A template for measuring the edge width on a disk that is not covered by a coating layer on a top surface of the disk and a method for using such template are disclosed. The template is made of a substantially transparent sheet that has a contour substantially the same as the contour of the disk to be measured. A series of marks are provided on a top surface of the sheet along a peripheral edge of the sheet at numerous predetermined distances from the peripheral edge. The marks may be provided in scribed thin lines, or the marks may be provided in scribed thin lines that are color coded for easier identification purpose. The present invention novel template can be most suitably used on a silicon wafer of any size. However, it can also be used on a disk of any shape or contour to produce the same desirable result.

The present invention generally relates to a template for measuring a distance from an edge of a disk and a method of using the template and more particularly, relates to a template for measuring a distance from a wafer edge after an edge bead rinse process to determine how well the process is centered with the wafer and a method of using the template.
Spin-on-glass (SOG) is frequently used for gap fill and planarization of inter-level dielectrics (ILD) in multi-level metalization structures. It is a suitable material for use in low-cost fabrication of IC circuits. Most commonly used SOG materials are of two basic types; an inorganic type of silicate based SOG and an organic type of siloxane based SOG. One of the commonly used organic type SOG materials is a silicon oxide based polysiloxane which is featured with radical groups replacing or attaching to oxygen atoms. Based on these two basic structures, the molecular weight, the viscosity and the desirable film properties of SOG can be modified and adjusted to suit the requirement of specific IC fabrication process.
SOG film is typically applied to a pre-deposited oxide surface as a liquid to fill gaps and steps on the substrate. Similar to the application method for photoresist films, a SOG material can be dispensed onto a wafer and spun at a rotational speed which determines the thickness of the SOG layer desired. After the film is evenly applied to the surface of the substrate, it is cured at a temperature of approximately 400xc2x0 C. and then etched back to obtain a smooth surface in preparation for a capping oxide layer on which a second interlevel metal may be patterned. The purpose of the etch-back step is to leave SOG between metal lines but not on top of the metal, while the capping oxide layer is used to seal and protect SOG during further fabrication processes. The siloxane based SOG material is capable of filling 0.15 micron gaps and therefore it can be used advantageously in 0.25 micron technology,
When fully cured, silicate SOG has similar properties like those of silicon dioxide. Silicate SOG does not absorb water in significant quantity and is thermally stable. However, one disadvantage of silicate SOG is the large volume shrinkage during curing. As a result, the silicate SOG retains high stress and cracks easily during curing and further handling. The cracking of the SOG layer can cause a serious contamination problem for the fabrication process. The problem can sometimes be avoided by the application of only a thin layer, i.e., 1000xcx9c2000 xc3x85 of the silicate SOG material.
In the current SOG coating process, a solvent edge rinse and a solvent backside rinse process are utilized to remove unwanted SOG deposited on the wafer edge and on the backside of the wafer. This is shown in FIGS. 1xcx9c3. A semiconductor wafer 10 which has a flat side 12 is shown in FIG. 1. After a SOG coating process, a SOG layer 14 is blanket deposited on the top surface 16 of the wafer. The layer is deposited as a dielectric layer for insulating between metal lines. In order to process the wafer in subsequent fabrication steps, the wafer must be positioned in reaction chambers for various processes such as etching or deposition. In most of the process chambers, the wafer is positioned on a platform and held down on the edge by a wafer clamp. The function of the wafer clamp is to prevent the wafer from moving during the process when reactant gases or etching gases may be flowing into the reaction chamber. To enable the wafer clamp to function properly, the edge portion of the wafer of approximately 2xcx9c4 mm wide must be cleaned without any coated material. The edge area 22 on wafer 10 is shown in FIG. 1.
In present wafer fabrication technology, the SOG layer deposited at unintended areas of the wafer can be removed in two different processes. The first process is a solvent edge rinse which is shown in FIG. 2. In this process, wafer 10 is placed on a platform (not shown) and spun at a predetermined rotational speed along a spin axis 26. The rotational speed of the wafer can be suitably adjusted for each specific application depending on the thickness of the layer to be removed and the type of chemical solution used. As shown in FIG. 2, a chemical solution injector 28 is used to inject chemical solution 32 onto the top edge 34 of the wafer. The chemical solution 38 deflected from the edge 34 of the wafer hits the chamber wall 42 and drains to the bottom of the process chamber. The solvent edge rinse process is effective in removing a limited area, i.e., a width of 2xcx9c4 mm, on the top edge of the wafer of an unwanted coating material such as SOG or photoresist.
The second cleaning process is a solvent backside rinse such as that shown in FIG. 3. The backside 48 of wafer 10 can be cleaned by this process. A cleaning solution 52 is injected from a spray nozzle 54 onto the backside 48 of the wafer. The process is also known as a centrifugal spray cleaning process wherein a chemical solution, i.e., normally a good solvent for the coating layer is pressure-fed and injected directly onto the backside of a spinning wafer. The process can be effectively used to reduce the volume of fresh chemical consumed and is normally faster than an immersion process. After the injected chemical solution 52 hits the bottom surface 48 of the wafer, the chemical solution 56 reflects from the backside 48 of the wafer and drains into the bottom of the process tank (not shown). During a normal backside rinse process, the sprayed chemical solution 52 is only capable of rinsing the backside 48 of the wafer and, none of the chemical solution 52 can reach the top surface 16.
After an edge bead rinse process is conducted on a processed silicon wafer 10, the concentricity of the rinse process must be determined in order to assure the quality of the IC dies (not shown) on the wafer 10. Traditionally, this is carried out by using a straight ruler 20 as shown in FIG. 4. The scales 24 on the straight ruler 20 is used to measure the edge rinse width 30. The measurement of the edge rinse width 30 may also be performed by using a caliper (not shown).
The measurement process for the edge rinse width 30 is an important step in the quality control of the edge bead rinse process. For instance, as shown in FIG. 5, when the concentricity of the SOG coating layer 14 is off in relationship to the wafer 10, serious quality problems occur in the numerous IC dies that are located on the edge of the wafer 10. Quality problems arising out of particle contamination may also result due to cracked SOG material. For instance, as shown in FIG. 5, portion 36 of the SOG coating layer resulting from a narrow edge rinse width 40 may cause SOG layer cracking issue in a subsequent process where wafer 10 is held down by a clamp ring (not shown). The excess SOG coating layer 36 when clamped under a ring crack and may cause serious particle contamination problem in a process chamber. On the other hand, at the opposite edge of the wafer 10, an excessively wide area 44 of the edge rinse width occurs in portion 46 of the SOG coating layer. The excessive removal of the SOG coating layer 14 results in some of the IC dies located in the area being damaged by a water jet that was used in the edge bead rinse process. The IC dies are damaged even when a small corner of the die is hit by the high velocity water jet.
A reliable measurement tool and a method for using such tool are therefore important issues in ascertaining the reliability of an edge bead rinse process. The concentricity of the edge bead rinse process in relationship to the wafer must be determined with high accuracy in order to calibrate the edge bead rinse apparatus, i.e., the position of the rinse nozzle. The calibration may be performed both at the beginning of an edge bead rinse process as a step in the set-up procedure, and during subsequent processes for checking reliability, i.e., the concentricity of the rinse pattern must be checked frequently to insure the reliability of the process. The conventional measurement technique of using a ruler or a caliper is inadequate in that it is not only time consuming and operator dependent but also inaccurate and requires many reading points along the circumferential edge of a wafer.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a measurement tool for measuring the edge rinse width on a wafer without the shortcomings or drawbacks of the conventional measurement tools.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a measurement tool for edge rinse width on a wafer after an edge bead rinse process is conducted which can be readily used and is not operator dependent.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a measurement tool for determining edge rinse width on a wafer after an edge bead rinse process is conducted which can be used in a single measurement step.
It is another further object of the present invention to provide a measurement tool for determining edge rinse width on a wafer after an edge bead rinse process is conducted which can be readily used to produce accurate readings.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide a measurement tool for determining edge rinse width on a wafer after an edge bead rinse process is conducted which can be fabricated of a substantially transparent sheeting material.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a measurement tool for determining edge rinse width on a wafer after an edge bead rinse process which incorporates multiple concentric marks placed juxtaposed to a circumferential edge of the wafer.
It is still another further object of the present invention to provide a method for measuring the width of a peripheral region on a disk which has a different optical appearance than the remaining areas on the disk by superimposing a substantially clear template having concentric circles marked on the template in different colors.
It is yet another further object of the present invention to provide a method for measuring the width of a peripheral region on a processed silicon wafer after an edge bead rinse process for determining the concentricity of the process in relationship to the wafer.
In accordance with the present invention, a template for measuring the edge width of a disk and a method for using such template are disclosed.
In a preferred embodiment, a template for measuring the edge width of a disk which is not covered by a coating layer on a top surface of the disk is provided which includes a substantially transparent sheet that has a contour substantially the same as the contour of the disk, a first mark made along a peripheral edge of the sheet at a first distance from the peripheral edge, and a second mark made along a peripheral edge of the sheet at a second distance from the peripheral edge, the second distance is larger than the first distance.
The template for measuring the edge width of a disk may further include a third mark made along a peripheral edge of the sheet at a third distance from the edge, the third distance is greater than the second distance. The disk may be a semiconductor wafer. The first mark and the second mark may be a continuous line having a line width smaller than 0.5 mm. The first mark and the second mark may further be color coded for ease of identification.
In the template for measuring the edge width of a disk, the first distance of the first mark may be less than 5 mm, while the second distance for the second mark may be less than 10 mm. The contour for the substantially transparent sheet may be circular. The coating layer on the top surface of the disk may be a photoresist layer or a spin-on-glass coating layer. The first mark may be a red line formed 2 mm from the peripheral edge, the second mark may be a green line formed 3 mm from the peripheral edge and the third mark may be a yellow line formed 4 mm from the peripheral edge. The edge width measured is an edge rinse width on a silicon wafer. The substantially transparent sheet may be formed of a clear plastic material.
The present invention is further directed to a method for measuring the width of a peripheral region on a disk that has a different optical appearance than the remaining areas on the disk which can be carried out by the operating steps of first providing a substantially transparent sheet which has a contour substantially the same as the contour of the disk, a first mark made along a peripheral edge of the sheet at a first distance from the peripheral edge, and a second mark made along a peripheral edge of the sheet at a second distance from the peripheral edge wherein the second distance is greater than the first distance, then positioning the substantially transparent sheet on top and substantially overlaps the disk, and comparing the positions of the first mark and the second mark with the width of the peripheral region on the disk which has the different optical appearance than the remaining areas on the disk such that a dimension of the peripheral region can be readily determined.
In the method for measuring the width of a peripheral region on a disk, the substantially transparent sheet may further include a third mark made along a peripheral edge of the sheet at a third distance larger than the second distance from the edge. The disk may be a silicon wafer coated with a photoresist layer that has the peripheral edge portion of the layer removed by an edge bead rinse process. The disk may further be a silicon wafer coated with a spin-on-glass coating layer which has the peripheral edge portion of the layer removed in an edge bead rinse process.
The method may further include the step of forming the first and the second mark in a continuous line which has a width smaller than 0.5 mm. The method may further include the step of forming the first and second mark in different colors for ease of identification. The method may further include the step of forming the first mark on the sheet at a first distance of less than 5 mm from the edge of the sheet. The method may further include the step of forming the second mark on the sheet at a distance of less than 10 mm from the edge of the sheet.
In the method, the contour of the substantially transparent sheet may be circular. The method may be used to measure an edge bead rinse width on a silicon wafer after a photoresist or SOG coating process. The method may further include the step of forming the first mark in a red line 2 mm from the circumferential edge, the second mark in a green line 3 mm from the circumferential edge and the third mark in a yellow line 4 mm from the circumferential edge of a silicon wafer. The method may further include the step of forming the substantially transparent sheet in a clear plastic material.

