An injection mold for golf balls includes a pair of separable mold segments (1a, 1b). The mold segments (1a, 1b) are mated at their peripheral surfaces (12) along a parting line so that their inner surfaces (2a) define a spherical cavity (2). A plurality of dimple-forming projections (11) are formed on the inner surfaces (2a). At least four tubular gates (7) are disposed in the peripheral surfaces (12) and in fluid communication with the cavity (2). The peripheral surfaces (12) are furrowed except for the areas where the gates are disposed. Dimple-forming pins (14) are received in furrows (13) so as to lie across the parting line (PL). A molten stock material is injected into the cavity (2) through the gates (7) to mold a golf ball having dimples lying across the parting line.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an injection mold for the manufacture of golf balls and to a method for preparing golf balls using the mold.
2. Prior Art
Most prior art methods for the manufacture of golf balls using molds employ injection molding and heat compression molding techniques. Especially in the case of golf balls consisting of a core and a cover, injection molding and heat compression molding techniques are typically used for molding the cover around the core.
The heat compression molding technique involves the steps of preforming hemispherical half cups from cover stock, enclosing a core with a pair of half cups, and placing the entirety in a heat compression mold where the ball is molded under suitable temperature and pressure conditions. In contrast, the injection molding technique produces a golf ball by placing a core in a cavity at the center and injecting molten stock material into the cavity through gates to mold the material around the core.
Referring to FIGS. 5A and 5B, there is illustrated an injection mold which is advantageously used when the cover stock is injection molded around a solid core or wound core. The illustrated example refers to the manufacture of two-piece solid golf balls. A typical prior art injection mold is illustrated as comprising a pair of separable upper and lower mold segments 1a and 1b. The mold segments 1a and 1b define a spherical cavity 2 when mated along a parting line PL. The mold includes a main runner 4, an annular cold runner 5 connected to the main runner 4, extending along the parting line PL and circumscribing the cavity 2, a plurality of circumferentially equally spaced nozzles 6 extending radially inwardly from the annular cold runner 5, and a corresponding plurality of gates 7 extending from the nozzles 6 and opening to the cavity 2. With this construction, a golf ball is manufactured by placing a core 3 at the center of the mold cavity 2, and supplying a cover stock based on a thermoplastic resin to the annular cold runner 5 through the main runner 4, thereby injecting the cover stock into the cavity 2 from the runner 5 through the nozzles 6 and gates 7.
From another aspect, it is desired for golf balls to have dimples evenly distributed on the spherical surface so that the ball may exert consistent performance regardless of shot positions. That is, golf balls which are improved not only in flight performance, but also in symmetry are desired. The demand for such improvements is increasing as the golf game becomes popular to a larger public. In order that high quality, high performance golf balls be delivered at a reasonable price, it is necessary to increase the cost performance, that is, the manufacturing efficiency of golf balls.
Golf balls, especially their covers are generally molded by injection molding and heat compression molding techniques as mentioned above. Most often, a mold comprising a pair of separable mold segments is used in either technique. A straight parting line is generally defined between the upper and lower mold segments. Corrugations are eliminated from the parting line for the purpose of simple manufacture of a mold. The straight parting line coincides with the equator line on the golf ball surface. As a consequence, since no dimples can be formed on the equator line corresponding to the parting line, the golf ball molded using this mold has a great circle band of a certain width along the equator line.
The golf ball having a wide great circle band along the equator line across which no dimples lie, however, has the problem that the ball exhibits varying flight performance depending on a particular impact position because the difficulty in uniformly arranging dimples on the spherical surface of the ball deteriorates the aerodynamic symmetry of the ball.
To overcome the problem, there were proposed several golf balls in which a wide great circle band on the equator line is eliminated and instead, dimples are formed on the equator line (see JP-A 173907/1986 and 143349/1994).
These proposals use a heat compression mold having no gates at the parting surface rather than an injection mold having gates at the parting surface. There have been proposed no injection molds which can effectively mold golf balls having dimples across the parting line.

Injection mold for golf balls and method for preparing golf balls


The present invention provides a method for controlling an interpolation direction of a pixel needing to be interpolated between a first row and a second row within an image. The image has a plurality of pixels arranged in a matrix format. The method includes calculating a plurality of first horizontal pixel value differences between pixels positioned in the first row and a plurality of second horizontal pixel value differences between pixels positioned in the second row. The method further includes comparing the plurality of first horizontal pixel value differences with a first threshold and the plurality of second horizontal pixel value differences with a second threshold to control whether the interpolation direction is orthogonal to the first row and the second row.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method and device capable of improving the accuracy of directional interpolation on object corners in an image, and more particularly, to a method and device for controlling an interpolation direction of a pixel needing to be interpolated.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Traditional interpolation methods assume that a two-dimensional image to be interpolated consists of a plurality of one-dimensional images, and therefore, the two-dimensional image is interpolated vertically or horizontally. Such treatment may introduce unwanted zigzag edges of objects in the image. Some directional interpolation methods have been proposed to solve the above-mentioned problem.
As shown in FIG. 1, the ELA algorithm (ref. T. Doyle and M. Looymans, Progressive scan conversion using edge information. In: L. Chiariglione, ed. Signal Processing of HDTV II, Elsevier Science Publishers B.V., North-Holland, pp. 711-721, 1990) is typical of the directional interpolation methods known in the art. Firstly, a direction corresponding to a pair of pixels having a minimum difference between their pixel values is selected from among three directions 131, 132, 133. The pixel values typically represent brightness (luminance) and/or color (chrominance) levels of each pixel. For example, if the pixels 111, 123 are similar and form a portion of an edge, the difference between the values of the pixels 111, 123 would be smaller than the difference between the values of pixels 112, 122 and smaller than the difference between the values of pixels 113, 121. Because of this, directional interpolation should be performed along the direction 131. That is, the interpolated pixel 152 is derived from averaging the values of the pixels 111, 123. As shown in FIG. 2, pixels 201, 202, 203 are interpolated vertically while pixels 211, 212, 213 are interpolated along an edge 215 of an object 210 of an interpolated image. The shading shown for each pixel in FIG. 2 denotes a hypothetical pixel value after interpolation. It is evident in this example that the zigzag edge problem is solved by using directional interpolation. For more information about variations of the ELA algorithm, please refer to U.S. Pat. No. 5,742,348 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,133,957.
However, the above-mentioned directional interpolation introduces a new problem of faulty treatment of object corners in the art. As shown in FIG. 3, pixels 301, 302, 303 are interpolated along improper directions 311, 312, 313, respectively. The pixels 301, 302, 303 that should represent a right-angle corner of an object 300 of an interpolated image are improperly interpolated. After interpolation, the above-mentioned right-angle corner substantially becomes a rounded corner. Similarly, the pixels 304, 305, 306 are also improperly interpolated.

Method for controlling interpolation direction and related device


Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, for storing data for use on a mobile device on a removable storage medium. To access the data, credentials are received from a user of a mobile device. An encrypted set of data is transferred to the mobile device from the removable storage medium, which is in communication with the mobile device, in response to instructions from an application associated with the data. The encrypted set of data is decrypted based on the credentials, and the decrypted set of data is automatically erased from the mobile device. The removable storage medium can be removed from the mobile device, and the encrypted data can be synchronized with a central database using a proxy device.

The present invention relates to data processing by digital computer, and more particularly to storing and synchronizing data on a removable storage medium to allow sharing of portable devices.
The operating systems for certain mobile electronic devices, such as cellular phones and personal digital assistants (PDAs), are typically designed for use by a single user. While mobile electronic devices frequently are used by only one person, companies sometimes have a group of mobile electronic devices that are shared by multiple users. A specific user's data is typically accessible by other users of the same device.
For privacy, individual users of shared mobile electronic devices may store their data on a removable storage medium, such as a memory card. However, the data on the removable storage medium is sometimes copied to the internal storage medium of the mobile device, which typically allows other users to access the data if the data is not erased. In addition, if a user loses or misplaces the removable storage medium, the data stored on the removable storage medium can usually be accessed by anyone who happens to find the removable storage medium if the data is not somehow protected. Some removable storage devices can be protected with a password or may allow individual files to be encrypted for security.
Some mobile electronic devices provide a way to synchronize stored data with an associated database located on another device. When synchronization occurs, the associated database typically is updated with new and changed data from the mobile device, and the mobile device is updated with new and changed data from the database. A removable storage medium typically must be connected to the mobile device for the data on the removable storage medium to be synchronized with the associated database.

Storing and synchronizing data on a removable storage medium


A greased lubricated rolling element bearing including an inner ring, an outer ring, a plurality of rolling elements disposed between said rings, and a cage for holding the rolling elements at a predetermined mutual spacing, has a lubricating grease composition present on the surfaces of said rings, said rolling elements and said cage. The cage is coated on at least the parts of its surface that are in sliding contact with said rolling elements, said inner ring or said outer ring, with a solid lubricant containing coating for lowering the running temperature of at least the cage. The solid lubricant containing coating preferably comprises a disulfide and/or diselenide of a Group V or VI transition metal, more preferably MoS.sub.2 and/or WS.sub.2 in combination with an organic resin such as PTFE.

