A well drilling system with a miniature directional indication sensor capable of operating at elevated temperature. The present invention is implemented with power supply, sensor drive and sense circuits in thick film or multi-chip module electronic assemblies, mounted on a chassis with a high resonant frequency. The thick film or multi-chip module electronics assemblies also contribute to increased shock and vibration resistance. Sensor drive and sense functions may be implemented in one or more application specific integrated circuits and integrated with multi-chip module electronics assembly. Analog-to-digital conversion of sensor signals is implemented in a voltage-to-digital converter circuit provided by the present invention. Furthermore, the present invention eliminates data lag between channels by providing simultaneous sampling of all the sensor channels.

The invention relates to a directional indication instrument, in particular to a miniature directional indication drilling instrument capable of operation at elevated temperatures.
The oil and gas well drilling and survey fields as well as many other fields of industry require highly accurate and highly reliable measuring instruments and sensors. Measuring instruments and sensors used in the oil and gas well drilling and survey fields and many other industries, for example, aircraft equipment and military ordinance, must survive and operate accurately in extreme environmental conditions including, for example, extreme vibrations and impacts experienced at temperatures ranging from well below freezing to hundreds of degrees Centigrade. In these applications, measuring instruments and sensors are often tested for operation in broadband vibration environments as extreme as 20 g RMS; shock or impact environments in the range of 2,000 g""s; and temperature extremes ranging from xe2x88x9240 to +200 degrees Centigrade.
Well drilling and logging operations typically require that very expensive equipment and highly skilled workers operate in remote locations. This combination of factors results in operating costs that may run half a million dollars or more per day. Thus, an equipment failure which forces operations to shut-down may be very costly. To limit the costs associated with equipment failures, many operators keep spare parts on hand, including spare measuring instruments and sensors, even though the spare parts may be very expensive themselves. Such costly operations in such extreme environmental conditions demand sensors and measuring instruments which are compact, very rugged and highly reliable.
In the oil and gas industry, well drilling and logging environments have become even more severe as deposits are sought in ever deeper boreholes. The deeper the borehole the more extreme the temperature in which the drill string and drill string steering tools must operate. Directional drilling is often employed in which the boreholes contain changes in direction at various points along their depth. For example, the borehole may change from vertical to horizontal for short distances. Deep and angular boreholes often require the measuring instrument or sensor guiding the drill string to operate in very small spaces which may be one inch or less in diameter. Current directional instruments, however, are too large to operate effectively in these applications. For example, current instruments are typically 1.25 to 1.5 inch in diameter.
The directional drilling process uses sensing instruments incorporated into sensing systems which are placed downhole with the drilling bit to determine the location, direction and rate of change in position of the bit. Current direction sensor systems used in energy exploration are typically a complicated mix of sensors and electronics. Typical directional sensor systems are composed of separate acceleration and magnetic field sensors with discrete electronics providing input power and drive signals and sensing output signals. Typically, the separate sensors and electronic assemblies are mounted together on a single chassis.
Deeper boreholes require smaller diameter drill pipe and high temperature directional sensing systems which places a new and heavier burden on the current generation of directional sensing equipment. Size restrictions prohibit the use of current generation directional sensing equipment in many deep borehole drilling systems. The current large diameter directional sensing systems cannot be placed in the drill stem bore without severely comprising other operations, such as drilling mud flow around the drilling and directional sensing systems. In deeper holes, the sharper turn radius required for horizontal drilling operations places additional length limitations on directional sensor systems. The long length of current directional sensor systems, typically on the order of 24 inches, limits the turn radius.
Use of electronics packages comprised of discrete electronic components to provide input power and drive signals and to sense output signals in current directional sensing systems limits the shock and vibration environments to which current instruments may be exposed. For example, lengthy wire bonds between discrete electronic components and printed wire boards combined with the inherent vibration sensitivity of printed wire boards limit both the operational and survival shock and vibration exposure limits of current instruments. Interconnect wiring between the various electronic packages and the sensors further limits the shock and vibration environments to which current instruments may be exposed.
Current directional instruments are typically limited to operate in temperature environments of +150 degrees Centigrade or less. Thus, current directional instruments are too temperature sensitive to operate effectively in environments in excess of +150 degrees Centigrade. For example, current instruments are too temperature sensitive to operate in deeper, hotter borehole applications. Differing coefficients of thermal expansion coefficients between components used in sensing instruments result in increased noise and other limitations. For example, differences in the thermal expansion coefficients of the package material and the acceleration sensor mechanism induces strain in accelerometers which reduces sensor accuracy and performance. Additionally, typical discrete packaged electronics breakdown during operation at high temperatures in excess of 150 degrees Centigrade.
Additionally, current directional sensing systems provide analog sensor signal voltages which require analog-to-digital conversion before signal transmission to the surface. In practice, analog-to-digital converter circuits in a drill string-mounted microprocessor may contribute large modeling errors.
The present invention overcomes the limitations of the prior art by providing a smaller directional indication sensor system of novel design capable of operating at elevated temperature. According to one aspect of the present invention, the present invention provides a directional indication sensor system which measures, for example, significantly less than 1 inch diameter as compared with the 1.25 to 1.50 inches diameter typical of current directional sensor systems and measures 7 inches in length as compared with 18 to 24 inches of typical directional sensor systems. Thus, a directional sensor system of the present invention provides angle measurement in applications from which current larger directional sensors are barred.
Additional advantages inherent in the smaller directional sensor system of the present invention include, for example, increased shock and vibration resistance. For example, the direction indication system of the present invention is more compact than current directional sensor systems, having a diameter under 1 inch and a length of 7 inches as compared with devices having diameters of 1.25 to 1.5 inch and a length of 18 to 24 inches. Thus, the system chassis has an inherently higher resonant frequency, or xe2x80x9cQ,xe2x80x9d than the chassis of current systems. Current directional indication systems are 5 to 10 times larger in volume than the device of the present invention. Thus, the directional indication system of the present invention has an increased shock and vibration resistance as a result of its inherently lower mass.
In part, the compactness of a directional indication system according to the present invention is due to the implementation of power supply and sensor drive and sense circuits in thick film or multi-chip module electronic assemblies. The thick film or multi-chip module electronics assemblies also contribute to the increased shock and vibration resistance of the directional sensor system of the present invention. For example, thick film or multi-chip module electronic assemblies are more compact and have smaller component size and shorter wire bonds than comparable circuits implemented using discrete components mounted on printed wiring boards. Additionally, the more compact multi-chip module electronics assembly or hybrid electronics assembly lends itself to more effective shock and vibration isolation mounting than is possible with current technology which uses discrete packaged integrated circuits on a printed wiring board. Sensor drive and sense functions may be implemented in one or more application specific integrated circuits and integrated with multi-chip module electronics assembly for even greater compactness. Such measures as implementing sensor drive and sense circuits in one or more multi-chip module electronics assemblies provides reduced noise and allows the control electronics to be co-located with respective sensors.
According to yet another aspect of the present invention, micro-electronics are utilized to improve the reliability of the sensor system""s electronic features, including the sensor system""s main electronics package. For example, the sensor system electronics package may be implemented in one or more hybrid electronics packages. In one example, power regulation, isolation, and filtering functions are implemented in one or more hybrid electronics packages. In another example, a digital controller chip provided on the main system electronics module controls the functions of the directional sensing system of the present invention. A main system electronics module provides serial digital output signals of the direction sensors which include three orthogonally mounted accelerometers, a three-axis magnetometer, a temperature signal output and a status word.
According to another aspect of the present invention, the present invention overcomes inherent temperature limitations of the prior art by providing a directional indication sensor system capable of operation at a higher temperature than current directional indication sensor systems. The present invention provides a directional indication sensor system capable of operation at elevated temperature, for example, 200 degrees Centigrade. The improved temperature capabilities provided by the present invention are another advantage derived by through use of power supply and drive and sense circuits in thick film or multi-chip module electronic assemblies and replacing discrete integrated circuits with application specific integrated circuits. Thus, the present invention provides a miniature directional indication sensor system which is capable of operating at elevated temperatures and within typical environmental shock and vibration regimes while providing the same or better performance as larger, temperature limited directional indication sensor systems.
According to still another aspect of the present invention, a miniature directional indication sensor system provides enhanced accuracy by providing serial digital output signals representative of direction and thermal sensors. Analog-to-digital conversion of sensor signals is implemented in a voltage-to-frequency converter circuit provided by the present invention. Furthermore, a miniature directional indication sensor system according to the present invention eliminates data lag between channels by providing simultaneous sampling of all the sensor channels.

