optical fiber, the signal light is not always transmitted at the signal light wavelength thereof, but it is transmitted with a predetermined dispersion centering on the signal light wavelength as illustrated in FIG. 3.
Accordingly, when the signal light is transmitted centering on the signal light wavelength as stated above, over the optical fiber such as DSF, the arrival rates of light come to differ at the respective components of wavelengths which constitute the signal light centering on the signal light wavelength. Consequently, degradations in the signal light, such as a dull or blunt waveform, occur on a reception side for receiving the transmitted signal light.
In order to transmit the signal light without any delay, theoretically the signal light may be transmitted at the zero-dispersion wavelength of the optical fiber. The DSF, however, has the property that noise is maximized at the zero-dispersion wavelength by 4-light wave mixing or multiplexing or by a nonlinear effect called the "optical parametric effect". It also has the property that noise is abruptly amplified at a positive dispersion wavelength by a nonlinear effect called the "modulation instability". Therefore, the signal light is ordinarily transmitted at a negative dispersion wavelength.
In this regard, a technique called the "dispersion management" has heretofore been employed for compensating for the signal delay at the negative dispersion wavelength. The dispersion management is the technique in which a DCF (dispersion compensation fiber) being a single-mode fiber is inserted every fixed length of the DSF, whereby the delay time is compensated for so as to become 0 (zero) within a predetermined wavelength range centering on the signal light wavelength as illustrated in FIG. 4.
More concretely, referring to FIG. 5, the signal light has the spread of wavelengths as denoted by mark (*) at and near the signal light wavelength on the DSF. In this case, as stated before, the zero-dispersion wavelength of the DSF is 1.5625 .mu.m!, and the signal light wavelength is on the order of 1.5585 .mu.m!, so that the dispersion characteristic which indicates the relationship of the delay time of the signal to the wavelength of the signal light becomes the negative one. On the other hand, the zero-dispersion wavelength of the DCF is on the order of 1.31 .mu.m!, and the specified signal light wavelength 1.5585 .mu.m! is longer than this zero-dispersion wavelength 1.31 .mu.m! of the DCF. As illustrated in FIG. 5, therefore, the dispersion characteristic of the DCF at the particular signal light wavelength becomes the positive one in which the delay time increases with increase in the wavelength of the signal light and decreases with decrease in the same. Owing to the insertion of the DCF every fixed length of the DSF, accordingly, the negative dispersion characteristic based on the DSF is cancelled by the positive dispersion characteristic based on the DCF, and the compensation for zeroizing the delay time is realized in the predetermined wavelength range centering on the signal light wavelength. In this case, the dispersion value of the signal light at and near the particular signal light wavelength on the DSF is approximately -0.3 psec/nm/km!, while the dispersion value of the signal light at and near the particular signal light wavelength on the DCF is approximately +20 psec/nm/km!. Therefore, the length of the DCF to be inserted may be short as compared with that of the DSF.
On the ground of the optical amplification/relay technique explained above, a wavelength multiplexing system wherein the digital data of a plurality of channels are transmitted with a plurality of wavelengths over a single optical fiber is recently intended for practical use due to an increased data transmission capacity, in such a way that only the construction of each terminal station is altered with the existing transmission line diverted, by utilizing a bit-rate-free property which is one of the advantages of the optical amplification/relay system.
In incarnating the wavelength-multiplexing transmission system on the existing transmission line, however, problems to be explained below are involved:

Wavelength-multiplexing optical communication method employing RZ signals, wavelength-multiplexing optical sending apparatus employing RZ signals, and wavelength-multiplexing optical communication system employing RZ signals


A plurality of shopping cart attachments for facilitating the operation and improving the child carrying capabilities of existing shopping carts including a tandem child seat system for converting a shopping cart into a tandem shopping cart, a back guard/harness system for preventing a child from standing up and/or turning around while in a shopping cart child seat and a protective cart clip system for preventing a child from coming into contact with the germ laden handlebar area of a shopping cart.