Template for measuring edge width and method of using

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd


A convertible roof includes a segmented pair of front roof rails that in-fold when being retracted, thereby reducing the packaging space required to stow the convertible roof. The in-folding of the segmented front roof rails is controlled by linkages between the segmented portions and the number one roof bow and synchronizes and constrains the in-folding of the segmented front roof rails. A dampening device is utilized to dampen a portion of the movement of the top stack mechanism between extended and retracted positions.

The present invention relates to convertible roofs and, more particularly, to in-folding convertible roofs.
Traditional soft-top convertible roofs for automotive vehicles typically employ three, four or five roof bows, having an inverted U-shape spanning transversely across the vehicle for supporting a vinyl, canvass or polyester fabric pliable roof cover. A number one roof bow is mounted to a pair of front roof rails and is typically latched to a stationary front header panel of the automotive vehicle body disposed above the front windshield. A number two roof bow is typically mounted to either the front roof rails or to a pair of center roof rails which are pivotally connected to the front roof rails. Furthermore, a number three, four and any additional optional roof bows are commonly mounted to either the center pair of roof rails or to a pair of rear roof rails which are pivotally coupled to the center roof rails. The roof cover can also have a hard or rigid portion along with the pliable portion. For example, reference should be made to U.S. Pat. No. 5,429,409 entitled "Convertible Top", which is incorporated by reference herein.
Most traditional convertible roofs are stowed in a bootwell or stowage compartment that is located aft of a passenger compartment in the vehicle. A boot or tonneau cover is then used to cover the bootwell and conceal the convertible roof from view and/or protect the stowed roof from the environment. Optionally, a portion of the convertible roof can be visible when in the stowed position and provide a desired appearance for the vehicle.
Traditional soft-top convertible roofs, such as those discussed above, can present a packaging (stowing) difficulty when it is desired to use a "Z" folding roof. The difficulty is more pronounced when a "Z" folding roof is desired to be used on a larger vehicle (vehicle having front and rear seating areas). Additionally, the use of three pairs of coupled roof rails also adds to the packaging difficulty. The three pairs of coupled roof rails are pivoted relative and stacked upon one another. The packaging size of such a retraction mechanism requires the stowage compartment to accommodate the various lengths of the roof rails.
The available space for the stowage compartment in a vehicle, however, may be at a premium. That is, while it is desirable to provide a vehicle with a convertible roof, it is also desirable to provide sufficient storage space in the vehicle for use in storing objects other than the convertible roof. Thus, it would be advantageous to minimize the packaging space required to stow the convertible roof while maximizing the available space for other purposes, such as maintaining or increasing the size of the passenger compartment and/or the size of the general storage area or trunk of the vehicle when produced with a convertible roof.
Moreover, when the convertible roof spans a large passenger seating area the controlling of the final movements of the convertible roof when being raised or retracted may cause significant stress or torque to be exhibited on the components of the convertible roof. This increased force may be undesirable and may cause a reduction in the lifespan of the components that comprise and drive the convertible roof. Thus, it would be advantageous to minimize the impact or force imparted on the driving components of the convertible roof when reaching the fully extended or fully retracted state.
In accordance with the present invention, a convertible roof is provided which includes a segmented pair of front roof rails that in-fold when being retracted. The in-folding advantageously reduces the packaging space required to stow the convertible roof. In another aspect of the present invention, in-folding of the segmented front roof rails is controlled by synchronizing linkages between the segmented portions and the number one roof bow which synchronize the in-folding of the segmented front roof rails. The synchronization advantageously eliminates side-to-side drift of the convertible roof when moving between the raised and stowed positions. In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a damper is employed to dampen a portion of the motion of the convertible roof as the top reaches a fully extended and fully retracted position. The dampening advantageously reduces high forces or stresses that are imparted on the drive mechanisms during the movement of the convertible roof between the extended and retracted positions.
Along with reducing the packaging space and/or excessive force or stress, additional objects, advantages and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following description and the pending claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. It should be understood that the detailed description and the specific examples, while indicating the preferred embodiment of the invention, are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention.


