A multiple gear transmission having a drive shaft (1) and a driven shaft (2), three planetary gear sets (P1, P2, P3), seven rotatable shafts (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7) and seven shifting elements (03, 04, 05, 06, 14, 37, 57) comprising four brakes (03, 04, 05, 06,) and three clutches (14, 37, 57). Selective engagement of the seven shifting elements (03, 04, 05, 06, 14, 37, 57) produces from the drive supplied by the drive shaft (1), via the three planetary gear sets (P1, P2, P3), the seven rotatable shafts (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7) and the driven shaft (2), different reduction ratios for nine forward gears and one reverse gear.

According to the prior art, especially for motor vehicles, automatic transmissions comprise planetary gear sets shifted by means of frictional and shifting elements like clutches and brakes and are usually connected with a starting element such as a hydrodynamic torque converter or a fluid clutch liable to a slip effect and optionally provided with a lock-up clutch.
Such a transmission results from EP 0 434 525 A1. Essentially, it comprises one drive shaft and one driven shaft disposed in parallel, one double planetary gear set located concentrically to the drive shaft and five shifting elements in the form of three clutches and two brakes, the optional locking of which by pairs determines different gear ratios between the drive shaft and the driven shaft. This transmission has one front-mounted gear set and two power paths so that by selective engagement by pairs of the five shifting elements six forward gears are obtained.
In the first power path, two clutches are needed here to transmit the torque from the front-mounted gear set to two elements of the double planetary gear set. These are situated in power flow direction essentially behind the front-mounted gear set toward the double planetary gear set. In the second power path, one other clutch is provided which detachably connects them with another element of the double planetary gear set. The clutches are here disposed so that the inner disc carrier forms the output.
From the publication U.S. Pat. No. 6,139,463 a compact multiple gear transmission in planetary design is further known, especially for a motor vehicle, which has two planetary gear sets and one front-mounted gear set, the same as three clutches and two brakes. In this known multiple gear transmission, two clutches C-1 and C-3 are provided in a first power path for transmitting the torque from the front-mounted gear set to the two planetary gear sets. The outer disc carrier, the cylinder or piston and the pressure-compensation sides of the clutch C-3 are here respectively connected with one first brake B-1. Besides, the inner disc carrier of the third clutch C-3 is connected with the cylinder or piston and pressure-compensation sides of the first clutch C-1, the inner disc carrier of the first clutch C-1 being located on the output side and connected with a sun gear of the third planetary gear set.
From the Applicant's DE 199 49 507 A1 is also known a multiple gear transmission where two non-shiftable front-mounted gear sets on the drive shaft are provided which produce two rotational speeds on the output side which, together with the rotational speeds of the drive shaft, can optionally be shifted to the shiftable double planetary gear set acting upon the driven shaft by selective closing of the shifting elements used in a manner, such that to change from one gear to the respective next following higher or lower gear, only one of the two precisely actuated shifting elements has to be engaged or disengaged.
From DE 199 12 480 A1 one automatically shiftable motor vehicle transmission is also known, having three one-spider planetary gear sets, the same as three brakes and two clutches, for shifting six forward gears and one reverse gear and having one drive shaft, the same as one driven shaft. The automatically shiftable motor vehicle transmission is designed so that the drive shaft is directly connected with the sun gear of the second planetary gear set and that the drive shaft can be connected via the first clutch with the sun gear of the first planetary gear set and/or via the second clutch with the spider of the first planetary gear set. Additionally or alternatively, the sun gear of the first planetary gear set can be connected via the first brake with the housing of the transmission and/or the spider of the first planetary gear set via the second brake with the housing and/or the sun gear of the third planetary gear set via the third brake with the housing.
From DE 102 13 820 A1 a multiple gear automatic transmission is further known comprising one first input lane T1 of a first reduction ratio; one input lane T2 having a higher reduction ratio than said input lane T1; one planetary gear set with four elements which are one first element, one second element, one third element and one fourth element in the sequence of elements in a rotational speed diagram; one clutch C2 which transmits a rotation from the input lane T2 to the first element S3; one clutch C-1 which transmits a rotation from the input lane T2 to the fourth element S2; one clutch C-4 which transmits a rotation from the input lane T1 to the first element; one clutch C-3 which transmits the rotation from the input lane T1 to the second element C3; one brake B-1 which produces the engagement of the fourth element; one brake B-2 which produces the engagement of the second element; and one output element which is coupled with the third element R3.
Within the scope of the Applicant's DE 101 15 983 A1 a multiple gear transmission is described, having one drive shaft connected with a front-mounted set, one driven shaft connected with a rear-mounted shifting set and with a maximum of seven shifting elements by optional shifting of which at least seven forward gears can be shifted without group shift. The front-mounted set is formed by one front-mounted planetary set or at most two non-shiftable front-mounted planetary gear sets coupled with the first front-mounted planetary gear set wherein the rear-mounted set is designed as two-spider four-shaft transmission with two shiftable rear-mounted planetary gear sets and has four free shafts. The first free shaft of this two-spider four-shaft transmission is connected with the first shifting element, the second free shaft with the second and third shifting elements, the third free shaft with the fourth and fifth shifting elements and the fourth free shaft with the driven shaft. For a multiple gear transmission having a total of six shifting elements, it is inventively proposed to connect the third free shaft or the first free shaft of the rear-mounted set additionally with a sixth shifting element. For a multiple gear transmission having a total of seven shifting elements, it is inventively additionally proposed to connect the third free shaft with a sixth shifting element (D′) and the first free shaft with a seventh shifting element.
Within the scope of the Applicant's DE 101 15 987, a multiple gear transmission has also been described having at least seven gears. The transmission comprises, together with the drive shaft and the driven shaft, one non-shiftable front-mounted gear set and one shiftable rear-mounted gear set in the form of a two-spider four-shaft transmission. The front-mounted gear set consists of one first planetary gear set which, together with the input rotational speed of the drive shaft, offers a second rotational speed which can optionally be shifted to a rear-mounted gear set. The rear-mounted gear set is comprised of two shiftable planetary gear sets which, with the six shifting elements, can engage at least seven gears, two power paths being formed. At the same time, group shifts are always advantageously prevented during each shifting operation. One 9-gear multiple gear transmission has also been disclosed in DE 29 36 969; it comprises eight shifting elements and four gear sets.
Automatically shiftable vehicle transmissions in planetary design have often been described already in the prior art and can be object of constant further development and improvement. Thus the transmissions thus must have sufficient number of forward gears, the same as one reverse gear and a ratio very well suited to motor vehicles having a high total spreading and favorable ratio ranges. They must also make a high starting ratio in forward direction and contain a direct gear possible, the same as is adequate for utilization in both passenger cars and in commercial vehicles. Besides, said transmission must have a low construction cost, especially require a small number of shifting elements and during sequential shifting mode prevent double shifts so that during gear shifts in defined gear groups only one shifting element be changed each time.
The problem this invention is to solve is to propose a multiple gear transmission of the type mentioned above in which the construction expenses are optimized and besides the efficiency degree in the main drive gears is improved regarding tow and gearing losses. In addition, low torques must act on the shifting elements and planetary gear sets and the rotational speeds of the shaft, shifting elements and planetary gear sets must be kept as low as possible. Besides, the number of gears and the spreading of the transmission are to be increased so that nine forward gears and one reverse gear can advantageously be implemented. The inventive transmission, in addition, must be adequate for any vehicle design, especially for a front-transverse standard arrangement.

Multiple gear stage automatic transmission


A system for controlling temperature and humidity in an enclosure, that has a central air conditioning system; a dehumidifier attached to a return air duct of the central air conditioning system; and a system control unit that comprises a thermostat, dehumidstat and can control a cooling solenoid valve to provide temperature control, and control a dehumidifier solenoid valve to provide humidity control. The cooling solenoid valve and the dehumidifier solenoid valve can be independently activated based on the temperature and humidity of the enclosure. Embodiments of the present invention include systems that are easily modify existing air conditioning systems.