The present invention relates to a greased rolling element bearing, in which elements of the bearing such as the bearing cage or roller ends have been coated with a solid lubricant coating.
Rolling element bearings usually comprise an outer and an inner ring, rolling elements in the bearing space between said rings, and a cage for holding the rolling elements at a predetermined mutual spacing as well as a grease for providing lubrication.
Despite the presence of said grease, during service of such a bearing, the cage and the rolling elements are in sliding contact. This results in friction and wear, which limit the service life of such a sliding contact.
In order to reduce the friction and wear it is known to apply a manganese phosphate-coating in the cage pockets which contain the rolling elements. However, such a manganese phosphate coating is not satisfactory for several reasons. One reason is that these coatings are only useful for "running in" the bearing, e.g. only provide an initial reduction of the friction at the beginning of the service life. After a certain period, the phosphate coating will disappear causing metal to metal contact, a higher running temperature and/or the deterioration of the grease which is located in the bearing. In some cases this can locally lead to "burnt" grease end/or dry running of the bearing. Therefore, some grease lubricated roller bearings with standard manganese phosphate coated steel cages give diminutive tribological protection in the contacts between roller and cage pocket. This will generally lead to the formation of brown bands on rollers and raceways. This is attributed to high sliding contact stress and poor lubrication conditions between roller and cage contacts.
Other factors which adversely influence the condition of the grease in the bearing, the running temperature, and the useful service life of the bearing are the high thermal stressing which occurs between the bearing cage and the rolling elements, and the lack of supply of grease between the components of the bearing.
As a result of these problems, bearings which comprise phosphate-coated cages should be relubricated frequently; if such frequent lubrication is omitted, the useful service life of the bearing is impaired.

Grease lubricated rolling element bearing comprising a cage coated with a solid lubricant containing coating

SKF Industrial Trading and Development Company B.V.


An authentication apparatus for solving problems involving convenience and security is disclosed. The authentication apparatus according to the present invention is an authentication apparatus having a plurality of authentication mechanisms, the apparatus determining (S23) whether authentication information that has been input by a card reader for inputting authentication information of an object of authentication is that of a user who is capable of changing over the plurality of authentication mechanisms, displaying (S24) a list of the plurality of authentication mechanisms if it is determined that the user is capable of making the changeover, and registering (S26) the authentication mechanism, which has been selected in the display list, as the effective authentication mechanism.

An apparatus of enhanced data security obtained by authenticating that a user is a prescribed user and so arranging it that the authenticated user can gain access is known in the art. Such an apparatus may have a plurality of authentication mechanisms for authenticating the user, not just a single authentication mechanism. These authentication mechanisms can be arranged hierarchically and, before a higher-order authentication mechanism is utilized, a lower-order authentication mechanism is employed to authenticate a user, or the plurality of authentication mechanisms can be arranged in parallel, any of the plurality of authentication mechanisms can be selected without authentication of the user, and user authentication is performed using the authentication mechanism that has been selected.
However, such prior art involves problems in terms of convenience and security. For example, with the hierarchical arrangement of the authentication mechanisms, it is necessary to provide user authentication information whenever the authentication mechanism of each layer is started up. This is a troublesome operation. With the parallel arrangement of the authentication mechanisms, the authentication mechanism is changed over without authentication of the user. Though this facilitates operation, a problem which arises is a commensurate decline in reliability in terms of security.
The present invention has been devised in view of these examples of the prior art and, in order to solve the problems involving convenience and security, is so adapted as to prompt the provision of authentication information when an authentication-mechanism changeover function is utilized.
Further, an object of the present invention is to verify authentication by a new authentication mechanism, before an authentication mechanism is changed over, in order to avoid a situation in which an apparatus can no longer be used because a user does not happen to have suitable authentication information after an authentication mechanism is changed over.

Authentication apparatus, method and program


A cabinet for interconnecting and storing optical fibers. The cabinet includes a plurality of left side members and right side members, each of which extends generally horizontally. A plurality of trays are slidably situated in the cabinet between the respective left and right side members. Each tray includes a generally flat base and open sides. The open sides permit optical fibers to be introduced into the tray from any position along the side of the tray. A gap is defined between each side member and the side members immediately above and below it. Each gap extends between the entire length of each side member from the front of the cabinet to the back. The gap provides adequate clearance for fibers introduced into the trays to move along the length of the gap when the tray is slid in and out of the cabinet. The gaps between side members allow for optical fibers to be introduced into the tray by service personnel from the front of the cabinet without having to access the rear of the cabinet to feed optical fibers into the trays through openings in the back of the cabinet.

The use of fiber optic cable as a transmission medium is common in communications systems. A fiber optic cable is typically a single cable within which is provided a plurality of individual optical fibers. Each optical fiber within the cable may be used to transmit information such as voice or data via light signals.
Fiber optic communications systems typically include many interconnections in which one optical fiber is connected to another optical fiber. Optical fibers may have a connector on one or both ends of the fiber. The connector on one optical fiber can be mated with a similar connector attached to the end of another optical fiber via an adapter. In this manner, multiple optical fibers can be interconnected.
Optical fibers are typically stored and interconnected in a cabinet-type apparatus. These cabinets may include a plurality of trays in which lengths of different fibers are stored and interconnected to other fibers. Typically, the cabinet includes a frame having a plurality of trays on which the interconnection and storage of excess fiber occurs. Each tray may include a bulkhead to which the connectors from different optical fibers may be attached to establish the interconnection of fibers. The bulkhead on the tray is typically accessible only when the tray is slid outwardly from the cabinet. Each tray is typically slidably mounted within the cabinet to allow service personnel to pull each tray outwardly to access its contents from the front of the cabinet.
One of the problems with existing cabinets is the arrangement of the many fibers going into and coming from the plurality of trays in the cabinet. It is imperative that the many fibers remain organized and free from entanglement with other fibers. The problem of disorganization and entanglement of fibers is exacerbated by the trays being slid in and out of the cabinet. Many cabinets require the optical fibers to be inserted into the trays through openings in the rear of the cabinet. In this manner, when the trays are slid in and out of the cabinet, the fibers slide out of and into the cabinet through the rear of the cabinet and are less apt to get tangled with other fibers.
However, this is disadvantageous because it is less convenient to feed fibers into the trays from the rear of the cabinet where access to the trays is limited. Feeding fibers into the cabinet from the rear requires that adequate space be provided behind the cabinet to allow service personnel to access the rear of the cabinet. It would be advantageous to be able to introduce the fibers into each tray from the front of the cabinet. However, if the fibers are fed into the tray from the front and interconnected to a tray when the tray has been slid out of the cabinet, the fibers may become tangled when the tray is slid back into the cabinet. Therefore, when the only opening for the fibers to enter the cabinet is in the front of the cabinet, the fibers become crammed into the cabinet when the tray is slid inwardly.
Therefore, a need exists for a cabinet for interconnecting optical fibers in which the optical fibers can be fed into a tray and interconnected from the front of the cabinet, and where the fibers do not become tangled or disorganized when the tray is slid into and out of the cabinet.