Miniature directional indication instrument


Within a communication system, an encryption controller receives unit identification information from a plurality of encrypting/decrypting communication units. For any individual communication unit, the encryption controller uses the unit identification associated with that transmitting communication unit to determine if it contains updated encryption key information. If the transmitting communication unit is not currently updated, a group call is used to send the current encryption key information to all communication units within the transmitting communication unit's group, thereby updating all active, non-current communication units. After a first predetermined period of time has elapsed, this process is allowed to repeat.

Communication systems are known to comprise mobile transmitters and receivers, such as in-car mobile or hand-held portable radios (mobiles), as well as fixed transmitters and fixed receivers, such as base stations or controllers (fixed end). A typical message within such a communication system may begin with a mobile unit converting an audio signal into a digital data stream suitable for transmission over an RF channel to either another mobile unit or the fixed end. Such systems are often used by public safety institutions, such as local or federal law enforcement agencies. The existence of commercially available radio frequency scanners makes it possible for unauthorized parties to monitor the information transmitted within such a communication system. To reduce unauthorized eavesdropping, communication systems encrypt communications such that, without knowledge of the encryption method and a decryptor, the communications are unintelligible.
As is known, digital encryption methods use a reversible algorithm to introduce randomness into a digital data stream. An algorithm that randomizes digital data is called an encryptor; that which reconstructs the original data from the randomized data, a decryptor. An encryptor/decryptor algorithm typically utilizes dynamic parameters, hereafter referred to as keys, to uniquely specify the nature of the randomness introduced to the digital data stream. Thus, only encryptors and decryptors utilizing an identical algorithm and key are capable of reproducing intelligible messages. To further maintain security, the keys used within such a system are periodically changed, often called rekeying. This must be done in an efficient manner to ensure that all elements within the system are capable of communication with one another.
The use of external devices to change encryption key information within individual communication units is known. Such methods require that each communication unit be brought in from the field for rekeying by a technician. Obviously, this could be impractical in a system with thousands of communication units.
Another method of rekeying communication units is over-the-air rekeying (OTAR). OTAR sends messages which contain the required encryption key information over an RF (radio frequency) channel to each unit. In this way, it is not necessary to co-locate each communication unit with an external rekeying device. In addition, it is also known to use a single, group-wide message to rekey all communication units within a group at once, referred to as group OTAR. Group OTAR is effective if all communication units are within the system's coverage area and are powered-up. If there are communication units that are out of range or powered-down at the time of the group OTAR call, they will not be rekeyed. Therefore, a need exists for a method which allows communication units that were excluded from a group OTAR message to be rekeyed, thus ensuring greater concurrence of encryption key information among all communication units within a system.

Method for updating encryption key information in communication units


A character display apparatus, a character display method, and a non-transitory computer readable medium storing a character display program are capable of automatically avoiding a handwriting character being illegible during input of the character by detecting an overlap between lines to be drawn during drawing based on trajectory data of a handwriting character to determine a presence/absence of an illegible part. If it is determined that an illegible part is present, the thickness of the handwriting character is automatically selected again to be thinner and the image of the handwriting character is drawn again, which avoids illegible part occurring in the handwriting character without inputting the character all over again.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a character display apparatus and a character display method for accepting and displaying an input free-handwriting character, and more specifically, to a character display apparatus and a character display method capable of avoiding a character being illegible when displayed.
2. Description of Related Art
An input apparatus, such as a pen input system and a display with a built-in touch panel, allows a free-handwriting character to be saved and displayed as image data without modification. Here, the user designates the type or thickness of a pen, brush or the like to be used for drawing an image of a character, and the image of an input handwriting character is drawn with a pen or the like of the designated type and thickness. When the input handwriting character has a large number of strokes, the character may be squashed and thus illegible depending on the type of a selected pen or the like.
A conventional technique proposes to perform processing of determining, as to legibility of a font character which is not a free-handwriting character, whether or not strokes (lines) are in contact with one another by comparing the number of strokes and the number of intervals in the same direction of the character, and thinning the strokes that are in contact with each other.

Character display apparatus, character display method, and computer readable medium


Disclosed is a meat grinder. According to the technical solution of this disclosure, food is placed into a processing cavity through a material inlet, and after the food is fallen to a side of a propeller away from a cutter head, the propeller is configure to propel the food to a cutter. The food is pressed against the cutter head and the food on the cutter head is cut by the cutter, and the food in discharge holes is squeeze outed by the propeller. Because the propeller is rotatably connected to the cutter head through the wear part, it may prevent an end of the propeller facing the cutter head from rubbing directly against the cutter head and causing black powder, so as to avoid the risk of contamination of the meat and affect the user's experience.

A meat grinder is to process raw meat into granular meat with different specifications according to different requirements, so as to be fully mixed with other auxiliary materials to meet the needs of the family. When working, the cutter shaft of the meat grinder rubs against the central hole of the cutter head to produce worn black powder, which makes the meat and water entering the central hole of the cutter head be mixed with the worn powder and squeezed out from the central hole, resulting in the risk of contamination of the meat with harmful substances.

DONGGUAN ZHEN ZHONG KANG PRECISION TRANSMISSION TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD


A multi-purpose hand tool having opposing planar surfaces. A first long side has a linear edge for drawing straight lines. Graduations are provided along a beveled surface for use in measurement. Short sides perpendicular to the straight edge facilitate placement in an inside corner. A remaining side has serrations for spreading an adhesive. A cover is secured to the main body by pins in the cover and openings in the main body. The main body and cover house a level. A viewing window incorporates a lens for magnification. Guideways are configured to receive a straightedge, the guideways being aligned at precise, given angles. Projections in each guideway cooperate with a groove provided along only one given surface of the straightedge to assure proper orientation of the straightedge in the guideways. The main body and cover have smooth undulations for receiving and seating the fingers. A recess in the cover seats the tips of the fingers. A convex surface surrounding the viewing window protects the level. Spaced openings along the tool facilitate measurement and marking.

The installation of tile and especially back splashes employed in bathrooms, and kitchens and other like applications requires a number of measurements for positioning, aligning and setting tile, including providing markings for cutting of the tile, the application of an appropriate adhesive or mastic and proper placement of the tile including assuring that the back splash is level. These activities necessitate the use of a number of different tools to perform these functions properly and efficiently. Nevertheless, it is highly desirable to provide a tool or tools which, while performing all of the necessary functions, nevertheless reduce the number of tools required to perform such functions.

Composite tool for layout and installation of back splashes


Embodiments of the present invention comprise methods and systems for context-based adaptive image processing wherein print job elements are processed according to context, which may be determined by segmentation and analysis of print job elements.

Many computer applications allow different types of graphical elements to be combined into one document. For example, a word processing document may contain images imported from a digital camera, charts and graphs taken from a spreadsheet, drawings imported from a drawing program, etc. These graphical elements may have varying types including color characteristics. Some elements may be black-and-white, grayscale or monochrome while others may employ one or more of various color formats.
For optimal processing, each type of graphical element is processed differently. All elements of a single document may be processed in the same manner, however this will result in some elements being processed optimally while others suffer from sub-optimal processing. Accordingly, a method for processing each graphical element in a document by that element type's optimal processing method is desirable.

Systems and methods for context-based adaptive image processing using segmentation