An electric stimulator for alpha-wave derivation is characterized in that frequency selected from a range of 1 Hz to 50 Hz, preferably, 7 Hz to 14 Hz, and an output voltage are applied to auricle of a patient's ears to derive alpha-waves, and that cycle and intensity of stimulation are varied depending upon body temperature and blood sugar. Prompt reaction may be obtained by directly applying the voltage to the ears, and the reaction may continue when stimulation is extended. In addition, it is suitable to treat various diseases having common cause due to stress or arousal reaction in the human body.

Recently, an electric stimulator for vagus nerves can now be used for treating epilepsy and hypochondria with FDA approval to the cervix. In addition, it was reported that the electric stimulator is effective for treatment of obesity in epileptics. According to the electric stimulating therapy for cervix of vagus nerves, the vagus nerves serve as transferring paths, which transfer arousal information of lower organs to the cerebrum. Since the vagus nerves are frequency dependent, a difference that induces synchronous waves and asynchronous waves in brain waves were discovered (see "Vagus Nerve Stimulation" by Steven C. Schachter and Clifford B. Saper: Epilepsia 39: 682, 1998).
Relating to the treatment by use of stimulation of the cervix of vagus nerves, it was reported in oriental medicine that obesity, pains and internal organ diseases could be treated by acupuncture to both ears. Since a theoretical basis of oriental medicine is based upon a therapy using energy and meridians, the ear acupuncture therapy overlooks a role of stimulus conduction via nerves. Therefore, oriental medicine does not present a fundamental method of accurate treatment.
A region (meridian) in which acupuncture is to be performed for treating obesity, pains and internal organ diseases in oriental medicine corresponds to a region in charge of conducting stimulus via the cervix of vagus nerves. Meanwhile, it was reported in western medicine that electric stimulation therapy using the cervix of vagus nerves to treat epilepsy or hypochondria has a remarkable effect in obesity treatment (see "Activation of the Satiety Center by Auricular Acupuncture Point Stimulation" by Asamoto S and Takeshige C: Brain Res Bull 29(2): 157-164, August 1992). Electric stimulators for applying electric stimulation to both ears have been proposed in Japan (1994 and 2001), in which the stimulators are to stimulate the region (meridian) known as an obesity treating point in oriental medicine. However, the stimulators are not utilized as an alpha-wave generating apparatus, which can obtain effects of psychological stability and treatment of various diseases by suppressing stress reaction of a human body. The reason why its object is different from each other is that the electric stimulating frequency and its intensity for generating alpha-waves are remarkably different from each other.
Recently, the electric stimulation therapy using the cervix of vagus nerves is performed by removing wanted skin to expose the cervix of vagus nerves, winding a coil around the cervix, and grafting a microchip therein. However, operation costs are very expensive, and the region must be again operated on every few years in order to replace the battery. In addition, a permanent scar is left due to the incision, and a patient's heart is at risk as a result of the operation. Furthermore, the patient is under a lot of mental stress due to operation.
Meanwhile, according to oriental medicine of performing acupuncture to the ear, although treatment effect for obesity, pains and internal organs diseases are substantially regarded as treatment effect due to stimulation of the vagus nerves, it places special stress on energy and meridians, thereby disregarding the effect of stimulation via nerves. Accordingly, since oriental medicine does not know acknowledge that the simulation conducting effect of the vagus nerves is differently derived depending upon the frequency by electrical synapse of the vagus nerves, effective treatment is not performed. In addition, a patient must go to hospital every day so that acupuncture may be performed. Since a chronic disease results from the reduction or blunting of regulation of vagus nerves, a patient's symptoms relapse when acupuncture is not performed. Therefore, a patient's life is encumbered, because of frequent visits to hospital throughout the patient's life (see "Dynamics of Obesity" by Sun-Hyen Shin; Clinical Obesity 2nd Edition, 27, 2001).
Recently, some methods for deriving alpha-waves have been proposed: one is to derive synchronization of brain waves of the central nervous system by radiating light and sound having a constant cycle to eyes and ears (for example, Mcsquare™); and the other is to derive synchronization of brain waves by directly radiating a magnetic field from the exterior of skull to the interior thereof (for example, Solomon™). Although stimulation is derived during a long period of time, the synchronization deriving effect can be obtained after only a short period of time. The above methods do not directly but indirectly derive the brain waves by indirect transmission of stimulation to the cerebral cell. The effect does not promptly happen; and the reaction does not continue when stimulation is extended. Accordingly, it is not suitable to treat various diseases having common cause due to stress or arousal reaction in the human body by such methods.

Electric stimilator for alpha-wave derivation


According to the present invention, groups each of whose number of photographed image data is large and whose photographing dates/times are consecutive are integrated as an important group, so that image data, for example, corresponding to a series of images photographed during event or the like over a few days can be classified into an important group automatically, and a level of importance of the image data can be calculated. Thereby, retrieving of stored images is facilitated and utilization rate of images can be increased.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus and an image processing program, and particularly to a technology for storing an image in a manner that the image can be easily retrieved.
2. Description of the Related Art
In Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-233624, there is proposed that a method for facilitating image retrieving by associating a digital image with emotional information and a user identifier.
In recent years, as electronic cameras and camera cell phones become popular, there are many opportunities to capture images, and image data is stored in various media such as a memory of an electronic camera, a memory of a cell phone, and a personal computer (PC). Such images are generally stored in a hard disk device, a CD or the like.

Image processing apparatus and image processing program for creating first image groups based on photographing time and creating second image groups from the first image groups


A rig (10) for selectively inserting coiled tubing or threaded tubulars into a well includes a mast (14) extending upward from a mast carrier (12), and a coiled tubing injector (16) and a coiled tubing reel (26) supported on a coiled tubing carrier (28) separate from the mast carrier. The mast (14) may be pivotal on the mast carrier to attach the coiled tubing injector 16 to the mast while the injector is supported on the coiled tubing carrier.

Various styles of rigs have been proposed for utilizing both coiled tubing and threaded tubulars to be selectively inserted through the rig floor and into the well. Rigs conventionally include a mast extending upward from a rig base when in an operative position. Rigs sometimes referred to as universal rigs include both a coiled tubing injector supported on the mast to insert coiled tubing into the well, and a top drive movable along an axis of the mast when in the operative position to insert a threaded tubular into the well.
Rigs with coiled tubing injectors have traditionally relied primarily upon the use of the coiled tubing to conduct downhole operations. Coiled tubing is thus conventionally used to suspend a downhole motor in the well, with fluid pumped through the coiled tubing to drive the downhole motor and drill the well. Other operations may also be conducted with coiled tubing in a manner more efficient than if conducted with threaded tubulars. Top drives have also been provided on the mast of universal rigs for inserting a threaded tubular into a well, although typically top drives have been used to threadably connect sections of a bottom hole assembly or to run surface casing in the well, and generally have not been used to drill substantial portions of the well. Accordingly, when a plurality of tubular joints are run in or out of the well utilizing the top drive, the tubular joints are threadably connected or disconnected, and are pulled up or laid down on the rig floor through the V-door of the rig. This operation takes a considerable amount of time and is thus costly.
One of the problems with rigs adapted for conducting both coiled tubing and conventional threaded tubular operations involves both the practical and government-imposed limitations on the weight for a trailer or other carrier being transported along public roadways to a rig site. Depending on the size of the drilling rig, the coiled tubing reel, the coiled tubing injector, the top drive, and the mast may all be supported on a single carrier. In other embodiments, the weight of these components does not allow for a sufficient amount of coiled tubing to be placed on the same carrier with the mast, the top drive, and the injector. Accordingly, an injector may be transported with the mast on a mast carrier separate from the coiled tubing reel on a coiled tubing carrier, in which case the end of the coiled tubing must be threaded through the injector before the injector becomes operational at the well site. Additional difficulties are encountered to safely release the coiled tubing from the injector after the coiled tubing operation is complete. In other applications, the mast is transported to the well site separate from the substructure which includes a work platform, and the mast is raised to extend upward from the work platform. Another carrier may be used to transport the coiled tubing reel to the well site. These difficulties have decreased the efficiency of coiled tubing units, and may be create safety problems.
The disadvantages of the prior art are overcome by the present invention, and an improved rig is hereinafter disclosed for selectively inserting coiled tubing or threaded tubulars into a well.