Apparatus for interconnecting optical fibers


A high degree of freedom of design and high density mounting are achieved with a laminated electronic part having a structure such that the occurrence of floating capacitance can be restrained. The laminated electronic part is formed of a first layer and a second layer which are joined to each other with a third layer sandwiched therebetween. The first and second layers may be formed of dielectrics having substantially different respective dielectric constants, and the third layer is formed of a dielectric having a dielectric constant lower than that of the first and second layers, or an insulator. Connecting conductors are provided inside the third layer. A through-conductor inside the first layer can be connected to a through-conductor inside the second, for example, layer via the connecting conductor inside the third layer.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a laminated electronic part for use in electronic apparatuses, and more particularly to a laminated electronic part to be mounted in modules, semiconductor packages, hybrid ICs or the like for use in mobile communication equipment.
2. Description of the Related Art
A conventional laminated electronic part is disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 6-32382. The construction of the conventional laminated electronic part will be explained with reference to FIG. 2.
Referring to FIG. 2, reference numeral 21 denotes a laminated electronic part comprising a first layer 22 and a second layer 23 with a third layer 24 made of a thick-film glass or the like sandwiched between them.
The first layer 22 is formed by laminating a plurality of high dielectric-constant sheets (not shown) formed of ceramics having a relatively high dielectric constant, and has a shape having an obverse surface 22a, a reverse surface 22b, and sides (not shown) which are continuous with the obverse surface 22a and the reverse surface 22b. Provided inside the first layer 22 are electrodes 25 and 26 which constitute capacitor parts, each of which functions as a circuit element, and through-conductors 27 and 28 which are extended to the obverse surface 22a and the reverse surface 22b. The electrodes 25 and 26 are formed by providing conductors on the surfaces of the high dielectric-constant sheets which constitute the first layer 22. The through-conductors 27 and 28 are formed of conductors inside through-holes which go through the high dielectric-constant sheets along the thickness direction thereof and are continuous along the direction in which the high dielectric-constant sheets are laminated.
The second layer 23 is formed by laminating a plurality of low dielectric-constant sheets (not shown) formed of ceramics having a relatively low dielectric constant, and has a shape having an obverse surface 23a, a reverse surface 23b, and sides (not shown) continuous with the obverse and reverse surfaces. Provided inside the second layer 23 are electrodes 29 and 30 which constitute capacitor parts, each of which functions as a circuit element, and through-conductors 31 and 32 which are extended to the obverse surface 23a and the reverse surface 23b. The electrodes 29 and 30 are formed by providing conductors on the surfaces of the low dielectric-constant sheets which constitute the second layer 23. The through-conductors 31 and 32 are formed of conductors inside through-holes which go through the low dielectric-constant sheets along the thickness direction thereof and are continuous in the direction in which the low dielectric-constant sheets are laminated.
Further, another electronic part 33 is mounted on the surface 23a of the second layer 23, and the electronic part 33 is connected to the through-conductors 31 and 32 via terminals 34.
The first layer 22 and the second layer 23 are joined to each other with the third layer 24 sandwiched therebetween with their reverse surfaces 22b and 23b as the joining surfaces. The through-conductor 27 and the through-conductor 31 are directly connected to each other, and the through-conductor 28 and the through-conductor 32 are connected to each other via a surface conductor 35 formed by a conductor on the reverse surface 23b of the second layer 23. Another conductor is provided adjacent to the surface conductor 35, and thus surface conductor 36 is formed. The surface conductor 36 is connected to another circuit element (not shown) or the like, and thus a circuit is formed.
The laminated electronic part 21 constructed in the above-described way is mounted on a printed circuit board (not shown) with the surface 22a of the first layer 22 as the mounting surface, and is connected to the circuit wiring (not shown) on the printed circuit board.
In the laminated electronic part 21 constructed as described above, however, since the surface conductor 35 is formed on the reverse surface 23b of the second layer 23, the surface conductor 35 and the electrodes 29 face each other through a dielectric (low dielectric-constant) sheet, causing floating capacitance between them. Also, since the surface conductor 35 and the surface conductor 36 are adjacent to each other on the dielectric (low dielectric-constant) sheet, floating capacitance is caused to occur between them. Due to the influence of these floating capacitances, desired circuit characteristics cannot be obtained in the laminated electronic part 21, and there is a risk that the laminated electronic part 21 cannot be put into practical use.
The surface conductor 35 and the electrode 29, and the surface conductors 35 and 36, must be separated from each other in order to prevent an occurrence of such floating capacitance, which reduces freedom of design. For this reason, problems arise. For example, high density mounting is difficult to achieve.


An apparatus includes a plurality of processing modules which are connected to each other by corresponding communication unit and the modules transfer packets in a predetermined direction to execute a plurality of operations of pipeline processing. The module includes a storage unit for storing a first identification and a second identification for each of the plurality of operations, a reception unit for extracting data from a packet which has the first identification, a processing unit for processing the data extracted by the reception unit, and a transmission unit for storing the second identification corresponding to the first identification of the packet a packet and transmitting the packet to the module arranged in the predetermined direction.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a data processing technique for realizing suitable parallel processing by controlling data flow in a plurality of data processing modules connected to a plurality of ring buses.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, to execute a series of data processing efficiently at high speed, the series of data processing is divided, and allocated to hardware modules. In this way, by connecting the hardware modules with each other in the order of the processing, pipeline processing is executed at high speed.
Further, in some cases of image processing, by changing the order of the processing executed by hardware modules, the processing can be executed efficiently. For example, when a processed image is output to an output apparatus configured to handle a predetermined pixel number, resolution conversion for adjusting the pixel number (or resolution) needs to be executed somewhere in a series of processing. In this case, when the pixel number of the input image is greater than the pixel number that can be handled by the output apparatus, the resolution conversion is executed in upstream-side processing, since it is preferable that the image is processed after the pixel number is reduced. On the other hand, when the pixel number of the input image is less than the pixel number that can be handled by the output apparatus, it is preferable that the image is processed while maintaining the small number of pixels without executing the resolution conversion and the resolution conversion is executed on the image immediately before output, namely, in downstream-side processing.
It is assumed data is converted from one space (e.g. a space of an input device) into a standard space (e.g. resolution 600 pixel per inch (ppi), and CIELAB color space) to be processed and the processed data is further converted from the standard space into another space (e.g. a space of an output device). In this case, the order of the processing executed by space conversion units on input and output sides (the order of the processing concerning a one-dimensional look-up table (LUT), matrix calculation, three-dimensional LUT, and the like) is reversed. In other words, if the order of the processing can be changed, the same processing module can be shared on the input and output sides.
However, based on the above conventional method of connecting hardware modules with each other in the order of the processing, the order of the processing executed by the modules cannot be changed. Thus, to accommodate the above case, additional modules (namely, a plurality of modules having the same function) need to be mounted.
According to a method discussed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 01-023340, by changing a data connection destination in a ring network, the order of the processing executed by the modules can be changed, and therefore, the above additional modules can be eliminated. Further, contents of the processing executed by each processing module can be changed, as discussed in Japanese Patent No. 2518293.
Japanese Patent No. 2834210 discusses a data flow control method for improving extendability and maintainability by using broadcast communication.
However, according to the conventional methods, it is difficult to control complex data flows, such as data flow branches (reference to identical data by a plurality of modules), simultaneous execution of a plurality of data flows, and time-division multiplexing by processing modules. Data flow branches (reference to identical data by a plurality of modules) can be realized by using broadcast communication as discussed in Japanese Patent No. 2834210. However, data flow control for realizing data flow integration, simultaneous execution of a plurality of data flows, time-division multiplexing by processing modules, and the like is complex, and the transfer efficiency may be decreased.

Apparatus, method, and computer-readable storage medium for data processing in a ring bus


A wireless interface device includes a display. When connected, the wireless interface device takes control of the host computer and displays everything being displayed at the host. The wireless interface device also includes a virtual on-screen keyboard (OSK). In order to prevent the host from painting over the OSK, a remote occlusion area is defined at the display of the host computer.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a wireless interface device and more particularly to a wireless interface device for interfacing with a host computer. Upon connection, the wireless interface device takes control of the host computer and mirrors whatever is being displayed on the host computer on its display. The wireless interface device includes a virtual on-screen keyboard (OSK). In order to prevent the host computer from painting over the OSK on the display of the wireless interface device, an occlusion region is defined in the display of the host computer.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Both wired and wireless LAN systems are known in the art. Such systems enable various desktop and/or portable personal computers to be connected in a local area network in order to share resources. Wireless LAN systems are normally used in an office environment to enable the various users to share common resources while obviating the need for direct wire connections between the personal computers connected to the LAN.
The personal computers connected to a wireless LAN configuration are normally equipped with a wireless LAN card and a radio interface which typically includes a spread-spectrum type radio to reduce interference.
As mentioned above, portable personal computers have been known to be used in such wireless LAN systems. However, portable personal computers, even such notebook-size portable personal computers, are cumbersome to transport in an office environment. Unfortunately, the resources of the LAN system are often needed at locations other than where the personal computers connected to the LAN are located.


Systems and methods are provided for controlling the position of an interactive movable menu in a mixed-reality environment. In some instances, a mixed-reality display device presents a mixed-reality environment to a user. The mixed-reality device then detects a first gesture associated with a user controller while presenting the mixed-reality environment and, in response to the first gesture, triggers a display of an interactive movable menu within the mixed-reality environment as a tethered hologram that is dynamically moved within the mixed-reality environment relative to and corresponding with movement of the user controller within the mixed-reality environment. Then, in response to a second detected gesture, the mixed-reality device selectively locks a display of the interactive movable menu at a fixed position that is not tethered to the user controller.

"Augmented reality" typically refers to virtual experiences where virtual objects are visually placed within the real world, such that a user experiences virtual content and the real world simultaneously. In contrast, "virtual reality" typically refers to immersive virtual experiences where a user's view of the real-world is completely obscured and only virtual objects are perceived. Typically, "mixed-reality" refers to either augmented reality or virtual reality environments. However, for the sake of clarity and simplicity, the terms mixed-reality, virtual reality, and augmented reality are used interchangeably herein.
Mixed-reality systems are typically configured as head mounted displays that generate and/or render the mixed-reality content. Continued advances in hardware capabilities and rendering technologies have greatly increased the realism of virtual objects and scenes displayed to a user within mixed-reality environments. For example, virtual objects can be placed within a mixed-reality environment in such a way as to give the impression that the virtual object is part of the real world.
Some mixed-reality systems have been configured to track the movement of a user's body parts, such as the user's hands, as the user interacts with virtual objects in the mixed-reality environment. Furthermore, some mixed-reality systems are configured to replicate the user's body parts within the mixed-reality, such that the user is able to view and control virtualized body parts within the mixed-reality environment. For instance, a user's hand can be presented as a hologram occlusion that moves within the mixed-reality environment in direct response to the movements of their own real-world hand. As the user moves their real-world hand, the hand occlusion is also moved, such that it is capable of interacting with other virtual objects within the mixed-reality environment.
Many mixed-reality systems allow users to use their body parts (or tools or other controllers manipulated thereby) to interact with virtual objects in the mixed-reality environment. For instance, some mixed-reality systems allow a user to use their hands (or virtual representations thereof) to interact with virtual input receivers, such as virtual menus, in the mixed-reality environment. Such virtual menus may fulfill a variety of purposes, such as allowing users to select applications to execute in the mixed-reality environment.
The subject matter claimed herein is not limited to embodiments that solve any disadvantages or that operate only in environments such as those described above. Rather, this background is only provided to illustrate one exemplary technology area where some embodiments described herein may be practiced.