A device for the optical measurement of an optical system, in particular an optical imaging system, is provided. The device includes at least one test optics component arranged on an object side or an image side of the optical system. An immersion fluid is adjacent to at least one of the test optics components. A container for use in this device, a microlithography projection exposure machine equipped with this device, and a method which can be carried out with the aid of this device are also provided. The device and method provide for optical measurement of microlithography projection objectives with high numerical apertures by using wavefront detection with shearing or point diffraction interferometry, or a Moiré measuring technique.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a device and a method for the optical measurement of an optical system, in particular an optical imaging system, having one or more object-side test optics components to be arranged in front of the optical system to be measured, and/or one or more image-side test optics components to be arranged behind the optical system to be measured, to a container which can be used for such a device, and to a microlithography projection exposure machine equipped with such a device. The designations "object-side" and "image-side" indicate, in the way they are used specifically in the case of optical imaging systems, that the relevant test optics component is intended for positioning in the beam path of a used measuring radiation in front or, respectively, behind the optical system to be measured.
2. Description of the Related Art
Such devices and methods are known in various forms, in particular for measuring optical imaging systems with regard to aberrations.
One field of application is the highly accurate determination of aberrations of high-aperture imaging systems such as are used, for example, in microlithography systems for patterning semiconductor components by means of the so-called wavefront detection using shearing interferometry, point diffraction interferometry and other known types of interferometer such as the Ronchi type and Twyman-Green type, or by means of Moiré measuring techniques. In most cases of these techniques, a periodic or wavefront-forming structure is arranged on the object side and imaged by the optical imaging system to be measured, and brought into superimposition or interference with the periodic structure provided on the image side. The interference or superimposition pattern produced can be recorded with the aid of a suitable detector and evaluated in order to adjust and/or qualify the optical imaging system. When the same radiation, for example UV radiation, is used for wavefront measurement as is used by the optical imaging system in its normal operation, it being possible for the measuring device to be integrated in one component with the imaging system, this is also denoted as a so-called system or operational interferometer (OI). A device of this type is disclosed, for example, in laid-open publication DE 101 09 929 A1.
Various methods are known in the literature for increasing the resolution of an optical imaging system, such as reducing the wavelength of the light used in the imaging, and increasing the image-side numerical aperture of the imaging system. The latter is achieved in so-called immersion objectives by using an immersion fluid: see, for example, the projection exposure machines operating with immersion as disclosed in laid-open publications JP 10303114 A and JP 12058436 A.
On the basis of shearing interfermetry, such an OI device usually comprises an illuminating mask, also termed coherence mask, and an upstream illuminating optics on the object side, that is to say on the object side of the optical system to be measured, also denoted below as OUT (object under test). Adjoining the OUT on the image side is a diffraction grating, followed by a detector element such as a CCD array, with the optional interposition of imaging optics which project the exit pupil of the OUT onto the detector plane of the detector element. It is mostly the case that the coherence mask is arranged in the object plane, and the diffraction grating is arranged in the image plane of the OUT. In accordance with the spacing conditions to be observed for the optical beam guidance, there are respective interspaces between the object-side last test optics component of the measuring device and the OUT, between the OUT and the image-side first test optics component of the measuring device, and/or between respectively consecutive test optics components on the object side and/or the image side of the OUT.
These interspaces are customarily either open, that is to say in the interspaces the radiation used traverses an atmosphere which corresponds to that of the system neighbourhood, for example air, nitrogen or a vacuum atmosphere, or closed, and are operated or purged with the aid of a prescribed gas atmosphere.
Under these conditions, it is normally possible to use such measuring devices to measure imaging systems up to numerical apertures of the order of magnitude of 0.95. The measurement of objectives of higher numerical aperture of the order of magnitude of 1.0 and above, as in the case of objectives which are used in immersion and near-field lithography, is therefore scarcely possible.
A primary technical problem underlying the invention is to provide a device of the type mentioned at the beginning which, with relatively low outlay, permits even optical imaging systems of very high numerical aperture to be measured, and can be of relatively compact design, to provide a corresponding method and a container suitable for use in such a device, and to provide a microlithography projection exposure machine equipped with such a device.

Device and method for the optical measurement of an optical system by using an immersion fluid


A method of adjusting a clamping force for automatically correcting a reference clamping force(Fi) vs. electric reference supply current(Ii) table for a servo-controlled welding gun on which a workpiece is clamped. The clamping force vs. electric current table is generated based on servo motor and welding gun design specifications, and stored in memory. A proportional coefficient(k) between the supply currents(Ii) and the clamping forces(Fi) is calculated from this table. Each reference supply current(Ii) in the table is actually supplied to the servo motor to measure an actual clamping force(fi). The actual clamping force(fi) is compared with the corresponding reference clamping force(Fi) for each reference supply current(Ii) in the table. If the absolute value of a difference between the actual and reference clamping forces(.vertline.Fi-fi.vertline.) is outside a predetermined allowance, the reference supply current(Ii) is corrected by adding to the reference supply current(Ii) an amount obtained by multiplying a difference (Fi-fi) by the proportional coefficient(k), namely (k*(Fi-fi)). The actual clamping force(fi) is measured again with the corrected reference supply current. This operation is repeated until the absolute value of the difference falls within the allowance, at which time the value of the reference supply current in the table is corrected.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method of adjusting a clamping force in a servo-controlled welding gun adapted to perform a desired welding operation on a workpiece held in a clamped manner on the electric resistance spot welding gun controlled by a servo motor.
2. Description of Related Art
In a known electric resistance spot welding gun, a workpiece is clamped between one electrode (a movable or upper electrode) driven by an air cylinder or a servo motor for example and the other electrode (a static or lower electrode) and a large current is passed between these electrodes for a desired welding work. If, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,321,225, a servo motor is used for the driving source to operate the movable electrode, the clamping force applied to the welding point of a workpiece held between the movable and static electrodes is generally dependent on a current supplied to the servo motor. Therefore, calculating beforehand supply currents to the servo motor necessary for generating a plurality of clamping forces and storing the calculated clamping forces and supply currents as a clamping force vs. electric current table in the welding gun controller. A desired clamping force at a welding operation is provided by selecting a supply current to the servo motor corresponding to a specified clamping force.
Generally, the clamping force vs. electric current table can be theoretically obtained based on various electrical and mechanical data of the servo motor and welding gun. However, since the relationship between the obtained clamping forces and electric currents are of theoretical, it becomes somewhat different from the relationship at an actual clamping operation. This difference or error is caused by an error in fabrication of the servo motor and the welding gun, an error due to a dynamic element caused by an actual clamping operation caused by friction and rigidity of movable sections, and an error due to aging, or abnormal condition caused by time, of the apparatus for example. Therefore, it is necessary, before performing a welding operation, to actually clamping a workpiece between the electrodes of the welding gun, measure the clamping force at this moment with a clamping force measurer or the like, and correct the supply current to the servo motor such that the specified clamping force is obtained.
To correct the errors due to the fabrication and the dynamic element, the servo motor is driven by any one of the supply currents (reference supply currents) listed in the clamping force vs. electric current table obtained from the design data, a pressure detector is clamped between the electrodes of the welding gun, visually read a clamping force value (an actual clamping force) indicated on the clamping force measurer connected to the pressure detector, and, if the actual clamping force is found different from the clamping force value (the reference clamping force) corresponding to the reference supply current selected this time, to be more specific, if the actually measured clamping force is outside the allowance of the reference clamping force, the reference supply current selected this time is corrected by altering the input data by the operator, and the actual clamping force is measured again. By repeating these operations, the actual supply current to the servo motor corresponding to the reference clamping force is obtained. Then, the above-mentioned operations are repeated for all reference supply currents listed in the clamping force vs. electric current table, thereby correcting the clamping force vs. electric current table theoretically obtained from the design data.
To correct the error due to apparatus aging, the same corrective operations as those for the correction of the error due to the fabrication are performed to check if the clamping force listed in the clamping force vs. electric current table is actually applied. The clamping force vs. electric current table is corrected accordingly. If the clamping force value is found significantly different from that at installation of the welding gun, it may be determined that the system including the servo motor and the welding gun is failing.
However, the above-mentioned method of correcting the clamping force vs. electric current table heavily depends on the visual check and manual operation of the operator, requiring many corrective steps and therefore a lot of labor when the clamping force vs. electric current table is corrected for all welding guns. Especially, if the correction of the error due to apparatus aging is to be performed every day at starting the session of the day along with other operational checkout, the operator must bear massive amounts of load and the number of steps. Also, the conventional corrective operation by the operator cannot cope with the recent labor saving trend in fabrication process, especially unattended production.

Method of adjusting a clamping force of servo-controlled welding gun


A software development tool, in the form of an integrated development environment (IDE), comprises a managed platform registry for managing the combination of compatible target platforms and versions of a software development framework. Each compatible combination of a platform and a version of the software development framework is assigned a unique managed platform ID. The managed platform IDs and information associated therewith are managed by the managed platform registry. The software development tool provides upgrade capability allowing a developer to use a newer version of the software development framework while maintaining the current target platform. The software development tool also provides the ability to switch target platforms while maintaining the current version of the software development framework.

Many software developers use software development tools to develop software for specific devices (also referred to as target platforms). Software development tools are often integrated into integrated development environments (IDEs). An example IDE is VISUAL STUDIO®.NET 2005 developed by MICROSOFT® Corporation. Software is often developed utilizing a software development framework. Example software development frameworks include MICROSOFT.NET FRAMEWORK and MICROSOFT.NET COMPACT FRAMEWORK, also developed by MICROSOFT® Corporation. As a specific example, the MICROSOFT.NET COMPACT FRAMEWORK is an example of a software development framework utilized to develop software for mobile devices. Example mobile devices include POCKET PC 2003, SMARTPHONE 2003, and devices supporting the WINDOWS CE® 5.0 operating system.
Typically, a combination of a development tool and framework is selected based on productivity features of the toolset and the features and functionality intrinsic to the framework. Because there often is a one-to-one correlation between a given development tool and a version of the development framework that it supports, the combination typically is manifested in a specific development tool. In such an environment, developing software for different versions of the framework would require different toolsets and force a software developer to forego potential advancements in newer development tools. Also, developing similar software for a different target platform would require the developer to transfer source code to a different project or make significant changes to the existing project. The above described processes of recreating software source code projects can be burdensome, time consuming, expensive, and error-prone.