Techniques for tracking software platform utilization by a plurality of entities are described herein. In an embodiment, a management computer system stores first entity data defining a first entity and associating the first entity with a plurality of first accounts, the first entity having access to the management computer system programmed which provides options for performing a plurality of tasks. The management computer system tracks a first plurality of interactions with the management computer system that are performed by each of the plurality of first accounts. The management computer system stores first interaction data defining one or more aspects of interaction with the management computer system that are performed by each of the plurality of first accounts. The management computer system stores second entity data defining a plurality of second entities and associating each of the plurality of second entities with a plurality of second accounts. The management computer system tracks a second plurality of interactions with the management computer system that are performed by each of the plurality of second accounts. The management computer system stores second interaction data defining the one or more aspects of interaction with the management computer system performed by each of the plurality of second accounts. The management computer system computes one or more first metrics for the first entity based, at least in part, on the tracked first interaction data. The management computer system computes one or more second metrics for the plurality of second entities based, at least in part, on the tracked second interaction data. The management computer system generates a display comprising a comparison between the one or more first metrics for the first entity and the one or more second metrics for the plurality of second entities.

The approaches described in this section are approaches that could be pursued, but not necessarily approaches that have been previously conceived or pursued. Therefore, unless otherwise indicated, it should not be assumed that any of the approaches described in this section qualify as prior art merely by virtue of their inclusion in this section.
Configurable software platforms allow companies to focus on business strategies without requiring the companies to generate their own software platforms. As the needs of different types of customers may vary widely, modern software platforms are often built to be configurable to a wide variety of use cases. Software platforms that allow users to define their own variables, rules, operations, jobs, and reports are useful for providing flexibility in deployment. This allows two companies with completely different needs to use the same software, and customize projects to their own specific use cases.
Often with deployments of software packages, specific features of the software packages tend to be overlooked by users associated with a single entity. While configurable software packages can be extremely useful for entities with a large number of users, it is difficult to determine whether the software package is being properly utilized as information as to which features are utilized by the users associated with an entity are not readily available.
Additionally, even if a system administrator is able to identify which features of a software platform are being used and to what extent, there is no way for the system administrator to determine whether the use of the features by the users associated with the entity is abnormal as a determination of abnormality would require knowledge of the use of features by other entities. Even if such information were available, due to different purposes and business requirements, feature use may only be comparable across businesses of similar size or businesses that perform similar functions.
Thus, there is a need for a system which can track use of features of a software platform by different entities. Additionally, there is a need for a system which can identify entities for comparison and generate and display comparison metrics for a particular entity.

Tracking interactions with a software platform and identifying underutilization of software platform features in a specific deployment


The present invention is directed to a delivery catheter for use in deploying a vascular prosthesis having a self-expanding radial distal section joined to a helical section for use in a wide range of interventional applications. The delivery catheter comprises an elongated member having a balloon disposed adjacent to a distal end of the member, means for engaging the distal section of the vascular prosthesis against axial translation, and a sheath that restrains the vascular prosthesis against the elongated member during transluminal delivery. The balloon also may be used to perform angioplasty of a stenosis located within the vessel prior to deployment of the vascular prosthesis. Methods of using the delivery catheter of the present invention also are provided.

Today there are a wide range of intravascular prostheses on the market for use in the treatment of aneurysms, stenoses, and other vascular irregularities. Balloon expandable and self-expanding stents are well known for restoring patency in a stenosed vessel, e.g., after an angioplasty procedure, and the use of coils and stents are known techniques for treating aneurysms.
Previously-known self-expanding stents generally are retained in a contracted delivery configuration using a sheath, then self-expand when the sheath is retracted. Such stents commonly have several drawbacks, for example, the stents may experience large length changes during expansion (referred to as "foreshortening") and may shift within the vessel prior to engaging the vessel wall, resulting in improper placement. Additionally, many self-expanding stents have relatively large delivery profiles because the configuration of their struts limits further compression of the stent. Accordingly, such stents may not be suitable for use in smaller vessels, such as cerebral vessels and coronary arteries.
Other drawbacks associated with the use of coils or stents in the treatment of aneurysms is that the devices, when deployed, may have a tendency to straighten or otherwise remodel a delicate cerebral vessel, which may cause further adverse consequences. Moreover, such devices may not adequately reduce blood flow from the cerebral vessel into the sac of the aneurysm, which may increase the likelihood of rupture. Generally, if a greater surface area is employed to cover the sac, the delivery profile of the device may be compromised due to the increased surface area, and the device also may be more rigid and cause remodeling of the vessel.
For example, PCT Publication WO 00/62711 to Rivelli describes a stent comprising a helical mesh coil having a plurality of turns and including a lattice having a multiplicity of pores. The lattice is tapered along its length. In operation, the plurality of turns are wound into a reduced diameter helical shape, then constrained within a delivery sheath. The delivery sheath is retracted to expose the distal portion of the stent and anchor the distal end of the stent. As the delivery sheath is further retracted, subsequent individual turns of the stent unwind to conform to the diameter of the vessel wall.
The stent described in the foregoing publication has several drawbacks. For example, due to friction between the turns and the sheath, the individual turns of the stent may bunch up, or overlap with one another, when the delivery sheath is retracted. U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,768,507 to Fischell et al. and 6,576,006 to Limon et al., each describe the use of a groove disposed on an outer surface of an interior portion of the stent delivery catheter, wherein at least a portion of the stent is disposed within the groove to prevent axial movement during proximal retraction of the sheath. However, the approach described in those patents results in a larger profile for the delivery catheter than might otherwise be possible.
In addition, once the sheath of the delivery catheter is fully retracted, the turns of a ribbon-type stent may shift within the vessel prior to engaging the vessel wall, resulting in improper placement of the stent. Still further, because the distal portion of the stent may provide insufficient engagement with the vessel wall during subsequent retraction of the remainder of the sheath, ambiguity concerning accuracy of the stent placement may arise.
In addition, when using a ribbon-type stent to restore patency to a vessel following angioplasty, it typically is necessary to first insert a dilatation catheter over a pre-placed guide wire, perform angioplasty, remove the balloon dilatation catheter, and then insert the stent delivery catheter. To minimize the procedure time and trauma associated with exchanging the stent delivery catheter for the balloon dilatation catheter, it would be advantageous to provide a stent delivery catheter for ribbon-type stents that in addition included a balloon component for performing angioplasty prior to delivering the stent.
In view of these drawbacks of previously known devices, it has been proposed in copending and commonly assigned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/342,427, filed Jan. 13, 2003, to provide an implantable vascular prosthesis comprising a ribbon-type stent body joined at its distal end to a radially expandable anchor. As described in that application, the radially expandable anchor is deployed first to anchor the distal-most portion of the ribbon-type stent body, thereby enhancing accuracy of placement of the prosthesis.
Although the prosthesis described in the above-mentioned application overcomes many of the drawbacks of previously know ribbon-type stents, it has been observed that some proximal movement of the radially expandable anchor may occur during proximal withdrawal of a sheath used to retain the anchor in its delivery configuration.
It further would be desirable to provide means for anchoring a distal end of the delivery catheter to the vessel wall, prior to deployment of the radially expandable anchor, so as to prevent inadvertent axial movement of the delivery catheter during withdrawal of the sheath of the delivery catheter.
It also would be desirable to provide a delivery catheter suitable for use with ribbon-type stents that permits angioplasty to be performed with the same catheter as used for stent delivery, thereby reducing complexity of the procedure and eliminating a need to exchange a stent delivery catheter for an angioplasty catheter.

Delivery catheter for ribbon-type prosthesis and methods of use


Systems and methods for providing features that enable anti-malware protection on storage devices are described. In one embodiment, a storage device includes a controller, firmware, and memory. The controller manages input/output operations for the storage device. The firmware provides features for protection against malware. The memory includes secure storage that is configured to provide a set of storage operations.

