<001>oriented crystals of lead zinc niobate--lead titanate solid solution (0 to 5 mole % lead titanate) have high electromechanical coupling>85% and exhibit electric field induced phase transition at electric field levels>10.times.Ec (where Ec is the coercive field), resulting in increased transducer driving voltages, decreased fabrication degradation, and high sensitivity/large bandwidth transducer characteristics due to high electromechanical couplings, up to 92%. <001>oriented crystals of lead magnesium niobate--lead titanate solid solution (20 to 50 mole % lead titanate) also exhibit high electromechanical couplings>85% and up to 94%, and thereby can be formed into transducers which exhibit both high sensitivity and large bandwidth.

Piezoelectric Transducers
Piezoelectric ceramics are currently the material of choice for ultrasonic transducer applications offering relatively high coupling (kij), a wide range of dielectric constants (K), and low dielectric loss. These merits translate into transducer performance in the form of relatively high sensitivity, broad bandwidth, impedance matching and minimal thermal heating.
Pb(Zr.sub.l-x,Ti.sub.x)O.sub.3 (PZT) ceramics have been a mainstay for high performance transducer applications. Compositionally, PZT ceramics lie near the morphotropic phase boundary (MPB) between the tetragonal and rhombohedral phases. MPB compositions have anomalously high dielectric and piezoelectric properties as a result of enhanced polarizability arising from coupling between two equivalent energy states, i.e. the tetragonal and rhombohedral phases, allowing optimum domain reorientation during the poling process. Further modifications, using acceptor and donor dopants, give a wide range of piezoelectric compositions.
Alternative MPB systems can be found in relaxor-based ferroelectrics and their solid solutions with PbTiO.sub.3 (PT). Lead based relaxor materials are complex perovskites with the general formula Pb(B.sub.1 B.sub.2)O.sub.3, (B.sub.1 =Mg.sup.2+, Zn.sup.2+, Ni.sup.2+, Sc.sup.3+ . . . , B.sub.2 =Nb.sup.5+, Ta.sup.5+, W.sup.6+. . . ). Characteristic of relaxors is a broad and frequency dispersive dielectric maxima. Some relaxor-PT compositions such as modified Pb(Sc.sub.1/2 Nb.sub.1/2)O.sub.3 -PbTiO.sub.3 (PSN-PT) seem to possess superior dielectric and piezoelectric properties compared to that of PZT ceramics. However, if analyzed with respect to the ferroelectric transition temperature Tc (the temperature at which the material transforms from the prototypical non-ferroelectric to ferroelectric phase being associated with a spontaneous polarization and large dielectric anomaly), no one type of ceramic offers significant advantages in overall transducer performance.
Enhanced piezoelectric activity of MPB-based ceramics by compositionally adjusting the Curie temperature (Tc) downward relative to room temperature, comes with the expense of more temperature dependent properties and less polarization stability, i.e. aging and loss of piezoelectric activity.
Though relaxor-PT ceramics do not offer enhanced dielectric and piezoelectric properties comparable to PZT ceramics of similar T.sub.c 's, it is the single crystal form of relaxor-PT ceramics that exhibits ultrahigh piezoelectric properties not currently available with piezoelectric MPB ceramics. This key distinction was first realized by Yonezawa et al. (Journal of Japanese Society of Powder Metallurgy, Vol 16, pp 253-258, 1969) and later by Kuwata et al. (Ferroelectrics, Vol 37, pp 579-582, 1981) for MPB compositions of Pb(Zn.sub.1/3 Nb.sub.2/3)O.sub.3 -PbTiO.sub.3 (PZN-PT) systems with k.sub.33 values ranging 80 to 90%, followed by crystal growth and evaluation of Pb(Mg.sub.1/3 Nb.sub.2/3)O.sub.3 -PbTiO.sub.3 (PMN-PT).
Although high coupling and piezoelectric properties of the PZN-PT system, first reported in 1969 and later in the PMN-PT system (1989), have been known for several years, their potential for high performance biomedical ultrasound transducers and related devices has only been recognized recently. Serious efforts on the development of Pb(B.sub.1 B.sub.2)O.sub.3 -PT crystals for high performance transducers is disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,402,791 and 5,295,487 to Saitoh et al. Therein are disclosed relaxor based ferroelectric single crystals of lead zinc niobate--lead titanate (Pb(Zn.sub.1/3 Nb.sub.2/3).sub.l-x Ti.sub.x O.sub.3) and lead magnesium niobate--lead titanate (Pb(Mg.sub.1/3 Nb.sub.2/3).sub.l-x Ti.sub.y O.sub.3 ) solid solutions, where 0.05<x<0.2 and 0.05<y<0.2, respectively. It should be noted that the range 0.05<y<0.2 for Pb(Mg.sub.1/3 Nb.sub.2/3).sub.l-y Ti.sub.y O.sub.3 solid solutions described by Saitoh et al. includes the non piezoelectric relaxor (microdomain) region (0.05<y<0.15) at room temperature. For 0.15<y<0.20, according to this invention, crystals of Pb(Mg.sub.1/3 Nb.sub.2/3).sub.l-y Ti.sub.y O.sub.3 solid solutions exhibit longitudinal coupling<80%, only comparable to MPB ceramics.
When optimum crystallographic cuts, in this case pseudocubic <001>, are utilized for rhombohedral crystals, an electric field induced phase transformation from rhombohedral to tetragonal phase can occur under dc bias, because the polar axis in the rhombohedral phase is <111>. The phase transition field is strongly dependent upon composition, i.e., the closer to MPB, the lower the transition electric field level because two crystallographic states (rhombohedral and tetragonal) energetically become closer to each other and fmally coexist at room temperature when the composition lies on a MPB (0.09<x<1.0 and 0.35<y<0.40, for Pb(Zn.sub.1/3 Nb.sub.2/3).sub.l-x Ti.sub.x O.sub.3 and Pb(Mg.sub.1/3 Nb.sub.2/3).sub.l-y Ti.sub.y O.sub.3, respectively).
The rhombohedral-tetragonal phase transition results in discontinuous changes in piezoelectric properties and dimensions. This dimensional change can affect transducer performance during fabrication processes, such as mechanical clamping during poling. Transducer poling normally includes field cooling (cooling under dc-bias from the temperatures above Tc).
FIG. 3 shows a plot of dielectric constant vs. temperature for Pb(Zn.sub.1/3 Nb.sub.2/3).sub.0.92 Ti.sub.0.08 O.sub.3, exhibiting transitions from rhombohedral to tetragonal (100.degree. C.) and from tetragonal to cubic (160.degree. C.). Apart from composition, the phase transition field decreases with increasing temperature. Therefore, increasing temperature under dc bias causes the rhombohedral phase to readily transform into the tetragonal phase.
It should be noted that transducers are attached to multiple quarter wave length matching layers and/or take the form of a low impedance composite comprised of piezoelectric elements with intermediate passive polymer layers, in order to couple acoustic energy and decouple lateral modes. Therefore, successive cooling under bias will cause the crystals to transform back to a rhombohedral phase after the passive polymer becomes significantly rigid at low temperature, resulting in elastically clamped crystals, leading to internal stresses and mechanical failure. Also, stability of rhombohedral phase becomes an issue as the transducer is driven at increased frequencies. To increase driving frequency and thereby obtain enhanced sensitivity, the transducer must be thinner, resulting in an increased electric field at a same driving voltage. Therefore, to avoid a phase transformation with a <001> rhombohedral crystal, the driving voltage must be limited. To apply higher voltages for pulse generation, the composition of a rhombohedral crystal should be located appropriately away from the MPB.
In summary, the problems exhibited by compositions of relaxor based single crystals are:
1) Lead magnesium niobate--lead titanate (Pb(Mg.sub.1/3 Nb.sub.2/3).sub.l-y Ti.sub.y O.sub.3) is not piezoelectric at room temperature when 0.05<y<0.15 and does not exhibit piezoelectric properties superior to conventional MPB ceramics when 0.15<y<0.20. PA1 2) For compositions close to MPB for rhombohedral lead zinc niobate--lead titanate (Pb(Zn.sub.1/3 Nb.sub.2/3).sub.l-x Ti.sub.x O.sub.3), and lead magnesium niobate--lead titanate (Pb(Mg.sub.1/3 Nb.sub.2/3).sub.l-x Ti.sub.y O.sub.3), where 0.05<x<0.09 and 0.33<y<0.40, the rhombohedral-tetragonal phase transformation occurs at relatively low fields. PA1 1) Low total strain (<0.15%). PA1 2) Low strain energy density due to low piezoelectric coefficient (d.sub.33) <700 pC/N and electrical breakdown strength. PA1 3) Significant hysteresis which leads to substantial heat generation and poor positioning accuracy.