Methods of controlling the indoor climate in a room have been known for a long period of time. Primarily, these systems include air conditioners that have thermostats to control the operation of the air conditioner using a dry bulb temperature. A typical controller in air conditioning mode causes the air conditioning to begin operation when the temperature rises above the set point value. The air conditioner responds by injecting cold air into the enclosure until the temperature within the enclosure has fallen to a point below the set value.
It is also well known that an air conditioner removes humidity from the air as well as cools it. Typically, in order to remove humidity from the air, prior art systems must lower the temperature of the air less than the current due point temperature, the temperature at which water condenses the air.
However, with this system there are situations where humidity levels are still too high, resulting in an uncomfortable space.
Attempts to remedy this problem have not been totally successful.
For example, previous attempts to control the relative humidity in enclosures have been made by simply adding a relative humidity sensor to the thermostat and then controlling the air conditioner to hold the relative humidity within the selected point range. A problem with this approach is that the relative humidity of the enclosure air may actually rise as the air is cooled and dehumidified within the enclosure. This is because the relative humidity is a function of both the amount of water vapor in a given volume or mass of air and its dry bulb temperature. Relative humidity for any volume of air is defined as the ratio of the partial pressure of the water vapor in the air to the vapor pressure of saturated steam at that temperature. Since the vapor pressure of saturated steam drops rapidly within a temperature, a relatively small amount of water vapor and volume of air at a lower temperature can result in 100% relative humidity. Thus it is possible to have a run-a-way situation where the humidity control function in a thermostat continues to call for further dehumidification, and as the temperature within the enclosure falls, relative humidity rises and locks the air conditioning on.
Subsequent attempts to solve the problem of high humidity have involved controlling the dew point temperature of enclosure air independently of the dry bulb temperature. See U.S. Pat. No. 4,105,063 to Bergt and U.S. Pat. No. 4,889,280 to Grald and MacArthur, both patents being incorporated herein by reference. However, these systems are deficient in that the achieved enclosure temperature is not always comfortable, and having a potential for over-cycling of the cooling system. Additionally, none of the references listed above provide dehumidification after the dry-bulb temperature set point has been achieved.
Other climate control systems have included using a humidity sensor, and a dry bulb temperature sensor in the enclosure. See U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,737,934 and 5,675,979. Control of humidity using a reheat system which re-heats chilled air in order to keep the dry bulb temperature of an enclosure to a specific set point is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,012,296. Another invention on the subject of temperature and humidity control has emphasized using the numerically larger of the dry bulb and humidity temperature errors. An indoor climate controller system adjusting both dry-bulb temperature and wet-bulb or dew point temperature in an enclosure is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,346,129 and is incorporated herein by reference.
Additionally, U.S. Pat. No. 6,557,771, incorporated herein by reference, discloses a system that has a controller that continuously monitors the dry bulb temperature error and the humidity temperature error within the enclosure and controls the ON/OFF status of the cooling device based on the following criteria: a) if the humidity temperature error is less than or equal to zero, the dry bulb temperature error is used in a conventional PID (proportional, integral, derivative) control block to control the ON/OFF status of the cooling device, modifying the enclosure temperature and humidity; or b) if the humidity temperature error is greater than zero, the dry bulb temperature error is ignored regardless of its magnitude and the humidity temperature error is used in a conventional PID control block to control the ON/OFF status of the cooling device; or c) if both the humidity temperature error and the dry-bulb temperature error are less than zero, the numerically larger of the humidity temperature error and the dry-bulb temperature error is used in a conventional PID control block to control the ON/OFF status of the cooling device. In the system of '771, both the humidity temperature error and the dry bulb temperature error use the same PID control block and controller gains to prevent any sporadic equipment operation.
Other prior art attempts include U.S. Pat. No. 4,105,063, incorporated herein by reference, which uses a system that obtains its reheat from supermarket freezers and is mixed into the central heat and air units to dehumidify the air along with supplemental electric heaters.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,876,858 discloses a dehumidification system of a variable volume chiller in commercial buildings using chilled water.
The present inventions is advantageous over the prior because it meets design conditions in proportion of sensible and latent heat loads from minimum to peak load with, in certain embodiments, sensible control having priority using the refrigeration cycle of reheat.
In a conventional cooling system entering air to the cooling coil operating at a given temperature will remove both sensible and latent heat. Residential air conditioning systems are controlled purely on room temperature, a measure of sensible heat, and therefore relative humidity is only changed as a by product. It is not controlled independently of temperature. This is particularly noticeable in humid climates in off peak conditions. The exterior dew point is highest early in the morning. The temperature in the enclosure may not be cold enough to trigger the air conditioning system, but the enclosure is more humid (and thus less comfortable than desired.
In view of the above, it is apparent that there is a need to provide a more reliable and efficient system for controlling a climate, including the control of temperature and humidity. The present invention meets that need.
The capacity of the air conditioner is designed for operation during the few hours of peak time. At lower temperatures the air conditioner will cycle and operate at less than full potential. With shorter cycles, the cooling coil (evaporator) does not have time for the temperature to fall to the dew point in a short cycle. For example, when the central air conditioning system stops cooling, the moisture collected on the evaporator, evaporates back into the indoor space with the extended Blower Cycles of today.
It is important that the air conditioner be sized to achieve the longest run times possible to bring humidity to acceptable levels in the building space.
Most of the cooling season, the cooling loads are well below the capacity of properly sized air conditioners and for oversized units, short cycling is a substantial problem. The building space becomes cold and clammy.
Without being bound by theory, the basic dilemma stems from trying to control two variables, temperature and relative humidity with just temperature control. The humidity level is a moving target that is only hit during peak design conditions resulting in indoor humidity levels above 60% relative humidity, a level recommended to control microbial growth.

Climate control and dehumidification system and method


An exhaust circulation lawnmower is disclosed in which grass clippings are sent, along with carrier air, from a cutter housing to a grass bag; the grass clippings are held in the grass bag; and the carrier air is returned to the cutter housing as exhaust. A surface area A1 of a grass clippings discharge opening and a surface area A2 of a recirculation opening have a relationship of A2≦{1/(1−βN)0.5}A1, where A1 is the surface area of the grass clippings discharge opening through which the grass clippings and carrier air are discharged from the cutter housing to the grass bag, A2 is the surface area of the recirculation opening through which the carrier air is recirculated from the grass bag to the cutter housing, N is the number of bends having an angle of α degrees in the space between the grass clippings discharge opening and the recirculation opening, and β is a pressure loss coefficient for each of the bends.

In general, in a lawnmower, a cutter blade is made to rotate in a cutter housing, grass is cut by the cutter blade, and grass clippings are carried to a grass bag by air (carrier air) generated by the cutter blade.
After delivering the grass clippings to the grass bag, the carrier air passes through the grass bag and is discharged out from the grass bag. The carrier air causes noise and dust to be produced, and causes discomfort to the operator and people in the surrounding area.
A cover is attached to a peripheral edge of the grass bag in order to reduce dust. However, the carrier air is completely discharged from the grass bag, and discharged toward the area in which the operator is working. Attaching the cover is not a sufficiently effective countermeasure.
If the carrier air is returned to the cutter housing without being discharged from the grass bag, the total amount of the carrier air discharged from the grass bag will decrease. Such a system can effectively minimize dust.
Such an exhaust circulation lawnmower is known from U.S. Pat. No. 4,631,909 and Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open Publication No. 61-125223. In the exhaust circulation lawnmower, grass clippings are conveyed along with carrier air from a cutter housing to a grass bag, the grass clippings are left in the grass bag, and only the carrier air is recirculated to the cutter housing as exhaust.
Referring now to FIG. 8 hereof, discussion will be made as to the exhaust circulation lawnmower disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,631,909.
An exhaust circulation lawnmower 200 shown in FIG. 8 comprises a cutter housing 201 that rotatably accommodates a cutter blade (not shown); a grass bag 202 that is provided to a rear of the cutter housing 201 and that stores the grass clippings; a grass clippings conveyance channel 203 that is provided to the cutter housing 201 and that is used to convey the grass clippings along with the carrier air from the cutter housing 201 to the grass bag 202; and an exhaust-recirculation channel 204 that is provided to the cutter housing 201 and that is used to recirculate the carrier air as exhaust from the grass bag 202 to the cutter housing 201 once the grass clippings have been held in the grass bag 202.
However, there is no mention of a ratio in the exhaust circulation lawnmower 200 between surface areas of a grass clippings discharge opening 205 that is provided to the grass bag 202 side of the grass clippings conveyance channel 203 and that is used to discharge, along with the carrier air, the grass clippings to the grass bag 202; and of a recirculation opening 206 that is provided to a grass bag 202 side of the exhaust-recirculation channel 204 and that is used to recirculate only the exhaust from the grass bag 202.
In other words, there exists a demand for a technique whereby, in an exhaust circulation lawnmower, when a grass clippings discharge opening is set to a predetermined size, a recirculation opening is provided for the carrier air at a size at which a predetermined capacity for grass clippings can be maintained without instances of the carrier air stopping in the grass clippings conveyance channel and grass bag.


A circuit for varying the strobe timing of the PIP in a VTR which includes a microcomputer, first, second and third counters receiving the signal for varying the strobe timing of the microcomputer, a modulo-4 counter and logic receiving the output of the first counter, a decoder receiving the outputs of the second and third counters, a multiplexer receiving the output of the decoder, the output of the decoder being applied to the clear terminal of the second counter, a register receiving the output of the multiplexer, and a memory connected with the register. The vertical synchronizing pulse of the sub-screens is applied to the clock terminals of the first and second counters and the clock terminal of the register. The output of the microcomputer is applied to the clock terminal of the third counter.

The present invention relates to a strobe timing control circuit for use in a video tape recorder (VTR) having the picture-in-picture (PIP) feature therein.
According to a conventional PIP feature in a VTR system, a single screen in the VTR system is divided into two independent parts on display, that is, a main screen display area (hereinafter referred to as "main-screen") and a plurality of PIP display areas (hereinafter referred to as "sub-screen") which are displayed independently of each other. However, the VTR of prior art has a problem that its user can not vary the strobe timing at a desired time because the strobe timing for the sub-screen therein has been made in the fixed setting.