Integrated development environment with managed platform registry


A control apparatus includes a plurality of load circuits, a power supply wiring line that connects the load circuits to a DC power supply in common, and a counter electromotive force detecting unit that detects counter electromotive force generated on the power supply wiring line. Each of the load circuits includes a load, a semiconductor switch configured to turn ON/OFF the load for protecting the corresponding load circuit, and a current detecting unit that detects an abnormal increase of a load current flowing through the corresponding load circuit. When the current detecting unit detects an abnormal increase of the load current and the counter electromotive force detecting unit detects that an occurrence of the counter electromotive force which exceeds a predetermined threshold value, the semiconductor switch corresponding to the load circuit is cut off.

The present invention is related to a control circuit of a semiconductor switch provided between a DC power supply and a load, for protecting the semiconductor switch which turns ON/OFF the load from a shortcircuit current. More specifically, the present invention is directed to a technique capable of specifying a circuit where a shortcircuit/grounding event happens to occur and of cutting off this specified circuit in such a case that a plurality of loads and a plurality of semiconductor switches are provided with respect to the same DC power supply.
Loads (electric appliances) such as, for instance, a motor for driving a power window, or a lamp, which are mounted on a vehicle are driven by applying a DC voltage from a battery functioning as a DC power supply to the own loads. In this case, since a semiconductor switch such as a MOSFET and the like, which is provided between a load and the battery, is turned ON/OFF, this load is controlled to be driven/stopped.
Also, in a case that an overcurrent protecting apparatus is mounted on a vehicle, an overcurrent protecting apparatus immediately turns OFF the semiconductor switch for protecting both a circuit and a load when the overcurrent flows through the semiconductor switch. Such an overcurrent protecting apparatus is known from, for example, JP-A-2000-253560.
FIG. 6 is a circuit diagram for indicating an arrangement of the overcurrent protecting apparatus described in JP-A-2000-253560. As shown in FIG. 6, the overcurrent protecting apparatus has two sets of an N type MOSFET TA and an N type MOSFET TB as a semiconductor switch, which constitute a multi-source FET. Drains of the respective MOSFETs TA and TB are connected to a plus terminal of a DC power supply VB.
Also, a source of the MOSFET TA is connected via a load (RL) to a minus terminal (ground) of the DC power supply VB. On the other hand, a source of the MOSFET (TB) is grounded via a resistor Rr. A transition component resistor R10 is arranged parallel to the resistor Rr in order to properly accept a rush current. This rush current is produced during transition condition when a lamp is loaded.
Also, the overcurrent protecting apparatus has a comparator CMP10, and a latch DF100 provided on the side of an output of this comparator CMP10. The comparator CMP10 compares a source voltage VSA of the MOSFET TA with a source voltage VSB of the MOSFET TB in voltage levels. An output terminal of the latch DF100 is connected to one of input terminals of an AND circuit AND100.
Further, the overcurrent protecting apparatus has a switch SW100 and a resistor R102, which are employed so as to turn ON/OFF the MOSFETs TA and TB. One terminal side of the switch SW100 is connected to a power supply VB, and the other terminal side of the switch SW100, namely a junction point between the other terminal of the switch SW100 and the resistor R102 is connected to the other input terminal of the AND circuit AND100.
The output terminal of the AND circuit AND100 is connected to a driver circuit 100, and an output terminal of this driver circuit 100 is connected via a resistor R100 to a gate of the MOSFET TA and a gate of the MOSFET TB.
The transition component resistor R10 is connected to the circuit of the overcurrent protecting apparatus for a time period during which a rush current flows through a load RL, namely only for a predetermined time duration from a time instant when the switch SW100 was turned ON, and thereafter, is cut out from the circuit. The latch DF100 is reset when the switch SW100 is turned OFF, and an output signal of this latch DF100 becomes an H level.
Next, operations of the overcurrent protecting apparatus will now be explained. Since the two input signals of the AND circuit AND100 become H levels when the switch SW100 is turned ON, the output signal of the AND circuit AND 100 becomes an H level, and the driver circuit 100 supplies a charge pump voltage to the gate "G" (namely common gates of respective MOSFETs TA and TB) of the multi-source FET.
As a result, the respective MOSFETs TA and TB are brought into ON states, a load current "ID" flows through the MOSFET TA, and at the same time, a reference current "Iref" flows through the MOSFET TB.
In this case, the MOSFET TB is set to have the same characteristic as that of the MOSFET TA, and normally, a channel width of the MOSFET TB is set to 1/1000 to 1/2000 of a channel width of the MOSFET TA. As a consequence, assuming that (channel width of TA)/(channel width of TB)=n, "n" is nearly equal to 1000 to 2000. Then, assuming that the source voltages of the MOSFETs TA and TB are "VSA" and "VSB", when VSA=VSB, the load current ID is defined as ID=n*Iref.
The magnitude of the voltage VSA depends upon the resistance of the load resistor RL, whereas the magnitude of the voltage VSB depends upon either a resistor Rr, or a combined parallel resistance composed of the resistor Rr and the transition component resistor R10. Under such a condition that both the wiring line and the load are set to the normal conditions, both the resistor Rr and the transition component resistor R10 are set in such a manner that VSA>VSB while the rush current flowing time period is included. As a result, the output signal of the comparator CMP10 is held at an L level under normal condition.
At this time, when the wiring line connected between the MOSFET TA and the load RL is shortcircuited/grounded due to some reasons, the drain current ID of the MOSFET TA is rapidly increased, and thus, the source voltage VSA of the MOSFET TA becomes smaller than the source voltage VSB of the MOSFET TB, so that the output signal (L level) of the comparator CMP10 is changed into H level, and also, the output signal (H level) of the latch DF100 is switched to an L level. As a result, the output signal of the AND circuit AND100 becomes an L level, the output terminal side of the driver circuit 100 is grounded, and also, the gate G of the multi-source FET is grounded via the resistor R100, so that the MOSFETs TA and TB are turned OFF. As a consequence, the shortcircuit current flowing through the MOSFET TA is cut out, so that both the wiring line and the MOSFET TA can be protected.
FIG. 7 is a characteristic diagram for representing a change of the current ID in such a case that when a rush current does not flow, namely the load RL is set under the normal condition, the wiring line between the MOSFET TA and the load RL is shortcircuited to be grounded.
As shown in FIG. 7, when the load current ID under the normal condition flows through the circuit of the overcurrent detecting apparatus, if a shortcircuit/grounding event happens to occur at a time instant constituting a point A1, the current ID rapidly starts to be increased. Assuming that a resistance of the wiring line through which the current ID flows is equal to "Rw", an inductance of this wiring line is "Lw", a drain-to-source resistance of the MOSFET TA is "RonA", the power supply voltage is "VB", and an internal resistance of the power supply is "Rbatt", the current ID flowing when the shortcircuit happens to occur is increased based upon an exponential function curve of a time constant "τ1" which is expressed by the below-mentioned equation (2), while a current value "ID1" indicated by the below-mentioned equation (1) is defined as a target value.ID1=VB/(RonA+Rw+Rbatt)  (1)τ1=Lw/(RonA+Rw+Rbatt)  (2)
Then, when the present time exceeds such a time instant constituting a point A2, the current ID becomes ID≧n*Iref, so that the multi-source FET is cut off. In this case, the gate G of the multi-source FET is grounded via the resistor R100, so that electric charges are discharged which is stored in the gate G. In this case, if a gate capacitance of this gate G is assumed as "Cg", then a discharge time constant becomes Cg*R100.
Since the gate-to-source voltage VGSA of the MOSFET TA is reached to approximately 10 V before being cut off, a finite time is required until the discharging operation of the gate electrons are accomplished. When the gate-to-source voltage VGSA is lowered due to the gate discharge operation, the drain-to-source resistance RonA of the MOSFET TA is increased.
In other words, although the resistance RonA is constant until the time instant of the point A2, this resistance RonA is increased when the time instant A2 elapses, so that the current ID1 shown in the above-described equation (1) becomes small, and the same time, the time constant "τ1" is also decreased. As a result, the current ID is increased in a linear manner which is deviated from the expositional function, and then, is reached to a peak current at a time instant constituting a point A3. The faster the gate electrons of the multi-source FET are discharged, namely, the smaller the resistor R100 is decreased, the faster the time instant is reached to the point A3, so that the peak value of the current ID becomes low. Since the increase of the resistor RonA is continued, when the time instant of the point A3 has elapsed, the current ID is decreased and becomes zero at a time instant constituting a point A4.
FIG. 8 is a characteristic diagram for representing a change of the current ID in such a case that a shortcircuit/grounding event (failure) happens to occur during a transition period just after the switch SW1 is turned ON, namely while the transition component resistor R10 is being connected parallel to the resistor Rr. In this drawing, a curved line indicated by a two-dot and dash line represents a change of the current ID under such a normal condition that a shortcircuit/grounding event does not occur. In this drawing, the current ID corresponds to a so-called "rush current", and this rush current may be reached to such a peak current value which becomes larger than the current ID under normal condition by 5 to 10 times.
Then, in order to avoid such an erroneous judgement that this rush current is recognized as a shortcircuit current, a shortcircuit current judging value (n*Iref) is set to such a value which is larger than the peak value of the rush current. In other words, in FIG. 8, a dashed line for indicating (n*Iref) is set to become larger than the peak value of the rush current indicated by the two-dot dash line. In this case, in order to set the reference current Iref to a large value, the transition component resistor R10 is additionally connected parallel to the resistor Rr for a predetermined time (namely, rush current flowing time period).
When a shortcircuit/grounding event happens to occur at a point B1 of FIG. 8, the current ID is rapidly increased, the multi-source FET is cut off at a point B2, and the current ID is increased up to a point B3, and thereafter, the current ID is decreased. The operations are resembled to the above-described operation case of FIG. 7. The point B1 to B4 of FIG. 8 correspond to the points A1 to A4 of FIG. 7.
A different point between FIG. 7 and FIG. 8 is the magnitude of the current Iref. In FIG. 8, since the shortcircuit current judging value (n*Iref) is set to such a value which exceeds the rush current, when the multi-source FET is cut off, namely the current ID at the point B2 is increased, the peak value (point B3) of the shortcircuit current is increased. Until the point B2 where the MOSFET TA is turned ON, the source-to-drain voltage becomes a small value, so that even when a large current flows, a power loss of this MOSFET TA is small.
Then, when the present time passes through the point B2, the MOSFET TA is turned OFF, so that the source-to-drain voltage thereof is increased. If a large current flows under this condition, then a power loss of the MOSFET TA is increased. In FIG. 7, since the peak value of the shortcircuit current at the point A3 is small, the power loss is relatively small. In the case of FIG. 8, since the current ID is increased after the present time has passed through the point B2, the power loss of the MOSFET TA becomes large value, which may cause a temperature of the channel of this MOSFET TA to be increased. Since a time period from the point B1 to the point B4 during which the shortcircuit current flows corresponds to such a short time period shorter than, or equal to 300 [μsec], the increase in the channel temperature of the MOSFET TA may be restricted by a transition thermal resistance.
Since the transition thermal resistance of this time range is determined by a chip size, an element having a large chip size must be used in order to suppress an increase of a channel temperature caused by a shortcircuit current. In other words, such an element having a small chip size cannot be used, so that a design freedom is restricted, which may cause a cost-up factor.
Also, there is another problem in fluctuations of the reference current Iref. That is, in order to avoid that the MOSFET TA is erroneously cut off by the rush current, the following measures must be taken, namely, the precision of the rush current judging value is increased, or an interval between the peak value of the rush current and the judging value is sufficiently widened. Any of these solving methods may cause the cost-up factor. As another solving method, one method has been proposed in which an overheat interrupting function capable of detecting an overheat condition of a semiconductor element to interrupt a current is additionally provided so as to protect an FET. Similarly, this solving method may cause the cost-up factor.
Furthermore, in the case that plural sets of loads such as electric appliances have been provided, circuits which constitute a total channel number in correspondence with a total number of loads must be employed. As a result, there is such a problem that the construction of the apparatus becomes bulky.
As previously explained, in the related overcurrent protecting apparatus, the discrimination of the shortcircuit current under the normal condition from the shortcircuit current under the abnormal condition is carried out by detecting the difference in the levels of the currents which flow through the MOSFET. As a result, when the peak value of the rush current is increased, the time required to be reached to the judging value is prolonged, so that the judgement as to the occurrence of the shortcircuit is delayed, and therefore, the timing when the shortcircuit current is cut off is delayed. As a consequence, the power loss of the semiconductor element is increased, so that such a problem may occur. That is, the temperature increase of the semiconductor element is enlarged.
Furthermore, the technique disclosed in JP-A-2000-253560 does not describe operations executed in the case that there are a plurality of FET channels which are connected to the DC power supply.