Security is an important problem for any compute platform having data that resides in a storage device. Malware threats are growing at exponential rate. Malware (e.g., low level malware like rootkits) is getting stealthier and is attacking the host (personal computer) system stack far below the protection provided by anti-virus/anti-malware (AV/AM) approaches. Once low level malware has infected the system, a state of the system as seen by AV/AM is in control of the malware.
The AV/AM approaches provided by independent software vendor (ISV) applications desire access to virus and malware information in the storage device to assess the nature and level of security threats posed by virus and malware at any given instant, as well as to assess the impact (e.g., return on investment (ROI)) particular AV/AM actions taken in a network may have. This includes securely logging which viruses were detected, which viruses were cleaned, when the viruses were cleaned, etc.

Systems and methods for providing anti-malware protection and malware forensics on storage devices


Memory devices, memory device operational methods, and memory device implementation methods are described. According to one arrangement, a memory device includes memory circuitry configured to store data in a plurality of different data states, temperature sensor circuitry configured to sense a temperature of the memory device and to generate an initial temperature output which is indicative of the temperature of the memory device, and conversion circuitry coupled with the temperature sensor circuitry and configured to convert the initial temperature output into a converted temperature output which is indicative of the temperature of the memory device at a selected one of a plurality of possible different temperature resolutions, and wherein the converted temperature output is utilized by the memory circuitry to implement at least one operation with respect to storage of the data.

Memory devices are widely used in varied electronic devices and are used in many different applications for storing digital data. Many different types of memory are available, each using a different fundamental technology for storing data, and the memory may be volatile or non-volatile memory. Resistive random-access memory (RRAM) including conductive-bridge random-access memory (CBRAM) and flash are examples of non-volatile memory.
Memory devices store data in a plurality of memory cells. The operation of the memory cells may be varied (e.g., cell current) dependent upon ambient temperature of the memory devices. In particular, some memory systems utilize semiconductive materials for data storage and the performance of these semiconductive materials may be affected by changes in temperature.
At least some embodiments are directed towards methods and apparatus for providing temperature information, for example, for use in implementing temperature compensation within memory systems in one illustrative embodiment.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


Provided are a method and apparatus for wear-leveling of a nonvolatile data storage device, whereby a wear-leveling effect is maximized by storing an age value indicating a write time in each data unit of the nonvolatile data storage device and detecting a static data area based on age values. The method includes storing an age value indicating a write time in each unit assigned to write data therein, reading an age value stored in a unit, and determining a static data area based on the read age value. Accordingly, a static data area can be correctly detected without additional overhead, and a wear-leveling effect of the entire storage device can be increased by moving data to and from the static data area, thereby extending the lifespan of the storage device.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a wear-leveling method, and more particularly, to a method and apparatus for wear-leveling of a nonvolatile data storage device, whereby a wear-leveling effect is maximized by storing an age value indicating a write time in each data unit of the nonvolatile data storage device and detecting a static data area by using age values.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recently, flash memories, which are a kind of nonvolatile data storage device used in various multimedia devices including mobile devices, are being widely used as a preferred storage device due to characteristics of flash memories, such as low power consumption, small size, low heat production and high stability, and also due to the rapidly increasing storage size of a single flash memory.
However, in general, flash memories have a slow programming (write) speed, and, in order to update a block in which data is recorded, the block must be erased before a write operation is performed with respect to the block.
Every block that constitutes a basic unit of an erase operation can endure a number of erase counts, termed the endurance condition. For example, 100,000 erase counts for a Single Level Cell (SLC) type and 10,000 erase counts for a Multiple Level Cell (MLC) type. The endurance condition is also applied to other nonvolatile data storage devices in which write and erase operations can be performed, and thus, the description below can be generally applied to all nonvolatile data storage devices.
If frequent update occurs in a specific block of a memory, a bad block may be generated due to an aging process, resulting in a rapid decrease of lifespan of the entire memory. In order to prevent the aging process, a file system which is used to manage flash memories, such as Flash Translation Layer (FTL) system, requires a wear-leveling scheme, and a lifespan of a memory significantly depends on a wear-leveling method employed.
FIG. 1 is a graph showing the number of erase counts per block of a flash memory when using a counting runtime only method according to the prior art.
A wear-leveling method used to manage the number of erase counts generally uses a method of storing the number of erase counts per block, which can be divided into two methods. A first method is a method in which a management table containing information on the number of erase counts is stored in the flash memory, and a second method is a method in which the management table containing information on the number of erase counts is stored in a memory (Random Access Memory (RAM)) of a system driving the flash memory. The above described second method is the counting runtime only method.
According to the first method (stored in the flash memory), the number of erase counts with a physical block address of the flash memory is stored in a block map table included in the flash memory, and only a map table cache is stored in the system memory. Thus, since the number of erase counts per block is stored in the flash memory, correct wear-leveling of the flash memory can be performed, however, computational overheads of the block map table become twice as large due to the additional information on the number of erase counts.
According to the second method (the counting runtime only method), only the physical block address is stored in the block map table included in the flash memory, and the information on the number of erase counts is stored and managed in the system memory in a form of an erase count array. Since the information on the number of erase counts is reset when power of the system is turned off, it is difficult to perform ideal wear-leveling of the flash memory, however, no computational overhead is required to update the block map table included in the flash memory.
Referring to FIG. 1, when the second method (the counting runtime only method) in which there is no computational overhead is used, the number of erase counts is shown generally even due to the wear-leveling method by means of management of the number of erase counts, address re-mapping and garbage collection functions basically operated by the FTL.
Referring to block numbers 0 to 749, it can be seen that differences between erase counts per block are not very large.
However, referring to block numbers 749 to 953 (referred to as reference numeral 110), the number of erase counts per block is very small, and thus, a difference of the number of erase counts between the blocks of the block numbers 749 to 953 and other surrounding blocks is very large. The area 110 is a static data area in which data is secured for a long time without being updated or erased. When the second method is used, it is difficult to exactly detect the static data area 110 due to resetting of information on the number of erase counts.
In a wear-leveling method using the second method (the counting runtime only method), since information regarding wear (information on the number of erase counts) is reset when power of a system is turned off, if the static data area 110 is widely distributed throughout the storage device a wear-leveling effect is considerably decreased.
FIG. 2 is a flowchart for describing a wear-leveling method with respect to static areas in a flash memory according to the prior art.
Referring to FIG. 2, in the wear-leveling method with respect to static areas according to the prior art, a number of write or erase operations is counted in operation 210, and when a counting value is a multiple number of a selected number, e.g. 1000, a random process is activated in operation 220, and the wear-leveling method begins in operation 230. By setting a specific selection order in operation 240 or activating a random process in operation 250, a unit is selected in operation 260, data of the selected unit is moved to another free unit in operation 270, and the selected unit is erased.
However, according to the wear-leveling method, since movement or swapping of blocks occurs with respect to the entire flash memory using a random function, swapping of blocks which are not in a static data area occurs frequently. That is, since swapping between free units or swapping of blocks frequently updated occurs and an unnecessary erase operation accompanying the swapping occurs additionally, the lifespan of the entire flash memory is reduced.

Method and apparatus for detecting static data area, wear-leveling, and merging data units in nonvolatile data storage device


A semiconductor memory device including a plurality of memory blocks MBA0, MBA1, MBB0, MBB1; a plurality of bus lines 26 provided respectively associated with the plurality of memory blocks; a plurality of input/output ports 22a, 22b; a selector 28a, 28b selectively connecting each of the plurality of bus lines to one of the plurality of input/output ports; and a setting unit 38a, 38b setting a connection of the selector.

Recently, an electronic device, e.g., a CPU (Central Processing Unit) and a GPU (Graphics Processing Unit) are mounted on is proposed.
In such electronic device, a plurality of memory devices of the same specifications are mounted, one of the plurality of memory devices is used for, e.g., the CPU and the other of the plurality of memory devices is used for, e.g., the GPU.
Related references are as follows:    Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2000-40375;    Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. Hei 6-332797;    Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2000-30457; and    Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2004-118915.