Strobe timing control circuit for use in video tape recorder


A liquid crystal display includes a first substrate, a gate line disposed on the first substrate, a data line disposed on the first substrate, a first passivation layer disposed on the gate line and the data line, a color filter disposed on the first passivation layer, a common electrode disposed on the color filter, a light blocking member disposed directly on or directly below the common electrode, a second passivation layer disposed on the common electrode and the light blocking member, and a pixel electrode disposed on the second passivation layer.

Field
Exemplary embodiments relate to a display technology, and, more particularly, to liquid crystal displays.
Discussion
Liquid crystal displays are a common type of panel display and are typically configured to apply a voltage to an electrode to rearrange liquid crystal molecules of a liquid crystal layer to adjust an amount of transmitted light. Conventional liquid crystal displays may be relatively thin, but side visibility may be lower than frontal visibility. As such, various types of liquid crystal alignment techniques and driving methods have been developed to increase the side visibility of traditional liquid crystal displays. For instance, to achieve a wide viewing angle, a liquid crystal display including a pixel electrode and a common electrode formed on one substrate has attracted attention. In such a liquid crystal display, at least one of two field generating electrodes of a pixel electrode and a common electrode may have a plurality of cutouts and a plurality of branch electrodes defined by the plurality of cutouts.
To prevent (or at least reduce) light leakage in a non-display area of a liquid crystal display, a light blocking member may be utilized. If the light blocking member is formed on a substrate that faces another substrate on which the pixel electrode is formed, it may be difficult to prevent the light leakage in the non-display area due to misalignment of the two substrates. This may reduce the transmittance of the display area. Therefore, the light blocking member may be formed on the substrate on which the pixel electrode is formed. However, if the light blocking member overlaps the field generating electrode, such as the pixel electrode or the common electrode, with an insulating layer disposed therebetween, a parasitic capacitance may be formed between the light blocking member and the field generating electrode. This may deteriorate the display quality of the liquid crystal display device.
The above information disclosed in this Background section is only for enhancement of understanding of the background of the inventive concept, and, therefore, it may contain information that does not form the prior art that is already known in this country to a person of ordinary skill in the art.


The idea of the present invention is to provide a challenge-response mechanism to acquire work scope split range information from the application's Work Scope Split component of the over-utilized resource. By using the work scope split range information, the provisioning system is able to add a new resource, install a new application for that new resource, configure the new and the over-utilized resource's application, and reconfigure the load-balancer in accordance with the work scope split range information. The present invention adds scalability to complex and stateful application programs and allows dynamic provisioning of resources for these application programs.

The term load-balance as used in the present invention means the functionality to divide the amount of computational workload that a resource (e.g. computer, server, application, storage media etc.) has to do between one or more resources (existing or added resources).
The term provisioning system as used in the present invention covers all components which are required to accomplish load-balance in a resource infrastructure with a plurality of resources.
The term stateful application program as used in the present application means that each instance of an application program is dedicated to a group of requests indicated by the request's content, and contrary hereto a stateless application program means that each instance of an application program can handle each incoming request.

System and method for load—balancing in a resource infrastructure running application programs

International Business Machines Corporation


A method is disclosed for producing a noise-reduced CT image data record by frequency band breakdown, a computer system for carrying out the method, and a CT system (1) with such a computer system. In an embodiment of the method, several linear-combined mixed image data records

It is generally known that, with the aid of multi-energy CT systems it is possible to record simultaneously CT image data records of an object with different X-ray spectra. As a rule, the attempt is made to calculate from these CT image data records a single image with the desired information, such as a CT image which corresponds to a mono-energy spectrum, or only represents the contrast agent distribution in the scanned object. To this end, a linear-mixed image
      M    m    =            c              0        ,        m              +                  ∑        i                                    c                      i            ,            m                          ·                  X          i                    can be produced, wherein Xi designates the den CT image data record for the i-th X-ray spectrum, the coefficients are selected such as to achieve a special image impression, and m=0. Unfortunately, the noise in such linear combinations can increase substantially in comparison with a noise-optimized mixed image.
In the prior art there are many possibilities known for reducing the noise of the mixed images which are produced. For example, a linear filter in the form of a low-pass filter can be used, wherein, however, the spatial resolution is sharply reduced. As an alternative, non-linear filters are used, but, with complex structures in the object represented, the problem arises of distinguishing fine structures from the noise.

Method for producing a noise-reduced CT image data record, computer system, and CT system

Abstract: (            M      m        =                  c                  0          ,          m                    +                        ∑          i                                              c                          i              ,              m                                ·                      X            i                                )are produced from several simultaneously-recorded energy spectrum-specific CT image data records (Xi); a frequency band breakdown of the mixed image data records (Mm) takes place into a first lowest frequency band (F0) and several higher frequency bands; and a result image data record

Abstract: (      E    =                  ∑                  j          ,          m                                                        g                          j              ,              m                                                      (            r            )                          ·                  F          j                ·                  M          m                      )is calculated, wherein each mixed image data record (Mm) is multiplied with precisely one filter and with a location-dependent function (gj,m(r)) and is thereby totaled, and wherein g0,0(r)=1.


An array substrate includes a base substrate, a switching element, and a pixel electrode. The switching element is on the base substrate. The switching element includes a poly silicon pattern having at least one block. Grains are formed in each of the at least one block that are extended in a plurality of directions. The pixel electrode is electrically connected to the switching element. Therefore, current mobility and design margin of the switching element are improved.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an array substrate, a method of manufacturing the same, and a method of crystallizing silicon. More particularly, the present invention relates to an array substrate capable of improving current mobility and design margin of a switching element, a method of manufacturing the same, and a method of crystallizing silicon.
2. Description of the Related Art
A liquid crystal display ("LCD") device, in general, includes a display panel having an array substrate, a color filter substrate, and a liquid crystal layer. The array substrate includes a plurality of pixels arranged in a matrix, each including a thin film transistor ("TFT") and a pixel electrode. The color filter substrate includes a common electrode and corresponds to the array substrate. The liquid crystal layer is interposed between the array substrate and the color filter substrate. Liquid crystal molecules within the liquid crystal layer change orientations depending on the signals applied to the common electrode and the pixel electrodes, thereby changing an image on the display panel.
The LCD device is divided into an amorphous silicon ("a-Si") LCD device and a poly silicon LCD device. The a-Si LCD device includes an a-Si TFT. The poly silicon LCD device includes a poly silicon TFT.
In the poly silicon LCD device, the poly silicon TFT is formed through a crystallization of an amorphous silicon.
The amorphous silicon is crystallized through a sequential lateral solidification ("SLS") method. In particular, an irradiation of a laser beam is controlled using a mask that has a transmitting portion and a blocking portion. Size of a silicon grain is increased by a predetermined distance in a lateral direction to crystallize the amorphous silicon.
The transmitting portion and the blocking portion of the mask are extended in a longitudinal direction or a horizontal direction. Therefore, the poly silicon grain formed through the SLS method is extended in the horizontal direction or the longitudinal direction.
The current mobility of the poly silicon grain is increased in the extended direction of the poly silicon grain. That is, a channel direction of the TFT is substantially the same as the extended direction of the poly silicon grain.
Therefore, when the extended direction of the poly silicon grain is fixed, a location of the TFT is restricted, and a design margin of the TFT is deteriorated.

Array substrate, method of manufacturing the same and method of crystallizing silicon


An apparatus for generating error detection codes can include an error detection code generation unit configured to generate virtual error detection codes using virtual DBI information and data, and an error detection code regeneration unit configured to generate error detection codes using even and odd number information which define whether the number of data associated with the generation of the error detection codes is even or odd, DBI information associated with the even and odd number information, and the virtual error detection codes.