Control apparatus of semiconductor switch


In a method of improved session negotiation between first and second clients in a cellular telecommunication system, the two clients negotiating S10 and agreeing upon a first codec type for a session. The first and second clients then initiating the session and exchanging S20 media data frames according to the first codec type. Subsequently, during the initiated session, at least one of the first and second clients providing S30 an indication for a second codec type in at least one subsequent media data frame. Finally, upon receiving and recognizing said indication, the other of said first and second clients switching S40 to the indicated second codec type in a next media data frame, thereby enabling the first and second clients to exchange subsequent media frames utilizing the second codec type.

3GPP specifies AMR and AMR-WB as mandatory speech codecs for voice services in 3G networks. These codecs are also mandatory for the 3GPP VoIP service that is specified within the 3GPP multimedia telephony via IMS. The ruling specification for the media handling and interaction is 3GPP TS 26.114. Despite the mandatory status of these codecs, there is presently the desire within 3GPP to specify new voice codecs that will enable even higher service quality than what is possible with AMR-WB.
However, introducing a new speech codec into a speech communications system may be problematic in some respects. One problem is that there is always an installed base of legacy equipment (both terminals and network infrastructure) that does only support the existing 3GPP codecs or just one of them, for instance AMR-WB, rather than the new codec. This may lead to interoperability problems in which communication between new and legacy equipment is not possible unless proper mechanisms are implemented in the system. Traditional ways to address this problem is the provisioning of transcoders in e.g. media gateways that translate between the new and the old coding formats, or the provisioning of the legacy codecs besides the new codec in new terminals that allows choosing the legacy coding format when a connection to a legacy terminal is established. This latter method requires that there is a capability exchange between the terminals prior to the actual speech connection that identifies the common codec that both terminals support. Within the IMS the session description protocol (SDP) IETF RFC 4566 is used to carry out this capability exchange.
The above described ways for ensuring interoperability when introducing a new codec into a communication system are though not the only possibilities and have various disadvantages. The provisioning of transcoders means additional equipment that raises the network investment and maintenance costs. Transcoding is also associated with undesirable speech quality degradations. Using the capability exchange between the terminals prior to the call is a very elegant way, which however may not always be possible. Examples where this is not always possible are multi-party conferencing, hand-over scenarios with mobile users roaming to cells without MTSI support, voice messaging. Also from a terminal implementation point of view, it may be undesirable to provide support for the complete set of new and legacy codecs as this may increase implementation and technology licensing costs.
Hence, in order to avoid the aforementioned problems a preferable solution is that the new codec is embedded bitstream interoperable with (at least) one of the legacy codecs. While this kind of bitstream "embeddedness" on codec level is a necessary condition for interoperability there are further aspects that need to be fulfilled in order to achieve interoperability on system level. Two further essential aspects are SDP signaling compatibility and compatibility of the bitstream transport formats. With respect to the SDP capability negotiation it is desirable that this can be done between new and legacy devices in a transparent way meaning that the legacy device that is unaware of the new codec still can establish a speech service session with the new device.
The transport format to be used for the speech bitstream data in case of 3GPP MTSI follows the IETF specification for the transport protocol for real-time applications (RTP) IETF RFC 3550 and the speech codec specific speech payload format specification, which in case of AMR and AMR-WB is IETF RFC 4867. Obviously, the legacy terminal relies on that specific speech payload format and it would not be able to create or properly receive a speech bitstream according to another (new) format.
Due to the above discussed problems and requirements; there is a need for enabling session negotiation between new and legacy devices in a transparent manner.

Method and arrangement for session negotiation


A dicarbonyl compound and an alpha,beta-unsaturated ketone are used to deactivate a transition metal/organometal catalyst in polymerization of at least one monomer to form a 1-olefin polymer. The polymer is deashed with a lower alcohol optionally followed by a wash with the starting monomer or n-heptane.