Although a shopping cart is one of the most necessary elements associated with a trip to a grocery store, department store, warehouse club or the like, it is generally loathed by the majority of shoppers because of its inevitably misaligned, squeaky, and/or sticky wheels. Unfortunately, parents who must bring along one or more children while shopping are faced with a plethora of additional difficulties associated with the majority of presently available shopping cart configurations.
A shopping cart typically includes a frame assembly for supporting a plurality of wheels, a frame assembly for supporting a large basket into which purchases are placed, and a rearwardly facing folding child seat located within the rear section of the basket proximate the handlebar of the shopping cart. The child seat generally includes a small plastic base section on which a child sits, leg openings for receiving the legs of a child therethrough, a waist belt for securing a child therein and a backrest for supporting the back of a child, wherein the backrest is formed by a series of spaced rails.
The handlebar area and the nearby frame components are typically the most touched sections of a shopping cart. For example, in a grocery store that is open around the clock, a particular shopping cart may be handled and utilized by a large number of customers and employees of the store. Consequently, if one of the persons handling a particular shopping cart is ill with a cold, the flu or some other contagious disease, the illness may be spread to many of the other persons who subsequently come in contact with that shopping cart. Analogously, a child sitting in the child seat of that shopping cart may also stand a great chance of becoming sick because they oftentimes touch, chew, and/or lick those areas of the cart which may already have been infected.
When a child is initially placed into the child seat of a shopping cart, they are usually fascinated or distracted by their surroundings and are therefore content to remain seated within the child seat. After a few minutes, however, a child tends to become bored with his or her surroundings and subsequently looks for other avenues of amusement. Unfortunately, any activity other than sitting down in the child seat may lead to injuries, accidents and/or other parental annoyances. For example, the child may attempt to stand up in the child seat which may lead to the child falling into the basket of the shopping cart, thereby damaging any purchases therein or injuring the child. Similarly, the child may stand up in the child seat and subsequently fall out of the shopping cart onto the floor of the store, the sidewalk or the parking lot, potentially resulting in a serious injury or even death. Although commonly available shopping carts are equipped with a waist belt to avert the above-described accidents from occurring, most parents can attest to the fact that a child can easily squirm out of the waist belt with a minimum amount of effort. A child may also attempt to turn partially or entirely around in the child seat in order to play with the backrest or the purchases stored in the basket. Quite often, a child who has successfully turned around in the child seat is prone to remove one or more items from the basket and subsequently throw them to the ground, thereby damaging the item and/or creating a mess. Depending upon the policy of each particular store, the parent or other child supervisory personnel may be required to compensate the store for the damaged items. A child may also be injured while playing with the backrest of the shopping cart child seat. For example, a child may break or otherwise injure his or her fingers by inserting them through the series of spaced rails which form the majority of presently available child seat backrests. In particular, if the person controlling the shopping cart is required to suddenly turn the cart in a new direction while a child is inserting his or her fingers between the spaced rails, the momentum of the child's body may exert sufficient pressure between the fingers and the rails to cause an injury.
Oftentimes a parent is faced with the very difficult task of supervising two young children while shopping in a grocery or department store. Unfortunately, currently available shopping carts are designed to only accommodate a single child, thereby requiring the parent to carry the second child, or if the second child has learned to walk, to allow that child to walk next to the parent. In this situation, the parent must shop and perform a number of potentially nerve racking tasks all at the same time. For example, the parent must ensure that the child sitting in the shopping cart child seat does not perform any of the above-described potentially dangerous activities. In addition, the parent must ensure that the child who is walking does not wander or run away, does not pull items from shelves of the store and/or does not create other types of havoc.


In DVB/MPEG transport streams, the PID specifies the assignment of the packets to the different elementary streams. For reproduction of the elementary streams, for instance by a set-top box with outputting via the screen of a television set, the packets of the desired program have to be selected from the transport stream by means of the PIDs using the demultiplexer. This requires in each case the evaluation of the Program Association Table and Program Map Table, and also that the PIDs of the elementary streams to be reproduced be known to the demultiplexer in the set-top box. If the set-top box has a digital interface via which parts of the transport data stream can be stored and reproduced later or via which an arbitrary transport data stream can be fed to the set-top box, the demultiplexer must firstly be reprogrammed with the PIDs. Reproduction simply by the pressing of a reproduction (play) button is possible according to the invention, however, by virtue of the fact that the PID for the packets of at least one of the data streams is set to a predetermined value in the set-top box, the packets with this predetermined value of the PID being selected for reproduction.