Relaxor ferroelectric single crystals for ultrasound transducers


The present disclosure provides a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery having a stable open-circuit voltage. An electrode for a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery according to one embodiment includes a belt-like current collector, a mixture layer formed on each surface of the current collector, and a lead bonded to an exposed portion of the current collector where the surfaces of the current collector are exposed, the lead extending from one end of the current collector, the one end and another end constituting both ends of the current collector in the width direction. In an electrode for a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery according to one embodiment, a mixture layer is formed on at least one surface of a current collector in the width direction of the current collector and adjacent to an exposed portion on one end side.

Non-aqueous electrolyte secondary batteries include a wound electrode assembly manufactured by winding a positive electrode and a negative electrode with a separator interposed therebetween, for example. In the positive electrode and the negative electrode constituting the wound electrode assembly, typically, a mixture layer is formed on each surface of a belt-like current collector, and a lead is bonded to an exposed portion where the surfaces of the current collector are exposed. In recent years, electrodes with various structures have been proposed to improve the battery performance, such as battery capacity or output. For example, Patent Literature 1 discloses an electrode in which an exposed portion is formed over the full width of a current collector.
A lead bonded to the exposed portion of the current collector extends in the axial direction of the electrode assembly and is connected to a battery case. A portion of the lead extending from an end of the current collector (extending portion) is bent in the radial direction of the electrode assembly. For example, an extending portion of a positive-electrode lead is radially bent in one direction of the electrode assembly near the current collector and is radially bent in the other direction near a seal such that the extending portion between the electrode group and the seal can be welded to a bottom plate of the seal.

Electrode for non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery and non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery


A method and apparatus for spraying in relation to row crops provides downwardly extending support elements or drop legs carrying spray nozzles in the region of their lower ends. The support elements extend downwardly between crop rows and are moved lengthwise of the crop rows while spraying proceeds. The spray nozzles deliver spray generally upwardly and/or horizontally with respect to the ground so as to treat crop material in the rows. The support elements are mounted so as to float freely and permit lateral movement to follow lateral and other row and crop contours. The support elements may be mounted on a boom. The boom may also be provided with downwardly directed spraying nozzles for simultaneous or sequential use. The boom is adapted to fold so as to produce a generally Z-shaped folded configuration. Automatically-actuated stop fingers limit lateral float of the support elements when the boom folds. For lodged crop, the spray nozzles on the support elements may be replaced by rotary wheel elements having projecting spoke elements which penetrate the crop and themselves carry spray nozzles to distribute spray from within the crop. A power driven air discharge nozzle may be provided to assist dispersal of the spray.

In the growing of agricultural and horticultural crops, treatment of same by spraying, for example to protect the crop against pests and diseases, is now an important part of the crop growing program.
However, conventional field spraying equipment is subject to significant shortcomings due to the fact that the spray only reaches the portion of the foliage directly in the path of the spray. Thus, where a crop has dense foliage, as in the case of a potato crop, the applied spray does not reach the lower leaves beneath the top leaf cover. As potato crops are highly susceptible to fungal attack, this inability to properly spray the crop is of considerable significance.
There is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 1,348,038 to Neumeyer a sprayer for plants in which spaced downwardly extending pipes 16 are fixed to a transverse pipe 14 and deliver liquid to nozzles which are usually directed upwardly to deliver spray onto vines from below and upwardly. There is a similar disclosure in CH 229,146 (Leuenberger). Both these prior specifications show the use of fixed droplegs or the like for spraying between crop rows in a generally upwardly-directed direction, and are subject to the shortcoming that, in use, the droplegs vary in their proximity to the crop rows and in the case of established crops may cause significant damage.
In FR 2,563,970 (Balligand) there is disclosed a shredding/spraying implement in which individual units are biased laterally outwards in one particular direction against the crop rows in order to follow their irregular profile by actual contact with the crop stalks. Such a proposal is unacceptable for a machine intended to minimize crop contact and damage.


To provide enhanced operation of data storage devices and systems, various systems, apparatuses, methods, and software are provided herein. In a first example, a data storage device is presented with storage media comprising a cache storage region and a shingled magnetic recording (SMR) storage region that is divided into burst zones. A storage control system receives write operations and accumulates write data in the cache storage region until a commit threshold condition. Responsively, the storage control system transfers the write data into a burst zone of the SMR storage region, and verifies the write data written into the burst zone once the burst transfer is complete. Responsive to data verify errors in the write data written into the burst zone, the storage control system writes data associated with the data verify errors into an exception location associated with the burst zone.

Computer and network systems such as personal computers, workstations, server systems, and cloud storage systems, typically include data storage elements for storing and retrieving data. These data storage elements can include data storage devices, such as hard disk drives, solid state storage devices, hybrid storage devices, tape storage devices, and other mass storage devices.
Magnetic storage drives, such as hard disk drives, can employ various magnetic storage technologies. One such storage technology includes data storage drives with shingled magnetic recording (SMR) technology to increase storage densities on associated storage media. SMR technology physically overlaps adjacent data tracks on a magnetic storage media, in contrast to a non-overlapping recording technology, such as parallel magnetic recording (PMR) or other non-overlapping recording techniques.
As computer systems and networks grow in numbers and capability, there is a need for more and more storage capacity. Cloud computing and large-scale data processing systems have further increased the need for digital data storage systems capable of transferring and holding immense amounts of data. Data centers can include a large quantity of data storage devices in various rack-mounted and high-density storage configurations. However, when data storage devices that employ SMR techniques attempt to service many random storage operations in short periods of time, such as writes, slowdowns can occur due in part to verification processes for the data.

Efficient burst data verify in shingled data storage drives


An electrical interconnection can be provided using a bump stack including at least two solder bumps which are stacked on one another and at least one intermediate layer interposed between the at least stacked two solder bumps.

The present inventive concept relates to semiconductor devices and, more particularly, to semiconductor devices having multi-bump structural electrical interconnections and methods for fabricating the same.
Generally, the semiconductor device has an electrical interconnection to electrically interconnect to different semiconductor device or package substrate. Therefore, there may be needed an electrical interconnection of the semiconductor device for reliable and stable electrical interconnection

Semiconductor devices having stacked solder bumps with intervening metal layers to provide electrical interconnections


There is proposed a gearshift control device which can reduce a transmission load due to preshift, and improve fuel efficiency of a vehicle. A gearshift control device which controls a transmission 50 including two systems of power transmission mechanisms, and preshifts the transmission 50 based on a traveling plan during automatic driving of a vehicle. The gearshift control device makes automatic driving preshift execution decision of planning control contents of the transmission 50 based on the traveling plan, and preshift execution decision of deciding whether or not to preshift the transmission based on a control plan of the transmission 50.

In recent years, as a system which automates an operation of clutches which are friction mechanisms and an operation of synchronous mesh mechanisms which are mesh mechanisms by using a gear transmission used for a manual transmission, an automated manual transmission (referred to as an "automated MT" below) has been developed. According to the automated MT, when gearshift starts, a clutch which transmits or blocks a torque of an engine which is a driving force source is disengaged, the synchronous mesh mechanisms are switched, and then the clutch is engaged again.
Furthermore, J P 2007-232047 A (PTL 1) discloses a method for selecting upshift standby or downshift standby of a preshift gear based on external information obtaining means such as a navigation device, a radar device or a camera device.