This invention relates to catalyst deactivation and removal of catalyst residues from polymers.
Various processes for polymerizing olefins are described in the literature. A typical approach is to carry out the polymerizations in the presence of a transition metal compound catalyst and an organometallic compound cocatalyst. One of the problems encountered with polymers prepared by such processes concerns the presence in the polymer of catalyst residues. The presence of these catalyst residues in the polymer adversely affects the heat stability, color, electrical properties and, in the case of clear resins, transparency. The halide components of catalyst residues can cause corrosion of processing and molding equipment.
For polyolefins which require high processing temperatures, catalyst removal is even more critical since higher temperatures may magnify adverse effects of the catalyst residues.
The process by which catalyst residue impurities are removed, or extracted, from a polyolefin is referred to as "deashing". Various methods for extracting catalyst residues from polyolefins have been developed. These commonly involve treating the polymer with a variety of agents and adjuvants. Treating agents such as dicarbonyl compounds which contain the group ##STR1## used in conjunction with alkylene oxide adjuvants have been shown to be useful for extracting catalyst residues from polyolefins such as polypropylene. (See U.S. Pat. No. 3,219,647). The dicarbonyl compounds also serve to deactivate the catalyst and cocatalyst thereby terminating the polymerization reaction. Additionally, the dicarbonyl compounds enhance the solubility of the catalyst residues for the subsequent extraction process. A subsequent rinse or wash of the polymer with an alcohol, a paraffinic hydrocarbon or monomer facilitates extraction.
The chelating reaction of dicarbonyl compounds with metal halide catalysts converts the metal to an extractable form and is accompanied by the evolution of hydrogen halide. Metal constituents of the organometallic cocatalyst also react with dicarbonyl compounds in this way. Depending on the nature of the cocatalyst, this reaction may also be accompanied by the evolution of hydrogen halide.
The alkylene oxide treating agent is employed as an adjuvant to remove the hydrogen halide which would otherwise inhibit the chelating reaction, thereby slowing down the rate of metal extraction.
One problem area encountered when using conventional methods for deashing catalysts in polymer production is the necessity of multiple separations to recover unreacted monomer from the reaction solution after the polymer product is separated. This is especially a problem when polymers of branched higher alpha olefins are being made because of the relative boiling points of the unreacted monomer and the alkylene oxides. Use of low boiling alkene oxides with dicarbonyl compounds for deashing polymers formed in polymerization of 1-olefin monomers with transition metal/organometal catalysts requires use of an additional separation column to separate the light (low boiling) alkylene oxides from the branched olefin monomer.
Another problem which has been observed when using conventional methods to remove catalyst residues from polyolefins of branched 1-olefin monomers, particularly those monomers with at least one substituent in the three position of the olefin, is the relatively high level of catalyst residues in the polymer. This problem may be due to low productivity in the polymerization process. Polymerizations of branched 1-olefins are typically low yield reactions due to the sterically hindered structure of the monomer. As a result, catalyst residues will exist at high levels in the polymer. Thus, effective deashing methods are important.

Deashing process for polyolefins using an alpha,beta-unsaturated ketone


This invention provides a method and system for analyzing and deriving analytical insights from textual information. The information structuration process determines the structure in which the text information is rendered. A cyclical extraction process using the parameters of co-frequency, co-dependency, and co-relatedness and parts of speech, determines various textual aspects and their subcomponents such as themes and dimensions. Using the subcomponents of the textual aspects, relationship maps are built, disambiguated and ranked. A text analytics and decision support matrix is created using the ranked relations, thereby providing a highly relevant result set to the user's information need. A multidimensional navigation matrix is created that helps a user navigate across dimensions.

The present invention generally relates to textual information analysis and analytics.
Semantic analysis techniques and statistical analysis techniques are used in computer implemented natural language processing solutions. The exclusive application of either a semantic technique or a statistical technique to identify the context of textual information does not provide satisfactory results. Hybrid techniques are a combination of semantic and statistical techniques. Hybrid techniques have also been applied for textual information processing. In the hybrid techniques, forms of ontological meaning creation and statistical approaches are fused to process text.
In semantic techniques, an ontology driven representation of meaning acts as the unified meaning universe to classify information in documents, thereby enabling effective information storage and retrieval. However, given the dynamic and infinite generative nature of text, any external ontology only serves a limited purpose.
Statistical techniques process numerical data to process text. Typically, statistical techniques treat text as statistical units but the context of the text is not always interpretable by statistical techniques.
There is a market need for a context interpreting hybrid technique that performs the following functions: determines the structure of information, classifies information structure types such as products information, news etc.; subdivides textual information into structured and unstructured elements; maps and mines structured and unstructured elements; determines the relationship between the structured and unstructured elements; conducts cyclical processing, conducts statistical, linguistic and non-linguistic analysis for disambiguation between relationships. This technique places emphasis on granular classification of information structure types rather than completely imposing ontologies or taxonomies from outside the context of the text.
Textual information has an inherent structure that allows for communication to happen across time, space and context. There are some aspects of text that allow for easy transmission of information to the reader, whereas other aspects of text are difficult to communicate.
This invention is based on the premise that textual information is not entirely unstructured, and that the textual information can be divided into structured textual aspects and unstructured textual aspects. This invention applies cyclical processing of part of speech tagger, dimension extraction, co-frequency, co-dependency, and co-relatedness; captures the context of the information creator and the context of the database of textual information by mapping and mining the structured aspects in relation to unstructured aspects. This invention uses structured information aspects to understand more complex unstructured aspects of textual information. For example, the theme "retail industry" could be better understood based on more structured aspects such as the names of the companies involved in the "retail industry", or could be better understood in relation with other themes such as "private labels".
The mapping and mining of the structured textual aspects, such as the names of people, organization, brands and products in relationship with and in contrast to unstructured textual aspects enables very human like processing of textual information. This mapping and mining method identifies known and unknown relationships, and allows the user to navigate and search through this information with greater precision.

System and method of textual information analytics


A cooling apparatus of an array of fan cradles holding fans where a movable baffle assembly directs airflow and blocks removal of more than one fan at a time. A plurality of fans held in a fan cradle assembly in which the fan cradle for a fan to be replaced mechanically moves and is engaged with the movable baffle assembly to prevent removal of the other fans. A method is provided by which an operator may remove and replace an existing fan in an array of fans.

One aspect of thermally managing and maintaining electronic systems involves properly cooling equipment to provide for reliability and proper performance. Properly cooling equipment typically requires generating airflow to remove heat generated by the equipment and maintain the temperature of various components within a suitable operating range. Air moving in parallel airflow paths impelled by air moving devices such as fans cools the components.
An individual fan may not supply the cooling needs of a system as a whole. Thus, multiple fans operate simultaneously to achieve the airflow necessary to cool the system. Though overall cooling system fan configurations vary, each individual fan in an array of fans contributes to the overall airflow. In addition, systems that use forced air cooling frequently use multiple fans so that if one fan fails another can continue to provide cooling for the system.

Air baffle system in a cooling system for electronics

International Business Machines Corporation


A connector includes the connector housing and the retainer for securing the terminals in the terminal housings formed in the connector housing. A retainer insertion space enabling insertion of the retainer from either right or left side is formed continuously through and intersecting all of the terminal housings. The retainer insertion space is formed by a channel open through from the front almost to the back of the connector housing, and by a channel open through from the back almost to the front of the connector housing. Locking members formed on the retainer engage and hold the terminals inserted to the terminal housings when the retainer is fully inserted in the connector housing together with the engagement between the recess formed in the terminal and the lance provided in the terminal housing.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a connector with a double locking mechanism for accommodating terminals therein and, more particularly, to a connector having a flexible engaging lance provided in the terminal housings of the terminal housing thereof and a terminal retainer each for holding the terminals.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In conventional connectors, a lance integrally molded with the connector housing is used to lock a terminal crimped to an electrical wire (hereinafter referred to as "terminal") in the terminal housings of the connector housing. The lances are usually not strong enough to hold the terminals securedly, causing the terminals to be incompletely inserted and seated in the connector housing. To avoid such problems, a connector with a double locking mechanism, for an example, Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 64-54678 published Mar. 2, 1985 is proposed. The double locking mechanism consists of a connector housing and a retainer provided independent to the connector housing. In this connector, the retainer is used to secure the terminals in the terminal housings and to prevent an accidental disconnection of the seated terminals. One such connector is shown in FIG. 13.
In this connector with a double locking mechanism, a through-hole 3 is typically provided in the middle of the connector housing 1 so that a retainer 2 can be inserted down into the through-hole 3, as shown in FIG. 13, to secure the terminals.
With this connector, terminals (not shown) crimped to the ends of the electrical wires are inserted to terminal housings 4 formed in the connector housing 1. A lance (not shown) is molded in each of the terminal housings 4 to lock the terminal in the terminal housing 4. The retainer 2 is then inserted in the through-hole 3, and locking tabs 5 formed on the retainer 2 also lock the terminals. The terminals are thus secured by two independent means and are reliably prevented from accidental extraction.
The problem with this connector is its manufacturability. Specifically, the terminal housings 4 are open to both the front and back sides of the connector housing 1. And, the through-hole 3 is opened to both the top and bottom sides of the connector housing 1. Therefore, a pair of dies for molding the front and back sides of the connector housing 1, and a slide die which slides perpendicularly to the front/back dies are required to mold the connector housing 1.
When the slide die is used, the construction of the mold becomes more complex and thus expensive, and molding also takes longer time.