Context-aware system menu behavior for mixed reality


The invention relates to methods for pairwise sequencing of a double-stranded polynucleotide template, which methods result in the sequential determination of nucleotide sequences in two distinct and separate regions of the polynucleotide template. Using the methods of the invention it is possible to obtain two linked or paired reads of sequence information from each double-stranded template on a clustered array, rather than just a single sequencing read from one strand of the template.

Several publications and patent documents are referenced in this application in order to more fully describe the state of the art to which this invention pertains. The disclosure of each of these publications and documents is incorporated by reference herein.
Advances in the study of biological molecules have been led, in part, by improvement in technologies used to characterise the molecules or their biological reactions. In particular, the study of the nucleic acids DNA and RNA has benefited from developing technologies used for sequence analysis.
One method for sequencing a polynucleotide template involves performing multiple extension reactions using a DNA polymerase to successively incorporate labelled nucleotides to a template strand. In such a "sequencing by synthesis" reaction a new nucleotide strand base-paired to the template strand is built up in the 5′ to 3′ direction by successive incorporation of individual nucleotides complementary to the template strand. If used simultaneously, the substrate nucleoside triphosphates used in the sequencing reaction may be blocked to prevent over-incorporation and labelled differently, permitting determination of the identity of the incorporated nucleotide as successive nucleotides are added.
In order to carry out accurate sequencing a reversible chain-terminating structural modification or "blocking group" may be added to the substrate nucleotides to ensure that nucleotides are incorporated one at a time in a controlled manner. As each single nucleotide is incorporated, the blocking group prevents any further nucleotide incorporation into the polynucleotide chain. Once the identity of the last-incorporated labelled nucleotide has been determined the label moiety and blocking group are removed, allowing the next blocked, labelled nucleotide to be incorporated in a subsequent round of sequencing.
In certain circumstances the amount of sequence data that can be reliably obtained with the use of sequencing-by-synthesis techniques, particularly when using blocked, labelled nucleotides, may be limited. In some circumstances it is preferred to limit the sequencing "run" to a number of bases that permits sequence realignment with the human genome, typically around 25-30 cycles of incorporation. Whilst sequencing runs of this length are extremely useful, particularly in applications such as, for example, SNP analysis and genotyping, it would be advantageous in many circumstances to be able to reliably obtain further sequence data for the same template molecule.
The technique of "paired-end" or "pairwise" sequencing is generally known in the art of molecular biology, particularly in the context of whole-genomic shotgun sequencing. Paired-end sequencing allows the determination of two "reads" of sequence from two places on a single polynucleotide duplex. The advantage of the paired-end approach is that there is significantly more information to be gained from sequencing two stretches each of "n" bases from a single template than from sequencing "n" bases from each of two independent templates in a random fashion. With the use of appropriate software tools for the assembly of sequence information it is possible to make use of the knowledge that the "paired-end" sequences are not completely random, but are known to occur on a single duplex, and are therefore linked or paired in the genome. This information has been shown to greatly aid the assembly of whole genome sequences into a consensus sequence.
Paired-end sequencing has typically been performed by making use of specialized circular shotgun cloning vectors. After cutting the vector at a specific single site, the template DNA to be sequenced (typically genomic DNA) is inserted into the vector and the ends resealed to form a new construct. The vector sequences flanking the insert DNA include binding sites for sequencing primers which permit sequencing of the insert DNA on opposite strands. However, the need for sequencing primers at both ends of the template fragment makes the use of array-based sequencing techniques extremely difficult. With array-based techniques, which usually rely on a single stranded template, it is generally only possible to sequence from one end of a nucleotide template, as the complementary strand is not attached to the surface.
A number of methods for double-ended sequencing of a polynucleotide template which can be carried out on a solid support have been reported, for example US20060024681, US20060292611, WO06110855, WO06135342, WO03074734, WO07010252, WO07091077 and WO00179553.
WO 98/44151 and WO 00/18957 both describe methods of nucleic acid amplification which allow amplification products to be immobilised on a solid support in order to form arrays comprised of clusters or "colonies" formed from a plurality of identical immobilised polynucleotide strands and a plurality of identical immobilised complementary strands. The nucleic acid molecules present in DNA colonies on the clustered arrays prepared according to these methods can provide templates for sequencing reactions, for example as described in WO 98/44152. It is advantageous to enable the efficient sequencing of both strands of such clusters, as described in detail in the methods herein.

Method for pairwise sequencing of target polynucleotides


Methods and apparatus are provided for allocating tasks to be performed by one or more autonomous vehicles to achieve a mission objective. Generally, a task allocation system identifies a final task associated with a given mission objective, identifies predecessor tasks necessary to complete the final task, generates one or more candidate tasks sequences to accomplish the mission objective, generates a task allocation tree based on the candidate task sequences, and searches the task allocation tree to find a task allocation plan that meets a predetermined selection criteria (e.g., lowest cost). Based on the task allocation plan, the task allocation system determines a task execution plan and generates control data for controlling one or more autonomous vehicles to complete the task execution plan.

Task allocation is the process of assigning tasks to agents, where an agent is an independent entity (such as an autonomous vehicle) capable of executing one or more of the tasks. Task allocation can occur in a centralized processor configured to remotely operate the independent entities or can also occur through processors local to each independent entity.
The simplest example scenario to which task allocation is useful is the traveling salesman problem. A traveling salesman needs to visit x cities while minimizing the distance traveled. The order of cities visited determines the overall distance traveled. This is a combinatorial problem, NP-complete. Other exemplary scenarios can be search and rescue operations by a single vehicle or fleet of vehicles, and pick-up and drop-offs for passengers. Generally, the processing time to find the optimal solution using known methods is not practical (typically years, though simple scenarios can be reasonable). Task allocation algorithms find solutions without looking at all possible combinations. The solutions may not always be optimal but can be found in reasonable time.
The most common algorithms used in task allocation are the genetic algorithm, mixed integer linear programming, constrained gradient descent algorithms, and branch and bound. The genetic algorithm encodes the assignments of tasks into a chromosome similar to a chromosome in cellular biology. The algorithm generates a set of random mutations into the chromosome to modify the task assignments, creates a set of children and evaluates the children. Children with the lowest cost are kept, and the rest are removed. "Cost" is defined as a general cost and/or constraint in resources to achieve a certain task. e.g., time to complete, distance to target, vehicle's survivability, risk minimization, efficiency, fuel, and constraints such as, vehicle status (altitude, speed, etc.), operational/capability limitations (turn radius, max climb rate, max altitude, max speed, etc.), sensor operational limitation (visibility, resolution, scan rate, etc.), and environmental constraints (e.g., weather condition, time of day, lights, terrain condition, DVE factors, no-fly zone, limited airspace, etc. or even an actual financial cost in achieving the task).
The genetic algorithm repeats the mutation process through many generations. After a preset number (another example of an allotted limitation/constraint) of generations are created, or some other criteria is met (e.g., cost not improving, best set of parameters not changing, etc.), the algorithm choses the chromosome with the lowest cost, and hence the task assignments with the lowest cost. A genetic algorithm is a relatively simple algorithm to implement, but is difficult to refine to good performance and can have large processing times to find feasible or good solutions. Further, there is no guarantee of finding the optimal solution.
Mixed integer linear programming sets up the discrete assignment choices into continuous choices with a cost function. Modeled as such, the search space becomes a constrained optimization problem in a continuous space. These types of problems are well understood and many commercial products exist to solve these problems. This method suffers from discrete choices being modeled as continuous variables, which do not always map back from continuous to discrete. Mixed integer linear programming can also have long computation times.
Gradient descent algorithms are similar to mixed integer linear programming, but the cost and constraints no longer need to be linear, but the computation time can increase in non-linear cases.
Branch and bound is a method of organizing task assignments into a tree structure. The branch and bound approach performs a greedy search to quickly find a feasible solution, uses the cost of the feasible solution to prune the tree, and then searches the remaining sections of the tree for a better solution. As better solutions are found, the tree can be further pruned. While exhaustively searching the tree is still not practical, quickly finding a solution at the beginning is very useful. This approach guarantees of finding the optimal solution, but not necessarily in a reasonable time.


A bolt assembly has a bolt body which includes a threaded portion and a shank; a head; a ring; and a shear zone. The head is configured to transmit rotary motion to the threaded portion through the shank. The ring is disposed on the shank and has a ring thread and a tab configured to ensure continuity between the ring thread and the threaded portion. The shear zone joins the shank to the threaded portion and a complementary recess, disposed on the threaded portion, is engageable with the tab to ensure rotation locking of the ring in relation to the threaded portion.