A light source device includes a light-condensing device that condenses an illumination light that is emitted from a light source lamp. The light-condensing device includes at least one lens, a lens holder in which a lens is fixedly provided, and a lens holding member. The lens holding member is a member for fixing a lens to the lens holder. The lens holding member causes at least one circumferential portion of the lens to protrude to the lens holder side, and causes the optical axis of the lens to match the optical axis of the illumination light.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a light source device that enables special light observation using many kinds of special light such as narrow-band light, fluorescence, and infrared light, in addition to normal light observation by white light.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, an endoscope is used for observing an alimentary tract such as the esophagus, the stomach, the small intestine or the large intestine, or for observing tracheae such as the lungs by inserting an elongated insertion portion into the body. An endoscope also makes it possible to perform various kinds of examinations or curative treatments by passing a treatment instrument through a treatment instrument channel provided in the insertion portion of the endoscope.
When performing an examination, tissue extraction, treatment or the like using an endoscope, a light source device that supplies an illumination light, a control device such as a video processor that generates video signals from optical images of an examination site that are picked up by the endoscope, and a display device that displays endoscopic images of the examination site and the like are used as peripheral endoscopic devices.
In recent years, when performing diagnosis using an endoscope, in addition to normal light observation by white light in which color images of an observation site are displayed on a display device and observed, special light observation is performed that employs fluorescence, infrared light, narrow-band light (also described as "NBI"), and the like as illumination light.
Special light observation makes it possible to, for example, bring blood vessels on the surface of an alimentary tract into clear view for displaying on a display screen. It is therefore possible to distinguish cancer locations that are difficult to find with normal light observation, or to distinguish the size of a cancer or whether a tumor is cancerous or is in a precancerous state or the like.
There is thus a demand for light source devices that, in addition to white light for performing normal light observation as an illumination light, also provide a plurality of kinds of special observation lights as illumination lights. Examples of special observation lights include fluorescence for performing fluorescence observation, infrared light for performing infrared light observation, and NBI for performing NBI observation.
For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. 2005-006974 discloses an endoscope apparatus in which, by means of an operation to switch an observation mode, it is possible to only select an observation mode that is compatible with a connected endoscope, and perform observation in that mode. In this endoscope apparatus, as illustrated in FIG. 1, a lamp 101, a filter turret 103, an illumination light aperture (not shown), a rotary filter 104, a rotary motor 105, and a light-condensing device 106 are provided inside a light source device 100. The filter turret 103 is configured to be capable of switching a plurality of optical filters (not shown) by driving of a motor 102. The transmission wavelength bands of the plurality of optical filters differ for each observation mode. The illumination light aperture limits the irradiation light amount. The rotary filter 104 changes the illumination light into, for example, frame sequential light of red (R), green (G), and blue (B). The rotary motor 105 rotatingly drives the rotary filter 104. The light-condensing device 106 includes a lens 106a. The lens 106a of the light-condensing device 106 condenses the frame sequential light onto an incidence plane 112 of a light guide 111 of an unshown endoscope.
The rotary filter 104 includes filters 107 and 108 on the outer circumference side and inner circumference side, respectively. A forward/rearward movement motor 109 that moves the rotary filter 104 forward/rearward in a perpendicular direction to the illumination light path (hereafter, referred to as "optical path") is provided inside the light source device 100. The rotary filter 104 is thus moved forward/rearward by driving of the motor 109. More specifically, the rotary filter 104 is configured to change between a state in which the rotary filter 104 is moved to a position indicated by the solid line so that the outer circumference side filter 107 is disposed in the optical path and a state in which the rotary filter 104 is moved to a position indicated by the dashed line so that the inner circumference side filter 108 is disposed in the optical path.
According to the light source device 100, by switching the optical filters of the filter turret 103, suitably combining rotary operation of the rotary motor 105 with forward/rearward operation of the forward/rearward movement motor 109, and selectively controlling switching of the filters 107 and 108 provided in the rotary filter 104, it is possible to carry out endoscopic observation which switches among a plurality of observation modes.
However, recently various kinds of special lights that are useful for observation have been developed. There is thus a demand from users for a light source device that enables observation using even more kinds of special light. In a light source device, it is possible to perform observation by various kinds of special light by increasing the number of optical filters. For example, in a light source device 100A shown in FIG. 2, a rotary filter 104A is additionally provided to increase the number of filters. However, by additionally providing the rotary filter 104A in the optical path, the position of the lamp 101 of the light source device 100A is displaced by an amount L1 in comparison to the position of the lamp 101 of the light source device 100 shown in the aforementioned FIG. 1. As a result, a disadvantage arises that the size of the light source device increases.
In a light source device 100B shown in FIG. 3, a rotary filter 104A that is additionally added is disposed facing the rotary filter 104, and the rotary motor 105 is provided on the light-condensing device 106 side. According to this configuration, when the rotary motor 105 is moved to the optical path as indicated by the dashed line, interference occurs between the rotary motor 105 and the light-condensing device 106. Accordingly, a motor relief part 114 as illustrated by a chain double-dashed line is provided in a lens base 113 comprising the light-condensing device 106 as shown in FIG. 4.
In this connection, the dashed line position is a position at which the rotary filter 104A and the rotary motor 105 are separated the most from the optical path. In other words, the rotary filter 104A and the rotary motor 105 advance and retreat to disposition positions indicated by the dashed line and the solid line. According to this configuration, interference between the rotary motor 105 and the light-condensing device 106 is prevented, and the position of the lamp 101 of the light source device 100B and the position of the lamp 101 of the light source device shown in the aforementioned FIG. 3 are substantially the same position. Thus, it is possible to perform observation using many kinds of special lights without making the light source device 100B larger than the light source device 100.


One embodiment in accordance with the present invention includes a nested flip cover lid for a portable computing system such as a personal digital assistant (PDA). Specifically, the nested flip cover lid includes an accessory rail spine, a hinge and a rigid material that is fabricated to nest within the top cover parameter bevels surrounding the display device of the portable computing system. Therefore, the nested flip cover of the portable computing system is designed and fabricated in order to add a minimal amount of thickness (e.g., 1 millimeter) to the overall portable computing system package. Furthermore, the nested flip cover may also be integrated with a latching mechanism in order to secure the nested flip cover closed when the portable computing system is not being used. In this manner, the latching mechanism keeps the nested flip cover aligned with the outer parameter of the portable computing system.

The present invention generally relates to the field of electronic devices. More particularly, the present invention relates to the field of personal digital assistants (PDAs) or other types of portable electronic devices.
Computers and other electronic devices have become integral tools used in a wide variety of different applications, such as in finance and commercial transactions, computer-aided design and manufacturing, health care, telecommunication, education, etc. Computers along with other electronic devices are finding new applications as a result of advances in hardware technology and rapid development in software technology. Furthermore, the functionality of a computer system or other type of electronic device is dramatically enhanced by coupling these type of stand-alone devices together in order to form a networking environment. Within a networking environment, users may readily exchange files, share information stored on a common database, pool resources, and communicate via electronic mail (e-mail) and via video teleconferencing. Furthermore, computers along with other types of electronic devices which are coupled to the Internet provide their users access to data and information from all over the world. Computer systems have become useful in many aspects of everyday life both for personal and business uses.
Included within this broad category of computers and electronic devices is the personal digital assistant (commonly referred to as a PDA). Specifically, as the components required to build a computer system have been greatly reduced in size, new categories of computer systems have emerged. One of these new categories of computer systems is the personal digital assistant. A personal digital assistant is a portable computer system which is small enough to be held in the hand of its user and can be xe2x80x9cpalm-sized.xe2x80x9d
Since personal digital assistants are very small, full-sized keyboards are generally not efficient input devices. For instance, personal digital assistants using keyboards usually have keyboard devices that are so small that a user typically cannot touch-type on them. Many personal digital assistants employ a stylus and a digitizer pad as an input system. The stylus and digitizer pad work well for personal digital assistants because the arrangement allows a user to hold the personal digital assistant in one hand while writing with the stylus onto the digitizer pad with the other hand. A small on-screen keyboard image can also be used for data entry. Because of the elimination of the keyboard, personal digital assistants are very portable and tend to be carried by the user wherever they go, including on travel.
Furthermore, the personal digital assistant is usually a battery powered device that is typically used as an electronic organizer having the capability to store and display a wide range of information which can include numerous addresses and telephone numbers of business and personal acquaintances, financial information, daily appointments, a xe2x80x9cto doxe2x80x9d list, along with various other personal information. In this manner, the personal digital assistant is able to consolidate a variety of information which is easily accessible by its user. Therefore, personal digital assistants are very useful and powerful devices.
It should be appreciated that there are disadvantages associated with personal digital assistants. For example, when a typical personal digital assistant is implemented with a standard flip cover that protects its display screen, digitizer, and functional buttons, the personal digital assistant package becomes undesirably thicker and bulkier. Specifically, the companies that manufacture personal digital assistants are continuously competing to produce thinner devices which are more desirable to their customers. However, the standard flip cover for a personal digital assistant typical adds an additional 4-5 millimeters (mm) of unwanted thickness to the personal digital assistant package. As such, the typical personal digital assistant having a standard flip cover is undesirably thicker and bulkier.
Another disadvantage associated with a personal digital assistant is that its flip cover may not remain aligned with its outer parameter thereby revealing one or more of its buttons. Specifically, a typical flip cover hinge of a personal digital assistant may be fabricated from a pliable material (e.g., leather). As this pliable hinge material becomes worn with use, the flip cover is adversely allowed to sag and become misaligned with the outer parameter of its personal digital assistant. Therefore, the misaligned flip cover may expose a button of the personal digital assistant such as its power button which can be inadvertently activated thereby draining the power of the personal digital assistant.
Accordingly, a need exists for a method and apparatus that provides a flip cover to a personal digital assistant that adds a minimal amount of thickness to the personal digital assistant. Furthermore, a need exists for a method and apparatus that satisfies the above need and also restricts the flip cover from becoming misaligned with the outer parameter of its personal digital assistant. The present invention provides a method and apparatus which accomplishes the above mentioned needs.
For example, one embodiment in accordance with the present invention includes a nested flip cover lid for a portable computing system such as a personal digital assistant (PDA). Specifically, the nested flip cover lid includes an accessory rail spine, a hinge and a rigid material that is fabricated to nest within the top cover parameter bevels surrounding the display system of the portable computing system. Therefore, the nested flip cover of the portable computing system is designed and fabricated in order to add a minimal amount of thickness (e.g., 1 millimeter) to the overall portable computing system package. Furthermore, the nested flip cover may also be integrated with a latching mechanism in order to secure the nested flip cover closed when the portable computing system is not being used. In this manner, the latching mechanism keeps the nested flip cover aligned with the outer parameter of the portable computing system.
In another embodiment, the present invention includes a flip cover for covering a portion of a front surface of a portable computing system. The flip cover includes an apparatus for attaching to the portable computing system. Furthermore, the flip cover includes a hinge material attached to the apparatus. Additionally, the flip cover includes a material forming a raised area that is for nesting within display parameter bevels of a top cover of the portable computing system. It is understood that the material is attached to the hinge material.
The present invention provides these advantages and others which will no doubt become obvious to those of ordinary skill in the art after having read the following detailed description of embodiments in accordance with the present invention.