Processes and systems to recover at least one perfluorocompound gas from a gas mixture are provided. In one embodiment the inventive process comprises providing a gas mixture comprising at least one perfluorocompound gas and at least one carrier gas, the gas mixture being at a predetermined pressure; providing at least one size selective membrane having a feed side and a permeate side; contacting the feed side of the at least one membrane with the gas mixture; withdrawing from the feed side of the membrane as a non-permeate stream at a pressure which is substantially equal to the predetermined pressure a concentrated gas mixture comprising essentially the at least one perfluorocompound gas; and withdrawing from the permeate side of the membrane as a permeate stream a depleted gas mixture comprising essentially the at least one carrier gas.

The semiconductor industry uses perfluorocompounds such as CF.sub.4, C.sub.2 F.sub.6, C.sub.3 F.sub.8, C.sub.4 F.sub.10, CHF.sub.3, SF.sub.6, NF.sub.3, and the like, in semiconductor manufacturing processes involving gases, particularly in various etching steps of the semiconductor manufacturing processes as well as in the chamber cleaning step of the manufacturing process. Such perfluorocompound gases are used either pure or diluted, for example with air or nitrogen or other inert gas or in admixture with other perfluorocompound gases or other carrier gases (for example inert gases). All of the perfluorocompound gases do not necessarily react with other species during the manufacturing processes. Further, when reactors are cleaned or evacuated to carry out another step of the manufacturing process, the effluent gases or gas mixtures are preferably not vented, even if they are largely diluted with air or any other gas such as inert gas. Most of the perfluorocompounds (also called "PFCs") have lifetimes measured in thousands of years in the atmosphere and are also strong infrared absorbers. In the "Global Warming Symposium" held on Jun. 7-8, 1994, in Dallas, Tex., U.S.A., carbon tetrafluoride (CF.sub.4), hexafluoroethane (C.sub.2 F.sub.6), nitrogen trifluoride (NF.sub.3), and sulfur hexafluoride (SF.sub.6) were identified as "greenhouse gases" of concern to the semiconductor industry.
In a presentation made at the above symposium by Michael T. Mocella entitled "Perfluorocompound Emission Reduction From Semiconductor Processing Tools: An Overview Of Options And Strategies", various possible strategies to control emission of these gases in the atmosphere were presented.
Apart from process replacement by non PFCs, several methods are already known or under development:
chemical-thermal decomposition with various activated metals wherein the spent bed material must be disposed. This method is presently considered commercially promising but unproven technology. PA1 combustion-based decomposition process (or chemical-thermal process) using a flame to supply both the thermal energy, and the reactants for the decomposition. Here, there are some safety issues associated with the hydrogen or natural gas fuels used and all the PFCs will produce hydrofluoric acid (HF) as a combustion product (if the temperature is high enough), whose emissions must also be abated. It was suggested that decomposition temperatures may also be generated using a resistance heater. PA1 plasma-based decomposition process which involves the use of a plasma such as coupled radio frequency systems to partially decompose C.sub.2 F.sub.6, with over 90% decomposition of C.sub.2 F.sub.6. However, such systems are not yet commercially proven. Oxygen is usually needed to drive the decomposition to non PFC products, and the problematic generation of HF would be present. PA1 recovery process wherein the PFCs are recovered instead of being destroyed in order to be recycled. This kind of process is of a great interest because it is considered as an environmentally responsible approach. Different schemes were suggested as possible "based on combinations of adsorption or low temperature trapping of PFCs". There are, however, several challenges such as dealing with the large amount of nitrogen associated with the pump operation, the close boiling points of CF.sub.4 and NF.sub.3, the mixing, of various process streams and/or possible reactions with adsorbents. While recycle was suggested, there are obvious questions about recycling such mixtures. PA1 a) providing a gas mixture comprising at least one perfluorocompound gas and at least one carrier gas, the gas mixture being at a predetermined pressure; PA1 b) providing at least one membrane having a feed side and a permeate side, the membrane exhibiting preferential permeation of at least one carrier gas and being relatively non-permeable to at least one perfluorocompound gaseous species and for which selectivity SEL is greater than 1.0. PA1 wherein, SEL is D.sub.c ! S.sub.c !/D.sub.p ! S.sub.p ! PA1 c) contacting the feed side of the at least one membrane with the gas mixture; PA1 d) withdrawing from the feed side of the membrane as a first non-permeate stream at a pressure which is substantially equal to the predetermined pressure, a concentrated gas mixture comprising essentially at least one perfluorocompound gas, and PA1 e) withdrawing from the permeate side of at least one membrane as a permeate stream a depleted gas mixture consisting essentially of the at least one carrier gas. PA1 a) providing a glassy polymer membrane having a feed side and a permeate side; PA1 b) providing a gas mixture at a first pressure comprising at least one perfluorocompound gaseous species, at least one harmful species for the membrane, and at least one carrier gas; PA1 c) treating said gas mixture with a dry scrubber and/or wet scrubber, or contacting in scrubber means to substantially remove species harmful to said membrane and reduce the concentration of said harmful species to an acceptable level for said membrane resulting in a scrubbed gas mixture at a second pressure; PA1 d) contacting the feed side of said membrane with said scrubbed gas mixture at substantially said second pressure or at a higher pressure; PA1 e) withdrawing a concentrated gas mixture comprising a higher concentration of the at least one perfluorocompound gas, relative to the scrubbed gas mixture, from the feed side of the membrane as a non-permeate stream at a pressure which is substantially equal to said second pressure, and PA1 f) withdrawing a depleted gas or gas mixture from the permeate side of said membrane as a permeate stream which is enriched in a carrier gas and depleted in the at least one perfluorocompound. PA1 a) at least one reactor chamber adapted to receive perfluorocompound gases, carrier gases, and the like, the reactor chamber having a reactor effluent gas conduit attached thereto; PA1 b) at least one size selective, preferably glassy polymer, membrane separation unit having a feed side and a permeate side, the membrane being preferentially permeable to at least one carrier gas and being substantially non-permeable to at least one perfluorocompound gas, the membrane unit connected to the reactor chamber via the reactor effluent conduit, the membrane unit further having a permeate vent conduit and a non-permeate conduit, the latter adapted to direct at least a portion of a perfluorocompound containing non-permeate stream from the membrane unit to the reactor chamber. Preferred systems in accordance with the invention further provide pretreatment and/or post-treatment means, such as dry or wet, (or both) scrubbers, thermal decomposers, catalytic decomposers, plasma gas decomposers or filters, prior to the reactor effluent stream entering the membrane unit. In another embodiment, a plurality of membrane units may be arranged in series, either with or without provision of sweep gas on the permeate side of one or all membranes.
Another combustion system for destroying high nitrogen content effluent gas streams comprising PFCs is disclosed in an article entitled "Vector Technology's Phoenix Combustor" by Larry Anderson also presented at the same symposium Jun. 7-8, 1994. This abatement system also uses a gas flame (natural gas or hydrogen with air), which leads then to the same problem of HF generation together with the need for further destruction (plus the Generation of NO.sub.x, CO.sub.2 inherent to any combustion process).
In the article presented at the same symposium Jun. 7-8, 1994 by AT&T Microelectronics and Novapure Corporation entitled "PFC Concentration and Recycle", the authors acknowledge the advantages of the recovery processes which avoid production of carbon dioxide, NO.sub.x, and HF (compared to combustion processes). The process disclosed the use of a dual bed adsorber (activated carbon), wherein one of the beds is in the adsorption mode, while the second bed is regenerated: the PFCs are adsorbed on the carbon sieves while the "carrier" gases, such as nitrogen, hydrogen are not adsorbed and are vented to the exhaust system. When the system is switched on the second adsorber, the first adsorber is evacuated using a vacuum pump, and the effluent is recompressed and the PFC gas mixture is recovered. One of the issues not yet resolved with such a system is that CF.sub.4, which is non polar, is not readily adsorbed by the carbon sieve, but is then rejected with the vent gases. Also, any adsorption system is very sensitive to moisture and any trace of water has to be removed from the feed flow.
It is known from U.S. Pat. No. 5,281,255 incorporated herein by reference, to use membranes made of rubbery polymers such as poly dimethyl siloxane or certain particular polymers such as a substituted polyacethylene to recover condensable organic components having a boiling point higher than -50.degree. C., essentially hydrocarbons (CH.sub.4, C.sub.2 H.sub.6, and the like), said hydrocarbons having the property of permeating through said membranes much faster than air, and then recovering on the permeate side of the membrane said hydrocarbons. The permeate (hydrocarbons) is then recovered at either substantially atmospheric pressure or lower pressure while the non-permeate (e.g. N.sub.2) remains at the feed pressure and is vented. However, by this approach, all of the pressure energy of the feed stream is lost.
Also, it is disclosed in WO 90/15662, published Dec. 27, 1990, a selectively permeable membrane formed from an amorphous polymer of perfluoro 2-2 dimethyl 1-3-dioxole which is useful in the separation of hydrocarbons or chlorofluorocarbons from, for example, air. Such a particular membrane apparently permeates oxygen and nitrogen faster than hydrocarbons and chlorofluorocarbons which can be recovered unexpectedly on the non-permeate side of the membrane, contrary to all of the membranes, including those disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,553,983 and 5,281,255. In this PCT application, there is also disclosed a mixture of the amorphous polymer of perfluoro 2-2 dimethyl 1-3 dioxole and polytetrafluoroethylene. All these perfluoro polymers are known to be resistant to most of the harmful chlorofluorocarbons and hydrocarbons which might suggest their commercial suitability for such separation. However, such polymer is not well suited for PFC recovery, having only limited utility at low concentration.
There exists a need for an environmentally sound process for concentration and/or recovery of PFCs from a gaseous stream, which can be used with a feed flow comprising or saturated with, moisture, which can safely handle recovery and/or concentration of PFC's even with important or extreme variations of flows and/or concentration and which does not produce hydrofluoric acid (HF) as a by product.