Various methods are known for transmitting data-compressed bit streams. Such a method for the transmission of MPEG2 data has been specified in the specification MPEG2 Part 1: Systems (ISO/IEC DIS 13818-1). In this case, the coded data are not transmitted as a continuous stream but rather are subdivided into smaller information units, so-called packets. This formation of packets enables, on the one hand, the synchronization of data streams and, on the other hand, the joining together of a plurality of data streams to form a new data stream. Depending on the type of transmission and/or the application, the data are transmitted either in the program stream or in the transport stream. For radio-broadcasting transmission via cable, satellite or terrestrially, the transport stream is used since it has a particularly robust structure in the form of short packets. In this case, a transport packet is divided into a header comprising four bytes, optionally into an adaptation field, and furthermore into the area of the useful information. Thirteen bits of the header are used for the so-called packet identification. The packet identification (PID) in this case serves for assigning the packets to the different elementary streams, packets which belong to one and the same elementary stream having identical PIDs. The PIDs under which a corresponding decoder can find the individual packets within the transport stream are transmitted as part of the useful data in the form of tables. In this case, the Program Association Table specifies the number of programs contained in a transport stream and defines the assignment of the PID to the Program Map Table for each of the programs. The Program Map Table in turn contains a list of all PIDs for the elementary streams which are associated with the program assigned to the table.
For reproduction of the elementary streams, for instance by a set-top box with outputting via the screen of a television set, the packets of the desired program have to be selected from the transport stream by means of the PIDs using the demultiplexer. This requires in each case the evaluation of the Program Association Table and Program Map Table, and also that the PIDs of the elementary streams to be reproduced be known to the demultiplexer in the set-top box. If the set-top box has a digital interface via which parts of the transport data stream can be stored and reproduced later or via which an arbitrary transport data stream can be fed to the set-top box, the demultiplexer must firstly be reprogrammed with the respective PIDs after evaluation of the Program Association Table and Program Map Table. Reproduction simply by the pressing of a reproduction (play) button is thus not possible.

Method and apparatus for the reproduction of digital data streams


[Object] To provide a method and an apparatus for manufacturing a variable resistance element by which a metal oxide layer having a desired resistivity can be precisely formed.

A semiconductor memory includes a volatile memory such as a DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory) and a non-volatile memory such as a flash memory. As the non-volatile memory, a NAND flash memory or the like is known, and as a device capable of attaining further miniaturization, a ReRAM (Resistance RAM) is attracting attention.
A ReRAM uses a variable resistor, the resistance value of which is changed by applying a pulse voltage thereto, as a resistance element. Typically, the variable resistor has the structure in which two or more metal oxide layers having different oxidation degrees, that is, different resistivities are sandwiched by upper and lower electrodes. As a method of forming a layer structure of oxides having different oxidation degrees, there is known a method of forming a metal oxide by so-called reactive sputtering in which a target made of metal is sputtered in an oxygen atmosphere. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a method of layering an n-type transition metal oxide layer having a high oxygen concentration and a p-type transition metal oxide layer having a low oxygen concentration by reducing a supply amount of oxygen while sputtering a target made of metal.
Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2008-244018 (paragraphs [0036] and [0037])

Method of manufacturing variable resistance element and apparatus for manufacturing the same

Abstract: [Solving Means] The method of manufacturing the variable resistance element according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a step of forming a first metal oxide having a first resistivity and a step of forming a second metal oxide having a second resistivity different from the first resistivity. The first metal oxide is formed on a substrate by sputtering, while sputtering a first target made of an oxide of metal, a second target made of the metal with a first power. The second metal oxide layer is formed on the first metal oxide layer by sputtering the second target with a second power different from the first power while sputtering the first target.