Nested flip cover lid for a hand-held computing system


A system that includes a network interface for receiving a packets from a network, a classifier operatively connected to the network interface that analyzes each of the packets and determines to which temporary data structure to forward each of packets, wherein the classifier analyzes each packet to determine with which of a plurality of protocols the packet is associated with. Each temporary data structure within the system is configured to receive packets from the classifier, wherein each of the temporary data structures is associated with at least one virtual serialization queue and wherein each of the temporary data structures is configured to store packets associated with at least one of the plurality of protocols. The at least one virtual serialization queue is configured to queue packets from the one of the temporary data structures associated with the at least one virtual serialization queue.

Network traffic is transmitted from a network, such as the Internet, from a sending system (e.g., a computer system) to a receiving system (e.g., a computer system) via a network interface card (NIC). The NIC is a piece of hardware found in a typical computer system that includes functionality to send and receive network traffic. Typically, network traffic is transmitted in the form of packets, where each packet includes a header and a payload. The header contains information regarding the source address, destination address, size, transport protocol used to transmit the packet, and various other identification information associated with the packet. The payload contains the actual data to be transmitted from the network to the receiving system.
Each of the packets sent between the sending system and receiving system is typically associated with a connection. The connection ensures that packets from a given process on the sending system reach the appropriate process on the receiving system. Packets received by the receiving system (via a NIC associated with the receiving system) are analyzed by a classifier to determine the connection associated with the packet.
Typically, the classifier includes a connection data structure that includes information about active connections on the receiving system. The connection data structure may include the following information about each active connection: (i) the queue associated with the connection; and (ii) information necessary to process the packets on the queue associated with the connection. Depending on the implementation, the connection data structure may include additional information about each active connection. Such queues are typically implemented as first-in first-out (FIFO) queues and are bound to a specific central processing unit (CPU) on the receiving computer system. Thus, all packets for a given connection are placed in the same queue and are processed by the same CPU. In addition, each queue is typically configured to support multiple connections.
Once the classifier determines the connection associated with the packets, the packets are forwarded to a temporary data structure (e.g., a receive ring on the NIC) and an interrupt is issued to the CPU associated with the queue. In response to the interrupt, a thread associated with the CPU (to which the serialization queue is bound) retrieves the packets from the temporary data structure and places them in the appropriate queue. Once packets are placed in the queue, those packets are processed in due course. In some implementations, the queues are implemented such that only one thread is allowed to access a given queue at any given time.
The packets associated with each of the active connections may be associated with any one of a number of protocols (e.g., Transport Communication Protocol, Internet Security Protocol (IPsec), etc.). Accordingly, the serialization queue with which the connection is associated typically queues packets of a number of different protocols. Because, the serialization queue is associated with a given CPU, the CPU typically has to take specific steps (e.g., load the necessary code to process packets of a particular protocol into the i-cache associated with the CPU, etc.) to process the packets associated with the different protocols.

Method and apparatus for processing network traffic associated with specific protocols


An assembled front housing of a treadmill includes a panel, a first side casing and a second side casing respectively laterally connected to two opposite sides of the panel for covering a drive device and a lifting device of the treadmill. The first side casing includes a first connecting portion formed thereon and the second side casing includes a second connecting portion formed thereon. The panel includes a third connecting portion and a fourth connecting portion respectively laterally extending from the two opposite sides of the panel and respectively connected to the first connecting portion of the first side casing and the second connecting portion of the second side casing.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a front housing of a treadmill, and more particularly to an assembled front housing of a treadmill.
2. Description of Related Art
The current treadmill usually is electric driven. A drive device and a lifting device are necessary to the electric treadmill and mounted on the front portion of the treadmill. For protecting the drive device and the lifting device and providing a good looking, a housing is mounted to the front portion of the main frame of the treadmill.
A conventional front housing of a treadmill in accordance with the prior art is a one-piece structure. Consequently, multiple front housings are necessary for corresponding to the treadmills with different models. As a result, multiple molds are necessary for manufacturing the multiple front housing. However, the cave in the mold for manufacturing has a great cross-section that influences on the running melted material. For decreasing the fail rate of the front housing, the conventional front housing for a treadmill is simplified so that the appearance of the front housing is limited.
Furthermore, the mold for manufacturing the front housing of the treadmill is expensive and has a great size. Consequently, the cost of the molds and the space for storing the molds are a heavy load to the manufacturer.
The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate the disadvantages of the conventional front housing of a treadmill.


An ink set for ink-jet recording is provided defined by an evaluation indicator approximately corresponding to an evaluation sensed by human eyes without relying on a color difference (ΔE) or an optical density difference (ΔOD) at the time of evaluating a long-term storage stability of the ink set for ink-jet recording. In the ink set for ink-jet recording which contains a yellow ink, a magenta ink and a cyan ink, values of hue angle change (Δh), between before and after lightfastness tests, of print regions corresponding to respective inks formed on glossy paper by using the yellow ink, the magenta ink and the cyan ink are not more than about 3° for the yellow ink, not more than about 2° for the magenta ink, and not more than about 6° for the cyan ink.

In recent years, long-term storage stability has become an important property required for an image formed by using an ink-jet recording system.
Widely recognized causes of deteriorating image quality of an ink-jet image in long-term storage include exposure of the image to sunlight and to illuminating lamps or the like. In order to improve the long-term storage stability of the ink-jet image, intensive studies have been made for improving lightfastness of the image. Lightfastness can be evaluated using a color difference (ΔE), and an optical density difference (ΔOD) in an L*a*b* calorimetric system (colorimetric system standardized by Commission Internationale de I'Eclairage (CIE) in 1976, which is defined in JIS Z8729 in the Japanese Industrial Standards (JIS)) between before and after exposure tests to light (see U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,702,882 and 6,866,380).
However, even when the color difference (ΔE) values are the same, the extent of deterioration of ink-jet images appear to be different to human eyes, depending on respective hue ranges of yellow, magenta and cyan. This is because the human eyes are highly sensitive to a change of hue angles. That is, when the hue angles are changed, the human eyes perceive a change of colors. Further, since the optical density difference (ΔOD) is not an indicator of a change of color tones like the hue angle, the sensitivity of the human eyes against the optical density difference (ΔOD) is lower than that against a value of hue angle change (Δh). Since an ink set for ink-jet recording defined by the color difference (ΔE) or the density difference (ΔOD) does not correspond to an evaluation made by the human eyes, neither satisfactorily shows long-term storage stability and thus long-term storage stability has not been adequately defined.
The optical density (OD value) of each of the three primary colors (yellow, magenta and cyan) and black can be measured. When the optical density (OD value) of a medium color (for example, flesh color) represented by a subtractive color mixing method using the three primary colors is measured, the value obtained does not faithfully reflect the color density of the medium color itself (showing as respective optical densities of colors decomposed to yellow, magenta and cyan, or showing as the optical density of the color changed into mono-color).

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Ink set for ink-jet recording, ink for ink-jet recording and method for forming image


In an actuating drive (1) having an electric motor (2) which is driven by a drive unit (4), it is provided to determine a state of charge of an intermediate circuit capacitor (5) of an intermediate circuit (3) which supplies the drive unit (4) and, depending on the determined state of charge, to adjust electrical power consumption by the electric motor (2) such that a critical state of charge of the intermediate circuit capacitor (5) can be avoided.