1. Technical Field
The disclosure herein relates to a semiconductor integrated circuit, and more particularly, to an apparatus and a method for generating error detection codes.
2. Related Art
A configuration for implementing a data bus inversion function, that is, a data bus inversion (DBI) unit is used to prevent a problem, such as simultaneous switching noise or inter-symbol interference, that is caused as the number of current data bits in entire data bits, of which logic values are changed when compared to previous data bits, increases in data transmission.
When the number of data bits with changed logic values are greater than one half of the entire number of data bits, the data bus inversion unit enables DBI flags such that inverted data is transmitted instead of normal data to decrease the number of the data bits to be switched to less than one half of the number of the entire data bits.
In the case of a semiconductor circuit as processing speed increases, the probability of an error to occur in data transmission increases. One example of this is in a semiconductor memory device such as a DRAM. Accordingly, an error detection code generation circuit can be used to generate and transmit error detection codes separately from data so that a data reception side can determine whether an error occurs in received data.
Conventional error detection code generation circuits have adopted CRC (cyclic redundancy check) logic, such as CRC8, in which error detection codes of 8 bits are output from 64 bits.
In a semiconductor circuit having a conventional data bus inversion unit, the configuration of an apparatus for generating error detection codes will be described below.
Referring to FIG. 1, a conventional apparatus configured to generate error detection codes includes a data bus inversion unit 10, an error detection code generation unit 20, an inverter IV1, and a multiplexer 40.
The data bus inversion unit 10 is configured to receive 64-bit data through data lines (GIO<0:7>) and generate 8-bit DBI flags.
The inverter IV1 is configured to invert and output the 64-bit data.
The multiplexer 40 is configured to selectively output the 64-bit data or 64-bit data inverted by the inverter IV1, in response to the DBI flags.
The operations of the conventional apparatus for generating error detection codes will be described below.
The data bus inversion unit 10 receives the 64-bit data and checks the number of data bits of which logic values are changed in every 8 bits when compared to previous data bits.
When the number of data bits in the entire data bits, of which logic values are changed, is greater than one half of the entire data bits, the data bus inversion unit 10 outputs the DBI flags to a low level.
When the DBI flags have a low level, the multiplexer 40 selects and outputs the data inverted through the inverter IV1.
The error detection code generation unit 20 generates and outputs error detection codes (CRC<0:7>) for the 64-bit data output from the multiplexer 40 and the 8-bit DBI flags.
The error detection code generation unit 20 generates the error detection codes (CRC<0:7>) by XORing the entire 64-bit data and 8-bit DBI flags, that is, 72 bits, in accordance with a CRC (cyclic redundancy check) logic.
The error detection codes (CRC<0:7>) are output through an EDC (error detection code) pin to an external system, for example, a GPU (graphic processing unit).
In the semiconductor circuit having the above-described data bus inversion unit 10, the 8-bit DBI flags are required to generate the error detection codes.
Therefore, in a conventional circuit, since an operation process for the generation of the error detection codes can be implemented after implementing an operation process for the data bus inversion function, a problem can occur due to that the fact that the time for generating the error detection codes is extended. This can degrade the performance of a system such as a semiconductor memory device.

Apparatus and method for generating error detection codes


An image forming apparatus includes a first conveyor, a cutter, a second conveyor, a detection image forming section, a detector, and a controller. The first conveyor conveys a print medium. The cutter cuts the conveyed print medium. The second conveyor conveys, in a first direction, the print medium cut by the cutter. The detection image forming section forms a detection image on the print medium and the second conveyor. The detector detects, at two positions in a second direction, the detection image formed on the print medium or the detection image formed on the second conveyor. The controller varies one or both of a conveying speed of the print medium to be conveyed by the first conveyor and a cutting speed of the print medium to be cut by the cutter, on the basis of a comparison of the detection image detected at the two positions.

The technology relates to an image forming apparatus that cuts a print medium and forms an image on a surface of the cut print medium.
An image forming apparatus based on an electrophotographic method is in widespread use. The image forming apparatus based on the electrophotographic method forms an image on a surface of a print medium, and is able to achieve a higher-quality image in a shorter time as compared with an image forming apparatus based on any other method such as an inkjet method.
Some proposals have been made on a configuration of the image forming apparatus based on the electrophotographic method, such as an image forming apparatus provided with a cutter in order to cut a print medium. For example, reference is made to Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2017-215365. The image forming apparatus provided with the cutter cuts a print medium by means of the cutter while conveying the print medium, and thus forms an image on a surface of the print medium cut by the cutter.


Disclosed herein are isolated human monoclonal antibodies, and functional fragments thereof, that specifically bind HMW-MAA. Nucleic acids encoding these antibodies, expression vectors including these nucleic acid molecules, and isolated host cells that express the nucleic acid molecules are also disclosed. The antibodies can be used to detect HMW-MAA in a sample. Methods of diagnosing cancer, or confirming a diagnosis of cancer, are disclosed herein that utilize these antibodies. Methods of treating a subject with cancer are also disclosed.

Melanomas are aggressive, frequently metastatic tumors derived from either melanocytes or melanocyte related nevus cells ("Cellular and Molecular Immunology" (1991) (eds.) Abbas A. K., Lechtman, A. H., Pober, J. S.; W.B. Saunders Company, Philadelphia: pages 340-341). Melanomas make up approximately three percent of all skin cancers and the worldwide increase in melanoma is unsurpassed by any other neoplasm with the exception of lung cancer in women ("Cellular and Molecular Immunology" (1991) (eds.) Abbas, A. K., Lechtiman, A. H., Pober, J. S.; W.B. Saunders Company Philadelphia pages: 340-342; Kirkwood and Agarwala (1993) Principles and Practice of Oncology 7:1-16). Even when melanoma is apparently localized to the skin, up to 30% of the patients will develop systemic metastasis and the majority will die (Kirkwood and Agarwala (1993) Principles and Practice of Oncology 7:1-16). Classic modalities of treating melanoma include surgery, radiation and chemotherapy. In the past decade, immunotherapy and gene therapy have emerged as new and promising methods for treating melanoma.
Strong evidence that an immune response to cancer exists in humans is provided by the existence of lymphocytes within melanoma deposits. These lymphocytes, when isolated, are capable of recognizing specific tumor antigens on autologous and allogeneic melanomas in a major histocompatibility complex (MHC)-restricted fashion (Itoh et al. (1986), Cancer Res. 46: 3011-3017; Muul et al. (1987), J. Immunol. 138:989-995); Topalian et al. (1989) J. Immunol. 142: 3714-3725; Darrow et al. (1989) J. Immunol. 142: 3329-3335; Hom et al. (1991) J. Immunother. 10:153-164; Kawakami et al. (1992) J. Immunol. 148: 638-643; Hom et al. (1993) J. Immunother. 13:18-30; O'Neil et al. (1993) J. Immunol. 151: 1410-1418). Tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) from patients with metastatic melanoma recognize shared antigens including melanocyte-melanoma lineage specific tissue antigens in vitro (Kawakami et al. (1993) J. Immunother. 14: 88-93; Anichini et al. (1993) J. Exp. Med. 177: 989-998). Anti-melanoma T cells appear to be enriched in TIL probably as a consequence of clonal expansion and accumulation at the tumor site in vivo (Sensi et al. (1993) J. Exp. Med. 178:1231-1246). The fact that many melanoma patients mount cellular and humoral responses against these tumors and that melanomas express both MHC antigens and tumor associated antigens (TAA) suggests that identification and characterization of additional melanoma antigens will be important for immunotherapy of patients with melanoma.
The human chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan HMW-MAA, also know as CSPG4, is an early cell surface melanoma progression marker implicated in stimulating tumor cell proliferation, migration and invasion. Clinical studies have indicated HMW-MAA as a relevant therapeutic target because a vaccine targeting HMW-MAA in patients with melanoma immunized with HMW-MAA mimics provides significant survival advantage only to a subset of patients who developed HMW-MAA-specific antibodies, but not to those patients who did not develop them. In addition, the biologic significance of targeting HMW-MAA could be related to the role in regulating cell growth and differentiation. However, a need remains for other immunotherapeutic strategies that target this antigen.

Fully human antibodies to high molecular weight-melanoma associated antigen and uses thereof

University of Pittsburgh—Of the Commonwealth System of Higher Education


A tunable optical filter includes a tunable Fabry-Perot (FP) filter, two tunable waveguide Bragg gratings (WBGs) and a 2×2 3-dB coupler. In one embodiment, the WBGs are implemented in a silicon substrate using polysilicon filled trenches. The FP filter is implemented with two silicon nitride trench WBGs with a gap region between them. The FP filter and the WBGs are respectively tuned to transmit and reflect a selected wavelength. A broadband optical signal is propagated into a first port of the coupler. The coupler propagates half of the beam to one WBG and the other half to the other WBG. The WBGs reflect these portions back to the coupler, which then propagates the reflected portions to the FP filter.

Transmission bandwidth demands in telecommunication networks (e.g., the Internet) appear to be ever increasing and solutions are being sought to support this bandwidth demand. One solution to problem is to use optical networks, where dense wavelength-division-multiplexing (DWDM) technology is used to support the ever-growing demand for higher data rates. Commonly used optical components include optical filters.
An optical filter can be implemented in an optical fiber or in a planar waveguide circuit (PWC). PWC-based optical filters are likely to be significant in future WDM systems and networks. However, typical conventional PWC-based optical filters use special materials such as III-V compound semiconductors (GaAs, InP, AlGaAs, and so on) and LiNiO3 or are mechanical such as micro-electro-mechanical (MEM) structures. These approaches tend to be complex and expensive compared to silicon-based approaches.
On conventional optical filter uses a Fabry-Perot (FP) filter. As is well known, FP filters have two reflective surfaces and a cavity between. A FP filter allows optical signals of the resonant wavelengths to pass through, reflecting signals that are not of the resonant wavelengths. However, a conventional FP filter has multiple transmission peaks with the distance between peaks referred to as the free spectral range (FSR). FP filters achieve relatively narrow pass bands, which are desirable in many optical filter applications, but the multiple transmission peaks may be unsuitable for DWDM applications. The FSR may be decreased by lengthening the distance between the reflective surfaces, but this increases the width of the pass bands. Further, conventional PWC-based FP filters are typically implemented using MEM technology or other relatively complex technology. Thus, a conventional FP filter may not be practical for use in DWDM applications.