Generally, in the technical field of bolt tightening, it is sometimes necessary to provide controlled shear bolts, for various technical reasons, for example, to limit the tightening torque of the bolt, to prevent its removal, or even to prevent the bolt head from protruding from the surface of the part in which it is installed, once tightening is complete.
Bolts having several controlled shear zones are sometimes useful, for example, when the bolt is required to be broken as closely as possible to the surface of the part in which it is installed, in relation to the depth of its installation. It is equally important that the maximum amount of female thread available on the part is in contact with the male thread of the bolt, in order to distribute the tightening forces better on the female thread and, consequently, on the part.
Such bolts are used, for example, to secure conductors to electrical connectors, for example, sleeve-type electrical connectors, designed to connect several conductors between them.
They are also used as clamping bolts to maintain electrical cables on anchoring or hanging clips disposed on electricity poles.
There are other bolts known from document EP 0819222 having several controlled shear zones. These controlled shear zones are realized by a plurality of grooves provided along the length of the threaded body of the bolt, and wherein the depth decreases towards the head of the bolt, so that the torque required to shear the bolt is greater around the head of the bolt than around its opposing free end. Therefore, there is a large number of shear "stages", so as to maximize the number of male threads engaged in the female thread, to distribute the tightening forces better. Moreover, these "stages" are used to minimize the protrusion of the bolt following installation.
In practice, this type of bolt poses several problems: on the one hand, these bolts are fragile, they may break during transportation, or when being handled during installation, and on the other hand, the threaded surface is reduced in so far as the grooves are made in the threaded portion of the bolt. The distribution of forces is thus deteriorated.
There are also other bolt assemblies known from document EP 1376764, having several controlled shear zones, without any loss of threaded surface. This involves a bolt assembly comprising a bolt body having a threaded portion at a free end from which protrudes a central shank having a plurality of controlled shear zones. At the free end of the shank, a head designed to be able to cooperate with a rotary drive tool has been provided to transmit rotary motion to the shank of the bolt body and, consequently, to the threaded portion. A plurality of threaded rings are disposed around the central shank. The rings are locked against rotation in relation to the shank due to its non-circular form and the complementary form of the rings. The thread of the rings are designed to merge with the threaded portion of the bolt body and are of a thickness such that the contact areas between two consecutive rings correspond to a shear zone found at the same level on the shank.
A major problem with these two types of controlled shear bolt assemblies resides in the fact that the shear zones must be designed so that the torque required to shear the bolt is greater around the head of the bolt than around its opposing free end.
In other words, the bolts must be dimensioned to break more easily when they have a low installation depth than when they have a high installation depth.
In practice, this means that, if a small element requires tightening, the bolt needs to be screwed in deeper than for a large element. Consequently, in the context of the two aforementioned documents, this means that small elements are tightened more than large elements.
Therefore, for example, in the field of tightening electrical cables in a connector, in order to meet the electrical and mechanical standards the tightening torques for these bolts will necessarily be oversized on some sections, because the tightening torque for the cable with the largest allowable section for a given connector will be the lowest shear torque for the whole of the bolt. The tightening torques for smaller cable sections will thus necessarily be higher, due to the design of these bolts.
In these circumstances, the tightening torque is sometimes so high in small-section cables that it can occur that a cable having a small diameter may break even before the bolt shears.
Another problem common to these two technical solutions resides in the fact that, when the shear zones are close to each other, the designer must provide low thickness shear zones, and which therefore have a low radius of curvature around the smallest diameter of the groove forming the shear zone.
In practice, it has been noted that low radii of curvature around the shear zones were locations of high stress concentrations and resulted in a less stable shear. These shear zones therefore have a wide shear torque tolerance interval. With regard to the user, this means a difference in shear torques between two identical bolts for an identical application.


A data storage device includes a memory and a controller and may perform a method that includes updating, in the controller, a value of a particular counter of a set of counters in response to a read access to a particular region of the non-volatile memory that is tracked by the particular counter. Read accesses to a first region of the non-volatile memory are tracked by a first counter of the set of counters and read accesses to a second region of the non-volatile memory are tracked by a second counter of the set of counters. The method includes, in response to the value of the particular counter indicating that a count of read accesses to the particular region equals or exceeds a first threshold, initiating a remedial action to the particular region of the non-volatile memory.

Non-volatile data storage devices, such as universal serial bus (USB) flash memory devices or removable storage cards, have allowed for increased portability of data and software applications. Flash memory devices can enhance data storage density by storing multiple bits in each flash memory cell. For example, Multi-Level Cell (MLC) flash memory devices provide increased storage density by storing 3 bits per cell, 4 bits per cell, or more. Although increasing the number of bits per cell and reducing device feature dimensions may increase a storage density of a memory device, a bit error rate of data stored at the memory device may also increase.
Error correction coding (ECC) is often used to correct errors that occur in data read from a memory device. Prior to storage, data may be encoded by an ECC encoder to generate redundant information (e.g. "parity bits") that may be stored with the data as an ECC codeword. As more parity bits are used, an error correction capacity of the ECC increases and a number of bits required to store the encoded data also increases.
One source of errors that occur in data stored in a memory device is a result of read accesses to the memory device. When voltages are applied to a word line and to bit lines of a flash memory device to enable reading of stored data at the word line, threshold voltages of neighboring word lines may be disturbed (e.g., slightly increased) due to inter-cell coupling within the memory device. Read disturb effects are cumulative and, if not remedied, may result in a number of errors in stored data exceeding an ECC error correction capacity of a data storage device.

Tracking read accesses to regions of non-volatile memory


A new beverage bottle handle attachment for easy holding of a beverage bottle, in particular a two liter beverage bottle. The inventive device includes a top cap defining a top cavity adapted for receiving a top of a bottle therein. The top cap has an opening of the top cap adapted for extending a top spout of a bottle received by the top cavity. An elongate handle strap is extended from the peripheral edge of the top cap. The handle strap has a keyhole slot therethrough located towards the free end of the handle strap. A bottom cap defines a bottom cavity adapted for receiving the bottom of a bottle therein. A slide tab is extended from the side wall of the bottom cap. The slide tab is inserted through the keyhole slot of the handle strap to link the top cap to the bottom cap.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to accessories for beverage bottles and more particularly pertains to a new beverage bottle handle attachment for easy holding of a beverage bottle, in particular a two liter beverage bottle.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The use of accessories for beverage bottles is known in the prior art. More specifically, accessories for beverage bottles heretofore devised and utilized are known to consist basically of familiar, expected and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art which have been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements.
Known prior art accessories for beverage bottles include U.S. Pat. No. 4,486,043; U.S. Pat. No. 4,660,876; U.S. Pat. No. 1,825,897; U.S. Pat. No. 4,379,578; U.S. Pat. No. 4,896,913; and U.S. Pat. No. 2,981,562.
While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the aforementioned patents do not disclose a new beverage bottle handle attachment. The inventive device includes a top cap defining a top cavity adapted for receiving a top of a bottle therein. The top cap has an opening of the top cap adapted for extending a top spout of a bottle received by the top cavity. An elongate handle strap is extended from the peripheral edge of the top cap. The handle strap has a keyhole slot therethrough located towards the free end of the handle strap. A bottom cap defines a bottom cavity adapted for receiving the bottom of a bottle therein. A slide tab is extended from the side wall of the bottom cap. The slide tab is inserted through the keyhole slot of the handle strap to link the top cap to the bottom cap.
In these respects, the beverage bottle handle attachment according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in so doing provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of easy holding of a beverage bottle, in particular a two liter beverage bottle.


Methods for generating a padring layout design are described. These methods utilize automation while still allowing customization. Automation is emphasized as much as possible so that more time can be used to solve the various problems that make each padring layout design unique. A framework in which regular patterns can be described, replicated, and tailored is provided. The padring is broken down into zones in which slots having bumps/bond pads areas, I/O cell areas, and/or edge logic cell areas are laid out in a regular pattern through an instantiation process. Edge logic, which is comprised of standard cells, is pulled from the core of the chip because these cells couple directly to I/O cells and are critical for timing. The framework allows the bumps/bond pads, I/O cells, and edge logic cells to be laid out in respective bumps/bond pads areas, I/O cell areas, and/or edge logic cell areas according to algorithms associated with the patterns and using a variety of maps which associate the logical netlist with the physical layout design.