The present invention relates to isolated strains of a Streptomyces spp. which are endophytes of dicotyledonous plants and to methods for selecting such strains. The present invention also relates to compounds having biological activity selected from the group consisting of munumbicin A, munumbicin B, munumbicin C and munumbicin D, kakadumycin A, kakadumycin B, and kakadumycin C. The present invention further relates to compositions of such compounds and to methods of protecting plants against attack by a plant pathogen and methods of inhibiting bacterial growth, fungal growth, viral infection, growth of parasitic organisms, and cancer cell growth with such compositions.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to endophytic Streptomycetes from higher plants having desirable biological activities. The present invention also relates to extracts and compounds obtainable from such strains demonstrating the desirable biological activities, including the munumbicin and kakadumycin compounds, and related families of biologically active compounds, are also provided. The present invention further relates to compositions comprising the extracts and compounds as well as methods of using the compositions.
2. Description of the Related Art
The bacterial order Actinomycetales includes several genera of bacteria similar to fungi in that they have a branching, filamentous structure. The branching filaments of the Actinomycetes eventually develop a network of strands called mycelium, which are similar in appearance to the mycelium of some fungi. Actinomycetes also form spores.
Actinomycetes are particularly valued for the property of producing antibiotics, with the most productive genus in this group being Streptomyces. Over 50 commercially important antibiotics have been isolated from Streptomyces spp., including streptomycin, neomycin, chloramphenicol and tetracyclines. Streptomycetes are found worldwide, and are a particularly significant as members of the soil microflora. Streptomycetes are also metabolically diverse, however, and are found in a great variety of ecological environments.
Actinomycetes, in general, are not reported to be endophytes on higher plants, though recently a Streptomyces sp. was reported on an annual plant—Lolium perenne (Guerny and Mantle, 1993). This lolium endophyte produces a weak antibiotic designated as methylalbonoursin, which is a diketopiperazine, condensed from leucine and phenylalanine. Streptomycetes which are used as a source of biologically active compounds, such as antibiotics, have all been isolated from soil.
The development of drug resistance in human pathogenic bacteria, such as Staphylococcus, Mycobacterium, Streptococcus, Enterococcus and others, places an ever increasing importance on the search for new antibiotics, as diseases caused by such bacteria represent a clear and growing threat to world health (NIH, 2001). For instance, tuberculosis is the second leading cause of death in the world, killing approximately 2.5 million people per year. Up to 30% of the world's peoples are carriers of this pathogen (NIH, 2001). The incidence of tuberculosis is rising in the world's population, in part due to the increased incidence of patients with HIV/AIDS, but also due to the development of drug resistance in strains of M. tuberculosis (Raviglione et al, 1995; Pablosmendez et al., 1997).
In addition to the problems of drug resistance in pathogenic bacteria there is also a need for more and better antimycotics, as the human population is developing more fungal infections. This is particularly an issue with HIV/AIDS patients, but also a concern with patients with organ-transplants, who must take immunosuppressive drugs to maintain continuity of the transplanted organ. In both cases, patients with these difficulties have immune systems that are weakened. Antifungal agents that are currently available, such as amphotericin B, are toxic, and often ineffective (Walsh, 1992; Walsh and Finberg, 1999; Tiphine et al., 1999).
The increased incidence of parasitic protozoan infections is a further cause of concern. The most important of these is malaria caused by Plasmodium spp. that kills up to 1.5-3 million people and produces up to nearly 500 million cases per year (NIH, 2001). It is estimated that nearly 40% of the world's population is at risk of becoming infected with malaria. Global warming as well as "airport malaria" are factors contributing to the increasing spread of this disease. Another factor contributing to the increased threat of death caused by malaria is the development of drug resistance in the Plasmodium spp. populations (NIH, 2001). In some cases, treatment of malaria and other infectious diseases has been possible with the availability of antibiotics originally derived from soil-born Streptomyces spp. (Waksman, 1967; Waksman and Lechevalier 1953; and Arai, 1976).
There is also a need for environmentally sound ways to grow the world's food, and new methods of controlling pests and pathogens are continuously needed in this field, as well (Overton et al., 1996). In the past, the major source of pesticidal agents came from organic synthesis. Recently, interest has increased for using more environmentally friendly methods in agricultural production, including naturally-occurring biological compounds.
It is an object of the present invention to provide endophytic streptomycetes from higher plants, and extracts and compounds thereof, with biological activity.

Endophytic streptomycetes from higher plants with biological activity


The present invention provides a light box for fiber optic illumination cables. The light box includes a light bulb mounted in a disposable bulb holder. The light from the bulb enters a light preparation train including an aperture to produce an initial light beam, a hot mirror to reflect infrared and ultraviolet light, and an optical taper to narrow the light beam to the input diameter of the fiber optic illumination cable. The resulting light beam is passed to the illumination cable via a connector which selectively retains the fiber optic cable. The connector allows the cable to rotate while retained in the connector and includes a receiving tube surrounded by a sliding tube. A void between the tubes contains a plurality of ball retainers which can selectively extend through the wall of the receiving tube to retain the fiber optic cable. Because the connector is spring loaded, the cable is securely retained unless the sliding tube is manually moved into the releasing position by the operator. The light box further includes an electrical connector providing a safety circuit interrupting the power line to the light box when the drawer is removed, as well as a single use hour meter resetting circuit.