Silicon-based tunable single passband optical filter


A volute housing for a centrifugal fan, blower or the like includes a housing body defined by opposite spaced sidewalls with a generally circular fluid inlet opening in each sidewall and a volute peripheral wall disposed between the sidewalls and defining therewith a volute chamber. The sidewalls each have a first sidewall portion extending arcuately from a first zone of minimum radial dimension at a tongue of the volute chamber in the range of between 25 degrees to 320 degrees to a transition zone, and sidewall portions diverge progressively axially outwardly between the first zone and the transition zone to effect optimal fluid flow.

This invention is directed to a volute housing for a centrifugal fan, blower or the like. The theory, design and application of such centrifugal fans can be found in the publications entitled "Turboblowers" by Alexey Joakim Stepanoff, published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc. and available at the Library of the University of Maryland, College Park, Md. and "Fan Engineering" by Richard D. Madison, published by Buffalo Forge Company, Buffalo, N.Y. (copyright 1949) and also available at the latter noted library. These publications describe several volute housing designs, including a constant velocity volute which is said to be the most favorable for efficiency because of the alleged fact that at the best efficiency point pressure is uniform around the volute. The latter condition is said to be the most desirable for impeller performance. In this design the entire recovery of the kinetic energy into pressure takes place in the volute nozzle which is preferably of a diverging relationship with the included angle being established experimentally at 8.degree. for a circular cone to obtain the most efficient velocity convergent through the nozzle, though a range of 6.degree. to 10.degree. is acceptable. Beyond 10.degree. efficiency is adversely affected. However, in such constant velocity volute housings, the volute pressure is constant until released by the discharge nozzle. The disadvantage of such constant velocity volute housings is that the capacity must be maintained at all times at its rated capacity, otherwise at partial capacities, pressure increases toward larger volute sections and decreases toward smaller volute sections. This decreases efficiency and increases noise.
In an abbreviated volute housing about one-quarter of the impeller periphery discharges directly into the discharge opening without establishing normal volute pressure and velocity distribution prevailing in the remaining three-quarters of the controlled volute housing section. The disadvantage is that the average volute velocity may only be one-half of the absolute velocity at the impeller discharge. Thus sound is decreased but so too is efficiency.
In both the normal volute casing and the abbreviated volute casing, the sidewalls are substantially parallel to each other throughout and it is the peripheral volute wall which progressively diverges from the circular fluid inlet openings in a direction away from the cut-off point or tongue to the volute throat. Essentially, the volute peripheral wall ends at the volute throat and the volute throat defines the initiation or entrance of the discharge nozzle. It is in the area downstream of the throat that the discharge nozzle sidewalls are flared in a direction diverging away from each other in the direction of fluid travel. Such flaring can extend slightly downstream of the volute throat. Such volute casings or housings are generally constructed from galvanized metal and the divergent sidewall angles are extremely abrupt (20.degree.-45.degree.) resulting in excessive turbulence and swirling of discharge fluid/air with an attendant increase in noise.
Another volute housing includes typical circular fluid inlet openings, a volute peripheral wall and sidewalls which continuously diverge from the cut-off point or tongue in the direction of fluid flow to the throat and beyond the discharge nozzle to the discharge opening or orifice. A volute housing so constructed is found in U.S. Pat. No. 3,491,550 in the name of Thomas C. Cavis issued Jan. 27, 1970. This construction increases the RPM's only, and effects expansion from the throat or cut-off point through 360.degree. which basically creates a sound amplification structure typical of the curvature found in a tuba or a french horn. This creates a low bass hum which amplifies the highest sound at the compression point or tongue which is the area of maximum (and virtually only) compression.
From the foregoing, each of the volute housings known suffer from two main disadvantages, namely, (a) low efficiency and (b) high noise.

Volute housing for a centrifugal fan, blower or the like


An information processing apparatus, including a reading apparatus which reads an electronic recording card, is disclosed. The apparatus includes a reading unit which reads the electronic recording card via the reading apparatus and obtains read information; a generating unit which generates user management information of a user who owns the electronic recording card based on the read information obtained by the reading unit; and a holding unit which holds the user management information generated by the generating unit in a predetermined storage area.

In recent years, electronic recording cards such as an IC card (integrated circuit card), etc., have become popular with their superior portability and ample information capacity in the background.
In light of the above, a scheme is being introduced which manages users using the electronic recording card with an object of operating equipment units such as establishing information confidentiality and restricting usage even in an environment in which electronic equipment units such as an image processing apparatus, etc., are used. In the environment in which such a scheme is introduced, a user may utilize an electronic equipment unit by the following method, for example. First, the user places an electronic recording card (below called "a user card" for convenience) which is issued in advance to the user over a reading apparatus included in an electronic equipment unit which the user seeks to use. Here, the electronic equipment unit matches management information of a user already registered with information read from a user card and determines usage permission from the matched results. As a result, the user may use electronic equipment unit when he is allowed to use it.
However, in such a scheme, it is necessary to collate information read from the user card with management information of the user. Currently, such collating operation (below called "information management task") is being done manually by an administrator, which operation is cumbersome for the administrator. Therefore, a technique is being proposed which makes it possible for the user himself to collate the above-described information sets.
For example, Patent document 1 discloses a technique of prompting a user to input user information ("log-in information, for example) at the time of initial reading of a user card and, upon the information being input, collating information read from the user card and management information of the user specified based on the input information to reduce a burden on information management tasks.

Information processing apparatus, information management method, and information management program


An interactive recording/reproducing medium including: image data; image reproduction control data which defines an operation instruction received from operation input apparatus and a reproduction procedure for the image data in correlation with each other, the operation input apparatus performing a reproducing operation for the image data in an interactive manner; image related data related to the contents of the image data; and relation defining information which defines the relation between the image related data and the image data. More particularly, an interactive recording/reproducing system which is interactively responsive to operations made by a user, which defines information such as text data (e.g., ASCII text) in association with an image and reproduces the text data simultaneously with reproduction of the image. An optical disk medium comprises a Video-CD recording area for recording image data (e.g. dynamic images, static images, voice) which conform to a basic Video-CD standard, a PC data recording area for recording text data associated with the image data, and a reproduction application recording area for recording a program to effect reproduction using a PC (personal computer). A Video-CD reproducing system and a PC can be alternatively used to perform reproduction using a content of the optical disk medium.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an information recording system (e.g. optical disk) in which is recorded with multimedia information including images such as dynamic and static images, as well as voice. Particularly, the invention is concerned with an interactive recording/reproducing system which is correlated interactively with operations made by a user using a personal computer or the like and which reproduces multimedia information and text data from a package medium such as an optical disk and a network medium.
2. Description of Related Art
With regard to a multimedia information recording system which is interactively correlated with operations of a user, a Video-CD was introduced in Nikkei Electronics (Nov. 8, 1993). In such a CD-ROM of this Video-CD, there are recorded image data such as dynamic and static images, audio data such as music and accompanying sound effects, and further, reproduction control data which control reproduction of the image data and audio data in accordance with operations of a user. By utilizing the recorded reproduction control data, the Video-CD realizes reproduction which is interactive with the user. Further, the Video-CD defines a file system conforming to ISO 9660 as a recording system for a CD-ROM, and has been reportedly easily reproducible with a corresponding personal computer provided with means for reproducing image data (conforming to the MPEG standard).
Further, as a system which is a combination of a computer and image data, a picture-in-picture system was disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. Hei 4-227381 (1992). According to this system, image data stored in a video RAM disposed within a TV set is transferred through a computer interface to a computer having an external recording medium, thereby permitting a common utilization of image data between the two.
The teachings of each of the above-listed and any below-listed references are herein incorporated by reference.
Turning now to problems in the art, the Video-CD standard does not define any reproduction procedure in a case where text data is used as reproduction data, although image data and audio data can be reproduced using a personal computer. In the case of a character display, therefore, there is no other way than recording text data as image data of the character display, thus resulting in a data volume that becomes considerably larger in comparison with other text data (e.g., ASCII text data) having the same character information.
Further, according to the above-described picture-in-picture system, it is possible to fetch image data in a TV set into a computer, but nothing is shown therein about the relation between the image data thus taken in and the data presented by the personal computer itself.