Semiconductor memory device and electronic device


Various methods and systems are provided for classification using correntropy. In one embodiment, a classifying device includes a processing unit and memory storing instructions in modules that when executed by the processing unit cause the classifying device to adaptively classify a data value using a correntropy loss function. In another embodiment, a method includes adjusting a weight of a classifier based at least in part on a change in a correntropy loss function signal and classifying a data value using the classifier. In another embodiment, a method includes classifying a data value by predicting a label for the data value using a discriminant function, determining a correntopy statistical similarity between the predicted label and an actual label based at least in part on a correntropy loss function, and minimizing an expected risk associated with the predicted label based at least in part on a correntropy statistical similarity.

Classification assigns labels to data based upon a decision rule. A convex surrogate loss function is used as the training loss function in many classification procedures. Within the statistical learning community, convex surrogates are preferred because of the virtues that convexity brings—unique optimum, efficient optimization using convex optimization tools, amenability to theoretical analysis of error bounds, etc. However, convex functions are poor approximations for a wide variety of problems.

University of Florida Reseach Foundation, Inc.


In a surgical tubular-shafted instrument comprising a tubular shaft and a gripping part connected thereto, a tool pivotable about an axis of rotation extending transversely to the longitudinal axis of the shaft, and a push element in the shaft, the push element being movable by the gripping part in the longitudinal direction of the shaft and being in engagement with the tool by using projections and recesses arranged in spaced relation to the axis of rotation of the tool such that the tool is pivotable about its axis of rotation upon displacement of the push element, in order to make higher loading possible with small dimensions, it is proposed that a ring-shaped cage be arranged on the push element and surround the axis of rotation of the tool and the point of engagement of the projection and the recess, and the inside wall of the cage carry the projection or the recess of the push element.

The invention relates to a surgical tubular-shafted instrument comprising a tubular shaft and a gripping part connected thereto, a tool pivotable about an axis of rotation extending transversely to the longitudinal axis of the shaft, and a push element in the shaft, the push element being movable by the gripping part in the longitudinal direction of the shaft and being in engagement with the tool by means of projections and recesses arranged in spaced relation to the axis of rotation of the tool such that the tool is pivotable about its axis of rotation upon displacement of the push element.
Such surgical tubular-shafted instruments are known, for example, from U.S. Pat. No. 5,509,923. For pivotal movement of the two parts of the tool, these carry a toothed segment which meshes with an elongate toothed segment on the push element and thus transforms the translational movement of the push element into a rotational movement of the tool parts.
Tubular-shafted instruments of this kind often have a very small diameter and, therefore, it is difficult to achieve the necessary stability with such small diameters. With such tubular-shafted instruments, it thus often proves impossible to generate the desired closing forces for the tool.
With the known tubular-shafted instrument construction, there is, in particular, the danger that the operative connection between the projections and the recesses will become disengaged by deformation of the material used. The meshing projections and recesses may "snap out" or become completely disengaged.


A floating unit comprises: a stationary portion; a movable portion supported to be movable relative to the stationary portion and including an article support; a support disposed between the stationary portion and the movable portion, the support having a plurality of rolling elements rotatably held by a holder between an upwardly facing first contact surface provided on the stationary portion and a downwardly facing second contact surface provided on the movable portion, whereby the support is movable in all horizontal directions relative to the movable portion and the stationary portion; a movable portion returning device for biasing the movable portion relative to the stationary portion toward a reference position for receiving an article; and a support returning device for biasing the support horizontally relative to the stationary portion toward a reference position for holding the movable portion.

This invention relates to a floating unit including a movable portion an article support and supported through a rolling type support to movable in all horizontal directions relative to a stationary portion, and movable portion returning means for moving the movable portion relative to the stationary portion back to a reference position for receiving an article, wherein the rolling type support has a plurality of rolling elements rotatably held by a holder between an upwardly facing first contact surface provided on the stationary portion and a downwardly facing second contact surface provided on the movable portion, whereby the support is movable in all horizontal directions relative to the movable portion and the stationary portion. The invention relates also to an article support apparatus having such floating units.
The above floating unit is mainly used in an article support apparatus for horizontally movably supporting an article, and horizontally positioning the article in a reference position for transfer. That is, the article support apparatus includes a pair of right and left elongate frames extending parallel to each other for receiving and supporting the article. Each of the frames has a plurality of such floating units arranged longitudinally thereof. A positioning device is provided for moving to the reference position for transfer the article supported by the plurality of floating units arranged on each of the pair of frames. Through a space between the pair of frames, a fork-type article transfer device, for example, puts an article on the pair of frames, and takes out the article placed on the frames. The positioning device positions the article placed on the frames to the reference position for transfer.
This article support apparatus is used in various forms. The apparatus will be described taking for example the case of storing an article supplied from outside in a warehouse. When the fork-type article transfer device supplies the article from outside to the pair of frames in the article support apparatus, the positioning device is operated to position the article in the reference position for transfer. Next, with the positioning action canceled, an article transfer device of the warehouse takes the article from the pair of frames in the article support apparatus, and stores it in the warehouse. In order to retain the article reliably in the reference position for transfer when the positioning action of the positioning device has been canceled, a retaining device may be provided for retaining the movable portion of each floating unit in the position established by the positioning device.
That is, after the article is supplied to the article support apparatus and the positioning device is operated to position the article in the reference position for transfer, the retaining device is operated to retain the movable portion of each floating unit in the position established by the positioning device. When the article transfer device of the warehouse takes the article from the article support apparatus after the positioning action of the positioning device is canceled, the movable portion of each floating unit is retained by the retaining device in the position for transfer set by the positioning device. After the takeout of the article is completed, the position retaining action of the retaining device is canceled. Then, the movable portion is moved by the movable portion return device back to the reference position for receiving an article. The movable portion can properly receive and support a next article supplied to the article support apparatus.
In another form of use, the article support apparatus may be used where an article is a storage cassette holding a plurality of plate-like objects such as glass plates. The plate-like objects stored in the storage cassette are supplied to processing equipment for processing the plate-like objects. This example will be described hereinafter. The article support apparatus is installed as corresponding to the processing equipment for processing the plate-like objects. The storage cassette is supplied from outside to the pair of frames in the article support apparatus using a fork-type article transfer device, for example. Next, the positioning device is operated to position the storage cassette in the reference position for transfer. In this state, a plate-like object transfer device of the processing equipment takes the plate-like objects successively from the storage cassette, and supplies the objects to the processing equipment. The storage cassette from which the plate-like objects have been taken may be transported after the plate-like objects are returned from the processing equipment, or may be transported in a state of being empty of plate-like objects. In either case, when transporting the storage cassette, the positioning action of the positioning device is canceled first. The movable portion retaining device moves the movable portion of each floating unit back to the reference position for receiving an article. Then, the fork-type article transfer device returns the storage cassette to the position to which the cassette was supplied from outside. In the state, the fork-type article transfer device takes out the article placed on the pair of frames in the article support apparatus.
The floating units used in the article support apparatus will be described further. When the positioning device moves the article horizontally in order to move the horizontal position of the article to the reference position for transfer, the movable portion moves horizontally from the reference position for receiving an article, and the rolling type support also moves horizontally by rolling of the rolling elements. When the movable portion is moved by the movable portion returning means back to the reference position for receiving an article, the rolling type support also returns to a reference position for holding the movable portion by rolling of the rolling elements, with the movement of the movable portion. The reference position for holding the movable portion is set to a position where the annular rolling type support is substantially concentric with the disk-shaped movable portion in the reference position for receiving an article (see Japanese Patent Publication No. 2001-2213, for example).
However, in the conventional construction described above, the rolling type support returns to the reference position for holding the movable portion by rolling of the rolling elements, with movement of the movable portion. When the movable portion returning means returns the movable portion to the reference position for receiving an article, slips can occur between the rolling elements of the rolling type support and the rolling element contact surface of the movable portion or the rolling element contact surface of the stationary portion. Consequently, although the movable portion has returned to the reference position for receiving an article, the rolling type support may not be returned properly to the reference position for holding the movable portion.
The rolling type support, when located in the reference position for holding the movable portion, is set to be capable of guiding the movable portion to move substantially the same distance in all horizontal directions. Unless the rolling type support can be returned properly to the reference position for holding the movable portion, an inconvenience occurs that the distance the movable portion can be moved is different for different horizontal directions.
The conventional article support apparatus with the floating units having the construction described above has a disadvantage of failing to move properly an article placed thereon to the reference position for transfer.