1. Field of the Invention
Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to generating chip layout designs. More particularly, embodiments of the present invention relate to generating the padring layout design.
2. Related Art
Typically, the integrated circuit (or chip) design process begins with a specification which describes the functionality of the chip and may include a variety of constraints. Then, during a logic design phase, the logical implementation of the integrated circuit is determined. Several operations are performed to obtain a logical representation of the integrated circuit. Generally, EDA software tools use register transfer logic (RTL) to represent the integrated circuit. However, additional EDA software tools may be used.
After completing the logic design phase, the chip undergoes a physical layout design phase. Typically, the output of the logic design phase is a netlist, which is then used in the physical layout design phase. Here, EDA software tools layout the integrated circuit to obtain a layout representation of the physical components in the integrated circuit, whereas the layout representation indicates the manner in which the integrated circuit will be fabricated on a semiconductor wafer. A variety of operations are performed on the layout of the integrated circuit.
At the end of the physical layout design phase, the final layout representation of the semiconductor chip (in which the integrated circuit is implemented is sent to a semiconductor manufacturing plant. Typically, the semiconductor chip is fabricated and then coupled to a package, whereas an electrical coupling is established between the padring of the semiconductor chip and the package.
During the physical layout design phase, the padring layout design is generated. The padring is an area where differing electrical, timing, physical, and logical views of the physical layout design come together. In particular, the padring is an interface for input signals, output signals, power signals, and ground signals between a semiconductor chip and off-chip components. FIG. 1 illustrates a conventional padring layout design 10. When combined with the trend of increasing pin counts, fast clocks, and tight design schedules, the complexity of generating the padring layout design can be overwhelming. In order to satisfy this variety of constraints, a high level of control in partitioning, placement, and routing the various aspects of the padring layout design is required. This is often done by hand and can be a laborious process that does not lend itself to making changes in a repeatable manner.
Moreover, laying out a padring with a high pin count, fast clock, low skew, and/or tight design schedule is a daunting task that can occupy a designer for months. The sheer amount of details that must be tracked and incorporated into the padring layout design is a management task in and of itself. Figuring out a pinout that will route in the package and still satisfy the constraints on the die (or chip) involves knowledge in many areas. High clock rates and tight skew requirements demand precision and regularity in the layout of I/O cells and associated routes in the padring. Considerations dealing with the die such as the distance from the core of the die to the I/O area in the padring can disclose the fact that the distance is often too far to guarantee timing. On the package side, the layout of the bumps/bond pads in the padring has to be coordinated with the package to deliver a system that works together. Last minute changes and design schedule pressure can help this problem become a nightmare unless a systematic approach is used.

Method of optimizing placement and routing of edge logic in padring layout design


A method of manufacturing a thermally-assisted magnetic head includes providing a light source unit including a laser diode; providing a reflection board, and a photo detector; driving the laser diode to emit a light beam towards the reflection board; performing an alignment between the light source unit and the thermally-assisted magnetic recording head section, based on a reflected light of the light beam reflected by the reflection board, then passed through the optical waveguide and finally detected by the photo detector obtaining the maximum power in a LED emission state of the laser diode; and bonding the light source unit to the slider after the alignment is completed. It improves alignment accuracy between a light source unit and a slider during a bonding process therebetween, prevents a laser diode of the light source unit instability, and improves performance of the thermally-assisted magnetic head finally.

With recent improvements in recording density of magnetic recording devices such as magnetic disk drives, there has been a demand for improving the performance of magnetic heads and magnetic recording media. In a magnetic disk drive, a magnetic head is mounted on a slider that flies slightly above the surface of a magnetic recording medium.
To increase the recording density of a magnetic recording device, it is effective to make the magnetic fine particles of the magnetic recording medium smaller. Making the magnetic fine particles smaller, however, causes the problem that the magnetic fine particles drop in the thermal stability of magnetization. To solve this problem, it is effective to increase the anisotropic energy of the magnetic fine particles. However, increasing the anisotropic energy of the magnetic fine particles leads to an increase in coercivity of the magnetic recording medium, and this makes it difficult to perform data writing with existing magnetic heads.
To solve the aforementioned problems, there has been proposed a technology so-called thermally-assisted magnetic recording. The technology uses a magnetic recording medium having high coercivity. When writing data, a write magnetic field and heat are applied almost simultaneously to the area of the magnetic recording medium where to write data, so that the area rises in temperature and drops in coercivity for data writing. The area where data is written subsequently falls in temperature and rises in coercivity to increase the thermal stability of magnetization. Hereinafter, a magnetic head for use in thermally-assisted magnetic recording will be referred to as a thermally-assisted magnetic recording head.
In thermally-assisted magnetic recording, near-field light is typically used as a means for applying heat to the magnetic recording medium. A known method for generating near-field light is to use a plasmon generator, which is a piece of metal that generates near-field light from plasmons excited by irradiation with light. The light for use to generate near-field light is typically guided through a waveguide, which is provided in the slider, to the plasmon generator disposed near the medium facing surface, that is, a surface of the slider that faces the magnetic recording medium.
To supply the light for use to generate near-field light to the waveguide, a laser diode may be secured to the slider to allow laser light emitted from the laser diode to be incident on the incidence end of the waveguide provided in the slider, as disclosed in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2011/0228650 A1, for example.
U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2011/0228650 A1 discloses a thermally-assisted magnetic recording head including a slider having a waveguide, and a light source unit. The light source unit includes a laser diode and a supporting member for supporting the laser diode. The supporting member is bonded to the slider, being positioned so that emitted light from the laser diode will be incident on the incidence end of the waveguide. Solder, for example, is used to bond the supporting member to the slider.
In the process of manufacturing the thermally-assisted magnetic recording head including the laser diode, the supporting member and the slider as described above, it is important that the supporting member be accurately positioned with respect to the slider and secured thereto so that emitted light from the laser diode will be accurately incident on the incidence end of the waveguide.
U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2011/0228650 A1 discloses a positioning and securing method that allows the supporting member to be positioned with respect to the slider and secured thereto in the following manner. In the positioning and securing method, emitted light from the laser diode is allowed to be incident on the incidence end of the waveguide, the intensity of light emitted from the emitting end of the waveguide is detected, and the supporting member is positioned with respect to the slider so that the aforementioned intensity becomes maximum. Subsequently, the supporting member is irradiated with heating laser light that is projected to pass through the supporting member, so that the solder interposed between the slider and the supporting member is heated and melted by the heating laser light. After that, the irradiation with the heating laser light is stopped to solidify the solder to thereby allow the supporting member to be secured to the slider.
In the method of performing thermally-assisted magnetic recording with use of a plasmon generator, it is important to stably supply light with sufficient intensity to a desired position on the magnetic recording medium. Therefore, it is necessary to secure high alignment accuracy for fixing a light source unit to a slider. Reduction in alignment accuracy causes reduction in heating efficiency with respect to a magnetic recording medium, and it is serious issue in thermally-assisted magnetic recording.
From the reason, it is desirable to provide a method capable of easily and accurately manufacturing a thermally-assisted magnetic recording head excellent in write efficiency. Moreover, it is also desirable to provide an alignment apparatus suitable for such a method of manufacturing a thermally-assisted magnetic recording head.

Method of manufacturing thermally-assisted magnetic head and alignment apparatus thereof


A three-dimensional map-generating apparatus and method using structured light. The apparatus for generating a three-dimensional map using structured light includes an odometer detecting the pose of a mobile robot, and a distance-measuring sensor including a light source module that emits light upward and a camera module that captures an image formed by light reflected from an obstacle, and measuring a distance to the obstacle using the captured image. The apparatus measures a distance to the obstacle using the distance-measuring sensor while changing the relative pose of the mobile robot, thereby generating a three-dimensional map.

1. Field
One or more embodiments of the present invention relate to an apparatus and method for generating a three-dimensional map, and, more particularly, to an apparatus and method for generating a three-dimensional map using structured light that is emitted upward to a ceiling.
2. Description of the Related Art
In general, robots have been developed to improve factory automation. In recent years, robots available for home and office use as well as industrial robots have been put to practical use. Examples of the robots available for home and office use include cleaning robots, guide robots, and security robots.
In mobile robots, such as cleaning robots, it is generally indispensable to create a map that is recognized by the robots in order to designate a traveling path of the robot or a working area of the robot. In order to create the map, various methods, such as methods of using a vision sensor, an ultrasonic sensor, and a touch sensor, have been used to control the robot to create a map while being autonomously navigated. However, a method of using structured light and a camera is very effective since it needs a small amount of computation and can be used in a place where there is a large variation in brightness.
In this method, as shown in FIG. 1, an active light source 10, such as a laser, is used to emit a predetermined laser beam to an obstacle 30, and a sensor 20, such as a camera, captures an image formed by the laser beam reflected from the obstacle. Then, it is possible to calculate the distance between the laser emission point and the obstacle 30, which is a reflection point, by using a triangular method, on the basis of coordinates of the image captured by the camera 20, the radiation angle of light, and the distance between the camera 20 and the laser emission point.
In the related art, since light is emitted in the forward direction in which the mobile robot moves, the mobile robot can generate only a two-dimensional map due to limited information.
In FIG. 1, a distance d between the light source 10 and the camera sensor 20 is referred to as a baseline. The longer the distance becomes, the higher the range resolution becomes. When robots having a limited height, such as cleaning robots, emit light forward, in many cases, the baseline is short. In this case, the range resolution at a long distance is lowered, which makes it difficult to generate a map.

Apparatus and method for generating three-dimensional map using structured light


A nonvolatile semiconductor memory device is disclosed having a dummy bit line formed from a plurality of dummy bit line sections. The particular dummy bit line sections are variously connected a common source line and a P-type well region.