Interactive recording/reproducing medium and reproducing system


A cover unit for a USB flash disk, wherein a seat hole is provided at the middle position of a seat, an engaging structure with an elastic element is pivotally provided in the cover unit to provide restoring force, an engaging plate of the engaging structure can be extended into the opening of the USB connector, and by using protruding blocks provided on the engaging plate in matching with directional holes on the USB connector, the holes are covered by the blocks to seal the USB connector; meantime when a stopping plate on the engaging plate is pressed, engaging of the protruding blocks with the directional holes can be relieved, thereby the whole cover unit can be removed.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a cover unit, and especially to a cover unit used for sealing an opening of a USB socket of a USB flash disk.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A USB flash disk is a mobile storage device, its capacity is much larger than a compact disk (CD) now after fast progression, and is convenient for carrying, it is used very widely.
A USB flash disk is provided with a protruding USB jack, it is provided thereon with an opening being subjected to getting entering of impurity or small materials, the opening with a USB connector must be sealed with a cover provided over the USB jack.
In the prior art, a Utility model application with a publication No. M356200 titled "USB FLASH DISK WITH A NON-TOUCHING SENSING CHIP" in Taiwan discloses a design of the above mentioned cover. Wherein the cover is integrally injection shaped, if it is desired to firmly cover, the internal tolerance of the cover must be made to tightly match the USB connector, this renders the cover to need larger force to overcome the impedance coming from tightness against slipping over and extracting. And more, a conventional tightly matching type cover not only needs larger force for slipping over and extracting, it also has a defect of being unable to tightly cover being due to suffering of the cover from pressing that induce damage or due to damage by friction in a long term using; therefore improvement is needed.


A method for manufacturing calcium fluoride single crystal includes the step of cooling the calcium fluoride single crystal so that maximum shear stress inside the calcium fluoride single crystal caused by thermal stress is approximately equal to or smaller than critical resolved shear stress (τc) in a <1 1 0> direction of on a {0 0 1} plane of the calcium fluoride single crystal.

The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing calcium fluoride ("CaF2") single crystal and CaF2 single crystal. The present invention also relates to an optical system that uses, as a light source, ultraviolet light from excimer laser, such as KrF, ArF, F2 and Ar2, and an exposure apparatus for manufacturing semiconductors and a device fabrication method.
No end to a demand for higher integration of semiconductor integrated circuits has required higher level performance for an exposure apparatus, particularly that of a projection optical system. While resolution in the exposure apparatus may improve along with an increased numerical aperture ("NA") of the projection optical system, the higher NA makes a depth of focus smaller. Thus, NA cannot be increased beyond a predetermined amount, and a shorter wavelength is required for higher resolution.
While the excimer laser, such as KrF (having a wavelength of 248 nm), ArF (having a wavelength of 193 nm) and F2 (having a wavelength of 157 nm), has been regarded as a prospective light source for future exposure apparatuses for this reason, most conventionally used glass materials are not compatible with a shortened wavelength of the light source. Fluoride crystal is used as a lens material, and CaF2 crystal etc. have been developed. A single crystal type CaF2 is used for exposure apparatuses so as to eliminate influence of grain boundary and crystal orientation; CaF2 single crystal having a predetermined size generally grows in a single crystal growth furnace.
While CaF2 for exposure apparatuses requires high quality in aspects of light transmission performance, durability, large aperture, uniform refractive index, birefringence, etc., the most concerned issue is to reduce birefringence. Preferably, the birefringence of CaF2 has a difference in optical path is below 1 nm cm for exposure apparatuses.
It is known that annealing after crystal growth is effective in reducing birefringence in grown CaF2 single crystal. This process may reduce the birefringent index by heating and maintaining CaF2 at high temperature above 1000° C. However, when a cooling process after annealing provides rapid cooling, the birefringent index disadvantageously increases again and thus the cooling rate should be made low. On the other hand, the low cooling rate itself would lead to long processing time and remarkably deteriorate productivity. Therefore, an optimization of the cooling rate is important.
Optimal cooling rates for various sized CaF2, which have been calculated by empirical rules to maintain low birefringent index, are disclosed in Japanese Patent Applications Publications Nos. 11-240798 and 11-240787. In this case, such cooling is also disclosed as means for increased productivity which combines some cooling rates that have been empirically obtained for respective temperature regions, by paying attention to a fact that an increase of the birefringent index at low temperature is less than at high temperature even when CaF2 is cooled at a large cooling rate.
However, an approach that uses an empirical rule to obtain cooling rates that do not cause birefringence for various differently sized CaF2 is disadvantageous in that it is difficult to stably provide manufactured CaF2 with good quality. In addition, it is necessary to arduously determine proper cooling rates for each size of CaF2 single crystal to be processed. Problematically, it is difficult to confirm that no birefringence occurs after processing, the quality becomes instable, and excessive low cooling rate would lower the productivity.
In addition, the birefringence would occur and the productivity would lower without proper cooling even in a process that associates with heating other than annealing after CaF2 single crystal growth. The conventional empirical approach has been hard to design a process that serves to stably provide low birefringence and high productivity.

Method of manufacturing single crystal calcium fluoride


A strong acid sterilizing liquid containing hypochlorous acid at a low concentration consists of electrolyzed salt water, wherein the pH of the liquid is 3 or less and the concentration of the hypochlorous acid is 0.2 ppm to 2 ppm.

The bactericidal activity of an aqueous solution of hypochlorous acid varies with the pH of the solution because the state of chlorine compounds dissolved in the aqueous solution varies with pH.
When the pH of an aqueous solution of hypochlorous acid is 8 or more, or the aqueous solution of hypochlorous acid is alkaline, hypochlorous acid ions (ClO.sup.-) having fairly low bactericidal activity are mainly present in the aqueous solution. Thus, the bactericidal activity of an alkaline aqueous solution of hypochlorous acid is fairly low.
When the pH of aqueous solution of hypochlorous acid is 7 or less, or the aqueous solution of hypochlorous acid is acidic, the amount of hypochlorous acid (HClO) which has bactericidal activity 10 to 100 times larger than that of hypochlorous acid ions, is larger than the amount of hypochlorous acid ions. Thus, the bactericidal activity of an acidic aqueous solution of hypochlorous acid is high.
When the pH of an aqueous solution of hypochlorous acid is 5.5 or less, substantially 100% of the chlorine compound dissolved in the aqueous solution is hypochlorous acid. Thus, the bactericidal activity of the aqueous solution of hypochlorous acid becomes even higher.
When the pH of an aqueous solution of hypochlorous acid is 3 or less, a part of the chlorine compound dissolved in the aqueous solution becomes chlorine gas (Cl.sub.2) having higher bactericidal activity than that of hypochlorous acid. Thus, the bactericidal activity of the aqueous solution of hypochlorous acid becomes even higher.
Acid sterilizing liquid containing hypochlorous acid can instantly kill bacteria such as Escherichia coli, MRSA, Staphylococcus aureus, etc. Acid sterilizing liquid containing hypochlorous acid can cure inflamed parts of the human body suffering from atopy dermatitis, body parts suffering from necrosis owing to diabetes, and bedsores of a bedridden old person. It is thought that acid sterilizing liquid containing hypochlorous acid kills MRSA present on such diseased parts, in this way suppressing itch and suppuration of the parts and thereby curing them.
The skin is damaged by application of acid sterilizing liquid containing hypochlorous acid at a high concentration.
There is a need for an apparatus for generating and dispensing strong acid sterilizing liquid which contains hypochlorous acid at a concentration of about 2 ppm, the concentration prescribed by Japanese City Water Organization in its water purifier examination manual, whose pH is 3 or less, and which is suitable for use on the human body.
A continuously generating type apparatus having a barrier type electrolytic cell has been developed for generating acid liquid containing hypochlorous acid. In this apparatus, salt water is passed through a channel formed between a positive electrode plate and a negative electrode plate disposed to face opposite surfaces of a barrier membrane, and DC voltage is applied between the electrodes to electrolyze the salt water.
At the positive electrode, hydroxide ions (OH.sup.-) contained in the salt water give electrons to the positive electrode to become oxygen gas and are eliminated from the water. Thus, the concentration of hydrogen ions (H.sup.+) in the water flowing through the space between the barrier membrane and the positive electrode increases to make the water acidic. Also at the positive electrode, chlorine ions (Cl.sup.-) contained in the salt water give electrons to the positive electrode to become chlorine gas (Cl.sub.2). The chlorine gas dissolves in the acidic water to become hypochlorous acid.
At the negative electrode, hydrogen ions (H.sup.+) contained in the salt water are given electrons from the negative electrode to become hydrogen gas and are eliminated from the water. Also at the negative electrode, sodium ions (Na.sup.+) and hydroxide ions (OH.sup.-) contained in the salt water are bonded together to become sodium hydroxide. Thus, the water flowing through the space between the barrier membrane and the negative electrode becomes alkaline.
The barrier membrane prevents the mixing of the products at the positive electrode and the products at the negative electrode. Acid liquid containing hypochlorous acid can be obtained by taking the water flowing through the space between the barrier membrane and the positive electrode out of the electrolytic cell.
The conventional continuously generating type apparatus for generating acid liquid containing hypochlorous acid having a barrier type electrolytic cell has a number of problems such as the following.
1. The conventional continuously generating type apparatus having a barrier type electrolytic cell cannot generate strong acid sterilizing liquid which contains hypochlorous acid at a concentration of about 2 ppm, whose pH is 3 or less, and which is suitable for use on the human body. The abbreviation "ppm" used here means concentration by weight converted into chlorine atoms and means "Cl mg/liter".
The inventors of the present invention studied why the conventional continuously generating type apparatus having a barrier type electrolytic cell cannot generate strong acid sterilizing liquid which contains hypochlorous acid at a concentration of about 2 ppm, whose pH is 3 or less, and which is suitable for use on the human body. Their conclusion was as follows.
When the pH of the electrolyzed water must be decreased, the electric current applied across the electrodes must be increased to increase the quantity of the electrolyzed salt water, thereby increasing the concentration of hydrogen ions in the electrolyzed water. Electrons are transferred between hydroxide ions, hydrogen ions and the electrodes at the surfaces of the electrodes. When the electric current is increased, the supply of hydroxide ions and hydrogen ions to the surfaces of the electrodes becomes insufficient, which suppresses the increase in the electric current.
When the voltage applied across the electrodes is increased to increase the supply of the hydroxide ions and hydrogen ions to the surfaces of the electrodes, overvoltage at the positive electrode increases and the generation of chlorine gas is promoted. Thus, the layer of the water flow near the positive electrode becomes strong acid liquid containing hypochlorous acid at a high concentration.
One countermeasure for overcoming the problem of the short supply of the hydroxide ions and hydrogen ions to the surfaces of the electrodes is to narrow the distance between the electrodes, thereby increasing the speed of the flow of the salt water through the channel between the electrodes. However, narrowing the distance between the electrodes is difficult because of the presence of the barrier membrane between the electrodes.
As can be seen from the foregoing explanation, a conventional continuously generating type apparatus having a barrier type electrolytic cell cannot generate strong acid sterilizing liquid which contains hypochlorous acid at a concentration of about 2 ppm, whose pH is 3 or less, and which is suitable for use on the human body.
Strong acid sterilizing liquid which is generated only by the electrolysis of salt water, which contains hypochlorous acid at a concentration of about 2 ppm, whose pH is 3 or less, and which is suitable for use on the human body has not been put to practical us, as described above, the conventional continuously generating type apparatus having a barrier type electrolytic cell cannot generate strong acid sterilizing liquid which contains hypochlorous acid at a concentration of about 2 ppm, whose pH is 3 or less, and which is suitable for use on the human body. According to a recent report, moreover, electrolyzed salt water which is diluted with nothing other than water, which contains hypochlorous acid at a concentration of about 2 ppm, and which is strongly acidic has hardly any bactericidal activity. This conclusion is based on tests using strong acid liquid containing hypochlorous acid at a low concentration which is obtained by adding sterilized distilled water to strong acid liquid containing hypochlorous acid at a high concentration generated by electrolysis of salt water, thereby diluting the strong acid liquid (Pharmacology and Clinical Medicine 1993/VOL.3/NO.9/SEP. page 71 table 1). The inventors of the present invention think that the reported lack of bactericidal activity arises because the hypochlorous acid was broken down into chlorine gas when the aqueous solution was diluted and the chlorine gas left the aqueous solution, thus reducing the bactericidal activity of the aqueous solution.
2. A barrier type electrolytic cell is large because of the presence of the barrier membrane between the electrodes. Thus, the conventional continuously generating type apparatus for generating acid liquid containing hypochlorous acid having a barrier type electrolytic cell is large and not portable. Conventionally, acid liquid containing hypochlorous acid generated in a continuously generating type apparatus having a barrier type electrolytic cell has therefore been stored in a tank and poured from the tank into a small vessel or sprayer for use. Hypochlorous acid is easily broken down by ultraviolet light and the chlorine component evaporates with the lapse of time. Thus, the bactericidal activity of the acid liquid containing hypochlorous acid decreases while it is stored in the tank.
3. Inflammation owing to atopy dermatitis often appears at a hidden part of the body. Therefore, it is preferable to provide an apparatus for generating and dispensing acid liquid containing hypochlorous acid which can be used in a bathroom. In a conventional continuously generating type apparatus having a barrier type electrolytic cell, the space between the electrodes is wide, about 4 mm or greater, owing to the presence of the barrier membrane between the electrodes, the electric resistance of the salt water present between the electrodes is large, and a large amount of electric power is needed to electrolyze the salt water. Thus, a conventional continuously generating type apparatus having a barrier type electrolytic cell has to be driven by domestic AC line current. However, AC line current is not ordinarily available in a bathroom. Thus, an apparatus for generating and dispensing acid liquid containing hypochlorous acid based on a conventional continuously generating type apparatus for generating acid liquid containing hypochlorous acid having a barrier type electrolytic cell cannot be used in a bathroom.