Process and system for separation and recovery of perfluorocompound gases


A disk drive according to the invention has a processor for executing a program for identifying harmful computer code (HCC). A communication protocol with the host computer according to the invention provides means for the host to control the HCC detection process, receive information about the HCC detection from the disk drive and preferably for the HCC detection program to be transmitted to the disk drive. In a preferred embodiment a disk drive has a scanning program for scanning data for harmful computer code (HCC) using a set of HCC signatures. In one embodiment, the disk drive has means for communicating with a controlling host computer which implements the HCC protocol and a user computer which does not implement the HCC protocol, to allow the user computer to be protected from HCC in a transparent way.

Prior art data storage devices such as disk drives have drive control systems including means for accepting commands from a host computer including commands related to self-testing, calibration and power management. Each drive has programming code (microcode) in nonvolatile memory for execution by a controller, which is a special purpose processor, to enable it to perform essential functions. The microcode can be updated through the drive's communication interface as described, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,659,801 to Kopsaftis. Various standard communication interfaces with both hardware components and command protocols are commonly used such as IDE, SCSI, Serial ATA, and Fibre Channel Arbitrated Loop (FC-AL).
Commercially available disk drives cannot perform any operation on the data other than those directly related to its storage, for example, performing error correction computations. There have been some suggestions for enhancing disk drives (HDD) by adding an application-specific component for receiving and executing application-specific instructions. Published US patent application 20030227703 by F. D. Hinshaw, describes application-specific components which can perform application-specific tasks, such as database operations, using data on the HDDs and return results to a local host or even a remote host via a network. Examples of the application-specific component include a circuit board or an integrated circuit such as an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA), Central Processing Unit (CPU), or Digital Signal Processor (DSP). The additional component is capable of receiving application-specific instructions via a standard network connection and executing these application-specific instructions on the data contained on the disks. The application-specific component may be in the form of an add-on board which couples to the controller circuit or, alternatively, in the form of an application-specific chip which mates with a socket provided on the controller circuit.
In US patent application 20020162075 by Talagala, et al. a storage system is described which includes a storage array controller and a storage array. The storage array controller issues scrubbing operation commands to one or more of the disk drive controllers. In response, each disk drive controller that receives a scrubbing operation command reads data from within a data range from at least one of the disk drives, calculates a new checksum for the data, and compares the new checksum to a preexisting checksum for the data. If the new checksum doesn't equal the preexisting checksum, the data within the data range is determined to be erroneous.
The task of searching for and protecting against harmful computer code such as computer viruses, worms, Trojan horses, etc. is typically executed by a computer using an application program and a definition file which contains the so-called signatures of known harmful computer codes. The definition file is designed to be updated regularly from the Internet, so that recently identified codes can be found without having to update the application program itself. One example of a system for updating a virus signature database in a mobile wireless device is described in US patent application 20040083384 by Ari Hypponen. The anti-virus application and virus signature database are resident in the memory of the device. Management messages containing for example new virus signatures are sent from the network to the device. In accordance with instructions contained in the management messages, individual signature entries of the virus signature database are deleted or replaced, and new signatures added.
In US patent application 20030033536 by Pak, et al. a method for programmable scanning for malicious content on a wireless client device is described. The system uses a signature file for uniquely identifying a computer virus and a virus detection section comprising object code providing operations to detect the identified computer virus on the thin client device. The signature file is also installed on the thin client device. In one embodiment, the instruction set is capable of implementing the functionality of a Discrete Finite Automation (DFA) in a programmable assembly-like computing language which allows detection of multiple viruses at the same time without having to scan for them individually. In such an embodiment, the machine begins with a pointer into the input stream and a start state. Based on what byte is found at the pointer, the machine moves to a specified state. For each transition, the pointer is moved forward to the next byte. The machine ends with a stop state that identifies which infection was identified or none. The DFA's for several types of malicious code can be combined into a single DFA that scans for all such types of malicious code at the same time.

Data storage device with code scanning capability

Hitachi Global Storage Technologies Netherlands B.V.


Aspects of the present disclosure relate to modular camera mounts interoperable with cameras. The modular camera mount may include a bracket comprising a first mounting portion positioned perpendicular to a camera mounting portion. The first mounting portion may facilitate securing the modular camera mount to a first surface, wherein the first surface may comprise a small area. Both the camera mounting portion and the first mounting portion may include a plurality of mounting provisions configured to align with mounting provisions of a cover. The cover may be secured to the bracket via a plurality of fasteners threaded through the mounting provisions. Securing the cover to the bracket may form a chamber therebetween, wherein the chamber may be a conduit for a cable configured to electrically connect the camera to a power source. The cover may be configured to secure the position adjustable camera via an angular adjustable bracket.

With modern advances in technology, cameras have been adapted to be implemented as security mechanisms capable of monitoring various physical locations or acting as access security or identity verification systems so as to replace the need for constant surveillance by human guards. When configured to monitor or surveil, these cameras may be placed such that they are discrete and not otherwise noticeable to individuals within the space they record. However, when configured to function as an access control or identity verification system, these cameras require placement in comparatively more obvious locations, such as at eye level or otherwise adjacent to a door, for example, in order to facilitate facial recognition technology or other similar identification methods by the camera.
Thus, there exists an unmet need in the related art for a camera configured for security, surveillance, and/or access control that can be mounted a wide variety of different environments that include a wide variety of different materials and architectural styles.

Modular camera mounts and cameras for security, surveillance, and access control applications


A relay detection apparatus includes at least one relay, a voltage detection module, and a voltage comparison unit. The relay has an input contact, an output normally-open contact, and an output normally-close contact. The voltage detection module has a first voltage detection unit and a second voltage detection unit. The first voltage detection unit receives a voltage of the input contact and produces a first output voltage. The second voltage detection unit receives a voltage of the output normally-close contact and produces a second output voltage. The voltage comparison unit receives the first output voltage and the second output voltage and then compares the two voltages, thus detecting normal and/or abnormal contact statuses of the input contact, the output normally-open contact, and the output normally-close contact of the relay.

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates generally to a relay detection apparatus and a method of operating the same, and more particularly to a relay detection apparatus and a method of operating the same which are provided to detect contact statues of relay(s) thereof.
2. Description of Related Art
Because relays have features of small size and simple control, relays are widely applied to power electronic products. Also, size and electrical specifications of relay contacts would be limited because of the small-size relay so that relay contacts have poor ability to work against inrush current.
The issue of inrush current of relays in the power electronic application is significant, that is, the greater inrush current easily causes the contact sticking, especially for the mechanical relay. Especially, the contact bounce is likely to occur when the mechanical relay is operated under the greater inrush current condition. Accordingly, the contact bounce is to cause operation malfunction, use life reduction, and even personal safety threat. In addition, due to the limitation of the relay size, most relays cannot provide the function of showing abnormal or normal contact statuses.
With the development of hybrid electric vehicles and electric vehicles, the demands of chargers for mobile vehicles are increased so that relays are more used in the charger products. Because the numbers of switching relay contacts in the chargers are frequent, the requirements of against inrush current and against contact sticking are strict. Accordingly, it is more important to detect the open/close and normal/abnormal contact statuses so as to ensure personal safety.
Accordingly, it is desirable to provide a relay detection apparatus and a method of operating the same so that the relay detection apparatus can be widely applied to different circuits in the single-phase (1Φ) AC power system and three-phase (3Φ) AC power system. In addition, the normal and/or abnormal contact statuses of the contacts of the relay can be detected out by simply detecting voltage at the contacts so that once the abnormal contact status of the contacts of the relay is detected out, the relay is interruptedly used to ensure safety of operators.

Relay detection apparatus and method of operating the same