1. Field of the Invention
Embodiments of the present invention relate generally to a nonvolatile semiconductor memory device. More particularly, embodiments of the invention relate to a nonvolatile semiconductor memory device having a dummy bit line.
This application claims priority to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2005-89188, filed on Sep. 26, 2005, the subject matter of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventional nonvolatile semiconductor memory devices (hereafter, simply referred to as "memory device(s)") often incorporate an extra bit line that is not used for the transfer and storage of data, but is instead used to good effect during the fabrication of the semiconductor memory. This type of bit line is commonly referred to as a "dummy bit line. " In one application, dummy bit lines serve as a connection medium of sorts. That is, certain wiring section(s) (e.g., upper sections) used to form the memory array matrix of the memory device are connected to other wiring sections (e.g., lower sections) through the dummy bit line.
In a more specific example, an upper wiring section (e.g., wiring located above the bit lines) is connected to a lower section (e.g., wiring located below the bit lines) through a dummy bit line, wherein the upper and lower wiring sections comprise a common source line. A source voltage is applied to "normal" memory cells (e.g., memory cells adapted to validly store data in the memory device), connected to normal bit lines (e.g., non-dummy bit lines) through the common source line. In conventional memory devices the voltage applied to the common source line tends to stabilize rather slowly. As a result, the voltage level on the common source line may drop when a normal bit line is used to sense the data stored in a corresponding memory cell.
Of further note, data from a selected normal memory cell is read in accordance with a voltage level on a corresponding normal bit line. Thus, during such read operations it is important to minimize the influence (e.g., coupling noise) of the surrounding wiring on the corresponding normal bit line in order to accurately read the data.
FIG. (FIG.) 1 is a diagram illustrating a portion of a conventional memory device cell array. FIG. 2 is a related layout illustrating normal bit lines (BLs), a dummy bit line (DBL), and a common source line (CSL), such as those show in FIG. 1. Referring collectively to FIGS. 1 and 2, a plurality of normal memory cells (MCs) is connected to the normal bit lines (BLs). Dummy memory cells (DMCs), which unlike normal memory cells are not adapted to store data, are connected to the dummy bit line (DBL). The dummy bit line (DBL) is arranged parallel with the normal bit lines (BLs) and have a similar length. Therefore, high coupling capacitance may be formed between the dummy bit line (DBL) and adjacent normal bit lines (BLs).
Additionally, in the conventional memory device, the dummy bit line (DBL) is connected to the common source line (CSL). (See, point PT11 of FIG. 1 and point PT11 in FIG. 2). In this case, when a normal bit line (BL) senses the data stored in a memory cell (MC), the voltage level on the dummy bit line (DBL) drops significantly. As a result, the voltage levels on normal bit lines adjacent to the dummy bit line (e.g., BL<1,1> and BL<2,1> in the illustrated example) also drop due to capacitive coupling effects. Due to this capacitive coupling effect induced voltage drop on normal bit lines (BLs) adjacent to the dummy bit line (DBL) in conventional memory devices, an OFF-state may be erroneously read (or detected) as a ON-state for a memory cell connected to the normal bit lines (BLs) adjacent to the dummy bit line (DBL).

Nonvolatile semiconductor memory device having dummy bit line with multiple sections


A seat cushion, for a seat assembly, includes a seat cushion frame formed of a resin material. The seat cushion frame includes a base wall, a pair of side walls, and a front wall. The base wall includes a pair of side edges and a front edge that extends between the pair of side edges. The pair of side walls extend outward from the pair of side edges of the base wall. The front wall extends outwardly from the front edge of the base wall. The front wall configured to provide an anti-submarining feature.

It has been known to provide vehicles with seat assemblies with a stadium style seat cushion moveable between a use position and a tip-up position. The previously known seat assemblies include seat cushion formed with metallic frames. However, the previously known metallic tip-up seat cushion frames result in an increase in cost and weight of the vehicle. Moreover, the previously known metallic tip-up seat cushion frames do not include an integrated anti-submarining feature to prevent a lower portion of an occupant from sinking into the seat cushion during a collision. Further, the previously known metallic tip-up seat cushion frames require mounting brackets for the attachment of accessories.
Accordingly, there is a need for a seat assembly that includes a resin tip-up seat cushion frame which includes an integrated anti-submarining feature and an integrated accessory attachment.

Resin tip-up seat cushion frames and seat assemblies having resin tip-up seat cushion frames

TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC.


A buffer (4) has a read and write control (8, 7), an input (6), an output (5), and a transfer port (9). An SCSI interface (20) is coupled to port (9) and the read/write control (8, 7). The SCSI interface (20) implements transfer commands for transfers via the port 9 with an undefined delay. An RS 422 interface is coupled to the read/write control (8) and implements transfer commands for transfers via the input 6 and output 5, the commands being implemented with a small, defined delay synchronously with a video sync signal (SYNC).

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a data transfer device.
2. Description of the Prior Art
It is known to transfer data from a data source to a data utilization device via a buffer where for instance the instantaneous rate of data production of the source is greater than the rate of use of the data by the utilization device, but the average rate of production is equal to or less than the rate of use. It is also known to use a buffer where variations in the rate of production occur and it is desired to feed data to the utilization device at a constant rate; time base correctors for example carry out such a function.
It is known to connect computers and computer peripherals via an interface. A well known interface is an SCSI-2 interface conforming to the standard ANSI X 3.131-1994 which is described in, for example, the book "The SCSI bus and IDE Interface" by Friedholm Schmidt published by Addison-Wesley, ISBN 0-201-42284-0. The SCSI standard defines the physical characteristic of the interface and a complete set of protocol and commands. A SCSI interface can support a data transfer rate sufficiently high to transfer frames of digital video data at video frame rates, e.g. up to 40M bytes/second for a 32 bit SCSI bus. SCSI however, has a complex bus protocol and a complex set of commands.
It has been found that although data can be transferred via a SCSI interface at sufficiently high rate once transfer begins, the timing of the transfer cannot be accurately set because of the need to implement the complex bus protocol and because of variations in timing caused by SCSI controllers which implement the protocol and commands.
Other simple standard interfaces such as RS232 (described in the book mentioned above) and RS422 are also well known. The standards for such interfaces define the physical characteristics of the interfaces. A set of protocols may be defined for a particular application of the standard.