Strong acid sterilizing liquid containing hypochlorous acid at a low concentration, method and apparatus for generating same, and apparatus for generating and dispensing same


A mechanism for mutual authorization of a secondary resource in a grid of resource computers is provided. When a primary resource attempts to offload a grid computing job to a secondary resource, the primary resource sends a proxy certificate request to the user machine. Responsive to a proxy certificate request, the user machine performs authorization with the secondary resource. If authorization with the secondary resource is successful, the user machine generates and returns a valid proxy certificate. The primary resource then performs mutual authentication with the secondary resource. If the authorization with the secondary resource fails, the user machine generates and returns an invalid proxy certificate. Mutual authentication between the primary resource and the secondary resource will fail due to the invalid proxy certificate. The primary resource then selects another secondary resource and repeats the process until a resource is found that passes the mutual authorization with the user machine.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to data processing and, in particular, to grid computing. Still more particularly, the present invention provides a method, apparatus, and program for grid mutual authorization through proxy certificate generation.
2. Description of Related Art
Grid computing is the sharing of central processing unit (CPU) resources across a network so that a plurality of machines function as one large supercomputer. Grid computing, also referred to as peer-to-peer computing or distributed computing, allows unused CPU capacity in any of the machines to be allocated to the total processing job required.
In a large enterprise, hundreds or thousands of desktop machines may be sitting idle at any given moment. A CPU may be considered idle even when a user is reading the screen and not interacting with the machine. Other computing resources may be idle at various times of the day. For example, a cluster of database servers, or a subset thereof, may be unused during non-business hours, for example during the middle of the night. Case in point, during peek business hours in New York City, most people are likely to be asleep in India. Therefore, at any time of the day there may be unused processing cycles that could be put to use on large computational problems.
A given user may run a computationally intensive job using grid technology. For example, the user may have a biotechnology project, such as a human genome research project. A job may be any program that may run for two days or may simply ask the resource machine for the time of day. However, grid computing is typically used for very computationally intensive jobs. A user may send a job to a resource machine and go home for the night or the weekend. A resource machine will then process the job and return the results to the user.
The user may select a particular machine in a grid to run the job. The user may know of a specific machine that the user trusts. For example, the user may know of a machine with unused capacity that has updated security patches, a secure operating system, etc. Alternatively, a user may submit a job to a grid scheduler that selects a host (resource) to process the job. If a user sends a job to a grid scheduler, the user is presumed to trust the scheduler to send the job to the right host.
Of course, grid computing may bring up security problems. For instance, a resource machine may become overburdened. In this case, the primary resource machine may offload work to a secondary resource machine. The user that submitted the job may not necessarily trust the secondary resource or host. The IP of the job, the program being run, input data, output data, etc. are all available to the secondary untrusted host. This represents an unauthorized risk or cost to the user in terms of security. However, once the job is submitted to a primary resource, the user has no control over which machine in the grid ultimately processes the job. Consequently, the secondary resource machine that processes the job may lack the desired, or even necessary, security levels. The machine may have an operating system that is vulnerable to virus attacks or spyware. Or the secondary resource may be malicious and steal the results or the Internet protocol (IP) address of the grid job.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Grid mutual authorization through proxy certificate generation


A printing device includes: a conveying unit; a printing unit; a detecting unit; a partial printing unit; a reverse conveying unit; a printing state detecting unit; and a restoration process executing unit. The conveying unit conveys a recording medium in a conveying direction to a prescribed printing position. The printing unit is capable of printing an image based on inputted print data on the recording medium conveyed to the printing position. The detecting unit is capable of detecting the recording medium on an upstream side of the printing position of the printing unit with respect to the conveying direction. The partial printing unit controls the printing unit to execute a printing operation based on at least part of the inputted print data when print data is inputted. The reverse conveying unit conveys the recording medium in an opposite direction to the conveying direction so that a printing region printed by the partial printing unit is in a detection position at which the detecting unit can detect at least part of the printing region. The printing state detecting unit controls the detecting unit to detect a printing state in the printing region conveyed to the detection position of the detecting unit by the reverse conveying unit. The restoration process executing unit executes a process to restore the printing state when the printing state detecting unit detects that the printing state in the printing region is unsatisfactory.

Some conventional printing devices for printing images on recording paper have been provided with a photosensor for detecting printing results on the recording paper. The results picked up by the photosensor can be used to detect problems in the printing state, such as printing that is faint or patchy. If the printing problems are due to a shortage of ink or the like, the printing device will eventually stop printing due to a lack of ink if no steps are taken. Therefore, the device notifies the user of the problem when the photosensor detects a problem in the printing state. In this way, the user can take steps to restore the printing state, such as replacing the ink tanks or ink ribbon, before the printing device loses its ability to print.