The invention relates to an actuating drive having an electric motor and a drive unit of the electric motor, which drive unit is fed from an intermediate circuit, wherein the intermediate circuit has at least one intermediate circuit capacitor.
The invention also relates to an actuating drive system, comprising at least one actuating drive and at least one energy-providing arrangement, wherein the at least one energy-providing arrangement is designed to supply electric energy to the at least one actuating drive.
The invention also relates to a method for operating an actuating drive, wherein an intermediate circuit capacitor feeds a drive unit of an electric motor of the actuating drive.
The invention lastly relates to a method for operating an actuating drive system, wherein at least one actuating drive of the actuating drive system is supplied with electric energy from at least one energy-providing arrangement of the actuating drive system.
Actuating drives of this type are known and have proven to be successful. They are used for example in systems in order to adjust armatures in a motor-driven manner.
Normally, these actuating drives are fed from a mains supply in the case of mains operation. In the event of a power cut-off or other disturbances, an energy store can be provided, which is dimensioned such that, for example, the drive can move into a safe state.
With the known actuating drives, a generator unit can be formed alternatively or additionally, with which electric energy can be generated manually in order to drive the electric motor. The energy store and/or generator unit form an energy-providing arrangement for operation in the event of a mains power failure.
With the known actuating drives, it was previously the case that the respective intermediate circuits were fed from an individually assigned energy supply. The energy-providing arrangement could thus be adapted optimally to the requirements of the actuating drive.
A safety controller for an actuator is known from WO 2011/047490 A2, in which safety circuits detect a breakdown of a supply voltage and give a signal for safety operation, with which a motor controller drives an associated flap into a safety position.

Actuating drive, actuating drive system, method for operating an actuating drive, and method for operating an actuating drive system


A method for manufacturing artificial fingernails includes forming a model of a desired artificial fingernail which is then enclosed within an investment material. After the investment material has hardened, the model is removed therefrom to form a negative cast of the desired artificial fingernail. A reciprocating screw injector is then used to inject an acetone resistant thermoplastic material into the negative cast. The thermoplastic material is separated from the investment material in the shape of the desired artificial fingernail. Binding pockets are finally form on the surface of the artificial fingernail for use in attaching the artificial fingernails to the real fingernail by an adhesive.

1. The Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to methods for manufacturing artificial fingernails and, more specifically, methods for manufacturing precision fit artificial fingernails.
2. The Relevant Technology
Artificial fingernails typically comprise thin, elongated, plastic structures having a configuration substantially similar to a real fingernail. Through use of an adhesive, the artificial fingernails can be selectively secured to existing fingernails. One of the benefits of artificial fingernails is that they enable a user to selectively have uniform fingernails of a desired thickness, length, and configuration without having to wait for the real fingernails to grow. This is especially useful to those who have weak fingernails that easily crack or break.
There are several different methods for attaching artificial fingernails. In one method, commonly used in fingernail salons, the tail end of an artificial fingernail is attached to the tip of a real finger by an adhesive. A thermoset acrylic is then used to fill in the gap between the cuticle of the finger and the tail end of the artificial fingernail. The acrylic is also used to cover over the artificial fingernail so that a uniform surface extends from the cuticle to the tip of the artificial fingernail. The acrylic overlay is then filed to provide a smooth surface. This process is repeated for each finger. The resulting artificial fingernails can then be painted with a fingernail polish to a desired color.
The above process is time consuming, labor intensive, and requires significant skill so that the resulting artificial fingernails have a uniform and smooth configuration. As the real fingernails grow, a gap is formed between the cuticle and the acrylic. To maintain uniformity of the fingernails, the gap must be repeatedly filled with acrylic after which the artificial fingernail must again be filed smooth and polish reapplied.
Since the fingers cannot breath through the acrylic, it is recommended that the artificial fingernails be removed every couple of weeks to allow the end of fingers to breath. Once the artificial fingernails are removed, however, the entire process must again be repeated. Due to the time and cost of reapplying the artificial fingernails, people will typically leave them on longer than is recommended. Extended wear can be harmful to the fingers and facilitate the growth of nail fungus.
In a second process for attaching artificial fingernails, sets of artificial fingernails are purchased that are designed to completely cover the real fingernails. This configuration avoids the step of having to backfill with an acrylic. However, since human fingers come in an unlimited range of sizes and shapes, it is impractical, if not impossible, to manufacture sets of artificial fingernails that will precisely fit all people. Accordingly, such artificial fingernails are manufactured in standard sets by size and length.
For attachment, each artificial fingernail is first manually trimmed so as to snugly fit around the cuticle of a corresponding finger. The artificial fingernails are also trimmed to a desired length or shape. This process must be repeated for each of the ten fingers. The artificial fingernails are then attached by simply applying an adhesive between the artificial fingernail and the real fingernail. Once attached, each of the artificial fingernails can be painted to a desired color.
Although simpler, this process also has its shortcomings. For example, although the perimeter of the artificial fingernail can be trimmed to fit around the cuticle of the fingernail, artificial fingernails typically have a poor fit between the inside surface of the artificial fingernail and the top surface of the actual fingernail. This is because the real fingernails of each person have a unique arch and a unique surface texture with small ridges or bumps. In contrast, the inside surface of artificial fingernails are smooth having a standard arch configuration. This poor fit between the artificial fingernails and the real fingernails can result in a poor presentation or look of the attached artificial fingernails and can significantly reduce the ability for the adhesive to secure the artificial fingernails to the real fingernails.
Furthermore, should an artificial fingernail crack or break, the process must be repeated for that fingernail. Since artificial fingernails are typically sold in sets, an entire set must be purchased just to replace a single fingernail. Full length artificial fingernails should also be removed every few days to enable the fingers to breath. Removal of the artificial fingernails is typically accomplished by soaking the fingers in acetone. Acetone, however, decomposes both the adhesive and the artificial fingernails. As a result, the artificial fingernails cannot be replaced after they are removed. Rather a new set of artificial fingernails must again be trimmed and fitted using the above process.

Methods for manufacturing precision fit fingernails


A technique is provided for processing a physiological signal. The technique includes performing one or more multi-resolution decompositions on a physiological signal and one or more morphological operations on some or all of the respective decomposition components. In one embodiment, the technique is implemented as iteratively wavelet transformations where morphological operations, such as erosions and dilations, are applied to modify some or all of the respective wavelet coefficients. The modified wavelet coefficients may then be reconstructed to generate a clean version of the physiological signal from which some or all of the noise and/or artifacts have been removed.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to the processing of waveform data and, more particularly, to the processing of waveforms associated with medical monitoring.
2. Description of the Related Art
This section is intended to introduce the reader to various aspects of art that may be related to various aspects of the present invention, which are described and/or claimed below. This discussion is believed to be helpful in providing the reader with background information to facilitate a better understanding of the various aspects of the present invention. Accordingly, it should be understood that these statements are to be read in this light, and not as admissions of prior art.
In the field of medicine, doctors often desire to monitor certain physiological characteristics of their patients. Accordingly, a wide variety of devices have been developed for monitoring physiological characteristics. Such devices provide doctors and other healthcare personnel with the information they need to provide the best possible healthcare for their patients. As a result, such monitoring devices have become an indispensable part of modern medicine.
One technique for monitoring certain physiological characteristics of a patient is commonly referred to as pulse oximetry, and the devices built based upon pulse oximetry techniques are commonly referred to as pulse oximeters. Pulse oximetry may be used to measure various blood flow characteristics, such as the blood-oxygen saturation of hemoglobin in arterial blood, the volume of individual blood pulsations supplying the tissue, and/or the rate of blood pulsations corresponding to each heartbeat of a patient.
The quality of these measurements, however, may be adversely affected by a number of factors such as patient motion, subdermal physiological structures, poor sensor operation or fit, poor signal reception and transmission, and so forth. Such factors may result in a pulse oximetry signal which contains artifacts or noise or is otherwise of low or reduced quality. When processed, such a low or reduced quality signal may result in physiological measurements being reported which may not be as accurate or reliable as desired.