Floating unit, and an article support apparatus having floating units


An improved blood pressure measuring device includes a filter intermediate the pressure cuff and the bleed valve to prevent dust, dirt, and other debris from clogging the bleed valve and causing significant damage to the blood pressure measuring device. Further, a data processor assembly is operated in accordance with a method designed to compensate the blood pressure measurement for any resistance added to the pneumatic system as a result of the air filter. The data processor assembly further determines when the filter is clogged thereby indicating that the measurement can no longer be accepted as accurate and the device may be dangerous to the patient.

Devices for automatically measuring blood pressure have become increasingly more popular. These devices typically allow a user to obtain quick blood pressure measurements without requiring a stethoscope or medical personnel. Further, due to the automated nature of these devices, the user does not need to participate in making the measurement except to put a conventional blood pressure cuff to his arm and start the measurement.
Most automated blood pressure measuring devices currently available rely upon a processor controlled pneumatic system to increase the pressure of the cuff enough to occlude the brachial artery. Once the cuff has attained a pressure sufficient to substantially occlude the brachial artery, the processor controlled pneumatic system slowly decreases the pressure of the cuff, either continuously or in increments. As the pressure of the cuff is reduced, the processor controlled pneumatic system records the pressure of the cuff at regular increments.
When the pressure in the cuff is reduced to systolic pressure, the flow of blood through the brachial artery beneath the cuff increases substantially. Following each contraction of the heart, blood flows through the brachial artery imparting pulsatile movement to the wall of the artery. This pulsatile movement causes minute changes in the pressure of the cuff, which changes are known as oscillometric pulses, and are recorded by the automatic blood pressure measuring device. As the pressure in the cuff is reduced toward zero, a table is created that contains values for the oscillometric pulse amplitude recorded at each cuff pressure. By processing the oscillometric pulses recorded in the table, the automatic blood pressure measuring device can determine relatively accurately the user's blood pressure.
Since these automatic blood pressure measuring devices are provided for substantially hands-free operation by unskilled users, it is necessary that they be constructed to operate properly with little or no maintenance. However, after prolonged use, dust, dirt, and other debris may collect in the pneumatic system of the device. This debris tends to clog the valves, and other devices of the pneumatic system, and substantially detract from proper operation of the automatic blood pressure measuring device. Accordingly, it is desirable to provide an automatic blood pressure measuring device including apparatus for preventing substantial buildup of dust, dirt, and other debris in the pneumatic system thereof.
Further, due to the resistance to gas of the pneumatic system, minor variations exist in the target pressure to which the data processor attempts to deflate the cuff and the actual pressure that is reached in the steady state. The effect of this resistance, and the difference between the target and actual pressures, is increased as dust, dirt, and other debris is accumulated in the pneumatic system.
Some systems have been developed with software that to provides a compensated target pressure, less than the target pressure by an offset value, so that the pressure is reduced to the compensated target pressure. As the system reaches equilibrium, and the pressure in the pneumatic system rises, the pressure in the pneumatic system approaches the target pressure so that the actual steady state pressure in the pneumatic system is substantially equal to the target pressure. However, these systems do not provide adequate compensation for extremely high resistances, which resistance cause the measurement to lose accuracy and may be dangerous to the patient. Therefore, it is desirable to provide method and apparatus for use with an automatic blood pressure measuring device that will eliminate loss of accuracy of the measurement and danger to the patient caused by extremely high resistances in the pneumatic system.

Apparatus and method for improving the performance of an automatic blood pressure cuff


An ultrasonic Doppler imaging apparatus emits ultrasonic pulse waves to an object body under test and provides information on blood flow in the body based on Doppler shifts of ultrasonic waves reflected back from the object body. The ultrasonic pulse waves emitted by a probe to the object body undergo Doppler shifts by being reflected by the blood stream, and the reflected ultrasonic waves received by the probe are decomposed with an A/D converter in synchronism with emission. The decomposed data are transformed into complex Doppler data through a quadrature addition/subtraction by quadrature addition/subtraction means. The complex Doppler data is subjected to frequency analysis through correlative computation or the like, and resulting data is stored in a frame memory and displayed. The apparatus is capable of measuring the Doppler shift frequency accurately.

This invention relates to an ultrasonic Doppler imaging apparatus used for measuring the velocity of blood flow in the human body and the like on a real time basis.
There is known a method of ultrasonic pulse Doppler measurement in which ultrasonic pulse waves are emitted to a blood vessel of human a body and reflected ultrasonic waves, that have been rendered Doppler shifts in dependence on the blood flow velocity, are detected to thereby obtain information on blood flow. Also known is an ultrasonic Doppler imaging apparatus in which the ultrasonic pulse Doppler measuring method is combined with the pulse reflection method for producing a tomographic image of a diagnostic object, such as the heart, through the emission of ultrasonic pulse waves to the object body and the detection of reflected ultrasonic pulse waves from the object body, so that the blood flow information and tomographic image (B-mode image) information are obtained by means of a single ultrasonic probe and the blood flow information modulated in color graphics is superimposed on the tomographic image on a real time basis. The above-mentioned ultrasonic Doppler imaging apparatus, which is disclosed in Japanese Patent Unexamined Publication No. 57-128138, is based on the principle of operation, which will be explained in the following.
FIG. 1 shows the basic principle and the arrangement of the conventional ultrasonic Doppler imaging apparatus. Symbol Y1 denotes a blood stream, and a, b and c denote emission directions of ultrasonic pulse waves to the blood stream Y1. Indicated by 51 is a probe which emits ultrasonic pulse waves to the blood stream Y1 and receives reflected ultrasonic pulse waves from the blood stream, 52 is a reception circuit which receives a ultrasonic pulse wave signal from the probe, 53 is a quadrature phase detection circuit which receives the output signal of the reception circuit and implements quadrature phase detection for the signal, 54 and 55 are high-pass filters, 56 is a frequency analyzer which receives the output signals of the high-pass filters and implements the frequency analysis for the signals, 57 is a frame memory which stores the output of the frequency analyzer, and 58 is a display device.
Next, the operation of the foregoing conventional apparatus will be explained. In FIG. 1, when an ultrasonic pulse wave is emitted to the blood stream Y1 in a live body under test, it is dispersed by flowing blood cells and the center frequency fc is shifted by a Doppler shift to vary by fd, resulting in a received frequency of f=fc+fd. The Doppler shift frequency fd is given by the following expression (1). EQU fd=2V .multidot. cos(.theta.) .multidot. fc/c (1)
where V is the blood flow velocity, .theta. is the incident angle of the ultrasonic beam with the blood vessel, fc is the center frequency, and c is the velocity of sound.
Accordingly, the blood flow velocity V can be evaluated by detecting the Doppler shift frequency fd.
The blood flow velocity V is displayed as a two-dimensional image as follows. Initially, the ultrasonic probe 51 emits ultrasonic pulse waves in directions a, b, c, and so on sequentially toward the object body. At the beginning, ultrasonic pulse waves are emitted in the direction a several times, e.g., ten times. Each echo signal produced by Doppler shift reflection by the blood flow in the object body is received by the same probe 51, which converts the echo signal into an electric signal and delivers to the receiving circuit 52. Subsequently, the quadrature phase detection circuit 53 detects the I-channel and Q-channel Doppler shift signals as complex Doppler data. The Doppler shift signals are assessed on 256 sample points, for example, located in the emission direction of ultrasonic pulse waves.
FIG. 2 shows the arrangement of the quadrature phase detection circuit 53. In the figure, indicated by 61 is an oscillator, 62 is a shifter, 63 and 64 are mixers, and 65 and 66 are low-pass filters. A signal provided by the reception circuit 52 is fed to the mixers. The mixer 63 mixes the received signal with a signal generated by the oscillator 61, and the mixer 64 mixes the received signal with the signal provided by the oscillator and phase-shifted by 90.degree. by the shifter 62. The mixers 63 and 64 have their outputs fed through the low-pass filters 65 and 66, respectively, and the Doppler shift signals of the I and Q channels are detected.
Returning to FIG. 1, the Doppler shift signals at the same sample points, i.e., real parts and imaginary parts of ten elements of complex Doppler data resulting from ten emissions, have low-frequency component caused by the blood vessel wall and the like removed by means of the respective high-pass filters 54 and 55, and thereafter are fed to the frequency analyzer 56. The result of analysis is stored in the frame memory 57, and the images of the blood flow velocity component in the emission direction a are displayed on the display device 58.
The same operation is repeated for the emission directions b, c and so on, and blood flow images of all emission directions (flow velocity distribution images) are displayed on the display device 58. The flow velocity distribution images are displayed in color mode by being superimposed on a monochrome tomographic image.
However, the foregoing conventional ultrasonic Doppler imaging apparatus, which is based on the quadrature phase detection circuit 53 of analog circuit configuration, is deficient in the difficulty in the accurate balancing of the gain and phase of the I and Q channels, and therefore the accuracy of frequency analysis can be deteriorated due to unbalanced circuit parameters of both channels.