Recently, modern medical techniques which are relatively non-invasive have been developed for viewing and performing different medical procedures on the interior structure of body parts. Medical instruments for performing these procedures are known generally as endoscopes and specifically include arthroscopes, spinalscopes, laproscopes, esophagoscopes and others. These instruments typically include a scope which is inserted into the body part to be examined. With an arthroscope, for example, the scope is coupled to a camera assembly and the camera assembly, in turn, is connected to a video display for generating a picture of the interior structure of the joint. Consequently, the operator of the arthroscope is able to view, in real-time, the interior structure of the body as the scope is inserted into the body. By viewing the internal body structure, a diagnosis can be made and appropriate treatment prescribed.
For illuminating the interior body structure, an endoscope assembly includes optical illumination fibers that terminate at the distal or viewing end of the scope and direct light into the body. The optical illumination fibers in turn, are coupled to a high intensity light source, or "light box" that includes a light bulb (i.e. xenon or metal halide). Such a light box, because of its size, power and control requirements is typically mounted externally to the probe and remotely from hand-held components of the endoscope. With an arthroscope, for instance, the scope portion of the endoscope and a portion of the camera assembly are mounted in a hand held housing, and the light box is external to this housing in a separate console. Such an arrangement necessitates a flexible light transmissive conduit which connects the external light box to the illumination fibers within the endoscope assembly. These types of light transmissive conduits must be precisely connected to the scope assembly and to the external light box. This requires precision design and construction of the endoscope assembly.
Existing light boxes have a number of drawbacks. First, the light boxes often have complicated connector assemblies which are necessary to connect the light box to the fiber optic illumination cable. One such connector is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,253,448 issued to Terada for an invention entitled "Endoscope Connector". The Terada connector fixably attaches the fiber optic cable to the light box and does not permit disconnection of the fiber optic cable from the light box.
Another plug and socket type connector is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,867,138 issued to Kubota et al. for an invention entitled "Rigid Electronic Endoscope". This connector while allowing the fiber optic cable to be disconnected from the light box, does not allow rotation of the cable relative to the light box. Further, accidental disconnection is possible because the plug is retained frictionally in its socket.
Yet another commonly used device for connecting an optic cable to a light box is a typical screw-in connector. A screw-in connector, however, does not permit quick connections and disconnections and does not allow rotation of the fiber optic cable relative to the light box once installed. Another commonly used connector is a single bearing retainer connector. This connector uses a single bearing in the socket to engage a groove in the plug to retain the plug in engagement with the socket. Consequently, the non-symmetrical force resulting from the single bearing often results in improper alignment between the light box and the cable.
Fiber optic light sources provide the required intensity of light by operating at high power levels. As a result, these high power levels reduce the life expectancy of the bulbs producing the light, which in turn necessitates periodic replacement of the bulbs. To prevent bulb failures during a surgical procedure, it is often desirable to replace the light bulb of a light box before it actually ceases providing light. In fact, many bulb manufacturers provide a maximum bulb use period and recommend replacing bulbs used longer than the maximum use period.
For this reason, some light boxes include an hour meter which allows the operator to monitor the operating time of the light box. For some light boxes, the resetting the hour meter when changing a bulb is complicated because the light box must be partially disassembled to reset the timer. Disassembly by untrained individuals can result in an electrical shock to the person and damage to the light box components. For these reasons, some manufacturers suggest sending the entire light box to the manufacturer. To avoid sending the light box to the manufacturer, many hour meters are never reset. Instead, the operator must note the meter reading at the time of bulb replacement and calculate the meter reading for the next bulb replacement.
Still another problem relating to the light box bulbs is the problem of replacing the bulb itself. For the light boxes to function optimally, it is crucial for the bulb to be correctly placed in the bulb holder to ensure proper alignment of the bulb on the optimum light path. Existing light boxes often have complicated assemblies which often require sending the light box to the manufacturer to ensure proper bulb alignment after bulb replacement.
In addition to above problems, light boxes often have a number of problems pertaining to the light produced by the light bulb. One problem is the heat produced in the light train as the light beam is narrowed to the input diameter of the fiber optic illumination cable. If too much heat is retained near the bulb, the life of the bulb can be reduced. Moreover, if too much heat is passed to the fiber optic cable, the cable may be damaged. Similarly, heat must be properly dissipated to prevent the connector itself from being heated to a point where physical handling becomes dangerous. Infrared and ultraviolet light components of the light produced by the bulb can damage both the tissue of the patient and the optical cable. For this reason, it is beneficial to prevent a portion of the infrared and ultraviolet wavelength components from reaching the fiber optic cable or the tissue. In light of the above, it is an object of the present invention to provide a light source incorporating a fiber optic cable connector which is uncomplicated. It is another object of the present invention to provide a light box including a connector which allows the fiber optic cable to be rotated relative to the light box. It is still another object of the present invention to provide a light box including a fiber optic cable connector which allows easy disconnection of the fiber optic cable from the light box while preventing accidental disconnection. Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a light box using a disposable bulb holder wherein the bulb can be correctly aligned by simple insertion of the holder into the light box. And yet another object of the present invention is to provide a light box using a bulb holder which automatically resets the hour meter of the light box during bulb replacement. Still further, it is an object of the present invention to provide a light box which maximizes heat dissipation and filters out undesirable light components prior to the produced light beam contacting the fiber optic cable. And further, it is an object of the present invention to provide a light source producing light having maximum intensity. Another object of the present invention is to provide a light box which is relatively easy to manufacture and which is comparatively economical.