System and method for pre-processing waveforms


Systems and methods for reading a RFID-tag signal in the presence of noise and other propagation and circuit impairments using a RFID-tag reader are disclosed. The method includes receiving with a RFID-tag reader multiple copies of an original RFID-tag signal from a RFID tag. The original RFID-tag signal comprises an original bit sequence representative of information stored in the RFID tag. At least some of the received RFID-tag signal copies differ from one another due to noise or other signal impairments. The received multiple copies are processed on a sample-by-sample basis in the RFID-tag reader using digital signal processing techniques to obtain an improved received digitized RFID tag signal that substantially removes the noise and other impairments. This improved signal is used to recover the original bit sequence and thus the information stored in the RFID tag.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to radio-frequency identification (RFID) systems, and in particular relates to systems for and methods of processing RFID-tag signals that improve the readability of such signals by a RFID-tag reader.
2. Technical Background
Radio-frequency identification (RFID) is a remote recognition technique that utilizes RFID tags having information stored therein. The stored information is retrievable via radio-frequency (RF) communication between the RFID tag and a RFID-tag reader. The typical RFID system utilizes a RFID-tag reader, which is often designed to be hand held for the sake of mobility. When the RFID-tag reader is brought sufficiently close to a RFID tag, it can read a digital RFID-tag signal communicated by the tag. RFID systems are conventionally used for inventory management and product tracking in a variety of different industries, as well as in libraries and hospitals. The data encoded into a RFID tag can generally be written at a distance, and some types of REID tags can be re-written multiple times.
There are three main types of REID tags. The first type is a passive RFID tag that has a microcircuit (typically, a digital memory chip) with no internal power supply. The microcircuit includes or is coupled to an antenna. A passive RFID tag is powered by an incoming RF interrogation signal from the RFID-tag reader. The RF interrogation signal provides enough power for the microcircuit to communicate the information stored in the RFID tag to the RFID-tag reader via an electromagnetic RF tag signal from the RFID tag antenna.
The second type of RFID tag is semi-passive, and includes a microchip, antenna, and a small power supply that powers the microchip, allowing the RFID tag to operate and communicate a RFID tag signal without requiring power from the incoming RF signal, leading to a greater read range.
The third type of RFID tag is active and has its own power supply. Active RFID tags generate an outgoing RF tag signal and can respond to RF interrogations from the RF tag reader, or periodically generate their own outgoing RF tag signal.
In reading RFID tags, the RFID-tag reader interrogates the tag many times (e.g., more than 100 times) per second. The RFID-tag reader reads a corresponding RFID-tag signal for each interrogation. If the acquired RFID-tag signal does not correspond to a legitimate digital stream of a standardized protocol and error-checking method, then the acquired RFID-tag signal is identified as a "read error" and discarded. In practice, ambient electronic noise from a variety of sources (typically, machines and devices near the RFID tag or electronic noise in the RF circuitry of the reader) limits the range of the RFID-tag reader and causes many of the RFID interrogations to generate read errors. Other RFID-tag signal impairments can also occur, such as multi-path fading and bandwidth reduction and dispersion, which result in less-sharp rise and fall times. Consequently, only some of the RFID-tag signals are properly read, and the ability to properly read the RFID tag signals decreases with the distance between the RFID tag and the RFID-tag reader.
Improving the RFID reading capability of a RFID system can allow for a greater read range, smaller antenna sizes for the RFID tag, better RFID capability in electronically noisy environments, higher success rate of reading the RFID tag, etc.—all of which improve the RFID system efficiency while reducing system cost and user frustration.

Signal-processing systems and methods for RFID-tag signals


A system and method for channel interleaver and layer mapping in a communications system with spatial multiplexing are provided. A method for transmitting information over M layers, where M is a positive integer value representing a number of spatial layers, and M≧2, includes receiving at least one codeword to transmit, grouping a plurality of symbols in the at least one codeword into M groups, mapping the M groups to the M layers, and transmitting the M layers. The at least one codeword includes the plurality of symbols, and each symbol includes two or more code bits.

The increasing demand of wireless high data service has motivated various standards bodies such as the Third Generation Partnership Project 2 (3GPP2), the Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) and IEEE-802.16 to develop various wireless systems supporting faster data rate, higher spectral efficiency and more reliable communication such as Ultra Mobile Broadband (UMB), Long Term Evolution (LTE), and wireless Metropolitan Area Networks (MAN), respectively. Additionally, since multiple input, multiple output (MIMO) operation offers significant increases in data throughput and higher spectral efficiency without additional bandwidth or transmit power, MIMO is considered as an essential technology in providing the high data rate and increased system throughput in the various standard bodies.
Currently, LTE offers only MIMO in a downlink (DL) portion of a communications system, with support for up to two (2) codewords and four (4) transmit antennas, wherein DL refers to the transmission from the base station to a user equipment (UE). As used herein, a codeword refers to an encoded and modulated symbol sequence corresponding to an information block, such as the transport block defined in 3GPP specifications. No symbol-level channel interleaver was defined for LTE downlink because the time-frequency diversity due to the turbo internal interleaver and the rate matcher was found to be sufficient. Additionally, codeword to layer mapping was defined for LTE downlink without special consideration of successive interference cancellation (SIC) receiver.
In contrast to DL, only single antenna transmission is supported in LTE uplink (UL), i.e., transmission from the UE to the base station. Since single antenna transmission means that there is only one layer, LTE does not consider the transport block-to-layer mapping for UL. Due to the limited frequency diversity associated with single carrier frequency division multiple access (SC-FDMA), a symbol-level channel interleaver was defined for LTE UL. Without causing confusion, the symbol-level channel interleaver will be simply referred to as channel interleaver in the following. When upgrading LTE to LTE-Advanced, multiple-layer MIMO will be defined in order to reach the high throughput target. The processing defined for DL cannot be directly transferred to UL due to the different transmission scheme, orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) for DL vs. SC-FDMA for UL. Thus there is a need to define channel interleaver and codeword-to-layer mapping that maximizes the throughput for the LTE-Advanced MIMO UL. In particular, the design needs to consider the usage of a SIC receiver in the base station, since the base station is able to handle more complexity than the UE.

System and method for channel interleaver and layer mapping in a communications system


A capillary electrophoresis device as well as a process for fabrication of the device is disclosed. The capillary electrophoresis device comprises a device body structure having a plurality of reservoirs arrayed thereon for loading a sample, and a plurality of rows of grooves transversely defined to be connected with the reservoirs for receiving at least a capillary electrophoresis chip. The capillary electrophoresis chip comprises a straight main separation channel, an injection channel, and a plurality of sample transport channels defined thereon in liquid communication with the reservoirs. After an electrode means is applied, the sample can be transported into the separation channel for detection and analysis.

Capillary electrophoresis is a technique for moving samples of interest through a solution filled capillary by means of an electric field. In such a way, molecules of different mobilities are separated into distinct zones for detection. In the 1990's, significant research effort in the field of capillary electrophoresis was focused on implementation of such capillary electrophoresis devices in microfabricated formats. Such formats provided significant advantages in terms of precision. As a result, micromachining and miniaturization of such devices was established and many applications of such devices subsequently arose in the literature over the next ten years. Such devices are capable of providing fast, efficient separation results for double stranded DNA chromatography, single stranded DNA chromatography, protein analysis and many other applications.
Central to the efficiency of such devices is channel length. For instance, in applications such as DNA sequencing, a longer reading length is important to the throughput and speed of the entire sequencing effort. Devices with separation channels varying from 1 cm up to 10 cm have been demonstrated within the art. However, these microfabrications still suffer some drawbacks. First, microfabrication with long channel length requires large size devices, resulting in expensive fabrication costs. By contrast, low cost microfabrication is dependent on economy of scale, in which hundreds to thousands of devices per wafer are constructed.
To achieve long channel lengths and still maintain a reasonable device area, one has to produce a separation channel that is folded in a serpentine configuration or curved in a spiral configuration. Unfortunately, such curved channels inevitably reduce the efficiency of the overall separation compared with that of a straight separation channel.
Long channel lengths are not the only factor requiring large chip sizes. The drilling process that drills holes through the substrate layers to access the microchannels also increases the device size. Although drilling in glass substrates can be performed to diameter less than 0.5 mm, typically capillary electrophoresis devices employ holes larger than 1 mm for handling purposes.
Given the above background, what is needed in the art are improved capillary devices and methods for making such devices.


A handrail drive inverter for an escalator can include a memory configured to store instructions, a processor coupled to the memory, an input configured to receive a main speed control signal that corresponds to the speed of a main drive motor of the escalator, and an output configured to provide a handrail speed control signal for a handrail drive motor based on the instructions in the memory. The processor is configured to calculate a torque output of the handrail drive motor and determine the handrail speed control signal as a function of the torque output and a feedback of the handrail speed control signal constrained by at least one of an upper limit and a lower limit, the upper limit and the lower limit being determined from the main speed control signal.

The operation of escalators, and particularly the handrails of escalators, is well-known in the art. Generally, the motion of a handrail of an escalator is driven by connecting the main drive of the escalator to a friction wheel coupled to the handrail.
In some situations, for example in escalators of great length or steep incline, a single friction wheel driven by the main drive motor is insufficient to overcome the handrail friction and drive the handrail. In these situations, a second friction wheel, driven by a separate handrail motor, is used. However, these systems are often difficult to control. The speed required of the handrail motor depends greatly on the length and incline of the escalator. Any change to these parameters requires extensive reconfiguration. A closed-loop control system could be used to address such changes, but closed-loop systems are often expensive to implement, requiring additional hardware.

Apparatus, system, and method for controlling a handrail of an escalator


Compounds of formula R1-A-NH—CH(R2)—CO—R3 are presented. The compounds can be used to treat or alleviate conditions associated with bone loss or low bone density, or to inhibit osteoclast differentiation and stimulation, bone resorption and/or loosening of a prosthetic device. The compounds can be administered as a pharmaceutical composition or in a prosthetic device.