Data transfer device operable with two types of interfaces


An adjustable two piece hinge having a first hinge member for attachment to a wall surface and a second hinge member attachable to a door. The device is adjustable by rotating the hinge pin which communicates thorough two off-center cooperating apertures communicating axially through two body bushings located inside the second hinge member. Rotating the hinge pin rotates the circular body bushings inside the second hinge member thereby translating the second hinge member around the center axis of said first hinge member and toward and away from the first hinge member due to the eccentric formed by the off center apertures inside of a circular bushing. The device can optionally be supplied with a kit featuring a plurality of different body bushings having the off center apertures a different distance off center.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to hinges for mounting and support of doors pivoting thereon. More particularly it relates to a hinge having first and second cooperatively engageable hinge members engaged by a hinge pin communicating therebetween. The engagement of the hinge members is adjustable to allow for lateral translation of the door mounted hinge member on its axis mount with the sash mounted hinge pin to allow for adjustment of the door attached thereto for the best engagement of the door inside the frame. Adjustment is provided by a pair of eccentric bushings cooperatively engaged with the door mounted hinge member through which the hinge pin communicates. Rotation of the end of the hinge member thereby rotates the eccentric bushings in their mount with the door mounted hinge member thereby laterally translating and excentricly moving the door mounted hinge member toward or away from the vertical edge of the door frame mounted hinge member thereby allowing the door to be adjusted for the best fit within the frame.
2. Prior Art
Aged door installations and new hung doors may tend to bind or sag a bit inside the doorjamb or frame surrounding the perimeter of the swinging door, due to a jamb being out of plumb. Or, the jam may be caused from friction between the door edge and surrounding frame from accidentally making the hinge mortise too deep which creates an uneven gap between the door and frame along the latch side of the door as well as corner points on the door and frame that are out of registration.
Generally such problems are currently corrected by shimming a hinge or two with a cut piece of cardboard, thin flooring scrap, or in some cases a shim cut out to fit behind of the hinge in its mount to the door or the frame mounting surface. Testing for correct fit between the door and frame is accomplished by closing the door and checking the gaps. If the door sticks at the top hinge, it may be rectified by shimming the top hinge and snugging the bottom hinge, and vice versa for a door sticking at the bottom hinge. If the door sticks at the top knob-side corner, tightening the top hinge and shimming the bottom hinge will generally solve the problem, and vice versa for a door sticking at the bottom knob-side corner.
Unfortunately the science and application of shimming is at best, inexact, in that it is a trial and error procedure. Too much of a shim will cause a problem with the door mount opposite of the original fit. Too little of a shim will fail to correct the problem as intended. Consequently the correct fit of a door in the intended frame tends to be a time consuming and frustrating process requiring the repeated removing of the hinge across from the gap which needs to be closed or relieved and placing the shim in the mortise and reattach the hinge over it. On each such adjustment the person mounting the door must visually note how much the door gap changed and re-shim the hinge just adjusted or shim other hinges accordingly if necessary. A further vexing problem of this inexact science is the fact that shimming out too thick will often make the shim visible which is not a desirable trait in most situations where doors are mounted, especially in the home where visual cleanliness is valued.
Additional problems with the fit and easy rotation of doors on their hinges are caused in older buildings or door installations. In such instances the door frames may tend to be out of square from the setting of the building on its foundation, or the swelling or shrinking of the frame over time from moisture and humidity affecting the frame itself. On such a retrofit project, removing the screws mounting the hinges to the frame or the door can be a pursuit fraught with peril, in that stripping of the screw within its mount in the door or frame will cause the additional problem that must be corrected. Consequently the removal of screws from hinges on older installations to allow for shimming of the hinge mounts is not a desirable task and each such removal and installation of the mounting screws creates the potential for a stripped screw mounting and additional problem.
As such, a device that would alleviate the need for shimming on newly mounted doors and doors that have been installed in frames for many years would be especially useful. Such a device would also alleviate the potential for stripping the mount of the screws to the door or frame from the repeated removal and reinstallation of the screws when shim adjustments are required. Such a device should be easily adjustable therefore without the need to remove any of the screws or similar means of attachment of the hinge members to the door or frame, yet be visually attractive due to the nature of most door installations being in the home or business environment where aesthetic qualities are valued as much as mechanical performance.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,870,361 (Krause ) addresses the need for adjusting the door in its frame mounting by the use of adjustable bushings, however Krause is a complicated device intended to support an automobile door welded thereto and must be mounted in a large hollow between a car door and frame to function. It would not function as a door mount in a typical home or office and lacks the ability for easy adjustment afforded by Applicant""s device.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,494,275 (Hsi-Shan) also addresses the need for a hinge providing adjustment, however Hsi-Shan uses a complicated arrangement of dual rotating eccentrics and ball bearings which increase cost and which are not easily user adjustable when the door is mounted.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,689,855 (Tang) teaches a device for the provision of adjustment of doors within their frames. Tang, however depicts hinges that attach to the top and bottom edges of a conventional door and would not be useable with the vast majority of entry doors for the residential and commercial rooms and buildings. Tang also places the majority of weight on the adjustable busing when mounted which would inhibit easy adjustment.
GB patent 2230557B (Briggs) discloses a two-piece hinge that is adjustable for lateral translation of the door in the frame, however Briggs supports the weight of the hung door on the bushings providing the adjustment and renders adjustment difficult if not impossible to adjust the hinges and attached door for location should the weight of the door jam the bushing. This is especially prevalent in older doors that have been hanging for years and which tend to sag under the constant pull of gravity.
As such, there exists a need for an easily and inexpensively manufactured hinge that will function with conventional entry doors and provide adjustment of such doors inside their frames. Such a hinge should provide for easy adjustment of both newly hung doors and doors having been hanging for many years. Such a device should be easy to mechanically adjust from the exterior of the hinge and should bear the majority of weight of the hung door in such a manner so as not to bind the adjustment components when the door weight is imparted to the hinge.
Applicantsxe2x80x2 device is an easily manufactured and installed hinge featuring a pair of rotationally engageable hinge members which are cooperatively attached using a pair of weight bearing hinge bushings and a pair of body bushes each having an off center bore therethrough which is shaped cooperatively engage and rotate with, the exterior of an axial hinge pin. The hinge pin engages with the hinge bushings at both ends at the center point of the hinge bushings thereby forming a central axis therebetween when the hinge is assembled with the hinge bushings, body bushings, and hinge pin in operative engagement.
Adjustability of the hinge is provided by rotation of the body bushes having the off center bore therethrough in their slidable engaged mount with a passage in the second hinge member. The bore is shaped in such a fashion as to cooperatively engage the exterior of the hinge pin that passes through both body bushes. The hinge pin is attached to the hinge bushings at both ends with at least one of the hinge bushings having a tool engageable slot in a side which exposed when the hinge is assembled. Inserting the cooperating tool into the tool engageable slot and rotating the hinge pin will thus cause both of the body bushings to rotate in their engagement with the boss of one of the hinge members. As the central bore of both body bushings is off center, an eccentric is created such that the hinge member engaging the exterior of the body bushings laterally translates toward or away from the center axis extending between the hinge bushings and does so at a plurality of angles.
An object of this invention is to provide for a hinge that is easily adjustable hinge which will allow for the alignment and adjustment of hung doors in their frames.
Another object of this invention is to provide such an adjustable hinge that will maintain an easy mechanical adjustment when the door weight is applied to the hinge by focusing the majority of weight born by the hinge to avoid binding of the adjustable components.
A further object of this invention is the provision of a hinge that is easily adjustable by a user by the provision of easily accessible tool engageable adjustment slots.
Further objects of the invention will be brought out in the following part of the specification, wherein detailed description is for the purpose of fully disclosing the invention without placing limitations thereon.


Disclosed herein are methods for use of a towelette to clean stains from clothing and upholstery. The towelette is impregnated with a cleaning solution that is primarily water, but also contains a volatile cleaning agent and a surfactant. The pH and surfactant concentrations of the cleaning solution are regulated. The wipe reduces the incidence of readily visible rings around treated stains.

This invention relates to wipes useful for removing stains from clothing, upholstery or the like. More particularly, it relates to the use of wipes to remove such stains without leaving a ring.
Pre-moistened wipes have been used to clean various hard surfaces. See e.g. U.S. Pat. No. 4,666,621. The disclosure of this patent and of all other publications referred to herein are incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein. Such wipes have also been used to clean human skin (e.g. baby wiping products; after meal cleanup products). Such products typically contain water and alcohol to assist in drying the surface being cleaned. Some also contain a surfactant.
However, cleaning spots that are on clothing or upholstery presents a more difficult challenge. When the fabric is immersed in a cleaning solution and entirely wetted, the stain can be mobilized, and the staining material and cleaning solution can then be rinsed away. This is the standard technique used in automated clothes washers. This process can be assisted by pre-treating the stain with a stain remover.
In a number of situations this type of cleaning is impractical for clothing. For example, when traveling one may not have access to an automated washer or dryer, or the time to use them. Moreover, upholstery often cannot easily be removed from furniture for immersion type cleaning.
Another approach is to remove most of the staining material with an absorbent paper towel or the like (e.g. picking off chunks of food). One then applies a cleaning solution to the fabric which causes the stain to migrate into another absorbent towel placed under the fabric. This technique has utility in some cases, but can leave visible staining material behind. In any event, it is generally unsuitable for use with upholstered furniture.
Another approach is to apply a cleaning solution to a stained area of the fabric, and then to rub the solution into the stain in order to mobilize it and disperse it across a larger area of the fabric. The fabric is then allowed to dry. In this techniques much of the staining material stays behind, albeit it is dispersed so that it is much less visible. This approach has been applied to fresh stains using towelettes that are pre-moistened with a cleaning solution. Such a cleaning solution typically has 3.5%-4.0% surfactant, a few percent of volatile solvents such as alcohols and glycol ethers, over 90% water, and a few other ingredients such as fragrances and preservatives.
Unfortunately, this approach can leave a visible ring at the outer periphery of the cleaning solution dispersion on the fabric, even when the main stain has been adequately cleaned. This problem is particularly troubling for stains containing oils (e.g. salad dressing stains).
In unrelated contexts (e.g. window glass cleaners containing ammonia), cleaning solutions have previously been formulated containing very low surfactant levels.
It can thus be seen that there is a need for an improved fabric wipe.


In an image forming apparatus of the present invention, a developing unit for magenta contains magenta-type toner for pseudo full-color image forming whose chromaticity point is shifted closer to yellow hue on a chromaticity diagram, in comparison with genuine-magenta toner for full-color image forming, and likewise, a developing unit for cyan contains cyan-type toner for the pseudo full-color image forming whose chromaticity point is shifted closer to yellow hue on the chromaticity diagram, in comparison with genuine-cyan toner for the full-color image forming.

(1) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to image forming apparatuses and methods of an electrophotograph type that are capable of forming color images.
(2) Description of the Related Art
It has been a trend in the particular technical field of color image forming apparatuses to develop facsimiles, printers and the like capable of forming color images by means of subtractive color mixing, using four or more color toners including the three primaries of cyan, magenta, and yellow on top of the key color black (also known as CMYK) ("Electrophotography—Bases and Applications II," edited by the Society of Electrophotography of Japan, published by Corona Publishing Co. Ltd., Nov. 15, 1996, pp 31, 55).
By the four-color process printing with the general CMYK color toners, as in most of the commercial applications, reproduction of an image or text in color produces a final result precisely faithful to the original. When it comes to charts or graphs, faithful reproduction of original colors is not required in many occasions, and for users considering the color reproducibility to be less important, it is preferable to achieve costs-savings by suppressing the toner consumption. However, there is no image forming apparatuses at present that satisfy such users' needs.

Image forming apparatus and image forming method

Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.