To a bit line to which a memory cell having a ferroelectric capacitor is connected, a guarantee cell having a ferroelectric capacitor is connected. During a read operation of data from the memory cell, data is read out from the memory cell, and the data read out from the memory cell by destructive reading is written automatically to the guarantee cell, so that the data is retained securely as nonvolatile binary data regardless of operating condition, and thus loss of data can be suppressed.

A ferroelectric memory is a nonvolatile semiconductor memory having the same memory cell structure as a DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory) but using a ferroelectric capacitor (ferroelectric element) in a part corresponding to a dielectric capacitor in a memory cell of the DRAM. As a memory cell (storage unit of one bit data) of the ferroelectric memory, there are one transistor/one capacitor (1T/1C) type cell and two transistors/two capacitors (2T/2C) type cell, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. Hei 5-89692.
The ferroelectric memory stores binary data of "1", "0" by associating them with two different polarization states of the ferroelectric capacitor, and the memory cell exhibits nonvolatility when retaining data. However, reading out of data from the memory cell is destructive reading, which destroys and erases the retained data. Accordingly, in a reading sequence of data, a so-called restore operation (rewrite operation) is performed such that after a minute potential which appears on a bit line according to the retained data is amplified by a sense amplifier to obtain reading data as digital information, the data is written back to the memory cell.
Here, the conventional ferroelectric memory temporarily stores data read out from the memory cell by an electrical signal level (high level or low level) on the bit line until it performs the restore operation in the reading sequence of data, and thus it has instability in a retaining state of data. In other words, the conventional ferroelectric memory retains data read out from the memory cell by a volatile electric charge, and therefore it has possibility of losing data due to a power cut-off (including a cut-off of power supply, decrease of a power supply voltage), noise interference, swing of potential, and the like.
In the conventional ferroelectric memory, when the reading sequence of data is started, an externally inputted control signal and the like are controlled inside the memory device so that the sequence is not interfered from the outside until the restore operation is completed, in order to guarantee writing of data by the restore operation. Furthermore, in the conventional ferroelectric memory, a capacitor and so on for power supply for assuring stable power supply until the reading sequence is completed are provided internally, thereby causing enlargement of circuit area (chip area). According to the means as described above, data read out from the memory cell during the read sequence can be almost securely written (written back) to the memory cell, but it is not possible to confirm whether the reading sequence of data including the restore operation is completed properly or not.
Further, for the conventional ferroelectric memory, there has been a method using a so-called shadow RAM (a memory incorporating a pair of memory cells having the same data), and if data stored in a reading memory (one memory) is destroyed, the data is guaranteed by data stored in the other memory. However, since this method stores the same data in two areas, it needs a memory having storage capacity that is at least double of the amount of data, and its operation is complicated because data has to be synchronized constantly between the pair of memories.
Patent Document 1
Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. Hei 5-89692

Semiconductor memory device for securely retaining data