There is an increasing demand for the development of compounds having improved properties and which can be used against several different diseases, such as treatment of an infection or disease caused by a microorganism as well as for the stimulation or inhibition of the proliferation of eukaryotic cells as well as for other purposes.
One class of compounds, namely peptide derivatives based upon the inhibitory centre of human cystatin C, and the antibacterial properties thereof have been disclosed in Kasprzykowski et al., APMIS 2000, 108, 473-481.
WO 06/052201 discloses the use of peptide derivatives for the manufacture of a medicament for the treatment of microbial infections.
WO 07/129952 discloses novel peptide derivatives and the use thereof as antimicrobial agent for treatment of wounds.
Hitherto no suggestions have been given for use of the mentioned peptide derivatives other than for antimicrobial and antibacterial purposes.
Osteoclasts constitute one type of eukaryotic cells. Bone resorption is a specific function of osteoclasts, which are multinucleated, specialized bone cells formed by the fusion of mononuclear progenitors originating from the haemopoietic compartment, more precisely from the granulocyte-macrophage colony-forming unit (GM-CFU). The osteoclast is the principal cell type for resorption of bone. Osteoclasts together with the bone-forming cells, the osteoblasts, dictate bone mass, bone shape and bone structure. Bone must undergo continuous resorption and renewal, a process collectively known as remodelling. During adult life bone remodelling is crucial to eliminate and replace structurally damaged or aged bone with structurally new healthy bone. To maintain the proper bone mass, resorption and formation are kept in perfect equilibrium. The balanced bone remodelling is disturbed in certain pathological conditions either to systemic excess or decrease of endocrine factors or the presence of local pathological conditions in the skeleton. In such diseases, the equilibrium between bone resorption and formation becomes altered, often in favour of resorption, resulting in a reduction in bone mass, deterioration of bone architecture, decreased resistance to stress, bone fragility, susceptibility to fractures or to disabilities in joints or teeth. Hence, increased activity and/or numbers of osteoclasts, relative to the activity and/or numbers of osteoblasts, may lead to a pathological loss of bone.
For conditions in which osteoclasts resorb bone at abnormally high levels as in osteoporosis, rheumatoid arthritis, periodontal disease, metastatic tumours, loss of joint prosthesis or tooth implant loss, the most reasonable therapeutic target would be the osteoclast. Decreasing the number of osteoclasts and/or the resorption activity of the osteoclasts, should restore the equilibrium between bone resorption and formation.

Peptide derivatives for treatment, prevention or alleviation of a condition associated with bone loss or low bone density or to inhibit osteoclast differentiation and stimulation


A process for shaping a body with elongate structures on its surface, bodies produced using the process, and to apparatuses having these bodies are provided. For this purpose, a preform is provided, at the surface, with structures which are elongate along one direction, the preform is heated at least in one region and the preform is drawn in the heated state until at least part of the preform has adopted a cross section which substantially corresponds to the desired cross-sectional shape or final cross-sectional shape. The preform is heated by means of radiation which has a spectral distribution which is such that at most half of the radiation power is absorbed during a single pass through the material.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a process for shaping a body with elongate structures, such as in particular depressions, on its surface, and to bodies produced using the process and to devices comprising bodies of this type. Moreover, the invention relates to an apparatus for carrying out the process for shaping a body of this type.
2. Description of Related Art
It is known for optical fibers to be drawn from fiber preforms in the heated state and thereby to obtain greatly reduced fiber cross sections for optical waveguides.
In the field of microsystems technology, processes aim to introduce very fine structures into various materials. The structures are usually punctiform or linear elevations or depressions. In the finished components, these structures are used, for example, as passages for controlling very fine flows of liquid or gas.
In many applications, these structures are formed uniformly over the entire component in one direction, for example in the longitudinal direction, for example in the form of continuous passages or ribs. Components of this type are included, for example, in miniaturized heat exchangers or in components which are used to move optical fibers into a defined position and then hold them in place in this position.
Furthermore, PCT/JP 00/07955 describes a process for producing lenses which are substantially in rod form, in which reduced cross sections of a blank are obtained by redrawing this blank. Both the abovementioned fibers and the substantially rod-like lenses are each rounded on the outside, which is extremely favorable for the shaping of heated glass, since rounding of this nature can be formed automatically by viscous materials on account of their surface tension, and are therefore assisted during shaping.
DE 39 02 988 A1 describes a process for producing a support, which is provided with a groove, for an optical waveguide connector, in which the V groove is ground in with an aperture angle of approximately 90°, and the preform, after suitable heating, is drawn to a diameter of approximately 1/10 of the original diameter. If appropriate, further recesses are provided. However, the process appears in need of improvement with regard to the yield and with regard to the tolerances which can be achieved.
FR 2 788 267 A1 relates to a process for producing glass spacers, in which a mother glass with a cross section which is similar to the desired cross section, in a heated state at a viscosity of from 105 to 109, is drawn, and in which the drawn glass is cut into a large number of glass spacers.
EP 0 929 101 A1 describes a stamp for the press-forming of glass elements with a platinum film.
DE 197 36 732 A1 describes a device and process for machining a workpiece by means of laser light.
Furthermore, FR 2 505 472 describes an apparatus for producing optical fibers with a device for concentrating infrared energy.
Silicon substrates with V grooves which have been produced by etching are in widespread use in optical information and communications technology in order in this way to achieve precisely predefined lateral spacings. In this context, it is extremely advantageous that the lateral positioning accuracy is substantially defined by crystallographic planes in the silicon and that it is possible to use highly accurate photolithographic processes. However, a drawback is the fixed angle of the V-shaped groove, which is substantially predetermined by the crystallographic orientation of the silicon and selective etching rates during photolithographic patterning. The high price of both the silicon substrates, which are substantially in single crystal form, and of the photolithographic processes represent significant obstacles to inexpensive mass production.
By contrast, when a structured preform is being drawn out or redrawn, the problem arises that the initial drawing does not lead to the structures of the preform being deformed to scale, and consequently for many applications the shape of the preform cannot be reproduced with sufficient accuracy in the drawn workpieces. For example, it is known from GB 2 108 483 A that shape changes of this type are dependent, inter alia, on the temperature, the cross section of the preform, the tensile force used for drawing and the viscoelastic properties of the preform material. Deformations which may occur during redrawing include pin-cushion deformations, which lead to a concave curvature of surfaces which were originally planar, and also to edge rounding. The influence of the drawing temperature on the type of deformation, concave or convex, is also known, inter alia, from U.S. Pat. No. 5,721,050.
In GB 2 108 483 A, it is to this end proposed that the changes in shape be taken into account during production of the preform. However, since the effects of the change in shape are dependent on the size of the drawn parts and/or the size ratio of preform to drawn components, neutralization of the deformation effects is only achieved accurately at a specific scale ratio. To obtain reproducible results, therefore, it is also necessary for other parameters, such as tensile force and temperature, to be complied with.

Method and device for shaping a structured body and body produced according to said method


A DC to DC power converter in the form of a pulse-width modulator is shown which can sense via an indication of duty cycle how much reserve power is available for loads using the present input voltage. The device is for use at the end of a telephone line where the input voltage power supply impedance can be appreciable. When the reserve power, as detected in the power converter, reaches a minimum critical level, a signal is sent out requesting the voltage supply to increase the available voltage to the power converter.