A transisterized circuit may be driven with a low voltage without saturation of a direct current operating voltage point. The transisterized circuit includes a first transisterized circuit formed by a cascade connection of a first differential transisterized circuit and a first emitter follower circuit, a second transisterized circuit formed by a cascade connection of a second emitter follower circuit and a second differential transistor circuit, and an inversion circuit connected between said first transisterized circuit and said second transistor circuit.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an operating voltage point compensation circuit for a transistoried circuit. In particular, the present invention pertains to an operating voltage point compensation circuit that resolves a problem arising from the saturation of a direct current operating voltage point , which is the result of a power supply voltage change or a temperature change, in a low voltage drive circuit that is constituted by a transistorized circuit.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recently, various types of transistorized circuits driven at low voltages have been adopted to save power consumption. But when a transisterized circuit is driven at a low voltage of, for example, +3.3 V, a direct current operating voltage point may become saturated.
In FIG. 5 is shown an example of cascade connection by which differential transistors are coupled with emitter followers. Transistors TR1 and TR2, which are coupled differential transistors for which collector resistors R1 and R2 are respectively provided, have their emitters connected in common to a constant-current source and their collectors connected to the bases of the respective transistors TR3 and TR4, which serve as emitter follower circuits.
The emitters of the transistors TR3 and TR4 are connected to the bases of coupled differential transistors TR5 and TR6, and the emitters of the differential transistors TR5 and TR6 are connected in common to a transistor TR7.
Let us first consider a case where Vcc=+3.3 V. When Vcc=V1+V2+V3+3 Vbe, and when the base-emitter voltage Vbe of the transistor is 0.8 V (at junction point temperature Tj=25.degree. C.), V1+V2+V3=0.9 V.
Therefore, in the case where, due to a voltage change, Vcc=+2.97 V (a 10% reduction), and due to a temperature change, Vbe=0.87 V (at junction point temperature Tj=-45.degree. C.), "V1+V2+V3" yields a total of 0.36 V; and if V2=0 V, the total yield for "V1+V3" is only 0.36 V. Since the internal amplitude limit is approximately 0.2 V, an output may become saturated because of a variance in the circuit and an external change.

Operating voltage point compensation circuit for a transistorized circuit


In accordance with the present invention, computer implemented methods and systems are provided for representing and modeling the temporal structure of audio signals. In response to receiving a signal, a time-to-frequency domain transformation on at least a portion of the received signal to generate a frequency domain representation is performed. The time-to-frequency domain transformation converts the signal from a time domain representation to the frequency domain representation. A frequency domain linear prediction (FDLP) is performed on the frequency domain representation to estimate a temporal envelope of the frequency domain representation. Based on the temporal envelope, one or more speech features are generated.

In recent years, automatic speech recognition (ASR) systems have been employed in a wide variety of areas, such as, for example, telephone dialing, directory assistance, order entry, home banking, database inquiry, and dictation. For example, cellular telephones commonly employ ASR systems to simplify the user interface. Using ASR systems, many cellular telephones recognize and execute commands to initiate an outgoing phone call or answer an incoming phone call. For example, a cellular telephone having an ASR system may recognize a spoken name from a phone book or a contact list and automatically initiate a phone call to the phone number associated with the spoken name.
In an ASR system, a user speaks into a microphone (i.e., inputs a speech signal). The inputted analog signal is digitized and the blocks of digital data are then transformed from the time domain into the frequency domain using a digital signal processing (DSP) chip. Once the ASR system has digitized the signal and calculated certain parameters, the system compares the signal to a library of known phrases and finds the closest match.
To extract the features from the signal for comparison with data in the library, such ASR systems generally use short-term spectral features, such as mel-frequency cepstral (i.e., frequency-related) coefficients (MFCC). MFCCs are based on a Fast Fourier Transform (FFT), which converts the inputted signal from a time domain representation to a frequency domain representation. The MFCC representation is an example of an approach that further analyzes the FFT of the signal. The MFCC representation is generated by using a mathematical transformation called the cepstrum which computes the inverse Fourier transform of the log-spectrum of the speech signal.
These ASR systems uniformly employ short-time spectral analysis, usually over windows of about 10 to 30 milliseconds, as the basis for acoustic representations. It should be noted, however, that the detailed time structure below this timescale is lost and the time structure above this level is weakly represented in the form of deltas. The temporal structure in sub-10 millisecond transient segments contains important cues for both the perception of natural sounds as well as the understanding of stop bursts in speech. The gross temporal distribution of acoustic energy in windows of up to 1 second is a successful domain for the recognition of complete phonemes and the description of their dynamics. Thus, while the spectral structures resulting from the spectral analysis convey important linguistic information, they are only a partial representation of speech signals.
Other feature extraction techniques, such as, for example, dynamic (delta) features and relative spectra processing technique (RASTA), have been adopted as post-processing techniques that operate on sequences of the short-term feature vectors. Such techniques provide a "locally-global" view in which features to be used in classification are based upon a speech segment of about one syllable's length.
Accordingly, it is desirable to provide systems and methods that overcome these and other deficiencies of the prior art.

Systems and methods for speech recognition using frequency domain linear prediction polynomials to form temporal and spectral envelopes from frequency domain representations of signals

The Trustees of Columbia University in the City of New York


A management device of managing an information processing system includes: a memory; and a processor coupled to the memory, the processor being configured to perform processing, the processing including: determining a Quality of Service (QoS) value of a migration destination volume by using a first throughput and a second throughput, the first throughput being a throughput regarding an access to a migration source storage device of a migration source physical server, the second throughput being a throughput regarding an access to a migration destination storage device of a migration destination physical server; and generating a first command to issue the generated first command to the migration destination storage device, the first command being a command to create the migration destination volume by using the determined QoS value.

A general cloud service virtualizes physical resources such as a server, a network, or a storage device by a virtualization function and provides the virtualized physical resources. When providing a volume to a virtual server, the general cloud service provides a virtual volume to the virtual server.
On the other hand, unlike the general cloud service, there is a cloud service that provides a virtual system suitable for applications such as a core system. Such a cloud service provides virtual resources in a form close to occupation of the physical resources. Here, such a cloud service will be discussed. For example, a target cloud service provides a virtual system by a physical volume including a storage device, individual resources of a physical server, or the like. When the physical volume is configured, by setting a definition of connection between the virtual server and the physical volume, connection to the physical volume is isolated between the virtual servers.
FIGS. 28A and 28B are diagrams for explaining a difference between a general cloud platform and a target cloud platform. FIG. 28A illustrates an example of the general cloud platform, and FIG. 28B illustrates an example of the target cloud platform. As illustrated in FIG. 28A, the general cloud platform includes islands represented by an island #1, an island #2, . . . , and an island #X (X is positive number).
Each island includes a physical server 94 each represented as a physical server #1, a physical server #2, . . . , and a physical server #X and a storage device 96 each represented as a storage device #1, a storage device #2, . . . , a storage device #X. Each physical server 94 is connected by a switch 98. A virtual server (VM) 4a operates in each physical server 94. Each storage device 96 includes a physical volume 6b each represented as a Vol #1, a Vol #2, . . . , and a Vol #Y (Y is positive number).
On the other hand, as illustrated in FIG. 28B, the target cloud platform includes the islands represented by the island #1, the island #2, . . . , and the island #X (X is positive number). However, each island includes a switch 93 instead of the switch 98.
In a general cloud platform, the VM 4a can access the physical volume 6b of another storage device 96. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 28A, the VM 4a of the island #1 can access the physical volume 6b of the island #2. On the other hand, in the target cloud platform, it is not possible for the VM 4a to access the physical volume 6b of the other storage device 96. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 28B, it is not possible for the VM 4a of the island #1 to access the physical volume 6b of the island #2. In this way, the target cloud platform improves security by performing access control on the VM 4a and the physical volume 6b.
Note that, as a typical technique regarding data migration between storage devices, there is a control device that does not need compatibility between a migration source NAS device and a migration destination NAS device and inexpensively and safely realizes data migration between the NAS devices. This control device copies all data in a migration source directory of the migration source NAS device to a migration destination directory of the migration destination NAS device. While the data is copied, the migration source NAS device accepts addition/update of data to the migration source directory. After the copy is completed, the control device copies data corresponding to a difference caused in the migration source directory (difference copy) and continues the difference copy until a time needed for copy falls below a determined time. This control device stops an access from a client by the migration source NAS device, copies the final difference data to the migration destination NAS device, and starts to receive the access from the client by the migration destination NAS device.
Furthermore, as a typical technique regarding live migration of virtual machines, there is a management device that can secure a sufficient bandwidth needed for memory copy and does not excessively restrict competing user traffic when live migration of the plurality of virtual machines is performed. This management device determines an execution order of the live migration of the plurality of virtual machines on the basis of at least one of information regarding the virtual machine and information regarding traffic on the network. Furthermore, the management device determines a bandwidth control amount of a user traffic bandwidth during live migration so as to reduce a fluctuation from the user traffic bandwidth before the live migration is performed.
Examples of the related art include Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2008-181461 and Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2014-153997.

Management device, information processing system, and non-transitory computer-readable storage medium for storing management program