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


A method and system are disclosed for efficiently managing task memory in a multi-tasking data processing system having a processor for processing multiple tasks, task memory associated with each task, main system memory and multiple data records stored within direct access storage. A data record is copied from direct access storage into a buffer in main system memory in response to an access of that data record by a particular task. A buffer within that task's virtual memory is then mapped to the data record and a write protect bit is associated with the task memory buffer. Thereafter, any attempt to store data into the buffer will temporarily halt processing of the task until a copy of the data record is written to a second buffer. Task processing is then resumed, after modifying the task's page table to reference the second buffer, and the task is then permitted to store data within the second buffer. In this manner, a second buffer copy of the data record is only created in response to an attempted modification of the data record, thereby minimizing the processor and memory assets required to manage data records in a multi-tasking data processing system.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates in general to improvements in data processing systems and in particular to improved methods and systems for management of data records in task memory within a data processing system. Still more particularly, the present invention relates to improved methods and systems for management of data records in task memory in a multi-tasking data processing system.
2. Description of the Related Art
The management of large amounts of data within a modern state-of-the-art data processing system is an increasingly complex matter. Data records within such systems may be stored in many different media and utilizing various storage techniques. A common storage technology utilized for storing large numbers of data records is a so-called "Direct Access Storage Device" (DASD). Such devices are typically employed within storage subsystems and data therein may be accessed directly, without reference to data which was previously accessed.
Data records within such devices may be accessed relatively rapidly and efficiently; however, these records must be copied into system memory in order to be accessible to various tasks and/or applications within a data processing system, for reading and processing during program execution. In multi-tasking computers many tasks and/or applications may access each data record and simultaneous attempts to modify a record may occur. As a result, such systems generally do not permit individual tasks and/or applications to modify a data record directly. Instead, a copy of a selected data record is placed within a separate buffer which then serves a "private" copy of that data record for a particular task.
In virtual memory systems each task generally includes a storage space, or task memory, that may be regarded as addressable main storage wherein virtual addresses are mapped into real addresses within the system memory. Thus, in prior art systems a data record retrieved from a Direct Access Storage Device and copied into main storage will then be copied into a separate buffer and then mapped into a virtual address space associated with the task which initiated the data record retrieval.
It should be apparent upon a review of the system description above that the possibility that more than one task may attempt to store data into a single data record requires the creation of multiple copies of that record, resulting in a substantial utilization of processor and system assets. Thus, if the creation of individual copies of data records for each task could be avoided, system efficiency would increase.
In situations in which a data record will only be read by one or more tasks the copying of that record into individual buffers is not required; however, it is difficult to determine in advance whether or not a task or application will need to write data into a record. Early releases of the Transaction Processing Facility system by International Business Machines Corporation gave users the option of electing a "read only" access of a data record; however, an attempt to write to a record after electing a "read only" access would result in an unrecoverable error.
It should therefore be apparent that a need exists for a method and system which permits transparent "read only" or "read-write" access to data records and which generates a separate copy of a data record only if an attempted storage of data occurs.

Method and system for task memory management in a multi-tasking data processing system


Control is made in such that in a case where an attitude detected by an attitude detection unit is a first attitude, if a trace of a detected touched position satisfies a specific condition, a function corresponding to the detected trace is executed, and in a case where the detected attitude is a second attitude opposite to the first attitude, even if the trace of the detected touched position is a trace which satisfies the specific condition, the corresponding function is not executed. Thus, when an electronic apparatus is upside-down, a specific gesture operation by a touch operation is invalidated.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an electronic apparatus having a touch panel and a technique suitable for use in a control method of the electronic apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, many mobile equipment and tools each having a large touch panel exist. Among such mobile equipment and tools, there are many equipment and tools in which a GUI display image displayed on a display rotates in accordance with an attitude of the equipment. For example, in the case of a rectangular display, while Web browsing will be easier to be viewed in case of a vertical positional state, in the case of viewing a movie or the like, it is desirable to view an image in a lateral positional state.
Recent mobile equipment and tools are arranged to rotate a GUI display image in accordance with an attitude for such a use described above. In mobile equipment or tool having a liquid crystal display of a tilt type, particularly, in a digital camera or the like, there is a case where a high-angle shot happens to take place depending on a photographing scene. In such a situation, photographing takes place in such a manner that the camera may be turned over by 180 degrees (held upside down) so that the liquid crystal display of the tilt type is opened by 90 degrees.
The Official Gazette of Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H10-207633 proposes such a technique that even if a relative orientation of the user and the touch panel changes, an operation feeling of the user remains being unchanged. Specifically speaking, there has been proposed such a technique that if the orientation of the touch panel for the user is changed, a display origin is changed so that a displayed item is rotated and displayed, an origin of a touch-input is changed, and a touch position is converted into coordinates based on the changed origin.
The Official Gazette of Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2011-039989 proposes such a technique that in a digital camera having a touch panel, if it is determined that a movement of a touch on the touch panel is a predetermined trace (serving as a gesture), a function assigned to the determined trace is executed.
According to the method proposed in the Official Gazette of Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H10-207633, at a position to which a monitor is rotated by 180 degrees, since the GUI display image (for example, a member such as an icon which can be touched by the user or the like) is also reversed vertically and horizontally (rotated by 180 degrees), a visibility is enhanced and the user can operate easier. However, according to such a method, in the case where the mobile equipment is, for example, a digital camera, if it is held upside down, there is a possibility that when the user confirms an image at the time of a rec review after photographing, the user happens to perform an erroneous operation is performed. Note that "rec review" denotes such a processing that in order to confirm the photographed image, after an object is photographed and before the object image is recorded into a recording medium, image data is displayed to an image display unit only for a predetermined time (review time).
For example, while the touch panel of each of the recent mobile equipment and tools gets larger, since a grip portion is smaller compared with the whole surface area, if the trace of the operation by the touch as disclosed in the Official Gazette of Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2011-039989 or the like is performed, a grasping hand becomes unstable and there is such a risk that the camera is dropped. The recent mobile equipment and tools are not equipped with a device which detects such a risk and inhibits the operation in the upside-down state.
Since a hand which grips changes in dependence on a camera shape, the finger which is used to perform the touching operation is reversed, and if the trace of the operation by the touch as disclosed in the Official Gazette of Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2011-039989 Patent Literature 2 is permitted, there is such a risk that the camera is dropped in the case where the user is not familiar with handling the camera.

Electronic apparatus including a touch panel and control method thereof for reducing erroneous operation