Typically, telephones are all powered from the central office via a voltage supplied over a pair of telephone wires. The service is often referred to as POTS (plain old telephone service) quality lines. The CO (central office) normally supplies a -48 volts in an idle condition (called TALK BATTERY). When there is an incoming call, the CO superimposes an alternating ring signal upon the normal voltage to generate a signaling noise (phone ringing) at the remotely located telephone. The idle signal has specifications such that it is normally 48 volts and can, in some circumstances, be as high as 80 volts. The ringing signal adds additional potential such that the shock hazard under extreme conditions can be substantial and therefore the ring signal has to be interrupted.
It has always been desirable to have all telephones powered from high reliability CO, rather than locally so that telephones remain operational even though electrical power may have failed at the remotely located telephone site.
The introduction of digital signaling to telephones has allowed the capability of multiplexing more than one voice signal on a single pair of POTS quality lines. However, it is extremely desirable for any digital multiplexing approach to not require a change in the customer or CO equipment.
The present invention solves the problems of multiplexing more than one voice signal onto a single POTS line by attaching a COT (central office terminal) unit in the CO which interfaces several POTS lines and an RT (remote terminal) at a location remote from the COT but near a location with a plurality of customers (different telephone numbers). The RT receives power from the COT but detects ringing signals in the form of digital overhead signals on the line and directs a remotely generated ringing signal to a specific customer line. Each customer line may have a number of CPD (customer premise device(s)) such as telephones, faxes, modems, etc. In this application, reserve power is defined as the difference between the power the RT is consuming and the maximum available power. To minimize the amount of voltage applied by the COT, the RT also includes circuitry for detecting the reserve power available in a regulated power conversion unit located within the RT and returns a digital signal back to the COT when the reserve power in the RT falls below a prescribed level whereby the COT can increase the applied voltage to the lines interconnecting the COT and the RT thereby increasing the power available at the RT to supply any added loads or to provide power needed on high resistance POTS quality lines between COT and RT. The power conversion device in one embodiment of the inventive concept used a PWM (pulse-width modulator) which was designed to operate in the discontinuous conduction mode whereby maximum power transfer between the applied voltage to the pulse-width modulator and the output occurred at a 50% duty cycle. With this design, a point between 0% duty cycle, at which there would be no output from the PWM transformer and minimum current in the primary winding and the 50% duty cycle point can be picked as the reserve power call point. This is the point at which there is so little reserve power that a digital signal must be sent back to the COT to raise the input voltage and thus, change the duty cycle in a direction toward 0% which would give the required regulated output voltage called for by a PWM control circuit.
The concept described in this application and claimed by the claims herein is related to co-pending applications assigned to the same assignee as the present invention and filed on the same date. These applications are U.S. applications Ser. Nos. 07/655,677, 07/655 and 07/654,932. The application Ser. No. 07/654,932, while directed to the same general subject matter, comprises a different specification and all subject matter in said application is incorporated herein by reference.
It is thus an object of the present invention to provide an improved system for providing power from a COT to remotely located multi-line CPD's via the use of an RT containing a power supply and ring generator thereby allowing the use of digital signals either over the POTS lines or another source such as fiber optics to be received and control the signaling (ringing or forward disconnect) to the CPD's connected to the RT.

DC-DC power converter including sensing means for providing an output when the reserve power of the converter falls below a predetermined amount for a given input voltage


An object of the invention is to provide a micro power converter of a step-up and step-down type without requiring more than two semiconductor switches, without increasing the size of a semiconductor chip, and without degrading efficiency. A micro power converter comprises a micro transformer composed of a planar transformer having a structure including a conductor wound on and through a planar magnetic core, and a semiconductor chip including semiconductor switches S1, S2, and a control circuit for controlling the switches. By constructing a flyback transformer using a micro transformer composed of a planar transformer, a micro power converter of a step-up and step-down type is provided having two semiconductor switches and an overall size comparable to a conventional micro power converter.

The present invention relates to a micro power converter miniaturized by integrating a micro magnetic element and a semiconductor chip, in particular to a micro power converter of a step-up and step-down type. A micro power converter in power converters represented by DC-DC converters (that are switching power supplies) is generally composed by integrating a micro magnetic element and a semiconductor chip to miniaturize the converter. FIGS. 6(a), 6(b), and 6(c) show an example of construction of a micro inductor used in a micro power converter. The inductor is composed of a conductor 2 wound on and through a planar magnetic core 1, forming a solenoid coil, as shown in FIGS. 6(a), 6(b), and 6(c). FIG. 6(a) is a plan view of the inductor 10 provided with the conductor 2 and terminals 3 on the magnetic core 1; FIG. 6(b) is a sectional view of the micro inductor cut along the line a-a′ in FIG. 6(a) showing an arrangement of the conductor 2 on the magnetic core 1 and connection of the conductor 2 on the both surfaces of the magnetic core 1; and FIG. 6(c) is a sectional view of the micro inductor cut along the line b-b′ in FIG. 6(a) showing an arrangement of the conductor 3 on the magnetic core 1 and connection of the terminals 3 on both surfaces of the magnetic core 1.
FIG. 7 and FIG. 8 show examples of construction of micro power converters using the micro inductor 10 shown in FIG. 6. The converter of FIG. 7 has a structure in which terminals 3 are connected to pads 5 provided on a front surface 21 of a semiconductor chip 20 through joints 4 (that are bumps), connecting the micro inductor 10 and the semiconductor chip 20. The converter of FIG. 8 has a structure in which terminals 3 are connected to pads 5 provided on a front surface 21 of a semiconductor chip 20 through wires 6, connecting the micro inductor 10 and the semiconductor chip 20. The structures of FIG. 7 and FIG. 8 are different from each other in that the back surface 22 of the semiconductor chip 20 faces outside with respect to the micro inductor 10 in the structure of FIG. 7 and inside in the structure of FIG. 8.
Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2004-072815 discloses a basic structure of a micro power converter having a construction similar to that of the micro power converter shown in FIG. 7. Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2007-081146 discloses a basic structure of a micro power converter having a construction similar to that of the micro power converter shown in FIG. 8. Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2000-243630 listed below discloses a planar transformer constructed using through holes. The conventional micro power converters are miniaturized by integrating a micro inductor 10 and a semiconductor chip 20 in a structure as shown in FIG. 7 and FIG. 8.
FIG. 9, FIG. 10, and FIG. 11 show examples of actual circuits to implement a micro power converter. The circuit example of FIG. 9 is the one for implementing a step-down type converter; the circuit example of FIG. 10 is the one for implementing a step-up type converter; and the example of FIG. 11 is the one for implementing an inverting converter. Every example in the three Figures constructs a micro power converter 30 with a micro inductor 10 and a semiconductor chip 20 incorporating two or one of the semiconductor switches S1 and S2. No circuit example of FIG. 9, FIG. 10, and FIG. 11 is an example of a step-up and step-down type converter.
The circuits shown in FIG. 9, FIG. 10, and FIG. 11 may be combined to arrive at the circuit shown in FIG. 12. However, the resulting circuit is deficient for at least the following reasons. In the circuit construction shown in FIG. 12, four semiconductor switches must be incorporated. Here, the on-resistance of switches in a step-down operation is the sum of the resistances of two series-connected switches S1 and S4 or S2 and S4, and on-resistance of switches in the case of step-up operation is the sum of resistances of two series-connected switches S1 and S3 or S1 and S4. Because circuit resistances increase due to the increased resistance of switches, efficiency is degraded. In order to counteract this degradation of efficiency, semiconductor switches S1 through S4 must be enlarged in order to alleviate the degradation of efficiency. Power consumption in semiconductor chip 20′ increases in order to drive the four enlarged switches S1 through S4, and, therefore, the semiconductor chip 20′ increases in size due to the above-mentioned issues.
Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. H07 177740 listed below discloses use of a flyback converter for a step-up and step-down means. FIG. 13 shows an example of an ordinary circuit for implementing a flyback converter. Switch S2 in FIG. 13 can be replaced by a diode, likewise implementing the converter.
A conventional transformer is larger than other components of a converter and, as a matter of course, is larger than the inductor 10 used in the step-up and step-down converter shown in FIG. 12. In practice, the size of a transformer is a primary factor in determining the size of a power supply. Therefore, there is no teaching in the common practice by those skilled in the art to use a flyback converter to miniaturize a step-up and step-down converter of FIG. 12; that is, there is no teaching for using a flyback converter for the purpose of implementing a micro power converter of a step-up and step-down type. Rather, the usage of a flyback converter conventionally increases the size of a power converter large-sized. As described above, semiconductor switches are conventionally designed to be increased in number and size in order to improve efficiency. The large size of a semiconductor chip due to the conventional design has not been addressed because an inductor and a transformer are typically much larger than a semiconductor chip and thus, the size of a semiconductor chip itself affects the size of an overall power supply very little.
For implementing a conventional step-up and step-down converter in a micro power converter in these circumstances, the number of semiconductor switches remains at four and the size of a semiconductor chip is reduced by devising layout of the semiconductor chip and semiconductor production process. relying only on these methods of size reductions inhibits implementation of a micro power converter.


Method, device, and non-transitory storage medium to receive peak viewership parameters that indicate one or more program channels to be modeled; query a device that stores viewership data based on the peak viewership parameters; determine a peak viewership for the one or more program channels; query another device that stores network configuration data pertaining to a program delivery network; obtain channel path information pertaining to the one or more program channels; generate peak channel delivery data based on the channel path information and the peak viewership data; and simulate, based on the peak channel delivery data, resource utilization of the program delivery network stemming from a provisioning of the one or more program channels according to a delivery channel format that is different from another delivery channel format that was used to deliver the one or more program channels to subscribers.

Program service providers, such as television service providers, deliver programs to their customers using different types of channels (e.g., Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) channels, Quadrature Amplitude Modulation (QAM) channels, etc.). Managing the assignment of programs to channels, in view of, among other things, available network resources, optimization considerations, and channel requirements, can cause program service providers to expend countless man hours.